05-11-2011, 10:47 PM
stanc Wrote:The US Army seems set on the idea that weapon overall length not exceed that of the M4, so much so that the XM8 was fitted with a 12.5" tube! :p
Makes you wonder why they are so dead set against bullpups, considering that you get an 8 inch advantage in barrel length for the same length gun...
I am happy for a barrel length of 20 inches to be specified when making comparisons with the 7.62mm, since in reality guns being used at anything approaching 1,000 metres would probably have such a barrel. (Although having said that, the British troops seem delighted with the 7.62mm L129A1, which has a 16 inch barrel. But then, their only alternative is an SA80...)
It seems reasonable to specify a 14.5 inch barrel when making comparisons with 5.56mm. That actually makes the use of both sets of comparisons quite sensible.