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The REAL new American Infantry rifle
Heckler and Koch website ^ | Bonesaw

Posted on 04/04/2004 12:55:32 AM PST by Bonesaw

Hey, if any of you people remember that post on the OICW, which was so flawed and had many mistakes just in the information, this is how it really goes, the OICW which is now the xm29 is deemed heavy as shit and will not be the standard infantry rifle, instead, a really like spin off of the G36 which looks really futuristc and is a modular weapon has been produced. Its cheaper to make, much more reliable than the current m16/m4's and just looks heaps good. It doesnt take a gunsmith to customize it before missions. It can be customized in a Sharpshooter model, Automatic rilfe, LMG, commando and ultra compact commando. Its REALLY like and there are a whole bunch of pictures and videos of it firing at www.hk-usa.com


TOPICS: AMERICA - The Right Way!!; Military/Veterans
KEYWORDS: bang; hecklerandkoch; heckleranfkoch

1 posted on 04/04/2004 12:55:32 AM PST by Bonesaw
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To: Bonesaw
Its REALLY like and there are a whole bunch of pictures...

What language is this?

2 posted on 04/04/2004 1:29:11 AM PST by Rudder
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To: All

Donate Here By Secure Server

3 posted on 04/04/2004 1:30:30 AM PST by Support Free Republic (Your support keeps Free Republic going strong!)
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To: Bonesaw

XM8

4 posted on 04/04/2004 1:34:31 AM PST by Rudder
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To: Rudder
I had heard the XM8 was shelved permanently.
5 posted on 04/04/2004 1:42:34 AM PST by neb52
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To: neb52
haha to the first comment sry about the typo i wrote it REALLY fast. And to the guy who said it was shelved permanently.... the XM8 or the XM29? Im pretty sure the xm8 will be adopted. Most of the army weapons officials are confident that it will be adopted, they said they've never seen anything fire straight out of the box like this.
6 posted on 04/04/2004 3:01:04 AM PDT by Bonesaw
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To: Bonesaw
new update.... seems as though even the tests and stuff surpassed the xm8 the marines arent going to adopt it and have opted for new m16's, since i have heard so much good of the xm8 compared the m16... i can only reason budget and new weapon training being the reasons for it not being adopted. And its probable that the Army wont adopt it either.... so much for all these weapons of the future hype.
7 posted on 04/04/2004 3:04:21 AM PDT by Bonesaw
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Comment #8 Removed by Moderator

To: Bonesaw
My mistake, its the OICW/XM29 that is being shelved. I found what I was looking for.

"Bullpups are not effective combat designs. They have major problems, especially for use in urban settings (which more and more of potential battlefields are).

The OICW has been shelved. It is unable to meet the weight requirements and will not be fielded in the foreseeable future (at least not until materials that provide a significant weight savings become available).

The XM8 is being tested at Aberdeen. What its status will be is yet to be seen." from a Green Beret on another forum.
9 posted on 04/04/2004 3:31:10 AM PDT by neb52
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To: Bonesaw
When you write "like" do you mean "light"?
10 posted on 04/04/2004 10:00:03 AM PDT by Bonny Dick
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To: Rudder
Set for stun.
11 posted on 04/04/2004 1:35:11 PM PDT by FoxInSocks
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To: FoxInSocks
Just what I was thinking. That is one serious-looking piece of 21st Century firepower.
12 posted on 04/04/2004 7:59:29 PM PDT by Viking2002
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To: Bonesaw; All
Extensive FR thread tracking XM-8 discussion on this thread.

It is about 4 years from full service. It's adoption is better than a 50-50 chance at this time.

There's also a LOT of pics of it and other guns on the thread.

13 posted on 04/05/2004 5:00:21 AM PDT by Long Cut (Hell of a thing, killin' a man. You take away all he's got, and all he's ever gonna have)
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To: neb52
I had heard the XM8 was shelved permanently.

I got to fire one in March. As of then, the project was very advanced and proceeding. There remain questions as to whether they'll be fielded in 5,56mm or the new 6,8mm cartridge, or both [the XM8 can easily be changed to either]

14 posted on 04/10/2004 12:18:55 PM PDT by archy (The darkness will come. It will find you,and it will scare you like you've never been scared before.)
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To: Viking2002
XM8 SYSTEM

Beginning life as the 5.56mm KE (kinetic energy) component of the 20mm air-bursting XM29 Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW), the XM8
Lightweight Modular Carbine System represents the state-of-the-art in 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles. Developed by the US Army’s office of Project Manager for Soldier Weapons located at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey in close conjunction with the US Army Infantry Center, the XM8 Future Combat Rifle is intended to replace existing M4 Carbines and select 5.56mm x45 weapons in the US Army arsenal beginning as early as the fourth quarter of FY05. Once adopted, the M8 Carbine will replace the aging M16/M4 family of weapons, which have been in service for nearly four decades, longer than any previous US service rifle. The M8 Carbine will be up to 20% lighter than a comparably equipped M4 Carbine MWS and yet offer additional features and performance unavailable currently in any assault rifle in the world.

As a direct development of the separable OICW (XM29) KE or Kinetic Energy module, the M8 Carbine will share a high degree of common parts and training and maintenance procedures to lessen the required support for the “family” of XM8 weapons. Being developed are four XM8 variants, which include a
baseline carbine, a sharpshooter variant, an automatic rifle variant, and the ultra-compact carbine variant. A unique feature of the XM8 modular weapon system is the ability to easily and quickly reconfigure the weapon from one variant to the other to meet changing mission requirements, to include caliber conversion.

This modularity includes the exchange of interchangeable assembly groups such as the barrel, handguard, lower receiver, buttstock modules and
sighting system with removable carrying handle. In addition and in parallel, the new XM320 quick detachable single-shot 40mm grenade launcher with
side-opening breech and LSS lightweight 12 gauge shotgun module can be easily added to the XM8 by the user in the field without tools. The unique buttstock system allows the operator exchange buttstocks without tools from the standard collapsible multi-position version, to an optional buttcap for maximum portability or an optional folding or sniper buttstock with adjustable cheekpiece for special applications. Internally the XM8 employs a combat-proven robust rotary locking bolt system that functions and fieldstrips like that used in the current M16 rifle and M4 carbine. However this bolt is powered by a unique gas operating system that employs a user removable gas piston and pusher rod to operate the mechanism. Unlike the current M4/M16 direct gas system with gas tube, the XM8 gas system does not introduce propellant gases and the associated carbon fouling back into the weapon’s receiver during firing. This greatly increases the reliability of the XM8 while at same time reducing operator cleaning time by as much as 70%. This system also allows the weapon to fire more than 15,000 rounds without lubrication or cleaning in even the worst operational environments. A cold hammer forged barrel will guarantee a minimum of 20,000 rounds service life and ultimate operator safety in the event of an obstructed bore occurrence.

The XM8 has fully ambidextrous operating controls to include a centrally located charging handle that doubles as an ambidextrous forward assist when required, ambidextrous magazine release, bolt catch, safety/selector lever with semi and full automatic modes of fire and release lever for the multiple position collapsible buttstock. The operating controls allow the operator to keep the firing hand on the pistol grip and the weapon in the firing position at all times while the non-firing hand actuates the charging handle and magazine during loading and clearing. Major components of the weapon are produced from high-strength fiber reinforced polymer materials that can be molded in almost any color to include OD green, desert tan, arctic white, urban blue, brown and basic black. Surfaces on the XM8 that interface with the operator are fitted with non-slip materials to increase comfort and operator retention. The XM8 uses 10 or 30-round semi-transparent box magazines and high-reliability 100-round drum magazines for sustained fire applications.

Special integral flush mounted attachment points are located on the handguard and receiver to allow the quick attachment of targeting devices. Unlike MIL-STD-1913 rails, the XM8 attachment points do not add additional weight, bulk and cost to the host weapon, and will accept MIL-STD-1913 adapters to allow for the use of current in-service accessories. The attachment points for the standard multi-function integrated red-dot sight allow multiple mounting positions and insure 100% zero retention even after
the sight is removed and remounted. The battery powered XM8 sight includes the latest technology in a red dot close combat optic, IR laser aimer and laser illuminator with back-up etched reticle with capability exceeding that of the current M68-CCO, AN/PEQ-2 and AN/PAQ-4. This sight will be factory zeroed on the weapon when it is delivered and does not require constant rezeroing in the field like current rail-mounted targeting devices. The XM8 will be fully compatible with future Land Warrior technology and components.

The US XM8 Carbine is being designed at the HK Defense design center in Sterling, Virginia and will be produced and assembled in the United States at the new Heckler & Koch manufacturing plant located in Columbus, Georgia, adjacent to Fort Benning. The unit cost of the XM8 will be less than that of the current M4 Carbine and will guarantee the American war fighter uncompromising performance far exceeding that of current in-service M4 Carbines.


XM8 Carbine Specifications
Caliber
Capacity
Length
Width
Height
Sight Radius
Barrel Length
Weight
5.56
10/30/100
29.8
2.34
9.17
Varies by system
12.5
6.2lb
XM8 SYSTEM DATA SHEET
HEAD TO HEAD COMPARISON OF XM8 v. M4 SYSTEMS
ARMY TIMES ARTICLE ON XM8 TESTING PROGRESS
HK UNITED STATES FACTORY ANNOUNCEMENT
LINKS TO ARMYTIMES.COM WEBSITE WITH XM8 VIDEOS FROM SHOT SHOW 2004 HK DEMONSTRATION:
Requires RealPlayer
Click images to enlarge
Copyright © 2003-2004 Heckler & Koch Inc. All Rights Reserved

15 posted on 04/10/2004 12:25:24 PM PDT by archy (The darkness will come. It will find you,and it will scare you like you've never been scared before.)
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To: archy
I've heard about the possible ammo change. That argument over whether the 5.56mm is effective or not is still raging. Some fill it won't happen since NATO isn't changing or at least not at the moment. Did you like shooting the XM8. Is it something functional.
16 posted on 04/10/2004 5:10:27 PM PDT by neb52
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To: neb52
I've heard about the possible ammo change. That argument over whether the 5.56mm is effective or not is still raging. Some fill it won't happen since NATO isn't changing or at least not at the moment. Did you like shooting the XM8. Is it something functional.

I only fired three magazines, hardly enough to base a solid opinion upon, but I was impressed. It's muzzleheavy, but as a result very controlable in full-auto. I really want to try one of the longer barrelled versions, the sniper or autorifle version. But on the basis of what limited experience I have with one, I'd probably pick one, given a choice between an M8, an M4 or an M16A2. Bullpups work well for me, though, and I think some additional refinement might be possible.

I'm working on my own versions of shooters for the 6,8 cartridge, a singele-shot Thompson Center Encore with a barrel length yet to be determined- once I see published ballistics of the GI loading, I'll know- and a semiauto, either a bullpup or AK-style [at least three variations are possible] with 10 and 30-round mags. M16 magazines are NOT the way to go with the new cartridge.

17 posted on 04/10/2004 5:26:23 PM PDT by archy (The darkness will come. It will find you,and it will scare you like you've never been scared before.)
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To: archy

I just saw the new OICW on CNN's home page...how can this be, I thought the weapon was not approved..

www.cnn.com


18 posted on 11/20/2004 2:04:17 PM PST by swybs
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To: neb52
The XM8 is being tested at Aberdeen.

It was also demonstrated, along with a couple of other 6.8mm prototypes, at Camp Robinson, AR last March.

I got to put 3 magazines worth through one, and was reasonably impressed. I'd now like to wring out one of the *sniper's rifle/auto rifle versions to a greater extent, but the XM8 is particularly versatile in being suited for issue in the 5.56mm cartridge now fielded, with conversion to the new 6.8 SPC ammo at the unit armorer level a simple matter should more widespread use of the new cartridge come to pass.

And don't write off the bullpups quite just yet. Those now in service remai no great improvement over the British EM-2 .280 [6.8mm] rifle of circa 1953, but given a change to downward ejection of spent cartridges, such a shorty weapon may yet see use by armored vehicle crews, mech infantrymen, helicopter-borne personnel and others for whom a very compact weapon is called for. But it'll have to be as suitable for the lefthanded users as the more common righthanders, and will have to be very compatable with a variety of electrooptical sighting devices, grenade launchers, and other 21st-Century warfighting tools.


19 posted on 11/21/2004 5:00:03 PM PST by archy (The darkness will come. It will find you,and it will scare you like you've never been scared before.)
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