It was 8-10 from what I remember. You still have two carry 2 mortar rounds, 40 mm grenades, and hand grenades. Weight does matter very much. Very few of us went to the mountain warfare training center to learn about shooting at different elevations, so we didn't have much success at longer ranges. In Iraq, the fighting was done in the street instead of wide open spaces. A bigger round would've meant more muzzle jump. I'd rather have quick follow up shots.

M-14's were an Army program, and even then I rarely saw them. Maybe 1 or 2 on base.

I get that you're loaded down. Heck, just going out on an all day hunt, in Terrel county, I carry 10 pounds of water.

Tonight I am going to weigh a loaded 5.56mm, and a loaded 6.5 Grendel. Multiply by 300 rounds, and see what the weight increase is, in pounds.

I find when people talk about the latest hot rod round to replace the 5.56, they leave out the human factor. It is only an academic comparison. The 6.5 weighs a few grams more than 5.56.

We walked up to 20 kilometers a day 1 or 2 more pounds wouldn’t have hurt a thing. We already had mine detectors, full kit, grenades, extra ammo, 3 heavy azz packs that jammed radio waves, other devices to find command wire that lead to IEDs, and the list goes on. Litterally after the first couple weeks of carrying all that crap we got use to it for the most part so 2 extra pounds wouldn’t have made a lick of difference.

I don't think you carried three packs (or all of that gear) at once. A couple more pounds does add up and hurt your agility. However, the equivalent 300 7.62 round count would add almost 9 lbs. That figure doesn't account for the weight of the magazines; so you can probably add another 1-2 lbs on top of that. We both hiked up mountains that were steep enough to reach out and touch the side of. I know how taxing it is, and how every ounce does matter.

my dismount team had 3 packs not 3 per person lmao. I’ve carried the M14 and full load a few times not that bad really except the weapon is kinda long and a pain in the arse. What hurt agility was IOTV/plate carrier and Kevlar underwear with inserts and then the combat diaper on the outside. I never said anything about carrying 7.62 the discussion was about 6.5 or my favorite 6.8. You carry something enough you get use to it.

The 5.56 is a kid round. I've said for the last 20 years, if they wanted to send me into battle with that puny thing, I would figure out a way to get something that was larger, that would do some damage.

"Academic" is one way to put it. Simple fact of the matter is, once you're loaded down with 100 pounds, whats 2 more for a way more effective cartridge?

I started out wearing steel tank SCBA. Then went to composite, then went to wire frame (very light) then went to buddy breathing plumbing, and we are back to 25 pounds. Like Sapper said, once you have to carry a few more pounds, you get used to it. Because you don't have any choice in the matter.

M14 scout should do the trick if the 556 isnt enough round for you however an HK416 would be the best and most reliable AR rifle we could hand our boys in combat so I think it is a superior choice. Heckler&Koch make high quality products and that is a step in the right direction for sure. I heard of this several years ago I hope it hasnt taken this long to get it done.

it will prob be a few more years before most line units actually get their hands on them, at least that’s how it worked with the M4

"Kevlar underwear with inserts"...while I suppose the frank and beans would appreciate it when called for I sure don't think that sounds very comfortable at all...

it’s not at all. The Kevlar inserts cover your artery on the inside of your thigh and the outside part it suppose to protect the family jewels when you step on a dismount IED.

5.56mm, with a 69 gr bullet = 193.7 gr

193.7 gr X 210 rounds = 40,677 gr.

40,677 gr ÷ 7000 = 5.811 pounds of ammo

6.5 Grendel with a 130 gr bullet = 275 gr.

275 gr X 210 rounds = 57,750 gr.

57,750 gr ÷ 7000 = 6.81 pounds of ammo

G.I. mag weighs 3.96 oz. or .2475 pound.

.2475 pound X 7 mags = 1.733 pounds

But you can only get 25 rounds of Grendel in it, and nobody wants to carry LESS ammo than they were. So lets go 8 mags, and 25 rounds times 8, so 1.98 pounds of mags.

25 rounds X 8 = 200 rounds

200 rounds × 227 gr = 6.49 pounds of ammo

200 rounds 6.5 Grendel and 8 mags:
8.47 pounds

210 rounds 5.56mm and 7 mags:
7.54 pounds


Sapper,
You willing to carry one more pound of loaded mags?

wouldn’t hurt a thing to add 1 pound.

While we are buying new rifles and changing cartridges, how about going with a FN SCAR with a 7mm UIAC?