WEAPONS OF THE WORLD: XM-8 Melts During Tests

StrategyPage.com ^ | April 14, 2004

[John Jorsett]

The U.S. Army has asked Congress for an extra $26 million to buy 7,000 XM-8 rifles next year. These weapons would be used to equip to infantry brigades and thus give the rifle a wide scale test. The money requested would also pay for the staff needed to monitor the testing. The rifle has already undergone thousands of hours of user testing and there have been some recommendations, all minor. The buttons on the sight are to be rearranged, to make the sight easier to use. There were also complaints about battery life for the sight, and a new battery is being obtained that will boost battery life from 200 to 400 hours. A more serious problem arose when the hand guard began to melt when several hundred rounds were fired in a few minutes. It was expected that the barrel would get very hot in these situations, but the heat resistant hand guard material was thought capable of dealing with that. So now a new hand guard will be needed, with more heat shielding. This will add some weight to the weapon, which is now 6.4 pounds. The designers are trying to get the weight down to 5.7 pounds. The issue of changing the caliber from 5.56mm to 6.8mm is still taking place in the background, with there not even being official recognition that there are 6.8mm version of the XM-8 being tested. There is a bit of competition among combat divisions to be the first to get the rifles for the 2005 test, with many officers lobbying to get one of their divisions brigades selected.

[archy]

Too bad its the Germans making this rifle, why couldnt a American company make it.

In October, H&K broke ground for their new production facility outside Columbus, Georgia, comfy-close and convenient to the Ft Benning home of the US INfantry School and Headquarters. It's still a German design, but they're an American company now, in part, at least.

[Sender]

The XM-8 is domestic. Made rat'cheer in Geow'gia.

[Long Cut]

Thanks for that excellent summary. However, I still reserve the right to turn as green as a gator's ass in envy.

"I forsee white plastic versions with chrome-plated barrels for honor guards, blue ones for the Air Force, and so forth. But that's not really a fault of the weapon. And such bling-bling can be swapped back out to GI again, thank God."

I have no doubt in my mind that, informed of the capability, the Air Force would grab a blue rifle with both hands. They'd go for the chrome barrel, too. Oh, yeah, and a white sling.

The Navy would probably order them "haze grey, for under way", as I hear our working uniforms might soon be. (another story which I hope to post when the order comes down, stay tuned).

The Marines could get two colors...one in camo, for work, and one in a red-and-yellow Devil Dog pattern.

The Army will stick with the sandy color, alternated with OD or black.

"They'll need a good name for it. Springfield and Garand are already taken."

When/if it is adopted (what the hell, whenever we feel like it), let's start a thread..."Name America's newest Service Rifle". We can forward it to the Ordinance Board.

[Long Cut]

BTW, I'm assuming there were HK reps about when you got your little play-time. Any of them say anything about a civvie model, or were they mum about it?

[Tailback]

2 words....Sergeant York

[Woahhs]

Ah, hunting Palmetto bugs with an AK 47. I just KNEW you were a Florida guy!

Tain't nothin more dangerous than an wounded palmetto!

[Travis McGee]

The extra ammo argument worked in the jungle, with long foot patrols and spotty resupply. But in mounted and dismounted desert/urban warfare, carrying a multi day load of ammo isn't the deciding factor: stopping power and obstacle penetration are paramount.

[Atlas Sneezed]

True it only saves a few ounces on the weapon itself. But a soldier also has to carry a load of ammunition. It's the difference between carrying 200 rnds of 6.8 compared to maybe 300 rnds of 5.56 of the same weight. That's where the advantage lies in going to a smaller caliber.

---

The enemy is 500 yards away, armed with AK-47s. Would you rather 300 rounds of 223, or 200 of 6.8?

[Vision]

You're killin' me lolol

[Tailback]

Hey archy, just for giggles do you have a picture of the 7.92Kurz of the Mp44 in the same scale as 6.8 SPC? Also, can you put one of the air force blue stocks with the chromed metal on lawaway for me? I would be just the thing to shoot at the Wilson match in 2010. LOL!

[quietolong]

Sounds like junk look's like junk.

[Squantos]

Those 15 Marines down to their last 2 mags might make a good argument against that Travis.............:o)

But I agree none the less. Stay Safe !

[Woahhs]

When/if it is adopted (what the hell, whenever we feel like it), let's start a thread..."Name America's newest Service Rifle". We can forward it to the Ordinance Board.

Well I like "Der Schprocket" as in "time for schprockets to dance!" But to tell you the truth, the damn thing reminds me of a "hogie."

[FreedomPoster]

There also seems to have been a fair amount of long-range aimed fire in Afghanistan. Also, I remember some articles early on (during/just after large-scale combat operations in Iraq) indicating a need for more designated marksmen at low organization levels (sqaud-level).

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Hey Archy. I thought the this was a German design that was to be built in America. Am I incorrect on the second part.

[TheErnFormerlyKnownAsBig]

Disregard my last as I see the answer to my question is in another reply of yours. And I was correct again (come over and see I was right again honey).

Archy since you laid hands on this thing I think you should start the thread to name it.

You've got 'til tonight to do this or I'm hi-jacking the idea.

[Vinnie]

Behold The Future !!!

LOL!!

You took the thought right out of my head.

Who comes up with these designs? Mr Spock?

[Vinnie]

Ah, hunting Palmetto bugs with an AK 47. I just KNEW you were a Florida guy!

Has to go for head shots though.

You did know that the palmetto bug is the Fla. state bird.

[Long Cut]

"You've got 'til tonight to do this or I'm hi-jacking the idea."

Well, truthfully, whatever nick the thing gets will be bestowed upon it by the Soldiers who are issued it. I wish it had one man's name on it, a master designer or something, like Garand or Thompson or Browning.

However, whichever of you does post such a thread, I want a ping.

Does anyone know how to use Paint or Photoshop well? I'm curious to see what this rifle would look like "pimped out" with some of the colors we've talked about.

[null and void]

Ah, hunting Palmetto bugs with an AK 47. I just KNEW you were a Florida guy!

Yeah. But he didn't report how many he wounded crawled away...