So recently it was announced that the United States Military is replacing the 5.56x45 NATO cartridge along with the M4 Carbine in favor of the cutting-edge 6.8x51 Common Cartridge (aka .277 Fury) and SIG MCX Spear.
Ever since then, I've been seeing an increasing spread of the sentiment that the .223/5.56 was always in ineffective cartridge and to a lesser extent that the AR-15 was always an overrated Rifle which was only suitable for use against varmints.
I am puzzled by this because previously both the 5.56 and AR-15 seemed to be universally adored as well as highly praised. So it leaves me wondering whether it was simply well liked in circles I was a part of, if it is simply no longer trendy, or if long-time haters are just coming out of the woodwork to slam the 5.56/AR-15 now that it's being replaced by the military.
Or heck, did I miss some sort of memo about how the firearms community is supposed to band together in an attempt to convince anti-gunners to finally leave the AR-15 alone by pushing the SIG MCX Spear as the heir apparent? Because if so, then I can get behind that, but that doesn't seem to be the case here.
So what do you say? Is the .223/5.56 just an overrated varmint cartridge which has absolutely no place whatsoever in the hands of anyone who takes their personal protection seriously?
Ever since then, I've been seeing an increasing spread of the sentiment that the .223/5.56 was always in ineffective cartridge and to a lesser extent that the AR-15 was always an overrated Rifle which was only suitable for use against varmints.
I am puzzled by this because previously both the 5.56 and AR-15 seemed to be universally adored as well as highly praised. So it leaves me wondering whether it was simply well liked in circles I was a part of, if it is simply no longer trendy, or if long-time haters are just coming out of the woodwork to slam the 5.56/AR-15 now that it's being replaced by the military.
Or heck, did I miss some sort of memo about how the firearms community is supposed to band together in an attempt to convince anti-gunners to finally leave the AR-15 alone by pushing the SIG MCX Spear as the heir apparent? Because if so, then I can get behind that, but that doesn't seem to be the case here.
So what do you say? Is the .223/5.56 just an overrated varmint cartridge which has absolutely no place whatsoever in the hands of anyone who takes their personal protection seriously?