Anyone heard anything serious about the new 6.8mm round?
 

The US Military is testing a possible replacement for the (anemic) 5.56mm round we currently use. The round being tested is a 6.8mm (.270) in a necked-down .30-30 Winchester case (turned-won as well, to match 5.56 NATO total load length) with a grain weight somewhere abouts 100gr. Supposed to have 500 ft/lbs of oomph at 500meters, significantly more than the 5.56mm and almost approaching what the 7.62 NATO produces. It is supposedly in the hands of Special forces now, but no confirmation.

I was wondering if anyone else here had heard anything on this one. It looks like it might be a cool piece, and anything up from that popgun round (what, maybe 330 ft/lbs at 500 meters? feh) we currently use would be an improvement in my eyes.

Seen a few 250-meter targets that look like a 4-leaf clover, and "Outdoor Life" ( I think ) did a piece a few months back where a 200+ pound muley was dropped with one shot. Try THAT with a 5.56mm! It's supposed to be quite the hitter. I'm also hearing that the Marines ( our last remaining Riflemen ) are requesting that all their new M-8 rifles be provided in this calibre.

I've only read nice things about it.

The M-16 conversion kit is gonna be a favorite stocking stuffer next year ;-)

http://www.demigod.org/~zak/firearms/6.8SPC/faq.php

Interesting! I was just reading an article in Dillon's catalog that claims soldiers in Iraq are dusting off the old M14's because the M16 just isn't cutting it. I've been wondering if this had any truth to it.

Well, SpecFor operators in Afghanistan have been buying M1-A and DSA-made FAL rifles for awhile now. Seems they got sick of shooting people 2-3 times before they got the hint.

I wouldnt expect it to replace the 5.56 ANYTIME soon.

theres a lot more involved than just the U.S. deciding that its a good idea.

I think only special ops guys, sailors, and some Marines have access to them anymore. M-14's aren't in general service with any branch. The Navy kept a bazillion of them in semi-auto configuration and the specops types are using updated m-21s (m-24).

M-16 is okay, I guess, when you're working in a jungle, but now, when you might need to make good shots at 500 meters, I don't think a 5.56 is the round you want to try it with.

As normal, the guy on the ground is fighting the current war with weaponry based on the last one.

M-16 isn't even very suitable for jungle warfare, as the limited penetration ability presents an issue in such a dense area. You can shoot through a tree with a 7.62mm round, but it's highly unlikely the same will happen with a 5.56mm.

Most true. But I was more thinking of it's shitty effective range (what with the war's changing and all).

I think as a whole the 5.56mm was sort of a mistake calibre, and NATO was too stubborn to change their minds.