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

Modern Firearms and Ammunition website ^ | unknown | Unknown

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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.

[Travis McGee]

Thanks much, and I try to do the same in my areas of relative expertise, such as entering and exiting countries without benefit of offical permission or knowledge.

[archy]

Thanks much, and I try to do the same in my areas of relative expertise, such as entering and exiting countries without benefit of offical permission or knowledge.

I may have to have a chat with you about some possibilities in that regard one of these days. But it's a conversation better saved for face-to-face discussion, I believe.

[risk]

I'm getting interested in this thread from an anthropological perspective. Who are we? Why do we shoot? How did we learn about shooting? What will others think about this thread? Who's reading it and where are they in the world? That sort of thing. What is going to be the long-term impact of "campfire" weapons chatter on a global scale? I know the U.N. hates it. Tyrants are probably intrigued. They're also probably taking notes. Information has to be shared to stay alive, so I think no matter what the short-term effects are, the long-term results will be good. Also, I think these ideas are catching. I'd like to think some band of Iranian students is poring over this material from an Internet cafe outside of Tehran with excitement building one post at a time...

[archy]

They're also probably taking notes. Information has to be shared to stay alive, so I think no matter what the short-term effects are, the long-term results will be good.

They're sure welcome to join in, and we'd likely learn a few things from them. I'd never really considered how to clear a rifle of sand contamination after a sandstorm until a Saudi pal showed me how he *kickstarted* his G3 with the butt on the ground and his boot on the cocking handle. Hard on the plastic bits, but it gets the job done....

Yeah, I suppose prudence may require that they stay in lurker's read-only mode. But they and their observations are warmly welcome here.

Also, I think these ideas are catching. I'd like to think some band of Iranian students is poring over this material from an Internet cafe outside of Tehran with excitement building one post at a time....

Iranian friends, if so, see if you notice something familiar in post #560.

Ah, but those little BRNO-copy Mauser carbines from your national armory were a sweet little companion!

[risk]

I think our founding fathers would have been proud. I've been told by fiery patriots that it's just what those wild-eyed men intended. American freedom is too good to keep all to ourselves!

[archy]

I think our founding fathers would have been proud. I've been told by fiery patriots that it's just what those wild-eyed men intended. American freedom is too good to keep all to ourselves.

I am, perhaps, a little closer to the armourers, fitters, machinists, designers and toolmakers who turn out the machinery and keep them working. But there's often some overlap between the designer/builders and the users, as with tankers MikTim Kalishnikov and Georgii Shpagin of Russia, and General John Talliaferro Thompson of the U.S.A.

[risk]

It's the ideas contained in these posts, and the freedom that both permits them and generates the excitement behind them -- all protected by the 1st and 2nd amendments -- is billions of times more powerful than an entire armory. But your willingness to share the knowledge with enthusiasm is part of the power. These posts say YOU CAN BE FREE. YOU CAN HELP YOURSELVES. AMERICA STAYS FREE BECAUSE OF THESE RULES AND THESE PEOPLE WHO DEFEND THEM. YOU CAN DO IT TOO!

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I like the "Black Wind", as it is compact enough and rugged enough to be used as an all-around field tool, and not just as a sword. Its construction of one bar of steel with a paracord handle just feels TOUGH. Plus, it's so inexpensive that one needn't sob if it gets damaged or broken, not that this is likely in usual situations.

It's basically a classic design, modernized for hard use as well as defense. The entire "Spec-Plus" line from Ontario is that way.

Oh, they also have another sword with a 15-inch blade and single-hand handle, for even greater portability.

My katana sits only about a foot from my hand when I'm in my bed at night. It's my "last grab" if repelling boarders is the task (after ye olde trusty 12-bore pumpe).

[risk]

Damn A.F., you made me post a token pic to the thread:

France's Unmusical Bugle "Le Clarion"

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Yeah, that bowie has a very useful point. I know several Sailors who, aftr seeing mine, purchased their own. At least one uses his for hunting purposes, although he has not tried it on pigs yet (he's going to, though). With its size and power, it should do nicely in that role. It is, after all, built as a tough field knife.

[devane617]

Kinda looks like the Fulton Armory FAR-15.

[Atlantic Friend]

Tell you what, this bugle is just perfect for saluting those that are about to die...

[Travis McGee]

No doubt!

;^)

BTW, have you all seen this?

This is from the current Cooper's Commentaries, V-12 #2:

"Do any of you marksmen think it possible for a man to place 20 shots in a 20-inch circle in 20 seconds at a 1,000 yards? I posed this question to the range masters down at Camp Pendleton many years ago and was told that such a thing was not possible. During much of my life a four-minute mile was deemed to be impossible, to say nothing of motoring around on the surface of the moon.

"Obviously this rifle challenge is very, very hard. I have tried it twice myself and conclude that while the task is not impossible, it is nearly so.

"Therefore, I am undertaking the proposal of a perpetual prize in the form of a grand gold cup or bowl to be awarded to anyone who can bring off this stuntproperly supervised, of course. Administration of the effort will be complicated, but that we can handle. I hope to avoid commercialization, but where there is a will there is a wayand money in sufficient quantities can provide the will."

~~~Col. Jeff Cooper

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If this is the 8" Bowie you saw, it is a good one...

The handles are also a lot less slippery than they look...Kraton is sort of a really hard rubber, stippled for extra grip, which is molded directly to the tang of the knife. An Ontario repp once told me that to remove it, you'd need a grinding wheel and plenty of time.

For pig and other game, though, I'd use the Raider. it has the size and chopping power to not only kill the beast in a minimum of time (10" of 1/4" steel, even in a direct stab, will usually cause death, I'd assume.), AND it makes an awesome camp knife besides.

Archy, you mentioned the famous Kukri yesterday...I've handled a few of those, and they are eccellent choppers indeed. However, I've found that the Bowie design is a great chopper as well, and gives up nothing of the stabbing ability.

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I use one of those little survival knives on my AIRSAFE vest on flights. Although, mine's a little newer...

Ontario Knife Company has some even better images at their site. The "newer" survival knife comes in three different styles, all with nylon sheaths as opposed to the leather of old, which I've found has a way of rusting the knife. They also have the "old-fashioned" ones for the purists out there.

[xsrdx]

Do any of you marksmen think it possible for a man to place 20 shots in a 20-inch circle in 20 seconds at a 1,000 yards?

Exceedingly difficult, but no doubt possible.

20rd mag, semiauto.

A 338 Lapau or 50BMG would likely be more precise, but slower; and mag capacity would be an issue.

Maybe a belt fed platform?

NRA Highpower spec AR's, the AR10T, and SR25 seem a likely starting point, with a 20rd mag and good optics.

[xsrdx]

Lapau=Lapua

[xsrdx]

Knife Thread

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Thanks, I 've posted to that one before. Sorry for the digression, but the subject came up, and WTH, I started this thread in the first place...

[Travis McGee]

I agree, it will most likely be a box fed medium caliber gas gun from .243 to 308 that wins the Cooper Challenge, if anyone can do it.

With great optics, a free floating bull barrel, a great trigger, well supported on sandbags, a fantastic shooter....I think it can be done.