7.62x51/.308 Replacement Help

[UKKnowledgeSeeker]

After a long break I am back once more to delve into technical matters with the help of fellow THR members.

In the scenario that the 6.5x39 is adopted as the main service cartridge it is my thinking that the 7.62x51 would be made unnecessary. The 6.5 Grendel has comparable levels of energy whilst being lighter, smaller, more pleasant to fire etcetera. However the gap between 6.5 Grendel & .50 BMG needs to be filled with a rifle round. Seeing the evident efficiency of the 6.5x39 a high Ballistic Coefficient evidently improves ballistics & energy retention.

Either 7mm-08 or 6.5x55 occurred to me although I have limited knowledge in this area. Or is there something that can be done to the 7.62 NATO?

As the round is for military purposes, rather than hunting or target shooting are there any factors that would make the round in question unsuitable of military use? Barrel wear, excessive noise & flash, incompatibility with self loading mechanisms and belt fed systems?


The round must have...


• No more than 2800 ft.-lb. of muzzle energy preferably around 2600 ft.-lb.

• A maximum effective range of at least 1100 yards against personnel

• Have noticeably superior ballistics & energy retention than the M118 LR 7.62 NATO

•The capability to be used in a belt fed system or in a self loading/automatic rifle


The more detailed & specific answer the better (within reason).


Thanks in advance, Ben.

 

[bkhosken]

I'm still hoping the .300 Blackout is chosen. It's very similar to the 300 Whisper, but is SAMMI spec'ed and is not trademarked/patented. Uses 5.56 cases cut at the shoulder and neck formed (easy), uses all current M4/M16 magazines, bolts, etc., just need a new barrel and maybe a recoil spring/buffer change. Use from 100gr. to 200 gr bullets, can be subsonic with a 200-220 gr bullet. Close to the 7.62x39 performance.

 

[UKKnowledgeSeeker]

No, the 6.5 G could be adopted as a universal infantry cartridge but it's a big gap between 6.5x39 & .338 Lapua or .50 BMG. The 300 BLK is a great round, but one in my mind primarily suited for close range heavy subsonic loadings being run through a suppressor. I am looking for something different to that though, an enhanced full rifle round, not a specialist intermediate cartridge.


Thanks for the response


Ben

 

[Jeff F]

I don't think the 7.62 NATO round is going any where, its too much in use and it works. A lot of machine guns and mini guns chambered for it and its not a bad medium range sniper round.