Posted on 04/19/2017 5:08:10 PM PDT by MtnClimber
SOCOM has seen the light, and is finally looking to drop the 7.62 NATO in favor of a lighter and better-performing rifle in a 6.5 short-action caliber. Special Operations Command is exploring a new caliber for its semi-automatic sniper rifle needs and upgrading one of its bolt-action sniper rifle systems.
Maj. 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.......
Is anyone seeing signs of a clear trend here? The Army is already looking to bring back battle rifles and widely distribute them among the troops, at the same time they’re replacing their semi-automatic sniper rifles with a HK descendent of the AR-10 that isn’t really a sniper rifle.
(Excerpt) Read more at bearingarms.com ...
I would pick 6.5 Creedmore.
Same.
C’mon Creedmore! let’s bring that price down
How about a Swiss K-31? They already come in 6.5mm, and you can get ‘em cheap.
CC
With that cool factor they don’t have to bring the price down.
ARMA 3, which came out several years ago but is set in the 2030s, predicted NATO would move to the 6.5.
6mm-6.5mm does seem to be really popular with long range shooters. The Swedish Mauser round would be great but it’s case is probably a little large.
The one thing the old Swede has on most others is the ability to handle long heavy for caliber bullets.
I have an old Swedish M41b sniper rifle.It’s in 6.5x55 and it’s very effective at long ange.The Swedes made the right caliber decision back in 1894.
Sorry, the K-31 came in 7.5mm, disregard the previous.
CC
ange=range.My arthritis is raging tonight.
I had a Schmidt-Rubin Swiss rifle in 7.5. It was a big, long, heavy rifle. On the plus side it was beautifully made and a really good shooter.
The straight pull was also decent. Ammo a bit hard to find.
If they pick Creedmore, I will get one, as I also want the price per round to be lower. As of today, I already have too many different caliber to support/reload. So I will stick to the cheaper .308 Win/7.62 NATO for the time being.
When I want to go longer and .308 is not up to the task, for now I ‘settle’ for 300 WinMag or .338 Lapua. :)
Even the 6.5 Grendel has better ballistics than the 7.62x51, in the lighter AR-15 type package. Stays supersonic further out.
Active Duty ping.
They need a rifle with a fast enough twist rate to stabilize longer bullets that have a better Sectional Density and Ballistic Coefficient.
Personally, I like the Winchester .270. It shoots incredibly flat and still has the punch to take down an elk.
6.5 mm is a sweet spot in the small calibers as far as I’m concerned. The Swedes knew what they were doing with the 6.5 x 55 many years ago (1891?). Newer shorter cartridges with less taper and sharper shoulders just make that even better.
I think we could do with a shortie 6.5 mm for general purpose, then move on up to a .338 Lapua for the heavy lifting. We already have 50 cal covered, though there are some intermediate rounds that are excellent as far as accuracy.
My very first rifle was a Remington 700 in 270 Win. I still have it and after more than 30 years it still drives tacks.
Those Swiss straight-pull rifles have always amazed me with the level of quality evident in their manufacture. I’ve often wondered how they would’ve held up to the sort of combat that the Mosin-Nagant, Mauser and Enfield experienced.
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