Latest I read about this new rifle and cartridge is there is some kind of hold on the production of the Sig rifle because of something regarding the contract between Sig and the military.
Another oddity is even though Sig develoed the cartridge who Sig has the production capabilities to manufacture the both lower chamber pressure training and higher chamber pressure combat ammunition, Winchester who currently owners the contract to produce U.S. military small arms ammunition will be producing both cartridges.
I don’t remember what the Sig/government agreed first production batch of rifles is, which is a lot, the current understanding is to initially issue the rifle too a SOCOM unit or a designated marksman in a squad or platoon.
As for this totally new 6.8x51 cartridge, I cannot foresee as a total replacement of 5.56 NATO cartridge as this would require all of the NATO Countries to switch to the 6.8 with all new rifles. Even if the NATO Countries were to comply with maybe using the lower chamber pressure cartridge, it would still need a rifle that can operate with the 6.8 which is basically a 7.62x51 OAL. So in essence a AR10 size rifle. So I would have to believe this new rifle and cartridge would be for select military unit special weapon or a designated marksman weapon.
As for the cartridge bullet design intention is to defeat/penetrate the current body armor of the Russian and Chinese. The Forgotten Weapons guy and a buddy of his used to share another YouTube channel called “In Range“, and it was last year if my memory is correct, they obtained a plate of the current Russian body armor and shot it with current U.S military issued 5.56 and 7.62 at several distances, several times, and with all bullets fired, not one did a full penetration.
Another interesting points about the rifle is the barrel is 13”, and the rifle is intended too use a suppressor which is actually 3D printed metal. Another feature of the rifle is a rather simplified barrel change that although would be performed by a armor is done with a couple different size Allen wrenchs. The operation controls such as the selector, mag release are standard AR/M4 pattern and locations with a ambidextrous bolt release. The trigger and hammer are straight up AR/M4. There is a standard AR/M4 type ambidextrous ”T” style charging handle with a separate non reciprocating charging lever on the left side of the upper receiver that folds flat. There is the obligatory forward assist which is located just behind the cartridge case deflector, which the deflector has a replaceable steel insert secured with a single roll pin. The folding butt stock is kind of not well designed in that it doesn’t lock when folded and the adjustable butt portion needs too be full retracted but not totally necessary, which as it rests against the side changing lever. But then the folding butt stock is more about making the rifle more compact for a solider riding a APC. By it not locking in the folded position makes for a faster deployment as the solider egresses a vehicle. The short stroke oprod gas system is rather simple and relatively easy to clean, but the only potential weak point, in my opinion, is the attachment of the oprod too the BCG.
It’s a rather interesting design of both rifle and cartridge. With Sig development of a standard all brass cartridge case, I can foresee this cartridge as the latest 277 Sic Fury “Wonder Cartridge” for civilians to play with as the only 27 caliber cartridges such as venerable 270 Winchester, followed by the 270 Weatherby, and later the Remington 6.8 SPC, a failed attempt for a more powerful AR/M4 cartridge. Then came the 270 WSM along with the later followup of the 27 Nosler. So reloaders rejoice as all the bullet manufacturers will have a plethora of new 27 caliber VLD bullets to play with and discover the magical properties of the long neglected, and very lonely 27 caliber as it gets a new lease on life. Taking bets on how many show at next year’s Berger Southwest Nationals with rifles chambered in 277 Sig Fury.
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