It didn’t look like much until it cost 9,777 U.S. Marine casualties over just a couple of months that summer of 1918. They were the worst losses ever experienced by the Marine Corps up to that time. It was a hell of a European baptism of fire, especially after earlier actions in the Spanish-American War days like Nicaragua and Cuba. But American Expeditionary Force (AEF) troops had never experienced killing on such an industrial scale, as the European theater was described after World War I. They were fighting against seasoned German troops, fresh from years of combat on the Russian Front, that had been released to ‘take ‘em on’ that summer. French troops, exhausted after four years of incessant combat, were in support. Unlimited artillery ammunition was available to the enemy. German 7.7s (77mm) in particular, fired from latest Krupp FK 96s, devastated them, the equivalent of British 18-pounders fired by the tens of millions a little further northwest in Flanders’ trench war…the “Western Front”.

Marines were hastily equipped before being shipped off from the continental United States. They toted their rifles, .30-06 caliber ’03 Springfields and P-17 Enfields with them (the latter made by Winchester, Remington Arms and the Eddystone Arsenal) with new-issue ’06 ammo stashed and issued quickly from quartermaster stores. Some of the ammo was modified from .30-03 stocks

the original caliber that predated the ’06, of which eight million rounds were modified by Frankford Arsenals to the new 2.479-‘06 case. Those new ‘06s, stoked with Hercules smokeless powder, propelled their 150-grain stannic-stained, cupro-nickel jacketed bullets from the muzzle at 2,750 feet per second.

Light machine guns (LMGs), usually restricted to French “Chauchat” C.S.R.G. machine rifles, originally chambered for the French 8mm Lebel but, later, rechambered to the American .30-06. Perhaps there was the odd M1917 Browning watercooled medium machine gun (MMG). More commonly the Hotchkiss (Benet-Mercie) LMG, probably the last model that was good enough to remain in service until after World War II, despite the fact that the 1918 B.A.R. (Browning Automatic Rifle) had been developed at the time but was not an issue item then.

Unbeknownst to me at the time, “follow the bullet” was the word of the day as I got to Belleau Wood in July 2018 after having previously spent time down south in the relatively unknown Vosges Mountains battlefield of Hartmannswillerkopf.

The impeccably maintained Aisne-Marne American Cemetery with its marble gravestones, the redolence of thousands of pink roses, and the echoing chapel at the top of the hill. A deeply moving place. But the forest behind the cemetery beckoned.

Researching U.S. involvement in World War I is a sketchy business because politics sticks its nose into everything. America often claimed a role that other combatants of the time contested, claiming the U.S. had hardly entered that war before it concluded on November 11^th, 1918. Regardless, the actions of U.S. troops at that time were brave beyond measure. The problem for me was trying to imagine what happened in Belleau Wood during those days of summer, 1918.

I asked the French cemetery maintenance staff where the actual battle area was and they pointed me to a narrow-paved lane to the east, its grassy verge lined with red poppies. Immediately north of the memorial chapel, and with no-one apparently caring, I went up in the rental car, my metal detector and shovel in hand. What I found told a forensic story.

Belleau Wood today is administered by XXXX (details to follow). They do not encourage visitors to explore the one-mile by one-mile now-heavily-treed battlefield. [PULL THE RED HIGHLIGHTED PASSAGE IF WRITER CAN’T AMMEND/CONFIRM-RC] A flimsy wire fence surrounds the southern boundary, close by where French farmers dump rotting bales of hay and produce. But there is an unlocked gate and no sign forbidding entry.

The forest resounds with birdsong today. The rocks and topography are much the same as they must have been more than 90 years ago. Remnants of slit trenches wander beneath the fallen leaves. Not the deep trenches as in Flanders, but the type of crawl trench that would keep your ass from being shot off if you kept your buttocks low.

Two grayed rocks poked above the forest floor a few hundred yards north of the gate through which I passed. I looked at them, looked out over the field to the northeast where I figured the Germans must have attacked from, then tried to work out their tactical situation of the time. Deploying my detector I looked in front of the rocks and found what, from my point of view a century later, told a story.

Just ahead of the crevice of the large rocks, which I too would have chosen as cover for my LMG, was a small pile of empty cases and a live one: an 8mm Lebel. To the right were some corroded .30-06 empties and a couple of empty five-round brass stripper clips.

To the left were some corroded empties plus a partial stripper clip of unfired .30-06 rounds. Casting about behind the rock and the trench behind it, I found a partially exploded artillery shell about 15 feet away. Here’s my interpretation of what happened during those moments of that day. It’s a guess made on the evidence I found:

I wondered about the presence of 8mm Lebel ammo there since I knew the French weren’t present. It was likely a U.S. Marine Hotchkiss position, the whole business of light machine guns with U.S. forces being a complete story unto itself.

Flanking the Marine MG gunner and his loader must have been a couple of riflemen. When the Germans attacked the action was deadly. The M1914 Hotchkiss, one of 7,000 purchased by the U.S. from the French, chattered until there was a stoppage. The gunner cleared the jam, extracting the chambered round where it dropped onto the ground amongst the empties, and kept on smoking at 500 rounds per minute. On either side his flankers were firing their bolt guns as fast as they could. The right-hand guy was whaling away effectively, making every round count. Grabbing clip after clip from his webbing and reloading his now-hot rifle. The Germans’ nightmare of Marine “Devil Dogs” and their accurate fire coming true. General John “Blackjack” Pershing, commander of the AEF, was quoted as saying, “The deadliest weapon in the world is a Marine and his rifle!” He is also quoted by various sources as having said, “…the Battle of Belleau Wood was for the U.S. the biggest battle since Appomattox and the most considerable engagement American troops had ever had with a foreign enemy.”

The left-hand flanking rifleman wasn’t as certain. He must have tried to reload in the heat of combat, fumbling and dropping a full five round clip onto the ground. Maybe he was distracted by the muffled explosion of something hitting the ground just behind him: a German 7.7cm artillery round that failed to completely detonate (see the sidebar.) He did manage to send off many 150-grain cupro-nickel deadly messages to the Germans before this happened, judging by the corroded empties near his position. We’ll never know for sure.

What we do know is where and when the rifle ammo was made, by whom, and how it reflects more than just ammunition: it is an indirect record of how well U.S. supply lines worked, reaching from the shores of the continental United States to a battered forest in northeastern France, and contains some interesting clues on the development of the .30-06 Springfield round.

Incidentally, the artillery round that almost killed the Marines manning that Hotchkiss position also provides an equally interesting sidenote into artillery use during World War I.

About 100 miles east of Belleau Wood and Chateau Thierry is the 1916 slaughterhouse that was Verdun and the fortress of Douamont. One of the most inexplicable and bizarre ammunition finds I ever made was found in a stretch of forest a few kilometers southeast of the fortress itself. Under the loamy duff, I found a section of steel plate that had been blasted by artillery fragments, had a bullet hole, and was dimpled by something else. Nearby was a French 8mm Lebel cartridge that seemed to be empty at first blush and had a crack on the case that looked like water had frozen inside, expanded, and split the case. When I shook it there seemed to be something inside the case, mud, or sand I thought, until I gave it a vigorous shake. Out came the base of a bullet.

Since I had personally dug it up, I knew that there had been no substitution. This was how the thing had been made! But “why” is a question I’ve not been able to answer. The closest guess is hearkening back to the introduction of the first tanks during World War I…but that was at Cambrai in 1917, which was a year after Douamont had fallen. At that time the Germans found their 8x57mm bullet, which would glance off the primitive armor of the time more often than not, would penetrate the armor if the bullet was reversed in the case. So why this?

The 8x50R Lebel has some interesting design characteristics that I only discovered after having observed different base designs on the various cartridges I found on battlefields across Europe where French forces had been involved. One of the major design differences is a large annular ring around the primer. Some samples didn’t have that ring.

Turns out that the French had a unique solution to deal with using their then-new spitzer (pointed) bullets in the eight-round tubular magazine of their Mle 1886 M93 (Lebel) rifle. The point of one bullet wouldn’t touch the primer of the round ahead of it because it was guided onto the annular ring so accidental ignition from the rifle’s recoil was significantly reduced. These rounds were usually base-stamped “D a.m.” which stood for the Balle D. bullet and a modified primer.

The Balle D bullet, in conjunction with the 8x50R cartridge, was a major milestone in small arms ammunition that involved both French and Swiss technical advances at the time.

It was the first rifle round to use smokeless (nitrocellulose) propellant, Poudre B, developed by French chemist Paul Vielle in 1884, and to use a spitzer, or pointed, boat-tailed bullet. Although the gracefully designed 197-grain Balle D was solid bronze, it sprang from Swiss Capt. Eduard Rubin’s (a partner in the design of the Swiss straight-pull action Schmidt-Rubin rifle) development of the cupronickel-jacketed, lead-cored, full metal jacket bullet that has been the defactostandard in small arms projectiles ever since. The French use of smokeless powder and the new bullet tripled the power and effective range of a small arms round over the former black powder cartridges of the time. The claimed maximum extreme range for the Balle D was claimed to have been 4,000 yards; the maximum wounding range 1,800 yards, and a realistic effective range of 457 yards. The round had a muzzle velocity of just over 2,100 feet per second with a remaining velocity of about 750 feet per second at 2,250 yards.

About 300 miles southwest of Belleau Wood, where Germany, France, and Switzerland meet, about an hour south of Strasbourg, France, is the little-known battlefield of Hartmannswillerkopf. At 4,500 feet and the highest peak of the Vosges Mountains, it was the site of interminable struggles through the whole 1914 – 1918 period that involved almost all the European powers drawn into the conflict, even the Swiss. Over the years I have found some technically and historically fascinating ammunition and other materiel that would paint a picture of what happened there. Another example of “follow the bullet.”

Riddled with tunnels and concrete bunkers, the original forest blasted to matchwood at one time, the rugged area is again heavily forested today. You could easily imagine how difficult it must have been — all while under intense fire — for the individual soldier to get around, much less keep the troops supplied. I heard from Alsatian locals that between 1914 and 1918 almost seven meters (22 feet) was blasted off the entire mountaintop by the millions of artillery shells fired at it.

Shallow slit trenches, paralleling the rugged contours of the mountainside almost like terraces, still exist and tend to lead to the more complex fortifications perforating the mountain. The combatants had four years in which to consolidate the many positions, which regularly changed hands, so it was always a guessing game to find still existing redoubts that were still relatively safe to explore. (Deep trenches, such as those found in Flanders’ salients, were difficult to dig in Hartmannswillerkopf because of the crenellated topography and rocky substrate.) I wouldn’t have wanted to attack uphill there where dozens of grenades could simply be rolled down on top of you by the defenders.

Because of the well-drained and relatively dry rocky soil, unlike the wet blue clay underlying Flanders, artifacts such as barbed wire, small arms ammunition, explosive ordnance, and other materiel remains quite well preserved. The classic World War I 12-barbs-to-the-foot barbed wire, which has crumbled to red dust pretty well everywhere else, still remains effective there, even a hundred years later, as my jeans can attest!

When I first started exploring World War I battlefields in 1971, I made an interesting find in one of the tunnels. Just inside the entrance I found the remains of a cardboard box partly filled with 8x50Rmm Lebel ammunition. Later, at home in Germany, on pulling the 197-grain bronze Balle D bullets, I found the case to be filled with fine sand, which I thought was the result of water and silt infiltration. Later I learned that, well into World War I, the French knew they were losing. At least one ammunition manufacturer lined its corporate coffers by substituting powder with sand, theorizing the ammunition would never be fired anyway. I understand from reading the history of the time that those responsible were eventually executed by the French for treason.

Other unique discoveries included an odd spent bullet; a nearby lead core; something that looked like an overgrown “jumping jack”, and a grenade of some sort.

The flat-based bullet miked out at 7mm (.284-inch), which was unusual since everyone was using a fairly distinctive 8mm bullet in their small arms at the time. My best guess is that someone (probably German) was using a gun chambered for the 7x57mm cartridge and rifled with a five grooved right-hand twist. A more comprehensive examination could probably tell you the specific gun it was fired from.

The jumping jack was a caltrop, a small multipronged steel spike that, however thrown, would always land with a point upwards. It was originally intended to be used as an area denial device against cavalry horses and could possibly have been intended to deter horses used to haul artillery and supply wagons on this battlefield. (Quite possibly the last time in the history of warfare that the caltrop was used.)

The grenade was shaped like a lemon and had the remains of a wooden plug at its mouth. A rotted length of safety fuse and a perforated blasting cap was in its interior. Otherwise, it was free from explosive. Just full of mud and one juicy worm. As its shape would indicate, this was an example of the French “Citron” grenade. I had visions of a French trooper, glowing Gauloise cigarette butt in hand, trying to light the fuse. I’m unsure of how they were initiated since this model is a very early one.

About 400 miles (670 kilometers) due north of Hartmannswillerkopf are the well-known battlefields of Flanders, Belgium, Ypres being the most notable. Others included Passendaele and Poelkapelle. While America took a while to shuck their notion of isolationism, Canadians had been beavering away in many of the salient battles, the fields still rich with lead shrapnel balls, shell fragments, artillery fuses, unexploded ordnance (UXO), and the general litter of war.

Virtually every farm has an “Obus” pile: a stack of UXO of every description which are regularly carted away by a Belgian armed forces truck.

One strange experience I had early on in my battlefield explorations took place on the bank of the Yser Canal, near the village of St. Eloi in Belgium, within earshot of the cathedral bells in Ypres, and virtually a stone’s throw from one of the immense craters created by a huge underground mine explosion, part of the “Battle of the Craters”. The explosion was so immense that it had been heard many miles away in England.

My friend and I were having lunch one summer’s day and I was idly digging through the soil with my fingers. It didn’t take long before I found a couple of empty cartridges; an 8x57mm and a .303. A little bit lower down I found another couple of empties, again, 8x57mm and .303.

Curious as always about headstamp information I cleaned off the bases.

What I saw made me re-examine them more closely. The 8mm round had been manufactured by Germany in 1943. The .303 had been manufactured in 1941 and also featured the Mk.VII stamp, which denoted the propellant type. More strangely from the evidence, the 8×57 round had unmistakably been fired from an MG-42 machine gun and the .303 round from a Bren light machine gun. The MG-42 characteristically mangles the case mouth on ejection from the gun for a few reasons: one being that the ejection port is on the bottom of the receiver. Another being that the roller-locked action is assisted by a muzzle booster which taps powder gases in order to give a greater impulse to the action and which contributes to the phenomenally high fire rate of 1,200 rounds per minute of this stamped-steel gun. This violence of operation left a characteristic imprint on one of the empties. The Bren has an elliptical firing pin imprint. Remember: we were sitting on a World War I battlefield.

The other two empties? They had been manufactured variously between 1914 and 1916. German and Allied troops had fought over the same ground, decades later, showing that no lessons were learned in the interim.

Overall, it’s interesting how a modicum of gun knowledge can reveal long gone worlds of conflict, much like reading a book can. Ammunition is the tell-all if you can speak the language. All you have to do is “follow the bullet”. As for explosive ordnance? Well, if it didn’t go off when it was intended to, then it wasn’t just dropped in the heat of combat and still remains as deadly as when it was first made.

Finally? By sheer dint of tenacity, bravery, and timing, Belleau Wood ultimately became an American victory. Semper Fi, guys. Semper Fidelis.

The German UXO 7.7

This shell led me on a merry chase. At first, I measured it as a “75”, which was the standard caliber of the then-famous 75mm French artillery piece. But the French couldn’t have been firing on the Americans in Belleau Wood since they were allies.
With rust and mud on the round from having been buried for almost a century I could be forgiven for my error. It was a heavy piece of ordnance. From later research I found it to be the equivalent of the British 18-Pounder, but without the lead shrapnel balls used further northwest in Flanders to get at the deep trenches of that area of operations, although the shell did have a shrapnel-ball variant along with poison gas and a primitive, direct-fire antitank round.
Concerned about explosive content before bringing the spent round home to Canada with me, I cleaned it out and found that, indeed, there was still some explosive material left in it. The neutron backscatter explosives sniffers at Montreal’s Trudeau airport reported the traces of 100-year-old explosive. Terrorists beware!

Spanish pistol production of the first half of the 20th century is a bit like Turkish shotguns today: lots of clones, many original designs, and numerous undocumented changes within the same nominal model. One such handgun, the Star B Super, came my way from a friend’s estate. Since asking him questions would require a pass to heaven, I had to investigate the provenance of the pistol on my own.

My initial research turned up several contradictions. The proof mark “I” indicated 1936, which is unlikely for a model introduced in 1946. Judging by the front sight, it’s an early 1980s pistol. Rough wooden grips may have come from an earlier gun or were hand-made, but the rest of the major parts all have matching serial numbers, even one of the magazines. The slide is marked B, but the barrel is in 38 Largo of the A model. And yet the slide and frame serial numbers match… Model B Super was a long-time “want” item for me, but the problem of keeping it supplied with 9mm Largo ammunition kept me from buying one. A friend that carried one as an issued sidearm in South Africa reported that the Largo magazine didn’t feed 9mm Luger very reliably, so I didn’t think I was going to be able to supply the proper diet. But, with both a gun and ammunition for it available, I dove into testing.

With older guns, it pays to function check them first. All Star models were designed with a magazine disconnector, which is inoperable on this particular pistol. The mechanism is present and started to work after the right grip panel was removed and replaced. It seems the wood was pressing the disconnector into alignment with the sear. Since the original ammunition was corrosive, the barrel was predictably imperfect, but the chamber cleaned up to a serviceable state. One of the nine-round magazines only held seven rounds, so I pulled it apart to discover the magazine spring caught on itself in the middle of the mag tube.

On the outside, the Star B Super looks like an M1911 with a spring-loaded external extractor. On the inside, it’s a bit different. The barrel is link-less. Takedown is with a rotating lever on the right of the frame. The safety blocks the hammer, rather than the sear. The backstrap is fixed and solid, without a grip safety. Instead, it has a magazine disconnector of questionable utility. The trigger pivots rather than slides. The recoil spring cap is captive. The rest is quite similar to a Model 1911 pistol. The barrel locks into the top of the slide and comes out of the front of the slide for disassembly. Safety lever, magazine release button, and the slide stop lever were all cribbed from the M1911. The mags are curious, with elongated witness holes and a small opening in the bottom to indicate over-loading with a small protrusion. The mag floorplate is retained with the tail end of the magazine spring.

The pistol came with ammunition: dark, unidentifiable military surplus in steel cases, 124-grain FMJ handloads (made by my late friend), CCI Blazer FMJ made sometime after 1994, and new production Steinel. It also had a threaded 9mm barrel of more recent manufacture.

Testing

9x23mm Largo, a.k.a. Bergmann-Bayard, predates 9mm Luger by a year. Firing the same weight bullet at similar velocity, it develops similar chamber pressure. Essentially, it’s a ballistic clone with a longer case. It’s only “large” compared to 9mm Corto, aka .308 ACP. As a result, it fell out of favor with Belgian military before World War II. After that, Spain remained the main user with more than thirty models of firearms, the best known of which are the Astra 400 blowback pistol, the bolt action Destroyer carbine, and the various flavors of Star pistol. Star and CETME also made several submachine guns in that caliber, but they are mostly unavailable and unknown in the U.S.

My range time proved interesting. Somebody drifted the rear sight way off to the right, perhaps to compensate for a bad flinch. A little time with a punch fixed that and I was able to get to business. The sights aren’t remarkable, but not horrible. The front sight has an indentation, but it isn’t illuminated in any way. Fortunately, the pistol points just about perfectly, so hitting a 12-inch gong at 15 yards and a silhouette at 25 yards was routine. The pivoting trigger is crisp and its 5.7-pound pull was no obstacle to accuracy. The barrel, which has seen better days is, at best, it shoots a hand-sized group at 10 yards, making it a 30-yard gun for reliable hits on silhouettes. The 9mm Luger barrel proved no more accurate, despite being in better shape than the original. While the pistol fed and cycled fine, the shorter Luger cartridges were quite susceptible to falling out of the magazine when outside of the firearm. With about 40 percent failure rate to fully return to battery, I would have blamed the weak return spring except for the Steinel ammunition cycling and chambering just fine. The issue is likely rough machining around the locking lugs.

I chronographed the handloads and the two factory loads. All were quite consistent, with about a 20 foot-per-second spread. Handloads averaged 1060 fps, CCI Blazer 1080 fps, Steinel 1100 fps. Factory spec was about 1150 fps, but I’m okay with lighter loads in an old gun with tired springs. Accuracy, limited by factors other than ammunition, was surprisingly similar. Reliability was not. Milsurp ammo failed to fire over 50 percent of the time­ — even after multiple primer strikes. I got plenty of non-diagnostic malfunction drills, as most of the shots that did fire either short-cycled or failed to extract or to eject. Blazer 9mm Largo ammunition fired and ejected just fine, but about half of the rounds had to be helped into battery with a tap on the back of the slide. Handloads loaded fine, but nearly half were too weak to fully cycle the action, or their shells were too rough to fully extract. It was an excellent opportunity to practice malfunction drills on the move, but not ideal for anything else. The Steinel, being both closest to spec in velocity and the most consistent in dimensions, cycled perfectly. No malfunctions in the one hundred rounds I shot. Recoil, even with the fastest load, was negligible. Considering the 36-ounce heft of this pistol, that’s no surprise. The discomfort was instead induced by the hammer bite. After the first 50 rounds, I gave up and put on a gym glove to protect the web of my hand.

Conclusion

After several days and about 300 rounds fired… it’s an interesting pistol. It’s fun to shoot at the range, but I wouldn’t rely on it for anything serious without an overhaul by a gunsmith. In its day, it was a better than average design that equalled the Browning Hi-Power for utility, trading magazine capacity for better ergonomics and trigger pull.

• Full title:  The Green Meanie L96A1
• Author:  Steve Houghton
• ISBN:  978-1-5272-7461-7
• Copyright: 2021
• Binding: Hard cover, with color dust jacket
• Dimensions:  8.5 x 11 inches
• Pages: 280 pages
• Publisher: Swift and Bold Publishing
• Website: swiftandboldpublishing.co.uk
• Price: £58.50 plus shipping     

 The L96A1 rifle, nicknamed the Green Meanie in reference to its lethal efficiency, served as the primary sniper rifle of the British Army for nearly three decades. Adopted in 1986, retired in 2012, it saw use in Northern Ireland, the Gulf War, Bosnia, Kosovo, Iraq, and Afghanistan.

This book by author Steve Houghton examines the unlikely history of this weapon and of the people and company behind it. The three founders of Accuracy International (AI), Dave Caig, Dave Walls, and the late Malcolm Cooper designed a rifle from the ground up to be supremely accurate. Unlike previous sniper rifles that were basically tricked out service rifles, this new rifle featured the best practices found in civilian long range competition rifles. The most significant difference was the chassis system that uses an aluminum “spine”, thus completely eliminating the wood stock of the typical military rifle.

Author Houghton explains how “the two Daves” often made various bits and pieces for their own guns and for other fellow shooters, as well. The two Daves shared an interest in competitive shooting, and this led to a chance meeting with Malcolm Cooper, a two-time Olympic gold medal target shooter. This led to the idea of building a better target rifle. Initially, this would be a single shot bolt action rifle for civilian use, but Cooper thought a magazine fed version might be of interest to the British military. Cooper used his connections to speak with members of the famed SAS to arrange a demonstration. The SAS were most impressed with the new prototype rifle and offered a number of minor suggestions. A reproduction of Cooper’s own hand-written notes from the demo meeting is shown in the book. Eventually, AI was given a contract to build a small number of “Precision Marksman” (PM) rifles for the SBS (Special Boat Service, the Royal Navy equivalent of the SAS), followed soon after by the SAS. Both units bought a combined total of 42 rifles. Even this small contract was too large for what had been up to that point just three hobbyists with one lathe and milling machine in Dave Walls’ garage! For this first real contract, AI outsourced the machine work to local machine shops they knew and trusted. Chapter Five, The PM Rifle Takes Shape has a funny anecdote about two MoD inspectors stopping by. The two Daves took the two MoD men to one of the local shops already making parts. The inspectors had a quick look around, and then headed out for a typical English pub lunch. On the drive, one of the officers said, “The only reason we’re here is to just make sure they aren’t being banged up in some fella’s garden shed”.   

The British Army was still using the L42A1 in the early 1980s. The L42A1 was simply a re-barreled (From .303 British to 7.62×51 NATO) Lee-Enfield No.4 Mk1 T sniper rifle. The Falklands War of 1982 revealed the L42A1 to be sub-standard, especially the telescopic riflescope which dated back to WW II. A new sniper rifle was needed. In 1984, the British Army issued a General Service Requirement (GSR) for a new sniper rifle, with trials happening in 1985. Firearms firms Beretta, Browning, BSA, H&K, Mauser, Parker-Hale, Remington, SIG Sauer, and Walther submitted rifles to test. Also competing was AI with three of their Precision Marksman rifles. This book does a great job of explaining the path AI took to winning a major contract, and of the fine service the L96A1 gave.    

Houghton covers the history of both the company and the guns in detail, enough to do justice to both, but not so much as to become dry and tedious. The book features over 400 images, most in color, including technical cutaway illustrations of the rifle and its Schmidt & Bender telescope. Numerous sketches, sectional drawings, exploded diagram with parts lists, and even some early doodles are included. Two specially commissioned artworks by noted artist Anthony Cowland (argc-art.com) are included; one covering one page, the other is a two-page foldout.

Besides the L96A1 itself, the entire CES (Complete Equipment Schedule) is described and shown. Both variants of Schmidt and Bender riflescopes are covered in detail. These are the original fixed six-power L13A1 scope, and the later 3-12 variable power L17A1. This is covered in chapter 19, Mid-Life Upgrade. Also, the entire line-up of night vision devices is covered in chapter 21. These range from the 1980s era Common Weapon Sight, L8A2 and up to the Sniper Thermal Image Capability (STIC) Sight. The STIC was used with the L96A1 up until the retirement of the rifle.

The book also has recollections of battles as told by sniper team members. This gives a real-world authenticity to the text.

This is actually the second book Houghton has written about sniping. The first book, now unfortunately sold out, is The British Sniper, A Century of Evolution. It covers from 1915 to current day. His website describes it as “…the first of a series of books…” about sniping. So perhaps we will see future books in this series. Based on this one, I hope so. In an email, Houghton says: “There are plans afoot to write a new title featuring the L42A1 sniper rifle which is at the very early stages at the moment”.

As with the first book, this book is limited to a print run of 2000 collector edition copies. Each is signed and numbered. The original artworks by Anthony Cowland are also available as signed and numbered prints as well. Both pieces are limited to 150 copies each. The prices are a bit dear, and shipping from the UK doesn’t help… The book is £58.50 plus shipping which because of the current lack of transatlantic flight traffic currently sits at £31.60. The prints are still available priced at £55 each, shipping on these is £22.10.

B.E. Meyers

KIJI K1-3° and KIJI K1-10°

KIJI is the most powerful, modular, VCSEL-based infrared laser illuminator commercially available. A Class 3R laser device, similar to the illuminator performance of the B.E. Meyers MAWL-DA, the KIJI K1- 3° emits up to 150mw, and the KIJI K1-10° emits up to 350mw of flawless infrared laser illumination. Both models feature four programmable power levels and include beam diffuser options to quickly adjust beam power and divergence, ensuring the best irradiance on target for any situation.

As a modular infrared illuminator, KIJI supports a wide variety of use scenarios –from umbrella lighting interior structures, to punching out hundreds of meters on a SPR. KIJI is compatible and interchangeable with most common CR123 300 series white light bodies and mounts, offering near endless versatility in handheld, helmet, weapon, vehicle, or aircraft mounted applications. This laser illuminator is designed to be used with user-preferred and existing aftermarket mounting hardware or remote switching options –making mounting and adoption as simple as using the parts and switching you already know and train with.

The KIJI comes in two models. Combining the included 10° diffuser on KIJI K1-3° and the included 40° diffuser on KIJI K1-10°, KIJI provides users with flexibility in output, beam pattern, and mounting hardware. This makes KIJI is an extremely high-performing and low-cost laser illuminator capable of meeting any IR illumination scenario or platform requirements.

bemeyers.com / MSRP: $699

Ridgeline

DrOP

The Ridgeline Drop Offset, Pouch (DrOP) is designed to increase operator comfort by moving belt mounted magazine pouches lower and slightly offsetting them to clear body amor and provide greater range of motion during reloads. Designed and manufactured in the USA, the DrOP mounts to the belt using TekLok-style attachments, and is compatible with most pouch types (Tyr, HSGI, ESSTAC, GCode, etc. ) or any Kydex pouch using the TekLok mount pattern.

During testing and development, the DrOP endured multiple military free fall (MFF) and fast rope (FRIES) operations, as well as daily law enforcement patrol use, S.W.A.T. operations, and range use. Ships with BladeTech TekLok.

MSRP: $25 / ridgelineshooting.com

Studies and Observations Group

Pentagon XR LTE

Pentagon XR LTE, now 35% lighter, delivers a full-size combat folding knife that features a 3.6 inch cryogenically heat-treated stainless steel, wide spear point blade and ultra-grip G10 handle. Carbon fiber liners significantly reduce the weight, while SOG’s XR Lock enables smooth ambidextrous single-handed opening in three different ways with distinguishably solid blade-lock once open, with fixed-blade- like feel and confidence. The next level of enhanced capability, backed by Pentagon’s proven pedigree and guaranteed for life.

• Weight: 3.2 oz.
• Blade Length: 3.6 in.
• Closed Length: 4.77 in.
• MSRP: $210
• sogknives.com

SENTRY Tactical

EDC Holsters

SENTRY Tactical enters the holster market with five new inside-the-waistband holsters and magazine pouches. Using the latest polymer injection technology and thermoforming, SENTRY’s EDC holsters offer superior strength and flexibility with adjustable settings to create a perfect fit whether worn behind the back, appendix carry, or cross draw. Worn under a shirt or vest, SENTRY’s EDC holsters offer minimal printing, level 1 or 2 retention, and all carry the SENTRY lifetime warranty.

The SENTRY Inside the Pant/Tuckable Holster is a concealed carry holster thermoformed out of SENTRY’S proprietary Polyform material. Designed with level 1 retention the Tuckable holster employs SENTRY’s Drop Retention Safety Device, a semi-spherical protrusion that acts on the trigger guard to adjust the weapon draw resistance providing confidence in carry. A pre-formed sight channel prevents any catching while drawing or holstering. SENTRY’s innovative Rubber-Tech loop on the holster side, facing the body allows the user to customize the height and angle carry using the two available screws. Available in black for GLOCK Model, 43, S&W Shield 9/40, and SIG 320. MSRP: $49

SENTRY’s Angle Adjustable Belt Slide Holster allows for comfortable and secure belt-worn carry in an injection molded, adjustable retention holster. Ride height and angle are fully adjustable. Available in black or coyote brown for GLOCK Models G17, G19 and G43 with an MSRP: $65 to $80

No holster family is complete without a magazine pouch. SENTRY’s Injection Molded Double Mag Pouch is made from durable injection molded Polyform that features an adjustable angle belt clip, paddle and spring tension. Available in black for 9mm/.40 mags.

MSRP: $33 / sentrytactical.com

Savage Arms

110 Magpul Hunter

Savage is pleased to announce it has teamed up with Magpul to pair a premium aftermarket stock with Savage’s proven 110 action. The combination mates Savage’s reputation for accuracy with Magpul’s renowned versatility to create a unique 110 that’s ideal for any shooter.

“Magpul builds incredible accessories,” Jessica Treglia, Sr. Brand Manager at Savage Arms, said. “Their Hunter Stocks are a solid compliment for the versatility of the 110 action and barrel. But this is much more than an aftermarket stock. We’ve designed a 110 with a heavy barrel and durable coatings that match the look and feel of the Magpul Hunter Stocks.”

The 110 Magpul Hunter combines decades of 110 innovations. At the heart of the rifle is a factory blueprinted action with an 18-inch threaded heavy barrel. The Cerakote Tungsten finish prevents corrosion and exposure to the elements. The knurled bolt handle, adjustable length of pull, and comb height options from Magpul round out ergonomic improvements to this Model 110. Those features, paired with the user-adjustable AccuTrigger, allow for crisp, clean shots and Savage accuracy. These new rifles will be available in both left and right-handed configurations.

MSRP: $1049 / savagearms.com

MasterPiece Arms

DS9 Commander

MasterPiece Arms’ MPA DS9 Commander is a new, wide-body, double-stack 1911 pistol. All parts of the 9mm DS9 Commander Pistol are machined in the USA from barstock and billet and include no MIM, castings, or forgings. The components machined by MPA include the classic length light rail frame, TriTop slide, 4.25-inch MPA 416R stainless bull barrel, stainless steel beavertail/grip safety, stainless steel ambidextrous safety, stainless steel slide stop, firing pin stop, ejector, carry magwell, and 7075 black anodized aluminum grip.

The DS9 Commander Pistol also includes a Koenig hammer, sear, and disconnect, Wolff Springs, custom machined aluminum trigger shoe, a true one-piece stainless guide rod, and a 3.5-pound trigger pull. The FGW-style slide serrations with stepped inset create additional grip texture. Each pistol is hand-built, including hand lapping the frame-to-slide fit, and comes in a custom MPA single pistol case with two 126 mm MBX magazines.

MSRP: $2,999.99 / masterpiecearms.com

Barrett

REC7 DI DMR

Hand built and tested to ensure it lives up to the Barrett name, the REC7 DI DMR is a lightweight, modular, accurate AR that even the most diehard traditionalist can appreciate. The upper and lower receivers are machined from 7075-T6 aluminum, and feature a lengthened gas system, Magpul furniture, Radian charging handle, TriggerTech adaptable trigger, M-Lok slotted hand guard, and is available finished in Cerakote black, tungsten grey, or flat dark earth.

• Action: Direct Impingement, Semi-Automatic
• Caliber: 5.56 x 45 NATO
• Overall Length: 35.3 in.
• Barrel Length: 18 in.
• Upper/Lower Construction: 7075-T6 Aluminum
• Ambi. Controls: Safety Selector
• Weight, w/empty Mag.: 7.9 lb.
• Handguard Length: 15 in.
• Handguard Acc. Attachment: M-Lok
• Trigger Pull Weight: 2.5-5.0 lb., adjustable
• MSRP: $3,025
• barrett.net

Barrett

REC10 DMR

Every component of the REC10 DMR is specifically designed to guarantee durability and accuracy. The direct impingement operating system, recoil mitigation, and intermediate-length gas system allows for reliable operation. The upper and lower receivers are machined from billet 7075-T6 aluminum, and feature fully ambidextrous controls, slimline free-float hand guard, M-Lok accessory mounting slots and a full-length Picatinny top rail with Magpul MBUS sights.

• Action: Direct Impingement, Semi-Automatic
• Caliber: 308 Winchester
• Overall Length: 34.5 in.
• Barrel Length: 16 in.
• Upper/Lower Construction: 7075-T6 Aluminum
• Ambi. Controls: Safety Selector, Bolt Catch, and Mag Release
• Weight, w/empty Mag.: 9.0 lb.
• Handguard Length: 15 in.
• Handguard Acc. Attachment: M-Lok
• Trigger Pull Weight: 2.5-5.0 lb. adjustable
• MSRP: $3,999
• barrett.net

Big Horn Armory

AR500 – 500 Auto Max Rifle

Big Horn Armory, makers of big bore rifles and pistols, designed the AR500 Auto Max to provide AR-style enthusiasts with an option for a large caliber gun on a familiar platform. The 500 Auto Max was developed by Big Horn Armory using a 500 S&W rimless straight walled casing. With a variety of loads available, the 500 Auto Max can exceed 4,000 FPE easily, making it the choice for dangerous game hunting, world-wide.

• Action: Direct Impingement, Semi-Auto
• Caliber: 500 Auto Max
• Overall Length: 37 to 40.25 in.
• Barrel Length: 18 in.
• Upper/Lower Construction: Billet
• Ambi. Controls: Safety Selector, Bolt Release
• Weight, w/empty Mag.: 9 lb.
• Handguard Length: 15-in.
• Handguard Acc. Attachment: M-Lok, free float handguard
• Trigger Pull Weight: 4 lb.
• MSRP: $1,999
• bighornarmory.com

Black Rain Ordnance, Inc

FALLOUT15

The Black Rain Ordnance Scout rifle is Black Rain’s elite tactical rifle for the shooter who values the highest quality and craftsmanship. Built on a foundation of 7075 T-6 billet aluminum receivers with nothing but the best options available to build the firearm that you have always dreamed of. If you are looking for top tier quality and a variety of color options, the Black Rain Ordnance Scout rifle is the choice for you.

• Action: Direct Impingement
• Caliber: 5.56
• Other Calibers Offered: 300 AAC Blackout
• Overall Length: 32.5 – 35.75 in.
• Barrel Length: 16 in.
• Upper/Lower Construction: 7075 Billet Aluminum
• Ambi. Controls: None
• Weight, w/empty mag.:  6 lbs. 9 oz.
• Handguard Length: 15 in.
• Handguard Acc. Attachment: M1913/M-Lok
• Trigger Pull Weight: 3.5 lbs.
• MSRP: $2,089
• blackrainordnance.com

Black Rain Ordnance, Inc

FALLOUT15 / We The People

The Black Rain Ordnance custom shop has out done itself on this American flag “We the People” rifle. They put in many hours of laser work on the 7075 T-6 billet aluminum receivers to deep engrave the image. Plus, many more hours of laser time in all the fine details that are placed on the rifle. The stencils for the stars and stripes are all hand laid one at a time just to be finished off with four different hand sprayed colors to complete the build.

• Action: Direct Impingement
• Caliber: .223 Wylde
• Overall Length:   35 – 38.4 in.
• Barrel Length:  18 in.
• Upper/Lower Construction: 7075 T6 Billet Aluminum
• Ambi. Controls: None
• Weight, w/empty mag.: 7 lb. 3 oz.
• Handguard Length:  17.76 in.
• Handguard Acc. Attachment: M1913/M-Lok
• Trigger Pull Weight:  3.5 lb.
• MSRP: $ 2,899
• blackrainordnance.com

CZ-USA

CZ Bren 2 MS Carbine

Based on the select-fire Bren 2, this handy rifle operates via a short-stroke gas piston system with a return spring contained within the action itself. Without the need for a buffer tube, it features a folding, adjustable stock. At 35.6 inches long, the folding stock brings its length down to just 28 inches — making it much easier to transport or store.

• Action: Piston
• Caliber: .223 Rem/5.56×45
• Overall Length: 35.6 in.
• Barrel Length: 16.5 in., Cold Hammer Forged
• Upper/Lower Construction: Extruded Aluminum 
• Ambi. Controls: Safety Selector, Magazine Release, Bolt Catch
• Weight, w/empty mag.: 7.3 lb.
• Handguard Length:  9 in.
• Handguard Acc. Attachment: M-Lok
• Trigger Pull Weight: 3.5 lb.
• MSRP: $2,259
• cz-usa.com

DRD Tactical

APTUS

The Aptus uses DRD Tactical’s patented internal recoil system that eliminates standard buffer tubes and springs associated with most AR style rifles. This feature allows it to be fired with the stock folded and maintain in the ready for close quarter battle situations. Discreet and designed for compact portability, it can go from box-to-built in 60 seconds without the use of tools. We’ve eliminated the need for an additional upper to change calibers, giving you the added versatility.

• Action: Semi-Auto, Direct Impingement
• Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
• Other Calibers Offered: 300 AAC Blackout
• Overall Length: 34 in.
• Barrel Length: 16 in.
• Upper/Lower Construction: Billet Aluminum
• Ambi. Controls: Bolt Catch
• Weight, w/empty Mag.: 7 lb.
• Handguard Length: Full Length
• Handguard Acc. Attachment: M-Lok
• Trigger Pull Weight: 4.5 lb.
• MSRP: $2,500- $2,900
• drdtactical.com

DRD Tactical

KIVAARI

If you’re looking for a jaw dropping AR-style rifle in a big boy caliber, you found it. No matter your mission, the Kivaari does the job. Long range accuracy, ballistics, you name it, this .338 Lapua has you covered. Did we mention it’s a takedown design? It features an ambidextrous safety & bolt catch, arrives in a compact hard case or discreet backpack, and comes in black hard coat type III anodizing, NIB Battleworn or FDE Cerakote.

• Action: Semi-Auto, Direct Impingement
• Caliber: .338 Lapua Magnum
• Overall Length: 47 in.
• Barrel Length: 24 in.
• Upper/Lower Construction: Billet Aluminum
• Ambi. Controls: Safety Selector, Bolt Catch
• Weight, w/empty Mag.: 13.6 lb.
• Handguard Length: 17 in.
• Handguard Acc. Attachment: M-Lok
• Trigger Pull Weight: 4.5 lb.
• MSRP: $5,500 – $6,250
• drdtactical.com

FN America, LLC

FN 15 TAC 3

The FN 15 TAC 3 is built from a MIL-SPEC foundation with HP/MPI-tested and certified bolt and M16-style bolt carrier group with mid-length gas system and H buffer. The chrome-lined, cold hammer-forged barrel, made from FN proprietary steel, is fully free-floated within a Hodge Defense-designed wedge lock handguard. The handguard, with proprietary barrel nut and anti-rotation technology, provides continuous 12 o’clock rail space and M-Lok slots for accessories. Outfitted with ambidextrous charging handle and selector, and FN’s custom furniture and available in black anodize, FDE Cerakote, or tungsten gray Cerakote.

• Action: Direct impingement
• Caliber: 5.56×45
• Overall Length: 33-36.2 in.
• Barrel Length: 16 in.
• Upper/Lower Construction: Forged Aluminum
• Ambi. Controls: Safety Selector, Charging Handle
• Weight, w/empty Mag.: 7 lb.
• Handguard Length: 14 5/8 in.
• Handguard Acc. Attachment: 6 M-Lok slots
• Trigger Pull Weight: 4.75 – 7.75 lb.
• MSRP: $1729
• fnamerica.com

Maxim Defense Industries

MD-11

New for 2022, Maxim Defense Industries is launching their Direct Impingement, large-frame MD-11 series made on the SR-25 pattern. This large frame rifle will be available in 6.5 Creedmoor or .308 Winchester using either an 18-inch Proof Research stainless-steel barrel or a carbon fiber barrel, allowing it to come in at just nine pounds. They come with carbine buffer system and B5 Sop-Mod stock and use the Geissele SSA-E trigger. They are available in urban, arid, and black.

• Action: Direct Impingement
• Caliber: 6.5 Creedmoor
• Other Calibers Offered: .308 Winchester
• Overall Length: 37 in.
• Barrel Length: 18 in.
• Upper/Lower Construction: Billet 7075-T6 Receiver Set
• Ambi. Controls: Safety Selector, Magazine Release, Charging Handle
• Weight, w/empty Mag.: 9 lb.
• Handguard Length: 15.5 in.
• Handguard Acc. Attachment: M1913/Maxim M-SLOT
• Trigger Pull Weight: 2.9 – 3.8 lb.
• MSRP: $3895-$4295 (Carbon vs. Stainless Steel Barrel)
• maximdefense.com

Maxim Defense Industries

MD-1505

The MD-1505 is engineered to bring Maxims’ top-tier PDX package to an even more affordable price point. Each MD-1505 is equipped with the patented Maxim HATEBRAKE, their Slimline Handguard. The MD-1505S (pictured) is equipped with our SCW Stock for the ultimate in compactness, comfort, and versatility.

• Action: Direct Impingement
• Caliber: 5.56 NATO
• Other Calibers Offered: .300BLK, 7.62×39
• Overall Length: 18.7 in.
• Barrel Length: 5.5 in.
• Upper/Lower Construction: Forged
• Ambi. Controls: Mag Release
• Weight, w/empty Mag.: 5.5 lb.
• Handguard Length: 6.45 in.
• Handguard Acc. Attachment: M1913/Maxim M-SLOT
• Trigger Pull Weight: 6 lb.
• MSRP: $1895.00
• maximdefense.com

Robinson Armament Co.

XCR-L Modular, Multi-Caliber, Weapon System

The XCR-L is a truly innovative, modular, multi-caliber weapon system designed from the ground up to be the best. Its gas-adjustable, piston-driven Kalashnikov based operating system makes it reliable under all conditions. Its excellent placement of manual controls gives the user the upper hand. Its quick-change barrel system allows it to shoot the most popular calibers. Its low recoil impulse keeps it on target. The XCR-L accepts AR mags.

• Action: Piston-Driven, 3-Lug Bolt
• Caliber: 5.56
• Other Calibers Offered: .300 BLK, 7.62×39, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC, 5.45×39, and .224 Valkyrie
• Overall Length: Stock Extended 25 in. to 36 in.; Stock Folded 18.25 in. to 29.25 in.
• Barrel Length: Quick-Change Barrel System 7.5 in., 9.5 in., 11 in., 12 in. 14.7 in., 15.3 in., 16 in., 18.6 in.
• Upper/Lower Construction: Upper is Extruded; Lower is Forged
• Ambi. Controls: Safety Selector, Magazine Release, Bolt Catch, Stock Adjustment, Charging Handle
• Weight, w/empty Mag.: 6.4 to 8.5 lb.
• Handguard Length: 6.5 in., 8.3 in., 11.5 in., 14.7 in.
• Handguard Acc. Attachment: Keymod, or M-Lok
• Trigger Pull Weight: Two-Stage, 3.5 lb.
• MSRP: $2295
• robinsonarmament.com

Robinson Armament Co.

XCR-M Modular, Multi-Caliber, Weapon System

The XCR-M is the big brother of the XCR-L. It shares all the same features of the XCR-M but comes in a package designed to handle larger calibers.

• Action: Piston-Driven, 3-Lug Bolt
• Caliber: .308 WIN
• Other Calibers Offered: 6.5 Creedmoor, .243 WIN, and .260 REM
• Overall Length: Stock Extended 28 in. to 41 in.; Stock Folded 21.5 in. to 34 in.
• Barrel Length: Quick-Change Barrel System 9.5 in., 12 in., 14.7 in., 16 in., 18.6 in., 20 in. Upper/Lower Construction: Upper is Extruded; Lower is Forged or Billet
• Ambi. Controls: Safety Selector, Magazine Release, Bolt Catch, Stock Adjustment, Charging Handle
• Weight, w/empty Mag.: 7.5 to 9.5 lb.
• Handguard Length: 9.2 in., 10.7 in., 13.6 in.
• Handguard Acc. Attachment: Keymod, or M-Lok
• Trigger Pull Weight: Two-Stage, 3.5 lb.
• MSRP: $2795
• robinsonarmament.com

If you walk around a large bookstore in the USA, chances are you’ll see sections of illustrated books originally from a foreign land, translated into English. These comic books are called manga, and there’s no denying they’re more popular than American comics. The size of the sections alone is amazing, but the sales are the biggest factor. Manga leaves American comics in the dirt. There was even a rumor that a single book of the manga “Demon Slayer” outsold all of American comics by itself.

Many of these manga have been turned into anime, with the same style of artwork, and pretty much the same story. One of the most popular of all these is the anime movie “Ghost in the Shell.” The author hasn’t seen this movie, but he’s seen the 2017 American live-action adaptation of this classic. Starring Scarlett Johansson, the 2017 movie takes place in the future where humans can replace parts of their bodies for advanced robotic parts. Robots are everywhere and holograms 0replace billboards to sell products. In the movie, Scarlett Johansson plays Major, a woman whose body was destroyed with only her brain intact. Her brain is transferred to an advanced robotic body, giving her a new life as an enforcer of the law. (As an aside, our company did the firearms for the 2014 video game Ghost in the Shell).

In the film, Major uses a Glock 19 covered with movie magic. This is meant to blend in with her body, which is made to camouflage with her surroundings. The best scene where she uses this gun is in the beginning when she storms a meeting being attacked by terrorists. She hides on the outside of a window, at first, and takes out a few bad guys before jumping through it and taking out the rest of the bad guy troop. Another scene where the gun is seen is when she catches up with a suspect and beats him up while she’s invisible. The Glock 19 is seen on her left thigh when she becomes visible again.

The Glock 19 was designed as a more compact version of the Glock 17. If you put the two pistols next to each other, it’ll show the obvious difference in size. The Glock 19 was first produced in 1988 and has seen service in many military forces and law enforcement agencies around the world. These include the United States, Austria, Israel, Germany, Taiwan, and France. It’s also a favorite on the civilian market and is widely regarded as one of the best guns for self-defense.

The Glock 19 weighs almost one and a half pounds. It shoots 9mm Parabellum from a 15-round removable magazine. It has the usual safety that most Glock pistols have, which is a small lever on the trigger. When the operator wants to shoot the pistol, he has to pull the lever and the trigger at the same time, which is a natural progression. Some of the differences between this pistol and the Glock 17 are that both the slide and the pistol grip were shortened to allow better concealment.

Other guns in the movie include movie customized Heckler & Koch MP5Ks used by Major’s fellow police officers. Her commander, played by Takeshi Kitano, uses an uncustomized Smith & Wesson Model 29 in his few fights. Major herself uses a movie customized Israel Weapon Industries Tavor X95 against a giant robot and, in an earlier scene, she uses an IWI Jericho 941 PL, which she takes off a random assailant. Her partner Batou uses a Crye Precision SIX12 shotgun and a Glock 17 pistol in a few different scenes. The terrorists in the beginning of the movie are seen using customized UZIs and Thompsons.

2017’s “Ghost in the Shell” is a stunning movie to look at, but the plot is somewhat predictable. The author knew who the real villain was going to be and knew which way the story was going early on. These stories are a dime a dozen and have been done better. Scarlett Johansson is very good in her role, as are most of the actors, and the visuals are amazing. But the villain is not believable and the script is not handled well. There was also a controversy surrounding the casting of Johansson as the main character. The main character in the anime is Japanese and many critics called the casting “white washing.” However, the director of the original anime had no problem with Johansson, as did most people in Japan. The movie is worth a watch for the effects and the imagery, so by all means, rent and enjoy.

SAR would like to thank the weapons department of Independent Studio Services in Sundale, CA for allowing us to photograph and record the history of these movie guns.

Back in 2020 I wrote about the judicial decisions which held the California ban on large capacity magazines to be unconstitutional because the ban violated the Second Amendment. See “Federal Court Rules California Ban Violates Second Amendment,” Small Arms Review, Vol. 24 No. 9 (Nov. 2020). The victory was short lived, and this past November, the Ninth Circuit overturned the previous decisions and ruled the LCM ban to be constitutional, revealing once again its distaste for the Second Amendment.

Background

At issue is California Penal Code section 32310, which bans magazines that can hold more than ten rounds of ammunition (the so-called large-capacity magazines, or “LCMs”). The law, which California voters approved in November 2016, criminalized any person who possesses an LCM, regardless of the date the LCM was acquired. Current owners of LCMs were required to remove the magazines from the state, sell them to a firearms dealer, surrender them to law enforcement for destruction, or permanently modify the magazine to only accept ten or fewer rounds.

In 2017, shortly before Section 32310 was to go into effect, plaintiffs Virginia Duncan, Richard Lewis, Patrick Lovette, David Marguglio, Christopher Waddell, and the California Rifle and Pistol Association, Inc., sued the state’s Attorney General at the time, Xavier Becerra, on the grounds that the law was unconstitutional. The federal district court in San Diego granted a preliminary injunction on the grounds that “hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of otherwise law-abiding citizens will have an untenable choice: become an outlaw or dispossess one’s self of lawfully acquired property.” Duncan v. Becerra, 265 F.Supp.3d 1106 at 1139 (S.D. Cal. 2017) (Duncan I).

Attorney General Becerra appealed the lower court’s injunction to the 9^th Circuit. In the meantime, plaintiffs filed a motion for summary judgment with the district court. In 2019, the district court ruled in favor of the plaintiffs and held Section 32310 to be unconstitutional in its entirety. Duncan v. Becerra, 366 F.Supp.3d 1131, 1186 (S.D. Cal. 2019) (“Duncan II”). The court’s order prohibited the attorney general, his officers, agents, employees, and attorneys, as well as state and federal law enforcement from enforcing the possession ban under Section 32310. The prohibition against the sale, purchase, manufacture, importation, or acquisition of LCMs remained in effect during the appellate process.

The California Attorney General Becerra appealed the Duncan II decision to the 9^th Circuit, and on August 14, 2020, a three-judge panel of the Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court’s summary judgment. In a 2-1 decision (Judge Lynn dissenting), the panel struck down Section 32310 as unconstitutional because “it severely burdens the core of the constitutional right of law-abiding citizens to keep and bear arms.” 970 F.3d 1133, 1163 (9^th Cir. 2020). The panel’s majority found that firearm magazines enjoy Second Amendment protection. “Without a magazine, many weapons would be useless, including ‘quintessential’ self-defense weapons like the handgun…. Put simply, a regulation cannot permissibly ban a protected firearm’s components critical to its operation.” 970 F.3d at 1146 (citing to District of Columbia v. Heller 554 U.S. 579, 629 and 630(2008)).

Subsequently, the California Attorney General requested a rehearing before a larger, en banc panel. On February 25, 2021, the circuit court granted the Attorney General’s petition for a rehearing and vacated the three-judge panel’s ruling.

The Ninth Circuit En Banc Hearing and Decision

The case was argued on June 22, 2021 before 11 judges, seven of whom were Clinton and Obama appointees and four were Trump and G.W. Bush appointees. The California Attorney General, who by this time was Rob Bonta (Xavier Becerra had moved on to serve as the Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Biden administration), argued that Section 32310’s ban on LCMs does not run afoul of the Second Amendment. According to Bonta, Section 32310 did not prevent law-abiding Californians from possessing all sorts of authorized firearms and magazines that would provide them with ample ammunition to defend themselves. Citing a correlation between mass shootings and LCMs, the California Attorney General argued there was a reasonable fit between California’s interest in reducing the number of mass shootings and the resulting casualties and Section 32310.

In a 7-4 decision, the en banc court sided with the California Attorney General and upheld the magazine ban (see Duncan v. Bonta, 19 F.4th 1087 (9^th. Cir. 2021). Addressing the Second Amendment challenge, the court applied a two-step analysis, addressing first whether Section 32310 affects conduct protected by the Second Amendment and if so, what level scrutiny to apply.

Step One: Does the Second Amendment Protect Possession of Large Capacity Magazines?

Recall that one of the key findings of the previous three-judge panel was that magazines enjoy Second Amendment protection. That panel did not find LCMs to be “unusual” arms and had a long history of use and availability in the United States, dating back more than 200 years. That court also cited to statistics showing criminal use of LCMs to be relatively low in comparison to their market saturation.

Before the en banc court, the California Attorney General argued that Section 32310’s ban on LCMs does not implicate the Second Amendment for two reasons: LCMs are most useful in a military setting; and California has a long history of governing magazine capacity and such accepted control does not implicate the Second Amendment.

Rather than addressing head on Attorney General Bonta’s arguments against Second Amendment protection, the majority opinion of the en banc court side steps the issue and assumes without deciding that Section 32310 implicates the Second Amendment.  

Step Two: What Level Scrutiny Should be Applied?

When determining whether a law is constitutional, courts will usually apply one of three levels of scrutiny: strict scrutiny, intermediate scrutiny, or a rational basis review. Strict scrutiny, as the name implies, is the highest level of scrutiny a court can apply and requires the government to prove a compelling state interest behind the law and that the law or regulation is narrowly tailored to achieve the result. Courts apply strict scrutiny when a “fundamental right” is threatened by a law.

Intermediate scrutiny requires the government show the law serves an important government objective and is substantially related to achieving the objective. Under both the strict and intermediate scrutiny approaches, the government bears the burden of satisfying the test.

Rational basis review is the lowest level of scrutiny and requires the person challenging the law (as opposed to the government) to show that the government has no legitimate interest in the law or that there is no reasonable link between the government interest and the challenged law. Under this approach, a court can determine a law to have a rational basis as long as any conceivable, rational basis exists, even if the government does not provide one.

The three-judge panel in Duncan held Section 32310 to be subject to strict scrutiny because Section 32310 threatened the core right of law-abiding citizens to defend hearth and home, and the burden imposed on the core right is substantial. The panel rejected the lesser standard of intermediate scrutiny as a contradiction to the Supreme Court decision in Heller. “[T]he Second Amendment is not a second-class right….Nor is self-defense a dispensation granted at the state’s mercy.” 970 F.3d at 1155 (citing the 2010 Supreme Court decision in McDonald v. City of Chicago).

The en banc court, however, rejected application of strict scrutiny on the grounds that such an approach is applicable only to laws that implicate a core Second Amendment right and place a substantial burden on that right. Here, the court determined that even if Section 32310 implicates the core Second Amendment right of self-defense in the home, the ban on LCMs is only a small burden on that right because the law has no effect on which or how many firearms may be owned, and owners of firearms can possess as many firearms, bullets, and magazines as they choose and may also fire as many bullets as they would like for whatever lawful purpose they choose. “The ban on large-capacity magazines has the sole practical effect of requiring shooters to pause for a few seconds after firing ten bullets, to reload or to replace the spent magazine.” 19 F.4th at 1104.

The court rejected Plaintiffs argument for strict scrutiny, citing experts who report that the use of more than ten bullets in defense of the home is rare or non-existent. “Plaintiffs have not pointed to a single instance in this record (or elsewhere) of a homeowner who was unable to defense himself or herself because of a lack of a large-capacity magazine.” 19 F.4th at 1105.

The en banc court also rejected Plaintiffs’ contention that the Section 32310 ban on LCMs fails under any standards of scrutiny much like the D.C. handgun ban at issue in the Heller case. “The law at issue here does not ban any firearm at all. It bans merely a subset (large-capacity) of a part (a magazine) that some (but not all) firearms use.” 19 F.4th at 1107.

The Ban on LCMs Survives Intermediate Scrutiny

The en banc court determined that California enacted the LCM ban to prevent and mitigate gun violence. “Although mass shootings may be an irregular occurrence, the harm that flows from them is extensive. We readily conclude that reducing the harm caused by mass shootings is an important government objective.” 19F.4th at 1109. The court found that large-capacity magazines allow a shooter to fire more bullets from a single firearm uninterrupted. When the shooter must reload or switch weapons, this pause allows victims to flee and law enforcement to confront the shooter. The en banc court also found that most mass shooters have possessed their weapons and their large-capacity magazines lawfully. Consequently, removing the ability to possess such magazines reasonably supports California’s aim to reduce the harm caused by mass shootings.

The court rejected Plaintiffs’ argument that LCMs are important for self-defense. “Plaintiffs and their experts speculate about hypothetical situations in which a person might want to use a large-capacity magazine for self-defense. But Plaintiffs’ speculation, not backed by any real-world examples, comes nowhere near overcoming the deference that we must give to the reasonable legislative judgment, supported by both data and common sense, that large-capacity magazines significantly increase the devastating harm caused by mass shootings and that removing those magazines from circulation will likely reduce deaths and serious injuries.”

Based on these findings, the en banc court concluded that the ban on LCMs is a reasonable fit for the compelling goal of reducing gun violence and thus is not in violation of the Second Amendment. The court also rejected Plaintiffs’ Fifth Amendment takings argument under the reasoning that because Section 32310 allows a person to sell or modify their property, there is no unlawful government taking.

Conclusion

The en banc decision was a severe disappointment to Second Amendment advocates, but it was not surprising given the history of the Ninth Circuit’s approach to Second Amendment cases. As Judge VanDyke points out in his dissent, the Ninth Circuit has a long history of undermining the Second Amendment:

“We are a monstrosity of a court exercising jurisdiction over 20% of the U.S. population and almost one-fifth of the states—including states pushing the most aggressive gun-control restrictions in the nation. By my count, we have had at least 50 Second Amendment challenges since Heller—significantly more than any other circuit—all of which we have ultimately denied. In those few instances where a panel of our court has granted Second Amendment relief, we have without fail taken the case en banc to reverse that ruling. This is true regardless of the diverse regulations that have come before us—from storage restrictions to waiting periods to ammunition restrictions to conceal carry bans to open carry bans to magazine capacity prohibitions—the common thread is our court’s ready willingness to bless any restriction related to guns.”

19F.4th at 1165-1166 (emphasis in original).

Plaintiffs have stated they will file a writ of certiorari with the Supreme Court to appeal the en banc decision. On December 20, 2021, the Ninth Circuit granted plaintiffs’ motion to stay the mandate, which keeps the status quo while a writ of certiorari is filed. So, for the time being, individuals who lawfully own or possess LCMs can keep them while the case is appealed.

Let’s hope the Supreme Court accepts the case and puts a stop to courts treating the Second Amendment as a second-class right. As Judge VanDyke observed in his dissent (19F.4th at 1161):

“So the majority’s rarity balancing isn’t just lopsided—it starts from the wrong premise. We would never treat fundamental rights we care about this way, particularly those expressly enumerated in the Constitution. We don’t protect the free speech of the taciturn less than the loquacious. We don’t protect the free exercise of religion in proportion to how often people go to church. We wouldn’t even allow soldiers to be quartered only in those parts of your house you don’t use much. Express constitutional rights by their nature draw brighter and more prophylactic lines—precisely because those who recognized them were concerned that people like California’s government and the judges on our court will attempt to pare back a right they no longer find useful.”

The information contained in this article is for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended to be construed or used as legal advice or as legal opinion. You should not rely or act on any information contained in this article without first seeking the advice of an attorney.

About the author

Johanna Reeves is the founding partner of the law firm Reeves & Dola, LLP in Washington, DC (www.reevesdola.com). For more than 17 years she has dedicated her practice to advising and representing U.S. companies on compliance matters arising under the federal firearms laws and U.S. export controls. Since 2016 she has served as a member of the Defense Trade Advisory Group (DTAG). From 2011 through 2020, Johanna served as Executive Director for the Firearms and Ammunition Import/Export Roundtable (F.A.I.R.) Trade Group and she continues to serve in an advisory role. Johanna can be reached at jreeves@reevesdola.com or 202-715-9941.