Taiwan Introduces New 7.62mm XT107 Designated Marksman Rifle at TADTE 2017, Updates XT105 Rifle
Taiwan’s 205th Armory small arms design bureau has unveiled a 7.62x51mm NATO Designated Marksman’s rifle at the 2017 Taipei Aerospace & Defense Technology Exhibition as evidenced by the Sohu news agency. Designated the XT107, it is a 7.62x51mm NATO version of a modular 5.56x45mm NATO rifle of the same name. Taiwan has had this modular service rifle in development since at least 2013 with the XT97, later renamed the XT105 in 2015, and appears to have been renamed XT107 in the latest iteration. Unfortunately, we haven’t had an in-depth look at the internals of the rifle since the XT97 so we cannot discuss at length about what changes the design has undergone. However, one thing is for sure and that is Taiwanese Defense Forces still appear to be armed with the 5.56x45mm NATO T91 service rifle, and as of now we don’t have any information showing if the adoption of a new service rifle will take place in the near future.
From what we know about the XT97, it would appear that the XT107 DM rifle uses a Kalashnikov gas piston operating system, has modular characteristics that allow quick changing of the barrel in addition to different barrel lengths available. The rifle on display appears to be suppressor capable with an attachment system similar to a Knight’s Armament locking tab. It has a full-length Picatinny rail at 12 o’clock and appears to have either M-Lok or Keymod “esque” mounting sections along the sides of the handguard.
Infantry Marine, based in the Midwest. Specifically interested in small arms history, development, and usage within the MENA region and Central Asia. To that end, I run Silah Report, a website dedicated to analyzing small arms history and news out of MENA and Central Asia.Please feel free to get in touch with me about something I can add to a post, an error I've made, or if you just want to talk guns. I can be reached at miles@tfb.tv
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This is a photo of MSR rifle in 2013.
MSR is the initial prototype of XT107.MSR is using 5.56x45mm caliber.
This is its decomposition bolt photos.
The MSR orXT107 DM rifle is not uses a Kalashnikov gas piston operating system,
The idea of this gas piston operating system comes from the M14 rifle.
As long as you flip the bolt 180-degree view,
This is the gas piston operating system of the M14 rifle.
The designer is so illustrated.
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I wouldn't bother with replacing the T91 all at once. Just upgrade it as the M4 was. Ambi controls, heavy barrel, rail system, collapsing stock. Parts for that are cheap.