gatnerd said:

Would be fun to see match 5.45 handloads vs match 5.56 for an AK74 vs M4A1 accuracy comparison.

I think the simplest apple to apple comparison would be to get a quality 5.56mm AK (101 or some other) and to fire same types of ammo through the M4 and AK

As for handloading, I'm yet to see the match-grade brass cases and brass-jacketed 5.45 bullets, at least here in Russia.

mpopenker said:

5.56mm AK (101 or some other) and to fire same types of ammo through the M4 and AK

Thats very clever, and I agree that would provide the best 1:1 mechanical comparison.

Here's an Arsenal made 5.56 AK, getting under 2 moa. I regret not snagging one of these when they were more reasonably priced.

https://youtu.be/bow9Mstgz8Q?t=302

If the US Army could figure out you don't need a full-power rifle for battlefield marksmen, I would have thought Russia would have issued an accurized AK-74 to replace the SVD decades ago.

Soviet army was rather critical about American views on the warfare in general and small arms in particular

Some Western ideas were tried, scientifically tested, approved and embraced, such as was the case with the SCHV ammunition, other were tried and then rejected. Some were ignored.

In fact, as the US and NATO found out in the Afghanistan, the Soviet concept of the squad-level full power semi-automatic marksman rifle to complement the SCHV assault rifle was the right one.

Out of curiosity, what were the ideas tested and rejected, and what were the ones ignored?

Hmm.  Did I miss something?  When did the US Army conclude that you don't need a full-power rifle for battlefield marksmen?

Afghanistan, 2003

Iraq, 2004

Afghanistan, 2013

Djibouti, 2022

mpopenker said:

In fact, as the US and NATO found out in the Afghanistan, the Soviet concept of the squad-level full power semi-automatic marksman rifle to complement the SCHV assault rifle was the right one

Absolutely. A number of countries are now copying the SVD Soviet swag and introduced a 7.62 DMR at squad level:

-New Zealand 

-UK

-US

-France 

New Zealand and I believe another country has also sort of copied the PKM concept, adding a 7.62 LMG to the squad alongside the 7.62 DMR. 

In general I'm very in favor of a 2 caliber Soviet/Russian configuration vs the US attempt / GPC attempt at having 1x caliber at the squad level. 

Gr1ff1th said:

Out of curiosity, what were the ideas tested and rejected, and what were the ones ignored?

Flechette type projectiles for small arms was one such idea. It was rather extensively tested, but eventually abandoned in the favor of a less-risky 6mm conventional cartridge

American idea of the full-power standard issue "battle" rifle of 1950s was quite obviously ignored as counter-productive

gatnerd said:

A number of countries are now copying the SVD Soviet swag and introduced a 7.62 DMR at squad level...

New Zealand and I believe another country has also sort of copied the PKM concept, adding a 7.62 LMG to the squad alongside the 7.62 DMR.

When did the Russians field a 7.62 DMR (or the PKM) at squad level?

I’m actually not sure what level the SVD was employed. Perhaps Max can tell us.

I just know the SVD is widely credited as being the originator of the Designated Marksman Rifle concept.

In terms of PKM, I tend to use that interchangeably with PKP. But for awhile now Russia has fielded a 7.62 class LMG as their ‘SAW’. A concept, like the 7.62 DMR, western forces are now embracing.