Posted on 04/21/2022 9:15:16 AM PDT by PROCON
U.S. Army Reserve Soldier Sgt. Javion Siders, assigned to the 982nd Combat Camera Company (Airborne) conducts M4 Carbine marksmanship qualifications on Fort Jackson, S.C., April 9, 2022. The Army has awarded a 10-year, $20.4 million contract to Sig Sauer to replace the service’s M4 rifle with a new weapons system. (Spc. Eric Kestner/U.S. Army)
The Army has awarded a 10-year, $20.4 million contract to Sig Sauer to replace the service’s M4 rifle with a new weapons system that officials said reduces aiming errors and brings the Army a new caliber of ammunition for the first time in 65 years.
After a 27-month decision process, the Army chose Sig Sauer over two other competitors to manufacture and deliver two variations of the Next Generation Squad Weapon, the XM5 Rifle, set to replace the M4/M4A1 carbine, and the XM250 Automatic Rifle, replacing the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon.
“The capability increase that these weapons provide over the M4 and the M249 is what’s really exciting. It’s significant,” said Col. Scott Madore, project manager for soldier lethality at Program Executive Office Soldier, the Army office that delivers new capabilities to soldiers. He spoke Wednesday during a news conference to discuss the contract alongside other officers who worked on acquiring the new squad rifle.
Both weapons 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, said Brig. Gen. William Boruff, the executive officer of the joint program for armaments and ammunition. The new ammunition comes in multiple types of tactical and training rounds to increase accuracy and
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The new XM5 Rifle is pictured here. The Army has awarded a 10-year, $20.4 million contract to Sig Sauer to replace the service’s M4 rifle with a new weapons system. (U.S. Army)
(Excerpt) Read more at stripes.com ...
They manufacture a lot of their guns sold in North America in Portsmouth, NH and another plant in Rochester, NH.
It may be mostly pistols there, but they have been hiring a lot of people for several years.
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.
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I think that goes out the window and it is back to spray and pray.
From external dimensions, the cartidge is basically a 308-sized case necked down to 6.8 (277). But, it is a hybrid case (stainless and brass). The hybrid case handles pressures of 80,000 psi. This is much higher pressure than either 5.56 or 308. They are claiming that this cartridge outperforms the 6.5 creedmoor, which already far outperforms the 308.
If the cartridge performs like claimed, this will be a badass cartridge that will outpace any current standard cartridge below 300WM.
There has been a range mismatch between US and Soviet weapons that led to, especially in Afghanistan, US soldiers not being able to engage the enemy. It is my understanding that this was the case in operation Red Wings where the Seals didn’t have anything that could match the range of the PKMs, and so they were just fish in a barrel. This new cartridge changes that math, and US soldiers will always have the range advantage.
And I think they’re a subsidiary of Sig Sauer AG of Switzerland.
And I’m wrong, but generally right. From Wikipedia:
“The parent company is L&O Holding. It is the parent company of the German SIG Sauer GmbH & Co. KG, the Swiss SIG Sauer AG, and the American SIG Sauer, Inc.”
So ultimately the ownership is European, with significant US operations.
No, we are paying American’s to produce our guns. Sig Sauer moved their HQ to NH and has been producing firearms in the NH and Arkansas for years now. They are investing in the USA and should be applauded fore producing high quality products here.
Yes, they still have some production in Germany.
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.
Well that move sounds stylish! How fast does it do the 100.
One thing for sure....it’s gonna give whoever manufactures 6.8 ammo a great contract.>>>>>>>>>>>>>
SIG is th eonly company that makes 6.8 x 71 ammo. And they aill not likely allow anyone else to make it. BAD DEAL AMERICA!
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.
https://www.nationaldefensemagazine.org/articles/2019/4/4/lake-city-factory-readies-for-new-6-8-mm-round
Looks like a government ammunition plant.
No one can make a mistake in purchasing a god Sig Sauer. I love my P229 in .357 sig.
New 6.8 factory at the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant in Missouri.
They already make most of Army 5.56 and 7.62.
I was wrong. 6.8 will not fit in old 2.23 mags. It will fit in 7.62x51 mats
Some disagreement on that point on this thread my friend
“One thing for sure....it’s gonna give whoever manufactures 6.8 ammo a great contract..”
I guess Hunter is in the ammo busness too?
10% for the big guy goes a long way
I stand corrected. But in the early video presentations SIG said it would be the only one making the ammo, which had a “soft case”.
It looks like the US Army facility will be making this ammo. Hope it does not jam much, 6.8 x 71.
The ballistics on the 6.8 look pretty good. Not having any 6.8 let alone something to feed it with, I can’t say.
As usual… Do your homework.
No longer interchangable with the M 16, they have to carry two types of ammo when this comes in.
A woke joint military civilian ammo manufacturing plant?.......what could go wrong?
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