During the recent SIG NEXT event in New Hampshire SIG announced that they would not only introduce an MCX SPEAR chambered in 6.8×51, but that they are also increasing the types of 277 FURY cartridges as well as offering a 6.8 ammunition for commercial sale.
277 FURY / 6.8 x 51mm Ammunition
The cartridge is unlike anything else out there and was developed by SIG Ammunition in 2017 at their plant in Arkansas. The design is 23.5% lighter than the weight of an equivalent energy cartridge (270 WSM) which exceeds the Army’s goal of a 20% weight reduction for the Next Generation Squad Weapon program.
In addition to being lighter, the case is also stronger. It features a unique hybrid case design which is made of two components, a brass body and steel head. Combined, you get more strength in the head where you need it, and a malleable case which works very well in the firing cycle. This allows the cartridge to withstand very high pressures, in excess of 80,000 psi, and right along with it, you get very high velocities.
277 FURY is the SAAMI certified equivalent of the US Army’s new 6.8 x 51mm hybrid-cased cartridge developed for NGSW. The commercial 277 FURY ammunition has been around for a while now and incorporates the 150 grain Nosler AccuBond projectile. It’s a boat tail bullet, featuring a polymer tip, copper-alloy jacket with a lead-alloy core and a thick heel. With this cartridge expect 3,000 FPS from a 16” barrel and an additional 30 FPS for every additional inch of barrel.
SIG Ammunition’s new 113 grain 6.8 ball cartridge from SIG is as close as you are going to get to the new XM1188 solid copper projectile ammunition being procured by the US Army for NGSW. It comes off of the same line and it’s produced to the same specs, meaning, you’ll see the same performance. Expect muzzle velocities above 3200 feet per second from a 16” barrel from this hybrid cartridge.
All told, you’ll have access to 6.8×51 hybrid ball in can (460) or crate (920), 277 SIG Fury Venari Hunting 130gr soft point (non hybrid), and 277 FURY hybrid match 155gr OTM as well as the currently available 277 Accubond and 277 ball (non hybrid).
There are a lot of rumors floating around out there about the NGSW program. One of them is that SIG isn’t delivering enough ammunition to the Army. This isn’t true. In fact, the availability of this commercial ammunition is proof that it isn’t so.
6.8 MCX SPEAR
When the Army adopted SIG new ammunition they also adopted two new weapons to fire it, the XM250 Automatic Rifle which is actually a belt-fed machine gun replacement for the current Squad Automatic Weapon and the XM7 Rifle which will replace the M4 carbine in units like the Infantry and Cav Scouts across the service.
Along with the commercial 277 FURY ammunition, the bolt action SIG CROSS has been available for a couple of years. In addition, you’ll now also have a semi-auto rifle chambered in 277 FURY. They are expanding the caliber selection of the popular MCX SPEAR platform to include 6.8 / 277 FURY in addition to the currently available .308 and 6.5 Creedmoor.
Just like the XM7 version, the 6.8 MCX SPEAR features a 13.3″ barrel so it’s an SBR. However, they are planning to introduce a pistol version now that stabilizing braces are back on the menu as well as a standalone upper for those who already own an MCX SPEAR rifle in .308. As with the 6.8 ammunition, the 6.8 MCX SPEAR is as close as you are going to get to NGSW without joining the Army and being assigned to one of the close combat units receiving the new gear.
Look for these new options soon.
SSD,
Regarding the XM1188, if the commercial offering is identical to the mil offering, does that mean that the XM1188 is the reduced pressure “training”/MOUT round that we’ve heard of (to be fielded alongside XM1186 and XM1184).
XM1188 is the Reduced Range Ammunition often referred to as RRA.
To clarify some popular misconceptions, Reduced range =\= reduced pressure.
The RRA is not reduced pressure ammo. The requirement is that RRA have a similar trajectory profile to the GP round to 600-800 yards. This requires the same pressure profile with a less efficient projectile. The projectiles profile and flat base increase drag and cause the 113gr copper solid projectile to slow quicker therefore reducing its MAX ORD and enables it to be used in traditional SDZs.
This is the muzzle velocity I observed with this ammo fired from an XM7.
You saw 3252 out of a 13” XM7?
Then how is it getting 3200 out of a 16” barrel?
I’m pretty sure the RRA is specifically made so the Army won’t have to redo every single Surface Danger Zone (SDZ) for every range that this will be shot on. The SDZ is rated to a certain caliber, and the ballistics of that caliber, a more powerful bullet means further impacts, further ricochets, and simply more range. SDZ for most Army ranges are up to 7.62 x 51mm NATO ball, and the RRA is designed to work on ranges rated to 7.62, without requiring a whole shitload of changes by range control personnel across the force.
Exactly