Values of machine guns seem to be the “hot” topic lately. I am constantly asked if “This gun is worth that much” or “How much is this worth”, or “How high are prices going to go”. I have no idea on any of the above. I can tell you what the market seems to be, what the apparent worth of an item is, and what they have sold for recently, but there is no way that the machine gun market can be definitively pinned down. Before I sound like a complete moron, let me elaborate:

“Is this gun worth that much?” Well, is it? Are you willing to pay that much? Is a new in the box M16A1 worth $4500? Is an MG-42 worth $10,000? It really comes down to whether or not you are willing to pay what the asking price is. As of August 1998, it is a sellers market. More on that in a minute.

“How much is this worth?” Prices have been going up steadily, with a few plateaus, since 1986. I can tell you the value today, according to advertised prices and personal information on what people tell me guns sell for, or what I have sold guns for. Watching the market for a long time is really the only way to tell the current values- just because someone advertises a machine gun for a certain price, doesn’t mean that he got that price for it. Hell, I’ve seen guns advertised at high prices just because a guy’s wife wanted him to sell a gun, and he tripled the price to “Make sure it didn’t sell”. Not the norm, but many married collectors can recognize the thought pattern. Not me, of course, this was just academic observation.

“How high are the prices going to go?” Here’s the tough one. There are market realities in collectibles that are undeniable. One of them is that as an item gains popularity, prices go up. Prices keep going up on the rarer, more desirable items, until they reach a peak where no one is willing to pay the price, and then the prices come down a little. In a market that catches a frenzy, the prices can get to unbelievable heights, and then some little thing brings them all crashing down to levels that are below where they started. Unless there are other factors, this is the usual course.

Say that you collected glass insulators from telephone lines. In the early 1970’s, there were rare ones that were bringing hundreds of dollars. Pretty soon every rural teenager was scouring the countryside, looking for the rare ones. It didn’t take too long before supply exceeded demand on these rare ones, and the prices crashed.

With machine guns, we have an added factor- an artificially limited supply. Because of the ban on further manufacture for private ownership in 1986, there are only 177,000 fully transferable machine guns in the United States. Barring legislation to change that (Unlikely), it is a very limited market. Dealers have been beating the bushes for collections since 1986, and most of the available big collections are already divided up.

What does that mean? It means that transferable machine guns as collectibles can reasonably be expected to defy market price laws.

“How much should I pay for this gun?” Two things of note- first- pay what you are willing to part with because you truly want the gun. Do so considering that you might never sell it. Secondly, don’t invest money in collectibles that you can’t afford to lose. This is the same rule of thumb that applies to any other speculative investment. If you are a dealer, then you take your risks. If you are an individual collector, I would recommend buying what you want, simply because you want it, and the supply is tightening up. There are no guarantees that when you want the MG-42, there will be one available. Or, because of the legislatively limited supply, that you will be able to afford it in the future.

– Dan

Dear SAR,

It was with some interest that I read of the M 60’s being replaced by the M 240’s in the 82’d Airborne Division.

I served in the 82’d from 1985 as an 11B in the 2/508 ABN INF Bn, which became the 3/504 PIR when we went regimental in 1986. Shortly after I was assigned to the Second of the o’eight I passed the selection for the battalion scout platoon. What does this have to do with machine guns you ask? Well in 1985 a 21 man Scout platoon bristled with weapons. The most potent of which were our six, yes six, M60 machine guns. We were allocated two per six man squad.

I can’t say I loved my 60 but you couldn’t pry it from my hands. Before moving to the “Light Infantry” concept when we lost all of our firepower save one M 203 per Squad. I was able to do quite a lot with this “unreliable” and “inferior” piece of machinery.

I’ve never shot, nor even laid hands on an FN MAG, let alone the Army’s M 240. Maybe it is better. I leave that to the people who’s butts are truly on the line.

Being a FAG (Former Action Guy), and maybe an RKI, I note the change with a twinge of nostalgia, and reminisce of the twenty-three pounds of pleasure I toted through North Carolina and points South all those years ago.

Chuck

Dear Chuck,

The M-60 versus ______ (you fill in the blank) is going to be as everlasting a battle as the familiar Ford vs Chevy or 9mm Vs 45acp debates. There are many good points on all sides and it is doubtful that there will ever be a true victor. Thanks for a little insight.

Ed

Dear SAR,

I happened to be watching AMC the other day, and tuned into a movie I had not seen in many years “Black Scorpion”, which was produced in 1957 by the special effects master of the original “King Kong” in 1933. The film is set in Mexico.

Something of interest to Rafficarians in the movie, is the Mexican police official in the film ( a central character) who fights off the giant scorpions with what appears to be a Mendoza C-1934 or RM-1 light machine gun (albeit in the semi-auto mode only, possibly for budget reasons?) Though this might be of interest to you.

Bob

Dear Bob,

Thanks for the heads up. The movies certainly do provide everyone with a different perspective depending upon their particular interest. You can always pick out the gun guys in the movie theatre because every time someone plants a 9mm round into a car and it causes it to explode, there is always a groan and an “as if.” I always thought it was limited to those of us in the gun culture until a buddy of mine went to see a movie with a trucker. Every time a truck came on to the screen, he would whisper “Oh please…as if a ‘72 Mack will roll at 104Mph, and they never used that transmission in that year anyway.”

Ed

Dear SAR,

In reference to the feature on the BATF Form 1 – July 1998, I am most interested in item 4 (1) State why you intend to make firearm. Since the author Jeff W. Zimba did not cover this item perhaps the folks at SAR can offer some advice on what to fill in on item 4 (I) as I could see a slip of the pen could cause you a lot of grief!

Also might I suggest that people who shoot the belt fed water cooled guns can add a can of automotive “water pump lubricant” to the water jacket as this is the same as water soluble cutting oil used by machine shops.

Ed R.

Dear Ed R,

The most common answer to that question in the authors opinion is; “For my private collection”. Were glad to pass along your tip on the lubricant.

Ed

Details Of Treasury Department Study Shows the Reasoning Behind the recent Import Gun Ban

How the federal government justified its April 6 import ban on some 58 different firearm models is contained within the report, “Department Of The Treasury Study On The Sporting Suitability Of Modified Semiautomatic Assault Rifles” issued by the Treasury Department’s Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (BATF).

On November 14, 1997, President Clinton and Secretary of the Treasury Rubin ordered a review of the importation of certain modified versions of various firearms (which were modified to comply with U.S. import regulations) then being imported into the U.S. The decision to conduct the review stemmed from concerns that the rifles being imported were essentially the same as so-called semiautomatic “assault rifles” previously determined to be non-importable in a 1989 decision by the BATF and the Bush Administration. As part of President Clinton’s action, all pending and future applications for importation of the affected rifles were suspended until completion of the review.

Under 18 U.S. Code section 925(d)(3), import applications can only be approved for firearms generally recognized as “particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes.” When BATF conducted its review in 1989, it found certain rifles, while not machine-guns, still had a military configuration that was designed for killing and disabling the enemy which distinguished them from traditional sporting rifles. This distinctively military configuration served as the basis for BATF’s finding that the rifles under review were not considered sporting firearms under the statute.

The military configuration identified by BATF incorporated eight physical features: ability to accept a detachable magazine, folding/telescoping stocks, separate pistol grips, the ability to accept a bayonet, flash suppressor, bipod, grenade launcher, and night sights. In 1989, BATF took the position that any of these military configuration features, other than the ability to accept a detachable magazine, would make a semiautomatic rifle not importable.
Subsequent to the 1989 decision, certain rifles that failed the 1989 “Sporting purposes” test were modified to remove all of the military configuration features other than the ability to accept a detachable magazine. Significantly, most of these modified rifles not only still had the ability to accept a detachable magazine but, more specifically, still had the ability to accept a detachable large capacity magazine that was originally designed and produced for the military assault rifles from which they were derived. Only one study rifle, the VEPR Caliber .308 (although an AK variant) was found to meet the sporting purposes test as it accepts only proprietary five and 10-round magazines. Like the rifles banned in 1989, the study rifles were semiautomatic firearms based on the AK47, FN-FAL, HK91 and 93, Uzi, and SIG SG550 military rifles.

A review was conducted on the use and suitability of “large-capacity military magazine” rifles in the civilian sector by BATF. The results found that while such rifles are sometimes used for hunting, their actual use is limited. Similarly, although such rifles are sometimes used for organized competitive target shooting, there are some restrictions and prohibitions on their use within target shooting organizations. Furthermore, it was said that these types of firearms are attractive to certain criminals, including “a rapid and continuing increase in crime gun trace requests after 1991 and a rapid time to crime” (meaning the length of time elapsed between the gun’s retail purchase and the time it is traced to involvement in a crime), the report notes.

In implementing laws, the federal government looks to the intent of Congress in a law’s drafting. During debates on the bill, which later became the Gun Control Act of 1968 the measure that first established the “sporting test” criteria for imported firearms, the bill’s sponsor, the late Senator Thomas Dodd of Connecticut, stated: “I would have to say that if a military weapon is used in a special sporting event, it does not become a sporting weapon. It is a military weapon used in a special sporting event… As I said previously, the language says no firearms will be admitted into this country unless they are genuine sporting weapons.” It should be noted that the major American firearms manufacturers largely supported the Gun Control Act of 1968 as it worked to stifle their competition from abroad.

1984 Analysis

Although the 1968 law established an import criteria for handguns, there was no criteria developed for evaluating the “sporting purposes” of rifles and shotguns, other than to impose a ban on surplus military firearms. The first time the BATF took a meaningful analysis of long guns under the “sporting purposes” test was in 1984. At that time, a “new breed” of imported shotgun had emerged on the market, and the agency felt the historical assumption that all shotguns were sporting was no longer viable.

Specifically, the BATF was directed to determine if the Striker-12 shotgun-a military/law enforcement gun initially designed and manufactured in South Africa for riot control- was suitable for sporting purposes. When the importer was asked to submit evidence of the shotgun’s sporting purposes, it provided information that the arm was suitable for police/combat-style competitions. BATF determined that this type of competition did not constitute a sporting purpose under the statute, and that the shotgun was not suitable for the traditional shotgun sports of hunting, and trap and skeet shooting.

1986 Interpretation

In 1986, BATF again had to determine whether a shotgun met the sporting purposes test, when the Gilbert Equipment Company requested that the USAS-12 shotgun be classified as a sporting firearm under federal law. After examining and testing the arm, BATF determined its weight, size, bulk, designed magazine capacity, configuration, and other factors prevented it from being classified as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to traditional shotgun sports and its importation was denied.

When this decision was challenged in federal court, BATF argued that large magazine capacity and rapid reloading ability are military features. The court accepted this argument, finding “the overall appearance and design of the weapon (especially the detachable box magazine…) is that of a combat weapon and not a sporting weapon. In reaching this decision, the court was not persuaded by the importer’s argument that box magazines can be lengthened or shortened depending on desired shell capacity. The court also agreed with BATF’s conclusion that police/combat-style competitions were not considered sporting purposes.

1989 Examination

In 1989, after five children were killed in a California school yard by a gunman with a semiautomatic copy of an AK47, BATF decided to re-examine whether certain semiautomatic “assault-style rifles” met the sporting purposes test. In March and April 1989, BATF announced it was suspending the importation of certain “assault-style rifles.” The rifles involved met the following criteria: military appearance; large magazine capacity; and, being a semiautomatic version of a machinegun. A BATF working group was established to reevaluate the importability of these rifles. On July 6, 1989, the group issued its report.

In the 1989 report, the working group discussed whether the rifles under review fell within a “type” of firearm for the purposes of U.S. law. The group concluded that most of the “assault-type” rifles under review represented “a distinctive type of rifle (which it called the “semiautomatic assault rifle”) distinguished by certain general characteristics common to the modern military assault rifle. The working group explained that the modern military assault rifle is a weapon designed for killing or disabling the enemy and has characteristics designed to accomplish this purpose. Moreover, it found that these characteristics distinguish modern military assault rifles from traditional sporting rifles.

The working group identified the modern military assault rifle as having the following characteristics: military configuration (which included: ability to accept a detachable magazine, folding/telescoping stock, separate pistol grip, ability to accept a bayonet, flash suppressor, bipod, grenade launcher, and night sights); ability to fire automatically (i.e. as a machinegun); and, chambered to accept a centerfire cartridge case having a length of 2.25 inches or less.

In regard to the ability to accept a detachable magazine, the working group said, “virtually all modern military firearms are designed to accept large, detachable magazines. This provides the soldier with a fairly large ammunition supply and the ability to rapidly reload. Thus, large capacity magazines are indicative of military firearms. While detachable magazines are not limited to military firearms, most traditional semiautomatic sporting firearms, designed to accommodate a detachable magazine, have a relatively small magazine capacity.”

The rifles then under review were found to share all of the designated military assault rifle characteristics with the exception of being machineguns. In looking at the meaning of “sporting purposes” within the law, the working group found that its meaning was intended to stand in contrast to military and law enforcement applications and consequently determined police/combat-type competitions should not be treated as sporting activities.

The working group then evaluated whether the semiautomatic assault rifle type of firearm is generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to traditional sporting applications. Taken into account were technical and marketing data, expert opinions, and information on the recommended and actual uses for which the arms were employed in this country. Criminal use, however, was not considered in the analysis. The group concluded semiautomatic “assault rifles” are not generally recognized for sporting purposes use and thus, should not be imported.

However, some of the rifles under review (the Valmet Hunter and .22 rimfire rifles), did not fall within the semiautomatic assault rifle type. In the case of the Valmet Hunter, the working group found that although it was based on the operating mechanism of the AK47 assault rifle, it had been substantially changed so that it was similar to a traditional sporting rifle. Specifically, it did not have any of the military configuration features identified by the working group except for the ability to accept a detachable magazine.

Following the 1989 ban, BATF took the position that a semiautomatic rifle with any of the eight military configuration features identified in the 1989 report, often than the ability to accept a detachable magazine, failed the sporting purposes test and, therefore, was not importable.

1997 Ban Analysis

One of the most interesting aspects of the 1997 import ban is that the government is taking a very narrow view of the “sporting purposes” test to refer solely to the traditional sports of hunting and organized competitive target shooting. Self-defense uses of the firearms in question are not considered, nor is informal target shooting or the activity of shooting at randomly selected bottles and cans known as “plinking.”

Following the enactment of the Gun Control Act of 1968, the Secretary of the Treasury established a council (known as the Firearms Evaluation Panel, or FEP) to provide guidance in implementing the sporting purposes test. This panel was composed of representatives from the military, the law enforcement sector, and the firearms industry.

The FEP addressed the activity of “plinking” and determined it was not a legitimate sporting purpose under the statute. The panel found, according to the report, that, “while many persons participate in this type of activity and much ammunition was expended in such endeavors, it was primarily a pastime and could not be considered a sport for the purposes of importation since any firearm that could expel a projectile could be used for this purpose without having any characteristics generally associated with target guns.”

On another point, although the 1989 study did not consider the criminal use of firearms in its importability analysis, such information was included in the latest study. Noted anti-gun advocate Garen J. Wintemute, MD, M.P.H. director of the Violence Prevention Research program, University of California, Davis, was among those retained to provide assistance with crime-related information.

While in the 1989 review the ability of a firearm to accept a detachable large capacity magazine, in the absence of other military configuration features, was not viewed as disqualifying in the “Sporting purposes” test, this view was changed in 1997. Giving impetus to this decision was the 1994 Congressionally passed ban on manufacture (for the civilian sector) of large capacity magazines. In passing the 1994 law, Congress found magazine capacity to be such an important factor that semiautomatic rifles that cannot accept a detachable magazine holding more than five rounds were not found to be banned, even if the rifle contained all five of the “assault weapon” features listed in the law.

“If you will not fight for the right when you can easily win without bloodshed; if you will not fight when your victory will be sure and not too costly; you may come to the moment when you will have to fight with all the odds against you and only a small chance of survival. There may even be a worse case. You may have to fight when there is no hope of victory, because it is better to perish than live as slaves.” – Sir Winston Churchill (attr.)

Astute Rafficarians may quickly catch up with me on one of the photos in this edition of Raffica. Here is why; for many years I have been asked the difference between a metric FAL magazine and an inch FAL magazine, and I thought I finally had the photos for you. Well, sort of. It just seemed like I never was in the right place at the right time to have both magazines in hand, and a camera as well.

At a recent visit to Reed Knight’s reference collection, I thought I would snap a shot of the two in between other projects. I grabbed a metric mag out of a gun, then looked and found an “Inch Pattern” gun and took it’s magazine, then did the photo comparison of the main difference- the front lugs. Upon returning the magazines to the rightful places, I discovered that the “Inch Pattern” FAL was in fact a “T-48”. Reed is always full of surprises, no exceptions this time.

The question from assorted readers has basically been- “How do I tell the difference between the two magazines?”

There are differences in each run of magazines that were made- from the originals, to the UK variants, the Canadians, and others. If you want the best information on FAL’s that is in print, Collector Grade Publications has the “Classic Edition” which contains all three of their books. I don’t want to get into all of the variations, but between the metric and the inch, the easiest way to tell is on the front of the top of the magazine, where the lug is.

On the metric magazines, this is a small dimple in the sheet metal of the magazine body. The dimple is raised to the outside of the magazine. On inch magazines, there is a lug welded to the front. The T-48 is very similar, if not identical, to the inch magazine lug, so I will let this picture suffice to illustrate it. Hope this gives you a quick clue to what the differences are.

Q2- I have one of the PIAT projectors that I want to set up for my WWII display. Are there dummy projectiles available for these?

A2- When the British PIATs (Projector, Infantry, Anti-Tank) were first brought into the US, there were some practice projectiles with them. I would characterize the PIAT as one great big firing pin and spring surrounded by a single tube of steel. The firing pin is about an inch in diameter! SAR will be covering these at length in the future, but I did manage to find a display version to photograph. It is at the US Infantry Museum at Fort Benning, Georgia. You should be able to get an idea of shape and scale from this photo.

Q3- I have an SR-25 rifle, and am always looking for magazines. I have been told that the original AR-10 magazines fit as well as the Knight Armament Company ones. While at a show recently, I looked at an SR-25 that had a different magazine entirely. Can I use any magazine that is called an SR-25?

A3- In Eugene Stoner’s original design, the magazine used was a slightly altered AR-10 waffle sided magazine. The alteration is one cut in the mag release slot, done with a mill, that extends the cut to fit the SR-25 release. (See photos). Once the surplus AR-10 magazines ran out, KAC started using the newly manufactured magazines that you have been seeing on other guns. Either magazine will fit your gun. If there is some question as to reliability of the magazine (If you are experiencing a feed problem) then check for the circled mark showing that KAC worked on the magazine. This is the quality control mark.

The modern Armalite Corporation, who manufacture the new AR-10 rifle series, utilizes a modified M14 magazine. These magazines do not interchange with the SR-25 series rifles. In the near future, SAR will be presenting ID guides to both the SR-25 and the AR-10 series guns.

Questions to: Dan Shea c/o SAR

ON TARGET SOFTWARE

Sight-In Systems, Inc. has just introduced their new ON TARGET software. The new program is loaded with features for every type of shooter; big game hunters, bench rest shooters, varmint hunters and tactical shooters. The program allows the user to set it up for his particular rifle and load! With ON TARGET the shooter can print targets, take them to the range and sight in, then enter the shot group along with chrono readings, rifle type and ammo loading and Presto. The program gives the shooter all the information he or she needs for perfect shot placement at all ranges out to 1000 yards. You can choose from more than 600 cartridges in the database or define your own (great for reloaders).

Other features include effects of wind, lead for moving targets, effects of shooting up and down hill and how temperature and barometric pressure affect scope settings. Two versions of the program are available; the Standard and the Marksman. The Marksman has several more features than the Standard version. Annual updates to cartridge and chamber databases are free for registered users via their website or for a nominal fee on diskette. Using a point and click interface, ON TARGET is available in either a 16-bit version for Windows 3.1/95 or a 32-bit version for Windows 95. This is one of the most detailed and helpful shooting programs I have seen. For more information contact; Sight-In Systems, Inc., Dept. SAR, 7529 Ravens Nest Ct., Columbus, OH 43235. Phone: 1-614-846-3090. Fax: 1-614-785-0366. You can also contact them via the web at www.Sightin.com.

M-11/9MM, M-10/9MM AND COLT M-16/AR-15 9MM MAGAZINES

C&S METALL-WERKES LTD., is now offering 32-round high capacity magazines for the M-11/9, M-10/9 and the Colt M-16/AR-15 9mm guns. The magazines are from existing brand new Madsen 32 round mags. These are single feed double column magazines. The mags are redone and then finished in a baked-on black moly-resin coating. The resulting magazine is very robust and is guaranteed 100% reliable. The
three styles are available now with conversions for other guns in the near future. For more information or to place an order contact C&S METALL-WERKES, LTD., Dept. SAR, 4025-O Old Highway 94 South, St. Charles, MO 63304. Phone: 1-314-928-1511. Fax: 1-314-922-9004. Their web site is www.csmetall-werkes.com

HIGH-RIDER FLAT TOP AR UPPER AND LEATHERWOOD SCOPE MOUNT

A new high ride flat top upper receiver for the Ar-15/M-16 series of rifles is now available from DPMS. The new upper is made to their exacting standards with a finish that matches the dark black AR’s perfectly. The high ride upper has a built-in Weaver type rail to accept virtually all optics. The high ride design aligns the shooters eye to the scope without added risers or super high rings. It is available either with or without rings. This new design does not feature a forward assist or an ejection port cover. Another new item from DPMS is their Leatherwood Lever Lock Scope Mount. This new scope mount will fit most weaver type rails. It features a steel locking lever and an aluminum rail body. There are no screws or clamps to deal with using this mount. The mount can be instantly attached or removed by simply throwing a swing lever on the side. The mount will return to zero time after time. It also has built-in ring windage adjustments. The mount comes with 1 inch rings but can also be ordered with 30mm rings. For more information or to order their fact-filled catalog contact DPMS, Dept. SAR, 13983 Industry Avenue, Becker, MN 55308. Phone: 1-612-261-5600. Fax: 1-612-261-5599. They’re on the web at www.dpmsinc.com.

ULTIMATE GUN CLEANING SYSTEM

Sporting Goods dealers and other shooters and enthusiasts can now thoroughly clean their firearms thanks to an eight-step procedure available from L&R Manufacturing Company. Used in conjunction with L&R’s Quantrex Ultrasonic Cleaning Systems, the procedure cleans 16 times more effectively than manual cleaning, even in areas that are impossible to reach by hand. Available in a variety of sizes, L&R’s Ultrasonic Cleaning Systems can readily accommodate from one handgun to multiple guns at once, including shotguns and other long guns. Used with L&R’s biodegradable and solvent-free Ultrasonic Weapon Cleaning Solution Concentrate, the systems remove crud, light rust, loose lead, powder build-up and copper residue effortlessly. Following cleaning, L&R’s Ultrasonic Weapon Lubricating Solution displaces all traces of water and leaves the gun with a uniform dry lubrication. The result is a gun that looks and feels “factory new”. To receive a copy of the step-by-step procedure chart, or for more information contact L&R Manufacturing Company, Dept. SAR, 557 Elm Street, PO Box 607, Kearny, NJ 07032-0607. Phone: 1-201-991-5330.

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

NEW WEAPONS & EQUIPMENT

MORE ON SCOUT RIFLE FIXES: our US sources indicate that Steyr plans to produce new Scout Rifle firing pin assemblies which allow five different positions (instead of the current three) for the spring tensioning circlip. This should assist users to find a degree of spring compression which better suits the range of ammunition they may fire in the weapon. However, the alternative fix using two adjusting nuts still may not reliably fire INDEP Portuguese ball.

OLIN .50 Mk 211 (MP) AMMUNITION: Olin/Winchester told us in mid-Jun 98 that they were only then beginning production of a US-made version of the impressive .50 Multi-Purpose APHEI round, under license from Raufoss in Norway, using Norwegian bullets. We got the impression that Olin’s experience with the .50 WALAP round, an HE-enhanced variation along MP lines which was abandoned in prototype phase, had convinced it that buying in the Raufoss MP bullets was a simpler move than making its own.

7.62MM NATO DEPLETED URANIUM AP AMMO: a UK gunsmith writing on the Cybershooters list said that in the late 1980s he worked on a project to develop a 7.62mm NATO subsonic AP projectile from copper-plated depleted uranium (DU). We guess this was a special forces requirement. Anyway, apparently the material was very difficult to machine, requiring huge amounts of lubrication in order to suppress the dangerous swarf, and the only practical alternative, to cast or sinter the projectiles, presented other problems such as toxic fumes & high tooling costs. In any event, the cost of the DU bullets would evidently still have been around £10 a pop, and it’s thought the idea was eventually dropped.

M118 LR EARLY TEMPERATURE PROBLEMS: we recently saw papers suggesting that back in 1996 the new US military 7.62mm NATO M118LR (Long Range) cartridge with 175gr Sierra bullet achieved a chamber pressure of more that 64,350 psi when conditioned at 120 degrees F. At that time it was recommended by the USMC test facility that the M118LR should not replace the M852, nor should it be used in the M14 self-loader in summer conditions. Interestingly, three reports from the M118LR USMC tests confirm that groups with the 168gr Sierra opened up beyond 600 yards, with one referring to bullets exhibiting yaw when striking the targets at 1000 yards. We note the latest detailed specifications for the M118LR, dated 3 Mar 98, now prescribe a maximum pressure at 125 degrees of 57,200 psi. Manufacture of the first production M118LR ammunition has now started at Olin/Winchester, using a new propellant which meets this revised pressure specification. By the by, having now seen the dimensions of the M118LR, we would not consider it a VLD design (though this is how it was initially described), since it does not appear to have a particularly long ogive. This view is confirmed by discussion with other sources.

INDUSTRY & FOREIGN NEWS

HARD EXTRACTION WITH RG-HEADSTAMPED 7.62MM NATO AMMUNITION: back in Oct 98 we mentioned instances of hard extraction with Boxer-primed 7.62mm L2A2 NATO ammunition headstamped RG 90 (for Royal Ordnance, Radway Green) but with a red primer annulus. Ammunition expert Peter Labbett maintains this is subcontracted ammunition of Hirtenberg (Austrian) origin, despite the headstamps, but says that – as as far he can ascertain – it was rejected for UK MOD use and disposed of to rifle clubs. He also notes that all his samples of earlier Hirtenberg production for Radway Green are Berdan, not Boxer-primed.

PROZAC A FACTOR IN SPRINGFIELD SHOOTINGS?: for what it’s worth, a Jun 98 report in the Vigo Examiner said that Kip Kinkel, the teenager held for the Springfield (Oregon) school shootings, was on the drug Prozac. The paper noted that Prozac had been linked to most of the homicidal mass shootings of the last decade and said that its manufacturer Eli Lilly had recently been sued in this connection.

LATVIA & NICARAGUA GET M16A2s FROM USA: despite the Latvian authorities’ unfortunate attitude towards their significant Russian minority, we hear that the US government has nevertheless gifted 10,000 5.56mm M16A2 rifles to that country. We also understand that Nicaragua has received another 40,000 of these weapons from the US. Dealers separately trying to effect commercial sales of small arms to these countries which are receiving official US aid tell us they are appropriately miffed.
One wouldn’t, of course, want to be so bold as to ask how the US and other Western governments square their current, well-orchestrated ‘horror’ at the worldwide ‘proliferation’ of small arms with their continuing readiness to provide bulk supplies of military weapons as an instrument of foreign policy. Perish the thought!

‘YEAR 2000’ PROBLEM FOR FN 7.62MM M240: sources very close to the problem have pointed out to us that in the year 2000 the FN M240/MAG 58 machine gun will no longer be protected as a proprietary design, the Technical Data Package will theoretically be available to all, and other gunmakers (such as Colt, maybe) will then be able to bid on US DoD contracts for this weapon. And as it happens, 2000 will also be the peak year for US forces M240B orders.

PRIMEX ST MARKS MILITARY POWDERS: the Primex Technologies (formerly Olin Ordnance) St Marks Powder plant in Florida lists its military Ball Powder propellants in descending order of burning rate. The small arms natures (with applicability) are given for interest below:

WC 440S – .50 Blank M1A1
WC 814 – 5.56mm Blank M200
WC 818 – 7.62mm Blank M82
WPR 260 – 5.56mm SRTA M862 (short- range training)
WPR 270 – 9mm NATO HPT (proof round)
WPR 289 – 9mm NATO M882
WPR 293 – 9mm Subsonic
WC 687 – 7.62x39mm Ball
WC 827 – 7.62mm SLAP M948, SLAP- Tracer M959
WC 844 – 5.56mm Ball M193 & M855, Tracer M196
WC 844T – 5.56mm Tracer M856
WCR 845 – 5.56mm Ball M855, Tracer M856
WC 846 – 7.62mm Ball M80, Tracer M62
WC 846S – 7.62mm Ball M80, Tracer M62
WC 846 + CaCO3 – 7.62mm Ball M80
WC 750 – 7.62mm Match M118 & M852
WC 856 – .50 SLAP M903, SLAP-Tracer M962
WC 857 – .50 Tracer M17
WC 860 – .50 Ball M33
WC 860 + CaCO3 – .50 Ball M33

AUSTRALIAN .50 REQUIREMENT BEING RE-WRITTEN: we were surprised (see earlier issues) when the Australian forces failed to select any of the .50 Browning long-range rifles they’d been testing; these included the Barrett M82A1 and the PGM Hecate. Apparently none met the military’s requirement. Well, as often happens, we now hear from Australia that the requirement is actually being re-written, and thereafter a request for a further round of testing is expected.

MISSING WEAPONS RECOVERED (BULGARIA): back in April, Bulgarian sources confirm that eight Kalashnikov rifles and ammunition which had been reported missing by the Arsenal company (formerly Kazanlac Arsenal) were among a haul of illegal weapons recovered by police in Kazanlac during a raid in which 11 people were also detained.

FUTURE WEAPON SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY

IF THE OICW BATTERIES SIGH & DIE: an item in Army magazine quoted a Picatinny Arsenal official from the Objective Individual Combat Weapon (OICW) team as saying that if the combination system’s high-tech fire control system loses power, the 20mm smart-fuzed HE ammunition will only provide impact detonation. Which would, we guess, make the grenade-launcher component rather less effective than existing 40mm systems – though you could obviously bang off more rounds, and faster. Indeed, you might well need to.

MINE DETECTION BY SHOCKWAVE: Battlespace newsletter in the UK drew readers’ attention to a new technology under development at the University Buffalo, which may be able to detect mines, of whatever material they are made, using weak shock waves which are reflected off buried items. The method works by reacting to the different densities of material the shock waves encounter But so far only simulations have been carried out.

RUSSIAN ELECTRON ACCELERATOR: according to Jane’s News Briefs, US sources say an ‘electron accelerator’ has been developed in Russia that could be used to zap electronic circuits in bombs and stop vehicles.

EVENTS, PLACES TO VISIT

1999 NDIA (ADPA) SMALL ARMS SYSTEMS DIVISION ANNUAL MEETING: 21-23 Jun 99, at the Doubletree Hotel, Somerset, New Jersey, with firing at Fort Dix. (Tel(703)522-1820, Fax(703)522-1885, WWW – http://www.ndia.org/)

The Grassroots division of the NRA Institute for Legislative Action offers programs specially designed for legislative and political action. The following excerpts are from the NRA GRASSFIRE! Newsletter, June 1998. For more information call 1-800-392-8683.

RECREATIONAL SHOOTING ON FEDERAL LANDS

There have been growing concerns over the last few years regarding shooting areas and ranges located on federal lands. You may recall that there have been difficulties experienced by certain ranges and shooting areas, particularly as they related to the Tucson Rod & Gun Club (Inside NRA, May 1998). In response to these problems, NRA is gathering information from around the country on shooting areas or shooting ranges that have been closed by federal officials in the past five years. Information is also needed from clubs, associations, or individuals who have requested that an area of federal land be opened to recreational shooting or proposed the building of a shooting range and have been turned down. We hope to be able to use this information to help to ensure that public lands are managed and used efficiently, effectively, and safely to meet public shooting sports needs. For any firsthand information you can share concerning such closures or denials on federal lands, please send it to NRA-ILA’s Conservation, Wildlife and Natural Resources Division at 11250 Waples Mill Road, Fairfax, VA 22030. You may also fax information to 703-267-1543.

GRASSROOTS TIP

How many times have you attended a gun show, club meeting, or even an NRA event and noticed how few of today’s youth were actively involved in the cause of protecting our freedoms? While NRA has a myriad of programs geared toward our diverse membership, the Second Amendment of tomorrow can be safeguarded if we involve the youth of today. The NRA-ILA College Program is aimed at college and high school students, and this outreach program attempts to identify and work with pro-gun students to reach the next generation with our message. Our goal is to provide today’s students with the tools and information they’ll need to effectively bring the debate over our rights to campuses across the nation. Whether forming pro-Second Amendment student groups, hosting debates, rallies, forums, or utilizing school newspapers, today’s student can become and can influence tomorrow’s leaders on this most important issue. If you’re a student, or if you’re a parent with a college or high school-age son or daughter, and would like more information on this program, contact the NRA-ILA Grassroots Division, and inquire about our College Program.

F.A.I.R. TRADE GROUP

Trade Group President Decries Schumer Maneuver As “Pure Political Grandstanding”

Charles E. Steen III – president of the FAIR Trade Group, a trade association of firearm importers – today decried Rep. Charles Schumer’s effort to strip “in-transit relief” from the FY-1999 Treasury Appropriations bill as “pure political grandstanding.”

“Schumer’s point-of-order reflects only his growing desperation about his dismal failure thus far in the Democratic primary in New York, “Steen continued. “He’s spent obscene amount of money on political ads to introduce himself and his policies to the voters of New York. All he’s gotten in response is a big yawn. Now he’s trying to make headlines on the backs of small businesses whose property was appropriated by the federal government.

Steen explained the background of the “in-transit relief” provision. “On April 8 of this year, Bill Clinton announced a dramatic revision of import criteria for firearms. The immediate impact of this announcement was felt by several small businesses that were in the midst of lawfully importing products into the country. The Administration essentially took the property of these law-abiding importers, who had acted on approved import permits, only to find that their product had arbitrarily been declared contraband by the time it arrived. This Clinton announcement made a mockery of their property rights – and this provision merely compensates them for their losses”.

Steen noted a precedent for the provision, and pointed to the provision’s broad bipartisan support, emphasizing that even the Administration agrees with the provision. We’ve been down this road before. Congress has passed, and Bill Clinton has signed, relief for other importers who were caught in this situation. Now, the House and Senate Appropriations committees have voted in support of this provision, and once again the White House and Treasury Department have signed on. They appear to understand the simple concept of fairness in government – that citizens and legitimate businesses should be compensated for losses suffered as a direct result of government action. Ask Schumer if he would protest compensating his constituents if their houses were condemned for a highway.”

“This isn’t about the principle of the matter,” Steen concluded. “This is about a desperate politician trying to salvage a failed bid for higher office. And if Chuck Schumer thinks that the voters of upstate New York will be impressed by his endless parade of gun control demagoguery, then let me be the first to wish him success in whatever career he chooses after losing the primary.”

FIREARM AND AMMUNITION IMPORTER’S ROUND TABLE TRADE GROUP
No. 5 St. Matthews Court –
Washington, D.C. 20036
Voice: 202/296-2537
Fax 202/296-2675

Ignore Criminals & Blame Honest Gun Owners: Clinton Endorses a Misguided Anti-Crime Proposal

(FALLS CHURCH, Va., July 8, 1998) “President Clinton’s latest anti-crime endorsement targets parents and ignores criminals,” said James J. Fotis, Executive Director, Law Enforcement Alliance of America (LEAA) an association of 65,000 members and supporters comprised of police officers, crime victims, and concerned citizens.

“Clinton’s endorsement of the Durbin/Chafee measure, which imposes harsh punishments on firearm-owning adults whose guns are illegally taken by teenagers, is a clear indication that the President’s anti-crime efforts continue to focus on responsible gun owners instead of recidivist criminals,” said Fotis, a retired, highly decorated Long Island (NY) police officer.
“The Durbin/Chafee measure is a trap for honest gun owners. It is a useless proposal that will not reduce violent crime. The only purpose of the measure is to threaten law-abiding gun owners with stiff punishments if their firearms are taken illegally by teenagers. The measure ignores criminals and predisposes blame onto honest gun owners,” said Fotis,

“Clinton’s endorsement of the Durbin/Chafee amounts to federal law redundancy. Every state in America already has criminal negligence laws on the books that punish irresponsible individuals who allow guns to fall into the wrong hands. If those laws are broken then the violators should be prosecuted. Americans do not need new laws when existing law does the job. Americans need tough prosecutors and judges who will enforce those existing laws,” said Fotis.

With over 65,000 members and supporters, the Law Enforcement Alliance of America is the nation’s largest coalition of law enforcement professionals, crime victims, and concerned citizens dedicated to making America safer.

The sound was unmistakable. Automatic fire echoed through the rolling hills north of Columbia, Missouri starting shortly after 8 a.m. on April 4, 1998. From a distance, it might have sounded like an isolated skirmish in some far away country. It is the sound that occasionally causes nervous neighbors near a range to call the police to report it. Many of you have experienced just that near your ranges, because “Machine guns are illegal,” right?

No police were called today (they wouldn’t be anyway), because the police were doing the shooting. They were at the Chapman Academy of Practical Shooting/Green Valley Rifle and Pistol Club. They were competing in the first annual Midwest Police SWAT/SMG Championships.

Our tactical team is a member of the Kansas City Area Metro Tactical Officers Association, a group of teams that formed to share information about SWAT, coordinate training and sponsor training opportunities from outside sources. Myself and some officers from our team put together this match as not only a fun competition, but as a training event. Officers competing had to be from a working tactical team, and had to wear full call out gear, with BDUs, body armor, load bearing vests, and helmets if used by their teams.

We conceived the match as having four individual events, one two-man team event and one four man team event. The team events focused on the SWAT use of the submachine gun as we train, that is with officers firing on the move, in close proximity to each other using their training and proficiency to achieve surgical precision under adverse conditions.

To encourage surgical precision and to discourage fast firing without accuracy, we used a scoring system that gives us just that. It is called Chapman count, named for Ray Chapman, the great practical shooting patriarch who founded the shooting academy we shot on that day. This scoring system is quite simple. Standard IPSC targets are given values for the largest three areas on the target, and scored 10-4-2. Total time is then simply subtracted from score. This is a deviation from the usual 10-8-5, but we wanted to emphasize the importance of surgical precision that should be expected from an SMG shooter under SWAT conditions. As you can see, whoever shoots the most accurately, the fastest wins. Every hit not center of mass or in the head (10 points also) costs six seconds if in the C zone or eight seconds in D zone. With the SMG, we counted only the top two hits, but did not penalize for extra shots. Taking the time to do that is self-penalizing, since every second taken is a point lost. Also used were steel falling targets, worth 10 points each. They had to fall to count.

This scoring system will not allow a shooter to blaze all over the target with only peripheral hits and still win over one who tears out the center, but slower, as in IPSC, and more disappointingly, now IDPA. Center mass must be shot. And unlike in IPSC and IDPA, bad shots cannot be outrun.

Fifty-two officers from several departments in Missouri and Kansas competed for the plaques. They stood at the back of their cars, geared up, and got ready. We could have called this the Midwest MP5 championships, because that was the only SMG represented. Only one agency in our association has the Colt SMG, and they were not present. Among the variants were one PDW and four MP5SDs from Overland Park, KS PD, as well as MP5/40s from the Missouri State Highway Patrol SERT Team. Most were standard MP5A2s and A3s, usually with Navy or SEF trigger groups, some with burst groups.

This match emphasized the operational use of the SMG, and thus we established more ground rules to ensure that. All courses were fired in full auto, and no double magazine clamps were allowed. They do provide dramatically faster reloads, but are rarely carried operationally, because 60 rounds on the gun makes an MP5 very heavy. We simply required extra magazines to be carried on person. No optical sights were allowed either, though no teams use them anyway.

Because we required full auto fire, we designed the courses to be realistic in that respect. Almost all targets were between three and 12 yards away, and to further discourage imprecise fire, we placed some hostage targets directly behind steel shoot targets. One miss would cost 20 seconds and blow the stage for the officer. Civilian police tactical teams MUST ACCOUNT for every round fired, and one of the highest liabilities is for a team equipped with automatic firearms to allow ANY rounds to miss ANY target. The courses were designed with that as a primary rule.

Officers experiencing malfunctions were instructed to transition to their sidearm, before clearing the malfunction, as is standard SMG practice. Those who did not, were penalized. This was built into one course where the officer started with 10 rounds in the magazine, had to shoot dry, then transition before reloading and finishing the stage.

“Pain in the Gas”

A match called “Pain in the Gas” was fired with the competitor wearing his issued gas mask. This is one area where most teams practice very little, and the problems experienced were evident. Many officers fogged up and could not see, and just getting a decent MP5 sight picture with a gas mask is difficult for anyone who has ever tried it. Most team leaders left vowing to include more live fire training with gas masks in the future.

Because I am on the training committee for MTOA, I have a very good idea of the capabilities of the tactical teams in our organization. It is because they are of such competence that we could design a match that would be too dangerous for people who don’t train regularly together. Because they are so well trained, we could design exciting matches that would allow officers to fire through vehicles with open windows to targets on the other side, or to jump in the side door of a van and shoot at targets out the rear door, and even safely move up range, a real source of heartburn unless you have skilled operators.

Any match director contemplating a course where two and even four shooters are moving and shooting together would have to factor in his hair getting much grayer by match end. It is not normally contemplated, and again, without veteran tactical officers who train regularly competing, probably shouldn’t be. But with a core of training that emphasizes safe weapons handling, to include NO laser violations, moving with the finger off the trigger, and regular drills of firing on the move, this all becomes possible.

“Two to Tango”

Our two-man team event was called “Two to Tango.” It involved both officers engaging a series of 18 steel falling targets, some on the move, while negotiating door entries and shared areas of responsibility. A mandatory reload under cover prior to one door entry stipulated that only one officer could reload at a time, and they had to communicate with each other to make it smooth and quick. We mandated the reload this way to stay true to the operational concepts that we train. All targets down the fastest, with no hostage target hits wins the event. Officers Bryan Liebhart and Brad Nelson from our own Columbia PD STAR Team took first in this event.

“HRT-4-ME”

All four individual events and the two man team event were fired throughout the day with the extensive and ambitious four man team event being saved for last, after all other courses were complete. The crowd of spectators and families started to gather as setup commenced for “HRT-4-ME”, and soon I started with the course walk through and safety briefing for the ten four man teams that competed in this final event.

All four officers were to start in the back of a SWAT truck, each with an MP5, and one also carrying a battering ram. On the start signal, they were to exit the van and move to a door, where the officer with the ram simulated breaching it. They would then fan out to a pre-designated shooting lane where they move forward and engage three targets each on the move. A moving target with a two-inch balloon in the head started across in front of them, and before they could advance further, the balloon had to be broken.

They then moved in a line, much as they would toward a warrant service, guns at low ready, still selected to full, fingers off triggers, muzzles not crossing even the heels of the man in front of them. They moved to stairs that lead to a gantry over a bulletproof wall that separates two ranges. From there, a shooter begins engaging hostile falling plates below them, firing almost straight down, as the other team members descend the stairs on the other side and find themselves face to face with another array of falling plates.

As the team gets to the ground on the other side, the designated “sniper” takes off up range to a position behind a barricade where he must engage the final stop plate, across a creek and about 30 yards away, with a hostage target directly behind it. Here the rules state that he alone can take the only semi-auto selected shot of the day. But he can’t do it until all his teammates cross a finish line, and he can’t see them because his back is to them. They must, as all teams did, communicate their arrival and that he is clear to shoot.

Only one team hit the hostage, because an officer who did not select to semi and instead squeezed off a two round burst. That distance was too far for him to keep both rounds on the plate, and though he stopped the suspect, he hit the hostage nearly dead center as well. His team had the winning time, but that one mistake dropped them from first to sixth place in that event. Top honors for the four-man team event went to officers from the Buchanan County, Missouri Drug Strike Force.

By 5:00 p.m. the ranges fell silent and the gear was stowed. The competitors moved to the range house where dinner was being barbecued. As you moved through the crowd you could hear many recounting tales of how if only they had done this, or had avoided that, their hands up and bladed, holding an imaginary MP5, firing and this time running the course perfectly, or how if you wear the chin strap on a kevlar helmet under your chin instead of on it, you can’t shoot prone because the helmet covers your eyes. Teammates swap “war stories” from recent callouts and warrant services with their friends from other teams.

After the scores were tabulated, and dinner was eaten, myself and Officer Ben White, assistant match director, presented the trophies.

Top five individual officers were:

Champion: Lt. Mitch Brim, Shawnee, Kansas Police Department

Second: Officer Jerry Greene, Columbia, Missouri Police Department

Third: Officer Chuck Seawood, Overland Park, Kansas Police Department

Fourth: Officer George Gardner, North Kansas City, Missouri Police Department

Fifth: Officer Vaughan Baker, Lee’s Summit, Missouri Police Department

We intend to make this an annual event and plan to hold it in early April. It is open to any tactical team member of a federal, state, county or local police agency. If you would like more information about it, or wish simply to contact me, you can do so by email at tdresner@mail.coin.missouri.edu. or by mail at SAR.

While tramping the aisles of the 1998 SHOT SHOW in Las Vegas this year, I came across a very nice looking AK style hunting rifle. The metal finish was almost “pretty” and it had very nice looking walnut furniture. I was at the ZDF Import/Export Inc. booth and upon closer inspection I discovered, lo and behold, the gun was chambered in .308! Welllll, there was something new and different at the SHOT SHOW. After a verbal rundown of the gun from the guys at ZDF and some quick photos, I arranged for a test and evaluation as soon as the rifles were ready to be shipped. A few months later I received a call from ZDF President Alex Robinson telling me the rifles were indeed ready to ship and that I should have mine in a few days. Several days later the U.P.S. truck delivered one of the first VEPR .308 rifles to my door.

A little background is in order here. The VEPR .308 Hunter is an AK style rifle manufactured in Russia by the Vyatskie Polyany Machine Building. The word “VEPR” is a type of Russian wild bore. The VEPR .308 rifle was designed from the magazine up as a hunting rifle, not a so-called assault rifle that was glossed over to look like a hunting rifle. It was also designed with accuracy in mind, but more on that later. In fact, the VEPR is even legal for Russian civilians to own. There is no full-auto version of this gun. The VEPR was the only one of the 59 rifles on the temporary import ban list that was not affected by the permanent import ban. Unless the powers that be (read that Clinton, by executive order) change their minds, the VEPR can still be obtained.

As I said before, the rifle is a nice looking gun. While it still shows its Avtomat Kalashnikova lineage, the fit and finish is nothing like your typical AK. All metal surfaces in the gun have a satin black oxide finish. It is non-reflecting but still exhibits a slight gloss. The rifles wooden forearm and thumbhole buttstock are made from Turkish Walnut. The wood does not have a lot of figure but is still a lot nicer looking that other AK type furniture. The monte-carlo style buttstock sports a medium density black rubber recoil pad. Wood to metal fit is very well done. Both the forearm and the pistol grip feature hand-cut checkering. The bottom of the grip sports a black grip cap. Sling swivels are installed front and rear. A black leather sling is included as part of the package. While on the subject of looks, one thing you notice when you first look at this rifle is the lack of visible spot welds. ZDF worked closely with the Russian manufacturer to assure that the rifle looks top notch and doesn’t show weld or machine marks. While the rifle does utilize a stamped steel receiver, the finish is nice enough that it resembles a milled receiver. Overall the gun sort of reminds me of the M-76 sniper rifle except it has a thumbhole buttstock.

The gun’s sights consist of an adjustable front post that is protected by ears typical of most AK style sights. It is set into a post that is pinned to the barrel about 1/2 inch back from the muzzle. The rather broad post is adjustable for elevation by screwing it up or down. the post rides in a cylinder that can be punch drifted side to side for windage. The rear sight is the same one that is found on most of the RPK’s. It is not only elevation adjustable but can also be adjusted for windage. The only difference is that the RPK sight is adjustable to 1000 meters and the VEPR only has markings out to 300 meters. Both windage and elevation adjustments on the rear sight can be done without tools and lock in place after they are set. Surprisingly, I found that the open sights work pretty well at distances out to about 150 yards.

The VEPR also features a scope mount rail that is riveted to the left side of the receiver. The milled rail mates very nicely to the scope mount that is included with the rifle. The mount is quick detachable by means of a throw lever that actuates a cam that locks the mount to the rifle’s rail. Rings are included with the mount and are 26mm with 1 inch inserts for U.S. scopes. In my tests I found that the mount held zero after being removed and re-attached.

Internally the rifles parts resemble your standard AK parts but will not interchange. This requirement was per ATF regulations. Internal springs are all the braided kind including the bolt’s recoil spring. The VEPR operates in the standard AK fashion, it is gas operated and magazine fed. Gas is bled from a port in the barrel into a gas tube positioned above the barrel. The gas impinges in a piston connected to the guns bolt carrier driving it rearward. As it moves to the rear the bolt rotates and unlocks from the barrel extension. The bolt then continues rearward extracting the spent shell casing. The bolts recoil spring slows the bolt and then returns to battery picking up a loaded round on the way.

As said before, the rifle is magazine fed. The magazines were made especially for this gun and will not interchange with other guns. Also the rifle will not accept magazines from other guns. This was also a specification of the ATF regulations allowing the rifle into the country. The magazines used in the VEPR are made from a fiberglass reinforced composite. They are black and their finish texture and color matches the rifle. They have removable floorplates to allow disassembly and cleaning. The magazines are available in either 5-round or 10-round capacities. One of each size is included with each gun. The magazine release is standard AK and magazines are inserted and removed in the same way.

As the rifle was designed for hunting and improved accuracy, I headed to the range with great expectations. I took along an assortment of hunting loads as well as some military ammo and some match loadings. On my first range visit I fired the gun using the open sights as I didn’t have a scope mounted and bore sighted and it was late in the day. Firing from the excellent Midway Deluxe Front Rest I started with some Winchester 180 grain Silvertips. Firing a five shot string produced a “group” of about 10 inches on the target. Needless to say, I was not impressed with this. But, the broad front sight post covered about half of the target at 100 yards. More five shot strings produced about equal results. I knew that a scope was in order. A few days later with a Leupold 3X9 Vari-X II mounted to the rifle I again headed for the range. The VEPR features a hammered forged chrome-lined barrel. I figured this alone should make the gun shoot well. This time with the scope mounted and a clear view of my target I again repeated the five shot groups.

The scope helped but I still wasn’t getting any groups to brag about. I then switched to some 175 grain Sierra Boat Tail Hollow point Match reloads. This load will produce 5-shot one hole, 100 yard groups out of my Remington PSS Police bolt action rifle. Shots with this load yielded groups in the 3 inch range. I also tried some of the excellent 168 grain BTHP Match loaded by Lex Bush at Rafter Seven Ammunition Company. This too produced groups similar to the Sierra loads. I realized that this is not a bolt-action heavy barrel match rifle but I still thought that it should shoot better than that.

Then the light came on. It seemed that the loads with the lighter bullets were producing tighter groups. Digging through my ammo I found some Norinco 147 grain FMJ. Yes, the copper washed stuff that you used to buy for about $5.00 a box. More targets were hung and more shots fired. Groups shrank to 1.89 inches for 5 shots. I later fired my best group with this same ammo. It measured .950 center to center for 5 shots. Not bad for an AK style gun. A call to ZDF confirmed that the twist rate in the ZEPR’s barrel was 1 in 12 instead of 1 in 10 as are most of the barrels in U.S. made .308’s. This is the only thing that I can come up with as to why the VEPR shoots the lighter 147 grain military loading far better that it shoots the heavier Match ammo.

The VEPR is a pleasant shooting rifle. Recoil is stiff but not unpleasant. This can be attributed to its 8.5 lb. weight, good recoil pad and stock design. The trigger is like most military triggers. It has a long take-up but breaks clean and crisp with hardly any overtravel. Trigger pull on my test rifle broke right at 4 lbs. The gun is typical of the AK design in that function is absolutely flawless. In all my testing, which included several hundred rounds of various types of ammo, it fed, ejected and otherwise functioned without a hitch. Ejection is positive with empty cases being thrown forward and to the right about 10 feet. The guns 23.5 inch barrel produced velocities of 2503 with the match ammo. The VEPR comes in two versions; the rifle with a 23.5 inch barrel and a carbine with 20.5 inch tube.

The VEPR is no tack-driving rifle, but it was not designed to be. It was designed to be a very reliable, durable hunting rifle. To this end it fills all requirements. Its accuracy is good enough for most hunting applications and you would be hard pressed to find a semi-auto .308 with the reliability of this rifle. The gun is not cheap. It will retail for around the $850.00 mark. But when you take into consideration that the rifle comes complete with 2-magazines, scope mount, sling and cleaning kit, it’s a bargain. Not to mention it looks great and it may be the last of this type of gun to come to our shores. Try one, I think you’ll be pleased.

Imported exclusively by:

ZDF Import/Export, Inc.
2975 South 300 West
Salt Lake City, Utah 84115
Phone: 1-801-485-1012
Fax: 1-801-484-4383

Rafter Seven Ammunition Company
Lex Bush
62 South Highway 23
Dighton, KS 67839
Phone: 1-316-397-2519
Fax: 1-316-397-2559

There is continual controversy among the sub-gun competitors as to the merits and virtues of the 9mm /M16 submachine gun. Most of the arguments and comparisons are based upon an evaluation of an unmodified factory original Colt 9mm/M16. However, the shooters and collectors out there know that for every “original spec” Colt M16/9mm in public ownership, there are probably 50 clones in various non-standard configurations. Let’s look at how this “system” can be modified to effect a caliber conversion, while optimizing the particular characteristics that might be most useful to the shooter/collector.

Most of the 9mm /M16 sub-guns out there are not in an original Colt configuration. Many are using after market registered lower receivers or registered sears and use an after market conversion. The shooting community has two basic systems to choose from with regard to converting the M16 from 5.56mm caliber to 9mm caliber. These are the SGW style conversions and the Colt style conversions. There are advantages and disadvantages to each, and the purpose of this article is to describe these systems, and offer a comparative analysis. In addition to the basic caliber conversion systems, there are other means of customizing the converted weapons, to make them better suited to the needs and requirements of the individual shooter/collector, and a few of these will be covered as well.

The SGW style system has been around for many years, and has an extensive following among the shooting community. The system consists of a dedicated upper receiver/barrel assembly, a dedicated special bolt and carrier assembly and either a magazine well insert (for use with modified STEN magazines and special magazine catch) or a specially modified STEN magazine that will fit into an unmodified M16 magazine well (and use the standard M16 magazine catch.)

The Colt style system is typically assembled with an M16 type upper receiver (no forward assist), Colt or after market barrel, a variety of handguard configurations, a Colt full-auto bolt assembly, a special heavy buffer, a pair of magazine well inserts, a special Colt bolt catch (optional), and either an original Colt magazine, or a modified UZI magazine.

The primary advantages of the SGW conversions are that they are much less expensive to assemble, use relatively inexpensive modified STEN magazines, and have been commercially available for a much longer period of time. The magazine well adapter for the SGW conversion is easily installed and results in no permanent modification to the lower receiver. Some weak points to the SGW conversion are that the magazine release system may be altered, the ejector is somewhat less reliable, and changing the barrel configuration is more difficult.

The SGW style conversion uses an unusual ejector system to eject spent cartridges during firing. The ejector consists of a coil spring extension mounted on a cross pin within the upper receiver. Some users have complained about these ejector springs breaking, while others have used them for years with great success. There are some variances in their reliability. The SGW conversion also retains a fully functional forward assist mechanism, as is found on the M16A1 and A2 5.56mm rifles. The SGW systems are available as complete upper receiver/barrel units from the factory, complete with the magazine well adapters and proprietary magazines. The SGW uppers are only available to the general public, to include class 3 dealers, in semi-automatic form, which means 16 inch barrels and semi-auto bolt carriers. Olympic Arms, Inc. (SGW) could not sell class 3 configuration parts to anyone but police departments due to onerous state laws. Therefore, if you purchase an SGW 9mm conversion directly from them, you’ll have to convert it to select fire configuration if you wish to use it in a machine gun. This would require the installation of the sear trip step on the underside of the bolt carrier, and possibly shortening the barrel. However, Dalphon, Inc. offers the SGW style conversion in complete full-auto configuration, and offers short barrels with threaded muzzles, etc.

The magazine well adapters that Olympic Arms (SGW) uses are retained by the standard M16 magazine catch. They work very well with the modified STEN magazines. Dalphon, Inc. also sells magazines that work with the SGW conversion kit that require no magazine well adapters. The advantage of using magazines that have the adapters attached to them, is that the shooter does not have to re-learn where the magazine catch is to change magazines. Another advantage is that the shooter would not be able to inadvertently eject the magazine well adapter during a rapid and possibly stressful magazine change, by hitting the wrong catch. The only disadvantages to the magazines that have the adapters attached, are that they may no longer fit in the typical magazine pouches because they are too wide at the top. Custom magazine pouches could be made, but magazine changing would still be a little more awkward than with standard unmodified magazines. SGW did make a 25 round plastic magazine that resembles a straight 30 round 5.56mm M16 magazine, but held 25 9mm cartridges. This magazine would fit in any magazine pouch that works with the standard 5.56mm M16 magazine, and did not require an additional magazine well adapter. It worked with the standard M16 magazine catch. The current status of these plastic magazines, and their availability, is unknown.

The Colt style system is very different. The Colt style system has evolved from the original Colt 9mm/M16 machine-guns and carbines that were designed for the military and law enforcement markets. Colt has always been very hesitant to sell repair parts for these weapons to the public, and still refuses to sell some of the previously critical components. The chief advantage to the Colt system is superiority in design. It is inherently reliable and very simple. The chief disadvantage used to be availability. Fortunately, this has now been alleviated by the after market. C&S Metall-Werkes, in St. Charles, Missouri, now sells a complete Colt style kit that features all the components needed to complete the Colt style conversion on a registered machine gun receiver. The only disadvantage to the C&S kit is that it offers no flexibility regarding upper receiver type, handguard type or barrel configuration.

J&T Surplus offers original Colt 9mm parts for those who wish to purchase original equipment and install it. These kits use the Colt 9mm magazines. J&T has the original Colt magwell blocks available and also offers the Norrel style mag well blocks which install with an allen wrench, no drilling involved.

The Colt style system uses a pair of special magazine well adapters that, in the factory guns, are roll pinned into the lower receiver. Colt does not sell these magazine well inserts as repair parts. However, JRW Sports, Inc. now manufactures a set of “drop-in” magazine well inserts that enable the Colt system to be used. These new magazine inserts are very similar to the original Colt inserts, except that they are retained by set screws bearing on the inside of the magazine well, and they now have a sliding bolt catch actuator built into the rear mount that will enable the original Colt magazines to activate the 5.56mm bolt catch, when the magazine runs empty. Therefore, the use of the JRW magazine well inserts will enable the automatic bolt catch feature to work, without having to use the Colt 9mm special bolt catch. The Colt style system also uses a unique bolt and barrel. The 9mm Colt bolt resembles an M16 5.56mm bolt carrier that has had the front end filled in and the carrier key shortened. The Colt style barrels are very similar in external profile to the 5.56mm barrels. They differ significantly in the location of the chamber because the 9mm bolt is shorter than the 5.56mm bolt/carrier assembly, the chamber on the 9mm Colt barrels is closer to the rear of the gun than the chambers found on the 5.56mm guns. The magazine that the Colt system employs resembles an UZI magazine, except that it has a standing rib at the rear, that permits the clearance for a tab on the magazine follower that activates a longer bolt catch. The use of the Colt 9mm bolt catch and the original Colt magazines will cause the gun to retain the bolt to the rear after a magazine has run dry. But, if the 9mm Colt magazine blocks are removed, the longer tab on the 9mm bolt catch will interfere with a 5.56mm magazine, preventing it from properly functioning with a 5.56mm top half. Since the bolt catch is rather difficult to remove and change over, the JRW, Inc. 9mm magazine well inserts are much better suited for use in a convertible weapon. UZI magazines can usually be modified to work in Colt style conversions, but the original Colt magazines are not that expensive and are currently readily available. The use of a modified UZI magazine will not operate the automatic bolt hold-open feature, regardless of the type of bolt catch , or magazine well inserts that are used . The bolt catch can still be manually activated.

The original Colt 9mm machine-guns and carbines use a special 9mm recoil buffer in the collapsible stock weapons. This buffer is made of steel with a nylon tip and is significantly heavier than the 5.56mm carbine buffer. It is needed to keep the cyclic rate down to a reasonable level (700-750 rpm). Any heavy buffer of about the same weight will work as well. With a full length stock, a full length 5.56mm M16 buffer will work.

The upper receivers used in the Colt style system are many and varied. Basically, any 5.56mm upper receiver will work. No modification is required to make a functional conversion. The original Colt 9mm/M16 upper receivers strongly resemble the 5.56mm/M16 uppers (before the forward assist feature was added), but there is another small difference. The original Colt 9mm upper receivers use a slightly taller rear leaf sight and the recess, into which it can be folded, is longer than on the 5.56mm uppers. The difference is small, but noticeable if two are held side by side for comparison. Many of the recreational shooters are using flat-top upper receivers making it an unimportant consideration.

There are a few other cosmetic differences between the conversions, but they do not affect function to any reasonable degree. Both of these systems are available as a fully assembled and operational kit from the vendors listed at the end of this article. The Colt style barrels are relatively easy to make (as barrels go) and a drawing is provided to show the critical dimensions for interfacing with the M16 type upper receiver and Colt 9mm bolt.

Mixing and matching conversion parts between the Colt style and SGW systems does not work. The SGW bolt extends forward of the bolt carrier, requiring the chamber of the barrel to be closer to the muzzle than that on the Colt style system. The feed ramp for the SGW system is built into the barrel extension, and on the Colt style system, is attached to the front magazine well insert. This significant difference makes it impossible to use the SGW bolt with the Colt style barrel and vice-versa. Likewise, the magazines that work for one conversion system, will not work in the other.

Regardless of which system of conversion is used, the following additional customization features can be employed to further improve the gun for a particular shooter.

BUTTSTOCK MODIFICATIONS

Changing the buttstock from the collapsible to the full length fixed stock will greatly increase the handling characteristics of the gun. The collapsible stock is just too short for most people, and the total weapon weight is too far forward for good balance. Just changing the stock will make the weapon much more controllable and easier to shoot. You also won’t have to worry about the collapsible stock failing during a match. Remember that the M16A2 stock is 5/8 inch longer than the M16 or M16A1 stock, should optimizing length be important.

BUFFER MODIFICATIONS

There are several options with regard to the buffers that can be used with a 9mm conversion kit. (None of the “drop-in” kits include a buffer!) If the full length stock is used, the regular 5.56mm rifle buffer can be used, or the full length hydraulic buffer, or a new “rate-reducer” buffer, produced by Advanced Armament Corporation. If the short, collapsible buttstock is desired, the original Colt 9mm buffer can be used, the short hydraulic buffer or the short “rate-reducer” buffer are all options. The short 5.56mm CAR buffer is just too light to work well in a 9mm conversion kit.

If the full length stock is to be used, using a full length hydraulic buffer is an expensive option, but may be well worth it in terms of increased controllability, regardless of which type, or style, of 9mm conversion kit is used. The cyclic rate can drop below 600 RPM , and you won’t feel the sharp slapping of the bolt carrier as it bottoms out in the buffer tube. If you haven’t tried this mod, make an effort to test fire a gun with the hydraulic buffer before you discount the price of the buffer. Considering what some people pay for muzzle brakes, this buffer is actually worth the $200 it costs.

The standard rifle buffer will function in the full length stock, but will result in a much higher rate of fire, and a reduction in controllability. But if you are doing this a piece at a time, it will work.

For the collapsible stock, the original Colt 9mm buffer can be used. (The Colt 9mm machine gun buffer is the same as the 9mm Colt semi-automatic carbine buffer.) There are some short hydraulic buffers out there. They differ among each other in mechanical design, and vary between $150 and $300 in price. They are currently harder to get than the full length versions, and are supposed to be optimized for either 9mm or 5.56mm use. They may be interchangeable between calibers, but much about them is unknown.

A new buffer system is now available that may replace the hydraulic buffers as rate reducers. This new system is produced by Advanced Armament Corp. in Lawrenceville, Georgia. They make a series of buffer/spring combos that can be used in either short or full length stocks. The greatest effect is obtained when the full length stock version is used, but there is a carbine stock version that will work very well in either 9mm or 5.56mm calibers, making it ideal for convertible guns. The system uses a sliding recoil weight that creates a time delay during the cycle that effectively reduces the rate of fire. The system includes a buffer and a matched buffer spring. Installation is no more difficult than changing over any buffer. There are no hydraulics to leak out and the system appears to be very reliable. It is inherently simple, adds very little weight to the weapon (if you want to keep it light), and most importantly, it works! It doesn’t smooth out the cycle as much as the heavy full length hydraulic buffer does, but reducing the cyclic rate by about 150 rpm, is a very significant benefit. Of course, these systems would work with either the SGW or the Colt style conversion kits.

BARREL MODIFICATIONS

If you are using the SGW style system, you may be at a loss for a reasonably priced way to change the barrel. If you are using a Colt style system, it is a piece of cake to have custom barrels made up for varying conditions and requirements.

It is very convenient to use the aluminum or fiberglass “floating” handguard tubes as the only means of retaining the barrels. That means that the Colt style system permits quick change barrels without tools. This also makes it very easy to scrub out a barrel in the kitchen sink once you’ve slipped it out of the upper receiver.

UPPER RECEIVER MODIFICATIONS

The flat top uppers are ideal for competitive guns. They are tailor made for optical sights and permit a low mount that can be used without a cheek piece. Once again, this is more difficult with the SGW style conversion because their ejector is mounted in a cross pin in the upper receiver. Although SGW does not sell a conversion kit with the flat-top upper receiver, Dalphon does. If you are assembling a Colt style conversion from scratch; you can pick any type of upper receiver you want.

FRONT SIGHT MODIFICATIONS

With a custom barrel, it is easy to install one of the several after market front sight bases (gas blocks) that are offered for the M16 family. It could be retained with set screws and would enable the mounting of a front sight, to be used in conjunction with a detachable carrying handle for a back-up to an optical sighting system. It is no more difficult to install a custom gas block on the SGW 9mm upper than it is on any original M16. The removal of the front sight is still a nice option if any optical sight is used, even if mounted higher on the carrying handle, as it would have to be on an older conversion.

CONCLUSION

There are several distinct and different methods of completing a 9mm M16 conversion. Among these, you can go the SGW style route and minimize your expenses, go the Colt style route, or you can fully customize your conversion to optimize your own machine gun in a way you feel is best for you. Given the increases in the popularity of the 9mm/M16, and the unabated increases in the prices of other closed-bolt alternatives, there will probably be an increasing supply of the accessories available to customize an M16. The inherent difficulty in modifying the HK series weapons (beyond sticking additional gadgets on the outside of the gun), may permit the 9mm/M16 to gain the upper hand in true utility among the collector/shooters.

SOURCES

Colt Style Magazine Well Inserts with Bolt Catch Feature

JRW Sports, Inc.
E-mail: jrwsports@mindspring.com
3425 Yule Tree Drive
Ph: (904) 423-7805
Edgewater, FL 32141

Colt Style Conversion kits

C&S Metall-Werkes
Internet: www.csmetall-werkes.com
4025 Old Highway 94 S.
Ph: (314) 928-1511
Suite “O”
St. Charles, MO 63304

SGW Type Full-Auto Conversion Kits

Dalphon, Inc.
Internet: www.dalphon.com
P.O. Box 2215
Ph: (360) 427-6867
Shelton, WA 98584

SGW Semi-Auto Conversion Kits

Olympic Arms, Inc.
Internet: www.olyarms.com
620-626 Old Pacific Highway, SE Ph: (360) 459-7940
Olympia, WA 98513

Rate Reducers

Advanced Armament Corporation
221 West Crogan Street
Ph: (770) 277-4946
Lawrenceville, GA 30045

Various Original and After market Colt Style 9mm Conversion Parts:

J&T Surplus
Box 430
Ph:(606) 745-1757
Winchester, KY 40391

Custom M16 style components

ArmaLite, Inc.
P.O. Box 299
Ph. (309) 944-6939
Geneseo, IL 61254