XM-8: New U.S. Service Rifle?

Modern Firearms and Ammunition website ^ | unknown | Unknown

[Long Cut]

Caliber: 5.56x45 mm NATO
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt
Overall length: no data
Barrel length: no data
Weight: 2.67 kg empty
Rate of fire: no data
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds (STANAG)

The development of the XM8 Lightweight Assault Rifle was initiated by US Army in the 2002, when contract was issued to the Alliant Techsystems Co of USA to study possibilities of development of kinetic energy part of the XM29 OICW weapon into separate lightweight assault rifle, which could, in the case of success, replace the aging M16A2 rifles and M4A1 carbines in US military service. According to the present plans, the XM8 should enter full production circa 2005, if not earlier, several years before the XM-29 OICW. The XM8 (M8 after its official adoption) should become a standard next generation US forces assault rifle. It will fire all standard 5.56mm NATO ammunition, and, to further decrease the load on the future infantrymen, a new type of 5.56mm ammunition is now being developed. This new ammunition will have composite cases, with brass bases and polymer walls, which will reduce weight of the complete ammunition, while maintaining compatibility with all 5.56mm NATO weapons. Along with 20% weight reduction in the XM8 (compared to the current issue M4A1 carbine), this will be a welcome move for any infantryman, already overloaded by protective, communications and other battle equipment.

The XM8 will be quite similar to the "KE" (kinetic energy) part of the XM-29 OICW system, being different mostly in having a telescoped plastic buttstock of adjustable length, and a detachable carrying handle with the Picatinny rail.

Technical description. The XM8 is a derivative of the Heckler-Koch G36 assault rifle, and thus it is almost similar to that rifle in design and functioning. The key differences are the NATO-standard magazine housing that will accept M16-type magazines, the set of Picatinny rails on the forend, telescoped buttstock of adjustable length and a different scope, mounted on the Picatinny rail, built into the detachable carrying handle.

[Centurion2000]

I did everything to the gas system and the barrel support in order to stabilize the barrel and I still haven't had any luck.

Can you tell me more as to why the barrel is so poorly made to have a different land measurement?

I'm not sure why it is like that but it appears to have been a purpose design. I've had friends with minis that couldn't hit jack with them past 200 yards. Get your calipers out .... it's pretty weird.

They have since ditched the minis and gone to AK's ... cheaper ammo; same accuracy. I changed out to a 30-06 bolt action.

[Centurion2000]

BTW .... found a new kewl toy to think about getting

12" barrel 50 Alaskan SBR .... 4200 ft-pounds :)

[Long Cut]

I don't mind the geegaws so much, as long as you can yank them off and toss them to the nearest ditch WHEN they crap out on you. Then, you go to iron sights and continue mission. However, the base rifle itself should be absolutely the most reliable, accurate, and robust weapon possible.

That means, to me, cutting out anything making it too complex or crazy. All the very finest guns have one thing in common...elegant simplicity.

[Long Cut]

THAT is cool, man! Staight out of that old Steve McQueen bounty hunter TV show (whose name escapes me completely...).

How's it shoot, and how many rounds does it hold?

[Centurion2000]

I believe that it holds four in the tube and one in the chamber. They are marketing it as the ultimate anti-bear pistol. Of course they have a tactical one as well for doorbusting. It kicks like a mule but it will kill anything in front of it.

wildwestguns.com

[yarddog]

I liked the old Steve Mcqueen series and thought that gun was neat. It was chambered in something like 44-40 and would shoot about a dozen times from that short magazine.

The only problem was Steve's cartridge belt was filled with what looked like 30-40 Krag or even longer cartridges. I don't think that short mag would have held more than one of those. Even the .44-4- would have been only three or so, a really impractical design.

[Freepers Son]

I'd like one too. I hope they let the AWB pass away quietly.
(I want some beta c mags for my AR)

[TEXASPROUD]

They sent a couple of thousand of these over to Afghanistan for in-depth testing. I believe they are switch barrel as well, they can shoot either 7.62x39 or 5.45x39

[Long Cut]

Heh. It was TV, man. It was supposed to LOOK good, not actually work! They have special effects that handle that. You're right about the cartridges on the belt, though. I recall reading that they deliberately used the larger ones there, for "visual impact".

[Centurion2000]

Don't really remember the TV series ... I do remember him making that movie "The Hunter" ... the TV series was "Wanted: Dead or Alive"

The above gun though ... neat, but a godawful cannon. :)

[Darksheare]

I'm in, I'd have loved to have had something like it back when I was in uniform.

[Long Cut]

I'm presuming that those of us who make our purchases as civilians will NEVER see one of these in our local gun shop, even as a semiauto-only?

[Long Cut]

I just want to be able to own a decent semiauto for a REASONABLE price. I'd really like it if it was at least a version of our most current service rifle.

If I was the President, I'd issue an executive order stating that NO gun laws or bans would ever apply to the current or past service rifles of the U.S. armed forces, for law-abiding citizens. Whatever is general issue to the grunts should at least be available to the citizen, in my opinion.

[NYFriend]

I always thought the peep sight was about the best sight system for a rifle that you could find. It's faster and more intuitive than open sights (once your trained on them, as opposed to looking at those stupid sight picture diagrams that make it look like your supposed to focus on the rear sight), and you might be able to knock them out of alignment, but not a easy as a scope, they don't break, they don't run out of batteries and they are good enough for the accuracy of any service rifle. They won't let you put three rounds through the same hole at 400 yards, but then again, no factory M16 can do that from a bench rest.

[NYFriend]

great point! The other fact is that at close range, where your round is traveling at 3000 fps, the 5.56 NATO round causes injuries that far exceed the types of tissue damage I've seen from .30 cal rifles. Just think about the damage a .308 or .30-06 does to a deer or other big game. Unless you hit heavy bone, you get a .30 cal hole going in and what, a .45 cal hole comming out? That's after the round travels 24 inches or maybe 48 inches through tissue.

On another note, using a modern rifle with a bayonet beats using the same rifle as a club, but they aren't as effective as when you effectively had a 6 foot pike, like with a musket, or that Japanese WWII bolt rifle (Type 38?). Just a comment.

[Shooter 2.5]

The AK. Another fun plinker.

That 50 Alaskan must be a handful.

[Shooter 2.5]

Steve McQueen starred in the TV series, "Wanted, Dead or Alive". The gunbelt had 45-70's in it because they admitted that it looked cool. The BATF found out about the shortened rifle so it turned out to be the most expense rifle in TV history.

"The Hunter" was based on the life of Pappy Thorson, a real life bounty hunter. At the timespan the movie was made, he lived across the street from James Doohan, Scotty from Star Trek. I believe Pappy is now deceased and the business is run by his wife.

[blackie]

Looks good, when they come out with a civilian version it will fit right in with my Ruger SS Ranch Mini-14 and my Mini-14 Bullpup with the 90 rd drum mag. :)

Be Well - Be Armed - Be Safe - Molon Labe!

[Shooter 2.5]

Have you ever tried to get a ten round group with either of those rifles at 100 yards from the bench?

[blackie]

I don't bench shoot.