Nestled in the hills about 10 miles north of Wikieup, Arizona on Highway 93 and south of Kingman, Arizona is the Big Sandy Range. On March 30 to April 1, 2012 the Bob Faris Memorial Shoot was held during the annual spring Big Sandy shoot. Over 200 shooters occupying 132 shooting spaces with a heavy spectator turnout that guaranteed a grand weekend for all.

As usual, MG Shooters, LLC, in the guise of Ed Hope and Kenton Tucker, put on a well managed event designed to please the most ardent shooter. It truly is a “shooter’s shoot.” With Star Targets donating over 1,500 pounds of binary agents allowing for over 1,600 reactive targets, 37 radio controlled airplanes, competition matches, fire and EMT personnel, licensed explosive technicians, range safety staff, and a 50/50 split-pot raffle for the benefit of the Owens Whitney School in Wikieup (splitting $1,840 earning $920 each to the raffle winner and the school), Ed and Kenton make sure the bases are covered for a fun and exciting weekend shoot.

The shoot this past spring was special in that it recognized the passing of one of the old time machine gun greats: Bob Faris. Bob lived in Wickenburg, Arizona and attended all the Big Sandy shoots. Bob was well known around the world and was a source of information that few achieve. A simple man with no enemies, his passion for firearms extended from his professional life through to his personal life. From his home in Wickenburg, he would travel out into the Arizona desert three times a week to shoot. Stricken with cancer several years ago, he stoically rode the roller coaster of infection, remission, infection, remission until it finally caught up with him. Nevertheless, he was a shooter literally right up to the end of his days.

Recognizing that the end was, indeed, near, Bob, with the help of his closest friends, set out the details of his final wishes. He wanted to be cremated and his ashes spread at the place he loved to shoot at. He was very specific in the details. He wanted his close friend, Eric Lutfy, to put a portion of his ashes inside a 37mm Bofors round to be shot into the side of the mountain at the Big Sandy range. To ensure that the projectile containing his ashes actually pierced the mountain side, the nose containing the ashes was made from a hardened tungsten material that would bury itself into the mountain rather than disintegrate upon impact. While the round was engraved on the outside, “Robert Faris 3-30-30, 2-12-2012,” a small brass plaque with this same information was placed inside the nose along with the ashes. This plaque and his ashes are permanently buried in the mountainside overlooking where Bob loved to shoot at the Big Sandy Range.

Bob also wanted the majority of his ashes spread about the range by being blown up but left it up to his friends to devise an appropriate method. The answer, it turned out, sprang from the mind of a child.

David and Cindy Keane had been bringing their children, Cole and Elizabeth, to the Big Sandy shoots on a regular basis as David had been shooting there for the past four years. During these outings, 13-year-old son Cole made friends with Bob Faris, who was more than happy to mentor the young man. Upon Bob’s passing, Cole was very upset that he had lost his friend. He knew that Bob wanted to be blown up and came up with the idea of building a T-Rex dinosaur, placing Bob inside along with the binary agents and letting everyone on the shooting line participate in the explosion by firing all at once. The young man presented his idea to the executor of Bob’s estate and was granted permission to construct the T-Rex. The entire Keane family pitched in by constructing a wood frame, forming the overall appearance in chicken wire and encasing it in paper maché. The T-Rex was transported to the range and on Saturday, March 31, the T-Rex was placed several hundred yards out, Bob’s ashes and the binary agent placed inside, and was blown to smithereens at the appropriate moment at the sound of the klaxon by the entire firing line opening up at the big, green T-Rex target all at once. The explosion was huge and, as it was, the wind happened to change and the enormous blast cloud with dust and ashes slowly spread back along the entire firing line. For those that were there, there is a little bit of Bob in all of us now.

Bob also loved to shoot at the radio controlled (RC) planes that swept back and forth across the firing line – a small, high speed aerial target that tested the ability of all the shooters. As a final salute to Bob, the last, very small portion of Bob’s ashes were sealed inside an RC plane, surrounded by some explosives, and sent aloft to be brought down by the anti-aircraft shooters along the line. It didn’t take long before the plane was hit and exploded in mid-air. Bob may be gone from this life, but he truly is forever a part of the Big Sandy Range.

MG Shooters, LLC are committed to providing the best possible venue for automatic and large caliber weapons. They are continually making improvements to the facilities with planned improvements to include a water system, flattening and improving the guns’ show area, improving the PA system, and constant improvements on the roads. Besides the Spring and Fall machine gun shoots, the range is used for military and law enforcement training. The Fall Big Sandy Shoot is scheduled for October 19-21, 2012. Check their website for more details. www.mgshooters.com.

In the early 1970s, most submachine guns still in use with the armies of the world were replaced by assault rifles shooting the intermediate round. The days of the front-line SMG were over. In specialized application the surviving ones were replaced by a new breed of modern low-drag high-speed models, lighter and offering more firepower in an ergonomically superior package. New materials and production methods were applied: sheet stamping, spot welding, powder metallurgy and plastics. Seen against that trend, Polish PM-63 Rak submachine gun, so advanced just a decade earlier, but still machined from solid billet, was rapidly falling into obsolescence.

The rapidly passing Renaissance of the SMG in its new compact guise, created a passing demand for the new firearms of that type. The ComBloc countries, who were at the forefront of the new wave of the PDW-style submachine guns (Soviet Stechkin, Czech Skorpion and Polish PM-63 Rak) were willing to have their share of the cake, but they lacked a modern design chambered for the 9mm Luger – the old German round growing more and more popular all over the world. Attempts at re-chambering existing guns were frustrating, even though a vz.68 Skorpion and PM-70 Rak proved to be viable firearms. Both were however milled of a solid billet, which financially killed them from the start even taking into consideration Communist economics. There were no alternatives: a new, compact, modern and cheap submachine gun was a must.

The hunt for the new compact SMG in Poland was not however only about the elusive export income: human and tactical considerations of the army were taken into consideration as well. As the Rak hit the real military units, problems abounded. The reciprocating slide was hard to master for soldiers with no firearms experiences and seasoned shooters from the elite Special Forces, who tested Rak on its way to inception, had no problems with them at all. Novice shooters were quite the opposite. The reciprocating slide frightened most of them as horror stories of eye glasses or even eye-balls smashed with it began to circulate. Then there was a real problem of shooting with the NBC mask on, where cracks on the glasses really did happen once in a while. In the 1970s, the future war was envisaged as a nuclear conflict, with most of the war fought in NBC protective clothing. In a heavily radioactive fallout-polluted area, a mere cracked glass was a harbinger of a certain death.

The new submachine gun TTR (Technical and Tactical Requirements) set together by the Military Technology Research and Development Main Directorates of the Polish Army’s General Staff included a condition sine qua non for the future firearms: no more experiments with open slides except for the handguns. All future guns were to have a closed receiver with the bolt reciprocating within.

After the TTR of the new project, code-named Glauberyt (glauberite, or sodium calcium sulfate), was sent out to all small arms developing centers, three separate teams at two of these took to designing the new SMG. The code-name was issued according to the new code-naming guideline, allocating the new small arms projects the minerals (glauberite, pyrite etc.) or the Mendeleyev periodic table’s metals (beryllium, vanadium, tantalum, etc.).

The Zielonka Glauberyt

A Glauberyt team of the Military Ordnance Technical Institute consisted of three Lieutenant-Colonels, Henryk Adamczyk, Jerzy Okraszewski and Ryszard Szydlowski. Theirs was a concept of a compact, small SMG of very original – yet overly complicated design. The lower receiver integral with a pistol grip was meant to be eventually made as a single plastic casting, similar in concept to the then rave Austrian Steyr MPi-69.

According to the original concept, the gun was designed for both 9mm Makarov and 9mm Luger chamberings. The caliber change was to be executed by exchanging barrels only: the magazine and bolt were universal. It was a selective-fire blowback automatic firearm, firing from closed bolt. The rate of fire was retarded by a complicated multi-part pneumatic-and-inertia rate of fire retarder.

In 1972, a set of blueprints was fabricated, labeled Pistolet maszynowy wz¢r 1973 (M1973 SMG). Then in late 1974 and early 1975, two testing models were manufactured, s/n G-01 and G-02, sporting an aluminum lower receiver. The costs of manufacturing a die for the plastic receiver at this early stage was deemed far too high to even consider.

The testing proved the design criteria: rate of fire was reduced to about 750 rpm despite a very light weight of the reciprocating parts and the short track bolt. The gun was small, compact, handy, and seemed insensitive to field conditions. The cartridges were fed from 15 and 25-round magazines held in the pistol grip by a catch at the heel of the grip. A plastic cocking handle was placed on top of the receiver, reciprocating between the square front post and flip-over sight with two sighting notches.

Despite the initial plans, both models were chambered for the 9x18mm or 57-M-181S round, better known as the 9mm Makarov. The compact size enabled the SMG to be fired single-handedly or with both hands, using a telescoping shoulder stock and a folding foregrip. In 1976, further development was halted due to technological problems with the plastic lower receiver production. Before the project was closed, a new set of blueprints were produced for an altered, modified model, also with a plastic lower receiver called the Pistolet maszynowy wz.1977 (M1977 SMG). This was, however, never to be put in metal.

Zielonka Glauberyt s/n G-01

Caliber: 9x18mm
Muzzle velocity: 320 mps (1,053 fps)
Barrel lengthv150 mm (5.9 inches)
Sighting radius: 231 mm (9 inches)
Length, stock collapsed: 305 mm (12 inches)
Length, stock extended: 539 mm (21.2 inches)
Magazine capacity: 15 and 25 rounds

R-75: The Radom Glauberyts

At the same time there were two competing Glauberyt (Project R-75) research teams created in the Research & Development Center (OBR) of the General Walter Metal Works in Radom. Ryszard Chelmicki, Janusz Chetkiewicz and Stanislaw Bryx formed the first of these. Their submachine gun was a pure blowback design with the magazine well in the pistol grip and bolt telescoping the barrel for optimal equilibrium. The general layout was to resemble the Uzi, which was at that time deemed to have the optimal disposition for a compact submachine gun. Yet it was not to be another Uzi-clone, as their R-75-I was to fire from closed bolt position with an internal hammer and have a mechanical, inertia rate of fire retarder, oscillating vertically in the pistol grip’s rear channel, perpendicular to the bolt movements – vaguely resembling the one used in a Czechoslovakian Skorpion. The gun was to be manufactured with sheet-metal stamping and spot welding methods, with a bare minimum of machined parts. Even before the model was commissioned, the OBR’s management demanded the team to prepare an alternative model, chambered for the 9×19 Luger. This was a rare display of far-reaching perspective being taken by the industry with a view to possible export, as well as a way to vent-off the recent frustration of the aborted PM-70 Rak modification to take the 9mm Luger round despite its success. The solid front sight post was taken directly from the PM-63. The stock was made of wire, and folding to the top of the receiver, with a spring-assisted opening – again a clear indication, that the designers knew and appreciated the Skorpion. The bolt cocking handles were plastic, but the first ever shooting test left them shattered, and another Skorpion idea was then borrowed: the button-like cocking handles protruding from the receiver sides. Both the R-75-I test model and the prototype series R-81 SMGs retained these.

A peculiarity of the R-75-I was the sight, taking the shape of a triangular plate, rotating on an axis which was set parallel to the bore. This plate had three peep holes for shooting at 100, 150 and 200 meters, with a square notch filed between the 100 and 150 peep holes, used for aiming at 50 m. Right from the start, the R-75-I was planned to be fitted with an external bolt catch lever – which was a novel idea for the SMG at that time on both sides of the Iron Curtain. The characteristic sheet-metal safety-selector lever on the receiver’s left, right behind the pistol grip, survived from the first pre-prototype up until PM-06 model, when it was made ambidextrous. The bolt is oscillating inside a sheet-metal formed, square-sectioned upper receiver. The receiver cover was latched by the side projections of the rubber-bumper mounting-plate to which doubled return spring rods (another Skorpion idea) were fastened.

The other OBR’s team, lead by Wladyslaw Krawczyk and Marian Gryszkiewicz, came up with quite a different proposition. Their R-75-II (or R75-W2 as it was inscribed on the test model) was also a blowback design with sheet-metal stamped receiver, but there the similarities ended. The bolt also telescoped the barrel, but it was a striker-fired weapon with the striker cocked on the rearward stroke of the bolt. There was an investment-cast muzzle brake, bayonet-connected to the muzzle, which at the same time performed the tasks of the gasodynamic rate of fire retarder, bolt cocking device (inspired perhaps by the PM-63 Rak) and forward return spring attachment point. The sight was of a cruciform shape, rotating on an axis set perpendicular to the bore. The four plates of the cruciform were fitted with a notch for 50 meters and three peep holes for aiming at 100, 150 and 200 meters. The front sight was screwed into a drift-adjustable dove-tailed holder. The trigger mechanism used a two-stage trigger – enabling to fire single shots or burst according to the length of the trigger pull (as in PM-63 Rak).

The receiver was constructed from both stamped and machined components, spot-welded or welded together. The test model had a wooden lower receiver with two pistol grips – to be replaced by an integral plastic lower in the series-manufactured ones. The two grips combined with sliding wire stock were to facilitate accurate burst firing.

The design was made fully 9x19mm convertible by using a universal magazine and bolt face, by simple exchange of the barrel. In reality, only the 9×18 Makarov model was ever built and tested.

In 1975, test models of both designs were tested in Radom. The test minutes stressed the high efficiency of the R-75-IIs gas-dynamic retarder, enabling the rate of fire to be reduced to 635 rpm – deemed perfectly effective for such a weapon.

Radom R-75-II

Caliber: 9x18mm Makarov
Muzzle velocity: 313 mps (1,029 fps)
Barrel length: 150 mm (5.9 inches)
Sighting radius: 269 mm (10.6 inches)
Length, stock retracted: 363 mm (14.3 inches)
Length, stock extended: 590 mm (23.2 inches)
Weight, empty: 1880 g (4.14 lbs)
Magazine capacity: 15 and 25 rounds
Rate of fire: 635 rpm

R-81

Despite the encouraging results of the R-75-II trial, it was the other R-75, the R-75-I, that was selected for further development. Some of the rejected prototype’s ideas (namely the dove-tailed front sight, and four-position sight flip) were carried on to the winning proposition, which was deemed better suited for mass-production and adoption. The folding stock was replaced by the sliding butt of the R-75-II, fitted with a folding metal butt-plate in the PM-63 Rak tradition. The stock struts were now made of round bars, sliding through the stock hinge, dropping and getting latched upon extending. The extended and latched stock was oblique to the axis of the bore, enabling the shooter to use the sights placed low on the receiver. The stock latch positioned inside the receiver required extension of the receiver – which was used to provide it with a thicker rubber pad.

As a result of further development, in 1981 a test-series of 10 R-81s (pm wz¢r 1981) chambered for the 9×18 Makarov were ordered for testing. As a result, another batch of 20 was ordered with a different handguard, now sporting a folding fore grip in the PM-63 Rak tradition. At that point a suppressor was also designed for the new SMG and an external thread was added to the muzzle of the barrel extended because of that development from 150 mm to 165 mm.

The R-81 retained the Skorpion-style button cocking handles. These were later replaced by more extending ones due to problems with cocking the weapon in winter gloves. Button cockers were replaced by the ones shaped like the original plastic ones – but machined out of steel for durability.

Vibration during shooting trials caused the one-piece receiver connecting bolt to crawl out, despite the springing tab, cut from the bolt’s side. This was thus replaced by a two-piece one, with two concentric bolts, one within the other, inserted from either side and blocking each other – just like PPSh 41 receiver hinge pin, but of course much smaller in diameter. After the tests, the receiver was ordered to be made of thicker gauge of steel – but excessive flexibility of the receiver remained the number one problem of the Glauberyt ever after, right until the PM-98 radical modification.

After the specified amendments were made, the submachine gun was adopted by the Polish Army and security forces as pistolet maszynowy wz.1984 (PM-84), and ordered into mass-production about 1985 – but tooling and preparation for the initial series (serialed in “PP” – like Prototype Pistol – range) production took several years to complete. At that time a special modification for the internal security anti-terrorism unit was prepared, fitted with a suppressor and a 1st generation laser sight, not much smaller than the gun itself. The first complete guns were manufactured as late as 1990, which sealed their fate effectively. Despite positive test results and favorable reviews, the mass-production of the PM-84 never happened. A feeble attempt at conquering the civilian market was made with the semiautomatic-only version, called the Semi-Automat, but restrictive gun licensing policies killed that initiative and nobody abroad was interested in such a weapon chambered for the 9 mm Makarov.

The overthrowing of Communism gave an additional boost to the already discussed and prepared move of upgrading the personal-defense caliber to 9mm Luger. In 1992, a decision was made to introduce the 9mm Luger as a military caliber and seek a modern, polymer-framed handgun with companion submachine gun in the new caliber. The PM-84 project was shelved for good.

PM-84P

In its original concept, the R-75-I was to be the dual-caliber firearm. This was still a viable option at the time of the R-81, but only one 9×19 barrel for the 30 R-81s was made, as after Martial Law was declared in Poland by the hard-line Communists on December 13, 1981, all export contracts to the countries outside the Soviet zone of interest became a matter of fantasy. Besides, all the 9×19 ammunition at that time had to be imported, as its domestic production at Mesko was only complemented, and early experiments were conducted with it not earlier than 1983, with mass-production starting in 1991. So, when changes were made to the receiver, magazine and magazine well, nobody seemed to care if these modifications prevented shooting 9mm Luger. To make it dual-caliber again meant some degree of re-designing anyway, so a decision was made to abandon it altogether and re-design the PM-84 completely, this time basing it on the larger round.

ZM Lucznik’s management pre-empted the strike, starting the re-design as early as 1991, on its own initiative, and – not at all typically for the Radom factory – with their own money.

In 1992 when a decision was made to adopt 9x19mm and start developing a plastic-framed handgun (which led to adoption of the Wist-94 pistol), Radom was already able to bid a replacement for the PM-84 in the form of the PM-84P, a redesign of the older submachine gun.

Adding the P (for Parabellum, as the 9mm Luger round is called 9mm Parabellum in Poland) in the model name was a very modest token of what the change really meant. The redesign was complete, and thorough. Some changes were made to cater for the more powerful round, some to facilitate manufacturing. Most of the internal parts of the mechanism were left alone and are completely interchangeable between the two guns, but some parts had to be re-dimensioned, then other re-shaped to fit those re-dimensioned. The bolt had to be made larger and heavier, and so also the receiver and pistol grip, housing the larger magazine. Unfortunately, the magazine catch was among the few parts left alone, which was a dire mistake. The magazine catch was a temporary fix made overnight while building the R-81 prototypes, and left untouched later on, because it worked well with the 9×18 Makarov magazine. The design of that catch is truly horrible: it’s safety-pin style spring is impaled on the grip plates screw, which forces the shooter to set it anew with every thorough cleaning of the weapon. The screw in question is totally unsupported by any metallic surface – in the field, this part of the grip was frequently chipped-off, especially in winter, when the plastic parts were frozen. As a result, the magazine catch was lost – and so was the magazine, and the weapon became useless unless the magazine was held in the magazine well by hand.

As the 9mm Luger was a much more powerful round, the older suppressor was too small. A new one was not designed so the external thread was eliminated. Dimensional changes needed in the sights were also used to simplify them and change the layout. In the PM-84 the rear sight was fixed, only the flip-blades were moving, while all zeroing work was done by screwing the front post up and down in a dovetailed front sight base. The new front sight base was fixed, and the front sight post only moved (screwed) up and down. The rear sight riveted axis was replaced by a micrometric threaded bolt – the flips could be rotated about it, and the thread could be rotated to move the sight laterally between the sight protectors. As the 9×19 had a much flatter trajectory, only two settings were needed between 50 and 200 meters, instead of four. The cruciform sight leaf was retained tough – it was patented by the factory and thus a source of royalties. The two redundant arms of the cruciform were used to put sight notches doubling the peep-holes set at 75 and 150 meters.

A sling eyelet was added to the front part of the receiver. This was a result of the creeping change in the tactical role of the PM-84P. The PM-84, as well as the earlier incarnations, the R-75-I and R-81, had only a bottom rear eyelet, behind the pistol grip, where a PM-63 style, single-point sling was fastened. No more points were needed for what was deemed a holster-carried firearm. The PM-84P, though, was not handy and small enough to enable the holster-carry, and so a two-point sling was issued for it, enabling it to be carried across the torso in combat, with holster being only a transport container.

In 1993 after the prototype tests, which indicated among others a higher rate of fire in spite of the heavier bolt (the ROF climbed from 600 to 640 rpm), the PM-84P was ordered and mass-production preparation begun.

Another police laser-sighted version appeared, this time with a much smaller laser, stored in the underbarrel-box, under which the folding fore grip, carried from the PM-84 into PM-84P, was fitted. Several, up to a dozen units of these laser-sighted Glauberyts were made for the Ministry of Internal Affairs.

Before manufacturing began, the old-style small cocking handles were replaced by much larger ones that protruded up. Only then the Army adopted the new SMG as the pistolet maszynowy wz.1984P (PM-84P) and true manufacturing started. Even today, the PM-84P are a vast majority of the around 60,000 Glauberyts manufactured to this date.

PM-98

The experience of use by the late 1990s of the PM-84P by the military and police enabled the realization that the requirements of the two services are different enough to warrant replacing the “universal” PM-84P with a service-specific police model. In the military, the SMG is a PDW, Personal Defense Weapon as a secondary weapon for tank crews, artillery gunners, drivers, clerks and cooks. In police service though, it was a basic source of deadly force, a main armed combat asset in patrol or escort duties and in combat against organized crime. As such, it was not to be carried in the holster, but slinged at port arms, or across the chest, with stock extended. Its predecessor, the PM-63 Rak was also employed for tactical use by the Police – mostly for the lack of the better gun, as it dramatically lacked pinpoint accuracy. Most of the Police special unit Raks had their fore grips folded and duck-taped shut, because they were not durable enough. After the political changes, SMG tactics was based on Israeli practice, which never used the fore grip for the simple lack of it in a Uzi. The Police assault teams needed means to put tactical lights on their SMGs rather than folding foregrips.

The first attempt at making a better suited Police Glauberyt was the so-called Police PM-84P of 1996. The grip was replaced by barrel-shaped handguard, returning to the original 1975 idea. The useless flimsy buttplate (in most cases duck-taped open anyway) was replaced by the fixed, oval, at least three times larger one, fitted with a concave rubber overshoe protecting against slippage of the butt-plate from the shoulder. At the same time the profile of the front sight was changed from rectangular to a conical one.

This were steps in a good direction, but not far enough, and the Police did not order it. Soon, after the military order was completed and not renewed, in 1997, ZM Lucznik SA set about another thorough re-design, this time with Police requirements as a guideline. The result was the ultimate Glauberyt, the PM-98.

The stock was completely changed; even though save for the fixed buttplate it looks identical. The stock struts were replaced with twice the diameter, and more robust rods. The retracting knobs were re-modeled again. First, a left side knob was abolished, along with its corresponding slit in both the receiver and the receiver cover – only the ejecting opening remained on the left. The retracting knob was enlarged again, thinned, looking like a raised canine ear – and so (“Ucho” or The Ear) it was nicknamed by the operators. The fore end was similar to the 1996 proposal, but with a socket in the front of the handguard for the light or laser module. If neither tactical light nor laser sight is used, the socket is filled with a screw-in plug to protect it from debris (or if plug is lost – duck-taped over). The sling eyelets were re-organized again, this time to enable using a three-point sling. The PM-84P had both eyelets placed on the bottom, which caused the slinged weapon to turn upside down. To counter it, the PM-98 had all the sling eyelets welded on the upper part of the receiver.

But the point where police and military models parted forever was in the magazine catch design. The military PM-84P had a magazine catch situated at the heel of the pistol grip, forcing the operator to remove the empty with a supporting hand, and only then allowing to grip a fresh magazine from the pouch. This was perfectly OK for the shooting range but for Police it was far too slow in reloading. The new magazine catch enabled to use the pistol magazine change method, with shooting hand releasing the magazine, allowing it to free fall from the pistol grip, while supporting hand grabs a fresh clip, ready to ram it home and hit the bolt “ear” releasing it from the hold-open device. The inevitable price of all that lightning fast reload was that there are two, almost identical yet not interchangeable types of Glauberyt magazines at the same time – one for the Police PM-98, and one for the Military PM-84P. That wasn’t dangerous when both SMGs were used by separate services, but for a while it seemed like the Army would buy PM-98s to replace aging PM-84Ps, which were no longer manufactured after the original ZM Lucznik SA went bankrupt in 2000. The new company, Fabryka Broni Lucznik-Radom, which was taking up traditions of the original Radom factory (opened in 1927 to manufacture Polish Mauser carbines and later on the famous Radom pistol, known in Poland as the Vis wz.), only tooled up for the PM-98 and flatly refused to retrace its steps. This was one of the reasons behind the recent replacement of the worn-out Glauberyt in the Army with the 5.56mm Mini-Beryl.

BRS

For its virtual absence in the Polish civilian market, strictly regulated by the Police, the Glauberyt has an astounding variety of civilian-legal semiautomatic only versions. As early as 1990, the emerging PM-84 already had a variant like that, called the PM-84 Semi-Automat. Also the PM-84P had similar Semi-Automat version, and in 1999 a civilian-legal model of the PM-98 appeared, called the BRS-99. This differed much from the previous semiautomatics, though. Those earlier ones were nothing more than a military-finish SMGs with alternative trigger mechanism and words SEMI-AUTOMAT impressed on the side, while the BRS-99 was intended for the U.S. civilian market and so it sported a 16.1-inch barrel and an entirely different lower receiver to keep users from installing military selective fire ones.

Despite all this effort, the BRS did not become an export hit while a mere two dozen were sold on the civilian market in Poland. This was due to the intervention by the Radom District Police HQ, which contrary to the level of internal changes, labeled the BRS as a reworked fully-automatic weapon, which is against Polish gun laws. Later on, the same interpretation stifled the civilian-legal Beryl-IPSC rifle and any other attempt at manufacturing civilian versions of any AK-platform weapons.

Several of the civilian owners got into serious trouble over that matter, and thereafter only security companies were able to buy the BRS legally. In the death throes of the former Lucznik factory, sometimes these civilian guns sold to the security companies were mixed up from everything that was on hand. The author once shot a PM-84 Semi-Automat in 9×18, but fitted with the BRS (or PM-98) stock. Several shooting clubs licensed to train security personnel were also able to buy some of these guns and one of Warsaw’s clubs had an even stranger combination: a PM-84P emblazoned with SEMI-AUTOMAT in block capital letters on the side of the upper receiver, which came from the factory fitted with a selective fire lower.

The BRS, as a modification of the PM-98 design, were retained in the production program of Fabryka Broni (FB). Since 2001, FB is offering the FX Simmunition force-on-force mock combat gun, called the BRS-00, being a selective fire military and police training firearm. Before the advent of the fixed Simmunition BRS-00-FX, the FX conversion units for the Glauberyts were made by BUOS of Warsaw and FB. Having to convert a lethal-force weapon and using that for force-on-force training was found disconcerting by the officials responsible for training, and so an FX-only gun was introduced instead, to avoid possibly dangerous mistakes. The BRS-00-FX has a standard receiver, marked for the FX ammunition, with a lightened bolt inside, propelled by only one (left) of the two parallel return springs – and of course a different barrel, preventing a live round from being chambered, fired and exiting the restricted bore. All FX-specific parts are clearly marked with a coating of sky-blue paint.

PM-98S and PM-06

Soon after the PM-98 was introduced, the world has gone through a bout of Picatinny-fever, starting in 1994 with the introduction of the world’s first standardized accessory mounting rail, the Mil-Std 1913 or Picatinny Rail. Polish police also felt the urge to festoon all firearms with endless lengths of “ribs” and demanded a mounting rail to be incorporated into the design, to enable it to choose changing tactical lights and laser sights, instead of being married once-and-for-always to a specific unit fitting into the fore-end socket.

At the turn of the century, the renewed Fabryka Broni started to develop a series of Glauberyt knock-offs for the Army and Police Special Forces. At first it was not an unqualified success – quite the contrary in fact. One of these early attempts was the PM-98S (like “Szybkostrzelny”, or Fast Firing). This version was simplified by abolishing it’s rate of fire reducer, after which the rate of fire rose from 640 rpm to 770 rpm. What amounted to a serious sin of wasting ammunition in regular military service was a virtue of higher firepower for the SF people. The S variant (also known as the “Specjalny”, or Special) has a different front sight protector – a full enclosed ring instead of the military model’s protective wings. One of the S version models was fitted with a 16-inch barrel (possibly a first BRS left-over) with a flash hider from the Beryl rifle. This “Pinocchio” variant, as it was mockingly known (just like with Pinocchio from the children’s tale, its nose rose from the not entirely truthful promises) was in fact ordered by several units for evaluation, and had spawned a heir: a PM-06S with 250 mm long barrel, fitted with external thread for the B&T Impuls II muzzle suppressor.

After these experiments a second wave of SF Glauberyts came, this time with the rails. At first, in 2002, as was the case with the first Beryl rails, these were rather of the Weaver, than true Picatinny profile. Because of the problems with access to the cocking handle the rail itself was put on the high support bracket over the front sight, which after fitting an already high EOTech holosight gained it the nickname of “the Rhino.” The Rhino was a disaster as it was clumsy, unbalanced, and worst of all, it made the shooter stretch his neck high, and lean forward at the same time, close to the ejection opening and – especially with a suppressor on the muzzle – the powder fumes blowing right into his eyes. It wasn’t also healthy for the sight itself, exposing it for the knocks and muzzle blast. In 2004, the next model was introduced, this time with the rail welded to the rear top cover, behind the ejection opening. Most of the Rhino problems were thus solved – only to be replaced by the new ones. This time it was hard to cock the bolt with the rail in place and again the rail made the shooter stretch his neck – but now to the rear. The sight had to be installed on the extreme rear of the rail to clear fingers cocking the bolt, or the cocking handle itself, if the sight had a side-sticking clamping knob. After another two years this problem was addressed by altering the cocking handle again – this time it was bent flat to the side, and a full-length rail was welded on top of the cover.

This wasn’t the end, however, as the Fabryka Broni was not relenting in their pursuit of better Glauberyt. During the 2006 MSPO arms fair in Kielce, Poland, a new variant was unveiled, called the PM-06. Though basic design of the submachine gun remained unchanged, many of the annoying details were put right at last. The receiver cover was made of thicker gauge sheet metal, being stiffer and vibrating less during the shooting. The safety-selector lever was made ambidextrous, and most importantly, the stock was redesigned to allow the optoelectronic sight as the main one. The old model of the stock was sliding out and dropping at the hinge, after being extended fully. This was made to allow the shooter to use the low mechanical sights placed at the level of the receiver top cover. With the coming of the rail mounted red dot sight, the gun, and subsequently the sight’s optical axis, were far too high for comfort, forcing the operator to stretch his neck in order to see through the sight, destroying what little the extended wire stock-struts offered in the way of stock weld. Moreover, the old style stock had to be either extended all the way, dropped and locked, or collapsed all the way and offered no rest at all. This was no longer suiting the tactical doctrine: first, modern tactical shooting stance doctrine called for shooting on the move with a gun held directly in front of the operator, not sideways from the short stops – which was the main type of shooting at the time when the stock was designed. As a consequence, the stock was too long for comfortable use. Second, SWAT teams operated in bulletproof vests full-time, which made a stock all the more uncomfortably long. As a result, a new stock was designed allowing it to lock in three positions along the stock struts. This, coupled with extended sheet-metal guiding tubes at the sides of the PM-06 receiver gave the operators a degree of latitude in setting the length according to the tactical needs. It can be extended all the way, beyond the guiding tubes, dropped and locked as in the old stock design for open sights shooting, but also it can be extended half-way or two-thirds length and locked in a straight line, to allow shorter straight stock compensating for red dot’s height, and front stance and/or vest shooting.

The 30-Years War

The development of the Glauberyt took more than 30 years and the end is nowhere near in sight. The basic design is getting older and dropping more and more from contact with modern technology or tactical requirements for this kind of a weapon. Right from the start this meant-to-be-compact PDW submachine gun had no chance to lead the way towards modernity, as it was marrying ideas taken from two designs that were respectively a quarter of a century (Uzi) and 30 years old (Skorpion). The Glauberyt was thus at least two decades late at the time of its birth – better and more technological submachine guns were not able to shake this kind of a handicap.

Moreover, the quality of the 50,000 PM-84Ps making up a lion’s share of all Glauberyts ever manufactured, had left much to be desired. ZM Lucznik SA was undergoing a particularly bumpy period of transition while making these – and it shows much. The PM-98, manufactured by the re-born Fabryka Broni has gone a long way towards repairing the lost reputation of the Glauberyt, but these are only used by the Police, Border Guards and the military Special Forces. A limited amount was exported: 3,000 were bought by the Iraqi National Police and several dozen were sold to an Indonesian Special Police Unit. The 9×18 variant displayed at the 2005 MSPO fair was a prototype of the model offered to (rumors had it) the Ukrainian Police, but no contract was signed eventually.

Today, many of the Glauberyt SMG flaws have finally been ironed out, but ironically nobody seems to care any more, as the days of the submachine gun in both military and law enforcement service appear to be numbered – and even if they’re not, a better and more modern design should replace the Glauberyt. The sooner, the better.

Glauberyt Field Stripping Procedure: For Series PM-84P, PM-84P Semi-Automat, PM-98, BRS-99 and PM-06

Before starting to field-strip any firearm, clear, check and double check the firearm. During the field-stripping strive to maintain muzzle awareness and point your muzzle in a safe direction at all times.

To unload and clear the weapon, first detach the magazine (PM-84, 84P and derivatives: magazine catch is situated at the heel of the pistol grip, and has to be operated by the supporting hand; PM-98 and derivatives: magazine catch is situated at the side of the pistol grip, can be operated with the thumb of the shooting hand – provided it is a right one) and cycle the action several times with trigger finger indexed outside the trigger guard. The bolt can be latched open for chamber inspection by rotating the hold-open button up with the bolt retracted.

Upon clearing the gun allow the bolt to close and remove the receiver top cover by pushing forward on the side projections of the bolt bumper plate until they clear the horizontal leg of the inverted L-shaped channel in the cover latching projection, then lift the cover (rear end up), rotating until the front end clears the front sight base.

Detach the return spring unit by pressing the latching projections against the springs until they clear the horizontal leg of another L-shaped cutout, this time in the receiver, lift, ease out the compressed springs and withdraw the complete return unit (bumper plate with spring rods and springs) out of the receiver.

Retract the bolt all the way back and lift by the cocking handle(s).

Depress the barrel nut latch and rotate the nut. After two revolutions it will clear the latch and can be eased off. After the nut comes off, take the barrel out of the front of the receiver.

Disconnecting the lower receiver is the part of the routine field stripping procedure. In a PM-84/84P one has first to unfold the foregrip (press the latch button on the left side of the hinge and rotate the foregrip down) and retract the stock by one-third (press the latch button on the left rear and pull on the serrated parts of the stock rods) until the folded butt-plate clears the lower receiver. In PM-98 no preparations are needed. Press both pins (first inner, then outer) of the rear connecting bolt out of the receiver in opposite directions. Both pins are symmetrical and they can be assembled in either direction. After withdrawing the bolt, pull down the lower receiver by the pistol grip, and continue rotating it until the front of the lower receiver separates from the upper receiver.

Unusual crank operated belt loaders entirely made of cast aluminum are offered for sale from time to time on the collectors market. Some of the machines bear German WW2 inspection stamps and are described as an experimental WW2 German belt loader for the MG 42. The objective of this article is to provide the true identification of that loader and highlight the deliberately fake markings intended for the collectors market.

This belt-loader was adopted in the Austrian Army after 1966 as “Gurtfüller 66.” It is intended to load non-disintegrating belts either for the MG 42 in its original 7.92×57 caliber or for MG 42/59 in 7.62×51 NATO caliber. The key typical feature of that loader is it’s made of cast aluminum. The machine is composed of three main components that are transported in a metal can identical to that containing an ammunition belt. The three components are the main body, the cartridge hopper and the crank. In order to tell apart the content, the belt-loader can has the designation “GF 66” painted in white.

The machine is crank operated with the rotating motion of the crank transformed in a longitudinal movement of a pusher, which rams the cartridge into the belt pocket. Transport of the belt is achieved around a wheel-shaped drum. Cartridges are fed in bulk from a hopper which therefore does not enable it to achieve a defined belting sequence with different types of ammunition (ball, tracer, AP, etc.). Fastening the machine onto a bench is achieved with a vise design of an eccentric cam which is operated with the crank. The principles of operation somewhat recall those involved in the West-German .308 “Gurtfüller 57” or “DM1” commonly available on the surplus market today.

Both 7.92×57 and 7.62×51 ammunition can be loaded into the belts with that machine. When operated with the 7.62×51 cartridges, a spacer is assembled inside the feed hopper in order to compensate for the shorter overall length of the cartridge compared to that of the 7.92×57. The pusher that rams the cartridge into the belt pocket can be mounted in two different directions. One provides a short protrusion which pushes the cartridge base just flush into the belt pocket in order to achieve loading of the belt. For unloading operation, the pusher is mounted the other way around with a long protrusion in front. The loaded belt is driven into the machine and the pusher drives the cartridge out through the belt pocket. This loading or unloading operation works the same whichever caliber is involved.

The original markings on the machine are the serial number and the Austrian Federal Army property stamp composed of the letters “BH”= Bundesheer and the Republic of Austria Eagle (marking thereafter referred to as “BH/eagle”).

Any German WW2 WaA markings that could be found on these machines are deliberate fakes. Sometimes these fake WaA inspection marks are stamped over the original “BH eagle” marks. It is also observed that the “BH/eagle” stamp might be removed by drilling an approximate 8mm hole, a few mm deep, into the machine body at the position of the original marking. On the photographed example, a fake WaA 519 marking is observed which originally corresponded to an inspector based in Solingen and is usually seen on bayonets. It can be noted that among many others, fake WaA 519 bunters are regularly offered for sale on European Internet auction sites.

The Austrian machine guns MG 42 in caliber 7.92×57 and MG 42/59 in caliber 7.62×51 NATO were originally fed with standard German WW2-vintage 50-round belts Gurt 34 or Gurt 34/41. On July 25, 1960, an Austrian patent was issued to Stephanie Eigner of Vienna describing a new non-disintegrating belt for machine guns. Among other features, this new belt avoids the use of springs to connect the individual links with each other. Individual links are designed with the hook-and-eye principle embedding specific features which makes the links non-disintegrating and also provides enhanced lateral and torsion stability.

From the mid-1970s on, the Company Glock designed a new non-disintegrating belt which was adopted with the Austrian domestic produced MG 74. The starter piece is composed of a strip of brown-green plastic. This Glock belt exhibits greater torsion and lateral flexibility than the earlier belt patented by Stephanie Eigner.

Shortly after World War I ended, the U.S. Army found itself in possession of about 70,000 Model of 1917 .30 caliber water-cooled Browning machine guns, the majority of which were new in the crate. They also had to resolve the problem of bulged side plates, broken breech lock cams and bottom plates that cropped up during combat use in France.

Many fingers have been pointed in various directions attempting to fix blame for the failure to perform as advertised: bad steel, poor workmanship, inadequate inspection, etc., but the root cause of the problem was the method by which the bottom plate was attached to the side plates. The bottom plate slipped into grooves milled into the side plates and was peened or crimped in place. It was a design flaw, pure and simple, which likely would have been discovered had more extensive testing been done before fielding the weapon.

Post-war, the Ordnance Department promptly went to work on the problem and after extensive testing determined that the quick and dirty (not to mention cheap) fix was the installation of a “U” shaped reinforcing stirrup riveted to the side plates in the breech cam lock region of the casing. This retrofit could be accomplished without disassembly of the casing and at relatively low cost. The cost factor was extremely important as military budgets and manpower were slashed, and the political landscape shifted from rampant jingoism back to a decidedly isolationist bent and the traditional public fears of militarism and a large standing army returned. In 1920, the production of the stirrups began along with the installation on Model of 1917, Tank, and Aircraft Brownings being refurbished before being placed in stores and weapons being returned to depots for repairs.

Not everybody connected with the Ordnance Department thought the stirrup fix was the best approach. One such person was Captain Walter T. Gorton, an Ordnance Officer assigned to the Springfield Armory. Captain Gorton took the “big picture” view and designed a bottom plate that not only provided the required reinforcement in spades but also added an integral elevating bracket eliminating the separate bracket and the four attaching screws. In 1922 Captain Gorton applied for and later received U.S. Patent 1,509,401 on Sept. 23, 1924. Because of the Act of March 3, 1883, employees of the U.S. Government who developed patents in connection with their official duties could receive no royalties, and any person in the United States was free to use the design. Like John C. Garand, developer of “the greatest battle implement ever devised,” Captain Gorton never received a dime in royalties. Unfortunately, the Captain’s design would require manufacturing a rather complicated part and the removal of the existing bottom plate; something deemed overkill when the stirrup modification would do just fine for an army caught in budget cuts and growing increasingly stale at the practice of arms following the “War to end all wars.”

Gorton’s design continued to gather dust until 1936 when two seemingly unrelated events combined to bring the improved bottom plate design to the forefront. The first event was a change in the design of the elevating mechanism of the M1917A1 tripod which required that the elevating bracket be precisely located and perpendicular to the axis of the bore, something that the original Model of 1917 “dove-tail” bottom plate with its separately attached elevation bracket lacked. The second event was Congress taking the view that loosening the purse strings to allow upgrading and conversion of new-in-the-box Model of 1917s to M1917A1 and M1919A4 air cooled weapons was preferable and much less expensive than a new weapons development program which the Army had been hounding them for. An additional benefit was that any Model of 1918 Aircraft guns not required by the Army Air Corps or obsolete Tank Guns could also be converted to M1919A4’s.

Gorton’s design added the needed strength to the casing assembly and provided for a uniform location for the elevating mechanism attachment for both the M1917A1 and new M2 tripods. The Ordnance Department had completed the conversion of the Model of 1917 drawings from the old Class and Division system to the letter prefix system in 1931 and had assigned the drawing number C8464 to the dove-tail bottom plate.

For reasons not at all clear, and in violation of Ordnance Department regulation, when the drawing for Gorton’s plate was produced in September 1936, it was assigned the same drawing number as the dove-tail plate even though these parts were not in any way interchangeable. When the D35392 aka C8464 flanged bottom plate was being developed for the M1919A2 and the A4, the Cavalry requested that the rectangular boss on the bottom just ahead of the T&E attachment point be included. This modification was desired for use with the horse pack Machine Gun Hanger M3 for a more secure attachment of the gun to the hanger. It continued to be included in the design until the end of production even though pack transport of machine guns was mostly a distant memory. The original design for the new bottom plate was dimensioned to be used on new production weapons. It appears that as the rebuild process developed it was discovered that when the weapons were originally assembled the process of compressing or crimping the bottom edge of the side plates into the tongues of the dove-tail bottom plate produced very uneven results. The interior casing dimensions were consistent, but height of the side plates after assembly varied. Since the new bottom plate had side plate grooves milled to accommodate new side plates the random height side plates on the weapons being rebuilt caused changes to the interior dimensions of the casing assembly. Nearly every one of these weapons undergoing rebuild was slightly different.

The solution to this new problem was to mill the bottom of all the side plates of weapons undergoing rebuild to a standard height dimension and produce a bottom plate with side plate grooves specifically dimensioned for the milled side plates. It appears that these special purpose bottom plates were removed from the production line at some point before the side plate grooves were cut and finished with the necessary changes. From samples measured, it appears that the modified bottom plates had side plate grooves about .037 shallower than the standard bottom plate. In order to differentiate between standard plates and plates intended to be used in the rebuild process the rebuild plates were marked “MP” in addition to the standard piece mark. It is believed by the author that “MP” indicated “Modified Part.” However, it could also mean “Modified Plate” or none of the above, as there isn’t any documentation discovered so far explaining what “MP” actually meant.

By February 1938 it was decided that since the Gorton bottom plate was to be used on the M1917A1 and the M1919A4, the drawing would be renumbered to D35392 to end the confusion of having two different parts, the original dove-tail and the flanged Gorton bottom plate with the same drawing number. The practice of marking plates intended for use in the conversion process continued with the plates now being marked D35392 MP and the makers marking. Some MP bottom plates had piece mark suffixes which only indicate that the part is made to some revision specification; it has nothing to do with the fact that it is a special purpose bottom plate. No drawings of either of these two modified bottom plates have been discovered as of yet.

Now there were two differently marked special purpose bottom plates and things were about to take a turn for the worse. By July 1940, with a war on in Europe and the weapons rebuilding/conversion rebuilding process well under way, Rock Island Arsenal decided to create a new drawing of the special purpose bottom plate with yet another piece mark. This new drawing was numbered D37887 and contained only those dimensions needed to cut the special depth side plate grooves. It also contains notes indicating that all other dimensions required are to be obtained from drawing D35392 and the part is for modifications only.

Comparing the two drawings shows a difference in the side plate groove depth of .040 which could vary slightly for manufacturing tolerances. Now there were three differently piece marked special purpose bottom plates. Sometimes the more you try to fix something the worse you make it.

From what we understand about what actually went on, RIA did all the conversions of Model of 1917 to M1919A4 along with all the conversions of Model of 1918 Aircraft guns, Model of 1919 Tank guns and M1919A2’s to M1919A4’s. From what has been observed so far in the way of bottom plates, RIA made all the conversion bottom plates used by various ordnance facilities in the rebuild of Model of 1917 to M1917A1 guns. The 1943 and 1944 SNL (Standard Nomenclature List) List of All Parts for the M1919A4, A5, and A6 carries a notation for the ordering of bottom plates, “Note 1. Plate, bottom D37887 should be ordered for guns that have been modified. These guns may be identified by the marking C8464-MP, D35392-MP or D37887 which appear on the underside of the bottom plate.”

How one was supposed to order the D37887 bottom plate is left up in the air because there is no SNL listing of this plate and consequently no stock number with which to order it. While all this happened nearly 75 years ago, parts kits imported from Israel and elsewhere that were involved in the conversion process turn up with surprising regularity. Their new owners sometimes wonder about oddly numbered bottom plates and left side plates with the groove for the dove-tail bottom plate and a couple of extra holes where the reinforcing stirrup was riveted on or filled in cuts for aircraft synchronizers. Some of these weapons have been involved in more conversions than a tent revival meeting. These strange visitors from the past just make life and the Browning story more interesting.

During the 60s, 70s, and 80s, the General Electric Armament Systems department employed several hundred top notch engineers charged with the development of Gatling guns, single barrel cannons, and both linked and linkless ammunition handling systems. These highly effective and reliable weapons were widely acclaimed during the Vietnam War, Gulf War, and conflicts in between. GE was never a company to single out any of their employees as a standout in the field, yet a select few of their engineers had talents to rival John M Browning. Lewis K. (Lew) Wetzel was one of those engineers. His first project at GE was to put the M61 Gatling gun into production, and from that point on, was a major contributor to nearly all of GE’s gun and feed system designs.

Lew used what might be considered as 360° thinking in his designs, considering every aspect including accuracy, durability, production, reliability, maintainability, and quality. His designs controlled the round, fired case, link (if there was one), at all times in the weapon cycle. This discipline and through minimizing the number of components, propelled the reliability of the GE systems far above what John Browning ever achieved, and maybe even envisioned. Lew kept a careful eye on his design teams, insisting that if they were to use threaded fasteners (bolts) or pins, he would allow them to select two of each – one long, one short, to be used in the design. As neither was of the same diameter, there was no guessing for the maintainer and spares were minimized. Later in his career Lew developed a 30mm cannon that required no threaded fasteners at all.

We ended Part I of the interview with George asking if the 25mm Caseless Gatling cannon design project was the one to be used on the F15 fighter jet.

Lew: That’s right. We set up a separate unit that I headed up.

There were two 25mm caseless guns in competition. Ford Aerospace and GE had parallel contracts, and each of us used different ammo contractors. We farmed out the ammo to Hercules and had a shoot off. We both had problems. You know that ammo is uncased and it can just go up in flames. They had a special water deluge system to douse the fires. I know both GE and Ford had fires. We might have had one more than Ford, but in the end, the Air Force decided Ford was the winner.

During final negotiations, the Air Force decided the contractors should respond with a Firm Fixed Price contract with guaranteed performance. You know, this is kind of dumb for a high risk program. Not only was it risky, but they tried to get me to agree to their technical requirements too. I said, “These requirements are mutually exclusive. We can’t meet the recoil requirements and at the same time use the energy to drive the gun. You have to back up the recoil with something!” In the end, I priced it accordingly and Ford won. Ford ended up investing about $20 million of their own money and finally the program was cancelled. You know that’s really sad because caseless is still a good idea.

George: We’re still trying to get into case telescoped and caseless. AAI’s new machine gun works just like our old 25mm.

Lew: Well of course, how else are you going to do it? You know the real problem was that if you have a misfire you have to eject it. It might just be a hangfire and that gets really hairy. They had some interesting concepts on coating the round – like using intubescent paint as a fire retardant. This gun system was going to be the primary armament of the F15. The whole system could be jettisoned so in case you had a fire you’d push a button and the whole thing would eject. It was part of the original design.

After the caseless program was lost, I designed the XM188 30mm cannon. It used the WECOM 30mm round designed by the Army. My proudest accomplishment was that you could disassemble the whole gun with your bare hands. I remember going into the Pentagon one time to give a presentation. Dick Bruce was the marketing manager at the time. He and I drove up with the gun in our trunk and parked at the bottom of the stairway at one of the entrances. The gun had a belt of dummy ammunition hanging out of it. We found a guy with a push cart and we asked him if he’d mind taking the gun up to the conference room on the fourth floor. He said, “Sure. I’ll do that for you.” You know, the guy took us right past Robert McNamara’s office (who was then Secretary of Defense,) with what was obviously a gun – no IDs, no badges, no nothing! I got into conference room and told the general I was surprised at the lack of security here. We walked right in with a gun and nobody challenged us. He answered, “We are our own worst enemy. If anybody ever tried to attack us, only then would we get organized.”

George: Lew, you and I worked on the XM188 together. I designed an adjustable gas deflector that was supposed to improve accuracy. I remember that really neat spring you designed that required no tools to disassemble the recoil adapters. Remember it? It was a spring that two ends you squeezed with your thumb and forefinger.

Lew: You want to see it? I have the prototype.

(Lew disappears and returns momentarily with the prototype. A spring wound in opposite directions wraps around threads on a shaft, preventing rotation of the shaft in either direction. Lew brings out the patent too.)

George: I remember you always said to make a simple prototype and then keep refining and refining it until all the bugs are worked out?

Lew: Yeah, I remember that. I keep this stuff handy to remind me I did some simple things. It’s pretty slick. After I left the XM188 gun program, they turned it over to the Production Engineering group. The first thing they did was to take off all of the no tools features.

George: I’ll get a photo of you and with the patent too.

Lew: Nobody will recognize me without glasses. I don’t need them anymore, but I’m so use to wearing safety glasses, having worn them my whole life, I appreciate how important they are. Oh yeah, there was another project we worked on together; putting our single barrel GE120 single barrel cannon into the Marine Corps’ LVTP-7 amphibious tracked vehicle.

George: We had some problems with that one. We had some technical problems and I couldn’t figure out what went wrong. You figured it out and saved my butt. I love to tell the story about the FMC turret technician who was about to check the electrical continuity of an electrically primed 20mm round that had misfired. He was going to use an ohm meter. He was getting ready to touch the primer with one of the ohm meter probes (which would have sent a low voltage current through the round) when you stopped him.

Lew: Yeah, I knocked it out of his hand. It saved his life. He was holding it right in his crotch too. I took the round away from him and chambered it back in the gun. I said, “If you want to test it, let’s do it while it’s in the gun.” I connected his ohm meter to the firing circuit to test it – and it fired! His face turned absolutely white, and you should have seen the faces on all of the Marines! (Lew brings out a picture of him standing next to the LVTP-7 with a bent barrel.” I can’t imagine what happened to the gun barrel in that picture.

George: After that, I recall we worked together on the 30mm GPU 5/A gun pod, but I don’t recall how that project got started.

Lew: After the 25mm caseless program, I worked on a few small jobs but I didn’t have a major program. Management decided they’d give me an Independent Research and Development Project to get me back to work. You remember those? We’d come up with advanced concepts and Corporate would fund the ones they thought had the best chance for adoption.

GE had already scored high marks for the design of the A10 gun system that involved a whole new airplane build around the 30mm GAU-8 guns system. It was a very effective system, and I got to thinking it would be a good idea to give this same armament capability to a lot of other jet aircraft. I started fooling around with the idea and came up with the feed system concept. I built a simple prototype of it, and it kept growing from there.

One of the most significant things in the design of the Pod was the muzzle blast deflector. The way the gun is mounted, recoil tends to make it deflect downwards during firing. But with the blast deflector it completely counteracted the downward force. The pod was super accurate as a result. A lot pilots who fired the pod told me they were very surprised at how accurate it was. The last blast deflector was probably not patented, but it should have been.

George: You know, there are two slots left un-machined on the M16 rifle flash suppressor that do the same thing – in this case it’s controlling muzzle climb.

Lew: That’s probably why we didn’t succeed in getting a patent for it. I remember you designed the feeder, remind me what other parts you designed?

George: I also designed the turnaround sprockets – there were about five of them that kept the conveyor buckets transporting the ammunition. I also designed the recoil adapters and got a patent on that design. I made the first feed system prototype that we test fired. I worked with a talented designer named Woody Evans and the designer you worked with was Ed Proulx. I learned from you how important it is to test increasingly more complex prototypes. When these were tested out and de-bugged, there were few, if any, major problems left.

Lew: There was one more thing that really made the Pod program work. When we were putting our project plans together in order to get corporate approval, I remember I asked for $1.5 million to finish the design. Then I put an Appendix on the Program Plan. This was a cost breakdown to complete the prototypes, and that would take another year and $6 million. Upper management was mad at me. None of the other engineers were giving out the follow-on cost information, and I wasn’t supposed to either.

I told them, “When I submit a project to corporate; I want them to know the whole story. No surprise for later.” So, I refused to take it out. Wouldn’t you know it, the whole program was funded! Corporate locked the program in, so it was guaranteed for completion. This also enabled us to make long-term commitments to Northrup and General Dynamics and we were able to flight test it on the F5.

George: I always thought that was clever when you decided to power the whole pod off of compressed air.

Lew: Sure, they always have air compressors at Air Force bases. You don’t need anything special for a compressor. The other neat thing was a built-in test. This was long before they had built-in testing for anything. During the development, our instrumentation group designed a fault code that would let you know where the problem was if anything had gone wrong. And I said “This would be handy to have on the production model” so they did it so the whole test unit could interrogate. They do this now in automobiles, but remember this was 40 years ago. By the way, did you get involved in any of the flight testing?

George: No, by then I had taken over as project engineer on the 7.62mm Armor Machine Gun.

Lew: Well, you missed some fun. We had it on the A7 and the F5. One of our young engineers, Charlie Hillman, went over to Korea for the F5 testing. Pilots really liked it. I’m sure the blast deflector played a major part. Everybody was happy and we got the production contract. Strangely enough, the production contract was through the National Guard. They did all of the testing. I remember we went out to Tucson, Arizona and did some firing out there. It scared the hell out of me when I was leaving. As we were leaving the Tucson airport, I recognized the bunker we were firing in to. It was right next to the main runway! What if you got a stray round or ricochet?

George: How many 30mm gun pods were built?

Lew: Hundreds of them went into production. We got the production contract in 1980 and they had a big party out there in Colchester. I was sure our Foreign Military Sales of the Pod would be big. I wanted to make sure that the pod would fit on the French Mirage jet. That’s what the Egyptians were flying and they were on our side. We wanted to make sure our pods were compatible. There was plenty of clearance for the pod, all we had to do was to make a special electrical cable – the bomb racks were already compatible. Our marketing just didn’t push it hard enough. We missed this one and a lot of other marketing opportunities.

We got the production contract $275 million worth of contracts. We made a good profit on the pods because our contracts people had negotiated a lot of incentive fees. These were for weight, mean time to repair, reliability, on time delivery, etc. We met all the goals and got the maximum incentive fee. It all added up. Our manufacturing department did a fantastic job of building it.

The next project that my engineering unit developed was a .50 caliber Gatling gun. Quent Sawyer was the project engineer.

George: I remember it. I started the concept and got the money allocated for it. The idea was to size it for a 6 barrel gun but we’d do it first in 3 barrels. They assigned me a designer to work with and we were scheduled to start it in the fall of 1981. That’s when I left to go to work for FN and Quent Sawyer ended up designing it.

Lew: That gun had some pretty rough political problems. We got the prototype working and it was fantastic. We had it set up on a pintle mount and we got word that after all our testing we were still trying to find a place for it in the military. We were in negotiation with the Air Force to get it on the V-22 Osprey. We heard the commandant of the USMC would be in Burlington, Vermont and would be in after the commencement exercise at Norwich University. We invited him for a firing demo so I said, “We’re going to demonstrate it and let’s let him shoot it.” I had it all arranged – even the offer to let him fire it. All of a sudden, they decided not to let me go. “No, they said, we have to keep the number of people down to a minimum.” So I wasn’t there. Then came the edict that we were not going to let the general shoot. My technician was told not to let the General shoot under any circumstances. After the technician fired a few bursts, the General went up to him and asked: “Do you need any help with it?” The technician said he was tempted to let him shoot it anyway. But he didn’t. He was told they were worried about the General’s safety.

I said, “What the heck! There is no safety problem. Heck, I wouldn’t let my technician fire it if there was any danger. So guess where the General went? The next week he attended the rollout ceremony for the new V-22 Osprey. He’d have probably would have said he wanted that gun on the Osprey. Just about the time I was leaving they wanted to sell a license to Royal Ordnance. They were all set to buy the license but Royal Ordnance closed its doors.

George: What was your position at that time?

Lew: I was manager of Advanced Weapons Engineering. The pod was split off into a separate unit. Newt Garland had managed that group, and when he retired, I took over. We were getting into liquid propellant, and I was also responsible for barrel development. Dave Perrin was the main barrel guy; He did some real pioneering barrel work before they closed down the barrel shop. I retired in 1988.

George S. Patton, Jr. The name brings shuddering images of the brutally tough, old school four-star general, one of America’s great command heroes of World War II. Yet, before all that, Patton proved his combat skill in a stand-up, man-on-men shootout in a most unlikely place against an unlikely foe. George Patton’s storied military career began in Mexico during the hunt for Pancho Villa in 1916.

Born November 11, 1885, in San Gabriel, California, George Smith Patton, Jr. followed in his ancestors’ footsteps, attending Virginia Military Academy and later graduated/commissioned from the U.S. Military Academy in 1909. After competing in the 1912 Olympics, where a judge’s horrendous error cost him a Gold Medal in the Pentathlon, Patton trained with the old “boots and saddles” cavalry at Fort Riley, Kansas, where he embraced the Colt Peacemaker, one of which became his ivory-handled trademark as America’s tough guy military icon. Soon, he would draw real blood with his Colt.

In 1910, Mexico was in a period of violent uncivil war. Francisco Madera, an influential idealist, ended the thirty-year reign of the dictator, Porfirio Diaz. Enter Jose Doroteo Arangp Arambula, far better known to the world as Francisco “Pancho” Villa, a cattle hustler, rustler, drover, butcher, murderer and damned good self-taught combat commander who had killed his first man at age 16. He formed his own private “army” in Northern Mexico and supported Madera. However, within three years, Madera was executed by his own top general, Victoriano Huerta, who quickly declared himself president and imposed a tyrannical police state.

Villa escaped the murderous clutches of Huerta, taking refuge in El Paso, Texas, where he reportedly met young Arnold Rothstein, soon to become a major Mafia leader, who arranged financing for armament purchases. After Madera’s death, Villa crossed back to Mexico with another private army to depose Huerta, in hopes of becoming Mexico’s next president. He had the editorial support of William Randolph Hearst’s powerful newspapers due to the media baron’s mega-holdings and investments in Mexico. However, Venustiano Carranza, who had the support of American President Woodrow Wilson, had troops with quiet American aid and Huerta fell in July 1914. Carranza became president, and Villa became embittered.

Disillusioned and finding himself and what was left of his army unemployed, Villa became a roving bandit gang along the border, irritating both Mexicans and Americans. Then, he did the unthinkable, leading his men boldly across that border and attacking the sleepy little town of Columbus, New Mexico on the morning of March 9, 1916.

Yelling “Viva Villa,” and “Muerte a los Americanos,” his men shot up the town, robbed, pillaged and set fire to many buildings. The small local detachment of the U.S. 13th Calvary may have been the only thing that saved Columbus from total annihilation. As the attack dust cleared, 39 soldiers, bandits and civilians littered the ground, with Villa fleeing back to Mexico…fast!

The United States was outraged, and the population demanded action. Back then, unlike today, American citizens got positive reaction decisions quickly. On March 15, 1916, on orders from President Wilson and despite Carranza’s protests, General John Pershing led the Punitive Expeditionary force over the Mexican border. Part of Pershing’s force was the 11th Calvary to which 2nd Lt. George S. Patton was assigned.

Bored with the inaction and constant training, young Lt. Patton craved excitement. When his unit was assigned routine border patrol, he took his case directly to Gen. Pershing to accompany the raiders chasing Villa. Patton sold Pershing on taking him as a replacement for one of his absent aides, a decision that would weave the legend of Patton’s tough guy personal valor and heroism.

By May, deep into Northern Mexico with Pershing’s 6th Infantry Regiment, Patton was in charge of locating the head of Villa’s personal bodyguards, the Dorados. Capt. Julio Cardenas was thought to be hiding near the village of Rubio at Rancho San Miguelto. Patton did a quiet recon of the compound, memorizing every tactical detail.

Patton had traded cavalry horses for noisy Dodge Touring cars to make it look less like a recon patrol and more like a loud, brazen supply trip to the village. Many historians claim he was the first U.S. officer to use motor vehicles in a combat patrol mission. Thus, while purchasing supplies for his men, Patton was tipped by locals that Cardenas was at the ranch. Traveling with Patton in three cars were a corporal, six privates and a civilian interpreter. Patton wanted to approach the ranch with caution as he heard that Cardenas possibly had twenty men with him.

Allowing his men to surround the ranch to the southwest with two cars, Patton took the other car, the driver, the interpreter and a private to the northwest. After dropping Patton and the interpreter off, the driver and the private went to cover the north and west sides of the ranch. As Patton was walking onto the ranch, three men on horseback made a break for it. Having seen Patton, the men rode in the direction toward the southwest corner, where they ran into the blockade of soldiers. Thinking their odds would be better against the lone gringo on foot, the men turned and charged. But, the young lieutenant had a trusted ally: his Colt .45 Single Action Army revolver.

Colt had supplied the U.S. Calvary with that iconic revolver, aka the Peacemaker, since 1872. However, by 1916, they were no longer standard issue. The Calvary now carried the Colt .38 Model 1892 Double Action Army revolver. Not Patton. He not only continued to carry his old Colt Peacemaker with the 4 3/4-inch barrel, but his was custom made, a privilege not many young officers shared. His gun’s grip was ivory clad and along with his initials, an eagle was carved into the ivory by Colt’s own chief engraver, Cuno Helfricht.

For Patton’s first shootout he carried only that single Colt, but he also quickly learned a deadly lesson: from that day and from then on, he always carried two handguns. Those two guns became Patton’s Symbol, which he carried, literally, throughout his military career and into American history.

It was with this legendary six shooter that Patton entered the showdown with Villa’s men who were charging at him. Armed with Winchester and Mexican army issue Mauser rifles, plus Colt revolvers, the banditos opened fire from twenty yards out. Standing tall, firm and unfazed, Patton returned fire with his Peacemaker. As the Mexicans’ semi-aimed rounds rained down around him, Patton calmly shot one rider through the arm, the .45 Colt slug breaking it instantly. But still, the horseman rode on. Young Lt. Patton realized he needed to take down the horses first, then the armed riders.

Bringing down the lead horse and its rider, Patton had emptied his Colt, so he took sparse brush cover to reload. The other two riders had passed Patton while firing blindly. Patton realized that he was in trouble, even as he calmly reloaded his Peacemaker. As the Mexicans turned to charge again, Patton aimed, dropped the one horse, which pinned its rider. Patton waited patiently until the rider freed himself from the cover of the dead animal, before firing the second shot, taking down the second Mexican. The third horseman turned his mount away to flee. By this time, two of Patton’s soldiers had reached their officer, and the three Americans took the rider off his horse, fatally.

The first man shot was not killed when his horse fell and tried to flee, broken arm and all. Patton shouted at him to HALT! Stopping, the Mexican raised his wounded arm as if to surrender, but before he could be taken into custody, he quickly drew his revolver and shot himself dead. Patton recognized the dead Mexican as Capt. Cardenas, Villa’s senior personal bodyguard, the man he’d been assigned to capture.

Needing to get out of that area as quickly as possible to escape vengeful wrath of Villa’s banditos or nearby villagers, Patton strapped one body to the hood of each of his touring cars and took off, headed North to Pershing’s HQ at Dublan. Arriving at base camp late in the afternoon, Patton learned that Pershing was in a staff meeting. Yet, anxious to show his general the very personal evidence of the successful patrol, Patton insisted that the general be pulled from his meeting. Angry at the interruption, then seeing the bodies ripened by the Mexican sun and the heat from the hoods of the touring cars, and knowing that one was a top Villa aide, Pershing quickly joined the enthusiasm and success of his young lieutenant. In fact, Pershing was so impressed with Patton’s exploit that he nicknamed him “Bandit.” That American journalists were at the HQ camp, including photographers, made the event a “headliner” in the U.S. for that week.

When the American public read/saw this news of Patton’s adventures, they hailed him as a national hero. In fact, Patton’s showy shootout was one of the few successful missions of the Punitive Expedition. And to punctuate both the event and his new nickname, Patton carved two notches into his Colt’s ivory grip.

Overall, the Punitive Expedition proved fruitless. So, after ten months, Wilson pulled Pershing and his troops out of Mexico in January of 1917. It would be another six years before Villa was ambushed and killed by local rivals in Parral.

The Punitive Expedition was not a complete letdown. It warmed the American military for Wilson’s weak, reluctant entry into WWI, plus it solidified what George S. Patton always knew and felt in his heart, which was he was meant to be a military mastermind and fearless in the face of danger.

Despite his WWII reputation as a tough, lead from the front foul mouth, George Patton was also a very erudite and sophisticated officer who often flew his own C&C aircraft to staff meetings and recons. Four Star General George S Patton, Jr., died on 21 December, 1945 of severe spinal injuries suffered in an automobile wreck in Germany, though there is controversy as to whether the wreck was an accident or an assassination.

Best known for his heroic, personal leadership in World War II, it was Patton’s aggressive, brave and personal action in Mexico, with his famous Colt Peacemaker which started him on the fast track to legend.

The annual Spring Gun & Militaria Show in Kassel, Germany is, I am told, dwarfed by the annual Fall Show in November, but if you happen to be in the area in mid-April, there is more than enough there to make it worth the trip.

German weapons laws are quite different from what we have here in the U.S. Whereas in the U.S. we consider the receiver to be legally the firearm, in Germany the parts which are legally controlled are the barrel and the bolt (die lauf und die verschluss). This means that Germans who are of 18 years of age or older may legally own without registration any deactivated military surplus firearm which would be an NFA registered item in America. The barrel and the bolt must be de-milled. The barrel is usually drilled through with 6 or more holes of bore diameter, and the bolt chopped at a 45 degree angle so that it may not support a cartridge. Weapons which have been more recently deactivated must not be able to be disassembled, but there are many older examples that can be field stripped completely.

Imagine a Russian PPSh 41 for under $250 at the low end, or a Czech Vz 26 for about the same, with nice MP40’s and Stg44s in the neighborhood of 1,800-2,000 Euros. German military weapons are understandably very popular in Germany compared to those of other nations, much the same as everyone wants an M4 in the U.S. In between those ends of the price range, you might find a Bundeswehr surplus G3 for around Euro 300, or one of the “Russian” M1928A1 Thompsons in excellent/new condition for about Euro 500, and an Uzi about the same. MG42’s (usually Yugoslav marked M53s) run about Euro 500, and AK47s or AK74s are all over at Euro 180 to 250, depending on what country and condition.

Recent changes to the German weapons laws allow the ownership of any submachine gun and any water-cooled belt-fed manufactured prior to September 1945, although the owner needs a collectors license and may not take these guns to a range to shoot them. Air cooled belt-feds of any date of manufacture and any other full auto weapons are still not allowed except for dealers, these still being considered weapons of war according to the new categorizations. Silencers (schalldampfer) are legal to own if they are for air rifles or for other guns if one has a dealer’s license.

In another interesting twist, weapons which were manufactured as selective fire are legal to own if they have been made incapable of firing full auto. Thus, it is not uncommon to see a Russian Stetchkin machine pistol here and there, and when I was the guest of retired Krieghoff gun maker Andreas Fink at his club near Gunzburg, I was surprised to find that many of the club members owned converted semiautomatic Stg 44s of vintage manufacture rather than the modern production semiautomatic guns built by Sport System Dittrich in Germany. SSD is also making semi MP38s as well as both 1st and 2nd model FG42s, all of which were on display at the show.

Other guns which are legally forbidden from import into the U.S. by the 1994 Clinton Crime Control Bill are available to German and other EU citizens. The most interesting example of which was the Franchi SPAS 15, a 12 gauge selective auto loading/pump shotgun fed by box magazines of 6 or 8 round capacity and cost about Euro 800.

Many of the vendors at the Kassel show travel the “Waffen und Militaria” show circuit much the same as is done in the U.S., and so such a show anywhere they are held in Germany can be an interesting experience for an American.

So, you have been reloading for a while. You accumulated a supply of brass for your favorite firearms. Now you find you are losing brass with necks cracking after 5 to 7 shots. Premium quality rifle brass is rather expensive; .338 Lapua will dig into your wallet at the rate of $2.80 each; less exotic hulls like .308 Win. .75 cent each for the high quality stuff.

Now you are contemplating prolonging the life of your coveted brass as you have heard of cartridge case neck annealing. Some knowledgeable shooter at the range advised he does this and stated that accuracy increased and case life was greatly extended. This experienced gentleman may have also advised if you accidentally anneal the case head you have created a very dangerous situation. If the case head is annealed it can blow out when fired, wreck the firearm and possibly injure the shooter. After hearing this you may have put the idea of annealing case necks out of your mind for a while.

As time has progressed you may have scrapped your original supply of cartridge cases and are now experiencing loss on your subsequent stock. A bench rest shooter who anneals his brass after every firing reported reloading one batch of brass for the 58th time. This represents a dramatic extension of brass life. By now you may have decided it would be prudent to at least investigate case neck annealing.

Many years ago an attempt at annealing was tried, with unacceptable results. At that time cartridge case neck annealing information was very limited. The instructions were to stand the cases up in a pan, add water to a depth 1/3 up the side of the cases. With the cases setting in the water bath the case heads could not be heated above 212 degrees F. the boiling point of water. The instructions said to heat each case neck with a torch to a low red glow evenly all of the way around and then tip it over into the water. No mention was made as to the proper temperature the case neck needed or what might happen if over heated. Thus with the information available annealing was begun with the cases standing in water. A small propane torch flame was applied to the case necks. There was no way to measure neck temperature and a number of the .30-06 cases were over heated. After all, if a low red glow is good then a bright red color had to be better. Seemed like just pure and simple good logic, right? And by the way what temperature is brass at a low red glow anyway? Years later it was determined a low red glow, even in dim lighting, is too hot. All of the cases on hand were annealed in this manner. At the next reloading quite a few cases were lost due to the shoulders collapsing even though they were just neck sized. The necks and the top of the shoulders were too soft. Nothing was gained in conservation, just more scrapped brass. At this time cartridge case neck annealing was relegated to the shelf.

Years later the sport of high-powered rifle silhouette shooting became of interest. This presented a need for a good quantity of 7.62×51 brass. A large supply of once fired military brass was obtained. A good portion was match brass fired in match rifles. Mixed in was a larger quantity of brass fired in machine guns, which have generous chambers. For this reason it was determined the entire lot, around 1,000 pieces of brass should have the necks annealed prior to being put into service.

It was now time for research, to obtain accurate information. It was soon found that cartridge case necks do not have to be quenched in water after they are heated for proper annealing. The old method of standing cases up in a pan of water only assured the case heads would not be annealed. Cartridge brass is 70 percent copper and 30 percent zinc. It begins to anneal at precisely 482 degrees F. Research revealed 700 was the low and 800 degrees F. the high to successfully anneal cartridge case necks. Once quickly brought to that temperature then air-cooled proper case neck annealing is achieved. The goal was to devise a method to bring the case necks to the center of the proper temperature range, 750 degrees became the target temperature. At the same time heating the case head to less than 450 degrees would retain the brass temper in this area. This became the parameters to successfully anneal the case necks.

An infra red heat measuring gun to get accurate readings was researched. The manufactures advised to obtain accurate readings all brass had to have the same reflective finish. Next the infra red gun would have to be calibrated to that finish. This would be doable as most serious reloaders clean their brass anyway, this would require inspecting all brass in the batch being worked for a uniform finish. The manufacturer of the infra red heat gun then stated it would not read the brass temperature correctly if the beam was directed through a flame. For this reason the heat gun was ruled out. It was determined neck annealing occurs rapidly, the case necks would be in the annealing flames for only a couple of seconds,

Next to be tried for accurate temperature detection was a crayon-marking device called a Tempilstick. These are used in industry and are available in a wide range from 125 to 1,800 degrees F. One was purchased rated at 750 degrees F. It was tried on the outside of the case neck and did not work. A call to the manufacture revealed when flame directly contacted their product it would not give an accurate reading. The next product was 750 degree F. Tempilaq heat indicating liquid made by the same firm. This product comes in a 2-oz. bottle with a small brush attached to the inside bottom of the cap allowing easy application of a small dab inside the case neck. Once applied the Tempilaq dries quickly. The dab is easily visible and the flame impinging on the outside of the case neck would not be in contact with the Tempilaq. This worked superbly. The Tempilaq heat indicating liquid is guaranteed to +- 1% for a total tolerance of just 15 degrees. Bingo, problem solved in instant and precise temperature control. For safety a bottle of 450 deg. F. Tempilaq heat indicating liquid was also purchased and applied on the outside of the case from the case head upward about 1/3 the length of the 7.62×51 cases. The 450-heat mark would not be in the flame and if it did not change color it would indicate the case head had not been annealed, this is critical information for safety. Later on when annealing was set up for the 1,000 – 7.62×51 rifle cases no annealing occurred on the case heads which was a terrific result. From this it was determined any rifle case longer than 1.75 inches did not need the 450 deg. F. Tempilaq on the case head. The 450 deg. F. Tempilaq is used on cases from .800 to 1.75 inches long to assure case head annealing does not occur.

There are a few carousel style cartridge brass annealing machines as well as other designs on the market. The prices for these machines run from about $400 to $500. As this type of device performs only one step in preparing brass for reloading, it did not seem cost effective to invest that much for a machine accomplishing just one operation.

A new design was sought; it would have to be efficient, practical and affordable. A design that would get the case neck into the flame and out quickly as soon as annealing occurred. The design that evolved utilizes a rotation like a Ferris wheel. A prototype was built using a 1” square aluminum block 4” long with a hole about an inch deep and larger than the outside diameter of the cartridge case drilled in either end. This design allows the base of a cartridge case to easily slide in and fall out. A hole was cross-drilled in the center of the 4” aluminum bar to accept an axle. This aluminum bar is now referred to as the Cartridge Case Holder. A wooden knob was installed to turn the Cartridge Case Holder by hand since the aluminum bar gets hot in use. The case is inserted with it out of the flame and then rotated up vertically into and between two opposed propane torch flames impinging on the case neck. This prototype worked perfectly. Production models were produced with propane cylinder holders. This unit is now being marketed as the Anneal-Rite Machine. Ten standard Cartridge Case Holders are available which accommodate many hundreds of different cases from .40 S&W pistol with the largest one taking .50BMG and even .600 NE cases. Special size Cartridge Case Holders can be ordered at reasonable prices. The entire unit with one common size cartridge case holder sells for less than a hundred dollars including one bottle of 750 Tempilaq. In time studies 500 to 600 cases per hour can be annealed. The Anneal-Rite comes with a money back guarantee assuring perfectly annealed cartridge cases. An eight minute video can be viewed and the Anneal-Rite purchased from Enterprise Services, LLC their Website is www.cartridgeanneal.com or by calling (479) 629-5566. You do not have to suffer with premature case failure, or spend $400 or more. Increased case life and accuracy will be the benefits. A 5 shot 5/8” group was recently achieved at 300 yards using the neck annealed 7.62×51 cases.

Of late, the attention seems to be focused on “improving” the AR platform via developing piston-driven ARs in lieu of Stoner’s original gas-impingement design. Whether or not piston-driven ARs are superior to their gas impingement brethren often generates heated discussion debating the pros and cons of each AR operating method. Within the piston-driven AR family there are various operating methods employed with no standardization of parts arrived at as of yet. This leads us to Primary Weapons Systems’ (PWS) contribution to the AR field with its MK 1 series of long-stroke piston operated ARs compared to the more common short-stroke method found in other manufacturers’ designs.

PWS literature clearly lays out the thought process behind the development of the MK 1 series with their fascination with the simplicity and reliability of the AK47 combined with a deep-rooted appreciation for the ergonomics of the M4/M16 platform and seeks to maximize the 50-year old AR design in terms of reliability and operating efficiency. PWS is confident that the MK 1 is an improvement over not only the original gas impingement design, especially when incorporated into short barrel platforms, but also other piston AR designs featuring short stroke pistons. Significant changes are present in the MK 1 PWS compared to both the direct impingement operating system and other piston-driven operating systems. PWS product improvements address reliability and performance issues as well as reduced carrier tilt, cam pin wear and carrier bounce.

The PWS upper tested herein, the MK 112, features a 12.5 inch barrel and was mated to multiple registered AR lowers, including a select fire version. One of the major differences found in PWS products is its utilization of a long stroke piston system. While there are a variety of definitions ranging from technically complex to simplistic of what exactly long stroke and short stroke consists of; for our purposes, long stroke is exemplified by the AK47 method of having op rod connected to the bolt carrier whereas short stroke consists of a more complicated arrangement of tapped gas imparting force to an op rod that impacts another part of the mechanism that acts on the bolt carrier. The MK 1 series has been used in Iraq and Afghanistan, and has gained wide popularity with private security personnel, law enforcement and civilians alike.

The MK 112 is a natural for CQB/Direct Action roles signified by its shorter than normal barrel length of either the standard M16 or M4 rifles. The 12.5 inch barrel represents the optimum cross-breeding of handling to cartridge performance. The MK 112 PWS produces approximately 2,800+ fps velocity with the 55gr/62gr 5.56mm round while still offering compact handling and enough rail space for solid purchase and accessory additions as mission dictates. A proprietary PWS hand guard system utilizes and features a non-free float panel system that allows the end user to replace individual rails as needed without removing the barrel, barrel nut or even other rails. Imagine if you will, the PWS gas/piston tube surrounded by rails that do not rely on being attached to the tube; rather the rails are attached at the pinned gas block in the front and the receiver at the rear. The design facilitates better air flow around both the gas tube and barrel for more efficient cooling during long strings of fire. This does not mean that the MK 112’s handguards do not get hot. This is a natural result of the operating rod location running down the length of the handguard to the action and not untypical for long stroke designs which utilize the muzzle gasses to operate the piston. Gloves, small vertical forward grip, and rail panels provided with the PWS MK 112 are necessary if any volume of fire is expected. The MK 112’s user can attach numerous devices such as sights, lights, vertical forward grip and laser aiming devices.

The key with the PWS MK 112 is having a 12.5 inch barreled AR that works and functions at the same reliability level as longer barrel ARs. This is where the PWS long stroke piston comes into play. The PWS system utilizes an operating rod that is attached to the carrier and a floating head piston that is attached to the operating rod. The MK 1 series is built to be a true combat carbine. With no unnecessary gas adjustments and only one moving assembly, proponents point to the MK 1 as the most rugged, simple and versatile piston operating system available. The MK 1 series is available as a complete carbine or rifle or as a “drop-on” upper receiver for use on the lower receivers of existing M4/M16 style lowers, which is the path chosen for this review.

The PWS MK 112 installed on a lower combines to weigh 6.5 pounds and has an overall length of 29.5 inches with adjustable stock extended. The MK 112’s stainless steel button rifled Isonite treated 12.5 inch barrel features 1:8 twist. The 1:8 twist was selected to accommodate the widest variety of 5.56/.223Rem loads. A PWS Triad flash suppressor was fitted on the MK 112’s barrel. PWS designed the Triad specifically to address the notorious muzzle flash associated with short barreled rifles.

The PWS MK 112 was evaluated at Echo Valley Training Center. The private facility has multiple 100 yard berm-enclosed bays capable of handling numerous students conducting “square” range drills or more dynamic/fluid types of training. In conjunction with the individual training bays, Echo Valley Training Center features multi-stepped target berms that are strewn with reactive steel targets, fluid drained automobiles, and moving targets at ranges varying from 150 yards out to 350 yards.

It was decided to take full advantage of the MK 112’s flattop upper and performance represented in the 12.5 inch barrel by mounting a newly introduced Leupold optic – the VX-R Patrol with illuminated reticle. The VX-R Patrol is available in both a 1.25-4x20mm model with the FireDot Special Purpose Reticle and 3-9x40mm with TMR FireDot reticle. The Leupold VX-R with FireDot SPR reticle is designed for instinctive, close-range/low-magnification situations, yet allows shooters to engage targets with greater precision at longer ranges than generally possible with non-magnified red optics or other reticle style low powered scope. The Leupold VX-R 1.25-4x is an optic candidate worthy of being left on the PWS MK 112 full time. It is able to handle multiple roles as a user decides albeit close range engagements or further. The Leupold VX-R offers the capability to engage multiple targets in rapid sequence due to its FireDot reticle pulling the shooters eye to the aiming point, while at same time providing adequate accuracy out to a couple hundred yards. As many “maturing” shooters can attest to, the single focus plane is easier to shoot accurately than coordinating front and rear sights. The 5.56/.223’s flat trajectory aids in making hits out to 250 yards without having to compensate excessively for bullet drop with the short 12.5 inch barrel proving not that much of a hindrance to velocity; A 200 yard zero provides for +2 inches at 100 yards and -13 inches at 300 yards.

Ammunition tested with the PWS MK 112 was a combination of Black Hills Ammunition loads, Federal Premium Law Enforcement 55gr Triple Shok and 62gr Bonded SP loads, Wolf 55gr FMJ, and Winchester 55gr FMJ. The MK 112 kept all loads tested under 2 inches at 100 yards with the Federal Premium 55gr Triple Shok and Black Hills 69gr Match producing near MOA groups out to 200 yards. Overall, the accuracy level was more than acceptable considering the barrel’s profile. Accuracy test protocol consisted of five three-shot groups with each ammunition type; group sizes were averaged. Velocity figures ranged from 2,800-2,900 fps over a RCBS chronograph.

C.R. Newlin, Echo Valley Training Center owner and partner in Stonewall Arms, generously allowed me to borrow his select fire AR lower for testing with the PWS MK 112. Range testing commenced with functionality tests consisting of dumping multiple magazines at several targets in rapid fashion once sight zeros were verified. Any fighting rifle must be reliable to be worthy of further consideration. The importance of quality magazines can not be overstated in terms of impacting a weapon’s reliability. The majority of malfunctions in a select fire, or even semi-auto rifle, can be traced to a faulty magazine. I primarily use Brownells’ AR magazines for this reason, though random magazines are mixed into testing at times. The PWS MK 112 long stroke gas piston operating rod system proved its worth in keeping the bolt carrier group cooler and cleaner compared to direct impingement AR rifles. While not trying to be unrealistic or overly harsh, the PWS MK 112 was exposed to multiple magazine dumps at various times of the T&E. The method was not mindless ammunition wasting, but rather wanting to confirm beyond a doubt that the PWS MK 112 was reliable under the most extreme circumstances. Along these lines, recoil and muzzle climb was found to be less than expected even when firing on full automatic.

One of the lowers used with the PWS MK 112 upper contained a patented Wilson Combat Tactical Trigger Unit (TTU). It is simple to install by anyone with rudimentary AR maintenance skills and instantly enhances shooter-to-rifle interface. Wilson Combat designed the TTU not as a match trigger, which can be less than hardy under robust conditions, but rather as single stage 3.5-4.0 lb. trigger with a short reset suitable for all conditions of use. The Wilson Combat TTU requires no field adjustment and does not have any loose parts or screws that seem to come loose at the worst time. The TTU hammer geometry was designed with military/surplus primers in mind allowing for reliable ignition of all ammunition. The Wilson Combat TTU meets or exceeds military specifications for drop safety – something that “match” triggers usually can not represent as doing. All in all, the Wilson Combat TTU allows for multiple rounds to be sent downrange quickly/accurately and for precise longer range shot placement better than your standard trigger unit; yet retains reliability lacking from some of the other trigger units on the market.

An even better evaluation of the PWS MK 112 was its use in portions of Jason Falla’s Redback One Tactical Carbine Course conducted at Echo Valley Training Center. It got exposed to realistic training curriculum during multiple exercises involving quick reaction shooting, multiple rounds on several targets, moving while shooting, and working around barricades. Team Tactic exercises involving moving to and from a designated target area using cover while either changing magazines or engaging targets when a partner is reloading are other good weapon evaluation drills. One gets a good sense of the way a weapon handles along with reliability due to the sum of ammunition expended in short time frames characteristic of these Team Tactic drills.

The PWS MK 1 gas-piston system can be disassembled for maintenance without requiring the rifle’s handguards to be removed, unlike some of the short stroke ARs on the market. Cleaning methods for the PWS MK 112 are familiar to anyone with experience with the AR-15. The PWS long-stroke gas system serves to isolate the action from heat and fouling, especially when compared to the typical AR direct gas impingement method of dumping gas directly into the action.

The BATF regulations of what constitutes a rifle compared to a NFA SBR (Short Barrel Rifle) weapon as pertaining to barrel length serves as an artificial threshold for barrel length on civilian rifles. As can be imagined, most consumers are content to go with the 16-inch barrel to avoid onerous paperwork and tax stamp fee associated with a less than 16 inch SBR rifle even if a shorter barrel is better suited for the task intended. Some may question the utility of employing a rifle with a barrel measuring 12.5 inches. Is the 3.5 inches worth the non-NFA 16 inch version? That is a question each individual will have to answer. The fact is that most engagements happen well within a 100 yard range, especially in law enforcement or civilian settings, with handling and reliability playing more of a factor in quick, reactive engagements than muzzle velocity. However, the RCBS chronograph indicates that only approximately 200 fps is lost with the MK 112’s 12.5 inch barrel. A 7 inch PWS MK 107 Diablo upper was test fired with similar ammunition for comparison sake with the PWS MK 112. The 7 inch barrel produced velocities in the 2,300 fps range – really showing the advantage represented by the MK 112’s longer barrel in terms of velocity. The PWS MK 112 represents the “sweet spot” of sub-16 inch handling while maintaining some semblance of rifle ballistics and terminal performance.

Sites of Interest:

Primary Weapons Systems
(208) 344-5217
www.primaryweapons.com

Black Hills Ammunition
(605) 348-5150
www.black-hills.com

Echo Valley Training Center
www.echovalleytrainingcenter.com

ATK/Federal Cartridge Company
(800) 322-2342
www.federalpremium.com

Leupold & Stevens Inc.
www.leupold.com

Brownells’ Inc.
(800) 741-0015
www.brownells.com

Few firearms in recent history have been given the publicity and attention of the SCAR program. The weapon system has been touted as being the finest weapon system in the world, being designed to the precise criteria of the most elite soldiers and sailors this world has known; the United States Special Operations Command. In its later couple years the SCAR has seen some falling from grace. The MK16 had been cancelled but the MK17 SCAR Heavy continues and will eventually replace several weapons in the SOCOM arsenal. Many reasons have been given for this. However, the MK16 may just indeed have a different path than SOF. It is for sure the MK16/SCAR will be in the Individual Carbine competition. This is a full and open competition for the replacement of the M16/M4 carbine in the U.S. military. There has also been international interest in the SCAR rifle so international military sales are to be expected whether it is for SOF or for an entire Army.

Commercial consumers read about the development of the advanced military weapons in magazines and see television shows showing advanced armaments. Two of the most prolific firearms of the last 10 years have been the Heckler & Koch 416 and the FN SCAR. But it has not been until the last year that both companies introduced them to the civilian market. They are expensive but you are getting the real thing.

FN introduced their SCAR 16S as the commercial version of the MK16 SCAR or Special operations Combat Assault Rifle. The main differences are quite simple; the 16S is semiautomatic only and has a legal commercial 16 inch barrel.

The FN SCAR/16S

The SCAR is a short-stroke, piston-operated firearm. Gas is bled from the gas port in the barrel into an expansion chamber created by the gas block and the piston. The piston is driven back and strikes the end of the bolt carrier driving the bolt carrier to the rear unlocking the bolt, extracting and ejecting the fired cartridge case. When the bolt carrier reaches the rearmost position the action spring propels it forward stripping the next round from the magazine, chambering the round and then the bolt locks ready for the next shot. The SCAR has an adjustable valve that may allow for more gas to be vented making the weapon function in extreme and adverse conditions. This differs from the direct gas impingements system in that it does not blow hot gasses back into the bolt carrier causing fouling. Also the bolt and carrier run much cooler since the hot gasses are not blown directly into the bolt and carrier. This assists in the springs and smaller parts lasting longer due to no excessive heat. The SCAR has a much slower cycle rate than the standard M4. The M4 is 750 to 950 rounds per minute as compared to 625 rounds per minute. This is a matter of opinion as to whether the higher cycle rate is more desirable than the slower. The SCAR makes use of high impact resistant polymers. Modularity is seen in both the stock and barrel.

The high impact polymer stock is extremely compact. The stock is not only telescopic (6-positions) and easily adjusted to the individual shooter but it folds to the side for even more compactness. While the stock is folded the weapon can still be fired as the stock does not obstruct the ejection port of the rifle. Additionally there is a cheek piece that can be adjusted for use with higher mounted optics.

The lower receiver is manufactured of high impact resistant polymer. A standard M16/M4 pistol grip is used. There is a larger trigger guard and the safety/selector lever and the magazine release button are ambidextrous. The bolt catch is in the same familiar M16/M4 location and works in the same way.

The receiver is manufactured from aluminum alloy. Its modular design allows easy barrel changes to allow the weapon to be custom built for the particular mission at hand. The hard coat anodized receiver has a continuous Mil-Std 1913 top rail from end to end. Rails are added to the 3, 6 and 12 o’clock positions enabling the use of any modern accessory. The stock assembly and the lower receiver assembly assemble into the receiver. The upper receiver houses the charging handle as well. The charging handle can be installed from either the left or right side. The handle goes through a notch in the receiver into the bolt carrier. There is a fired cartridge case deflector that also works as a lock for the folding stock. Due to the low cycle rate of the SCAR, there is little need for a deflector.

On the backup rear sight, the aperture is the same as the standard M16/M4 in that it is L-shaped and has a long and short range aperture. It has a windage drum on the left and right side that allows adjustments to be made without any special tools. By rotating the elevation knob the rear sight is fully adjustable for elevation as well as windage. This is a very well designed and simple sight.

The barrel is cold hammer forged for extra durability and reliability. Both the bore and chamber are chrome plated and rifled with the 1 turn in 7 rifling twist that will stabilize 55 to 77 grain projectiles. The gas block is pinned to the barrel. The 16S comes standard with an FN designed compensator. The machine gun grade barrel will undoubtedly have a long service life. The barrels for the MK16 come in lengths of 10, 14 and 18 inches. The 16S comes with a 16-inch barrel. According to FN, the barrel can be changed by the operator within 5 minutes with less than 1 MOA of change in original point of impact. There is a folding front sight attached to the gas block that has a lock and must be disengaged. The front sight is fully protected by a shroud and is adjusted in the same fashion as the standard M16/M4 rifle.

The bolt carrier is a heavy single piece of steel and is similar to that of an M16/M4 in that it is multi lugged though the bolt is manufactured stronger with a more aggressive extractor. The SCAR uses a larger, more durable firing pin retainer pin, which will not bend or become damaged.

The rifle comes with a steel magazine but at the same time this rifle arrived for testing, so did Lancer Systems’ new AWM (Advanced Warfighter Magazine) magazines. I have followed the development of the L5 magazine since Lancer worked with Colt Canada (then Diemaco) on the green magazine that was translucent. The program was moving forward quite well. After Diemaco was bought out by Colt Defense the magazine went through a specific Mil-Spec test which it had failed, involving Deet. Colt cancelled the program to the disappointment of Lancer and the Diemaco engineers who worked on the project. Lancer felt, and justly thought, they had a great product worth them funding and putting to market on their own, which they did. Several generations of the magazine have been produced, increasing the strength and reliability of the metal feed lips being molded into the magazine body as well as improved methods to disassemble going from a special tool to just a cartridge tip. Back in 2005 I had the opportunity to meet the good people at Lancer. I saw their prototype magazines and arranged with them to supply100 magazines to a local SWAT team for them to test and give back test data to Lancer. To this date they are still in heavy use with no issues. Many changes have been made to the base plate as well. The new AWM offers several enhancements over the standard L5. First it can be used in non-M16/M4 magazine wells such as the HK 416 and the FN SCAR. The magazine may be disassembled with only a bullet tip and there is also a major enhancement to the metal feed lips with significantly more material to engage into the polymer and metal tabs to accept the strip loader guide. Also the AWM magazine is offered in translucent as well as solid colors such as black, OD, forest green and flat dark earth. They are made in 20- or 30-round capacities. This was an ideal time to try out these new magazines as well.

The test rifle was put through its paces. More than 1,200 rounds were fired of Silver State Armory 5.56mm 55 grain full metal jacketed ammunition. The rifle was not cleaned through any of the testing and it was not lubricated either. There were no malfunctions experienced. It was curious how hot the receiver got; this was attributed to how the barrel fits into the receiver. The magazines all functioned flawlessly which was expected based on my previous experience with Lancer magazines. The rifle was extremely compact when folded and easy to carry. I had the opportunity as well to fire a MK16 selective fire rifle. The cycle rate was certainly slower than any automatic 5.56mm caliber rifle I had previously shot. It was certainly easy to control but in this authors opinion too slow. High cycle rate can be viewed in different ways. One as controllability and the other is ammo conservation. Under controlled circumstances this is good. In real world when engaging multiple targets the higher cycle rate can make a major difference in the time it takes to engage your target. Perhaps a better compromise would be 825 to 850 rounds per minute. But this is a subjective opinion; everyone will have different thoughts on it.

The FN SCAR 16S will surely be a popular gun amongst collectors and connoisseurs of fine military weapons. The hefty price tag will keep it from only the most serious shooters. Considering the cost of the development of this weapon system and its return from the U.S. Government the price is understandable. The rifle is everything FN claims: it is very well made, with as few as possible parts and it is reliable. The SCAR 16S has all the potential to be a police patrol carbine except the main road block would be the price. The Individual Carbine tests will be very interesting. The FN SCAR has an excellent chance to take this. However the true goals of the test are not very clear. Would they be looking for an entirely new weapon or one that they can modify existing weapons? If they are looking to upgrade the existing fleet the chances of this system is slim due to no parts commonality with the existing system and no way to convert. Other systems such as the SIG 516, HK 416, LWRCI and ADCOR Bear carbines would fit this bill. But if they are looking to start from the ground up the FN SCAR will be the carbine to beat. The U.S. government already has a substantial investment in this system.