What are they talking about? Some sort of French filly? No , about a submachine gun , invented in France patented and prototyped in the USA, codenamed Charlotte.

Many of us in the gun world have a dream that some invention of ours will become the weapon that the U.S. or some major nation adapts or which becomes a commercial success. We all know the names of famous inventors who succeeded at this in the past- Colt, Maxim, Gatling, Thompson, Johnson, Browning and others. We also know that it can still be done from the careers of Gene Stoner, Bill Ruger, Reed Knight and other contemporaries. Well, every one of them would tell you, “It’s not easy!” The Charlotte story is an instructive and interesting tale about a good gun invention, well financed, which is still only battering at the gates of success after 12 long years. This story is not over and it won’t stop any of us from trying but it is a sobering tale of many disappointing close calls. It tells us once again that timing and who you know are everything.

In 1985 a very skilled gunmaker in Paris, Fredrick Tessier, despaired of making significant money by means of the high priced but very time and labor intensive hand-made shotguns that he was justly famous for. He decided to follow the advice once given the American inventor, Hiram Maxim, that the way to make money was to “invent some way for the Europeans to kill each other faster.” In other words invent a machine gun. Tessier quite deliberately and thoughtfully set out to design a submachine gun which would be particularly easy to manufacture and which could even be produced in a simple, low tech shop such as his in Paris. He developed a subgun that at first glance looks like the Beretta model 12.

Tessier built a prototype in France and then talked to his father who was a French Army officer, about patenting it there. His father informed him that if he tried to patent any weapon of interest to the French military, the government would immediately take control of the invention. This was prophetic as far as Charlotte was concerned but not just about the French government.

On the basis of his father’s advice, Fredrick Tessier submitted a patent on the Charlotte design now known as the T-2 on May 24, 1985 and assigned the patent to a company his family had done business with for many years, Shepherd Industries. He was granted U.S. patent 4649800 on March 17, 1987.

The connection with Shepherd Industries is that its owner, Frank Parisette, is a fine wood importer and the Tessier family has been well known in the high grade gun trade as a source for fine French walnut for over a hundred years. Pictures of the French prototype show an absolutely gorgeous walnut pistol grip and fore end, perfectly checkered.

The key claim of the Tessier patent is for a “self contained blow-back type firing unit insertable in a gunbody as a discrete subassembly and including a barrel and bolt with a compression spring acting between them.”

This “subassembly” is held in the “gun body” (receiver) by a nut threaded on the front end of the barrel. The barrel has protuberances which cut through the wall of the barrel surrounding bolt and guide it. The lower of these protuberances is the feed ramp and the upper is just designed to be a guide. These both keep the bolt from twisting as it goes back and forth in and out of battery.

The parts are beautifully made out of solid billets. The amount of stainless steel removed to make this bolt by boring and milling would certainly make a corporate bean counter weep uncontrollably. The design utilizes very few parts, beautifully engineered and expensively manufactured. It is very much like pre WW II Brno designs. Substantial economies could easily be made in manufacturing parts in more pieces and welding or brazing them together into units.

The Shepherd Industries T-2 brochures claim that it is the firing unit’s design that keeps the T-2 from climbing in full auto mode. A test by Colt Firearms confirmed the little climb claim (read on) but as to whether this is the unit or good ergonomics was not clear to the authors until we test fired the T-2.. In any case what Tessier did was take a barrel surrounding bolt ( also known as a telescoping bolt) very much like the Beretta model 12 and put the main operating spring around the barrel to push the bolt forward thus making the unit self contained. The similarity with the model 12 bolt ends there because the Beretta bolt has the spring behind it in the receiver pushing on the rear end of the bolt.

Now before all you RKIs start jumping up and down shouting that this is a bad idea because the heat will effect the temper in the spring and citing the Soviet DP being improved to the DPM and the 1918 BAR being improved to the model D with the main operating springs being moved away from the barrel heat, let us point out a few things.

First this a large diameter spring. Second it only touches the barrel at the breech end and finally that this is a 9mm subgun and not a squad light machine gun firing rifle cartridges. Okay, okay, it is near the barrel, surrounded by the bolt and it is hot in there. However spring technology is probably a lot better than it was. All we can say is that the U.S prototype has been fired 20k plus rounds with the same spring and is still going strong.

Another design point important to Tessier is that there is a shotgun like fore-end which he, as a serious bird shooter, believes leads to instinctive pointing and target acquistion. This is not mentioned in the patent but the other shotgun-like attribute of the center of gravity being ahead of the trigger is. Let us put in here a brief accolade for the CZ 23 which we believe is one of the greatest subgun designs ever. The model 23 is mainly remembered as the gun which had the barrel surrounding bolt and the hand finds hand magazine well years before the UZI.

The CZ 23 solved this spring-bolt problem by putting the spring on the outside of the barrel surrounding bolt. While it still pushes the bolt from behind, about half of the spring length is on the bolt itself. With a little engineering the whole spring could be. The Ruger standard .22 pistol bolt comes to mind as a direction to take. A very neat and compact solution indeed.

In any case the main attraction of the T-2 design is that this self contained firing unit hung from the barrel nut does not have to touch the walls of the receiver at all. And therefore the receiver could be made of anything such as plastic, carbon fiber, aluminum, titanium- i.e. anything. There is no need for there to be friction between the bolt and the receiver and there can be plenty of clearance for dirt . Shepherd Industries has plans for prototypes using alternative materials for the receiver. The current T-2s, while elegant, are all steel tool room prototypes. The magazine is a shortened and slightly modified 40 round Beretta. The shortening is necessary for clearance for the folding stock to swing underneath.

While Shepherd Industries owner, Frank Parisette was waiting for the patent to be issued he showed a prototype to some old Army buddies at Fort Meade. They were favorably impressed and that may have had caused the following consequences.

All of a sudden progress on the patent slowed to a crawl and upon inquiry, Parisette was told that the U.S. Department of Defense has put a hold on it. It took the threat of a law suit and $100k to get the patent out of DOD’s clutches.

Other strange things happened during this period as well. For instance, Colt Firearms approached Shepherd Industries and said that they had heard about the design and wanted to test the prototype. Now this made Frank Parisette wonder who had told them about the design and how did they get enough knowledge about the design to decide that it was of interest to them. Colt did test the prototype later and there was some interest on their part in buying the design. However remember what we said about timing- well Colt was in serious financial difficulties at that time leading up to one of their several bankruptcies and nothing came of their interest. A letter from a Colt Vice President, Arthur Holben, dated Dec 23, 1985 states, “Unfortunately, it being impossible for Colt Firearms to commit the resources necessary to further develop, tool and manufacture Mr. Tessier’s concepts at this time or in the near future etc.”- in other words -”goodbye” This was just one of the unfortunate timings for the T-2. On the plus side however the letter also says that, “the firing demonstration on Nov. 13 confirmed your claim of greatly reduced climb in automatic fire mode. We were impressed.”

Once the patent was issued Shepherd Industries gave the T-2 to the US Army for testing twice at Fort Meade, once at Picatinney Arsenal, once to the Secret Service and once to the FBI. While each of these organizations have verbally complimented the gun not one has given S.I. a written evaluation. Is this a who you know problem?

The Picatinny Arsenal test was for the purpose of finding a new gun to rack up in armored vehicles. This test which was in 1996 compared the Colt M4 carbine, the H&K MP5 and the T-2. The main interest according to Frank Parisette was the ability to get the chosen weapon out of the hatches and into action ASAP. The T-2 was rated best at this although it is clear to us that the MP5 in the test was handicapped by being the SD (silenced) version which is longer and bulkier than a plain MP5. The presence of the SD makes it sound as if the test was rather ad hoc.

While S.I. got very little documentation from all of this testing it did get the attention from insiders in the firearms game. S.I. was and still is interested in selling the design rather than continuing to try to get a large enough contract to support subcontracting mass production themselves. Beretta, for one, was very interested in the idea of purchasing the design.

One would think that having a very similar gun in the Model 12 would make the T-2 of little interest to Beretta. However the Beretta engineers had recognized that the Tessier design could be modified to produce a much shorter weapon than the model 12. Beretta therefore offered to buy the design for the sole purpose of producing as short a version as possible. A contract was drawn up to be signed in 1987. The jinxed timing that has plagued the whole project reappeared right on schedule. Model 92 slides on the new U.S Army M9 pistols started cracking. This put $21 million contract Beretta had in jeopardy and the very controversial adoption of a foreign weapon was back in the news. Beretta was completely distracted by this crisis and the last thing hey wanted to do was start something new. The contract was never signed and the negotiations were never resumed.

The contract makes very interesting reading. Beretta was willing to pay $200,000 for the right to produce the short version they envisioned and the pages which cover their right to sell it through the DOD make it clear that they had a market in mind.

Next to show interest was SIG. They had been attracted by the possibilities the T-2 design offers for quick caliber changes. They were interested in developing a 40 S&W version and more particularly one for the 357 SIG with a titanium bullet which they had developed for the Saudi Arabian government. Naturally to keep Charlotte’s luck consistent, during the negotiations the SIG official whose idea this was, G. Broadbeck, retired.

To test the claim that the T-2’s tendency to climb is unusually low, we fired it in conjunction with both a MP5 and an UZI. All three guns were loaded with the same hot GECO subgun ammo. We fired them one immediately after the other in various combinations. To our surprise it was true that the T-2 seemed to recoil less than both the MP5 and the UZI.

While the cyclic rate of fire for the T-2 was clearly less than either of the other guns, we do not think that this was the reason for the reduced climb and recoil. Rather we think the reason is that the T-2 bolt never recoiled to the point of metal to metal contact. With the hot ammo in the UZI we could feel the bolt hit the plastic buffer and thus the back of the receiver and the MP5 had the hard straight back recoil of a locked gun. If correct this is more proof that the fully sprung internals of the last Stoner designs are the path to follow for lowering recoil.

Take Down of the Tessier T-2

As usual make sure the gun is not loaded. Then remove the magazine. This is key step in the take down of the T-2 because the ejector is a separate piece which is held up in its functioning position by the magazine. By removing the magazine one allows the ejector to turn forward and fall into the mag well thus getting it out of the way for the bolt and barrel assembly removal.

Tessier’s design has cleverly reduced the number of parts to a minimum but he felt that making the ejector a separate movable part was still sensible as it allows easy replacement by driving out the single pivot pin. Not a bad idea really as we have all seen riveted or welded ejectors which have been repaired by pounding, bending, welding, brazing etc. Not by a simple automatically aligned replacement part as in the T-2. Next the knurled nut on the front of the receiver which is holding the barrel-bolt “separate firing unit” suspended in the receiver tube is turned off. Incidentally this nut will be the rear bushing of the silencer version when S.I gets around to that. The latch on the left side of the rear receiver cap is pressed in and turned counter clockwise a quarter turn which will allow the cap to be pulled off to the rear. Holding both the trigger and grip safety down gets the sear out of the way and a yank back on the operating handle which is not attached to the bolt but is captured in a slot in the receiver, will bring the whole self contained firing unit out of the gun. The front of the firing unit is then turned a third of a turn counter clockwise and pressed down to free the spring. This will allow the barrel to be loose enough to be taken out of the feed port on the bottom of the bolt. This completes field stripping. The mag housing , trigger and grip safety housings are welded to the receiver on this prototype. There is a hex key on the back of the receiver cap for removing the pistol grip which exposes the internal parts for depot level repair.

Assembly with a bolt, barrel and magazine for other calibers such as 40 S&W or 357 SIG will adapt the T-2 to fire those cartridges. S.I. has barrels and bolts made up for these but suitable mags are still in the works. In the case of the .357 Sig there is a heavier spring as well. How the .357 SIG is suited to a blowback mechanism is not clear to us yet. We have been told by others who have tried it that the cases come out blown straight sided and look like 40s on the ground. So where does the T-2 stand today. Well, the 12 year struggle to sell the design or get a marketable customer has not daunted Shepherd Industries’ Frank Parisette. He has plans for new prototypes which will incorporate many new design features and manufacturing simplifications. He believes that this will cause a major manufacturer to beat a path to his door any day now.

T-2 Description

Weight 5.6 lbs.
Cyclic rate 550
Barrel Length 9.0 inches
Length folded 16 inches
Length with stock Extended 26 inches

Head Space is the distance from the rear of the cartridge to the face of the bolt when the cartridge is fully seated in the chamber and the bolt is in the locked position.

Check the firearm to ensure it is not loaded. No live ammo or empty casings are needed to set the head space or timing.

With the bolt face is the surface on the bolt that has the firing pin hole in it, not the very front surface of the bolt. The rail lugs are the very front surface and normally make contact with the barrel face when the gun is firing.

The .125 thick portion of the head space, all recoiling parts must go fully forward without being forced. The tension from the recoil spring should be sufficient. In this position, the barrel extension is in contact and flush with the face of the trunion (no gap). You will not be able to see the adjustment notches on the barrel. They will be completely inside the trunion.

If the gun will not completely close to this position, the head space is already too tight. The notches on the barrel will be visible at this point. You must unscrew the barrel one or two notches at a time with the blade of a screw driver, combination tool, or a cartridge point, until the barrel extension closes fully against the trunion face.

Using the Gauge

Pull the charging handle approximately 3/4” to the rear from the closed position. Insert the .125 end of the head space gauge between the bolt face and the barrel face. Turn the barrel in, one click at a time, until the gauge is tight between them. Back the barrel off one click. If the barrel is between clicks, back off to the nearest click, then one whole click. (Head space is set)

When these adjustments are completed with good, serviceable parts and a proper chamber depth in the barrel, the head space will be correct.

One or two clicks in or out may be required for a better performance with used and worn parts or for the use of substandard non-GI ammo.

Common Problems of Head Space Set too Tight

1) The gun operates sluggishly or erratic because the parts are binding.
2) Extraction trouble may occur because of improper locking and unlocking.
3) If the adjustment is very tight and the barrel notches can be seen, the bolt handle will not go fully forward and the firing pin will not drop when the trigger is pulled.

Common Problems of Head Space too Loose

1) A ruptured cartridge
2) Split cases (with good ammo). Bad ammo may have split cases before you fire it.
3) The bolt can be moved slightly from the front to the rear independently of the barrel and the barrel extension.

If problems from a too tight or too loose head space are present after setting per these instructions, turn the barrel one click at a time but not more than two clicks total in either direction from the original setting. If there is no improvement in performance, there is some other mechanical problem with the gun, or there is a problem with the ammo being used.

The only exception to this is the .308 conversion (with an original Israeli .308 barrel). The chamber depth in these barrels is .010 more shallow than a GI type barrel. It would be safe to turn the Israeli .308 barrel two more clicks out beyond these recommended adjustments if the gun shows signs of a too tight head space problem.

All the head space adjustments are done with a charged bolt and cocked firing pin. Do not pull the trigger and drop the firing pin on the head space gauge. It may break your firing pin!

Timing Adjustments

Charge the gun to cock the firing pin and let the bolt drop fully forward. The firing pin should be cocked and inside the bolt face. If the firing pin can be seen sticking out of the bolt face before the trigger is pulled, do not attempt to fire the gun with live ammo. The timing is way too fast. An entire belt of ammo can be fired without the trigger ever being pulled.

With the gun charged and the firing pin cocked, pull the charging handle back just far enough to put the .120 thick portion of the timing gauge between the barrel extension and the trunion. Let go of the charging handle. The gauge is held in position from the recoil spring pressure. Pull the trigger to see if the gun will fire. It should not fire. This is the ‘no fire” portion of the gauge. If the gun does fire, the timing is too fast and will need adjustment.

If the gun does not fire, then pull the charging handle back far enough to remove the gauge and let the barrel extension close so the .030 portion of the gauge is between the trunion and the barrel extension. Pull the trigger. The gun should fire at this setting. This is the ‘fire’ portion of the gauge. If the gun does not fire, your timing is too slow and will need adjustment.

Adjust Timing as Follows

The trigger bar must be removed from the gun for adjustments to be made. The dovetail end of the trigger bare that engages the sear in the rear of the bolt must be bent upward or downward to speed up or slow down the timing. Do not try to bend too much in either direction at one time; small mounts are best. It may take a few tries. This aera of the trigger is thin and semi-soft. It is made that way jut for this type of adjustment.

If the timing of the gun is too fast and needs an adjustment, the dovetail end on the trigger bar will need to be bent upward. In order to know what is upward, you need to look at the trigger bar as if it is in the trigger assembly.

Bending this end downward will correct a slow timing problem and get the trigger bar to trip the bolt sear that much sooner, thus speeding up the timing.

Changing parts or a combination of parts on any gun can adversely affect your timing and head space adjustments. Always re-check these adjustments when the parts are changed in the gun.

At one point, Ohio Ordnance Works, Inc., made the gauge shown in this article. If you’re looking for one, hit them up and maybe they have one kicking around

The floor of the aircraft rocks violently as the big Army helicopter screams up the dark, frozen Alaskan riverbed, rolling viciously to follow the contours of the landscape at fifty feet above the snow-covered ground and one hundred forty miles per hour. Attempting to compensate for the motion, you cling tightly to the spade grips of your D-model M-60 and keep your knees bent as you scan the green image flashing by through your ANVIS-6 (Aviator’s Night Vision Imaging System) night vision goggles. Abruptly the aircraft rolls into a steep bank and rounds a bend in the river, bursting into a wide flood plain. As you’d anticipated, a formation of two dozen NATO-standard silhouette targets stands clustered some three hundred meters off your route of flight. The stark shadows they cast in the electronically-intensified moonlight of your goggles make them easy targets.

You punch off the safety on your -60 and lean back against the grips, allowing the weapon and mount to take your weight. Taking a rough bead slightly below and behind the cluster of targets, you tighten around the gun’s twin triggers and chug out a ten-round burst. The pair of tracers that light out of the burst arc brilliantly out of the muzzle and impact a bit short, leaving glowing green trails in the phosphor of your goggles. You note to yourself with a grin that the muzzle flash off of your -60 looks really cool through your NVGs. A minor adjustment and the next burst chews into the center of the formation, tossing snow and dirt liberally among the plastic soldiers.

Your next target is a Conex-a big metal shipping container. It rests five hundred meters or so out in the riverbed and is as large as a small house. You fire another sounding burst and then walk your tracers toward the dark metal box. Once you are on target you hold the triggers an extra second or two; there’s no being too careful when dealing with hostile shipping containers.

In the minutes that follow you ventilate assorted junked cars, trucks, vans, and construction equipment at a variety of ranges out to about a kilometer. You are having so much fun that you almost don’t notice the one hundred twenty-knot slipstream tearing across your face. The wind itself wouldn’t be so bad were it not for the ambient negative twenty five degree temperatures typical of the Alaskan wintertime. These two elements combine to yield a wind chill you conservatively estimate at one hundred thousand degrees below zero. No matter, that which does not kill us makes us stronger and you’re having too much fun to notice the pain.

Sooner than you would like, the plain starts to tighten back around the river and the range nears its close. There is nothing quite like firing belt-fed automatic weapons out of a moving aircraft. For the recreational machinegunner it is very nearly nirvana. To do so at night under night vision goggles is cool beyond my capacity to describe.

The M-60D, the Army’s standard defensive helicopter armament, is at its heart a slightly modified version of the M-60 General Purpose Machine Gun. The barrel and receiver group of the D-model are essentially those of a ground -60 but the pistol grip/trigger assembly is replaced by a set of spade grips and a mechanical linkage connecting the gun’s sear to the trigger rings on the grip. The sight is a fold-up spider web type device comprised of a pair of concentric aiming circles. In practical application the weapon can be finicky. Some pieces, dependent upon age, wear, and, I suppose, the phase of the moon, are notoriously unreliable.

A canvas ejection control bag mounts on the right side of the gun to catch brass and links, preventing potential damage to delicate aircraft systems by these discarded items. The weapon employs a rather cumbersome crossbolt safety that is difficult to manipulate with a link bag installed and foregoes the familiar rubber-covered forearm of the ground version. The ejection control bag itself is effective but was obviously designed as an afterthought. The operator must reach his hand through a zippered opening in the rear of the bag to access the weapon’s charging handle and it can be quite frustrating reducing multiple stoppages on a crotchety gun with the link bag installed.

The physics of aerial gunnery differ significantly from that which governs the more orthodox employment of ground-mounted automatic weapons. While the M-60D comes equipped with the aforementioned small fold-up ring sight, I have found that most effective aerial engagements result from simply tracking one’s tracers and walking long bursts into a target. As helicopter door guns are by their nature suppressive weapons, this technique projects maximum fire into the target area, hopefully keeping an enemy’s head down long enough to allow the aircraft to egress the area. The most striking aspect of helicopter door gunnery, however, is the behavior of bursts fired on opposite sides of a moving aircraft.

WARNING: Physics-intensive discussion follows. Skip this part if you don’t care about the details.

A bullet launched from an M-60 leaves the muzzle at roughly 2800 feet per second imparted with a clockwise spin of one turn every 12 inches. This results in a rotational velocity of roughly 228,000 rpm. When fired from a stationary platform the projectiles arc toward their targets based solely upon Newtonian physics. The bullets accelerate toward the center of the earth at 32.17 feet per second squared, their range being therefore governed by their initial velocity and the distance above the ground at which they were fired. When the firing platform is moving through the air, however, each individual projectile becomes its own little flying machine, interacting with the lateral airflow to generate specific characteristics based upon the direction of spin and wind speed.

When fired out of the right door of a moving helicopter the left-to-right airflow across the projectile interacts with the clockwise spinning projectile to produce a low pressure area on the top of the bullet. The practical result of this phenomenon, technically a derivative of Bernoulli’s effect, is to create lift and cause the bullet to fly upward, following a trajectory completely opposite that which one would expect in stationary gunnery. As such, an aerial gunner firing out the right side of a moving aircraft must actually aim below a target and allow his projectiles to fly up into the target. (see Fig I)

When firing out the left side of an aircraft the opposite is true. The lateral airflow creates a low-pressure area underneath the spinning bullet and exacerbates the plunging effect of a burst caused by gravity. The result is a decrease in effective range of the weapon. (see Fig II) The climb or descent of the projectiles is a function of the square of the airflow velocity so the effect is much more pronounced at high aircraft speeds.

CONGRATULATIONS! You made it through the physics part. Now back to the fun stuff.

The 100-plus-knot slipstream outside a helicopter in flight does an excellent job of cooling an air-cooled machinegun. I have seen air-60s digest truly phenomenal quantities of ammunition in long, sustained bursts without suffering the debilitating effects of excessive barrel heat to which ground guns are susceptible.

Mounts for the guns are unique to the airframe and employ cams and blocks that limit the field of fire of the weapon so as to preclude shooting up one’s own fuselage or rotor system. The UH-60 and UH-1 aircraft have provision for two guns each, one per side, while the twin-rotor CH-47 can sport a third gun in a tail stinger mount.

Most special operations aviation units employ either the General Electric M-134 minigun or Browning M-3 aircraft fifty-caliber machinegun as on-board suppressive armament. The M-134 is an electrically-powered, six-barrelled gatling gun which fires 7.62 mm rounds at rates of up to 6000 rounds per minute. The weapon is powered by the aircraft’s integral 24-volt DC electrical system and, unlike the -60, is rendered inoperative if separated from the aircraft and its power source.

The Browning M-3 aircraft gun is the same weapon our grandfathers employed in flexible mountings on B-17s and B-24s. The gun is a lightweight version of the M-2 heavy barrel machinegun, weighing in at 68 pounds and firing at an accelerated cyclic rate of 1200 rounds per minute. The recoil impulse of this fast-firing fifty restricts its use to relatively large aerial platforms such as the MH-47E Chinook and MH-53E Pave Low aircraft.

Most western European rotary-wing aircraft employ the FN MAG GPMG for on-board suppressive fire. Soviet-bloc aircraft such as the Mi-8 and Mi-17 have mountings in each passenger window for either the PK general purpose machinegun or the Kalashnikov series of assault rifles. Like most of the military materiel designed in the former Soviet Union, these mounts are simple, robust, and effective. Each mount clamps around the forend of the weapon and allows a limited traverse while preventing the weapon from falling out of the aircraft, a significant concern with enthusiastic young soldiers under stressful conditions.

Tracers fired under night vision goggles are absolutely spectacular. The ANVIS system mounts to a modified SPH-series aviator helmet visor and sports a separate battery pack that secures with velcro on the back of the helmet. While the entire setup is a bit heavy and cumbersome, generating some truly world-class neck strain in the uninitiated, it is remarkably sensitive and allows the contemporary Army aviator to fly any mission he might fly in daylight in practically pitch darkness. The goggles themselves are analogous to a pair of miniature television cameras with their associated screens suspended just in front of the aviator’s eyes. The faint image of the terrain ahead of the aircraft generated by the reflection of ambient moonlight or starlight is electronically amplified and presented in various shades of green monochrome on the eyepiece end of the goggles. For functionally lightless evenings Army aircraft are equipped with an infrared searchlight which can be independently gimbled by the pilot in flight via a coolie hat control switch on the collective pitch control. These searchlights are nearly all-illuminating under night vision systems but invisible to the naked eye. This might be something to think about the next time you plan on necking with your girlfriend out on a deserted road near an Army base.

Effective aerial gunnery is ammunition-intensive and an acquired skill and is therefore a rather challenging task on which to train in a military environment. The range space required to train on aerial gunnery tasks safely is obviously prodigious and it is a daunting task to configure targets is such a way as to be a challenging and realistic simulation of reality. The fire hazard of firing tracer ammunition into flammable woodland and grassland areas provides yet another impediment to aerial gunnery training. While stationed at Fort Sill, Oklahoma I found that the Oklahoma grasslands were much more susceptible to incineration via helicopter-fired tracer ammunition than to even white phosphorous artillery rounds.

Regardless of the training challenges, true aerial gunnery is just too cool for school. A computer game manufacturer who could accurately replicate the sights, sounds, and feelings of firing a machinegun out of an aircraft in flight would be a wealthy man. It is a shame that helicopter costs, range space, and draconian legislation stand between most civilian machinegunners and this unique shooting experience.

We American machinegunners are an innovative lot, however, and have developed countless ways to enjoy our sport while remaining within the confines of U.S. firearms law. Who knows, perhaps some enterprising recreational machinegunner with access to a Cessna may someday put a new slant on the Knob Creek shoot.

The year is 2,005. Concern over new threats by Saddam Hussein to use weapons of mass destruction on his neighbors continues to plague the world alliance. U.S. lead ground forces once again are placed in harms way in Saudi Arabia and Kuwait to protect the region, but this time things are different. The coalition forces are now committed to ending this threat in the world and eliminating Iraq’s military once and for all. As in operation “Desert Shield” in 1991, the Rapid Reaction forces of the U.S. military are first deployed to the region by the National Command Authority, starting with the Americas Guard of Honor, the famed 82nd Airborne Division.

In the early morning hours, the message is received at Fort Bragg to deploy the DRC (Division Ready Company) to Kuwait once again as the “trip wire in the sand”. The 82nd’s Company B, 2nd Battalion of the 325th Parachute Infantry Regiment is on one hour recall and will be the first unit on the ground to provide an immediate presence until reinforcements from the division, the Marines and heavy armored forces can arrive some days or even weeks later.

However, unbeknownst to Saddam and most Americans, the one hundred or so troopers of B Company are not armed with standard issue M4 carbines and 40mm M203 grenade launchers like all other units in the Division. As the First Unit Equipped (FUE) for the past four months they have been training hard with the brand new Objective Individual Compact Weapon (OICW), a weapon the troops call “thumper”, a name signifying the weapons hard hitting capabilities on the target.

Only into their second full day deployed in fighting positions along the Iraq/Saudi Arabian border, the Iraqis stage a bold and foolish attack on this unique reinforced airborne infantry company, which has now grown to battalion strength. The motorized Iraqi brigade advances on the American forces that they easily outnumber by more than five to one. However, the bad luck of the day has been issued to the Iraqi commander and will cost the aggressors dearly as they have picked B company’s lines to attempt their breach.

The OICW, with its maximum effective range of 1,000 meters and thermal weapon sight, provides the American troops the ability to see, identify and engage with deadly effect the attacking force at more than twice the range of conventional small arms like the M4’s they recently traded for the new “Star Wars” gun. At 950 meters B company’s commander issues the command to open fire and now the carnage begins.

With a flip of a selector switch on the weapon the troopers select the high explosive (HE) module (i.e. grenade launcher) and the PDD (Point Detonating Delay) mode offered by the Target Acquisition/Fire Control System (TA/FCS) of their OICW’s. The 20mm semi-automatic grenade launcher is loaded with six rounds of the newly developed high explosive, dual purpose (HEDP) ammunition, the latest addition to the OICW family of ammunition. Below the 20mm is the small KE (kinetic energy) module (i.e. rifle) for close in use loaded with 30 rounds of 5.56mm M855 “penetrator” rifle ammunition.

The gunners, fully confident in this new weapon system and it’s immense capabilities, place the simple red aiming dot within the TA/FCS on the lead lightly armored Iraqi vehicle in their sector of fire and depress the “lase” button situated along the curved portion of the trigger guard. The night’s sky is of no use in masking the Iraqi force as they had foolishly hoped. The selectable thermal or passive night vision modes of the TA/FCS pierce the darkness turning night into day for the defenders. The erbium glass laser, with pinpoint accuracy of 1 meter at 1,000 meters, flashes against the vehicle and 1/10 of a second later informs the TA/FCS that the target is now at 900 meters, well within the gunners effective range.

The effects of the first OICW HEDP round fired in combat are astounding. The shaped charge of the dual purpose warhead burns it’s way through the thin armor of the Russian-built BTR-90 drivers compartment and explodes within scattering it’s deadly steel and tungsten shrapnel throughout the vehicle. Six of the nine occupants are severely wounded two are killed outright.

The other airborne gunners along the defensive line have similar results against the Iraqi vehicles. The Iraqi commander issues the command to dismount wrongly assuming the vehicles are being attacked with anti-tank weapons and that his infantry would fair better dismounted. The second mistake of the Iraqi force, besides attacking the American paratroopers armed with this new “wonder weapon”, has just been made. The Iraqi infantry, now protected by only their steel helmets and Russian-made body armor, comprised of Kevlar material and titanium plates, become the first order of business for the American defenders.

The Iraqis rush forward firing wildly at the American lines with their AKM’s. B Company’s gunners now switch from 3X to 6X magnification to pick out the choice targets amongst the Iraqi infantry. Inserting a fresh magazine of six high explosive fragmentation (HE frag) rounds, one gunner picks out a light machine gunner armed with a Russian RPK, selects the “AB” mode on the OICW Fire Control System and lases the unfortunate recipient. The digital readout within the TA/FCS, seen above the adjusted red aiming dot, reads 827 meters. Our hero places the red aiming dot on the target and depresses twice the “-” button near by the laser control switch. An instantaneous electronic signal is transmitted to the fuse in the grenade by the fire control system warhead through a coil in the 20mm barrel providing the necessary internal and external ballistic and atmospheric data the round will need to accurately attack the target downrange. When the digital read out within the sight reads 825 meters a simple squeeze of the OICW’s single trigger launches the 20mm grenade at the target. By reducing the range by two meters the gunner has accounted for the forward movement of the enemy squad to insure that the 6 meter air bursting radius of the grenade, twice what was specified in the OICW ORD (Operational Requirements Document), can take full effect on the advancing troops.

In the instance before launch the TA/FCS signaled the warhead that once it has traveled 825 meters it is to air burst three meters above the aiming point. After launch the 1,200-grain, 2.75-ounce grenade counts it’s own rotations as it “flys” to the target at nearly 800 feet per second. Some five seconds later it arrives like a lethal bird over the unsuspecting Iraqi machine gunner and detonates.

The results, like that against the BTR-90, are impressive and deadly for the unfortunate Iraqi troops within its lethal umbrella. The shrapnel from the bimodal (dual fragment) warhead of the OICW 20mm HE Frag round easily perforates the steel helmets and the Russian flak vests. Those not hit drop to the ground to reduce their exposure to the unknown incoming American fire only to provide a larger target for the lethal fragments from the air bursting grenades of the OICW. Within seconds a second round arrives and, for this squad at least, the fight is over.

Iraqi troops scurrying to hide behind their dead or the disabled vehicles are not even safe. For the first time in the history of combat the individual infantryman with the OICW can now engage and defeat targets behind cover, in the defilade. Gunners “add range” to the grenades and fly them around the side or over the vehicle hulks, what with direct fire rifles and grenade launchers used to be the cover, and engage the hidden enemy regardless. Incapacitated, dead or dying, during this battle the Iraqi forces never advanced to a range where their rifles could be used with any real effect on the American defenders.

With the entire enemy force either dead or dying and no sign of reinforcements, Company B is sent to collect the prisoners and help with the Iraqi wounded. With cover from the fourth platoon and their OICW’s in overwatch position, the remainder of the company separates the lower 5.56mm KE modules from the 20mm grenade launchers portion. They attach a simple lightweight buttstock stored in their rucksacks to the 4 pound 5.56mm weapon and advance to survey the carnage they have created against their opponent. All the while they are protected by the OICW’s to their rear and it’s capability to accurate and precisely place a 20mm HE grenade over their heads and in the lap of any enemy solider with bad intentions.

The U.S. force defeats the numerically superior Iraqi motorized infantry brigade after only one hour and without firing a single shot from a rifle. The enemy attack stalled at 700 meters and never advanced within the range of the Iraqi’s individual weapons. Because of this the members of B Company, 2/325 were never in any real danger from the Iraqi infantry. There are no American casualties. The Iraqi’s lose 500 men that lie dead or dying in the fine Arabian sand, not one killed by a bullet. The OICW gunners fired some two hundred 20 mm OICW rounds total for the 100 man parachute company against the attacking enemy infantry at a range twice that of the maximum effective range of their long gone M16A2 rifles and more recently replaced M4 carbines and 40mm M203 grenade launchers.

The future is just around the corner Obviously the above scenario is a hypothetical situation, but one that could be realized as soon as the year 2005 if the current OICW program remains on schedule. In it’s fourth of five phases of development, a small quantity of complete OICW “systems” are currently being fabricated for the conduct of safety and field testing at Aberdeen Proving Ground and Fort Benning starting in mid to late 1999.

The OICW program is a Joint Service Advanced Technology Demonstration (ATD) begun in 1994 and managed by the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC) located on the Picatinny Arsenal in New Jersey. The OICW is expected to replace some or all of the M16/M203’s and M4 Carbines within select units in all branches of the U.S. military. Performance of the first complete prototype OICW in 1998 from the successful Alliant Techsystems team was so successful that the military hopes to advance the fielding of the weapon in the year 2005 by a full 12 months. (Editor’s Note: Watch for a live fire SAR test as soon as we get the opportunity)

The development team remaining includes the prime contractor, Alliant Techsystems from Hopkins, MN, responsible for system integration and the futuristic HE bursting ammunition. Heckler & Koch, the famed weapons builder from Oberndorf, Germany is developing both HE and KE modules of the OICW, the actual “bullet launchers”. Contraves-Brashear of Pittsburgh, PA is responsible for the design of the Target Acquisition/Fire Control System for the OICW and the integration of a unique target tracker system from a British firm known as Optec. The fourth member of the team, Dynamit Nobel from Troisdorf Germany, of the HK G11/ACR caseless ammunition development program, is involved with developing product improved 5.56mm KE ammunition for the OICW. It is interesting to note that to win the critical fourth phase of development in this program, the “down select”, the Alliant Tech team had to beat out a larger and very capable team lead by AAI with FN Herstal responsible for the weapon.

To describe the OICW it pays to compare it to current fielded weapons, in particular the issue U.S. M16/M203 combined weapons system. Comprised of a 5.56mm select-fire rifle and add-on single shot 40mm grenade launcher fitted with simple iron sights, this weapon system weighs 14.5 pounds loaded with one 40mm grenade and 30-rounds of rifle ammunition. The maximum effective range of this weapon is generally considered to be 460 meters in competent hands. The rifle is the primary weapon in this combo; the grenade launcher being used for area personnel targets and for delivering high explosive grenades to selected point targets. With a thermal weapon sight for use at night the M16/M203 weighs 16.5 pounds and costs an estimated $29,000. A similarly equipped M4A1 Carbine with modular rail system and various targeting accessories with a slightly reduced maximum effective range weighs in at 19.5 pounds reportedly costs the tax payer $35,000.

The OICW is a dual weapons system consisting of a separable 20mm High Explosive (HE) module and 5.56X45mm NATO Kinetic Energy (KE) miniature select-fire “carbine”. In contrast to the M16/M203 the 20mm HE module of the OICW weapon system is considered the primary weapon leaving the KE module for close-in protection or assault roles or for targets where rifle fire is more appropriate, and cost effective. Each component of the OICW can be separated from the other by the operator and used by itself as determined by the mission. For MOUT operations in urban environments, for artillery crews or vehicle drivers the small, lightweight, fast handling KE module with its 8-10 inch steel sleeved titanium barrel would serve well in offensive or defensive roles at ranges out to and including 300 meters. Targets beyond 300 meters become the focus of the OICW’s 20mm grenade launcher.

The OICW 20mm grenade launcher fitted with a detachable pistol grip/trigger mechanism could be used solely as a smaller and more lightweight (@ 8 pound) semi-automatic grenade launcher where the KE module is not required. Firing less-than-lethal munitions the 20mm launchers could also serve well in crowd control operations.

The advantages of the OICW system compared to those of conventional weapons are far reaching. No longer limited to engaging the enemy with direct fire munitions (bullets) the air bursting 20mm grenades offer a leap forward in combat capability not realized before in the history of the infantry. In comparison, the advent of the long bow, self-contained cartridge, rifled bore and the machine gun are small arms developments that certainly changed the nature of battle. However, as revolutionary as these inventions were none had the potential for changing the planning for, the actual conduct of and the outcome of land battle as that promised by the OICW.

The air bursting munitions alone, with their maximum effective range of 2 1/2 times that of the current 40mm low velocity cartridge fired from the M203 for example, will extend the range that infantry can effectively and decisively engage and destroy enemy targets to a range of 1,000 meters, more than one half mile. The precision provided by the laser range finder, ballistic computer and turns-counting fuse in the air bursting 20mm grenade will allow the infantryman to incapacitate or kill outright enemy soldiers without the need to actually hit the target. Like all fragmenting projectiles the probability of hitting the target with shrapnel from the air bursting grenade increases the gunners ability to inflict injury on the enemy without the need to score a direct hit. Anything within a circle greater than 19 feet (6 meter bursting radius) will most likely take at least one hit from the deadly high speed fragments, most of which are sufficient to inflict serious injury, even through most types of protective equipment. Unlike the conventional point detonating grenade, like that fired from the M203 or MK19, the air-bursting grenade does not drive the vast majority of its fragments into the ground upon detonation.

Moving targets, multiple targets, targets obscured by smoke or fog, targets sensitive to damage such as electronic or optical equipment can be easily and effectively engaged without the need for a direct hit. Even slow moving helicopters are potential targets for the OICW. Aiming errors induced by the effects of combat stress that cause misses with conventional rifles will influence to a far lesser degree the high probability of hitting and incapacitating with shrapnel short and long range targets because of the air bursting function of the OICW’s 20mm grenade.

At no other time in our history has the individual warrior had the capability to engage his opponent hiding behind cover or in a foxhole. The air-bursting mode provided in the OICW’s TA/FCS provides for this ability by the man carrying an individual weapon. In the past only indirect fire crew-served weapons like mortars and artillery provided this capability. This ability to hit the enemy nearly anywhere he may hide is very close to becoming reality for the American fighting man. The ability to add distance to the round prior to launch but after lasing the target will allow the OICW user to hit targets around corners, behind berms, inside fighting positions, in vehicle commander copulas, inside buildings either through open or closed windows or even targets hidden behind light building materials. Simply select the fuse mode of operation in the TA/FCS for the grenade and the system does the rest.

In addition to the Air-Bursting (AB) mode the OICW offers a Point Detonating (PD), Point Detonating Delay (PPD) mode, Window Mode for shooting through glass and a short arm MOUT arming mode for use in Close Quarters Combat (normal arming range is > 14 meters). All grenades have a built-in timed self-destruct feature that will detonate the warhead to reduce or eliminate dud rounds in training areas and on the battlefield. The electronic package in the TA/FCS also allows for various modes of operation to include day, night and television for capturing the view of the gunner for direct feed to the helmet display of the future Land Warrior integrated combat ensemble and/or to unit commanders in real time.

A single rechargeable battery housed within the buttplate of the HE module powers the entire fire control system. Should the battery fail, a rudimentary aiming point is provided within the fire control systems field of view which allows effective though degraded target engagements for both KE and HE weapons. Modern portable power sources “batteries” on today’s battlefield are common and generally very reliable. Back up “iron” sights are also molded into the synthetic housing of each weapon module for aiming without the use of the TA/FCS.

The OICW has fully ambidextrous operating controls and is arranged in an over/under configuration. One trigger is used to fire both weapons. A barrel selector switch determines which weapon is fired with a squeeze of the sole trigger. The mode of fire is selected by the left and right sided safety/selector lever and offers semi-automatic fire for the 20mm and semi-automatic and 2-round burst for the 5.56mm module. The KE module attaches to the HE weapon in seconds using operator removable pushpins and an integral locking rail. The KE weapon uses standard M16/M4 magazines inserted forward of the pistol grip. The 6-round 20mm magazine is produced from polymer material and protrudes from the base of the weapon behind the pistol grip making the HE module of the bull pup design. This design allows for a weapon of relatively short overall length.

The KE weapon is gas-operated using a highly modified HK G36 rifle dual gas system with rotating locking bolt and fixed barrel. The 20mm grenade launcher is recoil operated with rotary locking bolt. The barrel and bolt remain locked together during initial rearward movement. The design of the HE module with it’s advanced recoil mitigation system reduces the felt recoil to the shooters shoulder to just slightly more than that of an M16 rifle. The goal was for felt recoil shooting the 20mm grenades of 90% of that from an M14 rifle, a goal that was achieved by the designers on the very first prototype tested by the U.S. government. This low recoil allows for a sustained rate of accurate fire with the HE module of 10-18 rounds per minute, to include the process of lasing the target.

Materials used in the design of the OICW are as advanced as the performance of the weapon system. The barrels of both weapons are produced from lightweight titanium with a steel liner for durability and resistance to bore erosion. During first prototype testing it was determined that both barrels will withstand the firing of more than 10,000 rounds without degradation of accuracy. The weapons exteriors are produced from light weight yet tough fiber reinforced polymer material that resists exposure to temperature extremes, thermal shock, chemical compatibility and decontamination, rough handling and the normal abuse weapons take in the hands of combat Soldiers, Marines, Airmen and special operations personnel. The entire OICW can be field stripped in minutes without tools and is cleaned using a slightly modified 12 gauge shotgun cleaning kit.

Lethality – Will technology pay off?

All of this highly touted technology and advanced materials is nothing more than fancy window dressing, science fiction as opposed to science fact if you will, if in the end the weapon system cannot perform as intended where the rubber hits the road. The entire purpose of the OICW is to increase the combat capability of the current and future infantryman by dramatically increasing his probability of hit and incapacitation. Under the stress of actual combat, errors are induced in accurate aiming and those marksmanship skills otherwise easily mastered making target engagement extremely difficult even by the accomplished marksman. The fact that in combat the enemy often does shoot back, targets are moving, obscured by smoke, concealment or cover or are presented to the shooter at long ranges all reduce the hit probability of the infantryman with individual weapons that fire kinetic energy ammunition (i.e. bullets, buckshot, flechetts, etc.). There is simply little or no room for aiming errors with a rifle regardless of its rate of fire or the type of projectiles it launches.

In the past this elusive goal was not attained through the use of weapons firing multiple projectiles from one case or bursts of projectiles fired at very high rates of fire. The 1960 era SPIW (Special Purpose Individual Weapon) program reversed the roles of the current OICW making the “bullet launcher” the primary weapon and the grenade launcher the area fragmenting weapon, similar to what we have today in the M16/M203 weapon system. Like the Advanced Combat Rifle (ACR) program that came along some twenty years after the demise of SPIW, advanced bullet launching technology, to include caseless, duplex and flechette ammunition could not provide the 100% increase in hit probability required to advance that technology to the point of production and fielding.

The air bursting munitions of the OICW program, and it’s sister program the Objective Crew Served Weapon (OCSW), make up for aiming errors which result in clean misses with kinetic energy weapons by showering the target with lethal fragments detonating in the air anywhere within 6 meters from the target. As is the case with hand grenades and horseshoes, close is good enough. However, the OICW throws that horseshoe 1,000 meters with accuracy well within the lethal footprint of the grenade.

A second and more revolutionary advantage of the air bursting munitions of the OICW is the ability for the first time in the history of ground combatants for the warrior to engage the enemy behind cover or in the defilade. Never before has the infantryman been able to engage targets behind corners or inside fighting positions or behind a berm with his individual weapon. These were targets that only crew served weapons such as mortars or artillery could effectively engage. Rifle grenades, 40mm grenades fired from the M203, mortar rounds that detonate upon impact with the ground drive much of their lethal payload into the earth. Air bursting munitions provide a far greater potential for hits on target and thus incapacitation of the intended recipient than point detonating munitions.

Cost Effectiveness

What is the cost of state-of-the-art small arms technology? Is the payoff worth the price? If the results of the very first full OICW system tests in January 1998 are any indication, the future potential of the OICW looks extremely promising. The OICW will change the way in which the American military fights battles just as the long bow did and the machine gun and tank centuries later. America’s unfortunate enemies will be at a great disadvantage when faced with the awesome combat capabilities of the OICW and the overmatch performance it will provide to its users.

The current forecasted unit price of one OICW complete with its TA/FCS is approximately $10,000 compared to the $620 cost of one M16A2. However, one must be careful to compare apples to apples. The $10,000 unit price of the OICW includes its thermal module, built-in laser range finder, sensors and ballistic computer, passive night vision and video capability not to mention separable weapon modules. This cost can be directly compared to the M16A2/M203 with thermal and passive night vision sights which is reported to cost Uncle Sam @ $29,000, or @ $35,000 for the M4A1 carbine similarly equipped.

Projected 20mm ammunition costs are @ $30 per round versus that of the current M433 40mm round. However one is wise to keep in mind the 1,000 meter range, air bursting lethality and the critically important pounds per kill weight ratio in which the 20mm OICW grenade clearly has the advantage. The charts below graphically depict the cost versus weight versus effectiveness arguments in favor of the OICW 20mm air bursting munitions over the current M203 40mm low velocity, point-detonating M433 grenade.

The future is here

The Alliant Techsystems candidate OICW system performed superbly in the Phase 3 down-select tests that eliminated the formidable AAI team from further consideration. The Alliant Techsystems weapon met all seven of the mandatory exit criteria and exceeded four of the seven. With years of additional R&D time to perfect, lighten and toughen up the OICW one can expect the OICW prototype of today to become even leaner and meaner beyond it’s already advanced capabilities.

Short of carrying a thick Kevlar, titanium or steel umbrella, if the OICW progresses as expected enemy troops opposing U.S. forces will quickly learn the hard way that with OICW, there is no place to hide.

The German woman was becoming a real pain. I knew we were in trouble when I saw her Birkenstock sandals. CPL Pat Cooper had rendered initial first aid to the German relief worker, while I carried another woman away from the road accident. Their Land Rover hit a roadblock, went off the road and flipped over right after passing our three vehicle convoy. We were enroute to Mogadishu from a 10th Mountain division camp near Marka at a high rate of speed because darkness was falling. CPT Dan Dobrolwski, 513th MI Brigade, quickly organized a perimeter. Although an MI officer. ‘Ski and I had both been rifle platoon leaders in the 2d Infantry Division on the Korean DMZ in ’86 and he quickly slipped back into the combat troop leader mode, commandeering an M60 machine gun and organizing vehicle shakedowns of civilian traffic entering our perimeter which crowned the roadway. Within five minutes there was a crowd of about 100 civilians lining the road. We waited for assistance that never came.

Before we pulled out to medevac the relief workers ourselves an English aid worker asked me what should be done with the weapon. Weapon? Sure enough, with all the khat chewing Somalis milling around there was a loaded G-3 laying atop the vehicle’s underside. I hastily cleared the rifle and shoved it at him telling him, “here take this, sling it muzzle down and whatever you do, don’t play with the damn thing.”

It was not the first G-3 I’d seen in the past few weeks. There were weapons all over the country. Everywhere I went there was an arms room filled with the same hodgepodge assortment of small arms captured from the local thugs. The captured, confiscated, or voluntarily surrendered weapons were predominately Kalashnikov’s as most Somali “gun men” were armed with Kalashnikov’s. I can’t endorse the Kalashnikov enough as an all-around great battle rifle for the African continent. It is ideally suited for the harsh field conditions in desert and bush environments of the Dark Continent where operator maintenance is minimal and old crankcase oil or goat fat frequently suffices for weapons lubricant. The simplistic, robust design of the Sergeant Mikhail T. Kalashnikov’s perfect peasant rifle is just the ticket for arming a bunch of illiterate, primitive tribesmen who’ve never handled anything more technologically advanced than a transistor radio. Some of these people still believe that setting a sight on a longer range increases the hitting power of the bullet. Explaining trajectory and bullet drop is akin to teaching quantum physics. While AK’s , M-16s, and G-3’s were the most common weapons I saw in Somalia there was also a wide assortment of weapons laying about including at least one example of the more common European small arms made in this century.

SGT Jako from the 10th Mountain Division S-2 (Intelligence) shop in Kismayo showed me inside the locked CONEX container where they kept a stash of captured weaponry. I almost burst into tears at the sight of badly rusted Thompson .45 submachine guns destined for the demolitions pit, knowing that even in their rough, used condition the venerable Chicago Pianos were a collectors dream. There were also stockpiles of heavily used PPSh-41s. I would guess that the stocks of both these submachine guns had been idle for some time due to ammunition shortage. While both are considered long obsolete in modern military armories they are serviceable and dependable weapons found yet in the world’s backwaters. I saw both weapons fielded later that year (1993) in Bosnia and to good effect. A heavy World War II era submachine gun may not be on par with a modern assault rifle, but in combat it sure beats throwing rocks.

In the corner beyond the Thompson’s was another “obsolete” American weapon, a very pristine M14. No doubt there were a few USMC vets of the Southeast Asia Wargames back at MARFOR headquarters who would’ve appreciated this robust weapon. I carried an M-14 (actually an M-21 sniping rifle with ART-2) in combat as late as 1986, and think it is a fine weapon. A really interesting find was a Smith and Wesson 1917 service revolver, the one chambered for .45 Long Colt but used with the .45 ACP and half moon clips. Strangely enough it had a short snub nosed barrel. The finish was 100% and the grips were pristine. It looked like it was boxed out of the factory yesterday. I am still mystified as to how it escaped damage in the sandy wastes of Somalia. Large numbers of M-16s were previously provided to Somalia by the U.S. government when Said Barre’s regime was considered a bulwark against Mengistu’s Marxist government in Ethiopia. Ironically some of our troops came under fire from these weapons with significant numbers being captured and confiscated.

It seemed like there was one of everything. SKS carbines were piled on top of M-1 Garands which leaned against Mannlicher-Carcanos, flanked by Czech LMGs and rusting Mausers. Besides the G-3s there were also a few MG 42s. The myriad collection of weapons bespoke Somalia’s tortured path on its way from feudal state to nationhood and back to tribal chaos. I noted a few .303 Lee-Enfield No. 4 rifles. Millions of these rifles were made in England, the U.S. (by Savage Arms Co.). Canada, Australia and India. These were undoubtedly left behind in British Somaliland, used in Orde Wingate’s Abyssinia campaign, or issued during the post-war protectorate. The British ruled all of Somalia after the war until the Italians returned as the UN trustees in 1950. Somalia being a former Italian colony there were large quantities of Italian weapons. Several examples of the Beretta Model 38/42 submachine gun (differing from the 38A by its lack of a cooling jacket) were captured in Kismayo. The precision machining and finishing on the pre-war Model 38A’s was eliminated during the war to ease the manufacturing process. But, even with a stamped tubular receiver it proved to be a reliable and robust submachine gun. I know of only one reference to the Breda Model 1935PG 6.5mm rifles. The Breda was a substandard rifle built for export in the late 1930’’ ( a 7mm variant was sold to Costa Rica in 1937) and many were shipped to Ethiopia. I kept my eye out for one of these rifles. I have yet to even find a photo of one and am beginning to think it is a chimera. The bolt-action 6.5mm M91 Carcano rifles and carbines, however, were well represented with hundreds of examples, mostly in poor to junk condition. With the wide availability of various select fire weapons, especially Kalashnikov’s, I assume most were carried by herdsmen. Interestingly, it was this area of the world where it was determined there was a need for a larger caliber replacement for the 6.5mm. It was in the course of their campaign to subdue Haile Selassie’s Ethiopia defended by Spear carrying tribesmen that the Italians decided the 6.5mm was not enough of a man-stopper. The 7.35mm cartridge was introduced but with the advent of World War II the Italians thought it unwise to switch calibers and most of the 7.35mm Carcanos (M1938) were sold to Finland. Some were re-barrelled with 6.5mm barrels by the Italians. Near the end of World War II limited quantities of these weapons were re-chambered for 7.92mm Mauser. The Germans, who were pressing anything that launched a bullet into service, re-designated the 6.5mm rifles as the Gew 209(I) and the 7.35mm rifles as Gew 231(I) and rebored them for 7.92mm. Due to the increase chamber pressures generated by the 7.92mm Mauser cartridge it is unsafe to fire these weapons. I also saw several M59 Beretta rifles, in my opinion, one of the better Italian made weapons. When the U.S. adopted the M-14 the Italians decided to adapt its M-1 Garand (made under license by Beretta). The resulting weapon was an M-1 chambered to fire the NATO 7.62 round, modified to fire bursts, and fitted with a 20-round magazine and a grenade launcher / muzzle brake.

Later, back in Mogadishu I had the opportunity to examine a Breda Model 30 Italian Light Machine Gun.. The Breda, although one of the first machine gun made with a quick change barrel and, while exhibiting excellent workmanship, was a badly flawed design. A delayed blowback operating gun with a recoiling barrel (like the Italian 1914 Revelli) it has a large bolt with multiple locking lugs. The magazine is permanently attached and is loaded with a twenty-round “horse-shoe” charger of brass or cardboard. On top of the receiver is an oilpan and pump. Because of faulty loading and ejecting inherent in its design, weapons oil is injected onto the rounds and they’re fed through the side loading fixed-box magazine. It obviously didn’t fare too well in the sandy wastes of Ethiopia and Libya.. leading to the old joke about the Italian Army making better shoes than machineguns. When ‘Ski and I disassembled the weapon, which was in remarkably immaculate condition, we found the parts were serial numbered and they all matched. This was a museum quality piece. We attempted to arrange for its shipment to the U.S., but to no avail. It would be destroyed like several other museum pieces, including some priceless Wilkinson sabers which went into the demolition pit with everything else.

Large quantities of captured/confiscated weapons were shipped to the Embassy Compound where they were destroyed. Unfortunately the preponderance of weaponry was tempting. An Army lieutenant was arrested attempting to ship home an AK-47. A few troops I talked to displayed their “drop guns” – pistols such as Lugers, WWII-era Berettas, and Baby Brownings —acquired in Somalia and carried for personal protection or to insure they could produce captured weapons from dead bodies after a fire fight if needed. It’s too bad our troops worried as much about surviving the Monday Morning quarterbacks as they did surviving combat patrols. Despite the availability of many suitable weapons the well-deserving soldiers and marines of Operation Restore Hope were restricted from bringing home a legal war trophy.

Some of the people who justly deserved a war trophy were the U.S. Marines (India Battery, 3/11) who manned several of the camouflage net covered sandbag outposts guarding the Embassy’s outer wall and the main outer gate to the U.S. Embassy Compound. I spent a little time wandering around the perimeter and getting to know the leathernecks responsible for the security of my work site and the area where I slept (quite comfortably) in a GP Medium tent. The positions were all 2-man positions which included night vision devices and an M249 SAW (squad automatic weapon). While some automatic weapons positions had range cards others did not; it seemed to be a gunner prerogative rather than a result of SOP (standard operating procedures) or orders from their tactical small unit leaders. Then again some had non-existent fields of fire and most of the marines I spoke to eschewed the M249 SAW, citing inaccuracy. They preferred their M16A2’s..”every Marine a rifleman.” Fine with me as I always knew where to find a squad automatic, and I much prefer a SAW or an M60 to a “16 any day. From their outpost on the Embassy wall’s southwest corner they had a good view of a Somalia “prison.” Nighttime executions were a common event with the Marines holding front row seats … no tickets required. LCPL Jessie Nunez told me he engaged a Somali armed with an RPG crawling over the Embassy wall just across the street from this “prison.” Despite the occasional “sniper” rounds thudding into their sandbags and the nightly spectacle of nearby Somali versus Somali firefights they spent most of their day shifts bored by routine and harassed by Somalis begging for food.

Perimeter security and reaction teams were handled by these marines and personnel from Force Service Support Group guard force. Additionally there were sniper posts located on top of various buildings in the compound as well as on K-7, a building outside the Embassy – considered key terrain because of its commanding height and fields of fire. Marines (artillerymen from Echo Battery 2/12 Marines) attached to the 3/11 Marines also performed mounted and dismounted patrols outside the Embassy and the airfield.

At approximately 0130 10 January, 1993, a fifteen man patrol traveling in Humvees spotted what appeared to be armed Somalis, the patrol dismounted near K-7. Moving stealthily down the alleyway while hugging the walls they were fired upon by an unknown number of Somalis. Going to ground most of the patrol quickly burned off some rounds, but the whole firefight was over quickly; the lieutenant screaming ceasefire before some of the Marines were even able to fire their weapons. The snipers from K-7 engaged multiple targets using either a .50 Barrett or a Remington 700, (no one would confirm which) and claimed two kills (later confirmed). The patrol accounted for another confirmed and a probable. Marines I spoke to remarked favorably on both weapons.

U.S. weapons which saw the most duty in Somalia were the M16A2 – which performed well, but required more attention in keeping out sand than other weapons – and the Beretta M92F 9mm pistol: not as well liked as its forebear the trustworthy and easy to use M1911A1 .45 ACP. I had opportunity to carry Colt and Beretta pistols in Somalia, but not the weapons mentioned. I was alternately armed with a Colt Officer’s model .45 ACP and an Egyptian “Helwan” copy of the 1951 Beretta 9mm. The .45 began jamming on me due (I believe) to the temperature change affecting the Blazer CCI hollowpoints I was loading. While my Pakistani 9mm ammo worked okay the Helwan’s eight-shot single-stack magazine was next to useless. It continually filled with sand, despite my best efforts to keep it clean. Pistols became a problem for many in Somalia. I saw a female naval officer (an 0-6 Captain, if I remember correctly) fumble with her pistol. She had wrangled a trip ashore and a “joy ride” through Mogadishu. Both her and the male subordinate accompanying her were so fat and out of shape they had problems climbing into the back of a 2 1/2 ton truck. She had to be helped to load her pistol. There were too many of such “officers” and not enough “shooters.” Lieutenant colonels and majors literally swarmed about the Embassy compound, all moving with that air of brisk, self-important military efficiency inherent to minor staff officers. All off to carry out some obscure staff function in an office identified with a string of acronymal letters. I have never before seen so many field grade officers in such a concentrated space. I think they outnumbered the grunts. Because most of these staff types all carried pistols there was a clearing barrel at the inner wall of the Embassy compound. A sign said, “No Negligent Discharges (or You will Fry!)” A reference to the consequences of any less-than-mundane action in the modern zero-defects army. A scorecard was kept on a piece of MRE cardboard and identified negligent discharges (they are no longer considered “accidents”) by service and country. It was removed at the behest of some colonel. The numbers were beginning to look embarrassing anyway.

Since the Somalia mission was a UN operation there were troops from all over the world: Sweden, France, Canada, Italy, Botswana, Morocco, and Pakistan – to name just a few. Of course all the contingents were armed with their own national weapons. While some, like the Botswanans and Moroccans, carried weapons purchased from other countries, most carried native manufactured weapons. The intelligence unit I was working with shared a building, the old library annex, in the outer Embassy compound with some Australians. Over 900 Australians (wearing those funny looking hats) were deployed in support of Restore Hope, and took over U.S. responsibilities in Baidoa. For the Australians it was the largest deployment of Aussie troops since their participation in the Vietnam war. Although their officers were equipped with well-worn Browning 9mm Hi-Powers the diggers were carrying brand spankin’ new AUG variants.

One of the most significant changes in Australian Defence Force (ADF) weaponry had just come about. After extensive test trials the Australian Government armed its troops with a new small arms weapons system designed to serve the ADF into the 21st century: the Austrian 5.56mm Steyr AUG (Armee Universal Gewehr) “bullpup”. The Austeyr (Australian Steyr) is manufactured under license in Australia with three models in production: the Austeyr F88, the Austeyr F88-C (Carbine) with a barrel 4” or 100mm shorter than the standard F88 rifle, and the Austeyr F88-S which lacks the integral 1.5 power sight, allowing the mounting of the AN/PVS-4 Night Vision Sight. Some of the Aussies commented that they’d prefer to have their SLRs or M-16s rather than the Austeyr. A female MP I spoke to liked it because of its shorter length and perception of lighter weight.

A few days after the Australian contingent was reinforced I went up to Baidoa as they were taking over the mission there and I watched some Aussies prep for a patrol. Along with some inquisitive Diggers I inspected some captured “technical” vehicles (pickup trucks with machine guns on improvised mounted) at Baidoa. Besides the usual shot-up Toyota trucks (one of which mounted a 106 mm recoiless) were a Flat 6614 APC (which mounts a 12.7mm machine gun) and a Detroit built truck mounting an AA gun. The technicals were captured by the 15th MEU USMC. The one mounted with a recoiless was used to kill 25 civilians and painted on the side was a slogan in Somali, which translated as, “We must Kill and Loot, Nobody will survive when we attack.” Another “technical” was emblazoned: “Ruthlessness and Gold in my Religion.” The next day one of the diggers in Baidoa discharged his Austeyr in the back of a vehicle. The round struck the barrel of his mate’s Austeyr splintering the round and wounding two others with the fragments.

After visiting the Aussies in Baidoa it only seemed logical to check out the Belgians in Kismayo, a port city south of Mogadishu, where Somali workers unload grain shipments. I flew into the air-strip there where 10th Mountain Division troops on top of the terminal building watched the access road to Kismayo airport and the troop barracks in the terminal building. The security detachment was well armed with M16s, M203s, a Mk 19 grenade launcher, as well as an M24 sniper rifle. The access road was blocked with 55-gallon drums filled with rocks and sand. The security detachment had a stand off distance of a few hundred yards to engage any “suicide car bomber.” No more Beirut’s. Designed for possible future conversion to .300 Winchester Magnum the M24 was built around the M118 Special Ball 7.62mm NATO “sniper” cartridge and on the Remington Arms commercial M70 long bolt action and the M40 custom trigger. The M24 Sniper Weapon system (including a Leopold Ultra M3 10X sighting telescope) was first issued in 1987 and was soon fielded to all infantry, ranger, and special forces units. It accounted itself well in Panama and later in the Persian Gulf.

When I helicoptered into Kismayo I noticed a flurry of activity. The Belgian paratroopers at the port had taken casualties in a flurry of grenade attacks in the past 24 hours. On the ride through town the driver of the Humvee tossed me his M16, but happily the trip was uneventful. The paratroopers wearing maroon berets with SAS “Who Dares Wins” cap badges and armed with FNC 80 Para folding stock carbines (and little else) had encountered an ambush just a few hours before. A Belgian Paratrooper I chatted with showed me the shrapnel wounds dotting his leg received in the ambush earlier. The doc had simply dug out the frags, gave him some aspirin, swabbed the holes with mercurochrome, and sent him back to duty to monitor patrol reports. Another had been wounded in the top of the head while firing from the prone – a preventable injury if Lee Paras had worn helmets. The FNC 80 is a good weapon for paratroops with its folding metal stock with rubber buttplate. Unlike many other FN rifles the recoil spring is in the piston rod assembly.

Just a few years previous to the United Nations intervention in Somalia the Italians, the former colonial masters of Somalia, were armed with a variety of weapons including the Beretta 12S 9mm submachine gun, the BM59 series of rifles, the 5.56mm AR70/.223 assault rifle made by Pietro Beretta SpA, and the SC70, the folding stock carbine version of the AR70/.223. While sold in limited numbers to Jordan and Malaysia, the AR70 (resembling the SIG 530-1 externally) and SC70 “special troops carbine” was fielded solely by Italian special operations forces. The development of the AR70/90 was prompted by defects in the design of the AR 70 and after the Italian Army announced competitive trials for a new service rifle in 1984 Beretta produced the AR70/90 in 1985 and introduced it into service in 1990. So the Italians were carrying rifles that had only been in their inventory for 2-3 years.

French Foreign Legionnaires, many from the garrison in nearby Djibouti, in their berets, short-shorts, and sunglasses were easily recognized by their FA-MAS (Fusil Automatique – Manufacture d’ Armees de St. Etienne) 5.56mm bullpup rifles. Called Le Clarion (the bugle) by the French troops because of its unconventional design, it is a good infantry weapon, especially suited to accurate fire from the prone position with its 25-round magazine and integral bipod. The short overall length (30”) also makes it ideal for vehicle mounted troops. The French were the first to field a bullpup rifle, and unlike subsequent bullpup rifles (the Steyr AUG and British L85A1) the FA-MAS is the only one which allows rapid reconfiguration to a left-shoulder firing weapon. Somalia was my first opportunity to see the FA-FAMAS in action and two very bored Legionnaires were keen to accommodate my curiosity. One thing of note: their magazine change was conducted with the weak or non-firing hand, something I’ve always done with a magazine-fed select fire weapon, but alien to some people.

Swedish troops, most headquartered at the “Swedish Hospital” which supported the UN mission, wore US desert pattern “chocolate-Chip” battle dress uniforms but were armed with the M45(B) Carl Gustav 9mm (kulspruta pistol submachine gun aka “Swedish L”. Influenced by their Finnish M31 Suomi submachine guns (manufactured under license by Sweden’s Husquvarna Vapenfabrik as the Model 37-38) and impressed by the success of crude but effective World War II submachine guns such as the British Sten and the Soviet PPSh-41 and PPS-43, the M45, was developed in the 1944 as a mass-produced, inexpensive weapon. While a well-made high quality weapon simple and uncomplicated in design, the fully-automatic M45 firing its 9mm pistol cartridge is only effective to about fifty meters. Still, an adequate weapon for military police guarding a hospital.

It seems like everybody in Somalia was fired at. The first time some Somali thug sent some rounds my way it was three short bursts of automatic, and nobody could locate the shooter. Sometimes shots were actually exchanged and some Somalis killed while other times it was anybody’s guess if the fire was even aimed directly at us, or just burned off into the air as harassment as we drove pass. With the distinct possibility of being perforated with some of the habitual (and at times somewhat desultory) gunfire, riding around Mogadishu and traveling throughout Somalia was not without its perils. But for a weapons aficionado attached to U.S. special operations it was still a hell of a good time.

Rob Krott, a former Army officer (Infantry and Special Forces units) studied East African cultures at Harvard University. A Swahili speaker with on-the -ground time in the area of operations he was hired as a Dept. of the Army civilian consultant and assigned as the Assistant Team Chief, Somali Linguist Team, in December ’92, deploying to Somalia in January ’93.

For further reading on Operation Restore Hope in Somalia the author recommends; Losing Mogadishu by Jonathan Stevenson and Black Hawk Down by Mark Bowden.

December, 1999. End of the Century, end of the millennium. Perhaps there are those that will argue this whole thing is off a year or two due to calendar differences, etc., but the whole “Y2K” computer thing sort of throws this into perspective. January 1, 2000, is the date we will all consider to be the “Big one”, perhaps until January 2nd. At SAR, we are preparing in a big manner. Woodpiles are split, MRE’s are under everyone’s desk, our special black helicopter identifying binoculars on the windowsill. Lots of ammo is stowed, and I personally have been hoarding the rare parts sets “Just in case”. I see myself needing a 1910 Russian Maxim in the worst way. And some more night vision stuff, and some more DSHK ammo, and some more 308 Galil magazines… Oooh yeah, I need another barrel for my ZK383…

Just kidding. I sound like I’m making a Christmas wish list. We are watching out for this, as best we can. We are hoping to have the January SAR out well before December 31, and on the way to your hands. We also have been going through computers to make sure we won’t have Y2K problems. Hopefully that will be the extent of our problems to solve.

Y2K is probably the least of our problems as gun owners. On the heels of this crisis, or non-crisis, depending on your point of view, is a very real spectre. There are oily black clouds spewing out from the foundries in the land of Mordor, and they are headed this way. You got it, I am talking about the growing encroachment of the anti- Second Amendment fanatics into the Free Zones. Reports are coming in from almost all of the States about a massive build up of these fanatics. Disguised as caring, nurturing people, they are part of a well coordinated assault on the Second Amendment.

If I had a Christmas message other than one that was delivered about 2000 years ago, it would be about the message that was delivered about 200 years ago. That one came from blood and suffering, and hard earned lessons, and left us with a legacy of freedom. That is, if we can keep it.

The infighting in our groups is incredible, and very counter-productive. We need a united front. I back the NRA, all the way. I back the GOA, all the way. I back the JFPO, all the way. There are others as well. I don’t care about infighting, keep it in the closet. This election year coming up could be the most important one that this country has ever faced.

November of 2000 is going to be too late to start caring. If you value your freedoms, then start now. I am not going to try to dictate “Who” or “Which party” someone should be in. I am a big hairy cheerleader for the voting process, which starts NOW. Not on the day you cast a ballot, but NOW. If we value our freedoms, then we must fight for them. Many of us involved with SAR may have served in the military. I hate to say it, but that was then, and it might not have been enough sacrifice given today’s “Give away the freedom” climate. We all need to get active, today. Call the different gun groups. Call your congressmen. Go to the formative rallies. And GET THE VOTE OUT!

– Dan

Dear SAR,

I just had to pass this information on to you. I am stationed with the U. S. Army in Germany, and have been for many years. I just got a letter from the Provost Marshal, indicating that the German government is withdrawing the permits that U.S. service men and women had for their firearms. This places U. S. military personnel in the position of breaking German law if they continue to own any of the firearms that have been rescinded. My firearms are kept on post, but they will still be illegal, and the units are requiring us to turn them in for safekeeping. I am disgusted by this. (This letter was sent with attached letter from the Provost Marshal requiring the turn in of the firearms, and some news reports on the issue.)

Name with held on request

I am flabbergasted as usual by the U. S. Military stance on personal firearms. The freedom of our military personnel on their posts should echo the freedom that they have within our borders here. I fear that political correctness is eroding away at our military’s backbone, and this is just one more case. Lest anyone think I don’t understand the freedom that is surrendered when you enter the military, I was Regular Army way back when, and I know that Uncle Sam owns you. HOWEVER, firearms ownership is as American as Apple Pie, and traditionally the military has encouraged marksmanship and firearms ownership in its regular forces. In the last ten years or so, firearms have been becoming a bugaboo, and disturbing situations like (Name withheld’s) are getting more common.

Why would a young man who has the warrior’s spirit go into today’s military? I am not getting caught up in the gender battle here- simply pointing out one of the major impediments to modern recruiting. If you want to be part of a fighting force, to enjoy the esprit de corps, be part of something bigger than yourself, then you by nature are involved in firearms use. Because some country that we have posts in has strict regulations regarding firearms ownership, does not mean that our military personnel on our base should be restricted.

By Al Paulson

As the dawn of a new millennium approaches, small-arms designers and military planners around the world are developing new cartridges and individual weapons for the coming century. One of the most thought-provoking concepts for a new military rifle cartridge comes Finland. Viewed by its designer, Juha Hartikka, as the next logical step in the evolution of assault rifle cartridges, the new round incorporates such interesting concepts as a straight case, a standard projectile diameter of between 4 and 5 millimeters, a bore diameter of 9 to 10 mm, and a screaming muzzle velocity of 1,500 to 2,000 meters per second (circa 4,900 to 6,500 fps). This round should be lighter than current assault rifle ammunition and it should be cheaper to produce. The same case design is loaded with a heavy 9-10 mm projectile to produce a subsonic round for use with a sound suppressor. The same barrel would be used for firing both ultra-high velocity 5 mm projectiles as well as subsonic 10 mm projectiles without any modification whatsoever. Furthermore, a rifle designed for this cartridge should be simpler and cheaper to manufacture than a weapon designed for the 5.56x45mm round. Clearly, these are ambitious design goals.

The M/2030 cartridge incorporates some novel and some well-established design concepts. The two key elements to Hartikka’s cartridge design are a countersunk base in the cartridge case and a subcaliber bullet with sabot. Hartikka envisions a remarkably simple and inexpensive weapon for this cartridge that operates from the straight blowback principle. The rifle would fire using two different ignition modes depending upon whether semiautomatic or full-auto fire is selected. The weapon would fire from the closed bolt for semiautomatic fire to optimize single shot accuracy, while it would fire from an unusual open-bolt design for full-auto fire to minimize recoil and shot dispersion. Open-bolt firing would feature advanced ignition within a very long chamber before the bolt reaches battery position for smooth full-auto fire. After discussing each of Hartikka’s cartridge design elements in some detail, we’ll take a look at how the overall cartridge design will impact weapon design.

Cartridge Design

The projectile for the standard ultra-high velocity M/2030 round—which one might term a hypersonic cartridge—looks rather like a plastic 10mm hollow point bullet with a large pointed spike sticking out of the cavity. The spike is manufactured from a hard metal alloy or ceramic, while the surrounding accelerator or sabot is fabricated from plastic. The light weight of the plastic accelerator—combined with the plastic’s low coefficient of friction with the barrel—enables the subcaliber bullet and sabot to reach very high velocity before reaching the muzzle.

Using a discarding sabot is a relatively old concept, dating back at least to the 1940s, when German designers developed a new artillery round called the Peenemunder Pfeilgeschoss (the Peenemunde Arrow Projectile). Modern ultra-high speed, fin-stabilized subcaliber arrow-shaped penetrator rounds are based upon the Pfeilgeschoss concept. While these tank rounds are extremely accurate, the discarding sabot concept has not been as successful thus far when applied to ammunition of rifle rather than cannon caliber, due somewhat disappointing accuracy.

A notable exception to such accuracy problems is Winchester/Olin Corporation’s Saboted Light Armor Penetrating cartridge or SLAP for short. Variants are available in 7.62x51mm (U.S. military designation M948) and .50 BMG (12.7x99mm, military designation M903 for the .50 caliber SLAP and M962 for the .50 caliber SLAP-Tracer). The 7.62mm rounds function reliably in most weapons, including bolt-action rifles, the M60 machine gun, the M134 Gatling gun, and the M240 machine gun. The M903 SLAP round is particularly relevant to the present discussion, since it delivers comparable accuracy to 7.62x51mm match-grade ammunition. Winchester’s success with this SLAP round clearly demonstrates that it is, indeed, possible to make a saboted cartridge of rifle caliber that will deliver acceptable and even outstanding accuracy. Winchester’s success with the SLAP round provides encouragement that Hartikka’s concept of a saboted round may be viable (for more information on Winchester’s SLAP rounds, visit the website at http://www.army-technology.com/contractors/ammunition/winchester/index.html).

The conical bullet of the Hartikka’s M/2030 hypersonic round has a caliber about half the diameter of the bore. A sabot seals the bore ahead of the combustion gases, carrying and guiding the bullet down the barrel, after which air resistance discards the sabot from the bullet. Since the subcaliber projectile neither centers itself in the bore nor slides down the rifling of the bore, it can be designed for optimum flight characteristics at supersonic speeds. This means using straight, smooth surfaces. While a teardrop shape is the ideal form (in terms of exterior ballistics) for projectiles traveling at subsonic velocities, this is a poor shape at supersonic speeds. Based on wind tunnel tests leading to the design of the Concorde supersonic passenger jet, Hartikka believes a bullet tip shaped like a straight, sharp cone is best. A shorter cone makes an efficient base at these velocities.

If this double cone bullet leaves the muzzle at Mach 6 (six times the speed of sound), Hartikka’s research suggests the projectile will fly 300 to 500 meters in almost a straight line until the bullet goes transonic. Once this bullet becomes subsonic, it destabilizes, tumbles, and drops suddenly. The net result is a cartridge that shoots to point of aim out to half a kilometer, while providing a shorter danger zone beyond the weapon’s effective range, minimizing the potential of collateral noncombatant casualties.

The same case can be loaded with a full caliber rather than subcaliber projectile to produce a subsonic cartridge similar in performance and recoil characteristics to a 9x19mm or .40 S&W submachine gun round. In fact, the full caliber case for the M/2030 is designed to produce muzzle velocities ranging from 290 mps (951 fps) to 450 mps (1,476 fps) depending on bullet weight, so this round could be tailored to give .357 Magnum-like performance out of a straight blowback rifle.

Thus a single weapon could be used as a Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) or an Objective Personal Weapon (OPW).

Weapon Design

The weapon Hartikka envisions for the M/2030 cartridge draws its inspiration from World War I, when the Coenders brothers of Germany developed a 20mm automatic aircraft cannon for Reinhold Becker using a novel design that used an unusually long chamber and a bolt that actually entered the chamber. German and U.S. patent applications date from the first year of the war, 1914, and U.S. Patent 1,144,285 was issued in June 1915. Manufactured by Stahlwerke Becker of Reinickendorf, Germany, the Becker automatic cannon featured simple blowback operation, inertial locking, a remarkably light weight of just 66 pounds (30 kg), a 12-round detachable box magazine, a barrel length of 40 calibers, a cyclic rate of 400 rpm, and a muzzle velocity of 1,570 fps (479 mps). While designed expressly for use from aircraft, the successful Becker design was also pressed into an anti-aircraft role late in the war.

After the cessation of hostilities, the design was licensed to the Swiss automotive company Seeback Maschinenbau Aktien Gesellschaft (Semag) near Zurich in order to circumvent the terms of the Treat of Versailles. Using German financial backing and personnel, Semag modified the design to incorporate a longer cartridge and barrel to achieve higher average muzzle velocity of 2,247 fps (685 mps). This weapon was mounted on a wheeled cart with seat for the gunner, and was marketed in 1921 as the Semag Infantry Gun. Years later, this weapon was still in service and saw combat during the Spanish Civil War of 1936-1939 and during the Sino-Japanese War of 1937-1945. Both the 20mm Becker aircraft gun and the 20mm Semag infantry gun were a success on the battlefield. But Semag overreached the technology in 1923, when the company upsized the Becker design to fire a 25mm round. The resulting automatic cannon was too heavy for infantry use and the company foundered.

The Swiss firm Werkzeug Maschinenfabrik Oerlikon subsequently took over the rights to Becker’s patents, and by 1935 Oerlikon was producing a new family of 20mm automatic cannons—using three different 20mm cartridges—based on the innovative Becker design. Germany adopted the Model S aircraft variant of the Oerlikon, and this Becker-type automatic cannon served the Luftwaffe with distinction through the Battle of Britain. Oerlikon also adapted the Becker design for its 20mm anti-tank rifle, the SSG36.

Operating by the straight blowback principle, the original Becker cannon fielded so successfully during World War I uses a 20mm round with almost a straight cartridge case. The cartridge features a rebated base that enabled the use of a slimmer bolt face that could follow the cartridge into the weapon’s unusually deep chamber.

A striker hits the primer about a half inch (a bit more than one centimeter) before the cartridge is fully seated in the weapon’s chamber, a practice commonly called “advanced ignition” or “floating fire” in various languages. The Becker design is particularly innovative since the cartridge is already completely surrounded by the very long chamber at the moment of ignition, so the combustion gases cannot burst the case before the bolt has reached battery position.

An instant after primer ignition, bolt momentum pushes the rebated cartridge to the front end of the barrel’s extra-long chamber so the expanding case can seal against the rearward pressure of the expanding combustion gases. Gas pressure then pushes the empty case rearward through the long chamber until the projectile emerges from the muzzle and gas pressure drops to a safe level.

Using very high bolt velocity as a substitute for a securely locked breech has three principal advantages: (1) it enables the construction of a lightweight cannon, (2) it dampens weapon recoil considerably, and (3) it dramatically reduces vibration during full-auto fire since the bolt is effectively buffered at both ends of its cycle. This latter phenomenon occurs because advanced ignition within the long chamber buffers the bolt’s forward movement, while the long main operating (recoil) spring buffers the rearward movement.

Like the Becker cannon of 1914, a 21st century weapon designed for Juha Hartikka’s new M/2030 round would feature simple blowback operation and an extra-long chamber to support the cartridge case from the moment of advanced ignition until the bolt reaches the battery position when full-auto fire is selected. Unlike the Becker cannon, Hartikka’s assault rifle would fire from the closed bolt when semiautomatic fire is selected. The long chamber would support the fired case during the subsequent first phase of bolt movement out of battery.

One of Hartikka’s principal innovations is that the bolt head and extractor would push into the base of the M/2030 cartridge case, rather than using a more conventional design where the bolt slides over the base of the cartridge. This approach facilitates sealing the extra-long chamber of the simple blowback assault rifle. This concept also enables looser tolerances on the bolt, since it will self-center on the hollow cartridge base.

Thanks to the relatively light projectile weight of this hypersonic cartridge, ultra-high projectile velocity does not require ultra-high chamber pressure. A subcaliber projectile that is half the bore diameter should be able to achieve about four times the acceleration of a bullet that is twice the diameter without raising chamber pressure. This will probably require the development of a faster powder than is currently being produced to achieve hypersonic (Mach 5) velocities, but very fast powders are now available for experimenting with M/2030-style saboted cartridges. The plastic case of the hypersonic round would feature a metal primer cup to reinforce the base of the cartridge, and a novel primer of neither Boxer nor Berdan type that sits directly against the powder.

Using a plastic case requires forming the powder into a compressed briquette that fits snugly in the case, in order to provide enough case rigidity for proper magazine functioning. When the primer ignites, it forces the saboted bullet forward into the rifling of the bore uniformly and at low velocity before the powder briquette ignites. This eliminates the initial instability normally associated with a saboted rifle projectile as it detaches from the cartridge case, thus eliminating one of the factors contributing to the relative inaccuracy commonly seen in saboted rifle cartridges. It is worth noting that compressing nitrocellulose powder into a solid briquette using solvents for gluing the grains together is established technology. Lapua, for example, was using compressed powder for unbulleted cartridges as early as the 1980s.

The subsonic M/2030 round uses conventional powder, bullet, and Boxer or Berdan priming, while its hollow base cartridge case is made out of brass rather than plastic.

Since the hypersonic M/2030 round uses a plastic case and subcaliber projectile, these will be relatively inexpensive and lightweight cartridges. Furthermore, the countersunk cartridge base of both the hypersonic and subsonic rounds enables the use of a very simple and inexpensive weapon design not unlike the Sten submachine gun. In fact, a Sten could be modified into a proof of concept gun by adding a new barrel, bolt and magazine. Juha Hartikka, who has designed and built more than 300 different silencer variants since 1990 (many of which are marketed by Asesep„nliike BR-Tuote Ky, Sahamyllynkatu 33, 80170 Joensuu, Finland), has also developed the design for a specially reinforced sound suppressor capable of handling both the subsonic and saboted hypersonic M/2030 rounds. Using a saboted round with a suppressor not expressly designed to deal with a discarding sabot could lead to catastrophic structural failure.

While the terminal ballistics of the hypersonic round remain unproven and an ideal powder for the hypersonic round is not yet available, the innovative concept of the dual performance hypersonic and subsonic M/2030 rounds is thought-provoking to say the least. Developed with input from Finnish ammunition and small-arms guru P.T. Kekkonen (whom I view as a “Living National Treasure” of Finland), Juha Hartikka has spawned a concept which has some fascinating implications for the future of small-arms design. Hartikka is continuing the development of this countersunk cartridge base, hypersonic projectile concept. The latest iteration is called the M/2060 cartridge. But that’s another story. Meanwhile, anyone interested in learning more about Hartikka’s work can visit his website (http:/www.personal.inet.fi/business/reflex.suppressors), e-mail him (j_hartikka@hotmail.com), or write him (Juha Hartikka, 83430 Käsämä, Finland).

By Robert M. Hausman

Welcome to Las Vegas, Nevada’s largest city and, the gambling capital of the world. Your arrival here (for the SHOT show) and the fact that you are reading Small Arms Review, signifies your interest in things that move quickly, such as full-auto firearms. The 24-hour nature of the town means you will always find something to see and do here-not many people get bored in Las Vegas!

Nevada’s Gun Laws

Since Nevada is a “free state,” in that there are no prohibitions against owning Class 3 firearms and accessories, the following special section is tailored to your pursuits as it provides you with a detailed listing of where to buy and rent fully-automatic firearms in the Las Vegas area. But first, since many firearms enthusiasts are also history buffs, you may be interested in learning some of the region’s background.

Spanish explorers seeking gold gave the name “Nevada” to this state, the name of which was derived from two Spanish words meaning snow-clad. The reference was to the nearby Sierra Nevada mountains. Nevada’s nickname, The Silver State, comes from the large amounts of silver once mined here. It is also sometimes called The Battle Born State, as it was admitted to the Union during the Civil War.

If you go for a drive outside the city limits, you will note this Rocky Mountain state is a land of unusual beauty and variety of scenery. Huge rocky plateaus gleam brilliant red in the sunshine, and the salt flats of the deserts glisten in white. The flowers blooming on yucca, cactus, and sagebrush plants add smatterings of color to the vast stretches of sandy desert. Snow covers many of the peaks of the towering mountain ranges the year-round and you can find crystal-clear streams and blue lakes in the valleys.

Although Nevada ranks as the seventh largest state, it was the last Western region to be explored. Its great natural wealth remained unknown until the 1843 expedition led by John C. Fremont. In 1859, prospectors Peter O’Riley and Patrick McLaughlin discovered very rich gold deposits mixed with silver at Virginia City. Miners soon flocked to the area and development began.

After the stock market collapse beginning the Great Depression in 1929, the state began seeking ways to get itself out of financial trouble. One of the things looked at was the trouble and expense of enforcing laws against gambling, considered a victimless crime. As a result, in 1931 a law was passed allowing all forms of gambling that would increase state and local revenue coffers by licensing gambling devices. Gaming establishments grew rapidly in the ensuing years and so did the state’s income. World War Two brought another boom as munitions manufacturers needed large quantities of the state’s copper, magnesite, manganese and tungsten deposits.

Undoubtedly, you will try your luck in the casinos, but coming away a winner there is largely a matter of chance. A more sure-fire way to be a winner is to visit one or more of the following Class 3 firearms dealers and/or range operators. They offer the necessary service, selection, and advice to make your trip out here a memorable and pleasurable one with your particular interests in mind. Have fun!

The Gun Store: Closest To The Strip

Located on Tropicana Avenue, just minutes from the center of activity on the Las Vegas Strip and the airport, The Gun Store welcomes SOF conventioneers and SHOT show attendees to its easy to find and well-marked site.

Though a smaller retailer, the 12 employees of the approximately 5,000-square-foot facility stand ready to make your visit to Las Vegas a memorable one. There are two indoor air conditioned ranges available. The first contains six lanes, while the other contains three shooting lanes. Both ranges are 15 yards in length and are equipped with electrically- powered target carriers, explains Dave Johnson, a range officer and firearms instructor.

The Gun Store offers one of the widest selections of rental submachine guns in town. Availability includes: an HK MP5 in 9mm; a 9mm UZI; Smith & Wesson Model 76 in 9mm equipped with a sound suppressor; a MAC M11 in 9mm with suppressor; MAC 10 in .45 ACP; 9mm Colt M-16; Steyr MP691 in 9mm; a venerable Thompson M1A1 in .45 ACP; a modern HK MP5 in 9mm; a vintage M3A1 “Grease Gun” in .45 ACP; a British Sten Mark II in 9mm; Reising M50 in .45 ACP, Schmeisser MP40 9mm; and a Madsen M50 9mm submachine gun. In addition, there are a wide variety of rental handguns available, ranging from chamberings in .22 rimfire on up through .44 Magnum. The range is capable of handling firearms chambered for handgun calibers only.

Submachine gun rentals cost $30 per gun, per person, which includes 50 rounds of ammo and one paper target. For those “compulsive shooters” who can’t stop, additional ammunition can be purchased at an average cost (depending on caliber) at $15 per 50 rounds.

Handgun rentals involve a $5 range fee plus a $5 gun rental fee, and the cost of the ammo and targets. Anyone can bring in their own handgun and either shoot their personally owned handgun with their own ammunition, or purchase ammo from the range.

Like all area retailers, The Gun Store places a great emphasis on safety. A member of the store’s staff stands beside each shooter using a submachine gun on the range. The firearm’s operation and the range safety rules will be explained to all shooters and safety procedures are strictly enforced. All range users must sign a waiver of liability absolving the store of liability for sustained injuries occurring while using the facility.

In addition to renting full-auto firearms, The Gun Store is also a Class 3 dealer. While no full-auto inventory of guns for sale was maintained at the time of the author’s visit, virtually any submachine or machine gun can be ordered for residents. They are also dealers for such “conventional” firearm brands as Glock, Colt, Ruger, Smith & Wesson and Taurus.

While there were no live full-auto firearms for sale, there were a couple of other interesting items for sale at the time of the author’s visit. These were a deactivated German MG34 and a Garcia Bronco 12-inch barreled combination rifle shotgun in .22 rimfire over .410 bore. The Bronco piece can be sold with the payment of just a $5 transfer tax, along with the necessary paperwork and approvals.

For Nevada residents, or for those contemplating joining the approximately 3,000 families per month who are moving to the Las Vegas area, The Gun Store offers 10-hour concealed weapons classes which are required for obtaining a state concealed weapons permit. Only about one-half hour of the course time is spent on the range qualifying for the weapons permit. The remainder is spent in the classroom. In order to qualify for the permit, a shooter must fire at and keep all shots within the center area of paper targets set at distances of three, seven and fifteen yards, Johnson says.

The permit allows the holder to carry a maximum of two guns, and the prospective permit holder must demonstrate proficiency with his or her chosen gun(s) during this live fire qualification test. The classroom and range qualification course must be taken and passed before the application is filed for the concealed weapons permit. Concealed weapons classes are given twice a week to between 60 and 100 students.

The retailer also conducts an 11-hour security certification class for those seeking employment as security guards. The Gun Store’s owner, Robert M. Irwin, has authored an excellent little guide entitled, “Guidelines For Carrying Concealable Firearms In Nevada.” Available for sale within the store, it is well worth its modest cost of $1.95.

While anti-gun world leaders, such as Great Britain’s Tony Blair proclaim their people “Do not have guns – and do not want them,” the visitors to The Gun Store’s range tell a different story. A large percentage of the foreign tourists renting guns at this range are from that gun-banning country.

The Gun Store is open seven days a week, from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. There is plenty of parking in front of the facility. The address is 2900 East Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89121. It is just 3-1/2 miles from such major hotels as the MGM Grand, Tropicana and Excalibur. From the Strip, just take Tropicana Avenue East past the airport. The store will be on your left, marked by a large blue and white sign. Their telephone number is: 702-454- 1110. FAX: 702-454-6129.

American Shooters Supply: The Largest Range Facility

Las Vegas’ American Shooters Supply and Gun Club, Inc. is billed as the largest indoor shooting range and firearms training center in the southwest.

In conjunction with the SOF Convention, a special HK MP5 submachine gun class is offered. Taught by Robert William Olague II, an HK master MP5 instructor, the four hour course involves the expenditure of 250 rounds of ammo. Limited to 10 students per class, the tuition is $250 per registrant.

Originally founded in 1984, the facility’s 25 newly remodeled shooting lanes are divided into 15 lanes at a maximum distance of 25 yards for handguns and 10 lanes for rifle shooting at a maximum distance at 50 yards. The rifle range, said to be the only indoor range in the city of Las Vegas where centerfire rifle calibers can be fired, can handle anything under 4,000 feet-per-second which excludes .50 caliber rifles, but allows the firing of virtually everything else, says rangemaster Jesse Dalton. Participants in the SOF 3-gun match are invited to visit and sight-in their rifles, shotguns and handguns.

Submachine Gun Rentals

The submachine guns available for rental (at the time of the author’s visit) included a Thompson Model 28 in .45 ACP, a S&W M76, an UZI carbine, and a Sten Mk. II. Five more fully-automatic firearms are on the way and may be available for rental by the time of the SOF convention, including a HK MP5 SD, and an M3A1 “Grease Gun.”

Machine gun rentals cost $30 for those chambered for 9mm ammunition and $50 for shooting the .45 caliber Thompson. These prices include 50 rounds of ammunition, use of eye and ear protection, lane fee, paper target and basic instruction. Additional shooting time can be had for the cost of the ammo which must be purchased from the range.

Minors with a parent or guardian present can shoot any gun they own on the store’s range, as well as rent handguns and submachine guns. Unaccompanied persons under 21 cannot rent submachine guns.

Rifle rentals, including semi-auto versions of the AK-47 rifle, cost $30 with 20 rounds of factory ammo. For those desiring to shoot their own handguns, cost to use the handgun range is $6, plus $1 for rental of eye and ear protection and targets are just fifty cents each. Customers can use their own ammo with personally-owned handguns, but no incendiary, tracer or armor piercing loads are permitted for obvious reasons.

Club memberships are available at $200 per year, which includes free use of the pistol and rifle ranges, free eye and ear protection rental, and free submachine gun, handgun and rifle rentals, although members must pay for the ammo consumed. Members also enjoy a 10% discount off all merchandise offered at the range, including ammunition, targets and accessories.

American Shooters Supply and Gun Club plays host for the “Outdoor Writer’s Shoot” each year the firearms industry’s major trade event, the S.H.O.T. Show, comes to town. Firearms writers are given an opportunity to fire newly introduced guns and test their shooting skills against one another during this annual shooting event. Prizes are awarded to the best shooters.

Next door in the retail store, a full line of sporting and police equipment is available, as well as body armor. The store is a fully licensed Class 3 firearms dealer, and can order virtually any fully-automatic firearm a customer may desire, Dalton adds.

Four full-time NRA certified firearms instructors are employed at the range. Due to the growing business volume, four more are expected to be hired soon. Since Clark County, which encompasses Las Vegas, recently outlawed the firing of guns outdoors (except on an approved range) this ended the practice of many local shooters of driving out to the wide open areas of the desert to shoot. This county move has resulted in an increase in business for all the area ranges.

Course Offerings

The facility’s instructors offer a wide range of courses including the aforementioned HK MP-5 course, as well as basic rifle, and expandable baton training. For conventioneers bringing the wife or non-shooting friends or relatives along, these folks may be interested in American Shooters Supply’s Basic Handgun Orientation course. Developed to be of interest to the beginner or even the seasoned competitor looking to brush up on shooting skills, this two hour course is designed to take all students to a higher level of firearms proficiency.

The course includes personalized instruction with a male or female certified instructor, ammunition, range fees, targets and even the gun rental if you did not bring a firearm along. Class time is divided into one hour in the classroom and one hour on the range. The tuition is $55 per person and both afternoon and evening classes are available by appointment.

CQB Course

Of particular interest is the Close Quarters Handgun Course presented by American Shooters Supply. The course has as its goal to develop students’ firearms skills to be able to bring a favorable conclusion to a high-intensity armed confrontation. The course objectives are the teaching of survival shooting techniques, mental conditioning, advanced marksmanship, and to strike a balance between speed and accuracy.

The course is taught by Joseph N. Teti, who has nine years experience in both the U.S. Marines and the U.S. Army Special Operations forces. He has seen combat in Beirut, Panama, Haiti and numerous classified operations. Teti has attended 15 formal military and civilian schools in special operations including: U.S. Army Special Forces qualification course (weapons); U.S. Army Special Forces military free-fall H.A.L.O. parachutist course; U.S. Army and U.S. Navy combat diver qualification courses; and the U.S. Army close quarters combat instructor course.

In addition, Teti attended the U.S. Army Special Forces operational detachment-Delta assessment and selection course; Countermeasures Tactical Institute tactical firearms urban combat course and close quarters handgun course; Investigative Specialist Executive Security School; Front Sight handgun instructor course; and he is an NRA certified pistol, personal protection and home protection instructor. Teti has also performed unconventional warfare, direct action, special reconnaissance, foreign internal defense, and counter-terrorism missions abroad.

Tuition is $300 and class sizes are limited to 10 students. For more information, contact American Shooters Supply or Joseph Teti at 702-663-0288.

For Nevada residents, American Shooters Supply’s training instructors conduct state certified concealed weapons permit classes. All course materials are provided with the exception of the firearms you intend to carry. Private, as well as group classes are offered.

Dalton points out Nevada allows no reciprocity on out-of-state issued concealed weapons permits. So, even if your home state has issued you a permit, you will not be able to use it to carry concealed in Nevada.

State concealed weapons classes are 12 hours in length, divided into 4 hours on laws related to firearms and self-defense, 4 hours on firearms nomenclature, and 4 hours on the fundamentals of marksmanship and range time. Nevada is a “preclusion” state, Dalton adds, meaning one threatened must use all reasonable means to avoid the use of deadly force.

One who employs deadly force can only do so lawfully if it can be proven his/her life was in jeopardy, that the antagonist had the ability to cause death or grievous bodily harm, along with the means to do so (such as with a deadly weapon) and that the encounter could not be precluded by escape or other methods, Dalton cautions.

American Shooters Supply & Gun Club, 3440 Arville Street, Las Vegas, Nevada 89102. The hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m Monday through Saturday and 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Sunday. Telephone 702-362-1223.

Discount Firearms, Inc. & Range: Worth The Trip

Though further away from the Strip than most other ranges covered in this SHOT special section this ailer and range operator located in the town of Henderson, Nevada more than makes up for approximately 30-minute drive with its low prices and friendly service.

This approximately 5,000-square-foot store is run by Mike O’Donoghue and his wife Anna. The range contains eight shooting lanes all at 15 yards maximum target distance. Only handgun caliber guns may be fired.

The full-auto firearms available for rental (at the time of the author’s visit included: a Thompson Model 21 in .45 ACP, an M2 Carbine in .30 caliber; an HK MP5 9mm; a 9mm UZI, and an HKMP5SD submachine gun. There is also a variety of handguns for rent on the range. The price for submachine gun rentals is just $20 which includes a full 30 round magazine.

The range fee for shooting a handgun is only $6 and for those 55 and over it is $3. Handgun shooters are not required to purchase their ammo at the range. Use of eye and ear protection is provided free. Range memberships are available for an annual $150 per person fee. Couples can join at a rate of $250 for both partners.

Discount Firearms is also a Class 3 dealer and there were three submachine guns for sale. These consist of a MAC M11 with suppressor, a Vector Arms UZI, and a MAC M10 in 9mm. Virtually any Class 3 item can be ordered for state residents. For handling the paperwork only on a Class 3 firearm transfer, a modest $50 fee is imposed.

The store is a local law enforcement distributor for Glock and Heckler & Koch products, so a wide range of police merchandise is available. One of the most popular long guns with local police, is the Colt AR15A3 which can be sold only to law enforcement officers. Being a police-friendly establishment, any commissioned law enforcement officer, from any part of the country may use the store’s range free-of-charge.

Handgun Training Class

In addition to gun rentals, Discount Firearm’s concealed weapons class which qualifies graduates to apply for a state concealed weapons permit, is so comprehensive, that visiting shooters already licensed to carry in other states, or contemplating obtaining a concealed weapons permit in the near future, may wait to take the 12- hour class to learn what is involved when one carries a gun, or as reinforcement of prior learning.

The cost is just $85, which includes ammunition for the live fire segment. The courses are taught by a network of six NRA certified firearms instructors twice a month, usually on Saturdays. Experienced shooters usually improve their performance by about 20% after taking the class, O’Donoghue has found.

The course content includes a review of handgun knowledge, safe handling and cleaning; handgun safety and child-proofing; handgun shooting and firing positions; ammunition nomenclature; firearms and the law; laws related to concealed weapons permit holders; avoiding criminal attack; and, controlling violent confrontations.

Required course materials are: a notepad; firearm cleaning kit (available at the range); handgun(s) you plan to qualify with (hey must be stored in a holster or carrying case unloaded. All ammunition must remain in original package. If you have not yet chosen your qualification firearm or feel more practice is needed, the qualification firing may be performed at a later date); eye and ear protection (Available at the range. Though earplugs are accepted, they are not recommended for use on the store’s indoor range); Practice ammunition (Ammo for the qualification firing is provided. How much practice ammunition students consume depends on their skill level).

O’Donoghue mentions one of the most important keys to shooting well is to remember the “BRASS” approach. Breathe, Relax, Aim, Sight, Squeeze. If this method is followed, virtually anyone can become a good shooter.

Though Nevada is a “shall issue” concealed carry permit state, applicants can be denied the permit for any of the following reasons: having an outstanding arrest warrant; felony conviction; a judicial declaration of incompetency or insanity; habitual abuse of alcohol or drugs; conviction for a violent crime including a misdemeanor; conviction for domestic violence or stalking; been subject to a restraining order, or other order of protection involving domestic violence; currently on parole or probation; pending entry of a felony conviction or recent suspension of a sentence for a felony; pending criminal charges; or, making false statements on the permit application.

O’Donoghue is a great believer in self-defense training for women and is willing to schedule one-on-one training with ladies. Healso believes children need to be educated about the dangers of firearms and their proper use. Free shooting instruction is offered to youngsters with .22 rimfire guns while under parental supervision. “Today’s kids are my future customers, and if I can help them develop the self-discipline and responsibility needed to become good shooters, these positive character traits will carry over into their endeavors later in life,” O’Donoghue says proudly.

If you visit on Monday or Thursday evening, you can expect to see a group of about 60 retirees on the range. They are known as the “Senior Militia,” and regularly get together to shoot at the facility.

The literature rack at the door, contains the latest firearms legislative briefings from the National Rifle Association’s Institute for Legislative Action, as well as newsletter from local shooters organizations and firearms manufacturer’s catalogs. There is also a lounge area with restrooms, soda and snack machines, a water fountain and free coffee.

To Visit

From the Las Vegas Strip area, take Tropicana Boulevard East to the Freeway entrance and get on 93/95 heading east and follow signs to the Freeway southbound. Get off at the Sunset Boulevard exit and make a left at the traffic light. Proceed under the overpass until you reach Boulder Highway. Make a right and the store will be about a mile down the highway on the left hand side of the road.

Discount Firearms, Inc. & Range, 1212 North Boulder Highway, Henderson, Nevada 89015. Telephone 702-567-1158. Internet address: www.vegasnet.net. Store hours are 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. The range closes one hour before the store.

Machine Gun Kelly’s Gun Vault

Las Vegas, Nevada, is known for its sunny and dry climate, legalized gambling and variety of entertainment. A lesser known aspect of the city is the large amount of dealers in Class 3 firearms, particularly the full-auto variety. One such dealer is Kelly D. Carn, better known as “Machine Gun Kelly,” co-operator of a store called the “Gun Vault.”

Originally from Utah, Carn was formerly a restorer of classic automobiles before joining the approximately 3,000 families per month who are moving to the Las Vegas valley. Initially after arrival, Carn managed a couple of car rental agencies but soon grew tired of being an employee and yearned to have his own business. Drawing upon his lifelong interest in firearms, he started renting table space at area gun shows where he sold firearms accessories such as stocks, scopes and ammo.

He soon developed a specialty of selling parts and accessories for the SKS and AK-47 type rifles which were being imported in large quantities at the time. To differentiate himself from his competitors, Kelly developed sources of supply for some of the more rare parts for these rifles. He favored these rifles, as he was impressed with their durability as they require much less cleaning and maintenance than do rifles such as the AR-15, which he says require much more maintenance to retain reliability. Due to his specialty in selling parts for the AK rifle series, Kelly Carn developed the nickname “Machine Gun Kelly” at the gun shows.

Having achieved a great deal of success at the gun shows, Carn decided to become a storefront dealer and applied for the necessary federal and local licenses. He also took in a partner, Richard C. Weber. Their store, located in a small shopping center, opened its doors in July 1997. In an interesting sidenote, Carn mentions that when he first applied for his licenses, he intended to use “Machine Gun Kelly’s” as the name of the business. He was advised, however, by the licensing authorities that his applications would not be approved if that name were used. Thus, he chose the alternative name, the “Gun Vault,” and his advertising notes it is owned by “Machine Gun Kelly.”

Las Vegas is a machine gun town, as it contains quite a few Class 3 dealers. For those wanting to get their feet wet and try firing a machine gun for the first time, there are a number of indoor ranges from which to choose that rent full-auto firearms for use on the premises. Residents with a clean background can readily obtain the required signature of a chief law enforcement officer which is required on the federal transfer documents to purchase a machine gun, according to Carn.

Author’s note: obtaining the required signature of the local chief law enforcement officer (CLEO) has been a major stumbling block to full-auto ownership in many areas in which such firearms are otherwise legal. Some CLEO’s have adopted policies in which they have refused to sign the machine gun acquisition documents, citing liability concerns in case the buyer should use the gun for unlawful purposes or their own feelings that no one should own a machine gun.

Carn says the majority of his business is in conventional hunting, self-defense and target shooting firearms. Class 3 guns make up 15% to 20% of his sales and his stock of such firearms varies from as few as 30 to as many as 75 guns, at any one time. An increasing amount of customers are buying full-auto firearms not for shooting, but as financial investments, Since Congress imposed a freeze on the number of legal machine guns in circulation in 1986, prices have gone up in the years since. Carn says machine gun prices have risen an average of 25% over the last year alone.

While the store’s inventory varies, one of the most popular full-auto firearms is the MAC machine pistol series, particularly the MAC-11, originally produced by Military Armament Corp. of Marietta, Georgia. “They can still be usually purchased for under $1,000 and they shoot really fast,” Carn comments. Also popular are the Ruger AC556 rifles, as well as the ubiquitous AK-47.

Carn has developed a certain amount of expertise in handling the transfer process for machine gun buyers and says he can usually get approval in as little as seven to eight weeks. He questions why the transfer process should take so long as there is now an “instant check” system in place for reviewing the backgrounds of buyers of conventional firearms.

The MAK-98

An NFA manufacturer, Carn has developed a semi-auto modification of the popular MAK-90 rifle. Called the MAK-98, a new Norinco-manufactured MAK-90 rifle is modified by pressing out the barrel, shortening it to nine inches in length and threading the muzzle. The gas tube, gas piston and both handguards are shortened accordingly. The front sight is sectioned and welded to the top of the gas block.

A dummy suppressor is then threaded onto the muzzle and welded in place, returning the barrel to 16-1/2 inches and thus keeping the firearm within the status of a legal semi-auto rifle. The entire front-end is hot-blued and then reinstalled. Finally, the rifle is test- fired to ensure its function.

When the finished MAK-98 is compared to an unmodified MAK-90, the overall barrel length will be found to have increased slightly by about one-quarter inch. If the finished MAK-98 were compared to a pre-ban AK-47 pistol, the barrel and handguards on the MAK-98 will be found to be actually shorter than those on the pistol.

While the present store comprises about 900-square-feet, Carn and his partner are considering expanding into the space next door, which would give them an additional 1,000- square-feet of space. Further down the horizon, the partners may build their own range. While there are a number of ranges in town, all allow shooting of submachine guns only. Carn and his partner’s vision is to build the first and only range where belt-fed machine guns would be available for rental use.

Aficionados of Class 3 firearms will find much of interest in this store. If a visit to Las Vegas is in your future plans, you should stop by when in town. There is a wide variety of conventional firearms available, as well as a selection of specialty ammunition.

“Machine Gun Kelly’s” Gun Vault, 1631 E. Sunset Road #C-109, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119 Telephone: 702-837-8383. Web site: www.machinegunkellys.com.

Nevada Concealed & Custom Weapons: By Appointment

If you are looking for the unusual in high quality fully-automatic firearms, Nevada Concealed and Custom Weapons, should be on your shopping list while you’re in town.

In business since 1997, general manager Dan Carter says the store considers itself a specialty shop giving individualized attention to each customer on a one-on-one basis in fulfilling firearms needs-be it a self-defense handgun, or a collectible sound-suppressed full-auto. You must plan ahead, however, if you intend to visit, as customers are seen by appointment only, usually with 24 hours advance notice.

Nevada Concealed and Custom Weapons is an authorized AWC suppressor dealer and distributor. AWC manufactures wipe-less suppressors which obviate the arduous and time-consuming process of sending suppressors back to the manufacturer to be cleaned. There is also a good selection of Mad Dog-brand ceramic non-magnetic tactical knives, Gun Glove-brand Kydex holsters and Coronado Leather Goods.

The Inventory

Carter says he tries to stock the unusual in Class 3 firearms, items that cannot be found elsewhere. The inventory (at the time of the author’s visit), included: a sound-suppressed Beretta M9 Special Edition pistol built to NATO military specifications and packaged with a full range of accessories; a Sturm, Ruger 10/22 .22 rimfire rifle with sound suppressor; a pre-ban Steyr-AUG rifle with removable barrel; a Stoner SR-14 semi-auto rifle; a MAC M-10 9mm submachine gun; as well as an exceedingly rare Thompson 1928A2 .22 rimfire submachine gun built by Auto-Ordnance Corp.

Also noted was a Benelli Super 90 entry gun with pistol grip and 14-inch barrel; a MAC M-11 9mm submachine gun with suppressor; an interesting TAC-1 .45 ACP submachine gun with built-in combination lock built by Demro Products of Manchester, Connecticut; an UZI Model A, 9mm submachine gun with rare hard-chrome finish; and, an AR-15 9mm submachine gun.

This retailer’s policy of individualized customer service extends to the training needs of clients as well. Since Nevada passed a “shall issue” concealed weapons permit law in 1995, a great deal of interest has been shown by the local public in obtaining self-defense firearms as well as in learning how to properly use such arms in the defense of life. Thus, two NRA certified firearms instructors are on staff who offer the required training necessary to obtain a state-issued concealed weapons permit.

One advantage for state residents in obtaining the concealed weapon permit, Carter points out, is that permit holders are exempt from Las Vegas’ five day waiting period on purchase of their first handgun. All firearms with barrels under 12-inches (meaning all handguns) are required to be registered within Clark County, which encompasses the Las Vegas and Henderson areas, regardless of whether or not the owner holds a carry permit.

While there is no firearms range on the premises, Carter says arrangements have been made with several area ranges to allow customers to do the required live fire qualification segment of the licensing process. These same ranges are utilized for those clients considering the purchase of a fully-automatic firearm and want to do some test-firing before a buying decision is made.

Training Courses

Firearms training is also offered through an affiliation with the HALO Group, providing weapons and tactics, VIP and dignitary services and security consulting. The group was created with the philosophy that its students stake their lives on the training they receive. Thus, the training and operating techniques taught are the most current and up-to-date available. It is believed this can only be accomplished by relying on the experience of an instructional staff of professional operators.

HALO Group has brought together a staff that brings over seventy-five years of combined experience from the law enforcement, military, and special operations fields. This diverse experience gives the organization the ability to teach techniques and tactics that are not only current, but are used daily by operators all over the world.

The courses offered are designed to improve and challenge students’ skills, regardless of their level of experience. In a world of escalating violence, HALO Group’s intensive training courses and programs provide the tactical advantage to not only survive, but to dominate, and ultimately win,, those violent encounters. In a gunfight, second place is not an option.

The instructional staff includes Gabe Suarez, a police officer in Santa Monica, California for over 12 years. A founding member of his agency’s SWAT unit, he is a writer for firearms journals.

Instructor Marc Fleishmann, is a detective with the Los Angeles Police Department. With over 25 years experience in special enforcement functions, tactical training and surveillance, he is known worldwide for his work with police and military units.

Instructor Gary Rovarino is a retired sergeant with over 30 years experience with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department. He has 20 years experience as a training officer and is internationally recognized and has lectured and trained police and military agencies throughout the world. Additional instructional staff come from a variety of backgrounds.

Since a training program can only be as good as the instructional staff delivering the curriculum, the HALO Group believes that no single instructor knows everything there is to know about tactics and personal combat and thus students are exposed to a variety of philosophies. When the organization was formed, a single objective was in mind. That is, to bring together the very best operators from diverse disciplines.

The training organization’s cadre of instructors has applied their knowledge repeatedly during their professional careers-so they know what works, and what doesn’t. Tactical knowledge, practical real-world experience, and the ability to impart that information to students is what the HALO Group has to offer.

Classes Offered

Classes open to the general public include: one day tactical pistol, shotgun and rifle instruction; two day intermediate tactical pistol, shotgun and rifle classes; and three day CQB pistol, rifle and shotgun courses. Other classes are a two day advanced tactics offering, a two day tactical concealed carry pistol class, and a five day dignitary/VIP protection course.

Courses open to members of the military or police agencies only include: H&K MP5 operator intermediate (3 days); MP5 operator advanced (5 days); MP5 instructor (5 days); high risk warrant service (3 days); covert movement in urban and rural settings (4 days); hostage rescue (3 days); hostage rescue from vehicles and buses (3 days); hostage rescue from trains (1 day); hostage rescue from aircraft (2 days); dignitary/VIP protection (5 days); and, active countermeasures (2 days).

For additional information on the HALO Group’s schedules and course locations, contact K. McMahon by telephone at 877-HALOGRP, or via e-mail at training@the halogroup.com Or visit the organization’s website at: www.thehalogroup.com

Since Nevada Concealed & Custom Weapons sees customers only by prior appointment, you must call ahead of time to visit. To reach the store from the Las Vegas Strip area, take Tropicana Boulevard Eastbound to the Freeway. Follow signs to Highway 93/95 East to the Freeway Southbound. Exit at Sunset Road and follow it past the Sunset Station casino. At Valley Verde Street make a right turn and the store is located in the white building on the right, just down the street.

Nevada Concealed & Custom Weapons, 12-B Sunset Way, Suite 214, Henderson, Nevada 89014. Telephone: 702-456-4055. FAX: 702-434-5002. E-mail: brian@nevadaccw.com. Website: www.nevadaccw.com.

Guidelines For NFA Transfers In Decedents’ Estates

Since licensed dealers are often involved in assisting executors in disposing of National Firearms Act (NFA) firearms (i.e. machine guns and destructive devices), the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms (ATF) has issued guidelines to help dealers in these situations.

While the registration information ATF maintains on such firearms is classified as tax data and thus severely restricted on who it may be released to, the agency can provide such information to the executor of an estate. So, if there is any question regarding the registration status of the firearms in the estate for which a dealer is assisting the executor, the executor can contact ATF directly for the information.

If there are unregistered NFA firearms in the estate, such firearms are considered contraband and cannot be registered by the estate. The executor should contact the local ATF office to arrange for abandonment of the unregistered firearms.

For registered NFA firearms in the estate, the executor should take action as soon as possible to arrange for the proper re-registration of the firearms. Possession of an NFA firearm not registered to the possessor is a violation of federal law and the firearm is subject to seizure and forfeiture. ATF allows the executor a “reasonable time” to arrange for the transfer of the registered firearms in a decedent’s estate. This generally should be done before probate is closed.

It is the responsibility of the executor of the estate to maintain custody and control of the firearms and to transfer the firearms registered to the decedent. The firearms may not be provided to another party, such as a licensed dealer for consignment sale. Such an action would constitute a “transfer” under federal law, requiring the filing of federal paperwork and the payment of a transfer tax. The dealer may, however, assist the executor by identifying purchasers and acting as a broker.

The firearms may be transferred on a tax-exempt basis to any beneficiary (heir) of the estate. To do this, the executor would apply on ATF Form 5, Application for Tax- Exempt Transfer and Registration of a Firearm, for a tax-exempt transfer to a lawful heir. A beneficiary for this purpose is anyone named in the decedent’s will or, in the absence of a will, anyone entitled to inherit under the laws of the state in which the decedent last resided.

NFA firearms may be transferred directly interstate to a beneficiary of the estate. When a firearm is being transferred to an individual heir, his or her fingerprints on FBI Forms FD-258 must accompany the transfer application. However, if any federal, state or local law prohibits the heir from receiving or possessing the firearm, ATF will not approve the application.

ATF Form 4 is used to apply for the tax paid transfer of a serviceable NFA firearm to a person outside the estate (not a beneficiary). ATF Form 5 (mentioned above) is also used to apply for the tax-exempt transfer of an unserviceable NFA firearm to a person outside the estate. As noted previously, all requirements, such as fingerprint cards for transfers to individuals and compliance with state or local law, must be met before an application can be approved.

If an NFA firearm in the estate was imported for use as a “sales sample,” this restriction on the firearm’s possession remains. The NFA firearm may only be transferred to a federal firearms licensee who has paid the special (occupational) tax to deal in NFA firearms, or to a government agency.

For more information, contact: Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms, National Firearms Act Branch, 650 Massachusetts Ave., NW, Washington, DC 20226. Telephone: (202) 927-8330.

Shotgun Registration Holdouts

Apparently there are still owners of revolver cylinder and one type of semi-auto shotgun that are not aware these firearms must be federally registered. ATF Rulings 94-1 and 94-2 classified three shotguns as destructive devices pursuant to 26 USC, Chapter 53, the National Firearms Act (NFA), on March 1, 1994. These shotguns are the USAS-12, Striker-12, and the Streetsweeper.

The NFA requires registration of certain types of firearms, such as machine guns, sawed-off rifles and shotguns, and destructive devices. The NFA defines destructive devices to include shotguns with a bore of more than one-half inch in diameter which are not generally recognized as particularly suitable for or readily adaptable to sporting purposes. ATF has determined these shotguns fall within this definition.

Classifying these guns as destructive devices under the NFA requires the current possessor to file an ATF Form 1, fingerprint cards, and a current photograph to effect the registration of the firearm. It is not necessary to complete the law enforcement certification on the reverse side of the form. The initial registration is tax-exempt. Any subsequent transfer must be approved in advance and would result in transfer tax liability of $200.

The possessor must register the gun as soon as possible after learning of the registration requirement, e.g., within thirty days. Firearms not registered within the allowable time frame are subject to seizure and forfeiture, and the possessor is subject to a criminal fine of up to $250,000 or up to 10 years in prison, or both. Any questions regarding these shotguns should be directed to ATF’s NFA branch at the telephone number and address provided above.

Company News

The hottest set-up for carry handle AR-15/M-16s is SSK Industries’ T’ SOB red dot sight. The product mounts between the iron sights and can be used over the peep sight. The iron sights can still be used by sighting through the sight tube while the dot sight is turned off. When sighted in one to two inches above the top of the 4-minute dot at 100 yards, the bullet strikes at the bottom of the dot at 300-400 yards. To install, the carry handle must be cut by a qualified machinist.

Sierra has unveiled a new 77-grain MatchKing bullet. Over the last five years, AR-15/M16A2 rifles have come to dominate the service rifle category of HighPower rifle competition. In response to requests for a magazine length bullet of higher ballistic coefficient for this type of shooting, Sierra offers this latest Matchking manufactured with a small meplat, elongated boattail and an ogive compatible with the magazine feed requirements. With a ballistic coefficient of .372, the new bullet is designed to give long-range, wind-bucking ability for the 300 yard line, and even for the longer range Infantry Trophy match. A 1×7 inch or 1×8 inch twist is required in the rifle used with this bullet.

ArmaLite Inc.’s July production levels of AR-15 type rifles were substantially below planned levels due to continued late vendor deliveries. With supplies of parts tight throughout the industry, ArmaLite’s supplies on hand at the beginning of August were substantially above July’s levels and a stronger shipping record was anticipated. The armsmaker reports it has reviewed vendor capacities and has reduced its 1999 production plan until new suppliers can be added during the fourth quarter of the year.

With orders continuing to pour into the factory, April, 2000 delivery dates are currently being quoted for new orders. Capacity is being added to production lines but prices for some key components have risen and the production capacity increases are resulting in the incurring of expenses that must be covered by the end of the first quarter of the year 2000. Increased gun prices are a likely result of the supplier and production problems.

Michaels of Oregon, the world’s largest manufacturer of nylon holsters, has
introduced Duty Suspenders, designed for both uniformed officers and special units. The black nylon web suspenders join the extensive selection of SIDEKICK PROFESSIONAL duty gear currently offered for law enforcement and security officers.

The 1-1/4 inch wide straps transfer the weight of a duty rig from the hips to the shoulders for greater long-term comfort and, in tactical situations, for greater load-bearing capabilities. An innovative breakaway snap design helps defeat attempts at snatching or grabbing, while the fully adjustable front and rear hardware, coupled with a unique cross piece in the back allow the user to tailor the suspenders to fit any situation.

Other News

In the not too distant future, it may be possible for law enforcement officers to ride down the street in a vehicle equipped with a device able to detect firearms and explosives within buildings in three-dimensional real-time video.

Sound far fetched? InVision Technologies, Inc. of Newark, California has announced its wholly-owned subsidiary, Quantum Magnetics, has received three research grants totaling $1.05 million to develop a new passive magnetic sensor technology capable of detecting the presence of metallic objects, locating their positions in three dimensions, and tracking their movements in real time.

Under these contracts, Quantum will develop prototype systems to detect and track concealed weapons, locate underground structures such as bunkers and hidden arms emplacements, and to detect buried mines and unexploded ordnance. Future commercial applications of the sensors and software may include passive detection of guns in public places such as banks, airports and train stations.

An Arlington, Virginia gun owner has successfully challenged a local police chief’s policy requiring a home inspection for county residents who want to obtain a permit to own fully-automatic firearms. Chief Edward Flynn instituted the home inspection policy to ensure county residents who apply for the transfer of Class 3 firearms have a safe and secure place to keep their arms.

Jim Kadison, a member of the Virginia Citizens Defense League, a state gun rights group, intentionally challenged the policy by purchasing a submachine gun and refusing to allow Arlington police to inspect his home as required by Flynn. Kadison asserted Flynn had no statutory authority to enact the policy. Kadison wrote of his concerns to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco & Firearms and reportedly got the purchase approved without Flynn’s signature. “The very idea that this was an excuse to enter a home without a warrant infuriated me,” Kadison was quoted in the local press as saying.

Polish authorities have exposed a smuggling operation responsible for illegally shipping nearly US $6 million worth of light weapons and ammunition, some to countries under United Nations arms embargoes. Five former and current directors of two Warsaw- based arms export companies were arrested in connection with the case and sources say the case is only the tip of the iceberg.

The case raises questions about the ties between the accused companies and Polish officials. Cenzin, a state-run arms trading company, owns 80 percent of Cenrex, a major arms exporter and the largest of the Polish companies involved in the illegal deals. Steo, the other company implicated in the scandal, belongs to a private owner. A Polish newspaper reported Steo has links to Polish intelligence.

The illegal activities are reported as growing out of legal transfers of surplus Polish stocks to Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia in the early 1990s. Some arms intended for the newly independent Baltic states were diverted by middlemen and never reached their intended destinations. In Poland, Cenrex and Steo filed the appropriate paperwork and secured official approval to transfer the weapons to a Latvian company. While an official in the Latvian Ministry of Defense confirmed receipt of the shipments, the arm never in fact reached Latvia. Instead, while at sea, the arms were off-loaded to other vessels and transported to Somalia and Croatia, both subject to UN arms embargoes at the time, while others were shipped to the Sudan.

From 1992 to 1994, Cenrex allegedly exported 1,000 AK-47 rifles, 14,000 TT handguns, 160 grenade launchers, 100 Taurus revolvers, and millions of rounds of ammunition. During 1995 and 1996, the Steo company allegedly smuggled 2,000 rifles, 10,000 TT handguns, and one million rounds of ammunition through Latvia into Estonia. From there, the arms were reportedly sold on the black market to mafia-type groups. Some of the handguns have since been recovered in Russia, Germany, Poland and Japan.

Authorities were first alerted to the trafficking in May 1996, when two men who claimed to be transporting food were stopped at a border crossing between Estonia and Latvia. They were arrested after border officials discovered their Volvo van in fact contained 1,600 handguns.