We at SADJ wanted to cover the history of U.S. grenade machine guns, and with a recent visit to US Ordnance, the prime manufacturer of the MK19 Mod 3, it seemed like a perfect time. Later in this article, we’ll cover the modern MK19 system and improvements in depth. But first, a look at where we’ve come from...

Throwing grenades is nothing new. Reports of tossing explosives at enemies go back to the dark ages and certainly many armies had “grenadiers” in the 1700s and 1800s; light the fuse, toss the grenade. It wasn’t until mechanical fuses and primer firing were evolved that the idea of launching grenades automatically occurred. There are many early patents for weapons designed to launch explosive devices, but until the 1950s, the U.S. didn’t take the idea too seriously. With the advent of the 40x46mm grenade and its legendary M79 launcher, wheels started turning in the minds of designers and soldiers alike. Evolution of the single shot launchers has been covered in-depth by SADJ in the past; it is the idea of the U.S. designed, belt-fed, quickly repeating launchers that is our subject.

A proper timeline would be in two lines; the 40x46mm low velocity rounds, and the 40x53mm high velocity rounds. LV rounds have a range of 350-400 meters and can be shoulder fired or fired in a vehicle-mounted full-auto launcher, the HV rounds can go out to 2200 meters and are not for shoulder fired launchers.

Approximate Milestones for 40×46 Low Velocity Development:

1950s: Development of the 40x46mm low velocity grenade, and M79 launcher.
1965: Development and deployment of the MK18 Mod 0 crank fired launcher.
1968-71: Development and deployment of the MK20 Mod 0 automatic launcher.
1968: Development and deployment of various XM174E2 launchers.
1968: Development and deployment of the dual caliber M129 helicopter gun.

Approximate Milestones for 40×53 High Velocity Development:

1964: Final evolution of the 40x53mm high velocity grenade.
1966: MK19 Mod 0 design at Naval Ordnance Station, Louisville.
1969-74: Development of the Hughes XM175 series of launchers.
1968: Deployment of the first MK19 Mod 0 to Vietnam.
1971: Deployment of the first MK19 Mod 1 to Vietnam.
1974: Development of the MK19 Mod 2, not fielded.
1970s (Approximate): 600 MK19 Mod 2 Aluminum receiver guns- Israel.
1984-1989: Final development and manufacture of the MK19 Mod 3 by Saco Defense, then 1990s General Dynamics, and currently US Ordnance.

“The Honeywell Gun,” variously called the XM172, or the MK18 Mod 0, this was a crank fired belt fed, with 40x46mm ammunition; the same ammunition used in the M203/M79/M320 system. The ammunition is pre-loaded into a tape that holds the case in line with the barrel. Two rounds were fired per full revolution of the belt, allowing for slow, ranging fire, or firing up to about 250 rounds per minute. Belts were 24- or 48-round lengths. This was into action in about 1965 and survived in various places for U.S. forces (Navy) in Vietnam, primarily on “PBRs” (patrol boat, river) although some use on Chinook helicopters working over landing zone perimeters was seen.

MK18 Mod 0 with the cover open, showing the lower rotor with a round in position, and the upper rotor inside the cover. The two rotors are keyed together so that when the top cover is down, each rotor makes half of the chamber. Since it is Hi-Low pressure, low velocity, the round can be fired like this, and much like a revolver, the projectile must enter a separate barrel. The rounds were initially held in a metallic tape, since they didn’t need to be extracted, the tape simply came through with empty cartridge cases in it. This was later changed to a reloadable Mylar backed fabric which, for many, doubled as a grenadier’s belt for the M79 shooters.

Around 1966, the Navy wanted a better system than hand-cranking. Colonel George M. Chinn, author of the famous five-volume series of books “The Machine Gun” was involved. His team at Naval Ordnance Station in Louisville, Kentucky was simultaneously involved in designing an automatic grenade launcher to replace the crank-fired MK18 and, by 1967, the team had the boxlike MK20 Mod 0 in 40x46mm, and was preparing for the new MK19 system in 40x53mm.

The MK20 is an unusual design, the cocking handle is pushed forward, and the barrel moves forward and stays “cocked.” On pushing the trigger, the barrel springs to the rear, over the grenade, pushing it onto the firing pin and the barrel moves forward with the projectile moving forward in its bore. The cycle repeats as long as the trigger is depressed. Production was ended in 1971, when Chinn’s group was advancing the MK19 system.

The MK19 Mod 0 was fielded, at first, in 1968 in small numbers in Vietnam, and was an unreliable system. It utilized the newly designed 40x53mm round, and fired from an “open bolt” but using ‘advance primer ignition’. This means the firing pin struck the primer before the cartridge was fully seated and in battery. The Mod 1 debuted as in this example in 1971 and, by 1974, it was evident that there were reliability issues and a “Mod 2” was designed but not implemented. These were all done by Colonel Chinn’s team at the Naval Ordnance Station in Louisville, Kentucky.

There was, in fact, a production of the Mod 2. The MK19 Mod 2 Israeli contract gun in 40x53mm with an aluminum receiver. Approximately 600 were made. There’s no clear historical evidence pointing to the location of actual manufacture; at Naval Ordnance, or as a technical data package exported to Israel, perhaps with parts for assembly abroad.

In any event, these functioned but were not advanced into larger production and the MK19 Mod 3 replaced them in service. The Israeli Mod 2s were sold on the surplus market, and the parts were initially offered as “MK19 Mod 3” replacement parts in the mid-2000s, but of course none of the parts interchanged with the Mod 3 guns. Some steel receivers were made and project guns tested in the U.S. by a variety of smaller manufacturers, but there was a clear size and parts difference with the issue MK19 Mod 3. Today, it appears these parts are offered as “MK19 Mod 2.5” complete guns in a modern production, new receiver program. Not to discourage potential end users, but these are not compatible with the MK19 Mod 3 system, which is physically larger and does not interchange parts. It would be inadvisable to mix the systems and support, so if the Mod 2.5 is chosen, it should be supported on its own and verification of spare parts supply should be done.

M129: This is a unique electrically operated system that had a cam path in the receiver housing, but instead of the bolt traveling in that path like a Gatling or an M134, the barrel reciprocated. The barrel would start in the forward position, and when fired would cam back over the round, fire it, then move forward for extraction. These were mounted in chin pods on the front of many Huey gunships in Vietnam as well as other rotary winged aircraft. It replaced the very similar M75 system which had accuracy issues, among other problems. The M129 could fire either 40x46mm or 40x53mm grenades, depending on how the feed was set up.

The XM174E2 was a drum fed 40x46mm automatic gun on tripod that was made in very small quantity in the late 1960s by Aerojet Ordnance & Manufacturing Company. These made a shadowy appearance in Vietnam: Colonel David Lutz, USMC ret’d, told this author once of how he’d found two of these XM174E2s with drum feeds at a base armory and took them to his area of operations in the A Shau valley. He and his men were quite impressed with the accuracy and firepower in fighting the Vietcong and NVA, and wanted more of them. As Colonel Lutz (Lt. Lutz at the time) stated it “Then, adult supervision showed up, demanded to know where we had gotten these, and took them away in that time-honored military tradition of if it works well, you can’t have it.”

In the late 1960s and early 1970s, there were two versions of the M175 40x53mm grenade machine gun; first was the XM175AL (above, left) which had a milled, rounded receiver, and the second version XM175ST (above, right) had a boxlike sheet metal receiver. Hughes Gun Systems in Culver City, California was the design group and manufacturer. Both were open bolt firing, link-belt fed, could be converted to be right- or left-feed, and did not require external power like the M129. The M175 was designed initially for ground vehicle use, and then the vision changed for it to become a manually operated helicopter door gun.

More on the MK19 in the Modern Day….

In the 1980s, FNMI in South Carolina was awarded the contracts for the M16A2, the M249 SAW, the M240G, and the MK19 Mod 3, all at the same time. Chief Engineer George Kontis described the situation, “We knew we could not properly perform all four of the contracts simultaneously, and the contracting officer did as well, and offered our choice of three—leave one behind. After a full review, I determined that the MK19 Mod 3 TDP and learning curve would be the hardest, so FNMI withdrew from the MK19.”

Saco Defense was awarded the contract for MK19 Mod 3, and it took almost six years to develop the TDP and production process on the especially difficult receiver and bolt production. We visited the Saco facility numerous times during this period and tested the weapon in many of the phases of production along with the M6E4 program run by Marc Desrochers. Kevin Sullivan of today’s Nostromo company was project manager in the mid to later MK19 program success. Saco was bought out by General Dynamics, and the GD MK19 Mod 3 production was in full delivery for many years. Several other companies have tried to go into production, but the advantage goes to larger companies, and indeed the U.S. DoD wanted a secondary manufacturer capability during the Iraq and Afghanistan wars; ATK was awarded this, with FN Manufacturing as a subcontractor on the receivers and bolt bodies.

In the 1990s, I was involved in importation of special tripods and mounts from Vinghog of Norway for my USG customers. At that time, the accepted first burst hit probability at 1000 meters for the MK19 Mod 3 on M3 tripod with fixed cradle was approximately 53%. In our testing for U.S. government agencies, we ascertained that the HK GMG had a much higher first burst hit probability, and much of that advantage was in the tripod and soft mount as well as a good sighting system. (GMG testing for this author started in 1993 and continued through the Yuma Proving Ground tests in 1996-97. It’s a fine GMG but not the subject of this article).  

The customers wanted to retrofit their MK19s to gain similar accuracy. With the addition of the special Norwegian soft mount, the Adjustable Sight Mounting Bracket and some rudimentary head’s up sights with 40mm gradients, we brought the MK19 Mod 3 reliability to about 85% for first burst at 1000m. My point? The MK19 Mod 3 is an excellent grenade machine gun that needs mount stability and proper sighting. The advancements since that time have been by leaps and bounds, with the ability to land short bursts at long ranges increasing exponentially.

The MWO

There is a program that came out of the accuracy testing that was done. In June of 2002, a five-year plan was adopted for the MK19 Mod 3s in the U.S. Army system. MWO 9-1010-230-50-1 was implemented with an expected completion date of June 2007. However, that was only in the U.S. Army and later USMC/USN inventories; there are still tens of thousands of MK19 Mod 3 around the world that need this upgrade.

The purpose of this particular modification work order (MWO) is to convert the MK19 Mod 3 Grenade Machine Gun, to the MK19 Mod 3 with Adjustable Sight Mounting Bracket. Maintenance time is reduced and there is now a structural mounting point for fire control devices. The previous “sight mount” was a half-step, providing a not very secure rail base to the existing rear sight body. With this new purpose-designed mounting base, a variety of enhanced sighting devices can finally be used. The modification kit has the trapezoidal mounting base & screws, along with directions, and, for the armory, a fixture for drilling. This MWO was used as a vehicle to provide some upgrading of other parts, in particular the firing pin, firing pin sear, cam cocking, cocking lever and an adjustable secondary drive lever. 

US Ordnance has the contracts for the M60E4 (the Navy SEALs’ MK43), the US M2A1 .50 caliber, as well as M240 series and other M2 guns. After several years of research and prototyping, then going into production, US Ordnance perfected their MK19 Mod 3 manufacturing procedures. They had also inherited one of the original technical data packages (TDPs) that came from Colonel Chinn, and benefitted from employees who worked the original Saco and General Dynamics programs. In their arrangements with General Dynamics and the U.S. government, US Ordnance contracted to be the manufacturer of the MK19 Mod 3 grenade machine gun. They are the official U.S. government contractor for this system, as well as for foreign military sales (FMS) and sales to allied buyers. SADJ toured the manufacturing facility recently, and with the new U.S. government contract to supply all MK19 Mod 3 and repair parts, US Ordnance is preparing for a full mil-spec live-fire test, which we will participate in and bring the report to our readers. There is a complete upgrade program that should be available to most longtime users of the MK19 Mod 3 system. Rather, it is available, but many end users are not aware of it. I have participated in several over the years, but US Ordnance is the primary on this type of project. They can gauge your existing guns, recommend the upgrades, perform them in the factory or set up on site programs. This will not work on the MK19 Mod 1, Mod 2, or the “Mod 2.5” as can be seen in the history of the development, they are different guns from the most prolific and reliable Mod 3. Contrary to some advertising and “internet wizards,” the parts of those other models do not interchange with the MK19 Mod 3 40mm Grenade Machine Gun, and it is our sincere hope that this guide will help identify what systems are in place, and how to upgrade, repair, and maintain them.

Meanwhile, in the USSR…

While the U.S. was developing the 40x46mm and 40x53mm grenade machine guns, the Soviets were designing, as well. In 1965 the AGS concept was born and by 1971, production had begun. The AGS-17 30x29mm Grenade Machine Gun is a lightweight, tripod or vehicle mounted open bolt grenade launcher. It’s quite effective, and the smaller diameter, longer grenades have an almost spear-like travel to target. However, at 1700 meters range the time to target is very long, due to the high trajectory arc. Typically, the AGS is drum fed with 29 linked rounds per drum. SADJ has covered these extensively in the past and the analysis can be found at our websites.

Grenade Launcher Ammunition

40x46mm HE Fragmentation Hi-Low pressure, low velocity cutaway round for the M203/M79/M320 type launchers. The multiple fuses are in the front, the fragmentation ball is in the center (without energetics), and the base shows how the Hi-Low pressure system works. The primer is fired, igniting propellant in the central chamber which expands. When it reaches X pressure, it blows out through the vent holes into the sides into a much larger expansion chamber, creating a lower pressure that “pushes” the grenade into the barrel and downrange. Range is 350-400 meters.

At center is the 40x53mm Hi-Low pressure, high velocity cutaway round for the MK19/GMG and other Grenade Machine Gun systems, it is evident from the thick walls of the spherical chamber that there is much more pressure involved here. The cartridge case is 9mm longer than the 40×46 low velocity (M203) round, and the 40x53mm round cannot be chambered in the shoulder fired launchers. Range is out to 2200 meters, depending on firing platform.

Right is the VOG-25 40mm grenade, a “caseless” round that is front loaded into the barrel of the GP-25/30/34 underbarrel launchers. When the primer is struck, it ignites the propellant in the chamber at the very bottom, the expanding propellant gasses vent out into the base of the launcher forming the secondary low-pressure chamber and drive the grenade down the bore and downrange. There is no cartridge case left, it has all left the launcher downrange. Range is 350-400 meters.

SAR is starting the “Identification Guides as a series”. We believe that these guides need to be done. We have plans to cover the HK internals, the Models of the Colt M16 series (YES, we do mean ALL of them) and various magazine identification. This is a photographic series.

Probably the most popular modern submachine gun is the HK MP5. This is a simple statement and the evidence makes it hard to refute. Elite military groups, law enforcement tactical teams, and civilian shooters all utilize the MP5, and it dominates the marketplace. The HK weapons are the subject of intense scrutiny by the users, and the modular concepts involved give rise to many variants. This can get confusing to the users and to the armorers.

We chose the HK trigger housings as a start, because there is so much confusion about them. The following photographic essay covers all of the variants that we are aware of as of August 1997. This was compiled with the help of Jim Schatz, from the Federal Operations Division of HK in Sterling Virginia, and he has our thanks once again.

The only variant that is missing is the early 3 shot burst group, which had the burst cam in the rear of the pack- we have one on the way as we go to press, and will try to do a comparison of the old and the new. (Well, it’s the only variant that we KNOW is missing).

We have covered every conceivable model of the West German manufactured HK guns. If you have any trigger housings that we may have missed, let us know and we will publish an update later in SAR.

Please send in your requests for us to design different Identification Series to SAR at 223 Sugar Hill Rd, Harmony, ME 04942 phone 207-683-2172, fax 207-683-2172, email at sareview@aol.com.

By The Small Arms Review Editorial Staff

Download this pdf guide by clicking here…

Faxon Firearms

Model: ARAK-21
Species: AR-Compatible Upper Receiver & Complete Rifle
Manufacturer: Faxon Firearms
Website: www.faxonfirearms.com
NRA Show Booth Number: 2458
Caliber: 5.56 NATO, 300 BLK, & 7.62×39
Russian (Others Coming)
Overall Length Standard
Model, Stock extended: 32” w/ 16” Barrel (Folding Stock Compatible)
Barrel Lengths Available: 12.5”, 16”, 20”
Weight, Standard Model: 7.5 lbs, Unloaded (XRS Rifle)
Rate of Fire: ~1150 RPM (Cyclic)
MSRP: $1199 (Upper Only), $1899 (XRS Complete Rifle)

AR-15 + AK-47 = ARAK-21. The ARAK platform is a self-contained, long-stroke, fully ambidextrous, multi-caliber upper receiver compatible with all mil-std AR-15s. With a monolithic upper rail, adjustable gas, and either right of left-hand ejection, the ARAK is a heavy-duty ready platform for any need.

Model: Houlding Wraith
Species: AR-15
Manufacturer: Houlding Precision by Faxon Firearms
Website: www.faxonfirearms.com
NRA Show Booth Number: 2458
Caliber: 5.56 NATO
Overall Length Standard Model, Stock extended: 33” w/ 16” Barrel & Carbine Carbon Fiber Stock
Barrel Lengths Available: 16” and 18”
Weight, Standard Model: 6.0 Lbs, Unloaded
Rate of Fire: ~800 RPM
MSRP: $1199 (Upper Only), $1899 (XRS Complete Rifle)

The perfect balance of precision, machining, performance, and versatility. The Houlding Wraith features a 15” carbon fiber handguard (full M-LOK compatibility) along with a carbon fiber stock for quick handling and a svelte allure. Featuring Faxon’s renowned FLAME barrels, the Wraith puts rounds downrange fast, accurate, and in-style.

DoubleStar

Model: STAR 10B
Species: AR-10
Manufacturer: DoubleStar
Website: www.star15.com
NRA Show Booth Number: Booth 4409
Caliber: .308
Overall Length Standard Model, Stock extended: 41”
Barrel Lengths Available: 18”
Weight, Standard Model: 9.8 lbs
Rate of Fire: Semi-Auto
MSRP: $2566.69

DoubleStar’s new STAR10-B™ in .308 merges supreme accuracy, unfailing reliability and blazing-fast operation. Destined to rule the range, match and hunting field, the STAR10-B™ elevates the power and precision of the AR-10 platform to a new level. Featuring a billet upper and lower receiver, ACE™ Hammer™ stock and Bullseye™ muzzle brake, this beast is a real heavy hitter.

Model: Always Ready
Carbine (ARC)
Species: AR-15
Manufacturer: DoubleStar
Website: www.star15.com
NRA Show Booth Number: Booth 4409
Caliber: 5.56
Overall Length Standard Model,
Stock extended: 35.5”
Barrel Lengths Available: 16”
Weight, Standard Model: 6.8 lbs, unloaded
Rate of Fire: Semi-Auto
MSRP: $1370.74

Everything changes over time including your patrol rifle. New for 2016 is the ARC™ (Always Ready Carbine™). Starting with a 16” lightweight, Nitride barrel wrapped with a 15” Samson Evolution handguard for the ability to put rails where you need them. An Ergo Sure Grip ensures a sturdy grasp and the ACE™ Socom™ stock is designed with door breaching in mind. The ARC™ comes equipped with Samson Manual Folding Front and Rear sights.

Ohio Ordnance Works, Inc.

Model: H.C.A.R. (Heavy Counter Assault Rifle)
Species: Tactical BAR
Manufacturer: Ohio Ordnance Works, Inc
Website: http://www.ohioordnanceworks.com/hcar
NRA Show Booth Number: 6047
Caliber: .30-06
Overall Length
Standard Model, Stock extended: 38.25 in. (16” Barrel); 42.25 in. (20” Barrel)
Barrel Lengths Available: 16”/20”
Weight, Standard Model: 11.75 lbs. (16” Barrel); 12.5 lbs. (20” Barrel)
Rate of Fire: Semi-automatic
MSRP: $4,399.99

The H.C.A.R. combines the best of Browning’s ideas, today’s tactical options and accessories, and cutting edge engineering to deliver the most versatile .30-06 weapon system to date:

Rugged 8620 steel receiver is relief cut for weight reduction
Flat-top picatinny rail allows custom optic choices and back-up sights
Industry standard 5/8-24 barrel thread allows for flash suppressor/muzzle brake
Hand-guard’s four picatinny rails provide abundant accessory options
Includes thirty-round, high capacity magazines
For MORE visit: www.ohioordnanceworks.com/hcar

POF USA

Model: Renegade (+)
Species: AR-15
Manufacturer: Patriot Ordnance Factory
Website: POF-USA.COM
NRA Show Booth Number: 2753
Caliber: 5.56 NATO
Overall Length Standard Model, Stock extended: 33.5” Collapsed/37.5” Extended
Barrel Lengths Available: 16.5” Barrel
Weight, Standard Model: 6.4 lbs
Rate of Fire: Semi-Auto
MSRP: $1,899.99

What really sets the Renegade + apart is the Gen 4 POF-USA billet lower receiver and POF-USA Ultimate Bolt Carrier Group. This receiver is completely ambidextrous and includes our flat 3.5lb match grade trigger with KNS Precision anti-walk pins – match ready right out of the box. The magic in the upper receiver is held within our Ultimate Bolt Carrier Group. NP3 coated for maximum protection & reliability, integrated gas key and the POF-USA Roller Cam Pin upgrade installed from the factory. If there ever was a direct impingement rifle that exceeds all expectations, the Renegade + is it.

CZ

Model: CZ 805 Bren S1 Carbine
Manufacturer: CZ-USA
Website: cz-usa.com
NRA Show Booth Number: 2759
Caliber: .223/ 5.56×45
Overall Length Standard Model, Stock extended: 39”
Barrel Lengths Available: 16.2”
Weight, Standard Model: 8.02 lbs
MSRP: $1,999

The Bren is now available in carbine form with a 16.2” barrel. Equipped with the factory’s folding adjustable stock, it also has a new set of flip-up adjustable iron sights. Chambered in .223/5.56 and using the ubiquitous STANAG magazine from the AR16/M16, it easily accepts optics and lights on its top and bottom Picatinny rails. An effective two-port muzzle brake helps keep the Bren solidly on target and reduces recoil and muzzle flip.

Model: CZ Scorpion Evo 3 S1 Carbine
Manufacturer: CZ-USA
Website: cz-usa.com
NRA Show Booth Number: 2759
Caliber: 9mm
Overall Length Standard Model,
Stock extended: 34.75”
Barrel Lengths Available: 16.2”
Weight, Standard Model: 6.1 lbs
MSRP: $999

Available in two variants, the Scorpion Carbine is a whole new animal. Building on the lauded submachine gun platform that first hit the US civilian market in pistol form in 2015, the Carbine has a 16.5” barrel fitted with either a two-port compensator or a faux suppressor built specifically for CZ-USA by SilencerCo. Fit with the factory’s folding adjustable stock, the Carbine features a number of US-made parts to make it fully 922(r) compliant. The newly-designed forend, covered in M-LOK attachment points keeps the profile slim while still big enough to swallow most pistol-caliber suppressors.

Ruger

Model: 8500
Species: Ruger AR-556
Manufacturer: Ruger
Website: http://www.ruger.com/products/ar556/models.html
NRA Show Booth Number: #: 4323
Caliber: 5.56 NATO/ 2.23 REMINGTON
Overall Length Standard Model,
Stock extended: 35.50”
Barrel Lengths Available: 16.0”
Weight, Standard Model: 6.5 lbs
Rate of Fire: Semi-automatic
MSRP: $799.00

The American-made direct impingement Ruger AR-556™ features forged 7075-T6 aluminum upper and lower receivers and a cold hammer-forged chrome-moly steel barrel with M4 feed ramp cuts. The AR-556’s carbine-length, flat-top, M4 design includes Ruger® Rapid Deploy folding rear sight, milled F-height gas block with post front sight, forward assist, dust cover, and brass deflector. Other features include a telescoping six-position stock, improved trigger-reach grip, enlarged trigger guard and one 30-round Magpul® PMag®.

DRD Tactical

Model: CDR15
Species: QUICK TAKE DOWN AR15 TYPE RIFLE
Manufacturer: DRD TACTICAL
Website: WWW.DRDTACTICAL.COM
NRA Show Booth Number: NA
Caliber: 5.56 NATO & 300BLK
Overall Length Standard Model, Stock extended: 34.5”
Barrel Lengths Available: 7.5”, 10.5” & 16”
Weight, Standard Model: 6.8 LBS
Rate of Fire: SEMI-AUTO, FULL AUTO(GOV SALES ONLY)
MSRP: $2091

DRD TACTICAL Designs and manufactures patented quick take down rifles in 5.56 Nato, 300BLK, 7.62 Nato, 6.5 Creedmore, 6.5×47 Lapua and 338 Lapua calibers.

Perfect for easy transport/travel in brief case or back pack for that long hunt. All DRD rifles are made with USA made components.

556 Tactical

Model: SPR (Special Purpose Rifle)
Species: AR-15
Manufacturer: 556 Tactical
Website: www.556tactical.com
Caliber: .223 Wylde Match
Overall Length Standard Model, Stock extended: 35”-38.5”
Barrel Lengths Available: 18”
Weight, Standard Model: 6lbs 7oz
Rate of Fire: Semi – automatic
MSRP: $1,595.00

Model: Stryke-X
Species: AR-15
Manufacturer: 556 Tactical
Website: www.556tactical.com
Caliber: .223 Wylde Match
Overall Length Standard
Model, Stock extended: 33”-36.5”
Barrel Lengths Available: 16”
Weight, Standard Model: 6lbs 7oz
Rate of Fire: Semi-Automatic
MSRP: $1695.00

We at 556 Tactical LLC are pleased to release our Stryke-X and SPR rifles. Both feature our match grade 416R stainless 1:7 twist .223 Wylde barrels in 16” Hex Fluted (Stryke-X) and 18” Standard Fluted (SPR). We guarantee under 3/4 MOA accuracy using match grade ammo. Free float rail systems, competition triggers, and muzzle brakes, helps you stay on target faster, longer, and comfortably.

Beretta

Model: ARX100
Species: ARX100
Manufacturer: Beretta USA Corp.
Website: www.beretta.com
Caliber: Booth #5222
Overall Length Standard Model, Stock extended: 5.56mm
Barrel Lengths Available: 35.75″
Weight, Standard Model: 16″, 10.25″
Rate of Fire: 6.8 LBS
MSRP: Semi Automatic
MSRP $1,950

The ARX100 takes the concept of a modular rifle to new levels, while maintaining an absolutely simple operation that make it ultra-reliable. With ambidextrous controls and ejection, easily-replaceable cold hammer forged barrel, lightweight polymer construction, and virtually endless possibilities for customization, the ARX100 is adaptable to any firing scenario and is perfect for today’s most demanding tactical shooter.

Battle Arms Development

Model:   BAD556-LW
Species: (AR-15, etc.)  AR-15
Manufacturer:  Battle Arms Development, Inc.
Website:     www.battlearmsdevelopment.com
SHOT Show Booth Number:  6206
Caliber:  .223 Wylde
Overall Length Standard Model, Stock extended:  33.75″
Barrel Lengths Available:  16″ Standard (7.5″, 10.5″, 14.5″, 16″, 18″)
Weight, Standard Model:  5.5 lbs (without sights/optics & mag)
Rate of Fire:  750rds/min
MSRP: $3,350

Model:   BAD-PDW
Species: (AR-15, etc.)  AR-15
Manufacturer:  Battle Arms Development, Inc.
Website:     www.battlearmsdevelopment.com
SHOT Show Booth Number:  6206
Caliber:  Multi / .223 Wylde
Overall Length Standard Model, Stock extended:  21″ Collapsed to 26″ Extended
Barrel Lengths Available:  7.5″ (10.5″, 14.5″, 16″ available)
Weight, Standard Model:  Approx. 6lbs w/o Optics and Mag
Rate of Fire:  750rd/min
MSRP: $2,800 (without sights or optics)

Battle Rifle Company

Model: BR4 SPECTRE
Species: AR15 Style Rifle
Manufacturer: Battle Rifle Company
Website: www.battleriflecompany.com
NRA Show Booth Number: 2911
Caliber: 5.56mm, also available in 6.8 and 300 blackout 
Overall Length Standard
Model, Stock extended: 37 inches
Barrel Lengths Available: 11.5, 14.5 16 inches
Weight, Standard Model: 6.7lbs
Rate of Fire: Semi- 200 rpm
MSRP: $1195.00- 1295.00 in FDE

The BR4 SPECTRE is our free float version of our combat rifle. It is the #1 rifle we sell to Law Enforcement. The Extended rail allows for more area to attach lights, laser and optics. It’s tough construction allows it to stand up to the rigors of daily use and comes with features like ergo grips, over molded stock and single point backplate. Cost effective and full featured, this rifle is ready to go.

Model: BR4 TRIDENT
Species: AR15 style rifle
Manufacturer: Battle Rifle Company
Website: www.battleriflecompany.com
NRA Show Booth Number: 2911
Caliber: 5.56mm
Overall Length Standard Model, Stock extended: 37 inches
Barrel Lengths Available: 10.5, 16 inch
Weight, Standard Model: 6.6 lbs
Rate of Fire: Semi 200rpm
MSRP: $1595

The BR4 TRIDENT is our rifle specifically designed for Maritime Security (MARSEC) operations. Designed from the ground up to withstand months on the open water it’s lightweight and practical for its intended application. Specifically designed for wet weather operations, this rifle is perfect for Coastal Operations, Riverine Operations, for Service on Islands and working in a fish and game environment.

Armalite

Model: M-15™ LTC 16
Species: M-15™ (AR-15)
Manufacturer: Armalite
Website: www.armalite.com
NRA Show Booth Number: 5447
Caliber: 5.56x45mm / 7.62x39mm
Overall Length Standard Model, Stock extended: 35.3”
Barrel Lengths Available: 16”
Weight, Standard Model: 7lbs
Rate of Fire: Semi Auto
MSRP: $999 / $1099

New for 2016, Armalite’s Light Tactical Carbine provides shooters with a durable, hard-hitting, modern sporting rifle in a streamlined and affordable package. With features like Armalite’s own free-floating tactical KeyMod handguard and low profile gas block, the LTC carries a modern profile in a light & scalable package. Weighing in at just 6 pounds, the M15LTC16 is the perfect choice for anyone appreciating simplicity, value, quality, and up-to-the-minute features in their AR. Also available in 7.62x39mm and 6.8SPCII configurations.

Model: AR-10® PRC-260
Species: AR-10®
Manufacturer: Armalite
Website: www.armalite.com
NRA Show Booth Number: 5447
Caliber: .260
Overall Length Standard Model, Stock extended: 41.3”
Barrel Lengths Available: 20”
Weight, Standard Model: 11.4lbs
Rate of Fire: Semi-Automatic
MSRP: $3500

The all-new Armalite AR-10® PRC-260 is designed to be the ultimate semi-automatic precision rifle on the market. Using technology developed in partnership with Surgeon Rifles and AWC Silencers, this precision rifle offers a consistency in suppressed and unsuppressed configurations that aren’t available anywhere else. A proprietary selectable gas block makes optimization for suppressed or unsuppressed applications a breeze. The Giessele Two Stage trigger provides crisp trigger pulls and reset that you expect out of a precision rifle.

*Image shown includes optional Cerakote and optional AWC Suppressor, available at an additional cost.

YHM

Model: YHM-8030 – 300 Blackout Pistol
Species: 300 Blackout Pistol
Manufacturer: Yankee Hill Machine
Website: www.yhm.net
http://yhm.net/300blk-pistol.html
NRA Show Booth Number: 5940
Caliber: 300 BLK
Overall Length Standard
Model, Stock extended: 14”
Barrel Lengths Available: 9.1”
Weight, Standard Model: 5lbs
Rate of Fire:
MSRP: $1,205.00

The YHM .300 BLK Pistol comes standard with a Phantom Flash Suppressor. The firearm incorporates our KR7 Carbine Keymod Handguard that bridges the gap between the upper receiver and handguard for a seamless look. It also is “T” marked for position on the top rail.

Model: YHM-8309 – 9mm KR7 Carbine
Species: 9mm AR
Manufacturer: Yankee Hill Machine
Website: www.yhm.net
http://yhm.net/9mm-kr7-carbine.html
NRA Show Booth Number: 5940
Caliber: 9mm
Overall Length Standard
Model, Stock extended: 36”
Barrel Lengths Available: 16”
Weight, Standard Model: 6.75lbs
Rate of Fire:
MSRP: $1,400.00

The light recoil of the 9mm KR7 makes it a sound choice for new shooters or those looking for self-defense applications. The velocity of and accessibility of 9mm ammunition also makes this a solid and economical choice at the range. This firearm incorporates our KR7 Mid-Length Keymod Handguard that bridges the gap between the upper receiver and handguard for a seamless look. It also is “T” marked for position on the top rail.

Model: YHM-HRC-160 – Camouflage Hunt Ready Carbine
Species: AR
Manufacturer: Yankee Hill Machine
Website: www.yhm.net
http://yhm.net/5-56mm-camouflage-hunt-ready-carbine.html
NRA Show Booth Number: 5940
Caliber: 5.56mm
Overall Length Standard
Model, Stock extended: 36”
Barrel Lengths Available: 16”
Weight, Standard Model: 7.5lbs
Rate of Fire:
MSRP: $1,531.00

YHM Hunt Ready Carbines arrive ready right out of the box. Not only are they coated nearly completely in RealTree AP ®, but they arrive sighted in at 100 yards so all you have to worry about is buying the ammunition. The Hunt Ready brings the comfort, ergonomics and control of the AR15 family of rifles into the realm of hunting. Each rifles comes standard with a Grovtech padded sling and Busnell scope.

Cobalt Kinetics

Model: EDGE
Species: AR-15
Manufacturer: Cobalt Kinetics
Website: cobaltkinetics.com
NRA Show Booth Number: 2307
Caliber: 223 wylde
Overall Length Standard Model, Stock extended: 36.25”
Barrel Lengths Available: 16” or 14.5” custom ordered
Weight, Standard Model: 6.9 lbs
Rate of Fire: Semi
MSRP: $2,995.00

The Cobalt Kinetics B.A.M.F. EDGE is a reckoning on the AR15. Cobalt has not simply enhanced the performance but instead reinvented it. When you pick up the EDGE you will immediately feel the quality of machining from butt stock to the compensator. Cobalt has incorporated their Dual Drop technology into the rifle for even faster performance. You are guaranteed sub M.O.A. right out of the box.

HK

Model: MR556A1
Species: Semi-automatic Rifle
Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
Website: www.hk-usa.com
NRA Show Booth Number: 3215
Caliber: 5.56mm
Overall Length Standard Model, Stock extended: 33.90–37.68 in
Barrel Lengths Available: 16.5 in.
Weight, Standard Model: 9.10 lb
MSRP: $3399

A direct descendent of the HK416, the MR556A1 is a semi-automatic rifle developed by Heckler & Koch as a premium level civilian firearm with match rifle capability. Like the HK416, the MR556A1 is a major product improvement over conventional AR-type carbines and rifles. The MR556A1 uses the HK proprietary gas piston operating system, employing a piston and a solid operating “pusher” rod in place of the gas tube normally found in AR15/M16/M4-style firearms.

Model: MR762A1
Species: Semi-automatic Rifle
Manufacturer: Heckler & Koch
Website: www.hk-usa.com
NRA Show Booth Number: 3215
Caliber: 7.62mm
Overall Length Standard Model, Stock extended: 35.94–39.10 in
Barrel Lengths Available: 16.5 in.
Weight, Standard Model: 9.84 lb
MSRP: $3999

Like its 5.56mm counterpart, the MR762A1 is a direct descendent of the HK417, only in a semi-automatic rifle configuration developed for civilian users. Using the HK-proprietary operating system, the MR762A1 is gas operated and uses a piston and a solid operating “pusher” rod in place of the common gas tube normally employed in AR15/M16/M4-style weapons.

By The Small Arms Review Editorial Staff

Company: GEMTECH
Model: The ONE
Caliber: 7.62 NATO / 308
Length: 7.5”
Diameter: 1.625 with Shroud
Weight: 16.3oz
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: 32dB
Materials: Titanium & Inconel
Finish: High temp black Cerakote
Website: www.gemtech.com
MSRP: $1099

This is the ONE suppressor to go to for any application you could want. GEMTECH has answered customer demand with our newest addition to our Extreme Duty line. With caliber ratings from short 5.56 full-auto to 300WM, it’s the only rifle suppressor you’ll ever need. Made of Titanium and Inconel, not only does it perform to SOCOM standards, but it won’t weigh down your overall set-up. Caliber Rated: 300WM, 300BLK, 7.62 NATO, 5.56 NATO

Company: Liberty Suppressors
Model: Cosmic
Caliber: 45 ACP
Length: 8 “ (Suppressor Module Only)
Diameter: 1.375”
Weight: 9.5 oz
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: 22-24 dB Reduction
Materials: Stainless / Titanium
Finish: Type C Cerakote
Website: www.libertycans.net
MSRP: $799

Liberty Suppressors is a family owned company specializing in making some of the quietest suppressors on the market. Quality coupled with the best customer service in the industry is what we do best. The Cosmic is no exception, with great suppression and rated for over 70 calibers, Liberty has set a new benchmark in the industry.

Company: EliteIron
Model: BATTLEDOG
Caliber: .308
Length: 6”
Diameter: 1.625”
Weight: 16oz
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: 28db
Materials: 17- 4 Stainless Steel
Finish: Cerakote
Website: www.eliteiron.com
MSRP: $760

From today’s need for lighter, stronger suppressor systems comes the EliteIron BATTLEDOG. Each suppressor comes as a 3-piece system to include muzzle brake and cover cap for thread protection which also acts as a blast mitigation device when shooting unsuppressed. Each BATTLEDOG is meticulously hand assembled and TIG welded for incredible strength and reliability. Advancements in material and technology make the BATTLEDOG truly full-auto rated. Putting an end to all the noise about suppressors.

Company: SRT Arms
Model: Shadow XL TI
Caliber: 7.62 NATO / 308
Length: 9.3”
Diameter: 1.5”
Weight: 16 oz
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: 34 db on 16” barrel .308, 33 db on 20” barrel 300 Win Mag.
Rated for: .308, 30-.06, 300 MW, .300 UM, 30/338, and any smaller calibers than .30.
Materials: 6Al-4V Titanium with 316 stainless steel blast baffle
Finish: Cerakote
Website: www.srtarms.com

.385” baffle and endcap aperture is forgiving for minor barrel thread misalignment to bore. Patented AZTECH baffle is symmetric and does not require any “clocking” of suppressor to barrel. Any minor POI shift is always straight down from unsuppressed. Measures at 133 db absolute on .308 and 134 db on .300 Win Mag 1 meter to left of muzzle to Mil-Std 1474D. 316 Stainless blast baffle eliminates sparking that occurs from Ti blast baffles.

Company: Rugged Suppressors
Model: Surge 762
Caliber: 30 Caliber
Length: 9” – Standard Configuration / 7.5” Short Configuration
Diameter: 1.5”
Weight: 21.5oz – Standard Configuration / 17.5oz Short Configuration
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: 133.4 – 138.4dB – .308; 131.5 – 137.3db – 5.56;
Materials: 17-4PH Stainless Steel; Stellite Baffle Core
Finish: Cerakote
Website: www.ruggedsuppressors.com
MSRP: $1300.00 with 7.62 flash hider

Rugged Suppressors, founded in 2014 by Henry Graham and Michael Derdziak, creates innovative products that upset the industry. We’re pioneering new materials and manufacturing methods that create superior suppressors you can trust to work right the first time.

We are committed to being the best silencer manufacturer in the United States by always focusing on positive customer interactions before and after the sale, producing cosmetically and functionally superior products, and a desire to continually outpace our competition through rigorous new product development and testing.

Company: Hailey Ordnance Company
Model: AeGIS
Caliber: .22LR
Length: 17.5” (8.5” barrel, 9” suppressor)
Diameter: 0.920”
Weight: Complete integral barrel 19-24oz
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: With Ruger 10/22, 18-23dB reduction depending on ammo
Materials: SS Lothar Walther Barrel, 7075-T6 Baffles, SS or Titanium Sleeve, optional Nitrided Steel Blast Insert
Finish: CeraKote or Matte Metal
Website: www.haileyord.com
MSRP: $550-675

The AeGIS by Hailey Ordnance Company improves on the conventional integral suppressor by including a patent pending externally adjustable gas bleed system and a Nitride hardened pressed in steel blast baffle. The Adjustable gas system allows a shooter to adjust the amount of gas being bled off behind the projectile to tune the rifle for maximum velocity, maximum sound reduction or to calibrate a specific ammunition to the subsonic threshold.

Company: (SEG) Stealth Engineering Group
Model: Competition
Caliber: .223 – .308
Length: 6.75”
Diameter: 1.55”
Weight: 14.5 oz
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: 35 dB reduction average
Materials: Titanium
Finish: Any
Website: www.SEGsuppressors.com
MSRP: $847

The SEG Competition suppressor is an evolution of the only symmetrical suppressor on the market. SEG already has competition shooters switching for our accuracy, we wanted to give them even more reason. January 2016 after testing with various shooting teams, SEG released the Competition Hancock™. The result is the least amount of bullet shift and most consistent suppressor that actually suppresses. A guide hole is included for single stamp SBR pinning.

Company: (SEG) Stealth Engineering Group
Model: SURG Suppressed Upper Receiver Group (Integral)
Caliber: .223 – .300 Blackout
Length: Barrel Length 16”
Diameter: 1.55
Weight: < 5 lbs.
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: 30-40 dB
Materials: Titanium/SS
Finish: Any
Website: www.SEGsuppressors.com
MSRP: $2000

To fully understand the scope of the SURG project you must review the spec. (Suppressed Upper Receiver Group) This project will pioneer the transition for our military to integrally suppressed rifles. SEG saw this coming and has been developing the solution well before the spec was released on November 28, 2015. SOCOM has allowed us to sell this technology to the US public. Its not just an integral suppressor, much more goes into the design that makes only ours successful.

Company: SilencerCo
Model: Hybrid
Caliber: 9mm to .45–70 GOV. Full Auto Rated. Magnum Rated Up To .338, Lapua Magnum with 18” Barrel or Longer
Length: 7.8”
Diameter: 1.565”
Weight: 13.8 oz., (with Direct Thread Mount)
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: 125.7 dB to 140.6 dB
Finish: Grey Cerakote
Website: www.silencerco.com
MSRP: $999.00

The Hybrid™ is the silencer for any platform. Compatible with calibers ranging from 5.56mm to 9mm, .45–70 GOV to .458 SOCOM, and many in between, the Hybrid is both full auto and magnum-rated and can be used on pistols, rifles, and submachine guns. Boasting low-120 dB’s on 300BLK and remaining hearing-safe with .45–70, the Hybrid offers an unparalleled pairing of versatility and performance – a combination you’ve come to expect from SilencerCo products.

The Hybrid is rated down to 16? barrels for .45–70 and .458 SOCOM and down to 18? barrels for all magnum calibers up to .338. With a slew of compatible accessories available, you can turn the Hybrid into the perfect silencer for any demand.

Company: Yankee Hill Machine
Model: Phantom, Ultra Light Tactical (YHM-4300s)
Caliber: 30 Cal (.17 HMR through .308 Winchester.)
Length: 7.625”
Diameter: 1.6”
Weight: 13 Oz.
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: -32 dB
Materials: Grade 9 Titanium with Heat Treated Inconel Blast Baffle
Finish: Natural Titanium or Black Cerakote®
Website: http://yhm.net/30-cal-ultra-light-tactical-2067.html
MSRP: $1130.00

YHM .30 Cal Phantom Tis are light enough to leave on your rifle while navigating your environment, and are equally effective for Close Quarters situations or long-range shots. All models in the series are full-auto rated, and downward compatible to YHM 5.56 Quick Detach mounts, for fast redeployment on another host firearm. Choose from Titanium or Black Titanium, Direct Thread or Q.D. Mount.

Company: Yankee Hill Machine
Model: Sidewinder, 9mm (YHM-3240)
Caliber: Available in 9mm, .40Cal and .45 Cal
Length: 7.8”
Diameter: .375”
Weight: 10 Oz.
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: -36 dB
Materials: Aircraft Grade Aluminum and Stainless Steel Components
Finish: Matte Black Plated
Website: http://yhm.net/9mm-sidewinder-sound-suppressor.html
MSRP: $699.00

YHM’s 9mm Sidewinder is the new standard in pistol caliber suppression. Many special features work together to keep weight down while offering Hearing Safe decibel reduction. The Sidewinder is constructed of Aircraft Grade Aluminum Tube and Baffle and 17-4 Stainless Steel mounting and wear components. This combination of materials creates a durable, dependable and cost-effective solution to any shooter. A 300 BLK adapter is sold separately to allow the operator to fire 300 BLK Subsonic loads through the YHM Sidewinder Suppressor on fixed barrel rifles. The Sidewinder is also rated for autofire
and use on SMGs.

Company: AWC Silencers
Model: THOR PSR
Caliber: .308 – .338
Length: 8”
Diameter: 1.625”
Weight: 18.6oz
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: -32db – -34db (MIL-STD Testing on Surgeon Rifles CSR in .308 with 16” Barrel)
Materials: Titanium
Finish: Matte Cerakote
MSRP: $1095

Designed for elite US Military users, the THOR PSR over-the-muzzlebrake suppressor was engineered by AWC in partnership with Surgeon Rifles. The suppressor mounts over the included muzzle brake for a faster attachment method that maintains the accuracy and repeatability of traditional direct-thread suppressors.

Company: Tactical Solutions
Model: Ascent22
Caliber: .22LR, .22 WMR, .17HM2, .17HMR
Length: 5.9”
Diameter: 1.0”
Weight: 4.1oz
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: 38dB
Materials: 6AL-4V Titanium, 6061-T6 Aluminum, 304 Stainless
Finish: Matte Black Anodize
Website: www.tacticalsol.com
MSRP: $360.00

New for 2016 is Tactical Solutions lightweight and versatile rimfire Ascent22 suppressor. This user serviceable suppressor is designed with our patented split tube that makes cleaning the suppressor extremely easy. The Ascent22 features DiamonDyze™ coated baffles, a titanium thread adapter and blast baffle for increased heat and wear resistance. Please visit us at www.tacticalsol.com

Company: Surefire, LLC
Model: SOCOM556-RC2
Caliber: 5.56 mm
Length: 6.2”
Diameter: 1.5”
Weight: 17 oz.
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: 136 dB on Mk18 10.5” using 70g ammunition
Materials: High Temp Alloy & Stainless Steel
Finish: Cerakote (Black or Dark Earth)
Website: www.surefire.com
MSRP: $1095.00

The new and improved SureFire SOCOM556-RC2 Fast-Attach® suppressor is the most advanced 5.56 mm rifle suppressor ever made. Compact and lightweight, our SOCOM suppressor was selected for the Mk18 and M4 by US Special Operations Command as first among all competitors in the most extensive and rigorous suppressor evaluation in history. This test covered all aspects of suppressor performance, and SureFire beat every other entry. It has also received the USSOCOM official safety verification in support of fielding. Constructed of advanced high-temperature alloys and stainless steel, the SOCOM556-RC2 features a more advanced internal venting to reduce back pressure, reducing the suppressed cyclic rate and gas blowback on the operator. The new design also includes an integrated blast shield in the back section that increases durability. The patent-pending front-plate design along with proprietary improvement in gas-flow dynamics nearly eliminates first-round flash, a true technological breakthrough in this area. It also attenuates noise and dust signatures to an unprecedented degree. A new indexing system and computer controlled welding means this suppressor securely mounts to a SureFire muzzle brake or flash hider even more solidly than our previous models, and is easier to remove after extended firing since the index tab is in a low carbon-buildup area. Like all SureFire Fast-Attach models the SOCOM556-RC2 produces minimal, consistent shift in point of impact compared with the unsuppressed weapon.

Company: FA Machine Works
Model: Grenadier
Caliber: 9mm / 45 ACP
Length: 6.8” / 7.4” / 8.5”
Diameter: 1.375”
Weight: 9.9 oz. / 10.3 oz. / 11.4 oz.
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: 32db – 38db
Materials: Titanium
Finish: Cerakote (Black or FDE) or Natural
Website: www.famachineworks.com
MSRP: $905.00 / $930.00 / $980.00

FA Machine Works Grenadier centerfire pistol suppressors are composed of titanium. Their light weight and extreme durability create a revolution in the suppressor industry. TBT (Total Breakdown Technology) provides complete serviceability with common tools and user configurable baffles with patent pending GIT (Gas Indexing Technology) enhance the revolutionary design. The Grenadier 9, Grenadier 9 CQB, and Grenadier 45 suppressors have multi-caliber capability and select caliber full auto rating that provide from 32-38db sound reduction collectively.

Company: Sturm, Ruger & Co., Inc.
Model: Silent-SR 22 LR Suppressor
Caliber: 22 LR, 22 WMR, and .17 HMR
Length: 5.37”
Diameter: 1.06”
Weight: 6.3 oz.
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: 40 dB to 113.3 on Bolt Action .22 LR
Materials: Titanium, 17-4 Stainless Steel, & Aluminum
Finish: Matte Black Cerakote
Website: www.Ruger.com/Silent-SR
MSRP: $449

Ruger has built great threaded rimfire firearms for years, and now offers a great silencer to match. The Silent-SR™ features best-in-class materials and advanced design, resulting in a light, compact and quiet suppressor. Each piece snaps together to seal the baffles making it easy to disassemble and clean. The Ruger® Silent-SR™ utilizes a titanium tube, aluminum rear cap, and stainless steel threaded mount, baffles and front cap. Go to www.ruger.com for more information.

Company: Barrett
Model: AM30
Caliber: 30 and less
Length: 8.3”
Diameter: 1.5”
Weight: .775 lbs
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: -25-30 dB
Materials: Titanium Alloy
Finish: Cerakote
Website: http://barrett.net
MSRP: $1151

Model: AM338
Caliber: 338 and less
Length: 9.9”
Diameter: 1.75”
Weight: 1.29 lbs
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: -23-28 dB
Materials: Titanium Alloy
Finish: Cerakote
MSRP: $1530

Model: DC30
Caliber: 30 and less
Length: 8.3”
Diameter: 1.5”
Weight: .775 lbs
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: -25-30 dB
Materials: Titanium Alloy
Finish: Cerakote
MSRP: $1151

Model: DC338
Caliber: 338 and less
Length: 9.9”
Diameter: 1.75”
Weight: 1.29 lbs
Factory Tested Sound Reduction: -23-28 dB
Materials: Titanium Alloy
Finish: Cerakote
MSRP: $1530

Barrett is the world leader in large-caliber rifle design and manufacturing. Well-known for .50 caliber rifles, the company now produces rifles in .416 Barrett, .338 LM, .308 WM, .300 Win, .338 NM, 7mm Rem Mag, .260 Rem, 6.5 Creed, 5.56 NATO, 6.8 SPC and .300 Blackout calibers, and is a growing innovator in the design and production of accessories for long-range shooters.

Company: MackBrothers
Model: Helium
Caliber: 7.62
Length: 7”, 8” and 8.9” depending on configuration.
Diameter: 1.52 inches
Weight: 13 oz, 13.5 oz and 15 oz depending on configuration.
Sound reduction: 32 to 34 db
Materials: Titanium, 17- 4 stainless
Finish: Cerakote
Website: Macbros.com
MSRP: $1250.00

Mack Brothers was founded in 1997 to meet the needs of the business within the firearms community. We have supplied various military and firearms manufacturers worldwide.Having a serious interest in sound suppressors we have put together products that we are very proud of. Lifelong sportsmen of South Dakota we know what it takes for products to survive in the field.

The TranQuilo M308 was designed for precision .308 rifles with a 5/8-24 threaded muzzle (1/2-28 adapters also available). The internal design redirects blowback, reducing dangerous back-pressure materials and contaminants that typically encounter the user’s face. An open, angled, four-prong flash-reducing tip reduces muzzle flash. The Muzzle-Brake Adapter is also 17-4 Stainless Steel, featuring a dual-shouldered design seating the suppressor in perfect alignment to the bore, eliminating gas from escaping to the rear of the suppressor.

Company: LaRue Tactical
Model: TranQuilo Corto
Caliber: 308
Length: 6.125”
Diameter: 1.50”-1.75”
Weight: 16 oz
Sound Reduction: Not Available
Materials: 17-4 PH Stainless Steel and Incoloy A-286
Finish: 17-4 PH Stainless Steel
MSRP: $499.00

Model: TranQuilo M308
Caliber: 308
Length: 8.0”
Diameter: 1.50”-1.75”
Weight: 23 oz
Sound Reduction: Not Available
Materials: 17-4 PH Stainless Steel and Incoloy A-286
Finish: 17-4 PH Stainless Steel
Website: www.larue.com
MSRP: $699.00

The TranQuilo Corto is a shortened version of the M308, intended for use on 300 Blackout and 5.56 SBR’s (5/8-24 and 1/2-28 adapters available). Like the M308, the internal design redirects blowback, reducing dangerous back-pressure materials and contaminants that typically encounter the user’s face. The adapter is 17-4 Stainless Steel, featuring a dual-shouldered design seating the suppressor in perfect alignment to the bore, eliminating gas from escaping to the rear of the suppressor.

Company: Thompson Machine
Model: 30Ti
Caliber: 7.62mm
Length: 8.375”
Diameter: 1.48”
Weight: 17oz
Db Reduction: 31db
Material: Titanium and Stainless
Finish: Matte Ti
Web: www.ThompsonMachine.net
MSRP: $1095

The Thompson Machine 30Ti stands out in the centerfire rifle suppressor market. While Titanium construction has become common in recent years in sealed rifle suppressors, Thompson Machine set the 30Ti apart by designing it as a take-apart suppressor for easy cleaning and inspection of its Monocore baffle stack. Constructed of grades 5 and 9 Titanium and stainless steel, the 30Ti is quiet, light, rugged, and user-serviceable.

Czech ZB26 light machine gun.

By Robert G. Segel

People in the general populace don’t think of Czechoslovakia as an international arms maker of high quality products with a long history of innovation. But those familiar with the world of firearms know that Czechoslovakia has a well-earned reputation of not only producing quality weapons, but researching, developing and pioneering new systems. One such system was the ZB26. This weapon proved to be of such a step forward for a man-portable, full automatic weapon, that the British, upon testing, were so impressed that they licensed the manufacture of the weapon that was then known as the Bren gun; a weapon that served the British and their Commonwealth nations for decades.

The Czech ZB26 gunner’s kit is made of canvas with leather straps that folds in on itself for carrying measuring approximately 11 inches long x 7 inches wide x 1.5 inches thick. Once fully unfolded, leather pockets hold all of the various tools needed to maintain the weapon in proper working order. On one end is a pocket that contains spare parts for the weapon that may wear or break and are easily replaceable by the gunner.

MG11 Swiss Maxim.

By Robert G. Segel

The Swiss Maxim MG11 is considered by many as the Swiss watch of Maxim machine guns. Manufactured in Switzerland by Waffenfabrik Bern, the MG11 is noted for its precision manufacturing guaranteeing the utmost reliability in both form and function.

Each Swiss Maxim gun was issued a gunner’s kit with tools, cleaning components and key spare parts to keep the gun operating under all conditions with the ability to repair or replace certain vital parts by the gun team.

The metal gunner’s kit measures approximately 13.5 x 11.5 x 3.75 inches and is top opening with a single hinged locking clasp to the front. It also has two handles for carrying in either a vertical or horizontal manner. Wood compartments within the box allow for an orderly display and easy access to the contents. Small parts are contained in a leather pouch with a draw string.

1. Swiss Maxim MG11 compartmentalized gunner’s spare parts and tool box.
2. Three-piece cleaning rod
3. Galvanized tin 1 liter oil
container with handle
4. Two sheets of fine grit paper
5. Pliers
6. Brass drift
7. Steel drift
8. Punch 4mm
9. Punch 2mm
10. Small chisel
11. Screwdriver
12. Brass head hammer
13. Soft cleaning brush
14. Half-round file
15. Roll of barrel packing string
16. Bundle of cleaning cloths
17. Brass cleaning rod jag
18. Cleaning rod bore brush
19. Lifters (two)
20. Combination tool
21. Leather pouch with draw string (items 22 through 39 are contained in the leather pouch)
22. Firing pins (two)
23. Safety sear (complete)
24. Top cover springs (two)
25. Firing pin spring
26. Tumbler
27. Gib
28. Wire ring containing an assortment of 12 (6 pairs) of different length and diameter cotter pins
29. Extractor spring
30. Cleaning rod chamber brush
31. Side lever axis pin (two)
32. Trigger sear axis pin (three)
33. Side lever axis split pin
34. Safety-sear pin
35. Gib spring
36. Length of thin steel wire
37. Safety-sear springs (two)
38. Upper feed pawl springs (two)
39. Length of thin copper wire

By Robert G. Segel

Designed by Vasily Degtyaryov in 1927, the Russian DP28 was the primary light machine gun of the Red Army during World War II. Man portable with a distinctive 47-round pan magazine, the DP28 was produced in the hundreds of thousands of units and proved itself throughout its service life as a reliable and rugged weapon.

Whether from wear, breakage or battle damage, DP28 gunners carried a gunner’s kit with them to keep the weapon in operating condition. The gas-operated weapon was very simple in construction and the gunner’s kit reflected the simplicity of the gun.

The kit consists of a simple canvas bag with an adjustable leather shoulder strap. The top flap is secured by a metal roller buckle and leather strap. A single pocket is stitched to the rear inside of the bag to hold the three-piece cleaning rod assembly that also gives the bag form and rigidity. Contents of the bag consist of:

1. Canvas bag with adjustable leather shoulder strap
2. Three-piece cleaning rod assembly
3. Three assorted pin punches
4. Chamber rod
5. Ruptured case extractor
6. Combination tool/wrench
7. Double ended carbon scraper (large)
8. Double ended carbon scraper (small)
9. Spare striker (firing pin)
10. Spare extractor
11. Driving spring
12. Combined solvent and oil bottle. (The “W” is actually the Cyrillic “ShCh” and the word transliterates to “shchelo,” which means lye or alkaline solution/solvent. The “H” is the Cyrillic “N” that transliterates to “neft” or oil.)

New Caledonia, South Pacific, 24 September 1945. An Army bazooka team demonstrates loading the improved M6A1 rocket in the M1A1 launcher, easily identified by the absence of a SAFE/FIRE box on the top. Following safety guidelines in field and technical manuals, the “rocketeers” are wearing gas masks for eye protection, steel helmets, and gloves on the gunner. Credit: U.S. National Archives

By Robert Bruce

“Battlefield reports dictated a number of design changes, starting with deflectors to protect the gunner against backblast of slow-burning rockets in cold weather. This was followed by wrapping the rear section of the barrel with piano wire to reinforce it against detonation of rocket motors within the launcher, substituting a generator for batteries in the firing mechanism, eliminating the forward hand grip, and, in the fall of 1943, the most radical change of all, the take-apart launcher M9. Each design change posed its own problems, but, as the bazooka enjoyed such a high priority, nothing was allowed to stand in its way for very long. In fact, production schedules were met more consistently on the bazooka than on any other item of small arms manufacture.” [Procurement and Supply, see Ref. 2]

In the first installment of this two-parter, we closely examined the genesis of the “Bazooka,” a revolutionary addition to the infantryman’s arsenal. Now, let’s move ahead with a look at how combat experience exposed some flaws in the first production model launchers and rockets, forcing both life-saving and death-dealing modifications at a breakneck pace.

New and Improved

A brief note of characteristics and improvements to the M1 launchers and M6 rockets:

M1 (fires M6 Rockets), fielded in June 1942: Closely resembling the T1 prototype, this first production model is a 54 inch long thin steel tube characterized by two handgrips and a rectangular SAFE/FIRE “control box” on top. To accommodate right- or left-handed gunners, it has ladder type front sights on both sides of the barrel and a notched bar rear sight on an arm that swings to either side. Electrical ignition of the rocket motor is accomplished by a firing circuit powered by a dry battery housed in a wooden stock. Electrical contacts on the M6 rocket are an unpainted conducting band around the warhead and a taped down wire running along its length to the fins.

M1A1 (fires M6A1 and A3 Rockets), fielded in July 1943: Simplified version of the M1, modified to launch the new M6A1 rocket with improved propellant, strengthened motor tubing and internal electrical wires that are less prone to damage and resultant malfunction. Retains battery ignition but eliminates control box in favor of twin wire contacts at the rear. Single handgrip/trigger as well as fixed front and rear sights for right-handed gunners only. Adds flash deflector screen on the muzzle and steel wire wrapping to reinforce the rear of the launch tube against rocket motor detonation. Mount points for a carrying sling.

M9 and M9A1 (fires M6A1 and A3 Rockets), fielded October 1943: Much-improved version, readily identified by its two-piece launch tube with quick coupling collar. Integral muzzle flash deflector and a single handgrip housing a squeeze-operated magneto electrical generator. Significantly better accuracy due to the T90 optical reflex sight. Wood stock replaced with a sheet metal ribbon type with two shoulder rest positions that allow more comfortable firing in all positions.

M6A3 Rocket: Essentially the same internally as the M6A1, the new A3 features a rounded nose to improve warhead detonation when striking targets at more extreme angles and drum-style fins for greater accuracy in flight. Interestingly, the “new and improved” nose shape and fin configuration were taken from combat-proven M9 rifle grenades that had long been used side by side with bazookas. Armor penetration increased some 30% (from 3 to 4 inches) by changing the steel cone in the shaped charge to copper.

Bazookas on Beachhead and Battlefront

These improvements were driven by battlefield experience, received with utmost seriousness and implemented with astonishing speed.

First combat use of the bazooka came in the North African campaign that began in November 1942. GIs, who first saw the new contraptions while en route aboard troop ships, were severely handicapped by the absence of instruction materials and no opportunity for live fire training prior to the actual assault landings.

Three months later (presuming that this interval allowed the training deficit to be overcome) it was unfortunate, but not inexplicable, that bazookas weren’t notable in stopping German Field Marshall Erwin Rommel’s armored forces in the disastrous rout of US II Corps at Kasserine Pass.

Likely contributing to this was poor reliability from an unfortunate combination of inherent flaws with hastily manufactured launchers and rockets coupled with mishandling by the rookie “rocketeer” teams. And when the rockets did launch and hit, the frontal and side armor on Rommel’s tough Tiger and Mark IV tanks was too thick to be penetrated.

It’s understandable that the radical new weapon’s performance as an effective anti-armor weapon was a disappointment to its Ordnance proponents, not to mention the unlucky GIs faced with latest-generation German tanks. This set in motion a determined and widespread effort to fix the chain of problems from factory to fighter that paid off in the next big Allied push.

“The work of the bazooka in the landings [Gila, Sicily, July 1943] and throughout the campaign was watched with great interest. One Ordnance observer claimed that bazookas accounted for Pzkw IV tanks on four occasions; another claimed a Pzkw VI Tiger, though admittedly the Tiger was knocked out by a lucky hit through the driver’s vision slot. On the other hand, many officers preferred the rifle grenade to the bazooka as a close-range antitank weapon. An interesting discovery made in Sicily was that the bazooka was effective as a morale weapon against enemy soldiers in strongpoints and machine gun nests.“ [On Beachhead and Battlefront, see Ref. 2]

While the bazooka got better and better as GIs pushed German and Italian enemy forces back into Europe, it was also showing both potential and problems in the Pacific Theater.

For Army and Marine infantrymen facing off relatively few and lightly armored Japanese tanks, the bazooka proved a particularly deadly weapon against far more numerous enemy bunkers and caves…when it worked. But failures to fire, as noted in North Africa, were even more common in the torrential tropical rains and steaming jungles of island-hopping warfare.

Corroded electrical contacts, battery problems and moisture-damaged rocket propellant were most often cited in battlefield reports, rapidly leading to improvements to the M1A1 and then the completely redesigned M9, best of the series. Most notable for replacing batteries with magneto ignition and separating the tube into two parts with a quick coupler, the M9 and M9A1 launchers with M6A3 rockets were highly effective in crippling the heavier model tanks and blasting bunkers and caves.

Damn good, but not nearly good enough.

The Bazooka’s German Babies

“On the performance of the bazooka, opinions varied. The general feeling was that it was good but ought to be better. One assistant division commander complained that ‘we’re still using the same model we started with’ while the Germans have ‘taken our bazooka idea and improved upon it.’ The Germans had produced more deadly antitank weapons of this type in the Panzerschreck and Panzerfaust, both of which, however, were extremely dangerous to the user. The Panzerfaust, a recoilless weapon firing a hollow-charge grenade, would pierce seven or eight inches of armor plate. Some U.S. combat officers collected all they could get their hands on for their troops; one tank officer considered the Panzerfaust ‘the most concentrated mass of destruction in the war.‘” [On Beachhead and Battlefront, see Ref. 2]

As previously noted in Part 1, our British and Russian allies had urgently requested bazookas and both got some from the earliest production run in 1942. The Brits thought about it and then inexplicably clung to the woefully inferior PIAT.

The Soviets, while favoring marginally effective anti-tank rifles of native design, apparently tried bazookas in battle and therein lies another fascinating tale, necessarily abbreviated here.

American M1 launchers and M6 rockets in use by the Red Army were soon captured by the Germans, quickly evaluated and greatly improved, resulting in the Raketenpanzerbusche 54, better known as the Panzerschreck, which is literally translated as “tank terror.”

This was a bigger and better bazooka; a shoulder-fired launcher for a much larger and more powerful 88mm (3.5 inch) diameter rocket. Capable of defeating 100mm/4 inches of armor, it was first encountered by U.S. forces in 1943.

The ingenious Panzerfaust (tank fist) followed, changing the bazooka concept of a rocket, to a cheaply manufactured single shot recoilless rifle, firing a series of increasingly powerful shaped charge warhead tipped grenades from a skinny, throwaway launch tube. (See back issues of SAR online to understand the difference between rockets and recoilless launchers).

Bazooka Epilogue

While the American GI’s spunky little 2.36-inch bazooka was effective in many situations, its armor penetration was inadequate from the beginning and only marginally improved during WWII. The fact that examination of the much more powerful German 3.5-inch Panzerschreck didn’t result in a crash program that was successful in fielding beefed-up bazookas any time in the next two years of the war borders on criminal negligence.

Not to say that Ordnance didn’t try.

Bringing necessarily pragmatic “capture and copy” full circle, the enemy’s Panzerschreck birthed the U.S. 3.5-inch M20 “Super Bazooka,” beginning development in October 1944 but not completed before war’s end with the surrender of Japan eleven months later.

Worse, few M20s were available to luckless GIs in South Korea in June 1950, who were facing heavily armored Russian T34 tanks supplied to
the invaders.

Although the Panzerfaust didn’t seem to inspire U.S. ordnance personnel to pursue development, it certainly found favor with the Soviets, who refined and fielded it as the RPG-2 recoilless launcher, first encountered by American troops in Vietnam, and going on in various forms as the RPG-7 recoilless rifle using a rocket assisted grenade. The famous “RPG” has become almost as famous and recognizable worldwide as the AK-47 family.

Anti-Tank Rocket Launchers M1A1 and M9

Characteristics: “The 2.36-inch AT Rocket Launcher M1A1 is an electrically operated weapon of the open tube type. It is fired from the shoulder in the standing, kneeling, sitting, or prone positions. It is used to launch high-explosive rockets against tanks, armored vehicles, pill boxes, and emplacements. The rockets weigh approximately 3 ½ pounds and are capable of penetrating heavy armor at angles of impact up to 30 degrees. The weapon can be aimed up to distances of 300 yards. Greater ranges may be obtained by estimating the angle of elevation. The maximum range is 700 yards.” [FM23-30 and TM 9-294, see Ref. 3 and 4]

Length: M1A1.…54.5 inches; M9.…61 inches, disassembled 31.5 inches
Weight: M1A1.…13.26 pounds; M9.…15 pounds
Internal diameter: 2.36 inches (2.37 in. actual)
Ignition: M1A1.…Electric power supplied by dry cell batteries; M9.…Electric power supplied by trigger actuated magneto
Range: Point targets 50 to 300 yards; Area targets 300 to 650 yards
Elevation for maximum range: 40 degrees
Rate of fire: Approximately 10 rounds per minute
Sights: M1A1.…fixed aperture rear and ladder front (100, 200, 300 yards); M9. …Optical reflex sight T90
Ammunition: High Explosive Anti Tank Rockets M6A1 and A3, Practice Rockets M7A1 and A3, Smoke Rocket M10.
Accessories: Rocket carrying Bag M6, sling
Notes: M1 model fielded 1942, M1A1 fielded 1943, M9 fielded 1943. Approximately 490,000 of all models were manufactured by end of WWII. Primary contractor General Electric Corp for M1 and M1A1, with Cheney Bigelow Wire Works making the M9s.

Anti-Tank Rocket M6A1

Length: 21.6 inches
Weight: 3.4 pounds
Muzzle velocity: 265 feet per second
Penetration: 3 inches of homogenous steel armor to 30 degrees off perpendicular. 1 inch entry hole.

Primary References:

1. The author acknowledges with great appreciation the cooperation and assistance given by the director and staff of the US Army Ordnance Museum, recently relocated to Fort Lee, Virginia. Most notably some of the rare photos accompanying this feature as well as the September-October 1944 issue of ARMY ORDNANCE magazine with by-then Colonel L.A. Skinner’s article “Birth of the Bazooka: The Genesis of a Powerful Portable Antitank Weapon.“

2. Three volumes from the United States Army in World War II series, The Technical Services, Office of the Chief of Military History, US Government
Printing Office:

Ordnance Department: Planning munitions for War
Ordnance Department: Procurement and Supply
Ordnance Department: On Beachhead and Battlefront

(Many large municipal and university libraries in the U.S. are likely to have these and others in the United States Army in World War II series in their Reference sections. It is well worth the time and effort to find and examine them.)

3. War Department Basic Field Manual FM 23-30, HAND AND RIFLE GRENADES, ROCKET, AT, HE, 2.36-INCH, 1944

4. Ordnance Department Technical Manual TM 9-294, 2.36-inch AT ROCKET LAUNCHER M1A1, 1944

5. War Department Training Film T.F. 18 1166 “The Antitank Rocket M6”
(see YouTube video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IRPsxgOozqk or search “Bazooka Rocket Launcher”)

6. U.S. Infantry Weapons of World War II, by Bruce N. Canfield, Mowbray Pub. 1994-96

The Smatchet was developed by Lt. Col. William Fairbairn for use by British Commandos of the SOE and SAS, and was later manufactured in the U.S. and adopted for use by the OSS. A massive close combat weapon with an 11 inch blade and 16 inches overall, it was heavy, balanced and combined the features of both the machete and bolo. The leaf-shaped blade is sharpened the entire length along the bottom and the front half along the top and allows it to be used for slashing, thrusting or chopping an opponent.

By Robert G. Segel

Except for Germany and Japan, the world was ill prepared for World War II. Military budgets had been cut, troop numbers reduced, tactics continued to be rooted in old ways, new technology ignored and research and development curtailed. Suddenly in September 1939, the world was stunned by the assault on Poland by Germany and Europe was once again being torn apart by a vicious war. Poland fell, France fell, Belgium fell, Italy joined Germany and Russia and England were faced with beating back the German advances. The U.S. provided material aid but tried to stay out of it.

Japan was expanding her empire and invaded China in the 1930s. Then in December of 1941, Japan attacked the U.S. at Pearl Harbor and later the Philippines fell, the Dutch East Indies fell, other Pacific islands were occupied and Australia was in danger of being invaded.

Unlike World War I that was stagnant and rooted in trench warfare, the new world war was swift and mobile. Modern technology of the time of aircraft, land machines and more efficient weapons dictated new tactics. With this came a sudden surge in research and development in everything imaginable in an effort to counter every threat. Secrecy, stealth, spying and clandestine operations suddenly were very real and necessary. Along with the spying side, the high number of aircrews that were shot down and captured demanded a wide range of materials to enhance the capabilities of escape and evasion. Truly, necessity is the mother of invention.

False information, secret meetings, coded messages, secrecy, lies, stealth, moles, double agents, dead drops, bribery, blackmail, assassination, couriers, saboteurs, concealment, interrogation, analysis, capture, interrogation, imprisonment, torture, false documents, tunnels, escape, evasion and execution – all are just some of the words associated with spying and clandestine operations or evading or escaping from captivity.

Novels, movies and television romanticize the game, but the reality is that the vast majority of such work, particularly in peacetime, is relatively safe and mundane information gathering and checking facts. Yet the stakes were high, lives at stake, and field agents and operatives, particularly in times of war, do indeed go in harm’s way with agents suffering the fate of immediate execution and escapees harsh punishment or execution at the hands of their captors.

World War II was the impetus for the development of specific services that focused on clandestine operations that also dovetailed into the art of escape and evasion for agents and downed pilots, aircrew and prisoners of war. In the U.S., the OSS (Office of Strategic Services, later after the war becoming the CIA – Central Intelligence Agency), the British SOE (Special Operations Executive), MI6 (Military Intelligence, Section 6 – Intelligence) and MI9 (Military Intelligence, Section 9 – Escape and Evasion) developed the many tools of the trade for all sorts of clandestine operations.

Inherent in these types of operations, operatives or soldiers must master many skills, among them close combat weapons that generally included knives, coshes and garrotes and specialty firearms. Some are designed as an offensive weapon to eliminate a guard or sentry in a swift and silent attack while others are a last ditch self-defense weapon to be used when no other means are available and life is immediately at risk.

Close combat is the ultimate battle – one on one and face to face. It calls upon the very fiber of self-preservation as there can be no mistakes. There is only one winner resulting in either the death of the opponent or the opportunity to disable or distract the opponent to enable escape from the situation.

Some weapons were specifically designed and adopted as issue equipment for field use such as the OSS Stiletto, Smatchet, Mark-1 Garrote and the suppressed High Standard pistol. But it was the British SOE, MI6 and MI9 that excelled in the art of deception, spying and escape and evasion during the war. Because so much was new, and untested, operatives had great leeway in obtaining commercially made items that they felt were necessary and were comfortable using. Surprisingly, the most common secondary knife used was the trusty Boy Scout knife. Yet there are a number of sleeve daggers, lapel daggers, stilettos, frisk knives, spike daggers, gravity knives, garrotes, blackjacks, the Welrod or Hi-Standard suppressed pistols, etc., that are attributed to various agencies as part of their close combat or escape and evasion arsenal of equipment. Some of them were, but the majority of special purpose blades were produced commercially, mostly in Great Britain, for private purchase and did not appear in official records or equipment lists. There is no evidence that these were ever used in actual operations let alone credited with an actual “kill.” While these specialized blades were designed for use by operatives, and were purchased by them, they appear to be more a souvenir than an actual field service item. That is not to say that they were not in fact taken into the field. As is often the case, an item designed for a perceived need is far from practical for the actual need. Nevertheless, such items offer an insight to the life and death world of clandestine operations.

Right side of the .223 Wylde caliber Mk116. Notice the Magpul MOE pistol grip, stock and back-up sights.

By Christopher R. Bartocci

At this time, most of the major black rifle manufacturers offer their own external piston rifle and most all of them are short stroke tappet designs with the piston and operating rod separate from the bolt carrier. Only a couple manufacturers have gone with the long stroke piston, which is where the operating rod and piston are connected to the bolt carrier group as one piece. The most successful two companies making long stroke piston rifles are ADCOR Defense and Primary Weapon Systems.

Primary Weapon Systems (PWS) began in 2005 as AK Concepts and in 2008 they formed a new company called Primary Weapon Systems. The founder and President, Dean Sylvester, is also the lead designer of all PWS products. The early company AK Concepts, manufactured collector grade Yugoslavian variant AK-47s. The first product from that was the JTAC47 muzzle brake for the AK-47 that is still in production today. The new company, PWS, first started selling long stroke piston operated AR rifles in 2009. The Mod1 systems were released in 2013.

The AR-15/M16/M4 family of weapons is not designed to be an external piston operated firearm. The in-line construction is designed so the barrel, bolt carrier and stock are in perfect alignment and the action goes straight back into the receiver extension. This is a major contributor of the smoothness and reliability of the system. When one adds a short stroke tappet operating system into the rifle, the operation rod strikes the bolt carrier tipping the bolt carrier off center. This creates bolt carrier tilt where the bottom edge of the rear of the bolt carrier scrapes the receiver extension. Early designs showed this would dig into the receiver extension and if left alone the carrier could go through the receiver extension. The common fix is to add skis to the back of the bolt to prevent this. Another issue to arise is excessive cyclic rate. To reliably operate the heavier components that make up the operating system, more gas is required. This accelerates two things. First it accelerates wear on the bolt and fire control group and, secondly, the upper receiver, inside behind the cam slot, the cam pin digs a trench into the receiver from the bounce of the carrier striking the barrel extension. Rifles with an external piston mechanism are designed so the bolt carrier group rides on rails to keep it centered. So when the piston is driven rearward the bolt carrier rides rearward on the rails keeping the bolt in line with the chamber. Looking at the AK-47 system is a clear example of this. With the AR-type system the bolt carrier rides freely without rails – again designed to be inline. The benefit of the long stroke piston over the short stroke tappet is that the attached operating rod keeps the bolt carrier group straight; there is no tipping due to the operating rod striking the top of the bolt carrier.

The concept behind the PWS design is quite simply to put the AK-47 gas system into the AR platform. PWS claims that the AK-type long stroke piston mechanism (no extra parts, springs, etc.) offers a smoother push instead of a short violent push of the short stroke tappet system (no metal-to-metal impact/no short punchy recoil) simply made the most sense when they looked at everything else that was out on the market. The idea is to have the familiar AR rifle with the added reliability of the AK-47 system: meaning cleaner, less heat in the receiver and brutal reliability. The PWS mechanism is rather quite simple. The bolt carrier has the operating rod attached to it. Depending upon the length of the gas system an additional rod is clamped over the end of the operating rod. The gas block is adjustable with four different positions to facilitate use of various types of ammunition and use of a sound suppressor. As PWS designed the system, no tools are required to disassemble the rifle/gas system for cleaning. Contrary to what some believe, external piston mechanisms do need to be cleaned. Carbon, copper and powder fouling can seize the piston into the gas block making for extreme difficulty in pulling back the bolt carrier group or worse, cause the rifle to short stroke when fired due to the piston/operating rod being stuck in the gas regulator. One very important feature that PWS has added to their rifle that many of their competition are missing is an operating rod sleeve. This sleeve protects the operating rod and piston from the elements (other than carbon). During extreme conditions, if no protection sleeve is present, the dirt, sand, mud or any other debris can find its way into the rail and then onto the rod and it can work its way into the mechanism. Although a very simple concept, many manufacturers of the external pistol (short stroke tappet or long stroke) fail to add this important feature, which really amounts to a hollow tube.

PWS manufactures a significant number of parts for their weapons and unlike most manufactures the key components are all made in-house. With the exception of lower receiver parts kits, Magpul furniture and VLTOR Gunfighter charging handle, PWS have the ability to manufacture every part of the rifle in house. PWS does bring in some components from outside vendors due to volume needed, but they are heavily quality controlled before they reach the production floor. They manufacture a variety of configurations and barrel lengths. The MK107 has a 7.75 inch barrel, MK110 has a 10.75 inch barrel, MK112 has a 12 inch barrel, MK114 has a 14.5 inch barrel, MK116 has a 16 inch barrel and the MK118 has an 18 inch barrel. There were two T&E rifles sent – both MK116 rifles – one chambered in .223 Wylde and the other chambered in .300 AAC Blackout. Both rifles are virtually identical except the .300 Blackout uses a shorter 4-inch gas system instead of the 7-inch. Due to the pressure curve of the Blackout cartridge this is the most reliable option; particularly due to the use of both supersonic and subsonic ammunition. As of this writing, PWS is one of the very few manufactures who use an external piston system for the .300 Blackout cartridge. Most everyone uses the direct gas system.

Starting at the rear of the rifle, the rifle is equipped with a Magpul MOE stock. This is a very comfortable stock with a rubber butt pad for non slip on the shooter’s shoulder. The receiver extension is manufactured by PWS and is called the EBT Carbine Buffer System. This system eliminates the need for the receiver extension nut. There is an indexing screw in place of the receiver extension nut that ensures proper alignment. There is a receiver extension end plate that has two quick detach sling swivel attachments for ambidextrous use. The receiver extension is manufactured from a 6061 A1 extrusion with external flutes to allow debris to be pushed out of the way. The receiver extension permits five positions along with four extra-large drain holes. The rifle uses a PWS H2 buffer, which is two stainless steel weights along with
one tungsten weight.

The lower receiver is a basic Mil-Spec lower receiver that is manufactured from 7075 T6 aircraft grade aluminum and black anodized hard coated. The pistol grip is the very comfortable Magpul MOE and additionally the lower uses the Magpul polymer enhanced trigger guard. The safety, bolt catch and magazine catch are Mil-Spec. The trigger group is also standard Mil-Spec. Most customers will customize their rifles including adding the trigger of their choice. The trigger on the .223 Wylde rifle broke at 7 pounds. The trigger pull was decent; little creep but very respectable for a standard group.

The charging handle for the MK116 is the VLTOR Gunfighter charging handle. This charging handle is machined from a billet and uses the medium size latch. What is unique about this design is that unlike the standard charging handle where all of the pressure goes on that tiny roll pin when the charging handle is pulled back, the Gunfighter transfers all pressure right to the charging handle itself. This makes for an extremely durable charging handle that you would really be hard pressed to break.

The bolt carrier has additional mass on it compared to a standard DI carrier to delay unlocking. Looking at the bolt carrier/operating rod group, all the components minus the firing pin retainer pin and the firing pin are Nickel-Teflon coated for ease of cleaning and this finish is more tolerant of lack of lubrication. The bolt carrier is selective fire so it may be used in a selective fire lower receiver. The bolt carrier is manufactured by PWS. The rear of the carrier has two ridges on the rear as well as some “crud” grooves in the right and left side. The operating rod is attached by a groove in the operating rod and a slot in the top of the carrier. Then the operating rod is secured by two screws and the screws are staked into the operating rod rather than the carrier by being staked into the screws of the standard direct gas rifles. The bolt is manufactured by PWS as well. The front portion of the bolt with the locking lugs is standard Mil-Spec but the rear has been modified; the gas ring area has been ground down since gas rings are not needed. The bolt is nickel-Teflon coated as well as the extractor. The extractor has the rubber “O” ring on it to assist extraction by increasing the extraction force by a factor of 4. On the back of the bolt, a spring is attached aiding in assembly of the bolt carrier group by holding the bolt in the unlocked position. The cam pin is also nickel-Teflon coated. The firing pin is the standard Mil-Spec chrome plated firing pin. The piston head is attached without tools. In the case of the .223 Wylde the piston shaft is 3 3/4 inches in length and in the case of the .300 Blackout with the pistol length gas system, the piston is approximately 1-inch long.

The gas block is placed on the barrel and held on by a nut that is screwed onto the barrel in front of the gas block. Then the nut is staked in place. There is a piston tube to protect the operating rod from debris and fouling. The 4-position adjustable plug allows for positions for normal conditions, hotter military loads, suppressed and suppressed with hotter military ammunition. The plug is then removed by placing on the X positions. There is a spring loaded detent that pushes the plug out of the gas block. There is a slot cut in the top of the rail that gives the user access to the gas plug so the user can make adjustments and clearly see the pictogram of what setting the plug is on. The gas path is rather interesting. There is a straight 90° port out of the barrel, then there is another port hole drilled into the gas block that moved the gas forward to prevent fouling.

Both the .223 Wylde and .300 Blackout barrels were 16 inches in length. The .223 Wylde has a 1 turn in 8 twist with 6 lands and grooves. The .300 Blackout is also 1 turn in 8 inches. The 4140 steel barrels are Bergar button rifled blanks and PWS turns, profiles and chambers them in-house. PWS does a salt bath nitride coating that gets on the outside as well as inside of the barrel. This process has proven to PWS to not have the inconsistencies of chrome without losing any of the hardness. PWS manufactures their own barrel extensions.

The .300 Blackout rifle was equipped with the PWS Triad flash suppressor. There are elongated cuts between the tines to keep the muzzle rise to the absolute minimum and the tine shape prevents the venerable “pinging” associated with many other prong-type flash suppressors. The shape of the Triad allows installation of the Gemtech Halo sound suppressor. The .223 Wylde MK116 was equipped with a FSC556, the flagship of the PWS muzzle devices. This is basically a flash suppressing compensator. There is a quad-tine pattern that suppresses flash with a design to keep flash out of your line of sight and the unique shape provides recoil compensation. This flash suppressor/compensator is a very popular original equipment manufacturer product including the FNUSA SCAR16 and 17, Barrett, Core15 and AWC. Both of these flash suppressors/compensators are offered for both .223 and .308 caliber rifles. Additional models are available for the AK-47 as well as one compatible with the QDSS-NT 4 suppressor. PWS also offers just compensator models for the AK-47: an extremely short compensator (1.87 in), CQB (eliminates as much flash as possible and send the report forward of the shooter) and a precision compensator designed to reduce felt recoil in firearms from .223 to .338 caliber.

The T&E rifles were equipped with PWS designed and manufactured Keymod handguards. These rail systems are offered in both 12 and 15 inches in length and are manufactured from 6061 T6 aluminum extrusions. They are attached to a proprietary barrel nut by six hex screws. The Keymod interface permits attachment of rail panel segments enabling the user to only put on a rail that is needed. This cuts down on unnecessary weight as well as having unused rail that could be damaged in rough handling not permitting their future use. The rail is very narrow and easy to hold. When holding the rail by hand, it will heat up very fast requiring the use of gloves. PWS also offers this rail in a direct gas model enabling any Mil-Spec AR to be upgraded with the PWS Keymod rail.

The T&E rifles each came in a polymer case with one Magpul Gen 2 PMag. The ammunition used to test fire the .223 Wylde rifle was Federal American Eagle 62 grain full metal jacket (AE223N), Black Hills Ammunition Mk262 Mod1 77grain open tip match and Double Tap 80gr boat tail match (22380M20) ammunition. The rifle was tested with Magpul PMag Gen 2 and 3, Lancer AWM, Hera H3, H&K high reliability/polymer magazine and Surefire 60 round magazine. No lubrication was added to the rifle prior to firing. More than 400 rounds of ammunition were fired through the test rifle with no malfunctions of any sort. The muzzle brake was quite effective if you are the shooter, not so much if you are on the side of the shooter – the blast was quite loud. The rifle functioned properly with all the magazines. The rifle did not like the Doubletap Ammunition 80gr HPBT as the rifle would not get a consistent group. However, it did like the Doubletap 62gr FMJ giving constant 1.6 MOA groups at 100 yards. The rifle scored best with the Black Hills Mk262 Mod1 ammunition giving a 10 shot group of 1.2 inches at 100 yards. It should be noted that the wind was 18 to 22 mph when the rifle was tested. This could have been a factor in the group size. The trigger pull was also a factor as the heavy Mil-Spec trigger was difficult for precision work. Perhaps if a decent match trigger was installed, that could cause that group to tighten up. Recoil was noticeably more on the long stroke piston operated PWS rifle than the Mega Arms direct gas rifle we also had out at the range.

Flagship PWS FSC556 muzzle devices. This is basically a flash suppressing compensator.

The .300 Blackout rifle was tested with the Magpul PMag Gen 2 and the Lancer AWM magazine. The ammunition tested was the Remington 125gr OTM (RM300AAC6), Remington UMC 115gr CTFB (L300AAC2), Hornady Custom 110gr V-Max (#8089) and Barnes 110gr TAC-TX (90014). No lubrication was added to the rifle prior to firing. There were a total of 200 rounds fired with no malfunctions. It should be noted that the rifle even cycled 20 rounds of Hornady 208gr subsonic with no malfunctions. This was the only subsonic ammunition available at this time for testing. Recoil was decent and reliability absolute. This was the first long stroke or short stroke piston rifle chambered in .300 Blackout this author has fired. Most of the known external piston manufacturers have stayed away from this but PWS made it work and work well. It has been certainly well established the benefits of the pistol length gas system for this caliber. Much of the shooting with this rifle was done off hand and at a steel plate at 100 yards. Once the rifle was zeroed, the steel was pinging from one shot to the next. The rifle was then fired off of a bench with Remington 125gr OTM (RM300AAC6) with the best group of .860 inches at 52 yards.

Like most in the industry, PWS makes a 7.62x51mm rifle to complete their family of weapons; this is known as the MK2-series. The MK212 has a 12.75 inch barrel, the MK214 has a 14.5 inch barrel, the MK216 has a 16 inch barrel and the MK220 has a 20 inch barrel. Whether the operator wishes for a short CQB rifle or a DMR rifle, PWS has what they would need.

The rifle received for test and evaluation was a MK214 chambered in 7.62x51mm. This rifle has a 14.5 inch barrel with a 2.20 inch Triad 30 flash suppressor pinned to the end of the barrel to make the barrel reach the 16 inch + inches rendering it legal. This is the shortest non-NFA rifle in the PWS MK2 line up. Unloaded, the rifle weighs 8 lbs., 8.9 oz. The short barrel still retains an effective range of 700 yards using various types of ammunition.

The lower receiver is manufactured from a billet of 7075 T6 aircraft aluminum. The lower receiver has the Magpul MOE pistol grip. The PWS EBT receiver extension is used along with a Magpul MOE stock. The EBT used for the MK2 is slightly longer than that of one designed for a 5.56mm rifle to allow the use of a AR-15 carbine buffer instead of the shorter .308 carbine buffer. The weight of the buffer for the MK2 rifle is equivalent to that of a H2 buffer. In the grip insert of the MOE pistol grip is a gas block adjustment tool. This particular rifle was equipped with an ALG Defense QMS or Quality Mil-Spec trigger group. The trigger broke at 6.25 pounds and was quite smooth. The magazine catch and bolt catch are standard AR-type. The trigger guard is part of the lower receiver and is enlarged to accept gloved hands. In front of the magazine well are two chevron shaped grooves to assist with grip. The rifle uses the standard SR-25 magazine and was provided with a Magpul PMag 20LR. The rifle was tested with both the Knights Armament and CProducts steel magazines as well.

The upper receiver is manufactured from a billet of 7075 T6 aluminum and incorporates a combination forward assist and fired cartridge case deflector in the same manner as the DPMS .308 Win-family of weapons. The rifle sent for test and evaluation is the MK216 rifle. Like the MK116, the MK216 also uses the Keymod free floating rail system. The Magpul polymer MBus folding backup sight come standard on the rifle.

The barrel is again 14.5 inches and is button rifled from 4140 Chromoly steel with a 1 turn in 10 inch twist. At the end of the barrel is a 2.20 inch Triad 30 flash suppressor pinned in place. This barrel is an Isonite QPQ treated barrel. Primary Weapon Systems estimate a minimum barrel life of 9,000 rounds if routinely maintained (bore and chamber cleaned every 1,000 rounds and bolt carrier group disassembled and cleaned every 3 to 4,000 rounds). There is, like the MK1 series, a 4-position adjustable gas valve accessible through a cut-out in the front portion of the Primary Weapon Systems Keymod rail. The Keymod rail is manufactured from an extrusion of 6061T aluminum. Sent along with this rifle is the PWS Keymod polymer Harris bipod adapter as well as a 2.16 inch polymer rail segment. These rail segments are offered in aluminum as well. The maximum effective range is based off of the barrel length. The 12 inch is 600 yards, the 14.5 inch barrel is 700 yards, the 16 inch barrel is 800 yards and the 20 inch barrel is 1,000 yards.

The MK2 barrel is also equipped with the Primary Weapon System adjustable gas block that allows the shooter to balance the gas system giving just enough gas to properly cycle the weapon, no more. This decreases felt recoil and extends the service of several key rifle components. Position 1 is normal operation with standard and some military ammo. Position 2 is for hotter military loads. Position 3 is for use with a sound suppressor with standard ammunition and position 4 is for use with a sound suppressor and hotter military ammunition. The X position is for disassembly, removing the gas plug from the front sight base.

Both the upper, lower receiver, bolt carrier group and barrel are not compatible with any factory standard out in the industry. The upper receiver cannot be placed on any other lower. The PWS MK2 is designed as a complete weapon only.

The MK2 nickel Teflon coated bolt carrier group is really just the MK1 series on steroids. The bolt is a dedicated bolt with the gas ring location machined off. Unlike the MK1 series there is no spring on the tail of the bolt. All this means is you have to pay a little more attention during the assembly process to insure the bolt is in the unlocked position when installing it into the upper receiver. The bolt carrier does appear to be heavier than the standard AR10-type with the same geometry as the MK1. The bolt carrier group is manufactured by Primary Weapon Systems.

The ammunition used for testing the MK214 was Black Hills Ammunition 7.62mm 175gr M118LR ammunition as well as Federal XM80 ball ammunition. This rifle appears not to be sensitive to ammunition. The optic chose to test the rifle with is the Leupold Mark 4 LR/T 3.5-10x40mm M3 Illum (67950) optic. Groups averaged at just around 1 inch at 52 yards.

PWS offers their own direct gas bolt carrier upgrade to consumers based on their MK1. The enhanced bolt carrier requires less lubricant, increased surface hardness and slickness. The pores of the tool steel are sealed on either the Isonite QPQ or nickel Teflon carriers. The nickel Teflon is a running change in production in 2014. PWS feels it gives their rifles a more “broken in” feel when brand new. The carrier has slabbed sides and brought in the surfaces where they did not want the carrier to touch the inside of the upper receiver and extended the surfaces out that they did want the carrier to touch the inside of the upper receiver. The end result is less bearing surface, but the carrier rides inside the receiver with less slop and in return you get a smoother cycling of the system. This same philosophy holds true to the direct gas as well as their piston operated carriers. The carrier also has a heavier weight than normal that aids in longer dwell time, which means it allows for the cartridge case to contract more prior to the initiation of extraction. The less residual pressure the easier it is to extract the fired cartridge case. This can be very useful in short barreled suppressed rifles (10.5 and 14.5-inch barrels).

For the direct gas shooters, PWS offered Direct Impingement Keymod handguards as well. This handguard is offered in both 12 and 15 inch lengths. The lightweight rails weigh 8.4 oz for the 12 and 11.6 oz for the 15 inch Keymod rail. The kit is comprised of a Keymod rail, trunion, Neodymium magnet, barrel nut, barrel nut wrench and 6 hex screws. The only tools required for installation are a 9/64, 3/32 inch hex wrenches and 1/2 inch torque wrench. The rail is quite slim and lightweight and not difficult to assemble.

The PWS family of weapons differs from the others in its use of the long stroke gas system rather than the more common short stroke. All three weapons tested were 100% reliable. The recoil impulse was a little more stout than any other AR-type rifle this author has shot. The carrier/operating rod is a much larger mass than that used on a short stroke tappet rifle which explains the heavier recoil. This would be greatly useful in a condition where the rifle is in extremely adverse conditions. The PWS system fills a niche for those who may seek this type of reliability. The fit and finish of the PWS rifles is excellent and the rifles are extremely well made. The company manufactures many of their own components, which is always a significant plus in maintaining consistent reliability. The design approach that PWS took has only been used by ADCOR in their BEAR carbine. However, very few of these rifles exist in the market place so they are pretty much the only game in town using the true AK long stroke system in an AR platform.