The American Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program, alongside new firearm designs, also addressed the topic of next‑generation ammunition. The program included fairly diverse 6.8 mm ammunition variants in the form of hybrid rounds (a combination of a brass case with a stainless‑steel case mouth/base, a proposal from SIG Sauer), telescoped rounds (result of collaboration between Textron Systems, Winchester and Heckler&Koch) and composite rounds (a project by True Velocity / General Dynamics). While these proposals were developed as options, the Ukrainian 12.7x114mm HL ammunition project was born out of necessity. Due to rather limited resources, the Horizon’s Lord LLC company undertook the challenge of creating a completely new system, where, based on 14.5x114 mm casings from a Soviet heavy machine guns, they began developing new ammunition.
The Soviet projectile was replaced with 12.7 mm caliber ones because of their better characteristics, and an increased propellant charge provided more possibilities. The final result is a cartridge consisting of a large propellant charge and a heavy projectile, with a flatter trajectory, greater effective range and still lethal striking power. The next challenge after creating the new 12.7x114 mm HL cartridge was the availability of casings required for production and the need to change the neck size. In seeking solutions to these problems, other fields were also consulted, resulting in a hybrid round made up of a steel base, a polymer case and an unchanged propellant and projectile.
Dedicatеd rifles have already entered service, where they prove their capabilities (the previous shooting distance record of 3800 meters was set using a Horizon’s Lord sniper rifle and 12.7x114 mm HL ammunition (New sniper shot distance record). As the manufacturer reported on its social media, despite the polymer cases being intended as single‑use by default, re‑reloading has been performed progressively.
The new 12.7x114 mm HL ammunition and the rifles it feeds are no longer a novelty but a mass product used on the front, as evidenced by the presented photos of the firearms and ammunition stocks for them.
Another question arises: is this what the future of precision shooting looks like?
Photos: Horizon’s Lord LLC
