How could or should the 6.5 mm Grendel be improved?

[Trooper]

I am not a ballistics expert but I can see the shortcomings in the 5.56 round. I do consider myself fairly knowable on the nation’s enemies/potential enemies – that’s part of my job. Which of our adversaries, or projected adversaries, are using 'full power' weapons? The preponderance of forces we will fight against/are projected to fight against are equipped with 7.62x39/5.54x39 AK style weapons. The 5.56 is comparable ballistic-wise to these weapons and superior when you talk accuracy beyond 100m. The short sight radius on the AK family, combined with the stamping manufacturing process don’t lead these weapons to be as accurate at the M-16 family at distances…but there are always exceptions . Yes, the 7.62x39 has better penetration, but by and large that advantage is outweighed by the poor max range (maxes out at less than 400m vs 500m for 5.56) and accuracy comparison. Even when you add optics to the AK, you still battle the manufacturing limitations.

7.62x54 is predominately a MMG/GPMG or sniper round. Our answer to that is the 7.62x51 as our MMG/GPMG and sniper round. (yes, I am excluding the .338 Lapua and HMG rounds in this comparison). While these are not necessarily found within the TO/E at the Squad level, they are in the TO/E at the Company/Battalion level. Utilizing/employing these weapons is a tactical decision based on the threat in any given situation.

Yes, there are some countries that still have .308/7.62x51 weapons as their primary battle rifle but they are not as prolific as the AK family among our adversaries or potential adversaries. Estonia, Turkey, Brazil to name a couple of nation states that use the 7.62x51 – but are they potential enemies? Yes, terrorist/criminal organizations may have these as well, but in what numbers? I saw NONE of these weapons employed against me or my units in Kosovo, Afghanistan or Iraq.

So again, WHO are these adversaries that are equipped with ‘full power’ weapons? I don’t know everything , but I am confused by what I see as a fairly flawed argument. What developments are underway in our potential adversaries’ gun-works that leads us to believe we will be overpowered in our next engagement? Again, the 5.56 is not a perfect round, but it has never failed me and I have never felt outgunned.

The AK family is either 7.62x39 or 5.45x39 of which is neither battle rifle caliber. Now the Afghanistani do like the old Enfield MkIII (.303) which we should make in .308 for the Afghan army
as it would be a better weapon/caliber for their area. Plus they are more familar with the Enfield MkIII and they tend to have to do longer range shots than we would in the US.