It was designed to give the soldier carrying a grenade launcher a powerful cartridge for close quarters combat with the maximum range at 98 ft (30 m) such as found in clearing buildings, bunkers, and trenches, as well as thick vegetation at 885 ft/s (269 m/s).
It was quickly found that in most engagements, while the grenadier gave the squad a decided force multiplier, the grenadiers themselves were exposed if presented with an enemy closer than the arming distance of high explosive rounds.
Even rounds with a shorter arming distance presented significant danger to the shooter if used at those ranges.
Development commenced on non-explosive cartridges to allow those armed with grenade launchers to engage targets at shorter ranges safely.
[5] Another test variant, the XM576E2, which had twenty seven metal pellets without a sabot within the shot cup, was deemed to spread too quickly for effective use.