02-05-2013, 10:57 PM
The other problem is that "energy" alone does not adequately describe a weapon's potential.
As others have pointed out already, recoil energy or impulse needs to be kept down for the average soldier to have a good chance at a semblance of marksmanship.
This topic has been beat to the ground a bunch of times already.
The laws of physics and current chemistry drive us to certain classes of solutions where there exists very little difference between many alternatives. Hence, adding 5,000 psi or 5 gr powder capacity may up the velocity a few percentage points at the cost of increased recoil, logistics burden, or both. The downrange performance as measured in drop, drift, and terminal effects, however remains effectively the same.
If one really wants to surpass the Grendel or the several other cartridges like the 6.8 SPC, the 7mm variants discussed in MG&A, new approaches to cartridge, bullet, and firearms design need to be implemented.
As others have pointed out already, recoil energy or impulse needs to be kept down for the average soldier to have a good chance at a semblance of marksmanship.
This topic has been beat to the ground a bunch of times already.
The laws of physics and current chemistry drive us to certain classes of solutions where there exists very little difference between many alternatives. Hence, adding 5,000 psi or 5 gr powder capacity may up the velocity a few percentage points at the cost of increased recoil, logistics burden, or both. The downrange performance as measured in drop, drift, and terminal effects, however remains effectively the same.
If one really wants to surpass the Grendel or the several other cartridges like the 6.8 SPC, the 7mm variants discussed in MG&A, new approaches to cartridge, bullet, and firearms design need to be implemented.