Grendel as a Universal Infantry Cartridge

[stanc]

Speculatively, the company most at risk in the competition is Colt with their possibility of losing a real cash cow in the M4. Should Colt team with Alexander, for example, Colt alone could bid an M4/5.56 variant, while submitting a Grendel-based design with Alexander...

It would all depend upon Colt's view of Tony's opinion that doing nothing is the most likely result.

A logical analysis, Jay. But, IMO it would also depend on whether or not Colt perceived 6.5 Grendel as an alternative to 5.56 NATO that's worth backing. Were I the head of Colt, and considering this course of action, I'd want to see documentation that 6.5 Grendel carbines offer the requisite durability (in regard to bolts) and reliability (with available magazines).

Also, the matter of ammunition may not be quite so easy. It seems likely to me that it'd require an M855A1/M80A1-type bullet, which AFAIK does not yet exist, and would need a possibly long and costly development effort. That means Colt would have to fork out a quarter of a million bucks, if not more, in order to hedge their bet by teaming up with AA.