XM8 lightweight assault rifle

[DOWORK1]

"The XM8 is a developmental U.S. military designation and project name for a lightweight assault rifle system that was under development by the United States Army from the late 1990s to early 2000s. The Army worked with the small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch (H&K) to develop the system to its requirements in the aftermath of the OICW contract, for which H&K had been a subcontractor to ATK. Although there were high hopes that the XM8 would become the Army's new standard infantry rifle, the project was put on hold in mid 2005, and was formally cancelled on October 31, 2005.

General Dynamics was involved in latter stages and H&K had plans to produce the rifle at a plant in Georgia. H&K was British owned at the start of the project, but was later bought back by a group of German investors. Engineering work was done at facilities in the United States and Germany."




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Caliber:
5.56 x 45mm NATO

Builder:
Heckler & Koch

Weight:
6.4 lbs (prototype),
5.7 lbs objective

Overall Length:
33.3 inches (carbine stock extended)

Barrel Length:
Assault: 12.5"
Sharpshooter: 20.0"
Compact: 9.0"
Automatic Rifle: 20.0"

Rate of Fire:
Cyclic - 750 rpm
Sustained - 85 rpm up to 210 rounds

Rate of Twist:
1 in 7 inches

Barrel Life:
20,000 rounds mininum

Muzzle Velocity:
3005 feet/second (M855 Ball) with 20" barrel
2675 feet/second with 12.5" barrel
2365 feet/second with 9.0" barrel

Magazine Capacity:
10 or 30 rounds (magazines can be nested together); 100 round drum available

Stock:
5 position adjustable for length

Bayonet Lug:
Yes (12.5 & 20" barrels)

Bipod Interface:
Yes (20" only)

Sighting System:
Fully integrated red dot with laser illuminator and pointer

[Achped]

No thanks.

[hawks]

Why wouldn't you want that? Its probably 10x better than a 16

[RememberMorriso]

That would be cool for any special forces unit, marsoc, etc, but way to high speed for that highschool dropout PFC in the Army. My 2 cents.

[Achped]

Why wouldn't you want that? Its probably 10x better than a 16

Probably? Until its soldier/idiot/Marine proofed I don't want it. You remember all the problems with the M16 in Vietnam? How many Marines are dead because their weapon failed right when they needed it most?

Permanent red dot sight? What happens when you try to shoot passed 200 yards? That dot will be as big as the person you're trying to shoot. If you have a red dot, you need at least a 4x zoom, i.e. ACOG.

The military still needs a bigger caliber, that doesn't solve it. 5.56 just doesn't cut it.

If we're going to switch our main battle rifle, it needs to be worth it. The only advantages to that rifle are that its lighter....and...?

[Mikewebe]

I think the 6.8mm conversion is the way to go. And what happened to the other rifle that was supposed to have a one shot 20mm barrel mounted underneath the 5.56 barrel, anyone know ?

[RememberMorriso]

http://www.barrettrifles.com/rifle_468.aspx

This is what we need, future weapons tested this rifle and it passed with flying colors. SOCOM is now using the SCAR rifle made by FN.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FN_SCAR

[Zulu 36]

Everything from H&K that I ever shot was a superb weapon. Expensive, but you get what you pay for.

[RememberMorriso]

Everything from H&K that I ever shot was a superb weapon. Expensive, but you get what you pay for.
Yes very true, I have the K&K .45 Socom model amazing pistol. Also I have shot plenty of MP5 models, very nice submachine guns, no wonder the SEALs use them.

[Mikewebe]

I'f I'm not mistaken the 6.8 uses the same mags too.

[DOWORK1]

This seems more like a swap

http://www.armytimes.com/news/2007/02/atCarbine070219/

[Pete0331]

That would be cool for any special forces unit, marsoc, etc, but way to high speed for that highschool dropout PFC in the Army. My 2 cents.

Every SF guy that I've talked to hates it, along with the SCAR.
Personally I can't comment on the weapon having not spend any time putting it through its paces.

What happened to the 416?

[DOWORK1]

Well apparently the Army overlooked the 416's ability and purchased another 100,000 m4's. So right now it is out of the picture.

[Mikewebe]

M-4's work for me. especially since I am a 203 guy. Love my grenades

[hawks]

Always remember, everything in the USMC went to the lowest bidder, especially the M4s

[Mikewebe]

Hawks, just like everything else, so your poncho liner was made by the lowest bidder keep that in mind. Colt as far as I know is still providing the weapons, not sure so won't commit to that. But if they are its a superior product.

[RememberMorriso]

I shot table 4 in negative temperatures and the m16 was pure dog ****. ****ing triple feeds!!! not double, triple... Magazine release button was sticking, bolt was jamming. My whole company had to stop the range after my group shot simply because the m16s were failing us. All the SNCOs were ****ed at us because they thought that we must not have cleaned our 16s, but no they were clean as hell and clp'ed nicely, not to much... Anyways I always gripe about how crappy the m16s are, my dad in Vietnam always swore by aks, but of course they aren't accurate enough for our applications (range and group). I know that this will never happen but I would like to have a tricked out Springfield M14, a nice Glock, and an MP5 for room clearing. Expensive I know, but that would be kick ass, I would get my moneys worth out of them. :)

[RememberMorriso]

Hawks, just like everything else, so your poncho liner was made by the lowest bidder keep that in mind. Colt as far as I know is still providing the weapons, not sure so won't commit to that. But if they are its a superior product.
I just got attached to a new unit and got issued gear, ******* we got some nice highspeed **** from 1st Mar Div, damn. Even our ponchos kickass, hell they aren't even called ponchos tarp covers.... They are marpat and everything. And we got the new lightweight flaks too. When we were in Iraq we got stuck with the MTVs?? the ones you have to put over your heads. The ones we just got issued are the new new interceptors, probably gen 3. You California boys get some cool stuff.