12-01-2011, 05:24 PM
For those that haven't picked one up yet, the LMT 16" MRP in 7.62 is a little beast of a "carbine". It is so fricken heavy, I couldn't believe it, but this is due to the large diameter of the barrel that is pinched by the monolithic upper receiver. It is way over-kill in barrel weight, rivaling even a bull-barreled 24" LR-308.
14.5" barrels in the AR15/M4 family are plenty, as long as US or similarly-loaded M855 and M193 are used. You have plenty of velocity in that configuration, so there is no need for the common infantry rifleman to have a 20" barrel. The 5.56 maintains a velocity over 2600fps well over 100m, and any 7.62 loading has dropped velocity significantly as well once past 100m, so they all make little holes in people at distances past 150m for sure.
The 7.62 M80- does have some clear wind-drift advantages over 5.56, but it would be a big mistake to outfit everyone with one.
The statement that my argument is baseless sine M1 Garands and M1919's used the same ammo in WWII needs to go away and quick. It is based on the assumption that we conducted effective close quarters battle with Garands for room-clearing in WWII that would pass off as a viable solution today, and we all know that dog don't hunt.
Think fratricide, overkill, no real follow-up shot capability in comparison to AK's, over-pressure in the room. You guys need to go into a room and shoot across the calibers, starting with 5.56, 7.62x39, and 7.62 NATO to see what I'm talking about if you haven't already. There is already enough stress, uncertainty, and fast-paced movement in CQB, in that adding a large-bore assault rifle into the room or even within alleys causes more disorientation in an environment where the ability to focus is extremely important.
Leave 5.56 carbines alone, augment them with a maneuverable SAW in a better caliber, without the mag-length restrictions, and the 6.5mm becomes the answer. A lot of these guys that are feeling under-gunned in the half-kilometer are in that position because their SAW gunners are burdened down trying to get the pig up into a position to shoot, and the insane weight and bulk works exponentially against you when you're trying to convince yourself that you need to put your head up into the fight. A 10-12lb SAW would work wonders in solving this problem, and riflemen could get back to their secondary roles in such scenarios of providing local security to the flanks, and calling distance, direction, and disposition to the SAW gunners and DMRs, as well as 203's.
14.5" barrels in the AR15/M4 family are plenty, as long as US or similarly-loaded M855 and M193 are used. You have plenty of velocity in that configuration, so there is no need for the common infantry rifleman to have a 20" barrel. The 5.56 maintains a velocity over 2600fps well over 100m, and any 7.62 loading has dropped velocity significantly as well once past 100m, so they all make little holes in people at distances past 150m for sure.
The 7.62 M80- does have some clear wind-drift advantages over 5.56, but it would be a big mistake to outfit everyone with one.
The statement that my argument is baseless sine M1 Garands and M1919's used the same ammo in WWII needs to go away and quick. It is based on the assumption that we conducted effective close quarters battle with Garands for room-clearing in WWII that would pass off as a viable solution today, and we all know that dog don't hunt.
Think fratricide, overkill, no real follow-up shot capability in comparison to AK's, over-pressure in the room. You guys need to go into a room and shoot across the calibers, starting with 5.56, 7.62x39, and 7.62 NATO to see what I'm talking about if you haven't already. There is already enough stress, uncertainty, and fast-paced movement in CQB, in that adding a large-bore assault rifle into the room or even within alleys causes more disorientation in an environment where the ability to focus is extremely important.
Leave 5.56 carbines alone, augment them with a maneuverable SAW in a better caliber, without the mag-length restrictions, and the 6.5mm becomes the answer. A lot of these guys that are feeling under-gunned in the half-kilometer are in that position because their SAW gunners are burdened down trying to get the pig up into a position to shoot, and the insane weight and bulk works exponentially against you when you're trying to convince yourself that you need to put your head up into the fight. A 10-12lb SAW would work wonders in solving this problem, and riflemen could get back to their secondary roles in such scenarios of providing local security to the flanks, and calling distance, direction, and disposition to the SAW gunners and DMRs, as well as 203's.