The two big stories related to changes in military weaponry have been the U.S. Army’s rejection of the Glock 19X and NATO’s Dutch Military formally adopting .260 Remingtons for use with its sniper corps.
Army Chief of Staff General James C. McConville stopped by a unit conducting an M17 range recently, where he shared his personal opinions against the Glock 19X. “It’s a shitty pistol that’s not worth the Army’s time and money,” he said. Observations from the range revealed a lot to be concerned about with the M17s—failures to eject, and other malfunctions. This was evident by General McConville’s statement: “Welp I need to get the fuck out of this area before I get shot due to pure incompetence.” These words indeed depicted the challenges faced by the Army in the pursuit of dependable sidearms for their men.
Alternatively, a real eye-opener came from a NATO ally, which was the Dutch Military’s adoption of the .260 Remington cartridge for their sniper use. The move is especially notable, as it represents the first formal adoption of the .260 Remington by any military. While extolled by many as highly effective for engagement distances between the midrange and long range, the .260 Remington has seen only limited military use but has been used by several law enforcement agencies. But what makes people wonder is the decision by the Dutch Military to choose .260 Remington over 6.5 Creedmoor, which is extremely popular and has very similar ballistic properties.
These developments highlight the increased commitment of military organizations toward arming their forces with the most efficient and dependable weaponry. As the U.S. Army plods along in its decision-making processes concerning a new general-issue sidearm, the implementation by the Dutch Military of .260 Remington may prove a showcase example for other militaries that want to advance their sniper capabilities.