In 2005 the US Army tested this rifle extensively and found its performance and reliability to be so outstanding, it was almost ready to place a major order. Yet the contract was inexplicably cancelled and the decision made to stay with the M-16/M-4.

Lighter, more reliable, more versatile and even CHEAPER then the M-4, the XM-8 offered significant improvements in reliability over the technology that had been unchanged since 1965.