New York legislatures are drafting a bill that would require law enforcement to scan the last three years of your social media postings for “hate speech” before you could legally purchase a gun.
Eric Adams, the president of Brooklyn Borough, and state Senator Kevin Palmer are currently writing the proposed legislation, which would give law enforcement authorities the power to check an individual’s social media accounts and internet search history before they are allowed to buy a gun.
“A three-year review of a social media profile would give an easy profile of a person who is not suitable to hold and possess a firearm,” Adams explained.
And violate all of their free speech and privacy rights. But who needs those, right? We’re talking about guns! Scary guns!
“If the police department is reviewing a gang assault, a robbery, some type of shooting, they go and do a social media profile investigation,” the borough president pointed out… Completely ignoring the fact that an assault, robbery, or shooting are all crimes and purchasing a firearm is not.
No mention on what will qualify as “hate speech” that is not already covered under other criminal definitions, like making threats of harm. This leaves the search completely open to interpretation. No infringement danger here folks, nothing speculative or violative of rights in the least.
Been to Breitbart in the last 3 years? No gun. Shared an off color or dark humored joke? Banned from ownership. Shared a frustration with traffic, a coffee shop, a gym, or any other location and went a little edgy? Because you were venting on social media, no constitutionally protected right for you.
For a long time, I was never a knife guy. I liked knives, and I always had one, but I never had several. A knife was a tool to me, and collecting knives meant less money collecting guns. I’ve hit a bit of a snag though and that comes in the form of automatic knives. I’m drawn to them and my collection of them has grown quite a bit in the last year. My newest is the Gerber Covert Auto.
The Gerber Covert auto is an automatic knife, aka a switchblade, with a side deploying blade. Auto knives come in two configurations, out the side, and out the front. Out the side systems tend to be a little cheaper and a bit more robust. Let’s peep some specs of the Gerber Covert Auto.
The Covert Auto come in both a mini and a full size, and I do own both. Today we are going to be reviewing the Gerber Covert Auto full size. It all comes in a variety of color options with the choice for a fine edge or a serrated blade. I went with the fine edge because I wanted a knife that was simple to sharpen, and I was planning to do much cutting through rope or twine.
The Covert Auto Specs
Length Opened – 8.7 inches Blade Length – 3.78 inches Weight – 5 ounces Steel Type SPM S30V
The Blade
Let’s talk blades, as a major draw to me, was the Covert Auto’s faux spear blade and faux double edge design. The Covert Auto has two signatures on the blade, one being Rex Applegate and the other W.E. Fairbairn. These two men are legends in their own right but most people know them from the Applegate-Fairbairn fighting knife. The Covert Auto’s blade is based off the blade of the Applegate-Fairbairn fighting knife.
A better phrase to use would be inspired by rather than based on. I say inspired because the blade is only a single edge. This is necessary on a folding knife since one side does have to stick out a bit. The read end of the blade has a textured portion for resting your thumb for standard pocket knife duties as well, so it is a bit of a departure from the fighting knife design.
The blade is made from S30V steel. S30V steel is best described as average, which may be underselling it. It’s great for edge retention and corrosion resistance, but it’s not what I’d say is the best at anything. It’s a good steel and it does help keep the Gerber Covert Auto priced under $150. Auto knives are rarely cheap, and this is one of the more approachable prices for those looking to get into the auto knife game.
The Grip and Opening Mechanism
The grip is anodized aluminum and built to a similar spec to the Applegate-Fairbairn fighting knife. It’s completely symmetrical and is great for the type of grip men like Sykes, Fairbairn, and Applegate preferred, a type of fencing grip designed for deep and brutal stabs. The grip is thin and easy to use with a hammer grip, an ice pick grip, or really any way you can contort your hand to.
Fencing Grip
The knife’s opening mechanism is a spring loaded system that deploys the blade with the push of a button. The button is located right where the thumb naturally falls with a fencing grip. The button springs the blade into action as well as allows the user to unlock and close the blade.
Hammer Grip
The deployment button does have a sliding safety device that mimics a gun safety in a lot of ways. The most obvious being a small red dot meaning the safety is off. In the upward position, the knife’s safety is engaged when downward the safety is disengaged.
Safety off
The safety also acts as a blade lock. If you engage the safety with the blade opened the blade is locked into place and cannot be closed until the safety is deactivated and the button is pressed.
Safety On
The placement of the safety and deployment button are very well thought out. It rapid and natural to deploy to pop the safety off, deploy the blade, and then lock the blade into place.
Why An Auto Opener?
To be honest an auto opener is great for a number of tasks when you have a second hand occupied. The ability to open the knife with one hand allows your second hand to hold something that needs cutting without releasing it or increases the safety of making cuts while climbing everything from a ladder to a mountain. From a self-defense perspective an auto-opener is quick into action, but so is any number of speed style knives.
To me, these fast, manual opening folders are like a California neutered AR 15. They work, and they are a workaround for dumb laws, but at the end of the day, I want the real thing. The Gerber Covert Auto is the real thing and an affordable entry for those looking for their first auto-opening knife. They do make a manual folding model, but again it’s like a California legal AR.
Wilson Combat is now offering the Wilson Combat-Beretta Brigadier Tactical 92 with a Vertec-grip frame conversion. This conversion, performed by Wilson Combat reduces the size of the frame to the significantly smaller Beretta Vertec size which is ideal for shooters with smaller hands or who prefer the straighter, more 1911 style grip.
Wilson’s skilled gunsmiths reduce the grip frame to Vertec size, checker the backstrap to match the front and complete the process with a frame refinish in matte Black Armor Tuff. This pistol comes standard with indestructible Black Cherry G-10 grips.
“Being a serious Beretta collector, I have always considered the 92G SD the best model ever produced, but almost too expensive and rare to shoot. I feel fortunate to have been able to work with the fine people at Beretta USA to produce a pistol that, in my opinion, is an improved 92G SD. Having Beretta USA build my dream 92 series pistol is awesome and I’m very happy that a lot of people will be able to enjoy this fine pistol model.” -Bill Wilson
This model is exclusive to Wilson Combat and available direct from Wilson Combat or from Wilson Combat Premier dealers only. Not available for purchase to MA residents.
AUSTIN — A Girl & A Gun Women’s Shooting League (AG & AG) hosted eleven law enforcement officers for the 2nd Annual ‘Back the Women in Blue’ Presented by GLOCK. The event took place Sept 25-28, 2018, in north Texas at the Texas Handgun Academy in Dallas and Mission 160 Range in Whitewright. Participants included female officers, deputies, constables, and troopers representing large municipalities, rural counties, and state agencies from five different states.
“It was extremely gratifying to see a tremendous amount of support for the badge that I’m very proud to put on every day to protect and serve my community,” said Officer Meghan Vold of the Park Forest (IL) Police Department. “Every day, in every city and town across the country, police officers are performing vital services that help make their communities safer. Being afforded stellar training like this aids us in carrying out our mission with honor and integrity.”
Training included behavioral analysis, body language cues and pre-attack indicators, communication skills, team building, situational decision-making skills, and advanced firearms skills. Range time culminated with Simunitions scenarios to allow officers put their training into practice. With significant support from GLOCK, ammunition provided by Federal Premium, targets provided by Action Target, and scenario cars provided by Beard’s Towing, AG & AG was able to provide the the training materials, range fees, hotel, and all meals for the officers.
Lead instructor Heather Eckert is the owner of E4Defense, which sponsored training for the event. Heather holds multiple certifications, including Master Firearms Instructor in Shotgun, Patrol Rifle, and Handgun; RBT/Force on Force; and Specialty Training Certifications. She is an active member of ILEETA, IALEFI, and IAWP, and is a Texas DPS PSB Level III Instructor. Detective Josh White is an Army Veteran, Texas Peace Officer, TCOLE Instructor, Firearms Instructor, Force on Force Instructor, and DT Instructor. He is Double Brown belt in Shuri Ryu Karate and Blue belt in Tae Kwon Do.
“The friendship bonds and camaraderie I made this week will stay with me forever,” said Sergeant Kimberly Gill of the Sunset Valley (TX) Police Department. “The incredible generosity of the event sponsors and the gracious efforts by A Girl & A Gun was awe inspiring.”
AG & AG is scheduling additional training events for female officers, as well as a training course designed specifically for wives of LEOs, whose lives face uncertain dangers due to the nature of their spouses’ careers. For more information, visit AGirlandAGun.org/back-the-blue.
About A Girl & A Gun
A Girl & A Gun (AG & AG) is a membership organization whose events have been successful stepping stones for thousands of women into the shooting community and fostered their love of shooting with caring and qualified instructors to coach them. AG & AG breaks barriers for women and girls in the area of self-defense and in pistol, rifle, and shotgun shooting sports by welcoming beginners to learn the basics of safe and accurate shooting and providing experienced shooters with advanced-level opportunities. The club has more than 5,500 members in 48 states and hosts recurring Girl’s Nights Out at more than 180 ranges throughout the nation. Learn more at AGirlandAGun.org.
The aftermath of Tree of Life in Pittsburg has been predictably followed.
Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, 12:02 p.m. ET Saturday: “We have been saying ‘this one is too many’ for far too long. Dangerous weapons are putting our citizens in harm’s way.”
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), 2:14 p.m. ET Saturday: “Thoughts and prayers are not enough—Congress must finally act on commonsense, bipartisan gun violence prevention legislation.”
Former President Barack Obama, 5:54 p.m. ET Saturday: “We have to stop making it so easy for those who want to harm the innocent to get their hands on a gun.”
But no one, on their life, can seem to put forward a plan that does anything other than vaguely hope that this version of infringements will stop the bad folks from doing bad things.
There is only one way gun control proponents can acquire the thing they desire. They eliminate due process concerning firearms.
The Legal Hot Item
The current hot legal trend are so called “Red Flag” laws which allow immediate action against an individual who is reported as being a threat. The specifics vary from law to law but most make law enforcement or family the reporting entity. Local LE can then, in theory, seize all weapons from said individual.
This theory will never and can never work to perfection or even great effect as there are too many workarounds in place. The cops could simply miss a weapon. Unless NICS is updated too they could purchase another. They could have a weapon with a friend or relative or acquire one from a friend or relative.
All this blatantly ignores this person’s right to due process of some sort. If their weapons should be seized they should probably be hospitalized too in some manner of monitored care setting. That also runs heavily into involuntary incarceration without adjudication and all kinds of due process firestorms too.
As well meaning as the intent is the complexities involved with execution will make it window dressing. Actually influencing either violent crime or suicide will take social efforts, not mild tool access shifts. These are actually just rehashes of systems already well established to the degree.
The Wish List
Let’s quickly hit the generalized gun control wish list followed by why it won’t work.
-Background Checks: Already in existence for legal transfer from dealer to customer. “Universal” will not be and never be universal. Knowingly selling to anyone prohibited or straw-purchase are already crimes.
-Assault Weapon Ban: Rifles account for only a couple hundred casualties annually and removing a subset of rifles, even with immediate effect by force, will not remove or even drastically alter the threat from individuals who can use another tool. Define ‘Assault Weapon’.
-Magazine Ban: Hundreds of millions in circulation. Marginal to negligible effect on lethality even with 100% (impossible) societal removal.
Therefore the three ‘piece de resistance’ items on the gun control list are, at their most altruistic, ineffective. At their most sinister they are blatant controls against the law abiding alone.
Check your kids candy. Carry a real light source and charged phone. Have first aid on hand for scrapes, cuts, bumps and bruises.
Know where your people are. Are the kids at a party? Are you? Have transportation plans and back ups.
Stay strapped too. With the chaos and general levels of goofiness of Halloween the opportunities for a real predator to take advantage are higher. Kidnapping, robbery, assault, are all a risk daily but today presents opportunities unusually rich due to the social environment.
The word “Resist” seems to have become a liberal battle cry these days. But what most people don’t realize, and what the mainstream media avoids telling the public is that “Resist” is exactly what firearms owners have been doing for literally decades in the face of unconstitutional gun laws. The level of civil disobedience to arbitrary firearms regulation has been truly staggering – and not just in the United States.
Here is a review some of the most recent examples.
Vermont
The recent abysmal failure of the state of Vermont’s Bump Stock Amnesty, is a perfect illustration of the recalcitrance of the general U.S. population when it comes to gun control.
In case you missed the news on this particular law, Vermont had an amnesty in place with an October first deadline which allowed owners of bump stocks to surrender them (uncompensated of course) to the state police. After the deadline the penalty for being in possession of a bump stock became a thousand-dollar fine and up to a year in jail.
With that looming penalty, how many bump stocks were surrendered by Vermont citizens during the amnesty? TWO. No really – two. Not two hundred. Just two.
Yes, a whole two evil bumps stocks were removed from the streets of the Green Mountain State.I’ll bet residents feel safer already.
New York
Speaking of “Safer”, the New York State SAFE ACT– the middle-of-the-night rape of New Yorkers’ gun rights in 2013, requiring the registration of all “assault weapons” in the state – resulted in a massive 4% compliance rate. The size of the giant middle finger that New York gun owners gave to their state government was so embarrassing, that it required a two-year court battle to force the state to release the actual numbers under a FOIA suit.
Connecticut
New York’s neighbor Connecticut fared only slightly better with their own gun registration plan, netting a pitiful 15% compliance rate among the state’s “assault weapon” owners.
California
And then there is California. “Commiefornia” managed a whole 3% compliance with their latest assault weapons registration plan involving “bullet button assault weapons”. Apparently even Californians don’t like their own state government.
Despite what the media and gun grabbing liberals would have us believe, Americans aren’t the only ones resistant to gun registration and confiscation schemes either. Resistance in other countries is also quite high.
Australia
Remember the Australian model of gun control that Hillary and Obama kept going on and on about? What they didn’t tell you is thatAustralia’s “Buyback”/Confiscation achieved only an estimated 20% compliance rate. Hundreds of thousands of firearms owners in Australia did not cooperate. As a result, in the “be careful what you wish for” department, there is now a raging black market in firearms in that country.
Canada
Canada instituted a long gun registration scheme back in 1995. Not only did retrospective studies fail to demonstrate a positive effect on homicide rates, those “Nice Canadians” largely failed to register their long guns until the shockingly expensive scheme (some 2 billion dollars) collapsed under it’s own weight and was scrapped in 2012. If those notably polite and law-abiding Canadians refused to comply, why would anyone expect that Americans would react any differently?
With all of this evidence that gun control schemes not only don’t work, but that civilian populations are uncooperative and even contemptuous of such laws, WHY do liberal gun grabbers continue to push such an agenda?
They apparently fail to remember the adage that the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. What that adage says about them is not particularly complimentary.
If nothing else, this data is heartening for gun owners. Our brothers and sisters in arms are not lying down in the face of arbitrary and unconstitutional gun legislation. They are fighting in the courts, and fighting in the only other peaceful ways available to them– by exercising their right to vote, and by refusing to comply.
With the reliability of a swiss timepiece the NY Times has targeted the National Rifle Association as the Prime Evil responsible for the Tree of Life massacre.
In a post titled “It’s Time to Talk About the N.R.A.” Nicholas Kristof wheels in the full suite of tired subjective arguments accusing the gun rights organization of all the bad things.
Arming the murders and letting them keep their guns! Check.
Murder is such a problem in the United States because guns! Check.
Die from guns every 15 minutes. “I was a once a member but no longer” self righteous departure argument. Extremists hijacked the NRA. Only in America do we give violent extremists ready access to assault weapons. The NRA supported gun control in the past.
You can read the full piece, however if you have read any previous piece after an incident then you have already read this one.
Maybe someday we can return to blaming perpetrators for the acts the perpetrate… but it is not this day.
Bravo Concealment has been investing heavily into becoming a premium end holster manufacturer with low prices. They produce a variety of IWB and OWB options with both standard and light-bearing options. Today we are going to be looking at the IWB Torsion holster for my Glock 17. What drew me to the Bravo Concealment IWB Torsion holster was the availability and price as well as the stock features. My Glock is a Gen 4 MOS model and it sports a red dot sight. The IWB Torsion is cut to accommodate these miniature reflex sights, as well as a threaded barrel and suppressor height sights. This makes it an excellent holster for an RMR equipped firearm.
Concealment
Concealment with a full sized gun like the Glock 17 is never the simplest feat. Both Keith and I agree a full-sized handgun is the way to go when it comes to concealed carry. They are easier to shoot, offer a higher capacity, and are generally easier to reload, fix malfunctions, etc. Finding the right holster is critical to that. How do you conceal such a big gun?
The Bravo Concealment Torsion Holster
IWB Torsion holster seems to be one solid method to conceal carry a full sized gun. As an IWB holster, there is always the inherent advantage of an inside the waistband design. Most of the gun is already gone inside your pants. The Torsion is a fully modern holster made from kydex, so it doesn’t collapse and it does provide an excellent presentation of the gun.
It protects the gun from you as well with a near full-length sweat guard to keep your gun going. The sweat guard also keeps the gun from rubbing into you, which is nice and a must have for a full sized gun.
The gun can be carried in an appendix or standard strong side configuration. It isn’t limited and fits comfortably in both configurations. I prefer strong side carry, but tried the holster in both configurations.
The Torsion comes with a dual belt clip design, but you can drop the shorter clip for a single clip design. In the single clip configuration, the holster becomes tuckable, which increases your ability to carry the gun in more formal clothes.
Concealment wise my go-to clothes is a T-shirt and jeans, and that’s all I need to conceal the big, optic equipped, Glock 17. As a side note, it is not compatible with the 80% lower Glock from Polymer 80.
Comfort
Comfort is another issue. My typical IWB holster is usually a hybrid design with a soft backing material. Going from that to kydex was a change. I loosened my belt just a bit and I found it easier to adjust to the harder nature of the holster. It doesn’t rub and the design features this slight inward curve. I think that really helps with the comfort of the holster, and it does keep the holster closer to the body overall.
Wearing it all day, day in and out lead me to nearly forgetting it was there. The only time I noticed it was riding in a vehicle. It isn’t painful, but I feel that the gun is there. I never get that wave of “Oh thank God,” relief when I take it off, and that’s big for me.
Range Time with the Torsion
The inward angle makes the gun easy to conceal, but I still don’t have an issue grabbing the grip and drawing the gun. It took a slight adjustment for me to reach for the gun due to how the gun is angled. It pushes the grip more towards the body.
My draw is never compromised and I never feel unsafe drawing the gun. It’s not like your finger is magically drawn to the trigger in any way. I typically place my thumb over the rear of the gun until I clear leather…or kydex I guess. Then I can transition into a more standardized grip.
Reholstering is also safe, and easy to do. Not a primary concern in life or death situations, but something to know for training. The click of the trigger guard passive retention device lets you know the gun is locked in place and ready to go.
Overall the Bravo Concealment IWB Torsion holster is a great go to, it’s comfortable, well made backed by a great warranty, and best of all makes it easier to carry a man-sized gun.
Guy in a mask enters McDonald’s and begins shooting for motive unknown. Father pulls his concealed carry and gives the masked gunman the only thing such a man deserves, return fire.
Gunman: 0
Dad: 1
The father and one of his sons got hit in the gunfight but they will recover just fine. Masked man died at the hospital and is no great loss to society.
Carry everywhere you can. Be proficient in using your carry weapon. If you get hurt keep fighting.
On Saturday morning an anti-semitic piece of human trash shot up the Tree of Life synagogue in Pittsburg.
Robert Bowers, 46.
He hates Jews.
He hates President Trump, who he says is a Jewish collaborator or some other such tin foil hat nonsense.
He probably hates President Obama too.
And Hispanics, definitely hates them.
The man claims the Jews are responsible for the hispanic caravan that is coming to “invade” the U.S. As if another 7,000 illegals would tip the low/high 10-30 million here already into some kind of free fall.
Ultimately this is about remembering what Bower’s is… A piece of shit.
Robert Bowers, the monster who took the lives of 11, several old enough to remember The Holocaust in their lifetime, is nothing special. He is a violent outlier and the rare people like him will always be a threat.
Violent outliers may have a different name for their motivations but the result is the same. Bowers is not different from Kelley. Not different from Roof. No different than Farook and Malik. All chose for their personal reasons and beliefs to commit terrible violence and void themselves of their humanity.
It really is that simple. Violence is the commonality. There will always be a terrible few who will willingly shed their humanity for a motivation.
On the day that occurs there is only one option left. Be the one who is better at violence. Be one who saves lives. By the gun, by the sword, by the fist, by trauma and aid to the injured.
Do not give these outliers the fight. The day is not for them even though they tried to take it.
Joyce Fienberg, 75
Rich Gottfried, 65
Rose Mallinger, 97
Dr. Jerry Rabinowitz, 66
Cecil Rosenthal, 59
David Rosenthal, 54
Bernice Simon, 84
Sylvan Simon, 86
Daniel Stein, 71
Melvin Wax, 88
Irving Younger, 69
Oct, 27 is for them.
Bower’s is just a lesson to remember and then a name to forget.
Nighthawk Custom builds some of the finest quality 1911’s to grace the earth.
“One gun. One gunsmith.” The company is dedicated to the quality and satisfaction of their buyers.
Their newest entry into the illustrious Boardroom lineup is The President.
Ballistic Magazine has spent some time with The President. They have some thoughts on this executive grade take on the Browning classic.
At the peak of Nighthawk’s creations is its Boardroom series. The first addition to the series came last year in the form of the Chairman, which, as expected, ran perfectly when tested. Now comes the second member of the Boardroom: the Nighthawk Custom President.
The President is a standard 5-inch Government Model version of the Chairman.
Newington, N.H. (October 26, 2018) – The SIG SAUER P226 is the pistol that set the standard by which all other combat handguns are measured and is widely carried by military units, federal agencies, and law enforcement throughout the world. Register today for your chance to win the P226 NITRON sweepstakes by visiting sigsauer.com/promotions now through October 30, 2018 to participate in this promotion.
The SIG SAUER P226 NITRON sweepstakes features a full-size 9mm pistol with an aluminum frame and black anodized finish, a Nitron coated stainless steel slide, a one-piece ergonomic grip, SIGLITE Night Sights, double action/single action trigger, and an integrated SIG Rail.
There’s no purchase necessary to enter. For full contest rules, terms, and conditions visit sigsauer.com/promotions.
About SIG SAUER, Inc.
SIG SAUER, Inc. is a leading provider and manufacturer of firearms, electro-optics, ammunition, airguns, suppressors, and training. For over 100 years SIG SAUER, Inc. has evolved, and thrived, by blending American ingenuity, German engineering, and Swiss precision. Today, SIG SAUER is synonymous with industry-leading quality and innovation which has made it the brand of choice amongst the U.S. Military, the global defense community, law enforcement, competitive shooters, hunters, and responsible citizens. Additionally, SIG SAUER is the premier provider of elite firearms instruction and tactical training at the SIG SAUER Academy – a world class, state-of-the-art, 140-acre training facility. SIG SAUER is headquartered in Newington, New Hampshire, and has more than 1,700 employees across eight locations, and is the largest member of a worldwide business group that includes SIG SAUER GmbH & Co. KG in Germany. For more information about the company and product line visit: sigsauer.com.
“Forget the democratic processes, the judicial system and the talent for organization that have long been the distinctive marks of the U.S. Forget, too, the affluence (vast, if still not general enough) and the fundamental respect for law by most Americans. Remember, instead, the Gun,” the magazine had notedearlier that year, in a cover story about the role of guns in the United States, which was prompted by the assassination of Robert F. Kennedy. “All too widely, the country is regarded as a blood-drenched, continent-wide shooting range where toddlers blast off with real rifles, housewives pack pearl-handled revolvers, and political assassins stalk their victims at will. The image, of course, is wildly overblown, but America’s own mythmakers are largely to blame. In U.S. folklore, nothing has been more romanticized than guns and the larger-than-life men who wielded them. From the nation’s beginnings, in fact and fiction, the gun has been provider and protector.”
In brief, TIME still hearts all the gun control.
They haven’t seen a restriction they didn’t love and you can see it in the tone of the full article. Personal rights and choking a constitutional freedom be damned.
The Army is slated to release the newest Enhanced Night Vision Goggle-Binocular to a select number of combat units sometime in fiscal year 2019, according to the Soldier Lethality Cross-Functional Team officials.
The new system doubled qualification score, tripled detection awareness, and cut time to engagement in half. The new NV/Thermal system does what no generation of optical systems in the past has. It gives the soldiers
Additionally the Army is chasing a new carbine and a new squad automatic. Furthermore in a new caliber which headquarters has stated will be a 6.8mm
Coinciding with the new squad rifle system, PEO-Soldier recently released a “draft Prototype-Opportunity Notice” to help develop a 6.8mm common bullet cartridge, Potts added. The goal is to have lethal effects on targets beyond 300 meters. The Phase II Prototype Opportunity will ask vendors to propose an automatic rifle, a rifle and a common cartridge.
6.8mm has often be toughted as a optimum ballistic solution. Systems dating back to the 50’s were looking at intermediate cartridges. But these efforts were derailed by the United States’ marriage to the M1 and the .30 caliber.
This isn’t the first, third, or even I believe fifth attempt at a new service rifle for the armed forces. However previous systems were less radical in their overarching change. The degree of change now may result in a completed contract.