With increased availability of surplus military M1 rifles through the Civilian Marksmanship Program and other sources, numerous civilian shooting clubs all over America regularly conduct their own JOHN C. GARAND MATCHES as a preliminary to the annual National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. Fired with ordinary ball ammunition at 200 yards in a variety of positions using unmodified American service rifles like the M1 Garand, the ’03 Springfield and even the M1 Carbine, this competition is fun and rewarding for novices and expert riflemen alike.

No formal marksmanship training is required of shooters, who are also not restricted by age, sex, or skill level. Most matches, while well supervised and controlled for safety and integrity of scoring, are rather relaxed affairs. Comfortable civilian attire and all sorts of amenities such as powerful spotting scopes, luxuriously thick ground pads, special shooting jackets, sun umbrellas, and coolers full of refreshing soft drinks are the order of the day.

While such niceties certainly make the usual Garand Match pleasurable, this just doesn’t have the right flavor for certain types of shooters. These slightly curmudgeonly competitors – some perhaps harking back to their young adulthood in service of Uncle Sam – seek to re-create those days of yore when the science and art of riflery was taught and mastered for the most serious of reasons.

Old Hickory Association

One such group of borderline grouches can be found in the North Carolina based Old Hickory Association. These guys make preparation for both local and national level Garand Matches a particularly colorful and meaningful experience by conducting preliminary training and range firing just like American soldiers did in WWII.

“When you go out to the range in the uniform of a WWII GI, with the same kind of rifle and qualifying the way they did, it can’t help but make you appreciate what all these guys went through to prepare for combat.” Paul Gill, Old Hickory Association

The group’s current president, Don Shupe, is quick to point out OHA’s official purpose. “We are historians, collectors, military vehicle enthusiasts, and reenactors dedicated to keeping the memory of the soldiers of the 30th Infantry Division alive,” he said. This is done, Shupe added, through activities like research, study, numerous public displays and occasional historical re-creation.

This last category is usually associated with groups of uniformed historical military enthusiasts who get together for mock combat using blank ammunition. Perhaps the best known manifestation of this phenomenon can be found all over America in various Civil War commemorative battles, as well as live fire competitive shooting called “skirmishes.”

According to Shupe, the same sort of thing applies to activities of Old Hickory members except that their chosen time period is 1940 to 1945 when America mobilized for WWII. Not coincidentally, given the focus of this feature article, this is also the heyday of the incomparable M1 Garand Rifle, rightly called by famous General George Patton, “The greatest battle implement ever devised.”

The Army Way…

Recently, members and invited guests gathered at historic Camp Butner, located off Interstate 85 about twenty miles north of Durham, for a weekend of basic training in rifle marksmanship and other military subjects. Built in 1943, the camp is still an active training base under command of the North Carolina National Guard and its facilities are regularly utilized by various military, law enforcement and other organizations.

Of particular interest to the OHA membership is Butner’s classic 1000 yard Known Distance Range, essentially unchanged since when it was first constructed about 57 years ago! Several civilian high power matches are held there each year as regularly noted in various NRA bulletins.

The association, currently around fifty members strong, enjoys a close relationship with the North Carolina National Guard, many of whom still wear the 30th’s distinctive red and blue oval patch. As such, Shupe says, “We support the Guard with historical displays of artifacts, vehicles and authentically uniformed personnel, and they return the favor by allowing us to use their facilities for reenactments and range firing.”

Small Arms Review was invited to the club’s spring rifle weekend to both participate in and do a feature article on this unique event. The author, who learned to shoot the M1 as a seventeen year old recruit in the Virginia Army National Guard way back in 1964, brought along his recently acquired CMP Garand for its first firing since coming out of cosmoline (the rifle, not the author) late last year.

We caught up with Shupe and about fifteen other uniformed WWII reenactors on Friday evening as they were moving gear and rifles into a no-frills bivouac area not far from Camp Butner’s headquarters. Olive drab canvas cots covered with brown GI wool blankets soon sprang up in orderly rows inside the small cinderblock buildings. As darkness fell gasoline lanterns provided light, their persistent hiss serving as background noise to lively conversation mixed with 1940’s swing music from a tape recorder hidden inside a vintage radio. You didn’t even need to close your eyes to imagine that this could actually be a typical evening during WWII.

Rise and Shine

First formation on Saturday morning was at a leisurely 0900 (that’s 9am for you civilians), allowing plenty of time for shaving and chow. This was an opportunity for a number of traditional military activities including inspection of uniforms and weapons, an orientation on the day’s planned activities, and some much-needed practice in close order drill. Interestingly, although nearly half of the participants had never served in the military, it takes much coaching by unit top sergeant Mark “Sparky” Burfete before the squad could do a passable job.

Next on the agenda was an hour-long class in fundamentals of rifle marksmanship conducted by Jim Higgins, in real life a pension plan administrator. Higgins is an accomplished competitive high power rifle shooter and, along with demonstrations by his friend Mike Owens, he led the group through such basics as sling adjustment as well as standard Army positions for prone, sitting, kneeling and standing. This was followed by a considerable amount of time for individuals to practice their shooting positions, with the benefit of corrections and suggestions from the instructor team and other old hands.

The final phase of the morning’s refresher course was a classic military style chalkboard lecture (though a modern dry erase board was standing in for the traditional blackboard) on sight alignment and steady hold factors of breathing, aiming and squeezing off each shot. The windage and elevation rule as it applies to multiples of 100 yards and “click” adjustment of the M1’s excellent rear sight was also explained in depth.

Forward March!

Although the range was located more than a mile away, these guys didn’t climb into their family cars for a comfortable ride over. Instead, the command was given for “Right Shoulder Arms” and the column of reenactors moved out at a brisk pace accompanied by vintage GI cadence calls. Meanwhile, Shupe and others had loaded some necessary gear into his WWII US Army weapons carrier truck (sort of like a 1940’s version of the HUMM-VEE) and gone ahead to begin setting up for the day’s shooting. The author bummed a ride on a jeep, professing he had too much heavy camera equipment to lug it over on foot. Yeah, right….

First stop for all was the target pits, a long wide ditch holding a reinforced concrete bunker and a wall safely fronted with a thick mound of earth to stop incoming bullets. There, a long column of large rectangular frames awaited installation of the large paper bullseye targets. About the only change to have been applied to this classic target pit area since WWII is a modification to the old manually lifted frames. Now, these are motorized and can be controlled either by individual scorers or in unison from a central panel.

The course of fire used by the group is a slightly modified version of the John C. Garand Match, Course B (Table 7 of 2001 CMP Competition Rules), so the troops busied themselves with staple guns to attach the first set of regulation “Target, Rifle Competition SR, 200 Yards” to thick cardboard backings on sturdy wooden frames. This is the military equivalent of the NRA 200 yard SR target as specified under CMP rules.

Even old timers may agree that the staple gun is a welcome change from buckets of sloppy and stinking wheat paste originally used. These frames, in turn, were raised into position on the metal holders and lift motors were checked for proper function. Five firing points were set up and the group split into shooters and scorers for the first round of qualification.

Steel ammo boxes containing a supply of pasters and spotters were handed out at each target position. Pasters are rolls of rectangular white or black stickers used to cover previous bullet holes after recording the hit. Another modern innovation is the “peel and stick” paster – no need to swipe your tongue over a nasty tasting glue backing made from dead mules. Spotters are various sizes of thick cardboard discs that are black on one side and white on the other, with a pointed spindle in the middle. These are used to mark the location of each hit during zeroing so as to make this impact point clearly visible to shooters way back on the firing line.

When everything was in order, Jim Higgins gathered the whole group around a target to explain how spotting and scoring is done. Immediate feedback to shooters is given after each zeroing or practice shot by dropping the target frame and marking the location and value of each hit. Depending on whether the hit is in the white or black on the target, the appropriate side of the spotter is stuck into place so as to contrast with the background.

Also, a bright orange spotter disc is stuck into a standard place on the perimeter of the target indicating the value of the hit. When the target is raised again, the location and value of the hit can be easily seen from the firing line without the need for binoculars or spotting scopes. Sight adjustments are made by the shooter when the target is dropped for pasting, then the frames are raised again for the next shot. At the end of a multi-shot rapid fire stage, all hits are indicated at one time by placing smaller spotters in each hole. Scoring is done in the pits by each target puller and recorded on the scorecard seen in the accompanying illustration.

This procedure is simpler than the old way that is spelled out in the 1943 version of Army Field Manual 23-5, the “bible” of M1 shooting. Gone is the need for a confusing set of different paddles to indicate hits and their values and the embarrassing waving of the red “Maggie’s drawers” flag when missing entirely.

A nice touch of authenticity was also provided in the pits by installing a functioning WWII model EE-8 field telephone. This battery-operated phone was connected to another on the 200 yard firing line by genuine two strand GI “commo wire, rolled out from a big reel mounted in the back of Shupe’s weapons carrier. A hand-cranked ringer on the side of the phone signals the other end to pick up the handset for necessary consultation.

“Ready On The Firing Line”

The first five shooters gathered up their gear and marched uprange to the 200 yard line, taking note of the furiously snapping red flags at the left and right range limits. Wind velocity was fierce at this time of the morning and alternated from coming directly cross range at the 9 o’clock direction to a slightly less objectionable 7 o’clock. This would definitely give them problems with bullet drift so some calculated sight adjustments would be in order.

Each individual supplied his own ammunition and these boxes, previously loaded onto the weapons carrier, were retrieved and taken to numbered firing points on the line. Following last minute function checks and spot lubrication, a cleaning rod was run through every rifle barrel as a final safety check to ensure no obstructions were present.

After another brief review of rules and procedures by Higgins, individual shooters went about the process of preparing for zeroing. Rifles, ammo and miscellaneous gear were laid out on tent shelter half sections or ponchos. Initial sight adjustments were made and recorded and loop slings were snugged up per Army regulations. It was time to start shooting.

As previously mentioned, the OHA has slightly modified the Course B Match for this instructional firing. First, keeping in mind that this is a training exercise and not a sanctioned match, each shooter can fire up to ten rounds to obtain or confirm a proper zero – five more rounds than Course B rules. This very important preliminary is usually limited to ten minutes, but more time can be taken if individual shooters are having problems. Then, the first record stage, Slow Prone, is fired with twenty rounds in twenty minutes. This is five minutes less than standard because zeroing/practices shots have already been taken care of.

Seventy seconds for ten rounds of rapid fire from standing to prone is the second stage, starting with two rounds locked and loaded then requiring a quick reload with a fresh eight round clip. Third stage is also ten shots rapid fire in sixty seconds. CMP rules have this done from standing to sitting, but OHA training weekend shooters can substitute the kneeling position if desired. Finally, standing position slow fire gives ten minutes to get off ten shots; the same under both sets of rules.

Higgins points out that these small departures are considered by OHA to be a good balance between preparation for sanctioned matches under strict Course A or B rules, and the group’s desire to conduct effective marksmanship training. “The basic structure of the Garand Match is maintained,” he says,” but the way it’s done at this event gives us flexibility along with some real WWII flavor.”

This observation is echoed by member Francis “FJ” Hale, both a High Power competition and Three Gun Tactical Match shooter. “Those old Army positions and techniques from WWII adapt very well to modern competitive shooting,” Hale says, “you don’t need to change them to be good.”

After completion of the course of fire, the shooters policed up brass, secured all their gear, and marched off to swap positions with target pullers in the pits, giving their buddies a turn topside. This was also a time for some good-natured ribbing as shooters compared their scores and contemplated the settlement of friendly wagers.

First My Rifle, Then Me…

The Old Hickory shooters marched back to camp where they found that the day’s measure of authentic military activities was not over yet. Cleaning gear was broken out and rifles stripped, scrubbed and oiled on handy concrete benches. Then, as they awaited arrival of their “hobo pack” suppers (burgers, taters and carrots baked in foil) a series of short lectures were given on the history of the 30th Division in WWII. Are we having fun yet?

Oh, by the way, the author’s M1 rifle marksmanship skills have decidedly deteriorated after decades of neglect. While not revealing the full extent of this ruination, suffice to say much practice will be needed before he enters a sanctioned Garand Match. On a more positive note, his beautiful old Springfield-made M1, born in March of 1944 and still sporting the WWII style locking bar rear sight, performed flawlessly “right out of the box” as received from the CMP.

Find Out More

* Although the WWII M1 Rifle Marksmanship training weekend is a recent development, the OHA has conducted an official CMP-sanctioned John C. Garand Match each October since 1995. Interested shooters or potential recruits should contact the Old Hickory Association c/o Don Shupe, 414 Cary Pines Dr., Cary, NC 27513

* Camp Butner Training Site, North Carolina National Guard at www.ncguard.com/butner/butner/oldhickoryassociation.html

* For information on M1 rifle sales and high power competition shooting contact the Civilian Marksmanship Program, PO Box 576, Port Clinton, OH 43452 or www.odcmp.com

About the Author

Robert Bruce, An SAR “Usual Suspect,” is an internationally published writer and photographer who specializes in modern military small arms subjects for magazines and books. He is perhaps best known as compiler and publisher of The M1 does MY talking!, a pictorial history of the incomparable Garand rifle.

Between 1946-1953 French forces in Indo China made great use of American World War II weaponry including the BAR. By the time they left, many BAR’s had been captured from them. Also, Communist China supplied BAR’s that they had captured from the US in the Korean Conflict.

The world held its breath in 1954 with the great battle at Dien Bien Phu. At that time Ho’s forces were armed with everything from World War II Japanese rifles to BAR’s captured from the French. We should have learned from the defeat of the French, who had the toughest troops in Indo China at the time.

From 1959 to 1961 our involvement in the conflict was only clandestine under the auspices of the CIA, the successor of the OSS. By 1961 American Special Forces began the slide into Southeast Asia that lead to our costliest war both in logistics and in world prestige.

The Viet Cong, who supplanted the Viet Minh, used the BAR as effectively as Edson’s Raiders did during World War II. Mounting it on the bow of a rubber boat or a sampan gave the mobile firepower for which the BAR was intended.

Most of my stories come from Vets with fond remembrance of the BAR. One spoke highly of the diminutive Montagnard who saved his life with his agile use of the heavy weapon. Another story involved a pilot flying a Navy Sea Stallion Helicopter on an air sea rescue of a downed aircraft crew. On their way back to base they were hit by AA fire from a Dshk-38 that caused engine failure from the 12.7x108mm round. They auto-gyroed down safely and began the overland trek to the base. They were eventually ambushed from a VC position reinforced with logs. The pilot’s “bail out” gun was a BAR. He made short work of the enemy with well-placed bursts that drilled on through the log barriers. Don’t tell him the BAR was obsolete.

Most BAR’s were employed by ARVN troops under South Vietnam command, but they were reluctant to use them because they were heavy and drew fire. Most photos show them with the weapon carried on their shoulders, muzzle forward.

One e-mail I received related how much the Montagnards loved the BAR. The rifles were issued by the 5th Group Special Forces and had been reconditioned by their armories in Pleiku. The Montagnards were tough, loyal fighters. I did some contract work in Cambodia in 1966-68, and was amazed to see the agility and ease with which they handled the 20-pound weapon.

Another Vet remembered BAR’s aboard the Carrier USS Valley Forge. Possibly these BAR’s were in 7.62x51mm NATO since the US Navy was the last US force to officially have it in their inventory. To accomplish this of course the rifle had to be re-barreled. Since the NATO cartridge is shortened, the magazine-well had to be modified to accept an entirely new magazine that was similar but not identical to the M-14. In addition, the ejection port was elongated and the gas port enlarged to increase the amount of gas pressure impinging upon the piston. This led to the T-34 BAR as described in Springfield Armory Publication, Notes on Development for project TS 2-2015 dated March 16,1949.

Though the M60 was the primary GPMG (General Purpose Machine Gun) during the Vietnam War, the BAR was often the primary MG of the diminutive ARVN troops, again proving the BAR was best issued to a smaller man, as he made a smaller target.

Long time readers of Small Arms Review should know by now that my favorite annual gun event is NDIA’s get-together for manportable weaponry enthusiasts, known formally as the Joint Services Small Arms Symposium, Exhibition & Firing Demonstration. I look forward to this in much the same way a kid anticipates Christmas morning when friends and family gather, gifts are opened, and there are lots of great new toys to play with.

This year’s three day fete was held in mid-August in a swanky hotel in downtown Little Rock, Arkansas (insert your own Bill Clinton and Paula Jones joke here), featuring the usual mix of thoughtful technical papers, exciting industry exhibits, and the chance to go out to the range for some earplug-packing, gunsmoke-snorting live-fire fun.

Now, there is much new and improved hardware to report on that is of immediate interest and practical value for military, police and civilian shooters. However, let’s start with something we saw there that may be a year or two away from the hands of freedom’s defenders but has damn sure got the attention of the firearms establishment right this very minute.

METAL STORM

“My amazement is at the process — O’Dwyer didn’t blow up a barrel or kill himself in making it.” SAIC Physicist Adam Drobot, quoted in Scientific American magazine.

I can’t think of a better name than METAL STORM to represent Australian inventor Mike O’Dwyer’s bold new concept in projectile pushing at fantastic rates and quantities. Now with private and government financing in excess of $400 million, O’Dwyers multinational corporation seems likely to brush aside nearly a millennium of warfare’s established launcher and payload technology.

Overhearing mutterings from a number of exhibitors and other conference attendees about some “weird Star Wars stuff”, I hastened to METAL STORM’s booth and wormed my way through the crowd to snag some promotional materials. Retreating to a quiet corner, I skimmed the handouts and zeroed in on the vivid description of its operational principle. O’Dwyer’s inspiration came, we are told, by the speed and precision of an inkjet printer head on his everyday desktop computer. This led him, by trial and error (fortunately not life-threatening error), to have a computer program electronically fire rounds at infinitely tailorable speeds and sequences.

In his METAL STORM ballistic system, the only significant moving parts are projectiles from uniquely designed (also patented) caseless ammunition, loaded one in front of the other as many as practical depending on the length and caliber of the launch tube. Discarded entirely are all the usual mechanical contrivances required by existing multi-shot weaponry for feeding, mechanically firing, extracting and ejecting. Time to reload? Just rip out and replace the pre-loaded, non-metallic barrel cluster.

Does it work? Documented firings of “Bertha,” the thirty-six barrel, 9mm prototype, burping out 180 rounds in about one one-hundredth of a second, have established a new official Guinness World Record. Is it practical? For one thing, this sealed block of bullets and barrels could prove vastly superior to complicated and maintenance-intensive cannon caliber Gatling type systems now protecting many free world warships against EXOCET type missiles.

Advanced Sniper Rifle

Numerous demonstrations of Bertha and other configurations including a handgun have been conducted for high level leaders in military and scientific communities in Australia and the US. This has resulted in a gusher of RDT&E funding including a $10 million contract from DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), the Holy Grail of America’s defense technology, to develop the Advanced Sniper Rifle.

The cluster of four barrels on the rifle’s conceptual prototype is apparently its only unconventional aspect. Microprocessor based fire control allows the gunner to key in and send the best combination of a variety of projectiles as required for antipersonnel or antimateriel applications. Aiming and related functions are to be optimized using ongoing developments from such official US government initiatives as the very expensive “Objective Individual Combat Weapon” and the very spooky “Project White Feather.”

Electronic Handgun

METAL STORM is also creating quite a buzz in the world of law enforcement with the O’Dwyer Vle (Variable Lethality Law Enforcement handgun). Another Guinness honoree as the world’s first 100 percent electronic handgun, as of this writing it is a single barrel, seven shot working prototype. In addition to a personalization feature that will let only one specific officer fire the weapon (desirable if it’s taken in a scuffle or otherwise lost) its computer chip “brain” also stores additional keypad instructions from the gunner. This allows tailoring of each firing among a number of options including single shot (semi-auto), double tap, triple tap, or high energy modes. This last setting kicks out two shots at a mind-boggling 500,000 rpm so as to drill right through body armor!

Subsequent handgun models forseen by METAL STORM include multiple barrels in a soft recoil mount with different ammo ranging from “less lethal” stuff like stun bags and CS, to conventional kinetic energy terminators.

Dick Tracy take note: The Vle will eventually be equipped, we are told, with any number of optional gadgets like a two-way radio for immediate situation reporting and “advice” from the incident commander, as well as a GPS so everybody knows where the gun and its owner are located. Even “political correctness” can be enforced by a provision for a superior to electronically jam the weapon if a combat-stressed peace officer is about to take out the “wrong” category of miscreant at an embarrassing moment. Try explaining that to the family of the subsequently slain or horribly injured officer…

Other applications of METAL STORM technology cry out for development. According to O’Dwyer in his formal technical presentation at the event, some military initiatives include several already funded programs such as the Area Denial Weapons System (minefield replacement), vehicle self-defense, and arming of unmanned aircraft.

Not surprisingly, much of the muttering about METAL STORM overheard at the show is coming from established gun and ammo makers. Many of those who do not have their heads in the sand are understandably concerned by the potential of the O’Dwyer system for rather quickly putting conventional firearms in the same category as bows and arrows in the atomic age. In response, numerous very legitimate objections and cautions are being raised including danger from exploding barrels and system vulnerability to EMP (electro-magnetic pulse). So, SAR will be watching and reporting as this story unfolds.

Back to Earth

The symposium part at NDIA is like going to school for a highly concentrated series of half-hour lectures on the latest developments in guns, ammo, sights and related things that are of value to the soldier and policeman. This year’s lineup of distinguished speakers presented some 48 technical and informational papers, most well illustrated with computer-generated visuals and some with fascinating video clips. Space does not permit a detailed account here, but what follows are some of the highlights. Those with internet access plus the time and tenacity to delve deeper are encouraged to access the full collection of technical presentations that are thoughtfully posted by NDIA in cooperation with the Defense Technical Information Center for your viewing pleasure at www.dtic.mil/ndia/2001smallarms/2001smallarms.html

Small Arms Master Plan

As should be expected, there is intense interest from many directions in the formal plans that the US military has for research, development and procurement of weapon systems. After all, America’s Armed Forces are the free world’s largest and have the most money to spend. This is well covered each year by a series of presentations from top names in the Joint Services Small Arms Program (JSSAP) who tend to cover everything from improving the old stuff currently in use (now euphemistically called “legacy systems”) to crystal ball projections of at what is possible ten or twenty years out.

Some short-term projects include development of non-lethal ammo that will work the semiauto action of the new M1014 shotgun (which works just fine right now with crowd control loads by pulling back on the charging handle after each shot) plus ways to lighten existing weapons like the M249 Squad Auto Weapon and the M240B Machine Gun. In the mid term, the US military wants an Advanced Medium Machine Gun – presumably to finalize the lingering death of the tin can M60 and replace the ultra-reliable M240 even though it will probably be lighter by then. Finally, programs are well underway to harness various forms of directed energy (real ray guns, sonic blasters, and who knows what else) for use in WWIII.

Interestingly, both the Objective Individual Combat Weapon and the Objective Crew Served Weapon have been bumped up a notch in funding and fielding and are said to be on track for FUE (First Unit Equipped) in 2009. It will be quite fascinating to see if METAL STORM technology has any impact on these programs in the next couple of years.

The Few, The Proud, The Oughta Be Better Equipped…

A bare-knuckled assessment of the current state of US Marine Corps weapons and equipment for amphibious warriors at the spear point was delivered by Lieutenant Colonel James Diehl of Systems Command, with a bit of dry humor backed up with lots of actual instances. For example, don’t tell the bad guys, but after making sure first line guns stay up and running, the Marines don’t have enough maintenance money to repair and recondition the M249’s in wartime reserve!

A later presentation by a top-level guy from JSSAP noted an $11 million shortfall in funding the Army’s small arms rebuild program to keep “legacy” guns working. Yes, they’re all waiting for something to happen from that presidential campaign-promise that “Help is on the way.”

LTC Diehl’s laundry list of the Corps’ initiatives includes dropping the 60mm mortar in favor of a lighter but longer-reaching 81mm, more M4 carbines and their add-on accessories, ensuring all optical devices have laser-proof coating, and painting all those black guns and other stuff “Coyote Brown” for better camouflage. The Corps is also seriously exploring the use of ceramic liners to enhance performance of machine gun barrels, searching for more effective airbursting fuses, and seems to have a healthy skepticism toward Army plans to replace the combat classic M26 “Lemon Frag” grenade with something smaller and lighter so that girls can throw it.

Oh, and by the way, the Marines are once again taking a hard look at and doing live-fire testing of Jim Sullivan’s light, compact and highly controllable ULTIMAX 5.56mm Squad Auto Weapon. Sullivan, by the way, is also the guy who worked on making Stoner’s AR-10 into the M16, designed the incomparable C-MAG, and lots too much more to mention.

High Tech Crap

The irreverent Mr. Sullivan himself was on hand at the meeting to receive this year’s prestigious George M. Chinn Award for his lifetime of high achievement in the small arms world. He delighted many and offended others with pungent remarks during his acceptance speech, decrying such “fribble-frabble of fashion” as full-auto provision on individual weapons and the expensive, heavy, complex “high tech crap” that is likely to break or otherwise be rendered useless in the crucible of combat. Nothing stings so much as the truth…

Sullivan wasn’t the only iconoclast to shake up this gentlemen’s club with frank and pungent opinions. Reed Knight, Mr. SEAL Weapons himself, delivered a lively talk formally titled “Challenge for the Defense Industry.” Noting JSSAP’s commendable and continuing search for weaponry that is more reliable, easier to make and maintain, lighter and more effective, he criticized the often poorly thought out and confusingly written requirements documents put out by the military’s bureaucracy that contractors must bid on. “The customer needs to clearly set goals, challenges and rewards,” Knight said, “and say what you are willing to pay to meet those needs.”

SOCOM

Special Operations Command (SOCOM) has lots of things underway to support Rangers, SEALs, Special Forces and such, but their three big initiatives are the Advanced Light Grenade Launcher (the SACO 40mm showcased last year), a 7.62mm Lightweight Machine Gun (SEALs have pretty much used up all their specially chopped M60s), plus more and improved bells and whistles for the M4 carbine and the Navy’s new Mark 11 Mod O (Knight’s SR 25) sniper rifle.

Step Right Up

Now, unrelated to SOCOM’s presentation but as luck would have it, Knight’s Manufacturing and more than forty other business and government entities were downstairs in the exhibit hall with a whole bunch of exciting hardware. This is a great place to pick up and point exotic guns, eyeball the latest in sighting systems and often be able to talk with the actual person who designed and/or built them.

Taking Knight’s for example, they had brought along not only the SR-25 in various configurations, but a whole array of new and improved items like their Rail Adapter System’s MRE (Modular Receiver Extension with “more real estate”). This is a response to the very critical need of many spec-ops types for lots more space to clamp on any number of devices as dictated by particular missions.

They also offer a bunch of things to clamp on to US military and other small arms including a forward pistol grip, bipod, various suppressors, and the in-line “KnightScope Model 007.” This unity magnification image intensifier is intended for tandem mounting with the customer’s preferred day scope, giving around-the-clock operation capability.

Oh, and if you want a handguard for your M4 carbine in the stylish new “Coyote Brown” or other terrain matching colors such as green or white, Knight’s can fix you right up.

Many other great companies were on hand with cutting-edge products like the Leitz Pocket Laser Rangefinder, AirMunition marking rounds, Armalite Mk 19 blank adapter, and lots of night vision devices.

Free Range Time

This year’s host for the event’s all-important live fire portion was the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center at nearby Camp Joseph T. Robinson. They had set aside Range 13, a classic Known Distance facility dating all the back to WWI, and thoughtfully provided a diverse and interesting array of hard and soft targets to accommodate a full spectrum of weapons from 9mm handguns to .50 caliber sniper rifles. In addition to such classics as swinging steel plate silhouettes and oil drums (empty, of course), there were several old 2 1/2 ton trucks positioned at various distances. Also, Caswell International set up a bunch of their radio-controlled popup target mechanisms complete with stroboscopic hostile fire simulators that are particularly lively in the dark.

Yes, in the dark. This year a significant departure from the usual blistering summer afternoon range ordeal called for the live fire demos to begin about 90 minutes before sunset — right after a speech by Little Rock’s mayor and a tasty barbecue supper. Theoretically, this was going to allow sufficient daylight for regular “shoot and tell” by nine companies, and then as darkness fell the night sight guys would have perfect conditions.

Well, a combination of factors delayed the first rounds going downrange and frequent halts for safe passage of small planes to and from a nearby airport meant that most of the rest of the live fire was done under conditions rapidly progressing from low light to pitch black. But hey, that’s a lot like what the real world imposes on infantrymen and generator-mounted floodlights give sufficient illumination to allow spectators to see what was being demonstrated. Suck it up and drive on.

Oldies but Goodies

Another departure from the norm was conspicuous in the evening’s first demonstration. Distinguished retired soldiers Colonel Tom Brown (now with VT Kinetics) and Colonel John Meloy (now with Benelli) put on vintage US Army uniforms and live fired several of the classic infantry weapons that were used in World Wars One and Two. Taking the microphone while “Private Benelli” stepped up to the firing line, Brown pointedly contrasted these old machined steel and hardwood guns with the sheet metal, cast aluminum and plastic weaponry of the period from the Vietnam War to the present. “These,” he said, “are the guns that actually won wars.”

New Generation

Moving down the firing line as twilight rapidly deepened into purple then black, subsequent presentations of ten to fifteen minutes each were made by VT Kinetics firing the ULTIMAX and the SAR-21, GEMTECH suppressors, HK’s new P2000 pistol, PDW and chopped G36k assault carbine. Knight’s Armament fired several KnightSight equipped suppressed weapons including their 5.56mm SR-15 and 7.62mm SR-25, dramatically closing with a long belt of ball and tracers full auto from a Stoner Light Machine Gun.

Big Boys

These relatively small weapons were followed by several big and spectacular .50 caliber sniper rifles, grouped near the center of the range and all mounting various types of night sights. Mark Westrom cut loose with his AR-50, Jim Owens touched off the FN-PGM, and Ronnie Barrett pumped out a few from his semiauto M82A1. All of these guns use a backward-deflecting muzzle device to help tame recoil and reduce the enemy’s ability to detect muzzle flash and report. Well, as dramatic as this is on firing in daylight when the dust and grass goes flying, you ain’t seen nothing until you stand behind and to one side of these shoulder cannons at night. Wow!

Nowhere to Hide

Well, nearly an hour after it was really, really dark, the night sight guys on the far end of the firing line had their turn and nearly perfect conditions. Moonrise wasn’t going to happen for a while and a crosswind was blowing clouds of smoke from numerous tracer-induced grass fires to completely obscure most targets from 300 yards on back. This is bad news for image intensifiers but just right for thermal imagers. Recent advances in the technologies of thermal imaging including micro-cooling and reduced power consumption have made these previously heavy, bulky and temperamental devices much more practical and affordable for wider use on small arms systems.

Jim Looby and the FLIR team had set up a table with computer and television screens right at the spectator barrier so the crowd could look at real-time color video output from the TIPS-HPC thermal sight mounted on a bolt action rifle. This got really dramatic when the rifle was fired and spectators watching the video screen could see sparks from the bullet’s impact on metal targets.

Raytheon was right next door, similarly feeding the output of a tripod-mounted AN/PAS-13 into table top video screens. This gave onlookers a great thermal image picture of whatever it was downrange that anybody was firing on at any given time.

First Look at the HK P2000 Pistol

Jim Schatz, Director of Federal Operations for Heckler & Koch’s American office, brought along the brand new P2000 semiauto pistol for display at NDIA Small Arms 2001. We caught up with him on the range at Camp Robinson where he was preparing to function test and zero the P2000 along with several other weapons in advance of the evening’s live fire demonstrations. Jim was nice enough to give me a few minutes alone with this interesting new handgun so I could take the detailed pictures seen here, and then he did a little shooting for action views.

Surprisingly slim despite having a 13 round magazine, the P2000 was created at the request of Germany’s federal police for reduced size and weight with greater operational simplicity and human engineered for higher hit probability. Purposely eliminated is any specific mechanical safety that slows getting off that very important first shot. Its innovative double-action-only mechanism can be set in “semi-cocked” mode for a smooth, relatively light trigger release on the first squeeze. Subsequent shots are even lighter and faster as the recoiling slide fully cocks the exposed hammer with each round fired. A polymer recoil absorber and improvements on the classic Browning locking system also contribute to smooth and low-shock blowback operation.

Ergonomics of its ribbed and rough-textured polymer frame and machined steel slide are noteworthy, with all surfaces comfortably rounded and no angular protrusions to hang up when pulling it out of a holster, handbag or shirt. Different sized hands are easily accommodated by a selection of interchangeable back straps and the double stack magazine floorplate comes with or without a last finger extension. Grooves and slots in the frame accept a wide range of tactical accessories like laser pointers or mini-lights.

Both the slide catch lever and mag release are ambidextrous for easy operation and a red insert on the extractor serves splendidly as a chamber loaded warning indicator. The fixed square “U” notch rear sight and post front are marked by big white dots for low light shooting.

P2000 Technical Specifications

Caliber: 9 x 19mm, 13 rounds capacity
System of Operation: Recoil, modified Browning locking system
Overall Length: 178 mm
Barrel Length: 92mm
Sight Radius: 140mm
Height & Width: 128 x 34mm
Weight: 620 grams unloaded

2002

Military, industry and law enforcement and government professionals who need to keep up with the latest in weapons technology are encouraged to join the National Defense Industrial Association and attend the 2001 International Infantry & Small Arms Symposium and Exhibition. This is currently scheduled for 13-16 May 2002 in Atlantic City, NJ, but up-to-the-minute information and registration is available at www.ndia.org or write to NDIA, 2111 Wilson Blvd., Suite 400, Arlington, VA 22201.

One of the first major US search-and-destroy operations, where troops went out and tried to hunt down and exterminate the VC in their strongholds northwest of Saigon, was called OPERATION CRIMP. Beginning in early January, 1966, US and allied troops were almost immediately ambushed and fired on by an enemy who disappeared as suddenly as he had first made himself known. The means of this military magic was discovered by a US Army sergeant when he sat on a nail that was sticking up from a hidden trapdoor.

The sergeant’s painful discovery was the first uncovering of the tunnel complexes of the Viet Cong. Tunnels dug into the root-sewn red clay soil could extend only a short distance, or be a part of huge, multilevel, underground complexes that would extend for miles. There was only one way to find out just what was in the tunnels – a soldier had to go down into the dark and search them.

Army dogs didn’t work to search the tunnels, they were killed by unseen traps too quickly. So a new type of American soldier had to come out from the ranks to face the VC in the new arena. Tunnel Rat was the term that was quickly coined for these generally small-stature soldiers who would go down the holes. Like green ferrets, Tunnel Rats would go into the dark, forbidding tunnels and discover whatever might be there.

Lurking in the warren of dark, hot, humid, tunnels, the tunnel rats might find boobytraps, snakes, venomous insects, weapons caches, or a weapon in the hands of a very live VC. One thing that the tunnel rats were always sure they could find underground – a quick death.

Tunnel entrances were often little more than an 18-inch square camouflaged wooden trapdoor. Through this trapdoor would go a tunnel rat equipped with a flashlight, handgun, knife, and bravery.

The subterranean world of the tunnel rat was made up of tunnels dug through soil that was described by an engineer as being like natural, reinforced concrete. According to the Viet Cong plans the tunnels were no smaller than 0.8 meters or greater than 1.2 meters wide. Ceilings were no greater than 1.8 meters high, and much more often closer to the minimum 0.8 meters high. But the larger tunnels were usually in the deeper layers of the complex. The areas usually searched by the tunnel rats were often little more than 30-inch wide tubes cut through the sticky earth.

The M1911A1 Colt .45 automatic was the general handgun used by the tunnel rats during their early explorations. But the sound of the big .45 going off in the close confines of a tunnel was deafening. The M1911A1 was also considered too big and too cumbersome as well as being too loud.

Revolvers were chosen by a number of tunnel rats as their search techniques became more sophisticated through experience. The .38 revolver was relatively small, light, and easy to handle. In addition, the Smith and Wesson or Colt weapons available could handle the dirt and muck of the tunnel environment easily, and a second shot in case of a misfire was only a trigger pull away.

In the condensed world of the tunnel rat, even the M2 carbine with a folding stock was nicknamed “The Cannon.” IN general, pistol suppressors were not available, and when they were, the tunnel rats found them to be long and made their handguns ungainly.

A tunnel exploration kit was developed in 1966 by the Limited Warfare Laboratory (LWL). The communications system in the kit didn’t work well. The cap-mounted lamp slid around and either was pointing the wrong way, slipped down over the tunnel rat’s eyes, or gave the VC an aiming point that was almost guaranteed to be fatal.

The weapon in the kit was a .38 Special Smith & Wesson Model 10 (M&P) revolver with a 4-inch barrel, a small high-intensity aiming light and a muzzle mounted suppressor. The hip-holster issued with the weapon was very hard to draw from in the tight confines of a tunnel. The revolver was huge with its aiming light and muzzle can. And even with a tight cylinder gap, the suppressor didn’t reduce the sound of the shot enough to be worth the trouble.

The designers back at the LWL probably hadn’t had a lot of faith in the revolver suppressor as well, they issued ear plugs in the kit to be used when firing underground. The Tunnel Exploration Kit was abandoned in service, most tunnel rats wanted nothing to do with it, and it was quickly withdrawn.

By 1969, subterranean combat in the tunnels of South Vietnam had been refined by time and experience. The tunnel rats knew what worked for them and were exceedingly conservative in adopting any new hardware or weapons. It was in July 1969 that ten of possibly the rarest modern US military handgun ever made arrived in Vietnam.

Earlier, in December, 1967, the U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MAC-V) had recognized that the need still existed for a low-noise weapon for what were now officially called the tunnel exploration personnel in the Republic of Vietnam. The tunnel rats had been using a variety of weapons since the suppressed S&W fiasco eighteen months earlier. Some tunnel rats had competent armorers and machinists make up suppressors for a variety of handguns, including several for the M1911A1. But the big .45 didn’t operate dependably with a simple muzzle can, though any sound suppression given the big pistol was well liked by the rats who didn’t mind its size.

A few of the OSS-ordered WWII era suppressed High Standard HD .22 automatics made they way into Tunnel Rat hands. But these weapons were very few in number and wanted by a number of other special units. Personal weapons were used by the rats, ranging from .25 caliber automatics to sawed-off shotguns. MAC-V looked at some of these field improvisations and added their characteristics to their request for a new weapon.

To increase hit probability in the dark tunnels, ammunition for the new weapons would be of the multiple-projectile type. A spread of shot would be much easier with when the target may only be visible for a fraction of a second, or maybe not visible at all. Since the tunnel combat was by nature at a short range, the weapon was to be lethal at 25 feet, minimum. Basically, MAC-V wanted a small, handheld, suppressed shotgun for the tunnel rats.

The Army LWL passed on the project to a qualified civilian contractor, Aircraft Armaments Inc. (AAI) of Baltimore, Maryland. AAI had been working for a number of years on various applications of captured piston and expanding capsule (teleshot) technology for both the military as well as NASA and the aerospace industry. The company’s experience with firearms had them quickly applying the captured piston concept to the tunnel weapon project.

In the captured piston system, propellant gases from normal smokeless powder drives a piston pushing a payload down a cylinder with one open end. When the gas-driven piston strikes a constriction at the open end of the cylinder, it is trapped and held in place. The payload continues away from the cylinder, moving at what can be a significant velocity.

The captured piston seals off the end of the cylinder, trapping the propellant gases inside the system where they can bleed off slowly. With no propellant gases escaping violently, muzzle blast, flash, and the resulting noise, is reduced considerably. Exchange a steel cartridge case for the open-ended cylinder, and a plastic capsule full of shot for the payload, and you have the heart of the tunnel weapon.

The “muzzle velocity” of the projectile, in this case the shot charge, is dependent only on the length of travel and pressure pushing the internal piston of the round. A sealed-in percussion primer ignites the propellant charge in a normal way. Heavy threads at the muzzle end of the cartridge slow and stop the piston as it shears through them. The capsule continues out the barrel of the weapon and breaks up on hitting the resistance of the air, releasing its shot charge.

To increase the lethality of the shot charge, heavy metal shot was used instead of the usual lead shot. Sintered tungsten-steel alloy shot was formed under pressure for the subprojectiles. The sintered-metal technology involved compressing powdered alloy in a die between two punches and gave the shot a noticeable belt in its center, topped by two hemispherical ends. The shot looked much like a round ball with a band around the center.

To fire the new ammunition, a revolver system was used to eliminate any problems with trying to function a semiautomatic weapon. To maximize available space for the ammunition design, the largest commercially-available revolver design was chosen for development into the tunnel weapon. The revolver decided on was the Smith & Wesson Model 29, .44 Magnum.

The .44 magnum barrel was removed and a simple short cylinder threaded into its place. The stub barrel had a 0.400 smooth bore reamed through its center. The extractor rod of the revolver was cut back to just in front of the end of the muzzle. Outside of the barrel, the main mechanism of the revolver was little changed outside of the cylinder.

Each chamber of the .44 magnum Model 29 cylinder was reamed out to 0.528 inches straight for its entire length. Over 2.75 ounces of steel were removed from the cylinders that originally weighed over half a pound. This gave the cylinder walls of the tunnel weapon enough strength to function and carry the ammunition, and that was about all. But since the steel cartridge case itself held the pressure of the propellant gases, the cylinder walls could safely be made very thin.

An additional coil spring was placed near the top of the mainspring to give the hammer additional power to hit the slightly recessed primers of the special ammunition. The precision sights of the Model 29 were useless with the new ammunition and the rear sight was removed, leaving a square slot in the top of the revolver for rough aiming if desired.

When fired, the new ammunition gave out little more than low-intensity sparks. The blast and noise of a normal revolver shot was almost completely eliminated. The 15-pellet load gave the revolver the shot spread of a very open .410 shotgun.

The ammunition did have an unusual safety problem inherent in its design. The round didn’t have to be in a barrel or cylinder to have a lethal velocity if fired. In case of a round going off from heat or a blow, the shot would be moving at the same 750 foot per second velocity it would have if fired from the weapon. To insure safety in storage, special 1/8 inch thick steel liners were put in the ammunition cans holding the tunnel weapon ammunition. If the rounds went off in a fire or other mishap, at least the pellets wouldn’t leave the ammunition can.

The shot from what was now called the Quiet, Special Purpose Revolver, would penetrate a 3/4 inch thick sheet of plywood at 15 feet. This was later used as part of the demonstration of the weapon to its users in Vietnam. In July, 1969, ten Tunnel Weapons and 992 rounds of ammunition arrived in Vietnam for testing.

Five of the new weapons and 496 rounds of ammunition were each issued to the 1st and 25th Infantry Divisions for a 90-day field test period. On 22 August, 5 Tunnel Weapons and 125 rounds of ammunition were transferred from the 1st Infantry Division to the Americal Division for the balance of the testing period. Training time for the new weapons ranged from none to several hours, but it usually always included a firing demonstration at the recommended plywood target.

Accuracy was reasonable with the new weapons. One user could hit a flying sparrow at 20 meters with a single shot. But that marksman was very much the exception. Most users trained for an hour or less with the new weapons, firing 30 or fewer rounds each during the session.

Acceptance of the new weapon was limited by the very conservative tunnel rats. But within weeks of their arrival in Vietnam, the tunnel weapons were being carried in their special shoulder holsters into the tunnels of Vietnam.

The “silent” quality of the tunnel weapon gave some of the users questions regarding its lethality. During one tunnel mission, a sergeant with the 25th Division demonstrated the effect the tunnel weapon had on human targets.

While slipping through a tunnel complex, the sergeant crawled around a corner and met face to face with an NVA soldier; “The NVA was sitting and just as surprised as me, but I was able to fire the Tunnel Weapon…. before he could use his rifle. I drug him outside but he was dead.”

In another incident, a sergeant armed with a Tunnel Weapon took out a VC outside of a tunnel. “I shot him coming out of a bunker. He was running, and he was about 20 to 25 feet away.”

The shot load of the Tunnel Weapon was effective but it didn’t have the stopping power of a regular bullet. A number of other encounters with VC and NVA troops in tunnels resulted in wounded and disabled enemy forces, but they were not killed by the shot load of the Tunnel Weapon.

The steel cartridge cases also had some problems with the recessed primer system. The steel firing pin of the revolver didn’t always strike the primer solidly enough for it to go off. This resulted in a high (18 percent) failure to fire rate on the first weapons. The firing pin was replaced in-country with a harder metal one, and the ammunition primer redesigned. But the very conservative tunnel rats never liked or trusted the tunnel weapon completely. What they had been using for several years had worked for them and they were still alive. That was enough.

But another group of US forces liked the tunnel weapon – a lot. The 25th Infantry Division issued their Tunnel Weapons also to members of one of their reconnaissance and Intelligence platoons as well as to its Ranger company and infantry companies. The Americal Division used its Tunnel Weapons with its Ranger and Infantry companies. This put the tunnel weapons to use in ambushes, prisoner snatches, and other more covert actions.

The Tunnel Weapon was found to be ideal for ambushes, especially at night. Enemy soldiers were killed at ranges of less than ten feet with other troops nearby never hearing the shots. Comments on the weapons from these users included;

“If we had five such pistols we could stay out for a week at a time…without ever giving our position away.”

“That pistol is the most magnificent weapon I ever seen in action. I could use three of these in my platoon. The pistol doesn’t make any noise louder than a cap pistol. It hits the target just by using the pointing method. I never aimed the weapon. This weapon is far by being better than a .38 pistol we had. It’s more accurate, it’s very quiet, and it handles better than any other pistol I’ve handled.”

“For our use it works real good. We have to avoid contact and the weapon doesn’t compromise our position. For our platoon we could use five or six of these weapons.”

There were some suggestions made for improving the weapon, and especially the ammunition. The primer pocket was redesigned and that eliminated a lot of the misfire problems. But besides its use in 1969, the Tunnel Weapon was never fielded again in any numbers after the evaluation period. Only the ten examples, and a single specimen maintained by AAI, were ever made. Two of these are at the US Ordnance Museum at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Specimen #5 is on public display there and the AAI specimen is there in storage.

On a very odd note, one of the Tunnel Weapons was reported lost in Vietnam. This weapon was later recovered in California where it had been used as a suppressed weapon in a murder. Almost no live specimens of the ammunition exists, especially not in private hands. The captured-piston ammunition for the Tunnel Weapon and other systems has been declared a suppressor by BATF.

QSPR (TUNNEL WEAPON) TECHNICAL DATA UNIT # 5
OVERALL LENGTH – 6.75 inches
BARREL LENGTH – 1.372 inches
BORE DIAMETER – 0.400 inches
WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 2.01 pounds
WEIGHT (LOADED) – 2.37 pounds
WEIGHT (CYLINDER) – 0.419 pounds

AMMUNITION
CASE DIAMETER – 0.526 inch
RIM DIAMETER – 0.550 inch
ROUND LENGTH – 1.866 inches
ROUND WEIGHT – 0.971 ounces (27.5 grams)
PROJECTILE – 3 piece plastic sabot containing 15 tungsten-steel alloy shot
    PELLET DIAMETER – 0.147 inch (belt)
    PELLET WEIGHT – 7.5 grains (each)
MUZZLE VELOCITY – 750 fps
EFFECTIVE RANGE – 50 feet
MAXIMUM RANGE – 1,400 feet
SOUND LEVEL – 120 Decibels at 1 meter from muzzle

In August of 2001, HK did their desert testing of the new MG43 machine gun system in 5.56 x 45mm. As usual, this was a torture test of the testers as well as the weapons. The 116º f ambient temperature does not begin to describe the actual temperatures out in the noonday sun. The dust and sand is everywhere, gets into everything, and is a great environment for finding out where the weak points in a system are. We did not find many in the MG43. There were far more weak points in your faithful correspondent than in anything that HK tested on the Cibola Dust Range those weeks in August of 2001.

The United States is not the only country that has requirements for a lightweight belt fed weapon. While this writer is a dyed in the wool, true believer, old school (Readers may insert more clichés) curmudgeon on the caliber issue- I believe that a machine gun should be in 30 caliber in order to perform all of the functions that a machine gunner needs it to do out to 1200 meters +, there is definitely a demonstrated need for an intermediate belt fed weapon. After Action reports (Yes, those modern day “Lessons Learned” reports) have demonstrated at what short ranges most modern combat happens at, and emphasizes the need for a lightweight, portable, reliable belt fed weapon in a 5.56 caliber, allowing each squad to have a belt fed operator. To this point in time, the FN Minimi / M249 system has been the predominant offering, accepted in many armies around the world. There have been other offerings ranging from the well known HK23 series, to the famed Stoner 63, to the mysterious Israeli Negev, to the very sexy but totally unreliable Spanish Cetme Ameli. I love that Ameli’s miniature MG42 looks, but wouldn’t want to bet the farm on it.

Lately, there have been many more requirements written, reaching for ever lighter weight, and ever more reliable and ergonomic designs. Some of these have moved into the 30 caliber range – 7.62 x 51mm NATO- and there are presently trials that SAR will be bringing you updates on. However, the current offering is in 5.56 x 45 mm NATO.

In this present requirement, the German firm of HK GmbH in Oberndorf has been working on a new weapon, the MG43. SAR was given an early look at this interesting and innovative weapon last year. We were asked to keep this quiet until the new system was unveiled at the NDIA Small Arms Symposium in May of 2002. I have chosen to present the features of this weapon as a photo essay in the issue that will be at the NDIA, and if you read through the captions and look at the photos, you will get a working view of this new design.

HK has taken some things from the old, and added a lot of new features. The goal of the German designers has been to make an extremely reliable system, as usual. And they have succeeded, as usual.

For our testing, the Germans fired 102,000 rounds of US Milspec 5.56x 45 ammunition. There were minor glitches here and there, but the two guns made it through the tests in one piece. It was most amazing to watch the testing cycle- fire a belt, toss the barrel into a barrel of water, slap another barrel on the gun, load a belt, and repeat. Endlessly. The barrels stood up to the rapid temperature changes, as did the MG43 system.

I observed the firers for quite a while to determine the controllability issue- and the MG43 was easy to handle. This is a subjective part of the report- what’s it like to shoot it? Well, the 750rpm cyclic rate is smooth for the weapon, an appropriate compromise between what the end users want for burst hit probability, and what is probably the natural harmonic of the weapon- I suspect it to be just above 500 rpm. I found it to be very easy to control, and keeping on target was quite easy. A negative would have to be the flash hider- it was opened at the bottom, I immediately went to bipod supported prone position and in that sandy environment it raised a cloud of dust- however, HK has corrected that situation. Shoulder fire was relatively easy to accomplish and the ambush busting “Hip fire” was easy to control as well. (God save me if Peter K reads this and thinks I advocate “Hip Fire”).

Please read through the accompanying picture captions for a better view of the HK MG43 machine gun. I am certain that we will be hearing a lot more about this new offering.- Dan

HK MG43 Machine Gun Specifications

Caliber: 5.56 x 45mm NATO
Operating System: Gas Operated
Bolt system: Positively locked, rotary two lug bolt head
Mode of fire: Sustained fire
Rate of fire: 750 Rds/ minute
Overall Length: 1050 mm, 810 mm with buttstock closed
Width: 90 mm
Height- bipod folded:….250 mm
Barrel Length: 480 mm
Weight: 6.4 kg
Bipod Weight: 0.43 kg
Barrel Weight: 1.72 kg
Standard Sights: Adjustable rear sight with range marks from 100 to 1000 meters in 100 meter increments.
Optical Sights: Picatinny rails on the top cover allow for the installation of various day and night sights.

Next, I contacted two prominent national ammunition distributors. First and foremost, a question needed an answer. Two days after September 11, most retail stores listed their supplies of 9mm, 223, 308, and short Russian as ‘sold out’. About the ‘shortage’, both ammunition distributors said the same thing. Ammunition arrives in a constant supply. No shortage existed. September 11 caused a temporary surge in buying. With several more shipments, both the flow and price will returned to normal. One of them stated, ‘I could have sold out of 762×39 early last week. I saved some and brought it to the Creek, knowing that the shooters would need it.’ This writer picked up some 762×39 from him and a stack of Radway .303 from another. By Sunday, I had put all of the brass on the ground.

Those who have not come to the Creek might think that there would be changes. This writer observed only two. First, each day at 8 o’clock in the morning the loud speaker played The Star Spangled Banner. During the time of its playing, one literally could have heard a pin drop. Second, an impressive number of new faces showed up at Knob Creek. Some of them made serious purchases in the Pole Barn. The world may change. Knob Creek remains Knob Creek.

As additional evidence of how Knob Creek remains constant, we relate the following. Two days after the treacherous attacks on American cities, The History Channel ran an all day marathon of ‘Tales of the Gun’. This writer had the privilege of contributing to several of the programs. During the weekend at KCR, literally more than three hundred people thanked me, Lamar Cheatham, Forbes Mathews, Dr. Ed Weitzman, and Doug Hollberg for our contributions to ‘Tales of the Gun’. Upon returning home, I telephoned Greystone Productions and spoke with Producer Andrew Nock. I asked him to pass on to Executive Producer Louis Tarantino and Producer/Director Tom Jennings the many kind remarks from KCR. We have always been proud of our work. On those three days, we felt particularly proud of the work and humbled by the heartfelt response.

Pole Barn Adventures with the Usual Suspects…

Before the Pole Barn opened on Friday morning, I dropped by the Little Fat Guy’s slot for a steaming cup of coffee and some good conversation. Tom Golik, prominent Title 2 from Jacksonville, FL came by and showed off his new Stoner. He gave an open and instantly accepted invitation to come and put some brass on the ground. Meanwhile, the Little Fat Guy’s wife fitted the newest member of their family with small ear muffs and dainty eye protection. When Homer Sailor called the line hot, the Littlest Fat Person sat transfixed in the stroller as the Little Fat Guy emptied a belt for his offspring from his short barreled .50. Some shooters are made, others are born.

At 10 o’clock The Pole Barn opened and people flooded in. We all enjoyed the spectacular show. This fall, as in the recent past, the dealers went ‘all out’ to serve their customers. First and foremost to my mind comes the Breda 35.

Kent Lomont displayed a truly rare and magnificent gun. This writer test fired a Breda 35 about ten years ago at the Creek. I handled one about three years ago that went to the mid West. Both of these guns came in 6.5. Mr. Lomont displayed a beautiful example of an export model Breda 35 made for the Costa Rican Army. This gun came in 7mm. On Thursday afternoon, Mr. Lomont tore down this fine gun in order that several of us could examine the fine workmanship. Though its magazine loading makes it not a great combat weapon, one will find the Breda 35 as well crafted as any and better than most. I told several collectors about this beautiful piece that carried a comparatively modest price tag. The beautiful Breda carried a sold sign by noon on Friday.

I next went to the tables of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Anagnos, surplus dealers. Weathermen forecast much cooler temperatures on Saturday night. Mrs. Anagnos provided a warm coat from within the huge stacks of camp gear. I then broke out a couple of Tampa cigars. Paul and I smoked these fine cigars in celebration of Cuba’s first freedom fighters. Cuba Libre came to be in the cigar factories of Tampa in the 1880’s (see SAR July ’98). While we talked, Paul introduced Michael Smith of Purvis, MS. Mr. Smith displayed three pistols from his personal collection. I knew someone that all three would interest.

I took the news to an astute collector and dealer on the other side of the range. The collector immediately went into the Pole Barn. He emerged a half an hour later with a smile on his face. He stated. ‘The baby Nambu with two magazines and a holster isn’t as pretty as the one I already have, but it is a very pretty gun. The pre 357 Magnum (one of 5500 made between 1935 and 1938) appears to be almost unfired. I bought them both.’ The preceding proves one of the fine points at Knob Creek Range. Though the automatic guns predominate, one may find other unexpected treasures if one looks hard enough.

While viewing some movie use machine guns at the LMO tables, an interesting encounter took place. Byron Farmer of Milledgeville, GA recognized my North Atlanta accent. When he introduced himself, I recognized his accent from the Fall Line. Mr. Farmer had acquired an Amnesty registered MP-3008 many years ago. The Class 3 dealer brought his early acquisition to Knob Creek Range to find out what it was now worth. I suggested that we wait until Dan Shea could talk with Mr. Farmer. When Dan got free, he examined the weapon. Dan stated, ‘ The stock looks like it is incorrect, but it is not. The Germans made several stock variations and this is one of them. I have handled three of these in the last two years or so. The last two I sold for $8500 and $9500. This Type 1 MP3008 looks like the one that went for $9500.’

Mr. Farmer and I then went to The Rifleman tables run by Dave and Mark Mann of Macon, GA. Mark enthusiastically showed us part of the large acquisition that they had just made of transferable Title 2s. Then Mark went under the table and brought out their brand new PKM. Now, they hunted ammunition and belts at Knob Creek. Mark manned the tables while Dave took the PKM out for a photograph. He stepped around his DSHK 38/46 and stood for a photograph with their newest acquisition. The preceding offers additional proof to an old adage. At KCR, one never fails to meet new friends and view new things.

Meanwhile, some unloading took place at the front of the Pole Barn. Brian Koskey displayed two cannons that he had restored for Kent Lomont. First off the truck came a Swiss 50mm that looked new. Second came a wonderful piece of history, an American 37mm from World War I. The long barreled cannon sat on a narrower and higher mount than the mounts one is used to viewing on the World War II 37s. Brian pointed out the Bethlehem Steel imprint near the breech. Across at Robert Landies’ Ohio Ordnance tables we viewed another unusual piece of heavy ordnance. Mr. Landies proudly showed off the 1918 Maxim 13mm anti tank gun correctly mounted on a Maxim 08/15 bipod. This massive gun looks like an 1898 Mauser that abused a lot of steroids. After the Great War, John Browning would use the 13mm cartridge to invent the American .50 round. He then designed an automatic gun to fire it. Scott McNish, armorer with Ohio Ordnance, set up the photograph that accompanies this article. In the snapshot, Scott holds the 13mm anti tank crossed with a ’98 Mauser to give the reader an idea of scale.

Ready On The Firing Line

Before going to the line, I dropped by Jonathan Arthur Ciener’s tables. There Jon displayed his much anticipated ‘Project X’. This project allows all Thompson owners to shoot .22 rounds. The kit comes with a barrel insert, magazine, and bolt works. Jon makes these kits for the 1921, 28, and M-1/M1-A1s. This writer became one of many who signed up for ‘Project X’. Out on the firing line, author James Ballou took ‘Project X’ for a test drive. Mr. Ballou knows considerably more about the BAR. Jim reported flawless function for ‘Project X’.

More than one invention took a test by fire on Friday. Joe Gaddini of SWR Suppressors introduced Scott Prince of R & D on their new Omega 9mm suppressor. Scott reported that much talk arose from the Friday suppressor competition. First, Scott reported that the Omega demonstrated a 40db reduction dry. Second, the Neilson recoil booster device enabled the Glock weapons to function flawlessly with the Omega suppressor. The CNC aluminum constructed suppressor functioned 12db quieter than any other leading suppressor. As often reported in this magazine, the suppressor wars continue in earnest.

Stuart Rueben received the transfer on his cannon and immediately took it to the line. Many counted themselves fortunate to view this historic gun. Mr. Rueben showed off the French cannon, serial number 200, on Knob Creek’s main line. America bought these 40mm cannon dated 1892 and converted them from fusee fire to center fire. Mr. Rueben showed off the unusual side breech assembly. He took pleasure in the remarkable condition of this fine gun. Milton Barnes, drum inventor of Metall Werkes and cannoneer of The Bowler Battery, gave some cogent comments about the 40mm. Mr. Barnes stated the gun originally entered service as a true 10lb Parrot. The original shells came as pointed rifle projectiles. Milton then stated the 40mm was, ‘…a flat shooting, exceptionally nasty piece of ordnance if you happened to be on the receiving end.’

Saturday afternoon I ran into Valerie with Valkyrie Arms. Valerie brought her production De Lisles to Knob Creek Range and took a number of orders. Her company produces these guns twenty at a time. We went to the firing line to test drive the weapons. The beautifully crafted weapon functions extremely well. A Georgia Emma Gee recently placed an order for one having never seen even a picture of a De Lisle. Suffice it to say that this carbine fires as quiet as a whisper and hits like a Mack truck. Look for a comprehensive article on the De Lisle Carbine in a later issue of SAR.

Upon arrival at the Black Mariah on Saturday afternoon I found the occupants extremely happy with an acquisition made that morning. Forbes Mathews and Doug Hollberg told of acquiring the final piece of ‘Project 99’. Of the six known kits, a seventh had surfaced. As to whose and where, don’t ask. This kit contains the Chinese converted 7.7 barrel that now fires 762 x 39 and the Chinese made tail piece. Another group in the Midwest independently figured out the tail piece. Back in Georgia, Mike Thacker already has received his 762 x 39 converted 99 barrel. As you read this, two versions of the Chinese conversion already are putting brass on the ground.

I then went down to visit some Vickers shooters and put my 1600 rounds of Radway on the ground. (It was a dirty job, but someone had to do it.) When Homer Sailor called a cease fire, I ran into Troy Sellars of In Range out of Kodak, TN. The talented Class 2 does a full range of AK to Krinkov conversions and AK SBRs. He showed off his beautifully crafted AK-74 Krink variant. Troy stated that he really like the AK design and the Krinkov innovation. He chose to specialize in these particular weapons. The fine Krinkov underscored his point.

When Saturday night rolled around, everyone headed toward the main line. Kenny Sumner had added additional viewing stands to give the crowd an even better view of the Night Shoot. Tracer stood as the order of the day. The gunners took the order to heart. The show opened with a helicopter fly over with tracer put down range from an M-60. Then came a tracer burst from the mini-gun. Homer Sailor then called the line hot and the thunder rolled. After each session the crowd broke out in enthusiastic applause. Many viewers moved closer to guns that they wished to view in action. Throughout the evening everything from Gatling guns to a mini-guns poured tracer down range. We all enjoyed a spectacular Saturday night.

Throughout the weekend, I looked for some particular faces. All had gone to serve our country, save one. I ran into him at the Title 2 crossroads of the world, between the Range House and the Pole Barn at Knob Creek Range. I stated, ‘I didn’t expect to see you here.’ He said, ‘The got my buddy on Friday. They will call me up when I get back on Monday.’ We never said good-bye. We said, ‘Until we meet again.’ This man has assisted this writer and some others with deep background on armaments. To him, to those that were missing, and to all of the men and women who now put their lives on the line for our country, we dedicate the following.

Seven Spanish Angels

As we write this in late October, we cannot know the events of the coming months. We do know this. When daylight broke on September 11, 2001, our country moved as it had the day before. The events just before 9 o’clock on that day changed everything. The talking heads of network news proclaimed that America had changed forever and entered a new age. As usual they were half correct. In less than a day we threw away 55 years of liberalism. We went back to the generations of those who came before us. We went back to the time of Theodore Roosevelt. The forces of evil mistakenly awakened what Isoroku Yamamoto later called ‘…the sleeping giant.’ We still walk softly but we now carry an awfully large stick. Perhaps the distinguished actor James Woods put it best. On Jay Leno’s Tonight Show the actor stated, ‘…forget political correctness, we are at war!’ In that light we offer this, especially for our readers at Campbell, Lejeune, and Bragg.

Early in his Presidency, Theodore Roosevelt returned the captured battle flags to the Confederate States. Now the descendants of those states and all of the other states answer our country’s call. Our men and women in the military now go to war for us, and for all of the civilized world. Our soldiers who go into the night must know the following above all else. Our fervent prayers go with you. Some, and perhaps a good many, of you will not return. For you, the best and brightest among us, we offer these last few words. May seven Spanish Angels forever comfort you, and always light your path. Your cause always shall remain undeminished. Your honor shall always be bright.