I think SIG Sauer is the less risky offer. The Textron one is kind of weird
dang you most likely right there. This new cartridge and platform is so new and revolutionary, it's difficult for me to get enough info on them. And yet very exciting from small arm technology development standpoint.
Anyway, here are some baseline facts I've managed to gather from several Youtube channel who had first-hand looked and feel of the new platforms (courtesy & sponsored by each OEM vendors). I do however single out the General Dynamic offering due to it being bull pup
- They all use new generation 6.5mm x 51mm round (NOT the 6.8mm SPC as I mistakenly thought it was). But somehow radically different cartridge overall for each of the OEM offering.
- All the cartridge have around 80000 psi of pressure (most likely OEM proofing cartridge). This will put them at least in par with .308 Win, 6.5mm Creedmoor, and many others "Magnum" cartridges.
- The railing is not only function as attachment mounting, but also function for power & datalink connectivity (electronic connection). This enables all the accessories to receive power from a common source (battery pack in the weapon) but also to share data.
- What looks like as suppressor on them is a combination of both suppressor & muzzle break
- Their optic for all-purpose and intend is functioning as targeting / ballistic computer
- Ambidexterity capable functionality.
Here is what I thought of them, again I'm single out the General Dynamic offering due to it being bull pup ;
Sig Sauer :
- Conventional cartridge design, The only difference is they use stainless steel case bottom to accommodate the higher pressure
- Being conventionally design, not much of a change other than the newly added features
- Ammo manufacturing & supply chain will be using existing tooling & machinery. Although I'm guessing they will need a greater margin of tolerance that only the biggest manufacture could handle.
Textron :
- Use telescopic polymer cartridge which potentially lighter overall.
- Overly complicated jam recovery.
- More complicated for field strip & re assembly.
Another thing that I've notice is all of them are direct impingement. Although I typically despise direct impingement, the 80000 psi pressure make them worth to use them in actual combat environment. And besides, with such pressure I actually prefer direct impingement to piston driven.
Based from what I've seen so far, I strongly believe that Sig Sauer will bag this.