New Rifles Chambered In 6.5mm Creedmoor Heading To U.S. Special Operations Armories

[Talyn]

The new Mid-Range Gas Gun-Assault will give U.S. special operators a rifle option for greater reach, accuracy, and ballistic performance.

U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) recently awarded a contract for new rifles chambered to fire the 6.5mm Creedmoor round to Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT). The Mid-Range Gas Gun-Assault (MRGG-A) rifles will give special operators greater reach, as well as improved accuracy and terminal performance against targets at those longer ranges.

The Pentagon quietly announced the deal for the MRGG-As (sometimes also referred to as Medium-Range Gas Gun-Assault or Mid-Range Gas Gun-Assaulter rifles) in its daily contracting announcement on August 22. The contract, which covers “medium range gas gun-assault kits, spare parts and accessories, new equipment training, and engineering change proposals,” has a maximum ceiling of $92 million and runs through August 14, 2035.

With all this in mind, SOCOM has also been looking into new light machine guns chambered in 6.5mm Creedmoor in recent years. The cartridge is seeing increasing interest elsewhere, too. In March, the U.S. Secret Service notably put out a contracting notice seeking information about potential 6.5 Creedmoor rifles to supplant its M110s.

In the meantime, U.S. special operators are now set to get new 6.5mm Creedmoor MRGG-A rifles from LMT.

New Rifles Chambered In 6.5mm Creedmoor Heading To U.S. Special Operations Armories

The new Mid-Range Gas Gun-Assault will give U.S. special operators a rifle option for greater reach, accuracy, and ballistic performance.

www.twz.com

A picture of an MRGG-A “Factory Reference Rifle” that LMT has offered for commercial sale, reflecting the configuration of its guns for SM. LMOCOT


NOTE: Surprised that SOCOM did go with a piston-driven rifle.

My .02

 

[Shibadog]

Ok, I’ll bite. If the new 6.8x 51/.277 Sig Fury is the bestest, why are we buying 6.5 Creedmoor’s? And if the Creedmoor is that good ( and it basically is) why are we spending big $$ on grossly overpriced/grossly over pressure ammo and the fancy/schmantzy rifles to use it? Inquiring minds want to know. Frankly the 6.5 Creedmoor is a far superior round for a lot less $$-both per round AND per weapon.

 

[Talyn]

#1 - SOCOM gets whatever they want.

#2 - The M7/M250 platforms are US Army-driven/developed, and just entering service with them.

#3 - Other Services use whatever they feel meets their needs, that's why right now the SOCOM community and USMC go with what they need.

 

[deadduck357]

Ok, I’ll bite. If the new 6.8x 51/.277 Sig Fury is the bestest, why are we buying 6.5 Creedmoor’s? And if the Creedmoor is that good ( and it basically is) why are we spending big $$ on grossly overpriced/grossly over pressure ammo and the fancy/schmantzy rifles to use it? Inquiring minds want to know. Frankly the 6.5 Creedmoor is a far superior round for a lot less $$-both per round AND per weapon.

This ^

 

[Shibadog]

#1 - SOCOM gets whatever they want.

#2 - The M7/M250 platforms are US Army-driven/developed, and just entering service with them.

#3 - Other Services use whatever they feel meets their needs, that's why right now the SOCOM community and USMC go with what they need.

One problem comes mind right up front is a lack of commonality of ammunition. Every single additional caliber entered into service compounds the logistics of ammo supply. Doesn’t matter how great your firearm is, if you wind up with the wrong ammo you’re SOL.