The U.S. Special Operations Command will begin fielding the MK24 Medium Range Gas Gun Assault before the end of the fiscal year. This new rifle features a swappable barrel, allowing operators to change between firing 7.62mm and 6.5mm Creedmoor cartridges.
The 6.5mm Creedmoor cartridge was chosen after SOCOM tested almost two dozen others and found it delivered the best overall performance at ranges of 1,000 meters.
The adoption of the 6.5mm Creedmoor is part of SOCOM's shift away from legacy cartridges like the 7.62mm NATO round. Other services, such as the Army, are also transitioning to new cartridges, like the 6.8x51mm for its Next Generation Squad Weapons.
