Where I’ve been chasing the rabbit is in a shorter, more compact AR-15 while increasing performance. Basically a Micro-Recce concept.
The 12” Grendel has been doing that really well for me over the past 7 years.
Think Mk.18 overall profile with better energy on-target than a 24” barrel .223 Rem bolt gun, so a CQB blaster than easily fills as a DM/Sniper System.
The hardest thing is being on the edge of optics developments with shorter and shorter scopes delivering pretty impressive performance, although most are LPVOs with an emphasis on great 1x clarity and exit pupil, vs the types of optics that were favored on SPRs with the smaller Leupolds and NightForce tubes.
The next hardest thing is chasing the "Own The Night" configurations, as some people have woken up to the reality of “Rent the Night” and going passive vs active IR signature.
This past week, I took the SOPMOD Block II with 1-4x LPVO out along with 3 Grendels (12” 17.6”, 18”), since I hadn’t shot that 5.56 blaster in a while. I’m thinking the Gen 3 Razor would go well on it for my terrain/environment.
The idea for me is that I want something maneuverable within tight spaces that also slings lead with really high hit probability at distance, and can also be used to hunt effectively with. The short guns remain about as stable when you bipod and suppress them, though the Mk.12s are kind of a gold standard in weight and stability when shooting from the prone and tripod, mainly due to the RLGS 18” being such a smooth shooter with that suppressor.