07-12-2016, 12:33 PM
LRRPF52 Wrote:I never once shot a single round of 7.62 NATO M80 ball through any of the M24s we used across 3 different Scout Sniper Platoons over a 10 year period. I've heard of some rare instances where guys have, but most anyone you talk to on both the Army and USMC side will tell you that the M24, M40, SR25, and M110 SASS have been fed M118, M118LR, and some M852 Match on occasion.
There is a pretty dedicated logistics stream for sniper ammunition, not to say the ability to share ammo with other guns isn't a legitimate concern. Snipers also aren't organic to the Rifle Companies, and you request your ammo through your Recon Platoon, or at least that's what we did.
The likelihood of needing someone else's ammo is much higher when shooting 7.62 NATO, since you can't carry a lot of it. There have been 3rd Batt guys that almost went empty with SR25s in a very fluid, drawn-out engagement in Afghanistan, because they couldn't carry anywhere near as many SR25 mags to have the type of endurance or persistence you would be able to have with 6.5 Grendel.
I've already had this conversation with several different people with actual experience in sniper duty positions and multiple deployments, as well as instructors, and there is a growing desire to have something with this capability. There are a lot of positives, and not many negatives. I'm talking about a lightweight Semi Auto Sniper System that meets or exceeds M118LR reach and wind drift, in a gun that weighs what an M4 or SPR does, but with the ability to carry a lot more ammo that can also be used to fight the close fight when needed.
I am not challenging your theory, I think the Grendel would be awesome for the uses you outlined earlier. Maybe in SOF they would be fielded but I have serious doubts about their employment by big Army snipers. Big Army would cringe at the thought of Soldiers running around with odd-ball calibers and the possibility no matter how remote, that they wouldn't be able to resupply during battle. We all know snipers carry at least a pistol and usually an M4 as well depending on the mission. I personally think a Grendel with lighter ammo and more similar looks to an M4/M16 is a viable option and one that should be explored. As far as M80 being used in M110/M24/M40, I've never seen it used but it could be in an emergency is all I'm saying.