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use a 6.8 common cartridge family of ammunition, deviating from the Army’s 5.56 ammunition that has been the standard for 65 years,
***Sounds like a stupid move to me.
Isn’t that one of those feraner companies?
Maybe this means we’ll be able to get 5.56 ammo at a reasonable price now?
We are going to pay the Germans to build our guns? Why not an American company? WTF?
—I will eagerly await the sale of used M-16’s through the DCM—(with a sarcastic grin)
$2 million a year? Really? Something does not seem right. Never says for how many weapons that I could see.
6.8 mm? Replacing all weapons or just part?
I’m cynically skeptical about anything the military or gooberment does anymore.
Know why old men are cynical? Experience.
$20.4 million?? That won’t buy much. I think this contract is being overstated.
Not like we have any domestic world leading firearm manufacturers or anything. But at least the Sig guarantees you pay twice for something 20% heavier than needed.
“...After a 27-month decision process, the Army chose...”
A glacial movement is faster.
Wonder if NATO is gonna adopt this caliber?
IMHO, it’s a stupid move, but everything about this admin is all about being “stupid” these days, especially when it comes to tax dollars and weaponry....
But, hey, there’s gotta be at least a gazillion 5.56/300BO cases out there....all for us, now.
But yeah....no American-centered manufacturers available? WTF? This sounds like a dark, smokey, backroom deal...they’re really good at that. /s
XM5,,
Cause Everyone else has an AR 15 !
The new cartridge is 6.8x51, which is derived from the Army's 7.62x51 NATO cartridge case.
Sig will market the cartridge on the civilian market as the .277 Sig Fury, and will eventually offer a semi-auto version of the rifle as the Sig MCX-Spear. And you can own one for the low, low price of only $7,999.00
Apparently they want to get away from direct impingement and go to a piston but don’t want to upgrade to 7.62 that’s already available.
Wait, you mean I could just buy a different firearm and reduce my aiming errors? Hmm, I thought the usual fix for that was to use better sights, or get better training. ;-) What's the phrase? "It is a poor craftsman who blames his tools." or something like that.
I know, I've tried different firearms and better sights. I've concluded my firearms probably deserve a better marksman than I'll ever be. But hey, I maintain them well as a reward for putting up with my "modest" (ha, on a good day!) skills.
In all seriousness, this seems like a questionable call. Are the improvements in accuracy, effects, maintenance etc. really going to be any different than what could be realized by incremental improvements to existing systems? Are those improvements (via either path) significant in the big picture? Are they worth the "cost" of deviating from the standard, and the supply/logistics headaches that are sure to come? This smells like a solution looking for a problem to fix. As in "Hey, it does X and maybe Y somewhat better." so suddenly X and Y become all important as an excuse to justify something you really want for other reasons.
Somehow, a $20 MM ten-year contract seems like not much money over a lot of time, but I am no expert in these matters. I “do” know that the 6.8 is quite the potent caliber.
My neighbor (hunter) was right that the 6.8 was the more impressive round.
FTA: he rifles will be paired with the XM157 Fire Control, an advanced fire control system that increases accuracy and lethality for close combat. The XM157 integrates advanced technologies, including a variable magnification optic, backup etched reticle, laser rangefinder, ballistic calculator, atmospheric sensor suite, compass, intra-soldier wireless, visible and infrared aiming lasers, and a digital display overlay.
.——
I think that goes out the window and it is back to spray and pray.
Not a game changer. Its a control hand over. SIG is the only ompany that makes the 6.8 mm ammo for these rifles.
If SIG runs out of AMMO , The US military runs out.
Its just a bad deal. The rifle is heavy at 9 pounds, and the recoil is a lot heavier than an AR-15. This weaspon is designed for trench warfare, stalemate warfare. Its not a hop and pop weapon.
Bad move by the Biden crowd, I assume bagman Hunter pocketed a whole lot of kick back on this one.And the Chinese? They love it. Their AK 47s, faster ROF, lighter, easy to field repair, will shoot rings around this SIG rifle.
The only reason for the Army to buy a NEW size cartridge is to make some manufacturers richer.
Eisenhower was right. The military industrial complex is about contractors using their lobbying muscle to dictate foreign policy, promote warfare and make themselves richer.
Our founders were right to fear a standing army but they could not have envisioned today’s massive American bureaucracy pushing for more government money spent on war and weapons.
Without endless wars, officers cannot earn battle medals to help them get promoted.