US Army's new rifle: the XM7

[Ivanhoe]

Just now, Stuart Galbraith said:

Future soldier is suddenly looking entirely affordable.

As always, Hollywood is 2+ decades ahead of DoD.

[Olof Larsson]

6 hours ago, shep854 said:

And radios.

Mainly radios, i.e. to coordinate mortars, 155's, drones and other supporting assets. Small arms fire is overwhelmingly used for suppressive fire. More often then not, on targets that you cannot even see.

[bojan]

3 hours ago, Ivanhoe said:

...For auto fire against a specific moving target, I am still thinking that the standard-issue rifle should have SA/FA built into the happy switch, but the current 0-90-180 lever is not the thing for quickly changing modes during a firefight. Something like -45/0/45 would be better for humans born without freak thumbs.

That was one of the USMC conclusions, switching from semi to full auto has to be quick, because (paraphrasing) "need for full automatic burst appears suddenly".

Ofc, issue with that is that you need to negate previous 60 years od experience with current safety lever.

[Stargrunt6]

5 hours ago, bojan said:

That was one of the USMC conclusions, switching from semi to full auto has to be quick, because (paraphrasing) "need for full automatic burst appears suddenly".

Ofc, issue with that is that you need to negate previous 60 years od experience with current safety lever.

Maybe the AK safety arrangement of Safe-Full-Single is best then.

"The M9 is evil, the revolver is good."

[Ivanhoe]

2 hours ago, Stargrunt6 said:

Maybe the AK safety arrangement of Safe-Full-Single is best then.

No way. Losing your firing grip to switch from Safe to Fire is no bueno for reactive fire.

At one time I thought about Safe/Single/Full, with a strong spring resisting the Single-to-Full range, would be best. Require the shooter to actively press down and keep pressed down to maintain Full mode. Hard to accidentally go past Single to Full.

[bojan]

AUG has progressive trigger, light press for single, long and heavy for full auto. My only experience with AUG is on airsoft version, but that trigger sucked.

Other alternative is Beretta SMG, with two separate triggers or MG34 arrangement with single finger firing single, and two fingers for burst.

But again, 60 years of manual of arms have to be tossed out of window.

[Stargrunt6]

8 hours ago, Ivanhoe said:

No way. Losing your firing grip to switch from Safe to Fire is no bueno for reactive fire.

 

I meant sequence of the modes on the switch, not the whole safety-doubling-as-dust-cover mechanic of the AK. Keep the same AR safety, just change the order of the modes.

1 hour ago, bojan said:

AUG has progressive trigger, light press for single, long and heavy for full auto. My only experience with AUG is on airsoft version, but that trigger sucked.

Other alternative is Beretta SMG, with two separate triggers or MG34 arrangement with single finger firing single, and two fingers for burst.

But again, 60 years of manual of arms have to be tossed out of window.

Thr Mg34 seems to be the better idea. It can more easily compensate for fine motor skills going to thr gutter once sympathetic drive kicks in.

[bojan]

Have to correct myself somewhat, MG34 is trigger is operated by by single finger (trigger guard is not really large enough for two fingers), but method of function is same as described, upper part of trigger is single, lower part is full auto.

[Ivanhoe]

5 hours ago, bojan said:

Have to correct myself somewhat, MG34 is trigger is operated by by single finger (trigger guard is not really large enough for two fingers), but method of function is same as described, upper part of trigger is single, lower part is full auto.

At one point I thought it might be handy to have dual triggers; front auto, back single. Then I realized it was completely unworkable with winter gloves.

[Markus Becker]

Where are we with regard to delivery of riles and machine guns in 6.8mm? 

Wiki says 107,000 XM7s and 13,000 XM250s are ordered.

And how much or little is that compared to the inventory of the US infantry, Army and Marines? 

[shep854]

15 hours ago, Markus Becker said:

Where are we with regard to delivery of riles and machine guns in 6.8mm? 

Wiki says 107,000 XM7s and 13,000 XM250s are ordered.

And how much or little is that compared to the inventory of the US infantry, Army and Marines? 

107,000 M7s should go a long way towards supplying US Army infantry units.  Leave the M4s to the pogues.

[bfng3569]

somebody wasn't too impressed...

https://www.twz.com/land/army-captain-slams-new-xm7-rifle-as-unfit-sig-sauer-says-otherwise

 

[rmgill]

On 2/19/2025 at 5:32 AM, Markus Becker said:

PDW for short range. The infantry fire fight is done with machine guns. 

Give every other rifleman an M249 or is a Holbars T6 better? 

[Ivanhoe]

1.4 lb just for the suppressor?

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

I think his argument about the amount of rounds rather overlooks how few rounds Soldiers carried when they were handling 7.62mm rifles like the M14. In British service the SLR hung on for nearly 30 years, and I never heard anyone complain about running out ammunition. Ditto the G3.

Mind you, I think dropping 5.56mm requires a lot better reasons than those given. Everyone else seems to have solved the problem by giving a section an MG and a dedicated marksman rifle, which is a lot cheaper and probably a lot more practical.

[Mike1158]

The problem here is, it's bloody logical.  Who the frell needs logic in any government department?

 

They (government) would all be out of a job.

[Stuart Galbraith]

I say return to .303. It worked perfectly well, particularly the Dum Dum.

[Mike1158]

.30, not too shabby and lots of ammo to choose from.  7.62 not far behind.

[shep854]

This article also includes response (pushback?) by Sig and Army brass:

https://taskandpurpose.com/news/army-sig-sauer-xm7/?fbclid=IwY2xjawKHaqNleHRuA2FlbQIxMQBicmlkETFFWXcwN2Q0Q3pPUDRvSUVkAR7rG0nwGP-viSnGyJQKdJJnSqYjweIWconbHdTXMiCJa01VfbZId25a5vizeg_aem_OMCDhghIVJ_Q-poEKNWGYA

"Officials with the Army and Sig Sauer pushed back on the findings of the research, which was conducted by an Army infantry officer and presented at this year's Modern Day Marine exhibition in Washington, D.C."

[bojan]

Return to 7.62x51 for general service rifles would be only slightly less retarded than 6.8.

[R011]

7 hours ago, Stuart Galbraith said:

I say return to .303. It worked perfectly well, particularly the Dum Dum.

11 Bore Brown Bess, but only because they've stopped requiring people to practice archery like Englishmen.

Edited May 7, 2025 by R011

[seahawk]

5 hours ago, bojan said:

Return to 7.62x51 for general service rifles would be only slightly less retarded than 6.8.

Maybe drop the general service rifle..

[Stuart Galbraith]

6 hours ago, R011 said:

11 Bore Brown Bess, but only because they've stopped requiring people to practice archery like Englishmen.

Im sure someone could develop a self loading crossbow, with the right cash incentive.

[Ssnake]

As always, Hollywood has cornered you 20 years ago:

 

[Stuart Galbraith]

For God sake dont show MOD, the bloody Commandos will want one.