New Cartridge Developments and Implications for Dismounted Infantry Soldiers

[stanc]

Since the cartridge length is significantly shorter, a soldier's basic loads increases dramatically, while also being lighter, even with a caliber increase over 5.56 NATO.

It looks to me like a 6.5mm version would require magazines of about the same width and (more importantly, in regard to handling/ergonomics) height as 30-rd 7.62x51 mags.



I suppose that drawback would be an acceptable tradeoff for the increased basic load, though.

It also changes things in that the entire concept of our MTO&E gets turned on is head since you have a very lightweight system that can be used for everything a rifleman, SAW gunner, and DM do, as LSAT has select-fire capability.

Surely you don't seriously think the military would give a belt-fed LMG to every infantryman?

A 6.5mm LSAT with a .550 G1 or .265-.270 G7 projectile in 6.5mm would make the M240 and PKM obsolete.

Perhaps. But how do you propose to achieve such a high BC if bullet weight is in the 100-110gr range? The 107gr MatchKing only has a 0.406-0.420 BC, depending on velocity, and I doubt that would be improved upon with a lead-free, ball round.