Oh, I'm not saying that this is the greatest thing since sliced bread and that they should be made general-issue yesterday, I'm just saying that I think it has potential. Believe me, a Carl Gustav is also a sonofabitch to lug around, but when it's necessary, someone does it, and they also carry a rifle or carbine.

I think a very relevant question about this weapons system is whether it will penetrate an Afghan mud wall. Based on my experiences over there, I am VERY skeptical of that. That said, if it can be effectively fired OVER the wall and still inflict casualties, then I can think of dozens of instances where it would have very quickly ended firefights that ended up lasting several hours.

I was about to say that too. The system that shoots the ammo can be very advance, but if the ammo doesn't deliver, then the weapon is useless.

Amen. I also agree that it has potential.

Apparently, it can be fired over walls effectively. But here's something that is pointed out in the article:

Are mud walls always going to be that wide? And can you accurately estimate the wall thickness without an overhead view?

Good rule of thumb is that they're going to be at least a foot thick, if it's a grape hut significantly more. But then again, no man-portable weapon is effective against a grape hut.

Alright, that makes sense then. But if the round detonates too soon over the wall, I imagine that would reduce the damage it does. I also figured that the width of the wall is going to vary considerably in any given area and firefight.

Then again, I'm assuming that Alliant Techsystems and H&K have already thought about this, interviewed GIs who have been to Afghanistan, and carefully estimated the average thickness of mud walls. Whereas I'm mostly talking out of my ass. :D

The XM8 was actually fielded in very limited numbers in Iraq from what I've read.

http://image50.webshots.com/50/3/33/...7nguBkK_ph.jpg

http://img.wm-team.org/pmc/Chris_XM8.jpg
This guy's dead BTW.

So the XM8 had been at least been field tested. I wonder what the results were.

This guy in the photo supposed to be some kind of Private contractor?

I think so.

if you look closely he's standing right next to the two hands holding the swords

Oh, yeah, I totally forgot about this. But now that you post it, I remember it from HKPRO boards. Thanks for the reminder.