Any updates on 6.8 X 51

leungken

leungken

"Reach Out" and Touch Someone
Minuteman
Jun 21, 2024
6
0
Arizona
#1
Hi, new/old member here, first time poster, go ahead, pile on. LoL

I am thinking on adding a new caliber to my rifle collection, and is chewing on the idea of 6.8 X 51 over 6.5 Creedmoor.
Is there any updates wrt the Army fulling adopting the 6.8 cartridge?
Heard lots of rumor about the new cartridge, mostly bad, but then, there is always toothing pain when adopting a new cartridge. There were lots of complain when switching from 30-06 to 7.62 X 51, and then to 5.56 X 45.
Main driver is logistics, will the cartridge be mass produce, by multiple ammo manufacturers, other than Sig Sauer.

I would also love the see, Accuracy International AT-XC be chambered for the 6.8 X 51, if the Army fully adopt the cartridge.
I see advantage with 6.8X51 heavier bullet, higher velocity, and higher energy at 1000 Yards and more, than 6.5 Creedmoor, but then, will the bi-metal case be reloadable?
 
#2
To my knowledge the case is reloadable. I just purchased 100 cases and waiting on them to arrive. I’mgoing to re-size 50 of them to 6.5 Creedmoor. The other 50 I’m going to attempt to neck down to 6mm and see what happens. The 6.8 doesn’t have much options for projectiles compared to others.
 
#5
I've been shooting hybrid cases since they first came out in many calibers.
They can be altered to fit any 308 case head cartridge, like 6.5 CM, 7mm-08, 308, 338 Fed, 358 Win, 8.6 Blkout, 6 Dasher, etc.
But I haven't chambered a .277 barrel, because quality reamers were not available...the high pressure of the case has scared most off and some concerns are validated.
Sig had a few civilian rifles chambered for it at first, then stopped.
 

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#6
I’ve seen someone else on YouTube said to make 6.5CM they just trimmed it down to length and then ran it through a die.

I think I’m going to try cleaning and then annealing. Then trim to length of CM case and lube the he’ll out of it and run it through a 6.5 die. Think that would work?
 
#7
#8
I’m not necessarily saying you have to run the pressure all the way to 80k but maybe give it a bit more and they suppose to give a little more case capacity. I think we’re gonna start seeing more HP cartridges in general over the years. About to release the 7mm back country. I’m sure the other manufacturers are gonna come out with some too.
 
#9
45-90 said:
I've been shooting hybrid cases since they first came out in many calibers.
They can be altered to fit any 308 case head cartridge, like 6.5 CM, 7mm-08, 308, 338 Fed, 358 Win, 8.6 Blkout, 6 Dasher, etc.
Click to expand...

I'll probably regret it, but I'm curious: where can one find more information on these 'hybrid' cases?
 
#13
What Troops Really think of the Army’s new XM7 rifle

And it’s a total POS. US Army and PEO Soldier cherry-picked only positive comments from soldiers, while deleting these, so one of them went to Reddit.

“I was recently quoted in multiple publications saying nice things about the Sig XM7 / Vortex XM157, and unfortunately, the 10 minutes worth of critiques I had before saying one nice thing didn’t quite make the cut,” u/vindictivevader wrote in an r/army post. The user, who appears to be Sgt. Colston himself, goes on to explain the issues that he experienced during the live fire and about 2,000 rounds through one XM7. “I have never seen a weapon have so many malfunctions. Namely, failure to extract/eject even when properly cleaned (checked by sig guy) and on adverse gas setting using the GP round.” When new weapons are fielded by the military, product experts are sent by the manufacturer to train the end users. The XM7 is designed to be run with its suppressor and the adverse gas setting allows increased gas into the system to cycle the weapon more violently in case it is dirty. “two-piece casing blows apart occasionally, stuck casings are common in the XM250.”
6.8-Case-Base.webp
1743562765026.gif
6.8-Case-Blown.webp


XM157-Red-Screen.webp
The XM157 was touted as an advanced digital optic that takes the guesswork out of long-range shots using lasers and computers. However, a digital scope is bound to have teething issues. “The Vortex XM157 is shit. I usually like vortex products, but this one is bad,” u/vindictivevader wrote. “Several ocular focus adjustment rings/diopter adjustments just randomly migrated, the brightest setting is nowhere near bright enough (almost invisible on a sunny day)…Severe zero migration on the lasers.”
 
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#14
Most all new weapons systems, are far from perfect when entered into the field.
There will be tweaks and adjustments made to the rifle and ammunition to make it more reliable.

Remember all the negative remarks and problems with the M16 in Vietnam.
Same deal....today the M16 would be considered a reliable battlefield rifle. ...or it will eventually be replaced.
Probably with a electronic beam weapon, fired by non humans.

The Problem with government purchases are, that failure is profitable to the military contractors.
 
#15
For those who want to get into the 6.8 x 51 and 80,000 psi cheaply, Savage is chambering for it in several barrel lengths, 16.5 and up and several different models.
So is Weatherby. Plus 10 or 12 custom makers.

For those who are careful reloaders, there is a bunch of info on reloading the hybrid cases. And you'll see a nice velocity improvement in standard calibers.

As an example 177 gr SMK in 308 3045 fps in 22" barrel, or 3126 fps in the longer barrel.
Or A 308 Win 230 Atips at 2600 fps in short 22" barrel or mag feed in long action 308 8 twist and run 230 Atips at 2700 fps.

I have reloaded hybrid cases for several years, in 308, 6.5 CM, 358 Win, 8.6 Blkout 6.5 twist, even the 6 Dasher, but the 6 Dasher is not for the average reloader, unless you can make your own forming dies.

It's not for everyone, and some should not attempt it, as per comments, but it's there for those who care to give it a try... carefully....along with the new Federal 80,000 psi 7mm BC steel case and it's reloadable. Check out these developments, and see if any of it's for you.

I've been thinking about the Savage or Weatherby 7mm BC and not a fan of Savage, but it's cheap to see the possibilities of the new cartridge.
 
#17
Interesting read, I was expecting the hybrid case would be an additional source of problem, on the head separation.
I wonder, will the new peak alloy case, developed by Federal, on their 7mm Backcountry can and will be use on the 6.8 X 51?
The 7mm Backcountry runs at around 80,000 Psi chamber pressure.
 
#19
45-90 said:
Most all new weapons systems, are far from perfect when entered into the field.
There will be tweaks and adjustments made to the rifle and ammunition to make it more reliable.

Remember all the negative remarks and problems with the M16 in Vietnam.
Same deal....today the M16 would be considered a reliable battlefield rifle. ...or it will eventually be replaced.
Probably with a electronic beam weapon, fired by non humans.

The Problem with government purchases are, that failure is profitable to the military contractors.
Click to expand...
The AR-15 on its worst day in the early 1960s was more reliable, accurate, and lightweight than the XM7 on its best day though.

They’re seeing 4-8 MOA groups with it, and 800rd barrel life in some cases.

Rails are not aligned, deviate significantly.

The case separations are mainly happening in the XM250 Automatic Rifleman weapon, which does not have a quick-change barrel. No wonder JSOC and SOCOM aren’t interested in it.
 
#22
LRRPF52 said:
The AR-15 on its worst day in the early 1960s was more reliable, accurate, and lightweight than the XM7 on its best day though.

They’re seeing 4-8 MOA groups with it, and 800rd barrel life in some cases.

Rails are not aligned, deviate significantly.

The case separations are mainly happening in the XM250 Automatic Rifleman weapon, which does not have a quick-change barrel. No wonder JSOC and SOCOM aren’t interested in it.
Click to expand...
Sounds about right for Sig. Make some fancy weapon or product, market the shit out of it/buy off some purchasers and approvers, deliver the goods and let the end user be the guinea pigs.
 
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