Department of Homeland Security Is Replacing .308

It makes you wonder how many other organizations are going to follow suit.

The Military Times writes

INDIANAPOLIS ― The Department of Homeland Security plans to get rid of all its 7.62mm NATO, or .308 caliber, long-range rifle ammunition and replace it with an intermediate caliber that Special Operations snipers will field next year — the 6.5mm Creedmoor.

Speaking Monday during a panel at the National Defense Industrial Association Armament Systems Forum here, Devin Patterson, a DHS engineer, told the audience that the switch would give their “tactical observers,” civilian speak for snipers, a more accurate round for their sensitive security missions.

And because the dimensions of the cartridge are not drastically different, the change mostly involves just a barrel change.

“It’s an easy swap,” Patterson said.

That’s because with the 6.5mm, they can continue to use the same NATO-spec magazines that are in use with the 7.62mm.

While Special Operations Command snipers have also adopted the same caliber, cartridge configurations could be somewhat different because of DHS mission-specific concerns.

They are evaluating a hybrid of open-tip match ammunition with improved hunting round technology.

The key, he said, is for their shooters to avoid “overpenetration.”

“Current [open-tip match] rounds don’t meet these requirements,” he said.

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