SAR is starting the “Identification Guides as a series”. We believe that these guides need to be done. We have plans to cover the HK internals, the Models of the Colt M16 series (YES, we do mean ALL of them) and various magazine identification. This is a photographic series.

Probably the most popular modern submachine gun is the HK MP5. This is a simple statement and the evidence makes it hard to refute. Elite military groups, law enforcement tactical teams, and civilian shooters all utilize the MP5, and it dominates the marketplace. The HK weapons are the subject of intense scrutiny by the users, and the modular concepts involved give rise to many variants. This can get confusing to the users and to the armorers.

We chose the HK trigger housings as a start, because there is so much confusion about them. The following photographic essay covers all of the variants that we are aware of as of August 1997. This was compiled with the help of Jim Schatz, from the Federal Operations Division of HK in Sterling Virginia, and he has our thanks once again.

The only variant that is missing is the early 3 shot burst group, which had the burst cam in the rear of the pack- we have one on the way as we go to press, and will try to do a comparison of the old and the new. (Well, it’s the only variant that we KNOW is missing).

We have covered every conceivable model of the West German manufactured HK guns. If you have any trigger housings that we may have missed, let us know and we will publish an update later in SAR.

Please send in your requests for us to design different Identification Series to SAR at 223 Sugar Hill Rd, Harmony, ME 04942 phone 207-683-2172, fax 207-683-2172, email at sareview@aol.com.

In 1934 the United States Government managed to circumvent the Second Amendment of the Constitution, utilizing a tool that was becoming ever more popular at the time. These are harsh sounding words, but they are factual, and lead us to the root source of the so-called “National Firearms Act” weapons of today; the taxed and registered machine guns, silencers, short barreled weapons and Any Other Weapons. Congress had been advised that there were many things that they could not do- one of these things was to ban any class of firearms. Yet, they found themselves needing a path to “Righteousness”- a good dose of early days “Symbolism over substance”.

Brother Clinton would have been proud. Congress wanted to ban certain military type firearms from civilian hands, to make a stand against “gangsters”. The courts had found that the Federal government could do almost anything it wanted, if it could find a “Nexus” to either “interstate commerce”, or tax collection. In the case of the firearms that they wished to ban, taxation was the tool that was chosen. It worked on many other subjects that the Federal government was told they had no authority over- marijuana, child labor, etc. Whether we agree that these things need regulation or not is not the issue, it is whether the federal government has jurisdiction over
them. The use of the taxing authority became a way to gain control over an issue.

The National Firearms Act of 1934 imposed a tax on the transfer of ownership or manufacture of certain firearms. In the course of collecting this tax, it was determined that a “Registry” would be needed to record the tax information. This Registry is commonly referred to as the NFA Registry, although the more correct initials are NFRTR.

An almost punitive tax of $200 (Think about $200 in 1934!) was imposed on all transactions, and all transactions and ownership information were required to be sent in to the Registry. The history of the changes that the Registry has gone through is quite amazing, and will be dealt with at other times in SAR. For our purposes here, it is sufficient to mention only these several things:

1- Very few people took the registration laws seriously, and the government’s own estimate of the unregistered to registered machine guns ratio was ten unregistered to every one registered. Most war veterans were especially cool to the idea of registering firearms- they had seen the results of an unarmed populace in the wars they came home from, and there were countless thousands of MP-40’s, Greaseguns, Maxims and Brownings up above the floorboards in attics around America.

2- Due to the above situation, and riding on a wave of hysteria fostered by a combination of rising crime, anti-Vietnam War riots, race riots and the assassinations in the United States during the mid 1960’s, it was decided that the NFA weapons must be accounted for and an Amnesty was included in the Gun Control Act of 1968. All firearms that would have fallen under the definitions in the NFA-34, and the new category of “Destructive Devices”, had an amnesty period of an effective 30 days for the owners to register them. The stated purpose of the GCA 68 was to help the states to control their crime problems, but the actual outcome of this law was the creation of a massive bureaucracy that regulated the interstate commerce in firearms.

It would be an error, and an affront to a lot of good public servants for this author to leave that statement to stand alone. Many criminals have been caught, prosecuted, and the ensuing crimes they would have committed have been eradicated before happening. These people should have our undying thanks, and this author will not denigrate their sacrifices.

Here’s the “But”. But, there have been a lot of innocent people whose lives have been turned upside down, their families terrorized, financially ruined, all because of a violation of a tax statute, or even worse, because of inaccurate record keeping. The recent public airing of a private video tape address by the “Former” head of the National Firearms Act Branch, BATF, a Mr. Thomas Busey, has wreaked havoc on the legitimacy of the records in the Registry. That will be covered in later issues of SAR, by other Reasonably Knowledgeable Individuals who have been involved with the legal investigations of errors in the Registry. The accuracy of this Registry is a matter of great public interest.

This author has worked for many years to bring the Statistics of the National Firearms Act Activity to the public. These are public documents, but are not readily available. Each year since the late 1980’s, I have tried to get these published (usually with success) and the main vehicle was Machine Gun News.

The Small Arms Review will now pick up that torch.

These 5 charts are very intense. There is a lot of information in them. Most of it can be understood by comparing the activity from year to year- this means going and finding your old back issues of MGN.

Each chart requires individual study. If you take the time to look them over, you will be able to see what the course of transfers has been like over time, and what is going on in your state. Shifts in large inventories show up each year- the sale of collections, etc. One note is that the Destructive Device numbers are inflated by the requirement that all “Distraction Devices” or what is more commonly referred to as “Stun Grenades” must be in the Registry as well. The recent proliferation of these devices in law enforcement inventories, and the fact that many agencies do not bother reporting the destruction of these devices, leaves the accuracy of the Destructive Device part of the Registry in tatters. Many have suggested a separate Registry for these devices as a method of cleaning up a part of the problem.

We welcome your comments and observations regarding these charts.

Legend

MG: Machine Gun
SI: Silencer
SR: Short Barreled Rifle
SS: Short Barreled Shotgun
DD: Destructive Device
AW: Any Other Weapon
UNC: Unclassified
F1: Form 1, manufactured by an individual
F2: Manufactured by a licensed manufacturer
F3: Form 3 Transferred between Special Occupational Taxpayers
F4: Form 4 Transferred to or from an individual, tax paid
F5: Form 5 Transferred to or from a government agency, to a lawful heir, for repair, or “Other” reasons
F6: Form 6 imported
F9: Form 9 exported
F10: Form 10 into or registered by a government affiliated organization such as a police department or museum- these can not be transferred to other than government related operations
LTR: Letter, some transfers and registrations have been allowed on letters
4467: Form 4467, registered during the 1968 Amnesty- this is the original form used in the Amnesty.

In this column, Small Arms Review will track breaking news, emerging trends, and new products as they effect the small arms industry. Its journalist/photographer author specializes in covering the business and marketing aspects of the firearms industry.

Colt’s Manufacturing To Acquire Fabrique National

A major business story has emerged during the compilation of this initial column offering. Colt’s Manufacturing Co., the old-line New England “gun valley” based police, military and sporting firearms manufacturer, has signed a letter of intent to acquire the financially strapped Herstal, Belgium-based military and sporting armsmaker, Fabrique National (FN). Colt is reportedly offering three billion francs (or $82.4 million) in its bid to purchase the 92% stake in FN held by GIAT Industries, a French government owned mega defense contractor.

The consummation of the deal could result in Colt’s becoming the small arms powerhouse of the world. Within FN’s holdings, are American gunmakers Browning and Winchester licensee U.S. Repeating Arms Co. as well as an FN owned, South Carolina plant which manufactures M16 rifles for the U.S. military. Culmination of the transaction would help to restore Colt’s pride in the military arena after losing the M16 contract to FN several years ago.

While the deal would give Colt’s products in every major small arms category, the firm is not too keen on acquiring Browning. In a recent interview with the Hartford (CT) Courant, chief executive Ronald Stewart said during negotiations to acquire FN, Colt officials tried to leave Browning out of arrangement, expressing feelings that FN’s Winchester firearms and military businesses would better expand and complement Colt’s line. But GIAT insisted that the businesses not be broken up.

Blount wants Federal

Meanwhile, highly placed trade sources indicate Blount, Inc., the shooting sports company conglomerate, which has just announced its intention of acquiring Federal Cartridge Co. and has said its future expansion plans are dependant upon acquisitions, has been looking at buying Browning. It may even acquire Browning from Colt, after the acquisition of FN is completed.

Colt’s is not planning to cut jobs in its West Hartford, Connecticut plant as a result of its pending FN purchase, Stewart added. He said the company would remain at its present site for six or seven years. Colt’s workforce has remained at about 730 employees during the past year. The gunmaker’s negotiators in the FN acquisition reportedly attempted to make cuts in FN’s European workforce but were unable to gain concessions from labor unions, according to trade sources.

In commenting on the lackluster state at present of most firearms firms, Stewart concluded, “The industry is ripe for consolidation. You’ve really got two choices. You’re either a consolidator or you get consolidated.”

Business Notes

An invaluable reference aid to all sorts of firearms (including full-autos) has just been published by Gun Parts Corporation (226 Williams Lane, West Hurley, NY 12491). The “World Guide To Gun Parts Catalog” Edition #21 is the firm’s largest catalog ever, at over 850 pages. Offering over one-half billion gun parts (many of which are available exclusively from Gun Parts Corp.) it is well worth its purchase price of $7.95 including postage. An especially valuable feature to professional armorers, gunsmiths and hobbyists is the over 450 schematic drawings detailing firearm components.

Theft!

Thieves intent on stealing a machine gun broke into the Potomac Trading Post, a retailer in Kensington, Maryland one night recently and stole a fully automatic AK-47 rifle, according to the Maryland Licensed Firearms Dealers Association. Montgomery County, Maryland police were reported as saying the criminal(s) broke into a safe and removed the gun, which had no magazine attached. No other firearms were taken during the incident.

Bennelli and HK to go separate ways

Benelli and Heckler & Koch (HK), two firms which maintain a significant presence in the police and military market segments, as well as the consumer side, will go their separate ways as of January 1. The two firms had been operating out of HK’s Virginia facility. Beretta USA, which owns part of Benelli, Inc., will set up a sales and distribution office inside the Beretta plant in Accokeek, Maryland but will operate Benelli separately.

FATS

Firearms Training Systems, Inc. (FATS) of Suwanee, Georgia, a leading producer of interactive small arms simulation systems, has been awarded contracts with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and the New York City Police Department (NYPD). Both agencies currently use FATS interactive training simulation systems. The award by the FBI is for an additional ten systems and the NYPD placed an order for four new systems as well as an upgrade of one of their existing FATS systems.

And in the international arena, FATS has received a contract from the Israeli Army to provide an interactive training simulation system together with 36 weapon simulators and spares. The contracts includes options for the purchase of up to an additional eight simulation systems.

Over its 13-year history, FATS has developed over 180 types of simulated weapons including submachine guns, pistols and revolvers, anti-armor rocket launchers, cannons and mortars. It also has produced approximately 100 laser discs containing more than 1,000 training scenarios. The company believes it is critical to accurate training that its simulated weapons have the same physical functions and operational characteristics as an actual firearm such as weight, timing of fire, recoil, potential for malfunction and loading procedures.

A typical simulated firearm will include an infra-red laser, gas piston actuators, valves, electronic sensors, a localized computer controller, specialized recoil buffers, gas lines, ports and wiring. The majority of the simulated firearms are modified from actual guns or assembled from arms kits purchased from third party suppliers. To date, the company has sold more than 2,000 training systems in the U.S. and in over 30 other countries.

New Products

A new high quality carbine of particular interest to police agencies is available from North American Integrated Technologies ( [NAIT], 590 Menlo Drive, Suite 8, Rocklin, CA 95765). The M16K .45 ACP semi-auto carbine is based on the time-proven M16 but designed to utilize Thompson submachine gun magazines. Hand-built and hand-assembled to assure accuracy and absolute reliability, it has a unique bolt and buffer system to reduce felt recoil and internal stresses on the mechanism. The combination of built-in muzzle brake, heavy tubular steel handguard, and balanced center of operation is said to permit fire with no muzzle climb. Accuracy is guaranteed at 1 MOA at 100 yards.

A couple of other new NAIT items are worthy of note. The XLR rangefinder is specifically designed for long distance shooting up to 2,200 meters with an accuracy of +/- one meter. The waterproof, lightweight and relatively low cost XLR features simple point-and-measure operation and has applications for police, military and professional shooting
competition.

NAIT’s Black Cat Gen III 18mm night vision weapon sight is a cutting edge image intensifier tube suitable for combat use. Its compact size and “keep it simple” design gives users complete flexibility and maneuverability while yielding night vision target detection and acquisition. It is currently in use in special operations throughout the world.

Mace Security International, Inc., the Bennington, Vermont-based chemical munitions firm is reshuffling its top management. Directors have elected two new members to their board, and the president, who was on the job only two months, has given up his post to co-founder Jon E. Goodrich, the company said. Meanwhile, Robert P. Gould, another of the firm’s founders, has resigned as a director.

Frangible ammo

Longbow, Inc. (P.O. Box 624, Burns Flat, OK 73624) has added new products to its line of non-toxic frangible ammunition. Its 12 gauge 2 3/4-inch breaching slug, which functions in standard law enforcement shotguns without requiring a “stand-off” attachment, now has improved accuracy for use at normal training and confrontation distances. The new 12 gauge frangible buckshot round is available for training and service use in “hardened” areas such as jails and court houses.

Longbow intends to offer a service round in every caliber commonly utilized by law enforcement. For example, the popularity of the .380 ACP cartridge as an off duty, back-up and undercover caliber has prompted the company to come out with a frangible loading in this cartridge. For marksmen, match grade frangible ammo is now available in .223 Remington and .308 Winchester loadings.

The .357 SIG, relatively new but gaining acceptance within the police community (it is being issued by the Delaware State Police and the Texas Department of Public Safety, among others, according to Longbow) has induced Longbow to bring out of a cartridge in this caliber. The 95 grain frangible bullet has a velocity of 1,550 fps and delivers a muzzle energy of 453 foot-pounds. And for those agencies issuing carbines instead of shotguns to their officers (such as the Ruger Mini-30), a 7.62×39 frangible cartridge is sold with a 120 grain bullet traveling at 2,200 fps at the muzzle and yielding a muzzle energy of 1,288 foot-pounds.

While the price of Class III N.F.A. weapons continues to rise dramatically each year, the supply of Transferable Title II Firearms is shrinking, as demand keeps growing ever larger. Many dealers have told me that they are having a difficult time replenishing their stock at reasonable prices, while others have told me they are unable to get good guns at any price. This is due in part to many new class III enthusiasts, discovering the enjoyment and financial rewards of NFA weapons. The increases are primarily the result of the limiting restrictions imposed by the Gun control act of 1968 (26 USC sec. 5844). This law prohibited the possession and importation of any foreign made machine gun after that date for civilian use. On May 9, 1986, our government implemented 18 USC sec. 922.o This prohibited the further manufacture and possession of any new domestically made machine-guns for civilian use. It is interesting to note that The Supreme Court ruled in 1939, in United States V. Miller. 307 U.S. 174, that only weapons shown to be “ordinary military equipment” that could “contribute to the common defense” are protected by the Second Amendment. While 18 USC sec. 922.0 seems to be in direct conflict with this ruling, no one has successfully challenged it in Court.

This created four distinct classes of machine guns: 1. transferable imported guns brought in before 1968 and domestic guns manufactured before 1986. 2. Pre 1986 dealer sample guns only available to law enforcement (LE) and occupational taxpayers. 3. Post 1986 Dealer sample guns, requiring a LE department letter for possession and transfer. 4. Non transferable Law enforcement guns that are registered on a Form 10. These weapons are only transferable to law enforcement and museums, though they can be broken down for parts.

It seems that many Class III dealers are unaware that thousands of registered, transferable, functioning title II weapons are standing idle in old lockers and closets in the basements of countless local police stations and sheriffs’ departments.

After 1995 The Government disposed of all it’s declared obsolete stock piles of weapons. Thousands of Thompson 45s, Reisings, M2 Carbines, and other classic firearms were given away free to any police agency that wanted them. Fortunately, many of these weapons were registered with the National Firearms Act branch (NFA) of the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (BATF).

Most law enforcement agencies have not used these historic weapons for years, for fear of liability. These classic relics are now well over 50 years old, and were retired from active service long ago. In addition Colt M16s, Ruger 556, Heckler and Koch MP 5s, Uzis, S&W 760s, and dozens of other brands of guns ended up in the hands of local law enforcement agencies.

In the last eight years as an NFA dealer I have had the opportunity to visit countless department armories and meet many fine dedicated people. Best of all, I was able to buy hundreds of firearms and dozens of machine guns from law enforcement agencies. At the same time, I was able to sell them dozens of new Colt M16s, H&K MP5s, Benelli and Remington shotguns and sniper rifles. I have found that dealing with the law is both very profitable and much fun.

The question is: How do you get the local police chiefs and sheriffs to willingly give you their guns? I hope to teach you some of the techniques I have used successfully for selling to and dealing with law enforcement.

How do you get started? Who do you contact? What do you say? Even more important, what don’t you say? All of these questions will be answered in due time.

To begin, it depends upon where you live. You may have dozens of local law enforcement agencies available to you in your proximity. Start by making a list of all the local PDs in your area or in an area that you would be willing to travel to. This should include the street address, the non-emergency phone number of the department, and the name of whoever is in charge. You may find phone listings in the white pages of your local directory, or you can call your local information operator. When you speak to the information operators tell them you would like the non-emergency phone number of the department and ask for the mailing address. Don’t go overboard here. Ten to fifteen departments is a good place to start.

Depending on the size of the agency, the head of the department may be a chief of police or sheriff, or a commissioner of police in larger urban areas and small cities. In any case, getting the individuals name is very easy. Just ask. When calling any department or business, the first thing to remember is never, ever call 911. This will usually guarantee that you have lost the sale before you even get stated. It is also irresponsible to tie up emergency phone lines with non-essential business.

Calls to a department are usually answered by a civilian employee, a patrol officer, a deputy sheriff or a desk sergeant. When you have them on the phone, take a deep breath and SMILE. Yes smile. Even though you can not be seen, the inflections of your voice are controlled by your facial muscles. This is very important. You have to win these people over in less than 15 seconds! That’s how long it takes for someone to lose interest or rouse interest in a sales call. A smile on your face when you talk on the phone will help greatly in getting your point across in a pleasant manner. The police are very busy people and have no time for sales pitches or small talk. Be polite and explain that the call is not an emergency and you would like to know the name of the chief of police or sheriff or commissioner. Ask when would be the best time to call to speak to them. At this point you may be questioned as to the nature of your business and why you are calling. Your answer here is critically important. Explain that you are a “ law enforcement firearms dealer”, you are calling the department concerning firearms, and would like to arrange to speak with the chief.”

Remember, do not mention anything about machine guns or Class III weapons. Don’t start explaining the differences between an MP5 and an MP5 PDW. Don’t tell them that you can supply them with a 1919 Browning or Bazookas and Rocket launchers. You are wasting your breath and their time. The person you are speaking to cannot help you. You will only confuse the issue and you may cause problems for yourself. You have to sound like a professional sales person, and not some yahoo gun nut who would like to sell the department hand grenades and a .50 caliber belt fed machine gun. The old sales adages of KISS (Keep it simple stupid) is of utmost importance here.

By being polite and direct and to the point, you will have no problem getting the name of the chief or sheriff. If you are lucky you may also be given the name of the person in charge of “the guns.” Write down any name you are given and their extension numbers. Thank the person you are speaking to, hang up and call the next department. Continue calling until you have all your department information complete. This will also give you time to practice and help you develop your phone skills.

As Class III dealers, many of you may already know the names of the department heads and the chiefs or sheriffs personally. This is an advantage. These personal contacts are often the best place to start.

The best time to call may vary from department. Try late morning first, and then early afternoon. I have found that early morning calls are not welcome. Most chiefs, commissioners and sheriffs are usually gone by 3 or 4 in the afternoon.

When you call ask for the chief or sheriff by name. You may be transferred to a secretary, but you will probably get the chief directly in smaller departments. If you get the secretary, simply ask to speak to the chief. If she questions you as to the nature of your call, tell her it is concerning firearms for the department. Do not mention machine guns. Remember KISS, and remember to smile.

You should have no problem being put through. If he is not in, ask when would be the best time to call and call back the next day. If he gets on the phone, say as follows. “ Sir my mane is———and my company is——. We are law enforcement firearms dealers and we would like to offer your department a free demonstration of the newest weapons and equipment. Could you give me the name of whoever is in charge of the Firearms in your department so I can make arrangements with him.”

Most chiefs of police know little about firearms. It is not their prime concern, nor in most cases, their field of expertise. That job is always left to subordinates. You may find an occasional chief who moved up through the ranks and may once have had extensive firearm training and knowledge. Whatever you do, do not mention machine guns to him. With the Political pressures put on department heads today, you don’t want to kill your sale before you start it. Don’t try to impress him with what you know about firearms. He does not care. He is a very busy man, and going into depth about guns will be just wasting his time. It may just piss him off, and that is something you really don’t want to do!

In most cases, depending on the size of the department, you may be given the name of someone from a patrolman up to a sergeant, a lieutenant, or even a captain. He or she may be in charge of the shooting range, the SWAT or TAC team, or the head training officer, or in some cases the department armorer. This will be the person you will do most of your dealings with. Remember that in all cases you will still need the final approval of the chief or sheriff.

Be polite at all times. Thank the person for his time and tell him that you will mail him your business card. Politely ask if you can be transferred to the individual whose name he has just given you. At this point you should have no further dealings with the head agency. All future transactions will take place at the lower levels of police bureaucracy.

Most departments have someone who has been appointed to or has worked their way up to be in charge of firearms. These people are true professionals. They deal on a daily basis with the use and training of the department’s weapons. Many of them are true gun enthusiasts. Some of them may have their FFLs. Most have taken numerous training courses on advanced gun techniques given by the FBI, the military and state police. They are often graduates of armorers’ schools and courses given by many of the gun manufacturers. Many are expert qualified gunsmiths. Most of the people I have met in this capacity truly love what they are doing. You should respect and honor them. These people will become your best friends. Remember when you speak to them for the first time, never try to show off what you know or what you think you know about guns. Most of them will know far more than you, and they will not be impressed.

You do have the ace of spades up your sleeve, though. You are a Class III NFA Firearms Dealer, and that does impress them!

When you do get them on the phone, explain that you are a Class III NFA firearms’ dealer and that you are authorized by the Federal Government and the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms to sell, trade and own machine guns. Explain that you would like to arrange to show them some new weapons. Ask when would be the best time for such a demonstration. I have never had a free demonstration refused by one of these people. They love guns and are always eager to learn and see new weapons.

Again, depending on the size to the department, you may end up showing the guns to one man, or an entire swat team. In one case I showed sniper rifles and machine guns to the 15 man, head instructional staff on the largest police department in the country. I have been an FFL holder and gunsmith for over twenty years, and have been involved in firearms shooting and competition for over 30 years. Suffice it to say I was very, very impressed with this group of professionals. They really knew their guns. They were teachers of the two hundred plus man training staff for a department with over 30,000 officers.

In another case, the county sheriff personally handled the entire sale from my first call to the transfer of all his old M16’s and department handguns. You have to be prepared to deal and speak with anyone, from a patrol officer to the commissioner of police, or in some cases the district attorney or mayor of a small town. We will cover what you need to know for your first demonstration, equipment and presentation in the next installment.

“Yet we were wrong, terribly wrong. We owe it to the future generations to explain why.” Robert S. McNamara. In Retrospect-The Tragedy And Lessons Of Vietnam. Preface XVI-Times Books, NY, April 1995

Thus began the welcome to Vietnam’s War Remnants Museum. “Remnants” of war much different from the “remnants”, what remains, what is left over, which we are used to contemplating. Yet, that is the purpose for which this museum in Communist Vietnam was established, to contain what remains, to keep memories alive, to support the communist government of Vietnam.

SAR recently visited Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City (Saigon), Cu Chi and the Mekong. The evidence is clear; Vietnam is looking to the future. Since its communist government’s amazing move in 1985 to convert this country’s economy to a free The grounds included equipment displays featuring examples of some of America’s more exotic bombs, a 15,000 pound “seismic bomb” claimed to be effective over a 3 kilometer area and a CBU-55B designed to destroy all the oxygen within a radius of 500 meters. U.S. light and heavy artillery were on display as well as attack-equipped T-33 and F-5 jet aircraft. Nearby, a UH1 Huey sported a somewhat cannibalized minigun.

To counterbalance all of this sophisticated weaponry, a twelve foot tall portable guillotine was on display, the very guillotine the communists carted from province to province, from hamlet to hamlet, executing those citizens who had shown a partiality towards the South Vietnamese or the Americans. The contradiction in technology was profound.

The communist government’s intent of this museum is to demonstrate the brutality and senselessness of U.S. actions. Statistics were given comparing the number of tons of bombs dropped over Vietnam by the U.S. versus our similar contribution to World War II. The statistics included the number of schools, hospitals and religious buildings destroyed in North Vietnam and the comparison of the nearly 3 million Vietnamese casualties with the 58,000 American casualties.

The War Remnants Museum bore a close similarity to the many holocaust museums existing in America today. The Jewish statement “Never Again” is not unlike the Vietnamese equivalent: “In retrospect, it is not for inciting hatred, just for learning lessons from history: human beings will not tolerate such a disaster happening again, neither in Vietnam nor anywhere on our planet”.

Interior displays included many poster-sized photographs of American soldiers involved in the destruction of Vietnam and its citizenry. Many of the photographs are horrendously graphic. That is the purpose of this museum: to show “America’s war abuse”. Expectedly, the other side of the coin is conspicuously absent: the equally disgusting communist atrocities.

Today, sixty percent of Vietnam’s population is younger than twenty five years of age! Sixty percent of the country’s population does not have personal experience in the war. Therefore, the War Remnants Museum appears to be oriented towards retaining the memory of the war and American violence against the Vietnamese. Exhibits are in both Vietnamese and English. Yet, coincidentally, during this writer’s visit to the Museum, the majority of the visitors were non-Vietnamese, primarily Americans with a few Europeans. And some of the Americans had a hard time digesting the graphic illustrations of the war. One photo depicted a body being thrown from a Huey a thousand feet above the ground with the caption “Refusing to answer interrogations, a man is being thrown from a flying helicopter”. The comment overheard was “That’s a bald-faced distortion”. Yet the photograph was claimed to have been taken from a specific issue of Life Magazine, a fact easily documented. I saw no need to document it, having heard duplicate stories directly from Americans on the scene when such events took place. Ironically, most of the photographs appeared to have been taken by U.S. GIs or newsmen.

It is difficult for the majority of us, living a life secure and distant from the reality of human conflict, to understand the distortions of “sanity” such conflicts create. Criticism is easy, but, “without walking in their shoes,” would we have acted differently?

The photo gallery was strictly a one-sided representation of the atrocities of war, showing nothing of the butchery which took place at the hands of the Vietcong. Thus, it is doubtful the sixty percent of the country’s population with no experience The small arms exhibits were somewhat less propagandized, giving a good representation of the weaponry used on both sides of the war. On display were many fine small arms. Including a variety of Colt M-16s, M-14s in several configuration and an interesting selection of .45 Thompsons and 9mm subguns used by our soldiers.

Grenade launchers were well represented, along with gas guns, all considered equal in this museum. Several of the belt-fed grenade launchers appeared to be early prototypes of contemporary weaponry. But this author’s favorite was the display of miniguns and the unique feed system attached to one of the examples.

Next to the recoilless rifle in the center of the display was a single shot weapon bearing no similarity to anything with which this author is familiar. Photos are enclosed, hoping readers can identify this weapon.

Don’t worry, these small arms will be around for years, no matter the degree of humidity in Vietnam. The number of coats of varnish applied to these firearms will preserve them for posterity, hopefully, for Class 3 collectors once America’s laws are amended to again allow such imports for dedicated collectors of war history.

Propaganda was not absent in the small arms displays, though it was almost comical to a Reasonably Knowledgeable Individual. Colt and Smith and Wesson 357 Magnum revolvers were classified as “excessive”. 1918 A-2 Browning automatic rifles were referred to with disgust of their potential for overkill. Yet, alongside them was the world’s foremost assault rifle, the Kalishnikov AK-47 and its Chinese counterparts, as well as the lethal belt-fed but highly mobile RPD. Absent were the feared booby traps which impaled too many American soldiers.

Possibly the envy of the display were the 4 miniguns. Yes, 4 complete miniguns, causing this author to ponder opportunities for post-86 imports!

The War Remnants Museum in Ho Chi Minh City, is communist Vietnam’s one-sided representation of the atrocities of the war. Yet, who could expect otherwise. A visit to this museum is a valuable experience. Not only are the small arms and heavy equipment displays of interest and sometimes unique, but the visit reminds us of the pain and misery, of the profound sacrifice the war in Vietnam exacted from everyone involved, directly and indirectly. The easy road is the road of blame, undoubtedly present in the minds of some of the readers of this article. It is much easier to cast blame and remain entrenched in the past, not unlike those of our nation who are still refighting the Civil War. The much more difficult approach is that taken by many Americans and many Vietnamese. Theirs is the choice to look forward, a courageous choice, in view of the suffering inflicted on all participants of battle. “We have chosen to look forward to a new relationship between Vietnam and America”.

May we all choose to change our angle of view from looking back at the past, as former enemies, to a view of the future with new cooperation and partnership between the United States of America and the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.

1997 Silencer Trials

Dateline: Knob Creek, KY, May 22, 1997. This day was an unprecedented event in the annals of small-arms history; almost all of the silencer manufacturers in the United States came together to have the performance of their sound suppressors tested side by side, using scientifically appropriate sound test equipment. This was very much a team effort with me supervising the tests, Dr. Phil Dater handling the Larson Davis Model 800-B sound meter with Larson Davis 2530-1133 1/4 inch random incidence microphone and automated data recording using a Hewlett-Packard OB-425 computer and software he developed for the purpose, and Dan Shea organizing the scheduling, volunteer shooters and the ammunition supply. We also used a Pact MK-IV Timer/Chronograph with MK-V skyscreens for recording projectile velocities.

I figured we had time to run 60 tests that day, but the demand for data was so intense that we somehow managed to squeeze in 163 test strings. We gathered as much data in a day as I normally produce in a year, giving all of the participants a chance to see how their products measured up to the competition in terms of hard numbers and subjective qualities such as tonality.

It’s hard to adequately express, much less overstate, my admiration for all of the participants since the complete spectrum of the industry was represented. Relatively new, one-man operations competed against well-established design teams of more well-known companies like Knight’s Armament and Gemtech, all competing on a level playing field. Some participants were pleasantly surprised by the performance of their products, while some discovered that individual products needed some refinement.

Several manufacturers expressed displeasure that a particular model did provide nearly as much sound reduction, looking at an average of ten shots, as a similar model of a competitor. Yet that louder model might be an integrally suppressed .22 pistol that delivers more velocity, which is important for anyone shooting a live target instead of punching paper or pop cans. Another suppressor might be louder than a competing model, but it’s half the price of the ultraquiet competitor, or significantly shorter or lighter or more durable. The sound moderator from one manufacturer comes to mind as an example; it is small, light and durable while providing significantly less sound reduction than the manufacturer’s own and competing full-sized suppressors. But the compact size is especially valuable when fitted to an entry weapon, and the moderator will enhance command and control while protecting the operator from short-term and long-term hearing loss. A silencer or moderator that is relatively loud may still be an appropriate tool for a given set of circumstances.

There are more subjective considerations as well. For example, a somewhat louder suppressor or integrally suppressed firearm with superb craftsmanship and cosmetics might make a more handsome and appropriate family heirloom. Sometimes maximum sound suppression is, indeed, the single most important design or performance criterion when selecting a suppressor for a particular application, but sometimes it’s well down on the list of priorities. Here’s a list of design and performance criteria that should be used when evaluating suppressors. How these criteria are ranked in terms of priority will vary with each and every end-user’s circumstances and requirements.

Criteria for Suppressor Selection

1. length
2. diameter
3. weight
4. materials
5. durability of construction (operational lifespan)
6. tonality of sound signature (dominant frequency or pitch)
7. sound pressure level of sound signature (or net sound reduction)
8. first-round pop
9. wet or dry technology?
10. effect on projectile velocity
11. effect on accuracy
12. handiness (human engineering)
13. cost
14. appearance
15. maintenance requirements
16. mounting system
17. type of finish
18. reputation of manufacturer
19. time to drain if full of water (relevant for some SpecOps requirements)
20. time to mount and dismount from weapon (relevant for some SpecOps requirements)
21. quality control
22. ability to deliver required quantities within any time constraints

The learning process at the suppressor trials was by no means limited to the sound testing and discussions on design and performance criteria. Throughout the very long day, the various manufacturers chatted with each other, discussing the fine points of suppressor design, such as how a designer was trying to manipulate gas flow with a new baffle design, problems trying to reduce first-round pop, or the use of exotic materials and fabrication techniques. Suppressor designers frequently offered suggestions to a competitor on how to solve a particular problem. That is not to say that folks swapped their most valuable proprietary knowledge, but they shared information of a depth and quality that I found both remarkable and heartwarming. I know of no other small, highly competitive industry where the principals are so gracious and genuinely helpful to their competitors. Mark White of Sound Technology added to this sense of community by throwing a barbecue for all of the participants at the end of the day.

While space constraints preclude reporting the data here, it is appropriate to highlight a sampling of products that impressed me. Ralph Seifert of R.A.S.E., for example, has developed an innovative baffle design for the .22 rimfire that provided impressive performance in his Labyrinth (an integrally suppressed Ruger 10/22 rifle) and Photon (an integrally suppressed Mountain Eagle pistol). The Photon is remarkably light since it uses a largely plastic pistol plus an innovative carbon fiber suppressor tube. The Photon also features a reinforced barrel which may well eliminate the durability problems often associated with earlier attempts to suppress this pistol by other manufacturers.

Don Austin Wagenknecht brought a particularly diverse product line, ranging from a suppressed cane gun, to an efficient suppressor for the Cobray M11/9 submachine gun, to an ingenious muzzle can for the S&W Model 422 pistol.

While John’s Guns suppressed Marlin Camp Carbines provided good performance in a handy package, the integrally suppressed Ruger 22/45 pistol and Ruger 10/22 rifle designed by John Tibbetts were particular crowd pleasers. His suppressed Ruger Mark II was the quietest integrally suppressed Ruger pistol of the day, beating such industry benchmarks as the outstanding Operator from Gemtech and revolutionary Amphibian from AWC Systems Technology. His Ruger 10/22 was also one of the quietest of the intergrally suppressed 10/22s evaluated during the trials.

Mark White introduced one of the most popular designs of the day—as evidenced by the crowd of dealers wanting to test fire the system during the picnic following the trials—with his Dark Star suppressor mounted on a Ruger Model 96 lever-action rifle firing 260 and 325 grain subsonic .44 Special loads. Originally developed for 7.62x51mm sniper rifles, this superb suppressor made the .44 rifle quieter than a factory original H&K MP5 SD while delivering far superior terminal ballistics. The crowd waiting to fire the suppressed .44 only dispersed when White finally ran out of ammunition.

Jonathan Arthur Ciener, who is the oklest continuously operating suppressor manufacturer in the United States (and one of the oldest in the entire world), had such a confidence in his earliest work that he brought original prototypes from the 1970’s for testing. Even though these designs are several decadesold , I was most impressed by their durability, outstanding workmanship, and the fact that they still provided solid sound reduction compared to the very latest generations of suppressors brought by other. Perhaps the best way to put Ciener’s work in perspective is to note that he was the first to design an effective suppressor for the UZI submachine gun. The salient point is that Ciener developed that UZI suppressor soon after a team of scientist working for Uncle Sam had concluded that it was theoretically impossible to design an effective and practical suppressor for the Uzi, after the goverment had thrown cubic dollars and numerous engineers at the project. It is safe to say that Jonathan Arthur Ciener has played a piotal role in the development of silencer technology as well as in the popularization of that technology with American civilians. The entire industry owes him a considerable debt of gratitude for his contributions.

SIOPTS provided a titanium suppressor with quick-mount system that fastens directly to an unmodified M16A2 or M4 flash hider, something that no one else has accomplished to my knowledge. Furthermore, SIOPTS developed a very heavy, frangible tungsten subsonic round that actually cycles the action—another “impossible dream” that has become reality. While the round provided disappointing accuracy during the trials, it turned out that a loose flash hider on the rifle was the culprit. Subsequent testing demonstrated that the round is capable of delivering a head shot at 100 yards, as long as a barrel with a 1 in 7 rate of twist is used.

Joe Gaddini of SWR was the only manufacturer to bring suppressors for the .40 S&W variant of the MP5 submachine gun, offering a compact sound moderator, a medium-sized suppressor, and a full-sized suppressor. A former engineer at Knight’s Armament Company, Gaddini takes great pains not to infringe upon the proprietary designs of KAC, which is something I greatly admire. His design strategy is to minimize first-round pop at the expense of the average sound pressure level, based on the premise that—for serious applications—the sound signature of the first shot is most critical. While his .45 caliber suppressor for the H&K Mark 23 pistol is louder than the KAC SOCOM suppressor, for example, the amount of first-round pop is less.

That said, the performance of the SOCOM suppressor designed by Doug Olson and Reed Knight was most impressive, producing a sound signature that was less than many suppressed .22 rimfire rifles and pistols. As impressive as the sound signature was, I was even more impressed by the suppressor’s overall design in terms of baffle configuration, fabrication, metallurgy, durability, and finish. Just the tooling to manufacture the complex fluted baffles cost several hundred thousand dollars, and a robot performed all of the complex welding to provide excellent quality control. The Nielsen device in the rear of the suppressor that enables the pistol to cycle reliably—together with the ability to easily zero the point of impact when mounting the suppressor on any pistol—represent remarkably sophisticated engineering. While the Mark 23 pistol with Knight suppressor is a large and heavy package on paper, the reality of handling this system is quite different than mere statistics suggest. Balance and handling are superb, making it easy to deliver rapid double taps at 50 yards. The pistol’s sound signature is significantly quieter than an MP5 SD integrally silenced submachine gun, and it delivers vastly superior terminal ballistics. The H&K Mark 23 pistol and Knight suppressor together form a new and impressive state of the art.

Gemtech fielded a new 9mm pistol suppressor called the Vortex-9, which provided a remarkable 28 dB reduction when fired dry on a Beretta 92F pistol and 35 dB after a half teaspoon of water was poured into the back of the suppressor and allowed to seep through ported baffles into structures that trap the water so it doesn’t leak from a holstered suppressor. The Vortex-9 did not smoke or spatter the operator with droplets of greasy grime, and the impressive performance when wet seems to last for two magazines-worth of shooting. While Gemtech’s M4-96D quick-mount suppressor for the M4 carbine normally equals or slightly outperforms the KAC M4-QD with M855 ball ammo, the Knight suppressor dramatically outperformed the Gemtech suppressor with Winchester USA (so-called White Box) 55 grain fodder. While most suppressors perform very well with Winchester USA pistol ammunition, we learned during the course of the trials that many suppressors do not perform as well as expected when employed with Winchester USA ammo of rifle caliber. Winchester has just discontinued the production of rifle caliber paramilitary ammunition, so this phenomenon can be relegated to a point of historic interest.

John Weaver of JRW fielded a diverse array of suppressors, from an impressive integrally suppressed Ruger 10/22 rifle to a suppressed Sako rifle in .300 Whisper that was quieter than an H&K MP5 SD. JRW’s OTB 22 muzzle can provided excellent performance shot dry on a Marlin 39A rifle and wet on a Walther PP pistol.

The integrally suppressed firearms made by Curtis Higgins of S&H Arms of Oklahoma provide an almost ideal maximum projectile velocity without sacrificing sound reduction. In fact, the

S&H suppressed 10/22 rifle was significantly quieter than most silenced 10/22s I’ve tested. The impressive R.A.S.E. 10/22 beat the performance of the S&H gun by 1 decibel but delivered 43 fps less velocity. I’ve tested some 10/22s that delivered nearly 200 fps less velocity without being nearly as quiet as the S&H gun. It is interesting, however, that one of my favorite .22 pistols of the day was also one of the loudest of its type. Higgins developed an exquisitely handsome suppressed High Standard pistol that is 12 decibels louder than his standard suppressed Ruger Mark II pistol, and the silenced High Standard also has a substantial first-round pop. But it uses a suppressor tube that has a diameter of just 7/8 inch, which enables Higgins to make a package of extraordinary aesthetic appeal. Finally, I can’t go on without mentioning the S&H clone of the H&K MP5 SD, which delivered substantially better sound reduction and substantially higher projectile velocity with both supersonic and subsonic ammunition than a factory original MP5 SD. That’s a most impressive engineering achievement.

Dale Summers of Summers Machine Enterprises produces integrally suppressed Ruger rifles and pistols that give a good mix of sound reduction and projectile velocity, while delivering much better than average accuracy. Summers has a small but fiercely loyal following of regular customers, one of whom provided the pistol for testing. The Spec Op’s Shop provided an interesting array of titanium suppressors for the Ruger 22/45 pistol, Beretta 92F pistol, MP5 submachine gun, Remington PSS rifle, and Colt M4 carbine. The Spec Op’s Shop 9 inch variant of the 5.56mm Viper outperformed the very successful HRT from AWC Systems Technology.

Finally, we tested the subsonic 5.56x45mm White Tip ammunition developed by Whit Engel of Engel Ballistic Research. Using an aftermarket M4 clone and a Gemtech M4-96D suppressor, we tested two variants of subsonic ammunition: one features a 55 grain projectile, while the other uses a 69 grain projectile. The suppressed sound signatures were 117 and 118 decibels, respectively, which is quieter than many suppressed .22 rimfire rifles and pistols. Using a barrel with a twist of 1 in 9, these subsonic rounds provide the capability to deliver head shots at 80 yards.

My thanks to all of the suppressor manufacturers and volunteers who made the 1997 Silencer Trials a success. Forthcoming issues of Small Arms Review will provide a more detailed examination of sound suppressor technology from each of the participants in the 1997 Silencer Trials. We hope to make this an annual event which will draw participants from throughout the United States and overseas as well. The trials provided a great learning experience for all of the manufacturers, volunteers, and dealers who participated in the event.

Participating Manufacturers

Don Austin Wagenknecht
12400 Blue Ridge Blvd.
Grandview, MO 64030

Engel Ballistic Research
Rt. 2, Box 177C
Smithville, TX 78957

Gemtech
P.O. Box 3538
Boise, ID 83703

John’s Guns
3010A Hwy. 155 N.
Palestine, TX 75801

Jonathan Arthur Ciener, Inc.
8700 Commerce Street
Cape Canaveral, FL 32920

JRW
3425 Yule Tree
Edgewater, FL 32141

Knight’s Armament Co.
7750 9th Street SW
Vero Beach, FL 32968

R.A.S.E.
P.O. Box 866
Cocoa, FL 32926

S&H Arms of Oklahoma
P.O. Box 121
Owasso, OK 74055

SIOPTS
570 A Industrial Park Dr.
Newport News, VA 23608

Sound Technology
P.O. Box 391
Pelham, AL 35124

Special Op’s Shop
P.O. Box 978
Madisonville, TN 37354

Summers Machine Enterprises
Route 7, Box 672
Thomasville, NC 27360

SWR
119 Davis Rd., Suite G-1
Martinez, GA 30907

Some chase after Holy Grails, some fame and fortune, some peace and tranquillity. This particular author has been trying to get his hands on the elusive Israeli Negev LMG for a long, long time. I saw a Negev being demonstrated at the ADPA Small Arms Symposium in Reno Nevada during June of this year. The scene may have been reminiscent of a seagull landing on a french fry- I was pretty excited about it. Arrangements were made to visit O.F. Mossberg’s facility for a test. Uzi/America gave me the chance to take a real close look at the Negev at their headquarters in North Haven Connecticut. I can’t say that my wandering days in search of elusive machine guns are over, but this was definitely a high point for me. In short- the Negev lived up to its reputation as a finely made, extremely reliable machine gun. – Dan

In the desert setting, the Negev looked very much at home, as did Ephraim Yaari, the Director of Anti-Terror and Special Weapons for Israeli Military Industries (IMI). Ephraim had just finished an impressive demonstration where he took a Galil rifle and literally dumped a handful of desert sand and stones into the receiver, then emptied a magazine with no malfunctions (more on this in another edition of SAR). He picked up the Negev, did a precise demonstrator’s manual of arms with it, inserted a belt, and proceeded to fire hundreds of rounds of 5.56 x 45mm ammunition from various positions. It was one of the more impressive displays on the firing line that hot June day, especially considering the impact of the fabled Negev LMG on the spectators. Ephraim fired the Negev one handed, held at arm’s length. He fired it close to the body, one handed. In both instances, with the different grip of the gun, the Negev sat on a single plane. It held its point of aim on fully automatic, just as smooth as could be. A very impressive demonstration, indeed.

The Negev has an interesting history. It appeared in firearms related journals as a reference in the mid 1980’s. Never anything that I could chase down, and then it disappeared from the scene. It was an experimental machine gun, perhaps IMI’s response to the SAW program. The Negev development continued in relative secrecy until the IDF (Israeli Defense Force) approved the design in 1992. Jane’s Infantry Weapons 1991-92 has an entry for it, but sightings have been rare. Peter Kokalis once told me he saw several in El Salvador. It would certainly not be unusual for a country as war torn as that one to be evaluating every design that it could.

IMI is somewhat secretive in regard to their contracts- as they should be. Defense information is not something to be idly bandied about. I did manage to find out that, yes, there have been foreign contracts filled- at least one in 1993, and yes, the IDF has adopted the Negev since 1996. The Chief of the IDF Armament Corps has been quoted as saying this was the best light machine gun in the world.

Disassembly of the Negev:

Is it? That is a pretty subjective statement- we don’t know his full frame of reference, other than he is in a serious army- under constant threat. He has adverse conditions to deal with, and uses machine guns every day. He has had access to most of the ones that are presently on the market. In fact, a little research made for an interesting discovery that may lend credence to his comment. The IDF has “American Credit dollars”, which for all intents and purposes means that they can purchase items from approved sources with other peoples money- no cost to themselves. Just fill out the proper forms, and voila! You have the product. In the case of the Negev, IDF had to purchase them with their own tightly allocated cash, at a higher unit cost than the other available LMG’s. Yet, they chose to spend that extra money- one must wonder “Why”. Journalists are taught to “Follow the money”. In this case, I find a military group that is under constant threat, utilizing scarce resources to obtain what they consider to be the best. They “Put their money where their mouth is”- that shows me that the belief in the Negev runs pretty deep with the end users.

What did my live fire and analysis of the Negev find? In a nutshell, a well designed, user friendly, smooth shooting light machine gun. It had some exceptional qualities, and I did not find any one thing wrong with it. Seriously- nothing. It was comfortable, well made, accurate, easy to control, and ergonomic as could be. Maybe there was something- there is the matter of the cost- in excess of $9000 (US) per gun- this is significantly above the market for similar light machine guns. Each Negev does come with a spare barrel, if that is a consolation.

The Negev LMG is being imported to the United States by Uzi/America Inc, a subsidiary of O. F. Mossberg and Sons, Inc. Bob Tinari was my contact there, and he is “One of two guys” who run the shop. Bob is definitely a gun guy. We hit it off right away, and started taking just about every gun in the place apart and talking about the changes, features and improvements. He has the new closed bolt Uzi series of submachine guns (Pretty impressive), the Galil family including the Sniper (Upcoming test in SAR by Mark White) and the Micro Galil (Upcoming test by yours truly). He also was the designated Negev operator, having been trained on it in Israel. We proceeded to tear the Negev down then put it together and shoot it. (It’s a tough life, and I would like you readers to know that Bob and I did discuss how we deserve all of your sympathy.)

My observations:

The Negev is light- very easy to carry. It is compact- with the side folding buttstock it would be very useful for paratroopers. The soft magazine pouch is a real plus- it molds around the weapon for firing control and positioning is much easier than with the damnable hard plastic ammo boxes most SAW ammo comes in today. The soft pouch was ordered in 150 round size for IDF, has been made in 200 round, and IMI will supply in any size the customer requires. The top of the soft pouch locks into the magazine well just like the magazine does, and the magazine configuration is in either standard (Galil 35 round) or M-16 30 round- these are not interchangeable. There is no action required to shift from a belt feed to a magazine, but you can not have both loaded to the weapon at the same time. Loading and unloading was very easy to accomplish- no fumbling around.

Sight acquisition through the aperture (Peep type- so sue me already, that’s what it is- a round “Peep” hole) was quick, and natural to the line of sight of the operator.

So far, the operative words here have been “Easy” and “Natural”. This is not very technical- but accurate from the user’s perspective. Machine guns are weapons of war, made for men who are fighting for their lives. Delicate, complex parts have little use on the battlefield. On the Negev, if you want to change your fire selection, it is immediately and comfortably available to the thumb on the upper grip housing. Need to change the barrel? Open the receiver cover, button pushed, and the barrel slips easily out and to the front. It does not matter what position the bolt is in. The barrel is in a “Well” in the handguard, so you can keep your profile as low as possible while changing barrels. Air cooled machine guns need frequent barrel changes in tough fighting situations and their resultant high rates of fire, and the lower you can keep your profile when in such a situation, the better. The ease of using the operator parts of a weapon can tell the observer a lot about who designed the weapon.

It is pretty obvious that the designers of the Negev LMG understood high adrenaline situations and the resultant simplification necessary to keep the weapon effective, as well as the “Keep a low profile” necessity as well.

Reliability under adverse conditions is just as important as ease of operation. Starting on the outside; the finish is apparently the same as that on the famous Galil family of rifles- it wears very well. I beat on the buttstock a little bit when Bob wasn’t looking, and put some body weight on the bipod. Inquiring minds want to know what happens when the pressure is on. The buttstock was very firm and solid, yet released easily for folding. The bipod was sturdy enough to support body weight, and, I dare say, the inevitable “Body slam” onto the weapon that many soldiers inadvertently utilize when they leapfrog through a firefight.

More interesting things were happening inside the Negev. The field strip was simplicity itself, no catches other than the trigger guard-, which is a separate piece and required a lot of attention to get back into position. While this may be simple for the soldier or demonstrator who is trained in installing it- this would probably be my suggestion point- make this trigger guard attached to something so it doesn’t get lost when you can’t see your hands at night while you are disassembling it. This disassembly was not intended for night- it was intended for well lighted areas, and the purpose of this removable trigger guard is for arctic conditions- firing with a glove. (The design is very good, I would just suggest a modification that allowed for retention similar to that of the M16 winter trigger design.)

Once inside, you can see the odd skeletonized bolt carrier. The way that the gas system works on the Negev, pressure is taken off from the barrel in a fairly standard manner, where it acts immediately on a gas piston that is part of the bolt carrier assembly. There is no mechanical advantage lost in transfers or linkage here- and there is another side effect that may provide the answer to the smooth recoiling of the Negev. There are dual recoil springs that connect to the bolt carrier at the front, ahead of the bolt. This allows for a very long recoil stroke. As evidenced on Eugene Stoner’s exceptional design of the Stoner LMG, this allows the bolt carrier to “Run out” on the spring, instead of contacting the body of the receiver. Without actual impact, the recoil barely causes any movement of the firearm from the point of aim on the successive shots of a burst. Further inspection of the polymer buffer at the rear of the recoil assembly showed there were no significant marks on the buffer. Although the buffer design leaves room for a bolt to clear, it appeared to me that there was never any significant strike there. Running out on the springs is one of the best ways to smooth the recoil and point of aim “Chatter” on a machine gun. This design is successful.

The bolt itself is basically a Galil bolt. One might consider that IMI is taking a chance by using a bolt that was designed for rifle fire and using it in a sustained fire machine gun, but the design of the Galil locking system is excellent and very durable. Remember the rumored “No problems” in testing….

Rates of fire are adjustable by using a very easy to access regulator setting on the front sight base. The rates are adjustable for a reason- the designers feel that the optimum rate of fire for this weapon are in the 700 to 850 rpm area, and belts and magazines produce different “drags” on the firing mechanism. The first setting is for magazines- 700 to 850 rpm. The second is for belt fed situations at 700 to 850 rpm. The third setting is for adverse conditions- it increases the gas pressure so the rate of fire accelerates to 850 to 1000 rpm. What this does is guarantee that the dirty, muddy, Negev will still function at 700 to 850 rpm. The Grenade Launcher function is utilized in position 1, there is no special position for it. The IDF does not utilize the Negev to launch rifle grenades.

Industry rumors are that the IDF has taken delivery of 1500, that these have already seen combat, and that there have been no malfunctions what-so-ever. At least the “Buzz” is pretty impressive. Perhaps not as impressive as what I saw in the desert in Reno, or in the shooting room at O. F. Mossberg & Sons….. The Negev LMG was one of the smoothest machine guns I have ever fired- the trigger control was perfect, and bursts were easy to control. It would take another twenty or thirty thousand rounds of firing before I could give a final evaluation of the possibility of malfunctions, but the rumors about the controllability of this gun are proven true, and I saw no signs of malfunctions anywhere. Just a solid, reliable, comfortable design that was capable of devastating accuracy. The Israeli Negev LMG gets a big “Thumbs UP!” from The Small Arms Review…

For more information to government agencies and prospective dealers:

Bob Tinari
Service Coordinator
Tel- 203-230-5476
Fax- 203-230-5478
Uzi America Inc.
PO box 497
North Haven, CT 06473

The Israeli’s live in an uneasy peace. At times they have had enemies all around- and have persevered and defeated them.

This hardy life circumstance breeds a low tolerance for tools that don’t work. The weapons of the IDF must be solid, function under extreme conditions, and be extremely reliable. Their lives depend on it. When we discussed the testing criteria that the Negev must undergo, I was not given the statement that it “Met or exceeded NATO specs”; I was given a list of the IDF tests that they tortured the Negev with. Other machine guns did not fare so well in the trials- and IMI was not interested in discussing the failures of the other machine guns. IMI spoke only of the success of the Negev.

Some of the technical tests that the Negev mastered before it’s adoption:

1- Accuracy and dispersion 2- Endurance testing. Normally, this is 3 LMG’s x 10,000 rounds searching for failure rates and service life of the main parts. IDF performed 3 LMG’s x 50,000 round tests. 3- The handguard heat retention test results were acceptable. 4- Climate testing was performed for a range of -20 to +70 degrees Celsius, which is the operating environment of the IDF. 5- Adverse conditions testing- Sand, Mud, Water Spray and Water Immersion in a salt fog. 6- Cook off and barrel heating tests 7- Mechanical Stress to Mil STD 810C 8- Solvent / Liquid compatibility 9- Possibly one of the most interesting was the “Sea Immersion” testing- where the Negev was taken to the beach, and tested after continual drenching in the waves- note that the waves contain not only salt water, but sand from the beach.

THE NEGEV LMG DATA

Caliber: 5.56 x 45 NATO M-193 or SS-109
Operation: Gas, open bolt system
Method of fire: Selective fire
Rate of fire: Variable by gas regulator adjustment 700 -1000rpm
Locking method: Rotating Bolt
Feed Mechanism: either 35 round Galil box magazines, or disintegrating Metallic links. M-16 30 round box magazines may be Used with an adapter. Belts may be used in either a soft Assault pouch of 150 rds (other sizes available) or From standard ammunition boxes.
Weight with barrel And bipod, no feed device: 7600 grams
Wt 150 rd full soft assault pack: 2100 grams
Wt empty Galil 35 rd magazine: 320 grams
Wt full Gallil 35 rd magazine: 720 grams
Overall length, standard config: 1020 mm O/A
Length, Stock folded: 780 mm Barrel
Length, standard: 460 mm Barrel
Length, Short: 330 mm
Barrel twist: 1:7 RH
Sight line radius: 440 mm
Width: 60 mm
Muzzle velocity: 915 m/s
Sights:Front- Post
Rear: Aperture, drum adjustments 300-1000m
Night: Folding w/ tritium (Not US model)
Trigger pull: Semi-automatic 6 kg
Full Automatic: 2.5 kg
These are maximum trigger pull weights, these may be a bit lower depending on spring conditions, etc.

Suppressed rifles can be very useful tools for solving a variety of tactical problems. When used for law-enforcement applications, suppressed rifles offer the added benefit of reducing the likelihood of collateral public-relations and media-relations problems generated by the use of lethal force. Suppressed rifles are also valuable for discrete animal control, whether dealing with feral dogs attacking livestock or troublesome deer endangering aircraft at an airport. Not every department or agency can afford approximately $7,000 for an Accuracy International AW Sniper Rifle with AWC Thundertrap suppressor and Schmidt and Bender telescopic sight, or about $4,000 for a Gemtech Sniper Rifle with SPEC-OP 3 suppressor and Leupold Mark 4 scope. It turns out that the Savage Model 110FP “Tactical Rifle” with Sound Technology’s Dark Star sound suppressor and Choate’s Ultimate Sniper Stock together form a suppressed rifle system that provides excellent performance at a budget price of about $1,000 without optics. That’s about the cost of an AWC Thundertrap suppressor alone. The following discussion will evaluate the Savage rifle, Sound Technology suppressor, and Choate stock.

The Savage Model 110FP Tactical Rifle is based on the same action used for the company’s M110 long action sporting rifle, which has been in production for decades. The bolt features a somewhat flexible attachment between the locking lug module and the rest of the bolt. This allows the lugs to transfer an identical amount of pressure to the receiver upon firing, while more traditional locking lug designs such as seen on the Remington M700 action can allow each lug to push against the action with different pressure, causing the action to twist in an asymmetric fashion. This adversely affects accuracy. While this phenomenon may not be critical for typical law-enforcement applications, the effect can be real and measurable. This problem with fixed Mauser-type locking lugs can be cured by having a competent smithy turn and lap the lugs for optimum fit and smoothness, but the Savage does not require this costly custom operation for optimum accuracy.

Another advantage of the Savage Tactical Rifle is that a cold shot strikes at the same place as the second and third shots. At a recent sniper training class, an instructor armed with a Savage 110FP competed against a student whose department invested in a very high dollar Teutonic sniper rifle with hammer forged barrel. The expensive weapon’s cold shot was unacceptably far from subsequent shots. While the second and third shots walked closer to the center of subsequent warm shots, shot placement of the first few rounds was still unacceptable. Since accurate placement of the first round is critical and the spendy weapon was not up to the task, the law-enforcement sniper with the Teutonic Wundergewehr washed out of the course. The instructor proved that the Savage Tactical Rifle provides excellent accuracy including the first shot out of a cold barrel.

My own experience with the 7.62x51mm (.308 Winchester) variant of Savage 110FP is that the Tactical Rifle tends to produce approximately 1.5 MOA five-round groups (measured as maximum center to center distance, as opposed to maximum outer edge to outer edge of the group) with Federal 308M ammunition using the factory stock and 1.2 MOA groups using a Choate stock.

Measuring Groups for the Record

Two factors can introduce significant bias when trying to determine the intrinsic (as opposed to practical) accuracy of a rifle: (1) using enough scope, and (2) using a reproducible method for determining group size. Since the following discussion on the performance of the suppressed Savage Tactical Rifle will be discussing some improbably small groups, it is essential to establish the procedures used to generate these numbers. The casual reader might well go ballistic, if you’ll pardon the pun, when I claim a group size that is smaller than the diameter of the projectile. “Did that fool use a squeeze bore or is he simply full of BS?” they might ask. Here’s the methodology I used and why I used it.

Using enough scope is important to really determine the intrinsic accuracy of a system, so we used a Tasco 6-24x44mm World Class TS Target telescopic sight for accuracy testing. While 24 power is about minimum magnification needed to really push the edge of the envelope in terms of assessing maximum intrinsic accuracy of a very accurate rifle, many authorities prefer a 10-power scope for tactical applications.

More than 12x for a tactical scope exaggerates mirage and provides a narrow field of view, while less than 8x adversely affects shot placement. Some snipers like a variable-power scope so they can adjust the scope to low power for defensive shooting at short range, while others prefer a fixed-power scope for its superior durability. U.S. Army and Marine Corps snipers currently use fixed-power 10x scopes on their latest rifles.

Then there is the matter of how to accurately and precisely measure group size (accurately and precisely mean very different things to a statistician). The accepted convention is to measure a group by determining the distance between the centers of the two bullet holes that are the most widely separated shots of a group. This method is much more attractive than measuring from the outermost edges of the holes (or even the innermost edges of the holes) since the center-to-center method is not biased by the diameter of the projectile. The method works equally well for .17 caliber and .50 caliber projectiles.

The problem is that the center of the hole is actually missing, so the precise center must be estimated. This means that the accurate (i.e., reproducible) measurement of an inferred point in space can be a challenge. I used an inferior method for years, a method that is still widely used today. I employed a caliper to measure the outermost edges of the two most widely separated holes, and then I subtracted the bullet diameter. This technique is commonly used by many benchrest shooters, some benchrest competitions, and some gunwriters. It’s a logical method. But it is flawed, as colleague Bill Beatty pointed out to me (to my eternal gratitude). While my old method does not introduce a significant bias in the data when reporting accuracy to the nearest whole minute of angle, the procedure is not satisfactory when reporting group size to the nearest thousandth of an inch.

I’ve subsequently learned that this traditional technique has two fundamental liabilities. (1) One cannot determine exactly where the location of the outer edge of a bullet hole lies. And (2) the paper stretches as the bullet pushes through the target, so the hole in the paper does not have the same diameter as the projectile. Several individuals have designed and marketed target-measuring fixtures based on the principal that people have a remarkable ability to determine when two circles of different diameter are concentric. Dan Hackett has written outstanding articles for Precision Shooting magazine on both the problem of how to measure groups and various commercially available target-measuring fixtures. Far and away the handiest device is a modified vernier caliper designed and marketed by Orrin Hunt (Hunt’s Bullets of Jacksonville, FL; 800-645-3140 code 73).

Hunt machines a hole through the closed jaws of a caliper that is slightly larger than the nominal caliber, so that precisely half of the hole is in each jaw. He also adds a chamfer to the top of the hole, which is critical for the proper optical effect. To measure a group, simply center the pair of bullet holes in the pair of semicircular notches in the caliper jaws and read the group size on the caliper dial. Testing by Hackett on 50 targets with a Jones testing fixture and the Hunt calipers suggests that Hunt’s solution varies by no more than 0.003 inch from using the Jones fixture. Hackett also makes the interesting point that 0.003 inch is less than the difference one normally sees when two different people measure the same group with the same instrument.

This has several interesting implications. (1) The same person should always be responsible for measuring group size, whether the results will be used for publication or determining the rankings at a tournament. And (2) while group sizes are commonly reported to the nearest 0.001 inch, the inherent variability of such measurements means that last decimal place is not truly a “significant figure” in a statistical sense. Just because the caliper reads to the nearest 0.001 inch doesn’t mean that number is meaningful in this application. Therefore, I shall shy away from reporting group size beyond the nearest 0.01 inch when discussing the accuracy of a firearm. Frequently, however, simpler numbers will more readily convey important trends. Comparing the effects of the factory and Choate stocks, for example, merely requires reporting to the nearest 0.1 MOA.

The observed difference in accuracy using the factory versus Choate stock on the Savage 110FP rifle is probably due to two factors: (1) the barrel is free floating in the Choate stock but not the factory polymer stock, and (2) the aluminum bedding block in the Choate stock provides superior rigidity and durability. Adding a Dark Star suppressor generally reduces group size to about 0.4 MOA with a 20 inch barrel, because the weight of the suppressor reduces barrel harmonics, as does shortening the barrel. The sound suppressor also reduces apparent recoil by about 50 percent.

The Federal 308M load features a 168 grain (10.9 gram) Sierra MatchKing HPBT projectile. The Savage .308 caliber barrel features six-groove rifling with a right-hand twist of 1 turn in 10 This is a very good design feature even if the result is not cosmetically appealing. The rifles evaluated in this study had barrels shortened to 18.5 inches (47.0 cm) for urban applications, although suppressor designer Mark White of Sound Technology and I both prefer a barrel length of 20-21 inches (50.8-53.3 cm) whether or not a suppressor is added.

While a Kahles ZF69 6×42 telescopic sight was fitted to the rifles for sound testing and photographs, a Tasco 3.5-10x50mm World Class Plus variable scope with .30 caliber reticle and matte finish would be an appropriate economy tactical scope for this rifle (the Tasco 10×42 and 10x42M Tactical/Sniper Scopes with 30mm tube cost roughly three times more than the World Class Plus scopes). System weight of the rifle with 18.5 inch barrel, Choate stock, Sound Technology Dark Star Mk2 suppressor, and Kahles scope is 17.0 pounds (7.7 kg) with an overall length of 53.0 inches (135 cm).

The Model 110FP’s bolt features an enclosed bolt face for strength and safety; both the bolt and trigger are finished in a black titanium nitride that provides a smooth hard surface. The barrel and action are blasted with steel shot and receive a hot-blued finished, while other parts are blasted with glass beads and then also receive a hot-blued finished. The ambidextrous three-position safety is located just behind the bolt. Push rearward to engage the safety and lock the bolt closed; move to the middle position to cycle the bolt while preventing the weapon from firing; or push forward to fire. This is a nice bit of engineering. A dual-function lever on the right side of the receiver just forward of the bolt handle is not only the bolt-release catch but also serves as the cocking and sear-trip indicator. The lever assumes an elevated position when the striker is cocked. Lock time, which is the time between sear release and primer detonation, is very fast. While the Savage bolt is superior in some respects to a Remington M700 bolt, the Savage trigger is vastly inferior to the Remington’s.

The Savage 110FP comes from the factory with a grizzly trigger that has at least a 6 pound (2.7 kg) sear release, while the trigger pull for a sniper rifle should fall between 2.5 and 3.5 pounds (1.1 and 1.6 kg), with 2.5 pounds being ideal. The sear release on the Savage trigger can be adjusted that low by a smithy, but reducing the sear release below 3.5 pounds may deactivate the safety. Therefore, optimum trigger pull on the Savage based on the design of the trigger and safety—rather than on the operator’s wishes—is probably 4.0 pounds (1.8 kg). Anything more will adversely affect accuracy. Anything less will adversely affect safety. While Sound Technology can provide a trigger job for $55, Mark White would prefer to install an aftermarket trigger by Timney, Bold, or Arnold W. Jewell if and when models become available for the Savage rifle.

The other weak link in the Savage Tactical rifle is the black polymer stock that comes from the factory. The front of the Savage stock bears against the barrel, which significantly degrades accuracy. Since the Savage stock lacks pillars for the action screws, tightening the screws can cause the bolt heads to dig into the stock and the bolts to protrude into the bolt path, where they will interfere with operating the rifle. Furthermore, the overall stock design is more suitable for a sporting arm than a sniper rifle. This is a particular liability when a suppressor is added to the system. Choate’s Ultimate Sniper Stock provides a very cost effective replacement for the mediocre Savage stock.

Ultimate Sniper Stock

Designed by Maj. John Plaster, who is a highly regarded authority on sniping and sniping equipment, the Ultimate Sniper Stock is built from 6 pounds (2.7 kg) of DuPont Rynite SST-35 polymer. The Rynite is injection-molded around a precision machined aluminum bedding block that provides drop-in installation for the Savage Model 110FP. Developed and fabricated by Choate Machine & Tool, Inc. (P.O. Box 218, Bald Knob, AR 72010; phone 800-972-6390, fax 501-724-5873), other variants of the stock are available for Remington short or long actions, and the currently produced Winchester Model 70.

Plaster incorporated a number of desirable features into this design. While the action is rigidly held by the aluminum bedding block, the barrel floats freely, even with the installation of a suppressor. When a Dark Star suppressor is installed on an 18.5 or 20 inch barrel, the system balances naturally at a hollow in the forestock that features molded stippling for a positive grip. This sharp stippling is also found on the stock’s pistol grip. Finished in a matte O.D. green color, the stock features a thick rubber recoil pad that has five height adjustments. Removable spacers enable increasing the length of pull from 13.25 inches (33.7 cm) in 0.25 inch (6 mm) increments. A removable knob at the rear bottom of the stock can be used for fine elevation adjustments, and an angular ramp inside the cutout stock is superbly engineered for holding the stock into the shoulder with the nonfiring hand. The cheek piece adjusts forward and backward, and two cheek pieces are furnished to accommodate standard and high scope rings.

The top of the forestock has a 1.25 inch (3.2 cm) barrel channel and four tie-down slots for attaching camouflage. The 2.38 inch (6.0 cm ) wide bottom of the forestock is angled to enable easy height adjustment and contains an Anschutz-type accessory rail that will accept a bipod. Recessed Uncle Mike’s sling swivels are incorporated on both sides of the forestock and both sides of the butt stock which provide for a number of practical carry modes. Large serrations on the bottom of the butt stock and the forestock (just behind the accessory rail) help the rifle grip sandbags. The sloped bottom of the forestock makes elevation adjustments from a supported hand or sand bags easy by simply sliding the stock on the rest, and the arrangement also keeps a Harris bipod angled toward the barrel so it is less likely to snag on brush during a stalk.

The stock readily accepts camouflage paint of the sort used on duck boats. And, finally, a compartment in the grip can be used for adding a counterweight of lead shot or for storage.

It’s a lot of stock for $160. More importantly, Choate’s Ultimate Sniper Stock provides a very stable shooting platform that enhances both the intrinsic and the practical accuracy of the Savage Tactical Rifle, especially when a suppressor is installed. My only significant criticism of the stock is that the molded stippling is too sharp for my taste unless the operator is wearing gloves. If this is a problem for an operator, a few minutes of light sanding can soften the points to the individual’s satisfaction. Another potential problem of the Choate stock is weight. At 6 pounds (2.7 kg), the Ultimate Sniper Stock weighs 3 pounds (1.4 kg) more than the standard HS Precision Tactical Rifle Stock. Nevertheless, the added weight should not be a liability in the real world, especially for law-enforcement applications. While the Choate stock is butt ugly, handsome is as handsome does. The Ultimate Sniper Stock makes the silenced Savage Tactical Rifle a serious contender—especially when fired from sandbags or a Harris bipod (which can be fitted to the accessory rail using an optional accessory bar with thumb screw that comes with the stock).

Dark Star Suppressor

Sound Technology’s Dark Star suppressor was designed by Mark White, who has been making significant contributions to precision shooting and suppressor technology for more than a decade. His suppressed .22 rifles and pistols, for example, tend to be the most accurate silenced .22s in the marketplace in my experience. It will come as no surprise to suppressor cognoscenti that the new Dark Star suppressors provide outstanding sound reduction while actually enhancing rifle accuracy. Two variants of this suppressor are available, since different end users have somewhat different operational requirements. Both versions feature steel tubes with a diameter of 1.75 inches (4.4 cm), which telescope back over the barrel for 7.0 inches (17.8 cm) to reduce the overall length of the weapon. The two-point mounting system also maximizes rigidity and alignment between the barrel and suppressor, and features a unique conical configuration that gives Sound Technology suppressors two unusual characteristics. (1) When dismounted and then remounted onto the barrel, the weapon does not need to be re-zeroed. All other suppressors in my experience require re-zeroing the parent weapon every time a can is screwed onto the barrel, unless installed with a torque wrench to an optimum number of inch-pounds or the suppressor uses a quick-mount system that always mates the suppressor to the barrel in exactly the same way every time. And (2) the mount design is self correcting if and when the threads on the suppressor or barrel begin to wear. The suppressors are finished with a matte black baked-on molybdenum resin.

The Dark Star Mk1 is optimized for subsonic ammunition but provides world-class performance with supersonic ammunition as well. The Mk1 is 16.75 inches (42.5 cm) long, contains two symmetric and five asymmetric steel baffles, and weighs 3.3 pounds (1.5 kg). The Mk1 increases a rifle’s overall length by 9.75 inches (24.8 cm). The Dark Star Mk2 is optimized for supersonic ammunition but performs very well with subsonic ammunition as well. The Mk2 is 18.0 inches (45.7 cm) long, features two symmetric steel and 10 asymmetric aluminum baffles, and weighs 3.1 pounds (1.4 kg). The Mk2 increases a rifle’s overall length by 11.0 inches (27.9 cm).

I tested the performance of these suppressors using the specific equipment and testing protocol advocated at the end of Chapter 5 in the book Silencer History and Performance, Volume 1. The temperature during the testing was 52øF (11 øC).

The sound signatures, more properly called the Sound Pressure Levels (SPLs), are shown in Table 1. These data represent the mean (average) value of at least 10 shots. The Federal 308M produced an average velocity of 2,543 fps (775 mps) in the 18.5 inch Savage barrel, while the Sound Technology subsonic match produced an average velocity of 1,039 fps (317 mps). The unsuppressed Savage Tactical Rifle with 18.5 inch barrel had an unsuppressed sound signature of 166 decibels with Federal 308M ammunition and 153 dB with Sound Technology subsonic match ammunition, measured 1 meter to the left of the muzzle as per MIL-STD-1474C.

The Dark Star Mk1 and Mk2 suppressors both produced lower sound signatures than one of the best .30 caliber rifle suppressors of all time, the M89 from AWC Systems Technology (which parenthetically cost three times as much as the Dark Star). Comparing the Sound Technology and AWC suppressors using these numbers is a bit misleading, however, because the McMillan M89 rifle produced louder unsuppressed SPLs than the Savage 110FP. A more meaningful way to compare suppressors tested on different weapons or on different days is to compare the net sound reductions, as shown in Table 2. This comparison shows that the Dark Star Mk1 equals the performance of the M89 with both supersonic and subsonic ammunition, while the Dark Star Mk2 exceeds the performance of the M89 with supersonic ammunition but falls short of the M89 with subsonic ammunition. The Dark Star Mk2 is nevertheless remarkably quiet with subsonic match, providing a lower sound signature than some mainstream integrally suppressed .22 rimfire rifles. It is safe to say that the Dark Star suppressors from Sound Technology are world-class performers.

One interesting aspect of suppressor performance not revealed by the data in the accompanying tables is “first round pop.” This phenomenon occurs when secondary combustion gases and unburned powder residue combine with the oxygen in an unfired suppressor—especially one of large volume—to produce loud instantaneous combustion just beyond the muzzle of the barrel. The first round of 308M ammunition through the Mk1 is 3 dB louder than subsequent rounds, while the Mk2 does not exhibit any first-round pop. This is a significant technological achievement, since most .30 caliber rifle suppressors exhibit this phenomenon. Even the impressive AWC M89 suppressor produces a first-round pop of 3 dB. Since the bullet flight noise of a supersonic .30 caliber projectile is about 149 dB at 1 meter from the bullet flight path, this 3 dB first-round pop is not a significant problem in the real world. Neither Dark Star variant produces a first-round pop with Sound Technology subsonic ammunition, which produces a bullet flight noise of about 110 dB at 1 meter from the bullet flight path.

Conclusions

While there is no substitute for a crisp 2.5 pound sear release on a sniper rifle, the Savage Model 110FP with tuned 4.0 pound trigger pull and Choate Ultimate Sniper Stock delivered sub-half-MOA accuracy with a shortened barrel and Sound Technology Dark Star suppressor, a considerable improvement over the 1.5 MOA delivered by a factory original Savage Tactical Rifle with no suppressor. The suppressed rifle’s sound signature with supersonic ammunition is far below both bullet flight noise and the pain threshold, while the sound signature with subsonic ammunition is less than a currently manufactured integrally suppressed .22 rimfire rifle. The Dark Star was so quiet with subsonic fodder that I did not hear Mark White fire the weapon less than two car lengths away, while I was concentrating on setting up the sound test equipment used for this study. Only the warm rear of the suppressor, the smell of powder combustion gases, and the hole in the bulls eye 100 yards away proved that the rifle had been fired.

While the expensive Accuracy International and Gemtech suppressed sniper rifles are clearly superior tools (at least with supersonic ammunition), they cost four to seven times as much as the Savage Tactical Rifle with Choate stock, Tasco 3.5-10x50mm scope, and Sound Technology Dark Star suppressor. Yet the bottom line, in this case, is the bottom line. The Savage, Choate and Sound Technology components together form a rifle system of synergistic excellence at a package price that is comparable to just a top-of-the-line suppressor from another manufacturer. This system has the capability to solve any realistic tactical problem that is appropriate for a law-enforcement officer to address with a precision rifle of .308 caliber.

Choate Machine and Tool, Inc. P.O. Box 218 Bald Knob, AR 72010 800-972-6390 Catalog $2

Savage Arms, Inc. 100 Springdale Road Westfield, MA 01085 413-568-7001

Sound Technology P.O. Box 391 Pelham, AL 35124 205-664-5860 Catalog $5

This spring we got to inaugurate the addition to the KCR subgun range. Unfortunately, it was out of necessity. On the evening of February 28, it began to rain in the Ohio river valley. In the next 24 hours, we got 17 to 20 inches of rain, depending on who’s rain gauge you believe. This caused severe flooding- the towns of West Point and Shepardsville on either side of KCR had up to 14 feet of water in the downtown areas. One week later, the Ohio River crested 15.5 feet above flood stage.

The devastation to the areas was the worst since the floods of 1937 that inspired the Corps of Engineers to build the floodwalls along the Ohio River. Even with the floodgates on the Dixie Highway and on Highway 44 leading to KCR closed, the water found it’s way in. The highway leading to the range was under 15 feet of water. Fortunately, the main range and Kenny Summner’s house are above the flood plane, but the lower ranges did not fare as well.

The subgun range had 11 feet of water over it. The shoot house we had built over the past two years, which survived 4 feet of water from the previous flood, was washed away. Most of the wreckage ended up jammed in the viaduct that separates the subgun range from the rental range. This serendipitously slowed the velocity of the water across the ranges and over the bridge that leads into the range. After the water receded, all we had left was a pile of debris and a waterlogged range with a coat of fine, slippery silt.

The range was in no shape to put on the two stage, all steel match originally planned for spring. Furthermore, we had planned to use the new area for the upcoming Machine Gun News 10th Anniversary Shoot and Subgun Match. After talking with Bill Mees and Dick Lengler at the NFA, we decided to build a jungle trail match. I sent Bill and Dick photos and a strip map of the area and an inventory of available steel targets. They had a plan by the time they got up here two weeks later, but to make it work well we needed more targets. More help came from out of the blue while we were going over the problem at the KCR breakfast buffet Friday morning with some of our range staff. Sitting at the next table was Larry Beazley who owns Beast Products. Larry builds high-quality steel targets. Overhearing our problem, he offered to donate six pepper poppers and five swinging silhouettes. Combined with some steel plates Ed fabricated at the last minute, we were set for steel, but Mother Nature wasn’t through with us yet.

Although the setup day on Friday was clear, “light” rain was forecasted for Saturday. Bill’s plan allowed for reconfiguring the course of fire to a stand and shoot format. Since we would be running against the weather to save time, there would be no walk-through. Instead the shooters would be given a printed equivalent walk-through. The format was explained to the shooters before each squad, questions were answered, and away they would go.

Typically “Bill”, the course looked deceptively simple. But the course of fire would really make you work to do well. The course consisted of six color-coded strings. The stings behind the one the shooter was engaging served as no- shoots. The strings alternated between light and dark colors to aid in target discrimination. The first string was eight orange plates and one swinger divided between both sides of the trail, and one pepper popper about one hundred yards out. To make the course fair to all skill levels, we required that the shooter need only engage the pepper popper before advancing. A goodly number of shooters dropped the popper from that distance. Then the shooter advanced downrange about 50 feet to the yellow stake to find the same number of targets. The positions were reversed, however, the pepper popper was a little closer, and the shots got a little tighter. A little farther downrange to the blue string, one found eight plates and a pepper popper with a definite bias to the left. More than a couple of shooters entirely overlooked the two plates on the right side of the trail just slightly downhill. Oh well, no need crying over missed steel; there were three more strings to go.

The next problem was the black string: seven plates and a popper with members of the next string mixed in. The left side of this string was a set of obviously really tight shots. That lone plate on the right should be almost a gimmy, right? Well not quite. It seems the bowling pins from the last string kept drawing errant bullets (and penalties.) After that, the red string seemed to be a walk in the park, but we were just setting the up shooters for the final aggravation: the bowling pins. Just six lone pins on stands, which took a lot of time and ammo to defeat.

About half way through the black string, many shooters were beginning to realize that they were expending ammo ahead of schedule. By the time they got to the bowling pin string, ammo supply had become critical. Life can be cruel, but not to everyone. Tom Carpenter was the open class winner, with Rick Hill placing second by less than one second. There was a brief controversy over weather Tom had shot one target out of sequence, which would have substantially altered his standing. But the problem was resolved equitably. Mike “M.G.” Sawyer claimed third place with his trusty Uzi. Fourth place went home with Jim Greene. Mike Sawyer came back for fifth place with a modified M-11. Dickie Schumaker placed sixth with Malcomb Davis hot on his heels for seventh. Mitch Maxberry and Bob Delp divided eighth and ninth places, respectively by less than a half second. Howard Block was just behind for tenth place.

Classic class might as well been called the tube gun class since 75 percent of the shooters wielded Swedish K’s or variants. Notable exceptions included Staale Johannison. Who took third place with his ex-police Thompson and Ron Davison who won fourth place a Tommy gun almost too clean to shoot. Ron knew that bad mag change was going to hurt him. Generals Kibiodeaux and Bruno with their Sten Mk II represented the command structure of the Louisiana militia. I have never seen two guys dnf by running out of ammo and have so much fun doing it. I don’t think they quite got the concept of no-shoot targets though. But they enjoyed themselves and, in the, end isn’t that what it’s all about?

The range officers and crew really put extra effort into this match. setting steel on a muddy hillside is not anybody’s idea of easy. Many thanks from the shooters were expressed during and after the match, both for an excellent course and for laboring against adverse conditions. Unfortunately once again, some of the range officers did not get to shoot a match they had worked so hard to build and run, given the weather conditions. We will be instituting a change in our system for the fall match so enjoy shooting the course.

Speaking of this gunpowder the range officers can driven enjoyment, what else is up at the creek? For fall, we will be holding another one of those sick silly steel speed matches. Left-hand prone anyone? So “Get them running shoes ready”, and we’ll see you at the Creek.

When discussion turns to the “best of the best” Class Three weapons, the Swedish “K” is usually at or near the top of the List. It is known as the Carl Gustav, M-45 B, or Swedish K. The K stands for Kulsprute Pistol, which roughly translated from the Swedish means “bullet spurter”. This superb design was the result of excellent engineering and production at the Carl Gustufs Stads Gevarsfakturi at Eskilstuna, Sweden in the Post WWII years. (Carl Gustav is the name given to every King of Sweden, sort of like the Phantom or “Ghost Who Walks”, this also makes the Monograms much easier.)

In the 1950’s the export contracts for the “K” were very good for the Swedes. They sold a large quantity to the Egyptians, and eventually installed the equipment in one of the Egyptian’s factories in order to built them in-country. These are the “Port Said” (Sa-eed) models. Port Said is a major seaport city at the head of the Suez Canal. In 1952 the Egyptians overthrew the Monarchy of King Farouk and established the United Arab Republic; and placed in power an obscure Army Officer named Gamal Nassar. At this time they began to produce weapons for themselves, though still relying heavily on Swedish engineers.

I came to know this excellent weapon when I worked for the ill-fated Viking Program of Weapons System in Malden Massachusetts. Once, Bertil Johansson was brought over from Aimpoint in Sweden. Bert brought many interesting pieces with him, including the Swedish magazine; undoubtedly the finest magazine system in the world today. It feeds 36 rounds of 9mm as smoothly and reliable as any box feed system ever designed. The truncated body allows easy acquisition in the dark. Many other submachine gun designers have copied this format, or made actual “Clones” for their own submachine guns.

The elegance of the Swedish design is that there are elements of the crude Sten and sophistication of the MP-40 series, with the simplicity of wood and steel. The only anachronism in the design is a silly appendage for the attachment of a bayonet found only on the M-45C.

There are two main variations of the Port Said; the first being a direct copy of the M-45B. The other, not commonly seen, is a simplified version utilizing a crude collapsible wire stock. The one feature that endeared the m-45 B to the CIA was a sturdy man sized folding stock that remained rigid when opened.

The modified or simplified M-45 has an unshrouded 6” barrel, this variation is known as the AKABA.

I have what could be called a hybrid Swedish K/Port Said. It is definitely a mismatched gun. How does one tell? Quite simple, the Swedish guns have the Crown and C denoting national production. The parts are all numbered in Arabic numerals 1, 2, 3, etc. All of the Port Said parts are numbered in Farsi, and Arab language quite indistinguishable to western eyes. The Port Said in most of the photos accompanying this article is an original all Egyptian.

The Swedish guns are finished in high quality blue or in many cases a forest green so familiar to veterans of SouthEast Asia.

Now don’t get me wrong- my Swedish K/Port Said is still the most accurate and controllable SMG that I own. This gun cost me $189.00. Purchasing one today will cost you ten times that- plus! Original transferable guns are hard to come by- Wilson Arms registered a small quantity of receivers for these guns before the 1986 machine gun ban (Ban on manufacture for private ownership), and Recon Ordnance still has some that have been manufactured into complete transferable machine guns by gunsmith Stan Andrewski. There are some pre-86 dealer sample guns around, and occasionally some importer brings in a few for law enforcement use- they are very accurate and reliable, and make a fine submachine gun for a department on a tight budget. A few moments at the range comparing ease of use and accuracy of bullet placement with submachine guns that cost 5 times as much will quickly convince many doubters.

My favorite trick is to empty one entire 36 round magazine into a NRA B-2 target at 21 feet and have one large hole eliminating the black entirely. It is not hard to do, and the accuracy potential is there. It is my gun of choice for introducing novice shooters to the wonderful world of Class Three. In fact, this is the first SMG my wife Pat ever shot. It is safe, slow, reliable, and super accurate.

There are at least three variations of the Swedish K and two of the Port Said.

The M-45 B has an improved end cap and a removable magazine housing that when removed, allows use of the 50 round Suomi M-37 magazine, or the 71 round drums.

Specifications of M-45/Port Said

Caliber: 9mm (packed in 36 round boxes)
Magazine: Detachable box
Mag Capacity: 36 cartridges
OA Length: 31.8”, Folded 21.70”
Weight: 9.25 # Loaded
Cyclic Rate: 550-600 RPM
Type of Fire: Automatic only – slow rate allows singles.
Types of Action: A P I Blowback
Sights: Front Adjustable Post Rear Three Step Notch

The Suomi 50 Rd 4 column magazine alone and installed

AN INTERESTING ACCESSORY

One of the neat accessories Bertil Johansson brought with him was a combination Blank Firing/ sub caliber training Barrel.

If you have ever seen the movie “Invasion USA” with Chuck Norris, you have seen this device, but do you know its secret? It has a bulbous appendage buried in of all things, a flash hider. But how many of you know that this is removable to reveal a 5-mm sub caliber training barrel for barracks practice?

There are two types of blanks available for the Swedish K type submachine guns. One has a red plastic bullet and the other black plastic bullet. Imbedded in the red plastic is a 5-mm steel ball.

Indoors at 21 feet, the weapon fires in the full auto mode, and tiny holes appear on the target to point of aim at 25 meters. The smell of burning plastic permeates the air. The plastic bullet disintegrates about 5 meters from the muzzle. When functioning as blanks, the bulbous appendage would not only contain the steel pellets, but also the shredded plastic sabots.

I only had a fifty of each to fire and they both had the same recoil and accuracy. There was a lot of flash from the ejection part but fun to fire nevertheless.

The next time you see this in a movie you will be “in the know”.

MY WIFE’S FAVORITE MACHINE GUN;

The Swedish K series of submachine guns have a well-deserved reputation for controllability. Those of you who are married and want a good shooter for your wife to learn with, or a submachine gun to shoot together at the range- this might be just the one. It’s inexpensive, very controllable, a real pleasure to shoot. I am fortunate that my wife enjoys shooting, but the Port Said / K is certainly her favorite!