Thanks for the heads up on the AK.

This I am afraid is one of those subjects that we may be uterly unable to comprehend. The armed forces of the world seem to be going smaller in the caliber of the standard infantry round. There has to be a reason for this and we obviously cant see it... it might be cost. I have no idea anyway.

Your pinned down story, (I do not discount it) I am a bit confused. Each US rifle squad has two light machine guns either the M-60 (7.62mm) or the M-249 (5.56mm) Both of which are accurate for over 800 meters. Also most squads have one person who can use his M16 accuratly at 600 meters. I wonder if your buddy was not with a complete squad or fire team and maybe the were more bad guys or somthing still a great story.