M-16 Era Ends: Army's 101st Airborne Division Receives Next-Gen Assault Rifles

[Picton]

That’s the truth, but 600 rounds is the standard loadout for the 249 SAW. 400 rounds is standard for the Mk48 (7.62x51 version of the SAW).

M240 machine gunners, assistant gunners, and mortarmen have it much worse. Nevermind the poor saps doing mine clearing or tactical SIGINT.

Oh, but some units spread that pain. Everybody hauls mortar and MG ammo in the airborne.

I wouldn’t say 308 is optimal in just about anything. But if I were relegated to one rifle and one rifle alone for both general security and hunting in North America, it would probably be a 308

Yeah, me too. That's kind of why I think of it as optimal. Might not be the best word, though.