There’s a common misconception that military special operators get to use whatever equipment they want to get the job done. While Tier One units, such as DEVGRU (Naval Special Warfare Development Group, also known as SEAL Team Six) and Delta Force (1st Special Forces Operational Detachment – Delta), enjoy considerable latitude with their acquisitions under Special Operations Command, “regular” SEALs and Green Berets are more limited. Army Special Forces had to pull a sneaky to get Glock 19 pistols, and even then, there weren’t enough to go around.

On August 22, 2025, the Pentagon announced that a $92 million USSOCOM contract had been awarded to Lewis Machine & Tools Defense for “medium range gas gun-assault kits.” The 10-year contract also includes spare parts and accessories, new equipment training, and engineering change proposals.

special operations command rifle
Geissele’s Upper Receiver Group — Improved drops onto an M4A1 lower receiver (U.S. Army)
The rifle itself is where things get interesting. SOCOM already has medium-range 5.56mm rifles, like the Army Special Operations Command’s M4A1 with the Geissele URG-I and the Heckler & Koch HK416. This new assault rifle is different in that it’s chambered for the larger and more powerful 6.5 Creedmoor. Similar to 7.62x51mm NATO in its terminal effectiveness, 6.5 CM is a full-size rifle cartridge that offers better long-range performance with its flatter trajectory and improved resistance to wind drift.

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SOCOM already fields the 6.5 CM in its Mid-Range Gas Gun—Sniper (MRGG-S) rifle. In 2023, Geissele beat LMT and won a $29 million contract for the precision rifle with a 20-inch barrel. Two years later, LMT has taken its revenge.

The announcement of the MRGG-A contract follows the announcement of a 6.5 CM ammo contract awarded to Black Hills Ammunition for up to $40 million. Black Hills is renowned for its precision ammunition, including the 5.56mm MK262, which is extensively used by special operations forces for its precision and lethality.

special operations command rifle
LMT’s submissions for the sniper and assaulter variants of the MRGG. (LMT)
The SOCOM contract follows notable international contracts won by LMT in Switzerland and Estonia. Although the Swiss Armed Forces generally field domestically-produced rifles, LMT was awarded a contract to supply them with a 5.56mm rifle. Based on LMT’s MARS-L rifle, the new weapon will be designated the Sturmgewehr 25 (Stgw 25) in Swiss service. In their press release announcing the contract, LMT noted that they will also supply rifles in other calibers to the Swiss Armed Forces.

The Estonian contract is notable not only for the Baltic nation’s defense modernization efforts following the Russian invasion of Ukraine, but also for its issues. In December 2018, LMT announced its contract to supply the Estonian Defence Forces with 14.3-inch 5.56mm rifles, 12-inch 5.56mm rifles, 16-inch 7.62mm rifles, and 40mm grenade launchers. LMT announced that deliveries to Estonia began in 2021.

The rifle itself is where things get interesting. SOCOM already has medium-range 5.56mm rifles, like the Army Special Operations Command’s M4A1 with the Geissele URG-I and the Heckler & Koch HK416. This new assault rifle is different in that it’s chambered for the larger and more powerful 6.5 Creedmoor. Similar to 7.62x51mm NATO in its terminal effectiveness, 6.5 CM is a full-size rifle cartridge that offers better long-range performance with its flatter trajectory and improved resistance to wind drift
SOCOM already fields the 6.5 CM in its Mid-Range Gas Gun—Sniper (MRGG-S) rifle. In 2023, Geissele beat LMT and won a $29 million contract for the precision rifle with a 20-inch barrel. Two years later, LMT has taken its revenge.

The announcement of the MRGG-A contract follows the announcement of a 6.5 CM ammo contract awarded to Black Hills Ammunition for up to $40 million. Black Hills is renowned for its precision ammunition, including the 5.56mm MK262, which is extensively used by special operations forces for its precision and lethality.

Ive never owned one
Just reporting

That's pretty cool !

Own Wilson Combat Ranger Tactical 6.5 CM, loaded several rounds, to get the accuracy, I like. Shot 2 different bullets, 143 gr Hornady ELDx, 120 gr Sierra HP. Good shooter especially past 500/700 yds.

Uncle had one that was a smoker.
Different cartridge name though.
And that is now stuck in my brain cell.
6.5x?? or 264 xx or ?
There is a lesson in marketing here.

Give a new soldier a Garand and they would drop it and run.

Ill stick with my ol 25-06. Flatter shooting.

264 Winchester Magnum perhaps. It is a smoking flat shooter.

News like this makes me go....hmmmmm. To me this smacks of somebody paid somebody to go to the head of the line in order to sell them something proprietary. 5.56 Nato and 7.62 Nato means ammo for those can be found world wide. Not so with a 6.5 CM. The worst part to me is the 6.5 CM is not even the best of the 6.5 newbies. To me it takes a back seat to 6.5 PRC.

To me the same thing happened with Sig and replacement of the Beretta.

And where does this leave the 300 AAC Blackout?

Are you talking supers or subs. The subs are only reasonable under 300 yards and supers maybe just past 500. I would say the 300 is best kept working in close. The 6.5 Creed can stretch quite a bit more.

I think it’s all about what you train with

what happened to the 277 round that had two different kinds of metal in the case? that can withstand 80,000 psi? 6.5 is just another flash in the pan that gun manufacturers spent too much money on. its no longer popular. gun companies are scrambling to find ways to advertise and increase sales.

Exactly, the same gun in 7.62 would have saved a ton of money and did the same thing.

7.62 WOULD have saved money, did same thing or better, and actually be available when needed. There was a reason it was standardized.

CM's claim to fame built on punching holes in paper. Soldiers need to punch holes in the enemy and put them down. At distances where CM gets an accuracy advantage, bullets run out of gas and might just bounce off. At long distance, snipers and hunters alike go bigger than 7.62, not smaller. Like 300 Win mag's, 50 caliber Barrett's and such.

So whole thing smacks of tainted procurement, somebody selling something to make seller money vs. for military to actually use on battlefield.

Its still beter than both 5.56 and 308 im my opinion. But I prefer smaller bullets in that 308 case. less recoil more speed and for me better results. enough that I no longer own a 308 or have one in the house but 243, 260 and 7mm-08 are in the rack. Absolutely love that 7mm-08 and 260. But think I like the 7mm08 a touch better.

Logistics adding another additional cal does not seem smart. Any platform that will take 6.5 cm will also fit a 308. But again a little more recoil , more drop and drift, But less energy on target and more complicated adding and getting ammo unless moving everyone to it.

Maybe its to get live action performance results in combat?

I read there were some issues with cases comming apart and excessive wear creating issues But sources are not official. Who would have thought that could happen. Yet I have not seen anything about changing corse.

Apparently its a complete system with advanced optic that gives correct dope and shooting solutions. That could have been made for old or any other new platform.

Pretty sure a 6.5 isn't going to "bounce off", lol, but there's been a bunch of these different rounds tried by the military, or pushed towards them....

If they wanted to go smaller than the 7.62, then why not the 243 or 260?.. same parent case, should be able to switch out barrels for cheap, easier to shoot, better ballistics and a more lethal round.... why re-invent the wheel constantly?
and the 5.56 isn't going anywhere, it's a NATO cartridge and theres millions of rounds out there, the "improved" rifles and rounds need only go to spec ops, SEALS etc....

Still don't understand why they dont just make a standardized upper for current stuff and go with that.. seriously could have a armor conex with uppers in whatever.
"O you guys are going on a patrol in this area where shots will be longer ?" Hand out the longer uppers in whatever swap mags and ammo done .

but let's be honest a lot of this is people getting kick backs and just trying to spend that sweet sweet defense budget

Let's be honest.... The creed is hear to stay , is about as popular in as the .308 , you can find about as much if not more I've seen ammo for it right next to the .308. it's not some miracle round...but it works ..I mean it just plain works .
And if you wanna do trh whole argument about ,its the same as the .260 or the sweede....well in that case if it's the same it's just as good and it's easier to find and get so