I hear it when talking about the AR-15. "It is so powerful". When the US military adopted the AR-15 they went with a smaller round so they could carry twice the ammunition. The problem at the time was that it was common for soldiers to run out of ammunition. By switching from the 7.62x51 to the 5.56x45, the amount of ammunition carry-able nearly doubled. Literally, the criteria for the ammunition wasn't "it will kill", it was "what is the smallest that will wound" because people aren't going to be standing around and get shot.

Yes, the 5.56x45 sure will kill. Nearly certain for a head shot. Very likely for a chest shot. But elsewhere and plenty have lived through being shot by it. MUCH less so for the 7.62x51. The amount of damage between the two is massive.

So when I hear about people who say the AR-15 is "so powerful" I have to wonder about their thoughts on the DPMS DP10, the PSA PA10, or the Ruger SOFAR?