6.8x51mm Vs 308 - SIG Ammunition has produced and delivered more than 825,000 rounds of 6.8x51mm composite ammunition to the Squapons next-generation platoon program Squapons Prototype Test No. 2
Last month, SIG Ammunition delivered 825,000 rounds of its 6.8x51mm composite ammunition to the U.S. Army for prototype test no. 2 as part of the new generation Squad Weapons program. This is in addition to previous deliveries under the program as well as munitions used for internal development and testing. In total, I think they are close to over a million rounds of new generation hybrid ammunition.
6.8x51mm Vs 308
The NGSW program will replace the M4 5.56mm carbine and M249 automatic weapon with a new rifle and squad-level automatic rifle in close combat formations such as infantry and mounted scouts. Other services are also monitoring the program to decide if they want to participate.
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In addition to ammunition, the NGSW-AR light machine guns and the NGSW-R rifles mentioned above are suppressors in the program. In addition, they are working on a specialized fire control system with teams from other suppliers.
At the core of this program is ammunition. The military 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.
It turns out that the performance they are looking for is similar to that of the 270 Win Short Mag. The velocities required to achieve the desired effects for this 6.8mm projectile on target required extremely high chamber pressures in excess of 80,000 psi; unheard of for pistols.
As if it's not enough that the ammunition is of a larger caliber than what it replaces, it must be at least 20% lighter. SIG's hybrid ammo design exceeds this goal and is 23.5% lighter than the weight of an equivalent energy cartridge (270 WSM). Below you see the hybrid case next to conventional brass ammunition.
What We Know About The 6.8×51 (277 Sig Fury)
This is not a science project. The Army plans to choose a solution by next year. While the engineering itself is daunting, the industry must also be able to actually produce the munitions and weapons it has designed, if chosen.
The requirement led to some interesting solutions. From an initial crowd of 16 industry teams offering various solutions, the military narrowed them down to just three: SIG SAUER with its own hybrid case ammunition consisting of a brass body and a steel head; General Dynamics-OTS teams up with True Velocity to introduce a cartridge with a recyclable polymer body; and Textron Systems, using a telescoping cartridge that contains a polymer jacket that completely surrounds the projectile and propellant, resembling a rimless rifle case. This slide shows all candidate systems.
SIG manufactures this ammunition at its factory in Jacksonville, Arkansas. I had the opportunity to check out their work last fall. During the tour, I witnessed the production of commercial ammunition as well as .300 WinMag ammunition under contract for the US Army and a new 6.8x51mm composite cartridge for the NGSW program.
I will highlight their composite hull manufacturing process during my visit. It may change slightly over time due to regular process and machine updates. For example, when the cartridge was first created, SIG used a three-piece design that included an internal aluminum lock washer that held the head and case together. In the section below you can see the mat in three parts. They have since improved it to a two-piece design that simplifies manufacturing and saves even more weight and cost.
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The hybrid design not only reduces weight compared to traditional brass ammunition, but also has other advantages. There is also more strength in the steel head where you need it, but they retain a malleable brass body that performs very well in the firing cycle. Shaping the body of the brass case the way they do it also means it's more uniform and they get an extra 200-300 feet per second muzzle velocity compared to a regular brass case for the same load.
SIG Ammunition manufactures the hybrid case and full cartridge using the same types of machinery used to manufacture all brass cases.
In this photo you can see the manufacturing processes of the common 5.56mm brass case which is the lower part of the photo.
In a hybrid case (upper set of cases), the steel head is produced separately and the case and head are combined in a press. Otherwise, the processes are quite similar to conventional cassettes in a bass box.
X51mm Sig « Daily Bulletin
While SIG is working on its own capsules, which are still a work in progress, SIG is using commercial capsules and rockets combined with government projectiles to produce the next generation of 6.8x51mm ammunition.
Never fear. While this ammo was developed for the NGSW, SIG is ready to offer a commercial version called the 277 SIG FURY.
From the start of the NGSW program, SIG plans to offer these ammunition commercially to consumers. During my visit, Jason Imhoff, director of ammunition engineering at SIG, said, "The thought of civilians not having access to a new military cartridge never crossed my mind."
They have gone through the process of bringing the new cartridge to market in collaboration with the Sporting Arms and Ammunition Manufacturers Institute (SAAMI) since June 2019, when SIG presented drawings and test load information at the summer meeting.
Rifles Of The World * John Walter * 1993 * Pb * Excl Condition
Because of the high chamber pressure, SIG had to work with the SAAMI Technical Working Group to develop new certification procedures. Despite delays due to the COVID-19 disease, the Joint Technical Committee approved the technical data package.
The 277 SIG FURY will initially be offered as an option for SIG's cross-action rifle. In fact, the Cross was developed using 277 SIG Fury proof loads. However, I wouldn't be surprised to see the upcoming MCX Spear, a heavy variant of the MCX they developed for NGSW, in 277 SIG FURY offered for sale.
Jason Imhoff also told me that SIG has no plans to discontinue the .277 variant. He envisions versions of the 6.5 and possibly the .308 SIG FURY that use a hybrid case for higher velocities. Who knows where they will go next.
Prototype test #2 of the next-generation Squad Weapons program has already begun, and the Army will soon decide which candidate system it wants to move forward with. In the meantime, SIG will continue to advance the hybrid ammo case technology and offer it to both civilian and government customers.
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