LR1955 Wrote:I am not sure it is a good argument to propose that just because history indicates we screwed up so many times, that we should just continue to follow historical trends.Gene,
I don't know if all of those changes could rightly be judged as "screw-ups," or not. What I'm saying is that, when it comes to what they'll probably find acceptable in the present (and future), look at what their SOP has been in the past.
The only exception to this rule that comes to mind is the Stryker. Prior to Shinseki's reign as Chief of Staff, the Army's leadership was absolutely and fundamentally opposed to wheeled armored infantry vehicles. In spite of that institutional opposition, he managed to get it adopted.
Now, it could be you're right that any new small arms cartridge would have to deliver a "quantum" improvement. Since I can't read their minds to know if that's what they want, it seems logical to me to go by what they've habitually done before.