True Velocity has announced that their composite-cased 6.8 TVC cartridge that was developed for the US Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapons (NGSW) program is approved by SAAMI and will soon become commercially available. Along with the commercial release of the cartridge, Beretta, Daniel Defense and Lewis Machine & Tool will offer firearms chambered in this cartridge.

Although you’ll have the firearm options by the above-mentioned companies, you won’t be limited to them. One of the key features of this innovative cartridge is that it manages to meet the Army’s ballistic requirements while remaining in “normal” rifle cartridge pressures (about 60,000 psi). With chamber pressure, head dimensions and overall length identical to .308 Winchester, 6.8 TVC can be chambered in any firearm that can handle a .308 Winchester. It is just a matter of barrel change and probably using a new or modified feeding system (magazines, belts, etc.) in some cases. From bolt action rifles to Miniguns, anything that can shoot .308 Winchester / 7.62x51mm NATO, can be converted to 6.8 TVC … even M14s and FN FALs!

One drawback for civilian shooters may be that the 6.8 TVC ammo is not reloadable via conventional reloading tools. The neck tension of this cartridge is set differently using proprietary technology. However, for those who are reloading for achieving higher accuracy results, True Velocity assures that the commercial 6.8 TVC ammo will be extremely consistent and precise. Special reloading equipment may also be available in the future.

True velocity has also showcased at their SHOT Show 2022 booth, several other composite-cased ammunition products – 5.56x45mm NATO, 7.62x51mm NATO, .50 BMG and .338 caliber rounds with a case design similar to 6.8 TVC which can be used in .338 Norma Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum guns like the 6.8 TVC in .308 Win guns.

This author thinks that as far as the military small arms ammunition is concerned, True Velocity’s 6.8 TVC is a true advancement in ammunition design since the development of the self contained metallic cartridge, that makes sense and is deployable. Yes, we had trounds, caseless ammunition and a bunch of other sci-fi ammo designs, but none of these was good enough to be fielded. I think True Velocity’s design is the future of military small arms ammunition and will inevitably have a high impact on the civilian market.