03-10-2011, 05:04 AM
Actually, no it is not a precise measure of lethality. The key word in your third sentence is "appears". Bullet construction is equally important, if not more so. It is much like the OGW equation in Lyman's Reloading Manual in that it claims to be something it is not.
Read the BTB work done years ago by request of the USMC, which resulted in the Mk317 (7.62x51) and Mk318 (5.56x45).
If Big Army real wanted to increase the lethality of its current crop of carbines and rifles, they would adopt a better bullet than the M-855/SS-109, but all Big Army wants is the phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range.
Just how would you get more 'power' (using the HITS formula) than the 7.62x51 at 100 Meters and keep the carbine under 3kg (empty, with no accouterments) and have enough firepower within the 10kg load limit that Big Army wants and not overpower the Soldiers?
Read the BTB work done years ago by request of the USMC, which resulted in the Mk317 (7.62x51) and Mk318 (5.56x45).
If Big Army real wanted to increase the lethality of its current crop of carbines and rifles, they would adopt a better bullet than the M-855/SS-109, but all Big Army wants is the phased plasma rifle in the 40 watt range.
Just how would you get more 'power' (using the HITS formula) than the 7.62x51 at 100 Meters and keep the carbine under 3kg (empty, with no accouterments) and have enough firepower within the 10kg load limit that Big Army wants and not overpower the Soldiers?