Saturday 22 December 2007

Colt M4 Carbine Finishes Last in Latest U.S. Army Small Arms Reliability Test

Defense Review
Based on the results of the test, should the US Army drop the M4 and try the other 3 rifles? Well, opswarfare finds that more tests should be done to verify the findings, plus look into other areas, for example lethality. The age old question of the power of the 5.56mm round still remains. Instead of the 6.5mm or 6.8mm round being promoted in some circles, opswarfare recommends a return to the 7.62mm round.

This solves a few problems. Existing 5.56mm rounds can still be used by the 5.56mm light machine guns. Also, choosing the 7.62mm means that you get a round with more power, and yet without the disadvantages of introducing a new round, since the 7.62mm round is already in use for medium machine guns.

A more powerful round also compensates for the decreasing length of rifle barrels to suit urban warfare, which is one of the reasons cited for the lack of "punch" of the 5.56mm round.

7.62mm SCAR anyone?

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