Grendel as a Universal Infantry Cartridge

[RedFalconBill]

Can you tell me more about the .25 Bailey?

The .25 Bailey is the .223 Remington with the shoulder pushed back 5mm, necked up to accept 0.257" bullets and the case 1.575" long.

This is done for a few reasons.

1) To keep existing case taper
2) To allow for current M27 disintegrating links
3) To have the 0.257" bullet diameter at the same point as the 0.253" 5.56x45 case neck in order to use existing 20 and 30 round magazines w/o the stacking issues other rounds have

With a 16" barrel, the Bailey sends the 100gr Sierra GK bullet out at 2,520-2,560 fps. With the 100gr Sierra MK, about 30-50 fps slower.

Also, the quest is for a cartridge that would fulfill the GPMG role, so it would be in either the M-240 or whatever weapon replaces the M-240.

I would include a third GPMG in the infantry platoon and look to getting either the M-240L or MK-48 in their hands.

If the debate did not include the GPMG mission but covered only the assault rifle through battle rifle, including designated marksman role, then I think a strong argument exists for a 90 gr .224" bullet in a cartridge based on the .22 PPC.

A 90gr match bullet is very long, would require a fast twist and is, IMO, the wrong direction to go for a general purpose Infantry firearm.