02-13-2013, 11:42 PM
I would add a comment.
The 300 Blackout works better in short barrels than it does in longer barrels thus it is popular with the Spec Ops community for short barreled suppressed work.
For the average trooper, 16" barrels (ie M4 carbine) is short enough. For the DMR the 20" is common.
We know that the range of calibers is from 6.5mm to 7mm. That seems to be the sweet spot. The question then is what size diameter bullet has best BC/sectional density and so forth to put as much energy down range, especially at 700 to 1000 meters. Then the next question is what should the case size be? The Grendel seems to be limited to 43mm. Would 47mm be the better length? Is 51mm too long? Is case width needed to be about 10mm?
Trading all of these factors, what makes the best combination? And does keeping the M4 lower (which addes a design constraint), the current magazines, make sense? After all it does lower the cost of moving to a new caliber if one only has to add a new upper (barrel) rather than a whole new rifle, magazine and spare parts.
The 300 Blackout works better in short barrels than it does in longer barrels thus it is popular with the Spec Ops community for short barreled suppressed work.
For the average trooper, 16" barrels (ie M4 carbine) is short enough. For the DMR the 20" is common.
We know that the range of calibers is from 6.5mm to 7mm. That seems to be the sweet spot. The question then is what size diameter bullet has best BC/sectional density and so forth to put as much energy down range, especially at 700 to 1000 meters. Then the next question is what should the case size be? The Grendel seems to be limited to 43mm. Would 47mm be the better length? Is 51mm too long? Is case width needed to be about 10mm?
Trading all of these factors, what makes the best combination? And does keeping the M4 lower (which addes a design constraint), the current magazines, make sense? After all it does lower the cost of moving to a new caliber if one only has to add a new upper (barrel) rather than a whole new rifle, magazine and spare parts.