SADW is a monthly electronic publication from Nick Steadman Features. Nick, intrepid world traveling reporter for much of the arms industry, files this 40,000 to 50,000 word report once a month to his loyal subscribers. Those lucky ones pay a mere $50 (US) £32.50 (UK) per year for the privilege of getting the hot tips and insights from one of the industry’s insiders. Nick’s unique perspective is globally based, as is his wit. Each issue is full of insight and information for those with an interest in Small Arms, as well as his observations on world travel.

1. WEAPONS, EQUIPMENT, TRAINING & RELATED NEWS

SINGAPORE CLONES THE AUG: as Helen of Troy’s face reputedly launched a thousand ships, so Steyr-Mannlicher’s AUG seems set to spawn a truckload of imitators. Latest example, following earlier attempts by Taiwan, Israel and South Africa (and probably others, including China), is from Singapore, in the form of the 5.56mm SAR-21, recently publicised in the DSEI Show Daily. Visually the SAR21 is the closest to the AUG of all the other weapons inspired by the Austrian rifle; however we assume that internally it is yet another SAR80 (aka AR18) derivative simply re-packaged as a bullpup.

By definition, all imitators get a handy opportunity to add a few bells & whistles the original designer left off. The SAR21, which is said to be gas-operated, incorporates a pressure switch on the left side of the polymer handguard, activating a visible or IR laser aiming pointer obviously concealed beneath the barrel, within the handguard itself. The cocking handle has also been placed centrally above the receiver, directly beneath the AUG-style optical sight, theoretically making the SAR21 ‘ambidextrous’, though since the sole ejection port appears to be on the right side of the buttstock, it is probably not possible to fire from the left shoulder, unless an effective case deflector has been incorporated.

Magazines for the SAR21, holding 30 rounds, also resemble the Austrian ones, and the juxtaposition of metal to polymer components also suggests CIS has used the same system of plugging the barrel into the front – and the bolt into the rear – of a central stress-bearing cast or forged receiver. It’s not yet known whether SAR21 barrels are interchangeable.

Also like the Austrian rifle, the high-mounted optics are reportedly offered in 1.5x magnification (or 3x), with rudimentary open sights fashioned in the top of the scope housing. Empty weight is said to be 3.82kg (8.4 pounds) and overall length 80.5cm (31.7”). Barrel length appears standard and cyclic rate is listed as 450-650 rpm.

It’s claimed that the SAR21 will be adopted by the Singaporean forces after the millennium, though we recall similar local aspirations for the various earlier derivatives of the SAR80 (originally sold to CIS by the UK’s SMG manufacturer Sterling Engineering) were not, in the event, fulfilled.

Imitation being the sincerest form of flattery, we doubt Steyr-Mannlicher will be unduly fazed by this newest, very competent-looking clone of its own highly-successful AUG. But – unless the SAR21 can be made at an exceedingly competitive price – we guess most export buyers may still prefer to go with the Austrian original, or rather to take a Steyr manufacturing licence, which is the way many purchasers nowadays like to buy.

NEW 1000-YARD .50 BMG RECORD: on 3 Jul 99, Paula Diercks in the USA set a new 1000-yard world record for the .50 BMG cartridge with a five-round benchrested group measuring just 3.064”.

The location was the NRA’s Whittington Centre near Raton (New Mexico), and the occasion the 3-4 Jul 99 Fifty Caliber Shooting Association (FCSA) annual World Championships. Paula, shooting in the first relay of the day, was using a 125-pound FCSA Unlimited Class bolt-action rifle belonging to Skip Talbot. This result is something to idly throw into the debate the next time conversation turns to how ‘inaccurate’ the .50 can be. In fact, with good quality components and the right weapon, the .50 appears to be potentially among the most accurate of all long-range systems.

HECKLER & KOCH 4.6x30mm PDW: ever since Royal Ordnance (RO) acquired Heckler & Koch, the two companies have been working on a Personal Defence Weapon (PDW), not to be confused with the small, caseless PDW which H&K earlier developed as a companion to the ill-fated 4.7mm G11 rifle. Oberndorf has developed the latest weapon, and Royal Ordnance Radway Green its 4.6x30mm ammunition. Over the years the ammunition concept has undergone some changes, not least to take into account NATO’s revised penetration requirements which today include titanium sheet as well as Kevlar.

The cartridge is conventional and boxer-primed, with a rimless brass, bottle-necked case 30mm long. Base diameter is 8mm, and the shoulder length is similar to that of the 5.56mm cartridge. Weight of the 4.6mm case is 3.8g (58.64 grs). The bullet, 15.3mm long and weighing 1.7g (26.23 grs), is a solid 4.65mm diameter plug of hardened steel with copper plated finish – we wonder what the barrel wear implications of this design might be. Loaded rounds have an overall length of 38mm and weigh 6.3g (97.22 grs). On the ballistics front, notional MV is 2,378 fps (725m/s) and muzzle energy 330 ft lbs (447J). The weapon itself is 34cm (13.4”) long, 4.2cm (1.7”) wide and 17.2cm (6.8”) high, with an 18cm (7”) chrome-plated barrel and a flip-down forward grip, making it look rather like a truncated version of the Polish Wz63 machine pistol.

Though not specifically documented, there also appears to be an MP5-style telescoping buttstock (not included in the dimensions above); we note the PDW is described as ‘for shoulder supported and hand-held applications’. In essence it is a machine pistol with shoulder-fired capability.

Both optical (red dot-style) & iron sights are available, for use out to 200 metres, and capacity of the twin-stack magazines (which are inserted into the pistol grip) is 20 or 40 rounds. The mechanism, which offers both semi-auto and burstfire modes, is gas-operated with a rotating bolt locking the breech. Rate of fire is around 950 rpm and system weight is 1.6kg (3.5 pounds) empty. Like all its conceptual predecessors, the H&K PDW is designed for use by ‘personnel whose primary task does not involve an assault against the enemy, but who require a close-range self defence capability’. The European Staff Target for PDWs reportedly also requires such weapons to be ambidextrous and suitable for use while troops are wearing goggles, respirators, body armour, NBC suits or heavy winter clothing.

It also says that hand-held PDWs shall be effective against protected human targets to 30 metres (50m desirable). Fired from the shoulder these specified ranges increase to 100m and 200m respectively. Weight limits (loaded) for the hand-held gun are 1kg (700g desirable) and 3kg for a shoulder-fired PDW. H&K’s test data shows the 4.6mm round penetrating to a depth of 28cm in an ‘unprotected’ 20% gelatine block 30cm deep when fired at a range of 50 metres. The ‘comparative system’ shown in side-by-side data is not named, but we assume it to be the FN 5.7x28mm. Either way, the rival system achieves 23cm penetration, though with a rather larger temporary wound cavity.

In terms of ‘energy transfer’, the 4.6mm, fired at 50 metres into 20% gelatine through 20 layers of Kevlar and a 1.6mm titanium sheet dumps 220 Joules in the target, as opposed to 180J for the comparison system. At 100 metres, fired against an ‘unprotected’ 20% gelatine block 15cm deep, ‘energy transfer’ for the 4.6mm is 170J, and 200J for the rival weapon, with full penetration in both cases. And, at the same range, but with the Kevlar and titanium protection described above, the respective ‘energy transfer’ figures are 115J and 65J, though the steel-tipped bullet from the comparison system makes it only halfway through the 15cm gelatine block.

Maximum range for defeat of the Kevlar (20 layers) and titanium sheet (1.6mm) is claimed to be in excess of 200 metres for the 4.6mm but only about 140 metres for the comparison system.

Fired at 18 metres against a 30cm deep block of 20% gelatine protected by a laminated car windshield at 45 degrees (and 45cm from the block), the 4.6mm achieves 18cm penetration, but the the bullet from the rival system, breaks up, with the deepest penetration achieved by the most energetic fragment just 14cm.

All quite impressive from such a small weapon as the H&K gun, however we can’t help concluding that (as with the FN P-90), what H&K has actually developed is – based on its performance – more of a limited-range individual combat weapon than a substitute for a pistol. ‘Close-range self defence’ does not mean 200 metres, nor even 100 metres. Twenty-five to fifty metres would be more like it. That said, based on H&K own claims, the 4.6mm appears to offer conspicuous performance improvements over its rivals in this category. Yet we must again question the real need for burstfire.

The PDW is still in development, but shootable weapons & ammunition already exist, and finalisation of the project is expected within a few months. Primary target of the new PDW is currently still the UK MOD’s written requirement, though the mere existence of such a document is no guarantee of adoption – of H&K’s or any other design. Most significantly, of course, H&K’s choice of an entirely new cartridge around which to develop its PDW will – by any standards – make the progress of this weapon an uphill struggle. The FN 5.7mm contenders (both the P-90 SMG and the FiveSeven pistol) are still going the rounds, and are now likely to be joined by the 4.6mm.

It will take a great deal to persuade any army to adopt – and tool up for – a brand-new calibre, though, against all odds, and contrary to all predictions, the .338 Lapua sniping round finally made it.

On the other hand, if any company can pull it off, it’s probably H&K, which has already notched up a string of resounding successes, particularly with its G3 & HK33 rifles, the MP5 SMG family, the USP pistols and most recently the 5.56mm G36 system. Innovative but rather less successful designs include the P9S and P7-series handguns. The only two ‘lemons’ were the 5.56mm G41 and the caseless G11, though in the later case German politics were the problem, not weapon design. And we suspect the G41 crashed simply because the HK33 was already quite satisfactory.

SADW is a monthly electronic publication from Nick Steadman Features. Nick, intrepid world traveling reporter for much of the arms industry, files this 40,000 to 50,000 word report once a month to his loyal subscribers. Those lucky ones pay a mere $50 (US) £32.50 (UK) per year for the privilege of getting the hot tips and insights from one of the industry’s insiders. Nick’s unique perspective is globally based, as is his wit. Each issue is full of insight and information for those with an interest in Small Arms, as well as his observations on world travel.

1. WEAPONS, EQUIPMENT, TRAINING & RELATED NEWS

OCSW VERSUS THE SACO 40MM STRIKER: a (presumably partisan) letter in Armed Forces Journal International (AFJI) from the Objective Crew-Served Weapon (OCSW) Program Manager at Primex Technologies queried the value of the new lightweight Saco Defense 40mm Striker automatic grenade launcher over the existing Mk19 launcher. It said that whilst it was an achievement to get the weight of the Striker down to 38.6 pounds – as opposed to 75.6 pounds for the Mk19 – when (in each case) one added back the tripod, sighting equipment, cradle & 48 rounds of ammunition the figures rose to 153 pounds for Striker, by comparison with 201 pounds for the Mk19.

On this basis, it asked how even the Striker could properly be called a crew-served weapon, since it couldn’t realistically be carried by only two men (but since when has ‘crew’ meant only two soldiers?). And it added that another 235 pounds of sandbags would be needed to bed the Striker down for firing.

By comparison, it said the OCSW weighed just 64 pounds complete with mount, tripod and 60 rounds (the bare gun is 32 pounds), it requires no sandbags for stability and its 25mm airburst ammunition offers ‘overwhelming lethality’ by comparison with 40mm grenades, with 50% of the flight time, allowing rapid target switching.

We guess we know what Primex is saying, but the point on ammunition is a little unfair, since Saco plans to incorporate the sophisticated Bofors ‘3P’ programmable airburst fuzing in the 40mm grenades for the Striker. Indeed, this is probably its biggest advantage. 40mm ammunition may well be slow to arrive, but some impressive burst patterns can nevertheless be achieved with the 3P fuze, and this approach is hugely more effective than today’s ‘dumb’ 40mm HV grenades which have neither airburst nor even self-destruct fuzing.

The question is more likely will the military – any military – want to shell out for the much more expensive ammunition on which both the Striker and OCSW concepts depend. For all its obvious shortcomings, the Mk19 launcher, though a pretty blunt instrument, was considered one of the most effective and valuable weapons in Desert Storm, and more 40mm ammunition was fired in that contretemps than 7.62mm NATO.

BUFFERED MOUNT FOR UK BIG FIFTIES: the UK Defence Procurement Agency journal ‘Preview’ noted that the .50 L1A2 (M2HB) machine gun in limited service with British forces had been upgraded with a buffered softmount for the Kosovo deployment of airborne forces. This would allow it to be fitted with optical day or night sights that might otherwise be damaged by firing stresses.

UK POLICE BUYING SIG CARBINES: following our earlier notes about British police forces buying the 5.56mm polymer-receiver H&K G36 rifle, we’re advised that twelve UK forces (about a quarter of the total) have now purchased the short-barrelled 5.56mm SIG SG551 SWAT or SG552 Commando carbines, with more still evaluating these variants. This is pretty good going when one appreciates the extent to which British police have been wedded to the 9mm H&K MP5 semi-auto carbine for so many years.

The SIG SWAT model (14.3” barrel) is now available with a mounting spigot beneath the handguard for attachment of the new, value-engineered version of the Parker-Hale bipod. Flashlights or laser aiming pointers can also be attached to a mounting plate on the right side of the handguard.

Both models have side-folding buttstocks and accept the stackable SIG translucent magazines in 20-30 round sizes, though – because side-stacking magazines can interfere with folding the stock – users may find a single 30-round version more versatile. Five-shot magazines also exist.

Any kind of optical sights can be fitted to either model, and an optional detachable cheekpiece compensates for the higher sighting plane. 10” or 7” rifling twist (SG552: 7” only) is offered, to cater for the whole range of 5.56mm ammunition (the special Swiss military 5.56mm (aka 5.6mm Swiss) loading is designed for use with a 10” twist).

Notional muzzle energy (nb: ammunition-dependant) with the SWAT carbine is 1,460J (1,076 foot pounds), which by our calculations equates to an MV of 2,800 fps with a 62gr NATO bullet (or 2,975 fps with the 55gr M193). If so, this combination displays remarkably little velocity loss over a full-length barrel, which should achieve around 3,050fps with the NATO/SS109 bullet (or about 3,200 with the M193).

The stubby Commando (with 8.9” barrel) has a three-prong flash hider not seen on earlier SIG rifles; 5.56mm weapons of these dimensions require a novel approach to flash suppression, as anyone who’s ever fired the subgun-sized HK53 without its muzzle attachment will know……a two-metre jet of flame is typical on a dull day. Our personal preference would usually be for a longer barrel.

CROSSBOWS WITH PERU SF: The Asian Age ran an AFP photo at the end of Jul 99 showing Peruvian Navy special forces on parade during Peru’s independence celebrations. We spotted 7.62mm Galils (apparently with unusually long magazines), 9mm Uzis (presumably from FN, the original source) and – interestingly – a crossbow, brand unknown. We’d love to know what type of projectiles the increasing number of special forces crossbow aficionados are firing from these weapons.

HIGH-TECH PEASHOOTERS – STRANGE BUT TRUE: a ruckus has broken out in the peashooting community over the use of laser aiming pointers, the Sunday Telegraph reported. Standard foot-long peashooters, as still used by many competitors at the World Peashooting Championships, last held in Witcham (UK) in Jul 99, are outgunned by laser-equipped models with front & rear pistol grips in the annual village contest, which takes place at a range of four yards, firing at sticky targets made of putty.

Apparently it started with rudimentary iron sights, and things went progressively high-tech from there on in. Peashooters with laser sights won both last year’s championships and this year’s event, though basic models are still said to be best in windy conditions. However, the ammunition has not changed – Mk 1 dried peas are still the order of the day.

But lest British readers laugh too loud, this is probably what the Home Office has in mind as a suitable pastime for you after they finally take the rifles away, though doubtless the lasers would have to go, on ‘Save the Children’ grounds.

HOME-MADE ASSAULT RIFLES IN INDIA: a photo, from the Asian Age, of National Liberation Front of Tripura ‘militants’ about to surrender to Indian forces in Udaipur, showed a number of obviously home-made rifles. External appearance approximates that of the AK47, but workmanship looks very crude. Even the curved, smooth-walled magazines have clearly been locally produced. Whether these weapon are capable of semi-automatic or even selective fire is unknown. We assume they are chambered for the widely-available 7.62x39mm cartridge.

SADW is a monthly electronic publication from Nick Steadman Features. Nick, intrepid world traveling reporter for much of the arms industry, files this 40,000 to 50,000 word report once a month to his loyal subscribers. Those lucky ones pay a mere $50 (US) £32.50 (UK) per year for the privilege of getting the hot tips and insights from one of the industry’s insiders. Nick’s unique perspective is globally based, as is his wit. Each issue is full of insight and information for those with an interest in Small Arms, as well as his observations on world travel.

EVEN MORE STEYR SCOUTS WITH KLA: in his recent jottings, Col Jeff Cooper reports that he was told in Austria that there are 35-50 Steyr Scout Rifles in Kosovo. Since we understand the KLA is allowed to keep its commercial bolt-action rifles and any shotguns, we guess they’ll be staying there. We’d be very interested to know where the Scouts actually came from, however.

NATO BOMBING CAMPAIGN HAD NEGLIGIBLE MILITARY IMPACT: a Daily Telegraph item said a NATO review of the Serbia bombing campaign had concluded this had virtually no military impact on Milosevic, who only rolled over after losing Russian support. It found that the Serbian forces in Kosovo had remained essentially unscathed, and that bombing of strategic targets was badly planned & executed. If starting out again, NATO would probably opt to go after targets such as public utilities more fiercely and earlier in any hostilities, and most likely also scrap the policy of ‘phasing’ the bombing of Serb military targets which allowed Milosevic time to regain the propaganda initiative.

The alliance also believes it needs to acquire more remotely controlled, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for detailed low-level reconnaissance and target identification. However, whilst this soul-searching analysis is all fine and dandy, we hope NATO will not find it necessary to re-test its tactics anytime soon, which would reinforce growing hostility outside the ambit of the alliance to the power projection – as opposed to defensive role that NATO has newly created for itself.

PERSUADE US THAT KOSOVO WILL NOT GO PEAR-SHAPED: we’re still convinced none of the outsiders, starting with NATO, who have been pulling the strings in Kosovo have the foggiest idea what dangerous stuff they’re playing with. We quote:

‘The rebel-led provisional government of Kosovo refuses to acknowledge unconditionally the legal authority of the United Nations civilian administration in the region, and warns that it could revert to armed struggle if the UN administration fails to lead Kosovo toward independence’ (Wall Street Journal Europe, 5 Jul 99)

Kosovan independence, you’ll recall, was never on the cards as far as anyone other than the KLA was concerned, but NATO sought & accepted the KLA’s help during the expulsion of Serb forces from Kosovo; now it’s insisting on the Kosovan resistance being disarmed. No-one heeded the old admonition that one never messed with the Balkans except at one’s own peril. We can now see another Northern Ireland already in the making.

COLT ‘BETTING THE COMPANY’ ON SMART GUN: there was another minor publicity blip for the Colt Smart Gun in late Jul 99 when Newsweek ran a piece reporting that a patent had been applied for. It said that Colt president Steve Sliwa, whose mission was get the Smart Gun up & running, was not a gun-owner when he joined the Hartford firm and quoted him as saying “We’re essentially a 1950s company with old equipment”. As to the implications of the Smart Gun, Sliwa reportedly said “We’re betting the company on this”.

$2.95 A MINUTE FAX ‘POLL’ CREATES WAVES: in late May 99, a warning was issued by Better Business Bureaus (BBB) about a so-called ‘National Gun Control Poll’, voting papers for which were faxed unsolicited to ‘over 4 million’ recipients in the USA by a firm calling itself 21st Century Fax Ltd in New York, though this was reportedly only a ‘mail drop’. BBB said that the ‘poll’ actually originated from 21st Century Fax Ltd in London, which has a Website http://www.pollresults.co.uk/ showing that it also sells such exciting stuff as exercise and weight loss tips by fax and Internet.

Significantly, the poll (a copy of which is on our files) notes that replying by fax will take around 1-2 minutes, and calls to either of the two 1-900 numbers shown would cost $2.95 a minute. Ermmm – over four million forms at $2.95 to $5.90 a whack? That’s an awful lot of premium phone-rate income.

Complaints were made to the FCC http://www.fcc.gov/ and FTC http://www.ftc.gov/ about this fax poll, and an investigation was under way – FCC rules prohibit unsolicited commercial faxes.

BBB went on to say that, according to a Washington Post report, a temporary injunction was obtained earlier this year by regulators in the UK against the director & other officers of a sister company, 20th Century Fax Ltd, alleging it sent deceptive & misleading information in faxes offering a ‘Yummy Yum Yum Diet’. However, anyone taking seriously any communication about something with such a daft name as this probably deserves all he gets.

STINGERS STILL CIRCULATING: those Stinger SAMs the CIA originally supplied to the Mujahideen in Afghanistan keep popping up unexpectedly – The Asian Age recently showed an Indian army NCO inspecting a sample recovered from Pakistani troops, along with a number of 7.62mm MG3 GPMGs, a GPMG sustained-fire kit and a 30mm AGS-17 grenade launcher.

HIRED GUNS: an Independent on Sunday story in May 99 said that, in an attempt to persuade Hollywood moviemakers to come to the UK, the British government was offering to hire out regular & reserve military personnel and equipment, to which end a new MOD liaison post had been created. The MOD will charge ‘commercial’ daily rates of £60 per head for troops used in movies, but the servicemen themselves will get nothing extra. Ministers are thought to be miffed because Steven Spielberg borrowed 1,000 troops from the Irish army to make ‘Saving Private Ryan’.

GLOCK INC ON SMART GUNS: The New York Times quoted Glock’s general counsel, Paul Januzzo in Jun 99 on the controversial subject of ‘smart guns’: “The first guy to invent an affordable and reliable smart gun will be a Trillionaire. It’s absurd to say we’re hiding this technology. Why would someone be hiding it? They’d be a wealthy person.” We guess we can take this as a heavy hint as to what Glock itself may be up to.

IANSA GUN-BURNING STUNT: we’ve mentioned before the ‘bonfire of guns’ (aka Flame of Peace) event orchestrated to mark the launch of the International Action Network on Small Arms (IANSA) in the Hague on 11 May 99). Saferworld’s Summer 99 Update newsletter carried a photo of this immortal event, with a Kenyan dignitary lighting a tripod of wooden poles, towards the apex of which were tied, Christmas tree-style, a number of distinctly non-flammable MAC-10 lookalikes, as symbols of evil incarnate.

The whole thing had the bizarre appearance of one of those old Salem witch-burnings. If this cheap stunt is any indication of the quality of debate we can expect from IANSA in the future, we shouldn’t worry too much. What subsequently happened to the slightly-scorched MAC-10s was not disclosed, though the whole thing might have had rather more impact if they’d tied some of the convicted triggermen to the stake rather than trying to cremate a few innocent Ingram clones.

AERIAL GUNFIRE A PROBLEM IN ARIZONA: A Jun 99 report in the Arizona Republic claimed that bullets randomly fired into the air in Phoenix were an increasing public safety hazard. It cited a recent case in which a 14-year-old girl was killed by a stray bullet while standing in her own back yard which had an eight-foot wall around it. Phoenix police say they get at least 50 ‘shots fired’ calls a night, and other cities nearby report similar trends.

In reality of course, it is not usually ‘spent’ bullets fired into the air and plunging to earth under the sole influence of gravity that cause the deaths, but bullets which are still ‘under power’, albeit often at the outer extent of their ballistic trajectory.

UK MOD Y2K PREPARATIONS: it’s been confirmed by the UK MOD that it’s now thoroughly checked its ‘nuclear deterrent’ and the ministry claims there’s ‘no risk of it being fired accidentally through any computer failure’. Nice to know, now we’ve had the house re-painted.

Royal Navy ships should be cleared by Aug 99 and army ‘mission critical’ systems, including weaponry, by Sep 99. All RAF aircraft have already been certified safe to fly after 31 Dec 99.

BRAZIL GUN BAN – OPPOSITION GETS ORGANISED: the National Association of Firearms Owners and Retailers (ANPCA), formed in Brazil to fight government proposals for an outright gun ban, says it has already managed to get the ‘urgent’ classification of the legislation dropped and also secured a decision from the courts that the Rio de Janeiro state ban, which the federal ban would resemble, is unconstitutional. It furthermore claims that public support for the federal legislation is waning.

SADW is a monthly electronic publication from Nick Steadman Features. Nick, intrepid world traveling reporter for much of the arms industry, files this 40,000 to 50,000 word report once a month to his loyal subscribers. Those lucky ones pay a mere $50 (US) £32.50 (UK) per year for the privilege of getting the hot tips and insights from one of the industry’s insiders. Nick’s unique perspective is globally based, as is his wit. Each issue is full of insight and information for those with an interest in Small Arms, as well as his observations on world travel.

1. NEW WEAPONS & EQUIPMENT

H&K SL8 – CIVILIAN VARIANT OF G36: Heckler & Koch is introducing for civilian sales a rather curious-looking semi-automatic SL8 derivative of the Bundeswehr’s new 5.56mm gas-operated G36 assault rifle from the same stable. Like the G36, it has a polymer receiver. We received the H&K data on the SL8, which was also recently reviewed by Visier magazine in Germany.

It has a heavy target barrel plus all the usual curious ‘politically correct’ bells & whistles prompted by German firearms legislation, such as a thumbhole stock with cheekrest, no bayonet or flash-hider fittings and a ten-round translucent polymer magazine which does not protrude conspicuously from the (detachable) magazine well. It is not interchangeable with the G36 magazine. Our sources consider that, since the magazine housing is a separate component, there may possibly be provision somewhere down the line for changing the housing to accommodate other magazine types.

Oddest aspect, other than the plastic-cased, steel-faced hammer and the ruler-straight front edge of the open-based pistol grip, is the sighting rib, incorporating the ‘iron sights’ and a full-length scope mounting rail which will also accommodate the polymer-bodied 3x G36 day scope, offered as an optional accessory. Sighting radius for the iron sights is 51cm. The detachable rib is essentially displaced about 1.5” above the four-part polymer stock/receiver (and maybe three inches above the barrel), and attached only at two points, rear and centre. It floats entirely free for the full length of the handguard. Presumably this is a device to reduce mirage from barrel heating.

Stock colour is a very light grey, almost dirty white, in our view a totally inappropriate colour scheme for a rifle – unless maybe you’re going to become a permanent resident at the North Pole – since it will show every speck of dirt it collects. We’re told none of this is any fault of H&K – apparently the final colour was actually stipulated by the police in Bavaria in order to make the SL8 look less ‘threatening’ – originally it was to be a charcoal grey.

We would love to spend a beery evening around the Stammtisch with the Bayern Kripo vigorously demolishing their ‘gun colour/threat theory’, but life’s too short, so just thank God the SL8’s not shocking pink.

A traditional-style ring-hooded front sight blade is mated with a fully-adjustable & detachable black plastic rearsight with 100m and 300m flipover aperture leaves. The ambidextrous cocking handle is situated between the receiver and the sighting rib. The SL8 has a last-round hold-open catch, unlike the G3 and HK33 designs, and a conventional, thumb-operated H&K two-position fire selector/safety catch each side of the weapon.

Though ejection is clearly non-reversible, from a right-hand port in the polymer receiver, we note there is an integral case deflector nub like that on the M16A2, and the literature confirms the rifle is also suitable for left-handers. We know from personal experience that the M16A2 deflector works very well when firing from the left shoulder.

The stock is equipped with sling attachment points. Length of pull can be adjusted by 5cm in total, by dint of a separate padded butt-plate which can be pulled out of the butt housing and secured in one of five positions by a crossbolt through the butt. And there are also adjustment shims to alter the height of the cheekpiece. The tool set, another accessory, looks suspiciously like the M16A2 kit, though packaged in a black wallet with H&K logo. There’s also a soft black gun bag. Both of these are apparently to follow the rifle onto the market.

Empty weight of the SL8 without magazine is 4.2kg and overall length 98-103cm, with a 51cm barrel. Trigger pull is approx 20 Newtons (Visier said it weighed in at just over 1800g) and reportedly pretty crisp.

When Visier tested an SL8 prototype at 100 metres, best five-shot groups were pretty good, just 15mm with Federal’s 55gr American Eagle .223 FMJ budget ammunition (not normally, in our experience, a particularly accurate loading) and 18mm with Federal 69gr Gold Medal Match, though most groups shot were in the 22-35mm bracket – several other brands were tested, with similar results.

No malfunctions were experienced, though the testers were not very keen on the ergonomics of the pistol grip, which follows a strict design apparently also determined by the German authorities. They also said it was essential to keep the SL8 very firmly in the shoulder or shots would string vertically upwards. It’s hard to precisely classify the SL8 – it’s clearly not a hunting weapon, nor we guess what would in the UK ever be properly termed a target rifle. The German designation of ‘Sportgewehr’ is, in any event, a delightfully vague expression.

In the UK, if semi-auto centrefires had not already been banned many moons ago, it would probably be considered primarily a ‘practical rifle’ or maybe just a knockabout ‘fun gun’, which is how we imagine it would also be categorised in the USA. We expect it will probably appear on the H&K Inc SHOT Show 99 booth, though we would not anticipate any huge market for the SL8 outside Europe. However, Visier said a .222 Rem version was already being considered for French & Italian customers. Price is listed at DM 2,898.

GERMAN DEPLOYMENT OF G22 SNIPER RIFLE: Soldat und Technik (the Bundeswehr magazine) reported that equipping of the quite recently constituted German KSK special forces with the Accuracy International AW sniper rifle in .300 Win Mag (metric 7.62x67mm), aka the G22, has now begun. The KSK are also receiving the 5.56mm G36 and H&K P8 (USP) pistol. Issues of all three new weapons to the German Rapid Reaction Forces are also under way. German four-wheeled recce vehicles are planned to be mounted with a 40mm automatic grenade launcher (obviously the new Heckler & Koch launcher) starting in 2001.

CHINESE ‘ITHACA’ SHOTGUN FROM BROLIN: a Firearms Business (FB) report from the 1998 NASGW wholesalers’ exhibition in Florida said that Brolin Arms is introducing a ‘redesigned’ Chinese copy of the Ithaca pump gun at a dealer price as low as $149. What the impact will be on the recently-reconstituted Ithaca Gun company’s products remains to be seen. Cheap guns like the Mavericks and Chinese clones were a major factor in Ithaca’s earlier demise.

NORINCO OFFERING 5.56MM BULLPUP: presumably citing datasheet information, JDW reported in Oct 98 that NORINCO in China now had a 5.56x45mm export version of the 5.8mm bullpup rifle that’s been deployed with PLA units in Hong Kong since mid-1997 (see previous issues).

A later JDW report said that the 5.8mm system, which has since been wheeled out for PLA open days in Hong Kong, is now designated the QBZ (Qing Buqiang Zu or ‘light rifle family’) Type 95, but mass production is still awaited. The export version, which we understand is designated Type 97, would be offered with 1:7” or 1:12” rifling twist, according to which type of 5.56mm ammunition purchasers wished to use, though we have to say it would be much easier for all 5.56mm rifle producers simply to go with 1:9”, which will handle pretty much everything. The squad automatic/LSW version of the 5.8mm rifle with 75-round drum magazine will apparently also be available in the NATO calibre. The NORINCO photo accompanying the report suggests that to effect the calibre change the manufacturer has simply used an insert on the 5.8mm weapon to adapt the magazine well for what appears to be an M16-pattern magazine.

A JDW source was also quoted as saying that the change lever (fire selector) was right at the back end of the butt on the left side, a location we guess has been copied from the British SA80, with all the same implications, namely that this is ergonomically so awkward, requiring the rifle to be thrust forward well out of the shoulder & rotated, that once automatic fire has been selected the weapon is likely to be left on this setting.

JDW said that the export weapons were still being tested but will probably sell for between $362 and $483, which it said was in excess of twice what they cost NORINCO to make. Also, a ‘sniper version’ was still in the works.

At the end of the day, one still has to question why (apart from reasons of national pride) China has gone to all the trouble of developing a new 5.8mm cartridge when it could more easily have used the 5.45x39mm case or even 5.56mm NATO. The differences between 5.8mm and 5.56mm performance are not great.

Immediate reaction of a dealer colleague, when we told him about this development, was that even if the NORINCO bullpup does look rather snappier and more modern than China’s earlier offerings, it was probably only adding to the present world glut of new & used assault rifles. He may well be right. On the other hand, the price is very competitive.

We also remain dubious about China’s alleged intention to re-equip the entire PLA with the 5.8mm bulllpup, since even at (say) $150 a pop this would be a horrendously expensive move, with minimal operational payback for the massive Chinese force structure. Incidentally, anyone jetting over to Peking should look out for data on the new Chinese small arms at the nearest corner bookstall – Asian Age ran an AFP photo showing a magazine poster of the 5.8mm LSW on a Peking street.

And the Liberation Army Daily in China has confirmed that other weapons with the PLA forces in Hong Kong include the 35mm QLZ87 automatic grenade launcher (not be confused with the Type W87 launcher in the same calibre) and the 12.7mm QJZ89 heavy machine gun, a lighter version of the Type 85, weighing 26.5kg.

The grenade launcher, a uniquely Chinese design, is produced in two versions, heavy (20kg) & light (12kg); the difference is merely the tripod used in the heavy configuration in place of the bipod. Both have six and 15-round drum magazine options. Rate of fire is 500 rpm and maximum range 1,750 metres.

Both HE and HE Armour-Piercing grenades are fired; each type has an MV of 200m/s and incorporates a self-destruct fuze. Iron sights cater only for ranges to 600m, so optics are the order of the day – and night, using ‘luminescent diodes’ for illumination. Mechanism appears to be blowback, with an unspecified self-regulating capability to cope with adverse operating conditions.

Personally, we’ve never been able to see the point in six-round drums on this type of weapon – while there are technical advantages over belt-feed in being able to simply top up a magazine, six rounds are quite inadequate for any likely role, particularly at 500rpm. So is any drum, most likely.

Note also that the drum on the QLZ87 is underneath the receiver, whereas on the W87 it is located on the right-hand side.

However, we know the designers of the QLZ87 took the R&D task very seriously, ‘cos they’ve told us so – take this verbatim quote for example: ‘Scientific research personnel developed the spirit of a hard and united struggle in order to widen their trains of thought and boldly blaze new trails’. No doubt about it.

30MM AGS-17 UPGRADE: an updated version of the 30mm Russian AGS-17 automatic grenade launcher has been shown by Asian Military Review. The upgrade has reportedly been effected primarily to suit the AGS-17 (or Plamya) for vehicle mounting. It is fitted with an eyesafe laser rangefinder/ballistic computer designated EG-LFR and has two ammunition feed systems, 145 rounds for pintle-mounted launchers and 290 rounds when installed on a ring mount. Drum magazines or what appear to be free-hanging belts can be used. We imagine the upgrade may be a response to similar improvements in sighting and fire control capabilities on Western 40mm AGLs such as the Mk19 and the new Saco Striker.

DTL 9MM IDW ARRIVES IN UK: we received information confirming that prototypes of the DTL (formerly Bushman) 9mm Individual Defence Weapon (IDW) have finally arrived with Parker-Hale in the UK, where the IDW is to be produced under licence. We understand the design software has also arrived and that (at early Jan 99) some frames were already being cut. The IDW, you’ll remember, is an exceedingly compact mini-SMG with hydraulic cyclic rate controller, offering a very high degree of control in automatic fire.

This is a very important project from a UK viewpoint, since it represents a rare increase in the ambit of military small arms manufacturing in Britain, reversing the rapid downward trend of recent years, so it’s kind of vital for the industry that it succeeds. The Bushman (as was) started out a decade or so ago as a British project and at one time was to be produced under licence by BMARC, later absorbed by Royal Ordnance. That didn’t happen, and a further plan, to have it manufactured by Saco Defense, also foundered for lack of finance. After some time in the doldrums the project was taken in hand again by DTL in the USA. However, they didn’t get it into production either, and now it’s licensed back to Parker-Hale.

Whilst at first reading this sounds a bit like a catalogue of failures, it is not by any means untypical of many new, inventor-launched small arms projects, which often require re-financing several times during their extended development cycles. And funding the expensive final step from pre-production prototyping to series production often proves an insuperable hurdle for small companies, at which point projects are often sold on, with someone else assuming the costs.

At the last count, the plan was to make a first UK batch of 200 IDWs, and Parker-Hale was also interested in doing some in .224 BOZ calibre (a 10mm Auto pistol case necked down to fire 5.56mm rifle bullets – see previous issues). Other variants were also envisaged, with different barrel lengths and maybe additional calibres too.

2. INDUSTRY & INTERNATIONAL NEWS

ROYAL AIR FORCE PILOT KIT: the Times helpfully listed the contents of the survival vests worn by RAF Tornado pilots & navigators on the recent raids on Iraq. They reportedly include ten gold krugerrands valued at £180 each (for bribes), notes requesting help & offering rewards in 12 languages, a radio, a strobe light, a GPS and a Walther PPK pistol with two full magazines. UK special forces are also known to carry gold coins when on operations behind the lines. We kind of feel a 9mm mini subgun might be more useful than the Walther pistol – the DTL 9mm IDW (nee Bushman) for example (see Section 1 above).

MORE NEGEVS FOR IDF: Defense News said that the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) were to procure another ‘several hundred’ 5.56mm Negev LMGs from IMI. The report also said that a number of modifications were in train, including the replacement of the bipod by a forward grip. Reportedly the gun is also being tested by IDF special forces. It is set to replace the 7.62mm NATO MAG 58 – which is considered too heavy for extended IDF foot patrols – as the standard infantry LMG, though we assume the 7.62mm guns will be retained, as in other armies, for sustained MG fire support and on vehicles.

The Israelis have a long history of selecting dual-purpose small arms, and the Negev is designed to be configured as anything from a heavy-duty assault rifle up to a full-spec LMG using different barrels and feed systems. However, the choice of a forward grip in lieu of the bipod suggests primary employment in the ‘machine rifle’ role (comparable to the old Browning BAR) which has been seen before with the 5.56mm Minimi SAW used by US forces in certain operations such as Panama, where the proportion of Minimis to rifles appeared much higher than normal. Likewise for SAS operations in Desert Storm. It’s a ‘weight of fire thing’!

EUROPEAN SMALL ARMS AMMUNITION MARKET: we’re advised by a major military ammunition producer that the annual market in Europe for military SAA is approx 650m rounds. The collective French, German, Italian & British share (consumption) is about half the total. Collective consumption by Belgium, Denmark, the Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Greece, Portugal, Sweden & Finland account for the rest. If Austria & Switzerland are also included, we’re advised the annual European market should probably be increased by about 70m making a total of 720 million rounds. The UK MOD market alone is about 100m rounds.

FLAT-PACK ARMS FACTORY FOR BURMA: JDW reported that Burma has recommenced small arms production in a new modular facility supplied back in Feb 98 in pre-fabricated form by Chartered Industries of Singapore (CIS) with the help of Israelis linked to IMI. The report says the intended product range will extend up to 37mm, and the design of the new plant, which is under MOD control, will allow for expansion as required. Initial output is thought to be the indigenous 5.56mm EMER K-1 bullpup, numbers of which have reportedly appeared already with the Burmese military. This design, with pressed-metal receiver and M16-pattern magazine, in both rifle & LSW variants, is conceivably inspired by the new 5.8mm Chinese bullpup currently fielded by the PLA solely in Hong Kong (see previous issues).

Burma hasn’t officially confirmed it has a new plant, but JDW appears to have gleaned details from shipping papers. About seven years ago it looked as if the Burmese were planning to produce domestic variants of Chinese 7.62x39mm Kalashnikov derivatives, but this venture evidently never took off.

More recently it emerged that Burma was keen to make Kalashnikov weapons in 5.56mm instead, and it is thought to have tried to make or assemble these with Chinese help, but the K-1 bullpup design, originally prototoyped some years ago, is a new direction for manufacturers there. In all probability however it is merely a Kalashnikov mechanism repackaged in bullpup configuration, like some comparable designs. Past reports suggest that China, Israel and Singapore have all provided assistance to the Burmese small arms industry over the last decade.

In the past Germany was the main source of assistance, with Fritz Werner (then owned by the German government) having been responsible for the establishment of several Burmese arms plants, including the facility built with Heckler & Koch in 1957 for G3 rifle production, plus a small arms ammunition factory. The range of outside sources which have successively become involved in the Burmese arsenal-building plans suggests a typical Third World pattern of neglected facilities which ultimately cannot do the job, necessitating another new start with more outside help.

As far as we know, Burma still manufactures solely for its domestic forces and has not so far planned to export any of its small arms. Since it is now making 5.56mm weapons, we must assume the necessary ammunition is also being made. Also that the K-1 is now the official Burmese replacement for the 7.62x51mm G3, which is a bit on the large side for Asian troops. Reportedly Burma has been working towards its supersession for a decade or more.

Ever since Western supplies began to dry up in the late-80s, following criticism of the ruling SLORC regime’s rather quaint ideas on human rights, it’s clear Burma has been working towards complete self-sufficiency in light weapons, first with licenced production, now with some indigenous designs.

We would not expect the Chinese to have any qualms about equipping Burma, but the reported involvement by Singapore & Israel reflects badly on both suppliers and suggest a classic pattern of dwindling defence export opportunities progressively lowering resistance to outfitting regimes that most countries have now boycotted.

NATO IGNORING NGOs ON LIGHT WEAPONS: according to Defense News, NATO is resisting pressure from non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to support their moves to enhance ‘transparency’ and controls in respect of transfers of light weapons (aka small arms). Human Rights Watch in the USA wrote to NATO urging the alliance to adopt appropriate policies, but there are apparently no plans to introduce any new NATO rules.

Could it be that the NGOs – which have so far rather had it their own way with the UN and certain national governments (such as New Labour in the UK) – have finally overestimated their importance in the wider order of things?

Reportedly Human Rights Watch is keen that NATO should do something in connection with its peacekeeping missions to prevent weapons proliferation, though it’s not easy to see exactly what this might be. Sources have suggested the NGOs’ concerns are not a priority at NATO Headquarters. Presumably the NGOs would like peacekeepers to be sure to collect up any bootleg weapons they find, though most combatants nowadays seem to have little problem replenishing their stocks, and if necessary (as in Croatia) may even manufacture their own. But with all the other international, regional (eg EU) and national moves on small arms controls, external supplies will of course completely dry up any time now. Well, won’t they?

FLINTLOCK MUSKET HP: we were talking to an apparently very knowledgeable re-enactor in Canada recently about practical hit probability (HP), (ie in combat conditions) with the smoothbored flintlock musket of circa 1810. He reckoned the practical HP at 100 yards in those days was about 4%, the vast amount of smoke from black powder fusillades being a major hindrance factor.

Whilst this sounds very low, try computing the average 100 metre HP of all rounds from any of the current range of 5.56mm personal weapons fired in combat conditions, and we’d bet it isn’t that huge, not least because of the indiscriminate use of burstfire, producing a high percentage of ‘sky hits’ and not much else.

We remember reading somewhere that the British shot/kill ratio (with .450 Martinis, we recall) at the siege of Rorke’s Drift in South Africa was around 60:1, based on Zulu bodies versus cartridge cases retrieved, so things obviously hadn’t improved much since 1810.

AUSTRALIAN GUN TRADE HIT HARD: press reports from Australia in Oct 98 suggested that the gun trade over there had been seriously damaged by the ban on semi-automatic long guns. In Queensland, the Brisbane Courier mail reported that at least a third of all gunshops had either closed or were considering it, and turnover was said to be off by a half, with new gun sales down a whopping 80%. Illicit trade prompted by the new laws was claimed to be largely to blame. The same paper said that armed robbery in Australia had risen last year by 39% and armed assault by 28%.

SADW is a monthly electronic publication from Nick Steadman Features. Nick, intrepid world traveling reporter for much of the arms industry, files this 40,000 to 50,000 word report once a month to his loyal subscribers. Those lucky ones pay a mere $50 (US) £32.50 (UK) per year for the privilege of getting the hot tips and insights from one of the industry’s insiders. Nick’s unique perspective is globally based, as is his wit. Each issue is full of insight and information for those with an interest in Small Arms, as well as his observations on world travel.

1. NEW WEAPONS & EQUIPMENT

IMI SHOWS NEW 5.56MM BULLPUP: JDW has published details of the IMI Israel 5.56mm bullpup rifle, which is reportedly now called the Tavor. The accompanying photo showed a much neater design than the earlier prototypes, which, as we recall, resembled the Steyr AUG rather more closely. Though not stated, we assume the innards of the Tavor are Galil-based. The one-piece stock/receiver is made from synthetics and the pistol grip has a large AUG-style ‘trigger guard’, more correctly a hand protector.

A bipod and 40mm grenade launcher are reportedly also available, and the flash hider appears to incorporate an angled slot and holes for muzzle stabilisation. An International Technologies red dot sight is fitted, mounted directly on the barrel, and there is also an integrated laser aiming pointer. Mini-night sights are also available. Magazines are M16-pattern and the sample shown was right-ejecting, though – since JDW says the left-mounted cocking handle (which also seems to be inspired by the AUG) is reversible – we assume the same also applies to ejection. Weapon weight is stated as 3.5kg loaded, and length overall is 72cm.

The Israelis have been cagey in the past as to exactly what was the purpose of this project; however it would appear it has been developed as a potential replacement for the IDF’s Galils and M16s. Whether there will be other competitors (as there were when the Galil itself was adopted) remains to be seen. But if imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, Steyr must be feeling pretty smug.

MARINES M40A2 BECOMES M40A1 IMPROVED: just to confuse you, now that the US Marine Corps has finally unveiled its long-awaited M40A2 sniper rifle it’s actually calling it the M40A1 Improved. Like the M40A1, the new rifles are built on Remington actions, and they have custom stocks from McMillan, with adjustable ambidextrous cheekrests and hooked butts to offer a good purchase for the non-firing hand. We’re told the scopes are 4-14x Leupolds, and we note the scope rings are mounted on a Picatinny rail that extends a couple of inches beyond the breech ring. Also, the butt pad appears to incorporate a spacer system. The heavyweight barrels are threaded for muzzle suppressors, but a very finely-fitted thread protector is added for normal use. As we recall, the USMC small arms shop at Quantico made only about 1,000 M40A1 rifles; we don’t yet know whether the existing rifles will simply be taken in for upgrading or if all-new weapons will be built.

NEOSTEAD SHOTGUN UPDATE (1 NOV 98): Neostead in South Africa has provided another update on the status of its 12-shot ‘pump-forward’ bullpup shotgun, as (lightly edited) below:

‘Firstly we would like to explain that the Pre-production Models (PPM) that we are presently building are for testing and evaluation purposes, and are not for sale. To evaluate the PPMs all the major and critical components have been manufactured using permanent production tooling such as injection moulds for the polymer parts, metal stampings etc. To go into production and still be able to achieve a retail selling price of $1000.00, further industrialisation and permanent tooling is required. The planning for this stage will be finalised after the PPMs have been fully tested and evaluated.

Exciting improvements and enhancements incorporated in the PPMs are :-

– Completely new barrel guides – giving greater barrel stability resulting in greater accuracy.

– Positive sear link lock – thus preventing drop-test discharge.

– No tools are required for field stripping. Merely depress a spring loaded button and the butt/grip slides off.

The frustration is that we have not yet received the necessary permits to allow us to complete final assembly and start test firing. These permits are now 11 months overdue. It is our intention to manufacture the Neostead gun in the USA for the US market. A further update will be issued when we have completed test firing.’

STEYR 5.56MM USR – AMPLIFICATION: one of the managers of the Cybershooters mailing list in the UK wired us some comments regarding our earlier report on the Steyr 5.56mm USR, the commercial, ‘less-warlike’ (aka politically correct) AUG rifle variant, a batch of which was exported to the USA just in time to escape current import restrictions. He points out that the magazine capacity is actually nine rounds rather than ten, and that the gas system is adjustable. Though the rifle comes with no barrel release catch, he says you can simply buy one from GSI for $6 and Loctite it in place. He further notes that the more ergonomic design of the USR cocking handle is offset by the lack of a hold-open slot in the receiver, so that you can only lock the breech open with an empty magazine in place. Finally, he considers the muzzle flash is a bit excessive without the military flash hider.

SWISS SUPPRESSOR YARD SALE: the European distributor of SS-Super-Sonic-International in Niederbipp (Switzerland) is having a yard sale of suppressors, many at half price, since all must go by 31 Dec 98, after which new Swiss firearms laws forbidding their sale come into force. On offer are suppressors to fit almost every kind of pistol, carbine, SMG and military rifle (both East & West-bloc), including Impuls models for recoil-operated pistols, plus multicalibre versions. The suppliers claim up to 30% better suppression than rival products and offer a 10-year guarantee. (S Frauchiger, European distributor, Tel (+41) 32-633-2418 or 79-319-4973)

FN 5.7x28mm P-90 AMMUNITION – CORRECTION: in our item ‘5.7mm P-90 Ballistics Improved’, carried in a recent issue, the following paragraph appeared:
‘And he further notes that, at the bottom line, the P-90 projectile has just 60% the momentum of the commercial .22 Hornet, with around 52% of its energy. A closer analogue, Fackler says, would be the 1922fps .22 rimfire Remington Viper round, with momentum within 5% of that achieved by the P-90.’

We’ve recently received a wire saying that the author of the original article (in Wound Ballistics Review) misread the Remington brochure – which is apparently easy to do, given the way it’s printed – and that the figure of 1,922 isn’t the muzzle velocity of the Viper round, but the order number!

Viper MV is actually published as 1,410 fps, giving it a momentum 43% less than that of the SS190 round for the P-90, not 5% less. However, the message also said that .22 WMR is a different story, with momentum for the Winchester 34 gr Supreme is within 1% of that of the SS109 round.

NEW METAL STORM US DEAL: a report in The Courier Mail (Brisbane) said that the Charter Pacific Corporation, which has invested A$3m in a 30% stake in Mike O’Dwyers Metal Storm high-rate gun development company (see earlier issues) had negotiated a deal allowing Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC) in the USA, a firm specialising in US government-funded R&D projects, to utilise Metal Storm technology. No cash value was mentioned. Under the terms of the SAIC agreement, Metal Storm will reportedly receive a percentage of the income from any commercial exploitation of the gun technology. However, Metal Storm will continue working itself on aspects not covered by the linkup with SAIC, such as projects specific to local Australian defence needs. The paper said that Lockheed Martin also entered into an ‘evaluation alliance’ with Metal Storm in 1996 to study possible applications of the invention, which readers will recall relates to electronically-fired, programmed volley gun systems with a number of projectiles loaded base to tip in each barrel, offering phenomenally high theoretical cyclic rates.

SELLIER & BELLOT STEEL-CASED 5.56MM: FAMAS users and others who (Lord knows why) prefer steel cartridge cases might wish to know that Sellier & Bellot from the Czech Republic is now selling steel-cased M193-style 5.56mm ammunition in the USA. Primers are Boxer, and made from brass. Headstamp wording is S&B 223 REM. Case colour is grey, resembling East German ammunition. It’s loaded with a lead-cored, copper-jacketed ball bullet and retails for around $25 for a box of 140 rounds.

Steel-cased ammunition is still the standard in the East, and GIAT in France also uses steel for its military 5.56mm, but most Western buyers inevitably tend to think ‘cheap & cheerful’ whenever they see steel. We think – as a straight marketing point – that Sellier & Bellot would be well-advised to use brass cases when selling into the US & Western European markets. There’s also a chance that shooters might then pick up the fired cases too – many ranges are now littered with steel East-bloc empties that no-one bothers to collect since they have no obvious value even as scrap.

2. INDUSTRY & INTERNATIONAL NEWS

A THOUGHT FOR ARMISTICE DAY: we were chatting to a neighbour about Armistice Day in November, and he related how, back in the 1970s, he went on a battlefield tour in Europe with a military guide. It was the quiet season at the war cemetery, and there was nobody else to be seen among the serried rows of headstones, but a short while later a bus turned up and promptly disgorged a bunch of children, who leapt off into the cemetery engaged in the kind of noisy stuff that kids tend to do. The tour guide was apparently outraged by this noisy ‘intrusion’ and stomped over to the bus to ask the woman in charge of the kids what she thought she was doing.

But her reply literally stopped him in his tracks. She said “We bring them here from time to time, so the men can hear the children”. He just hadn’t thought of it that way, and was duly humbled.

We can tell you from our own experience that the local school kids also take their lunch amongst the headstones at the war cemetery for the allied Burma Railway dead at Kanchanaburi in Thailand, close by the River Kwai, but we see no contradiction there either. The Week asked if we could ever tolerate something as harrowing as the Great War today, and quoted the following from Wilfred Wilson Gibson:

‘We who are left, how shall we look again
Happily on the sun or feel the rain
Without remembering how they who went
Ungrudgingly and spent
Their lives for us loved, too, the sun and rain?’

COLT PILES UP SEVERAL CONTRACTS: National Defense said that Colt had recently secured an initial $2.5m deal, with further options worth $5m, to produce ‘M16A4’ rifles for the US army. We understand this model is a ‘flat-top’ M16A2 with Picatinny scope rail and the four-rail Modular Weapon System around the barrel for improving the potential for mounting additional sighting devices and other accessories. The A4 designation is mighty confusing, since there has never been an official M16A3 model, though that’s what Picatinny Arsenal in the past took to calling the flat-topped M16A2 with scope rail to distinguish it from the A2 with integral carrying handle.

Some 20,000 A4s are eventually expected to be made, at a price of $375 each, presumably by modification from A2 flat top standard, with initial deliveries early in 1999. The same source also said that in Jan 98 Colt won a three-year US army deal, a partnering arrangement with Anniston Army Depot, to upgrade USAF M16 rifles to M16A2 standard, initially 50,000 weapons for $18m, with the possibility of further options up to more than 120,000 riffles.

The magazine said the Air Force currently had around 220,000 M16s; as we understand it, the USAF still has basic early models (not M16A1s) without forward bolt assists, though we recall seeing M16A2s with Air Force Security units from Nellis AFB some years ago.

Additionally, the magazine pointed out that back in Oct 97 Colt was awarded another $12.5m deal to provide in excess of 24,000 5.56mm M4 Carbines to the US army. Clearly this steady injection of new army & air force business will help keep Colt’s military production ticking over for a few years, but none of it changes the longer-term prognosis of very lean times ahead for all US small arms suppliers.

ANGOLA RAID LEAVES SIX DEAD: early in Nov 98 the Telegraph and others reported that the Canadian-owned Yetwene diamond mine in Angola was raided by a 50-strong unit of what are thought to have been members of the Unita rebel forces, who killed six staff, including two from the UK, and kidnapped four others. Eighteen more were wounded.

GLOBAL SCENE HITS ISRAELI DEFENCE: an item in Jane’s News Briefs said that, due to financial crises around the world, Israeli defence manufacturers could be looking at 1998 revenues as low as $1.5Bn, down from $2.5Bn in 1997, suggesting an urgent need for ‘reform’. Restructuring, downscaling & diversification are probably the words they should really be grasping for.

INTERARMS USA REORGANISATION: Firearms Business (FB) reported in Oct 98 that most of the management at Interarms in the USA had been let go and the company’s former controller, David MacGillivray, had been promoted to president & CEO. There was still no definitive word on the Umarex (Germany) purchase of Interarms which had been in negotiation for some considerable time, though Interarms confirmed it would still need to work closely with Walther, which is a Umarex subsidiary.

ARMED POLICE EVERYWHERE: it seems that the new UK government’s fears of terrorist attack extend rather further than the modest little squad of 28 armed police protecting British PM Blair around the clock. The Mail on Sunday highlighted the inauguration of a new MOD Police (MDP) control room in the bowels of the Whitehall defence headquarters in London, complete with an armoury and a team of MDP ‘marksmen’ reportedly tasked with protecting the defence secretary and military Chiefs of Staff.

One of the MOD Police staff, a female firearms instructor, was pictured with her ‘sub-machine gun’, which the rest of us would more readily have recognised as an SA80 rifle. We don’t somehow expect a platoon of armed crazies to storm the MOD HQ anytime soon, but hey – that would spoil a good bit of free ministry PR. Yet knowing how un-cordial relations between senior military staff and politicians (particularly of a Labour hue) usually are, we guess the biggest risk to the defence secretary’s health is probably from the Chiefs of Staff themselves!

DENEL LOSSES: Flight International reported that Denel in South Africa is expected to record current FY losses of up to Rand 400m ($70.5m). The group is now to be reorganised from 18 divisions to four (heavy ordnance, light ordnance, commercial & aerospace). The public enterprises minister has apparently confirmed that British Aerospace will be the first company to be approached by the South African government regarding an equity partnership with Denel’s aerospace division (Denel Aviation & Kentron).

SWITZERLAND WITHOUT AN ARMY?: in Oct 98 The Economist reported that one Tobias Schnebli from the “Group for a Switzerland Without an Army” was out collecting signatures for a petition to present to the Swiss government seeking to abolish the army. If petitioners can collect 50,000 names, a nationwide referendum can be held on an issue. With 100,000 signatures you can force an entirely new legislative initiative to be voted on. Back in 1989 Herr Schnebli’s group first forced a vote on the future of the army and 36% of the electorate reportedly agreed the army should go. However, the government is getting wise to all this and now wants to increase the number of names required on petitions for new initiatives to 150,000.

RADWAY GREEN SAA PLANT UNDER SERIOUS THREAT: Royal Ordnance sources confirm that the company has already submitted an unsolicited bid to the UK MOD for the upcoming multi-year British armed forces buy of small arms ammunition (see Section 1). In so doing, the company has stressed to the ministry the need to encourage partnership with the defence industry, as recommended in the UK Strategic Defence Review, a process intended to produce ongoing cost & efficiency savings.

However, if the MOD nevertheless simply opts for a cheap overseas bid, regardless of from whence the ammunition is sourced, Royal Ordnance has unequivocally stated that it will ‘exit the business’. This would be a major blow to the UK, leaving it with no indigenous military SAA manufacturer.

We’re conscious the UK MOD has provoked this kind of thing before, some years ago, by dint of buying successive orders of cheap Greek .50 BMG ammunition from Pyrkal and forcing Eley Ltd in Birmingham (the UK’s sole domestic source at the time) to quit the .50 business altogether. In our view, it would be grossy irresponsible of the MOD to allow yet another significant component of the UK strategic industry to wither on the vine. But in recent years the ministry has already sourced large quantities of assorted SAA from overseas and its policy on 155mm propellant purchasing (see story below) seems likely to put UK capability in that field too at risk.

ARMS IN KOSOVO AID CONSIGNMENT: TTU Europe reported that on 1 Nov 98 some sniper rifles, communications kit and ammunition were seized by Albanian customs from two containers of Swiss origin. The military materiel, travelling on a Croatian vessel, was apparently hidden in a humanitarian aid consignment destined for Kosovan refugees.

USAF HAS TOO LITTLE AMMO: a Defense News item said the US Air Force had admitted that past emphasis on funding major assets such as new aircraft had resulted in an ammunition shortfall that was unlikely to be cured for several years. Now the ammunition reserves of a few years back have been ‘drained’. 30mm GAU-8 ammunition for the A10 tankbuster is apparently a major concern, with only 1.5m rounds allocated for next year against a requirement of nearly 2m. About a third of the USAF’s total ammunition stocks of 27m rounds is apparently held in the Gulf and now considered suspect due to adverse storage conditions – this stock is now being repatriated to the USA for inspection. We begin to hear the cash registers tinkling at the ammo contractors.

CLINTON COPS OUT ON KOSOVO MONITORING: the news that the US government has hired private contractors to provide the 150-strong American contingent to the unarmed Kosovo ceasefire monitoring force has gone down like a lead balloon on the other side of the Atlantic, where the UK is sending a 200-man team, half of them serving military personnel, the rest retired officers and other experts.

A Guardian report said that the US State Department had hired Virginia-based DynCorp for the Kosovo job, and the firm would be providing a team of ‘weapons inspectors’, ‘verification experts’, drivers and technicians. DynCorp had beaten its competitors MPRI to win the contract.

The use of outside contractors is seen as a political ruse by the Clinton administration to sidestep the negative impact which might otherwise be incurred if US troops were killed on this risky Kosovo mission. But one British defence commentator was quoted as saying “It is extraordinary that a country with a highly paid volunteer army should turn to a private company of mercenaries. This is not the sort of task which should be done for profit.”

Even more surprising when one remembers the Kosovo deal itself was brokered by Washington. We can’t believe that senior American military commanders reckon much to this policy either, since it shows the US forces in rather a poor light.

UK WORLD ARMS SALES NO 2: IISS data reported by the Guardian says that in 1997 the UK (up 5% with £5Bn in sales) maintained its position as No 2 world arms exporter in a year which showed the global market rise to a record post-Cold War high of $47Bn. It has risen 36% just over the previous two years. Top of the list (no surprise) was the USA, but Russian sales have slumped over a decade from 35% of the world total to just 5.4%, suggesting that the defence industry alone is certainly not going to buy Moscow out of trouble any time soon. Biggest arms importer is Saudi Arabia at $11Bn, which raises some interesting questions about the likely impact on the world market if the oil price collapsed.

NEW THAI POLICE ACADEMY: the Bangkok Post reported early in Oct 98 that the US and Thailand had signed a deal to establish a new International Law Enforcement Academy in Bangkok, funded by the American government. It’s aim is to further co-operation twixt US, Thai & other SE Asian law enforcement agencies, focussing on drugs, the smuggling of people, terrorism and ‘economic crime’.

SUICIDE BY COP – DATA: the results of a survey of 240 US police shootings from Jan 1980 to Jun 1995 recently published in the FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin concluded that suicidal intent on the part of the person confronting police and subsequently shot was a factor in probably nine cases and possibly also in another 28. Taken together these would constitute 16% of the total.

In 160 cases no reliable determination could be made, and in 43 instances a suicidal motive was absent or unlikely. 69% of the 240 shootings, which covered 18 metropolitan areas, were fatal. The findings suggest that the ‘suicide by cop’ phenomenon is indeed significant, as suspected for some time, and begs the question what – if anything – could be done to reduce its incidence.

LARGE UK 5.56MM DISPOSAL: the UK MOD has recently sold off two million rounds of Hirtenberg (Austria) 5.56mm L3A1 M193-specification ammunition which was surplus to requirements. It was in three batches, of 1984, 1987 and 1988 vintage. Some readers may find it curious that while Royal Ordnance Radway Green still has to fight tooth & nail to secure every UK MOD small arms ammunition contract, the MOD should be selling off stocks of foreign ammunition which could have been produced at home.

The disposal is even odder when one bears in mind that M193 (55gr) 5.56mm ammunition is perfectly OK to use in current NATO 1:7” twist barrels (eg SA80, M16A2), and indeed the US forces still buy M193 ball and M196 tracer for training, not least because it’s cheaper than the SS109 family.

LETHAL DOWNSIDE OF SA MAJORITY RULE: The Economist & others reported that since the majority ANC government was elected in South Africa in 1994, around 550 farmers (mostly white Boers) have been murdered in 2,000 attacks throughout the country. 104 had already been killed in 1998. In some cases their (black) attackers have lain in wait and killed whole families, carving political slogans on the corpses. In others, victims have been raped & tortured. Many farmers believe it is part of an intimidation campaign, though the government denies politics are involved. Nevertheless, we doubt this information will be appearing anytime soon in South African tourist literature.

PLA SLASHED BY 100K: According to the Telegraph, China announced in mid-Sep 98 that it had made 100,000 members of the PLA redundant, a move which is one step in a programme to trim the 3m-strong army by half a million. It’s hoped to save money with which to modernise the PLA. We guess it’ll also dump rather a lot of surplus small arms on the market too.

BUNDESWEHR GRENADE ACCIDENT: in early Sep 98 the German press reported that there was an accident at the Leopold Barracks in Amberg in which an HE/Fragmentation hand grenade exploded, wounding 21 soldiers, five of them seriously. The troops, from the HQ company of Panzerbrigade 11 and Panzerpionierkompanie 120 (armoured pioneers), were undergoing grenade training in a room when (for reasons which are unclear) a live hand grenade suddenly detonated. A corporal who reportedly brought the live grenade to the training session was lightly wounded in the blast and apparently now faces charges under safety regulations.

SYMBOLIC MACHETE DESTRUCTION: a Times short said that police in the UK had torched and ‘melted down’ a machete used in an attack on children having a school picnic in Wolverhampton two years ago. This is the sort of blatantly PC move, blaming the weapon for the deed, that we normally hear reported from California.

3. FUTURE WEAPON SYSTEMS & TECHNOLOGY

ISRAELI GENETIC WEAPONS?: potentially the most disturbing news of the month came via the Sunday Times, which claimed that the Israeli biological warfare establishment at Nes Ziona was developing genetic weapons intended to target ethnic Arabs without harming Jews. It said that the Israelis had used some of the genetic research carried out by South Africa under apartheid (see previous issues) and cited ‘Israeli military and western intelligence sources’ as the basis of the story.

The paper claimed that researchers had been trying to find specific ‘Arab’ genes which would make target populations vulnerable to certain biological agents, which could used either to fill weapons or to poison water supplies. But the task had been more difficult due to the common Semitic origin of Jews and Arabs. However the Israelis had already figured out specific genetic vulnerabilities, in ‘particularly the Iraqi people’. The US defence secretary was also quoted as confirming that a number of countries were working on genetically-engineered weapons, and one was indeed thought to be Israel.

The Sunday Times said that Jane’s Intelligence Review, citing South African sources, had already published a similar story, and that the Israelis were said to have done their genetic research on Arabic Jews, ‘especially Iraqis’. If these revelations are true, they are particularly shocking for a country like Israel which was founded in the wake of systematic Nazi genocide and depends heavily on Western moral and financial support for its continued existence. Yet with every ‘shock-horror’ military story of this type, it’s always educational to study the timing, which in this case was at the very peak of the latest Iraq crisis. Clearly there would be significant propaganda value in Israel being thought to have weapons designed specifically to exploit Iraqi vulnerabilities, bearing in mind the possibility of Saddam Hussein once more including Israel on his own target list – and the exceedingly hawkish Israeli government now in power.

Either way, whether or not the specific Israeli threat is real, since genetic weapons research is already thought to be under way in various states it is clearly time for this sort of work to be prohibited by international convention, as medical experts in the UK have been saying for some while.

As for Israel, we would hope the government there will realise that Western sympathy for its plight is liable to evaporate rather rapidly if that country sinks to the same sort of ‘Final Solution’ tactics practiced against the Jewish community in World War Two. All Jews should condemn it outright.

It does however highlight the need for the West to get a much firmer grip on Jewish/Arab politics and persuade all the parties that ‘end-game’ policies such as genetic and nuclear warfare are unacceptable as bargaining chips, since their only outcome, if pursued, would be mutual annihilation, hardly a triumph of late 20th century diplomacy.

NANOTECHNOLOGY FOR SOLDIER APPLICATIONS: in mid-98 the US army’s Soldier Systems Command (SSCOM) hosted a conference on ‘Nanotechnology for the Soldier System’.

Nanotechnology, as SSCOM describes it, involves ‘the exploitation of novel phenomena that occur in materiels constructed from constituents that are extremely small. For example, the size of these building blocks used in nanotechnology will range from one millionth to one billionth of a meter.’

SSCOM claims that nanotechnology will significantly reduce the soldier’s load, help track his performance and vastly improve his chemical/biological, ballistic & environmental protection, as well as protecting his eyes from directed energy (as in ‘death rays’).

According to one speaker, “Nanotechnology may benefit the soldier of the future because nanomaterials and devices could provide greater protective and intelligence capabilities at a reduced weight. This should improve the soldier’s mobility, viability and lethality.”

Another said, “Nanomaterials that can be developed and demonstrated for soldier systems in the near term include nanofibers for filtration and chemically protective membranes, nanolayered materiels for packaging and ballistic protection, nanoparticles and nanocomposites for signature reduction and ballistic protection, and nanofoams for new lightweight transparent armor.”

All well & good, but first please ensure you have more than a nanobudget to develop all this stuff.

SADW is a monthly electronic publication from Nick Steadman Features. Nick, intrepid world traveling reporter for much of the arms industry, files this 40,000 to 50,000 word report once a month to his loyal subscribers. Those lucky ones pay a mere $50 (US) £32.50 (UK) per year for the privilege of getting the hot tips and insights from one of the industry’s insiders. Nick’s unique perspective is globally based, as is his wit. Each issue is full of insight and information for those with an interest in Small Arms, as well as his observations on world travel.

1. NEW WEAPONS & EQUIPMENT

STEYR ANNOUNCES NEW PISTOLS: at the Feb 99 SHOT Show in Atlanta, Steyr-Mannlicher will debut a pair of new semi-auto pistols, the .40 Steyr M40 and the 9mm Steyr M9, which are forecast for first deliveries in Jul 99. Only outline details have so far been released; however Steyr says the pistols will be compact-sized, with synthetic frames, ‘innovative’ sights, a loaded chamber indicator and a new trigger mechanism designated ‘Reset Action’. Significantly, the company says they will also have an ‘integrated deactivation lock’.

In recent decades, Steyr has been unlucky with pistols. The big, gas-braked 9mm GB-80 lost out to the Glock in Austrian army trials and did not survive very long in the marketplace. After that Steyr said it would only bring out another handgun if it was something really innovative.

Well, they did. It was the 9mm TMP machine pistol, though unfortunately TMP sales were intended to be underpinned in the USA by the semi-auto SPP version, which was soon after caught by US restrictions on the importation of ‘assault pistols’. So far the TMP itself has attracted only a limited military & security market.

Clearly Steyr has had its thinking cap on for a while – the open reference to a ‘deactivation lock’ suggests the company has been sniffing the air again in the USA, where political pressure is growing for handguns with integral child-safety features. The acid test will be whether prospective purchasers here & now in the USA are ready to accept what some may see as an imposition on their freedom to keep weapons instantly ready for use. And of course the price, which must be competitive, since purchasers may not be ready yet to pay a premium for additional safety features they may psychologically resent.

FN IN RELAUNCH MODE WITH NEW PRODUCTS & POLICE SALES PUSH: FN recently held a press gathering at its FNMI subsidiary in the USA, to which we were noticeably not invited. The company reportedly pushed out the boat, big-time. However, our physical absence does not prevent us reporting some of the highlights. FN is forming a new law enforcement division, via which it plans to pursue the police market in a more vigorous fashion by dint of both a new organisation and new products.

This first of these is its polymer-framed ‘Forty-Nine’ pistol which has a stainless slide & barrel and a DAO trigger which a colleague reports is the best he has yet encountered. At around eight pounds pull, he says the trigger mechanism is smooth and ‘very slick’. Initial calibre is .40 S&W, with 9mm to follow in 1999. It will also be sold on the commercial market. Grip angle apparently resembles that of the Glock and the pistol is said to point very well. Its modular trigger mechanism is patented, like other aspects of the design.

As far as the US police market is concerned, Glock remains the weapon to beat, but the Austrians have already made such huge inroads into US law enforcement that one wonders if a sizeable police market still exists at this time, alongside all the SIGs, Berettas, Rugers, Colts, S&Ws, USPs and so forth (now to include Steyr), for yet another new brand.

In fact, we imagine that if the Forty-Nine pistol is to succeed, it will chiefly have to carve itself a niche on the US commercial market, with police sales a bonus. This appears to have been the case with most other well-known brands, Glock maybe excepted.

As to the FN law enforcement re-launch per se, the company has always had a European police sales outlet in the form of Browning SA, and presumably all the new arrangements actually amount to is an extension of this system to the USA, where hitherto Browning USA appears to have focused chiefly on private purchasers.

NEW RM GHILLIE SUITS TRIALLED: a Sunday Telegraph story said that the Royal Marines were trialling a new ‘chameleon suit’ which could replace the current ghillie suits used by snipers. Currently troops make their own, and Karrimor, manufacturers of the chameleon suit, say the ghillie suits are very heavy when wet.

The Karrimor product is described as a ‘thick foliage of realistic-looking polyester ‘leaves’’, each one attached to a fine mesh. It provides head to toe coverage. The ‘leaves’ will move independently in a breeze, adding to the camouflage effect. A face mask, gloves and overboots complete the kit, which is available in standard camo (with seasonal variations), jungle and snow designs. An undersuit of activated charcoal cloth is provided to wear beneath the chameleon suit, in order to mask human body odour.

STEYR SCOUT ‘TACTICAL’ MODEL: IWM in Switzerland reported that Brugger & Thomet over there was offering a special Tactical version of the Steyr Scout rifle, with a black stock, a longer and rather heavier barrel and the ability to attach a muzzle suppressor.

The barrel is 51cm (20”) long, as opposed to 48.3cm (19”) on the standard weapon, and has a tighter 1:10” twist (standard twist is 1:12”) to allow for the use of subsonic ammunition. Apparently some Swiss cantons don’t allow hunting rifles with barrels shorter than 50cm. Weapon weight is 100g (3.5 ozs) greater than for the basic Scout. The threaded muzzle (16.5mm diameter) of the Tactical rifle is protected by a screw-on thread guard. Brugger & Thomet supplies suitable suppressors at SFrs 790, where still legal. These points apart, the rifles are essentially the same, and fitted with identical 2.5x Leupold long-eye relief scopes.

IWM’s testers shot below 27mm at 100m – and under 85mm at 300m, with both rifles, using 168gr Swiss SM commercial ammunition from Thun, and could not determine any obvious difference between performance from the two barrel lengths. MV differences were minimal, only about 25fps.

SM 200gr subsonic ammunition in the suppressed Tactical model grouped to 32mm at 100m. All groups were five shots. The Tactical rifle is priced at SFrs 3,590 with case (standard model is SFrs 3,450) and SFrs 200 less without. (Brugger & Thomet AG, http://www.brugger-thomet.com/, e-mail: bruto@ibm.net)

UK 155GR 7.62MM NATO TARGET ROUND: we finally received from Royal Ordnance Radway Green (RG) the technical data on the new ‘Bisley 155gr Target Ammunition’ Radway is producing. It replaces the selected batches of Radway ‘Green Spot’ sniper ammunition previously used by UK target shooters.

Velocity at 24m from the muzzle is 845m/s and energy 3210 Joules. Chamber pressure is 4,000 Bar max and gas port pressure (only of interest for self-loading weapons) is 550 Bar min. Action time is 4 milliseconds max and bullet pull 265 Newtons min. Operating temperature range is -54 degs C to +52 degs C, and the waterproofing of cartridges will withstand 50 Kpa vacuum in 50mm of water for 30 seconds. Primer sensitivity (drop test with a 112g steel ball) is 356mm for all fire and 76mm for no fire. Propellant is double-base cut tubular and primers may be either Berdan or Boxer, non-corrosive.

Listed hit probability is 94% at 550 metres for a target 25x25cm, though Radway points out that this is the minimum acceptance criterion, and in practice significantly better proof results are obtained. The factory also shows considerably better accuracy with the 155gr round than with Green Spot.

Despite the specification changes, the 155gr cartridge still complies with NATO STANAG 2310 and accordingly headstamps still include the NATO homologation symbol (a cross within a circle, meant to represent a four-leafed clover). All the UK MOD needs to do now is get this ammunition out to snipers! (Radway Green Business Director, E-mail; Sam.hughes@bae.co.uk)

USMC SHOWS DMR: the US Marine Corps has finally revealed a specimen of its Designated Marksman’s Rifle (DMR), which we anticipate will also be issued to the No 2 men in USMC Scout/Sniper teams, Marine security police and to free up M40A1 sniper rifles currently held by other Marine units.

As anticipated, though the Corps trialled several commercial weapons, including the semi-automatic H&K MSG-90 and Stoner SR-25, it has, in the end, opted for an in-house Quantico solution, using a scoped 7.62mm NATO M14 rifle in a McMillan composite M14E2-style pistol grip stock, complete with wraparound ambidextrous cheekrest and a Harris bipod.

The DMR requirement actually started out as something very simple – a flat-topped, scoped Colt M16A2 HBAR with which the USMC planned to equip ‘known good shots’ in the infantry squad in order to take better advantage of their marksmanship skills. But the issue soon became clouded by a second requirement, for a Sniper Support Weapon to issue to the No 2 man in each Scout/Sniper team.

The philosophy on that was that the No 2 ought really to have a weapon in the same calibre as – and with similar range capabilities to – the M40A1 bolt-action carried by the No 1, rather than just an M16A2.

Eventually the two requirements simply merged. A reversion to 7.62mm NATO is in keeping with known USMC reservations about 5.56mm in certain operational roles, and a semi-automatic 7.62mm rifle in the Scout/Sniper team allows the possibility of rapid long-range fire to cover a withdrawal if the sniper is spotted. As readers will know, the Corps prides itself on its ability to accurately engage targets at rather longer ranges than the army – in fact the 800 metre rearsight on the M16A2 was adopted solely at the USMC’s insistence. Note also the US military’s rejection of the 5.56mm Minimi Squad Automatic Weapon in the sustained fire machine gun (MMG) role, in favour of the 7.62mm NATO FN MAG 58.

COUNTERPOISE SYSTEM & OTHER M16 ENHANCEMENTS: in the SADW Aug 98 issue we ran the following item:

‘GWINN ‘COUNTERPOISE’ SYSTEM: Mack Gwinn, boss of the MWG Company in Miami (Florida), has released details of his new counterpoise system for the 5.56mm M16 rifle and M4 carbine. It is intended to reduce the peak recoil in semi-automatic fire by 50% and to deliver recoil in burstfire as a mild, steady push, resulting in greater controllability.

The counterpoise kit includes a replacement buffer and recoil spring, plus a rebound weight which is installed in the rear tube of the bolt carrier.

Gwinn says the kit increases the force of the recoil spring, the effective weight of the bolt group and the offsetting impetus of the gas system to the point where the gas system transfers half of the recoil impulse into the bolt group weight which then slowly (throughout the entire cycle) returns that missing impulse into the weapon body through the force of the recoil spring.’

In fact, designer Jim Sullivan in Arizona now tells us that both he and Mack Gwinn are actually equal partners and joint inventors of the Counterpoise system. Sullivan describes the system as follows:

‘Counterpoise is a kit that with one small change to the gun just drops into the M4 carbine or M16 rifle and thereafter cuts the semiauto recoil spike in half and fragments full auto recoil into mini spikes that spread throughout the cycle and blur into a low force steady push.

It is as controllable on full auto as the Constant Recoil system I developed with the Ultimax but it’s a new and different invention which allows closed bolt firing for semiauto accuracy. In contrast Constant Recoil requires open bolt firing which cripples semiauto accuracy with open bolt lurch.

Furthermore, Counterpoise requires less weight, force and cycle distance so it works in the relatively short stroke of the M16 without redesigning the gun. The kit even eliminates extraction failures, the most common malfunction in the M4.

The same Sullivan/Gwinn team is also developing a stronger and faster-radiating barrel and gas tube combo for the M4/M16 weapon family with the encouragement of US special forces, who insist that any gun issued to them be able to rapid fire all the ammunition they can carry.

Sullivan says that thick wall barrels fail by ‘plastic ballooning’ when too hot, but thin wall barrels (which generally include assault rifle barrels) fail by splitting, with the bullet and barrel shards endangering the shooter and anyone nearby.

Assault rifles compound this problem with their reduced power ammunition which is half the size and weight so the man can carry twice as much, yet each shot generates as much barrel heat as the full power ammo it replaces.

MORE ON SUPPRESSORS & SUBSONICS: Sound Tech in the USA wired us with further comments of the question of maintaining subsonic bullet stability when fired from suppressed weapons. The gist of its comments is as follows:

Sound Tech says tumbling can be caused by at least four factors, the largest of which is if an asymmetrical blast baffle is used. Gas overtaking the bullet at the muzzle is deflected off the first asymmetrical surface it hits, striking the bullet as it enters or leaves the first (blast) baffle in a suppressor, causing the projectile to yaw excessively.

The bullet then begins to tumble inside the suppressor, striking other baffles in the process, and that’s the end of any semblance of accuracy.

The fix Sound Tech applied was to use only symmetrical blast baffles, which cured the problem but unfortunately degraded sound performance of the suppressor. The company also made the holes in the baffles much larger than necessary.

As a result, Sound Tech’s suppressors tend to be larger than many others to maintain equal or greater suppression, but it claims it doesn’t have tumbling or accuracy problems.

It says it believes its suppressors may well be used in harsh conditions, so it builds in large tolerances to prevent accuracy problems. It is possible to have tight baffle apertures, but Sound Tech won’t do it for fear of other problems. In some cases, it uses two symmetrical blast baffles, one in front of the other, just to make sure that accuracy problems don’t develop.

It has tested Engel’s .308, 220 grain subsonic bullets on one of its suppressed rifles with a 1:12” twist, and achieved excellent accuracy. It then tested the same bullets in other rifles it had suppressed, with similar results.

Sound Tech says the most stable bullets are those with round noses, as a spire point tends to “hunt” in flight. This is due not only to aerodynamics, but also to weight distribution. The more weight towards the front, the greater the stability. Tumbling on contact is an effective concept, but achieved only at the cost of accuracy and inherent stability.

Work is currently being conducted in the US on bullets which expand more effectively and more uniformly. The Black Hills .308 LP (limited penetration) round is said to be in great demand at present.

CARL GUSTAF 5.56MM EXPORT FAMILY: a couple of years ago, when Carl Gustaf in Sweden was still chasing the Norwegian 5.56mm re-equipment contract (now deferred until 2005 or later), it developed as a candidate weapon an upgraded CGA5 variant of its local AK5 licensed version of the FN FNC.

Since then we note that Carl Gustaf has expanded this export venture to include a short C2 carbine and even a Light Support Weapon (LSW), now making the CGA5 the basis of a family system.

Main differences are the addition of a scope rail on which detachable optical or iron sights can be mounted, and there is also provision for attachment of laser aiming pointers and other sighting aids at either side of a specially modified handguard. The optical sight shown rather reminds us of that on the German G36 and has an integral M16-style carrying handle with an aperture formed in the front to prevent obscuration of the vision field. This approach also permits a lower sighting plane than on M16s with fixed carrying handles.

An M203 or similar grenade launcher can also be added beneath the handguard, and the skeletonised buttstock can be adjusted to provide the best cheek weld with either iron or optical sights. There also appear to be compensating slots in the flashhider to control muzzle jump. The C2 carbine is intended for non-infantry users, while the LSW variant has a heavier barrel and will accept a drum magazine, allowing more regular use of burst fire.

ARMS MORAVIA 9mm PISTOL: Arms Moravia Ltd of the Czech Republic this year showed details of a 9×19 mm PS97 pistol. This is an SA/DA weapon externally resembling the CZ75. It has a 15-round magazine, plastic grips and is offered in blued or nickel finishes. Empty weight is 1120g and barrel length 11.4cm. Length overall is 21cm. Accessories (supplied with the gun, we understand) include a spare magazine & wooden grips. (Arms Moravia: Tel (+42) 69-611-7325, Fax (+42) 69-611-2202, E-mail: arms.cz@ova.pvtnet.cz)

MULTI-CALIBRE SA CANNON: Vektor in South Africa has a new GAMA (Gun Automatic Multi-Ammunition) cannon which can fire .50 Browning, 12.7 & 14.5mm Russian, 20x82mm Mauser, 20x102mm Vulcan, 20x114mm or 20x119mm cartridges using a 60-second conversion system. It can also handle both mechanically and electrically-primed ammunition. Various configurations are possible to suit ground tripods, aircraft pods, vehicles and naval mountings. Gun weight in the various calibres ranges from 47 to 53kg and cyclic rate from 500-850 rpm.

NEW AUSTEYR MOUNT OPTIONS: our sources down under report that Australian Defence Industries (ADI) has shown a short F-88C AUG carbine with four mounting rails butting up against the gas block at 90 degrees to each other around the barrel, intended to facilitate attachment of shotguns, grenade launchers, lights & laser pointers, along the lines of the Knight’s Armament RIS or US army MWS.

And the F-88SA1 variant of the full-sized AUG as currently being factory upgraded for the army by ADI has additional accessory mounting slots either side of the Picatinny-compatible scope adaptor rail. Australia has selected the Canadian 4x ELCAN scope as its Enhanced Optics for the AUG with Picatinny rail.

The Australian government’s DSTO research establishment has reportedly also developed yet another AUG adapter for the 40mm M203 PI grenade launcher. Trials of 40mm launchers were slated for Oct 98.

We’re advised that the basic Australian service rifle nomenclature is as follows (though there are a few inconsistencies twixt ADI & army designations):-

a. F-88 – AUG rifle with a 508mm barrel & integral optics.
b. F-88S – AUG rifle with ‘special’ receiver & Steyr proprietary mount
c. F-88C – AUG carbine with 407mm barrel
d. F-88T – .22LR training rifle – not yet selected
e. F-88SA1 – rebuilt F-88S AUG with Picatinny rail adaptor

(nb: It’s assumed the last batch (2000-odd) of F-88Cs with Picatinny mounts will be designated F-88CA1)

NEW IRISH COMBAT KIT: after many years of plain olive green combat trousers & jackets which look very much like the pre-camouflage British kit, the Irish army is adopting a multi-layered uniform system along current British lines, and in DPM camouflage, to replace present working & combat dress. And if we could still lay hands on the relevant papers we could probably tell you more!

INLAND TECHNOLOGY WEAPON CLEANING EQUIPMENT: in Georgia recently Inland Technology Inc of Tacoma (Washington) was demonstrating its IT-48WC weapons cleaning & partswasher system, which it says is being fielded throughout the US forces for cleaning of all weapons from small arms to field artillery.

The system, which looks like a large metal sink, uses the EdgeTek filtration system which will filter down to a tenth of a micron and can extend the use of Inland’s Breakthrough ‘environmentally compliant’ cleaning solvent for several years.

Inland says the IT-48WC drastically reduces cleaning time, to about 8-20 minutes per weapon, and after cleaning weapons need only to be wiped down, lubricated and reassembled. User figures cite 5-7 minutes for cleaning an M16A2 rifle (Contact: Tel(253)383-1177, 1-800-552-3100, E-mail: inland@inlandtech.com)

DENEL/VEKTOR 5.56mm CR-21 RIFLE: this new design, whose title is short for ‘Combat Rifle for the 21st Century’, was recently written up by International Defense Review (IDR), but it has been around for some while. It is essentially a South African 5.56mm R4 rifle reconfigured and re-housed in a synthetic black polymer bullpup stock.

It is strongly inspired by the Steyr AUG, right down to the outsized ‘trigger guard’ – and possibly also by a similar bullpup IMI came up with in Israel a couple of years ago – and it shows all the design hallmarks of the same outside team that came up with the Vektor CP-1 pistol.

The dramatically rounded, flowing lines certainly suggest the same hands at work, though sources say it’s nevertheless awkward to strip. When we tested the CP-1 pistol, we found it looked much better than it worked, so slick styling must always be kept in perspective.

A source who has handled the CR-21 says the ergonomics are good, likewise the surface finish of the polymer stock, though some of the joints could evidently be improved.

Apparently the stock is very strong, as an impromptu drop test verified, but our source was not too enamoured of the crossbolt safety and had some initial reservations about the location of the twin fire selectors, one each side of the rear of the stock. If the 5.56mm SA80 is anything to go by, this may prove a bind.

A non-magnifying reflex optical sight (also drop-proofed) is installed on the CR-21. It appears to have started out as a Trijicon design, but has been further refined by Denel, who are now manufacturing it. An improved version was also due.

The sight reticle is an orange triangle, visible in all conditions which allow a target to be seen. It is apparently unaffected by high ambient light levels.

We’re told the SA forces experimented with magnifying optics but determined (as we would have expected) that these were all slower to use than unity-power sights. As far as we’re aware, there is no plan or provision to swap day for night sights on the CR-21 in dark conditions.

IDR suggested there are both right and left-ejecting versions of the rifle, but since the CR-21 is merely a ‘re-wrapped’ R4, that would be difficult.

Our sources say however that a case deflector has been fitted for use by left-handers (or for right-handers shooting round right-hand cover), bouncing the cases 30 degrees forward; this is said to work very well and, if so, gives the CR-21 a distinct edge over the SA80 and AUG.

IDR gives the loaded weight of the CR-21 as 3.8kg and length overall 76cm with a 46.5cm barrel (1:229mm/9” twist). Magazines are reportedly polymer, of 20 & 35-rounds capacity, and the full-auto cyclic rate is 600-750rpm.

According to our South African sources, The CR-21 began life as what the army mysteriously called the User Requirement System (URS).

It apparently results from an international trawl by army experts of defence shows and manufacturers, plus, we understand, a two-week sojourn in the UK MOD Pattern Room. The army may also have taken advice from amongst the small arms technical writer community.

Subsequently, we’re told the army went to Armscor, who responded to the effect that there were no funds for this sort of development, but subsequently Denel was somehow persuaded to proceed with it.

The CR-21 has clearly been developed with a view to general adoption in South Africa, despite the fact that – in the wider order of things – a new personal weapon would not appear to be a pressing priority for the SA Defence Forces right now.

We know that another designer with a significantly more creative bullpup design was also trying to secure funding in South Africa, but sense that the CR-21 has now pushed out any opposition, probably for good.

It’s understood the South African Infantry School at Oudshoorn, together with the Army Intelligence Unit, was issued with CR-21s well over a year ago, and that they have resulted in a dramatic improvement in shooting standards – presumably due to the reflex sights.

We should like to know, however, whether these improvements relate primarily to formal range firing (where optically-sighted weapons almost invariably score better) or across the whole spectrum of scenarios anticipated in combat.

Additionally, some 300 CR-21s are said to have been supplied to Latin America, including 100 to Ecuador, all apparently for evaluation. Jane’s Defence Weekly also mentioned that a police version, about 10cm shorter, had been trialled.

Isn’t it interesting how so many designers, confronted today with the creation of a ‘new’ bullpup, come up with something like the AUG, which has already been in Austrian service for 20+ years? It’s a definite feather in Steyr-Mannlicher’s cap.

SADW is a monthly electronic publication from Nick Steadman Features. Nick, intrepid world traveling reporter for much of the arms industry, files this 40,000 to 50,000 word report once a month to his loyal subscribers. Those lucky ones pay a mere $50 (US) £32.50 (UK) per year for the privilege of getting the hot tips and insights from one of the industry’s insiders. Nick’s unique perspective is globally based, as is his wit. Each issue is full of insight and information for those with an interest in Small Arms, as well as his observations on world travel.

NEW WEAPONS & EQUIPMENT

BREMMER ARMS

.303” AMMUNITION: Bremmer Arms in the UK has instructed its ammunition producer MFS in Hungary to tool up for .303” ball ammunition to meet substantial UK target shooter and other markets now that the British military stockpile has been sold off. This ammunition will be brass-cased, Boxer-primed and reloadable. Bremmer’s existing .30-06 own-label ammunition, from the same source, appears to be producing excellent results, with minute-of-angle results claimed even in the company’s two-groove ’03 Springfields. As we write, Bremmer, which is definitely still on the acquisition stump, is still finalising two major deals, one to buy a leading UK name in the gun trade (cited by Shooting Times as Parker-Hale Ltd), the other to acquire the manufacturing rights for a highly innovative military weapon. More later!

.408 CHEYTAC SYSTEM

Dr John Taylor, a Michigan cancer specialist and university professor, is the inventor of the .408 Cheyenne Tactical (CheyTac) cartridge, a wildcat based on the .505 Gibbs case necked down to .408. He recently wrote about this project, which is still very much developmental, in Tactical Shooter magazine. Its primary purpose is long-range sniping, but Taylor also believes it could be an extended-range replacement for 7.62mm NATO in existing GPMGs such as the FN MAG 58, subject to improving the taper of the case. We must confess we are very sceptical about this last aspect, since we would imagine such an up-calibred weapon would be a bear to shoot, and 7.62mm NATO designs might not be up to the task, though the .408 might well make a decent heavy machine gun round.

But there’s also the old chestnut of the military being extremely reluctant to abandon existing NATO-specified ammunition. Mind you, we never thought the .338 would catch on for combat sniping, but it has. The .338 Lapua Magnum has so far been the only current contender in the ‘power gap’ between .300 Win Mag and .50 Browning, and it is derived directly from the US experimental military 8.58x71mm round developed by Research Armament Industries, based on the .416 Rigby case.

Taylor’s philosophy is that even if one could build a .50 BMG system (most of which have hitherto been primarily anti-materiel weapons) that was accurate enough for precision long-range anti-personnel work, it would still be too big and heavy. He initially considered, as Lapua & Accuracy International have done themselves, whether the .338 Lapua Magnum, primarily a weapon for killing people, could also have an anti-materiel role, but correctly observes that Lapua appears to have had no luck so far developing a planned API bullet in .338. Also, that the offensive payload capacity of a .338 bullet is inadequate in any event.

Hence the .408, as a midway point twixt .338 and .50, loaded with a more substantial bullet of up to 500grs. Taylor envisages it as a 2,000 metre cartridge, though we would point out that even some .50 rifle makers admit that unforeseen problems often intrude beyond maybe 1,500m, not least of which is seeing the target clearly enough. The .505 Gibbs cases Taylor has been experimenting with were obtained from the Bertram Bullet Co in Australia, and have reinforced webs to cater for the more substantial operating pressures of the .408. In future MAST Technology in Las Vegas is likely to be the case supplier. Taylor’s long, VLD-style trials bullets are 440gr solids turned from SAE 660 bronze with a short .408” diameter driving band, the remainder of the parallel portion of the projectile a bore-riding .400”.

Predicted performance gives an MV of 2,935 fps and ME of 8,438 ft lbs. Compare this with the respective (all computed) figures for .338 Lap Mag (3,002 fps & 5,019 ft lbs) and .50 BMG (2,700 fps & 12,165 ft lbs). At 1,000m the retained energy computed for the .408 is 3,230 ft lbs, more than double that of the .338, and the advantage is similar at 2,000m (1,254 ft lbs as opposed to 542 for the .338). Taylor’s trials weapon, as yet unfired, incorporates an Anthony Gilkes long magnum receiver, modified by Sea Horse of Michigan and 5 Star GR, complete with a 30” heavy Krieger chrome moly barrel and McMillan stock. It is a five-shot bolt-action repeater which will have a detachable magazine, fully-adjustable Jewell trigger and McArthur PGRS muzzle brake. The scope is a Leupold 32x50mm.

Formal testing of the rifle will be carried out in a couple of months on the 8,000m Camp Grayling artillery range in Michigan. At present Taylor is trying to interest Picatinny Arsenal in the .408 as a new proposal to meet future US military sniping requirements. He is also, separately, still hoping to pursue the GPMG aspects.

(Contacts)
Email:cheyenne@sun.science.wayne.edu,
WWW- http://www.science.wayne.edu/~biology/profhtml/taylor.html

STICKY FOAM IS QUIETLY BURIED

“A few years ago the Marine Corps used sticky foam in their training videos for Somalia. Now sticky foam keeps rearing its ugly head. We used it to reinforce barriers, but that was where the benefits stopped. It has no other application. It has too many problems”. (Col A Mazzara, USMC, director of the US joint non-lethal weapons directorate, quoted in National Defense).

ACCU-COUNTER ‘BLACK BOX’ FOR SIG/SAUER PISTOLS

The Accu-Counter device, built into a special right-hand grip panel for SIG/Sauer pistols, has been shown before, but only (we recall) as a round counter, though we also remember the developers were promising additional functions. Well, now they’re available – the Accu-Counter II also records the following data, for each shot fired:-

– Time (to the millisecond)
– Date
– Compass angle of shot (to one degree)
– Angle of elevation or depression

Data on up to 5,000 rounds can be stored and downloaded later to a PC or laptop by infrared link. The manufacturer can also supply the necessary software to track & monitor all the firearms in a police department. Accu-Counter is an undeniably neat little item, with only minimal external protrusion from the normal grip configuration, so standard holsters can still be used. Also, we understand the logic of storing weapon usage information to assist in preventative maintenance programmes. Indeed, Heckler & Koch has developed an electronic device for the same purpose, for installation in the pistol grip of a G3 rifle. However, an exact count is not essential even for this purpose, and decent unit records of training sessions should be able to provide the same indications as to when parts should be replaced.

Nor do we believe that a simple round-counter should be relied upon by a user to determine when he should reload. Or that users should even allow themselves to worry about how many rounds they have left, unless ammunition is in short supply. They should fire as many shots as are needed and reload or top up their magazines according to the exigencies of the situation. It is an indication of the dire state of litigation in the USA that Accu-Counter should feel it worthwhile including the new functions, and they appear to be somewhat ‘over the top’. But if this is the way things are indeed going, we guess some police departments will feel compelled to avail themselves of this extra data to cover their rears. Also, the likelihood nowadays is that once national agencies get wind of technologies like this, (as with gun locks and the upcoming Smart Gun ideas) it’s entirely likely such devices may end up being officially specified, drastically limiting user choice.

(Accu-Counter, Tel +1(606)342-9001, 1-800-894-2228, Fax +1(606)342-8874, E-mail: Accucount1@aol.com)

MARSHAL ARMS PISTOL GOES TO SEP

The US army ARDEC at Picatinny Arsenal has submitted the 9mm Marshal Arms Inc pistol/sub-compact SMG project (see previous issues) for consideration under the army/USMC Soldier Enhancement Program (SEP). Marshal has also signed up Nehemiah Sirkis, the peripatetic Israeli firearms designer, as a consultant. Sirkis – who is behind several Israeli and US pistol designs, was also responsible for the bullpupped M14 sniper rifle and completed development of the caseless Voere VEC rifle – is apparently interested in designing the Marshal production prototypes.

CAMO COVERS FOR AUG STOCKS EXPLAINED

One of our Australian sources checked out the camouflage cloth stock cover we earlier reported seeing with Australian troops on a 5.56mm AUG. Apparently it doesn’t feature in any official lists and is assumed to be a local initiative, but various other equipment items such as web belt pads and padded vests apparently started the same way. Our source points out that orders have been issued in Australia forbidding units from painting the stocks of their F-88 AUGs, since some paints can attack the polymer material. As to the rationale behind the cloth cover, our source says the AUG stock quickly gets very hot when exposed to the sun, and a cover of some kind makes sense. Living in a chilly climate, we hadn’t immediately thought of that.

M139 VOLCANO MINE

Writing in ‘World Disarm’, a publication we haven’t seen before, one Steve Wright from the Omega Foundation says that the US military discussed the future of non-lethal weapons at a conference in London late last year. We note no-one invited us! Amongst the largely familiar litany of US devices Wright lists, he describes the ‘M139 Volcano mine which projects a net which can cover the size of a football field laced with either razor blades or other ‘immobilisation enhancers’’, and vortex ring guns with ‘quick changes between lethal and non-lethal operations’.

We can’t say we’ve heard of either of these before, at least described in these terms. Nor can we imagine what a ‘vortex ring gun’ might be, other than perhaps the much underestimated Ring Airfoil Grenade (RAG), an Abe Flatau design (like PMC’s Tubular copper bullet), possibly reintroduced from reserve stocks, where it’s been languishing for years.

Grizzled readers may remember the RAG was a muzzle-launched doughnut-form projectile with an airfoil-shaped leading edge. Chief characteristic was its stable flight path, largely unaffected by drop. There was a plain version for simple kinetic energy impact, plus a teargas-enhanced Sting RAG variant. But no – a note in Jane’s IDR suggests the Vortex Ring Gun or VRG is something entirely different; it ‘produces combustion-driven ring vortices that can be focused on to a specific individual’. Jane’s goes on to say it could be used to deliver human incapacitation agents or chemical compounds to corrode or disable vehicles.

This approach sounds excessively complex for the projected tasks; besides, we understood that most of the earlier non-lethal chemical/biological ideas for attacking vehicles, planes & other transportation had been abandoned because of concerns about the acceptability of any new chem/bio agents under international conventions. As to the M139 Volcano, we don’t have a lot of time for nets as a class, since they don’t immobilise very well and are intrinsically full of holes, so they offer no shootback or stab prevention either. Lacing them with ‘razor blades’ is a new one on us, but it sounds likely to serve only to enrage the nettee, like quite a few other new riot control ideas. Having your captive emerge looking as if he’s just had a close encounter with a 1960s Glasgow razor gang is not most people’s definition of a light touch.

.22LR AUG & 40MM ADI DEVELOPMENTS

Australian sources report that ADI (Australian Defence Industries) has developed a Steyr AUG training rifle chambered for .22 rimfire, which the company hopes it will be able to sell to the Australian forces. We’re also told the Australian military is looking for three thousand 40mm grenade launchers, and that ADI has produced two adaptations of the R/M Equipment Co’s 40mm M203 PI quick-detach launcher system in anticipation of this bid.

The first apparently utilises an R/M mounting adapter clamped around the barrel (but with noticeable clearance) and the forward vertical handgrip removed. Our sources say this approach rather leaves the M203 trigger hanging in mid-air. The second is apparently an ADI in-house modification, which local sources say has already cost A$0.25m to develop. This utilises what is thought to be an aluminium mounting rail for the M203 PI, bolted to a large, two-piece assembly around the front of the AUG’s ‘trigger guard’, the whole thing apparently held together by a large stainless bolt. The forward AUG handgrip is again removed and the mounting rail is relieved for the barrel release. The whole affair is closer to the barrel axis than the R/M rail but the ergonomics of the mounting block around the ‘trigger guard’ are reportedly poor.

Of course, to be fair, the AUG was never designed to accommodate an M203, so any modification is likely to look a bit queer. Bullpups are a particular problem in this respect. But the real question is probably not so much whether the 40mm launcher can be reasonably integrated with the rifle, but whether it should be. Combo systems, like a 5.56mm rifle with a bolt-on launcher, are invariably unwieldy and tend to destroy the balance of the host weapon. The current 5.56/20mm Objective Individual Combat Weapon is much better integrated than its predecessors, but will likewise inevitably prove too heavy and ungainly.

We’re unashamed fans of the 40mm option (as opposed to rifle grenades, the only practical alternative), but not at the expense of other considerations, and we feel it’s a great pity that multishot launchers have been marginalised and eschewed by most Western armies in favour of compromises such as the M203. As far as we can elicit, the US army’s adoption of the M203 was as much about saving the dedicated grenadier posts in infantry units as ensuring better grenade-launching facilities.

CIENER’s NEW M1911 KIT

SHOT Business reported that Jonathan Ciener in Florida has a new $249 ‘Platinum Cup’ .22LR conversion kit for the M1911A1 pistol, which includes Millett adjustable sights, a flat sighting plane on the slide and other competition features.

(Contact: JA Ciener, 8700 Commerce St, Cape Canaveral, FL 32920, Tel (407)868-2200)

ALL CHANGE IN INDONESIA (ROUND ONE)

May’s big world story (barring India & Pakistan’s newly-rekindled interest in irradiating each other) was the departure of Indonesia’s 76-year-old and thoroughly out-of-touch President Suharto, and his replacement – albeit only on a temporary basis – by Dr Jusuf Habibie, best known for his establishment of IPTN, the Indonesian aircraft manufacturer.

It was massed student protests that finally persuaded a reluctant Suharto to see the light. The authorities reported some 550 people killed in the serious rioting and looting that preceded his departure, and the Chinese commercial community again bore the brunt of the mob’s anger, as is often the case in SE Asian civil unrest. However, the local Human Rights Commission claims the death toll was 1,188 and other evidence suggests at least 100 women may possibly have been raped, with others sexually abused.

There were a number of incidents in which ball ammunition was reportedly fired at protestors, though it was very clear the way the wind was blowing when we began to see footage of troops fraternising with students. Suharto had already lost it.

Troops on the street appeared to be armed almost exclusively with Bandung–produced 5.56mm Belgian FNC rifles, though the motorcycle-mounted riot police (some masked), pictured early during the riots, each bike with a second armed officer riding pillion, all appeared to have 5.56mm Steyr AUGs. Reports also appeared of injuries from ‘rubber bullets’, including at least one person struck in the eye, and an unconfirmed account said that two students lying on the ground were shot by troops.

A Times item quoted an Opposition MP as saying “The soldiers were drunk. They were red in the face and they were acting crazy. After the students felldown, they were kicking them and shouting ‘you must die, you must die’.”

Habibie is now expected to call free elections within a year or so, and those Indonesians who were opposed to Suharto are clearly hoping to ensure that neither Habibie (who is – rightly or wrongly – seen as a Suharto crony) nor any of the generals waiting in the wings get the presidential post.

Should there be any undue delay in elections or if the outcome is sufficiently unpopular, we could easily see things in Indonesia deteriorate once more, so the present lull should for now be regarded as just that.

Meanwhile, The Engineer said that the delivery of 16 more Hawk aircraft to Indonesia by British Aerospace, starting early in 1999, would be dependant on how things shaped up over there in the intervening period. The phrase ‘we told you so’ kind of springs to mind.

UK MERCENARY PROVIDERS TO BE REGULATED?

Sunday Business suggested that the UK Home Office might extend its upcoming legislation on regulating the private security industry to include ‘private military companies’ (the new ‘in’ term for defence consultancies supplying arms & mercenaries abroad). The possibility of legislation was apparently prompted by the Sandline affair.

One likely outcome could be a system of registration. However, the Times suggested in a later report that the UK Foreign Office was also considering the subject and might be aiming to set up a system along South African lines, whereby mercenary activities are now to be directly regulated, and providers will require a government license before they can finalize any overseas assistance contracts. We must say this is rather a pious hope – countries or regimes seeking outside military assistance will very often feature on someone’s embargo list.

So, if provision of private troops is effectively brought under the same licensing system as government-to-government arms deals, the raison d’etre of private military companies is seriously challenged. In all likelihood, theywill in future be compelled simply to base themselves in less fussy countries where no specific controls exist.

RO STILL IN THE 9MM BUSINESS

While the UK MOD’s offshore award of its last major 9mm ammunition order to IMI in Israel was a significant blow to Royal Ordnance, the RO Radway Green ammunition plant is definitely not giving up the ghost on its police 9mm ammunition venture.

Far from it. In fact it reports its share of this market is actually growing, though slowly, and it is also continuing to sell 9mm ball to overseas customers.

HIRTENBERG 9MM EMB CARTRIDGE

Hirtenberger in Austria has a new 9mm EMB (Expansions-Monoblockgeschoss) cartridge with monobloc gilding metal expanding bullet. It is designed specifically to penetrate to a depth of approx 12” in 10% ballistic gelatine (which it achieves), with good expansion, while still retaining the ability to defeat hard targets, including angled car windscreens. The bullet design is redolent of the Federal Hydra-Shok. Imagine that – before swaging the ogive – the bullet is an open metal cylinder with a solid base. In the centre of the cylinder is a large-diameter post extending most of the way to the base of the bullet, with fractional clearance around it.

Then imagine the ogive being formed – this closes the outer walls at the tip, against the post. Finally, weakening cuts in the outer surface of the ogive promote petaling & thus ‘expansion’. There you have it. Bullet weight is 77 grs and MV 1,465 fps. ME is 367 ft lbs. Recovered bullet diameter is approx 11 – 13.8mm in gelatine tests, less (eg 9.2mm) when fired through automobile steel or windshields (eg 9.7mm). Its expansion mechanism is the peeling back of the outer portion of the bullet into six petals about 110 degrees away from the central post.

Gelatine penetration is not conspicuously degraded by heavy clothing. Shot through angled glass, subsequent gelatine penetration is increased to approx 21”, presumably due to inhibition of the expansion mechanism by impact damage.

The EMB round is said to feed reliably in a range of typical service semi-auto pistols; it will also function popular SMGs. And the light bullet is also said to reduce felt recoil. 50 metre accuracy is to 55mm with ten rounds from a NATO 20cm test barrel. Another version in .40 S&W calibre is apparently planned. Students of the BATF list of ‘armour piercing’ ammunition will know that this document zeroes in on solid metal bullets, so a question mark currently hangs over whether the EMB would be saleable in the USA other than to police & government agencies.

Hirtenberg already makes the 9mm Defender, which was probably intended as the Austrian answer to the MEN QD and Dynamit Nobel Action rounds. Defender is a gilding-metal, partition-design bullet weighing 124grs with a large nose cavity and lead fillers front and rear. It penetrates about 50% deeper (ie at least 18”) in 10% gelatine and is largely unaffected by intervening cover such as automobile steel.

INDUSTRY & FOREIGN NEWS

COLT BUYING SACO DEFENSE

We were rather surprised to learn that Duchossois Industries Inc, owners of Saco Defense in Maine, had reached preliminary agreement with the New Colt Holding Corporation to sell Saco to Colt’s Manufacturing Company, a deal expected to be wrapped up by 31 Aug 98. No price was stated. Assuming it goes through as planned, this will be a de facto first step in the strategic consolidation of the US small arms industry.

Saco, which apparently dates from 1813, manufactures 7.62mm NATO M60 and .50 Browning machine guns, plus 40mm automatic grenade launchers, including the new lightweight Striker. More recently it has also taken on the production of Weatherby sporting rifles and some of the Magnum Research Desert Eagle pistols.

Colt, which dates from 1836, has been owned since Sep 94 by an investor group led by Zilkha & Company, a private investment firm based in New York. Clearly, Colt is moving on Saco to boost its military product line, which has suffered ever since the award of the main US government M16A2 contract to FN Manufacturing Inc.

However, the US army is now adopted the FNMI 7.62mm NATO M240 in place of the Saco M60, and the dependable old Browning M2 lasts forever. Also, Saco’s US army 40mm Mk19 grenade launcher contracts will run out eventually. On this basis the main benefit to Colt would appear to be the lightweight 40mm Striker, though this is – as yet – an unproven design. But Saco has additionally had the lightweight Fifty/.50 machine gun up its sleeve for some years – could Colt be planning to bring this weapon back to life?

Currently Saco Defense is part of the Chamberlain Manufacturing Co, a subsidiary of Duchossois, which also owns Thrall Car Manufacturing Co, the Chamberlain Group (consumer products) and Arlington International Racecourse Inc. This latest Colt move follows its unsuccessful attempt to acquire FN Herstal from GIAT Industries, a purchase which would have given it control not only of FN Manufacturing but also Browning USA, Browning Europe and the US Repeating Arms Co (Winchester weapons). The proof of the pudding in this or any other consolidation is not so much who takes over whom, but what the new entity does with its enlarged resources.

It will be interesting to see how Colt approaches marketing of the Saco products it will be getting, and whether it can indeed carve itself out a bigger military niche as a result. Our personal view would be that any strategic US small arms regrouping still really needs to include FNMI.

SAM CUMMINGS (INTERARMS) DIES

On 29 Apr 98, the characterful billionaire boss of Interarms (and former CIA staffer) Sam Cummings, passed away in Monaco, aged 79 years (some accounts said 71). Earlier reports suggested he’d been ill.

Sam was truly one of the grand old men of the small arms business. Despite the fact that he was claimed by America, Cummings was actually a naturalised British citizen, but – curiously – the only proper UK obituary we saw at the time was in The Economist. Cummings’ death may well mark the end of an era, with his Manchester Interarms warehouse demolished in 1997 to make way for a local road scheme, and Walther in Germany now seeking to buy Interarms USA.

We remember the man best for his famous comment that there’s really no such thing as a private arms deal – you’ll usually find a government behind it somewhere. However the Economist gave us another to remember with a grin: ‘Castro was handy with an Armalite’, a reference to a CIA-funded sale of guns to Castro’s then guerrilla forces.

The report, which described Sam as ‘king of the arms trade’ also included a telling comment that’s worth repeating: ‘The market in arms is remarkably free. Britain prohibits its citizens from owning arms more lethal than a catapult, but beyond the English Channel it is everyone for himself.’ A pretty fair assessment. USA Today later noted that Cummings’ daughter Susan received a 60-day sentence and a $2,500 fine in a Virginia court on 13 May 98 for voluntary manslaughter. She had reportedly admitted shooting her Argentinean boyfriend but claimed self-defence, testifying that he had slashed her and threatened to kill her.

PERSONAL PROTECTION WEAPONS IN ULSTER

On a related subject, it emerged in a letter from an Ulster subscriber to Target Sports magazine that the personal protection firearms certificates issued to those judged to be at bodily risk in the province allow for a weapon plus 25 rounds of ammunition, and no further ammunition purchases are permitted.

These weapons cannot normally be used for target shooting and may not be taken outside the six counties of Northern Ireland. There are some 11,000 personal protection certificates held by private individuals in the province. Officially there are none issued on the UK mainland, but this is clearly untrue. We recall years ago it was reported that a retired Commissioner of London’s Metropolitan Police had one, and we can’t believe only ex-police chiefs are considered to be at risk.

MYSTERY 9mm ROUND

Reports emerged of a 7.62mm NATO case necked up to 9mm and with a .32 blank inserted in the rear. This sounded very much like a 9mm spotter rifle cartridge for the LAW 80 or SMAW anti-armour weapons, but customarily those rounds have a .22 Hornet case in the back – this is propelled rearwards out of the 7.62mm case on firing, to provide the recocking impulse for the self-loading spotter rifle.

We consulted with Royal Ordnance, who make the LAW80 & SMAW spotter cartridges to the original design, but we were that MAST Technology in Las Vegas won the McDonnell Douglas SMAW contract for this ammunition some three years ago. It seemed possible therefore that the US manufacturer might have redesigned the spotter round for SMAW utilising a .32 blank. But when we asked, MAST stated that it was still using the .22 Hornet case, so the mystery remains unresolved. If readers have any ideas, please let us know.

PNG HOTTING UP

An item in the Wall Street Journal Europe said that Huli tribesmen in Papua New Guinea have always fought each other in clan wars, with bows, spears & daggers, but now things are getting nastier due to an influx of M16 rifles & other modern weapons. But in Port Moresby, the capital, it’s said to be even dicier, with the city clocking up 46% of the country’s crime. Apparently guns flow along the Highlands Highway which runs through several PNG provinces. In mid-Apr 98, press reports said the military armoury at Taurama, near Port Moresby, was raided for the second time and a ‘substantial number’ of weapons, believed to include M16 rifles, was stolen.

In March 98 the New Guinea parliament voted to overturn a complete ban on civilian possession of firearms, agreed in 1996, which would have come into force in late 1999. The March vote was carried 80:2. Anyone who is a ‘fit person’ may now still own weapons. Motivation for the move was the continuing violence problem in PNG and the traditional right of self-defence.

MAJOR UK POLICE MP5 BUY?

There’s a rumour doing the rounds on the Web that a major UK police buy of 9mm MP5 carbines is going down, with quantities maybe in four figures but no-one is saying anything. We’re still trying to verify, but no-one wants to talk.

SNIPERS OUT OF WORK?

A Guardian photo showed the infamous IRA traffic sign in Crossmaglen, Northern Ireland, intended as a warning to British troops, which used to read ‘Sniper at Work’. But since the pre-Easter 98 Ulster Agreement, it’s been quietly changed to read ‘Sniper: Job Seeking’. We wonder what they’ll put on their CVs? Or if they’ll just draw benefit while it unfolds as to whether the 60 pages of good intentions in the Northern Ireland Agreement can be translated into anything concrete, ‘pro’ votes notwithstanding.

EX-YUGO AKs: BOOBY-TRAP WARNING

A curious little item in IWM (Switzerland) said that some Kalashnikov magazines smuggled into France & Belgium from the former Yugoslavia had been found to be booby-trapped with a 35g charge of explosive. Apparently the suspect magazines come pre-loaded with five rounds of 7.62x39mm ammunition. If the magazine is placed in a weapon and a round is loaded or removed the charge will reportedly be detonated. Likewise if further rounds are loaded into it.

There are said to have been casualties already caused by these magazines in both France & Belgium; the original warning was apparently circulated by the French interior ministry in March 98. Whilst caution is always the watchword, we recall a not dissimilar warning went the rounds of all UK county police forces after Desert Storm, only that time it related to booby-trapped AK rifles. It was widely thought at the time that since no-one had actually come across a booby-trapped AK, this was more likely to be a ruse cooked up by the authorities to discourage souvenir hunters, so you must arrive at your own judgement.

THAILAND – LETHAL INJECTION IN LIEU OF MACHINE GUN FIRE?

AP reported that after 80 years of executing people by machine gun fire (those the King didn’t pardon first), the Thai prison authorities had now suggested a switch to US-style lethal injection.

UK MOD SEEKS AMMO LINKER & 7.62MM TRACER

The MOD in the UK is seeking expressions of interest in a contract to link 30 million rounds of surplus cartoned 7.62mm NATO blank ammunition, 15m rounds each in FY 98/99 and FY 99/00. Presumably they want to fire it all off in GPMGs. There is a separate requirement for new-production 7.62mm NATO tracer ammunition (presumably 5m rounds in all), to be linked 4B/1T with ball ammunition provided by the MOD. 25 million rounds of belted 4B/1T are needed, 10m rounds in FY 98/99 and 15m rounds in 99/00. Deadline for interest in either or both deals is 20 Jul 98. Contact: Tel (0117)913-1241, Fax(0117)913-1915.

ALTERNATIVES TO ANTI-PERSONNEL MINES

Defense News focused on Canada’s plans for alternatives to landmines. These include a quantity of Coyote armoured recce vehicles with specialised long-range surveillance suites, manually or electronically-initiated command-detonated weapons, trip flares, grenade-launchers, entanglement meshes, ground sensors & new artillery, mortar and aircraft-delivered munitions. But so far no funds have been voted for any new purchases. SAR

MORE ON CATCO’S‘ STEN RIFLES’

As touched upon in our SHOT Show 98 report, CATCO Inc. in the USA is offering semi-auto Indian 9mm SA-2 MkII Sten Guns (‘Sten rifles’) with extended barrels, new machined receivers & semi-auto parts plus some Indian components at $599 dealer (5 extra mags for $39.95).

Standard length barrel versions (semi-auto) are available to Class 3 licence holders. And a CATCO receiver & semi-auto parts kits is sold for self-assembly using purchasers’ own Sten MkII surplus parts kits (not supplied) at $299 dealer. As at end-Jan 98, the first 100 ‘Sten Rifles’ had already been shipped, with more to follow. A .40 S&W version was also likely.

CATCO also sells no-gunsmithing scope mounts for SMLE, Enfield No 4 and Indian 7.62mm NATO Ishapore 2-A rifles, plus two-shot magazine extenders (base units) for Makarov, High-Power, CZ-75 & Witness, Beretta 92/Taurus and Glock pistols. By the by, we’re told Gibbs Rifle Co. imported 67,000 of the Ishapore 2-A rifles into the USA, and Century Arms another 6,000 to 7,000.

(CATCO Inc., 1325 Imola Avenue W, #5045, Napa, CA 94559, USA, Tel (707) 253-8338, Fax (707) 253-7149. They also have an address at: 316 California Ave., #341N, Reno, NV 89509, USA, which appears to handle orders for everything but the Stens) (Tel/Fax nos. are the same as for Napa address)

HECKLER & KOCH MILITARY UPDATE: This year H&K Inc in the USA is also offering the 5.56mm G36 for US government & law enforcement sales (at prices from $932 downwards), plus an optional cheaper deal on the 7.62mm NATO PSG-1 semi-auto sniper rifle by dint of excluding the $2,000 Hensoldt 6x42mm scope and providing just the 30mm scope rings.

Other new intros include extended selector levers, (also ambidextrous versions), for MP5 & HK53 SMGs plus HK33 and G-3 series rifles. And the side-folding Choate buttstocks first seen on the MP5K PDW are now offered for standard MP5s, HK53s and HK33 models. H&K Oberndorf has apparently been making the MP5K PDW as a production item for two to three years now, and we understand H&K (UK) at Nottingham has now also commenced manufacture. The barrels are reportedly about 1.5” longer than those on the old standard MP5K and apparently have both 3-lug mountings and threads for suppressors.

Cartridge case deflectors with removable case collection bags are available for the MSG-90 semi-auto sniper rifle and H&K machine guns. And the 50-round G8 magazine can be supplied for any weapons accepting the standard G3 box magazine. Knight’s Armament Mk23 (SOCOM) and new USP45 Tactical screw-on suppressors are also listed, together with Eagle Discreet Carrying Cases & Shoulder Carry Rigs for SMGs & rifles.

SACO LIGHTWEIGHT 40MM AGL: National Defense magazine gave further details of the lightweight 40mm automatic grenade launcher which Saco Defense has recently admitted it has been developing. The magazine says the new launcher, reportedly designed by the late Gene Stoner, weighs only about 36 pounds, by comparison with 77 pounds for the Mk19, and has a slower rate of fire, at 250-300rpm, another feature – along with the closed-bolt mechanism and much heavier recoiling mass – intended to reduce dispersion.

It has been tested using standard ammunition, re-fuzed by Bofors to provide pre-programmable airburst capability which we believe may be similar to that of the 40mm 3P ammunition developed for the Bofors air defence gun. If so, this would most likely deliver an area burst pattern.

New software-controlled fire control equipment from Computing Devices in Canada incorporates a laser rangefinder, and the launcher has a detachable barrel. First burst (three round) hit probability of nearly 100% is being claimed. We hope to offer more details shortly.

US SOCOM is said to be taking an interest, but given general budget economies and the fact that the US forces are still – we believe – in the process of receiving issues of Saco’s standard Mk19 Mod 3 launchers, we’re not sure of the new model’s chances on the home front. It could however be an attractive export item, if the high-tech fuzing is affordable.

REMINGTON NIGHT VISION ADAPTER: Law enforcement accessories from Remington Arms Co now include the RB 9712 night vision scope adapter & monocular. It comes in two versions, Gen II+ (RB 9712A) and Gen III+ (RB 9712B). Weight is under two pounds and battery life with AAA cells an average of 63 hours. Estimated tube lives are 2000+ hrs (Gen II+) and 10,000+ hrs (Gen III+).

Users have the option of attaching the device (via a snap-on mount) to the scope eyepiece of their chosen precision rifle, or it can optionally be used as a hand-held night vision monocular. With appropriate mounts it can be attached to single-lens reflex or video cameras, not to mention spotting scopes. For rifle mounting, extra high scope rings are required to allow easy bolt clearance.

INDUSTRY & FOREIGN NEWS

US TO RESCIND ALL EUROPE EXPORT LICENCES?: As the May 98 G8 Summit meeting in Birmingham (UK) approached, a major US flap blew up, apparently out of the blue, over firearms export licences to Britain & Europe.

Press reports said the US had ‘discovered’ that its own export controls had no effect on what happened to weapons on arrival in Europe, and Washington was unhappy at guns being legally exported from Europe to countries to which the US would rather they didn’t go.

Reportedly, neither the UK nor the EU enforces what was described as a US government requirement that re-export of American weapons must first be approved by Washington, and European ‘law enforcement officials’ (at Interpol, it seems) apparently felt powerless.

However, this US restriction, which requires the completion of a State Department Form DSP-83 (end-user certificate) is only relevant to military, not (excepting large consignments) commercial exports, which – from the thrust of the press reports – are the chief subject here.

The exports story first appeared in the New York Times and was widely picked up thereafter. It was alleged that ‘thousands’ of ‘high-powered and semi-automatic’ (note the emotive language) US pistols & rifles had found their way to Rwanda, the Balkans, Algeria, Turkey, Iraq, Iran and to criminal elements elsewhere.

Reportedly there are 250 licences for UK companies still in the mill, covering 14,000 handguns, and the NY Times said the US State Department was considering revoking them all. US London embassy communications were also cited, alleging that the EU was not supporting US firearms controls.

Whatever individual officials in US or European law enforcement agencies might think, the EU itself seems unlikely to welcome Washington wielding a big stick on this issue, particularly since it would directly impact the ability of countries like the UK to sell freely to EU partner states within the ‘common market’.

But it gets worse. The NY Times said that Washington was also pondering the revocation of handgun export approvals to all EU countries, citing outstanding licences to Germany (over 84,000 weapons), France (nearly 23,000) and Italy (almost 19,000).

It was suggested that guns exported to all these states had gone on to other destinations – the Turks, for example, had complained that the Kurds had received guns from Germany, where handguns were allegedly often trans-shipped immediately on first arrival at ports.

The report mentioned a number of UK small arms exports, to Indonesia, Turkey & Sri Lanka, all places the US would typically have refused to supply, and implied that British weapon exports to the UAE, Oman & Qatar could end up in Iraq or Iran.

It even questioned UK exports to the Channel Islands, Singapore & Malta because these were (but so what?) ‘Offshore banking & trading hubs’. And sales to Italy, Spain, Portugal & Greece were criticised because all these countries have ‘long sea borders’ and an alleged reputation for smuggling. However, the story was short on hard evidence as to exactly what proportion of weapons supplied out of European countries were actually of American origin, which is the only aspect on which the US government can expect other states to accept that Washington has any legitimate say.

If the US State Department, the FBI or Interpol actually wanted to make some progress on this matter, they have chosen a very unfortunate way to advance it. Collectively, the allegations in the NY Times report make a case not only for the US to cease exporting firearms at all, but for the rest of the world to follow suit. Clearly, this is quite unrealistic and isn’t going to happen. It is also pretty rich stuff coming from the USA, which is the world’s largest producer, consumer and importer of firearms of every type.

We can now safely expect that the US ‘disclosures’ will become the focus for frenzied activity at and around the G8 Summit by non-governmental organisations with an ‘arms control’ axe of one sort or another to grind. The US administration should bear in mind the implications for its own manufacturing industry. Though US commercial firearms exports are not huge in relation to production & imports, they are nevertheless significant for a number of companies, for example Remington, USRAC, Mossberg and Smith & Wesson.

A general cancellation of export licences would have a major impact on distributors, dealers and shooters throughout Europe, since it would presumably affect all American rifles, shotguns, handguns and associated ammunition. Though there are alternatives closer to home, many are much more expensive. And any arbitrary government action which hits US producers and damages their business is an issue on which we would also expect the American NRA to take a strong line. More later when the Birmingham summit meeting has come & gone.

Incidentally, the NY Times stated without qualification that Conjay Arms in the UK bought 1,600 ‘handguns’ from a US company in February, and since this was around the time all handguns were finally banned in the UK the paper says US and British ‘officials’ (but who?) concluded the guns were bound for a third country. There’s only one thing about this aside – it’s strenuously denied by Conjay, which has assured us (& the NY Times) categorically that it never made such a buy.

(nb: whilst the NY Times chiefly used the term ‘handgun’ in its article, we’re not sure if that’s actually what is meant – it could have become shorthand for ‘hand-held weapons’ (aka ‘small arms’) in general).

UK GOVERNMENT RESPONSE: On 21 Apr 98 the UK Foreign Office issued a response to the reported threat of US firearms export approvals being rescinded, stating (inter alia) that:

‘The British government fully shares US concerns over the proliferation of small arms. Any import of controlled firearms from the US requires a valid import licence. Export licence applications to export weapons from the UK are subject to the UK’s normal export controls. Transfers within the EU are subject to the EC Weapons Directive. We will not licence for export equipment which might be used for international aggression or internal repression.’

We interpret this response as coded language intended to reassure the US of the UK’s good intentions while suggesting to Washington that the UK and Europe have their own quite adequate controls, which do not require US oversight. The FO did not appear to have picked up on the confusion twixt military & commercial weapons.

.303” UK AMMUNITION SELL-OFF: Those in the UK seeking supplies of .303” ammunition from UK MOD surpluses – including the relatively recent Greek stock from Pyrkal – will, we’re afraid, most likely be disappointed. The MOD offered 4.5m rounds to Royal Ordnance, including ball, blank and bulleted blank (for Bren LMGs), and the last 3m of this consignment were sold overseas in a job lot to Century International. It is not thought any more .303” stock will be disposed of, but Royal Ordnance is checking.

PIRATED GECO 9MM AMMO: An item in Deutsches Waffen-Journal said that forgeries of Dynamit Nobel’s commercial Geco 9mm ball ammunition existed, distinguishable by poor quality printing on the packaging and by different coloured lacquers used for neck and primer sealant – red for genuine DN 9mm, violet for the copies. Cartridge cases also differ in color from the originals, likewise the bases of the bullets. Headstamp dates are 1969.The article did not discuss comparative performance or indicate the likely source of the forgeries, but you can probably envisage the same list of potential culprits as we can. China or the former Soviet bloc are likely to be the leading candidates. Our German sources tell us that forgeries of Dynamit Nobel’s RWS Meisterkugeln airgun pellets have also been seen.

MONGOLIA BANS GUN IMPORTS:
Itar-Tass said at the beginning of April 98 that a total ban was being imposed on imports of guns and ammunition into Mongolia while the authorities put through new legislation to regulate the trade. Last year, licences were granted to import 5,000+ firearms and 21m rounds of ammunition.

SIGARMS ACADEMY: Like Smith & Wesson and H&K Inc before it, Sigarms Inc in the USA now has its own ‘firearms academy’, offering training for ‘the armed professional’ in pistol, shotgun & rifle handling, weapon retention, concealed carry, officer survival etc. Armourer and instructor training are also provided.

(Contact: Sigarms Academy, Corporate Park, Exeter, NH 03833, USA, Tel (603)679-2003, Fax (603)679-1639, WWW – http://www.sigarms.com)

NZ PM PLAYS DOWN GUN CONTROL ISSUE: The New Zealand PM, Jenny Shipley, warned against hysteria in the debate on possible further gun controls in her country, pointing out that people – not guns – kill people. The government is currently still studying a report, which has now been on the table quite some time, that recommended new measures including registration and a buyback of military-style weapons.

We’d very much like Ms Shipley to meet PM Blair in the UK and gently explain to him the facts of life – chiefly that scapegoating legal gun owners will not halt firearms crime, but instead creates overnight a large number of implacable political opponents.

SADW is a monthly electronic publication from Nick Steadman Features. Nick, intrepid world traveling reporter for much of the arms industry, files this 40,000 to 50,000 word report once a month to his loyal subscribers. Those lucky ones pay a mere $50 (US) £32.50 (UK) per year for the privilege of getting the hot tips and insights from one of the industry’s insiders. Nick’s unique perspective is globally based, as is his wit. Each issue is full of insight and information for those with an interest in Small Arms, as well as his observations on world travel.

NEW WEAPONS & EQUIPMENT

MAKE EVERY ONE COUNT

Readers outside the UK might be interested to know what target shooters at Bisley have to pay for ammunition. The new Royal Ordnance 155gr 7.62mm NATO target round coming in this year will be sold by the British NRA at a basic price of £42 ($69 approx) per 100, falling slightly by stages to £39 per 100 for quantities of 20,000 & above.

The NRA says the new round will be available from end-May 98; this will allow sufficient time for testing, running down existing stocks of RG 144gr Green Spot target ammunition and updating targets with new V-bull markings before the 155gr cartridge is adopted.

.357 GLOCK 32 FEATURES

Our contacts at the SLSA training facility in West Virginia have just acquired a Glock 32 (Compact) pistol in .357 SIG calibre. They report that the metal guide rails in the polymer frame have been beefed up, and are 4-5mm longer than in the equivalent Glock .40 model.

The barrel is a bit thicker than the 9mm and the chamber provides more support to the case head. The G32 has the new finger-grooved frontstrap and accessory rail, as indicated by FG/R on the box.

BENELLI ‘PLASTIC SHOTGUN’

Our German sources report that Benelli showed a new shotgun at IWA 98 with a steel-reinforced plastic receiver, to be ready by Jul 98. It’s a wonder more designers have not gone down this road – any system where the lockup is independent of the receiver technically allows it.

INK SPRAY – THAT’LL DO IT!

From an item in the UK Advertising Standard Authority’s Monthly Report it appears that a firm called Defender UK is selling a personal protection device marketed as the Defender Criminal Identifier. This is an ink spray designed to mark the face of an assailant, staining it for up to seven days, ‘enabling authorities to track and identify the attacker’. It is claimed that it ‘Could give victims those vital seconds to escape’. It has reportedly been appraised by the Home Office Forensic Science Service, who have deemed it not to be an ‘offensive weapon’ within the meaning of the law. However, we can’t help thinking that unless its use was preceded by a firm kick in the testicles, it might well only serve to enrage the prospective stainee.
(Defender UK, 200 Moor Lane,
Crosby, L23 2UH)

HYDROGEN/NITROGEN MINE DETECTOR

Intersec magazine in the UK noted that a Ukrainian scientist had demonstrated a new mine detection technology in Nevada, based on the detection of hydrogen & nitrogen.

NIKONOV RIFLE NOW IN 7.62x39MM TOO

The Russian Abakan programme clearly continues apace. Our sources in Russia tell us that the Nikonov Design Bureau, which earlier came up with the 5.45mm AN-94 rifle, notable for its ‘blowback shifted pulse’ (BBSP) mechanism (firing the first two rounds of each burst at 1,800 rpm, the rest at 600-650 rpm), has applied the same principles to developing an additional assault rifle in 7.62x39mm calibre.

In theory, the AN-94, which is best described as Russia’s answer to the US Advanced Combat Rifle, is slated as the Russian domestic replacement for the AK-74, though whether this aim will ever finally be achievable remains to be seen. Or indeed whether there is any pressing need for a supersession at all.

The purpose of the high-rate burst system is to improve hit probability, along the lines of the fast three-shot burst mechanism of the caseless 4.7mm G11 rifle. In both cases at the high rate all the rounds in the two or three-shot bursts are fired during one rearward cycle of the reciprocating parts. However, there is probably rather less justification for such refinements to infantry rifles at this time, given the likely internal security/peacekeeping role for such weapons in the foreseeable future.

As of Jan 97, we were told that only 2,500 AN-94s had yet been built. The fact that Nikonov has now developed a 7.62x39mm version suggests the Russians have the export market firmly in mind.

WALTHER P99 IN .40 CALIBRE

As anticipated, Walther in Germany is introducing a .40 version of its futuristic-looking, polymer-framed P99 pistol. Visier magazine got hold of what it describes as the sole example – it has a 12-shot magazine and weighs 726g empty. Best results (for grouping & zero) in Visier’s tests were obtained with Israeli Samson (IMI) .40 ammunition loaded with 180gr flat-nose FMJs.

CAMO COVER FOR AUG STOCK

A photo in Asia Pacific Defense Review of Australian & US troops operating together on Exercise Tandem Thrust 97 showed one Australian with a camouflaged cloth cover for the stock of his 5.56mm AUG-F1 rifle, neatly matching his battledress. It even had an ejection cutout, so was clearly intended to be used while firing.

None of the other Australians photographed appeared to have the same cover, so it’s entirely possible it might have been a private initiative; however, if a camo finish is required, why not simply apply it directly to the polymer stock?

SAUER ADOPTING ECR

At the end of Jan 98, Cation in the USA was building an electrochemical rifling (ECR) machine for JP Sauer & Sohn in Germany. The equipment will also be used for electrochemical machining of the feed ramp and chamber mouth radius on SIG/Sauer pistol barrels. We have seen one such barrel, and the advantages are obvious; the electrolytic approach produces much smoother contours than mechanical machining.

STEYR SCOUT RIFLE – POSTSCRIPT

In our earlier review of the Steyr-Mannlicher Scout Rifle (prototype #6) we noted that it would not reliably ignite the US M118 7.62mm NATO Match ammunition with which it was tried. Our US contacts now tell us that the firing pin spring on this sample had been ‘adjusted’ at the initial US gun writer gathering held to launch the Scout at the Raton NRA ranges in New Mexico. This appears to have been in response to a request by one of those present that the bolt lift should be eased, and it would seem that it remained in this state after Raton.

On this basis it is quite possible that prototype #6 is not typical in the ignition reliability department; however we’re sure Steyr in Austria is now doing whatever is necessary to ensure that production Scouts will cater for as wide a range of ammunition & primer brands as possible.

CROSSFIRE UPDATE

As we said in our SHOT Show 98 report, the innovative Crossfire pump-action combination gun has now pretty well been finalised in the USA. The earlier ball-bearing lock has given way to a camming lug system and short guide rails replace conventional guide rods in the pump mechanism.

Initial calibres will be .223/12g (2.75” chambering); combinations such as .308/12g and .308/20g are slated to follow.

Saco Defense in Maine will be manufacturing Crossfire, and first production weapons are due in late Summer 98. Evaluation guns will be available any time now – M&R Machine & Tool has assisted Crossfire with these. Retail price will be $1,895.

Stock finishes are currently camo, black or ‘wood-look’ plastic. The gun weighs 8.6 pounds empty and has a capacity of four rounds of 12g ammunition, fed from a neat tubular magazine in the buttstock. The rifle element is supplied with a five-shot AR15 magazine but will obviously accept any M16 model.

No detailed accuracy testing had yet been carried out by the end of Jan 98, but Crossfire expects to achieve 1” grouping at 100 yards from the .223 barrel, which – by the way – has a 9” rifling twist, so should handle M193 and SS109/M855 military ammunition equally well. An interchangeable Invector Choke system is fitted to the shotgun barrel. Later, rifled 12g barrels may possibly be offered.

AGUILA .222 SSS CARTRIDGE UPDATE & OTHER NEW MEXICAN LINES

Following our earlier item on the Aguila .222 SSS subsonic .22 rimfire cartridge from Industrias Tecnos in Mexico, we have since met the manufacturer, who confirms this project was a Mexican Police requirement – and that there was some foreign interest at the Milipol 97 security show in Paris.

Readers will recall the .222 SSS utilises a .22 Short cartridge case with a very long 60gr round-nose solid lead bullet to bring overall cartridge length back up to that of the .22 Long Rifle.

Muzzle velocity is 960fps, and muzzle energy 123 foot pounds. Pressures are within SAAMI limits. Industrias Tecnos says the bullet will penetrate 24” of ballistic gelatine at 200 metres, and that the cartridge reliably functions self-loading rifles & pistols. It was developed for sniping applications, and the subsonic velocity makes it a natural for suppressed weapons.

Other new lines from Industrias Tecnos include Aguila .45 ACP High Power ammunition, loaded with a 115gr hollow-pointed ‘light but hard’ alloy projectile with a pre-weakened ogive. This round has two particular characteristics.

First, it is a good performer against hard targets, defeating 0.75” ballistic polycarbonate sheet plus 12” of gelatine. But, fired directly into ballistic gelatine, it breaks up into as many as four sharp fragments, again typically penetrating no more than 12”, but producing multiple wound tracks. Muzzle velocity is 1,450 fps and energy 546 foot pounds. Once more, operating pressures meet SAAMI criteria.

Lastly, the company is offering a ‘hypervelocity’ .22 Super Maximum rimfire cartridge with 30g lead HP bullet and an MV of 1,750 fps. It is claimed to have the highest velocity of any .22LR-compatible rimfire round.

NOSLER SABOT BULLETS

A few months ago Nosler introduced a new saboted projectile for .50 calibre rifled muzzle-loaders, comprising a plastic discarding sabot around a 250gr .44 Nosler Partition-HG big-game hunting pistol bullet. Typical velocities approach 2,000fps, and bullets should be ideally be fired in twists of 1:36” or faster, though they will stabilise in as low as 1:48”. The Partition-HG design with dual core and central partition should give 75%+ weight retention.

For 1998 Nosler has added two new saboted muzzle-loading bullets with 300gr .44 or 250gr .45 JHP pistol bullets (both for .50 rifles) and a .54 version using the same .45 bullet as the .50 projectile. The line has also been named SHOTS (Standard Hunting Or Target Sabot).

Also new is a 260gr Partition-HG bullet controlled-expansion load in .454 Casull. Other 1998 introductions include a lightweight 100gr 6.5mm (.264”) Partition bullet, and another in 9.3mm (286gr).

A joint venture deal has also been struck with Winchester to launch a Combined Technology range of Supreme Hunting Bullets in Ballistic Silvertip, Fail Safe and Partition Gold varieties in many calibres and weights. All have special surface coatings to reduce friction & fouling, and the Ballistic Silvertips have plastic spitzer tip inserts, like Nosler’s existing Ballistic Tip range.

THE ANSWER TO AW/THUNDERTRAP COMBO PROBLEM WITH .308 SUBSONICS?

In an earlier issue we described the very disappointing results achieved using 200gr Lapua subsonic .308 ammunition in a ‘CFI Special’ custom Accuracy International AW rifle fitted with a 20” barrel and an AWC Thundertrap suppressor.

Surprisingly, though the 12” rifling twist was probably only just stabilising the bullets, without the suppressor all but one round hit a plate 9” square at about 120 yards. But with the ‘can’ fitted, the grouping circle was around five feet. We hawked this problem around, and the concensus which emerged is that a marginally stable/marginally unstable long boat-tail bullet (in this case, incidentally, a rebated or ‘stepped’ boat-tail) would tend to yaw rather more than usual after leaving the muzzle, and this would probably result in the projectile contacting the inside of the suppressor, thus destroying accuracy.

This view is largely supported by an evaluation of the Thundertrap recently published in the Small Arms Review which points to the minimal dimensions of the suppressor bore and also mentions ‘wobbling’ boat-tailed bullets. That said, we did try to inspect the interior of the Thundertrap for evidence of impact, but could not find any obvious traces.

Clearly, 200 gr subsonics, particularly with boat-tail bullets, are not really suitable for use with standard rifling twists and definitely not if the weapons are suppressed. Some of you may be tempted to say this is all pretty obvious stuff; however it was the extreme difference between suppressed and unsuppressed performance that seized us, and demanded a more detailed explanation. We think we now have it.

On the other hand, we also found we could not remotely group with standard-velocity PMC military ball either when the Thundertrap suppressor was fitted, yet could hit the target when it was removed.

Though the chamber of the rifle is admittedly throated for the 168gr Sierra MatchKing, we would not expect ball ammunition to produce such poor results, which does tend to suggest the bore of the suppressor is too tight.

ACCURACY .50 RIFLE DETAILS

Accuracy International (AI) has finally released details of its .50 Browning ‘AW50 Improved’ rifle, which is now reaching the end of its development cycle. There is no forecast as yet for series production – or pricing, but we understand the price tag may actually be lower than we might normally anticipate from this manufacturer.

The AW50 is, as we expected, essentially a scaled-up version of the company’s 7.62mm Model AW, with a reinforced nylon thumbhole stock, though the buttstock can be folded behind the trigger guard.

It also has a folding butt spike and adjustable buttplate/cheekpiece unit buffered by a shock-absorber in the butt. We’re told the designer has fired over 70 shots in a session using this system and still came up smiling, so we guess the buffering works.

The weapon is 56” long overall (46” folded), and weighs 33 pounds complete with its steel Parker-Hale bipod, making it rather heavy for its class, and based on the lightweight components already incorporated into the design we’re not sure where AI could find much by way of additional weight savings.

Its stainless 27” (fluted, we believe) barrel with 1:15” twist is shrouded by a titanium sleeve which acts as an expansion chamber when the optional muzzle suppressor (also titanium) is fitted; this adds only 15” to weapon length.

The barrel is capped off by a three chamber muzzle brake made from light alloy, venting at 90 degrees to the sides. This is removed when fitting the suppressor. Optical sights are mounted on a Picatinny rail and emergency iron sights are also supplied. Gas ports on the bolt and either side of the breech ring are normally closed by red blow-out plugs.

Like other AI rifles, the AW50 has an aluminium alloy chassis. The bolt has the company’s usual six locking lugs and a turning angle of 60 degrees. A two-position safety locks the firing pin and trigger. Magazine capacity is five rounds, and overall weapon finish is green, as for the stock. Hard & soft cases are available.

The suppressed version of the 7.62mm NATO AW rifle is now being offered as the AWS, though AI points out it would normally be provided in the form of a cased accessory kit for the black AWP police weapon. And the AW Super Magnum in .338 Lapua Mag now becomes the AWM.

The company’s ‘covert’ AW is an AWS with side-folding stock packed in a Delsey suitcase, so that SWAT or special forces types on duty can disguise themselves as everyday businessmen arriving for a dirty weekend. Just don’t put it through airport screening!

For reasons we don’t fully understand, AI will not officially release details of barrel length or rifling twist for the AWS/Covert rifles, but our US sources confirm the figures are 12.5” and 1:8” respectively.

An optional side-folding stock is now available for all variants of the AW (standard on the AW50 and AW Covert), likewise an adjustable cheekpiece. However butt spikes can only be supplied with new AW-series rifles and cannot be retrofitted.

Interestingly, the plain vanilla Model AW is now listed in 5.56mm as well as 7.62mm NATO, but we gather a shorter action may actually be produced for the smaller calibre; it would also be suitable for short match rounds such as 6mm Rem BR.

AI further plans to offer its customised Bundeswehr G22 contract rifle (an AWM in .300 Win Mag with Hensoldt optics) as a ‘special’ on the US commercial market, as the AWM-F, after German army deliveries are completed.

We understand however that only ten weapons are planned; presumably they will be marketed as high-priced ‘collectibles’, though we believe there is a much wider potential market if the price is right. It is thought AI plans offer to collectors limited numbers of over-runs off its future government contracts too.

The AWM-F has a fluted barrel, a butt plate and cheekpiece (which can be adjusted without tools), a butt spike and an additional bracket, attached to the front of the stock, for mounting a night vision scope. We note the multi-ported muzzle brake/flash hider is also a refinement of earlier AI designs.

In fact, this is a new brake AI has developed for fitting to its rifles when the company’s muzzle suppressors will also be used; it has a threaded portion at the front which is normally covered by a thread protector ring. If the suppressor is not ordered or planned to be used, the older AI single-chamber brake is supplied.

Based on AI’s product evolution so far, we would expect to see some of the extra Bundeswehr features find their way into the catalogue as standard options in due course.

INDUSTRY & FOREIGN NEWS

BANGLADESHI REBELS WITH CHINESE AKs

An AFP photo in Feb 98 showed a tribal rebel leader surrendering his Chinese-made Kalashnikov (Type 56) to the Bangladeshi prime minister Hasina Wajed. Those NORINCO guns get everywhere.

URBAN WARRIORS, COMING TO A CITY NEAR YOU

Citing a Scripps Howard News item, New Gun Week reported that the US Marine Corps was seeking to obtain agreement from a number of cities on both coasts of America to allow the Corps to conduct realistic training on their streets as part of the USMC’s Urban Warrior programme.

The report said that civilians might even be asked to take part in the exercises. Cities mentioned so far were Jacksonville (Florida), Norfolk (Virginia) and Charleston (West Virginia), which conveniently all have military links.

However, we foresee PR problems with this programme – given the lingering public concerns in America about the long-term potential for US troops to be used in a domestic policing role (still legally barred by the posse comitatus provisions, but nevertheless feared) we predict there will be many who will read into this rather more than may actually be intended.

As a matter of interest, Swedish troops already train in cities, and there are very occasional major British forces exercises in the vicinity of main UK airports, billed as practice for dealing with terrorist incidents.

Unfortunately, as urban terrorism becomes a more prevalent problem, and techniques are developed to cope with it, the expertise which is accumulated will inevitably raise questions as to whether the same skills could also be used for other, less well-intentioned purposes.

The extent to which this may improve or undermine public confidence in a nation’s armed forces depends to a large degree on public perceptions of the strength of democracy and the trustworthiness of the government of the day when the chips are down.

BIG ASSUMPTION; BIGGER BANG

A Reuters item in The Times said that a high school boy aged 18 in Tourcoing, France, dared another kid to place the muzzle of a pistol against his head and pull the trigger. Big mistake – safety off! Major brain damage was the (perhaps unsurprising) result.

ISRAEL & BURMA

Asia Pacific Defense Review noted that Elbit in Israel and Aero Vodochody were offering Burma upgraded Czech L-39 aircraft, while Elbit was also in discussions about upgrading three squadrons of Burmese F-7M Chengdu fighters. So, what else is the unlovely SLORC regime in Rangoon getting from Israel? Should we be looking out for Galils?

WALTHER BUYING INTERARMS INC

Quoting foreign & US sources, Firearms Business said that Walther in Germany was negotiating to acquire its long-time US distributor Interarms Inc in a deal estimated to be worth up to $14m. Neither company would comment.

Interarms has lost a number of distributorships in the US over recent years, due to reshuffling by foreign manufacturers, the latest being Rossi of Brazil, which has now struck a deal with Taurus, already represented in North America.

We assume the Interarms acquisition is another move by Walther’s owners Umarex, who promised to revitalise the Ulm-based gunmaker. Since Interarms already has unimportable Walther pistols made under license in the USA, the marriage has logic in its favour.

The same source said that investors were also seeking to buy Arcadia Machine & Tool (AMT) in California, best known for the .44 Automag pistol.

RIGHT-WING ARMS CACHES

A Wall Street Journal Europe short said that machine guns, rifles and 8,000+ rounds of ammunition had been seized in raids directed at an unnamed extremist in Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany. It was taken as evidence of possible impending conflict between extremist groups.

EURO-ARMS CODE Mk2

A Financial Times report said that a revised draft of the UK’s much-publicised Europe-wide arms exports code of conduct was being submitted to EU officials at the end of March 98 and was thought still to permit sales for the protection of security forces, regardless of the human rights records of recipient countries.

Earlier efforts to reach pan-European agreement on new rules were unsuccessful; presumably the UK is pressing for the matter to be wrapped up at the Jun 98 EU summit so it can chalk up a ‘success’ for its presidency of the EU, which ends that month. We can already hear the sighs of relief from other European governments.

OLD WP NATIONS FOR A LANDMINE BAN

An AFP report run by The Asian Age said that 19 of the old Warsaw Pact affiliated states had indicated they were prepared to ban landmines, which represented a change of heart for some of them.

ACCURATE ARMS EXPANDS

Shooting Industry noted that the propellant suppliers Accurate Arms in the USA had acquired Woerner Engineering, which produces a range of military items such as pressure cartridges, electric initiators, explosive bolts and training & simulation devices.

BOSNIA FANCIES ITS CHANCES

Jane’s Defence Weekly (JDW) said that the revitalised defence industry in Bosnia-Herzegovina was trying to go international, and has already been exhibiting at foreign defense shows. JDW listed customers so far as Croatia, Turkey & Azerbaijan.

Bosnian companies with an involvement in small arms include Unis Igman (in Konjic) (ammunition from 5.56mm to 20mm) and Unis Pobjeda (Gorazde) (primers & other ammunition components).

We note that before the Yugoslavian breakup, Gorazde also used to make (at least) blank ammunition in .22RF and other calibres. But where are they making the Bosnian rifles & pistols? Leader Trading in Germany is reportedly now importing Igman ammunition.

FREE ALBANIAN GUNS FOR KOSOVO

A Times report said that Albanians were offering their ethnic brothers in the Kosovo enclave free guns and ammunition stolen from Albanian military armouries during the 1997 disturbances there and smuggled over the Serbian border. But Serb ‘skinheads’ were reportedly seen, apparently also on their way to take advantage of the special gun deals.

STEYR-DAIMLER-PUCH SALE DELAYED

A Financial Times (FT) report in mid-March 98 said that – at the last minute – Bank Austria’s Creditanstalt subsidiary had been unable to complete the $274m sale of its 67% share in Steyr-Daimler-Puch (SDP) to the automotive group Magna International in Canada, due to a better offer, but since then there have been a number of further bids.

Magna is reportedly still thought to be the prospective purchaser most likely to succeed, but another bidder has since asked for a 12-week delay. The FT says the SDP sale includes a 50% Creditanstalt stake in a Steyr/Chrysler joint venture.

Based on past comments from Steyr-Mannlicher, the SDP sale glitch should not affect the small arms activities, though since the divestment is apparently the result of a government policy that Austrian state banks should get out of industrial participation, presumably this question will eventually rear its head again.

MP5 – NO RATE REGULATOR

The story has been going round for a little while that Heckler & Koch might be developing a cyclic rate regulator for the MP5 SMG series. However, Royal Ordnance has now officially stated that this is not the case.

MOD PATTERN ROOM – IT’S A MONEY THING

Our sources, which are impeccable, confirm that the threat to the continuing location of the UK MOD Pattern Room within the Royal Ordnance Nottingham/H&K(UK) compound is essentially due to the ministry being unprepared to pay what RO considers to be a ‘fair rent’ for the premises.

The MOD has been in dispute with Royal Ordnance for more than a year, and RO appears determined to get its money.

This, we’re told, has no bearing on the future of RO Nottingham as such – this is more a question of how many 120mm mortars & 105mm Light Guns Nottingham can sell, but it is of course germane to whether the Pattern Room can remain at its present location.

ROBAR RIFLES FOR MALAYSIA

The Malaysian Navy has now approved the purchase of .50 calibre Robar RC50-F folding-stock bolt-action rifles, and the same weapons are now also sought by the Malaysian army. Robar’s involvement follows an abortive earlier attempt by the Malaysians to purchase .50 weapons from another US supplier.

Robar also reports a lot of interest – including foreign – in the company’s .308 calibre folding or fixed-stock QR2-F/QR2 sniper rifles, both bolt-action weapons based on the Remington M700 or Ruger M77 actions and fitted with M14 magazines. This line will be vigorously marketed in 1998.