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Key Points: The U.S. Army has begun fielding its newest assault rifle, the XM7, which will replace the M4 Carbine and M16 families in select units.

-Developed by Sig Sauer as part of the Next Generation Squad Weapon program, the XM7 features advanced capabilities, including a 6.8mm cartridge for enhanced range and lethality and the cutting-edge Vortex XM157 optic.

-It is designed to address feedback from combat experiences where 5.56mm rounds struggled against body armor and barriers.

-Initial deployment has focused on Pacific and special operations units, with broader adoption planned by FY2025.

-Despite early challenges, including reliability issues and concerns over weight, the XM7 promises significant advantages in power and penetration.

Meet the Army’s XM7 Rifle: A Game-Changer in Modern Warfare

The Army began fielding its newest rifle, the XM7, to the 101st Airborne this spring and to line units and Pacific-focused special operations units this fall. 

This is a half-decade-long endeavor to replace the M4 and M16 families of weapons that have served the Army since the mid-1960s. 

XM7: Short History Of the Weapon

Sig Sauer, who was awarded the contract for the Army’s Modular Handgun System for the M17, and M18 pistols was awarded the contract for the Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon program (NGSW) the XM7, and the squad automatic weapon, the XM250 to replace the M4 and the M249 SAW on April 19, 2022.

Both weapons will be equipped with the Vortex M157 Next-Generation Squad Weapon-Fire Control (NGSW-FC), an optic designed to integrate advanced technologies such as a laser range finder, ballistic calculator, and digital display overlay into a next-generation rifle optic.

Both weapons will also be chambered for the new 6.8-millimeter (.277-caliber) round, which the Army describes as superior in lethality and range to common battlefield rounds such as 5.56-millimeter and 7.62-millimeter.

The Army received reports from the troops in the field in Afghanistan that the 5.56 mm rounds of the M4 were ineffective at penetrating body armor or barriers at long distances. 

The Special Operations Command (SOCOM), Army Marksmanship Unit (AMU), and Army Armament Research, Development, and Engineering Center (ARDEC) have all conducted research and testing and had a significant influence on the Army to make the switch from 5.56mm and the 6.8mm cartridge.

XM7 Specs: 

Type – Assault rifle

Manufacturer SIG Sauer

Weight – 8.38 lb, 9.84 lb (with suppressor)

Length – 36 in (with suppressor)

Barrel length – 13 in

Cartridge – 6.8×51mm (.277 in)

Action – Short-stroke gas-operated piston, rotating bolt

Muzzle velocity 3,002 ft/s

Feed system – 20-round detachable SR-25 pattern box magazine, 25-round detachable SR-25 pattern box magazine (optional)

The XM7 is a select fire, magazine-fed, 6.8mm rifle. Its fully ambidextrous controls are similar to the M4/M4A1 carbine. 

Tanya Cooper, the wife of Lance Cpl. Jacob Cooper, fires off rounds from the M4 service carbine April 9 during 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion’s Jane Wayne Day at Combat Center Range 500. The spouses had the opportunity to use the weapons systems their husbands use in both training and combat.

Some features include a non-reciprocating left-side charging handle, collapsible/side-folding buttstock, and a free-floating MLOK handguard.

The weapon was designed to be suppressed and comes with a quick detach suppressor, the Sig SLX suppressor, which is also designed with a flash-reducing end cap, enhancing its performance.

Pacific Units Getting XM7s First, Focus On China:

As mentioned above, the Army’s units, focusing on the Pacific and special operations units, are getting the XM7 first. 

In Fiscal Year 2025, which began on October 1, the Army started issuing the weapons to slated units. After testing and adoption as the primary weapon, the “X” of the XM7 will be dropped, and the weapons will become the M7 and M250.

The schedule for the weapons issuance is as follows:

-From October to December, the Army Reserve’s 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Infantry Regiment at Fort Shafter, Hawaii; elements of the 25th Infantry Division, at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; the Army’s Ordnance School, at Fort Gregg-Adams, Virginia.

-From January to March, the 3rd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division at Fort Campbell, Kentucky; 2nd Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington; 1st Brigade, 1st Armored Division, at Fort Bliss, Texas.

CAMP KOREA VILLAGE, Iraq (May 15, 2007) – Sergeant Christopher L. Mc Cabe fires his rifle during monthly range training here May 15. The Marines and sailors of Detachment 1, Combat Logistics Battalion 2, 2nd Marine Logistics Group (Forward), provide necessities and services to coalition forces throughout the area of operations. Mc Cabe, a Bellaire, Ohio, native, is the staff noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the maintenance section, Det 1, CLB-2, 2nd MLG (Fwd). (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Thomas J. Griffith)

-From April to June, the 1st Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment at Hunter Army Airfield, Savannah, Georgia.

-From July to September, the 1st Brigade, 34th Infantry Division with the Minnesota Army National Guard; multiple 10th Mountain Division battalions, Fort Drum, New York.

The contract will call for the Army to buy about 110,000 XM7 rifles.  Additional stocks will be available for the US Special Operations Command and the Marine Corps if they purchase them.

Drawbacks to the XM7:

The new weapon is heavier than the M4, and the ammunition to be carried in a basic load for an infantryman is 140 rounds rather than the 210 that is now the standard. 

However, depending on the mission, troops will often carry much more ammunition. 

During testing, a unit in the 101st Airborne was having issues with the gun jamming and the two-part casing for the ammunition coming apart.

Some troops also had issues with the Vortex XM157 advanced digital optic. These teething issues are expected with a new weapons system. 

U.S. Army Private 1st Class Andre Matthews fires an M16A4 rifle during the Squad Designated Marksman Course instructed by the New Jersey Army National Guard’s 254th Regiment on Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst, N.J., July 20, 2017. The course teaches the Squad Designated Marksman to directly support their squad with well-aimed shots at ranges slightly beyond the normal engagement distances for riflemen, up to 600 meters. The 254th Regiment is based out of the Regional Training Institute, National Guard Training Center, Sea Girt, N.J. (U.S. Air National Guard photo by Master Sgt. Matt Hecht/Released)

Other Rifles Had Issues, Too

When the M16 was first used in Vietnam, there were a myriad of issues with it. Once the Army and Colt got them ironed out, the weapon was of excellent service for all these years. The folks at Sig Sauer will get these ironed out ASAP. 

One other drawback to the XM7? Only some units are going to get them. Non-combat MOS’ and non-close combat units will continue to field the M4. 

So, resupply issues may come about in the future with two different calibers.  

Other troops loved the power and penetration of the round used in the XM7. And some of the experienced NCOs thought the weight was negligible.

“…And the round punched straight through it soldiers said that their M4s were barely putting dents into the steel. 5.56 can theoretically penetrate 12 mm of steel at 100 m….”

About the Author: 

Steve Balestrieri is a 19FortyFive National Security Columnist. He served as a US Army Special Forces NCO and Warrant Officer. In addition to writing for 19FortyFive, he covers the NFL for PatsFans.com and is a member of the Pro Football Writers of America (PFWA). His work was regularly featured in other military publications.