I think it’s mostly the AR being the most refined, constantly updated rifle design in the world, and countries being willing to forgo a folding stock in order to have it. Rather then the folding stock falling out of fashion.

gatnerd said:

Do you think Beretta, based on their NGSW involvement, may have added some NGSW DNA into the new rifle, to allow it to be more easily converted to 6.8 in the future? 

That's a difficult question, because if Textron wins the NGSW competition, no weapons would be able to be retrofitted.

Or, maybe someone told them that the competition was now between TV and SIG.

Anyway, I think that designing a rifle able to cope with 80,000 psi mean pressure chamber, and an ejection system able to positively eject base-heavy cases, is the minimum that you should aim for...

EmericD said:

an ejection system able to positively eject base-heavy cases, is the minimum that you should aim for...

Wow, thats something I hadn't even considered. I had assumed if an ejection system could toss a ~11g case like 7.62 brass, it would have no problem ejecting a ~5g polymer case. I take it these base heavy cases proving iffy to eject? 

gatnerd said:

Wow, thats something I hadn't even considered. I had assumed if an ejection system could toss a ~11g case like 7.62 brass, it would have no problem ejecting a ~5g polymer case. I take it these base heavy cases proving iffy to eject? 

They don't rotate the same way as a brass case, and it seems that ejection is not always reliable with a spring-loaded ejector (the case starts rotating around is CoG which is located very close to the casehead, then clears the extractor and jumps forward into the chamber, base first).

A first glimpse of SAKO's AR10 design, the M23:

https://www.armyrecognition.com/defense_news_january_2022_global_security_army_industry/sako_from_finland_to_deliver_m23_sniper_and_marksman_rifles_to_finnish_army.html

Looks nice! Hopefully we'll get some imported here.

gatnerd said:

A first glimpse of SAKO's AR10 design, the M23

Interesting.  A sniper rifle with a 16-inch barrel.  Why so short?

If Finland and Sweden adopt a M23 variant for infantry riflemen, what will be their choice for SAW?

Sweden could continue to use the KSP 58, but it seems illogical for Finland to keep using the PKM.

stancrist said:

Interesting. A sniper rifle with a 16-inch barrel. Why so short?

it's a DMR. 16" is enough for 600-800 meters, and rifle is compact enough for typical Finnish landscape and proposed mode of operations (urban or woods; no chance of effective fighting in open)

There are two versions one as semiautomatic sniper rifle and one as DMR rifle no mention if they are the same rifle just different optic . DMRs these days seem to be gravitating to 16in

Semi-automatic Sniper Rifle 23 is equipped with a high-quality optical sight that together with precision ammunition enables snipers to achieve effects in different targets up to a distance of 800 metres.

Designated Marksman Rifle 23 is more simplified in its weapon-mounted equipment, and designed for use by jaeger and infantry sections designated marksmen. This weapon increases the sections range up to 600 metres.