I understand it will have significantly more recoil, and the magazines will hold 5 less rounds, thereby meaning an individual soldiers load out will be 35rds smaller. I understand the ammunition will also be significantly heavier.

I further understand that introducing a new cartridge will complicate logistics and supply chains.

In a military context these things matter far, far more than the ballistic coefficient of a projectile.

There are squad designated marksmen in every US squad, so this is potentially very relevant even at the infantry squad level.

Also, the US Army NGSW program calls for super hotrodded cartridges that push the envelope of technical viability (Sigs 6.8mm 85k psi round being a prime example- I believe the civilian designation is .277 Fury). Is this a fall back position if the NGSW fails? Does the military see it as a potential re-chambering for 7.62mm M240 machine guns? These are all 100% viable questions, and they are all directly relevant to the infantry.

Or is this a new sniper round. In which case, why are we even comparing it to 5.56mm ballistics at all? In that case the proper rounds to compare it to are 6.5 bleedmore, 7.62mm NATO and .300 win mag, all of which the military is currently using in that role.

As far as important opinions, the DoD asks for all kinds of, quite honestly, idiotic things. At great tax payer expense. Which is another valid reason to question this round, considering that we are in the middle of an economic melt down and the Pentagon is sure to see greatly reduced budgets next year. And we are all tax payers here.

Finally, I would say the bottom line of a discussion forum is to discuss things. Not for one dominant grouchy old buck to try to shut down conversation, for reasons known only to him. I am pretty sure that is not how any of this is supposed to work.

Also, what role would you or anyone else see this round filling from a hunting perspective? What does it do new, that some existing round is not already doing?