True Velocity Extends the Benefits of their ‘Next Gen’ 6.8 TVCM ammunition to Currently Fielded Weapons
True Velocity have made a very interesting announcement about their 6.8 TVCM ammunition which was originally developed for the US Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program. True Velocity have successfully chambered several 7.62x51mm chambered weapon systems in the new 6.8mm TVCM round.
In a video presentation, True Velocity explain that their round, which has the same overall length and base diameter as a 7.62x51mm round, has been successfully tested in weapons including the M240, the M134 minigun, the M110 and the Knights LAMG. With a swap to a barrel with a 6.8mm bore, the weapons were able to benefit from the improved ballistics and weight savings developed for the NGSW program.
True Velocity haven’t released any data on their testing but their new video includes some compelling footage – including Reed Knight running an LAMG in 6.8 and an M240B effortlessly transitioning between conventional 7.62x51mm brass cased ammunition to True Velocity’s 6.8 TVCM round, simply with the change of the barrel. It will also be interesting to see what the implications are for weapon barrel life and other pressure bearing parts.
This development could have interesting ramifications for the US Army’s decision-making and doctrinal development going forward. The ability to chamber legacy weapons in the same round as a newly adopted NGSW and NGSW-AR could also influence the Army’s selection. It is a capability that SIG Sauer’s 6.8x51mm hybrid cased round could also bring to the table.
Check out True Velocity’s video below:
The video also shows some good footage of the RM277, developed by General Dynamics and recently transferred to LoneStar Future Weapons, showing the reciprocating action of the weapon’s barrel.
Here’s True Velocity’s full press release on their announcement:
‘Switch-Barrel’ capability offers ballistic advantages beyond NGSW program
GARLAND, TX (June 3, 2021) – Texas-based ammunition manufacturer True Velocity released a video today detailing the performance advantages of its proprietary 6.8 TVCM composite-cased cartridge currently being evaluated by the U.S. Army in its Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) program.
Though True Velocity’s 6.8 TVCM case design was originally optimized for use in the NGSW-Rifle and NGSW-Automatic Rifle submissions designed by General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems, the video demonstrates the cartridge’s additional compatibility with currently fielded weapons including the M240B belt-fed machine gun, the M110 semi-automatic sniper system, and the M134 rotary machine gun, or “minigun.” The company refers to this added 6.8 TVCM functionality as its “switch-barrel” capability.
“True Velocity is an American-owned, American-based company that set out with a singular goal in mind, and it was to provide the American warfighter with an unfair advantage on the battlefield,” said Patrick Hogan, True Velocity’s chief sales and marketing officer. “The Next Generation Squad Weapon program has given us the opportunity to do that … Not only do we have this forward-leaning momentum with next-generation capabilities, but we have a plug-and-play application that can be fielded on the battlefield today with weapons that our soldiers are carrying into battle.”
True Velocity’s composite-cased 6.8 TVCM cartridge delivers significant performance and logistical benefits over traditional brass-cased ammunition and currently meets or exceeds all requirements of the NGSW program. The 6.8 TVCM cartridge provides significantly increased muzzle velocity and effective range over the traditional brass-cased 7.62x51mm round, while simultaneously reducing the weight of the cartridge by more than 30 percent and keeping chamber pressures at normal, safe operating levels, a factor that allows for compatibility with currently fielded weapon systems like the M240B.
“You’re talking about something as simple as pulling a barrel off the M240 and replacing it with one that accommodates 6.8 TVCM,” said Hogan, “and, all of a sudden, you’ve increased the effective range of this weapon by more than 50 percent, you’ve reduced the weight of the ammunition by over 30 percent, and you’ve given our soldiers a meaningful advantage on the battlefield.”
The U.S. Army down-selected True Velocity’s composite-cased ammunition in August 2019 for the NGSW modernization program. True Velocity submitted its 6.8mm composite-cased cartridge as part of an overall NGSW weapon system in partnership with General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical.
This article was originally published at our sister site – TFB.