XM-8 Is Gun of the Future

Fox News ^ | August 9, 2004 | Fox News Staff

[Stoat]

NEW YORK — U.S. soldiers have been waiting for a long time for weapons to replace current ones that rely on Vietnam-era technology. And the new weapons are right around the corner.

[The KG9 Kid]

Heresy.

[Vigilant1]

XM-307 25mm airbursting auto grenade launcher:

http://www.gdatp.com/products/lethality/xm307/xm307.htm

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m307.htm

================================================

XM-312 .50 BMG Heavy Machine Gun:

http://www.gdatp.com/products/lethality/xm312/xm312.htm

http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/systems/ground/m312.htm

[snuffy smiff]

But did sKerry actually vote for it before he voted against it?

[VaBthang4]

I dont know the specs but appearance wise it looks to be belt fed and odds are...it's lighter than the Black B&^ch.

[Vigilant1]

"I dont know the specs but appearance wise it looks to be belt fed and odds are...it's lighter than the Black B&^ch."

In the Fox News video clip, they said it was "20% lighter", presumably comparing it to the M-16 in standard 20" barrel config.

[TomasUSMC]

By 'rate selector', I assume you mean the 3-round burst setting that is found on the most recent versions of the M-16/M-4. I hope they do not unnecessarily increase the complexity of the weapon with such a device. That is a hardware solution to a training problem. Troops should be taught proper fire discipline and trigger control, and then no burst setting is needed

---

Aside from dependability and stopping power,( including dealing with enemy body armor) your comments are what I believe are most important. The M16 does not have full auto and that puts our men at a disadvantage. Fire discipline, as you say is a training matter. If you don't have it, you'll just pull that little 3 round burst 6 or 7 times, with your eyes closed, shooting around a corner and then run.

I like that 100 rd mag. Many a time, in close combat, suppresive fire can keep the enemy down while you get around em or haul a$$. Can't suppress with 3 round bursts. Especially when the enemy has discipline and they have full auto on every weapon in their squad.

Semper Fi

[Vigilant1]

If only we could get the Army to remember what the Marine have never forgotten. *Sigh!*

[Vigilant1]

'Marine' = 'Marines'

[Valin]

Great minds think alike. That's the first thing that popped into me (so called) mind.

[murdocj]

I've been watching the XM8 on my site for a while.

Check out http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/000905.html for a summary of the weapon and a lot of excellent commentary from readers, most of whom are far more knowledgable than I am.

I've also got a category for the XM8 and XM25 grenade launcher at http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/cat_xm8_xm25.html, though there's not a lot of news on the XM25 yet.

[supercat]

Aside from dependability and stopping power,( including dealing with enemy body armor) your comments are what I believe are most important. The M16 does not have full auto and that puts our men at a disadvantage. Fire discipline, as you say is a training matter. If you don't have it, you'll just pull that little 3 round burst 6 or 7 times, with your eyes closed, shooting around a corner and then run.

What sort of indication, if any, do the new rifles have to show how much ammo remains? I would think that some sort of indicator that was clearly visible to the shooter (not on the side as in Aliens!) would be very useful.

[TomasUSMC]

I believe the 30 rd mag is see thru. The 100 mag, I don't know. Might have to make some rounds near the end or like every 30 rounds, tracers, if you want to keep track real well.

[reg45]

XM-307 - Cool!

If Kerry had one of those on his SLOW (Stupid Liberal Opposing War) boat, he might have killed two cows!

[VaBthang4]

Hello.

I checked your site out last night. Did a google for the XM8 and one of the links took me to you.

[VaBthang4]

I was talking about the .50.

[supercat]

I believe the 30 rd mag is see thru.

I would think something that would be visible or perceptible to a shooter with a shouldered weapon would be desirable if it could be made reliable. For example, it should be fairly straightforward to include a counter which would be zeroed when the magazine was removed and would increment every time the action closed with a magazine installed. Even if the counter were electronic and had batteries that could go dead, a battery failure would not interfere with use of the weapon--just make it less convenient to determine how much ammo remained.

[murdocj]

The 30 round standard mag is semi-transparent. There has been talk of an electronic counter in the fancy sight, but as far as I know it hasn't gone pat the "talk" stage.

Pic of broken-down XM8 (with translucent mag clearly visible) at http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/001107.html.

I agree that seeing the ammo count without taking your eye off the bad guys would be a big plus.

[LibTeeth]

Re: "All that's going to make the first civilian versions very expensive. That sucks."

One day you'll probably be able to get all you want free for the taking off the blue helmet goons that come to confiscate your deer rifle.

[Vigilant1]

Barrett XM-109 25mm Payload Rifle

[dbandit]

"One day you'll probably be able to get all you want free for the taking off the blue helmet goons that come to confiscate your deer rifle."

That, my two acres and my shovel...hmm, wouldn't be as expensive as I originally thought.