XM-8 Battle Rifle

[sgtsurge]

Wave of the Future: The XM-8 Battle Rifle

 

Anyone wanting a copy of this article let me know your email address since I don't know how to attach it to this post. It has some really awesome pictures of the different variants.

 

Question: Can you build an all-purpose battle rifle that can change colors, barrels, and weapons packages on the fly, comes equipped with a grenade launcher and shotgun that can take out Sigourney Weaver's aliens, and jams far less frequently than the M-16? Answer: The new XM-8 rifle by Heckler and Koch.

 

 

XM-8 Rifle: The Skinny

 

 

Name:

XM-8 Rifle (Heckler & Koch)

 

Type of Equipment:

Battle rifle

 

Killer Features:

Flexible, heavy-duty weapons platform accommodates rifle and grenade launcher

Polymer "shell" can be replaced with shells of different colors, to blend in with environment

 

All weapon attachments, barrels, butts, and optics can be switched out by operator, without special tools or maintenance

 

Improved "pusher" gas piston cuts down on weapon jamming

Armament:

Base configuration fires Remington .223 (a.k.a. the 5.56mm NATO) bullets; 20 mm grenades

 

Attachments include XM320 40mm single shot grenade launcher, and LSS (lightweight stand-off shotgun) 12-gauge shotgun that fires 2.75" and 3" 12 gauge shells

 

For almost 40 years, the M-16 5.56mm combat rifle, in all its incarnations, has served as the United States military's primary battle rifle. To give you an idea of how long a time that is, the only other long gun with a similar tenure is the .58 caliber Brown Bess musket -- which entered service with the Continental Army in 1776.

 

The German weapons manufacturer Heckler & Koch believes it's high time for a change; specifically, it would like to see the United States retire the M-16 and replace it with a slick, new, high-speed battle rifle dubbed the XM-8. And boy, what a rifle it is ...

 

Army of One

 

The XM-8 weapon system -- for that's what it really is, a family of related weapons -- packs quite an arsenal in its portable shape (6.4 pounds, lighter than the current M-4 at 8.85 pounds). It takes its cue from the M-29 Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW), a $10,000 prototypical technology test bed from the late 1990s. The OICW was a combination of "kinetic energy" projector (a battle rifle that fired the Remington .223) and a semi-autonomous, air-bursting 20mm grenade launcher. The XM-8 is the "kinetic energy" portion of the OICW, plus a receiver to which all other components can be attached or removed.

 

Complementing the XM-8 are two attachable weapon systems, the XM320 40mm single shot grenade launcher and the LSS 12-gauge shotgun. The XM320 incorporates a swing out barrel design with integrated sight, and is capable of firing all currently manufactured 40mm grenades, while the LSS is capable of firing both lethal and non-lethal shotgun shells, as well as specially-designed breaching shells. Both weapons are mounted forward of the magazine, underneath the barrel, and can be installed by the operator in minutes without tools.

 

The XM-8 is a model of efficiency in use: its operation controls are ambidextrous, it has three firing modes (single round, three-round burst, and fully automatic), and can handle a variety of magazines, including a 30 round semi-opaque (to allow the shooter to see how many rounds are left in the magazine) hard plastic magazine, which can be rapidly reloaded in close combat situations, and a 100-round drum (for sustained fire), as well as 10-round weapon qualification magazines and M-16 style metal magazines.

 

Flexible on the Fly

 

Whether the user is a sniper or part of an attack team, the XM-8 can accommodate all uses. It uses four different interchangeable barrels (a 9" compact, a 12.5" assault, a 20" match grade sharpshooter, or a 20" heavy barrel for sustained high ROF applications), each of which can be swapped out at the unit level in less than 2 minutes. The weapon can also be equipped with a 5-position collapsible stock, a flat butt plate (for an extremely small weapon profile), an adjustable sniper stock, or a folding stock.

 

Attention has also been paid to look and feel with the XM-8. Forward handguards incorporate non-slip materials to improve weapon handling and retention. The XM-8's non-metallic components are manufactured from fiber reinforced plastic polymers which can be molded in numerous colors, and can be removed or replaced by the operator without specialized tools. In other words, whether you're in the jungle or on the sand, the weapon's "skin" can be changed to blend with its surroundings.

 

The XM-8 doesn't skimp on optics, either. Its optics/sight package is an "all-in-one" combination: an infrared laser target designator, IR target illuminator and 1x close combat red-dot sight. In addition to incorporating the three sights into one system, the sight is zeroed at the factory and can be removed and reinstalled by the operator without specialized tools, or the loss of zero. Contrast this with the M-16/M-4 series: While advances have been made in their combat optics to improve rifle accuracy, these advances have brought additional issues (increased weight, cost, the need to continuously re-zero the devices when removed).

 

XM-8 Variations

 

 

 

The XM8 is designed as a modular weapon; different barrels and other modules can be swapped quickly depending on operational requirements. The XM8 will also be lighter and more reliable than the existing M4 carbine and M16 rifles. If this rifle is approved, the Army could field 900,000.

 

XM-8 Baseline Carbine

 

 

- 12.5" barrel

- Common modular assemblies

 

XM8 Carbine with Add-On XM320 Grenade Launcher

 

 

- Side loading 40mm grenade launcher

 

Compact Carbine

 

- Short 9" barrel

- Butt cap receiver cover

- Personal defense applications

 

Sharpshooter Variant

 

- 20" barrel

- Advanced optical sight (all variants)

 

Automatic Rifle

 

 

- Heavy 20" barrel for sustained fire

- Integral folding bipod

- 100-round drum magazine

 

Content and graphics from Heckler & Koch USA Website.

 

 

 

 

 

 

How useful are the XM-8's interchangeable parts? Here's a quick look at some of the M-16's problems in this regard:

A half dozen incarnations of the M-16/M-4 are currently in service, and none of them have parts that are 100% interchangeable with a different series weapon.

 

For the M-16, mounting optics requires the use of weapon specific (read: non-interchangeable) adapters.

 

The M-16A1 (still in widespread service with the National Guard and Reserves) was designed to fire the M198 5.56mm Ball cartridge, while the M16A2 and later rifles (used by Active Duty formations) was designed to fire the heavier M855 cartridge. While both rifles can chamber and fire both types of bullet, the M885 bullet weighs more, and is less accurate when fired from the M16A1.

On the other hand, the XM-8 has:

One common component receiver, with the remaining parts (barrel, optics, stock, hand guards, auxiliary weapons) attached as needed.

 

Combining three optic units into one not only reduces weapon weight, but also simplifies equipment issue, maintenance and accountability.

 

One common bullet type (5.56mm cartridge) for all models.

This is not to say that soldiers are going to enter battle toting a golf bag of rifle barrels and accessories, but rather, replacement parts can be replaced or exchanged at the unit level without worrying about system compatibility. At the end of the day, does any of this make the XM-8 more lethal than the M-16? No, as both fire the same 5.56mm cartridge ... but the XM-8 completely outclasses the M-16 is in reliability, ease of maintenance, and reduced logistical requirements.

 

Pushing Lead

 

Of course, all the fancy weapons and attachments on a rifle don't mean much if it jams on the operator. One of the M-16's major flaws is jamming, due to its gas operating system, where propellant gasses are used to cycle the rifle's bolt and fire bullets. In the M-16, these gasses are vented directly back to the rifle chamber itself. This means that every time the weapon is fired, propellant gasses, gunpowder residue, and other particles are deposited directly on the bolt face (this process is called "fouling"). Eventually, the bolt becomes too dirty to fully lock into place, rendering the weapon unreliable.

 

While no gas-operating weapon (including the XM-8) is immune to the effects of fouling, the XM-8's system presents a clear advantage over the M-16: The receiver utilizes a six-lug rotating bolt that fully supports the cartridge case and is driven by a "pusher" type gas piston. This piston is unaffected by barrel changes, and is even capable of operating if the weapon's barrel is full of water. Most importantly, it eliminates fouling of the bolt face, which dramatically improves the weapon's overall reliability in a sustained firing situation. In short, soldiers using the XM-8 in combat should have one less thing to worry about, and that one thing can mean the difference between life and death.

 

Goodbye to the Past

 

If you add up all the M-16's flaws -- its poorly designed gas operating system, its need for constant maintenance and cleaning, its lack of interchangeable parts - it becomes clear that the XM-8 is superior to the M-16/M-4 family in all respects. It is lighter, cheaper, more reliable, and easier to maintain than the current rifle. In short, it surpasses all of the M-16's strengths while eliminating all of its weaknesses, thus earning a spot on our Military Gear Hot List.

 

XM-8 Prototype Specifications

 

Caliber:

5.56 x 45mm NATO

 

 

Builder:

Heckler & Koch

 

 

Weight:

6.4 lbs (prototype),

5.7 lbs objective

 

 

Overall Length:

33.3 inches (carbine stock extended)

 

 

Barrel Length:

Assault: 12.5"

Sharpshooter: 20.0"

Compact: 9.0"

Automatic Rifle: 20.0"

 

 

Rate of Fire:

Cyclic - 750 rpm

Sustained - 85 rpm up to 210 rounds

 

 

 

Rate of Twist:

1 in 7 inches

 

 

 

Barrel Life:

20,000 rounds mininum

 

 

Muzzle Velocity:

3005 feet/second (M855 Ball) with 20" barrel

2675 feet/second with 12.5" barrel

2365 feet/second with 9.0" barrel

 

 

Magazine Capacity:

10 or 30 rounds (magazines can be nested together); 100 round drum available

 

 

Stock:

5 position adjustable for length

 

 

Bayonet Lug:

Yes (12.5 & 20" barrels)

 

 

Bipod Interface:

Yes (20" only)

 

 

Sighting System:

Fully integrated red dot with laser illuminator and pointer

[sgtsurge]

Found the website for the XM-8

 

https://www.hk-usa.com/

 

https://www.hk-usa.com/pages/military-le/ri...rbines/xm8.html

[sgtsurge]

Nevermind about asking for the email address' here is the online adobe acrobat

data sheet complete with drawings.

 

https://www.hk-usa.com/corporate/media/pdf/...sheet111703.pdf

[FullAuto]

What about cost? Most government's don't give a toss about how good the rifle is, they're just bothered about how much it's going to cost. Sounds like a good gun though.

[Neorapsta]

lol, I can think of one that could outperform your Battle Rifle. The Gasdynamic Laser Rifle, you'd be dead before you saw the flash

[sgtsurge]

Where is the website or informatin about the laser weapon you refer to? It should be cool to read about.

[Alex_D]

Speaking of Battle Rifles (whether fictitious as in UFO, or real as in the article), I found a general trend to shoot bullets in the classic hose-garden style, with the occasional support of the 40mm grenade launcher.

 

As in UFO, TFTD and Apoc, the soldier's rifle (until alien weapon are used) is capable of shooting "only" bullets (with limited AP capability). If for some reason an explosion is needed somewhere, the soldier has to produce, pin and toss a grenade, all with only one hand. And the throwing range is determined by the soldier's strength (both reality and game). In reality, a 40mm Grenade Laucher will do the job, but only (in most cases) with direct fire.

 

I saw a nice mod made by one of our members (munkeylord, see here), which I think modifies the heavy cannon to fire AP bullets in a fast rate (low TUs) and with an "equivalent" 40mm grenade launcher to fire the HE and IN things. The drawback (in the game) is, since there's no secondary fire implemented, to unload the previous clip to "load" the grenade and fire it, with the corresponding lost of TUs. There's no "preload" grenade in the rifle, and that is because X-Com was programmed in that way. I was personally unable to install the mod and test it because the pck_view.exe program refuses to work at all .

 

However, in real life, there was a solution (often used in WWII) and almost phased out by the US-Army: Rifle Grenades. These grenades with an special tube (and small fins) are put at the end of the barrel and, depending of the type of RG, a blank or normal round is fired, thus propelling the object far away than any arm can throw. Most RGs can pack more power than standard "hand throw" ones because of a higher weight limit. RGs were used in a "offensive role" in WWII, that's it, hitting targets a far away distance (130m or so), while hand grenades were used in a "defensive role" (way shorter distances).

 

Having two types of grenades can be burden to the logistical tail or for the soldier as extra weight to carry. That's why some innovators (not from the US, AFAIK) designed a RG "bullet thru" type with collapsable tube and fins, which can be as compact in size as standard hand grenades, or when fully extended be throw as the german "potato masher" of WWII or as a RG with any regular battle rifle and cartridge. So far the XM-8 doesn't have the special "shape"(?) of the end of the barrel, which is standard in many other rifles in the world. I guess a change of barrels will fix it.

 

However if even more firepower is needed, let say to cripple or destroy a tank, or in UFO, to kill a Cyberdisk or more likely a Sectopod, tossing more grenades is not efficient; a rocket launcher with some big rockets is needed (Of course a Blaster Rocket can do the job, but we are talking about "Human Weapons" here ) The problem here, faced by UFO and reality, is they weight a lot. In the game a very strong soldier is required to carry the RL and three rockets. Often spare rockets are carried by mates. But this bugs me that the real world (non-US) has overcome this problem with a infamous weapon: The RPG-7. The launcher itself is very simple and the rocket propulsed grenades are lightweight too. Few hits with these can cause a lot of trouble even to a M1 Tank.

 

It is no wonder why the current trend (not in the US AFAIK) in equiping "light" infantry teams is to provide them with fire suppression weapons (LMGs), one designed sharpshooter, battle rifles and heavy weapons guys. It is funny to know the "art" of equiping teams has been used by X-COM players for years .

 

I wish any future game will include potential secondary and tertiary fire capabilities for the handguns. I haven't tried UFO Aftermatch besides the demo though, so I don't know if the concept has been grasp .

 

And all of this without mentioning "melee" weapons (i.e. bayonets or vibroblades), another aspect not (fully) implemented in the game, and in some degree real world: bayonets (not just a knife) being phased out as standard equipment for soldiers.

 

(That was my today's rant )

 

Alex

[Neorapsta]

https://www.defensereview.com/352003/TIS1.pdf

[Psy Guy]

The US's military approch is "throw money at the problem". They deside to make a new high tech assult rifle to replace the M16 instead of breaking down and getting a successful and proven weapons such as the AN-94, FA-MAS, FN-FAL or the many other great weapons which were developed after the M16/M4. Looking at the stats of the XM-8 and XM-29 its basiclly a redesigned M-16 which has a computer which can program airburst gernades. I dunno about most people but i don't see the advantage of having airburst when you gotta pop your head out and adjust the range, set the delay on the nade, and then fire at something which is sitting in one spot. Eather there going to move or there going to pop up and shoot the guy programing the nade launcher. In a real battle i don't see how this will prove cost effective when most assult rifles can have gernade launchers which can launch more powerful nades a good distance with reasionable accuracy.

 

What i think a military needs is 3 classes of assult weapons.

1st is a small low caliber SMG like assult rifle. Designed with recoil reduction in mind it would be ideal for urban combat and close quarters combat.

2nd is a high powered assult rifle which is designed for range and presison. Not a sniper rifle but a presison rifle of sorts.

3rd is a heavy rifle for anti soft skinned vehicles. Firing a "Heavy Cannon" like round which can pierce light vehicles and walls.

These three weapon styles provide a balanced which is hard to comeby in one weapon. The majority of combat now is in urban settings and the current assult rifles aren't designed for really close range combat and the only effective anti light vehicle weapons are heavy machineguns and rocket launchers.

 

In todays wars the enemy is a low tech soldier armed with an AK-47, an RPG, and a truck (if there lucky). No body armor and not many tanks. So this weapon set is ideal for this type of enemy. Of course you have your squad support machineguns but im talking mostly what the majority of troopers would be equiped with.

[ShadowBlade]

The XM-8 looks great! It resembles the H&K G36, but with a more futuristic look.

[cyrus]

Oh, I've read sometime ago about this prototype (although can't remember on which site). So, what I think. That the american army would have at last the gun of at least nearly the same qualities (the ease of use, the effectivness and extremly reliable construction useful in a range of environments ranging from swampy jungles to sand swollen deserts) of our AK74 rifle . I don't remember exactly on which HK model it's based, I think it is G36, as mentioned above. Though I haven't heared about this model (G36, I mean) before I'd read the artcicle about XM-8, but looks like it's a good rifle, reliable and trustworthy (as with the most of what HK does )

 

Don't sure, whether this intellectual grenade launcher would prove useful in the turmoil of a firefight, but the gun itself is promising. So, following the collapse of XM29 initiative (the designers haven't managed to decrease the weight to some reasonable level) XM8 is the main adversary to the old M16 (and maybe to the good ol' AK - time will show).

[Brainz]

I dunno about most people but i don't see the advantage of having airburst when you gotta pop your head out and adjust the range, set the delay on the nade, and then fire at something which is sitting in one spot. Eather there going to move or there going to pop up and shoot the guy programing the nade launcher.

The computer is more advanced than that. Its basically, point, press and shoot. It uses a laser range finder to range it, plots a dot onto the sight, the soldier puts to dot onto the target, pulls the trigger, and bang, the grenade explodes over it, showering it with shrapnel, casing fragments, and any other payload they care to load it with.

[Neorapsta]

Just had a demo of the XM-8, looks like some kick ass piece of hardware. Though they only mentioned a grenade lanucher, nothing bout a shotgun tho.

[Pumpkinhead]

I don't know a lot about guns, but it does look pretty futuroic!

 

https://www.hk-usa.com/pages/military-le/mil-leimages/xm8_rightmed.jpg

[Zombie]

If I were a soldier or a law enforcement officer, the question would not be "How does it look?", but rather "How does it perform?" What impresses me the most is the user can "hot-swap" a barrel out in 2 minutes for a different type. Only problem - it still uses the same old ammunition types: 40mm grenade rounds and 5.56mm NATO rounds.

 

In the June 2004 issue of Discover magazine, a completely new type of ammunition was revealed: the ShockRound™! Inventor John LeBourgeois of California came up with the idea after reading that an innocent guy was shot 40 times reaching for his wallet! (Cops thought he was trying to pull out a gun and killed him).

 

A ShockRound is a 9mm projectile that fires like a normal bullet, but on impact releases a 50,000 volt charge of electricity! If I may quote: "The jolt temporarily shuts down the muscular system and possibly causes momentary unconsciousness." (This round has not been tested on humans yet, so it is questionable whether the jolt is enough to render the subject unconscious.) The tip of the bullet contains a disk of piezoelectric material that can drop a person at 300 feet with a paralyzing jolt, without batteries or moving parts.

 

According to the ShockRounds website, different sizes of ammunition besides the 9mm type are being considered. Most interesting, they claim being able to convert standard military ammunition into a ShockRound. It remains to be seen whether they can actually cram the 50,000 volt disk of the prototype 9mm round into a 5.56mm NATO round, but it would be amazing! If they cannot, a XM-8 could probably be retrofitted with a 9mm barrel to accept the ShockRound!

 

Just imagine a fully automatic XM-8 firing "Stun Bumbs" in X-COM! No more need for the lowly Stun Rods when you can incapacitate an alien at 300 feet!

[JellyfishGreen]

Piezoelectric ShockRounds do sound innovative, alright.

[Munkeylord]

shit i'll use that weapon over anything we have right now, its almost the exact copy of the german h&k g36 weapon system. and it doesn't jam up like the m4! if you've ever tried to use an m4 in a tactical situation you'll understand what i mean. just don't know why we had to make our own design and not use the german ones.....guess its a moral thing

[Maugan Ra]

BTW there are more a LMG is more than enough to give a ligth vehicle serious problems...

[Munkeylord]

yes maugan i know for a fact that my m-249 can rip the shit out of anything that doesn't have armor on it and mess up stuff with light armor. its a good weapon

[FullAuto]

Munkeylord, consider yourself lucky you're not stuck with the SA-80, mate. Now there is an assault rifle that's better used as a club.