6.8 Polymer Ammo - True Velocity announced that its composite-cased 6.8 TVC cartridge, developed for the U.S. Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) program. Army, has been approved by SAAMI and will be commercialized soon. Along with the commercial release of the cartridge, Beretta, Daniel Defense and Lewis Machine & Tool will offer firearms chambered in this cartridge.
While you have gun options from the above companies, you are not limited to them. One of the key features of this innovative cartridge is that it meets Army ballistic requirements while maintaining "normal" rifle cartridge pressures (approximately 60,000 psi). With chamber pressure, head dimensions and overall length identical to the .308 Winchester, the 6.8 TVC can be chambered in any gun capable of chambering a .308 Winchester. This is just a change of the barrel, and in some cases perhaps the use of a new or modified feed system (magazines, belts, etc.). From bolt action rifles to miniguns, anything that fires .308 Winchester / 7.62x51mm NATO can be converted to 6.8 TVC...even M14s and FN FALs!
6.8 Polymer Ammo
One drawback for civilian shooters may be that the 6.8 TVC ammunition cannot be reloaded with conventional reloading tools. The neck tension of this pickup is adjustable using a proprietary technology. However, for those reloading for higher precision results, True Velocity ensures that commercial 6.8 TVC ammunition is extremely consistent and accurate. Special reloading devices may also become available in the future.
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True Velocity also featured several other compound case ammunition products at its SHOT Show 2022 booth – 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO, .50 BMG and .338 caliber with a case design similar to the 6.8 TVC , available in . 338 Norma Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum guns like the 6.8 TVC in the .308 Win gun.
This author believes that True Velocity's 6.8 TVC, in terms of military small arms, is a real advance in ammunition design since the development of the standalone metal cartridge that makes sense and is usable. Yes, we've had trounds, caseless ammo, and a few other sci-fi ammo designs, but none of them are useful enough. I think the True Velocity design is the future of small military weapons and will inevitably have a big impact on the civilian market.
A lifelong gun enthusiast, Hrachya has always enjoyed studying the history and design of firearms and ammunition. He also writes for OvertDefense.com and SilahReport.comSIG Ammunition Produced and supplied Over 825,000 rounds of 6.8x51mm composite case ammunition for the US Army Next Generation Squad Weapons Program Prototype Test #2
Last month, SIG Ammunition delivered 825,000 rounds of its 6.8x51mm compound-case ammunition to the US Army for Prototype Test #2 of the Next Generation Squad Weapons program. This is in addition to previous deliveries under the program as well as ammunition used for internal development and testing. In total, I would estimate that they are approaching over a million rounds of next-gen hybrid ammunition.
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The NGSW program will replace the 5.56mm M4 carbine and M249 squad automatic weapon with a new squad-level rifle and automatic rifle in close-combat formations such as infantry and cavalry scouts. Other services are also monitoring the program to decide whether to participate.
In addition to the ammunition mentioned above, the NGSW-AR light machine gun and the NGSW-R rifles, the program also includes silencers. In addition, they work with teams from other vendors on a dedicated fire control system.
Bala is the focus of this program. The Army gave the industry a 6.8mm projectile and a performance specification, but left it up to them how best to deliver that projectile within the required performance parameters.
The performance they are aiming for is similar to the 270 Win Short Mag. The velocities required to achieve the desired on-target effects for this 6.8mm projectile require very high chamber pressures in excess of 80,000psi; previously unheard of for small arms.
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As if it wasn't enough that the bullet had a larger caliber than the one it replaced, it also had to be 20% lighter. SIG's hybrid bullet design exceeds this goal at 23.5% less than the weight of an equivalent energy cartridge (270 WSM). Below is the hybrid case along with traditional brass case ammunition.
This is not a science project. The Army plans to choose a solution next year. While the engineering alone is daunting, the industry must also actually manufacture the ammunition and weapons it designs if they are chosen.
The need has led to some interesting solutions. From opening a crowd of 16 industry groups offering different solutions, the Army narrowed them down to just three: SIG SAUER, with its own brass-bodied and steel-headed hybrid cased ammunition; General Dynamics-OTS partners with True Velocity to introduce a recyclable polymer-cased cartridge; and Textron Systems with the Case Telescoped cartridge, which features a polymer case that completely encloses the projectile and propellant, resembling a rimless shotgun case. This slide shows all the candidate systems.
SIG manufactures these bullets at their factory in Jacksonville, Arkansas. Last fall I had the opportunity to inspect their operations. During the tour I witnessed the production of commercial ammunition as well as the .300 WinMag ammunition commissioned by the US Army and the new 6.8x51mm compound cartridge for the NGSW program.
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I will highlight their assembled case manufacturing process at the time of my visit. Over time, this may change slightly due to regular upgrades to both processes and machines. For example, when the cartridge case was first developed, SIG used a three-piece design that included an internal aluminum lock washer to hold the head and case together. The detail below shows the washer in a three-piece design. They have since refined it to a two-piece design that streamlines manufacturing and also saves more weight and cost.
The hybrid design not only reduces weight compared to traditional brass-cased ammunition, but also offers additional benefits. There's also more strength in the steel head where you need it, but they retain the malleable brass body that works well in the firing cycle. Shaping the brass case body also means it is more consistent and you get an additional 200-300 feet per second muzzle velocity with the same load compared to traditional brass cases.
SIG Ammunition manufactures the hybrid case and complete cartridge using the same types of machinery used to manufacture all brass cased ammunition.
In this photo you can see the processes involved in making the traditional 5.56mm brass case that is in the bottom row of the photo.
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In the hybrid case (upper case set), the steel head is produced separately and the case body and head are assembled in one press. Otherwise, the processes are very similar to conventional bass bullets.
While SIG develops its own primers, which are still a ways off, SIG uses commercial primers and propellants along with government-supplied projectiles to create the next-generation 6.8x51mm ammunition.
Fear not While this bullet was developed for the NGSW, SIG is ready to offer a commercial version called the 277 SIG FURY.
From the beginning of the NGSW program, SIG planned to offer this ammunition commercially to the consumer. During my visit, Jason Imhoff, SIG's director of ammunition engineering, said, "The thought of civilians not having access to a new military cartridge never crossed my mind."
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They went through the process to bring the new cartridge to market and worked with the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers' Institute (SAAMI) from June 2019 when the SIG submitted drawings and proofload information for the summer meeting.
Due to the round's high chamber pressure, SIG had to work with SAAMI's technical working group to develop new certification processes. Despite delays due to COVID, the Joint Technical Committee approved the Technical Data Package.
Initially, 277 SIG FURY will be offered as an option for the SIG Cross bolt-action rifle. In fact, the Cross was designed with the 277 SIG Fury Proof Load. However, I wouldn't be surprised if the upcoming MCX Spear, a heavy variant of the MCX they developed for NGSW, was chambered in 277 SIG FURY and made available for sale at a later date.
Jason Imhoff also told me that SIG has no plans to discontinue the .277 variant. He foresees a 6.5 and possibly a .308 version of the SIG FURY using a hybrid case for higher velocities. Who knows where they will go after this.
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Prototype Test #2 of the Next Generation Squad Weapons program has begun, and the Army will soon decide which candidate system will move forward. In the meantime, SIG will continue to refine its hybrid ammunition casing technology and offer it to both civilian and government customers.
This entry was posted on Wednesday, January 27th, 2021 at 10:00 am and is filed under Advertiser, Ammo. You can follow all responses in this entry
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