niaz
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Debate of whether to use larger 7.62 x 51 round or smaller 5.56 x45 round has been going around in among the NATO forces for a long time along with the argument of semi-automatic versus fully automatic.
I admit that I have only fired bolt action rifles on the occasional deer shoot in Scotland because UK licensing laws don’t allow self-loading firearms for private use. Therefore I am only speaking with second hand references. However I had been member of the RAC club at Pell Mell for many years where I came across quite a few retired British Army & Navy Officers.
During the Falkland war, UK Military was using LIA1 SLR (FN FAL) semi-automatic rifle with the standard NATO 7.62 x 51 rounds. When I inquired as to why they did not use fully automatic version; it was explained to me that the semi-automatic setting is plenty fast and you have total control of the weapon; actual difference between emptying 20 round L1A1 rifle on semi-automatic or fully automatic mode being only about 4 seconds.
Additionally, on full automatic mode, large round of say 7.62 calibre tends the rifle muzzle to move upwards and therefore causes wastage of ammunition. Standard UK Army issue was ‘semi-automatic’ because of its accuracy and less wastage. However there is no denying that on short-range (less than 50 meters) and when ambushed by the enemy, automatic fire is needed. That is why most modern military rifles have built-in semi as well as fully auto option. In my view, both the 7.62 x 51 and 7.62 x 39 firing rifles would suffer from the same problem. Hence there is little to choose between the two calibres.
Understandably, for a soldier in the middle of a fire fight “not” running out of ammunition is extremely important. Disadvantage of being on full auto is that most soldiers don't aim; they just spray bullets all over the place and run out of ammunition sooner.
In addition to having lesser ‘kick’; smaller 5.56 calibre bullets have the big advantage of being lighter and therefore a soldier can carry more of them. In this case it is a choice between ensuring that the enemy is sufficiently incapacitated after being hit by a single bullet that he is not to able to fire back and being able to carry more ammo.
Even though I have firm belief that Pak Army ammo experts know best; I am glad that they are keeping the 7.62 round. Because I have seen the effects of a 7 mm bullet on the deer at the distance of 70 – 80 meters and I would go for a 7.62 round especially over the hilly terrain or on sandy flats.
I admit that I have only fired bolt action rifles on the occasional deer shoot in Scotland because UK licensing laws don’t allow self-loading firearms for private use. Therefore I am only speaking with second hand references. However I had been member of the RAC club at Pell Mell for many years where I came across quite a few retired British Army & Navy Officers.
During the Falkland war, UK Military was using LIA1 SLR (FN FAL) semi-automatic rifle with the standard NATO 7.62 x 51 rounds. When I inquired as to why they did not use fully automatic version; it was explained to me that the semi-automatic setting is plenty fast and you have total control of the weapon; actual difference between emptying 20 round L1A1 rifle on semi-automatic or fully automatic mode being only about 4 seconds.
Additionally, on full automatic mode, large round of say 7.62 calibre tends the rifle muzzle to move upwards and therefore causes wastage of ammunition. Standard UK Army issue was ‘semi-automatic’ because of its accuracy and less wastage. However there is no denying that on short-range (less than 50 meters) and when ambushed by the enemy, automatic fire is needed. That is why most modern military rifles have built-in semi as well as fully auto option. In my view, both the 7.62 x 51 and 7.62 x 39 firing rifles would suffer from the same problem. Hence there is little to choose between the two calibres.
Understandably, for a soldier in the middle of a fire fight “not” running out of ammunition is extremely important. Disadvantage of being on full auto is that most soldiers don't aim; they just spray bullets all over the place and run out of ammunition sooner.
In addition to having lesser ‘kick’; smaller 5.56 calibre bullets have the big advantage of being lighter and therefore a soldier can carry more of them. In this case it is a choice between ensuring that the enemy is sufficiently incapacitated after being hit by a single bullet that he is not to able to fire back and being able to carry more ammo.
Even though I have firm belief that Pak Army ammo experts know best; I am glad that they are keeping the 7.62 round. Because I have seen the effects of a 7 mm bullet on the deer at the distance of 70 – 80 meters and I would go for a 7.62 round especially over the hilly terrain or on sandy flats.
