EnforceTac

This year saw the tenth iteration of this international exhibition of law enforcement, tactical solutions and homeland security at the Messe exhibition center in Nuremberg, Germany which was held during 28 Feb 23 – 1 Mar 23 with the second day running concurrently with IWA Hunting and Sporting exhibition at the same location. The show, which it should be noted is only open to professionals in the law-enforcement/security industry continues to expand and the footprint this year had increased to three halls to cater to the range of exhibitors which had risen to a record number, just short of 500.

In addition to the main exhibitor areas, the show organizers also offered a live demonstration area and what was termed a ‘Blackbox’ facility where vendors could demonstrate a variety of thermal imaging, residual light amplifiers, torches and other devices in a suitable environment. A specific area was also designated for new “start-up” companies to demonstrate their product lines.

The product ranges and services offered have dramatically increased since the early years of EnforceTac, when the focus was primarily on personal issue law-enforcement firearms and individual equipment. This year, exhibitors were permitted to display a much greater range of products, such as the Diederich Defense Systems ATR with the Diehl Defence/EOS M134 Minigun overhead weapon-station, to the more mundane uniforms and international police insignia, the variety of the latter is difficult to believe!

The regular Turkey-based exhibitors continue to expand their law-enforcement and military product line. The Turkish company Çanik displayed a range of products from their twin-mount .50 Browning HMG’s and well as a line of their handguns each configured for a specific purpose.

Readers with an interest in small arms might recall an earlier controversy over reported ‘inaccuracy’ issues when using the G36 assault rifle at “high volumes of fire.” Whether or not the claims are correct, the Austria based Steyr Arms GmbH have offered a fix with their G62 option, which allows current users of the 5.56 mm NATO caliber G36 to replace the H&K made polymer receiver with the Steyr option of an all-metal receiver. It’s claimed all other original (G36) components can be used, although Steyr also offer a replacement barrel with extended life and an alternative STANAG compatible magazine, well as a replacement for the propriety-design H&K magazines. Not a few countries armies and police forces have taken the G36 into service and the Steyr G62 package might well be a good option for a mid-life upgrade?

The long-established manufacturer of firearms Zastava of Serbia displayed an extended line of their military and law-enforcement products, which ranged from handguns to .50/12.7mm caliber anti-material rifles and machine guns.  Their current assault rifle, the M19 is offered in two calibers with quick change barrel facility, the universal standard 7.62 x 39mm and the unique 6.5 x 39mm round, which was developed by Prvi partizan Uzice using the 6.5 mm Grendel as a base for Serbian special forces use.

Swedish Ordnance, another EnforceTac regular attendee, offer a line automatic weapon feed systems and belt-filling devices as part of their product line.

Sabre Defense and Pepper Ball were two U.S. companies offering less-lethal personal protection devices that travelled long-distance to attend.

FAB Defense of Israel exhibited their range of tactical equipment and weapon accessories.

Drones have become part of everyday life. The law enforcement community has been drawn remorselessly into the tug and pull of drone use/misuse and drone suppression and increasing numbers of venders of aerial platforms, counter-drone measures ranging from hand-held devices to sophisticated command & control software solutions.  One such exhibitor was Aaronia AG of Stricksheid, Germany whose impressive booth presented a vast range of options to monitor, detect and defeat unwanted drones.

A much updated “paddy wagon” was displayed by Rheinmetall, the SurvivorR’ “Protected Multirole Vehicle” weighing in at about 17,000kg fully loaded and carrying a maximum of 11 personnel. A number of capability enhancement options are offered for the SurvivorR, including a CBRN suite, riot control grid/dozer blade/battering ram, and high performance loudspeaker, amongst others.

Future Planning included the MBDA shoulder-fired Enforcer lightweight missile system, developed by the company for use by military, and other specialist units when enhanced barrier defeat at distance is required. It also has an alternative enclosed space firing-mode.

A regular visitor to such shows is the Swiss firm B&T who specialize in law-enforcement firearms and less-lethal devices, in addition to their well-established line of suppressors which have seen widespread police and military adoption.

New to EnforceTac was the B&T KH9 ‘Covert’ 9x19mm submachine gun. The Covert has the ability to be rearranged into a smaller package for concealment purposes.

IWA – 2023

This year, to use its rarely used full title, the Internationale Waffen Ausstellung or International Trade Fair was billed as “IWA Outdoor Classics 2023”.  The final count on exhibitor numbers reached around 1,100, attracting some 34,000 trade visitors from 119 different countries according to official figures issued after the show; with the organizers claiming its position as the “leading trade fair for global trade in the fields of hunting, shooting sports, outdoor activities and security.”

The footprint of the show also continues to expand with nine halls in use this year at the expanded Messe Exhibition Centre. The halls are generally organized by theme to a specific product groups or topic which assists with visitor navigation and access. The previously rigid demarcation line between what the show organizers considered “sporting” and of a more “official” use has been relaxed. Hall 3 this year was staged for security equipment for civil and official agency purposes. Hall 4 for clothing and outdoor equipment for hunting, sport, fishing and leisure time.  Hall 5 focused on knives and was again the focal point for U.S. vendors. The remaining halls offered shooting accessories, firearms, sporting ammunition and optics.

HS Produkt of Croatia offered their popular line of HS self-loading pistols.

Collocated with the HS booth was the U.S.-based Springfield Armory whose extensive ‘XD’ pistol line is manufactured by the latter in Croatia. The latter also now offer a revamped version of the select-fire military VHS-2 assault rifle as the ‘Hellion’ in caliber 5.56 mm (.223 Rem).

Black Powder shooting continues to be popular in Europe and a major supplier of quality reproductions arms is the Italian manufacturer Davide Pedersoli & Co. of Gardone Val Trompia who supply an extensive range of black powder muzzle-loading, flintlock, percussion and breech loading longarms with a complimentary handgun range.

With firearms ownership restricted or banned in many countries, ‘blank-firing’ weapons, particularly handguns, have become very popular with several Turkish manufacturers offering a wide range of types. While primarily offered as ‘blank-firers’ for recreational or warning purposes, where legislation allows gas-cartridges for personal defense are available. It has been noted that the die-cast metals used in earlier production have been replaced by models of more substantial materials and construction, it is sometimes now hard to tell blank-firer from the genuine article at a distance!

A U.S. manufacturer who made the journey to IWA was Sturm Ruger & Company, Inc., more commonly known as Ruger. The company displayed a full range of the product line of handguns and sporting rifles.

Vertex of Sofia, Bulgaria exhibited a range of their product line of specialist less-lethal ammunition in various calibers, together with their range of hand-held flare and distress signaling devices.

The Czech Republic based Alfa Proj offer a range of pistols and revolvers both in common calibers, and rarely seen these days in calibers 6mm and 9mm Flobert for use in indoor ranges using modified actions.

LCT Airsoft of Taiwan offer a wide range of airsoft replicas of military style weapons. 

Zastava Arms of Serbia crossed over from EnforceTac and offered their range of sporting and target shooting firearms including the Model SP M07M, bolt-action precision rifle in .338 Lapua Magnum calibre.

Ceska zbrojovka (CZ) of the Czech Republic had their usual large booth which attracted much visitor attention throughout the show. CZ are the current owners of the ‘Colt’ brand name and displayed range of the latter’s products in addition to their own.

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The Turkish manufacturer Sarsilmaz is one of an increasing number of Turkish arms manufacturers who have exhibited at IWA over many years and who have constantly developed their product line from a small range of handguns in the early days to a complete range today of military, law-enforcement, sporting handguns, and long arms.

Reflecting the opportunity to display more military style weapons, FN Herstal of Belgium’s large booth offered the visitor their product line from .50 cal. Browning HMG down to handguns and their less-lethal range.

There seems no end in sight and yet another Turkish manufacturer, DAĞLIOĞLU is offering copies of the iconic AK47, in this case a copy of the AKMS, or if, from the same manufacturer you want your particular gun to stand out in a crowd, the 12ga option should fit the bill?

EnforceTac/IWA Show Info:

Contacts:

EnforceTac (For Media Enquiries)

Luisa Seibt, Ruth Cuyap, Phone: +49 9 11 86 06-88-75

Social Media:

https://instagram.com/enforce_tac

https://facebook.com/enforcetac

https://linkedin.com/company/enforcetac/

IWA (For Media Enquiries)

Georg Loichinger, Phone: +49 9 11 86 06-81 91; e-mail: press@iwa

IWA General Inquiries:

Stefanie Leege, Ellena Probst, Phone: +49 9 11 86 06-81 85/+49 9 1186 06-80 88

Next Show Dates:

EnforceTac:  26-28 February 2024 (Note:  The show has been extended by one day for the first time.)

IWA: 29 Feb-3 March 2024.

This issue of SAR is being handed out at one of our favorite shows of the year, IWA in Nurnberg, Germany. Every March since the beginning of this magazine (we’d been attending IWA for years before 1997 as well), we go to Nurnberg and enjoy meeting with the European small arms community. While IWA is the “IWA and Outdoor Classics” show with a large hunting and sport shooting theme, the Law Enforcement presence has grown dramatically just as it has at the SHOT Show. In many ways, IWA is considered the “SHOT Show for the rest of the world.” This characterization is a bit unfair, as SHOT is very inclusive of international exhibitors and attendees, but has a reputation as being for the US market only. I can attest to that not being the case due to the massive number of international visitors we get at the shop during SHOT (we’re based in Las Vegas area), as well as the clear effect on the international market that comes from the show.

IWA has a very profound effect on the small arms community around the world. Exhibitors from all over the world are present, and like SHOT, the networking opportunities are excellent. The USA Pavilion has also continued to grow as traditionally US-centric companies open their eyes and look out around the world and see the common interests for their products, as well as the possibilities for international cooperation at home. Many times new products that are showcased at IWA in March, start showing up on the US market by Fall of the year.

Many times it is hard for European companies to break into presenting their products into the US because of our onerous and confusing importation regulations regarding firearms and related products. One more side effect of exhibiting at IWA is not only does the displaying company reach European buyers, but the contact over the Atlantic opens many doors as well. While the European market is certainly enough for many European companies who want to stay within their traditional marketplace, those with an eye for adventure and growth will frequently find that IWA is a launching point for future ventures. The IWA show has many attendees from Asia, the Mideast, South America, and parts of Africa. This constant flow of new people presents opportunities to meet and make friends, and to form business partnerships that can continue to grow and hopefully prosper for years to come.

Our readers who have never been to the IWA show should consider it for 2012. SAR has a large international readership but is still US based, and we need to address an issue that is very American. Up until 2001, only about 10% of Americans had a passport, and the statistics constantly quoted were that only about 20% had ever used their passport on real, cross-the-big-puddle international travel. With a population of 300 million, that was 30 million with passports and only about 6 million Americans doing international travel (outside of military service). I can’t verify that 20% number but it seems reasonable from my experience, and the 10% number was correct in the 1980s. Since Americans now need a passport to go to Canada, Mexico, and the Caribbean, US passport ownership has almost tripled to about 27%. It’s not that hard to do today. Flights to Germany in March are “off-season” and prices are good. Make your hotel reservations in advance to get the best prices. Nurnberg is a wonderful city to visit as well as trying to see some other areas while you’re there.

Yes, I’m suggesting that you, reading this in the US, consider having “An Adventure” next year. IWA will certainly introduce you to the rest of the world’s shooting community better than any other method I can think of. Hope to see you there: SAR is set up in the USA Pavilion.

– Dan

The 35th annual International Trade Fair for Hunting and Sporting Arms, Outdoor Articles and Accessories, was held in Nürnberg, Germany, from March 14 – 17, 2008. Formerly the “Internationale Waffen Ausstellung” (International Weapon Exhibition) the show is frequently referred to as “IWA,” despite the change in name. As one of the largest European tradeshows dedicated to shooting, hunting, and outdoor activities, nearly 600,000 square feet of exhibition space was filled by 1,046 exhibitors from 51 countries, including over 100 exhibitors from the United States. Approximately 30,000 individuals from over 100 countries attended the show. Of note were several new product releases from well known and lesser known manufacturers.

Heckler and Koch, JS

Heckler and Koch Jagn und Sportwaffen (HK JS) displayed a new civilian version of the HK416 rifle, dubbed the MR223 rifle. While similar in exterior appearances to the HK416 rifle, subtle engineering differences were observed. The changes were explained as necessary in order to comply with European and Canadian firearm regulations.

The four significant differences between the MR223 and HK416 were the rear take down pin on the MR223 lower receiver was relocated 6mm to the rear, preventing the installation of a 416 upper receiver on an MR223 lower receiver. In addition, the MR223 chamber has a protrusion, preventing the installation of a standard AR-15/M16 bolt carrier into the MR223 receiver. In the event that an AR-15/M16 bolt carrier was installed in an MR223, the bolt would not fully seat within the chamber, and the rifle would not function. The MR223 bolt carrier has a corresponding notch to match the chamber protrusion, allowing the rifle to function properly with use of an MR223 bolt carrier. Finally, the firearm was not equipped with a flash suppressor, although the muzzle was threaded to allow the installation of a flash suppressor if desired.

As the distributor responsible for distributing Heckler and Koch firearms throughout Europe and Canada, the products on display by HK JS are not readily available for sale within the United States, but offer a glimpse into the company’s marketing strategy. Presumably, any civilian legal HK416 rifle sold within the United States would be made within the US, and would not be neutered in the same manner as the European version.

Sport Systeme Dittrich

Sport Systeme Dittrich (www.ssd-weapon.com) displayed six classic semiautomatic versions of German firearms. Manufactured to the same original manufacturing dimensions and specifications as the originals, Sport Systeme Dittrich currently manufactures semiautomatic versions of the FG42 machine gun, MP3008 and MP38 submachine guns and the STG43 and MP44 assault rifles. Already on sale within Europe, three models have reportedly been submitted to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) Firearms Technology Branch for examination, review, and import approval.

The BD42 (the semiautomatic version of the FG42) utilizes gas operated, closed bolt operation, and retails for approximately 6,000 Euros (approx. $9,400 as of June, 08). The BD44 (the semiautomatic version of the MP44) is also gas operated, fires from the closed bolt, and retails for approximately 2,200 Euros (approx. $3,400). Reportedly, the hardware between the semiautomatic and fully automatic versions are interchangeable, with the exception of the bolt. The semiautomatic receivers will not accept a fully automatic bolt, thereby precluding an easy conversion of the semiautomatic firearm from semiautomatic to full automatic fire. Given the current exchange rate between the Dollar and the Euro, the semiautomatic versions offered are quite costly, yet cost significantly less than the transferable fully automatic versions.

The BD38 (the semiautomatic version of the MP38) and the BD 3008 (the semiautomatic version of the MP 3008) both fire from the open bolt, and presumably could not be imported for commercial sale within the United States.

Glock

Glock (www.Glock.com) revealed two new grip patterns for the Glock pistol, and sought consumer input on a preferred pattern. Currently dubbed the “Rough Textured Frame,” both patterns seemed to offer increased grip and control via the use of an aggressive grip pattern when compared to the current production grip pattern. Both grip patterns functioned well, without affecting the overall function and reliability of the firearm.

Also of note, Glock has reportedly manufactured a disposable wet suppressor made entirely of plastic. According to a Glock representative, the suppressor is intended for use with one or two magazines of ammunition before losing effectiveness. Upon completion of use, the suppressor is thrown away. Admittedly, a disposable plastic suppressor would challenge the current US consumer suppressor market. Luckily, the disposable suppressor is reportedly still in the developmental stage, and not for sale. Although on site at the show, the plastic suppressor was not on display and requests to view the available model were politely refused.

Madbull Airsoft and Red Wolf Airsoft

Red Wolf Airsoft (website at: www.redwolfairsoft.com) in conjunction with Madbull Airsoft (website at: www.madbullairsoft.com) has reportedly received an exclusive license to manufacture an airsoft version of the Transformational Defense Industries (TDI) Kriss Super V submachine gun. Previous communications with TDI have reported the planned sale of a semiautomatic Kriss Super V rifle, however for those enthusiasts that desire a fully automatic submachine gun, this may be the only way to possess a realistic look-alike, without resorting to the purchase of a post-86 dealer sample machine gun. The airsoft version is still in the developmental stage, with only a wax model available on display at the show. Full production is expected by press time.

German Sport Guns

The recent release of the German Sport Guns GSG-5, .22 caliber HK MP5 look-alike is well known throughout the firearms industry. However, German Sport Guns announced the production of a .22 caliber AK47 look-alike, endorsed personally by General Mikhail Kalashnikov. As the inventor of the AK47, this is reportedly the first AK47 rifle to be personally endorsed by Kalashnikov. No price for the planned .22 caliber AK was discussed.

Also of note was the large inventory of realistic airsoft guns on display by German Sport Guns. A quick comparison between an airsoft MP5 to the GSG-5 .22 caliber rifle demonstrated well manufactured products, with an attention to detail. Given that the GSG-5 rifle is a faithful copy of the original Heckler and Koch MP5, the differences between the .22 caliber firearm and the airsoft version were very slight, and barely noticeable. Knowing the simplistic design and diminutive size of a .22 caliber rifle, one would expect additional models to be released in short order. Examination of the airsoft versions of the British L85 bullpup, French FAMAS F1, and SIG 550 series were promising, and .22 caliber versions of these rifles would likely sell very well within the commercial US market.

Smith and Wesson/Powertech

Smith and Wesson, together with Powertech (www.swflashlights.com) displayed tool room prototypes of a new weapon illuminator system. Powered by two CR123 batteries, the Mk-300 illuminator offers a 200 lumen CREE LED main light, a 10mW green laser/target designator, and two IR capable LED navigation lights. Designed to give the operator total control, the unit offers two switches: a four position rotary switch to power the main light and laser, and a second switch to control the navigation LEDs. The main switch allows the operator to choose from light only, laser only, light and laser, or power off. A secondary three position switch allows the operator to choose between powering one LED or both. In this manner, the operator could choose between utilizing an IR LED in conjunction with night vision equipment, while allowing the other LED to provide visible light. Finally, the unit allows the operator additional control via a switch integrated into the grip, allowing momentary on/off or constant light.

The pre-production model allowed the unit to be mounted to any mil-spec M1903 Picatinny rail system. The production model will reportedly also allow the use of a LaRue Tactical LT 107 rail mount. Retail price will be approximately $450, and although final production had not been initiated as of the show, the units are expected to be in full production by the time of publication.

IWA 2008 was a great success, and offered a glimpse into the European firearms markets. The 2009 show is scheduled for March 13-16, 2009, in Nürnberg, Germany. Additional information regarding the show can be found at www.iwa.info.

Jason. Wong is a Washington licensed attorney. He regularly provides legal counsel to manufacturers, importers, and exporters in the firearms and defense industries via his law firm, The Firearms Law Group. You can email Jason at jmwong@FirearmsLawGroup.com.

A gain was made in the number of exhibitors to 1,002 from last year’s count of 988 and 2003’s total exhibitors of 966. This was the first year the exhibitor count exceeded 1,000. It is believed 27,000 persons were in attendance, the same as last year. Visitors came from nearly 100 countries.

Like most of the retail trade in Germany, the country’s firearms retailers recorded zero growth in 2004 for the third year in succession, Reinhold Lux, President of the German Firearms Manufacturers and Retailers Association frankly disclosed. He cited Germany’s over 5 million unemployed persons and especially the federal government’s over two-year delay of the announcement of the details of how Germany’s new firearms law will affect consumers, as reasons why business is so slow. The overall mood of retailers in Germany is one close to despair. While the number of international visitors to IWA is growing, the German visitor count is stagnating.

Consumer Monday Disappointment

A “Consumer Day” with clearly defined rules for admission was offered for the first time this year on the fair’s last day, a Monday, but the attendance count was disappointing. Some 10,000 entrance invitations were distributed to a carefully selected group of consumers who were holders of hunting and/or firearms licenses. However, slightly less than 1,000 were exchanged for entrance tickets.

“We had expected appreciably more visitors and made appropriate preparations,” said Walter Hufnagel, a member of the management board of the Nuernberg trade center. However, the idea is not being abandoned. “We are prepared to make another attempt to organize a Consumer Day on the Monday of the exhibition in 2006. We will work to determine the causes of this apparent lack of interest.”

The issue of allowing end-users into the show had been under discussion for several years. While there were apparently more exhibitors in favor of opening up the show, there had always been a group opposed. Consideration had been given to adding an extra day to the show, on Tuesday as the consumer day, in a reduced number of halls (the IWA fair currently occupies five halls). This would have entailed some exhibitors having to move their stands into one of the other halls to receive consumers and this idea was condemned by exhibitors in their responses to surveys by the show management.

In the end, consumers were allowed on the show’s last day, a Monday, but the turnout was disappointing. It was noticed that quite a few exhibitors had erected tape barricades at the entrances to their booths on Monday morning in an effort to keep consumers out of their booths.

German Gun Industry Surviving on Exports Alone

The weak domestic market has led German producers to increasingly seek export opportunities, and this is what sustained it during the past year, said Klaus Gotzen, General Manager of the German Firearms Retailers Association.

“The German guns and ammunition industry managed to compensate for the weak domestic market only through increased efforts in the export sector,” Gotzen said during remarks made at the fair’s opening. “The previous year’s turnover was reached due to the good reputation of German guns abroad and the flexibility of the companies.”

German Industry Statistics

According to 2004 figures available from the Federal Statistics Office (1st – 3rd quarter), German companies have maintained the year 2003 production value of 208 million Euro for sporting guns and gun components. Total German exports of sporting guns (including gun components) increased by 6% to 166 million Euro in 2004. Imports of hunting and sporting guns and gun components to Germany were worth about 42 million Euro, which corresponds to the results for 2003.

American Pavilion Busy

Once again, a pavilion was organized for American companies exhibiting at the fair. While not containing all of the American firms present, the pavilion area was perceived as being busier than at past IWA editions during the last several years. The weakness of the American dollar as opposed to the strength of the Euro made American goods attractive to Europeans, and they seemed to be buying.

Italian Industry Statistics

One of the more pleasurable events held each year during IWA & Outdoor Classics is the Italian dinner banquet sponsored by the Brescia Chamber of Commerce. In keeping with tradition, an overview was presented of the firearms production and sales figures of the Italian companies situated in the northern province of Brescia.

Overall, there was an increase in production of 2.87% in 2004, versus the year before. In 2003, a total of 623,721 firearms were produced, while in 2004 the total rose to 641,618; the highest quantity achieved within the last 10 years. Handgun production rose by 20.3%, making up 29.2% of the total. Long gun production, however, decreased by 2.93% from the 2003 figure to a grand total of 454,504 units in 2004.

A total of 78,651,579 Euro worth of arms and munitions were imported into the Brescia region of Italy during 2003, a gain of 128.77% according to the Brescia Chamber of Commerce. Exports of arms and munitions during 2003 totaled 192,781,723 Euro, a gain of 4.29%.

First-half 2004 data shows that foreign exports by Brescia and its provinces were steady in the face of a material appreciation of the Euro vs. the U.S. dollar and a global slowdown in trade flows for all sectors of industry. At the same time, the trend in most sectors of Italian business of relocating production to low-cost countries continued during the first half of 2004, with a steady level of investments being made outside the domestic borders.

The growth of Italian exports to Eastern Europe confirms the content of conversations this reporter had at the show with European exhibitors. Most said they view Eastern Europe and Russia as the growth markets of the future as the economies of these countries are on the upswing. While firearms ownership is still highly restricted in most of these developing countries, it is expected that controls on ownership will be loosened in the next several years. Firearms shows are starting to develop in some of these countries. One show in particular held in the fall, the Moscow Arms Salon, seems particularly poised for growth.

Law Enforcement Forum

For the first time, on the day before IWA officially opened, a Law Enforcement Workshop was held. Some 130 delegates attended talks on optics, police and military use of sound suppressors, functional clothing, new police ammunition and high-performance flashlights. The workshop was deemed a success and it will be held again next year.

AECAC Elects New Committee

During IWA 2005, the European Association of Civilian Arms Dealers (AECAC) voted in a new committee. Henk Ketelaar of the Netherlands is the new President, Yves Collety of France is the Vice President and Victor Fabregat of Spain was chosen as Secretary General. The members also intend to register the association in Brussels.

IWA New Products

IWA is primarily a sporting arms show, so there is not a great deal of tactical and/or military goods on display. However, if one knows who the producers are, one can either see such arms “in the back room” of some of the exhibitors’ booths, or in catalogs that can be provided upon request.

Oberland Arms, a German firm, showed their new OA-15 Police Carbine 556 (an AR-15 style product) in .223 Remington. A highly compact rifle, The 292mm/11.5-inch barrel was said by the producer to be the shortest possible practical barrel length, as experiments with shorter barrels resulted in less energy, less accuracy and not controllable in rapid fire. This model is equipped with a M4-style collapsible stock, A2 front sight, detachable A3 carry handle with fully adjustable rear sight and a Picatinny rail on the forearm.

Bearing a strong resemblance to the H&K MP5, the new Oberland Arms OA-5 9mm is a self-loading carbine with a roller locking system. Produced under license from H&K, it contains no used or surplus military parts. Chambered for the 9mm Parabellum cartridge, it comes equipped with a Picatinny rail, two magazines, sling, case and an Otis cleaning kit. It does not qualify as a sporting gun under German gun laws, but can be owned by hunting license holders or by those who hold an “Expert” rating on their German firearms license.

Oberland also showed the bull pup Steyr Mannlicher OA-UG Sport rifle in .223 Rem., which bears a strong resemblance to the Steyr-AUG, which is prohibited from importation into the U.S.

Zastava Arms of Yugoslavia, while exhibiting mainly sporting guns, also produces a variety of military designs. For example, it M21S 5.56mm rifle is a Kalashnikov-inspired design with side folding buttstock, but can also accept a 40mmn grenade launcher. The rifle also has a built-in Picatinny rail, enabling attachment of optical devices.

Zastava’s M84 7.62mm belt fed machine gun is supplied with or without tripod mount and optical sight. A folding bipod is also available. Other features include all high tensile steel construction, hammer forged barrel, chrome plated bore rated for 18,000 rounds with most major parts produced on CNC-machinery. A close cousin to the M84 is the M86, which is intended for mounting on tanks and combat vehicles as an auxiliary gun. It has an electro-triggering mechanism and is directed onto the target by the vehicle’s fire-control system. Both the M84 and the M86 are gas-operated, have a rotating bolt locking system and have a firing rate of 700-800 rpm.

Zastava also produces a 12.7mm heavy machine gun, the M87. Its features include high-tensile heat treated steel forging construction, hard chromed bore, front and rear mechanical sights, CNC-machining of functional parts, belt feeding and forward eject of empty cases.

The infantry version of the M87 is tripod mounted and contains a gunner’s seat and a low mounted telescopic sight for shooting at ground targets. The mount can be disassembled in three major components, each of which is lighter than 25kg, so that the system can be transported in a soldier’s backpack. It can also be vehicle mounted for use as an anti-aircraft gun.

Zastava also produces a 30mm Automatic Grenade Launcher, the BGA. Its main purpose is in use in the disabling of open and covered targets at distances up to 1,700 meters and the neutralizing of light armored vehicles at distances up to 1,000 meters. Feeding either from a belt or a 29-round drum magazine, it has an adjustable rate of fire from 50 to 400 rpm.

The IWA show coming up in March of 2006 should be a good one. Many readers are asking what relevance that has for them. I know, because I frequently get questions from readers about the articles on museums or shows outside of the United States, and they don’t think they will ever get there to see them. Actually, that is a major reason why we report on these shows and museums – to bring you the newest or rarest pieces we can find, and in the off chance you get to travel, places you can go see the firearms you may have only heard or read about.

This prompted a discussion about international travel among our staff, and I thought that it might be helpful to the readers to get a view of just what it takes to travel internationally. Let’s take the specific example of the IWA show coming up in March, 2006.

1) How do you get there and how much does it cost?
2) What does it cost once you are there and how do you get around?
3) How do you get into the show, and what does that cost?

Once you have your passport, you can travel internationally. Always safeguard your passport, it is a bear to replace and if you lose it overseas, the US Embassy must get involved. You can’t travel home without the passport or official permission. It is a good idea to keep copies of your passport in a separate place while traveling so if the passport is lost, you can show them your information. Do the same with credit cards, etc.

In order to get to Nurnberg, Germany, you have to decide whether you are trying to fly directly to Nurnberg, whether you are just attending the show, or want to visit other areas. It is always a good idea to travel at least one day ahead of time, in order to adjust to the jet lag. You will be flying overnight and arriving in the morning, usually much the worse for wear. A quick look at websites such as Orbitz.com show coach fares, booking in advance from Atlanta to Nurnberg, in the $600 USD range. Usually, these tickets can be found in the $350 to $400 range by watching airfare sales closely. You can save a few dollars by flying into a major German airport such as Frankfurt, but you now have to either rent a car, or take a train to Nurnberg, and that is a two hour plus proposition, while you are very tired. If you haven’t driven outside of the US, I recommend that you learn to do so at a time other than when you have just landed from overnight in coach class. The cost of a car or train will probably offset any savings in your ticket. Driving in Germany is not difficult for Americans. Just remember to stay out of the fast (left) lane on the Autobahn. The Germans drive 180km/hr plus (about 120 mph) in that lane and it is amazing how fast the front grill of the Mercedes in your rear view mirror can get right into your trunk. They drive courteously in Germany as long as you don’t block the fast lane.

So, let’s say you have paid $500 USD to get to Nurnberg, and take a taxi from the airport to your hotel – probably costing you about €15 (Euro) plus a small tip. Typically, hotels in that area range from €50 to €220 per night. Since the Euro today (July 2005) is equal to approximately $1.20 USD; that means your low end is about $60 USD.

The IWA show is at the Messezentrum facility, which is much like any convention center. It is composed of a number of buildings and typically five are used in the IWA show. There are many hotels within walking distance of the Messezentrum. Simply do a search of the hotel locations on the Internet, and they will tell you the distances from the various local interest points including the Messezentrum. Alternatively, staying down in the city allows for being in walking distance to the center of Nurnberg, which is an old walled city. There are trains that travel almost everywhere around the city as well, and they stop at the Messezentrum. It is quite beautiful, and there are many cafes, restaurants and shops. There is an active night life, and the German restaurants are not to be missed.

Getting into the IWA show requires that you be in the sporting arms business in some provable manner. If you are, the tickets are $30 USD for the weekend, at our last check. The requirement for registration is listed as such:

“Entrance tickets for IWA & Outdoor Classics are issued only to visitors from relevant supply trade firms, commercial users and specialist authorities. Proof of the right to admission must be provided first. Employees from specialist authorities require confirmation from their department.”

This means that an FFL, or a letterhead from an FFL stating that you are their representative, is sufficient to get you in the door. It is strongly suggested that you go through their registration process on the website so you are pre-registered and your badge is either shipped to you, or waiting at the front entrance.

If you want to display product or have a booth to take your shot at international sales, you should contact the Concord Expo Group and talk with them about it. They really make it very simple for American businesses to come over, and most international shipping problems are already solved. There is a large US Pavilion section, with many well known brands represented.

Your trip to the IWA show, in Nurnberg, Germany pans out as follows:

1- Airfare from the East Coast US and back… $500
2- Hotel six nights @ $75 USD each ………. $450
3- Entry to the show for four days…………… $30
4- Breakfast at hotel free, $5 lunches,
$15 dinners for six days………………….. $120
5- Assorted cab fares and train tickets ………. $ 75
For a total of:…………………….. $1155 USD

For less than the cost of any known transferable machine gun and for about the same cost as a trip to Disneyland, you can have a very interesting holiday in Germany, gathering with many interesting international firearms manufacturers and dealers, and see what the rest of the world is doing in the shooting sports. It simply takes making that first step.

Organizer from the German side:
NürnbergMesse GmbH
Messezentrum
D-90471 Nürnberg
Tel +49 (0)9 11.86 06-49 19
Fax +49 (0)9 11.86 06-49 18
visitorinformation@nuernbergmesse.de

Organizer from the US side:
Concord Expo Group
P.O. Box 252
Harvard, Massachusetts 01451
Phone: (978) 456-9373
Fax: (978) 456-9371
E-mail: conexpogrp@earthlink.net
Internet: concordexpogroup.com
http://www.concordexpogroup.com/iwa.html
Contact: Ms. Kathy Donnelly, Managing Director

The M-66 SP sports a 24.5” barrel with the last three inches composed of a rather beefy muzzle brake/flash hider. The cold forged chromium vanadium barrel is heavy and free floating-like one would expect from such a rifle and has a 1 in 12, four groove, right hand twist. The bore was in outstanding condition- a round mirror from throat to crown. The muzzle brake has ten vertical slots, five on each side with a transverse slot just behind the exit hole angled rearward at 45 degrees, and is serial numbered to the gun. I can’t imagine why a group of snipers or armorers would get together and decide to remove their muzzle brakes and mix them up, but then again more inane things than that have occurred.

The thumbhole walnut stock is massive. As stated earlier, these guns were built by Mauser in 1980- not all that long ago to preclude the use of a synthetic stock. There is a bit of gunsmith wisdom that goes, “the tree is not dead until it is burned”. Apparently to avoid some of the problems with impact shift and warpage the good folks at Oberndorf decided to make the stocks oversized to compensate. There is a large spring-loaded adjustable cheek piece that is held in place by a large set bolt. The adjustable cheek piece is a moot point as the rifle is most comfortable when locked all the way down. At one time there was sharp stippling in the forearm and pistol grip area reminiscent of that found on some Olympic target rifles, but has been smoothed out from use. The free- floating action is held in the stock with three large hex bolts. The sporting versions of the M-66 have barrels that are easily removable and interchangeable with no other tool than an Allen wrench. The SP model however, was not designed with this feature and I didn’t even contemplate trying to lift the action.

The action is well, different-not bad by any means, just different . Yeah, it’s a Mauser, but it’s greatly removed from the Model 98. It still uses the venerable two front locking lugs found on most bolt guns, however the bolt is guided on the receiver by a sleeve which in turn moves back and forth when the action is worked. Bolt length is short, just over five inches, and the bolt travel is four and a quarter inches. I would rate the action as being smoother and the lock time quicker than that of a standard 98k, M1903 Springfield, or the current M-24. The safety is located on the right rear of the bolt and is easy to manipulate. Pushing it rearward makes the weapon safe and the opposite motion enables it to fire. There is no bridge on the rear of the receiver, nothing at all like you’d find on a 98’. Since there’s no bridge the ejector is a spring-loaded plunger in the bolt ala’ the M-1 Garand or M-24. The bolt handle is the safety lug as it fits down into a notch in the right side of the receiver when the rifle is in battery. To remove the bolt you lift up on the bolt handle, press down on a stamped button on the right side of action, and remove the bolt and sleeve. That’s it. Assembly is in reverse order.

While we’re on the subject of the action, I should mention that the M-66 SP only holds three rounds of 7.62 NATO. In order to increase rigidity in the stock a blind magazine is used. I’ve never owned a centerfire rifle that held so few rounds but I guess if you’re one of those guys that grabbed the pebble from the Master’s palm on the first try and are really into the Zen of the one shot hit, then three rounds is probably enough.

But what’s a sniper rifle without a good scope? The IDF Mauser comes with a really top of the line glass: a Swarovski 6X42 MM with a 200-1000 meter range finding scale in the field of view somewhat like you find on a SVD PSO-1 scope, but much simpler. The crosshairs are the traditional Teutonic design of a heavy cross hair at the 3,6, and 9 o’clock position, and thin crosshairs in the middle and at 12 o’clock. This is a really nice tube and the clarity is like looking through clean mountain air on a cold day. The elevation drum at the top has positions on it corresponding to the range scale on the reticle, and has “M118” engraved on it so there was no mystery as to the kind of ammo it was designed for. The objective bell of the scope is sheathed in a thick rubber jacket to help protect the piece from the inevitable dings and bangs that are drawn to any precision instrument designed for troops. The scope tube itself is standard European in diameter- 30 MM. The scope rings and mounts are solid steel, extremely beefy, and appear to be just about bulletproof. My only complaint about the sighting system is that there are no emergency iron sights.

To test the rifle I grabbed a bucket full of match ammo and went to one of the premier ranges in the southwest, the Rio Salado Sportsman’s Club in Mesa, Arizona. Due to time constraints I was only able to set up on the main range that goes out to 335 yards, but that was enough distance to see what the rifle is capable of. Starting out at 100 yards and dipping into my stock of M118 Lake City Match I was able to get three shot groups that measured just under an inch. Yeah I know, not spectacular as even my SVD can beat that. Switching to Federal Gold Medal Match though, brought much better results. Groups began running from just one-half to three-quarters of an inch. Usually two shots would pair into one hole and the third would break formation a quarter or half-inch away. A lot of this was due to the wind picking up and starting to gust at 10-20 knots as the morning wore on. Just for the heck of it I threw some standard Austrian military ball down the barrel and my groups still weren’t much larger than an inch.

Once I got the rifle dialed in, no target on the range was safe from a one shot hit. Of course, all shooting was done from the bench so the credit belongs to the rifle and not to me. At two hundred yards the rifle easily got center head hits on a pepper popper. A ten- inch hanging steel plate at three hundred yards was easy prey. The furthest target at 335 yards, a life size, self resetting, steel prairie dog, had the snot knocked out of it (OK, I did miss a couple of times-my fault not the guns). The M-66 SP’s excellent three and half pound trigger pull was also a large factor in achieving this accuracy. During the test, I fired a tad over 100 rounds and as expected encountered no difficulties. At each ten shot interval I ran a brush dipped in solvent and five or six patches down the barrel to clean it out. I didn’t detect any difference in group size after these cleanings, but a rifle like this should be given a little extra attention.

It should be no surprise that I heartily recommend and endorse this rifle. In fact, after shooting this sucker I did what no gunwriter should do if he wants to turn a buck in this business-I bought the test rifle. This is a once in a lifetime chance to own a real piece of history that can also be taken to the range and shot without guilt. Of the 360 SP’s that Mauser produced only 100 went to Israel.

Now if you absolutely can’t live with a bolt gun or would like to have a really awesome collection of IDF sniper rifles, Springfield has also imported the parts sets from the 600 M-14 sniper rifles the IDF also used in combat and assembled them on their excellent M1-A receivers. In 1984 I was with IDF for a short time in South Lebanon at Beaufort Castle and saw one of these M-14’s in the hands of an IDF sniper. Like the M-66 SP, these IDF M-14/M1A’s are also special guns. The Israeli’s built up the cheek piece on the wooden stock and added a rubber recoil pad. They also added a steel scope mount that held a 6X40 Israeli “Nimrod” scope and fitted the weapon with a Harris bipod. Springfield offers the same rifle with an AN/PVS-2 night vision scope. Price of the IDF Mauser M-66 SP is $2225.00 retail with the IDF M-14/Nimrod scope going for $1875.00 and $2229.00 for one with an AN/PVS-2 night vision scope. For more information contact Springfield, Inc., 420 West Main St., Geneseo, IL, 61254 telephone 309-944-5631.