Wanted, Dead or Alive.
Posted on 08/07/2003 10:52:17 AM PDT by 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.
Semiautos and full-auto battle rifles came along only about 60 years ago, and even then, running out of ammo in the face of a human wave attack or a banzai charge was a real possibility.
Nowadays, however, resupply of ammo is an order of magnitude better, and an individual rifle can carry 20-30 rounds on its own. Since ammo is smaller and lighter, the individual Soldier can carry more of it, as well.
Let's not forget, also, that even IF the Soldier runs dry (A pretty big IF, there. It means that a whole lot of other things have gone awry) he can, using modern comms, call down all manner of high-explosive Hell on his enemies in short order. That's another thing...in past wars, losing radio contact was a very real possibility, as only one man in a platoon or company had a radio. Of course, now every Soldier can contact someone.
Because of all this, the bayonet has fallen into very specialized uses...landmine-hunting, poking suspicious brush=piles, and prisoner herding are some that will probably happen far more often than any thrust-and-parry work. The bayonet itself has become a multi-purpose field knife that just happens to have a lug attachement point on it (see the M-9 bayonet).
Bottom line is, it's not as important anymore as is commonly believed.
The .257 Roberts, 6.5X55, and a lot of other 6.5s, are just about the greatest all-around cartridges ever. Lot a stopping power at 300m and very good out-of-the-box accuracy, just where the .223 starts losing its allure.
Reports from Afghanistan are that the .223 is making reliable hits fired from sniper weapons at extreme ranges, but that the bad guy is not hurt too badly unless it's a head or chest shot. In other words, they can keep shooting back.
Pete Kokalis theory is that in order to get accuracy from the 5.56, they have increased the rifling, so you get a small bullet drill-through at long range, rather than the bigger bullet penetration and expansion you need to keep the bad guy down for keeps.
As a kid, I bought a surplus, as new Swedish Mauser in 6.5X55. On the range, it displayed phenomenal accuracy. A 1" group at 100yards ... as delivered for $54.95! Still have it 45 years later.
Must...resist...temptation...NAAAAAHHHHH!
You a Kobe Bryant or O.J. fan?
(I could have gotten SOO much worse...)
Wanted, Dead or Alive.
free dixie,sw
FYI, that is still an issue weapon for the USN & USMC!
free dixie,sw
You need a southpaw AUG, a French FAMAS or an Israeli TAVOR, all of which can be arranged to eject to the port side. Even better, watch for a forthcoming design that'll toss the empties out the bottom.
There are still problems associated with a bullpup, not the least of which is that with cartridges substantially more powerful than the .223/ 5,56x45mm, the muzzle blast is that much closer to the operator's face. That's more a problem with ultra-compact designs with 16 or 18-inch barrel lengths, moreso than with a full-length 25-inch or so rifle version. But it is a matter worth considering, and various muzzle brakes and suppressors are another possible answer, particularly if a quick-change barrel or upper receiver is fitted.
-archy-/-
12" barrel 50 Alaskan SBR .... 4200 ft-pounds :)
Now wouldn't that shorty carbine be interesting chambered for the new S&W .50 revolver cartridge.
And, of course, the S&W handgun that would share the same cartridge already exists.
Hmmmmmm.
-archy-/-
Stay Safe !
I see absolutely ZERO chance of us moving back to it as a general issue weapon. Don't forget, it was basically FORCED on us, anyway. The cartridge was only a short .30-06 in an era when we should have been moving to a .280 or smaller.
Stay Safe !!
I went a slightly different route, picking up a surplus Swedish M/21 B.A.R. also chambered in the 6,5x55mm cartridge you describe and which so favourable impresses us both. Though the barrel was plugged when obtained, once the 1968 amnesty came around it received a new .30-06 barrel from a M1918A2 BAR, courtesy of a local Air National Guard armorer. But I always wondered how it would do in the original chambering.
About a decade back, I found a like-new Swedish BAR barrel for $75 at a gun show, and restored the old shooter to its original chambering, and to the configuration in which it most likely served some Finnish gunner during the 1939-40 *Winter War* after the Russians invaded Finland in November, 1939. The Finnish *SA in a rectangle* is one clue to that probable use; so are the bloodstain discolourations across one side of the stock and receiver. Some 65 years after it's time of service, it remains a superb instrument.
wee willie klintoon sold 50,000 of them to Taiwan for $50.00 each AND sent several thousand more to the Balkans "on long-term loan" to assure that the M14s would NOT be available to citizens here in the US.
free dixie,sw
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