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In-Depth TFB Review: America's New Battle Rifle - The SIG Spear in 6.8x51mm

Talyn

SAINT
Founding Member
It’s been almost a year since the NGSW program's result was officially put into the field. The Army’s new XM7 (SIG MCX-SPEAR 6.8x51) has been the subject of a lot of discussion, derision, and intrigue.

Based on the last couple of months with the SIG Spear in its civilian configuration, the author runs through a bit of the rifle’s history, as well as how it actually feels to shoot and run at the range.


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THE AUTHOR
 
Just on price of gun and ammo I would never own one. Just my 2 cents. Personally because of weight of rifle and ammo don't think it's better for infantry. I know WW2 rifles were heavy but in this day and age weight matters.
 
I question it’s advantages over other rounds (7.62x51, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7 mm/08). Running Uber high pressure with special 3pc cases just seems a real bad idea (good for the ammo manufacturer $$$ wise). If we were leaving traditional brass cases why not just go caseless? Also, y’all will remember that the 7.62 X 51 was “hard to control” in full auto. From what I’ve seen thus far this appears no different. ((Just my 2 cents). Also, FWIW, the price per unit for these is obscene. Looks like a good time to own SIG stock, ‘cause Unc is paying through the nose for these puppies.
 
Now in my usual smart ass remarks we should ask @BET7 how he likes his is usually just kidding around but in this case we can really ask him as he does have one.
Well after getting all the accessories mounted that I wanted, it hasn't been ideal to shoot at the outdoor range(s). I belong to two clubs whose max target distance is 140 and 200 yards respectively. I'm sure it will handle those distances quite easily when I finally get it out there. Currently, I'm concentrating on shooting the multitude of pistols I have (also outdoors but with an indoor house at one club, but with no real heat so currently the group I shoot with have forgone our Tuesday shoots until better temps).
But I'm sure I'll enjoy my MCX Spear 277 Fury (8.6x51), when I finally get it out there.
 
Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons does a great job of dissecting the SIG M5 Spear rifle & ammunition. I've copied/pasted the description of the video w/ timestamps of topics discussed (the video is also segmented on the time line with said topics). Video duration: 35:05.
(Note: I would love to see a video on the Vortex optic that will be used with this platform if one becomes available to civilian's such as Ian to review).

00:00 - Introduction
00:39 - TLDW
01:18 - NGSW history
04:11 - 6.8x51 / .277 SIG Fury cartridge
09:14 - Suppressor
12:53 - Rifle features and disassembly
23:42 - How it handles 80k psi
28:44 - Conclusions and rollout plans

"The NGSW (Next Generation Squad Weapon) program began in 2017 to find a replacement for the M4, M249, and 5.56mm cartridge. It came to a conclusion in April 2022 with the formal acceptance of the SIG M5 rifle, M250 machine gun, Vortex M157 optic, and the 6.8x51mm cartridge. SIG released a handful of civilian semiauto M5 / Spear rifles and thanks to Illumin Arms I have one to examine.The rifle (Spear is its commercial designation; M5 is the military one) is an evolution of the SIG MCX, which is in turn an evolution of the AR-15 and AR-18 systems. The MCX move the recoil spring assembly into the top of the upper receiver, allowing the use of a folding stock. It also has very easily swapped barrels and a suite of fully ambidextrous controls. Scaled up to AR-10 size and chambered for 6.8x51mm, the MCX became the Spear.That new cartridge (commercial designated .277 SIG Fury) is designed to produce high muzzle velocities out of short barrel (the M5 has a 13 inch barrel).It does this by boosting the operating pressure up to an eye-watering 80,000psi, which required the development of hybrid case using a stainless steel case head. This allows the case to handle those pressures safely. The currently available commercial ammunition is loaded to lower pressure, however. Much of the military and civilian use of this rifle will be done with downloaded training ammunition, which uses a conventional all-brass case.Both the M5 and M250 were ordered by the Army with suppressors on every weapon, a significant advancement in Army policy. The can is another SIG development, entirely made using additive manufacturing and designed specifically to prevent gas blowback into shooters' faces (which is succeeds at wonderfully).Overall, I believe the M5 / Spear is an excellent rifle - soft shooting, reliable, and very accurate. However, that does not mean it is the right rifle for the Army. Will its ability to defeat modern body armor prove worth the tradeoff in extra soldier combat load weight and reduced ammunition capacity? Only time will tell..."

 
Ian McCollum of Forgotten Weapons does a great job of dissecting the SIG M5 Spear rifle & ammunition. I've copied/pasted the description of the video w/ timestamps of topics discussed (the video is also segmented on the time line with said topics). Video duration: 35:05.
(Note: I would love to see a video on the Vortex optic that will be used with this platform if one becomes available to civilian's such as Ian to review).

00:00 - Introduction
00:39 - TLDW
01:18 - NGSW history
04:11 - 6.8x51 / .277 SIG Fury cartridge
09:14 - Suppressor
12:53 - Rifle features and disassembly
23:42 - How it handles 80k psi
28:44 - Conclusions and rollout plans

"The NGSW (Next Generation Squad Weapon) program began in 2017 to find a replacement for the M4, M249, and 5.56mm cartridge. It came to a conclusion in April 2022 with the formal acceptance of the SIG M5 rifle, M250 machine gun, Vortex M157 optic, and the 6.8x51mm cartridge. SIG released a handful of civilian semiauto M5 / Spear rifles and thanks to Illumin Arms I have one to examine.The rifle (Spear is its commercial designation; M5 is the military one) is an evolution of the SIG MCX, which is in turn an evolution of the AR-15 and AR-18 systems. The MCX move the recoil spring assembly into the top of the upper receiver, allowing the use of a folding stock. It also has very easily swapped barrels and a suite of fully ambidextrous controls. Scaled up to AR-10 size and chambered for 6.8x51mm, the MCX became the Spear.That new cartridge (commercial designated .277 SIG Fury) is designed to produce high muzzle velocities out of short barrel (the M5 has a 13 inch barrel).It does this by boosting the operating pressure up to an eye-watering 80,000psi, which required the development of hybrid case using a stainless steel case head. This allows the case to handle those pressures safely. The currently available commercial ammunition is loaded to lower pressure, however. Much of the military and civilian use of this rifle will be done with downloaded training ammunition, which uses a conventional all-brass case.Both the M5 and M250 were ordered by the Army with suppressors on every weapon, a significant advancement in Army policy. The can is another SIG development, entirely made using additive manufacturing and designed specifically to prevent gas blowback into shooters' faces (which is succeeds at wonderfully).Overall, I believe the M5 / Spear is an excellent rifle - soft shooting, reliable, and very accurate. However, that does not mean it is the right rifle for the Army. Will its ability to defeat modern body armor prove worth the tradeoff in extra soldier combat load weight and reduced ammunition capacity? Only time will tell..."

The new rifle is the M7 not the M5 so if the Forgotten Weapons author is calling it the M5 he must have "forgotten" the correct designation.
 
The new rifle is the M7 not the M5 so if the Forgotten Weapons author is calling it the M5 he must have "forgotten" the correct designation.
Well the video is over two years old and may have been made when it was originally going to be designated the M5 but changed since Colt has used that designation prior. I specified M5 going by his video title which I screwed up by not thinking. 🤷‍♂️

 
Well the video is over two years old and may have been made when it was originally going to be designated the M5 but changed since Colt has used that designation prior. I specified M5 going by his video title which I screwed up by not thinking. 🤷‍♂️

No worries. Not your fault but the author didn't catch the designation change as per the Colt link.
 
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