Does the 6.5 grendel have the potential to replace the 5.56 for the military?

[LRRPF52]

.264 USA is a great replacement for 7.62 NATO in machineguns and sniper rifles, not anything remotely appropriate for replacing 5.56 NATO.



The only discussion we should be having about 5.56 NATO replacement is how can I keep the performance, while reducing the overall cartridge/magazine profile so I can get more mags on the soldier, without sacrificing 5.56 terminal performance and low recoil. Something like the 6x35 KAC PDW cartridge in those tiny little mags would be ideal for that.



Put a projectile profile like the 75gr AMAX in it, with a better shoulder angle, engineer a modern propellant for it to spit those out of short barrels at decent speed, with an M855A1 projectile construction, and you could have a smaller carbine with better on-target performance than 5.56 NATO if you leave enough room for a long ogive. That increases magazine count per basic load, with better wind deflection for your intermediate ranges, so a win-win over 5.56 NATO.



Create a weapons mix with this as the standard carbine, something intermediate 6.5mm for the Sniper/DM/LMG cartridge, and .338 LM to replace .50 BMG. That would be a very efficient, lighter weight weapons mix that would have significant implications for the heavy end of logistics as well, reducing freight, while increasing operational element capability from in-contact, to supporting elements, to theater logistics hubs.