K.a.c. Pdw!??!

[Evil Monkey]

Knights Armament Company has a new PDW that uses a 6mmx35mm cartridge with the bullet weighing 65 grains! That's not a PDW, it's still a rifle! Not that it is bad or anything.

http://www.knightarmco.com/pdw.html

The 5.7x28mm FN uses a 31gr round and the 4.6x30mm HK uses a 25gr round. Not only does the 6x35mm KAC bullet weigh more but the case is also longer, allowing for more propellant. I assume this 6mm KAC round definitely outclasses the HK and FN rounds right?

So now a PDW exists in between the HK & FN rounds and the good old 5.56mm.

The hell with them all, just issue out 10 inch barreled compact assault rifles or bullpup carbines.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Not new... in fact a couple of years old. Cool concept but I think the proprietary cartridge is going to be a drag on it.

 

[Evil Monkey]

more info...
http://www.sofmag.com/news/permalink1/2006/11/7/2318133612237.html

I think it wont be going anywhere too because of the proprietary cartridge. It's not like you can use that 6mm in a pistol to warrant replacing 9mm. Neither is it designed to be a primary fighting cartridge.

 

[HorseSoldier]

I agree with the other posters on the proprietary cartridge being a critical flaw with the whole idea. The cartridge may be significantly better from a 10" barrel than 5.56mm from the same barrel length, but gives up logistical commonality with magazines, ammunition (and I have to wonder how fast KAC could even deliver, say, 100,000 or 200,000 rounds for training or operational use) and such.

Seems like a minus that might outweigh whatever pluses it brings to the table (kind of like what happened with 6.8 Rem SPC). Maybe if someone like Blackwater jumps on the bandwagon wholesale it might get some momentum, but I don't think the money angle works any better for them than it would for the military.

 

[PercyShelley]

I would keep in mind that all other PDWs being peddled right now also have proprietary cartridges, and rather weak ones at that.

I can see this being just the thing for motorcycle cops though.

 

[bl4ckd0g]

I'm diggin' that barrel. Wouldn't mind seeing that style of a barrel on a normal AR- unless I'm not looking hard enough.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Blackdog, several custom barrel makers will offer the golf-ball dimpling on barrels; but the price is pretty obscene because of the difficulty of doing it by hand. I know AR15 Barrels.com has done it in the past, though I gather from his comments afterwards that he wasn't looking forward to doing it again in the future.