User blog comment:Griever0311/Ask A Marine Part Cinq/@comment-1260687-20100407205153

@Hk37: I hope so. I think the 5.56mm is fine for automatic weapons such as the M249, but guys packing a rifle need to be able to put own a target on the first shot. They don't have the luxury of close to 900 RPM with 2000 rounds backing up the rate of fire.

Price25: Marines only rate a sword if they're NCOs or officers, and yes, the Corframs have to SHINE.

@Apepa: No, the government typically doesn't pay commercial retail prices for weapons and equipment.