[jvanwink]

New Gun Try this link

http://www.military.com/NewContent/0,13190,Gear_051104_XM8,00.html?ESRC=navy-a.nl

 

[Flyer]

Not for at least 10 years.
Maybe not even then.
First, our rifle has to be proven unworthy... which is sure as heck isn't.
Then it's gotta shoot a more effective cartridge...which it doesn't; it's the same.
It's gotta be more reliable... and no matter what anyone says, it ain't POSSIBLE to make a rifle more than 100% reliable, which is what the M-16 IS when cared for properly.
And NOW, it's not at ALL likely that the military is going to accept a foreign-designed weapon as it's primary infantry weapon... especially from Germany.
I don't care if it fires a super-destructive power beam... it's just not gonna happen.
Flyer

 

[Midiman]

Re:

it's not at ALL likely that the military is going to accept a foreign-designed weapon as it's primary infantry weapon...

There's the rub.

 

[flyandscuba]

Not so sure.... an Italian pistol is our standard sidearm, replacing the US-made Colt 1911 years ago.

Especially if these HKs were made in the new US factory location in Columbus, GA:

http://www.hk-usa.com/corporate/media/gbreak.html

For more info about this weapons system -- including full-auto video clips, visit here:

http://www.hk-usa.com/corporate/media/pdf/HK-M factory announcement.pdf

 

[Flyer]

It's almost impossible to conceive of the U.S. military accepting ANY foreign-designed weapon as it's primary service rifle... hardly ANY country does that.
Even France has it's own, abysmal little rifle.
Furthermore, not everyone's happy about the Beretta, even though it's made in the U.S.A., which is why you see various Marines in Iraq toting 1911s in their holsters.
Flyer

 

[flyandscuba]

I put the wrong link in above -- try this one for the info/video clips:

http://www.hk-usa.com/pages/military-le/rifles-carbines/xm8.html

 

[flyandscuba]

Also, it appears that the US Army has asked for this weapon:

Beginning life as the 5.56mm KE (kinetic energy) component of the 20mm air-bursting XM29 Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW), the XM8
Lightweight Modular Carbine System represents the state-of-the-art in 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles. Developed by the US Army’s office of Project Manager for Soldier Weapons located at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey in close conjunction with the US Army Infantry Center, the XM8 Future Combat Rifle is intended to replace existing M4 Carbines and select 5.56mm x45 weapons in the US Army arsenal beginning as early as the fourth quarter of FY05. Once adopted, the M8 Carbine will replace the aging M16/M4 family of weapons, which have been in service for nearly four decades, longer than any previous US service rifle. The M8 Carbine will be up to 20% lighter than a comparably equipped M4 Carbine MWS and yet offer additional features and performance unavailable currently in any assault rifle in the world.

The US XM8 Carbine is being designed at the HK Defense design center in Sterling, Virginia and will be produced and assembled in the United States at the new Heckler & Koch manufacturing plant located in Columbus, Georgia, adjacent to Fort Benning. The unit cost of the XM8 will be less than that of the current M4 Carbine and will guarantee the American war fighter uncompromising performance far exceeding that of current in-service M4 Carbines

 

[flyandscuba]

Here's an interesting comparison. It would be interesting to see one from Colt's perspective as well.

http://www.hk-usa.com/corporate/media/pdf/XM8M4Comparison1.pdf

 

[SKYKING]

flyandscuba Thanks for all the links that is some interesting stuff.
Skyking

 

[flatrock]

I think one of these with the 12 guage attachment would make a nice home defense gun.

Semi-auto would be fine though.

 

[strider72]

The US military uses a foreign design in the M249 SAW,M240 GPMG,MP5s that are still in the inventory,Sig 226s and 228s (M11s),so it is possible they will adopt a foreign design as the next OICW. Although the G36,which the XM8 is based on, is just an Armalite AR18 with a slightly different skin. Which is also a Eugene Stoner design,therefore it is not really a foreign design.

 

[Flyer]

The Military will use arms from most ANY nation that meets a smaller, more specific role, such as the H&K SOCOM pistol.
What it WON'T do is offer a huge, standard-issue contract to a foreign company unless they relocate and manufacture the product in the U.S., and in the global climate we're in right NOW, I doubt they'd go THAT far.
Flyer

 

[cloak]

Flyer,
There is a H&K manufacturing plant in Columbus Georgia. The vid clips show some soldier firing it full auto. Yes Hk is a German company.

Hk had listed openings last year on the hk-usa website. They needed machinists. They also needed quality control techinicians(get to test fire the guns!).

The military may evaluate the guns, but you could be right.

 

[Flyer]

Well, at this point the Marines have already officially decided... they're going with the M-16A5. Basically it's just a M-16 A2 with lots more mounting points for various gadgets. The first shipments are heading to Iraq and Afghanistan as we speak.
The Army still is purportedly testing the XM-8. However, there's a problem: the XM-8 will be FAR harder to retrofit with different barrels, and this could be a real problem as the Military is even now considering a heavier bullet for the 5.56mm. The rifling will have to be altered accordingly, and the likelihood is that they'll go with the rifle that already is easily rebarreled and they've already got maintence and repair facilities for - the M-16.
Flyer