Facebook: http://facebook.com/XboxAhoy Twitter: http://twitter.com/xboxahoy This time, we're covering the M8A1. A new addition to the Call of Duty arsenal, this weapon is unusual in that it fires a four-round burst by default - and is unlocked at level 49. The M8A1 is a fictional derivative of the German XM8 rifle design, first seen in 2002. The rifle was produced by Heckler and Koch at the behest of the US Army, seeking a potential future replacement for the AR-15 platform currently in service. The XM8 designation was assigned in the wake of the Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW) contract, a project which sought a futuristic all-in-one infantry rifle. The project fell through, but the XM8 design was brought about as a result - a modular derivative of the German G36 rifle design, making extensive use of modern composite materials. Ultimately, the XM8 project was discontinued in 2005 - the performance gains over the existing platforms in service not deemed worth the investment cost for replacement. Presumably, in Black Ops 2 the project resurfaced: the M8A1 designation indicating a derivative weapon that has entered into service. In-game, damage is moderate: you do have the ability to kill a close-range enemy with just 3 shots, but this is only within a very short distance. In most cases, you can expect to kill in four or five shots: and it's worth noting that the M8A1 has no bonus headshot multiplier, so it's best to aim for centre mass. Penetration ability is on-par with most other assault rifles. The M8A1's rate of fire is incredibly high within its four-round burst: 1250 rounds per minute. As such you are able to down a mid-ranged target very quickly indeed with a well-placed shot. There is a mandatory delay between bursts, however - but this is relatively short: your sustainable rate of fire is a still-respectable 789 rounds per minute. Equipping select fire will turn the M8A1 into a fully-automatic weapon, but t