All we need now is for the real Elon Musket to stand up and deliver us from this archaic status quo. 

Or something similar sure.

There's kinda no denying that we have a problem at this point.

How we solve it is not my department though.

Revive Springfield Armory.

Regarding l/d ratio, the FN 15mm had really long bullets for their APDS....look at the pics.

Im unsure as to whether a 4mm steel rod would be best (no jacket) or perhaps add a jacket to increase it to 5mm

and as as for expensive tungsten, why not blend it with a steel alloy so your only using 15 grains of tungsten

Lol Springfield was the epicenter of the worst of the worst unfortunately Stan.

The shenanigans they pulled and the good designs they screwed us out of are legendary in their own right.

You can drastically outperforn a light 5mm, go with a .22 or 6mm thats only 45grains, with an ogive long enough to retain the BC.

if you can solve the barrel wear issues, you have a 3800-4300fps round.  And no heavier than 556 with alum or poly case.

I noted that the 6mm unified, 30mm GAU, and some others have SUCCESFULLY used aluminum cases...how did they solve the problems i wonder

smg762 said:

Regarding l/d ratio, the FN 15mm had really long bullets for their APDS....look at the pics.

I did, and that is indeed a 5-ish calibre long projectile. And I don't remember that project being cancelled for something other than the sudden lack of a need for a weapon that outperforms .50 BMG but isn't an autocannon yet. That sabot is a lot bigger relatively than you'd want for an infantry weapon though.

roguetechie said:

...the good designs they screwed us out of...

Which good designs?

In terms of protectig from hard impacts, a CT could be good, but what about just havig an extremely long neck, and cramming the whole bullet inside it. 

Gettig a high BC is fairly easy because you can use a smaller caliber like 4.7mm and just make the bullet heavy ish. Like 48grains.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qcvjBU_AEbQ

This is an obvious argument for velocity over bullet quality

Ok before i sign off heres my last bizzarre idea...how about a .22  (AR2 or FABRL shape)

 with 4 slight fins or extensions on the bearing surface.  This brings the caliber up to 6mm or 6.5mm allowing for extreme energies.  

Again these fins are just as long as the bearing surface so they support the entire bullet in the barrel.

Obviously you need a wad behind it to seal the gas. And i dont know how these bore-riding fins would interact with the rifling