XM8 project cancelled

Cancelled October 31, 2005? Why are you posting it now?

old

Old for those of us who cared. Irrelevant for the majority who didn't.

Shame, though...

^Link?

^^ looks sharp, to bad the light is still using a .223. At least the heavy is use a good round.

The SCAR will not be a general issue rifle to your average grunt- it's another weapon in the lineup for the specops types.

Realsitically, the M16 system does not need to be replaced with an entirely new weapon. there are uppers and lowers based on the system that offer incredible possibilities. Say, for instance, a safe-semi-auto lower receiver with a carbine stock, and a Barrett M468 upper in 6.8mm SPC, with a 16 inch barrel. It incorporates an ARMS inc. S.I.R. rail into the basic assembly, so it's already fitted for all the modular accessories.

A weapon like this is the same as the M-16 only in appearance and operation- but think of how much training time that would save; a family of uppers based on the 6.8mm cartridge could simply replace the uppers in service, mated to lower receivers from existing weapons as appropriate. The troops would already be familiar with the system, and would simply need to adapt to the heavier round.

Eugen Stoner's system still has a lot of life in it as modern technology is adapted to it. There's no need to ditch the M16 style weapon for a new one, so long as efforts are made to field a weapon with all the modern components and capabilities the soldiers deserve.

brihard wrote: Old for those of us who cared. Irrelevant for the majority who didn't. Shame, though...

I agree to all 3.

SCAR fills a certain role, but may not necessarily suited for general use.

DeTrev, the Canadian forces used our version of the FAL for a great number of years too. Supposed to be a hell of a rifle.

I'd like to put a few mags through an F2000 jsut for kicks. That looks like an interesting system.

Brian Fellows wrote: I wonder if the UK plans to replace the L85 anytime soon?  I hear it performs poorly in real combat situations.

Sweet on the range, crap in the sand. Even the A2 version they have after H&K gave it a makeover isn't particularly reliable. I've not heard of any plans to replace it, though.

Just like the military to try and reinvent the wheel. The M16 series will soldier on for quite awhile. Just like in the 50's when the military looked for the next "combat rifle" and everything from the M14 (upgraded M1 Garand), SAR48 (FN/SLR copy), AR10 (7.62,
several Stoner designs, and the final pick the M14, replaced less than 8 operational years later by the AR15/M16.

The XM8 was a problem child from initial test, every engineer trying to improve reliability, and the system got what is deserved.