Sounds like the 5.56mm FABRL*, shown below with the M193.

* originally stood for Frankford Arsenal Ballistic Research Laboratory, but that evidently didn't sound sexy enough as it was renamed Future Ammunition for Burst Rifle Launch.

EmericD said:

By the way, I shot last week a very sweet 5.56 x 40 mm round, with a bullet C7 of 0.208 launched at 945 m/s from a "pseudo Mk12" (18'' barrel).

Was this further work with your Neckless round, or just a shortened 5.56x45?

autogun said:

Sounds like the 5.56mm FABRL*, shown below with the M193.

Quite close.

The cartridge started it's life as a regular 5.56x45 mm M855 from IMI, we removed the bullet, saved the powder, shortened the case by cutting most of the neck, put the powder into the case, then finally seated and crimped the new bullet (4.15 g / 64 gr).

MV was ~945 m/s from a 18'' gas-operated gun, and ~970 m/s from a 24" bolt-action rifle*.

Now, we are going to do the same thing but starting with M855A1, just to see if we can drive the same bullet at 3000 fps from a 14.5" barrel, and maintain a supersonic range of 900+m from a carbine.

*: EDIT - fired in regular 5.56x45 mm chamber.

EmericD,

what’s the end game with the work you are doing on 5.56mm rounds ? Does the (French) army intend to procure an improved round to re fit into the HK416f ? 

njb3737 said:

what’s the end game with the work you are doing on 5.56mm rounds ? Does the (French) army intend to procure an improved round to re fit into the HK416f ?

We are trying to explore all the technical possibilities available to enhance the 5.56 mm & 7.62 mm (lighter cases, advanced propellents, better bullets), then we will decide if "the juice worth the squeeze".

Additionally, those results will "feed" a technology program run by the European Defense Agency (including governments and manufacturers), devoted to define and build "a better mousetrap".

From a personal point of view, I would be pleased to see ours 416 FELIN (fitted with those large IR scopes) shooting those enhanced ammo.

Interesting, if you end up with a better 5.56 solution one wonders how the US 6.8mm will fit in to NATO counties future calibre choices.

Do you have a time line for selection of a new round ? 

njb3737 said:

Do you have a time line for selection of a new round ?

The French army decided for a "2 calibres" solution, with 5.56 mm for the PDW (HK416 F-C) and IW (HK416 F-S), and 7.62 mm for the support weapon (SCAR-H PR) shooting tungsten carbide AP rounds.

The choice of the successor of the Minimi is not decided yet. The initial idea was to buy a mix of 5.56 mm & 7.62 mm LMGs, but maybe we are going to buy only one version.

FN Evolys 7.62 must be a front runner on that.

Did I hear correctly that HK are working on a new LMG too ?

njb3737 said:

Did I hear correctly that HK are working on a new LMG too ?

Yep, heard that, around 6.5 kg with a quick-detach barrel.

And Beretta have also something with a "lock & load" bottom feed capability.

I believe Beretta have a new ARX replacement line coming up , do you have any info on it ? 
 

Beretta having a LMG maybe part of a new complete package I guess most interesting.

I got hands on at DSEI with Evolys from FN - an amazing design was very impressed with it. With HK and Beretta now potentially having light weight offerings competition is going to be tough plus SIG with its LMG ( 6.8/ 6.5cm / 7.62n ).