Why 6.8 mm?

The 6.8mm Remington SPC was designed to perform better in short-barreled CQB rifles after diminished performance from the 5.56 NATO when the M16A4 was changed from the rifle configuration to the current M4 carbine. The 6.8 SPC delivers 44% more energy than the 5.56mm NATO (M4 configuration) at 100–300 m (330–980 ft).

Is the US military switching to 6.8 mm?

Last April, the Army awarded a contract to Sig Sauer to produce the Next Generation Squad Weapon — or NGSW — XM7 Rifle, XM250 Automatic Rifle and a 6.8mm family of ammunition to replace the M4A1 Carbine, M249 Squad Automatic Weapon and 5.56mm family of ammunition within the close combat force.

Why 6.8 caliber?

One key design point was that the 6.8 SPC was developed to perform better in short-barreled rifles (SBR) like the M4 carbine, as opposed to the longer M16 assault rifle. Fired from an M4, the 6.8 SPC can deliver almost 45% more kinetic energy into its target than standard 62 gr M855 NATO ammunition.

Is the 6.8 mm round any good?

The 6.8 SPC round is more than powerful enough for hunting varmints as well as medium sized game like feral hogs and deer at short to moderate range and still delivers great performance when used in shorter barreled rifles. It also uses a slightly larger diameter bullet. Specifically, the larger diameter .

Is 6.8 mm the same as 308?

308 cartridges are only a little taller than 6.8 SPC but the projectiles for 308 are significantly bigger. This is a larger caliber that will fit the AR-10 platform and you'll find several bolt action rifles chambered in 308 WIN as well.

Recoil analysis of the 6.8mm NGSW

Why is the Army switching to 6.8 mm?

The 6.8mm Remington SPC was designed to perform better in short-barreled CQB rifles after diminished performance from the 5.56 NATO when the M16A4 was changed from the rifle configuration to the current M4 carbine. The 6.8 SPC delivers 44% more energy than the 5.56mm NATO (M4 configuration) at 100–300 m (330–980 ft).

Is .270 and 6.8 mm the same?

The 6.8 Western is based on the . 270 Winchester Super Magnum but is . 085 inches shorter than its parent case.

What is the difference between Army 6.8 mm and 6.5 Creedmoor?

The primary difference between the 6.5 Creedmoor and 6.8 SPC is their intended rifle and use. The 6.5 Creedmoor was designed for use in bolt-action rifles for long range shooting competitions while the 6.8 SPC was designed to increase the power level of the AR-15 carbine.

What's the difference between a 6.8 Western and a .300 Win Mag?

The 6.8 Western also a slight edge in terms of trajectory (the . 300 Win Mag has 2″ more bullet drop and about 3.5″ more wind deflection at 500 yards) and about 10% less free recoil energy than the . 300 Win Mag.

What is the effective range of a 6.8 mm rifle?

That would make it larger than the standard-issue 5.56 mm but smaller and lighter than the medium machine gun M240′s 7.62 mm round. While the 5.56 mm reaches its lethality limits at or before the 300 meter range, the 6.8 mm can effectively destroy targets at 600 meters and beyond, according to Army officials.

Will NATO change 6.8 mm?

On 19 April 2022, the US Armed Forces declared with regards to the Next Generation Squad Weapon tender (NGSW) to procure new 6.8×51 mm calibre assault rifles and machine guns from SIG Sauer for the US Army.

What is the 6.8 Western equivalent to?

The 6.8 Western is basically a . 270 Winchester Short Magnum case with a slightly rebated shoulder (reducing the case's maximum powder capacity) that needs a barrel with a 1:8 twist to stabilize 165 to 175 grain bullets.

Is 6.8 Western a barrel burner?

Unlike some of the magnum 6.5s, don't expect the 6.8 Western to burn out your barrel anytime soon. That speedy, yet tame muzzle velocity also contributes to the manageable recoil, while somehow maintaining enough downrange energy to effectively take down all but the most dangerous of North American big-game animals.

Which is better 6.5 Creedmoor or 6.8 Western?

The 6.8 Western fires larger diameter and heavier bullets at a faster velocity than the 6.5 Creedmoor. This translates into the 6.8 Western having a flatter trajectory, more resistance to wind drift, and more retained kinetic energy downrange, but more recoil than the 6.5 Creedmoor.

What grain bullet is most accurate in 300 Win Mag?

The 180 grain load is quite possibly the best . 300 Win Mag ammo for elk, bear, and moose hunting. The 165 grain load will also work for larger game like elk, but it's perfect for bigger deer and bear. That high velocity 150 grain load is great .

Do military snipers use 6.5 Creedmoor?

On the sniper rifle front, according to Army Times, U.S. Special Operations Command is switching from the current 7.62×51-millimeter round—also known as . 308 Winchester—to the relatively new 6.5-millimeter Creedmoor round.

Is 6.5 or 6.8 better?

“The 6.8 allows you to use heavier bullets, like 165-175 grains,” Frank said. “This is more lethal and gets more penetration and retained weight than any of the 6.5 Creedmoor bullets. At 500 yards, you'll have almost 60% more energy in a 6.8 Western than 6.5 Creedmoor.

What is the difference between a 556 and a new Army 6.8 mm round?

What is the difference between 6.8 SPC and 5.56? The difference between 6.8 SPC and 5.56 is the bullet diameter each cartridge fires. The 6.8 SPC fires a heavier 0.277” diameter bullet while the 5.56 NATO fires a lighter 0.224” diameter bullet.

Is the military getting rid of 556?

The Army is moving away from the 5.56 mm round in its infantry weapons that has been the standard for decades. Before the 5.56 mm, there was the heavier 7.62 — here's how the US armed forces shifted to the smaller but still punchy rounds.

What is the U.S. military replacing 5.56 with?

The new weapons use 6.8mm rounds as the Army looked for heftier ammo than the current 5.56mm used in the M4 and SAW to better defeat body armor, protective equipment that adversaries are expected to have in future conflicts and gear that is already becoming more commonplace for terror groups.

What is 6.8 special purpose?

The 6.8 mm Remington Special Purpose Cartridge (aka 6.8 SPC, 6.8 SPC II & 6.8×43mm) is a rifle cartridge that was developed by Remington Arms in collaboration with members of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, United States Special Operations Command to possibly replace the 5.56 NATO cartridge in a Short Barreled Rifle( ...

What is the difference between a 6.8 and 7.62 round?

The 6.8 bullet itself has a better ballistic coefficient than military 7.62 bullets have. So the 6.8x51 launches at a higher velocity than 7.62, and loses less velocity over distance to drag than 7.62 bullets do. This gives the 6.8x51 a longer effective range than the 7.62x51.

Is 5.56 or 6.8 better?

Since the 6.8mm is of a larger calibre and greater sectional density than the 5.56mm, it will use this energy more effectively when producing terminal damage. Performance can be increased slightly by using 110gr ammunition, giving you more velocity and less bullet drop over range.

Is 6.8 Western good for deer?

Known for having great accuracy potential and for packing magnum performance into a short-action rifle cartridge, the 6.8 Western is an outstanding hunting cartridge that's especially well suited for hunting deer and elk sized game under a variety of conditions, but especially at extended range.

How much does a 6.8 Western drop 500 yards?

The 6.8 Western shoots heavier bullets at a faster velocity than the lighter bullets of the 6.5 Creedmoor, so it has a flatter trajectory. Zeroed in at 200 yards, the typical 6.8 Western bullet will have a 6.3" drop at 300yds, 18.1" drop at 400yds, and 38" drop at 500yds.