ALLSTEEL SCOUT SCOPE MOUNT FOR AR-15/M-16

Allsteel Rifle Mounts, Inc. makes a unique, innovative scout mount for the AR-15/M-16 series of rifles. The mount is an extremely strong precision machines two part unit which consists of a base permanently attached to the front of the carryhandle (but removable), and a quick detachable Weaver rail. The height of the optics, mounted to the QD weaver rail, is adjustable and can be set to the position desired by the shooter either directly in the iron sight plane or above. Allsteel makes rails for the Bushnell Holosight, Trigicon Reflex and the C-More. No part of the 4.5 ounce Allsteel Scout Mount attaches to the top part of the carryhandle in the sight channel. Therefore scopes or Night Vision can be mounted on the top of the carryhandle with traditional mounts. The mount can be removed and will return to zero every time. Allsteel also makes target rails for the AR-15/M-16, an H&K Low Rail and an MP-5 Ultra-Low mount. The H&K rails are now available in either fixed or quick detachable. Inquires and orders by mail only. For more info or to place an order contact: Allsteel Rifle Mounts, Inc., Dept. SAR, POB 668, Godfrey, IL 62035.

THE LIQUIDATOR FROM EAGLE INDUSTRIES

Water at your fingertips! Eagles Industries LIQUIDATOR(tm) series has a product for every situation. The Liquidator(tm) HSC-70 holds 70 oz. of water that you can wear backpack style or it easily fits into packs, bags, or can be attached to the back of a vest. They also make the LIQUA-PAK(tm) which is made from #1000 denier Cordura nylon, uses 1/4” closed cell foam for padding and insulation, and has padded shoulder straps and a waist belt. There is a large outside pouch and has slotted webbing on the outside for slide clips. It comes with a 90 oz. pure urethane bladder with radiused corners so there is no bacteria build-up. The Liqua-Pak(tm)II is the ultimate hydration system and is featured in the photo. It is also made from #1000 denier Cordura nylon, and has two outside zippered pockets. There is CoolMax(tm) on the backside for coolness and comfort and it also has detachable padded shoulder straps and a waist belt. There is a top carry handle and a 90 oz. bladder. All of the hydration systems have a push-pull valve which prevents accidental leaking and a bite valve is also furnished for hands free drinking. For more information contact Eagle Industries, Dept. SAR, 400 Biltmore Drive, Suite 530, Fenton, MO 63026. Phone: 1-314-343-7547. Fax: 1-314-349-0321. You can also visit them on the web at www.eagleindustries.com.

GUNS.COM

Denver, CO. General Communications. Inc., a leader in International Trade Publications has released it latest web site, “GUNS.COM”. The newest site contains the latest technology in all weaponry and accessories. Included are sections which include The Corners (Hunters, Shooters, Gaming, Collectors, Law Enforcement, Sporting Enthusiasts, Militaria, Knives, Paintball, Archery, Air Rifles), What’s New (Press Releases, Updates, Changes), Calendar of Events (Shows, Competitions, Seminars, Conferences), Reference Library (Facts and Data, Laws, Specifications and Schematics, Key word and Company Searches), Web Connections (Links), Chat Rooms (Special Interest and General Discussion), The Store (Shops, Free Offers, Magazines and Catalogs), Advertising (Classifieds, Wanted To Buy/Sell, Rentals, Miscellaneous, Display Ads), and Web Services (Hosting, Design, E-Mail, List-Services, Surveys). The official launch was at the 1998 Shot Show. The address, naturally, is GUNS.COM.

RAFTER SEVEN AMMUNITION

There is now a now source for high quality remanufactured ammunition. The company is called Rafter Seven Ammunition Company and is headed by Lex Bush. Rafter Seven offers the highest quality of ammo and very fast service. The ammo is available in either remanufactured (used high quality brass) or new manufactured using all new brass. Lex offer several loadings in each of the following calibers; .380 auto, 9mm, .38 Super, ..38 Special, .357 Magnum, .40 S&W, 10mm, .44 Magnum, .45 ACP, ..45 Colt, .223 and .308. I have used some of his .223 and .308 ammo in testing and can tell you that it is some of the best I have seen. I have shot some of the tightest groups I have ever fired using his .223 V-Max and his .308, 186 grain Match Hollow Point loads. He also offers the excellent new Hornady .308 A-Max load. For a price list or to place an order contact him at Rafter Seven Ammunition Company, Dept. SAR, 62 South Highway 23, Dighton, KS 67839. You can also contact him by phone at 1-888-397-2519 or fax at 1-316-397-2559. Dealer and volume pricing available.

“They don’t give us any training ammunition. We don’t have spare parts. People are coming into the unit with virtually no weapons training.”

I have had numerous conversations with soldiers from various groups of the armed forces lately, and this is the message I keep getting. It is an unsettling one to say the least. You fight the way you train. If you don’t train, you don’t fight- at least not effectively. I had been thinking of writing a little piece on “Saving the relics” in different museums, etc, but this is more pressing business.

A gymnast who doesn’t practice loses the essential timing and may take an embarrassing pratfall. A musician who doesn’t practice will not be pleasant to listen to- and lose an audience. A football team that doesn’t practice will lose games. A soldier who doesn’t practice marksmanship and maintenance of his weapon is one who can’t fight or defend, and may cause the loss of lives and missions.

There was a time when weapons firing was a primary training activity in all branches of the service- especially in units likely to see combat during a war. I find it frightening to think of servicemen and women, all who could come in harm’s way, not being prepared to properly defend themselves or perform a primary mission. This is inexcusable. Stories from right before World War I and World War II speak of trainees running down the training grounds with empty rifles, or even wooden dummy rifles, shouting “Bang” instead of shooting. Are our “Modern” armed forces headed the same way?

I hear policemen talking of Chiefs who not only don’t want them training, but really don’t want to issue firearms unless “needed”. The theory seems to be that if you aren’t used to firing your weapon, then you won’t choose it as a first resort. “Pulling the trigger comes too easy” was the comment that I heard. Good Lord! That is what “Shoot / No-shoot” targets are for, that is what realistic training is for- to train the officers to be proficient with when to shoot and when not to, as well as bullet placement.

It seems that one way or another, bureaucracy is hamstringing those who serve to protect us! In the military case, the budget calls for less or no live fire, and in law enforcement, it’s even crazier- training ammunition is not available because some chiefs don’t want the officers trained!

Maybe we should sponsor “Take a cop to the range” week, or “Bullets for soldiers” door to door collection campaigns. At the very least, I would hope SAR’s military readers and law enforcement readers would continue to spread the word among their peers, and perhaps actively recruit more shooting teams. This could be informal if necessary, on duty if official sanction could be had.

Civilians should do no less. Those who understand the obligations of freedom should enjoy their firearms, and train for accuracy. The Director of Civilian Marksmanship and associated programs were formed up to ensure that there was a pool of well trained marksmen in the civilian population that could be called on during times of national need.

I shall continue to enjoy recreational shooting, but it’s going to be a point with me from now on to find ways to advocate more live fire training for those who wear the uniforms.

– Dan Shea

Dear SAR

I’m not basically machine gun oriented, and as far as owning and shooting one, were I able to afford it, I would still be prevented from it by legal reasons: South Carolina is not permitting its citizens to do so. But I am interested in a few specific firearms on the technical and historical level (Armalite AR-10 and colt AR-15 series by extension; M-1 carbine and the M-2 by extension; FG-42) who, being selective fire, fall in the “machine gun” category.

So, not too long ago, I accidentally saw a “Machine Gun News” magazine ad in Shotgun News showing the front page of one of their issues, with the picture of an Armalite AR-10 on it, and containing Dan Shea’s “Stoner Chronicles” article. Since the AR-10 specifically, Armalite and Stoner in general, are a prime area of my interest in firearms, I soon had ordered the pertinent back issues, unaware that this magazine was about to cease publishing. By sheer accident, again, I then spotted your magazine ad with the front page showing articles on Eugene Stoner. Again, I ordered back issues as I discovered more articles i would be interested in, to finally subscribe to your new magazine. Your magazine is well put together and of first rate quality, and I find many interesting articles even though they don’’ relate to my primary field of interest.

I particularly enjoyed the January 98 issue (Vol. 1 No 4), presenting a chronological display of Eugene Stoners work. There is other printed material around with much the same information, but your article is presented in such a way as to make for easy comparison. Unfortunately, on page 26, things got a bit garbled; the lower AR-10 is in fact the transitional model; the middle one is the Portuguese (also known as the NATO) model, as evidenced by the new two piece hidden operating/charging handle, the new front sight pedestal with the left side mounted gas adjustment, and the bayonet lug on top of the barrel. To those of us who are in the know, this is a minor mistake as we recognize that the pictures have been accidentally inverted. But for those who only now are getting interested in the subject, this will eventually lead to confusion. But all in all, an excellent article?

Tony

Dear Tony,

You are absolutely correct. These photos were transposed in the printing process. You have a sharp eye and we are pleased that you are enjoying the magazine.

Ed

Dear SAR,

Just a quick note about the “Mystery Gun” section of SAR. (May 98, Vol.1 No.8) Here’s my best shot. The gun in question appears to be a Beretta “Super Sport” .22 cal. Rifle. (There was also another model – the Olympia, a modified version made for use by the Italian National Rifle Association).

I don’t think it’s a factory gun. It’s had the barrel shortened, and the stock and trigger mechanism has been replaced with what appears to be a home made setup. I’m guessing it’s the work of a class 2 (or someone on a Form 1 before ’86) here in the U.S.

This would explain why Mr. Beretta himself was unable to identify it? How’d I do?

P.S. Keep up the great work, the magazine is looking great!

Mike

Dear Mike,

Yours is the best guess so far. We are still soliciting input on this gun as we have not gotten any decisive answers yet. Thank you for the good words on the magazine. It is still our goal to make it better each month and we need input from readers like you to gauge our progress. Thank you for taking the time to write.

Ed

Dear SAR,

I want to congratulate you and the writers of Small Arms Review for putting together an excellent publication that provides the class three and military styled small arms shooting community with accurate, comprehensive and informative articles. I especially enjoy the articles on semi-autos because I am an avid collector of these weapons and because Massachusetts is not crazy about the private ownership of NFA weapons. I hope to see some articles on some of the older and more exotic semi-autos like the HAC-7 and other semi’s that were not copies of military weapons.

Brian

Dear Brian.

You will be pleased to know that we will indeed be covering semi-auto firearms in SAR. We have lined up photo shoots with some of the major manufacturers already, and we will be covering their product lines with the same detail as our M-16 ID Guide (SAR Vol. 1 No. 5 through Vol. 1 No. 9) and the Stoner Designs (SAR Vol. 1 No. 4) Without losing sight of our obvious content, we do feel it is important to cover the many aspects of small arms when they may be of interest to our readership.

Ed

SADW is a monthly electronic publication from Nick Steadman Features. Nick, intrepid world traveling reporter for much of the arms industry, files this 40,000 to 50,000 word report once a month to his loyal subscribers. Those lucky ones pay a mere $50 (US) £32.50 (UK) per year for the privilege of getting the hot tips and insights from one of the industry’s insiders. Nick’s unique perspective is globally based, as is his wit. Each issue is full of insight and information for those with an interest in Small Arms, as well as his observations on world travel.

NEW WEAPONS & EQUIPMENT

BREMMER ARMS

.303” AMMUNITION: Bremmer Arms in the UK has instructed its ammunition producer MFS in Hungary to tool up for .303” ball ammunition to meet substantial UK target shooter and other markets now that the British military stockpile has been sold off. This ammunition will be brass-cased, Boxer-primed and reloadable. Bremmer’s existing .30-06 own-label ammunition, from the same source, appears to be producing excellent results, with minute-of-angle results claimed even in the company’s two-groove ’03 Springfields. As we write, Bremmer, which is definitely still on the acquisition stump, is still finalising two major deals, one to buy a leading UK name in the gun trade (cited by Shooting Times as Parker-Hale Ltd), the other to acquire the manufacturing rights for a highly innovative military weapon. More later!

.408 CHEYTAC SYSTEM

Dr John Taylor, a Michigan cancer specialist and university professor, is the inventor of the .408 Cheyenne Tactical (CheyTac) cartridge, a wildcat based on the .505 Gibbs case necked down to .408. He recently wrote about this project, which is still very much developmental, in Tactical Shooter magazine. Its primary purpose is long-range sniping, but Taylor also believes it could be an extended-range replacement for 7.62mm NATO in existing GPMGs such as the FN MAG 58, subject to improving the taper of the case. We must confess we are very sceptical about this last aspect, since we would imagine such an up-calibred weapon would be a bear to shoot, and 7.62mm NATO designs might not be up to the task, though the .408 might well make a decent heavy machine gun round.

But there’s also the old chestnut of the military being extremely reluctant to abandon existing NATO-specified ammunition. Mind you, we never thought the .338 would catch on for combat sniping, but it has. The .338 Lapua Magnum has so far been the only current contender in the ‘power gap’ between .300 Win Mag and .50 Browning, and it is derived directly from the US experimental military 8.58x71mm round developed by Research Armament Industries, based on the .416 Rigby case.

Taylor’s philosophy is that even if one could build a .50 BMG system (most of which have hitherto been primarily anti-materiel weapons) that was accurate enough for precision long-range anti-personnel work, it would still be too big and heavy. He initially considered, as Lapua & Accuracy International have done themselves, whether the .338 Lapua Magnum, primarily a weapon for killing people, could also have an anti-materiel role, but correctly observes that Lapua appears to have had no luck so far developing a planned API bullet in .338. Also, that the offensive payload capacity of a .338 bullet is inadequate in any event.

Hence the .408, as a midway point twixt .338 and .50, loaded with a more substantial bullet of up to 500grs. Taylor envisages it as a 2,000 metre cartridge, though we would point out that even some .50 rifle makers admit that unforeseen problems often intrude beyond maybe 1,500m, not least of which is seeing the target clearly enough. The .505 Gibbs cases Taylor has been experimenting with were obtained from the Bertram Bullet Co in Australia, and have reinforced webs to cater for the more substantial operating pressures of the .408. In future MAST Technology in Las Vegas is likely to be the case supplier. Taylor’s long, VLD-style trials bullets are 440gr solids turned from SAE 660 bronze with a short .408” diameter driving band, the remainder of the parallel portion of the projectile a bore-riding .400”.

Predicted performance gives an MV of 2,935 fps and ME of 8,438 ft lbs. Compare this with the respective (all computed) figures for .338 Lap Mag (3,002 fps & 5,019 ft lbs) and .50 BMG (2,700 fps & 12,165 ft lbs). At 1,000m the retained energy computed for the .408 is 3,230 ft lbs, more than double that of the .338, and the advantage is similar at 2,000m (1,254 ft lbs as opposed to 542 for the .338). Taylor’s trials weapon, as yet unfired, incorporates an Anthony Gilkes long magnum receiver, modified by Sea Horse of Michigan and 5 Star GR, complete with a 30” heavy Krieger chrome moly barrel and McMillan stock. It is a five-shot bolt-action repeater which will have a detachable magazine, fully-adjustable Jewell trigger and McArthur PGRS muzzle brake. The scope is a Leupold 32x50mm.

Formal testing of the rifle will be carried out in a couple of months on the 8,000m Camp Grayling artillery range in Michigan. At present Taylor is trying to interest Picatinny Arsenal in the .408 as a new proposal to meet future US military sniping requirements. He is also, separately, still hoping to pursue the GPMG aspects.

(Contacts)
Email:cheyenne@sun.science.wayne.edu,
WWW- http://www.science.wayne.edu/~biology/profhtml/taylor.html

STICKY FOAM IS QUIETLY BURIED

“A few years ago the Marine Corps used sticky foam in their training videos for Somalia. Now sticky foam keeps rearing its ugly head. We used it to reinforce barriers, but that was where the benefits stopped. It has no other application. It has too many problems”. (Col A Mazzara, USMC, director of the US joint non-lethal weapons directorate, quoted in National Defense).

ACCU-COUNTER ‘BLACK BOX’ FOR SIG/SAUER PISTOLS

The Accu-Counter device, built into a special right-hand grip panel for SIG/Sauer pistols, has been shown before, but only (we recall) as a round counter, though we also remember the developers were promising additional functions. Well, now they’re available – the Accu-Counter II also records the following data, for each shot fired:-

– Time (to the millisecond)
– Date
– Compass angle of shot (to one degree)
– Angle of elevation or depression

Data on up to 5,000 rounds can be stored and downloaded later to a PC or laptop by infrared link. The manufacturer can also supply the necessary software to track & monitor all the firearms in a police department. Accu-Counter is an undeniably neat little item, with only minimal external protrusion from the normal grip configuration, so standard holsters can still be used. Also, we understand the logic of storing weapon usage information to assist in preventative maintenance programmes. Indeed, Heckler & Koch has developed an electronic device for the same purpose, for installation in the pistol grip of a G3 rifle. However, an exact count is not essential even for this purpose, and decent unit records of training sessions should be able to provide the same indications as to when parts should be replaced.

Nor do we believe that a simple round-counter should be relied upon by a user to determine when he should reload. Or that users should even allow themselves to worry about how many rounds they have left, unless ammunition is in short supply. They should fire as many shots as are needed and reload or top up their magazines according to the exigencies of the situation. It is an indication of the dire state of litigation in the USA that Accu-Counter should feel it worthwhile including the new functions, and they appear to be somewhat ‘over the top’. But if this is the way things are indeed going, we guess some police departments will feel compelled to avail themselves of this extra data to cover their rears. Also, the likelihood nowadays is that once national agencies get wind of technologies like this, (as with gun locks and the upcoming Smart Gun ideas) it’s entirely likely such devices may end up being officially specified, drastically limiting user choice.

(Accu-Counter, Tel +1(606)342-9001, 1-800-894-2228, Fax +1(606)342-8874, E-mail: Accucount1@aol.com)

MARSHAL ARMS PISTOL GOES TO SEP

The US army ARDEC at Picatinny Arsenal has submitted the 9mm Marshal Arms Inc pistol/sub-compact SMG project (see previous issues) for consideration under the army/USMC Soldier Enhancement Program (SEP). Marshal has also signed up Nehemiah Sirkis, the peripatetic Israeli firearms designer, as a consultant. Sirkis – who is behind several Israeli and US pistol designs, was also responsible for the bullpupped M14 sniper rifle and completed development of the caseless Voere VEC rifle – is apparently interested in designing the Marshal production prototypes.

CAMO COVERS FOR AUG STOCKS EXPLAINED

One of our Australian sources checked out the camouflage cloth stock cover we earlier reported seeing with Australian troops on a 5.56mm AUG. Apparently it doesn’t feature in any official lists and is assumed to be a local initiative, but various other equipment items such as web belt pads and padded vests apparently started the same way. Our source points out that orders have been issued in Australia forbidding units from painting the stocks of their F-88 AUGs, since some paints can attack the polymer material. As to the rationale behind the cloth cover, our source says the AUG stock quickly gets very hot when exposed to the sun, and a cover of some kind makes sense. Living in a chilly climate, we hadn’t immediately thought of that.

M139 VOLCANO MINE

Writing in ‘World Disarm’, a publication we haven’t seen before, one Steve Wright from the Omega Foundation says that the US military discussed the future of non-lethal weapons at a conference in London late last year. We note no-one invited us! Amongst the largely familiar litany of US devices Wright lists, he describes the ‘M139 Volcano mine which projects a net which can cover the size of a football field laced with either razor blades or other ‘immobilisation enhancers’’, and vortex ring guns with ‘quick changes between lethal and non-lethal operations’.

We can’t say we’ve heard of either of these before, at least described in these terms. Nor can we imagine what a ‘vortex ring gun’ might be, other than perhaps the much underestimated Ring Airfoil Grenade (RAG), an Abe Flatau design (like PMC’s Tubular copper bullet), possibly reintroduced from reserve stocks, where it’s been languishing for years.

Grizzled readers may remember the RAG was a muzzle-launched doughnut-form projectile with an airfoil-shaped leading edge. Chief characteristic was its stable flight path, largely unaffected by drop. There was a plain version for simple kinetic energy impact, plus a teargas-enhanced Sting RAG variant. But no – a note in Jane’s IDR suggests the Vortex Ring Gun or VRG is something entirely different; it ‘produces combustion-driven ring vortices that can be focused on to a specific individual’. Jane’s goes on to say it could be used to deliver human incapacitation agents or chemical compounds to corrode or disable vehicles.

This approach sounds excessively complex for the projected tasks; besides, we understood that most of the earlier non-lethal chemical/biological ideas for attacking vehicles, planes & other transportation had been abandoned because of concerns about the acceptability of any new chem/bio agents under international conventions. As to the M139 Volcano, we don’t have a lot of time for nets as a class, since they don’t immobilise very well and are intrinsically full of holes, so they offer no shootback or stab prevention either. Lacing them with ‘razor blades’ is a new one on us, but it sounds likely to serve only to enrage the nettee, like quite a few other new riot control ideas. Having your captive emerge looking as if he’s just had a close encounter with a 1960s Glasgow razor gang is not most people’s definition of a light touch.

.22LR AUG & 40MM ADI DEVELOPMENTS

Australian sources report that ADI (Australian Defence Industries) has developed a Steyr AUG training rifle chambered for .22 rimfire, which the company hopes it will be able to sell to the Australian forces. We’re also told the Australian military is looking for three thousand 40mm grenade launchers, and that ADI has produced two adaptations of the R/M Equipment Co’s 40mm M203 PI quick-detach launcher system in anticipation of this bid.

The first apparently utilises an R/M mounting adapter clamped around the barrel (but with noticeable clearance) and the forward vertical handgrip removed. Our sources say this approach rather leaves the M203 trigger hanging in mid-air. The second is apparently an ADI in-house modification, which local sources say has already cost A$0.25m to develop. This utilises what is thought to be an aluminium mounting rail for the M203 PI, bolted to a large, two-piece assembly around the front of the AUG’s ‘trigger guard’, the whole thing apparently held together by a large stainless bolt. The forward AUG handgrip is again removed and the mounting rail is relieved for the barrel release. The whole affair is closer to the barrel axis than the R/M rail but the ergonomics of the mounting block around the ‘trigger guard’ are reportedly poor.

Of course, to be fair, the AUG was never designed to accommodate an M203, so any modification is likely to look a bit queer. Bullpups are a particular problem in this respect. But the real question is probably not so much whether the 40mm launcher can be reasonably integrated with the rifle, but whether it should be. Combo systems, like a 5.56mm rifle with a bolt-on launcher, are invariably unwieldy and tend to destroy the balance of the host weapon. The current 5.56/20mm Objective Individual Combat Weapon is much better integrated than its predecessors, but will likewise inevitably prove too heavy and ungainly.

We’re unashamed fans of the 40mm option (as opposed to rifle grenades, the only practical alternative), but not at the expense of other considerations, and we feel it’s a great pity that multishot launchers have been marginalised and eschewed by most Western armies in favour of compromises such as the M203. As far as we can elicit, the US army’s adoption of the M203 was as much about saving the dedicated grenadier posts in infantry units as ensuring better grenade-launching facilities.

CIENER’s NEW M1911 KIT

SHOT Business reported that Jonathan Ciener in Florida has a new $249 ‘Platinum Cup’ .22LR conversion kit for the M1911A1 pistol, which includes Millett adjustable sights, a flat sighting plane on the slide and other competition features.

(Contact: JA Ciener, 8700 Commerce St, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920, Tel (407)868-2200)

ALL CHANGE IN INDONESIA (ROUND ONE)

May’s big world story (barring India & Pakistan’s newly-rekindled interest in irradiating each other) was the departure of Indonesia’s 76-year-old and thoroughly out-of-touch President Suharto, and his replacement – albeit only on a temporary basis – by Dr Jusuf Habibie, best known for his establishment of IPTN, the Indonesian aircraft manufacturer.

It was massed student protests that finally persuaded a reluctant Suharto to see the light. The authorities reported some 550 people killed in the serious rioting and looting that preceded his departure, and the Chinese commercial community again bore the brunt of the mob’s anger, as is often the case in SE Asian civil unrest. However, the local Human Rights Commission claims the death toll was 1,188 and other evidence suggests at least 100 women may possibly have been raped, with others sexually abused.

There were a number of incidents in which ball ammunition was reportedly fired at protestors, though it was very clear the way the wind was blowing when we began to see footage of troops fraternising with students. Suharto had already lost it.

Troops on the street appeared to be armed almost exclusively with Bandung–produced 5.56mm Belgian FNC rifles, though the motorcycle-mounted riot police (some masked), pictured early during the riots, each bike with a second armed officer riding pillion, all appeared to have 5.56mm Steyr AUGs. Reports also appeared of injuries from ‘rubber bullets’, including at least one person struck in the eye, and an unconfirmed account said that two students lying on the ground were shot by troops.

A Times item quoted an Opposition MP as saying “The soldiers were drunk. They were red in the face and they were acting crazy. After the students felldown, they were kicking them and shouting ‘you must die, you must die’.”

Habibie is now expected to call free elections within a year or so, and those Indonesians who were opposed to Suharto are clearly hoping to ensure that neither Habibie (who is – rightly or wrongly – seen as a Suharto crony) nor any of the generals waiting in the wings get the presidential post.

Should there be any undue delay in elections or if the outcome is sufficiently unpopular, we could easily see things in Indonesia deteriorate once more, so the present lull should for now be regarded as just that.

Meanwhile, The Engineer said that the delivery of 16 more Hawk aircraft to Indonesia by British Aerospace, starting early in 1999, would be dependant on how things shaped up over there in the intervening period. The phrase ‘we told you so’ kind of springs to mind.

UK MERCENARY PROVIDERS TO BE REGULATED?

Sunday Business suggested that the UK Home Office might extend its upcoming legislation on regulating the private security industry to include ‘private military companies’ (the new ‘in’ term for defence consultancies supplying arms & mercenaries abroad). The possibility of legislation was apparently prompted by the Sandline affair.

One likely outcome could be a system of registration. However, the Times suggested in a later report that the UK Foreign Office was also considering the subject and might be aiming to set up a system along South African lines, whereby mercenary activities are now to be directly regulated, and providers will require a government license before they can finalize any overseas assistance contracts. We must say this is rather a pious hope – countries or regimes seeking outside military assistance will very often feature on someone’s embargo list.

So, if provision of private troops is effectively brought under the same licensing system as government-to-government arms deals, the raison d’etre of private military companies is seriously challenged. In all likelihood, theywill in future be compelled simply to base themselves in less fussy countries where no specific controls exist.

RO STILL IN THE 9MM BUSINESS

While the UK MOD’s offshore award of its last major 9mm ammunition order to IMI in Israel was a significant blow to Royal Ordnance, the RO Radway Green ammunition plant is definitely not giving up the ghost on its police 9mm ammunition venture.

Far from it. In fact it reports its share of this market is actually growing, though slowly, and it is also continuing to sell 9mm ball to overseas customers.

HIRTENBERG 9MM EMB CARTRIDGE

Hirtenberger in Austria has a new 9mm EMB (Expansions-Monoblockgeschoss) cartridge with monobloc gilding metal expanding bullet. It is designed specifically to penetrate to a depth of approx 12” in 10% ballistic gelatine (which it achieves), with good expansion, while still retaining the ability to defeat hard targets, including angled car windscreens. The bullet design is redolent of the Federal Hydra-Shok. Imagine that – before swaging the ogive – the bullet is an open metal cylinder with a solid base. In the centre of the cylinder is a large-diameter post extending most of the way to the base of the bullet, with fractional clearance around it.

Then imagine the ogive being formed – this closes the outer walls at the tip, against the post. Finally, weakening cuts in the outer surface of the ogive promote petaling & thus ‘expansion’. There you have it. Bullet weight is 77 grs and MV 1,465 fps. ME is 367 ft lbs. Recovered bullet diameter is approx 11 – 13.8mm in gelatine tests, less (eg 9.2mm) when fired through automobile steel or windshields (eg 9.7mm). Its expansion mechanism is the peeling back of the outer portion of the bullet into six petals about 110 degrees away from the central post.

Gelatine penetration is not conspicuously degraded by heavy clothing. Shot through angled glass, subsequent gelatine penetration is increased to approx 21”, presumably due to inhibition of the expansion mechanism by impact damage.

The EMB round is said to feed reliably in a range of typical service semi-auto pistols; it will also function popular SMGs. And the light bullet is also said to reduce felt recoil. 50 metre accuracy is to 55mm with ten rounds from a NATO 20cm test barrel. Another version in .40 S&W calibre is apparently planned. Students of the BATF list of ‘armour piercing’ ammunition will know that this document zeroes in on solid metal bullets, so a question mark currently hangs over whether the EMB would be saleable in the USA other than to police & government agencies.

Hirtenberg already makes the 9mm Defender, which was probably intended as the Austrian answer to the MEN QD and Dynamit Nobel Action rounds. Defender is a gilding-metal, partition-design bullet weighing 124grs with a large nose cavity and lead fillers front and rear. It penetrates about 50% deeper (ie at least 18”) in 10% gelatine and is largely unaffected by intervening cover such as automobile steel.

INDUSTRY & FOREIGN NEWS

COLT BUYING SACO DEFENSE

We were rather surprised to learn that Duchossois Industries Inc, owners of Saco Defense in Maine, had reached preliminary agreement with the New Colt Holding Corporation to sell Saco to Colt’s Manufacturing Company, a deal expected to be wrapped up by 31 Aug 98. No price was stated. Assuming it goes through as planned, this will be a de facto first step in the strategic consolidation of the US small arms industry.

Saco, which apparently dates from 1813, manufactures 7.62mm NATO M60 and .50 Browning machine guns, plus 40mm automatic grenade launchers, including the new lightweight Striker. More recently it has also taken on the production of Weatherby sporting rifles and some of the Magnum Research Desert Eagle pistols.

Colt, which dates from 1836, has been owned since Sep 94 by an investor group led by Zilkha & Company, a private investment firm based in New York. Clearly, Colt is moving on Saco to boost its military product line, which has suffered ever since the award of the main US government M16A2 contract to FN Manufacturing Inc.

However, the US army is now adopted the FNMI 7.62mm NATO M240 in place of the Saco M60, and the dependable old Browning M2 lasts forever. Also, Saco’s US army 40mm Mk19 grenade launcher contracts will run out eventually. On this basis the main benefit to Colt would appear to be the lightweight 40mm Striker, though this is – as yet – an unproven design. But Saco has additionally had the lightweight Fifty/.50 machine gun up its sleeve for some years – could Colt be planning to bring this weapon back to life?

Currently Saco Defense is part of the Chamberlain Manufacturing Co, a subsidiary of Duchossois, which also owns Thrall Car Manufacturing Co, the Chamberlain Group (consumer products) and Arlington International Racecourse Inc. This latest Colt move follows its unsuccessful attempt to acquire FN Herstal from GIAT Industries, a purchase which would have given it control not only of FN Manufacturing but also Browning USA, Browning Europe and the US Repeating Arms Co (Winchester weapons). The proof of the pudding in this or any other consolidation is not so much who takes over whom, but what the new entity does with its enlarged resources.

It will be interesting to see how Colt approaches marketing of the Saco products it will be getting, and whether it can indeed carve itself out a bigger military niche as a result. Our personal view would be that any strategic US small arms regrouping still really needs to include FNMI.

SAM CUMMINGS (INTERARMS) DIES

On 29 Apr 98, the characterful billionaire boss of Interarms (and former CIA staffer) Sam Cummings, passed away in Monaco, aged 79 years (some accounts said 71). Earlier reports suggested he’d been ill.

Sam was truly one of the grand old men of the small arms business. Despite the fact that he was claimed by America, Cummings was actually a naturalised British citizen, but – curiously – the only proper UK obituary we saw at the time was in The Economist. Cummings’ death may well mark the end of an era, with his Manchester Interarms warehouse demolished in 1997 to make way for a local road scheme, and Walther in Germany now seeking to buy Interarms USA.

We remember the man best for his famous comment that there’s really no such thing as a private arms deal – you’ll usually find a government behind it somewhere. However the Economist gave us another to remember with a grin: ‘Castro was handy with an Armalite’, a reference to a CIA-funded sale of guns to Castro’s then guerrilla forces.

The report, which described Sam as ‘king of the arms trade’ also included a telling comment that’s worth repeating: ‘The market in arms is remarkably free. Britain prohibits its citizens from owning arms more lethal than a catapult, but beyond the English Channel it is everyone for himself.’ A pretty fair assessment. USA Today later noted that Cummings’ daughter Susan received a 60-day sentence and a $2,500 fine in a Virginia court on 13 May 98 for voluntary manslaughter. She had reportedly admitted shooting her Argentinean boyfriend but claimed self-defence, testifying that he had slashed her and threatened to kill her.

PERSONAL PROTECTION WEAPONS IN ULSTER

On a related subject, it emerged in a letter from an Ulster subscriber to Target Sports magazine that the personal protection firearms certificates issued to those judged to be at bodily risk in the province allow for a weapon plus 25 rounds of ammunition, and no further ammunition purchases are permitted.

These weapons cannot normally be used for target shooting and may not be taken outside the six counties of Northern Ireland. There are some 11,000 personal protection certificates held by private individuals in the province. Officially there are none issued on the UK mainland, but this is clearly untrue. We recall years ago it was reported that a retired Commissioner of London’s Metropolitan Police had one, and we can’t believe only ex-police chiefs are considered to be at risk.

MYSTERY 9mm ROUND

Reports emerged of a 7.62mm NATO case necked up to 9mm and with a .32 blank inserted in the rear. This sounded very much like a 9mm spotter rifle cartridge for the LAW 80 or SMAW anti-armour weapons, but customarily those rounds have a .22 Hornet case in the back – this is propelled rearwards out of the 7.62mm case on firing, to provide the recocking impulse for the self-loading spotter rifle.

We consulted with Royal Ordnance, who make the LAW80 & SMAW spotter cartridges to the original design, but we were that MAST Technology in Las Vegas won the McDonnell Douglas SMAW contract for this ammunition some three years ago. It seemed possible therefore that the US manufacturer might have redesigned the spotter round for SMAW utilising a .32 blank. But when we asked, MAST stated that it was still using the .22 Hornet case, so the mystery remains unresolved. If readers have any ideas, please let us know.

PNG HOTTING UP

An item in the Wall Street Journal Europe said that Huli tribesmen in Papua New Guinea have always fought each other in clan wars, with bows, spears & daggers, but now things are getting nastier due to an influx of M16 rifles & other modern weapons. But in Port Moresby, the capital, it’s said to be even dicier, with the city clocking up 46% of the country’s crime. Apparently guns flow along the Highlands Highway which runs through several PNG provinces. In mid-Apr 98, press reports said the military armoury at Taurama, near Port Moresby, was raided for the second time and a ‘substantial number’ of weapons, believed to include M16 rifles, was stolen.

In March 98 the New Guinea parliament voted to overturn a complete ban on civilian possession of firearms, agreed in 1996, which would have come into force in late 1999. The March vote was carried 80:2. Anyone who is a ‘fit person’ may now still own weapons. Motivation for the move was the continuing violence problem in PNG and the traditional right of self-defence.

MAJOR UK POLICE MP5 BUY?

There’s a rumour doing the rounds on the Web that a major UK police buy of 9mm MP5 carbines is going down, with quantities maybe in four figures but no-one is saying anything. We’re still trying to verify, but no-one wants to talk.

SNIPERS OUT OF WORK?

A Guardian photo showed the infamous IRA traffic sign in Crossmaglen, Northern Ireland, intended as a warning to British troops, which used to read ‘Sniper at Work’. But since the pre-Easter 98 Ulster Agreement, it’s been quietly changed to read ‘Sniper: Job Seeking’. We wonder what they’ll put on their CVs? Or if they’ll just draw benefit while it unfolds as to whether the 60 pages of good intentions in the Northern Ireland Agreement can be translated into anything concrete, ‘pro’ votes notwithstanding.

EX-YUGO AKs: BOOBY-TRAP WARNING

A curious little item in IWM (Switzerland) said that some Kalashnikov magazines smuggled into France & Belgium from the former Yugoslavia had been found to be booby-trapped with a 35g charge of explosive. Apparently the suspect magazines come pre-loaded with five rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition. If the magazine is placed in a weapon and a round is loaded or removed the charge will reportedly be detonated. Likewise if further rounds are loaded into it.

There are said to have been casualties already caused by these magazines in both France & Belgium; the original warning was apparently circulated by the French interior ministry in March 98. Whilst caution is always the watchword, we recall a not dissimilar warning went the rounds of all UK county police forces after Desert Storm, only that time it related to booby-trapped AK rifles. It was widely thought at the time that since no-one had actually come across a booby-trapped AK, this was more likely to be a ruse cooked up by the authorities to discourage souvenir hunters, so you must arrive at your own judgement.

THAILAND – LETHAL INJECTION IN LIEU OF MACHINE GUN FIRE?

AP reported that after 80 years of executing people by machine gun fire (those the King didn’t pardon first), the Thai prison authorities had now suggested a switch to US-style lethal injection.

UK MOD SEEKS AMMO LINKER & 7.62MM TRACER

The MOD in the UK is seeking expressions of interest in a contract to link 30 million rounds of surplus cartoned 7.62mm NATO blank ammunition, 15m rounds each in FY 98/99 and FY 99/00. Presumably they want to fire it all off in GPMGs. There is a separate requirement for new-production 7.62mm NATO tracer ammunition (presumably 5m rounds in all), to be linked 4B/1T with ball ammunition provided by the MOD. 25 million rounds of belted 4B/1T are needed, 10m rounds in FY 98/99 and 15m rounds in 99/00. Deadline for interest in either or both deals is 20 Jul 98. Contact: Tel (0117)913-1241, Fax(0117)913-1915.

ALTERNATIVES TO ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES

Defense News focused on Canada’s plans for alternatives to landmines. These include a quantity of Coyote armoured recce vehicles with specialised long-range surveillance suites, manually or electronically-initiated command-detonated weapons, trip flares, grenade-launchers, entanglement meshes, ground sensors & new artillery, mortar and aircraft-delivered munitions. But so far no funds have been voted for any new purchases. SAR

THOUGHT FOR THE MONTH:

“Machine gun fire is concentrated infantry fire. This statement is the general guide to its correct tactical use. But, like all general statements, it must be carefully considered before it is put to practical application. Machine gun fire has special characteristics that are entirely its own. It can be concentrated like a jet of bullets in a single oval area, or by the traversing of the gun on its pivot it can bring a sweeping fire to bear over a wide front. Thus the machine gun gives to a small group of men the power of either keeping up a slow deliberate fire or delivering sudden gusts of fire, turning it rapidly on a diversity of targets or directing it upon one narrow space of ground, or again sweeping the front with a rain of bullets that produce the effect so well suggested by the French technical expression, Feu Fauchant- a “Mowing down” fire” Major F. V. Longstaff, The Book of the Machine Gun (1917)

Lately there have been a lot of questions coming in to SAR about the registered transferable HK Sear guns. We have some special articles coming up soon on HK guns, but I would like to address some of the concerns that readers have sent in. The concerns could have legal consequences for people so here are the questions:

Q1-Can I install a factory HK sear as a replacement for my transferable HK Sear if it breaks? It’s a Ciener Sear.

A1- No. Your sear must be repaired, or it is possible that the original manufacturer could effect a replacement of it- subject to ATF approval. First, we need to get our nomenclature straight- what we usually refer to as the “Sear” is actually the “Catch”. The primary “Sear” is illustrated in Photo 1. There are two basic types of “Catches” found on standard trigger packs, the Roller Catch, and the Friction Catch (Photo 2).

I am going back to the Vernacular of the Class 3 now, and referring to these “Catches” as “Sears”. In Photo 3, (left to right) you will note a registered Fleming sear, a factory friction type sear, and a registered Ciener sear. There is a difference in the angles of the catch shelf (Arrows). The Fleming sear and the Ciener sear are designed to fit into a semi automatic trigger pack and produce select fire capability. They will not work in a machine gun trigger pack, and the machine gun sear will not work in a semi auto pack. Note also the height of the arm on the Ciener sear. Ciener’s product replaces the full auto sear, and the trip lever.

Photo 4 (Left to right) Registered Ciener sear, HK friction sear, HK Roller sear, registered Fleming sear, friction type trip lever. When placed in the trigger pack, the sear must be activated by the trip lever being depressed (forward) on the forward stroke of the bolt carrier. Jonathan Ciener’s registered HK sear not only converted the sear shelf position, it imitated the trip lever’s position as well.

Q2- I have heard that you can’t take the serial number off of a firearm. I am thinking about purchasing a transferable HK-21, but I am curious as to how the serial number issue could be solved. The G3 that is used for a base gun has the serial number where the feed mechanism will go. Does ATF allow this to be cut off?

A2- In photo 5 you will note an “HK 51B” marking with a serial number on what appears to be a raised platform. F.J. Volmer did most of the transferable HK21’s out there, and all of the HK51B’s that I have ever seen. Their method of solving this problem was to cut out the sheet metal of the magazine well, leaving the section with the serial number in a straight sheet coming down. This rectangular piece of sheet metal was folded, while still attached to the receiver, until it was up out of the way of the belt feed mechanism position. This was then neatly welded into place, and finished to give the “Raised” appearance you see in the photo. A very innovative solution to a regulation problem, and it was all done with proper approvals before starting. All Class 2’s should note that sequence.

Q3- I have a registered transferable HK sear, and I am wondering what I have to do to fit my HK trigger group to the HK 94 semi auto.

A3- There are a lot of different variables here. I am just going to address the exact question, on what makes the housing fit to the 94. Photo 6 (Left to Right) View from the lower front of various trigger housings. First is a standard metal machine gun lower. The ears are intact, and there is no cut out for the semi auto block. Center is a plastic “S-E-F” housing that has had the swing-down pin ears milled out to fit a semi auto, and the metal front has been milled as well. There is a semi auto trigger pack inside this full auto housing, which allows for the front to not be in the way. Right is a metal semi auto trigger housing, with the factory set up to clip on to a semi auto, as well as the full auto blocking position. This one has a registered HK Sear by Jonathan Ciener in it.

To the question- the correct way to install your registered HK sear installed in a trigger housing has two variables. Is the trigger housing going to be an original semi auto housing? Then nothing need be done to the pack other than some internal adjustments covered in later SAR’s. The front will mate up perfectly. Using a machine gun trigger housing requires that the ears be either removed or cosmetically milled to be left in place as in the center photo. This case will also require the front of the metal section to be milled to make a shelf like the semi auto pack has (Right). DO NOT CUT OUT THE FRONT OF A FULL AUTO TRIGGER PACK TO FIT INTO THIS HOUSING! In the first place, your registered sear will not work in the sear position if you do this, in the second place you are making a “Conversion part” and could run into legal trouble. There are ways to install a registered sear into a three shot burst pack, which require this trigger pack modification, but if you are simply installing a registered sear into a plastic S-E-F housing, use your original semi auto trigger pack installed in the altered plastic housing.

Questions to: Dan Shea C/O SAR

Are Gun Ban Groups Snooping Around in Your Records?

Sadly, the answer may be yes. The Second Amendment has taken yet another beating in D.C. District Court, which recently authorized the public disclosure of both the serial numbers of multiple sale firearms and the identity of their retail purchasers. The case is Center to Prevent Handgun Violence (CPHV) v. U.S. Department of the Treasury, et al. (Civ.No. 96-1590).

A “multiple sale report” is mandated when more than one handgun is sold to the same buyer within five business days, and is submitted by the gun dealer to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms. Now, the gun ban activists at CPHV, which bills itself as an “educational arm” of Handgun Control, Inc., have been granted access to these records — with no restrictions on how they use the information.

Multiple sales of handguns are by no means an uncommon or inherently criminal event. Law enforcement officers frequently purchase multiple handguns for off-duty use. Now, officers — along with collectors, hobbyists, and competitors — will be open to harassment and ridicule by gun control advocates.

Worse yet, when their identities are inevitably exposed through the media —as we’ve seen with public disclosure of permits for concealed carry — these innocent purchasers are wide open to attack by criminals.

The CPHV claimed that they needed the sales information in order to research the relationship between multiple handgun sales and any criminal activity later found to involve these firearms. Of course, BATF reviews these records for exactly the same purpose, and there is no indication — other than the complaints of anti-gun activists — that BATF has not fully utilized this information for criminal investigations. In fact, according to the BATF, ongoing and future investigations may be jeopardized by the release of information.

It should be obvious that dishonest purchasers will find ways to bypass the reporting requirement to avoid detection. BATF stated that releasing such data will serve only to benefit the black market, and would effectively defeat the legislative purpose of the reporting requirement by driving illicit sales underground.

The decision is a clear infringement upon the privacy interests of federal firearm licensees, law-abiding citizens and law enforcement. The fear of harassment and exposure to criminal predation may deter many honest citizens from purchasing firearms, while vindictive criminals will no doubt take advantage of the opportunity to pursue law enforcement for vengeance and profit.

Once again, the anti-gun lobby has unleashed the law of unintended consequences with no regard or responsibility for the aftermath. We strongly urge BATF to appeal this ruling and protect the privacy, and the safety, of the public and law enforcement alike.

A BRACE OF PRETTY BOY FLOYD: An SAR Book Review, Times Two

The code duello, a Southern tradition, finds few practitioners today. An ancestor of Theodore Roosevelt stood under the oaks in South Carolina, as dueling carried legal sanctions in Savannah. Mr. Bulloch emerged victorious. Ernie Kovacs suffered great distress when his first wife failed to return his babies from a visitation outing. His girlfriend at the time, Ms. Edie Adams, bought the famed television genius a pair of dueling pistols. Mr. Kovacs carried the matched pair under his overcoat for months as he searched the New York streets for his missing children. Not without good reason did Ernie Kovacs marry Edie Adams.

The following tells of two fine books. These books cover the hunt not for missing children but for an outlaw employing all of his wits not to be found. Seeking him was not a loving father but a South Carolina lawyer named Melvin Purvis. The first book takes the worst slice of the killer’s career and examines it as never before. The second book delivers the whole loaf in incredible detail. These two books, taken together, frame the best picture ever painted of Charles Arthur ‘Pretty Boy’ Floyd.

The Union Station Massacre -The Original Sin of the FBI’

by Robert Unger

At about 7:15 on the morning of June 17, 1933, local law and Agents of the Justice Department’s Bureau of Investigation attempted to transport captured felon Frank ‘Jelly’ Nash back to Leavenworth Prison. They got off a train from Arkansas at the Union Station in Kansas City and escorted Nash to a Chevrolet in the parking lot. Adam Richetti, Verne Miller, and Pretty Boy Floyd descended on them attempting to cancel Nash’s extended reservation at the grey bar hotel. One of the officers made a bad career move. He pulled iron against the leveled muzzle of Pretty Boy Floyd. The resulting melee brought on the 1934 Gun Control Act and catapulted J. Edgar Hoover’s sub agency into what it is today.

This story held great fascination for Kansas City native Robert Unger. The Pulitzer Prize winning journalist sought to clear the fog that had hung over his city since 1933. To accomplish this, Mr. Unger knew he must unlock the true story of the massacre. He found the key tucked in the Freedom of Information Act. Under that act, Mr. Unger sought and received the 89 volume FBI file on the Kansas City Massacre at Union Station. He then spent the next fourteen years researching, gathering photographs, and writing this thrilling true story of early 30’s crime. The resulting book unlocks the mysteries of the Union Station Massacre and blows the fog away.

Robert Unger not only gives the reader a fascinating slice of early 30’s crime that reads like a novel, he delivers more. Our SAR legal writers — James Bardwell, Basil St. Clair, and James Jefferies — will find this book as intriguing as the dedicated emma gees shooting 30’s guns. In the FBI file, the agents wrote with complete candor, secure in the knowledge that their words would never see the light of day. They omitted the CYA prose and legalese used by bureaucrats today. In so doing, they told a tale of uses and misuses of power, tainted evidence, and competent and incompetent police work. Mr. Unger skillfully relates all of this to modern times. In short, Mr. Robert Unger offers a fine read illustrated by rare photographs. For readers wishing to taste this slice of Pretty Boy’s life, Andrews McMeel Publishing in Kansas City awaits your call at 1-800-247-6553.

The Life and Death of Pretty Boy Floyd

by Jeffery S. King

Jeffery King inhabits one of the most enviable environs for the dedicated early 30’s crime writer. A respected research librarian now retired, Mr. King lives in Washington, DC. His residence affords him easy access to the National Archives. Mr. King’s acknowledged professionalism showed him early on ‘where the bodies are buried’. Our astute readers will find this writer in the acknowledgments of Jeffery King’s book. Readers should know that I hold no pecuniary interest. Greater praise goes to the other writers and researchers acknowledged. The greatest praise goes to Mr. King himself for research well done and a story well told.

As a boy, this writer’s grandfather told me of meeting Mamie and Walter Floyd and their knee high son Charles beside their wagon in Ila, Georgia’s Hebron church yard. The year was 1907. He called the Floyds “good God fearing people who farmed the land”. Pretty Boy’s fate upon reaching Oklahoma grieved him some. Just before I went to college, we talked about the Floyds for the last time. He openly asked why all the trouble had come to Pretty Boy, as if I in my seventeenth year would have known. Today as I approach my fifty second year, I do. For those who want the saga of the Sagebrush Robin Hood in depth, I direct them to Jeffery King’s book. Witihin its pages the reader will find his pompadour, the Tommy gun, and his bullet proof clothes.

In his book, Jeffery King calls Charles Floyd not highly intelligent but cunning. Faithful readers know that this writer has called him highly intelligent, not well educated, and clever. Readers may think that Mr. King and I disagree. We do not. We view the same overlapping facts from a different perspective. Writers and journalists carrying diplomas from the latter day government schools toss around clever and cunning as if they interchange. They do not. Some Knob Creek campfire safety wisdom will save our readers a mad scramble to the dictionary. ‘It’s like being shot with an unloaded gun. Whether the gun was loaded or not, you’re still shot.’ Jeffery King chose the precise word. This example of Jeff’s word precision gives the reader an inkling of the scholarship that Mr. King brings to his subject.

Jeffery King tells Pretty Boy’s story with depth, detail, and textures. These elements this writer appreciates, in the best sense of the word. Jeff King well captures the good people from whom Floyd came and those who loved him despite his outlaw ways. Perhaps Jeff’s strong finish to his book best showcases the fine wares contained within. He first quotes Ma Joad from John Steinbeck’s The Grapes of Wrath. The fictional Joads hailed from Charlie Floyd’s last home town of Sallisaw, Oklahoma. Mr. King then takes us to some Pretty Boy lines from Woody Guthrie. He closes by referencing a revue of Outside The Law, a play based on William Shakespeare’s As You Like It. With As You Like It, Jeffery King speaks well for both his book and that of Robert Unger. For those who would know the Sagebrush Robin Hood better than they do now, Kent State University Press awaits your call at 1-800-247-6553.

Parting Shots

Emma gees will notice a few minor gun mistakes in both books. This writer spoke at length with both authors. Both men stated that they were not gun guys. Both stated that the research told them that firearms played a significant role in the life and death of Pretty Boy Floyd. Both authors stated that they worked very hard to understand the gun part of the story and to correctly report it. Emma gees and SAR readers cannot expect every writer to know the silky smooth bolt of a Colt Thompson or the glass slick hammer of a pre-War automatic. Mr. Unger carries a shared Pulitzer Prize and a dozen nominations for same as part of his professional credentials. Mr. King upon retiring from a successful research career wrote a fine book that a prestigious university press enthusiastically accepted. Both Robert Unger and Jeffery King approached the Floyd story without agenda. They followed the facts where they lead and reported them in a straightforward fashion. This writer applauds their efforts.

Readers of both books will find a variation in their Union Station Massacre story. Mr. Unger’s book and research were not available to Jeffery King until after his book went to press. Some researchers may complain that Robert Unger’s book lists two major sources either not commonly available or unavailable to them. I do not. Additional KCR campfire wisdom tells why. ‘It’s OK to bring two guns to a gunfight. If they’re the right guns, two is all you need.’ Were this writer to write a book on Floyd, I would rely on Mr. Unger’s journalistic integrity.

In the motorized bandit section of Thompson: the American Legend the name Herb Farmer popped up in my text more than once. Of Charles Arthur Floyd and his funeral I wrote the following, ‘…to the hardworking people around Sallisaw and Akins, he was neither outlaw nor killer but one of their own who was finally at peace and had finally come home.’ From these two fine books the reader may learn, in depth, why. Well done Robert Unger. Well done Jeffery King.

Andrews McMeel Publishing
4520 Main ST
Kansas City, MO 64111
816-932-6700

Kent State University Press
Kent State University
Kent, Ohio 44242-0001
330-672-7913

SWAT: Friend or Foe of Free America?

You would have to live in a cave to not notice the “militarization” of segments of the American police agencies in the form of special tactical teams. Known by many acronyms across the country, the most generically recognizable, “SWAT” is a growing trend for policing in the 90s. You can’t turn on the news without seeing police officers in blue or black fatigues with Kevlar helmets and load bearing vests on a tactical operation somewhere in the U.S.

Does this worry you?

If so, I will try to give you a different frame of reference, from the perspective of a working tactical officer, though I must admit that what I profess can only REALLY hold true within the geographic boundaries of the city I serve.

I have read and seen news reports that describe the “militarization” of American police agencies in the form of their SWAT teams with a sense of foreboding. As if to say, “If we allow this to happen, the average American should be concerned for their safety.” Nothing could be further from the truth.

If militarization means wearing military helmets and fatigues, and ultimately resembling soldiers, then we are guilty as charged. But this is where the similarity ends. Military tactics have little place in civilian policing. SWAT is and should be committed to being a life saving entity, with no acceptable casualty levels.

SWAT generally serves a dual purpose in an average city. First is the traditional role, which is handling hostage situations, barricaded subjects, etc. The second is the service of high risk search warrants, either for narcotics, wanted dangerous felons and other high risk operations. There is much more opportunity for operational experience in the latter than the former, though training should prepare a team for both.

Equipping a team with automatic firearms has caused heartburn among some, even those who would argue for the relaxation of existing federal law for civilian ownership. It shouldn’t. They are simply better tools for the tasks at hand. And if we are truly committed to the concept that there are not “good” guns and “bad” guns, this must hold true for the police as well. Unfortunately, the media has created the mindset in the average American that black guns for police are good, but bad for Joe Citizen. As only a few anecdotal incidents by criminals make all gun owners look bad, such is the case whenever a particular SWAT team blows it.

Prior to the increasing popularity of the submachine gun for tactical operations, there was only the 12 gauge shotgun as an option for a shoulder arm for the American tactical officer. Large, with low magazine capacity, an attendant muzzle blast and recoil made it less than optimum for the precision needed in the kinds of confrontations that SWAT is tasked with. The SMG filled that need, with the low recoil, accuracy, high magazine capacity, and the ability to enhance the stopping power of a pistol cartridge with simultaneous impacts. With the forearm mounted light, the weapon is perfect for close quarters, on a bus assault or stakeout, day or night.

Historically, the submachine gun was prevalent in Europe, and rare in America, due to the events of the earlier years of the 20th century in gangland America. Magazine emptying gunfights with the trigger taped back would scare any modern police administrator who didn’t know that full automatic firearms usage by police has changed quite dramatically. In Europe, shotguns, ubiquitous here, are considered somewhat barbaric for use against human targets. Even with the advent of the modern tactical submachine method, that is always shoulder mounted, sighted fire, with 2-3 round bursts being the rule. Many were just not ready to buck outdated conventional wisdom.

That misplaced fear of full automatic firearms was not lost on our past administrators either. Though we tried to convince them that modern automatic fire doctrine dictates only sighted fire from the shoulder in short bursts, they would hear nothing of it. Though our tactical team has existed since 1976, full automatics were out of the question until recently, with a change of administration. Gone but not forgotten are the days when our bosses would only allow our three AR-15s to be loaded with 20 round magazines, because they felt the 30s were too “menacing.” This is the result of the mindset of police management with no tactical experience or training making tactical decisions. It is endemic to certain departments. For SWAT to excel, it takes a police administrator who trusts his people enough to allow them to possess the tools and to seek the training to be the best they can be. That occurred for us, with our new police chief, a veteran from south Florida, who has an extensive tactical background.

“Flash Bangs”

The noise flash diversion device, the textbook description for what are almost universally called “Flash bangs”, are a staple of most tactical teams. The most common brand is the Def-Tec #25, named for a heavy steel body that is re-loadable 25 times. With a 1.5 second delay fuze and a burn brightness and duration of 1.5 to 2.5 million candela for .054 seconds, and an average decibel level of 175, the flash bang is the refinement of years of testing and evaluation, and the sometimes operational use of artillery simulators of years past. Blown out windows and damaged hearing marked the early years of this tactic. Conceived as a method of diverting attention of hostile violent criminals so that a gunfight might be avoided, it is consistent with the primary mission of SWAT teams to be a life saving entity. For someone not expecting it, it can be quite terrifying. For someone who fully prepares for it and is ready, it might be less than effective. It is certainly not a panacea.

Though many teams use flash bangs, not all have guidelines and practice restraint in their use. For a team to deploy them blindly or indiscriminately without regard to children or the elderly being present is asking for liability in the worst way. We use a blast gauge in the event we deploy one in close proximity to anyone we refer to as unshielded, that is, not shielded by furniture or walls. We deploy a second device at the same point of ignition as the first, to counteract claims later of damaged or lost hearing.

In the hands of a well trained team, guided by restraint, and used only when there is a true high risk element to the warrant or entry, these are mission enhancing tools. If they are blindly lobbed in to scare drug dealers, then all SWAT suffers from the sins of the few, especially if they get the wrong house.

Dynamic Entry

Dynamic entry, a term used to describe the sudden, rapid and surprise entry of several officers into a location for the purpose of confronting suspects and preventing the destruction of perishable evidence. Most likely used for narcotic search warrants, dynamic entry has its place, but can be overused. It also can violate what I describe as a departmental philosophy of de-escalation, or the avoidance of confrontation absent a compelling reason to do so. This only makes sense. If a wanted armed felon is hiding at his girlfriend’s house, and the warrant is for him, or even for him and any weapons, it makes no sense to execute a dynamic entry on the dwelling. He can’t flush his gun, and that additional charge is not worth risking an unnecessary gunfight. These decisions made routinely enhance credibility for a team in the mind of the reasonable man. It tells him that we are using our heads. And more simply, it is the right thing to do.

Any tactical team in America that is committed to doing the right thing, communes with its counterparts across America. Regional tactical officer associations abound, and the National Tactical Officers Association is the national clearinghouse for the sharing of tactical information. We are proud to be members.

Is there reason for fear?

All in all, I think not. If there is anything to fear, I think it would be the jurisdiction that allows carte blanche for its tactical team without the philosophy of de-escalation being paramount. Having your officers equipped with all of the toys and none of the training is asking for trouble in a big way. Combining this with a less than total commitment to search warrant pre-raid planning so that only the right address is raided is a recipe for disaster. In the realm of deadly force, what is done cannot be undone. That is the blade of the double edged sword that we must balance so delicately on. It is my belief that these teams are the exception rather than the rule.

We must as tactical officers in the modern age, be ready for the worst that can be visited on our cities, regardless of size. Violent crime can occur anywhere, but SWAT must be measured in its response and know and accede to the wishes of its city. Its operations must not be secret, and the team should willingly answer the questions of its citizens. If what we are doing is reasonable, then why wouldn’t we?

Next time, I will share with you what I think is a first in American SWAT. A shooting competition geared to the operational use of the tactical SMG. Our team conceived of and hosted what we call the “Midwest Police SWAT/SMG Championships. On April 4, 1998, 52 tactical officers from the Midwest converged on the Chapman Academy of Practical Shooting for a one day event. Indicative of its dominance of the American police market, the MP5 was the only gun represented. Four individual events, one two man team event and one four man team event were staged. All officers competing had to wear full tactical gear, all stages were fired full auto, with hostages in close proximity to the shoot targets. No optical sights allowed, no double mag clamps for faster reloads allowed. It was a true test of operational skill and training in the tactical use of the submachine gun.. I hope you’ll join us for the recap.

Despite the fact that Bergmann designed many successful pistol models dating from the early 1980’s it was Hugo Schmeisser that designed the MP-18.

Some may argue that the Italian 1915 Villar Perosa was not actually a submachine gun due to its lack of stock. Still, it was chambered for a sub rifle round- the 9mm Glisenti. The later OVP 1918 model of the Perosa did utilize a conventional stock although retaining the odd magazine on top feature, which seemed to find favor only down under in Australia with the Owen and F1’s of later years.

The Bergmann used a less than conventional magazine also. It borrowed the Luger “Snail Drum” which fitted from the left side of the gun. The left side feed was not that widely copied except by the succeeding Bergmann’s (MP18,I and MP28) as well as the British Sten series. The feature of the 32 round capacity magazine became an almost universal feature. From an overview 70-75% of all submachine guns still use a 32 round magazine. The double barreled Italian V.P.’s actually had two 25 round mags or 50 rounds between them. The later 1918 VP models have only a single 25 magazine.

A second carry over feature from the Bergmann was the caliber and cartridge, that being the 9x 19mm Parabellum or Luger round. Certainly well over 50% of all submachine gun designs have utilized the 9mm caliber and almost as many of the 9mm Parabellum cartridge. Even the Italian VP’s Glisenti cartridge was essentially a weakened 9mm Parabellum.

Another innovative carry over from the MP-18,I was the barrel jacket. Well over a fourth of all submachine guns have utilized some type of perforated barrel jacket. The U.S. has been an exception, if you over-look the 1919 Thompson and the Smith & Wesson Model 76. Weight and compactness consideration emerged as did advanced heat resistant materials, and the barrel jacket was deleted on many later models of submachine guns. Although the MP-18,I was not the first automatic weapon to use a barrel jacket it was indeed the first submachine gun to employee one. Without overly digressing, Bergmann needed look only to its 8mm MG 15 for the barrel jacket feature.

One unusual feature of the MP 18,I which did not carry over to other designs excepting the MP 28 and the Lancaster was the use of cooling holes at the front end of the barrel jacket. Eight circular holes surrounded the actual barrel in an attempt to maximize cooling.

Another feature which the O.V.P. and most other submachine guns in-corporated was a fire selector allowing for semi-auto modes of operation. This feature was absent from the Bergmann MP 18,I. A selector system was included with the later MP 28II Bergmann. Perhaps it is worth a passing mention that the MP 18,I, MP38, MP40 and MP40 II were the only major German submachine lacking a fire select system.

The other commonly copied feature of the MP 18,I was that it used a non-locking straight blow back feature of operation. Probably nine out of ten submachine guns use this system.

The Bergmann 18,I also used a fairly simple system of manufacture, especially when compared to contemtaries such as the Mauser 71/84, 88, or 98 rifles or the POB “Luger”. The most complicated part being the 32 round magazine, but this was an already existing part which Bergmann merely procured. The Bergmann plant also utilized the very innovative process of sub-contracting the manufacture of parts. It was only in the 1980’s that an American firm fully stylized this process. The Willey .45 Winchester gas operated pistol sub-contracted all the parts, and merely assembled the guns, much as Bergmann did in 1918!

Given the comparative cost, speed, and ease of manufacture combined with its effectiveness of fire the MP 18,I was indeed the “Weapon of the future”. One soldier armed with an MP 18,I who successful survived the distance to an opposing enemy trench was more effective than an entire squad armed with five shot bolt action rifles, assuming there were no Alvin A. Yorks in that squad.

By 1918 Germany was mostly of the defensive mind set and most MP 18’s were employed to reinforce and defend MGO8 and MGO8/15 positions. Some were of course issued to Sturmabteilung or assault troops but most of the assaulting was being done by the fresh American troops given the French doctrine of “always fighting to the last American.”

The German General Staff, being safely behind the lines and somewhat out of touch, still seemed to think in terms of offensive operations. To emphasize the ostentastiousness of their offensive operations plans, a wheeled handcart of ammunition was to be provided and shared by each pair of Bergmann submachine gunners. A horse drawn cart would probably have been envisioned except most of the horses were dead by 1918!

The basic concept of armament and issuance of the MP 18,I was that each N.C.O. and theoretically about 10% of the troops were to be so equipped.

On paper each company was allocated one submachine gun squad of 12 men. Half or six men with the MP 18,I and half carrying ammo! Again, they weren’t about to exhaust the ammo supply for these guns. Also given the likelihood of the gunner being killed or disabled it was the ammo bearer’s turn to try shooting.

Weak points of the MP 18,I were the open nature of the receiver tube’s recoil slot and the ejection port. No provision was made to keep it free from dust, dirt or mud as was with the bolt cover for the Gew. 98 Mausers. Another major short-coming was the magazine, which was heavy, bulky and the bad balance it sometimes gave the gun. In addition, a special neck sleeve spacer was needed for proper feeding. Further a special loading tool was essential for reloading the drum. Given today’s cost of about five hundred and up for a snail drum and the number of anxious “Luger” collectors in the market for one, small wonder so many MP 18,I’s have no magazine. The loading tool is about $300 and up, and is also eagerly sought by “Luger” collectors. Surprisingly, the neck spacer sleeve is the cheapest of the must-have parts at $100 or less, this due to the scarcity of the Bergmann submachine guns that require them.

Without a doubt the rarest accessory item is the aforementioned ammo carts. Being of wood construction they were smashed and burned for heat during the winter months as was almost every other wooden item excepting gun stocks. Never have I ever encountered a picture of the said ammo carts.

Given the innovative designs, history and German origin, these guns are highly collectable. There was a refit to a simpler straight stick mag after the war and the original snail drum models could be compared to the 1921A Thompsons. Most were modernized or modified, increasing the rarity of the original guns.

Only two warring nations fielded a submachine gun in World War I – Italy and Germany. Although allies in World War II they were adversaries in World War I. When peace came, the Treaty of Versaille forbade the military use of submachine gun and long barreled pistols in Germany.

They were still permitted for police use and therefore bore the 1920 date common to many “Lugers” and some shortened Mauser C-96 pistols.

Given the seemingly insatiable appetite for German guns and military collector’s items both here and abroad, MP 18,I are not often encountered and expensive when found. Although essential for any meaningful submachine gun collection, due to its rarity, it is understandable when absent. Most Museums are missing said specimens. Total production was put at around 35000 in World War I. A respectable number since this was also the total production of Japanese Type 100 Nambus in all World War II. The Type 100 Nambus were the main Japanese submachine gun.

80 years of Treaties, gun laws and modifications not to mention the scrapping or destruction of these weapons at the end of World War I, make it impossible to estimate their current existence. Several thousand world wide certainly would seem an excessive estimate.

Designation: Machine Pistol 18 I
Weight: 9-10 lbs.
Loaded weight with mag: 12 lbs.
Length: 32”
Caliber: 9 x 19mm Parabellum (9mm Luger)
Firing Rate: 350-450 rpm
Type of operation: full-auto blow back
Magazine: 32rd snail drum
Sights: open flip 100-200 meter settings
Caliber velocity: 1200-1350 fps
Estimated value: $3500-$5000
Current national usage: None
Staring roles: Zeppelin, The Land Time Forgot

For most of the twentieth Century, the African continent has been a repository of obsolete weapons that would make any collector salivate. However, most of these antiques served with various armed forces and, six decades after World War One ended, the Vicker’s watercooled machinegun was still burning .303 in anger.

The South African Defense Force (SADF) had been equipped with these machineguns during both World Wars and retained them in their armories up until the 1963 United Nations Voluntary Arms Embargo. With increasing guerilla activity by the African National Congress, replacing the Vicker’s became less likely with each passing year.

During ‘Operation Savannah’ (as the SADF called the Angolan Civil War of 1975-76) the Vicker’s was still front-line issue for SADF units but afterwards became reserved for Citizen Force static defense up on the border (such as the South African Coloured Corps base on the Eerste River).

According to Wayne Coetzee, a member of the 1 Parachute Battalion pathfinders attached to CSI (chief of Staff Intelligence) during the mid-80’s and a veteran of Operation ‘Modular’, the range and firepower of the old machineguns impressed his comrades too much to leave them behind at base.

The pathfinders mounted six Vickers on a Blesbok (An open-back utility version of the Casspir four-wheeled Mine Protected Personnel Carrier), three on each side. At first there were a few raised eyebrows and muffled chuckles when the idea was mentioned, but after seeing their potential the South African soldiers were soon fighting for a chance to man the guns. Eventually, the two-man Blesbok crew took over as the Vicker’s ‘gunners’. Though they were still supplemented with other troops when the need arose.

One of them, Sgt. Sterzel, used the machineguns to excellent effect during a contact of 6 Sept ’86, where 15 of Paras took on an estimated 350 FAPLAs (Angola Communist troops) according to the FAPLA Colonel they later captured. The Sergeant kept on firing even after the Blesbok took a direct hit from an RPG, with shrapnel flying up to hit him in the chest.

The Vicker’s were used to support the .50 Brownings mounted on the Casspirs, their amazing range making them very effective when FAPLA units moved into the open while attempting river crossings, etc. The only drawback was that the combination was heavy, and the Blesbock got stuck in soft sand a few times.

For long range fire, none of the complicated indirect fire sights were used and the only sighting aids were the Pathfinder’s binoculars. In some circumstances, the Vicker’s would be fired into an area where FAPLA units were hiding while the ‘Ground Shout’ Casspir ( a wheeled armored personnel carrier with a public address system) broadcast psychological warfare messages. The Pathfinders were later told that this produced the desired results.

As late as 1988, there were instructional posters for the Vickers (and the Bren) hanging in the SADF Armorer’s workshop in Grahamstown.

NOTE: Around or shortly after Operation ‘Savannah’, South African Vickers (as well as Bren guns) were converted to 7.62mm NATO. Apparently, this was a gradual process which allowed those weapons remaining in .303 to consume the dwindling stocks of .303.