Textron Shows off New 6.5mm Case-Telescoped Carbine

[Thomas D'Arcy McGee]

Textron Shows off New 6.5mm Case-Telescoped Carbine

Posted By: Matthew Cox September 27, 2016

QUANTICO, Virginia — Textron Systems unveiled its new 6.5mm case-telescoped carbine at Modern Day Marine 2016.

The weighted model represents Textron’s latest effort to develop a new age of infantry weapons that fire weight-saving, case-telescoped ammunition.

Textron has made significant advancements in this technology with its Light Weight Small Arms Technology, or LSAT – an Army funded program that has so far yielded working lightweight machine guns in both 5.56mm and 7.62mm.

The new 6.5 CS carbine emerged out of an intermediate caliber study Textron conducted in 2014, according to Ben Cole, project engineer.

Currently, the empty weight of the mock-up carbine is 8.7 pounds. A magazine loaded with 20 rounds of case-telescoped 6.5mm ammunition adds one pound. An M4A1 carbine weighs 7.74 pounds empty and about 8.74 pounds with a loaded 30-round mag.

Case-telescoped ammunition is about 40-percent lighter when you compare it to the standard brass ammo in the same caliber, Cole said.

The 123 grain 6.5mm has a muzzle velocity of about 3,000 feet per second, Cole said.

Comparatively, the 62 grain bullet on the M855A1 has a muzzle velocity of 2,970 feet per second, according to U.S. Army data.

“If you take this 6.5mm bullet at our muzzle velocity, it’s 300 percent more down-range energy than the M855A1,” Cole said. “So for a minimal weight gain, you would have significantly more down-range lethality.”

Textron officials hope to have a working prototype to begin testing early next year, Cole said.

“We are trying to go after the next requirement for soldier rifles,” Cole said.

 

[greentips]

123gr at 3000 fps, me want.

 

[LeftFootOfDoom]

the pix don't show any ejection port. Is this a "caseless" round like the G11?
If so, gonna have problem with heat dissipation. The brass/metal case of current ammo performs the job of helping absorb and remove heat from the wpn.

 

[Tyler]

the pix don't show any ejection port. Is this a "caseless" round like the G11?
If so, gonna have problem with heat dissipation. The brass/metal case of current ammo performs the job of helping absorb and remove heat from the wpn.

The Army is going after 'cased telescoped' ammo. Both case-less and cased variants were developed.

 

[Ar180shooter]

the pix don't show any ejection port. Is this a "caseless" round like the G11?
If so, gonna have problem with heat dissipation. The brass/metal case of current ammo performs the job of helping absorb and remove heat from the wpn.

Read the article, the picture of the gun is a mock-up carbine.

 

[woodchopper]

not caseless.

Case telescoped ammo the projectile in contained by the case in the case, so its basically a cylinder.

feeding can be a problem.

the Brits and French have developed a 40mm cannon using case telescoped ammo for the next generation of IFVs.

the 6.5mm 123grn at 3000fps is exciting.

 

[ThatM305Guy]

Very cool. A round that size with that velocity is very impressive considering what our soldiers are currently carrying.

 

[Wild_Thing]

The initial performance spec of the round sounds pretty impressive. It will be interesting to see what develops. Definitely a step up from the current "poodle-shooter" calibre.

 

[870P]

I'm not exactly an engineer, but to me it sounds a bit hot for any kind of sustained fire application.

 

[ThatM305Guy]

I'd like to know why its so bulky in front of the magwell....like, is there a reason for all that material?? Something to do with the special ammo or something?

 

[tjhaile]

I'd like to know why its so bulky in front of the magwell....like, is there a reason for all that material?? Something to do with the special ammo or something?

The rifle almost certainly does not use a conventional reciprocating bolt. Most guns that have been developed for CT ammo use a chamber that is separate from the barrel that slides or rotates. Loaded rounds are rammed into one end of the chamber, pushing the fired case out the other so that feeding and extraction/ejection happen simultaneously. Further development would likely make for a more compact action than in this mock-up.

This looks to be an alternative to 7.62x51mm rifles, rather than a general-purpose carbine for two reasons:

1. A 123 grain bullet at 3,000 fps is a full-power cartridge. It is slightly faster than the .260 Remington with comparable weight bullets. Long-range performance should be excellent for designated marksman/sniper roles (and also for medium MGs), but it would be excessively powerful for normal combat distances.
2. Increased weight of both rifle and ammunition compared to 5.56mm, but lighter weight compared to 7.62mm.

If CT weapons were at the point of being seriously considered for adoption, as opposed to the "proof of concept" seen here, an intermediate cartridge would likely be developed as well as the full-power one.

 

[Lightning Rod]

Yes, I agree with tjhaile on the alternative to the 7.62x51 full power round
The standard NATO spec is 147 grn @ 2850 fps IIRC