05-25-2011, 08:10 PM
My understanding is that all of the competitors are in 5.56mm.
I also gather that while 5.56mm M855A1 ammo will be provided for the trials, anyone who used any other calibre would have to provide large quantities of their own milspec ammo.
Clearly, this is ass-backwards. The Army should FIRST sort out what calibre they want THEN have a competition for carbines in that calibre.
The general consensus, by the way, seems to be that while it won't be difficult for other carbines to perform better than the M4, they won't be able to perform so much better that it will be worthwhile changing, especially given the improvements planned for the M4. So no-one is putting much of an effort into this competition.
It has been suggested that, in the light of the ARDEC analysis reportedly showing the clear superiority of 6.5mm and 7mm calibres over 5.56mm and 7.62mm, that the Army should just focus on the M4 PIP for now, while postponing the new carbine competition until they've sorted out the optimum calibre. Whether or not this will happen I don't know - the Army has gone all coy about the ARDEC report.
I also gather that while 5.56mm M855A1 ammo will be provided for the trials, anyone who used any other calibre would have to provide large quantities of their own milspec ammo.
Clearly, this is ass-backwards. The Army should FIRST sort out what calibre they want THEN have a competition for carbines in that calibre.
The general consensus, by the way, seems to be that while it won't be difficult for other carbines to perform better than the M4, they won't be able to perform so much better that it will be worthwhile changing, especially given the improvements planned for the M4. So no-one is putting much of an effort into this competition.
It has been suggested that, in the light of the ARDEC analysis reportedly showing the clear superiority of 6.5mm and 7mm calibres over 5.56mm and 7.62mm, that the Army should just focus on the M4 PIP for now, while postponing the new carbine competition until they've sorted out the optimum calibre. Whether or not this will happen I don't know - the Army has gone all coy about the ARDEC report.