The Daniel Defense Pistol Caliber Carbine (PCC) is a purpose-designed carbine. Despite bearing design hallmarks of the AR platform, it has many unique features. When we decided to do a SADJ review on it, we chose the 13.6-inch long, short-barreled rifle (SBR) version. It seemed the right choice for a duty-type weapon. It’s available in a select-fire option, though we did not move forward with that option.

The PCC SBR has an 8.3-inch cold hammer forged, ½x28 threaded barrel with a 1:10-inch twist rate and an S2W profile. Most muzzle devices made for 9mm AR carbines will be useable on the DD PCC. It’s recoil-operated (no gas or piston system), uses a hydraulic buffer, weighs only 6.1 pounds (2.77 kg) unloaded, with an overall length of 22.5 to 27 inches, depending on stock setting.

PERFORMANCE

Our live fire evaluation was done at the Boulder City Rifle & Pistol Club in Boulder City, Nevada on a 100-meter range. (BRPclub.org) We chose to fire at 25 meters, at which range the point of aim is roughly the point of impact (regarding elevation) for most 9x19mm duty rounds. Dennis Powell was the shooter, and all record fire included the HUXWRX RAD 9 silencer and Vortex Spitfire optic. Velocity was recorded with the Garmin Xero C1 chronograph. Initial sighting-in was done with basic range ammo – we used Western 9x19mm 124gr FMJ (target not shown).

HUXWRX RAD 9 SUPPRESSOR

Daniel Defense chose to use the HUXWRX RAD 9 silencer for the PCC SBR. HUXWRX says “HUXWRX Safety Company is a human exposure workshop dedicated to building products that are optimized for the safety and health of our customers, without compromising efficiency or performance.”

HUXWRX was at one time OSS Suppressors, a successful and innovative manufacturer with their OSS “Flow-Through” technology. HUXWRX is focused on the “safety” aspect of their product’s effect on end users. With as much damage as frequent firearms use has done to the health of end users, this is pretty refreshing. As toxic gas mitigation has become a popular discussion topic, as many shooters have serious heavy metal issues in their blood, the issue is addressed by HUXWRX “Flow-Baffle” technology which uses a series of helical coils that decrease blowback, and actually blow gasses forward. The Flow-Baffle design directs the expanding propellant gases that escape from behind the projectile uncorking from the muzzle into the suppressor entrance chamber, away from the bore line. Once re-directed, the radial grooves route these gases forward, through the suppressor, and away from the shooter.

Our tests at the range confirmed the claims about the gas-forward operation of this system. It accomplished this without adding any perceived recoil. We’ve previously tested the HUXWRX suppressors on fully automatic M16 rifles and found no increase in their cyclic rate. It was clear that the HUXWRX suppressor tightened the group (as expected) while meeting our expectations for sound suppression performance. Sound pressure levels with the RAD 9 are expected to be in the 133-136 dB range, and to the ear, that sounded right. HUXWRX suggested their new Ca$h 9k would be a good option for the Daniel Defense PCC, but we did not try one.

VORTEX SPITFIRE AR PRISM SCOPE

The Vortex Spitfire AR prism scope is designed specifically for the AR/M16 firearm family. That means 5.56x45mm, and in fact there is a bullet drop compensator (BDC) turret included. So why would we put it on a 9mm carbine? Because it’s designed for an AR, it’s small, very fast for target acquisition, and very accurate. With the range of the 9x19mm cartridge initially being designed for under 50 meters (of course, we shoot it farther), and the typical police AR rifle engagement being less than that (even police sniper engagements average a bit over 50 meters), we decided the Vortex Spitfire and the 9x19mm round complimented each other at these real-world engagement distances.

Most 9x19mm-issue cartridges have no elevation drop from point-of-aim out to 25 meters, and only 1-2 inches of drop at 50 meters. (We should note here that prism scopes are not compatible for use with Vortex’s Micro 6x, Micro 3X, or VMX-3T magnifiers). The illumination controls are two buttons located under the ocular lens; one has an up arrow, the other a down. The ocular is used for reticle focus – it’s rotated right or left when viewing a blank surface to get a sharp focus for the operator’s eye. All of our shooters were very pleased with the Spitfire AR optic, and each had their preferences on reticle color and brightness. At only 4.3 inches long, weighing 11.2 ounces, and yielding a 79-foot field of view at 100 yards, this FFP 1x optic is an unobtrusive enhancement for the Daniel Defense PCC.

The Spitfire AR uses the Vortex “Dual Ring Tactical” (MOA) reticle. This is a glass-etched reticle and is very durable. Shown here, the illumination is at “0” so the DRT reticle was easier to photograph. In real use, there are five brightness levels; the lowest is “ultra-low” and is for use with night vision devices. The operator can choose either red or green illumination by momentarily pressing both the up- and down-arrow buttons at the same time. Color is more a personal choice, of course, but the ultra-low red works well with night vision goggles, perhaps better than green… again, it’s subjective. Reticle subtensions (the reticle markings) are in MOA, which will aid those who use the reticle for range finding.

Every year, there is a special event at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico known as the “King of Two Miles” competition, a highly watched and respected event in the long-range and extreme long-range shooting community. There are strict rules. The team is a shooter and his spotter. Anyone with shooting experience knows that teamwork is a critical aspect of long-range shooting. The rifle must weigh under 40 pounds and one man must be able to carry the rifle, spotting scope, and any needed gear to the line. It’s prone rifle shooting with a bipod that has one attachment point to the rifle and two points on the ground. Period.

The 416 Barrett cartridge has won King of Two Miles three times. The first year, 2015, and then in 2018 and 2019, matching the 375 Cheytac wins. 416 Barrett is an excellent extreme long-range cartridge, and this year, while Josh Silby and spotter Eric Owen took “King” with an Alamo Precision rifle in 375 Cheytac, the “Prince” (second place) was Justin Wolf and spotter James Archer using the new Barrett MRADELR (MRAD Extreme Long Range) rifle chambered in 416 Barrett.

The MRADELR is an easily man-deployable sniper rifle, not a benchrest-type rifle, and placing second is a huge accomplishment for a rifle in its first year of production. It means the team and equipment delivered solid hits at two miles, a capability the U.S. (and its allies) sniper community is searching for.

The 416 Barrett cartridge was designed by Chris Barrett with assistance from his father Ronnie and the Barrett Firearms engineering team. The end goal was to achieve solid 2,500m accuracy with a 470-grain projectile. There is a misconception that this cartridge was designed to get around California’s 50 BMG rifle ban, but that’s just a bonus side effect. The real meat of cartridge is its long-range performance, and, as noted, there have been serious two-mile contests won with this cartridge.

SOCOM has been looking for the extreme long range sniper rifle system to outperform the MK22 Mod 0 in 338 Norma Magnum. To the point, they want to reach out further. Barrett’s system of the MRADELR is a perfect fit, but there are parallel caliber developments in the government view. The Barrett MRADELR, with the 416 Barrett cartridge, is clearly in the running for the new program.

We had the opportunity to test the MRADELR over the last few months. It has turned out to be very accurate, reliable, easy to work with, and since there is no system of long-range shooting accessories dictated by the company or a government contract yet, we built our own suite of tools to exact the best performance from the rifle and cartridge. This is photo essay for you, the reader, to follow our journey with the MRADELR.

MRADELR SPECS

Caliber 416 Barrett
Operation Bolt Action Repeater
Barrel Length 36 in. (914mm) (There is a shorter suppressor barrel to be offered)
Barrel Twist Rate 1:9 in. (1:229mm)
Overall Length 62 in. (1575mm)
Weight 23.0 lb. (10.4 kg) w/empty mag, no accessories
Magazine Capacity 5 rounds
Rail Length 24.63 in. (626mm)
Rail Angle 10 MOA
Colors Cerakote Black, Flat Dark Earth, Titanium Grey

The Barrett MRADELR is in review with SOCOM and other government agencies. SOCOM has its own ESSO program based on the MRADELR in 375 EnABELR, more on that later. Thus, the rifle is still a commercial pack allowing the buyer to choose optics, bipod, etc. Once it becomes accepted, Barrett will offer a new package including accessories specified by the contract.

Front, Barrett’s MK22 Mod 0 (MRAD) with AML338 suppressor and Harris bipod. Rear, Barrett’s MRADELR with the QDL suppressor and heavy-duty bipod. Both the MRADELR and the MK22 Mod 0 upper receivers feature M-LOK compatible modular features and a continuous 10 MIL top rail. In this photo, Barrett has installed the excellent NightForce ATACR 7-35mm optic. The front MK22 has the issued custom mount. On the bottom of the upper receiver, visible just in the front of the magwell, are the barrel locking screws. The MK22 (MRAD) has two, while the MRADELR uses three screws to get a longer support area.

Both the MRADELR and the MK22 Mod 0 feature Barrett’s fixed stock with oversized recoil pad, push-button height adjustment, length of pull, and height adjustable, locking polymer cheek piece. A removable bag rider makes for a very solid back pressure with the offhand, keeping the stock solid to the shoulder.

Rear of the lower receiver, looking down on the takedown pin. The pin is captured and not intended for complete removal. The pin is also blocked from removal if the bolt handle isn’t fully rotated up and is free to slide. This way, the bolt can never be locked up on a live round while the upper receiver is rotated upward.

Upper and lower separated; a clear view of how the robust lugs are integrated to support the upper and lower together. The three barrel removal screws are clearly visible at this point. Remember, these are not standard Torx head bolts; they are Torx-Plus and are IP-30 size. Loosen them for barrel removal, but do not remove.

Both the MRADELR (left) and MRAD/MK22 Mod 0 (right) feature Barrett’s adjustable single-stage trigger module which is easily removed without tools. We found both triggers to be smooth and crisp.

MRADELR firing pin, top. MK22 Mod 0 firing pin, bottom.

MRADELR bolt in bolt guide, top. MRAD/MK22 bolt in the bolt guide, bottom. Note the different bolt handles. Parts between the MRADELR and MRAD/MK22 are not compatible.

MRADELR and its bolt guide. The bolt guide removes the metal-on-metal motion/friction and smooths the whole operation, increasing the life of the bolt and receiver channel.

BARREL

The barrel is a match-grade, single point cut, hand-lapped, stainless-steel barrel and has the famous Barrett 3-port muzzle brake. As shown in the suppressor section below, the barrel is made to accept the Barrett QDL muzzle brake for suppressor use.

The MRADELR with the shorter barrel and QDL muzzle break installed. On the table is the standard 36-inch barrel. We did not get the opportunity to test it with a suppressor, as it’s not offered as a package yet.

Barrett’s QDL muzzle brake for use with the suppressor, or without.

Barrett’s AML338 suppressor, top. Barrett’s QDL suppressor, for larger calibers, bottom.

The Barrett QDL for use with the MRADELR has added a third baffle to the exterior stack.

CARTRIDGE

The cartridge: 416 Barrett (10.4x83mm) features a 452-grain MTAC projectile from Cutting Edge Bullets with a BC of 0.83 G1 (0.42 G7) that reaches 3005 FPS from a 32-inch barrel. The ammo we used is part no. 17222 (10 cartridges) lot no. 090265.
For comparison, from left to right in front of the 10-round Barrett case: 5.56x45mm Black Hills 77-gr Tipped MatchKing, Black Hills .308 Match 175-gr BTHP, Black Hills 338 Norma Magnum 300-gr OTM; 416 Barrett 452-gr. MTAC, RUAG 50 BMG HC SX Sniper.

Always read the brass: We’re pleased to note that we found no issues at all. No excess gas bleed-by and no primer creep or swell. In fact, every firing pin hit was solid and consistent. Good signs.

Barrett’s engineers specified a set of go-nogo gauges early in the development of the 416 Barrett cartridge. Barrett sells these gauges, and if you are getting into the extreme long range firing community, we highly recommend getting a set.

MAGAZINE

The MRADELR 416 Barrett 5-round magazine, right side. Long-time readers of our magazines will know that we pay a lot of attention to feeding devices. Many times, this is the most difficult part of designing a firearm; feeding it reliably. Barrett’s engineers have a long history of dealing with this challenge.

Important note: the 416 Barrett magazine has EA marking, the 375 EnABELR has the EB marking. The bolt head, barrel, and firing pin all have similar markings to denote which is the caliber. These parts are not interchangeable, they’re caliber specific.

Similar to the identification of the MRAD/MK22 Mod 0 magazines, there is a tactile group of ridges on the front of the magazine for blind identification of the magazine you’re reaching for. The 416 Barrett cartridge MRADELR magazine has six ridges on the front, the 375 EnABELR magazine has five

View of the magazine feed lips. MRADELR 416 Barrett on the left, ESSO Program magazine, 375 EnABELR on the right.

At left, the MRADELR 416 Barrett round presentation. At right, the MRADELR (ESSO Program) 375 EnABELR presentation must be higher. Thus, the more complex feed control lips. Rear view of the magazines. MRADELR in 416 Barrett magazine, ESSO Program 375 EnABELR magazine. There are feed issues with the 375 EnABELR cartridge in an MRADELR that need to be addressed with a higher presentation and more control of the rounds.

Note the presentation of the cartridge. There is support at the neck of the cartridge. This is to avoid pressure on the front of the bullet which can cause accuracy issues. Holding the cartridge at the neck area is just one more attention to detail Barrett’s engineers plan, as well as a longer cartridge area for special loaders to use different projectiles.

BOLT

The MRADELR bolt, basic disassembled, showing firing pin assembly, and bolt head assembly. The MRADELR bolt head is removed by rotating the bolt lock to the open position, as shown, and the bolt will rotate forward and out. The bolt is electroless nickel plated for reduced wear, cleaning, and inspection, as well as the added corrosion resistance.

OPTIC

We’ve used the Vortex RAZOR HD series in other tests in the past. In this case, we chose the Vortex RAZOR HD Gen II in 4.5-27×56. It’s a superb scope. We chose the EBR-7C MRAD reticle, it’s a flagship reticle for Vortex, and it was crisp and clear out past 1100 meters (and beyond, we just didn’t have targets that far out.) The MRADELR has a 10-MIL rail, and there’s technically 120 MOA built into the scope. So, going for the longer ranges made the choice for us. This is a first focal plane (FFP) scope, our preference for this type of shooting.

Notes from an end user: During this test, out in the desert, there is a significant amount of mirage. One of the reasons we wanted to try the 27x optic (and not go much higher) was some recent experiences at longer ranges where the mirage interfered with placement at high magnification. This has always been an issue with scopes, but the RAZOR HD Gen II’s clarity was excellent. Second, seeing into shadow at range. When you get to 600 to 1000 meters, any tree line or shadow area on a mountainside becomes a problem. Many scopes I’ve used give a flat image of the darkness. The lens coatings used by Vortex, along with the quality of the glass, allow me to see into the shadows, giving a more three-dimensional view. There are many scope manufacturers, a few that I like, but for this type of shooting I tend to favor the Vortex RAZOR. It’s also FFP, which I prefer, as well. It’s got a great field of view, the hashmarks are fast for me to use at higher magnifications, and make my adjustments.

BIPOD

Bipod support on such a long-range caliber requires a much wider footprint than smaller calibers. This is verging on blending bench-rest technologies with a standard military support. Barrett suggested three different bipods and we chose the ATLAS BT72 Super Cal Bipod with a 1913 Pic rail mount. It was a very good choice. The footprint spreads from 14.75 to 19.37 inches, giving an elevation range to the rifle base of 5.8 to 11 inches. Perfect. It’s constructed of 6061 T6 aluminum with a Type III mil-spec hard anodizing. There is a 45° pre-tensioned cant that we found excellent for setting in with a nice, stiff lock position. The leg positioner is heat-treated stainless steel. The springs and fasteners are also stainless. The legs do not rotate (a huge plus for stability) and lock at 0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 degrees. www.accu-shot.com

Before we go to the Range, there are some specific items that are needed to assist in ELR shooting. Range-finding, spotting, and environmental data are critical. These were our choices:

ATMOSPHERICS

Kestrel 5700 Elite Ballistics Weather Meter from Kestrel Ballistics and the Kestrel Drop D3 Wireless Environmental Data Logger are two essential range and field accessories. The Kestrel 5700 Elite has a full ballistics calculator onboard, it’s a seriously accurate scientific instrument that fits in your pocket. The windmeter is protected from damage with a rotating cap. The fact that Kestrel knows the operator will need quick spot checks and makes that fast and easy is a big plus. We did our full prep then the spot checks. The 5700 Elite & The Drop are LiNK enabled for Bluetooth coms with your phone or tablet, have an “Easy Mode” for quick adjustments, & can store 30 custom rifle and ammunition profiles. The maximum range Elite can work at is 5500 yards, so it’s perfect for our purposes.

RANGEFINDER

Getting true ranges for accurate shooting is not as simple as using the basic $200 range finder. At 4000 meters, stability and accuracy of the laser are as critical as is the reading. We chose the Vortex RAZOR HD 4000 GB laser range finder for a variety of reasons. The first is the legendary accuracy of this range finder. Vortex has decades of experience, and their top-of-the-line HD 4000 performs to the level we needed. The HD 4000 GB pairs with the Kestrel meters. Combined with the Kestrel 5700 Elite, we had the most accurate environmental and range finding capabilities possible at our level of civilian ownership. We’re going to explore this more at other times. The possibilities are staggering.

SPOTTING SCOPE

Our spotting scope is the Vortex RAZOR HD Angled 22-48×65 on a Vortex tripod. The same optical characteristics that we like in the RAZOR scopes are in the spotter. There is excellent depth of field, penetration into shadows, and an almost infinite series of adjustments to get clarity on a target. We did not get a chance to use this on 2-mile targets, but at 1100m (our range limit) the spotter was able to call shots perfectly every time. They claim a linear field of view of 117 to 68 feet at 1000 yards, we found that was quite clear and adequate at our ranges. Ours came with both MOA and milrad eyepieces, which we could change out to match which optics we were using. This is very handy for the spotter calling in shots.

ON THE RANGE

Preparing to fire at the range. We’re at the long-range rifle range at the Boulder Rifle & Pistol Club, an excellent range. There are measured targets out to 1100m with special accommodation out to one mile on a newly measured range area that was not yet open, so we were working with targets at a maximum range of 1100m.

Our sighting in at 100m was fast and, honestly, a bit useless because the optic needed to stretch its legs a bit. We switched to 200m, then 500m. Groups were consistently dialed in under 0.5 MOA. At 900m about 0.38 MOA. Dennis Powell was our long-range shooter on these targets. It’s been difficult to get the MRADELR away from him. At 1100m on the full target, you can see where he walked to get to the center and was still a bit high at two o’clock. Two rounds went into less than 3 inches, the third is lower down at about 5 inches. That’s under 0.5 MOA at 1100m. This is enough to convince us of the solid accuracy of the MRADELR sniper system and the 416 Barrett cartridge.

Bryan Litz of Applied Ballistics, the 2019 winner of the NDIA Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock Award for contributions he’s made to our military snipers and their capabilities, has a contract on what is called the Extreme Sniper Strike Operations (ESSO) program. The ESSO candidate is an MRADELR in caliber 375 EnABELR (was ELR) for ranges over 2000m (Litz designed the cartridge) and has a carbon-fiber wrapped barrel, a SureFire suppressor, and a NightForce ATACR 7-35 as part of the program. Trials are still happening. This is a picture of the proposed sniper package. SADJ has made arrangements with the involved government agencies to do a test in the near future.

There are two smaller arms conferences in the West that we consider to be the most important in the world for serious members of the small arms community to attend: the NDIA Small Arms Symposium (now called Future Force Capabilities, and tied-in with Fuze and Demil) held every September in the U.S., and what was the Small Arms and Cannon Symposium and is now the Close Combat Symposium at Shrivenham, held every July in the U.K. While there are many excellent, larger trade shows that have some educational aspects to them, these two conferences stand out as events that encourage dialogue between the shakers and movers in the small arms industry. There are differences between the two events, and how they are focused. NDIA is the larger of the two and has been expanded in scope quite a bit beyond Small Arms, but the sister event at Shrivenham has a very intimate quality that keeps it popular with attendees, and important to the community.

The Defence Academy of the United Kingdom sponsors many defense related scholarly events every year. The Symposia at Shrivenham had its 22nd annual Small Arms event in July 2023. The normal schedule was followed: two days of short lectures on various subjects interspersed with breaks taken in the trade show exhibit area to share coffee, snacks, lunch, and tea with the exhibitors. The middle day, Wednesday, is at the COTEC range for live fire demonstrations by exhibitors. This is hands-on time for the attendees and is quite popular. This format has worked quite well in the past allowing breaks from the lectures and close interaction with the exhibitors.

There were quite a few interesting items of note from the first presentation alone. The Symposium is under Chatham House Rules, meaning we can discuss what we learned, but not who from. First, we were informed that, contrary to industry scuttlebutt, the British military will be staying with the 5.56x45mm cartridge until after 2036. You could hear a pin drop in the room after that. Shortly thereafter, it was announced that the Royal Marines, along with the British Army’s Rangers, recently selected the KAC KS-1 as the L403A1 Alternative Individual Weapon. The order is on the magnitude of 10,000 rifles and accessories in the first order. It’s expected that there may be a sea change from the SA80A2 system to the L403A1, which is a 5.56mm AR variant. That could be about 370,000 systems.

Other Presentations:

Capt. William Shepherd USN (Ret.) “Going out of the Box: Geeks Developing Unusual Prototypes for Small Military Units” (We have permission to quote him). Capt. Shepherd was variously a U.S. Navy SEAL, astronaut, commander of the first International Space Station, USSOCOM’s first science officer, and an engineer, as well as a life-long teacher. His program at present is to inspire young engineering students to solve small unit problems. He’s having a lot of success and is quite inspirational.

Garry Leach from Maxord Systems presented the FLY-K, a “silent” grenade/mortar launching system.

There are too many other presentations from U.K. and other military, contractors, manufacturers, and researchers for us to list in this space. Suffice it to say, it’s quite an interesting and well-attended event.

The show itself had about 30 display groups, including Small Arms Defense Journal (We are the liaison between NDIA and Shrivenham, and I present a weapons threat evaluation every year.) Of note, Edgar Brothers, Viking Arms, Law Enforcement International, Pelican, FNH UK, HK UK, and many others were on hand to display and meet with U.K. and other military decision makers.

Close Combat Symposium Show Master Information

Next Show Dates July 2-4, 2024

Location The Defence Academy of the United Kingdom, Cranfield University, Shrivenham, U.K. This is to the west of London, the M4 motorway and easily accessible from the main London airports. The nearest large town to Shrivenham is Swindon.

Contact:
Lynn Anderson, Symposia Organizer
Symposia at Shrivenham
Cranfield University
Defence Academy of the United Kingdom
Shrivenham, Wiltshire SN6 8LA
Tel: +44 1793 785 648
Fax: +44 1793 785 325
Email: Lynn@symposiaatshrivenham.com
URL: www.cranfield.ac.uk/events/symposia/cc2

Focus This symposium is a special show with numerous papers being presented, a smaller trade show (30 vendors) that is comfortable for attendees to mix with the vendors, and a live fire at the COTEC range.

Dress Business informal, meaning jacket and tie, or business casual, depending on how you desire to present your company. Military are in duty attire. For the formal Regimental Dinner, the baseline for men is dark suit with tie, and for ladies, comfortable evening wear (no jeans or tee-shirts in either case). Mrs. Lynn Anderson and staff are on hand to help with your concerns.

Hotel Hints Local hotels are listed with the Symposia information package. Most vendors choose hotels in Swindon or out on the M4 Motorway area. There is U.K. military billeting for those who are eligible.

Power & Plug Types 220v 50-cycle, British 3-prong plugs

Country Warnings The Swindon/Shrivenham areas are largely rural with the historic city of Oxford located to the north. The only warnings would be in certain parts of London or other major cities. The conference is in a rural area that is very safe.

Cultural Hints The British are generally very polite, and the formal dinner is not to be missed by any who wish to experience a ceremony that is rarely seen by outsiders. There are protocols to be studied before attending, from how to “pass the Port” to what to wear, on to dinner conversation. A good guide to behavior in these types of situations is offered here. The 1850’s era “Guideline for a Regimental Dinner”, encourages “Abstainers” to toast the Monarch with water in their port glass. At times, you will see the following after someone’s name; OBE or MBE meaning “Officer of the Order of the British Empire” and “Member of the Order of the British Empire”, respectively. These are prestigious honorifics in British society, showing appreciation for service to the British Empire. These are not “knighthoods”, which would have other indicators.

Tipping 10% is generally fine in sit-down-to-order restaurants, less for a taxi. Taxis are either meter fare or “pre-booked” at an agreed price.

Getting Around Rental cars will have U.K.-style right-hand steering, and driving is on the left side of the road. Unless you know how to drive with a left-hand shift, order an automatic. We advise finding the first parking lot in sight after getting your rental car and learning the reverse geometry if you are a Euro or U.S. driver. Road roundabouts are common and do not pose a problem, always give way to the right, unless the road markings advise otherwise. Trains are reliable, however, ticket purchases made on the day of travel can be extortionately expensive, pre-booking is strongly advised. A good guide for the latter is at www.nationalrail.co.uk. Bus travel is both simple and inexpensive. If driving, the show is near Heathrow airport. Travel due west on the M4 motorway to the Swindon exit and look for signage to Shrivenham. For rail travel from Heathrow or Gatwick airports, take direct train service to Swindon.

Military Museums The Defence Academy Small Arms teaching collection may be visited by qualified visitors. Inquire with the promoters. In London, the Imperial War Museum and National Army Museum in central London are worth a visit. The Fort Nelson Artillery Museum is in Portsmouth to the south of Swindon, and the Royal Armouries are located in the north of England in Leeds, the latter houses the former Pattern Room collection of small arms and light infantry weapons.

Tourism Shrivenham is located within reasonable driving distances of the university town of Oxford, the Neolithic monument at Stonehenge, and Shakespeare’s hometown of Stratford-upon-Avon. Try the following websites if planning a pre- or post-Symposia cultural visit: www.visitbritain.com or www.visitlondon.com.

Speaking of tourism, frequently, the Capel Military Show occurs the weekend before the Close Combat Symposium. It’s south of London, not too far from the show. It can be a great adventure for history buffs. This year, it’s the weekend after the Symposium on the 6^th and 7^th of July. As shown in the two pictures, there are a lot of interesting firearms, tanks, vehicles, and reenactors at the show. More information:  www.capelmilitaryshow.com

In the mid-2000s, Karl Lewis of LMT Defense, and Greg Felton of Law Enforcement International Ltd (LEI) in the U.K., were involved in a program for another client. The requirement was for a reliable, maneuverable 7.62x51mm select-fire rifle. The rifle that LMT & LEI evolved was nothing short of amazing. Concurrently, the British MOD came out with a requirement for a designated marksman rifle in 7.62×51, semi-auto only. The basics were there, Lewis had to remove the full-auto feature and add a few needed design changes and they submitted what is now adopted as the L129A1 “Sharpshooter.” The weapon was an outstanding success, and after Afghanistan, the weapon system – initially purchased as a temporary measure – was adopted as a permanent system.

Which brings us to the L129A2: Sharpshooter II in 6.5 Creedmoor. Most readers of SADJ know that the military purchases “systems” as opposed to just shopping off the shelf and putting things together. It all must be tested together, then integrated. Thus, after the decade-long success of the L129A1 system, with lessons learned, the U.K. military called on LMT and LEI again to upgrade the system. The ammunition is changed, although the original 7.62x51mm NATO round from the L129A1 can be used in the L129A2 by switching out the barrel. The goal, with the 6.5 CM (6.5x48mm) round, is to extend the performance of the system another 200 meters and get some flatter trajectory. More on the ammunition later.

The Royal Marines have ordered an unspecified quantity in a dual-caliber configuration with the primary being 6.5 CM. As a DMR and as a sniper support weapon (SSW), this is an exceptional rifle, as shown in our range tests that follow.

Top: Original L129A1 rifle in 7.62x51mm. Bottom: New L129A2 rifle in 6.5mm Creedmoor.

The changes to the system are fundamental to the core rifle, and in the accessories used, which are all new to the Sharpshooter program.  At the rear is the L129A1 as issued, with a Trijicon 6×48 optic. Eventually, the L129A1 was also upgraded to an SSW with the addition of a newer optic. To the front is the L129A2 as issued, with Leupold Mark 5 3.6-18×44 optic, TIER-ONE Cantilever Monomount, Atlas PSR-type bipod, and HUXWRX QD suppressor. L129A1 did not have a suppressor issued, but there were several trials, one of which Gemtech and LEI won to produce test suppressors. The new issue Sharpshooter II has the HUXWRX suppressor as part of the kit.

Markings of the L129A1 as 7.62x51mm and the L129A2 are “MULTI-CAL” because of the changeable calibers.

L129A1 front, L129A2 rear. The L129A1 featured the LMT SOPMOD buttstock, an excellent collapsible stock. The L129A2 has moved up to the fully adjustable .308 DMR buttstock, also from LMT.

L129A1 MWS Style lower, in front, L129A2 MARS-H style lower, at rear. Ambidextrous selector the same, A2 deflector, Picatinny rail top. Note the ambidextrous bolt hold open/release on the right side of L129A2. Inside, the L129A2 has the AXLE two-stage trigger. MWS is Modular Weapon System, MARS-H is Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System with an “H” to denote 7.62x51mm.

Left side L129A1 in front, L129A2 at rear. An ambidextrous magazine release is a feature of both rifle lowers.

Both rifles are direct gas impingement and have the signature LMT Monolithic Rail Platform design. Both change barrels in the same manner, with a split collet-type receiver and two properly torqued screws. The L129A2 (rear) uses the MLOK rail configuration as opposed to the Picatinny rail fore-end of the L129A1 (front). The L129A2 can accept the L129A1 7.62x51mm barrel if needed (but not vice versa). The new rail is extended significantly on the L129A2, and the barrel for the 6.5 CM is 18 inches with 1:8-inch RH twist, as opposed to the 16-inch 1:10-inch RH twist barrel on the L129A1.  

L129A1 on top of L129A2, left side, showing the overall length difference. Both rifles have a full FDE color treatment with a durable Cerakote finish.

BIPOD 

The L129A2 system uses the Atlas BT46-LW17PSR bipod, which is a very stable and popular bipod in the precision shooting community. It’s made from 6061-T6 aluminum with inner legs of 7075-T6 aluminum. The finish is a Type III Mil-spec hard anodize.

Leg positions are 0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 degrees, with the position/support components made of heat-treated stainless steel. This allowed us a variety of firing levels and supports. Very important to our test, the non-rotating legs added to the stability of the shooting platform, perhaps more than shooters might realize.

Regarding cant and pan, the Atlas bipod has a built-in, pre-loaded, tensionable 30-degree cant and the same 30-degrees of pan. This author is not a fan of panning on a bipod for a sniper system, but it has its place and is desired by many professionals. Cant, on the other hand, combined with the built in anti-cant bubble in the TIER-ONE cantilever mount, is an excellent feature for accuracy.

This is a very well-made bipod, with a footprint of 8 to 11 inches, getting low at 5.2 inches and up to a height of 9.6 inches. Almost every detail is well thought out. Even the springs and fasteners are made of stainless steel.

OPTIC

World renowned U.S. optics manufacturer Leupold was chosen for the L129A2-issue optic. The exact model is the Mark 5 HD 3.6-18×44 (M5C3) in desert IR finish (catalog no. 183456). It has a 35mm tube—a tube size that’s still gaining in popularity—that needs to be taken into account when selecting an optic mount. The reticle is the Tremor 3 and is illuminated with a 5-minute time-out to save batteries.

The Mark 5 HD is a workhorse. It’s robust; the controls are not going to fail; it’s first focal plane, which is pretty-well accepted in military circles as the best for the job. Plainly put, with FFP, no matter your magnification, the hash marks are always the same in relation to the target. 0.2 mils is always 0.2mils, no matter what magnification you’re at. This makes it much easier to judge windage and drift; it’s just very quick.

The Mark 5 HD is waterproof and fogproof, will withstand a lot of impact and extreme climate conditions. It has three full revolutions of elevation adjustment, so it can handle longer range jobs. While the L129A2 is a DMR and SSW, you can see from our targets that the performance was excellent at range. At 1100m, the optics were crisp, and with the flat-shooting 6.5 CM, we had excellent results.

To the left is the power selector ring — your “zoom.” It has a valuable 5:1 magnification ratio, giving you five times more magnification at high power than at low power. We found magnifications changes to be smooth, easy to control, and liked the system. In the lower right of the picture is the windage adjustment knob, and on top, the elevation adjustment knob with the elevation lock release button prominent at the rear. The controls are well thought out and easy to use.  

The control knob in the lower part of the picture is the side parallax adjustment and illumination control knob. The outer control knob denotes brightness, and in between levels there are “off” positions. This allows the shooter to set the optic in “off” right next to the preferred illumination level. Very fast and handy if you know your preferences in various light levels.

The Pixels On Target Thermal Sight (not shown) was chosen for the Thermal part of the system.

OPTIC MOUNT

The optic mount chosen is a very robust and compact one-piece cantilever monomount made by TIER-ONE of the U.K. Since the scope is a 35mm tube, the mount weighs 7.19 oz (204g). The mount is made from 7075 T6 aluminum, the same as many of the AR family firearms are, and is robust enough to withstand heavy recoil, having a large scope clamping area. Its finish is a mil-spec 30-micron hard-anodized finish.

Looking up underneath the mount, the solid contact with the monolithic rail is evident. Also, there is an anti-cant bubble level (replaceable) in the rear mount base. We found it easy to use for a quick level reading using the left eye; it’s very convenient without the common protrusion many scope levels have.

SUPPRESSOR

The adopted suppressor is the HUXWRX HX-QD Helix 7.62. The company’s statement of purpose is very telling, setting them apart from many other suppressor companies.

“HUXWRX Safety Company is a human exposure workshop dedicated to building products that are optimized for the safety and health of our customers, without compromising efficiency or performance.”

HUXWRX was at one time OSS Suppressors, a successful and innovative manufacturer with their “OSS Flow-Through” technology. I met the new owner and we discussed his vision. He was adamantly focused on the “safety” aspect of his product. With as much damage as firearms use has done to the health of end users, this is pretty refreshing. The toxic gas mitigation being discussed, many shooters have serious issues with heavy metals in their blood, is addressed in the HUXWRX system using a series of helical coils to decrease blowback, and actually “blow forward.”

Our tests at the range confirmed the claims about the gas-forward operation of this system. We compared brass from a 6.5 CM direct gas rifle using an older, screw-on can with the brass from suppressed L129A2, and the difference was clear. A lot less backflow, hardly any staining on the brass from the HUXWRX Flow-Through can. Their design works. As far as noise suppression, we didn’t do a full test on this. We plan on it later with the Larson Davis 800B meter. It was clear the HUXWRX suppressor tightened our groups, as expected, and was well within the sound suppression desired. Performance is expected to be in the 136-139 dB range, and to the ear, it sounded right.

The suppressor weighs 19.4oz (550g) and is made from 17-4 heat-treated stainless steel and Grade 5 titanium, is 1.62 inches in diameter, and 7.45 inches long — it only adds 6.85 inches to the barrel length. Finish is a C-series Cerakote in FDE.

The front endcap of the suppressor has spiraling holes venting forward from the helical design.

The HUXWRX Torque Lock system is patented and keeps the suppressor squarely mounted to the QD muzzle device. This is threaded 5/8-24 for most AR-10 type barrels. In this photo, the muzzle device is inside the suppressor for storage.

MAGAZINE

The magazine chosen for the system is the 20-round Magpul PMAG Gen M3. It’s a 7.62×51/6.5 CM capable magazine and is very reliable. It uses a stainless-steel spring, an anti-tilt, self-lubricating follower, and the internal curve of the magazine is constant. PMAGs are well known for their reliability. They’re lightweight and very popular. The 20-round mag weighs 5.7 ounces empty, is 6.5 inches long, and is SR-25 patterned.

AMMUNITION

There really isn’t a settled-on mil-spec 6.5 CM cartridge as of yet. I know there are people who will beg to differ on that, however, I’ve yet to see the final, this-is-it, last straw dropped, documents. That said, most of us want to see a 140-grain open tip match cartridge with a muzzle velocity of about 2700fps. Olin-Winchester has such a cartridge, and since they operate the Lake City Army Ammunition Plant (LCAAP) and produce much of the U.S. and other militaries’ ammunition, we went with their offering. At this point, the cartridges don’t have military style sealing or primer crimps. Still, the muzzle energy is impressive, and while we don’t have access to the terminal or wound ballistic data, the people that do have that available are looking very favorably at this Winchester round.

Ammunition Used in the Test:

Winchester 6.5 Creedmoor (140-gr) Match BT Hollow Point

ON THE RANGE

Our test firing was done at the Boulder Rifle & Pistol Club in Boulder City, NV (BRPclub.org). BRPC is an excellent, well maintained range system, with everything from archery to long range shooting out to 1100m. BRPC is well known in Nevada, especially with the events they host during SHOT Show.

Our accurate shooter is Dennis Powell. These are his targets. The reasonably accurate shooter is Dan Shea, we’re not showing his targets.

Set up at the Boulder Rifle & Pistol Club long range, out to 1100m. Left; Vortex Razor HD 4000 GB laser range finder. On tripod; Vortex RAZOR HD angled 22-48×65 spotting scope on a Vortex Tripod. Both the spotting scope and range finder are written about in more depth in the Barrett MRADELR article. Right, L129A2 Designated Marksman Rifle, ready for firing.

At 100m, the sighting-in process was fairly quick. We were bore-sighted onto paper, lower right, walked across the target and ended with three in the center that were at 0.5 MOA. Our next groups got to 0.34 MOA, then we moved out to further and further targets.

SADJ was invited to visit the FNH UK facility in Kent, U.K., during the Shrivenham Close Combat Symposium. We were able to visit after testing the company’s Evolys machine gun. The visit worked out well and we were able to see the entire operation. FNH UK was the company that was formed and purchased long-time FN Herstal licensee Manroy Ltd., who supplied the M2HB and the L7A1/A2 MAG58 variants to the U.K. military. The facility was moved to this new location and has been expanding capability ever since.

More info: www.fnhuk.com

We received a factory tour, and then proceeded to a deep dive on the FN Evolys, which we fired at Shrivenham. FN Herstal has a long history with reliable machine guns; the MAG58 in its various guises – US M240, Swedish KSP-58, British L7/L8 – and the Minimi which started life chambered in 7.62x51mm and has come full circle. The Minimi became the M249, then the MK46, and the MK48, now the the MK3 from Herstal. So, this long experience with lighter weight machine guns has led to the Evolys UltraLight Machine Gun. Our test was in 5.56x45mm and the system is available in 7.62x51mm NATO, as well.

FNH UK has been making the FN 509 pistol slide (above) for the U.S. market to the tune of about 2,000 per month, while assembling the FN SCAR P, as well.

The plates and parts for both the MAG58/L7 general purpose machine gun and the M2HB/M2QCB are all made on location in the U.K., above. The op rods, pistons, and breaches are also CNC machined on location. The receivers are cold riveted, and the tolerances are tight – the fixtures used are extraordinarily well made.

Machining of the FN Herstal M2 Quick Change Barrel machine gun barrels is done in-house in the U.K., among other processes. The FN QCB is an M2A2-type, with the guide slot in the barrel and a replaceable guide pin in the barrel support – very effective.

EVOLYS

The Evolys is a gas-operated, rotating bolt, short stroke piston belt fed machine gun system. The most unique feature is the extremely fast and accessible patented side-opening feed system that holds the belt at a 45-degree angle. The receiver has a one-piece optic rail and M-LOK receiver features. All of the controls are ambidextrous.

The Evolys in 5.56mm is 33.46 inches long (850mm) collapsed, and with stock extended 37.7 inches (950mm). The barrel is 14 inches long (355mm). It weighs 12.12 lbs. (5.5kg) with a rate of fire approximately 750 rpm.

The Evolys in 7.62mm is 36.42 inches long (925mm) collapsed, and with stock extended 40.35 inches (1025mm). The barrel is 16 inches long (406mm). It weighs 13.67 lbs. (6.2kg) with a rate of fire approximately 750 rpm.

The short stroke piston system might, at first, resemble the Minimi. But the resemblance applies only to the bolt/op-rod and fixed firing pin. The side shuttle feed system requires new geometry for the operating rod. When firing, we found it very smooth to operate.

FN Herstal chose the Finnish made Ase Utra Dual 556-BL MG suppressor for the Evolys program. This is a light-weight, robust, reliable machine gun suppressor that has been tested by SOCOM in the United States and is frequently a contender for belt fed contracts. This requires the Evolys system to use the Ase Utra Borelock birdcage flash hider, as shown.

 More info: www.aseutra.fi

Since U.S. Ordnance received the NSN and contract, they must perform “first article” inspection and testing. There are more than 186 parts inspections that must be accomplished. Each one must meet the military standards for production. There is also a testing protocol called for in MIL-G-70790 (AR), the Military Specification for Gun, Machine, 40mm MK19 Mod 3, which must be strictly adhered to and passed with government inspectors viewing. In the previous article, we reviewed the relevant first parts of the testing we observed. Now it’s time to go live, but there are more checks to perform before we can start.

MK19 Mod 3 Specifications

In section 3.3 of the Mil-Spec, gun sights and bore calibration are checked. The wedge optic mount on the right side in the MWO has to be perfect for calibration, which we did check. Then, in 3.4 and 3.5, it’s an ammunition compatibility check to ensure all the various 40x53mm rounds will chamber and fire. Done. Then, as stated in 3.5.1, “Proof Testing: The machine gun shall withstand the firing of one M385A1 40mm cartridge without any evidence of part failure, deformation, or loosening.” Done.

The M385A1 round has a one-piece solid aluminum projectile with a rotating band in an M169 cartridge case. The propellant is M2 (4.2g, 0.15 oz.). The primer is an FED 215 percussion-type. The ogive of the M385 series matches the shape of the M430/A1 HEDP projectile, which has 45g (1.61 oz.) of Comp A5 explosive, a shaped charge with copper liner, and a pre-fragmented body. It’s just the ogive that matches. The M385 series frequently is indented at center, which is weight lightening to match the weight of the M430 round. The M385A1 uses M16A2 links only (The M385 can use either M16A1 or A2).

There are protocols, as mentioned. Firing must be done in a proper, specified cadence to allow proper cooling periods, simulating the long life of a MK19 Mod 3 in service. Cleaning intervals must be followed, as well as inspections, including some testing that might appear redundant, but is necessary to achieve the full results of the test.

Benchmarks in the MK19 Mod 3 MIL-Spec First Article Acceptance Test

(SADJ covered many of these items in the first article in this series, it is online at www.sadefensejournal.com, if you would like to refer to it).

Spoiler Alert: U.S. Ordnance’s MK19 Mod 3 program has passed all of the MIL-Spec testing and is in the third phase. They are the only source of U.S.-made MK19 Mod 3 machine guns accepted by the U.S. military.

• Pre-Firing Inspection There are 19 points to cover in this visual inspection.
• Ammunition Compatibility Check This is done with a variety of issue rounds supplied by the customer. There are 12 steps in this process, covered in our first article.
• Gun Sight and Bore Calibration Check There are 12 steps in this process, covered in this article.
• Proof Inspection This is a 3-part inspection involving firing on round of M385A1 ammunition.
• Firing Mode This is a test in 8 parts of the firing mechanism including the solenoid remote firing.
• Belt Pull A four-part test, done with free hanging 28-round belts, in two to four round bursts. We performed this test in the first article, but again throughout the second testing.
• Cycling Rate of Fire Measured with 10-round belts. Interestingly, the string of rounds is not averaged for rate of fire but measured individually to meet the required rate.
• Trunion Load Performed in the test report in this article.
• Accuracy At 1000m, a 14m target is set. Firing is done in 2-3 round bursts and all rounds must hit the target. Performed both test days we were there for.
• Post-Firing Cleaning At all times that are called for, a full inspection is done for proper cleaning and reassembly. Parts are inspected according to 9 focus points.
• Interchangeability In the first article we did, we covered some of this, but the further full testing has more of this, and a special station is set up.
• Reliability The longest part of the test, It begins with firing 192 rounds, and repeating it after rounds 152, 2304, 3456, 4608, and 5760. It is a specific cadence, intended to show any dispersion changes, or other issues.
• Full Cleaning and Inspection Specified at every 2,304 rounds. The guns are completely disassembled, visually and magnetic particle inspected, cleaned, and properly lubricated. Parts to lubricate are the bolt, barrel, firing pin cover, firing pin, bolt sear, firing pin sear, receiver, lock plate, and feed tray.

In Section 4.5.8 “Trunnion Load”

• A. For First Article Inspection, this test shall be performed concurrently with the belt pull test.
• B. Mount a Quartz Force Link Cell Kistler Model 9362 with a Charge Amplifier Model 504E and a Filter Model 545A (Or Equivalent) directly below the receiver, below the locking pin, integral with the mount and in alignment with the receiver buffers.
• C. Record a time-load trace of recoil using a Honeywell Visicorder Modl 1858 with a TCD (tape compatible differential) Amplifier Model 1887, or approved alternate equipment.
• D. Trunion load forces are to be measured at the mounting point. The last three (3) rounds of the belt fired shall be discounted.

The mount shown here is a special mount custom made to the government specification for the test. The Kistler Force meter is a very expensive and sensitive piece of equipment, yet it is built to handle the recoil forces of larger forces than will be in this test. The reason for testing during the belt-pull test are based on finding variations in the side weight of the belt, and as the belt lightens the forces will change. This data will be valuable to see the consistency of the construction. After this first article test, the trunnion load tests will be less frequent but based purely on the single rounds fired. 

After test-cycling the MK19 with dummy rounds, this is what they look like. Note that the links are de-linked and pushed to the rear. In the closeup, the male and female end of the links are evident.

The male end must be pulled out of the female, to the rear. Thus, when a can of ammunition is first opened, the first round will present with a female end of the link to feed into the feed tray. On cocking, the round is pulled to the rear, then slammed forward into the barrel, pushing the single link rearward on the body of the casing, and ejecting it. When fed into the HK GMG machine gun, because it pushes through forward, the belt must be presented opposite, with the male link into the feed first. This requires taking the belts out of the can before using and reversing the belt.

In U.S. Ordnance’s instructor classroom, they’ve made a custom factory cutaway of the MK19 Mod 3 as a training aid. We are curious if these will be available for contract sales.

“On accessible terrain he who occupies the High Ground and ensures lines of supplies will fight to advantage” -Master Sun Tzu

High Ground Defense is a relatively new name to the defense and small arms industry, but not the people involved. The HGD engineers have many decades of experience with small arms, and in specific, successful M134 series designs and manufacturing. They have spent the last several years preparing a pallet of solutions in small arms.

Aside from the M134HGD Gatling Gun system, HGD offers some very innovative, lightweight, belt-fed machine guns that include  evolved variants of the M249/Minimi in 5.56x45mm, 7.62x51mm, and 6.5 Creedmoor. Their company offers other services:

• Weapon System Design
• Land/Sea/Air Mounting Solutions
• Electrical/Avionics System Design/Integration
• Rapid Prototyping

The M134 “Minigun” series of Gatling guns are electrically driven, mechanically operated automatic machine guns. The distinction in description is important. If there is a belt of ammunition and the barrel cluster is rotated, the ammunition will cycle through the mechanism and fire when presented to full lock up to the barrel. This can be a very dangerous situation around persons unfamiliar with this cycle of operation.

The M134 was a downsizing of the M61 20mm Vulcan six-barreled automatic cannon that was made in 7.62x51mm for use on rotary- and fixed-wing aircraft during the Vietnam War. General Electric (Yes, the “GE Brings Good Things to Life” General Electric) was the design and build contractor. GE in Vermont designed and built many weapon systems in that time period in its skunk works in Burlington. See our interview with Bob Chiabrandy, designer of the M134 among others, “The Man Who Designed the World’s Fastest Gun” on smallarmsreview.com. The interview was done by George Kontis, small arms engineer extraordinaire, who worked with Bob at GE before George became FNMI’s chief engineer.

The M134 has gone through a number of upgrades by different manufactures, each trying to deal with some of the idiosyncrasies of the system. HGD’s engineering staff have many decades of experience in this area, and prospective end users should discuss the new delinker-feeder systems, variable rate of fire FCU, lightweight battery packages, caliber changes, and many other seriously functional upgrades.

High Ground Defense’s delinker-feeder loading system (above) is unique and truly easy to use. Sliding the ammunition belt into the delinker-feeder is generally a three-handed job even with some of the newer open-door types. The HGD system allows the belt to quickly be held in position to start feeding, with one hand locking in place, then the doors can be closed. Clearing a link jam is also much easier with the amount of access provided.

HGD’s feed cover (above) replaces the old assembly and safeing sector. The safeing sector’s job is to complete the elliptical path the bolts are traveling in, and when opened, interrupt that path, and keep the bolts from going into battery with a live round. Remember, this is a mechanically operated gun. If the bolt goes into battery on a live round, it will fire. Period. This is where many accidents and several deaths have occurred. The safeing sector must be opened before working on the gun, and it takes several minutes to do. With the HGD cover, the path is interrupted with one hand motion. Once the levers have been activated, no bolt can go into battery.

One of the newest designs that High Ground Defense is presenting is the ADVANTAGE 7.62x51mm Gatling Gun (above). It is a three barreled design, and very lightweight. The basic M134 gun weighs 85 pounds (39kg) and there have been some lighter models, however, there were issues. HGD’s ADVANTAGE is nearly half the weight, it weighs 46.45 pounds (21kg). A key feature is the mechanical barrel cluster rotational lock for absolute safety when the system is in the SAFE condition. It has similar barrel spacing, bolt assemblies, and bolt cam path as on existing M134 platforms, but uses an alternative ammunition feeding, delinking, and transfer mechanism. The drive system uses a brushless DC servo motor with closed-loop positional feedback for precise control of all rotating components. The gun has a longitudinal bolt searing safety mechanism, self-contained hardware barrel clamp with a threaded adapter for various muzzle devices. It has integrated suspension lug mounting provisions, as well as multiple feed inlet locations for optimal feed chute orientation. It’s 41.2 inches long (1046mm) and 8.5 x 7.7 inches in diameter (215mm x 195mm). 

High Ground Defense’s machine shop (above) features the DN Solutions (Doosan) DVF 4000 vertical 5-axis machining center (CNC). It has a 40-tool automatic tool changer which expands to 120 tools, allowing HGD to work with complex prototype designs and production. The DVF 4000 was chosen for its versatility. With linear scales on X, Y, and Z axis and rotary scales on the B and C axis, they can program extremely accurate positioning and repeatability. Manufacturing Engineer Jay Goodrich is intimately familiar with DN (Doosan) systems, having been involved in specifying, selling, and installing CNC machines in the past. The Lynx 2100LSY­ horizontal lathe is another DN Solutions offering. A highly accurate CNC turning machine, it has wider support structures for the X and Z axis, as well as the tailstock traverse. It’s very stable, allowing for very accurate prototyping and production of parts. Like many modern manufacturers, HGD is heavy on engineering and quality prototyping with these capabilities, while sub-contracting some parts and operations to trusted vendors.

The HGD 249 is standard size, (above) and the HGD 249CQB (not shown, but we were enamored of it) has an ultra compact receiver. Born from the M249 Para-style machine guns, the CQB system in 5.56x45mm has an overall length of 32 inches (813mm), a barrel length of 9.75 inches (248mm), and a weight of under 14 pounds (less than 6.35kg). The shortened steel receiver has an ArmorLube finish and a hard chrome-lined quick-change barrel. There is an optional folding stock. The rate of fire is around 800rpm. With the short barrel, the effective range is claimed as 800m. The 249 variants can be ordered without the magazine well capability. 

The HGD 7.62mm SAW is a belt-fed 7.62x51mm NATO light machine gun. There is no magazine feed, just the M13 disintegrating links. HGD also offers this in 6.5 Creedmoor as well as with suppressors. The steel receiver has an ArmorLube finish and the quick-change barrel is hard chrome-lined. It uses a mono-block gas system.

This was the ninth version of the International Exhibition of Technology for the Defense and Prevention of Disasters, including cybersecurity and drone technology. There were 27 countries represented at the show, 170 Peruvian and international exhibitors, and 30,000 Peruvian and international visitors. In short, SITDEF is a mature defense show, heavily attended, and prominent in the region.

SITDEF attracts many small arms manufacturers from outside Peru, but SITDEF is so much more. Vehicle manufactures, an entire section on arial drones, as well as a full cybersecurity conference are in the main building. In the entry building, rescue and fire services are featured. Visitors are sure to appreciate a show like this where the local military puts out displays of what is in use, as well as what has been in use.

Backgrounder: JAPANESE EMBASSY HOSTAGE CRISIS

On 17 December 1996 in Lima, Peru, 14 members of the Túpac Amaru Revolutionary Movement took hundreds of high-level diplomats, government and military officials, and business executives as hostages at the ambassador’s residence in San Isidro. These people were attending a party at the official residence of the Japanese ambassador to Peru, Morihisa Aoki, in celebration of Emperor Akihito’s 63rd birthday. The crisis lasted until 22 April 1997. Túpac Amaru held 72 hostages that entire time. Called the MRTA, this was not the “Shining Path” rebel group but MRTA was also Marxist/communist and wanted to tear down the government. On 22 April 1997, after long preparation, tunneling, smuggling microphones in, and secretly instructing the hostages what to do to keep them away from the commandos who were coming to rescue them, the rescue began. It was fast, incredibly well executed, and all 14 of the Túpac Amaru members died in the assault.

During each of the editions of SITDEF, the heroes of the operation are remembered, usually featuring the actual diorama of the ambassador’s residence used to plan the assault, and many of the weapons of the dead guerillas are on display. This year, the display was somewhat toned down, but the event was commemorated with pride by the commando forces involved and attendees alike.

This brings us to a very interesting collaboration: the American company DS Arms joining with Carlos Tello Aliaga, Rear Admiral AP (ret.) for the elite DS Arms Training Academy, a firearms training center. He entered the Naval Academy in 1978 and retired from the Navy in 2013, always involved in the fight against terrorism. He was responsible for all planning on the explosive charges for the UEC Special Combat Unit, that allowed the entry of the commandos.

The DS Arms Training academy is near Lima Cienega. It is 16,000 square meters, with a 250 meter rifle range that can reach out to 650 meters, a 70-meter carbine range,  three 50-meter pistol ranges, a shoot house, and a high angle shooting tower. This is one of the best firearms training academies in South America.

Disenos Casanave International S.A.C. is a Peruvian company that is making a new M2HB mount, as well as a wide variety of munitions.

FAMILY DAY AT SITDEF

Some exhibitors tend to dread the “family day” if they’re not prepared. In the case of Peru, there is a tremendous public support for the men and women who wear the uniform, as well as a massive interest in the weapons and equipment. The tanks outside are popular picture spots, as are the various Special Forces and Marines who appear to really enjoy talking with the children and family members. There are lots of outdoor events in an arena atmosphere, like firefighter contests, demonstrations of rappelling, helicopter insertions and the crowds love this. The children have an amazing time, meeting the (to them) larger than life men and women in uniform, there is a lot of public education going on. As far as exhibitors, most clean up anything in their booths that is not child friendly, and either shut down for the day or enjoy some interaction with the families.

SITDEF SHOW MASTER INFORMATION

Next event: May 2025 (Exact dates TBD)

Location Cuartel General del Ejercito
Lima, Peru
Recommended: Entrance Number 4

Website www.sitdef.com

Telephone (+511) 578-1800
E-Mail info@sitdef.com

Focus Defense technologies (land, sea, and air) and natural disaster prevention, and cybersecurity.

Show Dress Most attendees are in uniform. Business attire recommended.

Weather In Lima, May weather averages a high of 72°F and low of 63°F. Rain is unlikely.

Hotel Hints Miraflores is a safe area of Lima about 20 minutes away from the exhibition. Go to tripadvisor.com for user reviews and ratings on hotels.

Power & Plug Types Power: 220 V / 60 Hz. Plugs: Type A and C (North American/Japanese 2-blade plug and European 2-pin plug).

Country Warnings Check visa and vaccination requirements before your trip. There is much debate as to whether the tap water is drinkable in Lima. Violent crime and theft are common, so be alert.

Cultural Hints Primary language: Spanish. Restaurants usually have smoking and non-smoking sections, so remember to ask for your preference. Lunch and dinner are eaten later, after 1:30pm and 8:30pm, respectively. Women dress modestly in Peru, showing a lot of skin will cause some to stare.

Cuisine Along with local cuisine, Chinese, Japanese, and Italian are popular in Lima. One much-loved subset of this is chifa, which is Chinese food made with local Peruvian ingredients. Coastal cuisine has lots of fresh seafood. Mountain areas have many unique specialties, among them cuy (guinea pig) and alpaca. Some recommended Lima restaurants: Jose Antonio (San Isidro, Peruvian), Wa Lok (Miraflores, chifa), and Bodega de la Trattoria (Miraflores, Italian).

Tipping Most restaurants add 10% gratuity, but it is customary to leave more if you receive good service. Taxi Drivers: do not tip. Hotel Porters: 2 to 3 soles per bag. Tour Guides: 15 to 30 soles per day. Housekeeping: 9 to 15 soles per day.

Currency Official Currency: Peruvian Nuevo Sol (PEN), but many places also accept U.S. Dollars.

Getting Around If possible, do not hail taxis. Arrange with your hotel for an airport pick-up and then obtain a reliable taxi dispatch phone number. Negotiate the price for your taxi fare prior to initiating the trip.

Tourism Lima Vision (limavision.com) is a safe, reliable and inexpensive tour company for the Lima area. Some of the most popular Lima sights include Museo Larco, Inglesia de San Francisco, Miraflores and the Larcomar shopping center, and the ancient ruins of Pachacamac. Most tourists who visit Peru bypass Lima for the Nazca Lines and Machu Picchu, but these side trips will take several extra days, so be sure to research thoroughly before booking your trip.

Since U.S. Ordnance received the NSN and contract, there are now over 186 parts inspections that must be accomplished. Each one must meet the military standards for production. There is also a protocol testing called for in MIL-G-70790 (AR), the Military Specification for Gun, Machine, 40mm MK19 Mod 3, which must be strictly adhered to and passed with government inspectors viewing the proceedings. In this article, we’ll review relevant first parts of the testing we observed. 

Section 3.7 Marking: Each machine gun and each part for which marking is prescribed shall be clearly marked in accordance with MIL-STD-130. Each receiver shall be identified with a serial number which shall be assigned by the procuring activity. The markings in this photo are the correct ones according to the MIL-STD. The barrel markings are as well, but parts like the barrel also receive a “PM” mark for “Proof” and “Magnetic Particle Tested” (See the M249 article in this issue for Magnaflux procedures).

Finished MK19 barrels waiting for assembly. As part of the MIL-STD, the grooves must be checked for height all through samples of the production barrels. Here, an extremely thin shim is cut cross-sectionally of the middle of the barrel, and the consistency and depth of grooves related to lands are checked, as well as finish depth. The cutaway barrel is for reference on the chamber and how the projectile is entering the grooves in the bore. Obviously, these are destructive tests and done on random barrels during the specification match testing.

In Section 4.5.8 Trunnion Load, a. for First Article Inspection, this test shall be performed concurrently with the belt pull test. B. Mount a Quartz Force Link Cell Kistler Model 9362 with a Charge Amplifier Model 504E and a Filter Model 545A (Or Equivalent) directly below the receiver, below the locking pin, integral with the mount and in alignment with the receiver buffers. C. Record a time -load trace of recoil using a Honeywell Visicorder Modl 1858 with a TCD (tape compatible differential) Amplifier Model 1887, or approved alternate equipment. D. Trunion load forces are to be measured at the mounting point. The last three (3) rounds of the belt fired shall be discounted. The mount shown here is a special mount custom made to the government specification for the test. The Kistler Force meter is a very expensive and sensitive piece of equipment, yet it is built to handle greater recoil forces than it will measure in this test. The reason for testing during the belt-pull test is based on finding variations in the side weight of the belt, and as the belt lightens the forces will change. This data will be valuable to see the consistency of the construction. After this first article test, the trunnion load tests will be less frequent but based purely on single rounds fired.

In the next issue of Small Arms Defense Journal, we will be joining U.S. Ordnance for the full-tilt firing part of the test. The ammo is lined up, the testing fixtures are ready, and we’ll be doing cadenced endurance testing, temperature testing, belt-pull, cyclic rate of fire, angle of fire, firing modes, accuracy, reliability, and a host of other tests. The full trunnion load test will be done several times through the testing. Be sure to join us!

A bit of background: During the war in Afghanistan in the mid-2000s, many soldiers were questioning the terminal ballistics—the stopping effect—that the 5.56x45mm NATO round had at longer distances. A rifle’s purpose in war, of shooting an enemy soldier, is not so much to kill as it is to stop him from continuing what he’s doing… to make him cease being a threat. Many coalition soldiers have stories about hitting the enemy, center of mass, at 600 meters only to see the enemy soldier fire an RPG or DShK in return, dying later, bleeding out 100 meters away. The projectile did not do the “stopping” part of the job.

In the mid-2000s, Karl Lewis of LMT Defense, and Greg Felton of Law Enforcement International Ltd. (LEI) in the U.K., were involved in a program for another client. The requirement was for a reliable, maneuverable 7.62x51mm select-fire rifle. The rifle that LMT & LEI provided was nothing short of amazing. Concurrently, the British Ministry of Defence came out with a requirement for a Designated Marksman Rifle in 7.62×51, semi-auto only. The basics were there, Karl had to remove the full auto feature and add a few needed design changes and they submitted what is now adopted as the L129A1 “Sharpshooter.” The weapon was an outstanding success, and after Afghanistan, the weapon system – initially purchased as a temporary measure—was adopted as a permanent system.  

Author’s note: We have the L129A2 system heading to us for a full test and report. Watch for that. We’ll compare the caliber performances, as well.