5.56 NATO

[Pheroze]

Not directly a hunting discussion. But, my usual research on cartridges sidetracked to this one. There seems to be a lot of controversy about it vs 7.62, or some other new intermediate replacement. Is this discussion similar to our usual "mono metal vs lead vs velocity" type debate, or is there a crisis for the soldiers that is being created by bureaucratic decision making and cost reduction? An parallel I noted in one article was that the effectiveness of this round depends on speed and bullet fracture - like the newer brass hollow nose hunting bullets.

 

[Ray B]

As to the combat effectiveness of the 5.56 one point that is often overlooked is what those on the receiving end of it think. During the Vietnam conflict the US had the 5.56/M16 while the adversaries had the 7.62x39/AK&SKs. Each side seeing the damage inflicted by their opponents bullets, thought the opponents bullets were better. So the US looked into making bigger bullets, the Communist Pact looked into making smaller bullets- both for the same reason.