From the local paper:

https://qctimes.com/eedition/p...c5-f2560b2a8328.html

Eldridge-based LMT Defense awarded contract with U.S. Special Operations Command

Gretchen Teske
7 hrs ago

An Eldridge company with decades of experience in the firearms industry will soon be supporting the U.S. Special Operations Command.

Lewis Machine & Tool Company, known locally as LMT Defense, has been awarded a 10-year indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract with a maximum ceiling of $92 million for medium range gas gun-assault kits, spare parts and accessories, new equipment training and engineering change proposals.

The contract, LMT President Karl Lewis said, means Special Ops has the flexibility to order up to $92 million worth of product, or just $100 worth, based on their needs.

“This gives them a contracting vehicle that they can exercise a wide spread and working together with them, we can work out delivery schedules on the specific products and the deliveries that they’ll need,” he said. “It’s a great looking number, but it’s not like we have a hard contract or a delivery schedule, but we’re very excited. We’re hoping that we’ll get every penny of that $92 million over 10 years, or sooner. But there is a realistic aspect to it as well.”

Michael Neff, VP of Operations for LMT, said the company started working with the U.S. Special Operations Command about four years ago. Based out of Tampa, the unit oversees the procurement of weapons for all special forces, including the Navy Seals and Army Rangers.

The program LMT was part of, he said, involved about eight different companies who were given specifications and requirements for the weapons system the government wanted. The companies are told what the Special Ops needs are in regard to weight, length, caliber and other specifications. of the weapons.

“They provide you with all of that, and then you build your system around those requirements,” Neff said. “You end up with something that’s not quite like what you started with, or what your standard offering might be, but you have something that is developed specifically for their requirements.”

The various companies submitted their systems, which were then run through a series of tests, Neff said.

“That included head-to-head competition for performance, and then they did a bunch of comprehensive testing for quality, durability, reliability and accuracy,” he said.

Those tests were done in a laboratory setting, he said, and eventually again in the field where professionals fired the various weapons and graded them. Eventually, the down selection process continued until LMT was chosen as the best system for what Special Ops was looking for.

Although this was a big win for LMT, they’ve had plenty of experience in working with federal governments, Lewis said. When he started the company in 1980, the first products were geared toward commercial firearms.

In the mid ‘80s, the company shifted to producing repair and spare parts for the U.S. government, which lead to a long history of government contracts. Since its start, LMT has worked with 40 countries worldwide including Estonia, the United Kingdom, New Zealand, “and the list goes on and on,” Lewis said.

Today, the company has about 210 employees and is still growing. Contracts like these take everyone working together, including the customer, to ensure the products they want are delivered on time.

Lewis said he and Neff work hard, “but there’s also 208 other people who work hard.”

It’s a critical part of LMT’s success, he said.

“Our philosophy is pretty straightforward. We just want to make sure that we strive to produce the best quality products at a fire price,” Lewis said. “We pride ourselves on having the best value product. It may not be the least expensive, but it has the characteristics of great performance attributes like accuracy, dispersion, reliability and at a price tag that is commensurate on getting a very good product.”

why wouldn't they get M7's ?

https://www.twz.com/land/sig-s...-despite-controversy

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin101:
why wouldn't they get M7's ?

https://www.twz.com/land/sig-s...-despite-controversy

Excessive recoil and case separations, among other issues.

Every load is loaded to the pressure that proof loads are loaded to for other cartridges.

The engineering challenges of a cartridge loaded to that pressure haven't been properly sorted out yet.

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin101:
why wouldn't they get M7's ?

https://www.twz.com/land/sig-s...-despite-controversy

In addition to what has been mentioned, the accuracy sucks. Definitely not DMR worthy.

quote:

Originally posted by Ronin101:
why wouldn't they get M7's ?

https://www.twz.com/land/sig-s...-despite-controversy

Because the M7 is hot garbage.

quote:

Originally posted by fritz:
This reminds me of the bullshit verbiage and data that Rob Silvers presented when comparing the new uber-amazing 300 blackout to 5.56. IIRC Rob compared the ballistics of a 110 copper highish BC bullet to the 55 FMJ. Compare the 300blk to a decent 73-77 grain bullet and the results are different.

I have virtually identical bolt actions as a starting point. A 6.5CM with a 26" Bartlein and a 308 Win with a 23" Bartlein. I will compare Hornady factory ammo -- 140 ELD-M in the 6.5 and 168 ELD-M in the 308. My 6.5 produces an average MV of 2800 fps, and the 308 does 2777 fps. I calculated best-guess MVs from various websites that chopped barrels from full-length down to 16" or SBR. I suspect the 140 ELD will produce MV of 2550 fps in a 14.5" barrel, and the 168 ELD will produce MV of 2710 in a 20" barrel. Of course -- use different inputs and the output data changes.

I used JBM Ballistics for dope projections, 2" sight height, air DA of 3,000 feet -- typical summer conditions for low ASL altitude.
250 yards
6.5 has drop of 3.2 MOA, 10mph drift of 1.4 MOA, bullet at Mach 1.99, kinetic energy of 1541 foot pounds
308 has drop of 2.8 MOA, 10mph drift of 1.5 MOA, bullet at Mach 2.08, kinetic energy of 2014 foot pounds

500 yards
6.5 drops 11.1 MOA, drifts 3.0 MOA, 1.72 Mach, 1155 pounds
308 drops 10.1 MOA, drifts 3.2 MOA, 1.76 Mach, 1449 pounds

750 yards
6.5 drops 21.4 MOA, drifts 4.8 MOA, 1.47 Mach, 847 pounds
308 drops 19.8 MOA, drifts 5.3 MOA, 1.47 Mach, 1013 pounds

1000 yards
6.5 drops 34.2 MOA, drifts 7.0 MOA, 1.24 Mach, 603 pounds
308 drops 32.4 MOA, drifts 7.7 MOA, 1.21 Mach, 680 pounds

LMT would not have invited me to be a part of their promotional video.

I continue to believe that 6.5CM is a great cartridge, and that it offers some significant benefits over 308. Let's be honest -- 308 is getting a bit long in the tooth. But to state that an SBR 6.5 outperforms a rifle-length 308 at distance is just pure bullshit.

Fantastic post and spot on.

In the midst of searching for a tidbit of information, I came across this article on army.mil.

It appears that The Minnesota National Guard’s 34th Infantry Division is among the first Guard units to field the M250 (chambered for 6.8)

I wouldn't mind firing a few rounds through it just to check it out. (In all honesty, I haven't really fired too many rounds through the M249 or the M240.)

I am interested to see how the The M250’s advanced optic performs and its durability.

According to the article, it is one of the biggest changes for Soldiers. With its onboard ballistic system, it is unlike anything many have used before.



https://www.army.mil/article/2...esota_national_guard