08-18-2011, 08:11 PM
Tony Williams Wrote:Done, thanks!
It would result in an ammo weight increase for riflemen used to carrying 5.56mm, yes, but there has been some interesting feedback from the Royal Marines on their use of rifles. They have commented that troops are far readier to use up large quantities of 5.56mm ammo, while the 7.62mm riflemen pick their targets so get through far less ammo. This may in part be because it's the better riflemen who are given 7.62mm guns, but I suspect that a harder-hitting, longer-ranged intermediate round would encourage more careful shooting.
I doubt that a rifle in an intermediate calibre would weigh any more than the L85A2!
Tony:
More than likely it is because the recoil is so much greater that it knocks the shooter out of his position and thus takes longer for follow on shots. And, the recoil does fatigue shooters and causes flinching so shooters are less inclined to shoot more ammo.
Hit probability will always be higher with a lighter recoiling rifle because of less recoil, and less overpressure bothering the shooter. Follow on shots will be more precise as well and gaining fire superiority will go with those who can shoot more ammo, more accurately, faster.
LR1955