05-16-2011, 05:44 PM
Yes, XM29 was cancelled. I was thinking of it since one of the Scouts in my Brigade in 25th ID died testing it in 1998-99 when the programmable munition detonated while he was aiming it. The new one is the XM25 without the PDW component.
M193 (55gr) out of an M4 with 1/7 twist is listed as 3050 fps, while 62gr M855 is 2920 fps. I'm sure some variances would put the ES to possibly 50 or 70 fps less, but it is still a hot load with brutal wound ballistics within 100m, and very difficult to match within the size constraints.
I just don't think a new LMG should be limited by AR magwell dimensions, since it won't and shouldn't matter if the LMG uses linked ammunition anyway. It also shouldn't be limited by 7.62 NATO weight penalties since we can exceed M80 ballistics with lighter projectiles.
I would leave 5.56 NATO alone, other than making Mk262 more available to DM's, and upgrade the M4 to a rifle-length float tube and quick-barrel change system possibly. The 3-round burst mechanism should be replaced with the original AUTO mechanism, so the pull weight is no longer affected by that horrible burst counter wheel and the additional disconnector. The real area of focus should be on making a lightweight LMG that exceeds 7.62 ballistics, and can be wielded in Close-Quarters as well. That pretty much forces us in the direction of a Bullpup LMG design, which is hard to belt-feed, but I have some ideas.
LRRPF52
M193 (55gr) out of an M4 with 1/7 twist is listed as 3050 fps, while 62gr M855 is 2920 fps. I'm sure some variances would put the ES to possibly 50 or 70 fps less, but it is still a hot load with brutal wound ballistics within 100m, and very difficult to match within the size constraints.
I just don't think a new LMG should be limited by AR magwell dimensions, since it won't and shouldn't matter if the LMG uses linked ammunition anyway. It also shouldn't be limited by 7.62 NATO weight penalties since we can exceed M80 ballistics with lighter projectiles.
I would leave 5.56 NATO alone, other than making Mk262 more available to DM's, and upgrade the M4 to a rifle-length float tube and quick-barrel change system possibly. The 3-round burst mechanism should be replaced with the original AUTO mechanism, so the pull weight is no longer affected by that horrible burst counter wheel and the additional disconnector. The real area of focus should be on making a lightweight LMG that exceeds 7.62 ballistics, and can be wielded in Close-Quarters as well. That pretty much forces us in the direction of a Bullpup LMG design, which is hard to belt-feed, but I have some ideas.
LRRPF52