True Velocity Extends the Benefits of Their 'Next Gen' 6.8 TVCM Ammo to Currently Fielded Weapons

Matthew Moss
by Matthew Moss
M240B in TV 6.8mm (True Velocity)

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 @ TFB:
A Dillon Aero M134 chambered in 6.8 TVCM (True Velocity)

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.

Reed Knight firing a KAC LAMG in 6.8mm with one hand (True Velocity)

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.

The LSFW RM277-Auotomatic Rifle (True Velocity)

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.

Matthew Moss
Matthew Moss

Managing Editor: TheFirearmBlog.com & Overt Defense.com. Matt is a British historian specialising in small arms development and military history. He has written several books and for a variety of publications in both the US and UK. Matt is also runs The Armourer's Bench, a video series on historically significant small arms. Here on TFB he covers product and current military small arms news. Reach Matt at: matt@thefirearmblog.com

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  • John L John L on Jun 07, 2021

    Very interesting American ingenuity meets Israeli cost effectiveness. If it's that simple then let's test it out. PS why 6.8 instead of 6.5 (grendel or creedmoor)?

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    • Ostiariusalpha Ostiariusalpha on Jun 15, 2021

      @Andrew Hmph, you could be right here. I think the main issue is that, from what I've seen of the 6.8mm GP projectile, it has a secant ogive; unlike the heavy bullets you've referred to so far that have tangent ogives at best. By the way, most up-to-date info says that it is 135gr, rather than 130gr, but there's no solid confirmation either way.

  • Doyle hill Doyle hill on Jun 08, 2021

    Smart move but that bull pup is still ugly as sin and a long shot at best just because it’s a bull pup

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