When the Military picked the SIG MCX Spear as its Subsequent Era Squad Weapon, the response in a variety of gun circles was combined.
On paper, the 6.8×51 cartridge promised higher armor-penetration and vary than 5.56. In the actual world, the unique M7 Spear carbine got here off as heavy, gassy, and exhausting to manage for the typical soldier.
What SIG introduced out for this current vary session is what the unique gun most likely ought to have been from the start: an 11-inch, trimmed-down variant that feels much more like a preventing rifle and fewer like a science undertaking.
Garand Thumb and his crew hung out on the vary with what they’re calling the M7A1, a prototype the Military hasn’t formally named but, however clearly represents the subsequent evolution of this system.
From M7 Spear to “M7A1” – What Modified
Facet by facet with the sooner M7 Spear, the modifications are apparent even earlier than you shoot it.
Barrel and profile
Unique M7 Spear barrel size was round 13 inches
The brand new variant runs an 11-inch barrel
Barrel profile has been redesigned particularly round 6.8×51’s excessive pressures.
The 6.8×51 hybrid case runs round 80,000 psi. The unique gun used a reasonably overbuilt profile to outlive that stress and unknowns within the early testing cycle.
With extra knowledge, SIG has moved to a refined profile that retains life in the identical ballpark whereas dropping weight. Barrel life continues to be roughly across the 10,000-round mark for navy 277 ammo, which is about what you’d count on at these pressures.
Higher receiver and weight
The higher itself went on a weight loss plan. SIG shaved roughly a pound off the system by combining the lighter barrel and trimmed higher.
Extra vital than the uncooked quantity is the place the burden disappeared from. With mass pulled off the entrance half of the rifle, the M7A1 feels noticeably handier than the unique Spear. It mounts sooner, transitions simpler, and doesn’t really feel such as you’re steering a fence submit by means of a doorway.
Handguard and lockup
The handguard is new as properly
Extra useful M-LOK actual property
Simpler entry to the fuel adjustment
Beefed-up attachment with bigger screws and improved clamping
Early Spears had seen barrel and rail flex below stress on the entrance of the gun. The brand new lockup stiffens that interface. Pushing on the rail now produces far much less seen deflection, and it returns to zero higher than earlier variations. For a gun that’s going to put on lasers and be used for night time work, that issues.
Gasoline plug and suppressor
The fuel plug has been redesigned and is less complicated to actuate due to the brand new handguard. The suppressor is totally completely different in idea from what most shooters are used to on 5.56 weapons.
Stream-through design
Prioritizes flash discount and fuel administration, not sound
Constructed to scale back fuel to the shooter’s face and long-term well being danger
The purpose right here is easy: it is a frontline fight rifle, not a clandestine gun. The designers cared extra about flash signature and protecting troops from sucking carcinogenic fuel all day than squeezing out a number of extra decibels of suppression.
You continue to get flash, and the can heats up quick as a result of 277 burns much more powder than 5.56. There’s no means round that. The warmth protect helps with dealing with, however you continue to don’t want that may touching naked pores and skin or clothes.
6.8×51 Out of an 11-Inch Barrel – The Numbers
The massive query with slicing the barrel down from 13 to 11 inches is whether or not you cripple the cartridge.
Garand Thumb ran reduced-range coaching ammunition by means of a chrono from the 11-inch barrel. That ammo is designed to restrict downrange hazard, nevertheless it’s loaded to present the identical velocity and recoil profile because the full-range fight load.
The five-shot string averaged about 2,943 toes per second with a 113-grain projectile and a normal deviation of round 14 fps.
Put that in context
A 20-inch M16 with 55-grain 5.56 is often round 3,100 fps
This 11-inch 6.8×51 is pushing greater than double the bullet weight solely about 150 fps slower
That’s severe vitality out of a really quick package deal. Even with reduced-range ammo, drop at distance was minimal sufficient that the shooter may see how flat the spherical flies. With ball ammo, the efficiency solely will get extra unforgiving for no matter is on the receiving finish.
The tradeoff is barrel put on. Excessive stress and excessive velocity eat metal. No one ought to be shocked that you’re not getting 30,000 rounds out of a barrel at 80k psi.
Recoil and Controllability – Higher Than the Unique Spear
In comparison with the unique M7 Spear, the M7A1 looks like a special gun on the shoulder.
On full auto, each skilled shooters and the digicam crew ran mags at CQB distances and stored rounds within the A-zone. The important thing factors
Noticeably extra controllable than early M7 examples
Recoil impulse feels softer and extra linear
Nonetheless extra recoil than an M4, however not unmanageable
The lighter entrance finish and tuned fuel system assist right here. The unique Spear, particularly with early ammo, had shooters climbing all around the goal in bursts. The brand new gun stays a lot flatter, assuming the shooter does their half and drives the gun aggressively.
Gasoline blowback is greater than a suppressed 5.56, as anticipated, however not within the “unshootable” vary. Proper-handed shooters will tolerate it effective. Left-handed shooters are going to get extra fuel due to the place the ejection port lives and the amount of powder being burned. That isn’t distinctive to this rifle.
Controls and Ergonomics – Acquainted, with Some Military Nonsense
One of many massive wins of the M7 program is that it retains most AR-style controls. That issues for a drive that has lived on the M4 platform for many years.
Ambidextrous controls
Ambi security that may be run with the firing hand thumb
Bolt launch on each side
Ambi journal launch
The security, particularly, is an actual enchancment over older service rifles. It looks like a correct trendy carbine management format.
Twin charging handles
Then there’s the charging setup.
The Military required each a standard rear charging deal with and a side-charging deal with. That provides complexity and a bit of weight. It additionally introduces some quirks.
If the bolt is locked to the rear and the facet charger continues to be pulled again, dropping the bolt can smash your thumb
You now have two programs to show, two methods for troops to half-learn as an alternative of 1 technique to grasp
There are area of interest instances the place a facet charger helps, particularly in deep inclined with a ruck or barricade in the way in which. Whether or not that justifies the price and complexity is one other query. That’s not on SIG that’s on the requirement writers.
Inventory and rear finish
Soldier suggestions killed the folding inventory. The M7A1 runs a set inventory on a 1913 rail rear finish utilizing a compact Magpul inventory.
Less complicated
Much less to interrupt
Nonetheless permits completely different 1913 shares to be mounted if wanted
Sling mounting is easy QD on the rear and numerous factors alongside the handguard. No nonsense there.
Magazines, Ammunition Load, and Squad-Stage Actuality
The rifle makes use of NGSW-pattern magazines made by SIG. These are designed across the particular feed angle wanted for the steel-tipped armor-defeating projectiles within the service load. That’s the identical purpose you noticed Enhanced Efficiency Magazines for M855A1 in 5.56.
A key level from the Rangers who’ve labored with the Spear in testing the ammo load penalty is actual.
A squad geared up totally with 6.8×51 carries roughly 60 % of the spherical rely they might with 5.56
Each journal is heavier
Belt-fed weapons and DMRs add much more weight on high of that
That issues for fireplace superiority. Thirty rounds of low-recoiling 5.56 that troops can shoot rapidly and precisely nonetheless rely for lots in any battle.
That is the place the function of the M7A1 begins to make extra sense. A number of skilled voices within the video argue that this could not outright change the M4. As an alternative, it makes extra sense as a particular weapon within the platoon.
Consider it extra like
A heavy hitter for punching by means of armor and light-weight cowl
A gun for the man anchoring a sector at distance
A weapon for particular roles somewhat than a one-for-one alternative for each rifleman
That aligns with the place lots of people already assumed this system would find yourself even when the official messaging hasn’t totally caught up.
Armor and Close to-Peer Threats
The entire purpose this program exists is armor. Potential near-peer adversaries like Russia and China are fielding more and more efficient plates and delicate armor.
The concept behind 6.8×51 and the M7 is to maintain the U.S. infantry rifle forward of that curve.
Larger velocity
Tougher projectiles
Higher efficiency by means of trendy armor and intermediate boundaries
On the identical time, armor is a transferring goal. Plates get higher yearly. Protection can improve. There’s additionally the easy proven fact that armor doesn’t cowl all the physique. Bursts of 5.56 into the pelvis, decrease stomach, and thighs nonetheless spoil folks in a rush.
Designed for a battle that will or might not occur
Tuned for near-peer engagements at distance
Overkill for most of the low-intensity fights the U.S. has really been in for the final twenty years.
That doesn’t make it a foul weapon. It simply means everybody must be sincere concerning the tradeoffs. You acquire attain and armor defeat. You lose ammo capability and a few of the easy controllability of 5.56.
The place the M7A1 Truly Suits
After a number of hundred rounds within the video, the decision is fairly simple: the M7A1 is a transparent enchancment over the unique M7 Spear.
Strengths
Actual battle rifle vitality from an 11-inch barrel
Higher weight steadiness and a few pound lighter than the sooner gun
A lot improved controllability in each semi and full auto
Stiffer handguard and higher barrel lockup for laser-equipped weapons
Optics and controls that really feel acquainted to anybody raised on the AR platform
Weak factors and open questions
Ammunition load and weight stay a serious concern on the squad degree
Barrel life and logistics at 80k psi are going to demand cautious administration
Twin charging deal with requirement provides complexity for marginal acquire
Left-handed shooters will nonetheless get a face stuffed with fuel in comparison with 5.56 weapons
This isn’t the correct rifle for each soldier in each mission
We’re watching the U.S. attempt to leap forward of the armor curve with a high-pressure hybrid cartridge and a brand new technology of carbines constructed round it. The primary model of that rifle had actual issues. The M7A1 exhibits that SIG and the Military are literally listening to person suggestions and iterating towards one thing that looks like an actual preventing rifle.
If this sample holds, the ultimate difficulty gun that lands in infantry items might look lots nearer to this 11-inch, trimmed-down M7A1 than the unique heavy Spear.
