"Soldiers Soon to Get Side Protection on Body Armor
(Source: US Army; issued June 16, 2004)
(...)
The third piece of equipment PEO Soldier demonstrated was the XM-8 rifle. While the XM-8 still faces four more formal tests before the decision is made whether to buy it, Moran said the Special Forces Soldiers and other troops who have tried it out all said they want it now.
There are three variants of the XM-8: a light version with a collapsible stock and a 9.5-inch barrel, a standard version with a 12-inch barrel and a designated marksman version with a 20-inch barrel. While a longer barrel means greater weight, it also means greater accuracy over greater ranges and a higher rate of fire, Moran explained.
In addition to being lighter than the M-16 and M-4 rifles, the XM-8 has the advantage of being easier to maintain with significantly lower problems with stoppages. The first XM-8 tested fired 15,000 rounds without cleaning or lubrication without a first misfire, said Col. Michael Smith, program manager for PEO Solider--Weapons.
The last new type of rifle the Army has bought was the M-16 in the 1960s, Moran said.
If the XM-8 passes its remaining tests and the decision is made to buy it, the Army will likely purchase about 8,000 next fiscal year to equip two units of action, Moran said..
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