M16/AR15 5.56mm -> 6.8mm

**ojgsxr6** · Posted On: 4/21/2006 1:45pm

I read an article about the US Army testing a 6.8mm round on the M4/M16, and possibly making this the new NATO round. I was wondering if anybody has had any experience with this round.
I've found uppers for my Bushmaster M4 chambered in 6.8mm but it's really a nonissue for me because I can put holes in paper just as easy with a .223 as opposed to the 6.8mm

**Planktime** · Posted On: 4/21/2006 1:49pm

Originally Posted by ojgsxr6

I read an article about the US Army testing a 6.8mm round on the M4/M16, and possibly making this the new NATO round. I was wondering if anybody has had any experience with this round.
I've found uppers for my Bushmaster M4 chambered in 6.8mm but it's really a nonissue for me because I can put holes in paper just as easy with a .223 as opposed to the 6.8mm

I have been told that this is not likely to happen, and that these articles that keep coming up are just speculation at best and an attempt by Barrett who bought a large amount of parts to build 6.8 ars to keep the issue alive. Those are just rumors i heard at the local AR shop though.

From what I have read about the round it is similar to a 270 in balistics so it would be a fairly good round. I would consider building an upper for my AR in 6.8 if it catches on for deer hunting.

PT

**Yrkoon9** · Posted On: 4/21/2006 1:58pm

You put your little deer lips down to the water to take a drink and...

BAM A BULLET RIPS PART OF YOUR HEAD OFF!

Now I axe you, would you give a **** what caliber round the guy who shot you was using?

**Planktime** · Posted On: 4/21/2006 2:31pm

Originally Posted by Yrkoon9

You put your little deer lips down to the water to take a drink and...

BAM A BULLET RIPS PART OF YOUR HEAD OFF!

Now I axe you, would you give a **** what caliber round the guy who shot you was using?

HEHEH

No but the guy who didnt have to chase you four legged ass all of god's green earth cares.....

PT

**SFGOON** · Posted On: 4/22/2006 12:25pm

Originally Posted by Yrkoon9

You put your little deer lips down to the water to take a drink and...

BAM A BULLET RIPS PART OF YOUR HEAD OFF!

Now I axe you, would you give a **** what caliber round the guy who shot you was using?

Drink much?

6.8 is a great round, but the adoption hype is a little premature. The Special Forces are experementing with it, though I haven't heard what they think of it yet. Supposedly it's going to go on the M-8, a very easy thing to do with the ease of swapping out the barrels on that weapon (the chamber for 5.56 and 6.8 is the same.)

***Cassius*** · Posted On: 4/22/2006 1:13pm

Originally Posted by SFGOON

Drink much?

6.8 is a great round, but the adoption hype is a little premature. The Special Forces are experementing with it, though I haven't heard what they think of it yet. Supposedly it's going to go on the M-8, a very easy thing to do with the ease of swapping out the barrels on that weapon (the chamber for 5.56 and 6.8 is the same.)

Do you know anyone that's gotten a chance to handle and shoot a prototype? If so, what did they think? Better/worse/about the same as the M4/M16?

I've done a bit of reading on the M-8 and it's progenitor, the OICW, and the functionality the services wanted for the grenade launcher part of the system blew my mind.

**SFGOON** · Posted On: 4/22/2006 3:00pm

The OICW is too "Star Wars" to work. I never liked that project and I'm glad it got scrapped. The OCSW is a better bet.

The XM-8 is an awesome weapons system from what I've heard. This is from a buddy of mine who used one at IOBC (infantry officer's basic course.) He happens to be the son of a well known general, so he has good connections and was allowed to test fire one.

***Cassius*** · Posted On: 4/22/2006 3:23pm

Originally Posted by SFGOON

The OICW is too "Star Wars" to work. I never liked that project and I'm glad it got scrapped. The OCSW is a better bet.

Seems to be the general consensus these days.

Originally Posted by SFGOON

The XM-8 is an awesome weapons system from what I've heard. This is from a buddy of mine who used one at IOBC (infantry officer's basic course.) He happens to be the son of a well known general, so he has good connections and was allowed to test fire one.

That's really cool. I've really only read articles expounding their modularity, durability, and relatively low production cost. Good to know the weapon actually fires well.