For all those fans out there of the M4 carbine, here is some disturbing news:
"Reports have been surfacing regarding the effectiveness of the 62-grain M855 (SS 109) against Taliban and al Qaeda personnel, specifically when fired from the 14.5-inch barreled M4 carbine. In various regions of the world, the "Sammies" (from the Mog), the bearded ones of the Hindu Kush, and other adversaries have taken solid 5.56X45mm hits and kept moving. It has even taken, in some cases, multiple hits to persuade them to cease and desist.
The 5.56mm round is very effective in the CQB environment, which the British have professionally defined as 100 meters and in. The M4 performs well in that short-range role, but infantry shoulder weapons need to be more flexible than that. However, beyond that intimate range, the terminal ballistic capability of the heavier M855 round to drop a 'tango' and keep him there appears to be questionable, particularly when released from barrels shorter than 16 to 20 inches.
Barrel length has a direct effect on velocity. The longer barrel permits propellants to burn more completely and gives the 55/62-grain bullet more time to build up crucial velocity. The M855 is handicapped inthe beginning. Being heavier, it leaves the barrel at 200 feet per second less than the M193 (55-grain), severely limiting its maximum range for fragmentation. Add a shorter barrel to the ballistic mix and the M855 in the M4 becomes a non-contender past 45 to 50 meters. With a 200 fps advantage, the M193 stretches fragmenting capabilities to 95 to 100 meters. If you are engaging targets beyond the century mark (as in open-desert warfare), acquire a 20-inch barreled M16 rifle, or better still, find an M14.
Recently, due to the M855's shortcomings, a special military unit has dropped their M4s and acquired the DSA SA58 FAL rifle in 7.62X51mm.
I belive the answer to the barrel length problem and restricted fragmentation range with short and more compact carbines is to go to a bullpup design. The obvious advantages have been lost on the U.S. military, even though Australia, Austria, New Zealand, France, Great Britain, China, Singapore and gun-savvy Israel, to name a few, have adopted the bullpup assault rifle."
There is much more to report, but I thought this initial information would be enlightening.
-The Crow
