british army rifle caliber

[rusty bubbles]

Would you say that 5mm is way too small a caliber for a military rifle?

It's only .22 after all- and I'm sure I remember accounts of Argentine soldiers

failing to go down when hit by these bullets,during the Falklands war-

btw- what is the current US army rifle caliber?

Appreciate any input-

Rusty

 

[moonpie]

the same

 

[briansmithwins]

You do realize the standard rifle of both sides of the Falklands campaign was the FAL.

They also both used the MAG if I recall correctly.

BSW

 

[o Unforgiven o]

The current US military rifle caliber is the 5.56 mm NATO.

 

[rcmodel]

As is all NATO member country's, including Great Briton.

The standard MG is also 5.56 NATO, unless it is 7.62 NATO (.308) or .50 cal BMG.

Don't believe all you hear about the 5.56 bouncing off enemy solders without harming them!!

rc

 

[Jeremy2171]

I'm sure I remember accounts of Argentine soldiers failing to go down when hit by these bullets,during the Falklands war-

Rusty

You are more than welcome to step out to 500yds and lets see how you feel after I pop you with a 5.56 M855 fmj....

You won't like it.....you might even feel encouraged to take a dirt nap....

 

[RugerMcMarlin]

I'm making an effort to be more THR, but I would say a solid hit is a solid hit.

I've noticed threads in shotgun and handguns also offering to shoot each other, I would suggest ballistic gel works too, plus you still have somebody to argue with.

 

[Jim Watson]

Before they got smart and adopted the 5.56 so we could supply them with guns and ammo the the next time the shooting started, as we have in the past; the British were looking at a 4.85mm assault rifle. You can still get the caliber (although not the chamber) as the .19 Calhoun.

 

[rusty bubbles]

Thanks guys for your valued info-I really did not know how widely used that caliber is-

I gotta stop sneering

rusty

 

[mr.trooper]

Please do.

While you are at it, read up on practical ballistics. Bullet diameter is only a small slice of the pie.

 

[Quiet]

After WW2, the British developed the .280Brit (7x43mm Mk1Z) as a replacement cartridge for the .303Brit. The EM2 (No9Mk1) rifle was developed in conjunction with the .280Brit.

The UK was set on adopting the .280Brit and the EM2, but due to NATO standardization, they adopted the 7.62x51mm & L-1A1 (inch patterned semi-auto only FAL) instead.

During the Falklands conflict, both sides used variations of the 7.62x51mm FAL.

The first Gulf War, was the first time the UK military used 5.56x45mm rifles (SA-80 {L85A1}) in combat. After the Gulf War, due to constant reliability issues, H&K was consulted and rebuilt the SA-80 system. The UK military currently uses the SA-80A2 {L-85A2} as it's standard issue rifle.


During the 1950s, NATO decided to standardized to the 7.62x51mm as the main rifle cartridge. During the 1960s, most NATO countries had complied with the standardization and adopted 7.62x51mm rifles (mostly variants of the FN FAL or H&K G3).
During the 1970s, NATO decided to standardized to the 5.56x45mm as the main rifle cartridge. During the 1980s, most NATO countries had complied with the standardization and adopted 5.56x45mm rifles (almost all of which uses STANAG magazines).

 

[courier de bois]

The Falklands War was 1981, the 5.56 NATO L85A1 wasn't issued beyond trial stage until 1986. The early 1950's .270 cal bullpup was only an experiment, few were made, I don't think any were ever issued. It 'would have been' a bit more powerfull than the 223 Gene Stoner's design took. That didn't become NATO standard 5.56 till the mid 1970's I think? Yes, both UK and Argentines used an FAL, almost identical, but since UK used the 'inch' pattern L1A1 and 2's, and Argentina the metric pattern, either's captured ammo was interchangable, but the magazines weren't. Personally, I wouldn't want to get shot with ANY calibre...

 

[Limey46]

Re the Falklands, just for the record, Argy mags would fit in Brit guns but Brit mags wouldn't fit in Argies. Also, not everyone was shooting 7.62 and 9mm. Brit SAS and SBS teams carried M16s.

 

[RugerMcMarlin]

The 5.56 is more than accurate enough, and pretty damn lethal out to practical range. It was determined by 10 or 12 countries, about 1890-1900 that .30 cal was optimum for main battle rifle. .280 Ross close enough. That said my preference for 7.62 over 5.56, is that there is a lot wider difference between cover and concealment. And I have never heard of 5.56 bouncing off anyone in any conflict. I have , however heard equally stupid crap from the NEWS MEDIA. And I'd bet a buck thats where you heard it.