Textron Systems NGSW Rifle and LMG

[BluntForceTrauma]

I think we/they have moved well beyond that stage at this point. The military established a set of criteria. Those criteria are (apparently) being met by this sort of 6.8 setup. At this point, it looks like there is going to have to be a significant failure or major paradigm shift before they move back and start over with what caliber bullet they want.

I agree. The 6.8 NGSW train seems to have already left the station....

And, like the push in the 1950s for 7.62 NATO as the standard infantry cartridge, someone — years down the road — will question what they're really getting from a such cartridge with all this bulk?

Extra bulk should be taken up humping bullet-shaped 40mm laser-ranged airbust munitions fired from something like a scaled-down Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle. The real problem in infantry combat is neutralizing guys behind cover.