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
What language is this?
XM8
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.
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]
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.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 | |||||||||||||
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Caliber
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Capacity
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Length
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Width
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Height
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Sight Radius
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Barrel Length
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Weight
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5.56
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10/30/100
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29.8
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2.34
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9.17
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Varies by system
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12.5
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6.2lb
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TECHNICAL DATA
(Requires Adobe Acrobat Reader) |
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| 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 | |||||||||||||
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LINKS TO ARMYTIMES.COM WEBSITE WITH XM8 VIDEOS FROM SHOT SHOW 2004 HK DEMONSTRATION:
Requires RealPlayer |
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Copyright © 2003-2004 Heckler & Koch Inc. All Rights Reserved
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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.
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
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.
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