The US Ordnance wanted a SAW weapon (belt fed) with better performance than the 5,56mm cartridge and during the 1970's some new ideas surfaced. The Stoner system had been in limited service since 1966 and by 1970 had received improvements but the 5,56mm still lacked long range. A 6x45mm cartridge (XM732) was designed and tested only in SAW weapons. This cartridge used a 6mm bullet(106 grs) with a velocity of 2830 fps and improved longer range over the current 5,56mm. The UK took the 5,56mm case and developed the 4,8x49mm cartridge in an effort to improve the ballistics. To use a different caliber from the standard rifle in a SAW weapon was debated and in the end, a better bullet was used in the standard 5,56mm in a SAW with the M27 link, This link was different from the Stoner link which has a different pitch. All Stoner links are marked BRW S63 and are not common to find.
Photos show the Stoner linked 5,56mm belt and the 4,8x47mm 5,56mm and 6x45mm SAW
Photos show the Stoner linked 5,56mm belt and the 4,8x47mm 5,56mm and 6x45mm SAW
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