H&K XM8s in Iraq?

[Lobotomy Boy]

While watching Iraq footage on the McLaughlin Group this morning I distinctly saw a U.S. soldier carrying an XM8. There's no mistaking that humpbacked profile.

I know the military purchased something like 15,000 XM8s for testing earlier this year. Are some of these being used in Iraq?

 

[mattf7184]

I believe they are there for R&D.

 

[shoobe01]

Yes. I too have seen several photos of them in Iraq. They are being 'field tested' or whatever its called. Presumably these evaluations will feed requirements to fix up the final version, but that didn't happen so well for the M16, so we'll see.

A thread here a few weeks ago about the XM-8 had and linked to some images of it in a bombed out desert environment. Look for those as well.

 

[mattf7184]

I wonder if they will fix any slam fire issues as in the G36, looks like same bolt/carrier in pics. Also, they have G36 model according to hkpro with a few of the XM8 "improvements".

 

[Lobotomy Boy]

Anyone read any reports about how well the guns are working in the field?

 

[Master Blaster]

Here is an evaluation and some links to a story in the FortBragg news.

http://www.murdoconline.net/archives/cat_xm8_xm25.html

Not News but a good summary of features, but reads like a HK advertisement

http://www.military.com/soldiertech/0,14632,Soldiertech_XM8,,00.html