Britney Spears said:
And that's why we should all have C8s.
I could not agree with that statement
less.
This is on a different topic, but it has everything to do with muzzle velocity. Don't go by the PAM numbers of 400/300/200m (and I am the OIC of Small Arms saying that) but go by the velocity at which the 5.56x45mm NATO round (in our case the C77) will reliably tumble and fragment. Past that point, all you will get is a pierce through the body creating a relatively small permanent would channel.
I will not turn this thread into a terminal ballistic lecture, but ~200m from the muzzle is when a C7 drops below that point, where as a C8 is ~100m. Yes, accuracy still trumps all and if you can guarantee a head shot on a moving target with your pulse at 180bpm I would say the permanent 5.56 wound channel is enough to kill/incapacitate an enemy, but for my money the extra oomph that a C7 gives me between 100-200m I would never use a C8 if given the chance.
While never the intended benefit of the NATO 5.56 when purchased, and granted it is quite erratic, the tumble + fragment is what will drop a target if you don't hit a vital area.
A picture speaks a thousand words. From a distance of 100-200m, your C8 will only puncture, where as a C7 will do this:
If you want to go into this further, e-mail me at work or Google "Fackler velocity". http://rkba.org/research/fackler/wrong.html