by Robert M. Hausman

Brady Campaign Files Suit Against ATF

Two weeks after the U.S. Senate debated and ultimately rejected unacceptable amendment-laden legislation that would have prevented frivolous lawsuits against the industry, the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence and its “Million” Mom March subsidiary, filed another such federal lawsuit against the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives, Edgar Demenech, acting director of ATF, the U.S. Justice Department and Attorney General John Ashcroft.

The suit, being a prime hypocritical example of why federal legislation is needed to protect the industry against such abuses of the legal system, was filed March 18th in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia. The suit alleges that the named officials, the Justice Dept. and ATF, violated federal law by allowing firearms manufacturers to make thousands of new “illegal assault weapons.”

The Brady Campaign says its suit is based in part on documents obtained from ATF through the Freedom of Information Act – before Congress moved to prohibit the agency to disallow most FOIA requests.

The suit alleges Ashcroft and ATF allowed gunmakers to violate the 1994 Clinton Administration promulgated ban on the manufacture, sale and possession of certain specific semiautomatic firearms and others defined by a set of cosmetic features as “assault weapons.”

The ban is due to expire on Sept. 13th, unless Congress renews it. One of the amendments tacked on to the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Firearms Act (which helped cause the bill’s defeat in early March) would have made the ban permanent. The Brady Campaign has been intensely lobbying for an extension of the ban and this latest suit seems to be part of a calculated strategy.

The lawsuit claims that among the documents obtained through the FOIA was private correspondence between ATF and Bushmaster Firearms of Windham, Maine, in which ATF repeatedly gave Bushmaster permission to manufacture new AR-15 type “receivers” to replace damaged or defective receivers that were possessed before the ban went into effect in 1994, which were protected under the law’s “grandfather” clause. The Brady Campaign argues that since the “receivers” are legally considered to be firearms under U.S. law, by allowing the manufacture of new receivers, ATF has been allowing manufacture of new “assault weapons” in contravention of the statute.

The suit says ATF authorized Bushmaster to make at least 96 new “assault weapons” since 1997 and that ATF likely allowed thousands of “illegal assault weapons” to be manufactured since the onset of the ban by other manufacturers.

The Brady Campaign further argues that when Congress grandfathered “assault weapons” legally possessed when the ban was passed, it envisioned that over time the number of such arms in circulation would decline due to wear and tear. Thus, the suit alleges, the Justice Dept.’s policy ensures, instead, that the grandfathered “assault weapons” will remain functional into the foreseeable future in contravention of the will of Congress.

The suit seeks a court order prohibiting the government from continuing to allow the manufacture of new receivers for semi-automatic “assault weapons.”

Taurus Adds 40,000 to NRA’s Member Rolls

At the opening of the 2004 SHOT Show, Taurus International Manufacturing presented a “check” representing over 40,000 new National Rifle Association members gained during the past year (through the Taurus NRA Member Recruitment Program) to Wayne LaPierre, NRA Executive Vice President.

Morrison also presented LaPierre with the Taurus Defender of Freedom Award in recognition of LaPierre’s leadership in the areas of the preservation of freedom and the U.S. Constitution, as well as his stewardship of the NRA.

Taurus announced no fewer than 12 new products at the show, including their version of the Model 500, a .50 caliber revolver to become available this fall.

Gerber Acquires CMG Equipment

Gerber Legendary Blades® best known for knives, tools and outdoor recreational gear, has acquired CMG Equipment LLC, a manufacturer and marketer of light emitting diode (LED) -based portable outdoor lighting products.

LED technology, with virtually indestructible bulbs that burn for over 100,000 hours and consume a fraction of the energy of their incandescent peers, is reshaping the portable lighting industry, according to Gerber.

CMG’s light are planned to form the foundation of a complete Gerber LED lighting line, with additional products to be released later this year. CMG’s operations will be relocated from Chicago to Gerber’s headquarters in Portland, Oregon.

“The LED lighting market is positioned for explosive growth, commented Gerber president, Chad Vincent, “and the products, expertise and technology CMG brings to Gerber will help us capitalize on that opportunity.”

Lozito Heads ADCO’s New Gun Division ADCO Sales appoints Charlie Lozito as national sales manager. Lozito is well known as a key player/builder of the Stoeger line of guns and books during the past 20 years. ADCO will also soon announce the establishment of ADCO Arms Co., Inc., which will focus on the firearms side of the business, while optics and other accessories are handled through a complete sales unit.

The goal is to have a seamless program for all of ADCO’s goods. Lozito will oversee key distributors, which will maintain the bulk of the Original CZ Strakonice SRO gun line and Diamond brand shotguns. He will be based in New Jersey while maintaining direct lines of communication with ADCO in Woburn, Massachusetts.

S&W Reports Increased Sales But Net Loss in Third Fiscal Quarter

Net product sales of $27.5 million for the quarter ended Jan. 31, 2004, a 7.6% increase over the corresponding quarter in 2003, are reported by Smith & Wesson Holding Corp., (AMEX:SWB), parent of Smith & Wesson Corp. (S&W).

Sales for the nine months ended Jan. 31, 2004 were $85.1 million, an increase of 20.1% over the comparable period in the previous fiscal year. The sales increase was attributed to strong demand for the firm’s new products, particularly the Model 500 .50 caliber revolver and the Walther line. Firearms unit sales increased by 14.7% and 24.1% for the three and nine months ended Jan. 31, 2004 compared to the comparable periods in 2003.

The handgun maker also reported a net loss for the quarter ended Jan. 31, 2004 of $1.7 million, or 6 cents per share, compared to a profit of $718,545, or two cents per share, for the quarter ended Jan. 31, 2003. The quarterly loss resulted in a year-to-date loss of $450,696, or one cent per share. The year-to-date loss compares to a profit of $743,505, three cents per share, for the nine months ended Jan. 31, 2003.

Costs Leading to Loss

The $1.7 million loss resulted entirely from one-time restructuring and severance costs as well as legal and professional fees. The company incurred restructuring costs of $1 million (about $629,000 after-tax, or two cents per share) relative to the closing of the Scottsdale corporate office, the discontinuance of the Crossings catalog and the discontinuation of the S&W Advanced Technology {SWAT} division). Another $1.1 million (approximately $662,000 after-tax, or two cents per share) was spent in professional fees for the quarter relative to the restatement of the fiscal year 2002 financial statements as well as legal fees associated with the ongoing SEC investigation.

In addition, the company also incurred a one-time charge for severance payments to four officers who resigned in December. The total severance costs involved was about $760,000 (approximately $474,000 after-tax, or two cents per share). The total impact of these one-time charges and professional fees was about $2.8 million (approximately $1.8 million after-tax, or 6 cents per share).

Apart from these one-time charges and professional fees associated with the restatement and the SEC investigation, the company would have reported a profit of $58,086 for the quarter and $1,314,304, or 4 cents per share, for the nine months.

S&W expects to save about $1.6 million (approximately $900,000 after-tax, or three cents per share) annually in salaries and office expenses from the closing of the Scottsdale corporate headquarters. The Crossings catalog generated a loss of about $920,000 (approximately $530,000 after-tax, or two cents per share) for the nine months ended Jan. 31, 2004. The Advanced Technology division had a loss of about $940,000 (approximately $547,000 on an after-tax basis, or two cents per share) for the nine months ended Jan. 31, 2004.

Cash and cash equivalents declined by $7.4 million in the nine months ended Jan. 31, 2004. The decrease was attributed to year-to-date losses for the Crossings catalog and the Advanced Technology division, which totaled about $2.1 million on a pre-tax basis. Also incurred were over $1.8 million in professional fees with respect to the restatement of the fiscal year 2002 financial statements and the ongoing SEC investigation in the nine months ended Jan. 31, 2004. The company also made a $1 million payment on its long-term debt in July 2003. In addition, capital spending has exceeded depreciation by about $1.9 million, which was attributed to the company’s plan to continue to invest in its core business.

Order Backlog Increasing

“The company has a high order backlog,” noted Roy Cuny, president and CEO of S&W Holding Corp., “and the previous three shifts of production has been expanded to six days per week to address the high demand.” The firm reported the order backlog at the end of January stood at $18.6 million, 34.8% higher than the $13.8 million backlog at the end of January 2003.

“The company’s restructuring actions in the third quarter are focused on driving toward higher levels of operating efficiency through the process of consolidating physical operations and the discontinuance of non-core business activities,” Cuny added. “The core handgun business presents significant opportunity to profitably grow the company.”

John Kelly, chief financial officer, disclosed the company plans to invest about $3 million of capital through the course of the next few months to further automate processes and drive toward higher levels of productivity. “Our focus is to allocate investment dollars in ways that best position the company for quickly accretive operational enhancements. Capital expenditure decisions are based on very strict parameters,” Kelly said.

Court Rules Foreign Convictions Not Included in Gun Ownership Ban

The Second U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals recently ruled foreign convictions should not be counted towards previous offenses when considering harsher penalties for arms possession under the federal Gun Control Act.

The court determined the U.S. Congress didn’t intend to include foreign convictions in the felon-in-possession section of the law, which bans a person from possessing a firearm if “convicted in any court” of a crime punishable by more than a year in prison.

The ruling was made in a case involving one Rohan Ingram, arrested in Plattsburgh, NY, after guns were found in his hotel room. Officials suspected he entered the U.S. illegally from Canada.

Ingram was charged with conspiracy to export defense articles and conspiracy to travel with intent to engage in the illegal acquisition of guns. He was also charged as a felon in possession of a firearm as a result of a prior gun conviction in Canada.

As a result of the court ruling, the felon-in-possession charge against Ingram for his 1996 felony conviction in Canada was held to be invalid.

The ruling is not likely to have effect in other jurisdictions however. The most famous related case in recent memory involved firearms retailer Thomas Lamar Bean who traveled to Mexico while not knowing his employees had left some shotgun shells in his vehicle. Bean was arrested at the border, convicted of illegally importing ammunition into Mexico and served time in a Mexican prison. ATF then revoked his federal firearms license relying on the language in the 1968 Gun Control Act which prohibits a person from possessing a firearm if “convicted in any court” of a crime punishable by more than a year in prison.

Sturm, Ruger 2003 Financials Improved

Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc. reports improved financial results for both the year and fourth quarter 2003.

For the year, the company recorded sales of $147.9 million, net income of $12.4 million, and earnings-per-share of 46 cents. Included in these results is the pretax gain of $5.9 million or 13 cents per share after-tax from the sale of non-manufacturing real estate in Arizona, known as the Single-Six Ranch.

The respective figures for 2002 were sales of $161.6 million, net income of $8.5 million, and earnings-per-share of 31 cents. Included is a $3.3 million pre-tax earnings charge recognizing an impairment loss on certain investment castings segment assets.

For the fourth quarter of 2003, the gunmaker had sales of $38.2 million, net income of $3 million, and earnings-per-share of 11 cents. Comparable amounts for 2002 were sales of $35.3 million, a net loss of $0.3 million, and a loss-per-share of 2 cents due to the aforementioned impairment loss.

Chairman William B. Ruger, Jr. commented on the fourth quarter, “Firearms shipments improved by 26% during the quarter. The popularity of many new product offerings was instrumental to this sales growth.

“Despite our strong finish, 2003 was a flat year for firearms sales,” Ruger admitted. “The success of our new products in 2003 was offset by an overall softness in the marketplace, particularly during the first half of the year. We are encouraged by our recent sales upturn, favorable economic indicators and with our new product introductions. We believe 2004 can be a solid year for the company.”

Turning his attention to the castings results, Ruger remarked, “Our castings business declined in 2003 as sales dropped 20% from the prior year, due largely to foreign competition. But despite this marked decline, we were able to improve our net results from the prior year, even before the $3.3 million pre-tax charge to earnings that was incurred in 2002. The precision castings process affords us great flexibility and efficiency in our firearms manufacturing, and for that reason it will always be a critical success factor for the company. We will continue to evaluate the viability and profitability of the commercial castings market.”

Ruger also noted the strength of the balance sheet in stating, “We are financially solid. At December 31, 2003, we remained debt-free, with $54 million of cash and short-term investments.” In pointing to the company’s continued commitment to firearms development, Ruger said, “In 2003, we added four design engineers to our firearms development team.”

In reviewing the company’s financial statements, firearms sales during 2003’s fourth quarter came to $34,682,000 or 90.9% of sales versus $31,396,000 or 88.9% of sales in the fourth quarter of 2002. Castings sales amounted to $3,482,000 or 9.1% of sales during the three months ended December 31, 2003 versus $3,927,000 or 11.1% of total sales in the corresponding period of 2002.

For the twelve months ended Dec. 31, 2003, firearms sales were $130,558,000 or 88.3% of total sales compared to $139,752,000 or 86.5% of sales for the year of 2002. Castings sales were $17,359,000 or 11.7% of total sales for the year 2003, versus a total of $21,825,000 or 13.5% of sales for the year of 2002.

Ruger recently opened a custom shop and is now offering enhancements, including custom engraving.

SIG Supports Spec Ops Charity

SIGARMS has released a limited number of specially serialized P226 pistols identical to those carried by U.S. Navy SEALs.

Since 1986 the SIG SAUER P226 in 9mm has been the official sidearm of this elite warrior unit. To support the families of fallen heroes, SIGARMS will donate up to $100,000 to the Special Operations Warrior Foundation.

“It is a great source of pride knowing that when it counts these elite warriors count on the to-hell-and-back reliability of the SIG SAUER P226. That is why we have committed to help their families and are asking our customers to consider purchasing this very special pistol,” said Jim Pledger, SIGARMS’ vp/law enforcement & military sales.

26th SHOT Show Most Successful Ever

The 2004 SHOT Show in Las Vegas closed setting new records for the number of attendees pre-registered, an historic high of over 529,000 square-feet of exhibitor space, and 1,610 exhibitors.

More than 30,000 people came to the show, with almost 18,000 of them wearing retailer badges.

Over 10,000 attendees signed up to add their names to the 28,000 who had already contacted their legislators in support of S.659, the Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act. The valiant effort failed as anti-gun amendments were added to the bill, which was defeated by Senate vote.

When the opening bell rang on Thursday morning, exhibitors were caught somewhat by surprise by the hordes of enthusiastic visitors entering the exhibition halls. Some major firms felt initially overwhelmed by the throngs of people entering their booths while elbowing one another in an effort to glimpse the products on display and opportunity to ask questions.

“The industry needed this,” quipped one executive in making reference to the generally flat year the firearms industry experienced during 2003.

One foreign producer, Korth of Germany, picked up 13 new authorized retailers during the first 3 days of the show for their line of high-grade handguns.

The author publishes two of the small arms industry’s most widely read trade newsletters. The International Firearms Trade covers the world firearms scene, and The New Firearms Business covers the domestic market. Visit www.FirearmsGroup.com. He may be reached at: FirearmsB@aol.com.

by Chris Choat

SPRINGFIELD ARMORY INTRODUCES THE M1A SOCOM 16

The Springfield Armory M1A is the world standard, based on the legendary -M14. Accurate, reliable and durable, it’s the dominant force at home and abroad, whether fired in competitive shooting or in active duty by elite military and police units. New for 2004, from Springfield Armory, is the new M1A Socom 16. Compact and powerful, it features a 16 inch barrel (the shortest allowed for civilian-owned rifles) made possible by a retuned gas system. It is a heavy-caliber alternative for a CQB (Close Quarter Battle) rifle, as well as the ideal patrol, ranch or pick-up rifle. Other features include a black fiberglass stock, forward-mounted scout-style scope mount and a proprietary muzzle break that virtually eliminates muzzle rise. Also included on the new rifle is a ghost ring aperture rear sight that has MOA click adjustments for both windage and elevation and a Tritium front sight. The rifle is 37.25 inches long with a weight of 8.9 pounds. The Socom 16 comes with a 10-round box magazine but 20-round magazines are available as an option. For more information please contact Springfield Armory, Dept. SAR, 420 West Main Street, Geneseo, IL 61254. Phone: 1-309-944-5631. Fax: 1-309-944-3676. Their website is www.springfieldarmory.com.

PENTEX ANNOUNCES NEW BINOCULARS

PENTAX U.S.A., Inc. announced the addition of two UCF WP-series models (8×25 UCF WP and 10×25 UCF WP) to its extensive porro-prism binocular lineup. Featuring high-performance, super-multi-coated optics and waterproof capability, these models are the ideal choice for use when hunting or bird watching — especially on or around water. With a choice of 8X and 10X magnification, the new UCF WP-series models feature a JIS Class 6 waterproof construction with a full-body rubber housing for protection against water and shock. The PENTAX developed dual-axis eye-distance adjustment system assures precise alignment of the lens barrels during viewing. Coupled with a compact, lightweight body design and a long 15-millimeter eye relief, these models offer fatigue-free viewing even during extended observations. The combination of inner-focus system, high-refraction BaK4 glass prisms, super-multi-coated optical elements, and aspherical eyepiece lens elements delivers outstanding image quality even under poor viewing conditions. Other user-friendly features include a short minimum focusing distance of 6.2 feet, helicoid-type extendible eyepiece rings, a fully retractable pop-up diopter adjuster, a quick-mount/removal strap, and a tripod socket. Legendary PENTAX sport optics feature PENTABRITE™ technology with precision ground lenses that feature Super-Multi-Layer coating on every surface throughout the optical system to help BRIGHTEN YOUR ADVENTURES™ in the great outdoors. For more information please contact Pentax USA, Inc., Dept. SAR, 600 12th Street, Suite 300, Golden, CO 80401. Phone: 1-303-799-8000. Fax: 1-303-728-0334. They can reached on the web at www.pentaxlightseeker.com.

MAXPEDITION HARD-USE GEAR LAPTOP CASE

Maxpedition is a company that produces what they call Hard-Use Gear. Their products are made from premium-grade nylon and are all hand made. The 10 year old company makes products that are literally made to take a beating. While traveling the isles of the 2004 Shot Show, I came across their booth and was amazed at the quality of their products. I was very interested in one particular product of theirs, the Maxpedition Black Bear Laptop Case. MAXPEDITION’s Black Bear Laptop Case protects your laptop computer in a compartment fitted with closed-cell foam. Four pockets on the front hold your computer’s accessories and a rear flat pocket holds documents. It can be carried with shoulder strap or stored in one of MAXPEDITION’s durable backpacks. MAXPEDITION’s Black Bear Laptop Case also has handles and a shoulder strap for stand alone carrying of your computer. With strap retracted, this slim shock-resistant computer case will fit into most other backpacks as well. Maxpedition uses DuPont™ Teflon treated 1000 Denier nylon fabric as the base material for their products. Also used are super-strong nylon/acetal hybrid hardware by Duraflex, YKK #10 zippers and 550 paracord knot pulls. Products are double stitched throughout with box and “X” stitching on high tension areas. All this adds up to a superior product that is very well suited for extreme hard use. In addition to their laptop case they also have a complete line of backpacks and cases for everything from cell phones to flashlights. For more information contact them at Maxpedition Hard-Use Gear, Dept. SAR, 23206 S. Normandie Ave., Unit 2, Torrance, CA 90502. Phone: 1-310-784-0731. Fax: 1-310-784-0732. They can be found on the web at www.maxpedition.com.

LASER DEVICES INTRODUCES OPERATIVE TACTICAL FLASHLIGHT

Laser Devices, Inc. (LDI), a leading provider of laser aiming devices and weapon mounted tactical illumination systems to law enforcement and military agencies, has announced the release of the Operative OV-1 handheld tactical flashlight with a patented bulb design. Ideal for use by law enforcement, military units, or anyone looking for a compact, rugged and waterproof tactical flashlight, the pocket-sized flashlight produces as much light as some large D cell lights in a package that is a fraction of the size and weight. The Operative OV-1 flashlight produces 95 lumens of white light that can be focused to any spot. Additionally, the Operative OV-1 is O-ring sealed and waterproof to 20 meters and features a glass lens to maximize the brightness of the flashlight. The Operative OV-1 has a push button activation switch located on the tailpiece of the flashlight which makes it easy to operate in a momentary and/or continuous mode. The Operative OV-1 is machined from 6061T-6 Type III hard anodized aluminum and is available in black, blue, red, silver or gold finish. The Operative OV-1 is supplied with a state-of-the-art xenon lamp and two 3-volt lithium batteries that supply over one hour of continuous illumination. The lithium batteries have a ten year estimated shelf life which allows the light to be stored with the assurance it will be ready to operate when needed. The Operative OV-1 has an MSRP of $75.00 and comes standard with a rugged spring steel pocket clip and lanyard. Also, the Operative OV-1 is available in an elegant presentation box or a clamshell package and a custom logo service is available at no additional charge on orders of 100 or more units. For more information you can contact Laser Devices Inc., Dept. SAR, 2 Harris Court, A-4, Monterey, CA 93940. Phone: 1-831-373-0701. Fax: 1-831-373-0903. E-mail: sales@laserdevices.com They can be found on the web at www.laserdevices.com.

FOBUS NOW HAS HOLSTER FOR SIG

Fobus USA has just released a newly designed holster for the Sig Models 220, 225, 226 and 228 pistols with accessory rails beneath the receiver as well as models in the original configuration without the rail. The new series of holsters will add to an already extensive line of holsters for just about every pistol made. The current production will be in right hand paddle, belt, Roto-Holster™ paddle and Roto-Holster™ belt styles. Suggested retail for the new holsters is just $23.99. For more information contact them directly at Fobus USA, Division of First Samco, Dept. SAR, 1300 B-3 Industrial Highway, Southampton, PA 18966. Phone: 1-215-355-2621. Fax: 1-215-322-9223. On the web at www.fobusholster.com.

by Larry S. Sterett

The MP38, 40, 40/1 and 41 Submachine Gun, Volume 1.

Copyright 2001.
ISBN 90-805583-2-X.
Distributed by Ironside International Publishers, Inc.,
Dept. SAR, PO Box 55,
Alexandria, VA 22313-0055.
Price $34.95, plus $6.00 s&h
Phone: 703-683-5486.
Reviewed by Larry S. Sterett.

This slim hardbound volume features more than 200 historical black and white photographs of the German MP38, MP40 and its variants. The majority of the photos have never appeared in any prior publication, having been gleaned from German and other archival sources.

The purpose of this book is to explain the history of the MP38 and MP40, their predecessors and variants that Hugo Schmeisser did not design and that models such as the MP38/40 never actually existed. (Schmeisser did design the MP41, manufactured by Haenel, probably for Rumania.) Following the usual preface, acknowledgements, and introduction, the book is divided into ten chapters, with the final one being sources, literature and notes.

The first eight chapters are devoted to discussion of the various models, including some experimental models, accessories, ammunition, and production. Lists of production codes, manufacturers, time periods, and estimated production figures for 1939-1944 are provided. Illustrations consist of excellent, detailed black and white photographs, including assembled and disassembled views, receiver cap and magazine markings – some 10 to 15 million or more magazines were manufactured – and miscellaneous features.

Chapter IX is the largest and consists entirely of propaganda photos illustrating the various models in service by German soldiers, and others, such as the Russian Cossack in a German uniform and the Slovenian female partisan carrying an MP41. Each of the photographs is accompanied by text explaining it, along with the approximate time frame, and the source of the photograph. They include desert and winter scenes, young soldiers and combat veterans, and even civilians in the last ditch army in early 1945. One of the most interesting shots is of a soldier in Tunisia carrying an MP38 or early MP40 in a dust cover. The cover protects the weapon from dust, except for the lower portion of the magazine, and the barrel, but can be removed quickly in an emergency.

This unique volume is one any fan of the MP38 and MP40 machine pistols will find worthwhile. Almost as well known as the Thompson, the Maschinenpistoles 38 and 40, and variants, were forerunners of things to come. Although copied and improved on by later designers, many of the original MP38 and MP40 submachine guns are still being used in various parts of the world today, more than six decades later. This book illustrates the guns as they were originally used.

The Mkb 42, MP43, MP44 AND THE STURMGEWEHR 44

by Guus de Vries and Bas J. Martens
ISBN 90-805583-6-2,
Copyright 2003
Special Interest Publicaties BV
P.O. Box 282,
6800 AG Arnhem,
The Netherlands
USA distributor:
Ironside International Publishers Inc,
Dept. BG, P.O. Box 55,
Alexandra, VA 22313-0055
Price $38.95 plus $6 s&h
Reviewed by Lee Arten

The Mkb 42, MP43, MP44 and the Sturmgewehr 44 is the fourth book in the Propaganda Photo Series written by Guus de Vries and Bas J. Martens, two historians from the Netherlands. The men have written 12 books of firearms history. Others in the series include The MP38, 40, 40/1 and 41 Submachine Gun, The K98k Rifle and The P08 Luger Pistol.

I learned some new things from the book. One was that the combat philosophy that led to selective-fire assault weapons was discussed by the German military as early as the 1920s. Complaints about weapons used in World War I were that the 7.92x57mm cartridge had too much recoil and too much range. The Gewehr ’98 was said to be too long and lacking in magazine capacity. Submachine guns were one proposed solution. Rifles like the MKb 42, MP43, MP44 and the Sturmgewehr 44 were another.

As with other military weapons in history, development of these rifles was a political as well as a military process. Their proponents had to deal with infighting between manufacturers, production problems acerbated by Allied bombing raids, and more. The authors state: “Even as late as August, 1944, competition among German companies was stiff. At the same time, Haenel’s director Schmeisser staged a successful coup. He got the committee to agree that “alien companies would not get involved in the further development of devices without consulting the mother company,” thus effectively blocking the initiatives of ERMA.”

On the political front they relate: “The Fuhrer was not impressed. In his opinion, an infantry weapon should have a range of at least 1200 to 1500 meters. The troops needed sniper rifles and fast-firing machineguns, such as the recently introduced MG42, and not weapons for an intermediate cartridge.”

Hitler proved to be a poor military planner in this instance too. The work on assault rifles went on, and he eventually approved production.

The book contains many photographs of the rifles that came before the SturmGewehr. One was the select-fire Vollmer M35/III. It was the first rifle made for an intermediate cartridge, the 7.75 x 39.5 mm. The caption with the photos of the Vollmer rifle says, “for obscure reasons, the design was not pursued.”

Besides photos of early rifles, one of the book’s plates shows a line-up of intermediate cartridges including the 7.5x35mm Swiss, the 7.75×39.5mm (Genshow) and several other variations on the theme. Another shows an original box of 15 cartridges for the Sturmgewehr.

Other photographs illustrate types of magazines, and six different markings found on the weapons. One rifle had the original mark crossed out and a new one added.

The authors write: “The Sturmgewehr has the doubtful honour of being the most frequently renamed gun in history”… and “There may have been moments that nobody knew which was the correct designation and this lead to weapons that were re-stamped, some even getting earlier or non-official designations.”

Other photos of interest show a device for carrying an assault rifle on a bicycle, and devices for shooting a SturmGewehr from cover. “Shoot around corners” devices have recently gotten new notice on the Internet. This proves there aren’t many old ideas that can’t be revamped.

The longest part of the book is section “IX Propaganda Pictures.” The authors write: “The propaganda photos were collected from German and other archives, and were taken by official German war photographers. During World War II, there were about 2,500 official photographers and reporters… Their work was considered so important, that some of them were given permits that gave them immediate access to any form of transport at any time on any front.”

Photos include shots of Field Marshal Albrecht Kesselring inspecting weapons in Italy, and watching as an MP43/1 is fired from prone and offhand. There are shots of Mountain and Ski troops carrying the MP43/1 in Russia and SS troops with another variant of the weapon. Also included are pictures of a factory building SturmGewehrs, and a machine used to test fire them.

MPs in use by partisans are also included. Two of them picture Polish resistance fighters with captured MPs. Another shows German men, wearing civilian topcoats and hats, organized for defense late in the war. The men carry a variety of arms, including an MP41 made by Haenel.

I recommend this book to those interested in World War II history and in the German weapons developed during the war.

by Robert Bruce

Small Arms Review presents the final installment of a three-part series on the evolution of the American infantry soldier in the 21st Century.

“My suit has the ability to stop a rifle bullet. It is made of a material that is as flexible as my football jersey but gets hard as steel when a bullet or knife is pushed into it. The material has some kind of chemical in it that lets fresh air pass through it but stops and destroys chemical warfare agents. If I do get injured, the suit automatically inflates over the wound, stopping the bleeding and applying medicine to the injury until our medic can come help me.” Letter from a soldier, 30 October 2017, (US Army OFW Panel, December 2001)

Our journey through time from Land Warrior to Objective Force Warrior has now arrived at the battlefield of the year 2020. Weapons and equipment used by all combatants – friend and foe – are the result of more than two decades of accelerated scientific development, with capabilities previously only imagined by Hollywood special effects wizards.

Everything is lighter, faster, smarter, and more lethal, including tiny computers that read our minds and swarms of self-programming robots of all sizes and shapes that scout, report, organize, and kill with steerable munitions and energy beams. Self-replicating organisms, and nano-robots far smaller than the period at the end of this sentence, will attack and destroy specific targets including the human nervous system and enemy computer components. How the hell did this happen?

Army After Next

While untold numbers of senior military leaders since the end of World War II have applied their expertise and imagination to projecting warfare into the foreseeable future, the process wasn’t well organized until 1996 when the US Army’s Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) created the “Army After Next” working group.

Recommendations from this small, multi-service core of officers set in motion an enormous and wide reaching endeavor that has spread to universities, government and industry laboratories, think tanks, and even back to Hollywood. Hundreds of millions of dollars have already been spent and billions more will follow in financing new and improved ways to keep America and her allies at the cutting edge of combat.

DARPA Does it All

A bewildering array of players are in this ultimate-stakes game, including big names like the government’s Department of Energy, defense mega-contractors like General Dynamics, and US Army Soldier and Biological Chemical Command. But all roads for research and development fan out from DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency). This is a clearinghouse for military science with eight major technical offices that are each responsible for a mind-numbing list of programs.

Among these we find a full range from what looks like the wildest sci-fi speculation to get-it-now hardware for today’s fighters up to their eyeballs in the War on Terror. Just one example of the first category can be seen under the listings for Defense Science Office as “Brain Machine Interfaces.” The official description explains that this is intended to augment human performance by accessing brainwaves in real time so that computers can instantly know what we need them to do. And do it.

The second type is well represented by “Babylon” from the Information Awareness Office. Aptly named with possible inspiration from the biblical story of the Tower of Babel, its prototype was fielded in Afghanistan and future versions will give our soldiers a hand-held two-way translator that allows instantaneous communication between those who speak any of a dozen or more languages. Say “Surrender or die!” and the bad guys get the message right away.

DARPA’s website (www.darpa.mil) offers all sorts of handy information for outsiders who may want to help with or hurt the progress toward Future Warrior. Individual inventors, corporate funding sniffers and hostile intelligence agencies (like the Chinese, Russians and French) can follow various links to those agencies, firms and universities that are being highly paid to participate.

Gray Goo and Plastic Muscles

“Scientists believe that nanotechnology will soon give humans the ability to move and combine individual atoms and molecules into microscopically tiny mechanical, electrical, and biological ‘machines’….” (Center for Technology and National Security policy.)

The Institute for Soldier Nanotechnologies at MIT is a particularly interesting side trip from the DARPA superhighway, recently awarded a cool $50 million in American taxpayer dollars (plus $40 million more from defense industry sources) to explore military applications in all branches of the rapidly growing scientific field that includes all things measured in billionths of a meter!

Seven research teams are at work at ISN and its industry partners DuPont and Raytheon to dramatically enhance Objective Force Warrior and Future Warrior’s protection, performance enhancement, injury prevention, and automatic wound treatment. For example, tomorrow’s uniform is likely to be spun from a variety of “intelligent polymer threads” that combine vastly superior body armor, instantly changeable camouflage patterns, and artificial muscles. This last has already been demonstrated in performance of a plastic “molecular muscle” that expands and contracts when an electrical charge is applied.

At the same time as this good stuff is being developed, some insiders are raising dire warnings about the “gray goo problem” where smart nano-robots themselves start building even smarter nano-robots and these begin to behave in decidedly antisocial ways toward humans and other machines. This nightmare scenario of uncontrollable, unstoppable replication of hostile biomechanical entities – particularly in the hands of an enemy state or fanatic doomsday terrorists – deserves serious consideration.

Future Warriors and Warriorettes

Future Warrior 2025 CIE Concepts is the official US Army information sheet from Soldier and Biological Chemical Command, providing a fascinating insight into how a broad framework for this enormous undertaking has been provided for the largest number of different contributors. It is reproduced here exactly as written so that our readers can enjoy both its flavor and substance:

Overview

The future is always uncertain, but by applying logic and imagination to current situations and technologies, a conceptual representation of how soldiers might be equipped in the distant future has been developed. This conceptualization is not US Army doctrine, nor is it intended to answer every question raised by the Army After Next. It is intended to raise questions, stir imaginations, and start dialogue about how best to serve and equip our war fighters in the near future.

Description

The Future Warrior 2025 will be a completely integrated system, which will be tailored to each individual, from an electro-spun Combat Uniform to a biomechanically engineered Headgear Subsystem. There are six major subsystems included in the concept:

• The Headgear Subsystem, which we describe as Information Central, is the situational awareness hub of the system. It would include Integrated tactical processing (e.g., maps, routes, SA data); 180º emissive visor display; High data rate (GB/sec) communications; Microelectronic/optics combat sensor suite that provides 360º situational awareness; Integrated small arms protection in selected locations.
• The Combat Uniform Subsystem, which we describe as Survivability Central, contains three layers: the Protective Outer Layer, the Power Centric Layer, and the Life Critical Layer.
• The Weapon Subsystem, Lethality Central, permits direct and indirect target engagements. The weapon weighs 5 pounds, and combines five tubes of soft-launched, 15mm intelligent seeker munitions and one tube of stacked 4.6mm kinetic energy projectiles for close quarter combat.
• The Warfighter Physiological Status Monitor (WPSM) Subsystem collects information on the vital signs (core temperature, skin temperature, heart rate, blood pressure) hydration state, stress level (mouth sensors), thermal state, sleep status, and workload capacity of the warrior. The WPSM can also recommend remote triage care needed.
• The Micro-climate Conditioning Subsystem, a network of narrow tubing built into the material of the Life Critical Layer that provides 100 watts of heating or cooling to the warrior.
• The Power Subsystem, Duration Central, consists of a 2- to 20-watt Micro Turbine fueled by a liquid hydrocarbon. Ten ounces of fuel, contained in a lightweight plug-in cartridge, powers the soldier for up to six days. Polymeric nanofiber battery patches embedded in the headgear and weapon provide backup power for three hours.

Directed Energy Weaponry

Directed Energy Weapons (DEW) is the catchall name for everything electrical and electronic that can be generated and beamed in the general or specific direction of the enemy. This includes such well-known things as lasers and microwaves, but also far spookier things like acoustic, electromagnetic, and psychotronic weapons. All of these have perfectly legitimate roles to play in warfare and under the right circumstances even enjoy the politically correct designation of “non-lethal” when used sparingly by the good guys to deal with hostile humans and their machines.

GIs who are properly DEW-equipped can call on a variety of solutions such as Office Of Naval Research’s Neuro-Muscular Disrupter to discourage mob leaders and instigators, causing them to suddenly lose control of their bowels and their balance – literally defecating and falling in it. The rest of the crowd can be strongly encouraged to leave immediately by application of the Air Force Research Lab’s Active Denial Technology, focusing millimeter-wave electromagnetic energy in very short bursts, causing the sensation of burning skin without actual injury. Then, for good measure, a HERF (High Energy Radio Frequency) gun could be fired at the video cameras to fry their circuitry.

On the other hand, there are many nightmare scenarios in the world of DEWs that are already in the hands of the bad guys. Nazi experimentation with acoustic weapons in the desperate closing months of World War II was carried forward by Stalin’s scientists who are also said to have developed various psychotronic devices such as voice-to-skull transmitters. These are said to have found very practical uses in the inhuman Soviet dictatorship, including torture and torment of jailed dissidents who, hearing strange voices in their brains, believed they were going insane.

Future Warrior will need to have the option of using all these forms of directed energy as well as having full spectrum protection against them when employed by our numerous enemies.

Robots Everywhere!

“The future battlefield will require an unprecedented level of automation in which soldier-operated, autonomous, and semi-autonomous ground, air, and sea platforms along with mounted and dismounted soldiers will function as a tightly coupled team. Robotic sensor and weapons platforms (ground and air), will be ubiquitous on the future battlefield, significantly lowering the risks to our warfighters thus allowing the Army to achieve full-spectrum dominance within the constraints of reduced manpower and casualties.” (Mixed Soldier/Small Robot Team Interaction, US Army Research Laboratory)

Robot warriors are irresistible for a rich and technologically advanced society whose population is increasingly unwilling to enter military service and notoriously intolerant of casualties. Small wonder the United States of America and its allies of the moment are spending astonishing amounts of money and effort toward the goal of automating most if not all aspects of warfare.

Once again DARPA is in the lead with a long list of general and specific programs to create and field ever-smarter and more capable robots for land, sea, air, and space combat. Since the field of robotics draws on just about every scientific discipline the roster of major players is enormous and ever-expanding, but brevity demands concentration here on just a couple.

In March of 2003 the Defense Department unveiled a billion dollar roadmap for unmanned aerial vehicles during the next 25 years with plans calling for developing joint interoperable UAV’s (unmanned aerial vehicles) that are capable of everything from surveillance to air strike. Building on the demonstrated success of the USAF’s Predator (famously taking out a carload of top al-Qaida terrorists with a Hellfire missile), the next step is already flying in the form of Boeing’s X-45, recently selected over Northrop Grumman’s X-47 Pegasus. Other members of the multi-service autonomous aerial robot family are expected to include the Unmanned Combat Armed Rotorcraft (UCAR) and all sorts of “bug bots” (insect-like flying robots).

Space and Naval Warfare Systems Center and its predecessor organizations have been involved in all this since the early 1960s. Because the US Navy and Marine Corps operate in every environment from outer space to undersea, SNWSC efforts run the full gamut from Free Swimmer II to Robart III and the MSSMP flying doughnut. These and other programs are of tangible value in today’s operational environment and provide a solid platform for other scientists working on Future Warrior systems.

See the Future Warriors on the Web at: http://www.darpa.mil

by Timothy Kast

“I had to wait approximately six months to get a test unit ACOG to evaluate. Every available piece Trijicon manufactured was being sent to the Middle East for Special Operations use. What does that tell you about the ACOG?”

Trijicon has been the specified manufacturer for Special Operations tritium night sights and specialty scopes for quite some time. The scope housing for the ACOG is forged, not cast, from 7075-T6 aircraft aluminum alloy, and then hard anodized according to military specifications. This is the same process Eugene Stoner used in designing the M16 rifle. It has survived drop tests from heights of 2 meters onto concrete and steel surfaces.

The Bindon Aiming Concept (or BAC) is unusual in that it allows close quarters transitional aiming with traditional long distance marksmanship. This is achieved by employing two-eye open aiming and a magnifying optical system together with a glowing reticle. This glowing reticle illuminated by the fiber optic system enhances the overall speed and accuracy with which the human eye tracks and configures the reticle.

The BAC discovery was made after an exhaustive search to combine the speed of an Armson OEG and similar red dot collimator sights together with the precision accuracy of a conventional telescopic riflescope. The BAC principle is simple, it is the automatic reaction of the human eye; it occurs instinctively. You must keep both eyes open all the time. The neon red reticle functions in the daytime hours, then adds a sharp contrast for transition to low light conditions. Upon receiving a target, you raise your weapon and point it in the general direction of the target. You will see the fiber-optic-illuminated reticle as you position your scope into the target area. Your M16 should then be in proper alignment with the target. Your brain then reacts and switches to the magnified view for your final exact telescopic picture. It sounds complicated, but it usually occurs within split seconds for complete target acquisition. The ACOG 4x32BAC is enabled by the fiber optic system and so is always illuminated no matter what lighting conditions may be present. You will see a sharp contrast with which to make your final sight picture. Your eyes will compensate for each other automatically as the weapon is moved, choosing the non-blurry magnified image routinely over the blurry image. As you slow the movement of your weapon, your brain will instantly choose the greater detail of the clearer magnified sight picture. This is a normal reaction designed to give you an uninterrupted view of your target.

The idea behind the use of the fiber optic system was to provide the best possible illuminated riflescope without unwanted complexity or reliability problems. There are no batteries, moving parts, switches or solar cells with this product. It is designed to be self sufficient and reliable under all conditions and in any environment.

The ACOG also contains tritium or Hydrogen-3, as it is also known. This is a commonly used radioactive material for nighttime illumination. This gives the riflescope its ability to work day or night, since the majority of enemy operatives seldom work a 9-5-work day.

I mounted the ACOG on a regular AR-15 for testing and evaluation. The mounting screws (1/32 x 1/2-inch allen buttonhead screws) are supplied, as is an Allen wrench. The scope utilizes the standard mounting hole centered on the carry handle or most AR-15s, so drilling holes in your weapon is not required. They even offer an optional thumb screw (part no. TA53) for a swift release from the carry handle. There is a second threaded hole on the bottom of the mount should you desire to permanently mount the scope or just want some additional security or rigidity. I noticed too, that the mount includes a clear channel to utilize the original iron sights should you need a point of reference in zeroing in the ACOG.

Trijicon states that the adjustment process varies slightly from other scopes and that adjustments are made in increments of 1/3 inch per click at 100 yards. This requires you to use 3 clicks to move the bullet one inch on your final target. The adjustment recesses are clearly marked with arrows for the direction that they must be moved to effect a change downrange in the same direction. The reticle is gauged so that the scope is zeroed at 100 yards with the top most reticle being the point of aim. Once zeroed at this range, you do not need to make any further adjustments between shots at different ranges.

In dry practice, the floating red donut leads your attention when the weapon is scanned in rapid sequence; then the next thing you notice is the ranged reticle beneath it. The Trijicon is always ready to use. No fumbling with a finicky pressure pad switch or cursing dead batteries. It has light gathering capabilities that excel in shadowy low light that you just don’t find otherwise. The fluorescent red donut is always on and always there. While the Bindon Aiming Concept takes a slight adjustment period, it is easily adopted. The most astonishing feature you will find is the speed at which you will acquire your target. This translates to a greater confidence in your weapon/scope combination.

My test unit was the 4×32 (TAO1NSN) that is presently being used by Special Operations Command (SOCOM) as standard issue for all Special Operations Units: this carries a national Stock Number of NSN1240-01-412-6608. This type of scope was engineered for the rough treatment many Spec-Ops weapons undergo. The ACOG features an internal adjustment that allows the shock load received in combat to be absorbed by the shock body and not the adjustment system.

I have owned Armson OEG scopes in the past and have found them to be very innovative and reliable. Trijicon now owns Armson and the ACOG is representative of the aggressive nature of their research and development sector. Their tritium sights are widely accepted among SOCOM groups, and they invited military input into the BAC version of the ACOG. The ACOG 4×32 was tested in the Advanced Combat Rifle (ARC) program conducted by the United States Army in 1989. Installed on the M16 it became the benchmark throughout the testing and was also mandated by other government contractors on their proposed advanced weapon systems. The ACOG has gone on to be used successfully by Spec-Ops units in conflicts such as El Salvador, Panama, and Desert Storm. Products as the ACOG are tested literally under fire, giving the operator little doubt as to its worth.

Along with the Army’s testing, Trijicon worked extensively with the University of Rochester Center for Visual Science as well as the University of Michigan Department of Opthalmology. Their research revealed that 96% of the population can use the BAC feature readily, while only 4% of the population had trouble with the system. These 4% were diagnosed as having phoria, a condition where the eyes wander off to either side rather than focusing correctly ahead. Phoria is measured in prism diopters. Most people have some small values of phoria, but not enough to significantly reduce their ability to focus with both eyes on a target in front of them. The customary way of addressing a two-eyes-open scope is to look through the reticle into the distance. Your eyes will look slightly towards each other as if they were a bit crossed. When we read, our eyes move even closer together. If one eye is blocked, it does not receive the same sensory input and will wander away from the target, usually to one side or the other. Testing has proven approximately 45% of the populace has absolutely zero phoria. If you discover that you exhibit symptoms of phoria or happen to be blind in one eye, you can still use an ACOG scope by simply switching to one-eye-only vision for looking through the telescopic sight. Phoria can also influence the red aiming donut a marginal amount left or right of the final aim dependent of your level of phoria.

As mentioned earlier, the ACOG scope contains a small amount of radioactive material for nighttime illumination. Tritium is a naturally occurring odorless, tasteless, colorless gas that reacts similarly as natural hydrogen to the human body. The body cannot easily retain either hydrogen or tritium as a gas. It is the flame ignition of this gas that is hazardous. If a tritium lamp becomes broken or is suspected of leakage, use caution around any source of flame until the manufacturer can repair the unit properly.

Maintenance and care for the ACOG are pretty simple, wash it with a little soap and water if it gets dirty. That’s it. Once clean, the lens of the ACOG can be polished with a soft cloth for greater clarity if you choose.

After testing and evaluation on the ACOG, I felt it was well worth the wait. I finally got a chance to check out a cutting edge military riflescope designed specifically for the AR-15, M16, M4 carbine family of weapons. It’s a rough and tumble scope that thrives on abuse. It comes with a manual, fasteners, Allen wrench, scope cover and even a polyethylene hard case for travel or storage. If you own an M16 or an AR-15, you will find it to be an excellent investment for your firearm.

Trijicon, Inc.
Dept. SAR
49385 Shafer Avenue
P.O. Box 930059
Wixom, MI 48393
Toll free: 800-338-0563
Website: www.trijicon.com
Email: info@trijicon.com

by J.M. Ramos

Part One of this two-part article covered the author’s own AR-7 rifle design which featured many useful improvements that made this survival type arm more practical and user friendly.

Part two of this series will cover “after market” dress up kits offered for the AR-7 during the heyday of the exotic gun market between 1980-1990. There were numerous accessories offered for the AR-7 during this time period. There are only three companies that I can recommend, which originally produced some of the finest dress up kits and accessories for the AR-7 as well as other popular sporting guns.

EAGLE INTERNATIONAL, INC. The exotic gun market boom, which started around the early 1980s resulted in the establishment of dozens of independent accessory producers in the United States. Their main thrust was producing and marketing high-technology accessories for many popular sporting rifles to include the Ruger Mini-14, 10/22, Charter Arms AR-7 and Remington Shotguns and hunting rifles made by some of America’s well known manufacturers.

Among the many independent producers of after market accessories, Eagle International of Arvada, Colorado no doubt created the finest “dress up” kit for the AR-7. The complete kit included a telescoping buttstock assembly, which was precision machined from aircraft aluminum and black anodised. It was keyed to hold the buttplate in a vertical position, had positive indexes, like the CAR-15 telescoping stock, that allowed length adjustments from 71/2 to 12 inches for individual fit. The rear of the buttstock was drilled and tapped at 90º to accept a 1-inch sling swivel attachment. An AR-15 pistol grip was machined on the top to fit the kit to the AR-7 receiver frame. The bottom of the grip had a built-in pivoting cover allowing the storage of extra ammunition, a match or fishing hook for emergency use. With the kit came the company’s own “Zypher 700” sighting system. The Zypher was a military style rear sight with hooded aperture, fully adjustable for windage and elevation. The rear base was machined from aircraft-quality aluminum alloy. To install the Zypher to the gun, simply remove the factory part and slide the rear opening of the replacement part underneath the sight base until it sits flush with the frame hood. The tightening screw is inserted through the peephole of the hood. Complementing the telescoping stock is a beautiful ventilated barrel shroud, which is also made from aircraft-grade aluminum tubing finish, black anodised. Installation of the shroud requires front sight blade removal to allow insertion of the part over the barrel. The rear of the shroud utilized a 360º sling swivel attachment. The kit came complete with a one inch black Nylon sling. Other optional accessories offered by Eagle for the AR-7 were an extended charging handle, which replaced the factory telescoping charging handle to make cocking easier. For shooters who wished to use the gun for hunting or precision shooting, a lightweight scope mount machined from durable aircraft aluminum was offered. It incorporated an adjustable rail, which accepts all Weaver-type rings. In addition to AR-7 accessories, Eagle also produced superb dress-up kits and high-capacity magazines for the popular Mini-14 and 10/22 rifles. When the ban on assault type weapons and high-capacity magazines became law in the 1990’s, Eagle International became a victim and went out of business.

Ram-Line, Inc.

Established in the early part of 1980s, this highly innovative company, originally based in Golden Colorado, produced some of the most innovative and unique after-market accessories ever offered for the very popular Ruger Mini-14 and 10/22. Ram-Line’s Syn-Tech stocks are considered the strongest and most durable on the market. The company also proved to be a leader in high-capacity polymer magazine design, the best one being the double stack 10/22 rimfire magazine, the first of its kind. This double stack magazine was offered in 20-, 30-, 40- and 50-shot variations. For the AR-7, the company produced a high-performance 25-shot curved plastic magazine in both clear and black. Ram-Line’s high-capacity magazines were also purchased by manufacturers such as Marlin and Charter Arms and offered as optional items for their production guns. A ventilated aluminum barrel shroud with built-in barrel retaining nut was also offered along with a matching aluminum flash hider and replacement front sight blade made of bright orange plastic material. In the beginning of the 1990s, Ram-Line operation was moved to a new location in Wheat Ridge, Colorado. With the threat of an assault weapon and hi-capacity magazine ban closing in, Ram-Line put their machinery to full force cranking out folders and high-capacity magazines 24 hours a day. Regretfully, the owners of the company called it quits and sold the company to Blount, Inc based in Onalaska, Wisconsin in 1994.

CHOATE MACHINE & TOOL COMPANY

Choate Machine & Tool, was another independent accessory producer that sprung up at the beginning of the exotic gun era. Unlike Eagle and Ram-Line, Choate products included tough DuPont Zytel and Rynite plastic mated to steel. Choate’s folding stock was one of the strongest available and combined the use of a solid steel arm coated by DuPont Zytel. These folders were offered extensively for shotguns and rifles. As the popularity of dress up kit for the 10/22 and AR-7 reached its peak in the late 1980s, Choate introduced his own version in 1987. The AR-7 kit consisted of a full-size pistol grip buttstock made from Zytel material complete with a 1-inch recoil pad. Complementing the stock was a blued ventilated steel shroud. Installation of the shroud required the removal of the factory barrel retaining nut. The shroud came complete with a built-in retaining nut. A folding stock and a muzzle brake would have been a nice addition to the Choate AR-7 dress up kit. Among the three leading after market producers that started their business back in the 1980s, only Choate managed to remain in business. Today, this resilient company from Bald Knob, Arkansas has proven to be more successful than ever, as more law enforcement and security agencies are employing their products to improve their equipment.

MIX AND MATCH

One of the biggest advantages of having multiple companies producing different style of dress up kits is being able to mix and match the various accessories to fit one’s personal taste or requirements. For example, the Choate fixed buttstock could be combined with the full-length Eagle ventilated barrel shroud for rifle/submachine gun configuration or vice versa. Those vent holes of the shroud were perfect for mounting front grips, be it Choate or a regular AR-15 part. The line of holes in the shroud was perfect for finding the right spot for mounting the most comfortable location of the front grip to fit individual reach or liking. My improved AR-7 looked much better as soon as I installed the Eagle telescoping stock unto it. For maximum firepower, if you have few 25-shot Ram-Line magazines, glue three of them together side-by-side to create a 75-round magazine system. Those golden days of exotic weaponry are over.

by David M. Fortier

Like the cartridge that it chambers, the SVD (Snaiperskaya Vintovka Dragunova -Dragunov Sniper Rifle) has become rather long in the tooth. Adopted on July 3, 1963, this elderly Russian sniper rifle design is now over 40 years old. To be blunt, for a military sniper rifle still in front line service with a major power, this is ancient. To put this into perspective consider this: when the SVD went into service with the Red Army, English snipers carried .303 No. 4(T) Lee Enfields while Americans had a motley collection of Springfield M1903A1’s, A4’s, .30 M-1C’s, and D’s. Yet 40 years later, this self-loading sniper rifle, affectionately known as the “oar” by the soldiers, remains highly popular with Russian troops. Considering the amount of recent combat this rifle has seen, it says much for the basic design.

It’s also interesting to note just how little this rifle has changed over the decades. Although it has been upgraded with modern synthetic furniture, and a folding stock version has been introduced, it basically looks as it did 40 years ago. The SVD has not stagnated though, and one very important aspect of this rifle that has been recently updated is its issue ammunition. While the SVD still chambers the standard 7.62x54R cartridge, a new dedicated sniper load (designated 7N14) was placed into production in 1999. This new load replaces the 7N1, which had been operational with Russian forces since 1966. So while the rifle looks the same, it received a new load developed expressly to decrease dispersion and increase penetration.

The 7.62x54R “Russian Rimmed” has the distinction of being the longest serving military cartridge still in general issue with a major power. Adopted in 1891, when American units were still saddled with black powder .45-70’s, it has seen our .45-70, .30-40 Krag, .30-03, .30-06, and 7.62x51mm come and go as rifle rounds. The first major combat the 7.62x54R saw was during the Russo-Japanese War of 1904-05. The original load utilized in both rifles and machineguns featured a 210-grain roundnose FMJ. While quite deadly, it was found to be somewhat wanting. The two main complaints being a rainbow-like trajectory and poor accuracy at battlefield ranges. When Russian Ordnance officials began working on improving the 7.62x54R in the spring of 1906 they quickly adapted the new German “Spitzer” design to fit their needs. The culmination of their work resulted in the Lyokhkaya pulya obrazets 1908 g or Model 1908 Light Bullet. This was a 148-grain Spitzer with a lead core and a tombak jacket. It featured a higher velocity, flatter trajectory and increased accuracy over the load that it replaced. This was the standard ball round used during World War I and the Revolution.

Following the Revolution, the fledgling USSR consolidated itself and then developed two new 7.62x54R ball loads that were adopted in 1930. The first, Type L, was developed for use in rifles and was a slightly improved version of the 1908 Light Bullet load. This had a 148-grain FMJ projectile with a brass-plated jacket made from iron with a cannelure. The second load was developed expressly to increase the range and effectiveness of the M1910 Maxim machinegun. This load was topped with a 182-grain spitzer boattail and designated the M1930 Heavy Bullet Type D (Dal’noboinaya or Long Range). The new bullet was designed by Dobrzansky and Smirnsky and was intended to allow the Maxim to be used in the indirect fire role out to 4,500-5,000 meters. To enable the new Type L ball loading to be differentiated from the Type D Heavy Bullet load they received a color code on their projectile tip. Silver for the Type L and yellow for the Type D.

With the passing of the Maxim machinegun, its long range fire roll having been usurped by mortars, so to the M1930 Heavy Bullet Load faded away. With the obsolescence of this load the need to color code ball ammunition disappeared, and was subsequently dropped in Russian service. The Type L load was eventually replaced with an improved 148-grain FMJBT load with a steel core. Referred to as the PS (Steel Core) Light bullet, or simply LPS, it featured improved penetration. It was modernized, as the Russians say, in 1988 to the ST-M2 pattern.

While the SVD is capable of firing the standard 148-grain ball round in a pinch, accuracy will be poor. This is due to the (relatively) low quality of standard ball ammunition. Similar dismal accuracy results are also noted when firing a US M24 sniper rifle with M80 ball ammunition. It’s a simple fact that precision (whether Match or sniper) rifles require ammunition of the highest quality and consistency to reach their potential. The Soviets were well aware of this and developed a specialized load specifically for the SVD.

With the adoption of the SVD a design team headed by Victor Sabelnikov was tasked with designing a new 7.62x54R load. This was to decrease the dispersion of the new rifle while at the same time increasing its lethality. The result of their work was the 7.62x54R 7N1 Sniper load. Externally the 7N1 looks identical to standard steel cased LPS ball ammunition. There is no color coding on the bullet tip or primer annulus, and no specialized head stamp to differentiate it. The headstamp simply consists of “188” (Novosibirsk Low Voltage Equipment Plant) and year of manufacture. For all intents and purposes it appears to be regular ball ammunition. Pulling a projectile one notes that the 7N1 is topped with a 152-grain FMJBT projectile. This is loaded on top of a charge of extruded powder in a Berdan-primed steel case. In standard Russian practice the primer is corrosive.

Externally comparing a 7N1 projectile to a standard ball projectile one finds both projectiles feature a copper washed steel jacket, but there the similarities end. The 7N1 projectile is slightly longer and features a more pronounced boattail with a noticeable hollow base. Cutting the projectile in half quickly reveals the 7N1 to be a well thought out sniper load. Sectioning it reveals an air pocket in the nose (similar to Sabelnikov’s later 5.45x39mm 7N6). Below the air pocket is a 37.5-grain mild steel cone-shaped core of 0.269-inch in diameter and 0.520-inch in length. This sits on top of a 72.6-grain lead “knocker.” These are pressed into the jacket leaving a hollow base with a depth of 0.100-inch. Overall projectile length is 1.275-inch and diameter is 0.311-inch. During flight, due to the air space in the nose, the projectile’s center of gravity is toward its rear. However, upon impact the lead knocker pushes the steel core forward into the air pocket and changes the weight distribution of the projectile. Thus destabilized, the projectile will yaw instead of simply punching a .30 caliber hole in someone. While not new, the British did something similar with their .303 British MK VII ball load prior to the First World War, this design is effective. This is an obvious attempt to increase the wounding potential of this FMJ projectile.

To increase accuracy this load was manufactured to much tighter tolerances than standard ball ammunition. The Russians claimed an increase in accuracy of 2.5 times over standard ball ammunition when fired from an SVD Dragunov. My own testing has shown that to be a reasonable claim. Muzzle velocity from the SVD is 2,723 fps, with the trajectory closely matching that of standard LPS ball. To identify this load it must be in its original packaging as Factory 188 also produces ball ammunition. It comes packed 20 rounds to a paper packet, 22 packets to a metal tin, and two tins per wooden case for a total of 880 rounds. The wooden shipping crates, hermetically sealed metal “Spam” cans, and individual paper packets are all distinctly marked “SNIPER” in Cyrillic. This is the load that was used throughout the war in Afghanistan and in Chechnya.

In the 1990’s the Russians launched a Program for the Modernization of 7.62mm cartridges. One of their goals was to improve the penetration of the various 7.62x54R loads. At this time the 7BT-1 Armor Piercing Tracer was developed and placed into production in 1998 replacing the 7T2M Tracer load. At the same time the standard 7N13 7.62x54R ball cartridge was given enhanced penetration via a pointed hardened steel core. This was adopted in 1999 as 7N26 and is now the general issue 7.62x54R load. At this same time, 1999, a new FMJBT load for the SVD, designated 7N14, was placed into production. It was developed from combat experience gained with the 7N1 and has replaced the earlier load in Russian service.

Like all Russian 7.62x54R Sniper and Match ammunition it’s produced by Factory 188, also known as Novosibirsk Low Voltage Equipment Plant (30A Stantsionnaya St., Novosibirsk 630108, Russia. Phone: (3832) 41-9367, 41-3555). The 7N14 was developed to provide the Russian sniper an armor-piercing bullet with the accuracy of a Match cartridge. This is to overcome the proliferation of modern body armor. The new load features a steel jacketed 0.311-inch diameter 152-grain FMJBT projectile with an AP core. Cases are copper-washed steel with corrosive Berdan priming. Muzzle velocity, at 2,723 fps, and trajectory coincides with the older 7N1. Penetration though is substantially improved over the older load. As an example, firing at a 10mm-thick grade 3 steel plate placed at 250 meters, the 7N14 achieved 100% penetrations while the 7N1 was defeated.

My introduction to this new load came on a small shooting range in Izhevsk, Russia. I was testing IZHMASH’s new SV-98 sniper rifle, and the test ammunition provided was 7N14. As I examined it, Vladimir Stronskiy gave me an inside look at this new load. Mr. Stronskiy is an engineer at Izhmash and known for creating superbly accurate target rifles. One of his designs being the Record-1, which is well respected in Europe. This rifle, in the form of the 7.62x54R Record CISM, teamed with 200-grain EXTRA Match ammunition (produced by Novosirbirsk) was used by the national select of the Armed Forces of Russia to win the International Military Games in 1995 and the World Championship in 1996. Stronskiy also based his SV-98 sniper rifle on his Record-1’s action. Very friendly and good-natured, Mr. Stronskiy is the type of man any serious rifleman would love to talk to. Although I had to speak to him through an interpreter, it was abundantly evident that this was a man who had spent his life crafting wood and steel into fantastically accurate rifles. Snuffing out a non-filtered cigarette, he proceeded to show me his rifle.

For test ammunition I was given a number of 20-round packets of 7N14. These were simple brown paper packets holding 20 rounds in four 5-round stacks with the ends stapled shut. Each packet was plainly labeled “SNIPER” in Cyrillic. Opening a packet revealed plain looking FMJ ammunition. If you found some of these in the dirt you wouldn’t look at them twice. Examining a cartridge I noted that both the case mouth and primer annulus was coated with a red sealant. Our test ammunition was manufactured by Factory 188 in 2000. Asking him about it Stronskiy replied this new load offers a substantial increase in accuracy over the older sniper load due to higher consistency, especially in powder charges. However, he said this military load is still not up to the accuracy level of commercial “EXTRA” Match ammunition used in competition.

Although I did not have the chance to test this load out of an SVD Dragunov I did fire it out of the bolt-action SV-98. Testing was performed at 100 meters with an ambient temperature of 68 degrees F. Five-shot groups were fired both off the bench and from the bipod. Firing prone off the bipod with nothing under the butt, I averaged 0.625-inch. Firing off the bench, Marc Krebs of Krebs Custom Inc. averaged 0.5-inch with the best group coming in at 0.375-inch. Recoil from this load was very mild, out of a suppressed bolt-gun. While I was impressed that the rifle could print 1/2 MOA groups, I was more impressed that it could do it with the issue steel case sniper load. This said much for the quality of the issue ammunition.

Having researched it, examined, and tested it, my view of this load depends upon its application. For use 600 yards and closer by a Designated Marksman at the squad or platoon level this load should perform well. The accompanying chart shows it has the ability to penetrate light cover, body armor, and chest pouches filled with steel Kalashnikov magazines to put down an adversary. Recoil in a SVD will be the same as for 7N1, fairly light, allowing quick follow-up shots. As far as accuracy is concerned, the rifle, not the ammunition, will be the limiting factor. From an SVD in good shape which hasn’t had its crown or bore damaged from improper cleaning with a steel cleaning rod, accuracy should run around 1.5 MOA. I have been told by an active duty MVD sniper that this load has the same dispersion at 800 meters as ball does at 300 meters out of the SVD. I would take this with a grain of salt, 800 meters is a long ways. Regardless, this load will allow a marksman armed with an SVD to support his squad/platoon with aimed fire beyond the capabilities of their AK-74M’s. The value of such a concept is finally getting another serious look by our own military. If the dedicated sniper load is not available, a very real possibility in a combat environment, the trajectory closely matches LPS ball. This, theoretically, would allow ball ammunition to be substituted for the sniper load without having to do a math problem to compensate for the trajectory.

As distances increase I am less impressed by this projectile’s capabilities. For “Western style” sniping from 500-1,000 yards I feel the 152-grain weight is a drawback. The most difficult hurdle a sniper faces before taking each shot is correctly estimating wind deflection. The further the distance to the target the more accurate this calculations must be to ensure a hit. With a relatively poor Ballistic Coefficient, approximately .4 at 2,723 fps, and moderate velocity this projectile will not buck the wind well. As an example in a 10 mph Full Value crosswind the 7N14 will be deflected 38.6 inches at 600 yards, 76 inches at 800 yards, and 129 inches at 1,000 yards. In comparison a 175-grain Sierra fired from an M24 will be deflected 32 inches at 600 yards, 61 inches at 800 yards, and 103 inches at 1,000 yards. In this regard a heavier projectile, along the lines of the old 182-grain M1930 Heavy Bullet Type D projectile, would hold velocity better and have less wind deflection past 500 meters.

I would not underestimate this combination though. A skilled sniper who is adept at reading the wind and estimating range would be a very real threat. While the 7.62x54R is certainly no 6.5/.284 it should be given proper respect out to 800+ meters. Keep in mind that the cartridge, though old, has proven accurate enough to have won Gold at the Olympics. Luckily, the low magnification 4x PSO-1 makes locating and hitting targets past 600 meters very difficult with this sniper rifle. That being said, a friend who served in the SPETsNAZ during the war in Afghanistan reported engaging out to 1,000 meters. In urban combat the semiautomatic-action and detachable magazine of the SVD, combined with the wide FOV of its scope and the armor-piercing capability of this round, would make it a very real threat.

Now in the 21st Century the 7.62x54R continues to soldier on. Like a dinosaur misplaced in time with its fat rim and long tapered case, it appears out of place with contemporary military cartridges. Yet while Imperial Russia and the Soviet Union have both faded into oblivion the cartridge that served them is alive and well. It will carry on in sniper rifles and GPMG’s well into the foreseeable future.

by Robert Bruce

EDITOR’S NOTE: Readers of SMALL ARMS REVIEW got a sneak preview of a prototype version of this exciting weapon in the July ’03 issue. Robert Bruce has been closely following its development and was given the privilege of being first in line to examine and photograph the brand new production version. SAR is proud to present his exclusive report and live fire photos. USSOCOM was given the opportunity to review this feature and their official comments are provided at the end. Dan Shea

As negative statements go in the scrubbed and sanitized world of government briefings, that one is about as strong as they get. Scrape the light coating of sugar off the words and get the underlying message – the chopped and specially configured M60E3s long used by Navy SEALs are worn out, washed up and ripe for replacement.

But those who have watched the glacial pace of Uncle Sam’s weapons procurement bureaucracy know that finding and fielding an effective replacement for the MK43 piglet “within the system” would have to be a long and frustrating process. Meanwhile, SEAL teams and other special warriors on the front lines of the War on Terror would have to make do with alternate slug hoses of smaller caliber or considerable weight.

It is apparent that neither option was acceptable to the operators and to the dedicated men and women working to support them from behind the scenes at US Special Operations Command. An innovative fast track program was formally launched early in 2001.

All the World’s Weapons

Not to say that some other available hardware “in the system” wasn’t serviceable and effective. SEALs are said to be pretty happy with their 5.56x45mm belt-fed MK46 Mod 0, a modified version of FN’s superlative M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon). The 7.62x51mm M240 – another FN design known to be astonishingly reliable under the worst conditions – rides shotgun on most SEAL support vehicles, air and watercraft.

But neither weapon is optimal for some critical SEAL requirements. 5.56x45mm doesn’t have the range and penetration often needed, and all M240 variants are as heavy as anvils no matter how short the barrel and buttstock.

Luckily, SEALs have the advantage of a highly motivated support structure that works hard to stay ahead of the technology curve by constantly updating a working inventory of free world and threat weaponry.

EDITOR’S NOTE: SAR’s readers joined Robert Bruce “Behind the Wire” at NSWC Crane for a look at some of these in the December 2002 issue.

Operators can visit NSWC Crane and other locations to conduct hands-on assessments of any number of small, medium and large caliber machine guns such as the Singapore ULTIMAX, German HK21 and all the old and new Soviet-style and Chinese weaponry.

Also, they regularly compare hardware with their counterparts in allied SPECOPS units. Just about anything in production worldwide is of interest and under scrutiny.

To make sure all the bases were covered a formal RFI (Request For Information) or “market survey” was posted by NSWC on 8 January 2001. This document sought information from all manufacturers with existing 7.62x51mm Light Machine Guns who believed their weapons might meet SOCOM’s severe performance objectives. However, there was only a three-week response window and the next big step would be to deliver sample guns for testing.

FN’s proposal included the very important point that FNMI, the Belgian conglomerate’s American operation, would actually be making the guns. This South Carolina based facility has earned an excellent reputation in making both the M240 and M249 series of weapons and was instrumental in “SEALizing” the SAW into the MK46.

It was also known that the FN MINIMI, the original Belgian version that became the US M249, started life in 7.62x51mm. Since a lot of engineering had been done and a pair of fully operational prototypes existed, most of the hard part was past. While not exactly NDI (Non-Developmental Item) or COTS (Commercial Off-The-Shelf) by strictest definition, this was close enough so FN passed the first hurdle.

EDITOR’S NOTE: SAR readers can find complete details on the original MINIMI in Peter Kokalis’ authoritative report in the July 2003 issue.

When the gun smoke cleared after testing sample guns the operators and technical staff found all candidates wanting except FN’s pumped-up SAW — the M249/MK46 in 7.62x51mm. Why? For a long list of reasons including exceptional reliability, mechanical commonality, handling characteristics requiring little or no transition from one weapon to the other, and confidence in FN’s team to do the job right.

Shooting Through the Red Tape

“FN Manufacturing, Inc., Columbia. SC, is being awarded a …firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery and indefinite-quantity contract for 2,500 7.62mm lightweight machine guns (LWMG) and auxiliary support equipment (barrels, tool and gauge kits, collapsible stocks and blank firing barrels)… to be completed by March 2007.” Department of Defense Contract Announcement, 13 March 2002

Somehow managing to keep the small arms procurement establishment at arms length, USSOCOM stayed in control. Their “Roadmap for Success” should be mandatory for any Dilbert cartoon characters in government who insist on putting process ahead of results:

Streamlined Acquisition – cut out redundant and unnecessary layers of bureaucracy, do your homework, write realistic but stringent specifications, build in flexibility.

Up-front Operator/Developer/Industry Involvement – make sure all parties are talking and responding with their best ideas right from the start.

“Fly Before You Buy” Test Strategy — have a rigorous program of formal and operational testing that reveals problems for quick-fix while the program continues moving forward.

Weapon/Vendor Performance — reward success and penalize failure. A proven team like that of FN Herstal and its American subsidiary FN Manufacturing will get the job done. The MK48 is said to have met or exceeded all performance objectives.

A USSOCOM Success Story

The Program Manager for Special Operations Forces is justifiably proud of the government/industry teamwork that has resulted in the Mark 48 Mod 0. This 7.62x51mm belt-fed Light Machine Gun has been thoroughly tested, debugged, repeatedly made “new and improved,’ put into series production, and no doubt already been in the thick of things for quite awhile over in Central Command’s area of operations.

We are told that the initial production run of some 500 guns is “moving smoothly” at FNMI in Columbia, SC and the way is clear for the certainty of adding considerably to this number as Rangers and other SOCOM entities get a chance to test drive the weapons.

MINIMI to MAXIMI

The MK46 and the new MK48 guns are quite similar externally in having matte black Teflon coated stamped steel receivers adorned with MIL-STD-1913 rails, folding bipods, quick-change barrels with chromed bores, and distinctively configured synthetic stocks. Aside from the obvious re-chambering from 5.56x45mm to the bigger and far more energetic 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge family, the MK48 has several key areas of redesign to set it apart from its “Little Brother,” the MK46.

External recognition features on “Big Brother” include a barrel that’s longer by nearly 4 inches for efficient powder burning and bullet pushing. Its improved bipod has been repositioned a couple of inches forward so as not to interfere with items clamped on the four MIL-STD-1913 rails on the handguard perimeter. The MK48 also has a swiveling carrying handle and a belt-box hanger on the feed tray.

Its pistol grip and trigger housing group have been moved rearward 15mm (about 9/16-inch) to keep the gunner’s fingers safely out of the path of brass casings spinning out from the necessarily-enlarged ejection port. This position also allows the sear to grab the newly added “anti-runaway” notch on the operating rod.

There is little change internally as the MK48 is essentially a beefed-up MINIMI using the same type gas system and configuration of the assembly formed by the piston, bolt and its carrier. The piston now has two sear notches on the bottom surface with the extra one at the rear. This is the anti-runaway feature, allowing the sear to catch the rear notch in extreme situations where the bolt is not blown back far enough. No provision is made for adjustment of the gas piston as this was apparently found in testing to be unnecessary.

The bolt has heftier locking lugs to handle the higher chamber pressure and its extractor is noticeably bigger to resist breakage and rim ripping of cartridges being pulled from a gritty or fouled chamber.

The feed cover assembly is reinforced with guide plates astride the feed lever (often called the roller guide track) that resist deforming torque from the more-powerful 7.62x51mm ammo. As with the Mk46, it’s topped with a respectable length of MIL-STD-1913 rail for sight clamping.

SEAL Slug Slinger

The resulting weapon is a case study in compact efficiency for combat in all environments. Since SOCOM has released no details of the test regimen and only a few of the test results let’s go through the back door and look at some key requirements listed in a string of official procurement documents beginning in January 2001:The weapon system shall be corrosion resistant … capable of being submerged in salt and fresh water to a depth of 66 feet for a minimum of 8 hours, surfaced, drained without disassembly, and reliably function in 1 minute or less.The LWMG receiver shall have a minimum service life of 50,000 rounds with the objective of 100,000 rounds.The LMG barrel life requirement is 10,000 rounds before major accuracy degradation. The objective is 25,000 rounds.The LMG reliability requirement is for a mean rounds between stoppages (MRBS) of 4,000 rounds. The objective is a MRBS of 8,000 rounds.

It would seem that these and many more types of extreme environment tests were met and overcome and that all objectives have been realized in the final production version.

With the big problems licked SOCOM has launched a search for some other niceties for the MK46 and MK48 brotherhood. A formal RFI (request for information) was posted on 28 Feb 03 for “Lightweight Machine Gun Muzzle Brake and Suppressors for small arms in 5.56mm and 7.62mm….” Details are available to all including Syrians, Iranians, North Koreans, and CNN at www1.eps.gov/spg/DON/NAVSEA/N00164/N0016403R0035/SynopsisR.html

Live Fire Photo Session

Profuse thanks to the folks at FN Manufacturing for making one of the first production run guns available and to those at FNH USA who arranged and facilitated a live fire session. Although not nearly a formal test, the several hours we spent on the range in rural Stafford County, Virginia at Crucible Training Center served quite well to get a good feel for the weapon’s characteristics, capabilities and handling.

Our gunner’s Nomex hood and flight coveralls are no mere affectation and all of his other gear is real stuff for the real world. He is an independent contractor to FN who asked to remain anonymous for a host of reasons including recent service in Naval Special Warfare and continuing work in interesting places around the globe. Closely involved with some of the laborious and demanding process of perfecting the MK48 at flank speed, he provided us with invaluable insight to its evolution as guided by SEAL operators and translated into metal by the multi-faceted FN team.

However, his comments were necessarily off the record and, as SAR has not been given permission to repeat them, we will respect this confidence. That said, any RKI (reasonably knowledgeable individual) should be able to easily read between the lines of this feature and captions for its accompanying photos.

More than 500 rounds of standard M80 ball and a bit of M62 tracer were fired with no stoppages from all the standard shooting positions in our photo/test session. Our own turn at the trigger for some short and long bursts revealed a weapon that is nicely balanced between modest weight and recoil absorbing mass. Controllability depends on this, aided by attention to ergonomics and the deceptively simple but remarkably effective addition of a foregrip under the barrel shroud. Of course they got it right.

Elementary Internet Espionage

FN Manufacturing, Inc.
www.fnmfg.com
click “Products”

MK46/MK48 Briefing
www.dtic.mil/ndia/2003smallarms/
click “Family of SOF Machine Guns”

A Russian Perspective
http://world.guns.ru/machine/mg38-e.htm

A Close Look at the MK48 MOD 0

Readers of SMALL ARMS REVIEW got a close up view of an early prototype of this remarkable weapon in Editor Dan Shea’s piece in the July 2003 issue. And, by the way, this got SAR into a bit of hot water with some of the players for “jumping the gun” by prematurely revealing its details. Although probably unrelated to this, USSOCOM has clamped a tight lid on information regarding the weapon’s development, production and employment to the interesting extent of even refusing to release the text from cleared briefings previously given at such open forums as NDIA Small Arms.

SAR has no intention of revealing any information that will be of value to Freedom’s many foes nor will in any way put American and Allied forces in danger. However, we can use the Internet and other sources of official government “public domain” information nearly as well as enemies like al-Qaida and other hostile intelligence services.

We can also look at the detailed photos that accompany this feature and any of hundreds of thousands of FN MINIMI/US M249 SAWs to readily discern how the damn thing works regardless of caliber….

So, what follows is mostly what anybody can find out with a little research.

SOCOM Speaks Up

In the interest of fairness and accuracy, SAR gave MK48 Program personnel the opportunity to review and comment on Robert Bruce’s report. Significantly, no factual errors were found but some fine-tuning was requested. Relevant responses are provided here.

“The bottom line is that the M60/Mk43/M60E3 was at the end of its life cycle, plus USSOCOM had a requirement for a lighter, more versatile weapon.”

“SOCOM is satisfied with the performance of their Family of Lightweight Machine Guns.”

“SOCOM fielded the MK48 almost a year ahead of schedule and on cost.”

“The MK46 was a finalist for the David Packard Award for Acquisition Excellence in 2002 and the MK48 followed the same path.”
This article first appeared in Small Arms Review V7N10 (July 2004)

(c)Text & Photos by Jeff W. Zimba

To those who take a quick glance, the MPA971 Carbine may have a slight resemblance to a Thompson submachine gun because of the similar style, vertical drum magazine. On close inspection, it really looks nothing like a Thompson at all, but looks like it could be related to an FAL because of the familiar trigger group. As your eyes drift above the trigger group, the upper receiver portion of the 971 actually looks like a distant relative to the M11 SMG. Well, what is it?

The MPA971 is actually a combination of new technology and old. It utilizes the desirable features from three proven firearms and all three designs have been combined in this one, innovative package. The trigger group or lower receiver is actually an unmodified FAL lower. The center receiver portion of the MPA971 is manufactured completely by Master Piece Arms and is the anchor of the entire design. This unit is pinned onto the FAL lower receiver and allows it to accept the M11 style upper receiver while feeding from the extremely desirable, 9x19mm, 71-round, Finish M31 Suomi drum magazine.

Necessity being the mother of invention, Gary Poole of Masterpiece Arms was inspired to manufacture a new firearm with as many existing and available parts as possible that would accept a currently available high-capacity magazine. Knowing the parties involved, Russel Weeks of RPB set up a meeting between the parties, and invited Phil Thompson of Hit & Run Guns to attend as well. Before the meeting adjourned, it was decided that this working prototype would be refined and produced as the current MPA971. This rifle was actually designed around the popular 71-round, M31 Suomi SMG drum magazine.

In a twisted sort of logic, we can actually thank Bill Clinton and SARah Brady for the development of this new carbine. I will explain further. Something that has been plaguing recreational shooters since 1994 has been the price and availability of high capacity magazines. The Clinton Gun Ban outlawed the new manufacture of detachable magazines that hold over 10 rounds for individual ownership. To make matters worse, BATF decided that it would not be legal to alter an existing magazine to fit another firearm unless it also would still function in the original, host firearm it was designed for. There are a few cases where this is ok, such as altering an Uzi magazine to work in a Colt 9x19mm SMG, but those are the exceptions rather than the rule. This gave us a limited supply of existing magazines and like anything else, as demand rises and supply dwindles, the prices can go nowhere but up. In the very worst cases, with some of the rarer magazines, supplies just dried up and shooters have had to go without replacement magazines. This ban was a major factor in the development of the MPA971 Carbine.

Just as there are several firearms in private hands with no, or few magazines available, there are also a few magazines on the market with a very limited number of customers because of the rarity of their original, host firearm. While these magazines cannot be altered to fit other firearms, they have been stuck in a kind of limbo for almost 10 years now. Two prime examples of well functioning, and very inexpensive magazines are the Finnish, M31 Suomi SMG 50-round “coffin” magazine and the 71-round drum. Neither magazine has been manufactured since World War II but they still remain plentiful today. They were originally manufactured for the M31 Suomi and are in 9x19mm caliber, but where they use no feed tower and lock directly to the receiver of the firearm (similar to a Thompson drum) there are very few other firearms they will function in while complying with the 1994 Clinton Gun Ban.

The MPA971 is a 9x19mm semiautomatic-only carbine designed to be completely modular in order to fit any situation. The model obtained to test by Small Arms Review utilizes a heavy, 16-inch, partially finned barrel. At the present time this is the only rifle-length barrel available but those who would like to register their MP971 as a Short Barreled Rifle may purchase an additional 6-inch or 10-inch barreled upper receiver. All barrels utilize the MPA 2-lug quick-detach system and Master Piece Arms has several accessories and adapters available for this system.

The furniture on the sample supplied to SAR consisted of a standard M4/M16 Carbine handguard, a standard FAL pistol grip and a SAW-style stock. Several furniture configurations are available and colors are available in black or green. While the buttstock and pistol grip are attached in their normal fashion, the front handguard is held in place with a pair of retaining rings, the front being threaded. There are no spring-loaded delta rings utilized with this system. Any standard M4/M16 front handguard and any FAL buttstock can be utilized with this system.

Although first glance would indicate that an M11 style top end is used with this system, the upper receiver of the MPA971 is actually a very different item. The first thing you will notice is the addition of a MIL-STD-1913 rail on the top. This is not possible on a standard M11 upper receiver because this is the same location as the cocking handle. The cocking handle on the MPA971 is located on the left side of the upper receiver and is a proprietary, non-reciprocating design. This new cocking handle design necessitates a custom bolt as well.

Performance

The MPA971 was an attention grabber any time I had it at a public shooting range. It’s unique look, especially when the drum was inserted, brought numerous questions from fellow shooters on every occasion. While this rifle is heavy, weighing in at a whopping 14+ pounds with a loaded drum magazine, the lack of felt recoil or muzzle rise seems to make it a little more acceptable. (Just for the record, the author, being a Title II Manufacturer, will be still be opting for the 10-inch short-barreled rifle version in the future.)

As an ultimate feeding torture test, I pulled out an old .30 caliber ammo can full of loose 9x19mm rounds I have been filling from partial boxes for several years. All the rounds are non-corrosive but that is all they have in common. Some are jacketed flat-nose, some are cast lead ball, some are jacketed hollow points, and I even had some PMC Starfire, and a few of the old Winchester Black-Talon rounds in there for good measure too. The drum was repeatedly loaded with an intentional mismatch of this assorted ammunition and the rifle never failed to feed once. Some drums were fired as fast as the trigger could be pulled and some were emptied in a manner slow and precise enough to completely hollow out a bowling pin placed downrange.

For a weapon sight on this model, a new EOTech Model 552 Holographic Sight was placed on the MIL-STD-1913 rail. This combination proved extremely effective and assisted us in consistently punching holes in our bowling pins set at 100 yards. The fast target acquisition combined with the ease of use and adjustment made the Holographic sight extremely attractive on this carbine.

Parts Compatibility

While the MPA971 shares many features with the FAL, the M11 and the M31 Suomi Submachine gun, only a few parts are interchangeable in this system. While the FAL lower receiver is unmodified and the Suomi drum is unmodified, the M11 style upper receiver has been redesigned specifically for this rifle. There have been modifications to the upper receiver itself to accommodate the larger FAL hammer, and the bolt has been completely redesigned to function with the side-cocking mechanism.

Summary

The MPA971 Carbine is a clever design and combines the best features of three proven firearms while utilizing modern technology to unify them. The main receiver designed by Master Piece Arms bridging the gap between these three classics is well thought-out and the quality in their manufacturing process is immediately obvious to the handler. The fit and finish is very nice and the attention to detail is equivalent and even superior to many larger firearms manufacturers. All edges are smooth and uniformly finished and all components are completely matching in finish. The function was flawless with the test model and having the capability to utilize available and reliable, 71-round magazines makes it that much more attractive. I would recommend this rifle to anyone who is a collector of military style firearms.

Master Piece Arms
116 Kingsbridge Drive
Carrollton, Georgia 30117
Ph: (770)832-9430
Fax: (770)832-3495
www.masterpiecearms.com EOTech, Inc.
Dept. SAR
3600 Green Court, Suite 400
Ann Arbor, MI 48105-1570
Ph: (734)741-8868
Fax: (734)741-8221

Philip H. Dater, MD

London, located in southeast England, is one of the larger cities in the world and it is the largest in Europe. The village of St. Albans, nestled on the northwest outskirts of London, is one of the oldest towns in England- dating back to the Roman occupation of Brittany. Just outside of St. Albans in a non-descript and unmarked building on six acres is Law Enforcement International, Ltd.

Gregory Felton, a young innovator and entrepreneur with a “can-do” attitude, founded Law Enforcement International, Ltd in 1987. While the primary focus has been the design, manufacture, and sale of sound suppressors, LEI has manufactured custom exotic firearms and accessories for special clients. LEI products have been exported to well over forty countries, including a number of NATO members. Many of their products have NATO stock numbers.

In addition to suppressors, the company is involved in the supply, procurement, and brokering of ammunition, weapons, and accessories for military and police clients worldwide. The company maintains a modest collection of weapons for reference and for suppressor development. Under current British law, many weapons are difficult to own, and LEI is one of the few Section 5 firearm dealers in the United Kingdom. The Section 5 license is comparable to the Class 2 and Class 3 firearm dealer in the United States.

Unlike the United States where silencers are highly restricted, regulated, and taxed items, in the United Kingdom they are treated just like any standard firearm and are considered accessories. Police freely issue licenses for civilian possession of silencers just as they do for rifles and shotguns for the purpose of hunting small game and vermin control. Like many European countries, silencers are considered primarily a noise abatement and hearing protection item and are considered to be courteous and “neighborly.”

The initial focus of the company was the design and production of silencers with military and law enforcement agencies as the desired market. As with many fledgling companies attempting to break into this market, many were sold into the civilian community competing with designs such as the Parker-Hale or Unique. The first LEI suppressors were designed for sporting arms in calibers .223 and .308. These units were relatively large (by today’s standards, but no larger than comparable USA units of the time) and used a straightforward conical baffle stack. These suppressors had the advantage of relative simplicity and economical manufacturing.

Integral suppressor development at LEI started in 1989. The first was a reproduction of the DeLisle carbine and was followed by manufacture and sale of integrally suppressed Ruger pistols and rifles. Since the UK total ban on civilian ownership of handguns, the integral Ruger pistol is now only available for the export market, although integrally suppressed Ruger 10/22 and 77/22 rifles remain available. The primary impetus for the integral .22LR weapons was to eliminate the need to find subsonic ammunition. The integral .22 suppressed rifles are still offered today on a limited, time available basis. Rather than the Ruger rifle, the current host weapon of choice is the outstanding Sako .22LR Finnfire rifle.

The DeLisle was produced by a number of companies during World War II, including Sterling Armament Co. In 1987, Giles Whittome, who was the managing director of Sterling Armament Company at the time, collaborated with LEI to produce a prototype of the MK-2 DeLisle (only one was made). By agreement with Sterling, LEI registered the trademark and began manufacturing an improved version of the DeLisle, the MK-3, which remained in full production and commercially available until 1990. In response to demand, another production run was made of this fine weapon from 1999 through 2001. Production has now ceased, and the weapon is no longer available.

LEI silencers have been widely distributed and well received in the European military and police market as well as in a number of Far- and Mid-Eastern countries. The mainstay products have been rifle suppressors for .223 and .308 weapons, suppressors for the 9mm H&K MP5, a suppressor utilizing a recoil enhancer (similar to the Neilsen device) for 9mm handguns, and the integrally suppressed Sako TRG-22 .308 sniper rifle, designed TRG-SPP by LEI. Many of the suppressors have NATO stock numbers, and LEI is a NATO codified contractor. Currently, LEI has three major divisions: UK, Government Contract, and Manufacturing. The focus of the UK division is supplying ammunition to law enforcement agencies, primarily in the United Kingdom. LEI is the exclusive agent in the UK for Israeli Military Industries ammunition, and ammunition sales run several million rounds a year.

The direction of the Government Contract division is the sale of weapons, accessories, and ammunition to governments and military units, both NATO and other countries friendly to the United Kingdom. Import restrictions imposed by the United States Department of State make sales to the US government impractical, and US Department of State export restrictions make sales of silencers to friendly foreign governments essentially impossible, widely opening the market for European based companies such as LEI. Export from the United Kingdom to friendly nations is markedly simpler than it is from the United States.

The manufacturing division designs and manufactures silencers. LEI has maintained a good working relationship with the UK division of Heckler & Koch, and MP5 submachine guns manufactured in the UK at Nottingham were supplied only with LEI suppressors. The first military contract LEI received was for suppressors for the MP5 and for the M16 rifle and for use in the 1991 Gulf War in 1991.

LEI has built a wide variety of silencers, but the flagship suppressed weapons have been the suppressed SAKO TRG-22 sniper rifle and muzzle suppressors for .223 and .308 rifles.

The SAKO TRG-22 was designed from the start as a suppressed sniper rifle. Starting with a SAKO action and stock, the weapon system was built up with a 14.5-inch fast twist stainless steel match barrel optimized for the Lapua subsonic .308 ammunition loaded with the 200-grain projectile. To this are fitted precision optics and a suppressor completely enclosing the barrel. The optics feature quick detach mounting, which enables the rapid change from conventional to night vision optics. With this combination, group sizes of 1/2 inch at 100 meters are standard with no appreciable sound discernable more than a few meters from the shooter. Maximum range of this weapon is 200-250 meters with subsonic ammunition. At the 1999 Finnish trials, the muzzle velocity was measured at 300 m/s using Lapua 200 grain subsonic ammunition and delivering an absolute sound level of 122 dB one meter to the left of the muzzle. When using conventional 7.62×51 NATO ball ammunition with a muzzle velocity of 897 m/s, the sound pressure level is unchanged at 122 dB, although a ballistic crack is present from the supersonic projectile. The author had an opportunity to measure the sound levels of this weapon using the Lapua 200 grain ammunition on a dismally drizzly day in July 2001 and found the absolute sound pressure level to be 124 dB. There is known to be day-to-day variation, and this is within normal fluctuation. This weapon has seen extensive use by both military and police in hostage rescue situations.

The majority of suppressors, however, are for military rifles in both 5.56mm NATO (the M16 and SA-80) and in 7.62 NATO. Military end users are almost universally unwilling to remove a flash hider to thread on a suppressor, much less change to a proprietary flash hider/mount. In 1990, Greg Felton invented and patented a no-tools mount to attach the LEI suppressors to a standard NATO specification 22mm flash hider. While this mount, referred to as the “Universal” mount, is not the instant-on mount normally associated in the USA with the term “Quick Detach,” it can be installed in less than 30 seconds without tools and the mounting is both secure and will not unscrew. The design was patented both in the UK and in France. This mount has been licensed to at least one manufacturer abroad.

The original .223 and .308 suppressors were moderately large, measuring 45 mm in diameter and 350 mm in length (1.75 x 13.75 inches) including the Universal mount. The baffles were a conventional Maxim type. Although sound reduction was measured at the 1999 Finnish trials as 37 dB, the manufacturer claims 35 dB reduction on a standard M4 carbine. On the same dismal day when the author measured the SAKO TRG-22, the Universal suppressor delivered a solid 32.8 dB reduction on an M4 carbine with SS-109 ammunition. The Commando, a shorter version of the Universal suppressor, has also been available. The Commando measures three inches shorter than the Universal and delivers slightly reduced performance (29 dB).

Suppressor designs have been continually evolving on both sides of the Atlantic Ocean, stressing more compact and lighter weight products that maintain the same or even greater efficiency than their older and larger counterparts. Unfortunately, the designs and alloys used increase the production costs significantly. LEI’s research and development has developed advanced and efficient 5.56mm suppressor designs using titanium alloys and radical new baffle designs. However, due to the increased cost and most military client inexperience, these designs were “put on ice.” After all, a suppressor is a suppressor, so buy the cheapest! Fortunately, times are changing, clients are more educated, and end users realize the value of smaller and more efficient units. Considering the advantages, the cost is not as much of a barrier.

The QD-16 family of suppressors for the NATO 5.56×45 cartridge is the first of a number of the new designs. Utilizing the Universal mount, the entire suppressor (including the mount) is only 40 mm diameter, 220 mm long (1.5 by 8.6 inches) and weighs 750 grams (26 oz). It features a complex baffle stack manufactured from a titanium-niobium super-alloy. While utilizing half the volume of the original Universal suppressor, the QD-16 in 5.56mm maintains similar sound reduction (33 dB on the M4 carbine). Testing has shown no deleterious effect on accuracy, and the suppressor will withstand fully automatic fire (subject to the limitations of the ammunition and host firearm). The QD-16 suppressor is proving popular for the M4 family of weapons with significant interest in the UK and other European countries. Because it mounts on a NATO standard flash hider, it also fits the SA-80, FAMAS, HK33, and HK G36. Under development is a 3 cm shorter variant of the QD-16 with a reduction of approximately 31 dB.

The UK police are gradually moving from 9mm carbines to compact weapons in 5.56mm caliber, primarily the HK G36C and G36K. As a result, there is an increasing utilization of suppressors by the agencies. Police-owned suppressors are used for training rather than operational purposes, primarily for control of noise pollution on ranges (often indoors) and for hearing protection. The Health and Safety at Work legislation is taken seriously, as the agencies do not wish to have to defend hearing loss claims in court. The QD-16 family of suppressors is ideal. Next, the agencies need to learn the true value of suppressors on operational missions!

Handguns are now “prohibited weapons” in the UK, eliminating the civilian market for handgun suppressors. Available to law enforcement is a miniscule 9mm suppressor for the Beretta 92 (also works with SIG, CZ and other Colt-Browning mechanisms). Designated the model SQ, this suppressor consists of two 1-1/8 inch diameter tubes (one above the other) measuring 4-3/4 inches long. The bore aperture is through the upper tube (which contains four wipes), while the lower tube functions as a pressure dump. The Finnish 1999 trials measured the reduction at 23 dB, and the author reproduced this figure in 2001.

Although the primary focus has been on suppressors for the military and law enforcement, the civilian market has not been neglected. The traditional nomenclature for sound suppressors in the civilian market are “sound moderators.” LEI manufactures a wide variety of moderators for sporting rifles in calibers .17 through .45. Muzzle suppressors for .22LR rifles are available from LEI, and while they compete favorably with the Parker-Hale in size, they are more efficient.

LEI has a Larson-Davis 800B sound meter with the correct 1/4 inch instrumentation microphone and performs all sound measurements as per requirements set forth in MIL-STD-1474D. Sound measuring in the UK is not particularly easy. In the USA, one often goes to a local range, open land controlled by the BLM, or (if lucky) one’s back yard. The process of finding a place to shoot in the UK is overburdened with regulatory requirements. First, one needs to find an approved and registered range (the construction of which is specified in nauseating detail). Next, one has to make an appointment with the owner for a private session, as other shooters will make sound measurements almost impossible. Running up a flag, posting warning signs about a hot range in all directions (including on the road), and carefully logging each and every round expended completes the process. It takes a lot of dedication to conduct a range measuring day.

Law Enforcement International, Ltd. is a growing force in the international suppressor market. Unfortunately, due to US laws, their products are not importable for civilian sales in the USA.

Law enforcement International and Greg Felton can be contacted by fax at (+44)-1727-826615 or by mail at: P.O. Box 328, St. Albans, Herts AL4 0WA, England.