Textron Systems NGSW Rifle and LMG

[BluntForceTrauma]

the Army reportedly tested a range of calibers, and determined that those smaller than 6.8mm failed to give the desired performance.

At this point, many of the shooters here — myself included — know as much about ballistics as a program officer running through his two-year stint in charge of an ordnance program. I'm being a little facetious, but there's some truth there.

Anyway, no.

There is no way in hell that 6.8mm is any "better" performer than 6.5mm. Real world doesn't work that way with such negligible differences.

Terminal difference is gonna be negligible.

External difference is gonna favor 6.5mm, so why not?

No program manager is gonna feel fulfilled just saying, "It makes sense to use the 6.5 Creedmoor existing design." That won't look good to his bosses or his resumé. "You mean you just took an off-the-shelf cartridge and didn't spend millions on a fresh study to justify this program?"