How could or should the 6.5 mm Grendel be improved?

[Guardsman26]

I think it's incorrect to talk about redesign. Since no lead free military ball projectile currently exists, one would have to be newly designed. Actually, at least two such bullets would need to be developed:

- One acceptable to the US, probably constructed like M855A1.
- One acceptable to the rest of NATO, a non-fragmenting FMJ.

In addition, Eastern European armies might want a conventional steel-core ball round.

Absolutely right. But the existing high BC 6.5 mm OTM bullet is an excellent start point.

The point about lead-free is not the absence of lead but its replacement with steel. This combines excellent barrier penetration with good terminal ballistics in soft tissue. Having seen the US Army ARDEC's research in this area, I need no convincing that lead free is the way to go, especially with body armour being used more widely by actual and potential enemies.