SOCOM Considers New 6.5 mm Chamberings for Semi-Auto Rifles
Cartridge photo courtesy Rifleshooter.com.
According to Military Times, the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is considering replacing the 7.62×51 NATO in semi-auto sniper rifles with a mid-size 6.5 mm cartridge. The two leading candidates are the 6.5 Creedmoor and the .260 Remington. These 6.5 cartridges would deliver a flatter trajectory, better long-range ballistics, and reduced recoil compared to the 7.62×51 NATO (aka .308 Winchester). While the .260 Rem enjoys a case capacity edge over the 6.5 Creedmoor, in the real world, performance is similar — both cartridge types can push a 130gr bullet to velocities around 2900 fps. (See Sierra 6.5 CM Load Data.)
Military Times Reports:
“Major Aron Hauquitz told Military Times Tuesday that SOCOM is in the preliminary stages of exploring a sniper rifle chambered in the 6.5 mm caliber. The two commercially available rounds being evaluated are the .260 Remington and the 6.5 mm Creedmoor.
Research shows that both rounds will ‘stay supersonic longer, have less wind drift and better terminal performance than 7.62 mm ammunition’, SOCOM officials said.
‘We’re purely in the exploratory phase’. Hauquitz said. ‘We’re trying to see if we can take a weapon that is 7.62 and give it greater range, accuracy and lethality.'”
The SOCOM representative indicated that test rifles in 6.5 Creedmoor and/or .260 Remington might be issued to test teams later this year, but there was no issue date in place yet. Hauquitz said the 6.5 mm exploration came out of preliminary results of the Small Arms Ammunition Configuration study, which assesses commercially available ammunition and new ammo technologies.
SOCOM Also Considering Polymer Cartridges
The Military Times report also revealed that SOCOM is considering polymer-cased rifle ammunition, with the goal of reducing load weight. SOCOM’s research shows that a polymer-cased mid-sized 6.5 mm cartridge could be one-third lighter than conventional brass-cased 7.62×51 ammo. That means the next-generation 6.5 mm ammo could “come in at 5.56×45 mm weight ranges”. While SOCOM is seriously looking at this new option, polymer-cased ammo will NOT be required for SOCOM’s new semi-auto rifle. In other words, if the polymer ammo is not ready, that “would not delay potential fielding of a 6.5 mm rifle” according to Maj. Hauquitz.
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Tags: 260 Remington, 6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5-08, AR10, Military Times, Polymer Case, Semi-Auto, Special Operations
There are both many advantages ; and a few disadvantages to making this change . Most of the advantages were highlighted in the article , and they are all positives . The one major down-side to doing this is a simple one .
Being a “Shooter” ; out in the field in a tactical situation , and due to circumstance of the action , running out of ammo for this weapon . Is someone else carrying extra ammo for you on your team ? Does this mean that SOCOM teams would be converting their current LR-10 gunners to the new cartridge , so as to have more ammo available to their “Shooter”? Hopefully ; DoD and SOCOM are taking these factors into consideration , because I certainly would not want to be “That Guy”; in the middle of a gunfight , and run out of ammo , and be the only one out their with that cartridge .Could make for a really bad day . Just sayin….
Will come down to money. Higher life of barrel and cost of ammo
I was hoping for a bit more higher level comment.
The scuttlebutt to date has been about a 6.5 x 48mm cartridge to replace both the 223 and 308 cases. While this is a case of back to the future (and I am looking squarely at the US’ insistence on 7.62 x 54 over the UK’s much better 280 British back in the very early 50s).
Now the Commonwealth has been through this with the move from 303 to 7.62 Nato and it will work but takes time for the logistics chain to catch up. Noting far too many wars have shown up the 5.56 as unsuitable, a calibre change across the board would be a timely thing.
6.5x48mm is a 6XC necked to 6.5-
Early on tried th5 6.5XC picked the 6mm and have never regretted it.
However barrel life with the 6.5 XC would be better.
The brand new Hornady 6.5 Creedmoor 147 grain ELD bullet has a BC of 0.70 and a sectional density of 0.35 !! What other mid-caliber can match this ? Also employ two interchangeable barrels on the M27. A short (city) barrel; and, a long (24 inch) sniper barrel carried by each soldier. A sight for the city barrel and one for sniper work. Each recruit should have fundamental sniper training. Each squad needs a target spotter with very powerful scopes, plus a pocket recon drone.
There are many good rounds out there
but the 6.5 has shown it can preform.
What ever we give our men and women in the field I’m sure it will be the best you can get.