[sandytroop]

For you chaps interrested, the Army Times 22 Nov 04 ran an article on this matter. Apparently the test sequence isn't complete yet, as they report the system is "slated to go through tropical testing in early December and final operational tests in October 2005." Also "After recent tests, Army weapons developers found the XM8 easier to operate, lighter to carry and more reliable than the M-16 family." The main issue, it seems is found in this paragraph: "But before that can happen (the planned late 2005 adoption of this weapons system into the armory), other companies in the small arms industry must be given a chance to see if any of them can match the Army's requirements, along with those of the AirForce, Navy, and Marine Corps., according to a rule the Joint Chiefs of Staff created two years ago." I won't bore you by scribing the whole article. Apparently FNH USA, which just got the contract for the SOF Combat Assault Rifle (SCAR) is involved.

It looks, from the article, that the DOD is building a rifle by committee (like a camel is a horse designed by a committee, eh?) which is IMHO foolish; but also making sure they can get enough of them built to spec in a tme sensitive manner, which is smart.

The punch line acutally comes in the headline. Ignore it, the story reads as described, but pay attention to it and you have to wonder... :
"XM8 Small Arms Race? Army asks other arms makers if they can build a better weapon".

That tells me that the article isn't about some benign "cross checking" to make sure the thing can be madee right and fast; it's about looking for alternatives to the 8. "Better" in this context likely means "different." It should be a fascinating process for the ballistically minded among us to track...!