6.8x43mm LUDC

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6.8x43mm LUDC
6.8x43mm LUDC (left), 5.56×45mm LOTA (right)
TypeRifle, carbine, DMR, and LMG
Place of origin Burgundie
 Urcea
 Yonderre
Service history
In service2018–present
Used byLUDC
Non-LUDC allies
See Users
WarsFinal War of the Deluge
Production history
Designedlate 2010s
Specifications
Parent case7.62x51mm LOTA
Case typeRimless, bottlenecked
Bullet diameter0.277 in (7.0 mm)
Neck diameter0.306 in (7.8 mm)
Shoulder diameter0.402 in (10.2 mm)
Base diameter0.422 in (10.7 mm)
Rim diameter0.422 in (10.7 mm)
Rim thickness0.049 in (1.2 mm)
Case length1.687 in (42.8 mm)
Overall length2.260 in (57.4 mm)
Case capacity34.8–36.9 gr H2O (2.26–2.39 cm3)
Primer typeLarge Rifle
Maximum pressure (C.I.P)58,700 psi (405 MPa)
Maximum pressure (SAAMI)55,000 psi (380 MPa)
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
7.45 g (115 gr) Full Metal Jacket 2,575 ft/s (785 m/s) 1,694 ft⋅lbf (2,297 J)
7.78 g (120 gr) Super Shock Tip 2,460 ft/s (750 m/s) 1,612 ft⋅lbf (2,186 J)
7.1 g (110 gr) Game Hunter 2,500 ft/s (760 m/s) 1,525 ft⋅lbf (2,068 J)
5.5 g (85 gr) Enhanced penetrator 3,070 ft/s (940 m/s) 1,780 ft⋅lbf (2,410 J)

The 6.8x43mm LUDC, also sometimes 6.8 LUDC and .277 LUDC, is a rimless bottlenecked intermediate rifle cartridge that was developed jointly by Burgundie, Urcea and Yonderre to replace the 7.62x51mm, 5.56x45mm and 7.5x42mm cartridges used by the three nations respectively in short barreled rifles (SBR) and infantry carbines. Adopted as the official cartridge of the Levantine Union Defense Council by way of its logistics and caliber-streamlining project, the 6.8x43mm LUDC has been at least partially adopted by all member states of the LUDC.

Originally developed to streamline logistics between the three LOTA allies Burgundie, Urcea and Yonderre, the 6.8x43mm cartridge is a compromise between the 7.62x51mm LOTA cartridge used by the Burgoignesc Security Forces and the 5.56x45mm LOTA used by the Armed Forces of Urcea. The compromise between the two allows for improved lethality compared to the Urcean 5.56 cartridge, delivering 44% more energy on target, while producing less recoil than the Burgoignesc 7.62 cartridge. Another advantage of the 6.8mm cartridge compared to the 5.56mm is its much higher muzzle velocity, making it considerably more effective out of carbines and short barreled rifles. Four principal types of ammunition are made officially (full metal jacket, full metal jacket tracer, super shock tip and enhanced penetrator) as well as a number of commercial offerings.

One problem with the 6.8x43mm cartridge in Yonderian service has been its similar dimensions to the 7.5x42mm cartridges used by the Yonderian Defence Force. This allows 6.8mm ammunition to be chambered in 7.5mm rifles like the FAMAG and vice versa; while a 6.8mm bullet will be able to exit the barrel of a 7.5mm FAMAG (most likely causing damage to the rifling), a 7.5mm bullet will not be able to exit a 6.8mm barrel, since the bullet is larger in diameter than the bore. Firing a 7.5mm cartriddge in a 6.8mm gun thus causes excessive pressure to build up since the bullet has nowhere to go, which can cause the rifle to explode resulting in risk of injury or death. Whether a 7.5mm cartridge actually is able to chamber in a 6.8mm barrel depends on bullet length and shape, bullet seating depth, crimping, and the volume of powder charge. Because of this danger, the Yonderian Defence Force changed its production of 7.5mm ammunition to have longer projectiles in 2021 following a number of incidents.

Users

Non-state users

Former users

Weapons chambered for 6.8x43mm LUDC

See also

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