HK developing a G36 variant as an upper for the AR15/M16 lower

[Min]

Will take USGI M16 magazines. Will mate readily to existing AR15/M16 lowers, and be gas-piston operated like the G36.

 

[Andrew]

Where did you hear this from? what more info do you have on this? are there any photos?

 

[buzz_knox]

It was mentioned in the current copy of SOF.

 

[Spieler]

That sounds enticing - but it'll probably be just as expensive as the rest of HK's product line. The dollar's decline against the Euro is sure to only make their stuff even more expensive - at least until they get their Columbus, GA facility up and running.

 

[BDM]

I am sure it will be revealed at the up coming shot show.

 

[Harry Tuttle]

well, theres one way to product improve the M-16 without changing the platform

i wonder if it will have a foreward assist

 

[Correia]

That actually sounds like a pretty decent idea from a business perspective. Provided that HK keeps the price in line with other AR uppers. There are tons of lowers out there, there are lots of shooters with multiple ARs and this is something that would be truely new and different for those of us with multiple lowers laying around.

 

[Zak Smith]

Is it going to melt like the G36?

-z

 

[Nando Aqui]

The XM8 'System'

Read about it:
http://www.hk-usa.com/pages/military-le/rifles-carbines/xm8.html

Alex

 

[MLC]

Zak, the one instance of a G36 melting is from a guy who makes a good bit of money renting G36's for people to run ungogly amounts of ammo through. Beta mags, cases of Wolf ammo and stacks of magazines are shown in every picture he posts of his desert shoots. It is beyond reality to expect an assault rifle(not a LMG or GPMG) shot in bursts of 100 to not generate heat. I'm not sure that an M-16 would be able to fire as much dirty ammo with out a failure let alone some long term damage, but that is another story.[/rant]
Kudos to HK for making a quality component the enhance our AR's & M-16's.

Please don't let this turn into another XM8 vs M-16 thread(fingers crossed).

 

[fix]

Provided it has the rail system of the current AR flat tops, I could see this as a viable approach to changing the platform...gradually. I'm still not backing off my position that change is not needed.

 

[Badger Arms]

Oh, c'mon Photoshop guys... where's the mock-pictures? You've gotta use the 'hot pink' version. I've always wondered why the AR-180 operating system was never mated to the AR15 lower. That's probably have sold like hotcakes in the 90's.

 

[MLC]

A quickie for the ol' Badge:

Though the bad news of this may mean they are anticipating bad news in '04 and don't plan on an XM8 clone.

 

[another48hrs]

I remember reading about this last year on AR15.com. I believe the thread came to the general conclusion that it was vaporware, but I seriously hope it will shows up at Shot Show too.

 

[Dave Markowitz]

I've always wondered why the AR-180 operating system was never mated to the AR15 lower.

The current production AR-180B is almost this, in a sense. The AR-180B uses AR-15 internals and M16 magazines.

 

[buzz_knox]

Though the bad news of this may mean they are anticipating bad news in '04 and don't plan on an XM8 clone.

In at least one article, HK indicated it wouldn't manufacture a civilian XM8 even if the AWB was defeated.

 

[j.wise]

I read that article, too. Now I could get a pre-ban G36/XM8 upper to fit my lowers that are US legal to have flash suppressors and bayo lugs!

Hey MLC, nice pic. But can you show us what the standard USGI M16 mag instead of the G36 mag would look like? Only way we could get HK made AR mags is if (pray, "when") the AWB dies.

 

[Min]

If it's available for civilians, and if the price isn't too high, then I am likely to get one.

Heheh

 

[MLC]

Another 48hrs:
A fellow on HKPRO confirmed that HK had been showing samples of the uppers at Law Enforcement trade shows.

 

[another48hrs]

That sounds interesting MLC. HKPRO is really good about confirming things HK related. On AR15.com it was like "I heard from this one guy who knows this one guy..."

 

[Min]

If you can't trust Soldier of Fortune, who can you trust?

 

[Nando Aqui]

Just in case you didn't get a chance to read the link I provided above, the document starts with this statement:
========================================
"THE XM8 SYSTEM

Beginning life as the 5.56mm KE (kinetic energy) component of the 20mm air-bursting XM29 Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW), the XM8 Lightweight Modular Carbine System represents the state-of-the-art in 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles.

Developed by the US Army’s office of Project Manager for Soldier Weapons located at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey in close conjunction with the US Army Infantry Center, the XM8 Future Combat Rifle is intended to replace existing M4 Carbines and select 5.56mm x45 weapons in the US Army arsenal beginning as early as the fourth quarter of FY05.

Once adopted, the M8 Carbine will replace the aging M16/M4 family of weapons, which have been in service for nearly four decades, longer than any previous US service rifle. The M8 Carbine will be up to 20% lighter than a comparably equipped M4 Carbine MWS and yet offer additional features and performance unavailable currently in any assault rifle in the world…"
=========================================
Alex

 

[Nightcrawler]

I'm not sure that an M-16 would be able to fire as much dirty ammo with out a failure let alone some long term damage, but that is another story.[/

400 rounds through an M249 SAW, just cranking it and not firing in bursts, can melt even that heavy barrel.

That little gas tube on the M16 has been known to turn pink during too much sustained, fully automatic fire.

There are just some fire rates that are too much for a regular rifle. That's why we have light machine guns.

SWAT magazine recently did a review of the G36C. They seemed very impressed with it.

As for a G36 Upper, I would like to see that goofy integral scope mount removed and replaced with the sight rail/optics rail of the G36C. More versatile, in my opinion.

 

[MLC]

There are just some fire rates that are too much for a regular rifle. That's why we have light machine guns.

Amen

 

[Schuey2002]

Zak, the one instance of a G36 melting is from a guy who makes a good bit of money renting G36's for people to run ungogly amounts of ammo through. Beta mags, cases of Wolf ammo and stacks of magazines are shown in every picture he posts of his desert shoots.

Here's the "guy". His name is Larry, and he is known as.. LarryG36.

As for me, I'm going to be standing in line with cash in hand.