NOTE: This article is about the XM-177E2 carbine featured in ArmA: CWA. For the XM177 and its derivatives in ArmA 3's S.O.G. Prairie Fire Creator DLC, see XM177 (S.O.G.). |
« | The newer XM-177E2 is a notable improvement over its predecessor the E1, although still hampered by having a loud muzzle blast and a bright muzzle flash. Even with these two faults, however, it is a lightweight, compact, hard-hitting weapon that was used extensively by Special Forces troops throughout the Vietnam War. Weapon Description[1]
|
» |

The XM-177E2 is a 5.56 mm carbine used exclusively by U.S. military forces in ArmA: Cold War Assault.
Overview[]
The XM-177E2 is a gas operated, selective fire carbine that is chambered to fire the 5.56×45 mm NATO round.
It loads from 30-round magazines[CfgWp 6], and can attain a fire rate of up to ~ 857 rounds per minute[CfgWp 7][Formula 1] on semi-auto or 600 RPM[CfgWp 8][Formula 2] on full auto. It has a muzzle velocity of 900 m/s.[CfgWp 9]
A common sight amongst U.S. military vehicle crews and helicopter pilots, the XM-177E2 is essentially a carbine variant of the full-length M16A2 rifle used by regular troops. As with the M16A2, the XM-177E2 also has the ability to launch rifle grenades from its muzzle.[CfgWp 6]
However, unlike the M16A2 the primary difference with the XM-177E2 is that it is capable of firing on full auto as opposed to being restricted to a three-round burst, rendering it far more effective in close quarters.[CfgWp 10]
Its main drawback is its muzzle flash, which is notoriously much larger than that of the M16A2's and can obstruct the shooter's sight when firing, especially under low-light conditions. Unless it is absolutely necessary to do so, firing in short 1-2 round bursts will help to minimise the drawbacks of its excessive flash.
Variants[]
XM-177S[]
« | XMS Rifle variant with optics Weapon Description[2]
|
» |

The XM-177S is simply an XM-177E2 carbine that has been fitted with a reflex sight mounted onto the carryhandle.
Unlike the baseline XM-177E2, it is the exclusive weapon of U.S. black ops teams. The reflex sight makes aiming at distant targets easier since they are offer a (slightly) better field-of-view.[CfgWp 15][CfgWp 16] In all other aspects, it is completely identical to its parent counterpart in every way.
Sights[]


Recoil curves[]
Semi-automatic
{
title: {
text: 'riffleSingle'
},
tooltip: {
trigger: 'axis',
axisPointer: {
type: 'cross',
label: {
backgroundColor: '#824100'
}
}
},
legend: {
data: ['Time Taken', 'Kickback', 'Kick Up']
},
toolbox: {
feature: {
saveAsImage: {}
}
},
grid: {
left: '3%',
right: '4%',
bottom: '3%',
containLabel: true
},
xAxis: [
{
name: 'Duration',
nameLocation: 'middle',
type: 'category',
boundaryGap: false,
data: ['0', '0.01']
}
],
yAxis: [
{
name: 'Amplitude',
nameLocation: 'end',
type: 'value'
}
],
series: [
{
name: 'Time Taken',
type: 'line',
stack: 'Total',
label: {
show: true,
position: 'top'
},
areaStyle: {},
emphasis: {
focus: 'series'
},
data: [0.05, 0.05],
smooth: true
},
{
name: 'Kickback',
type: 'line',
stack: 'Total',
label: {
show: true,
position: 'top'
},
areaStyle: {},
emphasis: {
focus: 'series'
},
data: [0.02, 0],
smooth: true
},
{
name: 'Kick Up',
type: 'line',
stack: 'Total',
label: {
show: true,
position: 'top'
},
areaStyle: {},
emphasis: {
focus: 'series'
},
data: [0.04, 0],
smooth: true
}
]
}
Charts/graphs are not available on mobile. Please switch to desktop mode in order to see them.
Full auto
{
title: {
text: 'riffleBurst3'
},
tooltip: {
trigger: 'axis',
axisPointer: {
type: 'cross',
label: {
backgroundColor: '#824100'
}
}
},
legend: {
data: ['Time Taken', 'Kickback', 'Kick Up']
},
toolbox: {
feature: {
saveAsImage: {}
}
},
grid: {
left: '3%',
right: '4%',
bottom: '3%',
containLabel: true
},
xAxis: [
{
name: 'Duration',
nameLocation: 'middle',
type: 'category',
boundaryGap: false,
data: ['0', '0.01']
}
],
yAxis: [
{
name: 'Amplitude',
nameLocation: 'end',
type: 'value'
}
],
series: [
{
name: 'Time Taken',
type: 'line',
stack: 'Total',
label: {
show: true,
position: 'top',
},
areaStyle: {},
emphasis: {
focus: 'series'
},
data: [0.05, 0.05],
smooth: true
},
{
name: 'Kickback',
type: 'line',
stack: 'Total',
label: {
show: true,
position: 'top',
},
areaStyle: {},
emphasis: {
focus: 'series'
},
data: [0.02, 0],
smooth: true
},
{
name: 'Kick Up',
type: 'line',
stack: 'Total',
label: {
show: true,
position: 'top',
},
areaStyle: {},
emphasis: {
focus: 'series'
},
data: [0.04, 0],
smooth: true
}
]
}
Charts/graphs are not available on mobile. Please switch to desktop mode in order to see them.
|
Ammunition[]

Ammo parameter | 5.56 mm NATO (Ball) |
---|---|
Base damage value | 9 [CfgAm 1][CfgAm 2] |
Spill damage value | 2 [CfgAm 3][CfgAm 4] |
Muzzle velocity (m/s) | 900[CfgWp 9] |
For rifle grenades usable with the XM-177E2, refer to its dedicated article here.
Both variants of the XM-177E2 only support loading one type of magazine.[CfgWp 6] It requires at least one[CfgWp 21] free inventory slot to carry:
XM-177E2 Mag.[]
30-round magazine loaded with 5.56 mm ball ammunition.[CfgWp 22][CfgWp 23]
Its bullets have a spill radius of 0.1 metres upon impact.[CfgAm 5][CfgAm 6]
Trivia[]
- In prior versions of Cold War Assault when it was previously released under its original title as Operation Flashpoint: Cold War Crisis, the XM-177S was not actually available at launch and was only added with Patch 1.30.[2][3]
Gallery[]
Config/script references[]
CfgAmmoCfgWeapons
Formulae |
References[]
- ↑ Bohemia Interactive a.s., The Codemasters Software Company Limited 2001, XM-177E2 commando, flashpoint1985.com, viewed 5 March 2025, <https://web.archive.org/web/20020803142541/http://www.flashpoint1985.com/gear/west/xm/xm.html>. (archived link)
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Bohemia Interactive a.s., The Codemasters Software Company Limited 2001, Operation Flashpoint - Download - GEAR, flashpoint1985.com, viewed 8 June 2024, <http://web.archive.org/web/20020214204218/http://www.flashpoint1985.com/download/gear_weaponp1.html#anchor>. (archived link)
- ↑ Mcnicoll, J et al. 2006, Operation Flashpoint: Version History, Bohemia Interactive Community Wiki, viewed 3 March 2023, <https://community.bistudio.com/wiki/Operation_Flashpoint:_Version_History#Patch_v1.30>.
External links[]
See also[]
Weapons of comparable role and configuration[]
- AK-74 SU (Soviet counterpart)
- M16A2 (U.S. rifle counterpart)
- M16 Carbine (Successor, ARMA Reforger only)
- M4A1 (Modern USMC carbine successor, ArmA 2 only)
Weapons of ArmA: Cold War Assault | |
---|---|
Handguns | 92F 9 mm • CZ-75 9 mm • Glock 17 9 mm • S&W .357 • Tokarev TT-33 7.62 mm |
Submachine guns | Ingram .45 • MP5SD3 9 mm • PP-19 Bizon 9 mm • Sa-61 Scorpion 7.65 mm • UZI 9 mm |
Shotguns | Kozlice |
Carbines | AK-74 SU 5.45 mm • XM-177E2 5.56 mm (XM-177S) |
Assault rifles | AK-47 7.62 mm (AK-47 GL, AK-47 CZ) • AK-74 5.45 mm (AK-74 GL) • AUG A1 5.56 mm • FN-FAL 7.62 mm • G3A4 7.62 mm • G36 5.56 mm • M16A2 5.56 mm (M16A2 GL) |
Sniper rifles | Hunting Rifle 7.62 mm • M21 7.62 mm • SVD 7.62 mm |
Machineguns | M60 7.62 mm • PK 7.62 mm |
Grenade launchers | 6G30 • MM-1 |
Launchers | 9K32 Strela-2 • AT-4 Spigot • Carl Gustav M2 • FIM-92 Stinger • M72 LAW • RPG-75NH |
Static | M2 |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. |
![]() | |
---|---|
Handguns | 92F 9 mm • Glock 17 9 mm • S&W .357 |
Submachine guns | MP5SD3 9 mm • UZI 9 mm |
Carbines | XM-177E2 5.56 mm (XM-177S) |
Assault rifles | AUG A1 5.56 mm • G36 5.56 mm • M16A2 5.56 mm (M16A2 GL) |
Sniper rifles | M21 7.62 mm |
Machineguns | M60 7.62 mm |
Grenade launchers | MM-1 |
Launchers | Carl Gustav M2 • FIM-92 Stinger • M72 LAW |
Static | M2 |
(Parenthesis) denote variants. |