HK XM8 Pictures and Videos

Check out these pictures of the new XM8, from what I've seen so far, this may be the new standard issue rifle for the U.S. Army and the US Marine Corps. Here are some videos aswell...

http://www.hk-usa.com/video/Comments002.wmv
http://www.hk-usa.com/video/XM8_auto.wmv

http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/xm8-1.jpg

http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/xm8-2.jpg

http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/xm8_rightmed.jpg

http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/xm8_still-lifepopup.jpg

http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/xm8apgsold1popup.jpg

http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/xm8model.jpg

http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/xm8soldierpopup.jpg

http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/USMC_XM8.jpg


http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/d3f.jpg

http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/p38sandra.jpg

[Fioraon]

Welcome to last year. Old pictures. Post when H&K updates their site.

[Mudcat]

I didn't see them last year so, thanks for posting them, FutureMarine. :D

[Seoulstriker]

thanks for posting!

what's so good about the XM-8, anyway?

[Operation Ivy]

(sorry old pics buddy :( )


what's so good about the XM-8, anyway

AHHH not this topic again :D

[Mudcat]

Op Ivy, yer Abrams look a little squashed. :)

Is it just me or does the XM8 look a little like the old Lazer Tag rifles?

[Maverick77]

Looks like a solid all round weapon

Looks like the U.S will finally have a better Main Battle Rifle than ****ing terrorists.

well see though

thanks for the pics and videos.

[VorpalDoom]

Looks like the U.S will finally have a better Main Battle Rifle than f*** terrorists.


we don't already?
rofl

[Operation Ivy]

Op Ivy, yer Abrams look a little squashed

LOL i know im just a little to lazy to fix it :D, ill use my old one for now

[Maverick77]

Looks like the U.S will finally have a better Main Battle Rifle than f*** terrorists.


we don't already?
rofl

thats right

Ak series is better than the m16 series

[Falco]

I think that is debatable. Just check around the forum.

[Maverick77]

why

[anonymous individual]

Could this gun marrage the M16 with the Ak into one beautiful rifle?

[Maverick77]

enough about the the ****in AK and m16

Ak more powerful round and more reliable end

back to XM8

[Ratamacue]

Great argument 249. You should consider joining a professional debate team.

[Falco]

why

Look around the gun threads. It almost always comes to Ak vs M4/16.

http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=7485
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=5699&highlight=ak+m16
http://www.militaryphotos.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=3475&highlight=ak+m16

These are just examples

Can we please stay on topic?

[Maverick77]

Great argument 249. You should consider joining a professional debate team.


thanks

[Ratamacue]

Goddamn FutureMarine, this topic has been started at LEAST 3 times before now. And every single time, it goes along the same exact path.

[Maverick77]

everyone just calm the **** down.

This is an internet forum

jesus

back to XM8

Well, when I first saw this weapon I was like WTF? It looks like a toy...but I started to read more info about it and saw some videos and I started to like the XM8... I just wonder how it will perform when the weapon is weat and in the water...

[Falco]

In a similar way that the G36 performs in the water since it is based on it.

[Maverick77]

Yeah looks having nothing to do with then actual weapon I thought the exact same thing.

But looking at it for awile it starts to look less like a toy especially when you see it being used.

I think it would "look" a lot better without the carrying handle there but that doesnt matter.

you will see varients later without carrying handles probably.

Just wanted to post the XM8 and the G36 and compare some major changes and same small details of both weapons...

By the way, is the G36 the standard weapon for the German Military? Or is it only for the Special Forces over there?

http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/g36fullmain.jpg

http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/xm8_rightmedx.jpg

[BT_Recon]

i cant stand the look of the thing..... the G36 looks so more attractive.... in almost every way, the XM8 looks like a jelly bean on sterroids with a metal pipe jammed in its arse

Atleast it's made from HK... :roll:

[non-zero possibility]

no ones sayin the xm is a pretty bitch, but it will be effective.

[Midav]

Just wanted to post the XM8 and the G36 and compare some major changes and same small details of both weapons...

By the way, is the G36 the standard weapon for the German Military? Or is only for the Special Forces over there?

http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/g36fullmain.jpg

http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/xm8_rightmedx.jpg

It's standard.

One of the things I really like about the XM8 and most of the HK weapons system is that the selecter switch is right next to the thumb, really useful...

[Ghostwolf]

So does that mean the XM8's carrying handle can be removed,
and replaced with Picatinny rails and specialized weapon scopes?

[ExtraT]

Personally, I'm surprised that US is not going the bull-pup way. It sure seems like everybody else is nowadays.

[wholagun]

Personally, I'm surprised that US is not going the bull-pup way. It sure seems like everybody else is nowadays.


Ah you know what they say, great minds think alike. I was pondering the very same question. Maybe in the future US will get bullpup - the OICW (whatever its called) wasn't that bullpup design?

[stuntman]

Not for nothing I cannot stand the way the g36 or the xm8 looks they were kool at first but these weapons have no character. Since they are made by HK they can't be to bad! But I wonder why we didn't go domestic?

[Thomsen]

http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/g36fullmain.jpg

http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/xm8_rightmedx.jpg

This is not the german version, it is the G36 E (export), which is used e.g. in Spain.

German version looks like that:

http://www.hkpro.com/image/g3-g36.jpg

Or like that:

http://rhein-zeitung.de/on/03/11/29/topnews/bw1_.jpg ;)

Or like that:

http://www.hkpro.com/image/g36kberet.jpg

[-Max2-]

Check out these pictures of the new XM8, from what I've seen so far, this may be the new standard issue rifle for the U.S. Army and the US Marine Corps

USMC as well ? Don't they switched to the M16A4 recently ?

And i have read negative comments from the USMC about this "toy" gun... :|

[wreck]

Check out these pictures of the new XM8, from what I've seen so far, this may be the new standard issue rifle for the U.S. Army and the US Marine Corps

USMC as well ? Don't they switched to the M16A4 recently ?

And i have read negative comments from the USMC about this "toy" gun... :|
Don't believe everything you read...

Btw. When the M16 was introduced, it was considered "toy"-looking.

The XM8 will be a big leap when it comes to reliability and effectiveness.

[FallenAngel]

Check out these pictures of the new XM8, from what I've seen so far, this may be the new standard issue rifle for the U.S. Army and the US Marine Corps

USMC as well ? Don't they switched to the M16A4 recently ?


Yes they did.


Btw. When the M16 was introduced, it was considered "toy"-looking.

The XM8 will be a big leap when it comes to reliability and effectiveness.

When the M16 was introduced, it was a piece of ****. "Self-cleaning" rifle my ass. Took them months and cost God-knows how many good men to figure out the thing needs cleaning every damn day- whether it's used or not. And even TODAY it's still unreliable- just take the 507th for example.

And for the 100th time, the XM8 is for-all-intents-and-pruposes the same gun as the G36 in a different plastic shell- the G36 has shown itself to be reliable, the only major problem is that after prolonged use, the forward plastic handgrip tends to get pretty f*cking hot (like on the verge of melting) I hear. Fix that, and you're golden.

Course FutureMarine, you could have searched the term "XM8" and come up with probably a half dozen threads where all this- and more- has been said over and over and over again...

[RealUltimatePower]

Looks like a sweet assault rifle I want it

[fokket]

A former Ranger who had been in Ranger since 1983
(He retired last year) is working on XM8... promising weapon hey?

[ExtraT]

Maybe in the future US will get bullpup - the OICW (whatever its called) wasn't that bullpup design?

OICW's HE component is bullpup. The KE component is traditional, and is also based on G36.

[Burncycle]

I'd perfer to buy a bunch of 6.8 kits for the military (eventually replacing all M-16's/M4's with 6.8 uppers)

One of the advantages of the XM8 over the G-36 is the telescoping stock vice folding stock.

I'd perfer a more functional weapon. Anyone remember seeing the XM8 concept image? THAT looked like a useful toy!

Here's a pic of the early concept: http://world.guns.ru/assault/xm8draw.jpg

mmm... rails...

[crazyman]

since some ppl have asked...last i saw, accessory rails are a requirement of the program. HK's website mentioned it in an article that was on there last i looked. cmon now, do you really think we'd abandon the whole concept?

[gilgoul]

WHat about iron sights?
cause the optic is nice, but if broken, what do you do, try to aim with the upper receiver?

[crazyman]

I'm just going on memory, but I THINK that the HK info on the XM8 mentioned that the site has an option that does not require batteries. This may not be as good as straigh iron sights...but anything that takes out the no-battery option on the rifle is most likely going to take the shooters' eyes right along with it. personally i'd like to see some kind of back up iron sights myself.

[stuntman]

Nice furniture!
http://dboy.cpgl.net/USA/oicw/xm8.jpg

[Wacko]

Well, It's a German weapon.

Now this is a sexy bitch!

http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/XM8.jpg

Now this is a sexy bitch!

http://www.xbox-connection.com/hostedimages/XM8.jpg

Is this prototype still going to be made?

[usa320]

no- i belive the model shown in the first post is the version taht is going to be made.

At first i thought it was a plastic piece of ****, but it gets better everytime i see it.

And yes, it does have iron sights underneath the regular scope i believe i read that on HK's site...

Personally, i think we shoulda built a new gun from scratch-something with the modern electronic scope and technology of the G-36, the small size of the M-4 and the stopping power of a 7.62.

[crazyman]

the photo above is just an army model of that they thought the XM8 MIGHT look like. the other one with the curved carry handle is the actual rifle HK is producing for the U.S. Army.

[SEALInTheMaking]

I still dont understand why they are either bothering with this gun. It is meant to be an improvement on the M16, but doesnt solve the 16s main problem which is the 5.56 rounds. Im praying that the military wises up and switches it to 6.8 before they mass produce those things.

[He219]

New Videos:

XM8 overview (http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?s=1-292925-xm8.php)

Assembly (http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?s=1-292925-xm8_assembly.php)

30-Round Magazine (http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?s=1-292925-xm8_30round.php)

Dust and Weather (http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?s=1-292925-xm8_dust.php)

Sight Module (http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?s=1-292925-xm8_sight.php)

Grenade Launcher (http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?s=1-292925-xm8_grenade.php)

100-Round Magazine (http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?s=1-292925-xm8_100.php)

http://www.hk-usa.com/corporate/media/mediaimages/xm8compactsling.jpg
XM8 Compact Carbine variant with buttcap and sling

1 killer weapon
8 things you’ll love about the XM8 (http://www.armytimes.com/story.php?f=0-ARMYPAPER-2652143.php)

LAS VEGAS — About a year from now, the M8 — the Army’s likely new 5.56mm assault weapon — should begin showing up in unit arms rooms.
That’s not official — the weapon is still the experimental XM8; there’s testing yet to be done, contracts to be signed. But if any casino in this gambling mecca would take my bet that this is the American soldier’s next rifle, I’d put some serious cash on the line.

This former soldier, an old 11B, would stake that bet based on tips from sources and firsthand experience — I was privileged to be among the first shooting enthusiasts anywhere to put the XM8 to the test.

That’s thanks to good fortune — and my job as an editor at Army Times Publishing Co. and organizer of the annual “Shoot-out at Blackwater” weapons-testing event in Virginia. The XM8s already underwent arctic tests in February, are now in the hands of troops in Alaska and are slated to undergo testing in the tropics (probably in Panama) in June.

The Infantry Center at Fort Benning, Ga., is currently in the early stages of an eight-week assessment of the XM8 to see how the first prototypes of the weapon meet the small-arms needs of the Army. In addition to soldiers, the assessment will involve Marines, airmen and Coast Guard members.

So far, all of the testing of the XM8 has been open to press coverage. But the senior leadership at Benning recently decided to deny access to reporters to ensure an unbiased assessment environment free of outside distractions, said Rich McDowell, Benning’s public affairs officer.

The XM8 will be put through a final workout in the desert — Arizona’s Yuma Proving Ground is the likely spot — immediately after that.

The Army remains mum about how tests are going, but program officials with manufacturer Heckler & Koch Defense Inc., prime contractor for the weapons, are confident the XM8s will measure up to the challenges of the environmental testing. They’re so confident that they invited hundreds of journalists writing for defense, firearms and related publications to put three XM8 variants to the test during the annual SHOT Show here.

On Feb. 11, about 120 firearms specialists gathered at the Las Vegas Police Department firing range to try out the new carbines.

I was privileged to be the first journalist to fire the XM8 Baseline Carbine. I don’t say that lightly. Two colleagues and I tried to find things that weren’t quite right with the weapon’s design and functioning, but failed on both accounts.

Here are eight cool things shooters will like about the XM8:

1. It’s light. The baseline carbine model currently weighs in at 6.25 pounds (the objective weight is 5.7 pounds), including an integrated sight with infrared laser and illuminator, red dot reflex sight and integrated mount. By comparison, an M4 modular weapon system with rail attachment, backup sights, M68 Close Combat Optic and standard laser/illuminator systems tips the scales at 8.85 pounds.

2. It comes with a cutting-edge sighting system. The XM8’s battery-powered sight houses a red dot close-combat optic that incorporates an infrared laser aimer and illuminator. The shooter controls the sight’s functions through a wireless switch that can be mounted anywhere on the weapon. The sight combines all the capabilities of the separate close-combat optic, AN/PEQ-2 laser and AN/PAQ-4 designator systems normally mounted on M4s.

3. It’s easy to zero. The sight has a backup etched reticle and comes factory zeroed. It retains its zero position through a positive-locking mounting setup.

4. It has no rails. Designers fashioned integral, flush-mounting, metal-lined attachment points on the XM8’s handguard and receiver. Standard 1913 adapters can be mounted on the attachment points so operators can continue to use lights, lasers and other items already in the inventory.

5. It needs little maintenance. H&K officials say the XM8 can fire more than 15,000 rounds without need for lubrication or cleaning, even under the most extreme operating conditions.

6. It’s easy to clean. Unlike the M16/M4 series, the XM8’s gas system doesn’t blow gases and their carbon-fouling elements into the receiver during firing. Instead, about 90 percent of the gases created during firing are vented through a gas port under the front of the barrel; the other 10 percent are used to cycle the weapon. This new design reduces average cleaning time to four minutes, compared with the 14-minute average cleaning time for an M4.

7. It’s tough. Between shooters, H&K officials alternated sticking the carbine in a drum of water and burying it in sand. Despite that treatment and the thousands of rounds put through the weapons at the range, there wasn’t a single misfire or stoppage. The weapon’s cold hammer-forged barrel has a service life of 20,000 rounds, and has blow-out vents to direct energy and gases from a catastrophic chamber failure forward and away from the shooter.

8. It’s ambidextrous. Lefties will find a southpaw-friendly, centrally located charging handle that doubles as a forward assist slide, an ambidextrous magazine release, bolt catch, safety/selector lever and release lever for the multiposition, collapsible butt stock. All shooters will be able to keep their firing hand on the pistol grip while loading, unloading or charging the weapon.

Putting it to the test

Despite the XM8 carbine’s light weight, it feels like the substantial weapon it is. That’s important. Shooters won’t be afraid to use it to its full potential, including using the double magazine as a firing support when shooting from the ****e position.

The tested weapons have a cyclic rate of fire of 750 rounds per minute — about average for assault weapons. More important, they have a sustained fire rate of 85 rpm for 210 rounds, compared with 50 rpm for 210 rounds for an M4.

Although the tested weapons had only a semi-auto/full auto selector switch, company literature indicates a two- or three-round burst selector will be available as an option on production weapons.

At 33.3 inches with the stock extended, the carbine’s overall length is the same as a 14.5-inch barreled M4. It felt shorter than that, though, the first time I raised it to my shoulder. My eye was closer to the rear of the sight than I like when shooting, but the weapon’s relatively mild recoil precluded forehead souvenirs. The eye/sight standoff distance will be a bit greater, of course, for shooters wearing ballistic vests and other combat gear.

Trigger pull was sure and responsive. Popping off two- or three-round bursts was no problem and could be done with minimal (though perceptible) barrel climb. The weapon’s ramped cheek rest allows a shooter to get a comfortable “cheek weld” on the stock, and allows the shooter to fire with his head up, rather than from a less natural position necessitated by other types of rear sights.

The all-in-one optics eliminate the need to attach various accessories to a rail or upper receiver. The illuminated red-dot reticle delivers quick target acquisition with both eyes open. More important, the optics retain their zero even after being removed from and reinstalled on the weapon.

The 30-round polymer magazines clip together at two half-moon connecting points. It will be interesting to see how well these stand up under hard use. Then again, metal magazines aren’t soldier-proof.

XM8 program officials plan to field a new bayonet/wire-cutter combo, manufactured by Camillus, with the carbine variant.

Possible improvements

About the only improvement my colleagues and I could suggest would involve integrating some type of ammo-level indicator — either a numeric device or a graduated bar — into the optical sight so the shooter would know precisely how much ammo remains in the magazine(s). The clear-sided magazine now makes it possible to do this with a glance, but that requires the shooter to look away from the enemy’s direction.

The Army is considering adding some type of lifetime monitoring system to each weapon, Army Times has learned, so data such as the number of rounds fired during a particular timeframe or over the entire life of a weapon could be retrieved by waving an electronic reader over the weapon. The system might also include the ability to inventory the weapons with an electronic reader.

The bottom line: The XM8 looks like a new assault weapon that will be arriving soon at an arms room near you.

From what I’ve seen, you won’t be disappointed.

:D

[thatguy96]

1. It’s light. The baseline carbine model currently weighs in at 6.25 pounds (the objective weight is 5.7 pounds), including an integrated sight with infrared laser and illuminator, red dot reflex sight and integrated mount. By comparison, an M4 modular weapon system with rail attachment, backup sights, M68 Close Combat Optic and standard laser/illuminator systems tips the scales at 8.85 pounds.
Its 2 lbs, and I've mentioned the possible issue with the 'porpoise' effect and when a weapon becomes too light in another XM8 thread. I'll mention it again if needs repeating.


2. It comes with a cutting-edge sighting system. The XM8’s battery-powered sight houses a red dot close-combat optic that incorporates an infrared laser aimer and illuminator. The shooter controls the sight’s functions through a wireless switch that can be mounted anywhere on the weapon. The sight combines all the capabilities of the separate close-combat optic, AN/PEQ-2 laser and AN/PAQ-4 designator systems normally mounted on M4s.
Its still battery powered, and we're waiting for comfirmation of back-up iron sights (though I'm pretty sure they've said it has them, and I've seen it in pics). What about night-vision capability? The ability of the usage of a night vision monocular in tandem with a collminating optic instead of having to mount a seperate device is certainly a bonus in my mind.


3. It’s easy to zero. The sight has a backup etched reticle and comes factory zeroed. It retains its zero position through a positive-locking mounting setup.
Back-up ret? Sounds cool, but I'd also like to have some actual reasons why its easy to zero...


4. It has no rails. Designers fashioned integral, flush-mounting, metal-lined attachment points on the XM8’s handguard and receiver. Standard 1913 adapters can be mounted on the attachment points so operators can continue to use lights, lasers and other items already in the inventory.
It has no rails but can have rails? Sounds like what we have in service right now, with the exception of the integral systems (which are nice).


5. It needs little maintenance. H&K officials say the XM8 can fire more than 15,000 rounds without need for lubrication or cleaning, even under the most extreme operating conditions.
Once again, a factual statement, then backed up by what HK officials say. I want to see what the Army says...not what HK's marketing department told them.


6. It’s easy to clean. Unlike the M16/M4 series, the XM8’s gas system doesn’t blow gases and their carbon-fouling elements into the receiver during firing. Instead, about 90 percent of the gases created during firing are vented through a gas port under the front of the barrel; the other 10 percent are used to cycle the weapon. This new design reduces average cleaning time to four minutes, compared with the 14-minute average cleaning time for an M4.
Wow, fourteen whole minutes, you'd think the average grunt was being asked to spend the rest of his life cleaning his rifle...gimme a break...he's not going to be cleaning it in the middle of a firefight.


8. It’s ambidextrous. Lefties will find a southpaw-friendly, centrally located charging handle that doubles as a forward assist slide, an ambidextrous magazine release, bolt catch, safety/selector lever and release lever for the multiposition, collapsible butt stock. All shooters will be able to keep their firing hand on the pistol grip while loading, unloading or charging the weapon.
I fire lefty, I've fired AR-15/M16 pattern weapons...they seem pretty ambidexterous to me...I've been able to perform all the actions described without taking my firing hand from the grip...and I don't consider myself some amazingly adept operator...by any stretch of the imagination...

...just my thoughts on these "8 great things" :roll:

[HELEX]

@thatguy96

To bring it to the Point:

You dont like it because it is absolutely superior to all AMERICAN rifles? :lol:

[thatguy96]

You dont like it because it is absolutely superior to all AMERICAN rifles?
Someone is eventually going to show me how its vastly superior to AR-15/M16 pattern, and then I might stop hating on the XM8. But until then, I see the XM8 as the solution in search of a problem. I also don't see how one can say I'm being a biased American, if the XM8 had been 100% American I'd be saying the same things. Because my point doesn't primarily have to do with the merits of the XM8 as a weapon, because in fact it looks like a quality piece of hardware (and contrary to the popular belief already in construction in your mind, I don't hate everything that HK makes). My point has to do with the fact that I don't think we need the XM8 or a replacement for the AR-15/M16 pattern, especially if its going to come from the pool of weapons currently available in the world.

So spare me this "I hate everything that's not made in the US" arguement, because to me that has nothing to do with it.