General Dynamics NGSW 6.8mm US Army Prototype Live Fire with plastic case ammo

It looks interesting. The velocity with the heavier projectile is impressive.

The footage with the M240 has me hopeful this could make it to the civilian market.

I also like that the requirements have the suppressor included.

That smoke at 1:05 doe....still think there may be heat energy transfer issues with the plastic cases.

And it's ambidextrous on both sides!

6.8x51mm. Ha. Is this a M4 replacement or more of a SPR?

The original intention was for a SAW-LMG but it quickly gained a companion rifle.

From what Ive heard from people in the industry is that the True Velocity ammo is doing very well in the testing along with the Sig ammo. Sig's ammo is just a beefed up 308 case necked down to 6.8 and runs at a really high chamber pressure. I believe their ammo pushes a 130 grain bullet at 3000 FPS from a 16inch barrel.

The “if” at 2:29 is a fairly large one, others have tried and failed before. I wish them luck, could reduce costs for us down the road.

From the plastic cased ammunition I have used they seem to have had the same experience I had.



and tackled that problem by eliminating the neck.



I didn’t watch the entire video, did they show a cut away of the plastic case or just a projectile?

Neck tension was another issue with the stuff I had.

the video showed plastic cases with neck around 0:47 in and the one above ^^

https://www.thehighroad.org/index.p...-it-will-have-a-plastic-case-not-brass.891555

A recent thread where we discuss all three rifles/ammo competing for the NGSW contact.

jmorris said:

From the plastic cased ammunition I have used they seem to have had the same experience I had.

and tackled that problem by eliminating the neck.

I didn’t watch the entire video, did they show a cut away of the plastic case or just a projectile?

Neck tension was another issue with the stuff I had.

Click to expand...

I didn't see a cutaway, but he did mention they said polymer allowed them to alter the internal geometry of the casing in ways they can't do with brass. I got the impression it was for powder burn issues, not strength, but you never know.

He mentioned they used a brass washer between primer and case to protect the plastic. I can't think why that would be an issue unless they planned to reload.

They specifically say it is not meant to be reloadable.

Previous work on plastic cases for standard chambers like the AII Neckless had reduced volume such that they had to go down to a 130 gr .308 to keep the velocity and trajectory up.

Youch... that trigger pull looks horrible.... and I have to say, it looks like it would be exhausting to use !

Plastic cases have come a LONG way since first considered. To me, it looks like True Velocity has worked out a lot of the previous bugs.

Did he really just say/infer that they can compensate for the potentially less accurate barrel (because it is moving around) by high velocity ammo??? How does that work? My understanding is that would give you really fast less accurate shots down range.

Double Naught Spy said:

My understanding is that would give you really fast less accurate shots down range.

Click to expand...

Works to a point in some gun games.

FWIW there are accuracy standards that must be met along with reliability ones, the “spec” part of “MIL-SPEC”. At least until they decide thats not fair to things that suck and they eliminate them in the name of equity.

To be fair, my well used 1919 (floating barrel) with an optic on it is more accurate than some bolt action rifles I have come across. Part of the problem with qualitative statements like “less accurate”, what does that mean in inches of difference at 600 meters?

Reminded me of the M1941 Johnson Rifle

jmorris said:

Works to a point in some gun games.

FWIW there are accuracy standards that must be met along with reliability ones, the “spec” part of “MIL-SPEC”. At least until they decide thats not fair to things that suck and they eliminate them in the name of equity.

To be fair, my well used 1919 (floating barrel) with an optic on it is more accurate than some bolt action rifles I have come across. Part of the problem with qualitative statements like “less accurate”, what does that mean in inches of difference at 600 meters?

Click to expand...

I fully understand that some rifles with barrels that move can be accurate. I understand some barrel with stationary barrels aren't that accurate. That has nothing to do with the statement that they could help remedy issues of barrel motion inaccuracy with increased velocity.

Yes, standards have to be met. They are expecting to pair this rifle and ammo with an electro optic sighting system that will allow for 600 yard shots (IIRC).

You gotta remember this dude is a journalist.

I was completely skeptical about plastic cased ammo until I watched the video and he mentioned the case internals can be shaped in a way to increase velocity. Supposedly +200fps. And the heat insulation properties uses less powder. And of course the weight savings is good. If they get it right then it all adds up to a good step forward. But I’m still a bit skeptical. If these guns aren’t 99.999% reliable or the ammo doesn’t age well or it’s delicate and cracks in shipping...... Hopefully they work out ALL the bugs and think of ALL the potential problems.