On Tue, 18 Apr 2006 20:51:00 -0400, DSK wrote:


snipped a bunch.

Long time ago, the story was that the U.S. military picked
.223 in preference to .308 so as to wound enemy soldiers
rather than kill. Not out of humanity but because that way 2
of the wounded guy's buddies carry him to the rear, so 3 bad
guys leave the fight. Another reason was so that wimpy U.S.
men could pack more bullets into the fight.



Regards
Doug King


Actually, the story was that the M-16 (and the army version AR15?) was
significantly lighter and easier to field strip than the M-14 that it
replaced and all other potential replacements. That was the goal. I
was an armorer at the time and can attest to the fact that they were
right. Both could kill effectively but the M-16 was a lot easier to
carry.

Only problem was the initial production did poorly in the mud. Jammed
regularly. And the initial OJT proving ground was a mud hole. Troops
initially hated it for that reason.

Frank