Kinda Funny Actually...

Given as I would /far/ rather carry an extra liter of gasoline or another battery for a TALON/SWORDS type escort bot which /doesn't mind/ hefting a bloody triplet of .50 caliber SPRs on it's back.

Than try to mount a .22 caliber assault rifle with an 'in case I miss compensator' over top that is little more than an acknowledgement of the inferior caliber.

The sights I'm pretty neutral about (though I don't want weight over the muzzle if I can avoid it). 99.999% of humans, including those nominally deserving to wear a CI badge, DO NOT HAVE the stressed-reaction marksmanship capabilities to engage targets at ranges over about 100-150m with a varmit gun.

With this in mind, let's 'fix things'.

1. Up the caliber on your weapon. Preferrably to 8-10mm within a short, rectangular, CT round that is hard to copy. Make it positive shouldering (brass on the front) so that you can piston-push HARD from ahead of the round to get the entire case out, no matter what.

Go back to a mid-range (2,100 to 2,500fps = more than an SMG) mv with sliding receiver group burst compensation like on the Russian AK-94 in trade for better knockdown round inertias and a helluva lot bigger keyhole.

2. INCREASE THE ROUND COUNT ON YOUR WEAPON. Preferably by a mechanical worm or EM tape drive on long stick-mags, but also with dual well as an option. I don't need a builtin carrying case if the rifle is still a 30round popgun. A bigger beast I can learn to handle provided less carry weight is wasted on the idiocy of mags you can't get to in the first instants of an engagement when you often need to out-azimuth as much as last your opponents (multiple) ambush fires.

Let's leave Ronnie The Robot do the extended range/suppression engagement and preferrably the smoke-screen mortar mission too so that it's STABILIZED I2R SIGHTS, LOW PROFILE, AND UTTER LACK OF FEAR become the driving factor in fights with RCL or Mortars on mountain-tops a klick or more downrange.

IMO, conventional infantry should be seen as short range escort/assault shooters designed to kill popup threats closein and hold-ground occupation elements to prevent overrun on _secure logistics_ (underarmor) mech forces at the combat halt. As such, they are more akin to SWAT than LRRP and their engagement range and killing capability should reflect this.

Especially in MOUT, you need good kills, quickly. To avoid unnecessary collaterals. That means limited autofire and very tight groupings over a SHORT period.

Do all of the above, and I will take a weight/complexity trade. But I don't need a blooper and a bloody hood ornament on my rifle 'just to make me feel more adequate'. I need a round that kills, first time, through body armor, which I can swing the muzzle fast and sharp enough to be survivable in the fights where I can SEE my targets. Under 200m.

A heavy barrel weapon with more MV energy might be acceptable for those designated as unit snipers.


KPl.

I think the AN94 is the best of all rifles to vs advanced body amour. When you set it on 2 round burst the first bullet might be stopped but the second i think will go through.

Peh, like what are the auses going to do with this?

May as well have it in Canadas hands, or I know switzerland.

Originally posted by Lonestar24
Yes, the whole barrel has to be replaced. AFAIK the barrels then have to be sent back to a Metalstorm workshop to be refilled.

Incorrect.

If you watch the demo film they show the launcher being reloaded. The steps are:

1. Slide the barrel assembly forward.

2. Slide in the 3 rounds nose first, each one has what appears to be a plastic cup at the base to protect the nose of the following round.

3. Slide the barrel assembly back into place. Spring loaded locking latch clicks for a positive detente.

4. Shoot

This weapon is a real winner, the only drawback in my opinion will be the lack of commonality with existing grenades in the US inventory which gives you a significant logistical problem. My guess is that Special Forces will buy it.

[edit on 23-9-2007 by Retseh]