Currently the caliber of the M-16 is .223/.565 mm Nato but its come under fire as underpowered. Which multipupose caliber do you think should replace it? 6mm? .762? some wildcat? or something else chicom?

6.8 has the accrucy of the 5.56 with the knock down power of the 7.62 without the recoil of the 7.62.

The round is a Nato round and this is where the problems begin, every Nato Nation has tooled their the factories and assembly lines to the small 5.56mm and sure you could re tool and have a new caliber. and then we go back to the drawing board to get the the 7.62 .308 back into service it would not be hard to do this but we would still be going in circles meaning that we take the dust off the m-14 that I don't think would happen, what I see happening is a full capacity full 360 turn with the m-4 going into production forseeing the emergence of the new rifle into the Nato tooing of the heavier bullet. and with it a person with this weapon is now a more functioning in to the many roles that the heavier bullet will take the soldier carrying this weapon for now he can effectivly take out lightly armoured vehicles and close range and for long distance shooting

Editing my question... 5.65, and 7.62 for the sticklers out there.

The 5.56mm tumbles when it hits flesh and makes a nasty exit wound Ive never heard anyone complain about it.

The military has adopted a better performing bullet and powder combination within the same cartridge nomenclature (instead of trying to fix what wasn't really broken in the first place.) The 5.56-mm ball M855 (A059) cartridge has a gilding, metal-jacketed, lead alloy core bullet with a steel penetrator, this is a 62 grain bullet which is acceptably effective in most cases, in current use and I really don't see why we should change EVERYTHING when the overall package is already pretty danged good. If you want to blow up tanks use an anti tank weapon, for killing men a simple bullet will suffice.

I think with the volume of 5.56x45 chambered guns on the market and in storage, parts and manuals, training and logistics, it will be unlikely to get all of NATO to agree to change. It would be easier to improve tactics, training and methods. Shoot more accurately at well chosen targets rather than send more ammunition down range.

I heard that the M16 is being re-chambered to shoot the 30-06