{"id":48658,"date":"2026-06-01T15:04:15","date_gmt":"2026-06-01T15:04:15","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2026\/06\/01\/not-just-a-gun-new-socom-rifle-allows-barrel-swapping-and-cartridge-changes\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T17:17:24","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T17:17:24","slug":"not-just-a-gun-new-socom-rifle-allows-barrel-swapping-and-cartridge-changes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/land\/2026\/06\/01\/not-just-a-gun-new-socom-rifle-allows-barrel-swapping-and-cartridge-changes\/","title":{"rendered":"Not \u2018just a gun\u2019: New SOCOM rifle allows barrel swapping and cartridge changes"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">U.S. Special Operations Command will begin fielding the MK24 Medium Range Gas Gun Assault before the end of the fiscal year, furthering SOCOM\u2019s shift away from legacy cartridges like the 7.62mm NATO round, according to a recent report. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SOCOM spokesman Navy Cmdr. Joe Vermette told <a href=\"https:\/\/taskandpurpose.com\/tech-tactics\/military-socom-scar-replacement\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\">Task &amp; Purpose<\/a> the MRGG-A will completely replace the MK17 SCAR. He added that SOCOM is \u201cpursuing a rapid fielding method\u201d to \u201cmultiple (Special Operational Force) components.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Last August, SOCOM <a href=\"https:\/\/www.war.gov\/News\/Contracts\/Contract\/Article\/4283984\/contracts-for-aug-22-2025\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\">awarded<\/a> the Iowa-based LMT Defense a 10-year contract to the tune of $92 million for the MRGG-A. At SOCOM\u2019s request, the rifle features a swappable barrel, allowing operators to change between firing 7.62mm and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2018\/05\/08\/socom-snipers-will-ditch-their-bullets-for-this-new-round-next-year\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\">6.5mm Creedmoor<\/a> cartridges. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201cThis thing isn\u2019t just a gun, it\u2019s a deployment package,\u201d said Joe Hajny, an LMT Defense spokesman, about the multi-caliber chambering in an interview with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=jJHbC8ERr04\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\">Classic Firearms<\/a> at this year\u2019s Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Hajny added that SOCOM prioritized \u201cthe quick barrel change.\u201d He explained the logic is that when SOCOM operators are \u201cout with the partner forces that don\u2019t have access to 6.5, the field environment might switch, they could change the caliber if need be.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">With that, he said an operator can change the barrel in about a minute. As for the barrel itself, Hajny explained that it measures in at 14.5 inches, so the rifle feels more like an M4 carbine but operates like an <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/2013\/03\/22\/silver-star-for-corporal-who-fended-off-ambush\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\">M110 semi-automatic sniper rifle<\/a>, which also uses the 7.62 cartridge. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The most notable change is SOCOM\u2019s adoption of the 6.5mm Creedmoor.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">SOCOM <a href=\"https:\/\/soldiersystems.net\/2017\/05\/04\/us-army-special-operations-command-seeks-precision-intermediate-caliber-ammunition\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\">reportedly<\/a> began testing the cartridge along with almost two dozen others in 2017 and found that it delivered the <a href=\"https:\/\/soldiersystems.net\/2018\/03\/23\/ussocom-adopts-6-5-cm\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\">best overall performance<\/a> at ranges 1,000 meters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">\u201c(The MRGG-A) is a big one that I think is going to trickle down to more of your mainline units down the road,\u201d Hajny said. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Other services have also been shifting away from legacy cartridges like 7.62 and 5.56. The Army, for example, has been transitioning to its <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/video\/2024\/10\/02\/next-generation-squad-weapons\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\">Next Generation Squad Weapons<\/a> chambered in 6.8x51mm. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In 2021, SOCOM hosted an <a href=\"https:\/\/sam.gov\/workspace\/contract\/opp\/fc444fc0adb74cd9b7deb56b3d788669\/view\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\">assessment event<\/a> with its partner Special Operations Forces Works, or SOFWERX, to identify small arms weapon systems capable of greater accuracy at ranges past 1,200 meters. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Along with the MRGG-A, SOCOM expressed interest in a <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/video\/2025\/06\/06\/get-hands-on-with-gas-gun-sniper-rifles-for-socom\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\">new sniper rifle<\/a> and lightweight machine gun. After years of testing, the organization contracted <a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/geissele\/p\/Cx8IVZWtiQ6\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\">Geissele Automatics for the MRGG Sniper rifle<\/a> in 6.5 and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/land\/inside-socoms-search-for-new-machine-guns-rifles-and-ammo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\">Sig Sauer for the LMG-Medium<\/a> in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.militarytimes.com\/news\/your-military\/2022\/05\/18\/new-rounds-new-small-arms-make-special-operators-firepower-wish-list\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\">.338 Norma Magnum<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">In a recent interview with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.twz.com\/land\/inside-socoms-search-for-new-machine-guns-rifles-and-ammo\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"\">The War Zone<\/a>, Lt. Col. Alan Wood, SOCOM\u2019s program manager for lethality, explained that like the 6.5mm, the .338 is \u201cmore effective on target\u201d at \u201cgreater ranges\u201d and the system overall \u2014 the rifle and ammo \u2014 could weigh \u201chundreds of pounds\u201d less than the heavy .50-caliber round. Yet, SOCOM has paused fielding on the LMG. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">As for the MRGG-A, Wood said, \u201cIt\u2019s just a phenomenal, accurate weapon system for our SOF operators. All the components are super excited about this one.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>At SOCOM\u2019s request, the rifle features a swappable barrel, allowing operators to change between legacy cartridges and the newer 6.5mm Creedmoor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":111292,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":14,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[160,14,36,19],"tags":[],"coauthors":[3473],"class_list":["post-48658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-land","category-newsletters","category-pentagon"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"JYGOCM7DOVB5PAWP4OJMRLLXZE","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/your-military\/2026\/06\/01\/not-just-a-gun-new-socom-rifle-allows-barrel-swapping-and-cartridge-changes\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented 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