Also in the new product arena, the Winchester Model 1300 Camp Defender® is a multi-purpose camp shotgun good for personal protection. Features include a rugged, dark-stained hardwood stock, fully-adjustable open sights, eight-shot capacity, and 22” barrel. The interchangeable WinChoke® system allows for versatility in the use of buckshot, birdshot or slugs.

Sturm, Ruger has come out with a version of its venerable 10/22 rifle in stainless steel, with a futuristic-looking laminate thumbhole stock. It is furnished without sights.

North American Arms displayed a prototype of its long-anticipated .380 ACP double-action pistol. Looking very similar to its highly successful “Guardian” .32 ACP design, the new convenient, reliable and effective-appearing .380 ACP product will be on dealer’s shelves soon.

North American Arms is now making available its folding grip assembly for its .22 WRM mini-revolvers. Previously, this accessory was available only for .22 LR-chambered mini-revolvers. There is also a laser sight “Slipper” attachment available for the North American Arms .32 ACP Guardian pistol. The device not only provides a handy laser-aimer, but it changes the profile of the pistol to a square shape, which could give the appearance of the pistol being a wallet to the observer, when carried in the pocket.

Beretta USA has decided to eliminate its dealer direct program on its handgun line. The company’s dealer direct program on long guns will continue.

Beretta also unveiled the new “Alley Cat,” a limited edition .32 ACP “Tomcat” pistol fitted with AO Sight System’s “Big Dot” Express tritium sights. The Alley Cat package includes a black Alcantara inside-the-pants holster.

Talon Industries, Inc.’s new T-100 .380 ACP and T-200 9mm compact pistols are available from some of the top distributors, including RSR Wholesale, Alamo Leather, Ellett Brothers, Scott Wholesale, Chattanooga Shooting Supplies, Southern Ohio Gun Distributors, Euclid Sales and Valor Corp. The hammer, firing pin and component parts of both pistols are made from heat-treated 416 stainless steel. The frame and slide are fashioned of alloy. The grip is made from Dupont glass-filled polymer.

Both Talon models also have a visible load indicator, which rises above the slide about .060” when a round is in the chamber. The load indicator can also be felt in the dark to determine the pistol’s status by running a finger over the top of the slide. The pistols’ double-action operation and load indicator feature make them among the safest on the market. Watch for either a .38 Spl. revolver or a .32 ACP pistol from this innovative maker by the year 2002.

SIG Arms showed several new handguns. The SIG Model 220 is a new .45 ACP pistol with stainless steel slide and frame. The SIG P210 in 9mm is now back in production, and the SIG P226 9mm Sport is going into production.

Hi-Point Firearms has added a compensated .380 ACP pistol to its economically priced pistol line. A laser sight is available as an option.

Heritage Manufacturing has temporarily discontinued production of its sole semi-auto pistol, the Stealth. Formerly made in 9mm and .40 S&W, the Stealth has been discontinued until the political climate becomes more favorable to lower-priced pistol makers and the cost of manufacturer’s liability insurance comes down.

Some handgun makers will now be including a gun safety CD-rom in their product packaging as a result of efforts led by Bill Jeffrey of Dan Wesson Arms, during the show. The idea is to more involve gunmakers in taking an active role in firearms safety and public affairs issues.

Ruger 10/22 Accessories

Butler Creek’s™ new Packer™ stock system features a compact takedown design enhancing the portability of the popular Ruger 10/22 rifle. It employs a patent-pending Cam-Lock™ system for quick attachment of the barrel to the receiver in the field. Disassembly is as simple as pulling the forearm down and removing the barrel. With the barrel removed, the stock folds down to a length of 21 inches.

Attaching the barrel to the receiver is also a simple process. The shooter merely starts the barrel into the receiver, making sure the V-Cam fits into the barrel notch, and then pushes the forearm upward to the barrel where it and the barrel lock into position. The Packer stock is a synthetic design made from a proprietary polymer blend that is injection molded at Butler Creek’s own facility.

Butler Creek’s new match-grade steel barrels for the Ruger 10/22 rifle feature a premium tensioning system and aluminum sleeves to provide a combination of accuracy, light weight and cooling capacity. The 18-inch barrels (.920-inch outside diameter) are available in a black “vented” model with a slotted anodized aluminum outer sleeve and a silver cooling “finned” model with a radially grooved, anodized aluminum sleeve. Both models use the Bentz Match Chamber and a recessed target crown for accuracy.

The black vented model has 24 cooling slots that dissipate heat through the flow of air between it and the inner barrel tube. It is fitted with a precision-machined 4150 carbon steel barrel to complement blue receivers.

Butler Creek’s silver cooling finned model has a solid extruded sleeve with 10 specially-engineered full-length radial fins to provide 60% more cooling surface than a typical, one-piece .920-inch diameter barrel. During the manufacturing process, the cooling fins are heated prior to installation. As they cool, the fins bond to the inner 416 stainless steel barrel to create a “bi-metal component” for better performance.

Smart Holster

New to the Uncle Mike’s SIDEKICK® PROFESSIONAL line is the Pro4™ ID Holster, an evolutionary advancement in weapon retention technology. This is the first holster to release the sidearm only after reading the user’s fingerprint.

“We’ve developed this technology specifically to provide a holster that law enforcement officers can use easily and trust fully,” says Tom Marx, the product line’s director of marketing. “We are confident that the obvious benefits of this technology will revolutionize arms retention for law enforcement professionals and will ultimately carry over to applications in both home and individual handgun security as well.”

Traditionally, retention holsters were designed to help an officer retain the sidearm during a scuffle. Most retention holsters require a special drawing technique to remove the gun. However, it is still possible with such models for a criminal to steal the officer’s gun, either by a chance movement or by knowing the special technique. The common notion is if the wearer can draw the gun, then someone can steal the gun.

The technology used in the Pro4 ID Holster makes it virtually impossible for anyone other than an authorized individual to remove the handgun. It is thus the first holster that allows the officer to draw the gun but does not allow an unauthorized user to remove it. The unlocking mechanism is made unique to each wearing officer. A personalized fingerprint reader recognizes the wearer as well as other specifically programmed individuals. Multiple prints can be programmed, thereby allowing different fingers from each hand, as well as those from regular partners and supervisory personnel, to be recognized.

In use, the officer places a finger on the protected reader surface and the related circuitry allows the software to check the officer’s print against those stored. If it is accepted, the passive locking mechanism “opens.” The officer is alerted to this condition by a self-contained, pager-like vibrator. The entire process occurs in less than one second. The officer can then draw the handgun in a conventional manner. Unlike most current retention holsters, the user does not have to practice a specialized technique of employment.

The Pro4 ID Holster is initially available for Glock Models 17, 19, 22 and 23 in Cordura® and plain, basketweave or GlossBlack Mirage® finishes. Additional models to be introduced later include Beretta 92 and 96 variants; Glock 23, 21, 29 and 30; SIG 220 and 226 variants; and Smith & Wesson 3 1/2 to 4” 9mm and .40 cal. models.

The 2001 NASGW show will be held November 15-17, 2001 in Phoenix, Arizona and it portends to be another good one. At the close of the year 2000 show, nearly all of the exhibit space for the 2001 show had already been reserved.

The Eagle Arms Division of ArmaLite is introducing its first new model in 5 years: the Eagle Arms AR-10 rifle, with first shipments scheduled for December 2000. Like the famed Eagle Arms brand M-15 rifles, the Eagle AR-10 is a no-frills rifle of high quality and low price. The retail price of the Eagle Arms AR-10 is $999.95. It is intended to compete with .223/5.56mm rifles in the AR class. For the first time, retail customers will have the opportunity to upgrade to a .308/7.62mm rifle for a price only slightly higher than that of the smaller caliber rifles. The Eagle Arms AR-10 is very similar to the ArmaLite AR-10A4 rifle. It features a 20 inch chrome-moly barrel, and the A4 style flattop upper receiver and front sight base (gas block). It is provided with black furniture and a 10 round magazine. It will accept all optional ArmaLite scope mounts and the removable carry handle and sights. While the receivers of several competing rifles are machined from plate stock or extrusions, the new Eagles are finely machined from aircraft-grade forgings. Unlike the ArmaLite AR-10s, the Eagle Arms rifle is not equipped with a recoil check (muzzle brake). The ArmaLite brand AR-10 rifles, like our M-15 rifles, remain the company’s flagship line. ArmaLite rifles are available with more features and options, and are manufactured to a higher degree of fit and finish than the Eagle Arms line. The Eagle Arms rifles are standard grade rifles intended for hard use, and feature the same internal mechanism as the ArmaLites. In addition to complete rifles, Eagle Arms offers AR-10 lower receivers and lower receiver assemblies. The new lower receivers will retail for $290, with complete lower halves selling for $397.00. ArmaLite brand receivers are not available for sale. Supplies of the new Eagles are limited, and they’re being shipped in conjunction with orders for ArmaLite brand 5.56mm and 7.62mm rifles. During periods of peak demand, priority of ArmaLite’s capacity will be to the ArmaLite line, so delivery dates for the Eagles will be estimates. For more information on these new rifles contact Armalite, Inc., Dept. DEPT. SAR, P.O. Box 299, Geneseo, IL 61254. Phone: 1-309-944-6939. Fax: 1-309-944-6949. They can be found on the web at www.armalite.com.

ITT NIGHT VISION CAMERA-ADAPTER VIEWER

Now outdoor enthusiasts can document their nighttime adventures on film. ITT Industries Night Vision is introducing the Night Quest 190 a rugged, compact and versatile night vision unit that attaches to camcorders and 35mm cameras. ITT Industries Night Vision, the leader in night vision technology, adapted night vision to cameras and camcorders in response to consumer demand. Even in extreme low light conditions the Night Quest 190 can document on film recreational, animal and even criminal activities with superior clarity and resolution. Not only does the Night Quest 190 give outdoor enthusiasts the capability to perform new and different tasks at night; it also gives them the ability to document them. ITT Night Quest 190 works by collecting minute amounts of undetectable light and intensifying them, creating near-daylight conditions through the eyepiece. Independent of the camera or camcorder, the unit operates as a hand-held, night vision monocular. To document night vision experiences, remove the rubber eyepiece and attach the unit to a camera or camcorder using the locking adapter bracket and mounting rings. The Night Quest 190 has a new feature that enables users to deactivate the shut off device, allowing a camera to run for extended periods of time. The Night Quest 190 is designed to work with a variety of lenses as well. Users can remove the unit’s objective lens and attach their favorite lens to its c-mount lens. Other features of the ITT Night Quest 190 include a 40 degree field of view, low battery indicator, automatic brightness control and Generation III technology. This new unit is weather resistance and weighs only 18 ounces. Optional accessories for the ITT Night Quest 190 include an infrared illuminator which allows users to see in extremely dark conditions which have a little or no ambient light. Also available for the ITT 190 is a 50-mm lens. For more information on the ITT Industries Night Vision’s complete line of equipment for security and law enforcement, recreational or marine use contact ITT Night Vision Industries, Dept. DEPT. SAR, , 7671 Enon Drive, Roanoke VA 24019. Phone: 1-800-488-2848. They are on the web at www.ittnightvision.com.

M-16 PIGTAILS FOR SHORTY RIFLES

Every once in a while a product comes along that is an obvious solution to a lasting problem. Usually it makes you think, “Why didn’t I think of that?” The M-16 pigtail is just such a product. The Pigtail is an alternate to mil-spec or factory standard gas tubes for the M-16 and AR-15 family of weapons. Barrels of 16.5 inches or less all use the same length gas tube of approximately 9.79 inches. The pigtail replaces this tube. There are two different size Pigtails. This allows them to be fitted to both rifles with standard narrow or heavy bull barrels that use the 9.79-inch gas tubes. The Pigtail for the narrow barrel rifles fits inside the “Shorty’ handguards. The Bull Barrel Pigtail fits inside the floating tube hand guards. All of the Pigtails are CRYOGENICALLY treated for increased heat dissipation and metallurgic durability. The installation of the Pigtail is simple and requires only one or two modifications to the weapon. The upper receiver must be drilled and tapped for one (flat top) or two (A-1, A-2) set screws. These setscrews lock the gas tube in its proper position. Also the barrel’s gas port for AR-15’s, semi-automatic fire only, must be at a minimum diameter of 0.765 inches. M-16 barrels for full-auto firing must be at or opened up to a minimum diameter of 0.830 inches. No other modifications are required. The pigtail functions with mil-spec recoil springs and accompanying mil-spec buffers. Custom lengths are available for all barrels, including pistol and full length (24”) rifles. The major benefit of the Pigtail include alleviation of most short stroking problems, reduced recoil in semi-auto mode, consistent capability of controlled fire and increased heat dissipation due to both Cryogenic treatment and increased tube length. For more information on this “must have” new product contact Greg Leaf at M16 Pigtail, Dept. DEPT. SAR, , HC 70 #9L, Glorieta, NM 87535. Phone: 1-505-757-6532. The website is www.m16pigtail.com.

JLB INNOVATIONS INTRODUCES THE STEADY ARM

JLB Innovations Inc., has introduced a unique firearm device-designed for shooters of any age, size, gender or physical ability-that provides dramatically increased firearm stabilization for significantly improved shooting accuracy. Dubbed “Steady Arm”, the innovative new product is a moveable cradle that straps securely to the gun’s forestock at its balance point. Attached to the cradle is a camouflaged, telescoping aluminum rod that swivels connected to a special belt the user wears around his or her waist. Steady Arm’s patented design carries the entire weight of the gun at the shooter’s waist while supporting the user’s lower back. It provides complete mobility and allows the gun to be fired from any position. With the Steady Arm, the firearm’s weight is supported from the pivoting, center weight position on the gun, to the hips, eliminating the need for a sling and reducing fatigue during hiking in the field or maneuvering during tactical situations. Steady Arm works with rifles, shotguns, muzzleloaders, handguns or crossbows. Instead of carrying the weight of the gun high off the shoulders, as most people do when carrying a gun in hand or using a sling, Steady Arm puts the weight at the shooter’s waist where it is hardly noticed. For more information on this new product contact JLB Innovations Inc., Dept. DEPT. SAR,, P.O. Box 65, Pinckney, MI 48169. Phone: 1-734-878-5610. They can be found on the web at www.steadyarm.com.

STREAMLIGHT INTRODUCES CUFFMATE™ FLASHLIGHT

Streamlight, Inc., a manufacturer of high-performance flashlights for law enforcement professionals, introduces the CuffMate(tm), a handcuff key that features a high-intensity LED flashlight. Specifically designed with the needs of law enforcement professionals in mind, it combines the practicality of an alloy steel handcuff key with the ingenuity of a super-bright LED bulb. Weighing less than 0.5 ounces, the CuffMate(tm) is compatible with most handcuff brands, including S&W, Hiatt, American, Peerless, Trilock, Quik-Kuf and HWC. The CuffMate’s flashlight is activated through a squeeze switch, and operates on two long-lasting lithium batteries that deliver up to 1000 momentary bursts of light for more than 12 hours of run time. The unbreakable LED bulb provides up to 100,000 hours of use. Built to an unparalleled level of durability, the CuffMate is constructed of virtually indestructible polymer that is reinforced with fiberglass. A swiveling key ring connector offers increased convenience and accessibility to law enforcement professionals. The CuffMate lists for $19.95, and includes a limited lifetime warranty on the body, switch and handcuff key. For more information contact Streamlight, Inc., Dept. DEPT. SAR, , 1030 West Germantown Pike, Norristown, PA 19403-3996. Phone: 1-800-523-7488. Fax: 1-800-220-7007. On the web at www.streamlight.com.

KENWOOD INTRODUCES FREETALK™ WX RADIOS

Offering the latest in 2-way personal communications for outings and outdoor recreation, Kenwood Communications has introduced its first family radio offering 10 NOAA weather radio channels and a vibration call alert. The new FreeTalk WX (Model UBZ-GM14) is a compact, feature-packed FRS radio allowing parties to stay in touch over distances up to two miles and to talk as often and as long as they like, since airtime is free. With 14 channels and 38 talk groups per channel, a large illuminated LCD display, visual status indicators, slip-resistant finish, and accessory jack for a headset or speaker-mic, the FreeTalk WX is suited for use on land or water, at meetings or events, and for any activity where people need to keep in contact. The suggested retail price of the radio is $84.95. The FreeTalk WX is equipped with many convenient and practical features. Most prominently, the built-in 10-band weather radio receiver allows users to obtain the latest NOAA weather report for the region where they are located. When activated, the vibration call alert ensures that transmissions will be received even if the recipient is in a noisy environment, such as an outboard motorboat, sports arena or convention, and can’t hear a voice page or call tone. Users can lock the channel setting to prevent it from being changed unintentionally. A 1-second call tone can be used to alert users to a call. To conserve power, the FreeTalk WX has a battery saver function that switches the receiver on and off at predetermined intervals. When the battery is low, the radio beeps a warning. The large LCD, illuminated for use at night or in dark locations, displays both the channel and talk group numbers, the volume level setting, whether the radio is transmitting or receiving a signal, and whether the channel lock setting is engaged. Speaker volume is set with a 32-step control. For ease of use, the FreeTalk WX is small, less than 4-3/4” tall, 2-1/4” wide, and 1-1/4” deep, uses a fixed, low profile antenna, and is equipped with a removable belt clip. Controls are positioned so the radio may be held and operated with the same hand. An instruction manual is included, and the radio carries a 1-year warranty. For more information contact Kenwood Communications, Technology Park at Johns Creek, Dept. DEPT. DEPT. SAR, , 3975 Johns Creek Road, Suwanee, GA 30024. Phone: 1-800-950-5005. Their website is www.kenwood.com.

The reasons for this evolution are fairly straightforward, and still certainly valid for today’s tactical personnel. Users learned that the 9mm submachine gun was simply incapable of dealing with hard targets such as individuals wearing body armor or vehicles due to the limited terminal performance of the 9X19mm Parabellum cartridge. In addition teams armed only with submachine guns were in a bad way against their opponents armed with assault rifles, especially when moving over land to and from target locations. Outgunned basically, a transition from pistol-caliber submachine guns to rifle-caliber weapons offered the operator far greater capabilities against soft and hard targets at 2-4 times the maximum effective range of the typical pistol-caliber sub gun.

While some have questioned the use of rifle-caliber weapons in the Close Quarters Battle role many special operations units have already transitioned to 5.56mm M4 Carbine variants for this role as far back as the early 1990’s. Issues with bullet performance at close range, over penetration and ricochet against building materials have to some extent been successfully addressed with relatively recent developments in the design of new cartridges and projectiles. Today many units are even carrying 5.56mm CQB weapons that can be effectively suppressed with advanced and durable sound suppressors and subsonic 5.56X45mm ammunition loaded with extremely heavy projectiles in excess of 150 grains.

This trend towards rifle-caliber CQB weaponry, mostly in 5.56X45mm caliber, has made its way also into federal law enforcement and to a lesser degree some state and local agencies as well. Many teams have traded in or disposed of their trusty MP5’s for a varying assortment of .223 weapons. The proliferation of the M16/M4 weapons system throughout U.S. military and law enforcement communities clearly provides the impetus to the adoption of what were once considered only perimeter weapons to “inside” guns firing rifle ammunition. For reasons of unit price but more notably simple familiarization and availability, HK fared rather poorly against the gas-operated M16/M4 weapons until the advent of the new G36 weapons system.

The Gay Sechs und Dreizig (G36) Arrives

HK’s contenders since the early 1970’s were the HK33 rifle, HK33K Carbine and miniature HK53 “Submachine Gun” as it has sometimes been called due to its size, only 2 inches longer than the 9mm MP5. The FBI Hostage Rescue Team utilized the HK33K for many years during the 1980’s as perimeter guns while the 9mm MP5’s performed the inside CQB duties. GSG 9 and the British SAS adopted the HK53 for missions where compact 5.56mm firepower and performance was required, in the case of the Germans against vehicles where the 9mm MP5 had proven less than effective. HK53’s have been issued with select special operations units due to their near identical operation and handling characteristics compared to the MP5 sub gun. However, as good as the roller-locked HK rifles were, units who were already using some variant of the M16 still often overlooked them.

Americans favor rifles wherein the bolt locks open on the last round fired. The roller-locked HK rifles do not. No degree of technical justification can change that. HK33’s and HK53’s also require special blank ammunition to operate the delayed blowback bolts and muzzle devices for firing frangible ammo. They are also not supported by the military supply system or aftermarket accessory industry like countless variants of Eugene Stoner’s creation. Higher unit costs of HK33’s and HK53’s and support parts and tools also made the adoption of the roller-locked HK 5.56mm rifles a costly venture, one out of the financial pockets of most organizations.

With the arrival of the new HK G36, driven by the German military’s need for a lightweight, affordable and conventional 5.56mm rifle for their forces operating with NATO in Bosnia, many if not all of the issues that held back the roller-locked HK33 and HK53 disappeared.

In 1990 the G36 development began at HK. In 1995 the German Bundeswehr (Armed Forces) officially adopted the G36. Within the same year the newly formed German Special Operations Unit, KSK, arrived on HK’s doorstep in Oberndorf with a request to make the G36 rifle shorter. 90 days later the first G36K Carbines rolled of the assembly lines fitted with 12.5 inch barrels. Not looking to be outdone by its competition HK responded to a requirement released by the GSG 9 in 1999 for an even smaller, sub- machine gun sized 5.56mm weapon. This user request drove the development of the latest variant of the G36 weapons system, the new G36 C. Ironically the unit that first placed confidence in the MP5 in the mid-1970’s, GSG 9, would drive the development of a weapon that could be the potential successor to the MP5, and one chambered for a rifle round.

Full circle

With all the tactical advantages of the rifle-caliber CQB weapon there was a price to pay in the important area of size, weight and most importantly maneuverability in the close confines of the typical CQB structure. Fully loaded and outfitted with tactical light, sound suppressor and reflex sight today’s M4 carbine or HK53 for example can easily exceed 8 pounds or more. The excessive overall length of the weapon makes quick movement through the tight confines of CQB targets more difficult than can be managed with shorter, lighter submachine gun. The MP5 is famous for it’s overall “shootability”. The MP5 is fast and easy to be accurate with due to its unique roller-locked breech and closed bolt design, rifle-like configuration and excellent sights and trigger. The short overall length of the MP5 pays huge dividends in a weapon that can swing laterally quickly and effortlessly from target to target like a 20 gauge trap gun does compared to a larger, heavier 12 gauge- for instance. In the eyes of most professional operators only the handgun is faster that the MP5 for engaging multiple targets spread throughout a room.

Today, in fact for the past 10 years, rifles have shrunk in size to meet this growing worldwide demand for compact rifle-caliber weapons. In 1989 there were less than 6 Miniature Assault Rifles, today there are more than 30 from numerous different countries around the world. For the purposes of this article a Mini Assault Rifle is defined as a rifle-caliber weapon with a barrel length under 12 inches, an overall length of under 30 inches and weighing less than 7 pounds. These weapons are often seen in VIP protection details, during vehicle operations, by special police units and during hostage rescue missions.

The Mini Assault Rifle (MAR) today provides the handiness and fast action of the submachine gun but with the ballistic and terminal performance approaching that of full size assault rifles. Providing muzzle velocities from 2,100 to up to 2,600 feet per second or more the terminal performance of a 5.56mm projectile from the MAR even at these reduced velocities is deadly effective, even against hardened targets and targets at ranges out to and exceeding 300 meters. The shooter can now fight to, from and inside the target with the same small handy weapon. Once inside, the operator is not handicapped by an overly long or large weapon resulting in fast and surgical target engagement. The Mini Assault Rifle of the late 1990’s appears destined to be the submachine gun of the late 1970’s.

The G36 C. The MP5 replacement?

In many cases and for many potential users the answer may be yes. The HK G36 has already proven itself to be a truly modern, reliable and clean shooting gas-operated weapon. Already issued to the armies of Germany and Spain the G36 has done extremely well in the shrinking world small arms market. The modular receiver design allows various interchangeable barrel assemblies to be fitted to it by the user unit using only simple tools. Barrel lengths include the 18.9 inch rifle barrel, 18.9 inch light support weapon barrel with heavy profile, the new 15.4 inch intermediate barrel with 1/9 inch twist, 12.5 inch carbine barrel and the latest G36 tube, the 8.9 inch G36 C barrel.

The G36 is small and handy. In fact at just over 6 pounds the G36 C is a full inch shorter than the 9mm MP5A3 with their buttstocks extended. With the stocks closed the C is more than 1.5 inches shorter than the MP5A3. The use of advanced polymer materials and side folding stock make for a lightweight and highly portable weapon. To shorten the G36 C, one inch was removed from the folding buttstock and a shortened yet effective 4-prong flash hider was created to tame the muzzle blast common with short barreled rifle-caliber weapons. The right side folding stock allows the weapon to be carried covertly under a light jacket in a special concealed shoulder carrying rig. Spent cases are ejected through the skeletonized stock for use when fired from the confines of a vehicle compartment or aircraft cockpit.

Even with the shortened barrel the G36 C provides @ 2,400 fps muzzle velocity from 55 grain M193 and 62 grain M855 ammunition with muzzle energies ranging from 675 to 775 foot pounds. For comparison, standard 9mm ball ammunition fired from the MP5 steps out at @ 1,200 f.p.s. and provides a modest 383 foot pounds of energy on target. The MP5 can also not defeat most soft or hard body armor using conventional projectiles nor will it reliably perforate vehicle body panels as will the 5.56X45mm cartridge.

Where the MP5 was lacking in areas of user friendliness, the designers of the G36 C listened intently to the comments of the prospective users. The highly desired bolt catch never available on the 9mm MP5 is standard equipment on the G36. Like every G36 operating control, to include the safety/selector lever, magazine release, cocking handle and forward assist, the bolt catch button is also fully ambidextrous. It can even be switched off for those who prefer the bolt to close on an empty magazine. A common complaint of the MP5 has been the location and shape of the safety/selector levers. Hard to actuate without adjusting the grip of the firing hand, the G36 provides a much-improved rendition that pleases most every user regardless of hand size or flexibility.

The clean shooting short stroke gas piston system utilized in the G36 and the C variant brings almost no carbon fouling into the receiver of the weapon. This saves on cleaning time and reduces potentially fatal stoppages, the worst event that can occur in the middle of a CQB mission. This unique feature also guarantees reliability even after prolonged shooting sessions or under adverse conditions. As a result of HK endurance and reliability testing it has been proven that G36’s will run without incident, without cleaning or lubrication for more than 15,000 rounds.

Like the MP5, options abound

The G36 C provides the user with a host of options. Realizing that every unit and in fact many individual shooters desire specific options for the intended mission, the G36 offers modular sight systems, molded-in threaded hard points for accessory and a rail attachment on the forearm and five optional trigger groups.

The G36 C comes standard fitted with a long Picatinny rail “carrying handle” with adjustable iron sights. This rail provides a long landing strip for almost any assortment of sights and targeting devices, used alone or in tandem. Being quick detachable, the rail can be removed and optional optical, folding iron and dual sights installed with no special tools. Tritium night sights of course are available as options.

Tactical lights, lasers and vertical foregrips can be arranged on the G36 C at the discretion of the shooter on one or three sets of molded-in threaded hard points positioned on the left, bottom or right sides of the detachable ventilated forearm. Accessory polymer MIL-STD-1913 rails can be attached to the hard points with Allen screws. These rails then accept most any accessory designed to fit this now universal mounting rail, including those in the U.S. SOPMOD accessory kit for the M4 Carbine.

Tough act to Follow

Will the new HK G36 C totally replace the venerable MP5 in the CQB role? It is highly unlikely considering the Government issue abundance and universal familiarity of the current M4 and M4A1 Carbines. However, time will tell if the advantages of a sub gun size 5.56m CQB weapon can win out over issue carbines available to most users at less than half the unit price of one G36 C.

By Finn Nielsen

The introduction of the machinegun in the late 1880s revolutionized warfare to some extent. Once it was realized that these guns were not to be handled or expected to perform as artillery their use brought about trench warfare, by necessity. The war between Japan and Russia in 1905 saw troops bogged down in deep trenches, as any movement on a large scale caused terrible losses from dug in machineguns. A light, man- portable, rifle-calibered machinegun was available in 1905. This was the Danish Madsen, which saw some use in that conflict, although mostly by Russian cavalry.

The idea of a high volume of fire in a pistol-calibered weapon had been approached somewhat in the development of the Ml896 Mauser ‘Broomhandle’, but this weapon was not to be produced in selective-fire, large capacity magazine versions until the l920s. Its complexity and cost ruled out issue of these on a large scale.

Thus when World War 1 broke out in Europe in August of l914 the submachinegun, as we know it today, did not exist.

On 23 May of 1915, Italy entered the war against the central powers. While the Italians outnumbered their Austrian opponents by a comfortable margin, the terrain in which they had to fight was totally against them. The expression ‘uphill battle’ was completely true here. From June to December that year the Italians lost over 278 000 men in what were mostly fruitless attacks. Despite the fact that the terrain favoured artillery and long range machinegun fire to cover or defend against attacks, a man portable, pistol caliber ‘submachinegun’ still made its appearance in 1915. It was the Villar-Perosa.

Designed by Revelli, who was also responsible for other interesting machinegun designs, it became known as the ‘V.P. 1915’ and also the ‘Fiat’, after one of the factories which made it. It is alleged that it was also manufactured here in Toronto in l917 and 18, however, I have never seen any (having seen only three!) with markings which might indicate that was the case.

The terrain described above was mountainous. The Carnic and Julian Alps provided ideal defensive positions and a man-portable, rifle-caliber, light machinegun was what was needed. The poor 9mm pistol-caliber V.P was thrust into the light machinegun role for which it was totally unsuited because of the lack of power of its cartridge.

It took some time but the Italians finally realized that the long-range machinegun role was not for the V.P. The V.P. was then used in the assault role that it did a little better at due to its reasonable portability and very high rate of fire. The V.P. was actually two guns in one. They were mounted side by side (side by each?) with spade grips and two buttons/triggers, similar to heavy machineguns. Some were equipped with a bipod and others with an attached square shield.

The system of operation has been described as delayed blowback, but more accurately might be described as ‘advanced primer ignition’. The cartridge is fired before it is fully chambered and thus has to overcome the forward motion of the bolt before it can begin to push it back. The simplest of systems, you can find variations of it in most of your low -powered cartridge semi-autos.

The V.P. I had the opportunity to examine was the version with the bipod and no shield. It is actually a very short unit, 21 inches in overall length, and weighs in at some 16 pounds with two loaded 25 round magazines in place.

They were supposed to be chambered for 9mm parabellum cartridges, but given the age of the weapon, and the fact it might have been meant to shoot the lower powered Glisenti round, the owner used lead projectile handloads loaded below 1000 f.p.s. They worked just fine.

Control of your fire is something else. There is no selector, it is full auto only. A twenty-five round magazine coupled with a rate of fire of well over 1000 rpms just doesn’t last long!

The magazines are easy to charge being a staggered row, a design which I could never understand why other nations early on did not copy. Sub machineguns such as the MP28 and its copies, and other foreign weapons went with the single row feed and the attendant pain of having to use a loader to fill them. I always thought that the Chinese conversion of the Sten MK II using the easy-to-load PPS 43 magazine made a lot of sense. Of course a Swedish K is only a Sten with a good magazine in it at a different angle!

So the little Villar really pounded out the projectiles, but in the version we had it must have been really cumbersome to run with , set up, and then use it effectively. For sure, ammo carriers would have to have been close behind you.

The Villar Perosa was never a success tactically because of all the limitations that its caliber imposed upon it, but it did serve as the basis for a more effective firearm. The O.V.P., for all intents and purposes is merely a single-barreled V.P. It still has the top mounted magazines, off-set sights and the high rate of fire. Cocking is accomplished by the use of a knurled sleeve around the receiver which must be pulled back and pushed forward to make it ready for firing. Apparently most of the V.P. units were converted to this version and thus the one that I fired is uncommon.

The club that I belong to has demonstrated weapons such as the V.P. and more current small arms to selected groups of The Canadian Armed Forces.

Many analysts found the CZ-75 a combination of the good features incorporated in such pistol designs as the Browning High-Power and the S&W M39. Especially the American gun writers found the internal machining unduly complicated but of relatively good quality. As the Czechoslovakian government of the time had enough service pistols for their military and police the sales efforts were export oriented. An export company named Merkuria found several end users in Central America and Scandinavia alike. All these volume sales and user feedback thereof were very important for the technical development of the basic model.

The basic CZ construction was later copied by several other gun producing companies as either direct clones like Swiss or Italian models, or as modifications like Israeli models. All of the pistol products based on the basic design have been popular. The original Ceska Zbrojovka factory still produces the CZ-75 in over ten different variations, from the compact model to a gunsmith-tuned IPSC competition model. The range of caliber include 9x21mm and .40S&W. An evolution model called the CZ-85 with an ambidextrous approach has found popularity in the sporting markets as an economical IPSC pistol.

One CZ-pistol model has received less public attention and this is due to the authority oriented specialty market. This small and fast paced selective-fire submachine gun, or machine pistol if you like, is based on the CZ 75B version of the standard pistol and is called 9x19mm CZ 75 Automatic.

Machine pistol or SMG

The terminology has been pondered upon before. Machine pistol gives us the impression of a service pistol-sized gun that delivers selective fire. On the other hand SMG (submachine gun) includes a larger amount of different weapon constructions offering full and semi-automatic fire and using service pistol calibers.

There has been a need to experiment with machine pistol constructions since the beginning of the modern self-loading pistol. Scrutinizing the more modern end of the history we can find products such as the H&K VP70, Beretta M93R or Glock-18 and all of these have found special applications by the authorities, police and military.

Perhaps it is not so surprising that Ceska Zbrojovka from Uhersky Brod brought their own small machine pistol to the market in the middle of 1990 to compete for these niche markets. As this small submachine gun is not equipped with a shoulder stock it should be compared to the Austrian Glock-18 machine pistol.

This CZ-modification shows practicality and sound technical solutions and it is clear that the project of design has had a suitable amount of resources to produce prototypes before the production series.

After initiating the project, the first selective-fire prototypes were made based on the newer CZ-85 ambidextrous model. The chief designer was Mr. Martin Kouba and the construction was presented at the 1992 IWA gunshow in Germany. This machine pistol design was not taken further and the basis for the next version was the CZ 75 pistol. Engineer Alexander Koten finished the actual CZ 75 machine pistol conversion during 1993 and after extended trials, production commenced with the marketing to military and police end users. This model was based on the modernized frame of the basic pistol and has been on the market since 1994, and aptly named 9x19mm CZ 75 Automatic sub-machine gun. Parallel to the prototype development of the CZ 75 Automatic Mr. Stanislav Strizik made a single-action selective-fire workshop prototype which, like the CZ-85 select fire was a project discontinued.

CZ 75 Automatic machine pistol

The CZ 75 Automatic is an all steel handgun. The barrel is hammered and machined, the slide and lower receiver are precision cast and machined. The trigger mechanism is double- and single-action. The user has the option of a first shot with either activating the hammer with the full double action press of the trigger or by cocking the external hammer and placing the selector on safe, for single action mode when needed. Even if the machine pistol has an external hammer it does not have a hammer release lever. This means that if the hammer is cocked it must be triggered and released under control of the thumb to place the gun in the double-action mode.

The locking mechanism of this pistol is no surprise as it follows the Browning principle of locking lugs on the barrel breech block connecting into recesses on the upper inner surface of the slide, when the slide is in its forward position. The connection is opened only after the short connected barrel-slide travels to the rear during the recoil cycle when a cartridge is fired. The breech end of the barrel is forced slightly down and stopped by the guiding pin, the connection unlocking letting the slide retract the full movement of its cycle. The force of the return spring slows its speed and eventually returns it to battery in its forward position. During the retracting movement of the slide the cartridge case is extracted and ejected and when the slide goes forward it forces the next cartridge from the magazine into the chamber.

This small CZ 75 Automatic machine pistol has at least two technical solutions that merit special attention;

• 1. The external arrangement of the selector. The safety switch situated on the left side of the pistol functions as the selector lever. It incorporates a simple feature that prevents any unintentional rotation into the full automatic position. When the selector is in its uppermost position (pointing 10 o’clock) the pistol is set on safe. When the selector is turned to the middle position, a very logical horizontal position pointing into the firing direction (9 o’clock) and showing one red dot the gun is set at semi automatic fire.
  
  To place the selector lever into its lower position (8 o’clock) for cyclic fire the middle part of the lever must be first pressed in the firing direction to facilitate the downward movement of the selector. The lever has in effect to be pressed forward and downward, and in its lower position two dots are showing as a mark of full automatic fire mode.
  
  For example, the Glock-18 machine pistol does not have any safety locking of its selector lever. The Glock selector, which is placed on the rear of the slide’s left side is safeguarded from accidental cyclic fire with a long movement of the selector switch. When in semi automatic mode the lever points at 11 o’clock and only turning it counterclockwise into the position 7 o’clock will facilitate full automatic fire.
• 2. The spare magazine functions as the front grip. The front of the lower receiver has a machined rail, and on the left side a spring actuated small latch. The floorplates of the magazines have similar machined tracks as the rails in the frame and a small recess for the frame latch. If the machine pistol operator wants a substantially firmer grip for firing cyclic he can connect the reversed spare magazine from its floorplate to the underside of the lower receiver. This gives an ergonomic grip pointing slightly forward. The magazine is locked in place by the small latch. To release the magazine the latch has to be pushed upwards and the magazine slid off in firing direction.
  
  In comparison the Glock-18 smg does not have a front grip and can not even facilitate one and the Beretta M93 smg has a small foldable front grip in the lower receiver.

Tryout at the range

The semiautomatic features of the CZ 75 Automatic are in par with any requirements of a standard service sidearm. The optional integrally compensated barrel offers slightly lesser recoil-movement of the gun but on the other hand the markedly higher gun report due to the gas ports, is not worth the gain. The compensated barrel has six openings in the front part of the barrel, they open up and to the sides, three on both sides. Personally, I favor the standard barrel giving a slightly shorter total length.

The sightspan of the open sights is 155 mm and they utilize a white three-dot system, with one dot in the bead and two on either side of the rear notch.

The cyclic rate of the machine pistol is approximately 22-25 cartridges per second. This rate is so high that it is hard to decide on sound if it was a single shot or a two-cartridge burst. During an extended burst the cartridges are positively ejected to the right of the gun. Cyclic firing with this weapon offers a lot of torque to the supporting hands. A double handed grip is always recommended, and the operator should connect the front grip if the firing distance exceeds 15 meters. If the range is 10 meters or less it is possible to keep all hits on a target area of 1x 0.5m. The hits are divided over the total area. After practice it is possible to keep the length of the bursts at 2-4 cartridges and this increases hit probability for longer ranges. The fifteen cartridge magazine seems too short for the novice practicing full automatic firing with the CZ-75 A, but to keep the running temperature of the gun at reasonable levels during training it is good practice to let the gun cool down. The risks involved having a gun that is too hot a the “cook-off” effect on a chambered cartridge. That happens when the temperature of the chamber area of the gun is so high that it transfers to the powder charge in the cartridge and ignites it. At the very least an overheated gun is mechanically under great stress and the normal lubrication evaporates. The optional magazine holds 25 cartridges.

The gun is easy to strip for standard maintenance. Remove the magazine and check the chamber and remove any cartridge. Pull the slide to the rear so that the slide and receiver marks (at the rear left side) meet. The slide stop is removed to the left by pressing at the end of its axle on the right side, and pulling it out of the lower receiver. Let the slide carefully to the forward position and pull it off the lower receiver. The return spring and its guide can be released from below the barrel, and the barrel pulled out of the slide down and to the rear. The gun can be assembled after cleaning in the reversed order.

As a machine pistol the CZ 75 Automatic is a very interesting, well-designed and technically reliable small submachine gun. It remains to be seen in which direction the Czech company Ceska Zbrojovka will take its newest prototype weapons. Perhaps there eventually will be something in the Belgian caliber 5.7x28mm.

Please see the article on the Semi-Auto CZ-75 in this issue by Frank Iannamico…

By J.M. Ramos

The Italian firm of Sites S.P.A. was founded in 1982 in Torino under the direction of Dott. Ing. Franco Manassero. The company specializes in the design and production of light weapons for modern warfare, particularly for anti-terrorism, counter-guerrilla and unconventional warfare. The design of the company’s first entry weapon, the Spectre, is the result of an analysis carried out by Sites research and development team based on the experience of 12 years of terrorism in Italy (1970-1982), as well as other terrorist’s activities and guerrilla warfare waged in various parts of the world.

The following are brief excerpts from the company’s analysis which led to the final design specification of the Spectre, a fourth generation submachinegun that truly posseses innovations that can be called totally new and radical since the introduction of the first submachinegun, the Italian Villar Perosa of 1915.

The question raised more often in combat or defence at close-range cannot be answered merely by technological research and development of weaponry and ammunition. The only adequate solution to a problem on which men’s lives or even the destiny of a nation is at stake, lies primarily in a careful analysis of the relationship between the weapon and his user as well as the result of their interaction. This analysis should not begin with the weapon, or ammunition, but the user himself. It is very important to understand the implications of close-range combat (40-10 meters). We must consider the psycho-physical reaction capability of a man under attack, the surprise factor, the effectiveness of training, the panic factor, the effect of panic on motion co-ordination, reaction time under extreme stress, reflex reactions and psychological conditioning. These findings can lead to the identification of the characteristics from which we can develop and create the mechanical aids (weapon and ammunition) as efficient as possible to overcome an aggressor or save lives.

The first pre-production model of the 9mm Spectre submachinegun was introduced at the 1983 AUSA convention in Washington. The actual production of the weapon did not start until 1985. It was designated the Spectre M2.

FEATURES OF THE
SPECTRE MODEL-2
SUBMACHINEGUN:

The Spectre submachinegun represents the most radical close-quarter fourth generation submachinegun today. The weapon brings together a series of unique technical innovations, making it a revolutionary “new submachinegun” – more effective and safer than any weapon in its class. Spectre is the first automatic weapon in the world firing 900 rpm with three-action blow-back firing system.

Consequently, the weapon fires from a close-bolt principle assuring less mechanical distraction during firing as opposed to an “open-bolt” system incorporating heavy breech block mechanism. In addition, the three-action movement provides the weapon an exceptionally smooth firing cycle. The excellent stability results in an absence of climb with only minimal vibration during full automatic fire. The initial result from these advantages is extra-ordinary accuracy and the possibility of being able to fire the weapon accurately with one hand in the event of an emergency.

The Spectre offers maximum safety and instant readiness by eliminating unnecessary manually operated mechanism that would normally prevent accidental discharges in all type of combat scenarios. Similar classes of weapons may likely fail if dropped, jarred, hit etc. The incorporation of a unique double action trigger mechanism and a decocking lever, makes it possible to lower the hammer on a loaded round; allowing the weapon to be carried loaded with virtually no chance for an accidental discharge. The Spectre is truly an error-proof submachinegun. It fires only if and when the operator intends to shoot. The double action trigger mechanism assures instant readiness without having to manipulate separate safety mechanisms other than pulling the trigger. To complement its radically new trigger lockwork, the Spectre was designed with ambidextrous controls to accommodate both left and right handed users.

The Spectre features a patented four-file magazine using a single follower that is likely inspired by the 1931 Finnish Soumi submachinegun design. The Soumi system however has two separate rows of double column arrangement and individual followers separated by a center wall in the middle of the magazine tube. The Spectre magazine is only slightly thicker than normal double column type, but the same in length of 21 cm containing 50 rounds instead of 30. The advantage of maximum capacity in a weapon that fires 10-15 shot per second is self-explanatory.

The handiness of a submachinegun is one of its important features. For this reason, the Spectre’s thickness has been kept within 35 mm even with the metal stock folded. This makes the weapon one of the slimmest submachineguns in the world allowing total comfort and without hindrance of movement when carried or deployed into action.

An ideal submachinegun must always function in rain, dust, sand, in cold climates, in jungle or other severe climatic conditions. Simplicity is the main characteristics of the Spectre. The close-bolt firing system prevents the entry of dirt or any foreign matter into the action which in turn assists in reliable operation of the weapon when subjected to various climatic conditions.

Almost all fully automatic weapons suffer from overheating of the chamber during prolonged bursts of fire. To overcome this problem, the Spectre incorporated a unique forced ventilation principle. The system operates by the movement of the bolt and keeps the chamber and barrel temperature down. The result is extraordinary, even after prolonged full auto fire the barrel can still be touched. This design advantage also minimizes or eliminates the possibility of dangerous cook-offs normally associated with closed bold arrangements.

The Spectre utilized a barrel featuring sinusoidal rifling. This type of rifling has no sharp corners, this prevents the incision of the bullet which passes with minimum of friction. With this rifling system, it is possible to use for the barrel lead steel that is self-lubricating and guarantees a smoother passage of the bullet in the bore. This also protects the barrel from wear from a weapon that is primarily designed to deliver high rate of fire in rapid successions.

As early as 1988, Sites begun to further refine the design characteristics of their original production Model 2 that can be characterized as functional and structural improvements. While the new Model 4 retained most of the basic features of the Model 2, the following changes was undertaken in order to further enhance the versatility of the original Spectre submachinegun design.

1. The original metal cocking handle with center spindle “U” notch “UZI type”, has been replaced by a flat sledge type handle using high-impact polymer material. This eliminates the possibility of the handle’s notch as a rear sight during fast aiming. The new design also strengthened the metal folding stock that no longer required the long slot to allow the movement of the cocking handle during operation while the stock is folded on the top of the receiver.

2. The lever shaped fire selector mechanism was replaced by a quarter-circle pattern in order to allow faster fire selection setting by the shooter’s thumb. The original had two separate levers that required separate activations.

3. The assembly and disassembly procedure has been changed with the newly re-designed interlocking components. The weapon now can be field stripped in less than 8 seconds without the use of any tools. Re-assembling is as easily accomplished. The weapon does not require any lubrication and rarely needs cleaning.

4. Stock configuration has been improved. The angle is lowered to allow a more comfortable aiming. Additional stiffening ribs have been added to maximize its strength.

5. The shape of the bolt and hammer has been re-designed. The new shape is patterned exactly like the internal form of the upper frame so that the air-pump effect is considerably increased. This allows for better cooling of the barrel and mechanical cleaning of foreign matters that may build up inside the action.

6. The front sight has been modified in order to allow elevation and windage adjustments.

7. The new design of the M4 allows for quick barrel removal that permits easy substitution of a longer threaded barrel for silencer requirements for use by clandestine operatives.

8. Sintered parts like the M2 selector and de-cocking levers are replaced by metallic inserts bedded in high impact polymer which are much stronger and more comfortable to activate specially in extremely cold temperatures.

9. The shape of the magazine catch has been modified to allow faster and more accessible operation during quick magazine changing.

In addition to the Spectre Model 2 and Model 4 submachineguns, Sites also produced semi-auto variants for the civilian market. These include the Spectre pistol and Spectre Carbine both chambered for the 9mm parabellum. The Spectre pistol utilizes all the submachinegun features and uses the same magazines but fires semi-auto only and without a stock. Only the decocking lever for the double action trigger lockwork is mounted in the frame.

The Spectre Police Compact Carbine (PCC System) has all the innovative features of the submachinegun version except its semi-auto functioning. It features a 420 mm long barrel and the usual metal folding stock of the submachinegun model. Like the pistol model, only the decocking lever is mounted in the frame. The semi-auto model fires approximately 200 rpm (approx. 3-shot per second).

In conclusion, Sites is one of the very few arms producers in the world who manufacture their wares starting from the user’s need; interviewing law enforcement personnel and undercover agents who survive terrorists attacks, trying to understand the physiological results of panics from which the encounter is drawn (pressure, adrenaline, stress, flow, etc.). From these experiences the Spectre weapon system was incepted. The technical solutions are examined and incorporated not merely improving the accuracy of such weapon at 300 meters, but to give the user a safe, rugged and reliable instrument which he can do his task more efficiently and effectively. The Spectre submachinegun is patented world-wide and currently in use by numerous agencies around the world. Limited numbers of Spectre semi-auto carbine and pistol variants were briefly imported into the U.S. market by F.I.E. in the late 1980’s during the heyday of paramilitary weapons market. These guns are now one of the most sought after by military subgun collectors which will no doubt only increase in value as such class of weapon is hard to come by. The author tested both the submachinegun (police sample) and semi-auto civilian models in late 1990’s and found all models to be exceptional in both accuracy and reliability.

While the double action pull is a bit heavy at 10 lbs., its intended purpose is safety. It’s like carrying a double action pistol like the Walther PPK or P-38. After introducing a round in the chamber, the hammer will remain in cocked position. Depressing the slice mounted lever will drop the hammer but will not fire the weapon due to its built-in firing pin block. To fire the gun, simply pull the trigger via heavy double action pull. The recoil will automatically recock the hammer for the next shot that will result in a lighter 4-5 pound pull. If you wish to stop shooting and like to return the hammer in “safe” forward position with a loaded chamber, simply depress the slide mounted lever to once again drop the hammer for double action trigger pull. The Spectre trigger lockwork principle works in the same manner except it uses a small metal block that travels behind the bolt rather than a pivoting hammer. The decocking lever rest is above the grip in the Spectre, while its fire selector lever is positioned just forward of it. Its single action pull provides a smooth and crispy 4 pound pull and is virtually consistent each shot. Quality of workmanship is excellent; something to be expected from a well organized research and development division of a very resourceful company. The Spectre is indeed one of the most technologically advanced SMG in the world, loaded with features that very few if any will ever equal or exceed.

By Steve Fleischman

Since the beginning of war, throwing objects has been the most popular form of combat. Whether it be rocks or 2000 pound projectiles, hitting your opponent with something has been the goal.

Grenades through history have evolved from light and throw bombs to primitive Civil War potatoes with tail fins, to all forms of Pineapple, egg, and can-shaped objects. All had one thing in common, a good throwing arm was needed.

A variety of rifle-launched objects also evolved with mixed results on accuracy and effect.

After the Korean War there was a need for a new delivery system for antipersonnel munitions, with greater effectiveness and range. The criteria for this new system was lightweight, range out to 400 yards, effective fragmentation, low recoil, and low cost.

Development and manufacture of this weapon system was a multi-faceted effort, of government and private industry. The Vietnam War put additional pressure on the development, which resulted in significant refinement-production techniques, improved quality, and substantial cost reduction.

The shoulder-fired M79 launcher was the first weapon developed to deliver the first production round, the M406 HE. The M203 launcher replaced and paralleled the M79 as an additional weapon system. The M203 was mounted on the M16A1 rifle.

Grenade ammunition up to now was known as HI-LO pressure type with about the same power as a 45 long Colt. A new longer-range offensive type grenade was now being developed that was to be fired from a multitude of weapons being designed. There were a variety of fully automatic belt-fed systems that were developed, such as the M75, XM129, and MK19. All ammunition for these weapons is known as HI pressure type.

Grenade ammunition is basically divided into several categories. First, HI-LO and HI- pressure as defined above. Next we will define as to type, HE, Practice, Pyrotechnic, smoke, riot, shot and “specials”. These specials are just representative samples of a multitude of special purpose cartridges produced experimentally, sometimes field tested and most times just abandoned.

HI-LO Pressure

HE M406, Round notched sphere bomblet, spin and setback armed point detonating fuse.

HEDP M433, cylindrical steel body, shaped charge, light armor defeating. Fuse is a point detonating with a spitback charge to initate the shaped charge.

HEAP. This He anti-personnel was developed by FN of Belgium using a ball matrix fragmentation and a combo point detonating /time fuse.

HE AIRBURST M397. Special fusing and projectile design produced a new round with the old “bouncing betty” concept. An HE round striking the ground loses half or more of its effectiveness when it detonates. This round rebounds its bomblet to two meters above the ground before it detonates.

PROOF XM387E2. Black heavy projectile, for proofing M79/203.

PRACTICE. Multitude of plastic and metal case and projectile combinations with orange dye markers. Basic issue is the M781, white plastic case, blue plastic nose.

PRACTICE M407A1. This round is an HE simulator, two kinds, and one totally inert with dummy fuse, and the other with a smoke spotting charge.

SHOT. Two styles of XM576, E1 and E2. See reference picture for different shot charge and sabot design. There was even a silenced version developed by AAI.

FLECHETTE. A multitude of different loads and sizes were experimented with.

SMOKE. For all kinds of spotting and signaling. There is ground smoke-M713, red, M714 violet, M716 yellow, and M715 green. Parachute smoke- XM659 red, XM669 violet, XM660 yellow, and XM658 green. Streamer smoke- XM696 yellow, XM697 green, XM699 red, XM698 orange, XM701 violet, and XM700 brown. Canopy smoke- XM682 red, XM681 violet, XM680 white, XM676 yellow, and XM679 green. There is an experimental floating smoke marker that uses a balloon inflated by the burning smoke compound. This system allows it to float on water and or mud and burn for 70 seconds.

PYROTECHNIC. All kinds of signaling cartridges were designed. The main two types were the parachute star XM583 white, XM661 green, XM662 red, and XM695 orange. And the Cluster star XM585 white, Xm663 green, and XM664 red.

RIOT. Many CS gas rounds were developed for non-lethal removal of undesirables and also a variety of plastic and rubber baton rounds.

DBCATA. This silenced round was developed to replace the M203 barrel system. The round was its own barrel, which clipped on to a firing device, which looked very much like the receiver of a 203. The case was rifled and the projectile was pre-engraved. A steel foil “balloon” was folded up and sealed around the propelling charge. When fired the propelling gasses expand the balloon and push out the projectile, with enough force to impart sufficient spin and setback to arm the fuse. The balloon captures all the gases and makes the round silent. DBCATA stands for Disposable-Barrel-Cartridge-Area-Target-Ammunition.

ROCKET ASSISTED. Many types were developed and tested for increased range. Primers and igniters were part of the rocket and came through the back of the case.

ANTENNA CARTRIDGE GR103. This round contained a coil of wire and when fired above the jungle canopy deployed the wire as an antenna. Developed for Navy Seals for burst radio transmission.

MULTI PELLET CARTRIDGE as the military called it. This round was loaded with 18 -22 lr cartridges. A large rifle primer propelled a disc with 18 firing pins which fired all rounds at once. There was no rifling so the bullets tumbled soon after leaving the weapon. This was good or bad depending on what was trying to be achieved. The original military version had a safety wire on its reloadable one. There was also a die-cast throwaway one.

GRAPPLING HOOK PROJECTOR XM688. This round was developed for the Rangers to propel climbing devices higher and farther than they could throw.

M42 MINE PROJECTING. Little is known about this round, except that it propels 2 shaped charge mines of the same type as deployed in other types of ordnance.

FLECHETTE BIOLOGICAL TRANSMITTING. This round has 4 very large flechettes and it is alleged to be some kind of delivery method for what ever you can think of.

HI PRESSURE ROUNDS FOR MK19-XM175.

TARGET PRACTICE M385. Solid Aluminum projectile.

TARGET PRACTICE M918. HE projectile filled with Aluminum slug, inexpensive fuse and spotting charge.

PROOF XM385E3. Heavy Aluminum projectile for proofing weapons.

DUMMY XM922. Gold color, for training.

HEDP M430. Hi velocity shaped charge, for light armored targets up to 2 inches thick.

HE M384. First adopted HE round for the hi velocity series

HE AIRBURST. This experimental round using the M384 body incorporates a self-contained proximity fuse that sends out its own signal and detonates itself at a predetermined distance from the target.

The “LEM”

This new trigger/firing system is termed the Law Enforcement Modification or LEM for short. The system is comprised of a set of six unique drop-in parts that can be installed in existing USP pistols, both full size and compact models. These parts include the trigger bar, sear, catch, hammer, cocking piece and cocking piece spring. As the name implies the LEM trigger system is currently being offered to military and law enforcement agencies only and replaces the standard USP variant 7 DA Only system beginning in 2001. At this time due to demand HK is only offering this system in new USP’s and not for retrofit into existing fielded pistols. It is yet to be decided if the LEM system will be offered on the commercial market.

How it Works

The LEM is Double Action Only mode of operation wherein the hammer is fully cocked and released with each full depression of the trigger. However, that is where the similarities end. Unlike conventional DA Only trigger systems, the HK Law Enforcement Modification uses the rearward movement of the slide to fully cock an internal and separate “cocking piece” positioned within a slot within the hammer itself. The hammer returns forward with the slide after loading or firing. The internal cocking piece however, located within the hammer, is retained in the cocked position by the sear. When the trigger is pulled the hammer is moved fully rearward through slack to a point where it contacts the sear. It is at this point that the shooter first feels appreciable resistance to the trigger.

As the sear is disengaged by the application of pressure on the trigger the cocking piece rotates on the hammer axle and drives the hammer forward to strike the firing pin and thus fire the chambered round. The amount of force required to release the hammer can be set at 4.5 – 5.0 pounds or 7.5 – 8.0 pounds at the preference of the user with a simple change of the firing pin block spring. A normal USP firing pin block spring provides the 5 pound trigger pull. A newly designed spring of greater strength when installed will increase the trigger pull to the 8 pound range. This spring is easily exchanged using only a punch and small hammer.

“Power Assisted” Trigger Pull

The obvious advantage of the HK LEM system is the reduction in trigger pull weight over conventional DA Only systems (generally 8 to 13 pounds or more). However, to the shooter that is only the beginning of the many advantages of the LEM over competing trigger systems. The LEM eliminates the need for the shooter to struggle against the resistance of the hammer spring and geometry of the internal parts to cock the hammer during the rearward depression of the trigger while at the same time trying to keep the sights in alignment to hit the target. This can be difficult for many experienced shooters and down right impossible for new shooters or shooters with small or weak hands. In the HK LEM the action of cocking the DA Only hammer is completed by the rearward movement of the slide, not by the shooter pulling the trigger. Therefore the shooter only feels the light slack and then short resistance before the hammer is released to fire the chambered round. In the LEM, a bit of the energy produced by pulling the trigger and firing the chambered round is recycled by the pistol to cock or “pre-load” the two-part hammer arrangement. Power Assisted DA Only firing. Hiram Maxim would have been proud!

The LEM trigger pull has been described by some experts as a Single Action in its feel but with the long slack and thus the built-in safety margin of a DA trigger system. Smooth, crisp, with little or no stacking or staging and yet safe and simple to use, especially for those shooters with small hands or limited hand strength.

An extremely short trigger reset distance of @ .241 inches comparable to that of many excellent Single Action (SA) designs (the trigger of an general issue M1911A1 resets at .120 inches for comparison), allows for fast follow up shots not normally available in conventional DA, DA Only and most Safe Action designs. The LEM system offers the shooter the same trigger pull for each round fired and thus eliminates the difficult transition from DA to SA that is experienced with conventional DA/SA pistols.

Unlike many conventional DA Only and Safe and Single Action designs the LEM allows the shooter the ability to restrike the same stubborn primer with a second squeeze of the trigger. No manual manipulation of the hammer or slide is required to do this.

Heavier Springs, Lighter Trigger Pull?

Because the recoiling slide is used to cock the internal hammer, a stronger hammer spring can be used without increasing the weight of the trigger pull. This stronger hammer spring improves the function of the handgun by slowing down the rearward movement of the slide and thus improving feeding from the magazine, especially when firing today’s more powerful ammunition. This action improves the service life of the hammer and recoil springs and other component parts of the handgun while at the same time enhancing long-term reliability.

The LEM provides the law enforcement or military user with the simplicity and same trigger pull for every round fired, the inherent safety of the long DA trigger pull employed successfully in DA revolvers for more than a century and the absence of external controls, to include safety or decocking levers. With the USP’s ambidextrous magazine release the LEM equipped USP is totally ambidextrous. At the same time the quality of the LEM trigger pull is superior to conventional DA Only systems and many SA and Safe Action designs. These attributes help promote improved accuracy and probability of hit for the user, especially while firing under stress. Shooter and bystander safety is enhanced, as there are no actions required by the user after firing such as decocking or engaging a manual safety as no such controls are required.

For users that require a manual safety that blocks the release of the hammer, the modular nature of the USP design allows one to be added to the LEM system as well. This includes a left, right or ambidextrous frame-mounted safety lever, which blocks the release of the sear. This option could provide a greater margin of safety should the operator accidentally squeeze the trigger during improper handling, during the typical “gun grab” where an assailant attempts to take and shoot the officer with his or her service pistol or to help prevent accidental shootings at the hands of unauthorized persons, such as children “home alone”.

An innovative solution from the creator

The idea of the LEM design was born in 1997 by Helmut Weldle, the USP designer at HK GmbH in Germany to address the need for a vastly improved DA Only trigger pull to compete with Safe Action designs. Since its official release in 1999, the U.S. Immigration Service has since adopted this new system for the USP40 Compact Pistol, which is being issued to plain-clothed INS Inspectors and Deportation Officers. More recently the German Police have also adopted a slightly modified version of the LEM system in a new HK 9mm pistol called the P2000.

During development testing multiple USP40 Compact-LEM pistol samples fired an amazing total of 15,575 rounds per pistol without a single malfunction, stoppage or broken part. 25-meter accuracy firing of the USP40 Compact-LEM with its 3.58-inch barrel from the hand supported by sandbags only, firing duty ammunition provided a 5-shot group average of 2.41 inches for 18 targets fired. The LEM system has also successfully passed the standard NATO drop test requirement of 2 meters on a concrete/steel surface on all six attitudes.

Parallel Developments

Though they accomplish the same goal of an improved DA Only trigger pull, the HK LEM and new Para-Ordnance “LDA” (Light Double Action) systems differ considerably yet were clearly parallel designs from two separate firms over nearly identical periods in history. Unlike the Para-Ordnance system however, the patented HK LEM does allow for multiple strike capability by simply resqueezing the trigger. The HK LEM is available in a wide variety of models to include full-size and compact versions in calibers 9mm Luger, .40 S&W, 357 SIG and .45 ACP.

The Future

Whether the new Heckler & Koch Law Enforcement Modification will appeal to the general U.S. law enforcement community is yet to be determined. The general release of test samples for evaluation beginning in 2001 should answer this question. From the response to date from the INS/Border Patrol, the German Police and those who have handled or fired the USP with LEM parts on board, this new offering may once and for all end the discussion about when HK will offer “a really good DA trigger pull” in the USP. Well it is here already and it is the LEM.