I just got the new SOF and read the 4 page article about the XM8.  Sounds like a good deal to me, IMHO.

 One of the unique features: "...its ability to be quickly reconfigured from one variant to another to meet changing mission-specific requirements, and this includes a potential capability for caliber conversion to such rounds as the 7.62x39mm, 5.45x39mm, and the new 6.8x43mm cartridge."

 With a cartridge choice other than 5.56 then the barrel configs make a little more sense considering the ballistics with a 5.56 round and shorter barrels.

 At the end of the article there is a little teaser in there about a hush-hush modified G-36 upper receiver group to fit an AR (M4) lower receiver.  Piston driven.

 Sounds like a good start to me....

Reference: Johnston, Gary Paul. (2003) "H&K's XM8 Modular Assault Weapon System", Soldier of Fortune magazine, February 2004, Vol. 29 No.2, Pages 62-65.

I hope the XM-8 is adopted. You could probably put a 14 inch barrel with a M16A2 type flashhider in place of the long flash hider of the 12.5 inch, polygonal rifle the bore and get as good or higher velocities than a standard 14.5 inch barrel without increasing the length out past the 12.5 inch flash hider variant.

and hopefully a version will be available to civilians if the awb doesn't renew.

Every thing you mentioned can be done with an upper swap on an M16, which also allows the ability to have mission-specfic sights, pre-zeroed on the upper.



Now I would definately be interested in something like this.

I hear you Ridge!  I love the AR's versatility in swapping uppers to lower receivers!  I am not one to be sounding the "death knell" on the AR, but, I beleive there is a growing momentum and "perceived" faults with the AR system that will encourage a change in the future.

 Personally, I just want a (reliable!) piston driven upper with a "meatier" cartridge & bullet.

 Guess that is one reason I X'ed over & got a SAR-2!  That and it was CHEAP!

Amen. I don't want people to think I'm not for change. I'm always looking for a better system.

I want a system (first and foremost for our troops) that provides significant improvement.

I wish they would just throw the politics and the cosmetics out the window.

look what the cat dragged in...
[img]http://www.hunt101.com/img/080362.jpg[/img]

Looks like Hunt101 is down.

What did the cat drag in? I'm dying here [:D]

Edit: It's back up. [ROFL]

Looks pretty good!

ok lets try this again...

"look what the car dragged in"

[img]http://www.hunt101.com/img/080384.jpg[/img]

Wow.

The G36/AR thing looks real good!

Looks like a real good photoshop job to me...  [;)]

[img]http://www.homevideos.com/photosdramas/grhog.jpeg[/img]

Here's the one on HK's site.
[IMG]http://www.hk-usa.com/pages/military-le/mil-leimages/xm8_rightmed.jpg[/IMG]
[URL]http://www.hk-usa.com/pages/military-le/rifles-carbines/xm8.html[/URL]

Groundhog day all over again.
Groundhog day all over again.
Groundhog day all over again.
Groundhog day all over again.
Groundhog day all over again.
Groundhog day all over again.
Groundhog da....

Merry Christmas!

This is the best pic of the XM8 I've seen yet. Enjoy (if you can ).

[img]http://www.maku.de/Xm8.jpg[/img]