Over the course of decades the United States military has looked at various innovations in ammunition from caseless ammo to "green" bullets that do away with lead, usually with mixed results. Another form of ammunition that has been looked at is composite ammunition, which replaces much of the brass casing with a polymer.
The manufacturer, True Velocity, claims a, "30 percent weight reduction, improved accuracy, optimized muzzle velocity and increased ballistic efficiency." The Army will evaluate the composite ammunition, chambered in 6.8mm, as a part of a larger endeavor to find a replacement for the current M16/M4 family of service rifles currently being used.
According to promotional materials, the company is claiming that the lightened load would allow soldiers to carry an extra 90 rounds, or three 30-round magazines, worth of ammunition on patrol.
The Army is expected to reach a decision on which rifle and ammunition it will select in 2022.
Want to get more connected to the stories and resources Connecting Vets has to offer? Click here to sign up for our weekly newsletter. Reach Jack Murphy: jack@connectingvets.com or @JackMurphyRGR.