Military.com’s SoldierTech has a great article on the Heckler & Koch XM-8 Battle Rifle, which HK is hoping the US military will consider as the replacement for the M-16/M-4 series. The only thing the article fails to mention is how the US services, namely the Army and Marines to date, are exploring the 6.8mm cartridge as a replacement for the 5.56mm. The latter is the current round chambered in the M-16 series, and the XM-8 uses it as well.
The 6.8mm round has seen some limited use in Afghanistan with Army Special Forces, and has proven popular when compared to the five-five-six in terms of stopping power.
Posted by retrophisch at January 6, 2005 10:54 PM | TrackBack