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XM-8: New U.S. Service Rifle?
Modern Firearms and Ammunition website ^ | unknown | Unknown

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.


TOPICS: Extended News; Miscellaneous; News/Current Events; Your Opinion/Questions
KEYWORDS: ar; assaultrifles; aw; bang; banglist; g36; gunporn; guns; hecklerkoch; hk; m8; miltech; rhodesia; servicerifle; sl8; xm8
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To: Sam Cree
How's this for a novel idea...chamber it for the 5.45x39 Russian. That would eliminate the close quarters effectiveness problem of the 5.56 without losing the range or weight advantages.
21 posted on 08/07/2003 11:09:49 AM PDT by Woahhs
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To: RLK
"For a lot of work you're better off with the Garand, m 14, or even M1 carbine."

I agree with you on the first two, but I disagree with you on the M1 carbine. From what I've read about the Korean War the M1 carbine wasn't even powerful enough to punch through the heavy quilted lining of a Chinese field jacket!

22 posted on 08/07/2003 11:09:51 AM PDT by Destructor
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To: Long Cut
Funny thing. I don't see a bayonet lug on the rifle. This is supposed to be an Infantry service rifle?
23 posted on 08/07/2003 11:12:08 AM PDT by Destructor
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To: Long Cut; RKV; NYFriend
thanks all for the info. that was my guess, but i wasn't sure. btw, was the name from the place it was developed?
24 posted on 08/07/2003 11:12:15 AM PDT by kallisti
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To: Long Cut
The key differences are the NATO-standard magazine housing that will accept M16-type magazines

Good news for us civies.

25 posted on 08/07/2003 11:12:16 AM PDT by RogueIsland
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To: RLK
"For a lot of work you're better off with the Garand, m 14, or even M1 carbine."

Fine weapons,all. However, I would like to own the same rifle our Soldiers use. I do not own an AR-15 variant because I disliked the design. Perhaps this will be better.

Actually, were price no object, I'd own them all. However, right now i'm low on cash-o-line so I'm holding out.

26 posted on 08/07/2003 11:12:35 AM PDT by Long Cut
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To: *bang_list; AAABEST; wku man; SLB; Travis McGee; Squantos; harpseal; Shooter 2.5; ...
Click the Gadsden flag for pro-gun resources!
27 posted on 08/07/2003 11:13:00 AM PDT by Joe Brower ("We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office." - Aesop)
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To: Destructor
"Funny thing. I don't see a bayonet lug on the rifle. This is supposed to be an Infantry service rifle?"

The picture is a computer-generated image of what it is expected to look like. Be assured, it'll change before it is actually issued.

28 posted on 08/07/2003 11:14:28 AM PDT by Long Cut
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To: Destructor
From what I've read about the Korean War the M1 carbine wasn't even powerful enough to punch through the heavy quilted lining of a Chinese field jacket!

-------------------

I'm a combat shooter. I've tested firearms and ammunition. Within 100 yards a carbine slug will go through 10 inches of pine board and still kill. The problem with the carbine is people weren't trained on it.

29 posted on 08/07/2003 11:14:48 AM PDT by RLK
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To: Long Cut
I, too, would like to see such a gun chambered in something a little heavier than the 5.56. The latter round is good for "varmints" and has served fairly well, but the full-tilt 7.62 x 51 (.308) really has solid knock-down power. The trouble is, the guns chambered for the .308 are much heavier and quite a bit larger than the M16-type AR series. The AR 10 and the SR 25 are fine AR-types, but they weigh in at 10 pounds (or more with optics). The problem with the AR clones and maybe even this new design is that the .308 family of cartridges (like the .243 and the .360) require a .473 inch bolt face. That in turn requires a larger bolt carrier, and a larger reciever, etc. The AR series will chamber and fire the 7.62 x 39 (30 Russian), but that round requires a smaller bolt face than the .308. Now, if one could build an AR-type rifle using the dimensions of the AR 10 and use new materials like maybe a ceramic barrel, then one could get the weight down to acceptable levels and then chamber it in something like the 7mm-.08. That would bridging the gap between so-called assault rifles and full-size battle rifles.
30 posted on 08/07/2003 11:15:05 AM PDT by 45Auto (Big holes are (almost) always better.)
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To: kallisti
dont know off hand
31 posted on 08/07/2003 11:15:06 AM PDT by RKV
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To: Destructor
Note the lug on the HK-36. Expect a similar one on the XM-8.
32 posted on 08/07/2003 11:15:43 AM PDT by Long Cut
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To: Destructor
The M1 carbine was a true carbine - it fired the equivalent of a pistol round.
33 posted on 08/07/2003 11:16:08 AM PDT by jdege
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To: Long Cut
It'll sunset unless it becomes an issue in the election, which it will if we have some crazed shooting massacre just before it.

And these crazed shooting massacres do happen at convenient times, don't they? Something I noticed back in 1990

34 posted on 08/07/2003 11:18:00 AM PDT by SauronOfMordor (Java/C++/Unix/Web Developer === needs a job at the moment)
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To: All
THe HK-36, field-stripped...


35 posted on 08/07/2003 11:18:31 AM PDT by Long Cut
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To: Long Cut
...yeah, but does it have a compass in the stock and a thing that tells time?
36 posted on 08/07/2003 11:20:40 AM PDT by danneskjold
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To: All
And, the carbine or "commando" version...

All in all, it looks good. Even in 5.56mm, it will be a definite improvement on the going-on-40-year-old M16 series.

37 posted on 08/07/2003 11:21:26 AM PDT by Long Cut
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To: Long Cut
goodbye mp5!
38 posted on 08/07/2003 11:22:35 AM PDT by Woahhs
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To: Long Cut
This a Knight's Industries AR 47; an AR-type that is chambered for the 30 Russian:

Note the use of AK 47 magazines

39 posted on 08/07/2003 11:23:24 AM PDT by 45Auto (Big holes are (almost) always better.)
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To: SauronOfMordor
Which is why we ALL, as gun owners and enthusiasts, MUST let our feelings be known to our elected REPRESENTATIVES, as often and as loudly as possible.

We might also point out that elections in America are typically LOST by those who advocate the banning of personal arms.

40 posted on 08/07/2003 11:23:42 AM PDT by Long Cut
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