Evolution of warfare and bullet calibers

[Peter.Steele]

In any modern army you'll be taught that incapacitated enemies are the best ones since they take up more of the enemies ressources than dead ones.
Also, as an Afghanistan veteran I can assure you that the 5.56 has more than enough power as you hardly have engagement ranges beyond 200 m.

See, the funny thing about this is that I was just reading an article this morning from ... I think it was Army Times? Can't remember. Anyway, they said that >50% of the firefights in Trashcanistan were 500 yards plus.

So, not saying that your numbers are necessarily off, but what's the sample size you're using to base your statistic of "hardly any" on? Personal observation? Stories from buddies?

 

[Dr.Phibes]

See, the funny thing about this is that I was just reading an article this morning from ... I think it was Army Times? Can't remember. Anyway, they said that >50% of the firefights in Trashcanistan were 500 yards plus.

So, not saying that your numbers are necessarily off, but what's the sample size you're using to base your statistic of "hardly any" on? Personal observation? Stories from buddies?

Personal experience like getting shot at. You should know though that I was stationed in northern Afghanistan in the Kunduz area. And I don't consider getting shot at at 500 meters by a sole gunman a firefight. Also note that all guns used against us were AK's and RPG's, no MN's and Enfield's as claimed in another thread here.

 

[Wiglaf]

Well given the rise of high wear resistance of new barrel forging methods and all ready mature optics there's been some development of GPMGs that also can function in "sharpstrooper"-role, as well in conventional MGs job of penetrating light cover and suppression role.
Russians have few models of such after different Caucasus conflicts and I have heard there's been liking of M240 whit optics by us forces.
Brits certainly have used squad load-outs that incorporate several mediums in Afghanistan, but that's more to address the range issues there and I don't know if they bother doing so in urban ops.

The other school of thinking incorporates grenade mgs and high tech gear like XM25. These are more evolution of ww2 light mortars and infantry guns.

Although cartridge design may evolve like in grendel I don't see them upgunning anything.
So in short; I don't really see them moving towards any kind of medium caliber for a slight buff in penetration. If anything there might be reason to incorporate smgs from PDW market to reduce the overall weight the squad has to lug around.

 

[RedFlagWaver]

I'm honestly surprised they didn't come up with sharpshootable MGs earlier.

 

[CandleJack]

I'm honestly surprised they didn't come up with sharpshootable MGs earlier.

Some bloke in WWII took an M2 and made it semi-auto only, and added a scope, and used it to snipe people/things.

He held the record for a long time with that.