Preliminary

Got some preliminary stats on the XM8 Carbine².

Shortening the barrel and making the stock non-folding saves a pound.

Shortening the suppressor saves 0.2 lb.

Increasing the magazine capacity from 20 to 25 rounds gains 0.1 lb. each.

So a loaded (20 rounds) M7 Carbine Rifle with M157 and suppressor is 16.2 lb.  24.6 lb. with a basic load of 6 spare mags.

A loaded (25 rounds) XM8 Carbine² with M157 and suppressor is 15.1 lb.  24.1 lb. with a basic load of 6 spare magazines.

A loaded (30 rounds) M4A1 Carbine with M68 is 8.4 lb.  14.4 lb. with a basic load of 6 spare magazines.  Adding a KAC NT-4 QDSS suppressor adds 1.5 lb. to that (9.9 and 15.9 pounds total).

SIGH.

I "eagerly" await the reports of the smaller suppressor's longevity soaking up the muzzle blast from the shorter barrel.

I still wonder if the 4.9 lb. I have seen reported for the M157 is flat wrong or not.  It's bulky enough to be that heavy.  With no magazine or suppressor I've seen 8.36 lb for the M7 "rifle" and 1.46 for its suppressor and that adding up to "11-12" pounds with the optic.

That's just 1.16 to 2.26 pounds for the M157.

Don't forget to add the 1.4 lb. magazine!

Now we're at 12.4 to 13.4 pounds for the loaded gun with optics and suppressor and 21.8 lb. for a gun and basic load worst case.

This will drop the XM8 down to 11.3 to 12.3 lb. with optics and suppressor and 21.3 lb for a gun and basic load at worst.

That's a lot better, but I cannot find ANY source telling me which weight is correct for the M157.