The M2 and MK-19 are just too good and irreplaceable.

[F-15 Eagle]

They weren't canceled just zero funded - for now - because the overall budgets were trimmed and they were the guys on the outside who took the blow to protect the guys on the inside.



We are not talking about an air to air gun here. These weapons typically fire 2-3 round bursts. With the M2 that's less than a third of second of firing. The Mk 19 half a second and the XM307 3/4 of a second. If anyone thinks that makes any difference then quite clearly they've never had any practical experience of firing a support weapon in a tactical environment where target acquisition and coordination take up much more time than actually squeezing a trigger.

Then there is the effect of the ammo. For one minute of suppression of a standard target the M2HB needs to fire 350 rounds, the Mk 19 126 rounds and the XM307 27 rounds.

Despite all this the XM307 was never considered a failure because of its 250 rpm rate of fire. This was what it was pitched for, funded for, designed for and achieved. So the whole point is not just wrong in analysis but in fact.

Dude seriously its obvious most troops in the Army prefer the higher rate of fire of the M2. A 260 rpm .50 cal just does not cut it in modern warfare, they had their chance with the XM312 and it did not work. They have a second chance with the LW50 and it WILL NOT work.

The Army also likes the 40mm over the 25mm, thats why they are buying the MK-19 and MK-47 over the XM307. If they actually wanted the XM307(XM312) they would have put it in service by now.

If the project was zero funded then that means they are not working on the project which is the same thing as the project being dead.

 

[F-15 Eagle]

Dude, rate of fire is not the issue. The XM307 and its 12.7mm mule the XM312 were designed to have low rates of fire so as to be a very low weight weapon with very low recoil. They have a differential recoil system where the barrel and bolt of the weapon recoil inside the casing. This limits the rate of fire but is well worth it for the other advantages.

And thats why the Army still prefers the M2 because the rate of fire is an issues whether you like it or not.

Also when is accuracy an issue with the M2? Well its not the M2 is plenty accurate in fact it has been used as a sniper rifle before just to demonstrate its accuracy.

Plus the M2 is far more reliable.

The XM307/312 is a hunk of junk and a waist of military spending IMO and the Army agrees.

 

[Surfinbird]

Dude seriously its obvious most troops in the Army prefer the higher rate of fire of the M2. A 260 rpm .50 cal just does not cut it in modern warfare, they had their chance with the XM312 and it did not work. They have a second chance with the LW50 and it WILL NOT work.

The Army also likes the 40mm over the 25mm, thats why they are buying the MK-19 and MK-47 over the XM307. If they actually wanted the XM307(XM312) they would have put it in service by now.

If the project was zero funded then that means they are not working on the project which is the same thing as the project being dead.

I'm sorry mate but its not obvious. You've taken an end point and added your own story to how they got there. But its not how it happened!

Plus the XM312 was never seriously considered an operational weapon it was a test bed for the XM307 that you could shoot without needing the developmental 25mm ammo.

Zero funded also does not meant the project is over. Quite clearly GD are still spending their own money on the concept to develop the LW50 and other weapons.

I respect your POV over ROF but I'm afraid it doesn't align to what actually went on in the OCSW project. Cheers!

 

[F-15 Eagle]

I'm sorry mate but its not obvious. You've taken an end point and added your own story to how they got there. But its not how it happened!

Plus the XM312 was never seriously considered an operational weapon it was a test bed for the XM307 that you could shoot without needing the developmental 25mm ammo.

Zero funded also does not meant the project is over. Quite clearly GD are still spending their own money on the concept to develop the LW50 and other weapons.

I respect your POV over ROF but I'm afraid it doesn't align to what actually went on in the OCSW project. Cheers!

LMAO I'm making up a story? Or is it you trying to prove a point. You see I'm basing my posts off of the facts that I read from news articles ect, but your just posting because you don't agree with me and making up wild ideas just to protect the LW50.

If most of the troops who test fired the XM312 say they prefer the higher rate of fire of the M2 than it is obvious. That is why the XM312 was killed or if you like "zero funded".

Back in 2005 the XM312 was considered as a M2 replacement but the testing did not impresses the ground troops.

The XM312 project is dead and now their moving along with the smiler LW50, so what I meant to say is one project is dead but the other has taken its place. But the LW50 will most likely go the same way the XM312 has. If the Army wanted the LW50 they would have bought the XM312 which is the same thing but with was canned and now GD does not want to give up and they will make money off of this regardless if the army buys this weapon or not....its called corporate greed.