6.8mm SPC A Cartridge for the Next Decade

By John Farnam

Opinion

Ft Collins, CO –-(Ammoland.com)- “Only put off tasks until tomorrow when you are willing to die today, because you left them undone” ~ Picasso

The dam finally broke!

The Pentagon has officially announced that US forces, at long last, will be moving away from the 5.56×45 (223). The new military small-arms cartridge is the 6.8SPC, with ballistics similar to the Soviet 7.62×39 This announcement comes twenty-five years late. Some say fifty. Inadequate range and penetration (for military use) has plagued the 5.56×45 from the first day it was issued.

And, a dreary, serial roll-out of dubious “improvements” (“wonder bullets”) all fell short of expectations, one after another. With the 6.8mm SPC, we’ll have a legitimate 300m rifle, and a 500m LMG, effectively doubling the range we enjoy now. And the 6.8mm will actually shoot through things.

As noted, the 5.56×45 was a poor candidate from the start, and it lingered far too long.

However, as a patrol rifle cartridge for domestic policing, for domestic personal defense, maybe even for rear-area defense, the 5.56×45 is adequate still represents a good choice for these tasks.

The Pentagon’s belated move is welcome news. Now, we’ll see if NATO …Read the Rest

Source:: AmmoLand