How could or should the 6.5 mm Grendel be improved?

[LRRPF52]

In conversation with those who have actually used the new M855A1 barrier blind ammo, it seems to be well-received, with noticeable terminal performance differences that warrant its use. That's even from 10" guns.

The 77gr SMK from the Mk.262 works well on people, but has extremely poor barrier penetration, as it comes apart so quickly.

For Afghanistan, 5.56 weapons are good for clearing mud huts, and that's about it for an entry-level soldier skill set. As mentioned above, for any engagements in the hills, 7.62 NATO is the bare minimum that will even begin to reach out and be effective.

Training is a huge factor in this that can extend the effective range of 5.56 NATO, and I know guys who felt strongly about it being effective out to about 450m from someone with a lot of trigger time behind the guns, to include putting guys down with M855 from an M4A1 through an AK chest harness, but using 3-4 rounds to do it. That is from guys with an extreme margin level of proficiency above the 95th-99th percentile of combat arms soldiers, being that they were in either Tier 1 units, or trained DM's/Snipers, with the optics and wind-reading skills necessary for making 1st-round hits on vitals.