VASCAR2 Wrote:I saw an interview with Mr. Eugene Stoner where he commented on the military’s desire for a 30 round magazine. Mr. Stoner said the 20 round mag performed well but since the AK had higher capacity mag our miltary wanted a 30 round mag. When the AR-15/M-16 was adopted I don’t remember anyone complaining because the M-16 magazine was just 20 rounds.
A 6.5 Grendel with a 20 round mag would’ve given a ammunition carry load greater by weight than 7.62x51 but still provide a 20 round capable weapon. Interesting that Serbia is developing of a 6.5x39 aka 6.5 Grendel. Of all the cartridge advancement is interesting Serbia is showing interest in the 6.5x39 for an AK variant.
VC2:
We sure did complain. That's why we got the 30 round magazines. More ammo with fewer magazine changes.
I heard Stoner speak at a Small Arms Symposium in the early 90's. Hate to tell you guys this but he talked about using 100 round drums of 5.56 loaded completely with tracer and training the soldier to use full auto and walk the shots into the enemy. No sights, just tracer. I am sure he was not pushing a 100 round drum and straight tracer. Rather emphasizing a point about getting effective fire on to an enemy quickly and that doesn't need a huge amount of training to accomplish.
He did not seem to be a proponent of going back up in cartridge caliber.
If given a choice of some sort of AK design firing a 6.5 X 39 cartridge and a AR-15 with a C Mag of tracer, guess which one I would choose?
If the Serbian cartridge is simply a 7.62 X 39 case necked down, it will have quite a bit less case capacity than a Grendel with corresponding lower velocity. If it will be any more effective than a 7.62 X 39, it will be due to the bullet design. Who knows what bullet design they will use but it will be a service bullet.
LR55