Army announces new cartridge

[Robin]

Well, here we go again!
Army sets sights on bigger, bolder, harder hitting bullets

The U.S. Army's Mysterious New 6.8mm Round

Mebbe, mebbe not.
Robin

 

[Bananabandit]

so close to 6.9


What? Someone had to say it

 

[kev74]

Woo hoo!!! 69!!!

 

[Curmudgeon]

Hopefully it's cheaper to produce and my taxes go down. They should try the .22lr.

 

[Marine Cpl]

What's next? 30-06? I think these authors of these articles are just trollers.

 

[Podmonkey]

This is a long way off. They haven't even started testing yet. Once they do there will be tests, redesigns, retesting the redesigns, it will be fielded, there will be problems, redesigns, retests, it will be 2030 before it's all settled.

 

[Podmonkey]

Hopefully it's cheaper to produce and my taxes go down. They should try the .22lr.

If they really are working on polymer cases ammo it should be. This will be a great development for the rest of us too. Polymer cased ammo is out there but none of it is very good, the tech isn't mature yet. With the Army funding the R&D we should be able to see reduced cost, quality ammo using polymer cases too.
If development of these new polymer copper composite bullets mature along side we might be able to get back to the days of affordable ammunition. At least that's what I'm hoping.

 

[Acer-m14]

does the 6.8 tumble like the 5.56 if not is useless LOL ..

 

[Curmudgeon]

If they really are working on polymer cases ammo it should be. This will be a great development for the rest of us too. Polymer cased ammo is out there but none of it is very good, the tech isn't mature yet. With the Army funding the R&D we should be able to see reduced cost, quality ammo using polymer cases too.
If development of these new polymer copper composite bullets mature along side we might be able to get back to the days of affordable ammunition. At least that's what I'm hoping.

I hope that too, but think about the ACU snafu and question competence. Well, actually it's not a question in my mind.

 

[SomeSoldier]

I hope that too, but think about the ACU snafu and question competence. Well, actually it's not a question in my mind.

Has nothing to do with competence. It has everything to do with money and contacts. Just like the beret, dude said everyone will wear them. Then retired and was awarded the contract to supply them.

 

[1911guy]

I'm looking forward to seeing the surplus M4 supply hitting the market (DCM)

 

[Exonautic]

so they're building off of the 6.8 spc but looking at new case materials and a non standard parent case. this doesn't seem helpful to any of us, hell half of Y'all will probably be dead by the time they start commercially producing whatever concoction they come up with.

 

[Robin]

so they're building off of the 6.8 spc but looking at new case materials and a non standard parent case. this doesn't seem helpful to any of us, hell half of Y'all will probably be dead by the time they start commercially producing whatever concoction they come up with.

I don't care, I just want those guys to have the best we can afford to give them.
Robin

 

[@thewheels]

What?!? No 6mm Creedmoor?

 

[Exonautic]

What?!? No 6mm Creedmoor?

That would be ar10 sized platform would it not?

 

[@thewheels]

That would be ar10 sized platform would it not?

I believe so.

 

[ECU Pirates]

What?!? No 6mm Creedmoor?

6.5 for snipers

 

[Podmonkey]

6.5 for snipers

SOCOM is supposedly going with the 300 Norma magnum which I find interesting.

 

[1911guy]

SOCOM is supposedly going with the 300 Norma magnum which I find interesting.

That's a great choice in MNSHO.

 

[Podmonkey]

That's a great choice in MNSHO.

I fantasize about one of them fancy schmancy Falkor Defense ARs in that caliber.
It's a two part fantasy, that I could afford such a rifle and that I had the ability to make use of such a rifle.

 

[Podmonkey]

@1911guy:

Soooooo sexy!

 

[1911guy]

@1911guy:
View attachment 35470
Soooooo sexy!

Damn right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

 

[Podmonkey]

Damn right!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

Yeah, and its only 6k!

 

[1911guy]

Yeah, and its only 6k!

A pittance.

 

[reinhardt]

A pittance.

Per Ralph Kramden, "a mere bag of shells".

 

[Shadow2]

I heard about this caliber called the .308 which is held in high regard.

Hey if they come up something new that works im all for it, I just don't understand with all the software and ballistics knowledge we have today why so much money needs to be wasted on testing. You've got guys making wildcat rounds in there garages and it doesn't cost millions to do it.

A little computer modeling and you can narrow it down to fit their needs.

 

[Podmonkey]

I heard about this caliber called the .308 which is held in high regard.

Hey if they come up something new that works im all for it, I just don't understand with all the software and ballistics knowledge we have today why so much money needs to be wasted on testing. You've got guys making wildcat rounds in there garages and it doesn't cost millions t do it.

Because we can't send our soldiers out to battle with some garage spawned wildcat round, that's why.
Supposedly the round under devolpment is outside the norm, it is reported to be a telescoped, polymer case. And they will be testing to see if it works well in the heat of the desert, the chill of the arctic, the wet of a monsoon, ect. Our military encounters conditions far beyond that of the bench.

 

[Podmonkey]

I do think going with 6.8 caliber is a mistake.
A heavy 6mm would be best I think. They really need to be developing this round to replace both the 5.56 and 7.62

 

[GunXpatriot]

I do think going with 6.8 caliber is a mistake.
A heavy 6mm would be best I think. They really need to be developing this round to replace both the 5.56 and 7.62

Agreed. Isn't the whole point of these replacement rounds to be the best of both worlds? Yet all of these intermediate replacements have had more of the downsides of both, rather than the benefits. It's been kind of embarrassing to be totally honest.

 

[Podmonkey]

Agreed. Isn't the whole point of these replacement rounds to be the best of both worlds? Yet all of these intermediate replacements have had more of the downsides of both, rather than the benefits. It's been kind of embarrassing to be totally honest.

I am basing part of my own personal spec of the recoil energy of the 7.62x39 from an AKM. I consider that to be the absolute limit for controllable fire in full auto. So bullet weight is just about capped at 120gr or so. Since we also want long range and good penetration we need a long, skinny bullet. 6mm bullets in the 110gr range are already out there so that's why I say 6mm.
Having a heavy and light version would be acceptable, as long as all so chambered arms have full compatibility with all loadings.
@meketrefe and I have discussed this at length elsewhere.