Where might the XM8 be headed?

[VorpalDoom]

As many know, the XM8 has gone through quite a few designs and concepts over the past couple years, from being simply the little gun under the big 20mm boom stick, to the star wars blaster gun.
Personaly, I like what HK has made so far of the weapon. Yet, it does need some tweaking. Plus, I'm a fan of being able to customize whatever you damn well please! (part of why I'm a video game modder!)
So, you guessed it, RIS. Every weapon diserves this wonderful system. I have taken the liberty of getting drawings/photos of the XM8 and other bits and putting them together, to create what I think the XM8 will look like once its finialy issued to US troops in mass numbers. Personaly, I think it looks much more like a gun.

I was inspiried by this thread: http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17282
to make concepts of what the XM8 might be in the future... so... here ya go:

A Set with just a few attachments.

http://www.rlqm.com/vorpaldoom/xm8vdset.jpg


Take note of:
Fore sight/Rear sights being able to be attatched onto the RIS system, aswell as two different Rear sights, G3/MP5 style aswell as Cut AR-15 Rail sights. Would seem fit to remove the foresight and put a scope on it, so your view would be clearer, then dump the scope, put the iron sights back on.
Multiple Buttstocks aswell, G36k Folding buttstock, M4 retracting, and MP5N Retracting. The idea is for them to "slip" into small slots with 3 ****gs and lock in with a small button or switch/lever that you simply push up/down to lock it into place, so easy removal is possible. Yet, the waepon is still capable of having no buttstock, as concepted in early XM8 designs for compact versions.
Also, the "raised" rear RIS platform, a scope could be placed infront of that, possibly keeping the scope slightly more compact with the weapon, and keeping less bits hanging off.


And now for some "put together" concepts of various loadouts.

http://www.rlqm.com/vorpaldoom/xm8vdsamples.jpg




well thats that, I hope you guys like the concepts! p-)

[sinblox]

edit: nevermind, wasn't thinking/said something wrong.

[HumanShield]

Those look alot better than that integrated sight system

[Argyll]

Would look better if the sights/optics were scaled correctly ;)

[cropduster]

It does look more like the M4 H&K is currently re-inventing. The XM8 won't look like that although you may wish so.

Croppy

[VorpalDoom]

if i wanted the xm8 to look like the m4... um... why would i even bother? the m4 is there, and it looks quite lovely. Besides, the concepts are generaly about a few obvious things wrong with the XM8... like the lack of RIS, aswell as a bulky kind of feet, plus the sights issue. If you look at the non-modded version of it in the first image i posted, it looks a lot like the xm8, just without all the unneeded "fancy futureistic make it look pretty" crap ;)

[Khabbi]

F ck sake , that actualy looks good , I still like the M4 better though

[Burncycle]

The tab mounting system being used is supposed to be an improvement over conventional rails

[fokket]

Please, please remove the rail on the barrell

[Operation Ivy]

I like it better then the XM8 ;)

[Herrmannek]

Who tha hell wants his gun to look like fukkin christmass tree...I don't... I just perefer things I can find under tree...esspecialy those plastic toy alike XM8s...

[ZeroPositive]

I like the idea of being able to add stuff onto my rifles, so no arguements against the RAIL systems :D

[VorpalDoom]

Who tha hell wants his gun to look like fukkin christmass tree...I don't... I just perefer things I can find under tree...esspecialy those plastic toy alike XM8s...

well, when you shoot your toy at someone, and they shoot their tool at you, dont complain to anyone p-)




The tab mounting system being used is supposed to be an improvement over conventional rails

Just like the xm8 is supposed to be an improvement over conventional weapons? which, at this stage, from reports, overall, its not. mostly from the handling of the weapon, lack of rails (sure you can put attachments on it, but not ones you already have) aswell as lack of proper iron sights.

[AVZ]

VorpolDoom
Just like the xm8 is supposed to be an improvement over conventional weapons? which, at this stage, from reports, overall, its not. mostly from the handling of the weapon, lack of rails (sure you can put attachments on it, but not ones you already have) aswell as lack of proper iron sights.




I see your not quite good informed about the Xm8. THe XM8 has got it's attachment points. In these you can fix the usual PIC rails. So you can of course use the old optics!!

[VorpalDoom]

i know the xm8 has its attachment points, but i never heard about being able to put RIS on them, then putting other things on the rail.

[Saint]

XM8 Beheaded? Oh no! Does anyone have any pictures or a link to the video.....those....those savages!

[caleb]

Why does everyone keep bitchin' about the XM8?
Okay, the look is controversial, but you have to keep in mind that this is an Heckler&Koch weapon system.

Everytime H&K built a weapon system it was always high-class, reliable, and leading in technology if not far ahead of its' time (remember G 11).

The M4, especially the SOPMOD was a fairly good rifle, apart from some minor jamming here and there, but now it's time for the future, let it go already.

[Lt_Crooks]

XM8 Beheaded? Oh no! Does anyone have any pictures or a link to the video.....those....those savages!

rofl

[Herrmannek]

Esspecialy to army goes people who raised on PC games and look of m4 is propably less apealing than startreeky XM8, its also imprtant factor. Soldier must be able to put confidence in his equpment.

Would you buy a car with looks like golf from 80's? I hear you guys! You would NOT.. But current golfs aren't much more advanced, everyone who took deeper loook at engine and other parts will tell you that difference ends at more plastic there and here and few not so important chips.. thats all.

Also foe seeing that rifle can think that someone got wepon better than his :) ...

[rob]

Why does everyone keep bitchin' about the XM8?
Okay, the look is controversial, but you have to keep in mind that this is an Heckler&Koch weapon system.

Everytime H&K built a weapon system it was always high-class, reliable, and leading in technology if not far ahead of its' time (remember G 11).

The M4, especially the SOPMOD was a fairly good rifle, apart from some minor jamming here and there, but now it's time for the future, let it go already.

so your saying that we should replace a weapon system because there is one that looks more futuristic then the one we have?

and its hk, so? they are no better or worse a company then others like sig, fn, or colt. hk is not the end all be all of the arms industry.

i am all in favor of the future, its just i want to make sure we have the best rifle we can for the best price we can, in that future. the xm8 does nothing to assure either of those, there where no trials, there was no competition, hk just showed up with something (which did not even meat specs). 10 years ago the army decided that cutting edge technology(g11 included) was not a big enough improovement to justify the cost of changing over to a different system. yet some how 10 years later, something which mearily looks better justifies that cost. im sorry but the xm8 is a politically driven system, the money could be better spent elsewhere.

o and adopting something which looks like a super soaker is not the best move to put a soldiers confidence in a weapon system.

[memphiz]

http://img37.imageshack.us/img37/7607/XM8.jpg
:D

[VorpalDoom]

now thats different. :lol:

[Chrome Beretta]

I like the "Kill Time" "Saftey" Incription :D .

[catchv22]

The M203 will hit the bipods won't it? ;)

[crazyman]

hopefully its headed to a LOT more field testing. i think the project has vast potential, but i DONT think it's wise to send it into combat anytime soon.

[VorpalDoom]

I highly doubt the xm8 will be used in combat this decade.... also about the bipod and m203... i dont see why not... if the bipod is folded up ;)

[memphiz]

I like the "Kill Time" "Saftey" Incription :D . :D



I highly doubt the xm8 will be used in combat this decade.... also about the bipod and m203... i dont see why not... if the bipod is folded up ;)
Word

[perdurabo]

Whhhaaaa RIS system on XM8 hmmm so every soldier in army/marines are now comando team rambo squad and they need RIS :lol:
Whole idea about integrated sight is for NORMAL soldier in field they dont need super duper toys on them they need light and good weapon that not jams afther few mags ....
and RIS system is good for SF they need it to put their toys ....

[Falco]

Whhhaaaa RIS system on XM8 hmmm so every soldier in army/marines are now comando team rambo squad and they need RIS :lol:
Whole idea about integrated sight is for NORMAL soldier in field they dont need super duper toys on them they need light and good weapon that not jams afther few mags ....
and RIS system is good for SF they need it to put their toys ....

Marines have rails on their M16.

[rob]

believe it or not more and more rails are being put on "normal" troops' weapons.

they often times buy their own toys. because lets face it, those "toys" are an advantage to anyone in combat, not just sf.

[Sepper]

I've always been a fan of the M4. It get's the job done. But if there's a better gun out there and the technology is going to advance us, then we need to jump on it. I used to hate the thought of switching to a new gun, but after reading this comparison, I'm actually surprised at the stats of the XM8. Draw your own conclusions, but I say go for it.

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

[rob]

I've always been a fan of the M4. It get's the job done. But if there's a better gun out there and the technology is going to advance us, then we need to jump on it. I used to hate the thought of switching to a new gun, but after reading this comparison, I'm actually surprised at the stats of the XM8. Draw your own conclusions, but I say go for it.

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

you might not want to base everything on a manufacturer fact sheet. remember that these people are trying to sell a product. and they dont compare apples and apples, they compare and xm8 to and m4 with about 5 different pieces of kit on it.

[catchv22]

Because the XM8 has those 5 pieces of equipment attached. The correct comparison would be the M4 with AN PEQ 2 and Aimpoint sight on it. The XM8 sight covers those two accessories albeit at a loss of battery efficiency. And the XM8 is compatible with rails. I think they can be attached to the existing foregrip instead of buying an RIS/RAS unit.

[maw]

yeah sure, like hk doesn't have any skeletons in it's closet.

xm8 isn't the future, it's just eye candy and a post-retirement ticket for some brass out of benning..


Everytime H&K built a weapon system it was always high-class, reliable, and leading in technology if not far ahead of its' time (remember G 11).

The M4, especially the SOPMOD was a fairly good rifle, apart from some minor jamming here and there, but now it's time for the future, let it go already.

[rob]

Because the XM8 has those 5 pieces of equipment attached. The correct comparison would be the M4 with AN PEQ 2 and Aimpoint sight on it. The XM8 sight covers those two accessories albeit at a loss of battery efficiency. And the XM8 is compatible with rails. I think they can be attached to the existing foregrip instead of buying an RIS/RAS unit.

no, a fair comparison would be to put the same sight on the xm8 on the m4 and then compare the two. or vise versa. and they put a ris on the m4, but did not have the attachable ris pannels on the xm8 which hk keeps raving about.

[RavenW]

XM8 Beheaded? Oh no! Does anyone have any pictures or a link to the video.....those....those savages!

you think it's funny?! :cantbeli: :roll:

[catchv22]

Well if we bought the XM8 sights, then we'd still have old Aimpoints, ACOGs and EOTechs that were just recently purchased. Either way it's a waste. But you are correct in your logic about the comparison.