[Outriderdark]

XM8 Rifle Program in Trouble? 'Sources Sought' Notice Issued.
Posted on Wednesday, November 10 @ 1200 PST by davidc


by David Crane
david@defensereview.com

US Army ARDEC, AMSTA-AR-PC, and Picatinny Arsenal (NJ) have just issued a Sources Sought Notice for a "Non-Developmental multi- configurable 5.56mm modular weapon system". It's possible that this notice is specifically designed to save/salvage the HK XM8 development program, in which the US Army TACOM-ARDEC and Picatinny Arsenal already have a significant time and money investment.

It's DefRev's understanding that the XM8 recently failed a US Army test. It apparently suffered some kind of unspecified mechanical problem. It's also been reported that the XM8 overheats when fired (presumably extensively) on full-auto (handguards melting and such). We're looking into this. We've been told that the US Marine Corps (USMC) doesn't want it (unconfirmed). So, it would seem that the XM8 development program is in serious trouble, at the moment. Several of our sources have even gone so far as to say the XM8 is dead. This is, as yet, unverified. We'll see. Even if this is true, for the moment, US Army programs have a way of coming back from the dead, on occasion.

The following is an excerpt from the Sources Sought Notice:...

"The US Army is currently seeking sources for a Non-Developmental multi- configurable 5.56mm modular weapon system. The system shall consist of four variants to include: Special Compact (SC), Carbine, Designated Marksman (DM), and Light Machine Gun (LMG) (or Auto Rifle). All variants need to function in both semi-automatic and automatic firing modes, with the LMG primary firing mode being full auto. The SC variant will provide Soldiers an enhanced close quarter battle capability providing effective lethality through 150m. The Carbine is slated to be the standard issue individual combat weapon with an effective range through 500m. The DM variant will provide accurate fire at longer ranges as well as offering an automatic rifle capability. The LMG variant will offer the role of suppressive fire through 600m. The mandatory weapon system family requirements follow. Any vendor not meeting the following mandatory requirements may not be considered a potential source. Multi-Configurable variants 80% parts commonality between SC, Carbine, and DM; 50% parts commonality between LMG and the other three variants; reconfigurable at the unit level."

[Outriderdark]

here is the XM8 in case anyone doesn't know
http://world.guns.ru/assault/as61-e.htm

It is (or was) the replacement for the M16 / M4 rifles.

[ash]

Maybe if they fixed the problems with the M-16/M4 instead of trying to replace it with something that just looks different they would be getting somewhere. Perhaps a weapon that doesn't take an entire clip of ammunition to kill a person, just a suggestion.

[FutureMarine]

M14 would do

[ducktapehero]

I like this http://www.robarm.com/xcrtm_gallery.htm
Make the 5.56 more lethal. The Russians did it with the 5.45 there's no reason we can't either.

[Outriderdark]

The funny thing is, we never really built a rifle around the .308 that was very good. The M2 and M14 had problems, and was too light for the round. You'd end up shooting at treetops on full auto cause all the muzzle flip. I always thought we shoulda done more with the round. Like the FN FAL or G3.
The purpose of the .223 was so soldiers could carry more ammo AND it was a wounding caliber meant to severely wound enemy soldiers (as opposed to killing them outright) and thus tie up more enemy resources.
I think there is room for alot of debate about whether that was a good move or not.

[ducktapehero]

When it works right the 5.56 is a devastating round. Why do you think the Russians went with the 5.45? They saw the damage that a small high velocity round could do. The problem is that we now have a lot of M4's on the ground. These have (I believe) 14.5" barrels as opposed to the 20" barrel of the M16A2. That's a lot of velocity it's giving up and when the 5.56 loses velocity it becomes much less deadly.

I have no doubt that with todays technology that the military could make a much more lethal 5.56 round. Something that is not as dependant on velocity as the present round which only pokes 22 caliber holes if it gets too slow.

[Outriderdark]

Duck, I agree. If the .223 has enough velocity to fragment you're good to go. If not the enemy is cursing at you for sticking him in the leg.
I was actually really impressed with the Russian round. I wonder if it has to do with the bullet itself or the rifle.
Personally I like the 7.62 (.308) cause it is a much less finicky round that does it's job really well in almost any configuration. The problem there is the weight of the ammo.

[ducktapehero]

The Russian round has an air pocket in the nose of it. When in flight it is stable but when it hits flesh the rear part of the round(which isn't hollow) comes forward and causes the round to tumble, causing more damage.