Possible 6.8mm for NGSW

[DWalt]

I just ran across this in The Firearms Blog regarding the Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW). Interesting that the U. S. Military may go to polymer-cased ammo.
True Velocity Shows the 6.8mm Composite-Cased Cartridge of General Dynamics NGSW Submissions -The Firearm Blog

 

[peyton]

I got to reading about this new cartridge, it is a 6.8x51 and according to SIG's website all it requires is a barrel change from 7.62x51 to the new caliber to shoot it.
I think firearm technology is great, just think of the billions we are spending to make a 3 millimeter change in diameter of a bullet

 

[Protocall_Design]

It's acutally a change of .82mm diameter. Yep - big money for a tiny change.

 

[mtgianni]

270/08? That is a lot of silliness when the 260 Rem and the 7mm 08 are available.

 

[LoboGunLeather]

Polymer cased ammo probably makes sense, if you are a DoD contractor looking for a big payday. With a large enough budget I'm pretty sure we can make that work.

6.8X51 sounds like a 7.62NATO case necked down to .270 caliber. I suspect that has been done before (as mtgianni noted above on the .260 Rem and 7mm-08, lots of variations have been tried as wildcats and some made it to production status). But I suppose old Uncle Sugar ain't really interested in what was tried in the past, or what has been proven to work, just in something new or radically different to justify lots of R&D budget and plenty of career development at the top ranks.

Call me a cynic and you will probably be right.

 

[vonn]

Reinventing the wheel has always been popular. New uppers for current weapons would be possibly the cheapest but magazine dimensions limit how much more potent the ammunition might be. Training the troops to be better shots would seem like another area for improvement.

 

[alwslate]

I'll bet it doesn't happen.

 

[DWalt]

I think the main idea is to get a lighter weight and more powerful round for use in some future version of the M249 SAW (now only in 5.56mm). The existing 6.8mm SPC (basically a shortened .30 Remington case in .270 caliber) is a substantially better round than the 5.56, and it has been promoted previously as a chambering for both AR rifles and carbines and also the M249. But that has never happened to any significant extent (there has been some use of the 6.8 SPC in ARs by Special Forces). Seems that the Army now wants to go beyond the 6.8 SPC to some caliber more powerful, but short of the 7.62x51.

 

[alwslate]

Maybe the US should consider the 7.62x39 ctg. It seems to have a pretty
good track record for many years and no development cost to boot

 

[Warren Sear]

The plastic cased ammo will give something more for the global warming alarmists to worry about, which is good because it keeps them from actually accomplishing anything.

 

[jtcarm]

I always thought the TCU line of wildcats would make an excellent military cartridge

5.56 necked up to 6.5 or 7mm.

 

[Dave_n]

It really does amuse me as an "ex-Limey" that the original UK bullpup in 0.280 is coming closer. Forced feeding into 7.62 by the USA for NATO due to the NIH syndrome! Dave_n

 

[Big Cholla]

I have two AR-15s built with good uppers and lowers with decent barrels. One is 6.8 SPC and the other is 7.62x39. Either would be exceptional hog rifles, but if the hunting required great accuracy, I would have the 6.8 SPC in my hands. IMHO, the 7.62x39 is the epitome of a SHTF survivalist rifle only because of the potential availability of ammo. Again, IMHO, if the Generals running the armament procurement for the US ARMY had any real sense, they would accept the 6.8 SPC just as it is and have Lake City go to work. The Armorers could handle most of the work converting almost all the current weapon systems to the 6.8 SPC saving us tax payers billions.

 

[DWalt]

Again, IMHO, if the Generals running the armament procurement for the US ARMY had any real sense, they would accept the 6.8 SPC just as it is and have Lake City go to work. The Armorers could handle most of the work converting almost all the current weapon systems to the 6.8 SPC saving us tax payers billions.

I tried doing that with the USAF, for use by CACs and Pararescue. Didn't get very far. We did some basic testing of ARs in the 6.8 SPC, I still have some of the leftover ammo Remington provided for our limited test program.

 

[Jessie]

There are advantages for the military. As mentioned, it’s considerably lighter so you can carry and supply more rounds, plus it runs with practically no increase in temperature in the chamber. More longevity for the weapons.
More cost? Maybe in the beginning but since when did that matter?
The biggest downside will be the increased loss of the polymer trees.
I think weight is the big factor. After all, that’s the main reason they went to the 5.56 to begin with.