They are not supposed to, close range is their intended weakness.
You have pios and MG42 to make it difficult/less rewarding to close range on them.
Also, rifles aren't 240mp, they have all the right to be better, if anything the question should be why penals are so weak at range while ALL other carbine prifle weapons are still effective at longer ranges, garands, M1 carbines, G43, all of them excel at short range and mid, but are still potent at long.
Grenspam is not supposed to stand up against rifles by design.
Some reminder for you:
Completely misread my point.Its fine they are weak at close,but they should be able to do heavy dmg if enemy tries to close head on without cover.Right now they can't,and thats why their long range advantage is no advantage at all.
Well mg42 just can't do its job,and don't insult us by suggesting pios.