The US Army has received its first batch of XM8 carbine, a new variant of the M7 6.8x51 mm battle rifle, as a lighter and more close-range-oriented variant.
The 75th US Army Reserve Innovation Command announced that the first examples of the XM8 carbines have been delivered for testing, a close-quarters development of the M7.
While M7 offers significant improvements in ranged performance, the total weight, low ammunition capacity, and the size make the rifle less than ideal for close-range engagements. This has led to criticism from not only the Army adopting it but also rejection from the USMC keeping the M27 IAR derived from HK416 by its side.
The feedback has led the Army and SIG to develop XM8 with various changes to better conform to succeeding M4A1 carbines, while M7 continues to replace M16-family rifles for ranged engagements.
XM8, compared to the M7 with a 13" barrel and moderate-sized suppressor, sports a 11" barrel and a shorter but considerably thicker suppressor. In addition to this, the carbine variant has some trim-downs on the receiver. These have culminated in a weight reduction of half a kilogram. However, even the carbine variant with its suppressor remains heavy for its intended role at four kilograms.
Other changes for XM8 include the issuing of 25-round magazines and lighter ammunition loads to reduce combat load and address the low-capacity complaints.
Despite the improvments, XM8's specifications rather show a weapon with an identity crisis as a result of the attempts to fit a battle rifle into the uniform of a carbine that is meant to be easy to maneouvre in tight spaces and provide a meaningful volume of fire rather than marksman rifle-like precision and overmatch performance.
Author: Kaan Azman
Editor: Özgür Ekşi
