New Army "Caliber Configuration Study"

[stanc]

Don't get me wrong, Stan, I'm not advocating a machine gun-free world. My vision is dismounted squads and platoons rife with 65G belt-fed LMGs; I'm only foregoing the 7.62Ns because I believe 65G capability encroaches its performance envelope from the one end and ABGLs encroach from the other.

Ah, I think I misunderstood. I thought you were advocating the ABGL to replace the MMG, which isn't feasible due to the substantial differences in effective range.

I would note that, if 65G ballistics do actually match 7.62, then your 65G LMG is replacing the 7.62 MMG throughout its performance envelope. The ABGL would just be augmenting the LMG/MMG within the 500-meter max effective range/700-meter max range envelope.

The thing about the 84mm CGs is what you really want is their tank- and bunker-busting capabilities.

Uh, not exactly. At least, not in Afghanistan, where the enemy has no tanks. The HE airburst, anti-personnel round is more needed than HEAT (anti-tank) ammo.