[Long Cut]

POW-POW-POW-POW!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Whatchoo guys think?

[Long Cut]

Here's the HK-36, upon which the XM-8 will be based:

[Destructor]

"Whatchoo guys think?"

Well, it's certainly futuristic looking, but is it actually an effective weapon?

[Squantos]

That wait a minute vine catcher (flash supressor) on the front has to go.... bird cage versus old three prong snag on everything in the bush. The weaver rail is fine but the handle is something that I personally never liked . ect ect .....wheres the bayonet lug ?....selector lever is on wrong side for good ergonomics (IMO). Barrel looks too thin (again) to break ammo crate steel bands........from the pic alone thats all I will judge.

I'd like to see a scadnium/titanium reciever to reduce weight and compensate the normal weight with ammo, weapons sights, grenade launcher ect ect.

Stay Safe

[harpseal]

I think we need to find out how it operates in all ckinds of envirornments. Since it will fire 5.56 X 45 mm Nato thereis no change in cartridge. Other than that it seems very similar to the M16 in overall appearance and finction from jsut reading the specs.

I ahve not yet fired one so I can have no opinion on it as reggards accuracy and reliability.

[SSN558]

Whatchoo guys think?

It is uglier than its predecessor. When I go to Camp Perry and see the Army and Marine rifle teams shooting this piece, it will be time to sit down and have a good cry.

[Squantos]

Heckler & Koch'ish little thang with a wait'a minute vine catcher on the end and an adjustable butt for lenght of pull issues for body armor and cold weather gear adjustments. Hopefully that selector lever is ambi for right and left versus just the shown right side. Lose the carry handle and replace with just a flat top weaver rail ...... as the average troop will use optical aimpoint, ACOG, Night vision , or thermal scopes ect ect sights in the future. Getting a proper cheek weld for accurate shots is a problem with that handle and the additional height of a scope.

The lanyard /sling hole in the bottom of the butt stock should be moved to the top of the butt to facilitate a better carry /ready position and delete the torque factors applied by the twisting and pulls that current sling arraingements have on the M4's, XM-177's and older GAU5A/AA SMG versions.

Make the furniture in camo patterns to preclude the need to "improvise" with paints that can emit "odors" in some environments. Make provisions for carrying a second ammunition magazine on the weapon in addition to the primary in the mag well.

Make use of the scandium and titanium and carbon fiber materials to "start" the weapons weight off at 4.5 pounds and with the addition of full magazine/s, grenade launcher and optics and sling brings the fully operational rig to under 7 pounds.

Whatever caliber is selected (243 or 223) keep a kinetic kill capability versus the attempt to make a 800 +/- meter max effective range heavier round. Drop the ball ammo requirements and use modern bullet designs with horrific stopping properties for MOUT and CQB. We can and have used hollowpoint ammo in the "terrorism" fight vs the declared war which seems to be a thing of the past these days.

The ball ammo was considered humane and also wounded the enemy to create a logistic nightmare of wounded troops to bleed the enemy that cared about their fellow soldiers with regards to moral and materials and POL supplies. The terroristic enemies we engage in the future in LIC missions have no concern for their troops and must be delt a death blow from the moment encountered IMHO.

BAYONET LUG............Psycological effect of fixed bayonets still has a place in modern "nation building" and FUBAR possibilities of logistic resupply going to wrong address.

That's my personal opinion of the new and improved.........:o)

Stay safe !