China's 5.8x42mm Rifle Cartridge - How Good Is It?

[Talyn]

Adopted over 30 years ago, China's 5.8x42mm Universal cartridge was developed to be a one cartridge solution for assault rifles, DMRs and machine guns, here is where it stands today.​

China's 5.8x42mm Rifle Cartridge

China’s 5.8x42mm had big shoes to fill when it adopted. It eventually replaced both the 7.62x54mmR and 7.62x39mm in a PLA infantry platoon. L to R: 7.62x54mmR, 5.8x42mm, 7.62x39mm, 7.62x25mm.

 

[TEXASforLIFE]

It would be a good replacement for the 556/m4 platform with 55-60k psi and shortened .040" and still keep high capacity with little added weight.

 

[bigx5murf]

Every time I look at this platform, and this caliber, I think of a Stargate series scene, where O'Neil explains to the Jafar rebels "this is a weapon designed for intimidation, this is a weapon designed for killing".