Posted on 01/31/2005 5:44:05 PM PST by ijcr
The new U.S. Assault Rifle, the XM8, is a modular weapon that can be fitted with three different barrels (9", 12.5", 20".)
The 9" barrel is for a very compact weapon for tank crews or commandoes. With the nine inch barrel and the butt stock retracted, the weapon has an overall length of 21 inches.
The 12.5" barrel is the standard, for use with the assault rifle or, with the butt stock retracted, it serves as a carbine. The 20 inch barrel is thicker as well and used for the light machine-gun version. There is also a lighter 20 inch barrel for use by snipers.
The assault rifle can be equipped with the new M320 40mm grenade launcher.The U.S. Army is happy with the initial field testing of it's new M-8 (or XM-8) Assault Rifle. One of the major design features of the M-8 that makes it superior to the M-16 is the way it handles propellant gasses.
The M-16 has these gasses going into the receiver, depositing layers of crud from propellant that did not completely burn. The M-8 keeps the propellant gasses out of the receiver and this reduces the cleaning time by about 70 percent. The troops appreciate this. More importantly, the reduced amount of crud in the receiver greatly increases reliability (far fewer rounds getting stuck.)
In fact, the M-8 is designed to fire 15,000 rounds without cleaning or lubrication, even in a dirty (like a desert) environment. Troops are not allowed to let their weapons go like that, but this degree of reliability makes it less likely that rifles won't jam in a sandstorm or after getting dropped in the mud. The M-8 barrel and receiver is also of more sturdy construction, making it less likely that the user will get injured if there's something in the barrel when a round is fired. This is not unusual in combat.
All you have to do is accidentally jam the barrel into the dirt while hitting the ground or otherwise avoiding enemy fire, and then have to return fire. On an M-16, this can often cause the rifle to, well, blow up in your face. This unfortunate event is much less likely with the M-8.
The M-8 comes with a battery powered sight that includes a red-dot, close-combat capability, plus infrared laser aimer and laser illuminator with a backup etched reticule. The sights on the M-8, similar to those which have been showing up on M-16s over the past decade, make it much easier to hit something. The M-8 is better designed for "ease of use" and support troops who don't handle their weapons frequently will find that they can more easily hit something with an M-8. Tests, using people who have not handled a rifle frequently, have demonstrated this.
Because the attachment points for rail mounted devices are built into the M-8, the sight can be factory zeroed. The M-16, because it has rail mounting hardware mounted on it, requires frequent re-zeroing in the field. This is a feature very much appreciated by the troops. The attachment points allow additional sighting devices to be quickly added to the weapon. A new 40mm, single shot grenade launcher (the M320) will be available for the M-8 and can be quickly installed by troops, without special tools. The M-8 is designed for easy left or right handed operation.
Testing will increase, as more M-8s are available, and the plan is that by early 2007, the first of over a million M-8s will begin distribution to all troops in active and reserve army units. One thing that may slow this down is the army research on the use of a new caliber (6.8mm). The new bullet has shown to have better accuracy and stopping power. While troops would be carrying less ammo with the larger round (25 rounds in the current 30 round magazine), they would require fewer shots to take down enemy troops. American troops today are much better trained in the use of their rifles than they were four decades ago. Automatic fire is not often used, with accurate, individual shots being the norm. The M-8 rifle, and possibly a new caliber, are a reflection of that.
Shown (from left to right) are the 30 Remington (a rimless 30-30), the new 6.8mm Remington SPC and 5.56mm used in the M-16. The 6.8mm SPC is under serious consideration as the cartridge for the new army assault rifle, the M-8.
The XM8 isn't the US's new assault rifle. It's pretty much dead and not going anywhere.
I still like the FN P90.
Dead? Last I heard that it was going into full use by early 2006.
This looks like a real winner....
The photos of the different versions of the XM-8 have disappeared. Strange.
I always wondered why they didn't make the 243 Winchester the new military round. Since it is a necked down 308 you would have plenty of brass and it is a 6mm so much more lethal then the 5.56.....
http://www.philly.com/mld/inquirer/news/nation/9345317.htm?1c
There's also the news that H&K is 'teaming up' with General Dynamics on the new rifle: http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/001879.html
H&K is big enough that it doesn't need to team up with anybody. It looks to be more of an arrangement where H&K is doing some manuevering to cut their loses should this thing completely tank.
Oh and this page is interesting too:
http://www.defensereview.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=636
Interesting, hope they work the kinks out. It's time for a replacement for the M16 legacy.
Vapor
Well the XM8 isn't the platform to do it. Everything they claim it can do the AR/M16 platform can do better. Enough manufacturers have made their own modifications to the platform that can keep it alive and well without the need to completely change over.
This is being produced under license by Heckler und Koch, correct?
Brig. Gen. Benjamin Freakley, "Another benefit to the local economy could come in the next few years to the businesses involved with the fielding of the XM8 rifle. Currently being tested by an “experimental force” of about 150 Soldiers from 29th Infantry Regiment, Freakley said that, despite errant reports, the XM8’s possibilities look promising.
“We just completed a proponent assessment of the XM8 rifle. It was reported that the XM8 rifle was cancelled — that’s not fact,” he said. “The money exists in the XM8 program to continue to experiment with the XM8 rifle.”
During the next year or so, Freakley said, the unit will continue to refine the rifle to “exactly what Soldiers need.” And if all goes well, several brigades in the Army will one day be issued that rifle.
“We’re optimistic about the rifle,” he said, “and the money stands behind the rifle to continue experimental development. And the money could be placed behind it to go ahead and purchase that rifle, which is good news for Columbus and the companies involved in that.”
No it is a H&K design. However, H&K is constructing a 102,000-square-foot plant in Muscogee Technology Park, the XM8 won't necessarily be manufactured in Columbus from the start.
Instead, it appears, the weapon's parts would be made in Germany, shipped to Columbus for assembly, then distributed to the military from a center being relocated here from Virginia.
Fom the Columbus Ledger:-
"Col. Michael Smith, program manager for the XM8 at Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey, said H&K already has earned $30 million developing and testing the XM8. And he expects the company eventually will land the big prize and begin feeding the military a steady supply of the rifles.
"In the vast majority of cases, that is the same contractor, but it has changed in the past," Smith said.
Asked why the developing company has the edge in winning the production contract, the colonel responded: "He's got it locked. He understands exactly how to build it. No one's ever going to build it better than he can."
I can remember seeing the Stoner being tested on the range at Ft.Bragg. It was a competitor of the Colt AR-15 which became the M-16. At the time I was still using the Type 1 or 2 Garand aka M-1 or M-14 can't remember which now after all that was 1963. I've also fired the M-16, but it can't hold a candle to the 30-'06 or .308 (7.62 NATO) for accuracy at 600 to 1000 yards. Also the .223 Rem is not even legal for deer in most states.
The XM-8 is not dead. I've handled it myself, and, ergonomically, they've improved over the M16/M4 drastically. I've never fired it, unfortunately, but I've talked to several who have, and they love it. It's a very nice weapon, and I'm looking forward to using it (just put an ACOG on it!).
6.8mm works out to .267 in. Is that the land diameter of a .270?
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