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The Army has found its replacements for the M4 rifle and M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, handing out a contract to put new guns in the hands of tens of thousands of soldiers.
The force is awarding a 10-year, $20.4 million contract to Sig Sauer for the XM5 Rifle, which will become the new standard rifle for soldiers, and the XM250 Automatic Rifle, which will replace the SAW.
The service will also switch from 5.56mm ammo to 6.8mm, after a search for rounds better built to penetrate body armor.
The force is awarding a 10-year, $20.4 million contract to Sig Sauer for the XM5 Rifle, which will become the new standard rifle for soldiers, and the XM250 Automatic Rifle, which will replace the SAW.
The service will also switch from 5.56mm ammo to 6.8mm, after a search for rounds better built to penetrate body armor.
Army Picks Its Replacement for the M4 and SAW
Posted from military.comPosted in these groups: 
Weapons
Firearms and Guns
Weapons Firearms and Guns
Edited >1 y ago
Posted >1 y ago
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SFC (Join to see)
I think the ammunition policy has outlived its usefulness. In the 1950s, when it was adopted, it probably made good economic and logistical sense, but even then, not all weapons of NATO countries used the same ammunition. The US used the M1911 until the mid 80s.
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MSG Roy Cheever
Something else I thought of after my comment as well. I was told as we were transitioning to 5.56mm very early in my career, that they found a lot of Charlie’s and Cong were using our 7.6mm. As they could chamber our 7.62mm but we couldn’t chamber theirs, as their rounds were slightly longer. SFC (Join to see)
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SFC (Join to see)
MSG Roy Cheever - Yeah, we heard the same thing with the 81mm mortars. The Soviet 82mm would fire ours but we couldn't fire theirs, so the new 81mm rounds had a "floating" primer to help mitigate that capability. I don't know how much truth is in that.
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