By Jeffrey Folloder

ATF eForms for All! Making the NFA Application Process Stress-Free

When functioning properly, the U.S. Department of Justice Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives’ eForms system (eforms.atf.gov) has proven to be quite fast and efficient in processing NFA Forms for FFL/SOT users. It is not uncommon for FFL/SOT users to report Form 3 (Application for Tax-Exempt Transfer of Firearm and Registration to Special Occupational Taxpayer) approvals in as little as 2 hours. More importantly, eForms reduces errors by directing the user to select from pre-populated answers in various drop-down boxes during the application process. This also provides increased speed and turnaround efficiency. Non-FFL users have been patiently awaiting returned access to the eForms system for the filing of Form 1 (Application to Make and Register a Firearm) and Form 4 (Application for Tax Paid Transfer and Registration of Firearm). ATF has generally released the availability of Form 1 to all users (FFL/non-SOT, individual, trust, corporation, LLC, etc.), and the results are quite well-received in the National Firearms Act (NFA) community.

The first question that is usually asked about why a non-FFL would want to register with eForms is: Why? Quite simply, the answer is speed. Especially in the case of creating a lawful short-barreled rifle or shotgun. A non-FFL can purchase an SBR or SBS from a dealer, complete a Form 4, send it off and expect to wait 6 to 9 months for the NFA Division. Or the non-FFL can create a Form 1 application via the eForms system to build its own SBR or SBS and expect to have that process approved in as little as 2 weeks! This appears to be one of those situations where the term “no-brainer” seems particularly appropriate. Why would anyone intentionally wait more than they have to?

The first step in utilizing eForms is to register as an eForms user. Anyone who has registered for anything online should feel comfortable with the registration process that begins here: eforms.atf.gov/EForms/faces/userProfile/userRegistration.jspx. All of the fields with an asterisk are required entries, and certain fields will be automatically populated. The execution of the “Register” button at the bottom of the page will initiate the validation process, and the new user should expect to receive emails from ATF in short order regarding the status of the registration.

After successfully obtaining the eForms account, all that is needed to create a Form 1 is to follow the steps:

• Log on to the eForms system. (Please note that the system is down for scheduled maintenance every Wednesday.)
• Select the Form 1 from the “carousel” selector.
• You will be prompted to select your applicant type (individual, trust, etc.).
• You will be prompted to confirm the tax paid/not paid status of the application.
• You will then be prompted for information regarding the applicant.

If the applicant is a trust or other legal entity, you will also be prompted for information regarding all of the responsible persons (RP) associated with the applicant. Please note that each RP must complete and submit ATF Form 5320.23 (NFA RP Questionnaire), which is NOT available on the eForms system. That form can be downloaded from the ATF website, completed and then scanned and submitted with the eForms process.

You will then be prompted for information regarding the Chief Law Enforcement Officer (CLEO) for the applicant’s jurisdiction.

Next, it is time to specify the firearm being made:

• Click the Add Firearm button;
• In almost all cases, the firearm is being made from an existing firearm. Enter the manufacturer name (you will be prompted with suggestions as you type) and click Verify Manufacturer. You will be alerted as to the success or failure of the verification;
• Select the Manufacturer Country;
• Click the Next button.

You will then select the Product type, model and caliber of the proposed weapon. In most cases, the model should be available from a pre-populated drop-down list. You will also have the opportunity to add additional description information. This screen also requires an input for why you intend to make the firearm. A simple “collection and recreation” statement is recommended. Drawings or schematics can be attached at this stage, if needed.

The next screen is where you are prompted to upload electronic documents. These documents include trust or other legal entity formation documents, RP Questionnaire(s) and color photos. Please note that you CANNOT electronically submit fingerprint cards at this point of the process.

The next step is the certification and payment stage. You will not be allowed to complete this section until all required entries have been made. Errors will be noted in red, and the applicant will be prompted to go back and correct mistakes.

As noted in #10, the eForms system cannot yet accept uploaded fingerprint cards, so if the application requires fingerprint cards, the fingerprint cards must be submitted in hard copy. The eForms system will generate an email notification to the submitter providing a cover letter which is to be returned with the fingerprints so they can be matched to the application. This email notification should be opened and viewed on a desktop system, as opposed to a smart phone. Some users have reported issues being able to properly open and print the cover letter when using a smart phone. Return the cover letter and fingerprint cards to the NFA Division as soon as possible. Applications may be rejected if fingerprints are received more than 14 days after issuance of the cover letter!

• Print off the CLEO copy of the Form 1 and send to the listed CLEO (fax or mail is sufficient).
• Wait for approval.

Of course, one would assume that with the successful implementation of Form 1 to the eForms system, Form 4s should be next. That would be a logical assumption, yet there has been no word from ATF that this is forthcoming in the near term. In addition, one would hope that ATF would be joining the rest of the law enforcement community and implement the ability to electronically transmit secure fingerprints to further increase speed and efficiency. Sadly, that appears to require significant infrastructure upgrades for which no budget currently exists. That lack of budget also weighs heavily on upgrading the core eForms system. For now, we will all be using the system in place today. And we will all hope that the incremental improvements currently being made to the system are sufficient to address the growing needs of the NFA community.

By Johanna Reeves, Esq.

The Intersection of U.S. Anti-Discrimination Laws with Export Controls and Federal Firearms Laws (Part 1 of a two-part series.)

Businesses that engage in manufacturing firearms, other munitions or other defense articles may think it prudent to restrict employment to U.S. persons. At first glance, this approach may seem logical. After all, the production of firearms is subject to the strict technology controls of the Arms Export Control Act (AECA), Title 22, U.S. Code, Chapter 39, its implementing regulations of the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), Title 22 Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 120-130 and the restrictions on transfers to and possession by certain persons under the Gun Control Act of 1968 (GCA), Title 18 U.S. Code, Chapter 44.

While there are indeed statutory controls on what information pertaining to the manufacture of firearms can be shared with non-U.S. persons, or who can possess firearms, it is important that U.S. businesses take all necessary precautions to avoid violating the anti-discrimination laws that may apply to their operations. Failure to abide by these laws may result in stiff fines and penalties. In this two-part series, we will walk through the intersection of U.S. anti-discrimination laws, U.S. export control requirements, and Federal firearms laws.

I. What is Discrimination?

Before we delve into the intersection of these laws, it is important to understand the basic definition of “discrimination.” In the most general terms, to discriminate means to mark or perceive the distinguishing or peculiar features of someone or something, distinguish, to recognize or identify as separate or distinct or to make a difference in treatment or favor on a basis other than individual merit. See Merriam-Webster Dictionary, merriam-webster.com (last visited Jan. 9, 2019). Federal law prohibits unfair or unequal treatment of an individual or group because of certain characteristics, such as age, disability, ethnicity, gender, marital status, national origin, race or religion. This article focuses on employment discrimination, which happens when an employer gives different or negative treatment toward a current employee, former employee or job applicant. It is important that we draw an initial distinction though: treating a person less favorably because of inappropriate conduct or poor job performance does not amount to unlawful discrimination.

In the United States, the Congress has taken steps to protect individuals from discrimination in a wide variety of circumstances by passing a number of laws, including the Civil Rights Act, the Equal Pay act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. To delve into all anti-discrimination laws on the books would far exceed the scope of this article. For purposes of this series, we will focus on the anti-discrimination requirements that most impact compliance with export control requirements and federal firearms laws.

In particular, we will focus on the following statutes: (1) Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (“Title VII”), Pub. L. 88-352, which makes it unlawful to discriminate against someone on the basis of national origin, among other factors; (2) the Immigration Reform and Control Act of 1986 (IRCA), Title 8, U.S. Code 1324b, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of an individual’s citizenship or immigration status; and (3) Title I of the American with Disabilities Act of 1990 (ADA), Pub. L. 101-336, which prohibits the discrimination against individuals with disabilities as defined in the statute.

A. Discrimination Based on National Origin

National Origin discrimination occurs when an applicant or employee is treated adversely because he or she is from a particular country or region, because of ethnicity or accent, or because he or she appears or is perceived to be of a certain ethnic background. National origin considers a person’s ethnicity, ancestry and place of birth. See 29 C.F.R. § 1606.1.

According to the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Small Businesses Fact Sheet: National Origin Discrimination, “national origin discrimination means discrimination because an individual (or his or her ancestors) is from a certain place or shares the physical, cultural or language characteristics of a national origin (ethnic) group.” eeoc.gov/laws/guidance/national-origin-factsheet.cfm (last visited on Jan. 9, 2019).

Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964

Title VII is enforced by the EEOC and makes it illegal to discriminate against any employee or job applicant based on national origin. Title VII applies to foreign nationals in the United States, not just U.S. persons. This means that Title VII prohibits the refusal to hire an applicant solely because that individual is not a U.S. person. In other words, employers may not deny an applicant merely because the person is not a U.S. citizen or green card holder.

There are two narrow exceptions to this blanket prohibition: (1) for U.S. national security interests; and (2) the Bona Fide Occupational Qualification (BFOQ). The Title VII national security exception states it is not unlawful for an employer to refuse to hire or decide to discharge an individual from a position because “(1) the occupancy of such position, or access to the premises in or upon which any part of the duties of such position is performed or is to be performed, is subject to any requirement imposed in the interest of the national security of the United States under any security program in effect pursuant to or administered under any statute of the United States or any Executive order of the President; and (2) such individual has not fulfilled or has ceased to fulfill that requirement.” 42 U.S. Code § 2000e-2(g). This exception, however, must be implemented in a non-discriminatory way.

The BFOQ exception of Title VII allows an employer to decide whether to employ or hire an individual based on national origin in certain instances where national origin is a bona fide occupational qualification reasonably necessary to the normal operation of that particular business or enterprise. 42 U.S.C. § 2000e-2(e). In order to establish the applicability of the BFOQ exception, the employer must be able to prove the national origin requirement is necessary to the job function and that non-U.S. persons would be unable to perform the job safely and efficiently.

For example, consider the following: an employer refuses to hire someone because the latter’s national origin makes him/her ineligible for the position because a license cannot be obtained, versus an employer refusing to hire someone because his or her national origin triggers an export license requirement and the licensing process is difficult, lengthy or costly. In the first scenario, a license is required for the position but cannot be obtained, perhaps because of an embargo or other national security prohibition, therefore making the non-U.S. person ineligible for the position. In the second instance, the decision not to hire is simply based on a matter of convenience—the non-U.S. person is eligible to be covered by a license, but the employer doesn’t want to go through the process of obtaining the authorization. Inconvenience is not a defense to national origin discrimination. We will examine this in greater depth in Part Two of this series.

Immigration Reform and Control Act (amends the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) (8 U.S.C. § 1324b)

This law prohibits companies from hiring or firing individuals based on national origin and citizenship. Unlike Title VII, this statute does not protect persons who are not permanent residents, temporary residents, refugees or asylees with or without employment authorization. The IRCA also allows a company to prefer to hire, recruit or refer an individual who is a citizen or national of the U.S. over an alien if the two individuals are equally qualified.

The Immigrant and Employee Rights Section (IER) of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division (formerly the Office of Special Counsel for Immigration-Related Unfair Employment Practices) is charged with administering and implementing the INA. It investigates claims to determine whether discriminatory conduct under the INA occurred under the following:

Citizenship or immigration status discrimination with respect to hiring, firing and recruitment or referral for a fee by employers with four or more employees.

Employers may not treat individuals differently based on citizenship or immigration status. U.S. citizens, recent permanent residents, temporary residents, asylees and refugees are protected from citizenship status discrimination. Exceptions: permanent residents who do not apply for naturalization within six months of eligibility are not protected from citizenship status discrimination. Citizenship status discrimination which is otherwise required to comply with law, regulation, executive order or government contract is permissible by law.

National origin discrimination with respect to hiring, firing and recruitment or referral for a fee by employers with more than three and fewer than 15 employees.

Employers may not treat individuals differently because of their place of birth, country of origin, ancestry, native language, accent or because they are perceived as looking or sounding “foreign.” All U.S. citizens, lawful permanent residents and other work-authorized individuals are protected from national origin discrimination. The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has jurisdiction over employers with 15 or more employees.

Unfair documentary practices related to verifying the employment eligibility of employees.

Employers may not request more or different documents than are required to verify employment eligibility, reject reasonably genuine-looking documents or specify certain documents over others with the purpose or intent of discriminating on the basis of citizenship status or national origin. U.S. citizens and all other work-authorized individuals are protected from unfair documentary practices.

Retaliation/Intimidation.

Individuals who file charges with IER, who cooperate with an IER investigation, who contest action that may constitute unfair documentary practices or discrimination based upon citizenship or immigration status or national origin or who assert their rights under the INA’s anti-discrimination provision are protected from intimidation, threats, coercion and retaliation.

See the Immigrant and Employee Rights Section of the Department of Justice’s Civil Rights Division website at justice.gov/crt/types-discrimination (last visited Jan. 9, 2019).

Neither Title VII nor the IRCA require an employer to hire someone who is not able to perform functions of the job, and employers are not obligated to provide accommodation for such employees once they are hired. Compliance with both of these laws directly impact export control licensing requirements as they apply to the hiring of foreign persons. The effect of anti-discrimination prohibitions on the employment of or decision to hire a non-U.S. person will be explored in Part Two to this article.

B. Discrimination Based on Disability

The American with Disabilities Act (ADA) makes it illegal to discriminate against a qualified individual on the basis of disability in regard to “job application procedures, the hiring, advancement or discharge of employees, employee compensation, job training and other terms, conditions and privileges of employment.” The law also requires that employers reasonably accommodate the known physical or mental limitations of an otherwise qualified individual with a disability, unless doing so would impose an undue hardship on the operation of the employer’s business. The ADA Title I covers private employers with more than 15 employees.

A disability under the ADA is defined as: (a) a physical or mental impairment that substantially limits one or more major life activities of such individual; (b) a record of such an impairment; or (c) being regarded as having such an impairment. The term includes individuals who have been rehabilitated successfully and are no longer engaging in illegal drug use; are participating in a supervised rehabilitation program and are no longer engaging in such use; or are erroneously regarded as engaging in such use. An individual who is currently engaging in the illegal use of drugs is not covered by the ADA. This particular disability protection directly impacts how companies can conduct certain screening that is necessary under the GCA to determine whether an individual may be prohibited from possession or receipt of a firearm. We will examine into this intersection in Part Two of this series.

II. Dealing with the Intersection

Anti-discrimination laws are a necessary and vital part of our legal framework and serve to prevent unlawful discriminatory practices and promote equal opportunity for all. Of no lesser importance, the laws and regulations governing the manufacture, possession and transfer of firearms and other defense articles protect our national security and public safety. In Part Two, we will walk through the controls on technology transfer and GCA possession restrictions that apply to the manufacture of firearms and other munitions and discuss how to reconcile the seemingly conflicting requirements of the ITAR and GCA. Navigating the overlap among these laws is a must for any company seeking to maintain a robust compliance program. We will examine some common questions that come up, such as:

As a manufacturer of firearms, can I require all my employees to be U.S. citizens because we work with controlled technology or technical data?

Can I have a blanket corporate policy not to assign non-U.S. citizens to certain job functions?

If an employee was born in an embargoed country and I am not able to obtain authorization to share technical data with that employee, do I have to offer accommodations to that employee because he is not able to perform his job?

Can I screen potential employees against the prohibited persons provisions of the Gun Control Act without violating the ADA?

The author extends her appreciation to the generous contributions of Katherine Heubert, Esq., at Reeves & Dola, LLP (kheubert@reevesdola.com).

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The information contained in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to be construed or used as legal advice or as legal opinion. You should not rely or act on any information contained in this article without first seeking the advice of an attorney. Receipt of this article does not establish an attorney-client relationship.

About the Author

Johanna Reeves is the founding partner of the law firm Reeves & Dola, LLP in Washington, DC (reevesdola.com). For more than 15 years she has dedicated her practice to advising and representing U.S. companies on compliance matters arising under the federal firearms laws and U.S. export controls. Since 2011, Johanna has served as Executive Director for the Firearms and Ammunition Import/Export Roundtable (F.A.I.R.) Trade Group (fairtradegroup.org). She has also served as a member of the Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG) since 2016. Johanna can be reached at jreeves@reevesdola.com or 202-715-9941.

By Kyle Shea

More Guns o f “Overlord”

On November 9, 2018, the movie “Overlord” was released in the United States. The movie tells the fictional story of a group of American paratroopers dropped behind German lines on D-Day. They stumble upon a secret German facility experimenting on human beings with a strange serum. The film was produced by J. J. Abrams and stars Jovan Adepo from the new “Star Wars” movies and Wyatt Russell, son of Kurt Russell.

The movie featured a number of different firearms, and some were featured in the March 2019 issue of Small Arms Review. We’d like to highlight more of the firearms used in the movie.

As I said before, I did not see “Overlord.” I am not a big horror or zombie movie fan. I do like older horror movies like “Dracula” (1931), “Frankenstein” (1931) and “The Wolf Man” (1941), but not newer films. From what I heard, the movie was well-received from critics but did poorly at the Box Office. If movies like “Overlord” are your cup of tea, by all means go enjoy this film.

Special Note: June 6, 2019, will be the 75th anniversary of the D-Day invasion. There will be ceremonies throughout Normandy, and it is likely that this will be the last time for many of the soldiers who took part in it to be there. I have signed up for a tour, and I will be there to report on it. If you have any interest in going, it would be a good idea to start looking into how to go now.

One of the most famous weapons of World War II was the M1 Garand. It was first produced in 1934 and saw service in dozens of conflicts across the world. It loads eight .30-06 (7.62x63mm) rounds that are loaded into the gun through the top using a clip. One problem the gun had was that the clip would cause a ping sound when it injected with the last round. Despite this minor flaw, the M1 Garand was a good rifle and was well liked by the soldiers who carried it.

Another rifle made famous in World War II was the M1 Carbine. It was produced for officers and tank crews, as well as paratroopers. From a distance, it looks like a lighter version of the M1 Garand. It shoots .30 Carbine (7.62x33mm) from 15- and 30-round magazines, with the M2 full-auto version at a rate of 750 rounds per minute. It was very light and had a range of 300 yards. There was actually a special M1A1 variant which had a folding buttstock for paratroopers. Sadly, that is not the model that was used in the movie.

The story behind the M1 Carbine is interesting. The gas piston was designed by David “Carbine” Williams, who had been sent to jail for the murder of a deputy. However, he showed such a talent for mechanical engineering that even the widow of the deputy who was killed agreed to his release to help serve his country. There is even a movie based on his life named “Carbine Williams.”

The M1903 Springfield Rifle is one of America’s most successful rifles. It was adopted in 1903 in response to the mixed performance of the Krag-Jorgensen Rifle. The M1903 first saw service in World War I and did well in the trenches. Even after the American Armed forces adopted the M1 Garand, the M1903 and other variants of the gun served on until the Vietnam War.

The M1903 in the “Overlord” movie is actually a variant of the rifle called the M1903A4. The main differences between the M1903 and M1903A3 guns are that the sights on the A3 were moved to the rear of the receiver, some of the parts are stamped, and many had two-groove barrels. The main difference on the M1903A4 is its sights were removed and replaced with mounts for a sniper scope. While it was a good infantry rifle, it did comparatively poorly as a sniper rifle. The gun holds five .30-06 rounds in an internal magazine like other bolt-action rifles and has a range of 1000m or more.

The M1903 Springfield Rifle is one of America’s most successful rifles. It was adopted in 1903 in response to the mixed performance of the Krag-Jorgensen Rifle. The M1903 first saw service in World War I and did well in the trenches. Even after the American Armed forces adopted the M1 Garand, the M1903 and other variants of the gun served on until the Vietnam War.

The M1903 in the “Overlord” movie is actually a variant of the rifle called the M1903A4. The main differences between the M1903 and M1903A3 guns are that the sights on the A3 were moved to the rear of the receiver, some of the parts are stamped, and many had two-groove barrels. The main difference on the M1903A4 is its sights were removed and replaced with mounts for a sniper scope. While it was a good infantry rifle, it did comparatively poorly as a sniper rifle. The gun holds five .30-06 rounds in an internal magazine like other bolt-action rifles and has a range of 1000m or more.

By Robert G. Segel

World War I-era trench art mess kit lid. Engraved and embossed with the insignia of the “AA” (All-American) “82nd” (Division) with etching of “E co. 320th MG” (E Company, 320th Machine Gun Battalion). Further artwork shows a U.S. Doughboy (with U.S. etched on his canteen cover) firing a Browning Model of 1917 water-cooled machine gun behind sand bags. The 320th Machine Gun Battalion of the 82nd Division fought in the St. Mihiel, Meuse Argonne and Defense Sector during World War I.

Australian First Armoured Car Regiment (1930-1942). Brass collar badge with King’s crown atop wreath with armoured car to center with Vickers machine gun turret. Motto banner below reads, “Celere Exploratu” (Rapid Explorer). Pin Back.

World War I British officer’s trench whistle with placard attached with “M.G.C 2” (2nd Battalion Machine Gun Corps). Typical whistle used to advance troops “over the top.” Maker-marked “The Acme City Whistle Patent.” Along the top reads, “Hudsons Patent 5727-08” (for two-piece top) with lanyard loop. J. Hudson & Company was founded in the 1870s, and Acme is the world’s largest and most famous producers of whistles headquartered in the Jewelry Quarter district in Birmingham, England. Hudson was the largest whistle manufacturer for the British Empire police, military, sports, railways and many other uses. (This company made the whistles that were used by the crew on board the ill-fated Titanic in 1912.)

French 9th Machine Gun Battalion badge. Two-piece construction with gold gilt flaming ordnance bomb with “9e” over shield with “BM” (Battalion Mitrailleurs—Machine Gun Battalion) in blue lettering with red stripes. It is attached to a white metal circle of machine gun bullets with crossed Hotchkiss M1914 machine guns. Maker information marked on rear: “Drago. Paris 25 Rue Beranger.” Pin Back.

Japanese veteran’s commemorative sake cup tray (obon). Lacquered (urushi) World War II (China occupation era) black background with silver image of pine tree for long life, army star and gold Type 11 light machine gun. Kanji at top reads, “Triumphant Return.” Reverse has name in kanji “Kikugawa.” 8.25×8 inches.

Italian World War II sleeve shield. Black shirt (Fascist) machine gun proficiency badge. Die-struck metal with six holes for sewing on uniform. Shield-shape with star to top, black painted border with leaves and central image of FIAT-Revelli Model 1914 water-cooled machine gun.

By Todd Burgreen

The Ultimate Hunting AR Package

Modern sporting rifle (MSR) terminology for the AR is an industry attempt to help define the growing role that AR-type rifles have assumed beyond strictly tactical “assault” rifles. AR rifles are versatile, easily accessorized and suitable for a wide variety of recreational, sport shooting and professional applications. While ARs were quickly embraced for varmint hunting, caliber expansion has steadily grown in popularity with hunters for larger-sized game as well. The 2A Armament XLR-20 is a great example of the growing potential of ARs in the hunting arena. The XLR-20 highlights all of the AR positives in its MSR form, especially when combined with the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge.

Features

2A Armament is an ISO 9001 and AS 9100 certified advance manufacturing machining shop for the aerospace, medical, prosthetic, motorsports, semiconductor and outdoor recreation markets. This is matched with hand finishing of every AR part. It only takes a visual inspection to realize that this is not mere propaganda. The individual Picatinny rails running the length of the upper receiver and along the proprietary 15-inch 2A Xanthos-lite rail are hollowed out; brass deflector craftily minimized; 7075-T6 billet receivers precision-crafted; 2A Armament X4 titanium muzzle brake on the 20-inch 5R 1:8 4150 steel barrel; M4 feed ramps; titanium gas block at the end of the rifle length gas rod; and titanium receiver pin—you get the point. No detail was too small in quest to shave ounces. Significantly, a full mass bolt group is used. 2A did not want to sacrifice any reliability by modifying/tinkering with this component.

The XLR-20’s barrel features 1:8RH 5R button rifling. 5R rifling was developed by Barrett “Boots” Obermeyer. 5R is different from conventional rifling by changing the shape and configuration of the lands and grooves. 5R use 5 lands and grooves versus the more common 4 or 6 land/groove profile. This puts lands opposite of grooves with another tweak being the transition from the top of the land to the groove is sloped. 5R reduces projectile deformation as it passes through the bore during the firing sequence. More uniform projectile means better accuracy. 5R rifling is easier to clean and less prone to accuracy-robbing fouling. All of this is not abstract theory as 5R rifling has developed a dedicated target shooting following that swears by it.

Configuration

Without a doubt the 2A Armament XLR-10 rifle will change users’ thoughts on how an AR-10 style rifle can be configured. Often the AR-10 is associated with unwieldy profile, weighing substantially over 9 pounds. 2A Armament has made a conscious effort with the XLR-20 to harness 6.5 Creedmoor potential in a frame more svelte than many AR-15s. The added weight of most AR-10 platforms compared to the smaller AR-15 negates inherent AR qualities of handling in many users’ minds. Not this rifle—6 pounds, 14 ounces as verified on my FFL dealer’s shipping scale. Impressive stuff! The combining of the great handling XLR-20 platform with the increased power represented in the 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge is the key to its allure as a versatile performer afield. I immediately slated the XLR-20 as the ultimate hunting AR package. This is speaking in terms of the XLR-20 lethality and effective range, while still allowing for ease of carry, all combined with precision accuracy.

Ballistics

The accuracy potential of a quality AR-15- or AR-10-type weapon is on par or exceeds a bolt action. The 2A XLR-20 reinforced this assumption. Over the last few years the AR-10 type rifle has evolved into no longer being limited by the capability of the .308Win cartridge—its most popular chambering. This is all thanks to cartridge development that will now fit into the .308Win footprint while still offering improvement in ballistic performance.

The 6.5 Creedmoor was introduced by Hornady in 2007 for long-range target shooting applications. The 6.5 Creedmoor typifies the short and efficient cartridge principle. 6.5mm bullets have a reputation for a high ballistic coefficient (BC) rating as well as sectional density (SD). SD is the ratio of a bullet’s mass to its cross-section. All things being equal, a high SD penetrates better than a low SD. BC is a measurement of how well a bullet moves through the air. Velocity loss and impact of wind drift is minimized the higher the BC rating as the round travels downrange. The final sweetener is only moderate recoil. 120- to 140-grain bullets have always attracted hunters/tactical/target shooters. It is hard to beat 130 grains moving at 3000 feet per second.

Optics Choice

I agonized over scope selection. I did not want to put an anchor on the top rail; yet I still wanted the magnification range to take advantage of such a sleek AR chambered in potent 6.5 Creedmoor. We are talking about true multipurpose roles: stalking game while maintaining long-range punch across a clearing. An important part of the accuracy equation is a quality optic to go along with the cartridge and rifle. A SIG SAUER WHISKEY5 3-15x44mm optic was mounted to the 2A XLR-20. The SIG SAUER WHISKEY optic’s versatile 5-times zoom system provides a larger field of view at close ranges and better target acquisition at long ranges. The WHISKEY5 utilizes a second focal plane reticle. SIG SAUER has equipped the WHISKEY5 with an electronically illuminated Hellfire Reticle which can vary the light intensity of the central aiming point from IR (Infrared) dim to HellFire bright for daylight illumination, resulting in a bright, defined aiming point for precision shot placement in any condition. The SIG SAUER optic has many other distinguishing characteristics such as LevelPlex Anti-Cant, HDX glass and LENSARMOR to mention a few.

The 2A XLR-20 was initially sighted in at Echo Valley Training Center’s (EVTC) Range #2 with a 100-yard zero. Different 6.5 Creedmoor loads were fired from the bench to determine a base accuracy level. Various loads from Hornady and Federal consisted of a mix of hunting and match loads to illustrate the ballistic flexibility inherent in both the XLR-20 and 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge. These specific loads were Federal 120-grain Trophy Copper, Gold Medal Berger 130-grain Hybrid Match and 140-grain Nosler Accubond. Hornady was represented by the 129-grain SST. This is just a small splattering of the 6.5 Creedmoor loads available from each company with other companies offering even more. Overall, accuracy was impressive with no load producing groups over 2 inches at 100 yards with some bordering on ¾-inch. The Timney flat trigger is a real treat with the XLR-20. A short take up is finished with a 2-pound break.

Innovative

2A Armament’s Titanium Regulated Bolt Carrier (RBC) shows 2A’s commitment to be an innovator in the AR market. Discussion of this arose when I contacted 2A about a certain ammunition over-accelerating the bolt and causing malfunctions. 2A was aware of this and named it before I mentioned the one I had used. 2A developed the Titanium Regulated Bolt Carrier (RBC) for their AR-15 first with the AR-10 platform quick to follow. The RBC is an ultra-lightweight carrier with a gas regulating gate built into the carrier itself. This provides a drop-in, extremely lightweight solution for those looking to tune their AR’s gas system and minimize the felt recoil. It eliminates the need for adjustable gas blocks and allows the firearm to be restored to a factory full-weight system by simply swapping your full-mass carrier back into your firearm. The RBC has infinite adjustment from fully open to fully closed on the regulating gate. The RBC can be tuned to most combinations of ammunition, buffers, springs, suppressors, barrel lengths, etc. The RBC is fully adjustable through the port door and does not require the firearm to be broken down for adjustment.

Field Tests

After the bench-work testing innate accuracy at Echo Valley Training Center’s (EVTC) Range #2, I performed some of my normal field tests. These consisted of shooting prone off a bi-pod or pack at clay pigeons at 300 yards from prepared “dug-in” positions offered at EVTC. I fired and acquired the next target as quickly as possible on the 4.33-inch diameter clay pigeons. The 6.5 Creedmoor cartridge combined with the ergonomic well-tuned XLR-20 proved potent. Other range work consisted of shooting B-27 man-targets out to 600 yards on EVTC’s Known Distance Range. 2A XLR-20 accuracy combined with premium ammunition and the clear SIG SAUER optic enabled center mass shots with ease.

The EVTC Jungle Walk Range was used to get a sense of handling of the 2A XLR-20. Targets were set up randomly along the meandering 275-yard range. A shooter had to move down the path until a target was spotted. The XLR-20 was more than manageable in terms of handling when carrying and engaging targets from the standing or kneeling position. After all, it is an AR which is renowned for basic ergonomics. Further field testing consisted of carrying the XLR-20 deer hunting in both VA and WV; after all it is an MSR.

A Useful Accessory

An Eberlestock X31 LoDrag II Pack proved a natural companion to the XLR-20 during T&E. The X31 LoDrag II is the latest evolution of the Eberlestock LoDrag series. The X31 incorporates a tactical weapon-sized scabbard. It has a unique contour shape that tapers at both the top and the bottom, giving the pack an excellent close-to-the-body ride. The X31 is fully compressible with pairs of side-mounted compression straps that draw the load upward to optimally position over the wearer’s center of gravity. MOLLE-10 lightweight webbing is used, to which you can attach conventional 25mm MOLLE accessories. The Eberlestock X31 LoDrag II Pack serves as an excellent example of Eberlestock’s simple, practical ingenuity. There’s no digging and wrestling with your pack to free an item—it’s quick at hand. Designed to be a highly functional, minimalist, lightweight tactical pack, the X31 incorporates a rifle scabbard. If you carry your weapon on your back, you’re much more agile and effective than if it’s stuck in your hands or on a shoulder sling all of the time; there’s simply no better way to move about in an organized fashion. By having the pack carry the rifle, your hands are free for all of the things you need them for when you are traversing terrain. Furthermore, Eberlestock makes it so that you can get your weapon out the pack without having to unstrap everything that you’re wearing.

Final Thoughts

Many contend that the 6.5 Creedmoor chambered in an accurate semi-automatic like the XLR-20 is the epitome of an MSR. In the same vein, the semi-automatic sub-7-pound 2A Armament XLR-20 offers advantages most other AR-10 rifles, or for that matter bolt action rifles, cannot compete with. A trained marksman will definitely be able to put to good use the ballistic advantages offered by the 6.5 Creedmoor XLR-20 with its precision semi-automatic firepower. The XLR-20 sacrifices nothing in terms of accuracy. Yes, first-round hits are paramount; however, do not underestimate the importance of fast follow-up shots after observing initial impact or if more targets are available.

Rarely does merely unpacking an AR get me excited any more. Such is the prevalence of the AR/MSR platform. A true credit to its popularity. However, with the 2A Armament XLR-20 direct impingement AR you know something special is at hand. 2A Armament did not enter into the AR market without serious forethought and a conscious decision to try and separate its ARs from other offerings in a cluttered AR market. The XLR-20 succeeds in this mission.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

2A Armament
2a-arms.com

Echo Valley Training Center
echovalleytraining.com

Federal Cartridge Company
federalpremium.com

Hornady Mfg., Inc.
hornady.com

SIG SAUER
sigsauer.com

Eberlestock
eberlestock.com

If at least some of a rifle’s inherent value is commensurate with its ability to hit a target then it may be said that a bipod is among the most important accessories for that rifle. The bipod offers better stability than shooting sticks or monopods, and the fact that it is small enough and light enough to be hard-mounted to a rifle makes it more practical and useful than a free-standing rifle rest or sandbag.

Magpul has just released their long-awaited entry into the bipod market. Like all things Magpul, it is crafted of high-impact, reinforced polymer. The particular “plastic” used in all Magpul products exhibits strength very near that of aluminum. Resilience and resistance to impact and deformation are greater than that of aluminum. And this miracle polymer also weighs about 60% less than aluminum.

Stable Design

The overall design is well thought-out. It’s very streamlined to resist snagging and interfering with the shooter’s movement or manipulation of the weapon. There are no exposed springs, hooks or protrusions to speak of. The legs can be deployed from their upright folded position very quickly with one hand just by pulling them down and away from the weapon. The legs are extended simply by depressing the lock button and sliding the leg out to its desired position. A shooter can choose to deploy and extend silently if he carefully maintains pressure on the lock buttons throughout these motions. Some more established bipod brands featuring spring-loaded or self-extending legs cannot make this claim. It’s an important consideration for a hunter who prefers to not startle his quarry. The only design feature that might prove a detriment to some shooters is that the legs do not lock in the folded upright position—it’s foreseeable that a random encounter with a tree branch could cause a leg to deploy. This event would be accompanied by a loud “crack” while the locking button snaps into position.

The pan and tilt feature of the Magpul Bipod is excellent. A single (and easily accessible) knurled locking knob is located between the legs and directly below the mounting platform. The knob turns easily to free up the pan and tilt and then locks down easily to establish a firmly fixed position. However simple the mechanism appears, Magpul has been able to deliver more articulation from the pan and tilt head than most other bipod brands—a total of 50 degrees of pan and 40 degrees of tilt.

The legs only fold in one direction, but if the bipod is attached to a rifle so the legs fold forward and it becomes necessary or convenient that they fold rearward, the bipod can be reversed. The locking knob is loosened to its limit (it won’t come all the way off) to allow the lower “knuckle” to spin 180 degrees. Thereby the bipod’s orientation on the weapon can be reversed without removing it from the weapon mount. This feature is likely just a coincidence of another design exclusive; the pan can be disabled to add more rigidity to the unit. There is a disk marked “pan” and “lock” just below the tilting hinge. This disk can be spun 180 degrees to position either setting next to an indicator arrow. Once set to the “lock” position, the pan feature is totally locked out, and the bipod takes on an extra degree of stability.

The supplied “feet” are durable hard rubber and can be replaced with any off-the-shelf accessory foot intended for Atlas brand bipods. Another convenient and related feature is a rubber disk affixed to the locking knob between the legs. The shooter is given the ability to rest the bipod on any hard or slippery surface while the legs are stowed in their folded upright position.

At first use one might find the Magpul bipod to be more “wobbly” than other brand bipods. Yes, at first impression it is. One might even notice an audible rattle when manipulating the bipod. This is more noticeable while using a lightweight rifle. When attached to a relatively heavier rifle the bipod seems to settle down and offer the same stability as all metal bipods costing 3x more. Even when used with a light rifle, we found it beneficial to “load” the rifle forward while forcibly splaying the legs open to their extreme limit. As it is common practice among precision rifle shooters to “load” their bipods in a similar manner, there is no real argument to be made against the stability of Magpul’s version.

How the Bipod Stacks Up

The following is a performance comparison of the Magpul bipod against common bipods of similar cost, size or feature.
Cost should never be counted on to determine quality or utility of an item. In the case of rifle marksmanship, if a shooter can save a little on his bipod in order to afford a better scope or more ammunition, he is points ahead, if and only if the cost savings can be had without a compromise to function.

Cost:
• Magpul $109
• Harris BRMS $105 (with Pod-Loc and G&G Picatinny adapter totals $160)
• Atlas BT-10 $220
• Accu-Tac SR-5 $235

Weight:
• Magpul just under 12oz
• Atlas BT-10 12.8oz
• Harris BRMS 13.5oz with (Picatinny adapter and Pod-Loc)
• Accu-Tac SR-5 19.5oz

Height adjustment was measured from rest surface to the mounting surface. The all-aluminum premium brands (Atlas and Accu-Tac) win this one argument due to their ability to deploy their legs at 45 and 90 degrees, which gives a much greater height range.

Height Adjustment:
• Atlas BT-10 90% extension with range of 5.25in to 10in
• Accu-Tac SR-5 56% extension with range of 6.25in to 9.75in
• Magpul 40% extension with range of 7.375in to 10.375in
• Harris BRMS 37% extension with range of 6.4in to 8.8in

A wider stance makes for better stability and thus, better shooting. To keep results consistent, we set all the bipods up at 8 inches from bench top to Picatinny rail.

Leg Stance Width:
• Accu-Tac 10.6
• Atlas 8.65in
• Harris 8in
• Magpul 7.8in

Mounting footprint (the real estate occupied by the bipod’s rail-grabbing structure):
• Magpul requires 1.2in of Picatinny rail.
• Atlas asks for 1.6in of rail surface.
• Accu-Tac requires 3in of Picatinny rail due to its offset tilt hinge.
• Harris will need between 2 and 3 inches of handguard depending on your mounting adapter. Add the Pod-Loc, and you’ll need to reserve almost 5in of mounting space.

Pan and Tilt:
• Magpul wins with 50 degs of pan and 40 degs of tilt with an easy-to-reach-and-operate locking knob.
• Harris only has a tilt feature, and the lock is hard to operate unless you’ve bought some aftermarket upgrades (Pod-Loc).
• Accu-Tac allows for some tilt, but the lock is placed in a cramped location that does not allow for easy access. Accu-Tac does offer a bipod with an improved locking lever (similar to the Pod-Loc) for a higher price. For the sake of even comparison, we chose the SR-5 as it is the lowest price Accu-Tac with extendable legs.
• Atlas offers a pan and tilt. It’s mounted on a ball gimbal- clever, but the range of motion is very limited and the locking nut is confusing and ineffective. Atlas also offers an improved locking system, but at an additional cost. Again, we chose this bipod as it is the lowest-priced Atlas with similar functions to the Magpul.

Operation—Deployment and extension:
• Magpul: One hand can deploy, extend, collapse, stow and lock the pan and tilt in silence.
• Atlas: Like the Magpul, one hand can execute all functions quietly. Only downside is the locking ring for pan and tilt. It just does not work as quickly and decisively as the lock on the Magpul.
• Harris: One hand can deploy and extend (and lock if equipped with Pod-Loc) and stow. Collapsing the legs requires two hands. Some Harris bipods offer a spring-loaded automatic stow feature. Others offer an automatic-extend feature; both are noisy unless controlled with a second hand.
• Accu-Tac: One hand can execute all operations; however, extending the legs with one hand results in audible snaps as the legs snap across a locking pawl. The legs can be subsequently retracted automatically by depressing this pawl but at the expense of some noise. Two hands are required for quiet operation.

The Magpul bipod was tested on the firing line at the GNAT Warfare Tactical Innovation range day. The Magpul pod was mounted to various high-powered, long-range instruments. Calibers tested were from .223 up to 6.5 Creedmoor. Military and law-enforcement snipers from all walks fired the weapon and gave their impression of the bipod. At first, as was mentioned above, the wobble gave some pause. All that was required to remedy the issue was a simple suggestion to force the legs apart almost into tension and lean forward on the bipod. So, with only a bit of practice, this bipod can offer perfect stability. And it does it with less weight, less cost and faster, easier operation.

By Jonathan Ferguson (ARES)

First Steps

In 1951, the United Kingdom chose to abandon the advanced E.M. 2 (today generally rendered “EM-2”) self-loading rifle chambered for the intermediate 7mm (.280 British) caliber, which had been briefly adopted as “Rifle, No.9,” and instead sought the promise of NATO standardization in the Belgian FN Herstal FAL and the 7.62 x 51mm cartridge. This resulted in adoption of the semi-automatic only L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle (SLR) in 1957. Subsequently, drawing upon practical experience in Vietnam, the U.S. went its own way and adopted the ArmaLite AR-15, chambered for the small-caliber, high velocity (SCHV) 5.56 x 45mm cartridge. The AR-15 was initially adopted as a substitute service rifle (as, indeed, it was adopted by the British in 1963) and latterly as the standard issue self-loading service rifle. With the SLR already becoming costly and difficult to maintain by 1970, the British Ministry of Defence initiated a new effort to find its eventual replacement, envisaged as replacing the SLR from 1980 onwards. The 7.62mm SLR was seen as too heavy and too long for contemporary mechanized warfare and too hard-recoiling to train troops to shoot well. In common with many “Western” nations, Britain sought a new, lighter infantry weapon with reduced weight and size, still providing adequate lethality but increased hit probability. The AR-15 was to serve as a benchmark, but no serious thought went toward off-the-shelf procurement or licenced manufacture. There seems to have been a strong desire to design and build something in Britain, at a time when the UK still had the industrial capacity to do so. Cost was an issue, so a pressed steel and polymer construction was assumed from the outset.

Wooden Mock-Ups

Today, firearms designers will use digital 3D modeling and, increasingly, additive manufacturing (3D printing) to design and test the general arrangement and ergonomics of a proposed weapon or accessory in three dimensions. This allows for an initial assessment, the ease of operation, approximate weight, balance, “handiness” and other characteristics and influences the finer points of design. Traditionally, gunmakers would craft a wooden mock-up to achieve the same thing. This artifact of the SA80 program is just such a mock-up, and it is a wonderful (if not especially decorative) piece of craftsmanship. It is composed mainly of black-painted wood with some metal components: the barrel, flash suppressor, sling loops, trigger guard, handguard retaining band, faux bolt and return spring, a complete EM-2 optical sight and two metal reinforcing plates for the magazine well and bolt handle cut-out respectively, as well as various pins and screws. There are only two genuine firearm components on the “gun.” One is the rubber eyepiece from a Sight Unit, Infantry, Trilux (SUIT) optical sight, as then used on the SLR when issued on designated marksman basis. The fake sight on the mock-up is intended to be the “streamlined” prototype then under development and by then, already known as the “Sight Unit, Small Arms, Trilux” (SUSAT; the SUSAT remains in limited use today). The other, intriguingly, is the butt plate. This is marked “D.R. Co.,” indicating a subcontractor to Enfield, and “C.R.1194,” referring to a drawing number. As shooters of “miniature” rifles will know, this is the butt plate from a Rifle, No.8; the standard Enfield bolt-action .22 LR military training rifle still in use by cadets today.

The mock-up features some moving parts, namely a detachable magazine, sprung moving trigger, functioning safety, a detachable mock SUSAT sight, and unlike any later version of the design, a 1x optical sight (an actual EM-2 “Unit, Optic, Sight” or UOS) built into a pivoting carry handle. This is intended to lie flat alongside the receiver when not in use but can then be rotated into position when the SUSAT sight is removed (see photo). Interestingly, the requirement for an optical sight was included at this stage due to the belief that iron sights would present too short a sight radius to be effective on a bullpup, rather than for any potential increase to user accuracy. The only markings on the piece are the numerals “2105” in white paint on both sides, and “(721)” over “120,” in black, on the right side magazine well. The significance of these is unknown.

This dummy gun was handmade to represent a design known as “Proposed Rifle Solution (Patt B)” and formed part of the “Preliminary Study on Small Arms System for 1980,” commissioned in September 1970. Published in December 1971, this was informed by existing designs, contemporary developments and a set of requirements drawn up by Finabel, a pan-European organization intended to facilitate interoperability of military hardware. The study recognized that advanced technologies such as caseless ammunition and the use of fléchettes would not be sufficiently mature in time and instead focused on refining proven technology to fill the gap until the new millennium. The mock-ups made for this study comprised the following:

• Orthodox Rifle Type A—“straight line conventional configuration” (similar to an AR-18)
• Orthodox LMG Pattern A—“straight line conventional configuration” (as above)
• Rifle (Pattern B)—“straight line unorthodox configuration” (i.e., a bullpup)
• Rifle (Pattern C)—“drop butt unorthodox configuration with area target capability”
• LMG (Pattern B)—“drop butt unorthodox configuration”

The study also produced more detailed designs on paper at 1:1 scale, although only for the three bullpup designs. These show the specifics of gas systems, working parts, buffers and trigger mechanisms. How the bolt carrier was expected to function on a dog-legged incline is unclear from the drawings of the “drop butt” weapon. A representation of a cartridge was used in the drawings, despite the lack of a decision on a caliber or cartridge type. The study advised a cartridge of between 5mm and 5.25mm in caliber for both rifle and LMG; 4.85mm would soon be chosen as the weapon’s caliber. However, it was soon acknowledged that any new British SCHV cartridge must, by necessity, be a derivative of 5.56 x 45mm and could not be wholly original. It is surprising that those involved thought it possible that a slightly necked-down variant of an established cartridge type might prove superior in NATO’s decisive ammunition trials only a few years away. A three-round burst mechanism was recommended for inclusion, although there is no evidence of this in the mock-up or arrangement drawing.

The report also covered “area effect” weapons in some detail and concluded that the capability to launch rifle grenades with their perceived greater lethality and area effect was probably still preferable to “tube-launched” systems firing smaller munitions (i.e., under-barrel grenade launchers). To this end, a mock wooden rifle grenade was made to attach to Pattern B. Nonetheless, the “drop butt” rifle featured an elaborate under-barrel grenade launcher mock-up complete with side-opening barrel repurposed from a flare launcher. The AR-18 heritage of the Pattern B rifle is plain in its gas system and working parts. The AR-18 gas system, in particular, was recommended in the study as a sound basis for that aspect of the weapon. However, very little else was carried over from the AR-18. The trigger mechanism was at this stage based upon that of the FAL, with additions for a trigger bar. The overall height of this mechanism is the reason for the “bellied” shape of the lower receiver behind the magazine well. The AR-18 magazine and magazine well are not in evidence, nor would they ever be. On this mock-up the release catch is built into the back of the magazine itself, an unusual approach not carried forward. The combined selector and safety of the AR series were also ignored. Instead, a thumb lever safety is provided which simply rotates a projection into place behind the trigger to prevent it being pulled. Oddly, given the amount of detail present in the drawing, no selector is represented at all. This would change when a working prototype was constructed.

Rendered in Steel

Among the conclusions of the preliminary study was a conviction that the conventional layout offered no advantages compared with the bullpup. Despite including a largely original Enfield design, the study actually recommended that an existing weapon design be converted to a bullpup configuration and chambered for a cartridge in the 5mm to 5.25mm caliber range, advising that “… such a course of action would offer an adequate system at reasonable cost.” Although the chronology is unclear, it is thought that the next step was for Enfield to cut and reconfigure the two “real” weapons pictured here. In keeping with the rough design of the “Pattern B” rifle, an AR-18 was modified into a bullpup configuration with the addition of a custom machined upper and lower receiver extension to the front. An elaborate scope mount was attached to the top of this, and a newly fabricated trigger and trigger guard were relocated to this assembly, along with a replacement hand-made wooden pistol grip. A lever safety was built into this new assembly, but the AR-18 selector was left in place at the rear to serve as a “change lever” (British parlance). No attempt was ever made to move the fire selector to a more ergonomic position, a flaw solved in the Steyr AUG then under development in Austria, albeit at the compromise of including a two-stage trigger. An alternative approach would have been to include another long internal linkage bar, as is the arrangement in the later Israeli Tavor design. A machined butt plate was affixed to the rear of the AR receivers in place of the original folding stock assembly, and a similarly crude handguard completed the gun.

Meanwhile, a then-new Stoner 63A rifle was likewise converted, apparently into an approximation of a “Pattern B” LMG, as it retains a Stoner 63A LMG bipod (this has been permanently clamped in the stowed position on this gun). Curiously, what appears to be a heavy barrel is actually a machined and threaded outer sleeve, apparently just to serve as a visual representation of the heavier barrel intended for the LSW variant. The weapon is fitted with an LMG trigger pack with auxiliary rear sear for open-bolt operation. This may be the origin of the open-bolt automatic operation of Enfield’s original LSW design. The architecture of the Stoner 63 seems to have lent itself better to bullpup conversion, as the receiver extension here is a simple U-shaped sheet steel trigger housing with a replacement pistol grip, the whole being attached below the existing upper heat-shield. A custom butt plate replaces the stock assembly at the rear. Whereas the AR-18 conversion is missing its optical sight, this piece retains an EM-2 UOS sight in a custom mount. Both guns were provided with rudimentary trigger linkage wires which, due to lack of internal space, run around the outside of the magazine well.

The AR-18 Connection

Very little of these conversions was brought over into the first prototypes of the new weapon system. In fact, it might be argued that far from proving that the SA80 is simply a bullpup conversion of an AR-18, these guns showed that directly converting an existing design was not practical or cost-effective. Instead, the design illustrated in the preliminary study was selected for prototyping. The SA80’s AR-18-type mechanical heritage has drawn criticism but seems to be a sound decision. Several other capable designs have drawn from the AR-18, including the Japanese Type 89, German Heckler & Koch G36 and U.S. Remington ACR. Even the Steyr AUG is mechanically quite close. On the subject of design lineages it is noteworthy that, given that the lead designer on the new project (Sydney Hance) had worked on the EM-2 bullpup of the 1950s, absolutely nothing of that design was carried through to the new weapon. The two weapons share only a bullpup configuration and, consequently, an optical sight fitted as standard. Given the complexity and expense of the EM-2 design and period trends toward both multi-lugged rotating bolts and very small calibers, this is perhaps unsurprising. The EM-2’s moment had long passed.

More controversially, it is claimed that Enfield obtained AR-18 parts from the Sterling factory by means of deception. This seems unlikely given that the MoD had already purchased a number of AR-18 rifles for trial, and the Pattern Room possessed at least one example at that time. Enfield could either have cannibalized one of these or requested the purchase of more from somewhere other than Sterling (if this was somehow seen as inappropriate). More definitively, the physical evidence does not support this claim. Observing notable differences in build standard, a partial serial number on the flash-suppressor and using access to Pattern Room archives, the author has been able to identify the weapon as serial number 000159, produced in 1970 by the Howa Machinery Company of Japan. In any case, Sterling did not start production of the AR-18 until 1975, by which time Enfield had moved beyond experimental conversions and was building its first prototypes of the design proposed in 1971. These two pieces were likely converted in 1972, the year after the preliminary study, but before the decision to move ahead with Enfield’s design with the first “00 series” test weapons. After this point in the development process, there would have been no need to produce conversions such as this. Other versions of the Enfield conspiracy theory allege that stolen Sterling parts were used in actual prototype guns (stay tuned for the next feature—Ed.), but these are demonstrably of a different pattern and not interchangeable with the AR-18. We seem to be dealing here with an urban myth rooted in the corporate rivalry between Enfield and Sterling. There is a grain of truth behind the myth; the new Enfield weapon’s components would have looked like AR-18 parts to all but an expert eye, which might in the re-telling easily lead to accusations that they were copied or even physically stolen.

Additionally, Enfield may well have paid visits to inspect machinery or even obtained Sterling assemblies as is alleged by Steve Raw in his book The Last Enfield—SA80: The Reluctant Rifle, but if so, it seems likely they did this in order to study modern manufacturing methods, not to acquire parts to build either this mock-up or any of their prototypes. After all, Enfield had little experience with modern pressing and welding techniques, and indeed this inexperience would be revealed during trials.

Another story alleges that this piece was made from an example captured from the Provisional IRA. This is plausible on the face of it given how roughly the grinding has been done. However, it is highly unlikely. For one thing, the Stoner conversion also has its markings ground away; this seems likely to have been an attempt by Enfield to emphasize that they had carried out the conversions and not the companies who had built the donor weapons. Clearly they were not attempting to hide what these weapons used to be, as this would be obvious to anyone with basic small arms knowledge. More importantly, Pattern Room records show that Howa AR-18 serial 000159 was already at Enfield in November the same year, making purchase by and capture from the IRA extremely unlikely. It is also documented that the UK MoD purchased a number of AR-18 rifles for evaluation purposes.

The final mock-up relates to another SA80 legend. This is the supposed “joke” by rival arms factory Sterling, of submachine gun fame. Enfield may have been the UK government’s preferred manufacturer, but Sterling was at the time the licensed manufacturer of the AR-18. Sterling, a commercial concern and rival of the state-owned Enfield, was bypassed by the government entirely. Enfield was, perhaps unsurprisingly, selected as sole manufacturer of its own in-house AR-18 derivative. Allegedly in response to this and the alleged appropriation of Sterling parts, Frank Waters at Sterling constructed this non-functioning bullpup example of its own AR-18 rifle. The intent seems to have been to reinforce the idea that Enfield’s new weapon was really just a hastily converted AR-18; an unlicensed appropriation of Sterling’s and ArmaLite’s intellectual property. If true, this is somewhat ironic, as before receiving the license to produce bona fide AR-18 and AR-180 rifles, Sterling had already produced the very similar Light Automatic Rifle and would soon (1976) develop another “legally different” design in the Sterling Assault Rifle/SAR80. This was created even as Sterling was license-building ArmaLite’s as a way to strike a licensing deal direct with Singapore, free of fees and other difficulties associated with sub-contracting the ArmaLite design. Both Sterling and Enfield were free to copy aspects of Stoner’s/ArmaLite’s design, there being no patent protection on the relevant assemblies. Stoner himself was quite open about using Melvin Johnson’s multi-lugged rotating bolt and Sergei Simonov’s short-stroke gas piston.

The next phase of the project would be to produce working prototypes of Sydney Hance’s design; mechanically close to the AR-18 but otherwise an original Enfield product. These first examples of the “485 Weapon System” will be the subject of the next installment of this series.

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

Special thanks to the National Firearms Centre at the Royal Armouries, who graciously allowed ARES access to their world-class collection for research and photography.

This is Part 1 in a series of articles examining the developmental history of the United Kingdom’s SA80 family of firearms.
See armamentresearch.com for further original content.

(This article is adapted from a chapter in Mr. Ferguson’s forthcoming book on British bullpup rifles, which will be published by Headstamp Publishing in 2019. HeadstampPublishing.com)

Magnified optics are no longer the exclusive domain of specialized snipers. With improved ruggedness and lowered cost, various armed forces have fielded low power, fixed magnification scopes such as the SUSAT and ACOG en masse. Along these same lines, Meopta has introduced the 3x20mm MeoAce (Aiming Compact Equipment).

Meopta, a Czech company steep in optical heritage more than a century old, delivers a lightweight product with excellent optical qualities. The low magnification and bold reticle make the scope effortless to use, despite the illumination being designed only for overcast conditions.

Mechanical Description

MeoAce 3x20mm is a compact and lightweight affair. At 123mm long, 57mm tall (excluding mount), 63mm wide and weighing 350g (sans mount and battery), Meopta’s offering is comparable in size and weight to carbine optics such as Trijicon ACOG and Aimpoint CompM4. With its diminutive size and petite weight, the MeoAce enhances target identification and marksmanship without hampering rifle handling.

Mounting is via the ubiquitous Picatinny rail: a single recoil lug engages the T slot, and a steel foot (tensioned by a torx screw) provides lateral clamping. The mount places the optical axis about 3.5cm above the Picatinny rail’s top edge; the Meopta representative indicated that alternative heights have been prototyped although not in serial production. The scope also features an integrated, non-removable, three-slot Picatinny rail section at the top position for use with accessories such as the MeoDot DF 2 mini red dot sights. Similar to the Trijicon ACOG and RMR combination, this “piggyback” configuration allows users to address both distant and nearby targets with a mere shift of head position.

Knobs and Adjustments

Zeroing is achieved via capped and recessed elevation and windage adjustments with retaining lanyards. Making adjustments requires a large flathead screwdriver such as the Brownells Magna-Tip bit #360-7 (1.5mm blade thickness) or a similarly sized coin. The 1MOA clicks feel soft but exhibit no discernible thread lash. During testing, the author did not experience any point-of-impact shift when used atop a 7.62x51mm rifle. To engage distant targets, a ballistic drop compensated (BDC) reticle is provided and is expounded upon in its own section.

A dioptre adjustment ring, used to focus the reticle, is situated at the ocular end of the scope. This ring felt too easily moved, and the sleeve of the supplied lens cap did not grip both ring and body tightly enough to prevent rotation. In fact, an opened cap provided additional leverage to facilitate inadvertent rotation when rubbed against other items. The author addressed this by securing the dioptre ring to the scope body with gaffer tape.

An AA battery to illuminate the reticle is housed at the lower left side of the scope. A screw-on cap with an O-ring seal provides access at the rear, while a front mounted knob provides brightness control. The 13-position knob (off and 12 brightness levels spread over a 270o arc) has a soft tactile feel, but the author did not experience accidental changes. The Spartan amount of knobs reflects the intended usage of this scope: engagement of typical service rifle targets and distances with minimal conscious thought and adjustments.

Optical Description

The bright, clear and distortion-free sight picture does the Meopta heritage credit. The scope renders scenes with a mild yellow tint which helps increase clarity in overcast and hazy conditions. The tint counteracts the blue light scattering due to airborne water molecules. When observing distant objects, the author noted a slight purple hue likely due to chromatic aberration; nevertheless, this does not detract from the primary purpose of the scope. Even when panning over a fence, the author failed to discern any notable optical distortions.

Although the parallax is fixed for simplicity, the sight picture is sharp and clear throughout a typical use case of 50 to 500 meters. Both the small 20mm front objective and low magnification minimize potential parallax error (see Chiu, Alton P. “The Schmidt & Bender 1-8×24 PM II ShortDot CC,” Small Arms Review, Vol. 22, No. 6, June 2018, p. 25 for further discussion). Furthermore, the sizeable depth of field kept both reticle and image sharply in focus for the author from 10 to 500 meters; although acuity perception may vary by individual. The fixed parallax design choice reduces complexity without compromising function.

MeoAce 3x20mm proved an easy scope to shoulder. The generous seven-degree field of view sped target acquisition and maintained situational awareness. The 65mm (2.6 inches) eye relief provided ample standoff to accommodate use with heavier calibers (e.g., 7.6x51mm) and from unconventional positions. The theoretical exit pupil of 6.7mm felt slightly more sensitive to lateral and vertical eye position in comparison to the 10mm of Trijicon 3×30 ACOG and 8mm of ELCAN Spectre 3x, but the author did not find this to be an insuperable challenge even during falling light. On the other hand, the author noted a rapidly shrinking image circle when moving his head further back than the optimal eye relief.

With a manufacturer-claimed 87% light transmission during daylight and 83% during twilight, the author found the image to be bright and useable even into dusk, rendering a bright image than with the naked eye. However, it is somewhat dimmer than that from a 32mm front objective variable power scope set at 3x. In keeping with the excellent optical heritage of the company, Meopta delivered a brilliant and easy-to-use optical package that aids in finding and discerning targets.

Reticle

A well-appointed reticle adds to the utility of this MeoAce 3×20 scope. A chevron forms the main point of aim; this is then bracketed by a T-shaped reticle similar to a German No. 4 reticle. The chevron tip is designed to be zeroed at 100m, with the inner inflection point for use at 200m with 5.56x45mm ammunition (i.e., put the “hat” atop the target). Despite the illumination not being daylight bright, the author could easily acquire the sight picture even against cluttered background due to the bold T shape.

The vertical portion of the T is comprised of a thin inner section with BDC marks and a bold outer section that speeds up sight picture acquisition. This interesting BDC has the left half calibrated for 123gr 7.62x39mm while the right half is used for 55gr or 62gr 5.56x45mm (also coincides with 180gr 7.62x51mm trajectory). This arrangement surely appeals to those utilizing both ammunition types. The start of the thin section is used for 300m with 5.56x45mm and 200m with 7.62x39mm. As one marches down the BDC, the horizontal hashes denote holdovers for distances in 100m increments. They also serve as a stadiametric rangefinder where the length of the hash corresponds to the shoulder width of a standard human torso at that distance. The horizontal portion of the T is similarly comprised of thin inner sections with hashes spaced 1 MRAD (miliradian) apart and bold outer sections to assist sight picture acquisition. However, the author found the labelling and hashes to be overly fine. While he can read the markings against a clear sky, they prove difficult to discern against rocks and vegetation.

An additional height-based stadiametric rangefinder is provided at the bottom to supplement the aforementioned shoulder width method. Assuming a 1.8m tall person, the user would fit this silhouette inside the various bracket to determine distance. For example, a 400m distant silhouette would snugly span the “4” bracket. Additionally, the brackets and their spacing are 2.5 MRAD wide and provide another ranging method if the object size is known. The markings “0, 5, 10 …” are measurements in MRAD starting from the left edge.

This feature-packed reticle offers a multitude of rangefinding methods and compensates for popular small arms calibers. Its bold T-shaped reticle expedites sight picture acquisition while the chevron provides a fine point of aim.

Illumination

Only the chevron portion of the reticle is illuminated. Although it is not daylight bright, it more than suffices under overcast conditions and inside a well-lit structure. Moreover, the user can close the front lens cap with the illumination set at maximum to utilize the scope like an occluded eye gunsight (OEG) in close quarters.

There are 12 brightness levels in addition to the “off” position. Meopta claims a minimum battery life of 300 hours at the 11th (penultimate) brightness setting when using a 1.5V AA with a minimum of 2400mAh capacity at 20oC. After eight hours of continuous operation, battery life is preserved by an auto shutoff which warns the user with a flashing reticle. Changing brightness setting resets the timer.

The chevron is coated with a special layer to scatter light from a red LED for illumination. The author observed minute forward-light emissions only at the brightest illumination level and only across a very narrow view angle at very short distances against a pitch-black background. This should not be a concern under most conditions.

The MeoAce can be utilized as an OEG by closing the front lens cap and shooting with both eyes open. The illuminated chevron contrasts against the now pitch-black background to provide a point of aim. The brain then superimposes the reticle image from the dominant eye atop the world view from the other eye together to give a red-dot-like effect. However, the scope is not parallax free and shutting the front lens cap makes it difficult to center one’s eye in the ocular lens. The two images (reticle and world) are also rendered on different planes, forcing the user to only focus upon one. The author found it hard to transition from focusing upon the world to the reticle when bringing up the rifle from low ready and found that the reticle image moved laterally depending on how hard he concentrated. Instead, he found it easier and more reliable to retain focus upon the world and let the chevron blur into a blob. Using this method, he observed a 0.3m lateral shift in point-of-impact at a 5m distant target between OEG and standard through-the-scope use (e.g., hold at edge of torso for a center mass impact). Meanwhile, another tester reported a vertical shift. The effect would seem to vary by individual.

The lack of daylight-bright illumination may seem a “deal-breaker” given the plethora of similar offerings that offer this feature, but the author did not find it to be overly constraining. Conversely, he found over-illuminated reticles to be a detriment for accuracy, as the reticle blooms to obscures the target or shift the point-of-impact. The author found the MeoAce illumination arrangement adequate and could utilize it as an OEG at room clearing distances after learning the offset.

Conclusion

By virtue of clear optics and easy-to-acquire sight picture, the 3x20mm MeoAce positions well with the trend of magnified combat optics. The feature-packed BDC and bold T-shaped outer reticle (supplemented in overcast conditions with AA illumination) allow quick acquisition and engagement of targets at various distances. Aided by the minimal amount of knobs and adjustments, the author found it easy to use for typical service rifle use cases; although adding a mini red dot sight atop the integrated Picatinny rail would greatly help close quarters use.

Blackhound Optics is a new optics company that is offering quality riflescopes at reasonable prices. By using a virtual dealer model, Blackhound Optics cuts out a lot of costs that traditionally raise the price of a riflescope. Several weeks ago, I had the opportunity to catch up with James Mason, the CMO of Blackhound Optics, to examine his company’s products. Together we looked at the Genesis series, Blackhound’s first product line. For the test, I selected the Genesis 6-24×50 FFP, which has a Mil-based reticle and Mil-based adjustments. The Genesis 6-24×50 FFP has a 30mm main tube, is first focal plane and is available in Milliradians (MRAD) or Minutes of Angle (MOA).

Specification and Features

Those familiar with my work in the precision rifle industry know that I live by the mantra, “Regardless of price, all scopes are terrible until proven otherwise.” Tracking, parallax, clarity, total travel and reticle subtensions all need to be checked before a scope is fit for use. I don’t warm up to a scope until I have several hundred rounds and a few hours behind it.

Before I mount an optic to a rifle, I first attach it to the Scope Tool from Targets USA (targetsusa.com). The Scope Tool was designed by Frank Galli of Sniper’s Hide and Marc Taylor of Alaska Precision Rifle. Essentially it is a 30-pound weight with a MIL-STD-1913/Picatinny rail attached. The Scope Tool allows an end user to secure his scope to the fixture and test tracking without having to fire a shot. It is also perfect for checking reticle subtensions. A subtension is the distance between your Mil dots or Mil hash marks. Calibrated subtension is essential, especially if you use your reticle for “Milling” targets or holdovers. In my experience, first focal plane scopes are typically calibrated appropriately. Second focal plane scopes are where this test is crucial. With second focal plane scopes, manufacturers designate a magnification where a specific angular measurement is represented at a certain distance. The Blackhound Optics Genesis I tested is a first focal plane scope, but I still felt it necessary to check the reticle.

Testing took place at Founders Ranch in Edgewood, New Mexico. Since it was a Tuesday the range was closed, but we made arrangements with the owners, who were kind enough to let us use the range for the afternoon.

To check subtensions, I placed an RE Factor Tactical Hitman Target 100 meters down range (refactortactical.com). The Hitman Target is a wonderful tool. The target has a giant reticle printed dead center that is subtended in .10 Mils/1cm increments. It also has blue lines every 1 Mil or 10cm. Besides the reticle printed on the target, there are also a variety of small targets to assist in getting zeroed and for shooting groups.

The Scope Tool was placed on a shooting bench, and I torqued down the Genesis 6-24×50 FFP. I adjusted the Scope Tool until I saw the blue sky on the horizon and adjusted the eye diopter on the Genesis scope. After getting a crisp reticle, I adjusted the legs on the Scope Tool until the reticle aligned perfectly with the reticle on the Hitman Target. I maxed out magnification and was happy to see that the .5 Mil hash marks in my reticle lined up perfectly with the Mil hash marks on the Hitman Target.

Does It Track?

After testing reticle subtensions, it was time to test Tracking. Tracking is when you dial your elevation or windage to a specific value, and the reticle moves in accordance with the value you dialed. For example, if I dial the elevation knob 5 Mils up, I should see my reticle move 5 Mils down. I once again lined up the reticle in the scope with the reticle on the Hitman Target and slowly dialed up and down 10 Mils. I repeated this process several times and was pleased to see the scope track just fine. One thing to note is that the clicks are solid and audible. One of my pet peeves is “mushy” adjustments, especially when coming back to my zero.

Checking Parallax

Contrary to popular belief, the parallax knob—or as it is erroneously known, “side focus”—is not there to make your image clear, but to put your reticle and target on the same focal plane. It is vital that shooters adjust parallax when shooting. It is especially critical when zeroing.

To check parallax, I moved the shooting bench 180 degrees so that I could see across the range. I ranged structures, trees and rocks from 100 meters all the way out to 1000 meters. Keeping the Genesis in the Scope Tool allowed me to adjust parallax and move my head from side to side to look for movement in the reticle. I am pleased to say the Blackhound Optics Genesis passed with flying colors.

Checking Total Travel

Before attaching the Genesis to my Howa 1500, I dialed the elevation turret all the way down, then all the way back up. The Genesis had a total travel of 19.3 Mils. The manufacturer’s spec sheet claims 18 Mils. When I pointed out the extra 1.3 Mils to James, he appeared visibly upset. This variation is actually quite common, and I would personally be happy to have an additional 1.3 Mils of elevation. James’ reaction spoke volumes about his company’s commitment to quality control. Since at a minimum, the Genesis only has 18 Mils of travel, 9’ish of which will be available for dialing elevation, I recommend installing a 20 MOA (5.8 Mils) scope base if you want to use this scope for shooting out to 1000 yards and beyond.

Sending Rounds Down Range

After checking subtension, parallax and tracking, it was time to attach the Blackhound Optics Genesis to a rifle and shoot some groups. For this portion of the test, I brought a pair of semi-custom rifles. Both rifles were Howa 1500s chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor and 6mm Creedmoor. The 6.5 Creedmoor was mated to an MDT ESS Chassis, and the 6mm Creedmoor was mated to an MDT LSS XL Gen2 chassis. Both rifles are capable of sub .5 MOA accuracy when paired with good ammunition and a steady shooter.

After I had attached the Genesis to my Howa and loaded Hornady 147 MATCH ammunition into my magazines, I proned out on my shooting mat, dialed down the magnification of the scope, loaded into my bipod, inhaled, exhaled and squeezed the trigger. Through the scope, I saw my shot land several Mils high and to the right. Adjusting windage and elevation, I fired again. My round landed on the Hitman Target. Using the reticle, I measured point of aim to the point of impact. I made a few adjustments and sent another round down range. Bullseye! Three shots and I was zeroed. Finding a small target on the Hitman Target, I fired a 3-round group and was satisfied with the results. With a good zero, I once again repeated the tracking test. I shot seven rounds, every time adjusting up 1 Mil, then seven rounds down. Though not as precise as using the Scope Tool, I was happy to see the Genesis track accordingly. I shot a few more rounds, and we called it a day.

Final Thoughts

The Genesis 6-24×50 FFP riflescope is a decent scope. Parallax and subtensions were calibrated correctly. It tracked 10 Mils, and adjustments were both audible and positive. Illumination was adequate. The only thing I didn’t like about the scope was the lack of edge-to-edge clarity when the scope was adjusted above 18 power. It is not a deal breaker for me, but it is something to be aware of.

Blackhound Optics offers a fully transferable lifetime warranty with all of their optics. The Genesis 6-24×50 FFP riflescope will be available in the first quarter of 2019 and will cost around $400. When James told me the price I was floored. Not to sound like a snob, but the cheapest riflescope in my safe costs around $700, and the Genesis 6-24×50 FFP performed just as well. Is this scope equal to the $2,000+ scopes in my safe? Nope, but not everyone needs a military grade scope that can survive being locked out of a submarine or jumped out of an airplane, nor does everyone need super expensive glass, coatings, Horus/gridded reticles and all the fancy turret mechanisms.

Need a first focal plane scope for hunting? I would take a strong look at this scope. You like shooting out to 1000 yards on the weekend? I would take a look at this scope. Would I use this riflescope? Absolutely. This scope would be right at home on one of my 6.5 Creedmoor hunting rifles. I could also see myself shooting a PRS-style club match with this scope on the weekend.

The Genesis is the first series that Blackhound Optics is releasing. After several hours spent talking with James, I came away with a favorable impression of the company. I think Blackhound Optics has a bright future, and I am anxious to see what they do next.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

blackhoundoptics.com

By Todd Burgreen

Crossbows originated as military weapons in China and then Europe. While slower to load and fire, crossbows offered the advantage of easier-to-obtain effectiveness with less training compared to more traditional bows. This aspect remains the same even today. Crossbows maintained the status of premier projectile weapons until the advent of firearms. Crossbows are undergoing rejuvenation thanks to multiple states amending their game laws allowing for crossbows to be used during archery seasons. The expansion of crossbow popularity has driven the industry to bring forth technology and performance increases at a rapid clip.

My first crossbow was the Barnett Commando inspired by a James Bond flick. Needless to say, crossbows have come a long way since my last experience over 30 years ago. Bolt speed, which equates to terminal effect and engagement range, has expanded beyond what I considered possible. In short, crossbows have borrowed archery advancements in cams/cables and turned them sideways. The Barnett TS 390 is the perfect vehicle to explore the current crossbow craze.

Barnett has been a leader in crossbows for more than 50 years; pre-dating many of the other crossbow manufacturers who have emerged in the last 10 to 15 years. The Barnett TS 390 features an adjustable ventilated stock, CNC-machined aluminum flight track and a fiberglass composite Step-Through Riser to produce a light and fast-handling package. The Step-Through Riser design moves the foot stirrup into the riser assembly, eliminating extra bulk and length, while also making the bow more comfortable to shoulder and easier to steady with its balance point shifted slightly to the rear. The Step-Through Riser design allows for two additional inches of draw length, which results in increased power and speed without the need to lengthen or widen the TS 390’s limbs. An adjustable buttstock further assists with tailoring TS 390’s fit to individual shooters. At 19 inches wide, the TS 390 is one of Barnett’s narrowest bows. Weight is 7.6 pounds. Employing a 185-pound draw weight and 14.25-inch power stroke the Barnett accelerates arrows up to a flat-shooting 390 feet per second.

A Complete Package

The TS 390 arrives as a complete package with optic, quiver, bolts and cocking device. With the TS 390 it is important to properly adjust the cocking rope to your individual needs. Hooks are placed on the bow string and run around the back of the bow acting like a pulley to ease drawing rearward. It is best to keep the rope length minimal so as not to have to pull past your shoulder level. Cocking weight is cut in half with the rope cocking device.

Assembly consisted of mounting the riser to the frame/barrel as well as the quiver and optic. While everything was intuitive, suitable directions guided the way. This eases the customer’s experience and allows for instant use. The Barnett TS 390 has a 4×32 illuminated scope with built-in holdover points once sighted in. String dampeners are standard and aid to minimize sound and vibration. Three Picatinny rails are provided to hold a variety of accessories, while a side-mount quiver keeps bolts and broadheads protected and at-the-ready until pressed into duty. An innovative and self-adjusting Soft-Lok Floating Bristle Arrow Retainer securely cradles the arrow once loaded.

Work-Up

I treated initial work-up with the Barnett TS 390 as I would with a firearm. Sighting in of the optics mounted on machined aluminum, 7/8-inch fixed dovetail mounts was the first priority. Once a suitable target was found in the form of the Chunk target from Delta McKenzie, the first one purchased served to only slow down bolts. Barnett test fires their bows and provides a basic zero before leaving the factory. Final zero confirmation was accomplished within five bolts fired. 30 yards served as zero range so that the scope’s reticle hash marks would calibrate.

A special treat was gaining access to a 100,000-square-foot warehouse where indoor firing was conducted out to 90 yards with the Barnett TS 390. While firing at game is not encouraged this far away, it was an interesting exercise nonetheless. With no need to account for wind the TS 390 crossbow could be evaluated to its full potential for repeatable accuracy. The Barnett’s 4×32 scope’s holdover hash marks were also verified in this pristine test environment. The scope’s reticle can be illuminated. The importance of correct range estimation was quickly apparent. Once past 40 yards an incorrect range estimate of several yards will result in a miss. A laser range finder is an important accessory, especially until a user’s “eye” is perfected afield. Letting a game animal get closer is strongly urged to maximize success.

Chronographing was conducted at this time with a Caldwell Ballistic Chronograph. The Barnett TS 390 clocked in 365 feet-per-second with Carbon Hunter 20-inch bolts with 100-grain tips (415-grain total weight). The TS 390 delivers 120- to 128-foot-pounds of kinetic energy based on bolt/tip combo. Different hunting broadheads were tested. It is important to verify that hunting tips fly with the same zero as practice field prods. Fortunately, each maintained the same zero point. Accuracy at 30 yards was a 1.5-inch spread for three bolts fired.

Choosing Broadheads

Just like choosing suitable ammunition, crossbow broadhead decision is important. In short, broadhead types can be divided into fixed and mechanical/expanding. Each has its strong points. I was attracted to the New Archery Products (NAP) Killzone® due to research indicating flight characteristics matching field points while offering devastating performance on game. The Killzone is a 2-blade, rear-deploying mechanical broadhead that packs 2-inch cutting diameter razor blades. The Killzone uses NAP’s unique spring-clip design which ensures your blades won’t open in flight or in your quiver with no o-rings or rubber bands to worry about.

Hands-on experience with the NAP Killzone broadhead involved harvesting two deer during the time of this article’s completion. The first was hit at 45 yards and the second at 30 yards with the Barnett TS 390. Each shot produced a sound similar to a baseball bat striking a tree when the Killzone arrived on target. Entry wounds were nearly 3 inches wide as the rotating bolt deployed the 2-inch wide cutting razors. Lungs were shredded as the swirling bolt passed through. Unfortunately, neither the bolt nor Killzone broadhead was recovered in both cases. Most importantly the deer only traveled 70-100 yards before expiring.

A quick review of kinetic energy (KE) requirements illustrates that the Barnett TS 390 crossbow is able to take the largest game with the caveat of proper shot placement. Acceptable KE levels for deer are 40KE, elk/black bear 60KE and buffalo/grizzly 75KE. Remember KE is dependent on velocity thus as the bolt travels downrange velocity, and KE potential is burning off. Velocity figures and KE are normally shown at the “muzzle.” Rule of thumb is you can assume a bolt’s kinetic energy is reduced by around 3% to 4% for every 10 yards it travels. So if we have 100KE initial energy then at 10 yards you can expect roughly 97KE.

Similar to original impetuous with crossbows, modern crossbows allow for less powerful users to gain advantage of feet per second, i.e., power without having the strength to pull a traditional profile bow string rearward. Crossbows with their three points of contact with a shooter when fired combined with ease of mounting performance-enhancing optics simplify placing arrows accurately. This equates to a more effective tool for taking game. An excellent example of this is my 14-year-old son who quickly seized on the opportunity provided by hunting with crossbows to extend his time in the woods hunting beyond rifle season.

I have spent extensive time in the VA and WV woods exploring what the Barnett crossbow offers. The Barnett TS 390’s adjustable buttstock and grip surfaces are ergonomic pluses especially with smaller-framed shooters. The Barnett TriggerTech Frictionless Release Technology™ created by a free-floating roller between the sear and the trigger means a smoother, lighter trigger. One nuance that must be pointed out is the need to fire the crossbow to unload. Thus, it is important to remember to bring along a target and an older used bolt so that when one is done for the day the bow can be released. It is advisable not to keep your crossbow cocked for extended periods.

Too often we fall into the trap of thinking firearms are the only viable projectile weapons for hunting or gaining needed subsistence as situations demand. I offer up something that has been around far longer than firearms for consideration … the crossbow. With the Barnett TS 390 you have a great example of the modern crossbow.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Barnett Crossbows
barnettcrossbows.com

New Archery Products
newarchery.com