Colt’s Purchase of LWRC: Will US Troops Get a New Rifle?

[TheEnigma]

Every time a new cartridge is introduced, it changes the original well thought out plan of the AR 15 rifle. Gene designed a fabulous 20" rifle that functioned perfectly with the m193 cartridge it was designed for. When the m855 was introduced, much thought and research was put into assuring the the chamber and gas port pressures remained the same as not to affect reliability. Then they decided to chop 6" off the barrel, and and 5.5" off the gas length for the M4. This changed everything. Bolts and extractors are now subjected to considerably more stress. The gas port and chamber pressures doubled, and the gas port had to be shrunk. To add a new cartridge to the mix would simply add to the reliability issues the M4 already faces during heavy sustained fire, not to mention logistics. It wouldn't surprise me if they did change calibers in their infinite wisdom, but it would only heap more problems on an already problematic weapons system. Just my .02.