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Posted: 10/9/2025 12:36:01 PM EDT
[Last Edit: pb57][Edited]
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Interesting that these have ben assigned NSN's, with the XM7/XM250 supposedly entering service. Haven't heard a lot of info on these: https://fnamerica.com/press-releases/fn-delivers-weapon-system-test-samples-to-dods-irregular-warfare-technical-support- directorate/ "NSNs Assigned to Select Variants Three variants of the LICC-IWS have been assigned national stock numbers (NSNs) and are available for requisition by Army, Navy, Marine, Air Force and SOCOM elements and activities. The three variants currently available for request are a 12.5” Close Quarters Battle option, a 14.5” Carbine option and an 18.0” Designated Marksmanship Rifle option, along with two suppressors supporting the system. The NSNs are: NSN 1005-01-729-0039, FN IMPROVED PERFORMANCE CARBINE 12.5 IN CQB WITH BII* NSN 1005-01-729-0052, FN IMPROVED PERFORMANCE CARBINE 14.5 IN CQB WITH BII* NSN 1005-01-729-0046, FN IMPROVED PERFORMANCE CARBINE 18.12 IN REECE (sic) WITH BII* NSN 1005-01-728-9868, SUPPRESSOR, FLOW 264 FOR IMPROVED PERFORMANCE CARBINE NSN 1005-01-728-9874, SUPPRESSOR, FLOW 7.62 FOR IMPROVED PERFORMANCE CARBINE" |
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Even if this custom 6.5x43 mm cartridge is never adopted, the platform seems very appealing when using rounds like 6.5 Grendel, 6 mm ARC etc. I am sure they could give us a 5.56 version lightened up to compete with the HK 416 and DI ARs. Edited to add: FN would sell the crap out of this platform if they can give us 1000 round cases of steel cased 6.5x43 for under $500 a case   
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Elite Soviet Democrat
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Reading about them, actually sounds like a reasonable compromise between the 5.56 and 7.62 without the retarded overengineering in the M7. 62k psi chamber pressure as well, so not the insane 80k of the 6.8. FN apparently is also pushing it for NATO standardization which they are pretty good at. Maybe after NGSW program fails, this is the backup plan. I’m sure it’s every bit as expensive though.  it’s just a better idea in general overall.Now get HK to make a 416/417 variant (416 and a half) and it’d do well in Europe too! |
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Opinions are my own and not the views of my employers, organizations, or other associated people.
Opinions are my own and not the views of my employers, organizations, or other associated people.
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Remember the Brits pushed for .280 (7x43mm) instead of the German 7.92x33 Kurz for the FAL. We Americans made NATO adopt the .308 (7.62x51) round. Maybe this 6.5x43 round will dethrone the Army’s 6.8x51 program for good. Seriously though. The Army and SOCOM are fielding way too many AR-10 variants in .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor (Seekins SP-10, KAC, LMT MRGG-A, Geissele MRGG-S, SCAR 17/20, the HK 417 (Army SASS)) and now 6 mm ARC experiments. They really need to slim things down to one caliber for general purpose use. Either stick with 5.56 NATO or pick something like the 6.5x43 round for your belt fed and assault rifle systems. Keep 6.5 Creedmoor, .300 Win Mag, .338 Lapua for sniper rifles and pick one caliber for medium machineguns (like 7.62 NATO). I still don’t know who can afford .300/.338 Norma Magnum belt feds at this juncture in time. |
Elite Soviet Democrat
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That .280 round would have been pretty ideal from the get-go. I mean, I love the .308 Cold War battle rifles from a historical perspective but in retrospect, a truly intermediate round in that time period would have been game changing. Would we have gotten the 5.56? Alternate history! Yeah, the logistics for all the variations in small arms and their ammunition the US military is dabbling in is utterly asinine. Make sure we ship the 5.56, 7.62, 6.8, 6.5, .338NM, .300WM, 9 supplies to the front! It’s the mil-ind complex exposed. Too many weapons with overlapping purposes, too many rounds solving the same problems. Somehow we managed to fight World War 2 across the world with 45, 30C, and 30-06. Even the weird crap the USMC dabbled with in the early Pacific campaigns (Reisings, Johnsons) shared the same ammo. Maybe that’s a simplistic view but we could definitely be converging on a smaller subset of ideal options. But hey, the taxpayer is footing the bill for that MMG chambered in five dollar bills, so who cares? |
Support the Firearms Policy Coalition and help save the Second Amendment: https://www.firearmspolicy.org
Opinions are my own and not the views of my employers, organizations, or other associated people.
Opinions are my own and not the views of my employers, organizations, or other associated people.
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