Posted on Apr 20, 2022
Any opinions on the Army’s choice of moving from 5.56 to 6.68?
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The Army has found its replacements for the M4 rifle and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, handing out a contract to put new guns in the hands of tens of thousands of soldiers.
The force is awarding a 10-year, $20.4 million contract to Sig Sauer for the XM5 Rifle, which will become the new standard rifle for soldiers, and the XM250 Automatic Rifle, which will replace the SAW.
The service will also switch from 5.56mm ammo to 6.8mm, after a search for rounds better built to penetrate body armor.
"Both weapons fire common 6.8 millimeter ammunition utilizing government provided projectiles and vendor-designed cartridges," an Army spokesperson said in a press release. "The new ammunition includes multiple types of tactical and training rounds that increase accuracy and are more lethal against emerging threats than both the 5.56mm and 7.62mm ammunition."
The force is awarding a 10-year, $20.4 million contract to Sig Sauer for the XM5 Rifle, which will become the new standard rifle for soldiers, and the XM250 Automatic Rifle, which will replace the SAW.
The service will also switch from 5.56mm ammo to 6.8mm, after a search for rounds better built to penetrate body armor.
"Both weapons fire common 6.8 millimeter ammunition utilizing government provided projectiles and vendor-designed cartridges," an Army spokesperson said in a press release. "The new ammunition includes multiple types of tactical and training rounds that increase accuracy and are more lethal against emerging threats than both the 5.56mm and 7.62mm ammunition."
Weapons
Firearms and Guns
Soldiers
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 20
Well, since I'll be looooooooong retired before that rifle even sees the hands of Reservists.....I've no opinion other than I hope it is accurate and effective when put to practical usage.
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I believe the 6.8 round will be a pretty good compromise ballistically between 5.56 and 7.62. It will pack more wallop than the 5.56 and be a bit faster than the 7.62.
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Have seen the 5.56 bounce of tree branches poke a nice neat hole on close contacts if it doesn't hit something solid. 6.68 is a variant of the 6.8 Creekmore- a very robust round. 6.68 is suppose to have better range and punch and a flatter trajectory than current 5.56
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