The Vantac Direct Action Defense System (D.A.D.S.) is a drop-in aftermarket upgrade for your favorite M4-style rifle or pistol. An inspired solution to a timeless problem, the Vantac D.A.D.S. allows you to adjust the length of your buttstock or pistol brace to accommodate any tactical situation without breaking your sight picture. Whether you’re deploying your weapon from rest or gauging angles indoors, the D.A.D.S. keeps your gun geometry optimized for the moment.

As Bad as It Gets

There is literally no more stressful human pursuit than wresting control of an enclosed space from an armed opponent. We play at that all the time on the range, because, honestly, playing at it is fun. For those who have to do it for real, however, close quarters battle (CQB) is the ultimate human crucible. Forget professional football, Mahjong, high-stakes poker, jujitsu, or competitive chess, CQB eclipses all that.

In the rarefied world of personal combat, little things become big things. Fail to secure your shoelace enroute to work one morning and you may stumble walking into the office. Do the same thing as a soldier or police officer and the results can be catastrophic. The Vantac D.A.D.S. excises one more variable from that thorny equation.

Philosophy

I’m told that being born is fairly stressful. First your head is shoved through an opening about the size of an adolescent orange. Then somebody grabs you around the neck and drags you into a world characterized by brilliant white lights, frightening noises, and chaos aplenty. No wonder we come out screaming.

When my oldest was born I had no idea what to expect. I have since delivered sixty babies myself and am fairly familiar with the process. My eldest son, however, was born years before med school. I hadn’t a clue.

Like most new dads, I figured my job was to manage everything from the neck up. I therefore endured the stupid breathing classes and did my best to contribute within my limited capabilities. The actual event, however, took about forever and was really scary.

Newborn human babies are quite literally helpless. Sharks, snakes, and crocodilians emerge ready to conquer the world. Little human beings, by contrast, not so much. Brand new babies cannot focus at a distance nor can they control their own heads. About the only thing they can do is scream, so they do a lot of that. However, there is a brief window at the very beginning when the catecholamines and similar stress hormones give little kids the newborn equivalent of superpowers. This odd phenomenon is most frequently manifest in a potential brief episode of head control.

It typically takes several weeks for a newborn to master the fine art of controlling one’s head. Until the stress of the moment abates, however, sometimes a newborn right out of the factory can manage this higher-order task. Such was the case this fateful day.

My wife was too tired to participate, but the sundry attendants tidied up my spanking new man-child and deposited him on my bride’s chest. I naturally leaned forward to get a closer look. In a fit of amazing neonatal strength, the little guy lifted his head in a shaky fashion, cocked it at a jaunty angle and looked me in the eye from a slant range of perhaps six inches. His quizzical visage seemed to say, “Hi, dad. I’ve had the weirdest day.”

I was just done. In front of God, my wife, and the accumulated delivery room staff I made a bit of a fool of myself. In that moment I knew if that kid needed a heart he could have mine. Such is the simply breathtaking gravitas of fatherhood.

Roughly half of all American marriages end in divorce. That is arguably the most mournful statistic in the history of mathematics. Folks end relationships over some of the most remarkable stuff. Motivations range from esoteric to sordid with everything in between. The dirty little secret, however, is that if dad leaves voluntarily he is the one who suffers the most. Never before have I worked so hard at something that was so satisfying as raising my kids. Amidst a rich life aggressively lived, being a dad is the most fulfilling of human pursuits.

So why all this maudlin jabber in the pages of this esteemed firearm website? Because Joede Vanek gets it. Joede is the powerhouse behind Vantec, the company that makes the D.A.D.S. He didn’t name his inspired contrivance D.A.D.S. because it’s a random cool acronym. He selected this name because he really likes being a dad himself.

Flavor

Do me a favor. Give this video a quick watch. It’s only two minutes. I’ll be here when you get back.

See what I mean? If that last bit didn’t make you choke up and cheer then something is irrevocably broken inside of you. Nancy Pelosi and Chuck Schumer likely ran off into the night doing the screaming habdabs at the sight of a minor with a firearm, but we know better. A normal youngster appropriately raised around the sundry dangerous stuff of life ultimately matures into a responsible adult. Anything otherwise produces a substandard product. No matter, Pelosi and Schumer don’t read cool websites like this, anyway.

Joede Vanek is a former SWAT cop with loads of real-world experience concerning what works and what doesn’t in the realm of tactical gear. When confronted by the fact that you cannot manipulate the sliding stock of an AR rifle on the fly without taking the gun down and farting with it, he scienced himself a solution. That solution is the Direct Access Defense System.

Technical Details

If I had a dime for every time I looked at some nifty new tactical trinket and thought, “Why didn’t I think of that?” I’d have a lot of dimes. The D.A.D.S. is simply inspired. For starters Joede nestled a stout spring inside the mechanism between the stock and the buffer tube so that the position of rest is now fully extended.

Next he designed a mechanism that nestles up within the buffer extension that secures the buttstock in one of several different positions ranging from fully collapsed to fully extended. This mechanism is controlled via a bilateral thumb switch mirrored in the perfect spot on both sides of the weapon. To extend the stock you just thumb the switch and ride it out as far as you wish under spring pressure. Release the switch and the stock locks in place.

To make the stock shorter just hold down the switch, press in with your shoulder, and release the switch where you want the stock to lock. The mechanism is intentionally tight at first, but it loosens up in short order. Operation is intuitive.

With the D.A.D.S. in place you can optimize the geometry of your weapon without sacrificing that all-important sight picture. My D.A.D.S. came with a very nice Mission First Tactical collapsible buttstock, but it is backwards compatible with most any standard M4 buttstocks both GI and aftermarket. The same goes for most collapsible pistol stabilizing braces.

Installation took me maybe ten minutes. If you can change the filter in your heating system you are capable of outfitting your favorite black rifle with the D.A.D.S. Once you get it limbered up it runs like a crack-addled monkey.

Ever the Gracious Host

I wanted to test this thing out on something cool, so I dredged up a Faxon Firearms ARAK-21 upper receiver out of the gun stash. This inspired piece of kit offers reversible ejection, superb reliability, and easy exchange between a variety of calibers all in a drop-in unit that is a seamless fit with any standard milspec AR lower. Unlike a traditional direct gas impingement AR that fills the entrails of your rifle with grunge and crud, the ARAK-21 incorporates a variation on the Kalashnikov theme to keep your rifle clean, tidy, and running reliably long past the time when a lesser gun might sputter and die.

The charging handle folds out of the way when not in use and is readily reversible without tools. It rides up front in the manner of that of the HK MP5 for easy manipulation with the weak hand. Like the D.A.D.S., this feature allows you to keep your gun in the fight without lowering it from the ready position.

By spinning out a few Allen screws you can easily swap out barrels to convert your ARAK-21 between 5.56 NATO, .300 AAC Blackout, and 7.62 NATO. The 7.62 NATO setup requires a separate bolt and firing pin along with a dedicated sharply-curved magazine. The .300 BLK rig necessitates a suppressor for reliable operation with subsonic ammo.

Each interchangeable barrel assembly unit (BAU) includes the barrel, gas block, muzzle device, gas adjustor, and barrel trunnion. Faxon is an esteemed manufacturer of gun barrels, so all their barrel assemblies are made in-house. Swapping out a BAU takes about three minutes and can be done at the shooting bench.

The ARAK-21 upper includes a full-length Picatinny rail system that offers more tactical real estate than you might ever use. The four-position adjustable gas regulator allows you to tweak the rifle to suit different loads. There is also an off position should you wish to operate your suppressed rifle manually for maximum stealth or fire rifle grenades. I doubt many American civilian shooters fire a whole lot of rifle grenades, but the capability is there should you need it.

Practical Tactical

The manual of arms of the ARAK-21 is unique. It is sort of a holy melding between the M4 and an MP5. However, that’s why we train. It’s not like time on the range is actually work.

The D.A.D.S. works just as advertised. Pull the rifle up to the ready position, hit the stock release, and the buttstock telescopes out to your particular position of comfort. Start peeking around corners or operate within a vehicle and the pushbutton system allows you to telescope your rifle down as the tactical situation dictates. Treat this gear with only the tiniest modicum of respect and it should outlast your kids’ kids.

Operating the D.A.D.S. on the fly takes a little practice, but it does exactly what it is advertised to do. It might add an ounce or so to your overall weapon weight, but you won’t notice it. The D.A.D.S. is a well-engineered accessory that makes your good gun even better.

Denouement

My wife and I successfully homeschooled three kids into productive, responsible, tax-paying adults. In retrospect I wouldn’t trade a minute of that for anything. I just regret that I could not have put those precious experiences in a bottle and sipped from it as I got older after the kids moved away.

If your kids are still underfoot and driving you crazy then take a moment, tune out the chaos, and be thankful. With the benefit of hindsight it took mine maybe half an hour to go from screaming in the delivery room to marching off to college. I do miss them so.

If your kids are grown or distant, either physically or emotionally, then find a time that is convenient for them and pick up the phone. Through five careers, countless life and death experiences, and more than a few piddly honors and awards, one accolade stands out above all the rest. There are three awesome adults out there who call me Dad. That’s my greatest accomplishment. In the words of Joede Vanek, “Nothing is More Invincible Than Our Dads.”

“As a matter of course, we put all our developmental weapons through their paces before putting them in the hands of Soldiers. We test using thousands of rounds of ammunition in all kinds of environments. They undergo stress tests, drop tests, and extreme environment tests to include, arctic, jungle, desert and more before they get the green light. These weapons are durable, reliable and effective when we put them in the field. With regards to the punch of the 25mm round, we’re confident in the lethality the XM25 can deliver.” – Colonel Douglas Tamilio, PM Soldier Weapons

By the time you read this, the XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System with its uncannily accurate airburst ammo will undoubtedly have drawn its first blood in Afghanistan.

This sci-fi looking individual armament, initially the “grenade gun” upper half of the ill-fated Objective Individual Combat Weapon, has been in combat operational test mode for several months now with selected elements of US Special Operations Command.

It’s the hottest new man portable grenade launcher anywhere, boasting indirect fire capabilities with “smart” ammo that can kill enemies smugly squatting behind walls and boulders, until now unreachable by squad level weapons.

At their recent press briefing and live fire event at historic Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, top officials of PM Soldier Weapons told Small Arms Review and reporters for other military and defense industry publications how the XM25’s unique capabilities would have been of particular value to defenders in the now-famous “Keating” firefight.

Among many lessons learned in the near-annihilation of this small, fortified camp in what’s formally known as the Battle of Kamdesh, Afghanistan, they said, is the need for unit level indirect fire capability that is highly flexible and immediately available.

Combat Outpost Keating

More than 300 Taliban fighters launched a surprise attack on Keating in the predawn darkness of October 3, 2009, saturating the small base with mortar rounds, RPGs and heavy small arms fire.

They quickly breached the perimeter, routed the panicked Afghan Army detachment and nearly overran the American soldiers of Bravo Troop, 3rd Squadron, 61st Cavalry Regiment.

Bad weather and slow response from artillery and air support assets combined to give the enemy special advantages in their initial assault from the high ground “bowl” around the camp, leaving the defenders below with little more than basic individual and crew-served weapons to fight back with.

Their direct fire arms and single shot M203 grenade launchers were of limited value against battle-seasoned attackers who skillfully used abundant cover from boulders and depressions in the surrounding rough terrain and defensive positions inside the wire.

Relief came slowly but soon built to a decisive level as artillery, helicopter gunships, jet fighters and bombers combined to rout the enemy.

When the smoke cleared an estimated 150 Taliban were dead at the cost of 30 U.S. troopers killed or wounded.

Cost/Benefit Ratio

Richard Audette, Deputy PMSW, responding during the press conference at Aberdeen, to implied criticism in a reporter’s question noting the projected $25,000 cost per XM25, called it a bargain compared to far more expensive weaponry wielded by external support elements like those that turned the tide at Keating.

“They were hitting the attackers with Apache gunships, Hellfire missiles and Excaliber artillery rounds,” he said, “far more costly, cumbersome, and slow to arrive.”

“The XM25,” he emphasized, “is an immediately available, squad level weapon that pays for itself, but more importantly it saves solders’ lives because it can take out those defilade (behind cover) targets.”

Lieutenant Colonel Christopher Lehner, Product Manager Individual Weapons, underscored the XM25’s remarkably fast target engagement capability against fleetingly-glimpsed targets.

“In under five seconds I can lase for range, get my adjusted reticle on target and pull the trigger,” he said. “At four hundred meters it takes another two seconds to get there and explode. Seven hundred meters another second or so. It really doesn’t give the Taliban a lot of time to reposition himself.”

Then, adding his perspective on the XM25’s $25,000 price tag, Lehner invited a comparison to the total cost of the current, less capable combination of weapon and accessories.

“Add up the cost of an M4 carbine with M203 grenade launcher, STORM laser rangefinder, plus night vision and aiming modules,” he said, noting that the XM25 fully integrates these components with the added benefit of a ballistic computer and airbursting ammunition.

SAR has been closely following the sixteen year saga of this 100 million dollar engineering marvel and we are pleased to know that it has finally made its way into the hands of the snake-eating fraternity. If all goes well, we’re told, it will be available in limited quantities for muddy-boots grunts in the 2013-14 time frame.

Lehner explained that the plan for fielding this exotic grenade launcher was under development but not to expect it to become a standard squad weapon.

“It’s potentially an arms room weapon,” he said, “like a shotgun or other specialized weapon that you’d draw for certain missions where you need the (XM25’s) unique capability.”

While the wizardry embodied in the XM25 is spectacular, there are several other developments from the dedicated team at Program Manager Soldier Weapons that also deserve special recognition.

Mulberry Point Range

PM Soldier Weapons had wisely set aside several consecutive days for hands-on demos for congressional and military VIPs, efficiently utilizing the considerable time and expense required for such things. These focused opportunities gave a wide variety of purse-keepers and decision-makers the chance to see for themselves what was in the weapons development pipeline.

Press day was a continuation of the process, with PMSW hoping that knowledgeable reporters would convey to the public how America’s defenders were armed. More than a dozen reps turned up, from outlets ranging in credibility and seriousness from USA Today to Army Times, with Small Arms Review in there on the right side of the scale.

After the obligatory meet, greet and ground rules briefing, Aberdeen Test Center’s Mulberry Point Small Arms Range went hot with a HE (high explosive) demo shot from the XM25. Safety concerns kept us inside the ballistic glass windowed observation building.

We could see the gunner just outside the thick glass window and his actions were explained in real time by Lieutenant Colonel Lehner. Using the weapon’s highly sophisticated fire control system with on-board laser rangefinder, he said, the shooter gets exact distance to the front wall of a simulated building with an open window.

With the simple push of a button he adds a meter to the range and the chambered “smart” round is electronically programmed with the precise distance from launch to detonation point. In this case right through the window and inside the room.

The fire control’s ballistic computer calculates angle of elevation based on range and displays a red dot in the electro-optical sight with the correct aiming point. Windage can be programmed as well.

When the round was fired, a computer chip in the 40mm HE warhead counted revolutions in flight and initiated detonation at approximately the center of the “room,” showering it with lethal fragments. A remote video camera linked to a large screen in the observation building provided dramatic evidence of the effectiveness of this programmable airburst weapon’s precision lethality.

Then, we were herded outside to observe a series of live fire demonstrations of selected current weaponry, starting with the lock-busting 12 gauge M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System and moving down the firing line to see grenade launchers, machine guns, sniper rifles and the new “dazzling” laser on a hulking armored vehicle.

M240 Light

While highly reliable and very accurate, a standard 7.62mm M240B medium machine gun weighs a hefty 27 pounds, making it a burden for dismounted troops on the move.

PM Crew Served Weapons has responded with the M240L (Light), incorporating a titanium receiver and other refinements to drop 5.7 pounds without sacrificing combat performance.

Further weight reduction is realized when pairing it with the new M192 Lightweight Ground Mount tripod, boasting better stability and an improved traversing and elevating mechanism at a weight saving of six pounds.

Old Warhorse Returns

Soldiers and Marines of a certain age (including a few of us at SADJ) should take special pleasure in seeing the honored return of the post-WW2 generation’s venerable M14 rifles.

This hard-hitting, long reaching 7.62x51mm NATO caliber battle rifle was pushed aside by the pipsqueak 5.56mm M16 in the Vietnam War when it was deemed that an “assault rifle,” characterized by light weight and high volume of fire, was better for jungle fighting.

But now that the battlefields are in Iraq and Afghanistan – mostly treeless, arid plains and mountains – the M16 and its little brother M4 are noticeably lacking in necessary range (maximum approximately 500 meters) and knockdown power.

Spurred by urgent Operational Need Statements from combat units, the Army started pulling mothballed M14s out of storage, adding day scopes, and rushing them off to CENTCOM’s AO for use by “Squad Designated Marksmen.”

This eminently practical solution has since been kicked up a notch at PM Soldier Weapons by creation of the Enhanced Battle Rifle, a classic M14 retro-fitted at the Army’s Rock Island Arsenal with a modern chassis stock and capable of mounting a full range of day and night sights. More than 5,000 have been fielded so far and 1,700 more are in the pipeline.

LTC Lehner says that the EBR’s dramatically increased effective range, as much as 800 meters in capable hands, has forced the Taliban to “change its tactics,” backing way off when initiating an attack.

More Sniper Stuff

The 7.62mm M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (SASS) from Knight’s Armament – apparently just about everything it needs to be already – will be outfitted with a collapsible buttstock, deemed better for close quarter engagements.

The awesomely powerful .50 caliber Barrett M107 Semi-Automatic Long Range Sniper Rifle is going to lose a little weight, get a specially designed suppressor and a new protective exterior coating.

Optics enhancements are in the works, starting with dumping complicated Mil-Dot reticles in favor of with a modern stadia type offering rapid estimation by fitting targets within graduated ranging overlays.

New sniper scopes are on the way, incorporating sophisticated laser rangefinders with electronic DOPE (Data On Previous Engagement) databases.

Two whiz-bang fire control systems are being conjured up by techno-spooks at DARPA (Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency), pushing cutting-edge technologies to increase operational range and hit probability for sniper-spotter teams:

* “One Shot” program seeks a technically advanced spotting scope capable of calculating cumulative wind effects to target and providing a near-instantaneous, accurate, adjusted ballistic aimpoint to the shooter.

* The EXACTO program takes One Shot to the “smart munitions” level; maybe like a laser guided bomb for snipers. It’s said to be a spotting scope-based target acquisition and guidance system that steers maneuverable .50 caliber projectiles directly to a target.

While SAR doesn’t shy away from wondering if EXACTO will be a ballistic breakthrough or an expensive, dead-end boondoggle, PEO Soldier documentation predicts maturity of these technologies and transition to the field over the next four years.

XM2010

Long range precision shooters should take particular note of an exciting development unveiled by PMSW just before this article was completed.

It’s a significant upgrade to the tried and true M24 Sniper Weapon System, that classic Remington 700 bolt action rifle, optimized for .308 cal. Winchester M118 Special Ball ammo.

The new “M24 Reconfigured Sniper Weapon System” carries the designation XM2010, now chambered for hot .300 Winchester Magnum rounds and wrapped in a modernistic skeletonized chassis.

• 5-round box magazine to make the system easier to load and reload with the additional option to change out ammunition quickly
• Rail endowed chassis and free floating barrel that allow for easier mounting of weapon accessories and greater accuracy
• Folding and adjustable stock that includes comb and length-of-pull adjustments
• Leupold Mark 4 6.5-20×50mm Extended Range/Tactical riflescope with advanced scalable ranging and targeting reticle; fielded with the AN/PVS-29 Clip-on Sniper Night Sight
• Quick attach/detach Advanced Armament Corp. suppressor to reduce audible and visible signature with an available thermal sleeve that reduces mirage effect on heated suppressors

The upgrade is said to have received high marks from skilled shooters involved in testing and evaluation.

“The XM2010 had pinpoint precision,” said SFC Robert Roof, NCOIC/Chief Instructor, United States Army Sniper School. “We were able to achieve shots well within the weapon’s capabilities both during limited visibility and during the day. The optics were clear and easy to use and the ergonomics of the weapon made it very comfortable to shoot.”

Remington won the contract following competitive trials and is well positioned to supply as many as 3,600 of these upgraded M24s with the first to be fielded in 2011.

Better M4 and a Brand-New Carbine?

While bravely defending against decades of criticism over reliability and durability of the 1.1 million M16/M4 weapon systems currently fielded, PMSW acknowledges the desirability of even more “product improvements.”

PEO Soldier is currently pursuing a “dual path” strategy; continuously improving the half million M4 Carbines in the field while simultaneously conducting a search for a replacement.

M4 Gets More

The first path is the three phase improvement plan for the M4, adding to more than 60 refinements since its introduction:

1. The Army will purchase 25,000 improved M4A1 Carbines with a heavier barrel for greater sustained rate of fire and fully automatic function in an ambidextrous fire control assembly (FCA). A solicitation will be issued for kits to convert up to 65,000 in-service M4s to A1 configuration.
2. Incorporate improvements in forward rail assemblies to increase accessory integration and more durable bolts and bolt carrier assemblies.
3. Evaluate commercially available operating systems against the performance of the M4’s current gas impingement system. It might even be an off-the-shelf piston kit.

Carbine Competition

At the same time that M4A1 upgrades are underway, Secretary of the Army has ordered a “full and open competition” for a possible replacement.

There’s a new requirements document and money is in hand to search for a new carbine that can outperform the current M16 and M4 series weapon systems.

It’s supposed to have improved features such as fully ambidextrous controls, semi- and full-automatic fire, and accurate and reliable firepower. In addition, integrated rails will accept accessories that currently attach to Mil-Std 1913 rails.

The new carbine will be capable of firing the family of U.S. Standard Type Classified rounds or nonstandard ammunition “with the same capabilities as the current 5.56mm family of ammunition.” We hope that’s actually supposed to read “better” capabilities.

Bye-bye Beretta?

Although combat use of handguns by conventional forces is said to be “statistically insignificant,” the intensely personal preferences of those who pack standard issue pistols is not kind to those designs handicapped by 9mm FMJ ammo, decidedly lacking in lethality.

And in the U.S. Army since 1989, that’s the Beretta M9, an eminently serviceable semiautomatic that has been unfairly maligned as unreliable due to stingy bureaucrats buying crappy magazines.

Credit Air Force Security for getting the latest handgun battle moving with the necessary validation from the Joint Requirements Oversight Council.

But it’s the Army taking the lead with what’s called the Modular Handgun System (MHS); a “non-caliber specific weapon” finished in a non-reflective neutral color with modular features to allow for adapting different fire control options, aiming aids on Mil-Std 1913 rails, alternate magazine choices, take a sound and flash suppressor and will fit various hand sizes.

Plenty of commercial firms have been working on all this for many, many years so there should be no lack of contenders. The timeline calls for trials and selection in FY11-12, completion of testing in FY13 and Type Classification expected in FY14.

Crew Served Weapons Future Initiatives

The American GI is a clever fellow and his natural admiration for the capabilities of vehicle mounted CROWS has led to urgent requests for a way to put these remote control rigs on top of guard towers.

The idea is to increase effectiveness by enabling them to conduct surveillance and engage threats from inside. That’s right – from up in the CROWS nest.

Armament, Research Development & Engineering Center (ARDEC) engineers are on it, working to retrofit an earlier CROWS variant into The Protector Lite Static Platform System.

Video and thermal surveillance cameras allow threat detection in all light and weather conditions and assist in accurate aiming of on-board M240B or M249 machine guns from elevated positions out to a range of 500-1,000 meters.

Ma Deuce on a Diet

The 90 year old “Ma Deuce” M2HB machine gun is getting a bit of modernization in the form of a Quick Change Barrel kit that speeds the process of swapping overheated barrels and eliminates the need for setting headspace and timing. And she’s getting a serious new rival.

The XM806 Lightweight .50 Caliber Machine Gun is intended to deliver heavy machine gun punch at about half the weight of the M2HB, making it particularly attractive to special operations, as well as airborne, airmobile, mountain, and light infantry forces.

Other important advantages claimed for the gun include 60 percent reduced recoil, improved reliability, manual safety, and a quick-change barrel with no adjustment needed for headspace and timing.

Development has reached the point where initial fielding is projected for sometime in 2011.

Grunt Gear and Guns from the “Big Green Machine”

Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier was created by the Army (informally known as the “Big Green Machine” by soldiers and others) with one primary purpose: To develop the best equipment and field it as quickly as possible so that our Soldiers remain second to none in missions that span the full spectrum of military operations.

As recent operations in Iraq and Afghanistan have vividly demonstrated, getting the right equipment to our military men and women is absolutely critical.

By viewing the Soldier as part of an integrated system, PEO Soldier ensures that the Soldier and everything he or she wears or carries works together as an integrated system.

The result is an overall systematic design that benefits Soldiers by enhancing their ability to accomplish individual and collective tasks, improving quality of life, building confidence, and saving lives.

By employing innovative concepts and technologies, PEO Soldier has made great strides in quickly getting improved equipment into the hands of Soldiers when and where they need it.

Headquartered at Fort Belvoir, Virginia, PEO Soldier designs, develops, procures, fields, and sustains virtually everything the Soldier wears or carries.

Projects and Products

This big and complex mission is somewhat simplified through the contributions of four distinct Project Managers under overall command of PEO Soldier. All of these PMs have specialized Product Managers, responsible for nearly 500 items ranging from the Advanced Bomb Suit to the XM806 Lightweight .50 cal. Machine Gun.

Project Manager Soldier Protection and Individual Equipment

PM SPIE develops and fields advanced Soldier protection products, comfortable uniforms to enhance mission effectiveness, and improved parachute systems. These products are designed to protect Soldiers and allow them to be effective in any operating environment.

Project Manager Soldier Sensors and Lasers

PM SSL provides Soldiers with improved lethality, mobility, and survivability in all weather and visibility conditions. Soldier-borne sensors and lasers enhance the Soldier’s ability to see in all battlefield and lighting conditions, to acquire objects of military significance before the Soldier is detected, and to target threat objects accurately for engagement by Soldiers or guided munitions. These systems provide critical, on-the-ground direct support to U.S. forces.

Project Manager Soldier Warrior

PM SWAR supports Soldiers through the acquisition of an integrated Soldier system. Current systems include Land Warrior, Ground Soldier, Mounted Soldier, and Air Warrior. Project Manager Soldier Warrior develops and integrates components into complete systems designed to increase combat effectiveness, decrease combat load, and improve mission flexibility.

Project Manager Soldier Weapons

“All the Services have agreed upon the following definition of Small Arms Systems: Man portable, individual and crew served weapons systems used principally against personnel and lightly armored targets. Included are both ballistic and non-ballistic systems and associated ordnance, munitions, aiming, powering, storage, training, specialized maintenance equipment, logistic support and other ancillary items.” (PM Soldier Weapons)

PMSW is the centralized manager for all activities related to the development, systems integration, test, evaluation, acquisition, production, configuration management, fielding, and all other Life-Cycle management requirements for Small Arms Systems including weapons, fire-control, optics and associated equipment, e.g., mounts, and the development of Small Arms ammunition, for the U.S. Army.

PMSW ensures that Soldiers on the battlefield have overmatch capabilities in individual and crew served weapons. Continuous improvement programs enhance both survivability and lethality.

Two product managers under PMSW drive the mission to provide Soldiers battlefield superiority:

* Product Manager Crew Served Weapons (PMCSW) is responsible for research and development of current and future light to heavy machine guns, grenade launchers, small arms ammunition, remote weapons stations, and related target acquisition/fire control products.

* Product Manager Individual Weapons (PMIW) is responsible for research and development of current and future rifles, carbines, pistols, shotguns, grenade launchers, small arms ammunition, and related target acquisition/fire control products.

PM SW’s Current Small Arms Lineup

Weapons:

9mm M9 Pistol
5.56mm M16A2 and A4 Rifles
5.56mm M4 Carbine
5.56mm M349 Squad Automatic Weapon
7.62mm M24 Sniper Weapon System
7.62mm M14 Enhanced Battle Rifle
7.62mm M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System
7.62mm M240B, H, L Medium Machine Guns
7.62mm Mk48 Mod0 Machine Gun
.300 Win Mag caliber XM24E1 (now XM2010) Enhanced Sniper Rifle
12 gauge M500 Shotgun
12 gauge M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System
.50 caliber M2 and M2E2 Heavy Machine Guns
.50 caliber M107 Long Range Sniper Rifle
.50 caliber XM806 Light .50 caliber Machine Gun
25mm XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System
40mm M203 and M203A2 Grenade Launchers
40mm M320 Grenade Launcher
40mm Mk19 Grenade Machine Gun
XM153 Common Remotely Operated Weapon System

Weapon Accessories:

Improved M16 Magazine
M68 Close Combat Optic
M150 Rifle Combat Optic
M145 Machine Gun Optic
M24 Mini Binoculars
M25 Stabilized Binoculars
Close Quarters Battle Kit
M2E2 Quick Change barrel Kit
M192 Light Weight Ground Mount for Machine Guns
XM205 Light Weight Tripod for Heavy Machine Guns
Close Combat Mission Capability Kit

Ammunition:

XM1037 5.56mm Short-Range Training Round
XM1022 .50 Caliber Sniper Cartridge
XM116 12-Gauge Extended Range Less-Than-Lethal Cartridge
XM1140 40mm Extended Range Less-Than-Lethal Cartridge
XM1110 40mm Day/Night TP Cartridge
XM1112 40mm Airburst Less-Than-Lethal Cartridge
40mm Close-In Anti-Personnel Cartridge
Micro Electro-Mechanical Safe and Arming Mechanisms
Lightweight Ammunition

Learn More

Program Executive Officer Soldier: www.peosoldier.army.mil
U.S. Army Aberdeen Test Center: www.atc.army.mil

I sat quietly taking notes as the Purchase Description was being reviewed, making sure I would capture the important points. The development of a new rifle for the U.S. Military is not an everyday occurrence and I wanted to make sure I understood all of the requirements clearly. The Government speaker went quickly over the next point. He knew that this one rarely enlisted any questions: “The rifle shall be compatible with the multi-purpose Bayonet and attach securely at the bayonet mounting points.” No eyebrows were raised, no questions asked. And why should there be? It was a foregone conclusion that every service rifle would be configured to accept the standard bayonet.

What does this mean to a designer of weapons? For one thing, whatever had been envisioned or planned for the muzzle area of the weapon was now complicated by design constraints. Any muzzle device, no matter how effective in its current configuration, would now have a 0.86 diameter so that the bayonet ring could pass over and ride securely. The fit would have to be loose enough for a quick deployment yet tight enough so there was no rattle. At a prescribed position aft of the muzzle, the gas block or other appendage would need the special T-configuration for securing the bayonet. This would require chamfered corners for a smooth and rapid connection. The rifle would have to be rugged in the muzzle area as well. When the M14 was in development, testing showed that thrusts with the bayonet resulted in damage to the weapon prompting a redesign. There were but few words in the Purchase Description where the bayonet was mandated, yet in an instant, the freedom of design was greatly restricted.

Why in the world do we need a bayonet anyway, I asked myself? During the break I considered other devices that might be better suited to the end of the barrel. How about a stun gun or a Taser? Maybe a pyrotechnic wire cutter or a laser would be better; something, anything that was more “21st Century.” Surely there must exist some new technology that might carry us beyond these design constraints from which we seem to be forever encumbered? I needed to give this more thought and also made a mental note to check how we got to the point of a never-ending bayonet requirement.

Weeks later, while searching my files and other reference sources, I learned that the first bayonet use was recorded in the 17th century. Riflemen wielding a matchlock rifle were protected by a soldier carrying a pike, whose job it was to keep the enemy at bay long enough for the rifleman to reload. When they closed in on the enemy, the rifleman jammed a special “plug bayonet” in the end of the barrel so he could join the pikesmen in combat when there simply wasn’t time to reload.

In the years that followed, bayonet designs were never very innovative but there was one that is remembered for out of the box thinking. Early rifles needed a ramrod and later ones a cleaning rod, so one designer sold the U.S. on a ramrod bayonet combination design. In 1905 this bayonet received some high level attention when president Theodore Roosevelt wrote a letter to the Secretary of War telling him, “I must say that I think that ramrod bayonet is about as poor an invention as I ever saw. As you observed, it broke short off as soon as hit with even moderate violence. It would have no moral effect and mighty little physical effect.” He questioned the need for a bayonet and went on to ask that further studies be undertaken by officers seeing combat in the Philippines and from military attachés who were sent as observers to the Russo-Japanese war. Two American Colonels from the office of the Surgeon General were assigned to accompany the Russian Army in combat in order to study the wounds caused by weapons of modern warfare. Observations on the use of the bayonet would be part of their mission.

The Russian and Japanese armies faced off on three different fronts in battle lines that extended 10 miles, 60 miles, and 80 miles. Nocturnal engagements were frequent and much use of the bayonet was made on both sides, yet the actual number of casualties attributed to the bayonet was a mere 0.3%. In their report, the Colonels concluded: “The experience of the Boer War and that of the present Russo-Japanese war has shown that the bayonet is not yet an obsolete weapon and that we still must reckon with it.”

Reckon with it we did, from the First and Second World Wars and the Korean War right up until the 1950s when the M14 rifle was being developed to replace the M1 rifle, Browning Automatic Rifle, M2 Carbine and M3 Grease Gun. The bayonet used with the M1 rifle did not fit the M14, which got the Army thinking about the requirement for a bayonet. Mr. Amos Bonkemeyer, who was then head of the Light Weapons Section of the Army’s Infantry and Aircraft weapons section, stated the Army “… is considering not using a bayonet with the M14.” This came as a result of a recommendation from Fort Monroe where they reported, “The bayonet is rarely used in combat.” These observations led to seriously consider arming the soldier and Marine with a K-bar knife with no means of attachment to the rifle. This concept met resistance from the troops and eventually the bayonet was accommodated on the M14. The front end of the weapon was redesigned and the stock reinforced to a point where the M14 was tested and determined to be as good as the M1 for bayonet fighting. The M16 that followed met the same requirement.

Resigned to be forever burdened with a bayonet, the Army funded a project to make the bayonet more useful. The soldier needed a saw, a wire cutter, or an all purpose knife far more frequently than those combat situations that required him to affix a bayonet to the end of his rifle. In 1973 a project was funded to develop a multi-purpose Knife-Cutter Bayonet that would perform multiple tasks and also be effective as a fighting tool. A contract was awarded, designs were conceived, and a number of prototypes were built for field trials. Just as the multi-purpose M14 rifle that preceded it, the Knife-Cutter Bayonet proved once again that a product that makes design compromises in order to do multiple jobs ends up doing none of them very well. Their overweight designs were not able to cut double strand barbed wire and were too cumbersome for most practical uses. At the time these studies were undertaken, men had already been sent to the moon, yet these developers were overwhelmed by the challenge to develop a multi-functional bayonet, their final report stating: “Development was terminated when it was concluded that it was beyond the state of the art to develop a single item encompassing all the features stated as essential.”

Only one year after the first “new rifle for the military” meeting, I found myself in a carbon copy of the first meeting. It was another new requirement, this time for a carbine that would also require the accommodation of a bayonet at the muzzle. When they reached the point in the purchase description that would cover the bayonet I thought once again about Teddy Roosevelt, the Russo-Japanese War, Stun guns, Tasers, and Lasers. I turned to a combat veteran next to me and whispered, “Why are we doing this again? Do you guys really need a bayonet?” The answer was short and profound. “George, when the soldier’s weapon no longer works for whatever reason, the bayonet is his last remaining means of defense.” Gee, I never thought about it like that. I don’t feel so bad though. Teddy Roosevelt didn’t get it the first time either.

The Association of the United States Army held its annual meeting on October 6-8 in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center, Washington DC. As one of the premier showcases demonstrating developments in the defense industry, more than 500 exhibitors from more than a dozen countries displayed their products and services. Displays included cruise missiles, unmanned aerial vehicles, small and medium caliber small arms, and armored vehicles. Small Arms Review was present to report on new products and advances within the defense community.

ATK

ATK showcased a new medium caliber system utilizing a redesigned 20mm, 25mm, and 30mm weapons system. Designed in two parts, the weapon mount has been designated the PAWS – the Palletized Autonomous Weapons System. As a self contained and fully autonomous weapons system, the PAWS system provides the user the capability to aim and fire virtually any small and medium caliber weapon.

As a roll on/roll off system, the PAWS can be fully palletized for air delivery. Set up time from crate to running system testing is reportedly less than 10 minutes. Designed from off-the-shelf components, the platform can be easily installed in a variety of platforms. Representatives of ATK indicate that due to the light weight, the PAWS system can be utilized within a light truck, Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV), light boat, or rotary aircraft.

Use of the system was extremely easy. A joy stick controls elevation, traverse, and fire controls, while a LCD display provides an aiming point and view of the target. The system is electrically powered, and capable of using batteries or a variety of external power sources.

In conjunction with the PAWS weapon mount, ATK has redesigned the 25mm Bushmaster chain gun. Designated the LW25 Bushmaster, the system is a compact and lightweight system based upon the successful Bushmaster family of chain guns. Weighing 68 pounds (unloaded) or 94 pounds with available soft mount and fire control unit, the LW25 has a reported cyclic rate of 250 rounds per minute. In addition, ATK representatives report that the system has a Mean Rounds Between Stoppages (MRBS) in excess of 35,000 rounds, providing an extremely reliable system.

The LW25 Bushmaster utilizes five newly designed 25mm cartridges: HEI (High Explosive Incendiary), HEDP (High Explosive Dual Purpose), PABM (Programmable Air Burst Munition), Shotshell, and TP (Training Practice). The new cartridges measure 25x59mm. ATK reports that the LW25 Bushmaster is ideal for applications that are currently limited to gas-operated guns. ATK representatives pointed out that the system is lighter than the M2HB, M240, and Mk19 machine guns, while providing increased lethality.

The Programmable Air Burst Munition is reportedly a remnant of the OICW program, complete with point detonating fuze and programmable airburst capability. As evidence that old projects never die, the OICW project is alive and well at ATK, and has now been designated the Individual Airburst Weapon System (IAWS). Designed to engage targets at 300 meters, the system has a maximum effective range of 500 meters. Similar to the OICW, the IAWS utilizes five types of ammunition: thermobaric, flechette, training, high-explosive airburst, and non-lethal.

Heckler and Koch

Heckler and Koch revealed a new blank firing adaptor intended for the M16 family of weapons. Intended to be used as a complete system comprised of a magazine and muzzle device, the blank firing adaptor is intended to prevent the use of live ammunition. The length of the magazine is reduced to prevent users from loading ball ammunition. Instead, only blank ammunition (which is typically shorter in length than live ammunition) may be loaded within the special magazine.

In the event that ball ammunition is forced into the magazine, a maximum of three live rounds will fit within the magazine. Attempts to load more than three live rounds will result in the rounds binding and jamming within the magazine. If live rounds are loaded within the magazine and fired through the weapon, the blank firing adaptor attached at the muzzle is capable of stopping a maximum of three live rounds.

The system is reportedly under test and evaluation by the U.S. Marine Corps. An HK representative indicated that the system is not currently in production, and would not be produced unless a significant order was placed by a branch of the military.

SAAB Bofors

Long known for the Carl Gustav recoilless AT rocket system, Saab Bofors displayed a variant of the venerable AT-4 anti-tank rocket system. The AT-4 system has been in the U.S. Army inventory since the mid-1980s. In an effort to revitalize and update the system, Saab Bofors improved the system in two significant ways.

The system was first outfitted with a liquid counter-mass to eliminate the back blast created when firing the weapon. As a recoilless system, the weapon’s back blast prevents use of the AT-4 system within confined spaces. With the new Saab Bofors improvements, the liquid counter mass reduces the back blast and eliminates the deadly effects of firing the system within a confined space.

The AT-4 system has always been intended as a disposable system. Unlike the Carl Gustav system, the AT-4 system cannot be reloaded once the rocket is fired. As originally designed, the plastic weapon sights are crude, simplistic, hard to use and cannot be zeroed or adjusted for range. As originally designed, the original AT-4 weapon sight cannot be zeroed, or adjusted for range. As a result, Saab Bofors worked together with Aimpoint to incorporate a red dot sight to the system. Adjustable for range, the soldier estimates the range to the target, adjusts the sight, places the aiming point directly on the target, and fires the weapon. As the AT-4 system is disposable, the new Aimpoint sights are reportedly disposable, and not intended to be reused. Finally, a Picatinny rail has been incorporated on the AT-4 tube, to allow the user to mount and use a laser designator or range finder as part of the system.

Barrett Firearms

Barrett Firearms revealed their new .338 Lapua bolt action rifle. Designated the Model 98B, the new .338 Lapua rifle sports a 27 inch barrel, and has an overall length of 49.75 inches. The barrel utilizes a ten-round polymer magazine, with an ambidextrous magazine release lever.

Built primarily of 7075 aluminum and polymer plastics, the complete system weighs in at 13.5 pounds. Considering that the Barrett 82A1 weighs nearly 31 pounds, the Barrett 98B provides significant weigh savings while providing a platform capable of heavy hitting long range shooting. The barrel is fluted for additional weight savings, while utilizing a 1-in-10 twist rate for long range accuracy.

Projected to be vailable in January 2009, the current suggested retail price will be $4,500.

Colt Defense

In response to recent U.S. Army solicitations and weapons tests, Colt Defense presented a large number of new and innovative weapon platforms. SAR spent a significant amount of time discussing weapons development with MG Battaglini, (USMC, Retired) Colt’s Chief Operating Officer and Kevin Brown, Vice President, Military Programs. Built in response to a request from the U.S. Army, MG Battaglini explained that the new models were not intended to replace the venerable M4 carbine. Rather, the new systems were designed to demonstrate the available technology, should the U.S. military decide to upgrade or change existing specifications to the M4 carbine system.

Colt Defense presented several major developments to the M4 weapon platform, including the use of a monolithic upper receiver, the use of a piston system, the creation of a hybrid short stroke gas/piston system, and an articulated gas piston.

Colt Defense also presented a newly designed 40mm low velocity grenade launcher. Designated the Eagle, the grenade launcher is a side opening, fully ambidextrous system capable of being used as either a stand-alone unit, or mounted to a battle rifle. With a built in pistol grip, the system appeared to be a direct competitor to the Heckler and Koch AG-C system, and was reportedly submitted for review by the U.S. Military when considering a replacement to the M203 weapons system.

Weighing 4.7 pounds, the Eagle weighs nearly two pounds heavier than the M203 legacy system, but provides additional capability to fire non-traditional rounds that would not otherwise fit within the M203 breach. Outfitted with Picatinny rails, the weapon is capable of accepting traditional iron sights intended for a 40mm system, or an EOTech 40mm grenade launcher sight. The Eagle is capable of firing nearly any conventional or commonly acquired 40mm lethal and less-lethal ammunition.

The AUSA annual meeting was an unqualified success and allowed many in the small arms industry to display recent developments and innovations. Although not all of the products displayed were in production, the AUSA show is a great opportunity to witness developments in the small arms industry, talk to the engineers involved in the research and development process, and discuss innovations with others within the small arms community.

It’s said that Abraham Lincoln may have freed all men, but Sam Colt made them equal. Founded in 1836, the Colt name has long been associated with innovative and advance firearm designs. Colt Manufacturing (and later Colt Defense) first started producing the Stoner and Sullivan designed AR-15 in 1960. The basic foundation continues today as the M4 Carbine. Recently, individuals within the industry and in the press have been critical of the M4 Carbine as a legacy weapon, in need of modernization and improvement. Several representatives of Small Arms Review recently had an opportunity to discuss innovations and improvements to the AR-15 and M4 design with MG Jim Battaglini, (USMC, Retired), Chief Operating Officer; Mr. Jeff MacLeod, General Manager, and Mr. Kevin Brown, Vice President of Military Programs.

At the outset, MG Battaglini explained that despite recent tests conduced at the request of Congress, the U.S. military remains satisfied with the M4 carbine, and has not requested any major changes to the basic design. The M4 carbine performs as requested and meets current military needs. Nevertheless, Colt decided to take a proactive position and recently displayed nine new variants of the M4 carbine, demonstrating a mix of new designs and prior technology. Not all variants that were displayed will be produced. Rather, the variants are intended to demonstrate what features are available, should the U.S. military seek to upgrade the M4 carbine at a future date. Although the following upgrades have been built into specific models, MG Battaglini pointed out that all of the developments can be built into a complete system in response to the needs of the military.

The APC: Advanced Piston Carbine

Recently, it seems as though nearly every AR-15 manufacturer has introduced a piston-based recoil system to their catalog. While the benefits of a piston upper are numerous, not all manufacturers have executed a successful design. Is the APC just another piston carbine? Not at all. Outfitted with a 14.5 inch barrel, the APC weighs 6.2 pounds (empty), measures 33.5 inches in length with the stock collapsed, and features a piston recoil operating system.

Built with a monolithic upper receiver, the barrel is free floating for increased accuracy, despite the short barrel length. With nothing restraining the barrel, the barrel is free to flex during the firing sequence. Viewed under high speed photography, the barrel can be observed flexing in a wave pattern. When constrained by a gas tube or piston operating rod, the natural harmonics of the barrel are interrupted, resulting in decreased accuracy.

How did Colt respond to the issue? The APC features an articulating operating rod that flexes with the barrel during firing, rather than impeding the barrel or disturbing the rifle’s accuracy. The result: increased accuracy from a shortened weapon platform, with a stable rate of fire. Kevin Brown, Colt’s vice-president of Military Programs, pointed out that even after firing 18,000 rounds through the weapon, there was no significant increase in the rate of fire. With a traditional gas recoil system, barrel wear would result in an increased rate of fire, rapidly exceeding the original rate of fire specifications. As a testament to the effectiveness of the piston system, the rate of fire for the Advanced Piston Carbine was within 50 rounds per minute of the original specification after firing 18,000 rounds.

The AHC: Alternative Hybrid Carbine

Similar to the APC, the AHC is outfitted with a 14.5 inch barrel, weighs 6.2 pounds (empty), measures 33.5 inches in length (with the stock collapsed,) and features a piston recoil operating system. Unlike the APC, the AHC utilizes a mid-length, direct impingement, gas operated piston. Why did Colt develop two outwardly similar rifles with differing types of recoil systems? Recall that the purpose of the recent developments was to showcase and highlight the available technologies available. There are multiple methods of making an AR-15 or M4 operate effectively in semi and fully automatic mode. Rather than focusing on a single type of piston recoil system, Colt presented an alternative that allows drop in retro fitting to existing M4 carbines.

Designed as a short-stroke system, the mid-length piston is designed to eliminate accuracy issues inherent in the traditional full length piston design discussed above. As a short-stroke system, the piston is still reliant upon a short gas tube. Unlike the traditional gas recoil system, the mid-length piston system does not release combustion gas into the upper receiver of the weapon. Rather, the gas is released under the hand guard, and directed forward and away from the shooter.

The SCW and SCW-P: Subcompact Weapon (Piston)

By outward appearances, the SCW harks back to the M231 Firing Port Weapon designed for use within the M2 Bradley Fighting Vehicle. Designed to be used from within the Bradley Fighting Vehicle, the M231 had a high rate of fire, was only capable of fully-automatic fire, was difficult to control, and was only intended for use from within the vehicle. Understandably, the M231 was not the most effective weapon, and added one more piece of equipment in the already confined space of an armored personnel carrier.

By all accounts, the SCW is a response to similar requirements. Designed as a personal defense weapon available as either a gas or piston operated system, the SCW can be used by soldiers to engage targets from within an armored vehicle. This is where the similarities between the SCW and M231 end. Outfitted with a 10.3-inch barrel and designed with a dual collapsible/folding stock, the weapon can be made extremely compact – just 23 inches in overall length with the stock fully collapsed.

In the event that the soldier is required to exit the vehicle to engage the enemy, the SCW stock can be extended to provide a stable firing platform that exceeds the capabilities of the M231 wire stock. Combined with a Lasermax front grip, the SCW is capable of engaging targets to 200 meters and beyond. Unlike the M231, the SCW is designed to be the soldier’s primary weapon – not a weapon to augment the M4 carbine. While the shortened maximum effective range may seem limiting when compared to the capabilities of an M4 carbine, bear in mind that the majority of military engagements take place within the 200 meter effective range of the SCW. Due to its small size, increased accuracy, and upgraded operating system, the SCW has potential to become a highly effective weapon for cavalry and mechanized infantry troops.

The ERC: Extended Range Carbines

Recent infantry doctrine has called for the inclusion of a designated marksman, allowing a designated infantry soldier the ability to engage targets beyond the limitations of the M4 carbine. Currently, the U.S. military trains soldiers and sailors to use the M4 at 300 meters. The M16 has a maximum effective range of 600 meters, while the M4 carbine is effective to 550 meters. Clearly, the platform is not being utilized to the fullest potential. Enter the ERC-16 and ERC-20. As an enhanced rifle system, the rifle uses either a 16-inch or 20-inch barrel that allows the designated marksman to engage targets to 600 meters. While outwardly similar to the legacy M4 systems, the EHC is a highly accurate platform that provides the user with the familiarity of the M-4 system.

Use of a .30 caliber rifle by the designated marksman presents several issues. Parts commonality and different ammunition can be problematic on the battle field. Engagement of targets is often within the 600 meters. More importantly, use of a different weapon immediately identifies the designated marksman as a valuable target. By using the same ammunition, using the same major parts, and using a similar weapon profile with the M4 system, the ERC is effectively integrated into an infantry platoon, while also providing the designated marksman a highly accurate weapon.

Relocation of the Charging Handle within the M4 System

The original AR-15 is an excellent design, as demonstrated by its longevity and ability to be modernized and updated as needed. One may recall that the original charging handle was located at the top of the upper receiver, and within the carrying handle of the weapon. In terms of marksmanship training, the original location of the charging handle allowed the shooter to maintain a good sight picture while reloading the weapon. The current AR-15 requires the shooter to break the sight picture and lift his head from the butt stock when operating the weapon’s charging handle. Recent developments and innovations may change the manner of operation for future iterations of the AR-15 design.

By utilizing a piston recoil system, the charging handle is no longer constrained to the traditional location on the upper receiver. By engaging the piston, the newly relocated charging handle is tasked with double duty. First, the handle is used to operate the bolt when charging and clearing the weapon. Designed with ambidextrous use in mind, the newly designed charging handle can be extended to the opposite side of the receiver, allowing for ambidextrous use of the charging handle. Second, the charging handle can now be used to engage the piston to push the bolt home into the chamber, augmenting or replacing the forward assist when trying to close the bolt.

By relocating the charging handle to the hand guard, the new design allows the ability to shoot with better technique, allows ambidextrous operation of the charging handle, and allows replacement (or elimination) of the traditional forward assist. In return, the shooter potentially loses the ability to use a small portion of the Picatinny rail. Is the exchange worthwhile? The exchange may be worthwhile, if the new design allows the shooter to more accurately engage the target. The U.S. military will ultimately decide whether the new system is worthwhile to implement. In the meantime, the new design is an excellent example of thinking outside of standard parameters to improve an otherwise proven product.

Other design innovations included the introduction of a built in suppressor, the elimination of the traditional dust cover, and self-lubricating internals. Only time will tell whether these innovations will prove effective, and whether they will be implemented into future designs of the M4 family.

As indicated earlier, the designs displayed by Colt were intended to demonstrate the combination of new designs and prior technology. Most of the variants will never be made as production models. MG Battaglini pointed out that the models were not designed for commercial, international, or law enforcement sales, nor are the models intended as a replacement for the M4. Rather, the models were built solely to demonstrate what technologies are available should the U.S. military decide to upgrade the existing specifications at a future date. Based upon the designs presented, it appears as though Colt is well equipped to modernize and update the M4 well into the 21st century.

By Christopher R. Bartocci

Last month we looked at Type’s A and B of Colt’s SCAR (Special operations forces Combat Assault Rifle) program. Both used the traditional gas impingement system as found in the M16/M4 family of weapons and fared very well in the trials. However, there was an unwritten requirement that SOCOM wanted a conventional piston operated weapon. They felt it would be more clean and reliable under the extreme circumstances that they operated under.

Colt set out to develop their own piston driven mechanism. Piston systems were nothing new to Colt as they had experimented with it many years ago. In the late 1960s to early 1970s, experimentation was going on at Colt, Rock Island and Winchester to develop a standard piston mechanism to deal with the problems the early rifles had with the switch-over to ball powder. This also was as a response to the publicity of the reliability of the AK47. In the end, a report in 1968 stated that the 10 prototype weapons performed about equal to the current M16A1 rifles. Colt developed the model 703 as a piston driven operating system. Although totally unlike the current SCAR design, it indicates that Colt had investigated this in the past. The 703 was a full-length rifle with a piston rod that was attached to the bolt carrier, much like the AK-type piston. By the time Colt had concluded the development of the 703, all the changes made to the M16A1 and ammunition made a piston-operated mechanism unnecessary.

The Colt 703 rifle when fired, the bullet would propel down the barrel, and gas was bled from the barrel into the gas cylinder created between the end of the piston rod and the front sight base. The piston rod, being attached to the bolt carrier group, would move rearward extracting and ejecting the fired cartridge case. When the bolt carrier group reaches it’s furthest rearward motion the buffer/buffer spring would drive the bolt carrier group forward stripping a round from the magazine, chambering it, and the bolt would lock into battery ready for the next shot.

Colt SCAR Type C

SOCOM’s unwritten requirement for a piston operated rifle was based upon their belief that this system kept the gun cleaner due to hot gasses not being blown into the bolt carrier causing fouling. This is especially true when being fired with a suppressor.

Colt began work to design their own piston system. With the requirement for a free-floated barrel, Colt opted to use their newly designed one-piece upper receiver. Keeping the legacy M4 platform was important as it was very user friendly. Once the shooter grasps the pistol grip, all manipulations of the selector and magazine catch can be made without manipulation of the shooters hand. The left hand will insert the loaded magazine a hit the bolt catch to reload. Due to the magazine dropping free and the bolt holding open on the last shot, reloading can be accomplished is seconds. An added benefit to keeping this platform was taking advantage of the existing familiarity of the operators’ use with the M4A1 carbine.

The SCAR Type C Upper Receiver

The upper receiver chosen was the Colt proprietary one-piece upper receiver. This allowed the barrel to be mounted to the receiver and permitted to free float; increasing accuracy as well as assist in cooling. The upper receiver utilizes a forward assist assembly, fired cartridge case deflector and an ejection port dust cover. There is a continuous Mil-Std 1913 rail that goes from the top of the charging handle area to the front sight base. This will allow the mounting of multiple optics including night vision, reflex sight as well as a laser. The side rails allow the operator to mount flashlights or other accessories. The bottom portion of the rail is removable allowing the mounting of a grenade launcher. When the standard cover with the rail is on, a vertical pistol grip may be installed. During testing, the newly designed Grip Pod Systems vertical pistol grip was used. This vertical pistol grip/bipod is made of 7075 T6 aircraft aluminum, the same as the Colt SCAR receivers. The bottom of the grip turns into a spring-loaded bipod with a push of a button. When the operator drops to the prone position and engages the bipod, the carbine has a stable base for aimed firing. When the bipod is engaged and the weapon shouldered, the magazine will not snag on the ground.

The carbine utilizes the same BUIS (Back Up Iron Sight) as the Colt Type A. The rear sight is a modified Colt carrying handle rear sight. Colt took a standard carrying handle and removed the handle just leaving a lightweight rear sight. There are no sharp edges to snag. It is adjustable for elevation out to 600 meters and has two sight apertures. A 0 to 200-meter close and a long-range aperture. However, any BUIS can be used whether it be an ARMS #40 L or a Knight Armament BUIS.

The front sight is a Colt designed foldable front sight assembly attached to the gas block. This same front sight assembly was used on all three of Colt’s entries and was activated and locked by a button on the left side. This utilized a square 4-notch front sight post and is adjustable for elevation only.

The Colt Piston Operating System

The piston system is very simple and very reliable. In firearms design there are two basic piston systems. The first is where the piston/operating rod is directly attached to the bolt carrier such as the AK47/AKM. The second is the short-stroke tappet where the operating rod strikes the face of the bolt carrier driving the carrier rearward while the piston rod reciprocates back to its rested position in front of the firearm such as the AR18, SKS and FN FAL.

The system chosen by Colt is the latter. By going with the two-piece operating rod the weight may be decreased. Colt has been working on their piston systems for a couple of years in their model shop. In 2003, a prototype was made showing an early attempt of their system. Over the next couple years their design would be modified and perfected to the final system they chose for their SCAR candidate

The final system begins with their proprietary one-piece upper receiver. The barrel is secured to the inside of the receiver and the barrel left free-floating. The system consists of the op rod and return spring. The front of the system consists of the gas cylinder and the mechanism is locked into the weapon by a large pin in the front sight/gas block. There is a gas relief vent in front of the gas cylinder that vents through the front of the front sight assembly. Colt has tested this operating mechanism with over 18,000 rounds without cleaning and without failure. This piston system does not require routine maintenance during cleaning.

As the bullet travels down the barrel upon firing, the bullet passes the gas port and gas is directed into the gas expansion chamber, driving the piston rearward. The rear of the piston impacts a modified carrier key on the bolt carrier group driving the carrier group rearward. While the carrier group continues rearward, the piston rod returns to its forward resting position. On the bolt carrier group’s rearward travel the bolt unlocks, extracting and ejecting the fired cartridge case from the carbine. Then the compressed heavy buffer and spring return the carrier group forward stripping an unfired cartridge from the magazine, feeding it into the chamber, and then the bolt locks into the barrel extension. The carbine is ready for the next shot to be fired. Another benefit of the piston-operated system is the ability to set the cyclic rate of the weapon. Colt chose to make the SCAR Type C fire at 800 rounds per minute comparable to that of the M4A1 with Mk 262 Mod 1 ammunition.

The Bolt Carrier

The bolt carrier group looks very similar to the standard M16/M4 family of firearms but with one major change: a new bolt carrier key. Also, there are no gas rings on the bolt due to the expansion chamber being in the front sight assembly instead of the back of the bolt carrier group. Another innovation that Colt has done is to change the finish of the bolt and carrier. It has a proprietary UCT Defense UltraChem (nickel boron) finish to eliminate the need for any lubricant whatsoever. This slippery finish needs merely a wipe with a rag to clean. This coating also improves corrosion resistance. The extractor utilizes the improved gold extractor spring with the stronger black extractor buffer.

The Barrel

As per specifications, the barrels come in two different lengths. The standard carbine barrel length is 14.5 inches and the CQC (Close Quarter Combat) barrel is 10.5 inches. Both barrels are heavy barrels to insure they can take the required heavy firing schedule demanded by SOCOM. The barrel utilizes the standard 1 turn in 7 inch rifling twist that is required to stabilize the Mk 262 Mod 1 ammunition currently in use by SOCOM. Additionally, as per requirements, a Knight’s Armament Quick Detach flash suppressor is installed for use with the silencer. The front sight base has a bayonet lug for mounting a bayonet on both barrels even though one cannot be mounted on the 10.5 inch barrel.

The chamber has been modified to comply with the “Over the Beach” requirement specified for the SEALS.

The Lower Receiver

The lower receiver is identical to the ones used on Type A and B. It is a standard M4A1 lower receiver with the modified selector lever. As per requirement, this ambidextrous selector operates over 90 degrees of travel (as opposed to the Colt standard of 180 degrees). After testing was completed, this change was not well received. The reasoning in unclear as to whether they were just too used to the standard or if it did not manipulate as fast as the original.

The magazine release is the patented Norgon ambidextrous version. The stock is the VLTOR stock with dual battery compartments for the optics. This is a standard four-position Colt buffer extension with a H2 buffer. Due to the carbine utilizing a heavy barrel, the buffer with 2 tungsten weights and 1 steel weight was necessary to prevent light strikes from bolt carrier bounce. Improved hammer/trigger pins are used that are manufactured of stainless steel. This increases service life especially with heavy volume of fire required of the SCAR weapon. The finish is done in the required flat earth finish (coyote brown) done by Kal-Guard.

Conclusions

The opportunity arose to test fire Colt’s Type C SCAR in their engineering range in the basement of the factory. There was little difference in the feel between the direct gas and the piston driven carbines and their cyclic rate was about the same. The carbine fired was quite worn and neglected from the SCAR trials. However, the carbine functioned flawlessly; firing nearly 500 rounds in 15 minutes. The bolt carrier group was completely dry without lubricant.

There seems to be little doubt that the next generations of M16/M4 carbines will be piston driven mechanisms. Colt plans to introduce a piston driven law enforcement carbine in early 2006.

With the SCAR program moving forward with procurement from FN Mfg. Inc., only time will tell how the new weapons will stack up compared to the M4A1 carbines currently in use. The SCAR trials were without a doubt the most grueling small arms testing in the world since the original Armalite AR-15 was pitted against the government designed M14. Lessons learned in this weapons development program will influence further research and development of further upgrades or new weapons designs of the future.

Bushmaster has won summary judgment in the case originally brought by Colt against Bushmaster in which Colt claimed Bushmaster had infringed its ‘M4 trademark and the ‘M4’ trade dress. The court found that commercial purchasers of firearms costing $1,000 or more (such as the rifle products of Colt and Bushmaster) conduct research before purchase and are generally sophisticated about the products they buy and know the differences between the various firearms manufacturers and their products. Additionally, it was noted that government agencies additionally conduct a review process before issuing a contract and thus “it would be impossible for that agency to be confused as to the source of the product it is purchasing,” the court said.

Use of the Term ‘M4’

The U.S. government coined the term ‘M4’, the court noted. The term is a U.S. government designation for a specific type of firearm. The term ‘M’ is an abbreviation for ‘Model’ that is used not only with carbines but also with other small arms and military equipment. As examples, the Sherman tank is known as the ‘M4’, and the U.S. military has designated an ‘M4’ bayonet.

Bushmaster actually started using the term ‘M4’ in commerce before Colt. Bushmaster first began using the term in its advertising at least as early as 1991, and since that year, has continuously used the term ‘M4’ in its advertising in connection with the sale of its XM15 E2S firearms. Colt’s admitted that it did not use the term ‘M4’ in commerce until May 28, 1993.

It was also found that at least fifteen other manufacturers use or have used the term ‘M4’ in their advertising in reference to military-style carbines. Firearms manufacturers have also used the term ‘M4’ to designate firearms that are very different from the M4 carbine produced by Colt. Examples included Army Benelli of Italy’s use of the term to designate the commercial version of its military M1014 semi-auto shotgun and Beretta’s former marketing of a .22-caliber pistol known as the ‘Minx M4’.

Basis for Judgment

In its decision, the court found that Bushmaster was entitled to summary judgment based on the following points in its argument:

1. The term M4 is a generic designation for a type of firearm.
2. There is no likelihood of confusion among a commercially relevant group of consumers as to the source of Bushmaster’s products.
3. The product design of Colt’s M4 carbine has not acquired secondary meaning, every element of its design is functional, and there is no likelihood of confusion, entitling Bushmaster to summary judgment with respect to Colt’s claim of trade-dress infringement.

It was noted that the presumption of validity that attaches to a registered mark may be overcome if a challenger proves, by a preponderance of the evidence, that a mark has become generic. The way a manufacturer describes its products containing a trademark is particularly important as to its ability to maintain the mark’s status as protected.

Bushmaster pointed out that Colt used the term ‘M4’ as a noun to describe its products – examples were a Commando M4, a Match Target M4 and an LE M4. Bushmaster was thus successful in arguing that “If the proponent of trademark status itself uses the term as a generic name, this is strong evidence of genericness.”

Bushmaster convinced the court that Colt’s trade dress is similar to that issue in Leatherman Tool Group, Inc. v. Cooper Indus., Inc., 199 F.3d 1009 (9th Cir. 1999), in which the court rejected the plaintiff’s claim of trade-dress protection for the overall appearance of a multi-function pocket tool. Leatherman had argued its trade dress protection included the “combination of multiple features, including the tool size; the shape of the handles; the shape of the gripping jaws…; the brushed stainless steel finish on the handles; the selection, arrangement, and shape of all of the various tool blades.” However, the court in that case concluded that the whole was nothing more than the assemblage of functional parts and said “it is semantic trickery to say that there is still some sort of ‘overall appearance’ which is non-functional. Colt had argued that the overall appearance of its M4 product was protectable.

Colt’s attempts to recover financial damages from Bushmaster were denied.

Bushmaster failed to demonstrate its entitlement to summary judgment with respect to one of Colt’s claims of false advertising which was left remaining for trial. This involved an allegation that Bushmaster falsely advertised that its products were purchased by the U.S. military. But, the court recommended that Bushmaster’s motion to bar the recovery of damages be granted. Excluded from the false advertising claim are the marks M4, COLT AR-15, and COLT AR-15 and design.

Bushmaster’s counterclaim seeking cancellation of Colt’s federal registration for the trademark ‘M4’ (registration No. 2,734,001) was granted, thus allowing free use of the mark by any member of the industry.

ATF’s NFA Registration System Under Review

Concerns have long been raised by individuals owning registered machine guns and other National Firearms Act-controlled firearms in regard to the accuracy and completeness of ATF’s National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR), but ATF says it has made improvements in these records.

On October 21, 2005, Paul K. Martin, Deputy Inspector General in the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) within the U.S. Dept. of Justice wrote to Senator Jon Kyl (R-AZ) to apprise Kyl of federal efforts to improve the NFRTR after Kyl had forwarded the OIG a letter of concern from a constituent.

Martin acknowledged that the OIG was aware of extensive correspondence, beginning in 1998 and continuing through the present, regarding allegations about the NFRTR between concerned individuals and the ATF, United States Attorneys’ Office, as well as several members of Congress. In response, the OIG conducted two reviews in 1998, neither of which, Martin said, “substantiated the claims.”

The reviews did, however, “identify weaknesses in the administration of the NFRTR”, Martin wrote, and the OIG made recommendations to the ATF to correct the weaknesses. These recommendations, Martin wrote, were accepted and implemented by ATF prior to the agency’s transfer to the Dept. of Justice in February 2003.

The OIG subsequently asked ATF for details on the actions it took to implement the recommendations. On June 15, 2005, ATF informed the OIG that it had implemented all of the OIG’s recommendations or had implemented alternatives that it had proposed to the OIG and that the OIG had found acceptable. According to the ATF, the OIG monitored the implementation of the corrective actions, as well as the ATF’s use of $500,000 appropriated by Congress to improve the accuracy and completeness of the NFRTR.

ATF also provided information on two measures it implemented. First, the ATF optically imaged and indexed all NFRTR records to create a database that it now uses to retrieve registration documents. New registrations are imaged and indexed as they are processed, and an ongoing ATF project, known as Firearms Integrated Technology, is to incorporate the firearms registration database into a standardized and integrated firearms information system. Second, ATF expanded the dissemination of the procedures to be followed to properly register firearms in estates. ATF included this information in various publications and posted it on its web site, Martin’s letter detailed.

Martin’s letter closed by noting that the OIG, in response to correspondence it has received from individuals who still express concerns about the accuracy of the NFRTR, that it (OIG) planned to initiate a review of ATF’s management of the NFRTR. The review (planned to begin in late 2005), was to examine ATF’s efforts to implement the recommendations made by the OIG and review ATF’s process for registering, transferring, and updating records on arms contained within the NFRTR.

Michigan Residents May Now Own Machine Guns

Based upon a state attorney general’s opinion, ATF has said it will now process applications to own machine guns by Michigan residents.

Michigan law (MCL 750.224) states machine guns shall not be sold, manufactured or possessed except by those manufacturers holding a contract with a government agency or a person licensed by the Secretary of the Treasury of the United States or the Secretary’s delegate to manufacture, sell, or possess a machine gun, or a device, weapon, cartridge, container, or contrivance.

ATF states that a person licensed by the United States can be a holder of an approved ATF application for transfer and registration of a machine gun for purposes of MCL 750.224. Thus, a Michigan resident with an approved ATF application to transfer and register a machine gun may legally possess a machine gun under the “license” exception set forth in Michigan law.

The ATF National Firearms Act Branch is now willing to process applications for transfer and registration of pre-1986 ban machine guns by Michigan residents. However, Michigan law also proscribes possession of other items; such as firearm silencers. ATF has requested clarification of the state’s laws regarding these items from the AG’s office. Applications received by ATF from Michigan residents for items other than machine guns are being held by ATF until the requested clarification is received.

Bill Would Make ATF More Accountable

The U.S. Senate is poised to vote on a bill that would make the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms & Explosives more accountable to Congress.

The Senate was scheduled to vote to clear a reauthorization of the 2001 anti-terrorism law (PL 107-56). Deep within the conference report on the reauthorization bill (HR 3199) is a 38-word provision that would make the ATF director subject to Senate confirmation, thus giving senators a new bargaining chip in negotiations with the White House. Confirmations could then be held hostage to satisfy individual senators’ demands. The provision was inserted by House Judiciary Chairman F. James Sensenbrenner, Jr., (R-WI).

The author publishes two of the small arms industry’s most widely read trade newsletters. The International Firearms Trade covers the world firearms scene, and The New Firearms Business covers the domestic market. He also offers FFL-mailing lists to firms interested in direct marketing efforts to the industry. He may be reached at: FirearmsB@aol.com.

By Bob Campbell

Within the framework of the AR 15/M 16 rifle there are subtypes that are very interesting, perhaps even more useful than the original gun. One of the most popular, a weapon of almost legendary reputation, is the CAR 15/M 177 or M4 Carbine. The first short barrel short stock M 16 variants appeared in the late 1960’s. They met with varying degrees of success. I’ve fired most, a notable exception to my experience being the ‘port firing’ M 16’s designed for use within armored vehicles. Early guns in the CAR 15 series were sometimes called Commandos. The original guns coupled a ten inch barrel with a folding or collapsing stock. Colt had wished this line to be known as the CAR 15 line to signify the difference between Colt and Armalite production.

The short XM 177 received and kept the CAR 15 tag. These guns were criticized on several points, especially reliability. Col. Tony Herbert, the most decorated enlisted man of the Korean conflict served as a officer in Vietnam. He found the M 16 was a fine rifle, well suited to the conflict, but derided the CAR 15 as unreliable. He felt it had more show than performance, likening its image to that of the Thompson submachinegun of another war. The XM 177E2, with a longer 11.5 inch barrel and other types of ‘tweaking’, proved more reliable.

The XM 177E2 was dropped from production. The early short M 16’s were plagued with reliability and ammunition performance problems.

Later carbines were developed which featured 14.5 inch long barrels. These longer barrels work much better with the M 16 gas system and retain more of the 5.56mm cartridge’s effectiveness. This is a round that relies upon high velocity for effectiveness. Wound ballistics are compromised when the velocity falls below 2,500 fps. With enhanced ammunition performance and increased reliability, later variants such as the 1980’s M 16A2 carbine were much more effective weapons. Many in the Army wished to adopt the Carbine as a standard weapon but it remained for the most part a special team weapon, often issued to drivers and dog handlers or other needing a short light weapon. It is much more effective than any handgun or submachinegun, weapons often assigned this task.

The M4 and M4A1 are recent variants, being adopted in 1994. Both are in wide use by all of the services. Two models are in use. The M4 has the familiar ratchet-type three shot burst limiter. When the weapon is on full auto, it can be fired only in a three shot burst mode. At least in my hands, the usual result is two shots close together and one with greater dispersion. The M4A1 has the more conventional mode of fire.

A trained operator can tickle the trigger well enough to fire two to four round bursts in full auto mode. The trick is in training, a greater indicator of success in the field than gear. The M4’s currently in service are flat-top models, or M 16 variants with removable carrying handles. These weapons may easily be fitted with telescopic sights.

The M4 type weapon is also popular with civil agencies, especially Special Weapons and Tactics units. The needs of mobile SWAT teams are well served by the M4. The M4’s 14.5 inch barrel is not civilian legal, but a number of approximations are available with legal length 16 inch barrels. They mimic the M4 in a reasonable manner, of course without the full auto option. I’ve fired quite a few and they are accurate, reasonably compact weapons. Several versions are offered by Wilson Combat. Not as well known for his rifles, Wilson’s rifles and carbines are world class weapons.

The true M4 exhibits the following features—

• 14.5 inch, 1 in 7 inch twist barrel
• 7 3/4 inch round handguard
• Double heat shield
• Flat top receiver
• Four position buttstock—Closed/Full open/one half and three quarters open.

Early ammunition problems with the CAR 15 type guns are well documented. Often, downsizing a weapon does not work as well as the designer had hoped. M4’s currently in use feature an increased diameter gas port, which aids in overall function.

The M4 carbine has been well received in service, passing stringent testing. It is used by airborne units, SEALs, and other special operators.

Notably, the availability of the M4 carbine has resulted in less utilization of other weapons such as the Heckler and Koch MP5 and other weapons. The M4 can perform the same tasks but arguably much better, while fulfilling the mission envelope of the M16A2 as well.

The carbines are six inches shorter than the M16A2, a significant advantage when parachuting or traveling in a raft, and an advantage in house clearing as well.

The problems encountered by Israeli and Palestinian forces in house clearing with the M16 and Galil are well known. The UZI found favor with the Israelis. They would not allow Palestinian forces to use the UZI. The UZI is a good weapon of the type, but not comparable to the M4.

The question of accuracy and lethality remains with the M4. Accuracy to even 500 yards is comparable to but not equal to the M16A2. I have fired several short carbines at length. I chose Black Hills ammunition for the chore. Since their match grade loads are used by Marine sharpshooters, it felt appropriate. I used not only standard 55 grain loads but the 52 grain match load, the 60 grain softpoint, and a 68 grain match load. Results were very good. At 100 yards-and infantry engagement range is held to be one hundred to one hundred twenty five yards-accuracy was excellent.

The .223 cartridge must retain 2,500 fps or more of muzzle velocity to retain its lethality. With short submachinegun type barrels as seen on the CAR 15 this was not always possible, but it is a non issue with the M4.

The M4 provides an excellent alternative to the M16A2, with many good features and few tradeoffs. It is a fine weapon for the 21st century warrior.

The author was recently invited to evaluate a unique tactical carbine system under consideration for law enforcement deployment. The “system” consisted of a standard M4 version of the M-16 carbine equipped with iron sights, along with an additional scoped, suppressed flattop for mid-range precision work. We tested the gun over a period of several weeks with help from tactical team members at our local Sheriff’s Office…

The reality of some of the major criminal events in the last couple of years has changed the way law enforcement looks at the rifle – again. The infamous North Hollywood bank robbery and shootout could have ended much quicker if a rifle or carbine had been utilized to end the fray with a single body or head shot. The brave men and women who responded to this monumental event displayed a remarkable devotion to duty. I remember the scenes from the newscast showing officers running into a gun shop to obtain rifles and ammunition. They obviously knew they needed a better tool for their predicament. One item learned from this event was that patrol officers should have small caliber rifle capability. With the proper training and equipment, agencies should be allowed to respond to such emergencies with the proper tools. If an officer is asked by duty to engage criminal elements willing to fight to the death, the use of deadly force to stop the fight is certainly justified.

Previously outfitted with handguns and sometimes shotguns, the trend is well underway to outfit many law enforcement (LE) units with some type of shoulder fired rifle or carbine. Several types of long arms are being deployed. Due to the advantages of having ammunition commonality, many LE units are using carbines chambered in 9mm, 40 S&W, and 45ACP. This combination increases the effective range of common pistol caliber ammunition out to 100 yards. Although the pistol calibers are better suited for the urban environment, some reports of finicky functioning and inaccuracy have questioned the reliability of such carbines. The “tactical” carbine, usually an AR-15 or M-16 seems to be dominating this arena.

There is no argument that the overwhelming majority of SWAT teams have adopted the .308 as their precision rifle caliber. When deployed in the counter-sniper role, the .308 wins over the .223 hands down. Among its many advantages, a 168-grain .308 can punch through heavy glass with a much better probability of success than any .223 loading. Selected marksmen which are deployed with .308 bolt guns might not always be available for backing up the patrol officer, and as was demonstrated in the Hollywood shootout, there are situations where the carbine would obviously help fill the gap. Not meant to take away from the traditional sniper role, the use of the carbine can help fill the niche between the engagement ranges of the pistol, shotgun, and precision rifle. Last time I checked, the national average for LE sniper shots was around 75 yards.

The tactical carbine can be defined as a short-range weapon that exhibits both short and long-range accuracy potential. Its 5.56x45mm cartridge delivers excellent hit probability from muzzle to around 300 yards. With the selection of the correct ammunition, over-penetration issues that have arisen in past thinking are subsiding. Modern .223 hollowpoint ammunition can demonstrate a remarkable amount of expansion that will keep the high velocity projectile from traveling very far after impact with both soft and hard objects. This is something varmint hunters, particularly prairie dog hunters have known and demonstrated for years. Interestingly, this is not a new concept. The carbine or rifle has had its roots planted in rural American law enforcement for a long time. The riot-type shotgun replaced its popularity over the years, but the liability issues related to controlling the launching of several projectiles, over a single one, have changed the thinking of administrators. The concern over the probability of an innocent bystander being injured or killed by an errant projectile, as well as the fear of liability has pushed this decision.

Carbine System Considerations:

Many configurations of the tactical carbine exist. Typically, a single carbine is deployed with a tactical light as an added modification. When equipped with various optics, usually some type of emergency iron sights should be available for backup in case optics fail. The folks at Quality Parts Corporation, better known as Bushmaster Firearms, Inc manufactured the heart of the dual-use system we evaluated. The concept revolves around having two available options depending upon the tactical scenario. The standard, or “primary” upper is equipped with iron sights, and the “secondary” upper utilizes specialized optics and suppressor.

We evaluated both units to determine accuracy potential for tactical LE uses. The suppressed and shorter barreled concept provides an interesting platform to support the carbine equipped rifleman role in law enforcement. The scoped upper can be zeroed in, and removed from the weapon’s lower, as the standard upper would normally be the carry configuration. This dual-use concept provides no loss of zero, and the weapons flexibility is twice enhanced. For example, if called in to assist in a drug raid, the officer can arrive on the scene with the weapon in primary configuration for entry use or perimeter defense. If things don’t go down as planned, and a hostage situation or some other change necessitates it, the officer can fall back and effectively become a stand-off marksman by simply changing out the upper assembly – time permitting. Change out can be accomplished in less than one minute assuming both uppers are equipped with bolt and charging handle. One of the biggest advantages of this dual system concept is the elimination of trigger pull unfamiliarity which would occur if switching to a completely separate firearm. Since the users of such equipment typically don’t swap rifles out between individuals, they can be sure that they will experience the same trigger with the rifle in either configuration.

Both Bushmaster M4 barrels had a twist rate of one turn in nine inches. A Harris bipod was also attached to the suppressed flat top. This helps support the extra weight, and provides a stable platform when shooting from the prone position. It also allows some degree of rotation between the rifle and ground to compensate for uneven conditions. The Harris Series “S” attaches to the bottom of the hand guard via an adapter stud. The #5 adapter stud is required for all AR-15/M-16 hand guards. During our evaluation, the unit performed beautifully, and really made shooting from the prone position a piece of cake. We noted no changes in bullet impact by shooting from either the bipod or sandbags. With large field-of-view optics, the swivel bipod enhances large area scanning capability.

Suppressor Observations:

Besides reducing the muzzle blast sound levels, a suppressed carbine kicks less than an unsuppressed one. Its use in law enforcement may be of little benefit in many situations, but with the reduced recoil, it can allow the shooter to see each shot strike through the scope. Increased practical accuracy, and faster follow-up shots are an added benefit. The suppressor used in our evaluation, the Specop II, is no longer in production. Manufactured by Gemtech, one of the unique features of the design was its two-point mounting system. Besides increasing strength, the two-point mount helps provide the proper alignment between barrel and suppressor. It allows full automatic fire with the M-16 without worrying about misalignment caused by the unit unscrewing from the host weapon. The suppressor is 11.2 inches long, 1.62 inches in diameter, and weighs a hefty 2.5 pounds. Finish is dark gray phosphate, and the degree of sound reduction is rated at approximately 35dB. It is a rugged system – built to withstand the abuse of hi-velocity ammunition and full auto fire. The folks at Gemtech currently offer the M4-96D and Predator models for the tactical carbine. Their new units are shorter, smaller in diameter, weigh less, and can be provided with a quick attach/detach capability. These new configurations may be even more appropriate for deployment in the law enforcement or military role due to their lightweight.

The report of the weapon itself is more like an unsuppressed .22LR, with the major sound being the ballistic crack of the projectile surpassing the speed of sound (approximately 1126 fps @ 68oF). This allows the operator to fire the gun without hearing protection since the report is not overly uncomfortable to the ears. Those involved in the tests made the comment that the sound of the weapon is about like an unsuppressed .22 rifle firing subsonic ammunition. The tactical user can easily train without the use of hearing protection, and most found the extra weight out in front was easy to get used to. I prefer dedicating a suppressor to a particular weapon, and leaving it there. This ensures no shift in bullet impact, which usually changes due to the variables involved in mounting/dismounting.

Configuration Options:

A tactical light was installed on the “carry” upper for target identification in low light conditions. No accessory for the handgun, shotgun, or carbine is more important than a flashlight specifically designed for use with the firearm. The light should be powerful, as they are used to illuminate the target and permit target discrimination to prevent shooting a fellow officer or family member. They also back light the firearms’ sights, and allow the operator to concentrate on the front sight. Serving warrants and searching for potentially armed suspects in the dark tends to elevate ones anxiety levels. Besides a sidearm and a radio, a good quality flashlight is a police officers most important piece of equipment.

SureFire flashlights have come to dominate the field of combat lights, but the new guys on the block are giving them some competition. Diamond Products has a new 30,000-candle power (105.5 lumens) Tactically Advanced Combat Mount (TACM III) light system for the AR-15/M-16. Made of unbreakable Delrin plastic, the mount system is very tough, is not affected by recoil, nor does it interfere with the rifles usual attach points. The mount attaches through one of the lower hand guard vent holes. The TACM III is almost exactly the same size as the SureFire model 6P, which is carried on the belts of many officers. The mount correctly secures the light to the right or left side of the hand guard, as top mounting would illuminate the smoke cloud as a round is fired. The TACM III is a very bright light, and easily lights up a small room. ON/OFF activation is accomplished via a remote pressure switch mated to the firearm via Velcro. Powered by two, three-volt lithium batteries, they provide approximately one hour and 20 minutes of continuous use.

For the flat top, there are many sight options available dependent upon the departments needs. Each agency has its own set of variables and circumstances, which must be addressed, before choosing the correct optics. A compromise must be met which will allow the operator to both adequately identify and hit the target throughout a variety of distances. With the perceived use being the mid-to-long range standoff scenario, a top quality 4 power scope is a good choice. The 4-power scope will do well in both shorter urban situations, and longer rural ranges. Considering that throughout WW I, WW II, and Korea, most sniper scopes were 2-1/2 to 4 power, the 4X seems an adequate compromise for today’s LE uses. The 10 X scopes which dominate sniper rigs are great for long range precision work, but lack a wide field of view. If the majority of engagement distances are 100 yards or less, say from one side of the street to the other, the compact 4 power with a wide field of view is probably the way to go. We tested three different optics on the flat top during the evaluation.

The ACOG (Advanced Combat Optical Gunsite) by Trijicon was first selected for testing on the flat top for the secondary carry configuration. The ACOG is a combat proven optical device, which complements the tactical carbine concept very well. It provides both close-up aiming capability, along with excellent stand-off accuracy potential. The internal reticle is calibrated for bullet drop out to 800 meters. It also increases accuracy in low light conditions much better than other optics due to its illuminated reticle. During daytime use, the reticle uses fiber optics which collect ambient light, and project the reticle as black lines. At night, the reticle glows red due to the internal tritium composition. The tritium lamps are guaranteed to glow for at least seven years from the original purchase date.

At 100 yards, the ACOG field of view is 36.8 feet. This compares to about 10.7 feet with a typical 10x sniper scope. It also can be ordered with an innovative quick-aiming configuration called the Bindon Aiming Concept (BAC). When using the two-eye aiming method and moving the weapon, the image is unmagnified. This permits extremely rapid target acquisition. As soon as the weapons movement is stopped, the targeted image zooms into magnification. The ACOG has no external switches or buttons to fail at the wrong time. The unit is waterproof, and is currently in use by U.S. Special Forces. We also tested two other scopes on the flat top which are discussed below.

With the AR-15/M-16 rifle, the line of sight though the iron sights are about 2.5” above the line of the bore. Roughly speaking, sighting the rifle in at 50 yards allows the projectile to strike around 1.25” low at 25 yards, on target at 50 and 250 yards. Maximum impact will be 3” high at 100 yards. This provides the optimum setting for iron sights in the LE scenario. On our test gun, when zeroing the scope in at 50 yards, the impact was about 1 inch low at 25 yards, and about 3.5 inches high at 100. When zeroed in at 100 yards, the impact was 1 inch low at 50, and about 2 inches low at 25.

Shooting Impressions:

The purpose of our tests was to verify the weapons function, reliability, and accuracy in the hands of a trained LE officer. Precise groupings are a good indication of a rifles inherent accuracy, but are somewhat irrelevant in a combat situation when you’re being shot at. In such encounters, the adrenaline will be pumping, and all you want to do is hit the threat and neutralize it. We took the carbine out to the range with several factory loads from Black Hills, Winchester, and Georgia Arms. We elected to utilize ammunition suited to the practical, real-world scenario. No subsonic .223 rounds were tested. It was the opinion of those on hand that a subsonic .223 round has very limited capability. Although it could be suited for very specialized situations, perhaps the use of a suppressed .22LR would be better.

The weather was not great during our first test outing. Outside air temperatures were around 40 F with winds gusting toward us at 15-20 mph. Nonetheless, we persevered to get a feel as to what the carbine was capable of. The ACOG equipped flat top delivered a 5-shot group average of 1.43 inches as fired from the bench at 100 yards. The best group (.98 inches) was obtained with Black Hills 52gr HP Match loads. From 50 yards out, we fired the standard M4 upper with iron sights to determine practical accuracy from the bench. We then mounted the ACOG to the same upper and retested at 50 yards. The standard upper averaged 5-shot groups less than 2 inches with iron sights, and when the ACOG was installed, the 50 yard groups averaged 0.84 inches.

Measured muzzle velocities were essentially identical with or without the suppressor. The ACOG equipped flat top delivered essentially the same accuracy potential at 100 yards as the iron sighted unit did at 50 yards. Two inch groups at these engagement ranges are more than adequate for the carbine support role in the tactical scenario. At both 50 and 100 yards, the ACOG equipped upper is probably more accurate than the pistol caliber carbines in most cases. Shooting the suppressed flat top is like shooting a rimfire rifle due to the reduced recoil. The shooter can watch through the scope and see the bullet impact the target. Shooting from the prone position, we fired at 50 clay birds positioned on the backstop at 100 yards, hitting approximately 95% with the first shot. The carbine seemed to perform best with the Black Hills 52gr HP Match round.

With the group impressed with the flat top accuracy so far, we decided to try a couple of different optics out on the gun. Just for fun, we mounted a 36x target scope on the flat top to see what the gun was capable of. I used the excellent Bausch & Lomb Elite 4000 scope that frequents me on prairie dog hunts out west. The Elite 4000 is high performance optics on steroids. The B&L 4000 is ideal for benchrest shooting since its field of view at 100 yards is only 3 feet. This is obviously not practical for a law enforcement weapon system, but using a scope of this quality can really help define the weapons full accuracy potential. It definitely limits the tactical carbine to benchrest shooting as it is practically impossible to aim holding the weapon offhand. The suppressed M4 produced an overall five shot group average of 1.12 inches using the 36x scope. The best five shot group produced measured 0.86 inches with the Black Hills 68gr HP Match loads.

One of the Sergeants then suggested we try out a Leupold scope they had on hand which was used on one of their bolt-action sniper rifles. We mounted Leupold’s 4.5-14×50 Long Range Tactical (LRT) on the flat top and retested at 100 yards. The Leupold Tactical is very familiar to police snipers since they are employed on many LE bolt guns. It combines excellent optics and rugged construction. On low power (4.5x), the field of view at 100 yards is 18.9 feet, and on high power (14x), is 5.9 feet. This combination of magnification allows the low power setting for urban scenarios, and the high magnification for long range shooting where precise bullet placement is essential. Groups averaged 1.19 inches, with the smallest group (0.85 inches) being obtained using Black Hills 52gr HP Match Moly loads. The LRT is probably more scope than is required for this type of gun, but I think the team went away salivating with the combination. With the variable scope, they could see the guns potential for quiet and accurate performance for both long and short range scenarios.

Lessons Learned:

Even with a fair trigger, the M4 carbine produced some impressive groups. We did notice that the rifle was prone to throw the first shot slightly, and explains why some of the groups were not as consistent as one would expect. This is probably explained by headspace variance, which results from the difference in speed and force during loading the first round. Past 50 yards, this first shot variance could be disastrous if a surgical strike is required. The user must be aware of this, and compensate accordingly. Our carbine seemed to throw the first shot up and to the right slightly most, but not all of the time. The same ammunition consistently produced sub MOA groups with a Remington PSS bolt action, so I would attribute this phenomenon to the gun and not the ammunition.

The 4 power ACOG allows easy target tracking thanks to the wide field of view. The ability to see the bullets strike the target allow quick follow-up shots with ease and effectiveness. Although the ACOG can be mounted to a removable carry handle with a back up rear sight, I would have preferred mounting it closer to the centerline of the bore. This would be more comfortable to the average shooter utilizing the collapsible buttstock configuration. Obviously the B&L 4000 is too much scope for this carbine. Although it is an excellent piece of optics, it is obviously designed for, and better suited to benchrest shooting. Sight picture is very sharp and crisp, and brings small targets up close and personal. Its adjustable objective is easy to turn and surprisingly accurate for range estimation. It can practically be used for a range-finder since the scope comes into focus precisely at the marked distance on the objective ring. It allows you to determine how accurate your gun is very quickly. A wider field of view would be great to have, but this is the trade-off for clear and precise long-range magnification. The Leupold LRT definitely has its advantages for both the short and long range scenario. The Leupold seemed to have a slight advantage in optics clarity and brightness over the other two scopes. Also, the Leupold had easier focusing adjustments, and seemed to produce less eye strain on the shooters. The side focus adjustment is easy to reach and adjusts for parallax variations. Most other scopes have objective adjustments, which are on the forward part of the unit, further away from the shooter. The LRT also had the most generous eye relief of any of the others tested.

One issue learned related to the use of the suppressed upper is routine maintenance. After cleaning, any cleaning oils which remain within the can, will produce a dramatic smoke plume for several shots. The smoke can obstruct the operators? field of view for several seconds. This may be no big deal for the casual shooter, but is totally unacceptable for LE use. We introduced one short aerosol burst of oil into the chamber, and allowed the oil to drain downward into the can between shooting sessions. Six or seven shots were required to completely eliminate the smoke plume. We checked the suppressor after each series of shots to ensure it remained tightly secured in place. No loosening in the mount was noted throughout the shooting sessions. This also included several full auto bursts utilizing a 100 round Beta C-MAG.

This carbine concept also allows the option of select fire. Tactical use of full auto fire is best kept to two or three shot bursts in the LE scenario. Long bursts do serve such practical purposes as checking the stability of the weapon, and having fun. I’ve never encountered a shooter who would turn down a “go ahead” offer to cut loose with a loaded magazine on full auto. The weapon we tested behaved beautifully in full auto with either configuration, and is especially fun to shoot with a fully loaded C-MAG. With the many early military M-16’s being surplussed to LE departments, the armorer can build upon the option of select fire lowers if the department requires this option.

Maintenance, Carrying, and Storage:

As recommended by Mark White of Sound Technology, a suppressed weapon should be stored with the muzzle pointing down and with the action open to allow venting so internal moisture can evaporate. This is somewhat of a dilemma for the officer who needs to have his carbine system stored in a hard case most of the time. Internal corrosion is the enemy here, and must be addressed. With the tactical user’s main concern being the cold-bore shot, the same maintenance procedures should be established and repeated after each shooting session. This will ensure that the operator knows where the first shot will impact.

Experience has shown that using suppressors which must be disassembled for maintenance is only asking for trouble. Sealed cans are the way to go, and current trends are confirming that point. The use of ultrasonic cleaners in conjunction with solvent soaks is much safer, in that it reduces the potential of improper reassembly. The “depot” level of maintenance would include a complete solvent soak in conjunction with ultrasonic cleaning. After cleaning and reassembly, the weapon would need to have a recheck of zero and adjustments made prior to deployment. With most suppressors on the market being sealed units, the problems associated with disassembling a suppressor for cleaning have gone away. Ultrasonic cleaners and solvent are very effective at breaking up accumulated fouling, and the Specop can also be cleaned by this method.

For protection during daily duty use, a good quality carrying case should be part of the system. This allows both carry and storage of the rifle and extra upper assembly in the same container, ensuring that they are always together. There is however, a danger with a well-sealed case. If moisture is present when the case is closed, it can do severe damage to a firearm’s finish. Some common sense maintenance routines are in order here to keep corrosion at bay.

Conclusions:

Many have predicted that the close of the 20th century would be the end of the era for the rifleman. This is no surprise to me. I grew up in the southern United States, and like many living in rural areas, we routinely carried a rifle to obtain food for the home. Developing good rifle skills was a way of life, a necessity to help out the family. It wasn’t until I started my law enforcement career that I had to develop pistol skills, knowing all along the limited range of the standard sidearm as compared to a long gun. Not everyone is suited to being a rifleman. The training and deployment necessary for law enforcement personnel must be carefully thought out. Marksmanship, physical condition, intelligence, personality, and psychological makeup are factors that must be included in the selection process. Those selected for this role should be provided the necessary tools and training to fulfill this duty. Besides the equipment, the proper training will ensure the big three: marksmanship, accuracy, and consistency.

The M-4 “tactical system” provides excellent accuracy and performance within a fairly compact sized package. The suppressed flat top adds significant additional capability to the original carbine. Whether used for law enforcement applications, or for quieter long range target work, the shooter will be impressed with its capabilities. It is a good choice to match requirements for the tactical scenario. The civilian NFA collector/enthusiast will also appreciate its use for various competitions and quiet target shooting. This package certainly turned heads at the shooting range, and all were impressed with the overall concept. It provided more-than-acceptable accuracy for the LE rifleman role. Although not a consistent MOA performer, it delivered some sub-MOA groups with the optimum combination of ammunition and optics.

Sources:

Bushmaster Firearms
999 Roosevelt Trail, Bldg. #3
PO Box 1479
Windham, ME 04062
1-800-998-SWAT

Black Hills Ammo
P.O. Box 3090
Rapid City, SD 57709-3090
605-348-5150

Georgia Arms
P.O. Box 238
15 Industrial Court
Villa Rica, GA 30180
1-800-624-6861

Winchester/Olin Corporation
East Alton, IL 62024-1174
www.winchester.com

Diamond Products Mktg., Inc.
2300 Commerce Park Drive #6
Palm Bay, FL 32905
407-726-0644

Gemtech
Gemini Technologies, Inc.
P.O. Box 3538
Boise, ID 83703-0538
208-939-7222

Sound Technology
Mark White
P.O. Box 391
Pelham, AL 35124
205-664-5860

Trijicon, Inc.
49385 Shafer Avenue
Wixom, MI 48393-0059
248-960-7700

Harris Bipods
Barlow, Kentucky 42024
502-334-3633

B-Square Mounts
P.O. Box 11281
Fort Worth, TX 76110-0281
1-800-433-2909

Bausch & Lomb
9200 Cody
Overland Park, KS 66214
1-800-423-3537

Leupold & Stevens, Inc.
PO Box 688
Beaverton, OR 97075
503-526-5195