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.
Also, I can't believe that anyone would select anything but a cannon for Grizzley bear. I don't even want to venture out where the Kodiak bears live unless I am in an armored fighting vehicle, and even then I want to eyeball the hatch hinges first before I climb in.
The Ruag GP-11 ammo isn't too hard to find, but when you do find some it's costly. I paid about $200 for 480 rounds in the typical shoebox case it ships in. It's certainly match-grade ammo.
These K-31 rifles are about the best thing going for milsurp C&Rs if you can find a good one. I was lucky enough to have a rifle that belonged to a Swiss Army policeman, and it appears that my rifle sat in an armorer's rack it's whole life. I looked for a K-31 until I found a pristine beauty, and finally discovered one though I paid all the money for it. These ID tags under the buttplate are like opening the prize in a box of Cracker Jacks: You find out the name, age, hometown, MOS assignment, and serial number of the only soldier that it was ever issued to. Other C&R milsurp rifles though, God only knows what kind of history of abuse, rebuilds, and owners they've changed hands through. With the K-31s, they belonged to one peacetime soldier who probably never did anything more than qualify with it at the range once a year or maybe ski down a hill with it on his back.
The price on these are just too low. Some guys have paid more for a custom trigger job on other rifles that's not as good as the K-31 was born with, but for the same price you can get a whole K-31. Anyone still buying SKS's is being woefully misled.
I don't know if you have a 5.56 rifle, but the Swiss GP90 5.6mm ammo is a work of art too. I bought an ammocan of 1000 from Ammoman.com when they had a few pallets and I wish that I bought more.
Oh, thanks for the wedding greets. :D
I like the K-31 a lot more than the M-95s, the action is that much smoother and the bolt is a lot less complicated.
I was quite impressed by the K-31 trigger,perhaps the only parallel action type I've ever seen.
Here is a pic of one with Darrell Harrison's scout mount and a NcStar 2x7 ler. 
Mine doesn't have that nice tiger stripeing. Darrell sells these for $60 over on the www.milsurpshooter.net site. Muttly eat heart out.
I installed Timney triggers in my Savage bolt guns, and have been pretty happy with the results. The .223 Model 10FP is dialed in at about 2 pounds, which seems appropriate for a varmint rifle. But I left the .30-06 Model 110F at about 3.5 for safety reasons.
Both shoot well; the Model 10 (9" twist barrel) favors 69+ grain match ammo - and (don't ask me to explain why) Federal 'American Eagle' 50 grain hollow points. It hates every 55 grain load I feed it, which figures - I've got more 55 grain ammo stashed than anything else. The .30-06 likes 150 grain Norma Jaktmatch - one (ragged ;>) hole groups. No complaints there...
(My personal preferences - your mileage may vary! ;>)
;>)
I think you can buy a Kalifornia-legal M1A that would do the job for you. And DSArms has a Kalifornia-legal FAL (with fixed 10-rd mag) that might do it, too. But you're right: Kalifornia really does suk...
;>)
"Truck gun?" Pardon me while I shoot my mouth off...
The Truck Gun
Listen up, folks: everybody needs a truck gun – even if you don’t have a “truck,” and you don’t have a “gun.” A “truck gun” is WHAT you have with you, WHEN you need it. Some folks favor handguns (as did an engineer I worked with, & respected highly). Other folks prefer a shotgun (can’t ague with that - ever). I prefer a rifle, as do many Americans. The rifle is an American tradition: if Daniel Morgan had had a pickup truck available to help him win the American Revolution, you can bet your ‘Lucky Stars’ he would have had a rifle in it – not a handgun or a shotgun.
Now, on the subject of rifles, we must all agree (up front ;>) to disagree. That is simply the nature of life in our American “gun culture.” However - some of my more deluded friends favor the Mauser (and its many offspring ;>). I will admit that the Mauser (in its many permutations) makes a fine “truck gun.” But no matter how you cut it – it’s still a German rifle. Having a German “truck gun” is like having BMW wheels on your pickup. (And as for my ultra-American brothers who favor the ’03 Springfield: it’s still a Mauser. We even sent royalty checks to Germany to pay for our theft – excuse me; ‘unauthorized use’ - of their design… ;>).
And on the subject of cartridges – we must also agree (up front ;>) to disagree. (Of course, any weenie 6.5mm cartridge would have a hard time competing with a versatile, all-around-capable 7.7mm cartridge like the .303 – and besides, the ‘7.7’ is extra-lucky! ;>)
Since I’m in the mood for BBQ (and willing to offer myself up as the main course ;>), allow me to suggest that any version of the Lee magazine rifle is a more appropriate American “truck gun” than any frigging German Mauser. (Piss on the Germans; I may have German ancestry, but I don’t think it shows – much… ;>) James Paris Lee was an American; not by birth, but by choice. I have a copy of his November 4, 1879 United States patent hanging on the wall: “J. Lee, Magazine Fire-Arm, [Patent] No. 221,328.” Any American ‘gun nut’ would recognize the features of the rifle depicted in the patent drawings – it’s a LEE(enfield) by any other name.
Now, in my humble opinion, any LEE(enfield) ever built is as good a combat rifle as any German Mauser – especially if you happen to be an American rifleman. But the best of the Lee rifles (again IMHO ;>) was the No.4: great cartridge, great reliability, great sights, great detachable magazine – a great design.
Not all Americans agree with me on this point – which is why there are so many abused, even mangled, LEE(enfields) available. I swear, some folks must cut the things up just to show their independence! But you can benefit from their pure, ignorant cussedness! Find yourself a good “sporty-ized” LEE(enfield) and make it your “truck gun!” If you help it out, the Lee magazine rifle will definitely help you out! It’s been successful n that business for 125 years!
I found one – some sorry b@st@rd had taken a fine No.4 Mk.1 manufactured at the BSA plant in Shirley in 1942, and chopped the barrel, thrown away many of the metal parts, massacred the wood, and even broken the No.4 safety, replacing it with a No.1 safety - by means of a BRASS WOOD SCREW! (like I said – “pure, ignorant cussedness!” ;>). It was ugly as sin – but I could see the inherent, underlying beauty. A Lee magazine rifle, in the rough!
I took that puppy home with me (after the ignorant have abused them, they are amazingly cheap! You, too, can save! ;>). I replaced the safety with a proper No.4 unit (although it was a Long Branch ‘kicked leg’ safety, rather than a British-manufactured part), trimmed the barrel back to a bit less than 17 inches (beware the federal ‘overall-length’ law), fitted a new front sight assembly (courtesy of Her Britannic Majesty/ Gun Parts Corp./Brownells), a new rear sight (from a No.5 carbine), a new synthetic forearm, refinished the metal – and modified a Choate side-folding stock to fit.
It is now – in my opinion – the ultimate “truck gun:” a folding-stock, 10-round-detachable-mag, ghost-ring-plus-micrometer-adjustable-rear-sight, “Rule .303” American Lee magazine truck rifle.
God bless America, and James Paris Lee!
(Flame away, compadres! ;>)
First of all, I don't care where a gun was invented. I simply want the best. That, at least for bolt actions, is the Mauser.
Now you won't catch me criticizing the Enfield, I might even agree it is a great battle rifle because of it's 10 shot mag and particularly smooth action. I also am of just about total Scottish ancestry and know that Lee was a Scotsman.
The fact is tho that the Mauser is typically more accurate, is stronger, more reliable, not that the Enfield is unreliable, and usually much better made. They also look a lot better.
I will say that I would be perfectly happy to use a SMLE for just about any purpose for which a .303 is suited, and that is a lot.
I guess the gist of what I am saying is, I like the Enfield, just don't besmirch an even better action.
Stay Safe !
"Best" for what?
The Mauser may be the "best" for converting to a .496 Buff-Thumper-Ultra-Super-Mag... but the Lee (especially the No.4 ;>) is the better combat rifle.
Now you won't catch me criticizing the Enfield, I might even agree it is a great battle rifle because of it's 10 shot mag and particularly smooth action.
Good points.
;>)
The fact is tho that the Mauser is typically more accurate, is stronger, more reliable, not that the Enfield is unreliable, and usually much better made.
I would suggest that, in the standard chambering, the Lee was sufficiently accurate, just as strong, and more reliable (how I hate cleaning Mauser locking lug recesses! - and I've had a Mauser ejector fail, but never had that problem with a Lee ;>). And the quality of the Lee was never questioned. As Frank de Haas noted in his 'Bolt Action Rifles:'
"The fact that the Lee-Enfield rifle performed so well during its long military history proves without a doubt that the action is sound. Manufacturing specifications were quite rigid. The steel used in it was always the best available for the purpose. The various parts were properly machined, finished, and heat-treated. Unlike the early Model 1903 Springfield actions [and some 'last ditch' Mauser actions, I might add ;>] there was never any doubt about the quality of the steel and heat-treatment used in making the Lee-Enfield action."
Bottom line - I think it depends more on the rifleman. I'm willing to bet that you, armed with a Lee, could 'clean my clock' even if I was armed with the finest Mauser available...
;>)
They also look a lot better.
(I don't know - I like the Lee design. Of course, I think moose are beautiful, and favor Marlin lever actions over Winchesters! If you want a truly beautiful rifle, though, get a Ruger #1... ;>)
I will say that I would be perfectly happy to use a SMLE for just about any purpose for which a .303 is suited, and that is a lot.
On that we can definitely agree!
I guess the gist of what I am saying is, I like the Enfield, just don't besmirch an even better action.
As I said, "better" for what? There's an old saying that suggests 'the '03 Springfield is the best target rifle, the Mauser 98 is the best hunting rifle, and the Lee is the best combat rifle.'
No offense intended!
;>)
I've read about those. Did your accuracy improve as some folks claim? Was it as reliable in 7.62x54R as it was in .303? And how many rounds does the mag hold?
I have one of the Gibbs remanufactured #4's that is in 45-70 that works really well also.
(Lucky dog! ;>)
That's not gonna set ya off being a russian round is it.... in the 54R mode ?
I don't know - if I thought about it for a while, I might be able to come up with another rant. Of course, the Finns used the '54R' also, and they 'kick butt!' By the way, did you know the 7.62x39 M43 cartridge is pretty close to a 'sawed-off .303?" There are gunsmiths in Australia the shorten Lee barrels a bit, and the front part of the chamber is so close to M43 dimensions that they don't have to rechamber to fire the short Soviet cartridge. The dimensions are not exactly the same (neck's shorter on the M43, etc.) but they're so dang close you have to wonder if the the Rusky's didn't copy someone else's work...
(By the way, I'm completely envious when it comes to the magnificant 6.5mm! I just can't hide it, no matter how hard I try! My 'dream machine' is a No.4 rebarreled to 6.5/303 - which would be about identical ballistically to the .256 Manlicher and the 6.5 M-S. Some day... ;>)
;>)
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.