• Watch Out for Scammers!

    We've now added a color code for all accounts. Orange accounts are new members, Blue are full members, and Green are Supporters. If you get a message about a sale from an orange account, make sure you pay attention before sending any money!

Sig Spear 7.62x51 is out and she's a porker

Just wait till Knights drops a commercially available 18" 6.5 Creedmoor SR25. . The Sig tide will shift
I am more interested in a 308. I shot the SR25 in the corps. It was a 1 MOA gun. I have so many AR’s. Just like other things too.

Why is there so much hate for the Spear on here? Another poster mentioned that. Maybe start another thread for bashing the Spear. Just like little babies. Damn.
 
What? Stop pulling strawman arguments out of your ass. You didn't call out anything, you just changed the subject four times in one paragraph and didn't once address the well known fact that many selection processes are heavily influenced by money and politics, and this may or may not just be another one of those cases.
Remember the .276 Pederson? Remember the M14? Remember the way the US forced 7.62x51 on Nato when all our allies were already developing superior cartridges? History proves that the military industrial complex makes equipment selection errors all the time, and to say the Spear is definitely not one of them before it's had its baptism by fire just screams fanboi-ism.
You also didn't address the part where current service members aren't being taught how to shoot, how will adding weapon weight, size and recoil cancel out poor fundamentals?
If you can't respond with cogent arguments, counterpoints or even stay on topic, maybe it's best not to respond at all.
Then explain why they pulled the M-14 out of moth balls and fielded the M110.

1682876210360.gif
 
  • Like
Reactions: Master Gunny
Then explain why they pulled the M-14 out of moth balls and fielded the M110.
Proof you can polish a turd when you have no other options? Not exactly breaking news.
You guys get me all wrong. I don't hate Sig or the Spear, mostly because we don't know enough to hate it yet. Which is exactly why no one should be falling in love just yet either. There's enough historical context when it comes to the latest military toys that everyone should know to just wait and see.
 
Last edited:
Proof you can polish a turd when you have no other options? Not exactly breaking news.
You guys get me all wrong. I don't hate Sig or the Spear, mostly because we don't know enough to hate it yet. Which is exactly why no one should be falling in love just yet either. There's enough historical context when it comes to the latest military toys that everyone should know to just wait and see.
Maybe you should take your on advise.

"If you can't respond with cogent arguments, counterpoints or even stay on topic, maybe it's best not to respond at all."

bye butter cup.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Master Gunny
You just love to see your own messages. Stop being such an ass.. you bring nothing to the table but freaking drama.. go away.. damn
Pot=kettle and all that. My interaction with you started with two fairly blah posts that didn't warrant the novel you wrote in response. This is a forum, people say things, you don't have to agree, be offended by, or even respond to any of them. Sorry we don't have the same high hopes for a new rifle, I guess I'll bow out since you want a pro-Sig echo chamber in here and any opinions to the contrary aren't welcome. Have a good one.
 
Pot=kettle and all that. My interaction with you started with two fairly blah posts that didn't warrant the novel you wrote in response. This is a forum, people say things, you don't have to agree, be offended by, or even respond to any of them. Sorry we don't have the same high hopes for a new rifle, I guess I'll bow out since you want a pro-Sig echo chamber in here and any opinions to the contrary aren't welcome. Have a good one.
You are right, people say things. With you it tends to be foolishness and never knowing when to stop. You attack me and another poster. Short man’s syndrome I guess.
 
  • Love
Reactions: TonyTheTiger
You are right, people say things. With you it tends to be foolishness and never knowing when to stop. You attack me and another poster. Short man’s syndrome I guess.
Dangit man, I have nothing left to say about the Spear, and thus hoped to be done with this thread. But the egregious misuse of the word "attack" can't be overlooked. Show me these attacks.
Just so you know, there is only one person in this thread that insists on bringing another posters character or physical attributes into question. That fits the common definition of the word attack better than anything else here.
I'll give you one guess who that one person is.
Also, the back and forth banter is rainy afternoon entertainment for me, nothing more, it ends when you let it.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LRRPF52
Should have bought the .277 because it shoots the same bullets as the .270... and anyone that has ever been to a public range the day before the season opener will tell you, all you have to do with the 270 to secure a hit is hold hair at any distance.
 
Dangit man, I have nothing left to say about the Spear, and thus hoped to be done with this thread. But the egregious misuse of the word "attack" can't be overlooked. Show me these attacks.
Just so you know, there is only one person in this thread that insists on bringing another posters character or physical attributes into question. That fits the common definition of the word attack better than anything else here.
I'll give you one guess who that one person is.
Also, the back and forth banter is rainy afternoon entertainment for me, nothing more, it ends when you let it.
So like a little whiny bitch you need the last word.. 🤣🤣. Have it
 
  • Like
Reactions: TonyTheTiger
Should have bought the .277 because it shoots the same bullets as the .270... and anyone that has ever been to a public range the day before the season opener will tell you, all you have to do with the 270 to secure a hit is hold hair at any distance.
Bubble burst moment. I'll be real for a change. My 130gr , 3060 fps Max load has a 5" MPBR of 284 yards.
140gr 2900 fps 260 yard MPBR
From memory the 150gr is 246 yards around 2650 fps.
Hold center and hit a 5" target to those ranges.
So no, not at any distance.
To get to a 300 yard 5" MPBR a 150gr would have to be travelling in excess of 3160 at the muzzle and have a BC that my BTOP cup and core projectiles don't.
A mono in .277 with a MV of 3100 might make it.
302-2.5206253321370.0000323
yards below line of sight Velocity FPS energy Ft/Lbs N/A Time of flight in ms

This results in pressures that far exceed what a .270 Winchester was designed for.
This is what resulted in the 277 Fury and the military bi-metal case.

Oh wait , we were talking about the 7.62?!
never mind
 
Bubble burst moment. I'll be real for a change. My 130gr , 3060 fps Max load has a 5" MPBR of 284 yards.
140gr 2900 fps 260 yard MPBR
From memory the 150gr is 246 yards around 2650 fps.
Hold center and hit a 5" target to those ranges.
So no, not at any distance.
To get to a 300 yard 5" MPBR a 150gr would have to be travelling in excess of 3160 at the muzzle and have a BC that my BTOP cup and core projectiles don't.
A mono in .277 with a MV of 3100 might make it.
302-2.5206253321370.0000323
yards below line of sight Velocity FPS energy Ft/Lbs N/A Time of flight in ms

This results in pressures that far exceed what a .270 Winchester was designed for.
This is what resulted in the 277 Fury and the military bi-metal case.

Oh wait , we were talking about the 7.62?!
never mind
Someone said in this post or I read it somewhere else that sig is using a different barrel steel to stop premature barrel wear with the 277. Anyone know anything?
 
So this is the first time you've watched a bunch of high ranking brass and politicians grease the palms of friends in the industry, waste millions of taxpayer dollars to develop the next greatest system, line their own pockets, "adopt" said system, make sure to get plenty of promotional press photos of the system "spreading democracy " to hype it and justify the expense, then years later you'll talk to boots who have never personally seen one in the field?
Meanwhile all those boots will keep saying they didn't get sufficient range time or proficiency with the last weapon system, much less the new one.

Not saying you can't teach an old dog new tricks, just saying I wouldn't hold my breath. Government has a long track record of screwing up everything it touches.
Different weapons system but the LT is currently in use with at least the USN.
 
  • Like
Reactions: TonyTheTiger
Different weapons system but the LT is currently in use with at least the USN.
I know they're using a variation of the Rattler for a PDW in certain branches, know what the USN version is? Just curious! The 300Blk LT version is a tidy little package, wonder if that's what they're using or is it the 5.56?.
 
Pretty poor read, I thought. His evidence and conclusions aren’t very well supported. But I don’t expect much from an Australian, when analyzing firearms.

But that civilian SPEAR is certainly an extremely overpriced porker. No thanks. I am interested in the upcoming Steyr DMR though. Easily swappable barrels/chamberings, 6.5lbs, and supposedly good precision.
how about these parts

The fundamental problem with the program is there remains not enough tungsten available from China, as Army knows, to make the goal of making every round armor piercing even remotely feasible. The plan also assumes that the world’s by far largest supplier will have zero problems selling tungsten to America only for it to be shot back at its troops during World War III. Even making steel core penetrators would be exceedingly difficult when the time came, adding layers of complexity and time to the most time-contingent of human endeavors.

another question is ... USA has been making steel core since the 40's. Why would it be difficult to produce?
 
Someone said in this post or I read it somewhere else that sig is using a different barrel steel to stop premature barrel wear with the 277. Anyone know anything?
I had read somewhere they figured out how to DLC coat the barrel bore. No idea if true 🤷‍♂️
 
I had read somewhere they figured out how to DLC coat the barrel bore. No idea if true 🤷‍♂️
Another question for you. On the SBR 308 version, it’s says they are DLC and chrome lined??? I’ve never seen that before..
 
  • Like
Reactions: JS8588
Another question for you. On the SBR 308 version, it’s says they are DLC and chrome lined??? I’ve never seen that before..
I had the exterior of a LW Chrome Lined barrel DLC coated. DLC is a line of sight process, so I'm not sure if they've figured out how to coat the bore as well. Chrome coated in DLC is slick stuff. @MSTN had Young's Chrome BCGs coated years back.
 
  • Like
Reactions: MSTN
I got hands on view of an SBR 308 today. Man I want this. It wasn’t as heavy feeling as I thought it would be. I am going to give it a day to think about it. The price is fat though
IMG_9898.jpeg
IMG_9897.jpeg
 
Last edited:
I know they're using a variation of the Rattler for a PDW in certain branches, know what the USN version is? Just curious! The 300Blk LT version is a tidy little package, wonder if that's what they're using or is it the 5.56?.
Technically the SPEAR LT is a Gen III version so Maybe it will have all the kinks worked out I will get to shoot mine Friday.
 
how about these parts

The fundamental problem with the program is there remains not enough tungsten available from China, as Army knows, to make the goal of making every round armor piercing even remotely feasible. The plan also assumes that the world’s by far largest supplier will have zero problems selling tungsten to America only for it to be shot back at its troops during World War III. Even making steel core penetrators would be exceedingly difficult when the time came, adding layers of complexity and time to the most time-contingent of human endeavors.

another question is ... USA has been making steel core since the 40's. Why would it be difficult to produce?

I am not a subject matter expert. However this opinion piece makes a lot of generalizations and straw men.

Specifically I’ve yet to read anything publicly stated where making every round fired armor piercing was the intended goal. I’ve seen a desire for armor piercing capability at specific ranges but nothing close to a must be performing this way all the time.

The second bold statement is a strange appeal to incompetence. We have been making steel core penetrators for quite a while. Somehow if a war with China is to develop the expectation is we will develop amnesia about how to make these bullets or that some how changing caliber sizes will magically make all our experience void and inapplicable seems ridiculous.
 
  • Like
Reactions: LRRPF52
I know they're using a variation of the Rattler for a PDW in certain branches, know what the USN version is? Just curious! The 300Blk LT version is a tidy little package, wonder if that's what they're using or is it the 5.56?.
Naval Land Warfare is using the 11.5 and 16 inch uppers in 5.56
 
I am not a subject matter expert. However this opinion piece makes a lot of generalizations and straw men.

Specifically I’ve yet to read anything publicly stated where making every round fired armor piercing was the intended goal. I’ve seen a desire for armor piercing capability at specific ranges but nothing close to a must be performing this way all the time.

The second bold statement is a strange appeal to incompetence. We have been making steel core penetrators for quite a while. Somehow if a war with China is to develop the expectation is we will develop amnesia about how to make these bullets or that some how changing caliber sizes will magically make all our experience void and inapplicable seems
 
Great video. The Marine brings up some great points that have not been brought up. I agree with him
 
Great video. The Marine brings up some great points that have not been brought up. I agree with him
One thing I was thinking about is even though the mags weight a little more, are a little bigger and have less rounds per mag. There is a lot more actual projectile weight and energy per mag.

62 grain x 30rounds =1,860 5.56

130grains X 20rounds =2,600 .277 fury.

In total you are delivering close to 2x more energy per shot. around 1200ft LBS 5.56 and 2400ft lbs .277

If you look at it like that... Each mag is actually more powerful in total energy by about a third.
 
Last edited:
@Master Gunny I got a notification you had replied to one of my posts. But when I look, all I see is the section you quoted from me, and nothing else from you. I’ve seen others do this a couple times in threads but I don’t yet understand the intent for people just posting a quote.
 
There is no way you are that dumb to ask that… when you ask a question like that, run it across your husband first. Damn

uh.. yea. It’s been adopted already. I think many are in denial about it. It’s happening whether people like it or not. I can’t believe how many are in denial… lmao.
You think all of the duty positions within an Infantry Rifle Company will end up carrying this for the foreseeable future?

Here are some other "done deals" that the Army decided were the future you might not have heard of:

SPIW (The AR-15 was a "tolerated stop-gap" until the SPIW was definitely going to be adopted by the Army, after Army Ordnance failed with the M-14.) Army Ordnance hated the AR-15, and the only reason it really got type-classified against Ordnance Board’s wishes was because the USAF ordered it. Army responded with work on the Special Purpose Infantry Weapon, the ultimate dual weapon blaster nobody wants to carry.
iu

The XM148 and later M203 Grenade launchers were what became of SPIW, hung from underneath M16A1s:

iu



To replace the M16A2, the Army launched the Advanced Combat Rifle in the late 1980s:

iu

The only things adopted from ACR were the ACOG and Elcan optics, with an evolution of the Colt submission’s stock becoming the LMT SOPMOD stock for SOCOM.

Then there was the XM25 Wunderwaffen:

iu


Then the Hk XM8 was declared the new US Army modular weapon system:

iu

iu


Then came LSAT, which showed a lot of promise for lightweight ammo for SAW gunners:

iu


Then came the 7.62 NATO ICSR. Army Chief of Staff Mark Milley (now Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), mentioned the need for it. In August of 2017, the Army issued a formal solicitation for 50,000 ICSR rifles chambered in 7.62 NATO.

While PEO soldier program executive officer Army Brig. Gen. Brian Cummings in early October rebutted cancellation rumors, telling Military.com that the ICSR program “is not dead” and a decision “ not been made.” But sources told Military.com that Milley had already opted to ditch the requirement detailed by Allyn in May and formally established in the August solicitation.

NGSW was in development along that time.

iu


SIG was announced the winner of both the NGSW Rifle and Automatic Rifle. Vortex was announced the winner for the integrated fire control electro-optical aiming system.

SPIW (Cancelled for being too heavy, cumbersome, imbalanced, issues with the darts)
ACR (Cancelled after not showing much improvement over the M16A2)
XM25 (Cancelled after safety issues with the fusing, which detonated inside the system while a guy was firing it.)
XM8 (Cancelled for not showing enough improvement over M4, M4A1, CQBR.)
LSAT (Cancelled after challenges with scaling the medical grade polymers and dimensional uniformity required for mass production.)
ICSR (Cancelled due to weight, recoil, disinterest, failure to learn lessons from the past with 7.62 NATO.)
NGSW < (We are here right now. It’s totally going forward, a done deal.)

No matter what happens, the XM157 Fire Control System will be used by at least some Snipers and hopefully DMs, just like we got the XM148 and M203 from the SPIW program, ACOGs, Elcans, and SOPMOD stock from the ACR program, and the silly Hk Grenade Launcher from XM8. I also think the XM250 Automatic Rifle is going to be loved by NCOs who used to be SAW gunners. M240s are going to enjoy the increased performance of 6.8x51 barrels and lighter weight of the ammo.

IF this new ammunition works out, the technology will be used for future small arms cartridge configurations. That’s where the real game-changer is.

The heavy piston AR-10 carbine will be rejected by most of the duty positions within a Rifle Company, and the AARs and feedback from soldiers will show this. If they are forced to carry it, most will complain about how they wish they had their M4A1s back. One of the biggest AAR comments will be how soldiers can’t carry enough magazines to sustain the fight as they work through live fire exercises and field problems.
 
You think all of the duty positions within an Infantry Rifle Company will end up carrying this for the foreseeable future?

Here are some other "done deals" that the Army decided were the future you might not have heard of:

SPIW (The AR-15 was a "tolerated stop-gap" until the SPIW was definitely going to be adopted by the Army, after Army Ordnance failed with the M-14.) Army Ordnance hated the AR-15, and the only reason it really got type-classified against Ordnance Board’s wishes was because the USAF ordered it. Army responded with work on the Special Purpose Infantry Weapon, the ultimate dual weapon blaster nobody wants to carry.
iu

The XM148 and later M203 Grenade launchers were what became of SPIW, hung from underneath M16A1s:

iu



To replace the M16A2, the Army launched the Advanced Combat Rifle in the late 1980s:

iu

The only things adopted from ACR were the ACOG and Elcan optics, with an evolution of the Colt submission’s stock becoming the LMT SOPMOD stock for SOCOM.

Then there was the XM25 Wunderwaffen:

iu


Then the Hk XM8 was declared the new US Army modular weapon system:

iu

iu


Then came LSAT, which showed a lot of promise for lightweight ammo for SAW gunners:

iu


Then came the 7.62 NATO ICSR. Army Chief of Staff Mark Milley (now Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), mentioned the need for it. In August of 2017, the Army issued a formal solicitation for 50,000 ICSR rifles chambered in 7.62 NATO.



NGSW was in development along that time.

iu


SIG was announced the winner of both the NGSW Rifle and Automatic Rifle. Vortex was announced the winner for the integrated fire control electro-optical aiming system.

SPIW (Cancelled for being too heavy, cumbersome, imbalanced, issues with the darts)
ACR (Cancelled after not showing much improvement over the M16A2)
XM25 (Cancelled after safety issues with the fusing, which detonated inside the system while a guy was firing it.)
XM8 (Cancelled for not showing enough improvement over M4, M4A1, CQBR.)
LSAT (Cancelled after challenges with scaling the medical grade polymers and dimensional uniformity required for mass production.)
ICSR (Cancelled due to weight, recoil, disinterest, failure to learn lessons from the past with 7.62 NATO.)
NGSW < (We are here right now. It’s totally going forward, a done deal.)

No matter what happens, the XM157 Fire Control System will be used by at least some Snipers and hopefully DMs, just like we got the XM148 and M203 from the SPIW program, ACOGs, Elcans, and SOPMOD stock from the ACR program, and the silly Hk Grenade Launcher from XM8. I also think the XM250 Automatic Rifle is going to be loved by NCOs who used to be SAW gunners. M240s are going to enjoy the increased performance of 6.8x51 barrels and lighter weight of the ammo.

IF this new ammunition works out, the technology will be used for future small arms cartridge configurations. That’s where the real game-changer is.

The heavy piston AR-10 carbine will be rejected by most of the duty positions within a Rifle Company, and the AARs and feedback from soldiers will show this. If they are forced to carry it, most will complain about how they wish they had their M4A1s back. One of the biggest AAR comments will be how soldiers can’t carry enough magazines to sustain the fight as they work through live fire exercises and field problems.
Don't bother him with facts. Just worship at the Spear altar. Anything else will just get a bunch of ad hominem anger sent your way.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Jsp556
You think all of the duty positions within an Infantry Rifle Company will end up carrying this for the foreseeable future?

Here are some other "done deals" that the Army decided were the future you might not have heard of:

SPIW (The AR-15 was a "tolerated stop-gap" until the SPIW was definitely going to be adopted by the Army, after Army Ordnance failed with the M-14.) Army Ordnance hated the AR-15, and the only reason it really got type-classified against Ordnance Board’s wishes was because the USAF ordered it. Army responded with work on the Special Purpose Infantry Weapon, the ultimate dual weapon blaster nobody wants to carry.
iu

The XM148 and later M203 Grenade launchers were what became of SPIW, hung from underneath M16A1s:

iu



To replace the M16A2, the Army launched the Advanced Combat Rifle in the late 1980s:

iu

The only things adopted from ACR were the ACOG and Elcan optics, with an evolution of the Colt submission’s stock becoming the LMT SOPMOD stock for SOCOM.

Then there was the XM25 Wunderwaffen:

iu


Then the Hk XM8 was declared the new US Army modular weapon system:

iu

iu


Then came LSAT, which showed a lot of promise for lightweight ammo for SAW gunners:

iu


Then came the 7.62 NATO ICSR. Army Chief of Staff Mark Milley (now Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), mentioned the need for it. In August of 2017, the Army issued a formal solicitation for 50,000 ICSR rifles chambered in 7.62 NATO.



NGSW was in development along that time.

iu


SIG was announced the winner of both the NGSW Rifle and Automatic Rifle. Vortex was announced the winner for the integrated fire control electro-optical aiming system.

SPIW (Cancelled for being too heavy, cumbersome, imbalanced, issues with the darts)
ACR (Cancelled after not showing much improvement over the M16A2)
XM25 (Cancelled after safety issues with the fusing, which detonated inside the system while a guy was firing it.)
XM8 (Cancelled for not showing enough improvement over M4, M4A1, CQBR.)
LSAT (Cancelled after challenges with scaling the medical grade polymers and dimensional uniformity required for mass production.)
ICSR (Cancelled due to weight, recoil, disinterest, failure to learn lessons from the past with 7.62 NATO.)
NGSW < (We are here right now. It’s totally going forward, a done deal.)

No matter what happens, the XM157 Fire Control System will be used by at least some Snipers and hopefully DMs, just like we got the XM148 and M203 from the SPIW program, ACOGs, Elcans, and SOPMOD stock from the ACR program, and the silly Hk Grenade Launcher from XM8. I also think the XM250 Automatic Rifle is going to be loved by NCOs who used to be SAW gunners. M240s are going to enjoy the increased performance of 6.8x51 barrels and lighter weight of the ammo.

IF this new ammunition works out, the technology will be used for future small arms cartridge configurations. That’s where the real game-changer is.

The heavy piston AR-10 carbine will be rejected by most of the duty positions within a Rifle Company, and the AARs and feedback from soldiers will show this. If they are forced to carry it, most will complain about how they wish they had their M4A1s back. One of the biggest AAR comments will be how soldiers can’t carry enough magazines to sustain the fight as they work through live fire exercises and field problems.
100% agree that, after initial field testing, the scope will change and it will not be issued to every member of a rifle company. That’s just a stupid idea. I foresee it replacing the riflemen’s rifles in a squad. And maybe team leaders and/or grenadiers. But everyone else will keep M4A1s. The XM250 is such a great SAW replacement that it’s not going to be big deal to supply the 6.8 ammo to a couple other people in a squad.

It’s worthwhile to look at all the past experimental programs and possible “next Gen rifles”. However, were along. The process did the rest get to? I’m pretty sure the XM7 is further along than any of the past possible solutions. Just because there’s been a lot of small arms R&D since the mid 20th century doesn’t mean no new programs will stick.

Also agreed that the ammunition technology is a bigger deal than the XM7 itself. I could see them updating the M855A1 with it to try and truly achieve the original M855A1 goals of 20” performance from a 14.5” barrel.
 
100% agree that, after initial field testing, the scope will change and it will not be issued to every member of a rifle company. That’s just a stupid idea. I foresee it replacing the riflemen’s rifles in a squad. And maybe team leaders and/or grenadiers. But everyone else will keep M4A1s. The XM250 is such a great SAW replacement that it’s not going to be big deal to supply the 6.8 ammo to a couple other people in a squad.

It’s worthwhile to look at all the past experimental programs and possible “next Gen rifles”. However, were along. The process did the rest get to? I’m pretty sure the XM7 is further along than any of the past possible solutions. Just because there’s been a lot of small arms R&D since the mid 20th century doesn’t mean no new programs will stick.

Also agreed that the ammunition technology is a bigger deal than the XM7 itself. I could see them updating the M855A1 with it to try and truly achieve the original M855A1 goals of 20” performance from a 14.5” barrel.
Federal ammunition is working on a load right now that looks promising.

The XM7 will see use. It’s not going anywhere. Some people don’t like that for some unknown reason. I hope the weapon does well for the military. Innovation is a great thing.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: PappyM3
The M4 has withstood a lot of attempts to replace it... I wonder if the XM7 might be the next SCAR17.
 
100% agree that, after initial field testing, the scope will change and it will not be issued to every member of a rifle company. That’s just a stupid idea. I foresee it replacing the riflemen’s rifles in a squad. And maybe team leaders and/or grenadiers. But everyone else will keep M4A1s. The XM250 is such a great SAW replacement that it’s not going to be big deal to supply the 6.8 ammo to a couple other people in a squad.

It’s worthwhile to look at all the past experimental programs and possible “next Gen rifles”. However, were along. The process did the rest get to? I’m pretty sure the XM7 is further along than any of the past possible solutions. Just because there’s been a lot of small arms R&D since the mid 20th century doesn’t mean no new programs will stick.

Also agreed that the ammunition technology is a bigger deal than the XM7 itself. I could see them updating the M855A1 with it to try and truly achieve the original M855A1 goals of 20” performance from a 14.5” barrel.
Biggest problem for the XM7 even in the Rifle Squad is limited magazine depth plus more weight.

We’re back to the major problem they already knew with the M1903, M1 Garand, and M14, namely not enough rounds can be carried, and ammo and mag weight are too much. 5x 20rd 7.62 NATO mags sucks to carry even without armor on a minimalist chest rig.

With armor, it’s even worse. Joe has already had a hard time finding places for 5.56 mags while wearing armor, and units have decided to take the calculated risk of reducing the basic load even with 5.56 already, because of how armor has affected mobility.

Basic load of 5.56 NATO is 210 rounds or 7 mags.
Basic load with the M14 was 100 rounds, or 5 mags.

Many units in GWOT have cut down to 4 mags of 5.56 just to maintain some type of mobility.

A lot of people don’t know that Joe in the line Rifle Squad gets issued all kinds of additional Squad weapons and equipment, to include:

* Breacher shotguns and ammo
* Grenades
* Claymore mines (with firing wire and attached blasting cap, test kit, and clacker)
* AT4s or other Anti-Armor and Bunker-Defeat weapons (LAW-II, SMAW-D, NLAW)
* Additional first aid supplies in small medic bags
* Litters, either poleless or SKEDCOs
* Mortar rounds
* Linked ammo for the SAW or M240
* Breaching tools including bolt cutters, hooligan tools, and pry bars
* Ladders
* Mission-specific special items of equipment

A lot of those items get strapped to or stuffed inside an assault pack or ruck.

Joe is already maxed-out when carrying little 5.56 NATO mags and short carbines with 14.5” barrels. For Grenadiers, the last type of weapon you want is something the size of an AR-10. Not only do they need to carry mags for their primary weapon, but they also need to carry 40mm HE, HEDP, Smoke, etc. for the GL. Trying to find room on their kit for 20rd SPEAR mags and 40mm is going to suck way more than it already does.

Tier 1 units (guys who can out-shoot and out-perform anyone in the line and in SF) already tried rolling heavy with SR-25Ks on short duration mission profiles with high value aviation assets on the infil, CAS, and exfil supporting them, and still put that concept to bed very quickly. Dudes were using aviator’s kit bags stuffed with extra mags in the birds so they could avoid feeding from their own kit until out of the birds, and still struggled to maintain a basic load for actions on the objective. They were placing mag pouches on the backs of PCs and their armor and asking their buddies to pull a mag out for them constantly, which was just not a viable way to feed the 7.62 NATO carbines.

Now imagine you’re in 10th Mountain, 101st, 82nd, or 25th with way less of that dedicated aviation support and an assault pack full of other mission essentials. You might get a ride in on rotary wing and not be sure how you’re getting out 3 days later. A huge drop in round count combined with weight increases across the board sounds like a really bad way to start a mission.

Then look at all those other duty positions for RTOs, JTACs/TACPs, FOs, PLs, PSGs, Combat Medics, Drone guys, Combat Engineers, everyone in Weapons Squad not on a pig, and Mortars. I’ve been arguing for years now that all of those duty positions need something even smaller than the M4. An AR-10 carbine is a non-starter for all of them. Again, it comes back down to being useful for a few Snipers and maybe 1-2 DMs per Rifle Squad who have training, where the risk of reduced round count and added weight are favored based on METT-TC. But there isn’t any real money in a limited number of DMRs.
 
The M4 has withstood a lot of attempts to replace it... I wonder if the XM7 might be the next SCAR17.
I don’t think it will. Scar 17 was never made to replace anything really.
Biggest problem for the XM7 even in the Rifle Squad is limited magazine depth plus more weight.

We’re back to the major problem they already knew with the M1903, M1 Garand, and M14, namely not enough rounds can be carried, and ammo and mag weight are too much. 5x 20rd 7.62 NATO mags sucks to carry even without armor on a minimalist chest rig.

With armor, it’s even worse. Joe has already had a hard time finding places for 5.56 mags while wearing armor, and units have decided to take the calculated risk of reducing the basic load even with 5.56 already, because of how armor has affected mobility.

Basic load of 5.56 NATO is 210 rounds or 7 mags.
Basic load with the M14 was 100 rounds, or 5 mags.

Many units in GWOT have cut down to 4 mags of 5.56 just to maintain some type of mobility.

A lot of people don’t know that Joe in the line Rifle Squad gets issued all kinds of additional Squad weapons and equipment, to include:

* Breacher shotguns and ammo
* Grenades
* Claymore mines (with firing wire and attached blasting cap, test kit, and clacker)
* AT4s or other Anti-Armor and Bunker-Defeat weapons (LAW-II, SMAW-D, NLAW)
* Additional first aid supplies in small medic bags
* Litters, either poleless or SKEDCOs
* Mortar rounds
* Linked ammo for the SAW or M240
* Breaching tools including bolt cutters, hooligan tools, and pry bars
* Ladders
* Mission-specific special items of equipment

A lot of those items get strapped to or stuffed inside an assault pack or ruck.

Joe is already maxed-out when carrying little 5.56 NATO mags and short carbines with 14.5” barrels. For Grenadiers, the last type of weapon you want is something the size of an AR-10. Not only do they need to carry mags for their primary weapon, but they also need to carry 40mm HE, HEDP, Smoke, etc. for the GL. Trying to find room on their kit for 20rd SPEAR mags and 40mm is going to suck way more than it already does.

Tier 1 units (guys who can out-shoot and out-perform anyone in the line and in SF) already tried rolling heavy with SR-25Ks on short duration mission profiles with high value aviation assets on the infil, CAS, and exfil supporting them, and still put that concept to bed very quickly. Dudes were using aviator’s kit bags stuffed with extra mags in the birds so they could avoid feeding from their own kit until out of the birds, and still struggled to maintain a basic load for actions on the objective. They were placing mag pouches on the backs of PCs and their armor and asking their buddies to pull a mag out for them constantly, which was just not a viable way to feed the 7.62 NATO carbines.

Now imagine you’re in 10th Mountain, 101st, 82nd, or 25th with way less of that dedicated aviation support and an assault pack full of other mission essentials. You might get a ride in on rotary wing and not be sure how you’re getting out 3 days later. A huge drop in round count combined with weight increases across the board sounds like a really bad way to start a mission.

Then look at all those other duty positions for RTOs, JTACs/TACPs, FOs, PLs, PSGs, Combat Medics, Drone guys, Combat Engineers, everyone in Weapons Squad not on a pig, and Mortars. I’ve been arguing for years now that all of those duty positions need something even smaller than the M4. An AR-10 carbine is a non-starter for all of them. Again, it comes back down to being useful for a few Snipers and maybe 1-2 DMs per Rifle Squad who have training, where the risk of reduced round count and added weight are favored based on METT-TC. But there isn’t any real money in a limited number of DMRs.
7 mags?? What unit were you with? In the Corps our combats loads were more then 7 mags. I am talking Grunts though. With optics the M7 will be more effective. Especially when you factor in Machine gunners. I think many people on here don’t realize that things evolve. That is a good thing. It’s almost as if many of you are armchair quarterbacks and just expect it to fail ( some even come across and wanting it to fail). Combat arms and tactics evolve. I haven’t even been in since 2013 and it came along way from 2001-2013. Leaps and bounds. It will continue this trend. I know a lot of people can’t wrap your heads around it but things change and get better. Again, this is a great thing.
 
You think all of the duty positions within an Infantry Rifle Company will end up carrying this for the foreseeable future?

Here are some other "done deals" that the Army decided were the future you might not have heard of:

SPIW (The AR-15 was a "tolerated stop-gap" until the SPIW was definitely going to be adopted by the Army, after Army Ordnance failed with the M-14.) Army Ordnance hated the AR-15, and the only reason it really got type-classified against Ordnance Board’s wishes was because the USAF ordered it. Army responded with work on the Special Purpose Infantry Weapon, the ultimate dual weapon blaster nobody wants to carry.
iu

The XM148 and later M203 Grenade launchers were what became of SPIW, hung from underneath M16A1s:

iu



To replace the M16A2, the Army launched the Advanced Combat Rifle in the late 1980s:

iu

The only things adopted from ACR were the ACOG and Elcan optics, with an evolution of the Colt submission’s stock becoming the LMT SOPMOD stock for SOCOM.

Then there was the XM25 Wunderwaffen:

iu


Then the Hk XM8 was declared the new US Army modular weapon system:

iu

iu


Then came LSAT, which showed a lot of promise for lightweight ammo for SAW gunners:

iu


Then came the 7.62 NATO ICSR. Army Chief of Staff Mark Milley (now Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff), mentioned the need for it. In August of 2017, the Army issued a formal solicitation for 50,000 ICSR rifles chambered in 7.62 NATO.



NGSW was in development along that time.

iu


SIG was announced the winner of both the NGSW Rifle and Automatic Rifle. Vortex was announced the winner for the integrated fire control electro-optical aiming system.

SPIW (Cancelled for being too heavy, cumbersome, imbalanced, issues with the darts)
ACR (Cancelled after not showing much improvement over the M16A2)
XM25 (Cancelled after safety issues with the fusing, which detonated inside the system while a guy was firing it.)
XM8 (Cancelled for not showing enough improvement over M4, M4A1, CQBR.)
LSAT (Cancelled after challenges with scaling the medical grade polymers and dimensional uniformity required for mass production.)
ICSR (Cancelled due to weight, recoil, disinterest, failure to learn lessons from the past with 7.62 NATO.)
NGSW < (We are here right now. It’s totally going forward, a done deal.)

No matter what happens, the XM157 Fire Control System will be used by at least some Snipers and hopefully DMs, just like we got the XM148 and M203 from the SPIW program, ACOGs, Elcans, and SOPMOD stock from the ACR program, and the silly Hk Grenade Launcher from XM8. I also think the XM250 Automatic Rifle is going to be loved by NCOs who used to be SAW gunners. M240s are going to enjoy the increased performance of 6.8x51 barrels and lighter weight of the ammo.

IF this new ammunition works out, the technology will be used for future small arms cartridge configurations. That’s where the real game-changer is.

The heavy piston AR-10 carbine will be rejected by most of the duty positions within a Rifle Company, and the AARs and feedback from soldiers will show this. If they are forced to carry it, most will complain about how they wish they had their M4A1s back. One of the biggest AAR comments will be how soldiers can’t carry enough magazines to sustain the fight as they work through live fire exercises and field problems.
This reminds me of the... what was it, the Future Warrior stuff they came out with around 15 years ago? This whole ensemble with helmet HUDs and advanced comms and personal equipment and a uniform and even those fancy HK XM8s that got cancelled within a couple years. IIRC bits and pieces got off the ground in varying stages of adoption, but no branch ever materialized the entire setup. Except MAYBE the Air Force because it was mostly integrating new electronics into aircraft/equipment.

And by now a lot of the stuff touted in the program has been outclassed by newer stuff anyway while the rest has just been tossed aside. I think the Russians have a similar system they're using but again MOST of their military doesn't even get to use it.
 
Biggest problem for the XM7 even in the Rifle Squad is limited magazine depth plus more weight.

We’re back to the major problem they already knew with the M1903, M1 Garand, and M14, namely not enough rounds can be carried, and ammo and mag weight are too much. 5x 20rd 7.62 NATO mags sucks to carry even without armor on a minimalist chest rig.

With armor, it’s even worse. Joe has already had a hard time finding places for 5.56 mags while wearing armor, and units have decided to take the calculated risk of reducing the basic load even with 5.56 already, because of how armor has affected mobility.

Basic load of 5.56 NATO is 210 rounds or 7 mags.
Basic load with the M14 was 100 rounds, or 5 mags.

Many units in GWOT have cut down to 4 mags of 5.56 just to maintain some type of mobility.

A lot of people don’t know that Joe in the line Rifle Squad gets issued all kinds of additional Squad weapons and equipment, to include:

* Breacher shotguns and ammo
* Grenades
* Claymore mines (with firing wire and attached blasting cap, test kit, and clacker)
* AT4s or other Anti-Armor and Bunker-Defeat weapons (LAW-II, SMAW-D, NLAW)
* Additional first aid supplies in small medic bags
* Litters, either poleless or SKEDCOs
* Mortar rounds
* Linked ammo for the SAW or M240
* Breaching tools including bolt cutters, hooligan tools, and pry bars
* Ladders
* Mission-specific special items of equipment

A lot of those items get strapped to or stuffed inside an assault pack or ruck.

Joe is already maxed-out when carrying little 5.56 NATO mags and short carbines with 14.5” barrels. For Grenadiers, the last type of weapon you want is something the size of an AR-10. Not only do they need to carry mags for their primary weapon, but they also need to carry 40mm HE, HEDP, Smoke, etc. for the GL. Trying to find room on their kit for 20rd SPEAR mags and 40mm is going to suck way more than it already does.

Tier 1 units (guys who can out-shoot and out-perform anyone in the line and in SF) already tried rolling heavy with SR-25Ks on short duration mission profiles with high value aviation assets on the infil, CAS, and exfil supporting them, and still put that concept to bed very quickly. Dudes were using aviator’s kit bags stuffed with extra mags in the birds so they could avoid feeding from their own kit until out of the birds, and still struggled to maintain a basic load for actions on the objective. They were placing mag pouches on the backs of PCs and their armor and asking their buddies to pull a mag out for them constantly, which was just not a viable way to feed the 7.62 NATO carbines.

Now imagine you’re in 10th Mountain, 101st, 82nd, or 25th with way less of that dedicated aviation support and an assault pack full of other mission essentials. You might get a ride in on rotary wing and not be sure how you’re getting out 3 days later. A huge drop in round count combined with weight increases across the board sounds like a really bad way to start a mission.

Then look at all those other duty positions for RTOs, JTACs/TACPs, FOs, PLs, PSGs, Combat Medics, Drone guys, Combat Engineers, everyone in Weapons Squad not on a pig, and Mortars. I’ve been arguing for years now that all of those duty positions need something even smaller than the M4. An AR-10 carbine is a non-starter for all of them. Again, it comes back down to being useful for a few Snipers and maybe 1-2 DMs per Rifle Squad who have training, where the risk of reduced round count and added weight are favored based on METT-TC. But there isn’t any real money in a limited number of DMRs.
I don’t think it will. Scar 17 was never made to replace anything really.

7 mags?? What unit were you with? In the Corps our combats loads were more then 7 mags. I am talking Grunts though. With optics the M7 will be more effective. Especially when you factor in Machine gunners. I think many people on here don’t realize that things evolve. That is a good thing. It’s almost as if many of you are armchair quarterbacks and just expect it to fail ( some even come across and wanting it to fail). Combat arms and tactics evolve. I haven’t even been in since 2013 and it came along way from 2001-2013. Leaps and bounds. It will continue this trend. I know a lot of people can’t wrap your heads around it but things change and get better. Again, this is a great thing.
Everyone is complaining about the weight of the new weapon system. The biggest complaint about the Garand was its weight.

Why worry about the weight of the rifle? In today’s Army they don’t worry about the weight of the soldiers. So why worry about the weight of the rifle? Soldiers like these are going to fight in place. “Retreat hell! We can’t run!”


10542720_774758292575809_5921271336211484957_o-e1406575904394.jpg


502e0294eab8eaa94f000019
 
  • Like
Reactions: Master Gunny
7 mags was pretty standard in line Infantry units, but you could carry more, mission-dependent. In Recon Platoons and LRSC, we carried more, up to a double basic load (14 mags). In Corps LRSC, some of us would carry chest rigs over LCE. You could leave the LCE in the hide site and use the chest rig for R&S with enough mags to break contact according to whatever we had worked out for R&S patrol contingencies on contact. I got a British DPM chest rig and modified it with some additional small item pouches on the outside of the utility pouches.

I made or modified a lot of my own gear, to include taking off the useless pouches on LBVs and replacing them with better pouches made from 1000D Cordura. On my LBV, I had a large utility pouch on the side that could carry linked 7.62 NATO, a MELIOS LRF, 7.62 NATO mags when we had M21s, AK mags, 40mm, etc. I put all my own pouches on my IBA as well and had one of my Squads get Desert Camo pouches instead of the woodland crap we were issued.

None of the technological advancements address the critical factors I’m talking about though, which are weight and bulk. There isn’t any room to carry more mags that weigh more. LSAT addressed that with very lightweight ammo, but the cased telescoping rounds required medical grade polymer that would need to maintain extremely tight tolerances in scaled manufacturing, with significant implications for strategic materials and overhaul of the existing manufacturing infrastructure. The hybrid steel head/polymer body ammo that was submitted for NGSW had issues, but would have been great for reducing weight. The linked hybrid polymer ammo felt almost weightless. Still would have taken up too much space on your load-bearing gear.

As to how things evolve, I grew up in the developmental aerospace world mostly at the USAF Flight Test Center. None of these “new” technologies in small arms and their aiming systems come anywhere close to the solid state electronics fire control systems and sensors we had in the 1970s, and those were out-classed repeatedly over the past 40+ years. Small Arms don't get much priority compared to aviation, long range fires, armor, EW, comms, net-centric systems, NBC, etc.

If you think there is a lot of state-of-the-art technology in small arms, even the TGT designate feature in the XM157, your mind will be blown if you have the capacity to understand military aerospace systems. From propulsion to sensors, flight control systems, structures, materials science, computing, man machine interface, and systems engineering, it’s all so far ahead of anything in small arms as to be almost from another planet. That is especially true with propulsion, structures, and sensors, which would have the most relevant application to small arms. They’re too expensive for small arms, so small arms gets left at a lower priority.
 
This reminds me of the... what was it, the Future Warrior stuff they came out with around 15 years ago? This whole ensemble with helmet HUDs and advanced comms and personal equipment and a uniform and even those fancy HK XM8s that got cancelled within a couple years. IIRC bits and pieces got off the ground in varying stages of adoption, but no branch ever materialized the entire setup. Except MAYBE the Air Force because it was mostly integrating new electronics into aircraft/equipment.

And by now a lot of the stuff touted in the program has been outclassed by newer stuff anyway while the rest has just been tossed aside. I think the Russians have a similar system they're using but again MOST of their military doesn't even get to use it.
When I showed up to the 82nd in 2000, they just happened to have the Airborne Land Warrior Test Platoon in my Battalion, and I ended up in that Company. The Helmet-Mounted Display was integrated with a ruggedized mouse pad that wrapped around the mag well on the M4. You could scroll through different headers and call for fire without even breaking squelch. With a LRF attached to the M4, you could laze a target and have an immediate 10-digit grid to it based on polar plot since you had GPS integrated into an iPhone sized aluminum box built into the vest that was also the squad Radio. The 42-man Land Warrior Test Platoon completed the EIB Land Nav course in 45 minutes, 100% points found, because you could just run and see yourself on the map.

I was used to running EIB Land Nav committee because I got my EIB first time back when I was a PFC. No matter what duty station I was at, I always ended up on EIB until I was a SSG. We never had any group even come close to 100% GO on Land Nav. There were always dudes getting lost, coming in late, and I think it was 4hr time allotted to find 5 points spread out over a pretty large piece of terrain, usually at least 9-14 grid squares, depending on duty station.

I was very skeptical of Land Warrior when I first saw it on the cover of Soldier’s Magazine in 1994 or 1995, but that was just a proof of concept demonstrator with giant co-ax cables and huge battery boxes on some poor Joe’s back. They proceeded to scale it all down to where it was actually viable, but we had problems with the batteries and moisture exposure. We were down at JRTC coming out of the box stated for exfil when one of the guy’s Land Warrior systems batteries went off like an M18 smoke grenade. That’s what I though it was at first, and he frantically ditched his whole vest, which melted from the battery fire.

Looked like this back then:

iu
 
When I showed up to the 82nd in 2000, they just happened to have the Airborne Land Warrior Test Platoon in my Battalion, and I ended up in that Company. The Helmet-Mounted Display was integrated with a ruggedized mouse pad that wrapped around the mag well on the M4. You could scroll through different headers and call for fire without even breaking squelch. With a LRF attached to the M4, you could laze a target and have an immediate 10-digit grid to it based on polar plot since you had GPS integrated into an iPhone sized aluminum box built into the vest that was also the squad Radio. The 42-man Land Warrior Test Platoon completed the EIB Land Nav course in 45 minutes, 100% points found, because you could just run and see yourself on the map.

I was used to running EIB Land Nav committee because I got my EIB first time back when I was a PFC. No matter what duty station I was at, I always ended up on EIB until I was a SSG. We never had any group even come close to 100% GO on Land Nav. There were always dudes getting lost, coming in late, and I think it was 4hr time allotted to find 5 points spread out over a pretty large piece of terrain, usually at least 9-14 grid squares, depending on duty station.

I was very skeptical of Land Warrior when I first saw it on the cover of Soldier’s Magazine in 1994 or 1995, but that was just a proof of concept demonstrator with giant co-ax cables and huge battery boxes on some poor Joe’s back. They proceeded to scale it all down to where it was actually viable, but we had problems with the batteries and moisture exposure. We were down at JRTC coming out of the box stated for exfil when one of the guy’s Land Warrior systems batteries went off like an M18 smoke grenade. That’s what I though it was at first, and he frantically ditched his whole vest, which melted from the battery fire.

Looked like this back then:

iu
Found the basic picture of the Land Warrior system ca 2006. Doesn't include any rifle changes or some of the extra armor I've seen in places, but he's got the HUD goggles and the weird plate carrier that I guess has a hard plastic battery cage under the separate plate pocket? From a distance he wouldn't look THAT much different from a contemporary soldier who ponied up for some private purchase gear and a pair of Crye trousers. But I'd guess that no soldier who tried that plate carrier setup or those bulky goggles liked them very much.
Army.mil-2006-10-04-091542.jpg