The biannual Defence and Security Equipment International (DSEI) show, billed as “the world-leading event that brings together the global defense and security sector to innovate and share knowledge” took place September 12-15, 2017, at the ExCel London center. And indeed, DSEI represents the entire supply chain on an unrivalled scale.

DSEI 2017 had five key sector-focused zones: air, land, naval, security and joint, as well as international pavilions, all showcasing the latest equipment and systems. The air zone featured its strongest aerospace offering to date, comprising fixed, rotary wing and unmanned platforms. The land zone for DSEI 2017 grew by 52 percent and surpassed the achievements of the 2015 event by introducing new features such as a dedicated showcase.

The naval zone was the most comprehensive dedicated naval zone in DSEI history. The dedicated security zone showcased security equipment and systems to counter priority threats, such as cyber attacks and terrorism, as well as an enlarged Special Forces and tactical-equipment area. DSEI 2017 saw an enhanced joint zone with an abundance of products from exhibitors within the following sectors: C4ISTAR, communications, DIO, electronic warfare, joint enablers, logistics, medical, and robotics and telemedicine. More than 40 national pavilions were featured at DSEI 2017, bringing more international exhibitors to the event than ever before. The U.S. pavilion presence this year was more than 12 percent bigger compared to the 2015 U.S. pavilion.

The following product information as well as additional information may be found on individual company websites.

DRAGON-C Thermal Weapon Sight is an ultra-lightweight, multipurpose thermal weapon sight. It utilizes the latest uncooled thermal cameras and optical technology to provide a compact sight capable of being used mounted in-line on a weapon or it can be used in a handheld role for observation/surveillance.

On bipod, the .338 caliber MRAD. The MRAD rifle’s user-changeable barrel system is available in .338 Lapua Magnum, .338 Norma Magnum, .300 Norma Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, .308 Winchester, 7mm Remington Magnum, .260 Remington and 6.5 Creedmoor. Clockwise from left: the fluted .338 barrel, carbon wrapped .300 Win Mag barrel and .308 barrel. The precision grade barrel can be removed by simply loosening two bolts using a standard T-30 Torx wrench. Besides reducing maintenance and logistical burdens, this unique design allows for user-level caliber interchangeability and serviceability with the MRAD rifle’s barrel kits.

Penn Arms product model number P540-1 is a 40mm pump multi-launcher, including a 5-inch cylinder with a fixed stock and combo rail (PGL-65 40). Penn Arms 40mm launchers are manufactured using 4140 hardened steel, 6061-T6 mil-spec anodized aluminum and DuPont super-tough glass-filled nylon. These launchers are lightweight, versatile and used worldwide.

SAKER Fused Weapon Sight is a high performance, in-line fused weapon sight combining image intensified and thermal-imaging technologies. It gives the operator a 24-hour capability to rapidly detect, recognize and identify targets in all weathers and battlefield conditions. This fully qualified, military-fused weapon sight is specifically designed for short- and medium-range surveillance and target engagement.

The iSeries 1209 custom single-pistol case is a custom waterproof case designed to fit a single pistol along with accessories.

RUAG is a global technology group for aerospace and defense. Headquartered in Berne, Switzerland, RUAG has production facilities in Switzerland, Germany, Sweden, Finland, France, Austria, Hungary, Australia and the U.S. with a workforce of 8,700 employees worldwide. RUAG is a strategic technology partner for land forces, law enforcement, rescue and security organizations and the defense and security industry. RUAG is the leading independent supplier for the European Space Agency (ESA), supporting some of the most challenging space missions with a comprehensive portfolio. RUAG Ammotec is a leading specialist in sophisticated ammunition technology, and is Europe’s market leader in small-caliber ammunition, offering a broad and deep portfolio for standard and precision-performance, small-caliber ammunition. Their portfolio also includes the advanced 120mm COBRA Mortar System, RUAG cyber-training range, maintenance, repair and overhaul and a state-of-the-art add-on protection system for armored vehicles. RUAG is delivering a broad range of training solutions around the world, covering live, virtual and constructive simulation.

Trijicon, renowned for its innovative applications of tritium and advanced fiber optics, displayed (among others) its light-aiming systems. Trijicon manufactures advanced riflescopes and sights for tactical and sporting applications. Customers include the U.S. Marines, U.S. Army, U.S. special operations forces, U.S. government, and state and local law enforcement. Trijicon’s scopes are fast becoming the preferred tool among hunters as well as shooting enthusiasts worldwide.

At DSEI 2017, Thales Australia launched the next generation F90 rifle, the F90 MBR (modular bullpup rifle), seen here with the 14-inch barrel unit as a CQB rifle and the Trijicon MRO Red Dot Optic. The new MRO Patrol adds lens covers to both the ocular and objective lens. Trijicon’s MRO Patrol provides proven features with eight brightness settings, including two night-vision compatibilities, plus one extremely bright setting for use with lights or in very bright conditions. It gives five years of continuous use on a single 2032 battery. It features a light and strong newly designed quick release mount that’s available in either full height or one-third iron sight co-witness. Constructed of 7075-T6 aluminum, the precision mount provides return to zero accuracy and is MIL-SPEC drop-test rated.

Swiss VP9 Integrally Suppressed Pistol
Jonathan Ferguson | Photography N.R. Jenzen-Jones/ARES

The manually operated, integrally suppressed VP9 pistol by B&T AG (formerly Brügger & Thomet) came as something of a surprise when it was launched in 2014. It is an intriguing contemporary-civilian take on a World War II British-design for a military covert-operations pistol. The Royal Armouries, whose collection includes more examples of the original Welrod and Welwand pistols than any other in the world, acquired the example pictured here and seen in the accompanying video. This was, in part, the rationale for its acquisition. As befits its intended veterinary role, the pistol came in a discrete briefcase with interchangeable standard and training suppressors, spare magazine, rubber wipes, screwdriver, suppressor disassembly tool, cleaning tools, and a clamp-on Picatinny rail adapter for any accessories that the user might deem appropriate (most likely a flashlight).

The basic design is pure Welrod, with tubular body, ported barrel, manually operated twin-lugged cock-on close rotary bolt, and the detachable magazine serving as the pistol grip. The trigger remains a simple push-rod that directly impinges upon the sear in order to release the internal striker. Most importantly, it retains the basic design of the Welrod suppressor as well, with a stack consisting of metal baffles and rubber wipes. Wipes are rarely used by modern-day suppressor makers, but can still be useful when striving for the quietest report possible, as in this case. As with the Welrod, the ported barrel allows sufficient drop in pressure to decelerate and render the bullet subsonic, eliminating the supersonic “crack” that would otherwise be produced. The “training” suppressor is a more modern machined- and ported-design, but offers a substantially reduced sound suppression capability, intended for practice without having to clean and/or service the primary unit. The VP9 is chambered for the 9 x 19 mm caliber—a characteristic again shared with the later Welrod, which had originally been designed in the .32 ACP for maximum sound-suppression potential.

However, there are some significant changes embodied in the B&T redesign. The VP9 is considerably shorter, more compact and lighter (see below) than the Welrod; the latter being 360 mm long and 1.5 kilograms in weight. Due to the truncated overall length of the gun, the barrel is also significantly shorter than the 3.74 inches of the .32 Welrod at just under 2 inches. The scoop on top of the pistol behind the breech has been significantly enlarged, presumably to reduce weight and possibly aid in ejection. Whereas the only synthetic material found on the Welrod was its rubber grip sleeve, the VP9 makes more extensive use of modern polymer, which comprises the grip frame, trigger and grip safety shoes, magazine release and the magazine casing. The trigger guard is sheet steel; all other components are forged or machined steel. The magazine release has been relocated from a lever inside the trigger guard (or the spring catch on the back of the magazine in the original model) to a push-button on the left side of the grip. This is safer and more ergonomic, albeit the button does not sit under the first pad of the thumb as on most modern pistols; this is not a weapon intended for swift reloads under pressure. The grip safety is now a polymer button rather than a sheet-metal lever and must be depressed in order to retract the bolt. The radioactive radium-painted night sights are gone, replaced by modern Glock-style white dot and U-shaped markers. The front sight is located at the breech as in the later (9mm) Welrod, rather than on the end of the suppressor as in the early (.32 ACP) pattern.

Swiss VP9 Integrally Suppressed Pistol

Despite the family resemblance and the tactical potential of the pistol, there is no indication from B&T that the VP9 is intended for military or law enforcement purposes. Indeed, the original niche role of the Welrod is probably best served today by other weapons capable of delivering greater firepower more rapidly. The VP9 is likely used by vets and others with a need to humanely and quietly dispatch wounded or sick animals. It would nonetheless be interesting to compare the capabilities of the two pistols given the improvements made but also the closeness of the two designs.

A YouTube video entitled B&T Vp 9 calibro 9 mm Parabellum suggests a 120.5-peak decibel level for the VP9. Although American OSS testing produced a figure of just 73 dB for the Welrod, this was not carried out with modern equipment (by way of comparison, an unsuppressed .32 ACP pistol produced just 105 dB when tested by the OSS). Two post-war tests (1968 and 2002) show that the .32 Welrod was, like the VP9, capable of 120 dB, or a noise reduction of around 32 dB. This in turn is comparable with the best of the modern detachable suppressors when run “wet” although the VP9 achieves this in a form factor comparable to an unsuppressed compact pistol.

The Armouries have purchased two examples of the VP9, and ARES hopes in the future to test-fire one of them alongside an original Welrod.

This article is part of a series of collaborative works produced by ARES researcher Ian McCollum, who also runs the Forgotten Weapons blog and YouTube channel, in conjunction with ARES technical specialist Jonathan Ferguson and ARES director N.R. Jenzen-Jones. Using access to unique collections facilitated by ARES, the series examines a range of interesting weapons in both video and print formats.

Special thanks to the National Firearms Centre at the Royal Armouries, who graciously allowed ARES access to their world-class collection for this and other videos and photos.

Philip A. Luty 9mm Submachine Guns

Philip A. Luty 9mm Submachine Guns
Jonathan Ferguson | Photography N.R. Jenzen-Jones/ARES

The weapons examined and photographed for this article are the original examples of what the designer, Philip A. Luty of West Yorkshire, U.K., dubbed the “9mm submachine gun.” This was part of a series of designs that Luty called Expedient Homemade Firearms (also the title of his series of instructional books, published by the U.S.-based Paladin Press). It made extensive use of folded sheet metal, machine-bar stock and household DIY-items such as washers and Allen hex screws. Even parts that may be considered readily available in many states—such as the pistol grip and magazine—were scratch-built. However, as a result, no attempt has been made at barrel rifling, a shoulder stock or the provision of even basic iron sights. This, together with a lack of factory-style tools and test equipment, results in sub-optimal quality control and is likely to seriously compromise the capability of the weapon. Blowback submachine guns may be simple and cheap to produce, but they are highly sensitive to internal geometry and details of magazine-design in particular. The capabilities of these two examples, one of which is fitted with a simple sound suppressor, are unclear. Luty’s very conviction shows that at least one of them did constitute a firearm by the standard of English law, but reliable functioning would not be necessary to prove this legal point.

Luty’s clear—indeed, his stated—intent was to make a political point on the subject of gun control. If a firearm could be manufactured entirely from scratch using commonly available materials, then anyone with the requisite skill would be able to bypass national or local firearms law and restrictions on sales. This was also the motivation of U.S.-based Defense Distributed when they released their own open source and craft-produced Liberator pistol in 2013, relying on 3D-printing technologies. The important difference (arguments over the control of information notwithstanding) is that it was quite legal under U.S. federal and local law for Defense Distributed to manufacture and test-fire their prototypes. Unfortunately, Luty manufactured and test-fired his prototypes illicitly. In fact, this seems to have been quite deliberate; unsurprisingly, he soon ran afoul of local law enforcement. Luty’s case came to court in 1998: There he admitted manufacturing of a prohibited weapon and possession of ammunition and was convicted and received a sentence of four years in prison. Several further developments in Luty’s case were reported in the local press.

Readers should not assume that Luty’s efforts have made homemade firearms easy to produce. In fact, they remain quite sophisticated pieces of engineering. Despite Luty’s label of “expedient,” his guns are in fact true “craft-produced” weapons, replicating the features—if not the quality, accuracy or reliability—of an original-purpose firearm. For this reason they require considerable skill to replicate successfully. Furthermore, the manufacturer must also obtain quantities of suitable ammunition. In any case, although Luty’s pattern weapons have appeared in other parts of the world (for example in Romania and Australia), criminals in the U.K. do not appear to have made any great use of them.

Philip A. Luty 9mm Submachine Guns

Important Note: Manufacturing, or even an attempted manufacturing, of an unlicensed firearm is a serious crime in many jurisdictions around the world. In addition, even possessing copies (hard or soft) of Luty’s designs and instructions could be deemed criminal under certain circumstances. Would-be firearms designers should take note of and abide by relevant national and local laws. Please note that this article is provided for educational purposes only. ARES is an apolitical organization.

This article is part of a series of collaborative works produced by ARES researcher Ian McCollum, who also runs the Forgotten Weapons blog and YouTube channel, in conjunction with ARES technical specialist Jonathan Ferguson and ARES director N.R. Jenzen-Jones. Using access to unique collections facilitated by ARES, the series examines a range of interesting weapons in both video and print formats.

Special thanks to the National Firearms Centre at the Royal Armouries, who graciously allowed ARES access to their world-class collection to examine this and other arms and munitions.

British Besal (Faulkner) Light Machine Gun

British Besal (Faulkner) Light Machine Gun
Jonathan Ferguson | Photography N.R. Jenzen-Jones/ARES

The Besal or BESAL was, in essence, a simplified derivative of the British Bren, itself a variant of the Czech ZB-26 light machine gun (LMG). A British Small Arms Committee (SAC) minute of June 1940 established the requirement of a “Garage Hands Gun” or what is typically referred to today as a “last-ditch” gun (Neil Grant, 2013). However, this was not in fact “last-ditch” at all, but an attempt to get ahead of the manufacturing curve and accelerate production of the LMG, which at that time was the very basis of British infantry section (squad) firepower. The standard .303 cartridges would remain, and the design would retain the barrel and magazine of the Bren, which was already plentiful in the supply chain. As Grant notes, it was even suggested that spare Bren barrels could be taken from stores to get the new gun into production as fast as possible.

The War Office contract for the prototype gun was given to an experienced company, Birmingham Small Arms (BSA), in 1941. The lead designer was Harry Faulkner, who had already produced the Besa Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) machine gun. BSA delivered the first prototype of the new gun by March 1942. This retained a Bren-style cocking handle, but was further simplified in August 1942, as detailed below.

Description

The weapon is substantially fabricated from sheet-metal pressings that are welded together. As a hand-built prototype of what would have been a rather crude weapon, the Besal is well finished, with the welds being largely ground flush and finished smooth with a deep-blue protective coating. Despite the intent to utilize Bren barrels in production, the barrel on the prototype is proprietary, with a built-in tubular flash suppressor, a front sight/gas block clamped around the gas port, and a carrying handle. There is no adjustable gas regulator as on the Bren. The rear sight pivots fore and aft to switch between its 300- and 500-yard apertures. The barrel is detached by cocking the weapon and rotating the removal lever rearward, allowing the user to pull it forward off the weapon.

Disassembly is fairly straightforward. Once the buttstock has been detached by means of a simple trumpet-headed cross-bolt, an unusual knurled plug under the barrel releases the working parts for removal out of the rear of the receiver. The dust cover is a hinged flap that locks in place under the magazine catch when no magazine is fitted. The bipod is a heavy-machined unit with a very positive deployment action. Despite extensive use of sheet metal, the weapon is close in weight to the Bren. Aside from the hefty bipod, the stampings are relatively thick, the barrel heavy and no lightening cuts are made to the machined components. The bolt carrier group is based upon the Bren, but redesigned for a minimum of machining operations, giving it a bulky, square appearance. The weapon has no conventional cocking handle; instead it’s cocked by sliding the pistol grip. This must be released with a rather awkward-located lever at the top of the backstrap, before sliding the unit forward to collect the bolt group, and then dragged backward against spring pressure to hold the bolt to the rear on the sear. The bolt is locked with a vertical-acting bar at the rear of the bolt carrier. There is no provision for semi-automatic fire. Furniture is Spartan, with a pair of wooden grip panels and a matching set of butt-stock panels covering the hollow metal butt-stock.

Why “Besal?”

As ARES researcher Ian McCollum notes in a video, there is no definitive explanation of the acronym “BESAL.” However, this is because the name is rooted in period British slang and is not really an acronym. “Beezer,” “Beesa” or “Besa” were common phonetic names of the company acronym BSA therefore the name applied to the company’s AFV/tank gun (a copy of the Czech ZB-53). Due to the modern assumption that it is an acronym, it is frequently written as “BESA,” but should more properly be named “Besa.” This explains the name “Besa” but for “BESAL” some educated guesswork is required. With a new machine-gun design on the books and a precedent for incorporating the company name in a gun’s designation, the most likely explanation is that BSA opted to add “Light” to “Besa” to arrive at “Besa Light” machine gun, or “BesaL” for short. The “L” would differentiate the gun from the existing “Besa” AFV/tank gun. “BesaL” being rather awkward to look at, “Besal” seems to have been the preferred rendering (although “BESAL” remains common today).

Nonetheless, the Besal was renamed “Faulkner” after its designer in January 1943. Grant suggests that the renaming was a move to distance the LMG from its AFV MG stablemate—Besal and Besa being too similar to one another.

The Bren Soldiers On

Unlike the Besa—which was formally adopted and used on armoured vehicles—the Besal did not see serial production. By 1943, supply worries over the Bren had eased and along with them the need for the Besal/Faulkner. It never entered production and instead the Bren continued into Marks III and IV. The Bren was retained post-war in the L4 variant chambered for 7.62 x 51mm (which itself passed through several variants), finally being withdrawn completely circa 1991—nearly half a century after its potential replacement had been “binned.”

This article is part of a series of collaborative works produced by ARES researcher Ian McCollum, who also runs the Forgotten Weapons blog and YouTube channel, in conjunction with ARES technical specialist Jonathan Ferguson and ARES director N.R. Jenzen-Jones. Using access to unique collections facilitated by ARES, the series examines a range of interesting weapons in both video and print formats.

Special thanks to Neil Grant.

This article is reproduced courtesy of Armament Research Services (ARES). See www.armamentresearch.com for further original content.

Armalite Carry Handle mount.

THE APPLICATION

The tactics and strategies on today’s battlefield are always evolving, so too must our weapons evolve to remain viable and advantageous. Our weapons must be universal and adaptable. The user of any weapon is always better served by a specialized system. Every combat soldier has a role, and every combat soldier’s weapon must be ideally configured to serve that role.

Modern weapons may be asked to don any number of peripheral accessories—Optics: scopes, red dots, magnifiers, night-vision or thermal ocular; Illuminators and target indicators: those that project light and aiming dots both within and outside our natural visual spectrum; altimeters, GPS units, range finders, clinometers and ballistic computers; bayonets, bipods and slings attachment points; forward pistol grips, hand-stops and barricade stops; less-lethal launchers and direct impact devices; belt-boxes; flare launchers; grenade launchers; short-barreled or AOW shotguns; and sheathed knives, spare magazine holders, ammo caddies and battery storage. The absurd is not off-limits to the well accessorized rifle of today. Bottle openers, cup holders, name tags, repelling gear and even a chainsaw have all found their way onto the handguard of an AR-15.

AK/SVD style side mounting scope base with SVD optic, showing the inside edges of the rail and clamp system which secures the mount to the rail on so-equipped AK or SVD rifles.

OPTIC MOUNTS

Weaver

The Weaver, by record and merit, deserves an honorable mention. It is the genesis for our current, most successful and widely adopted mounting system, the Picatinny. It is difficult to identify the Weaver’s exact birthdate; suffice to say that it’s old. One can find photo evidence of its commercial presence around 1950. Weaver’s firm (and continuing) hold on the market stems from the fact that it is a highly affordable scope mount system that is easily adapted to fit almost every commercially available rifle. It’s as near a universal system as was ever created. The simplicity and foresight in the design suggests true genius by the developer. The system is based on a simple aluminum extrusion with the operative profile being that of a truncated or flattened hexagon. The wide flat on the dorsal plane features cross-slots, or longitudinally bifurcated cylindrical voids that mechanically lock the binding screws in place. The lateral features of the weaver are opposing convex 90-degree shoulders set at a 45-degree aspect to the top plane. The interfacing ring-mounts are expected to grab the rail below its widest section on the flats that recede back toward the weapon. The sixth side would be the contact patch with the weapon itself. This surface is varied in height and contour to place the upper five planes in common alignment with neighboring mount bases. The weaver system was created with the ideal plan that only a few dozen mounts could satisfy any mounting requirement across hundreds of gun and optic combinations. And it does this with surprising perfection. Confer and verify with any man born before 1960 who still hunts with a blued-steel rifle stocked in real wood. He likely has a set of 60-year-old weaver mounts on that rifle.

The design of the weaver rail, as it is intended to interface with the ring-mount, provides a stable and positive mechanical lock. The ring-mount might engage the top surface and the lower part of the opposed 90’s on the sides. Or the ring may only grab firmly onto the upper and lower faces of the 90-degree side rails—or a combination of these conditions. In all cases, the ring-mount cannot slip or fall off the rail; but only if the ring’s binding screw remains tight. Of course, ideal conditions never prevail in the real world. As scopes get larger and heavier, rifles get lighter, and cartridges become impossibly powerful, stresses on optic mounts can exceed the strength of the materials used in their construction. So, there are indeed shortcomings and downfalls to the weaver system. Heavy recoil can overcome friction and cause a weaver ring to shift on the mount. The round cross-slot does not provide a true vertical abutment to resist recoil, so any shifting of a weaver ring in its base can result in vertical displacement as the ring climbs out of the slot. Even a slight shift on the base can cause the scope to lose zero. Worst case, this scenario can result in a split ring or deformed clamp that can no longer maintain a positive mechanical purchase on the rail.

The Weaver system can be manufactured without the need for high precision manufacturing processes. This is the true genius behind the design. Except that nowadays, there are enough variations in ring mounts and “weaver-type” or genuine imitation bases that some combinations are totally non-functional. The proliferation and pirating of the weaver system kills the guarantee of any level of mounting strength or even compatibility or consistency of datum surfaces and dimensions and spacing between locking surfaces and cross-slots. And of great import today, as we demand flexibility and modularity in everything, a weaver-type mount and ring combination is unlikely to maintain zero after being removed and subsequently reattached. This is all unacceptable to the discerning shootist of today. Modern Picatinny mounting solutions all seem to guarantee 100% return-to zero satisfaction. So, our connection to and application for the weaver may have seen its day. This might see the kind of break up that begins and ends with, “Weaver … we love you, but …” There is in fact little need for concern, however. Weaver does in fact now offer a line of “tactical” mounts and bases. The bases are made from steel and profiled to meet M1913 Picatinny rail spec. The ring mounts are massive and overbuilt from 7075 aircraft-grade aluminum. These are not your grand-dad’s weaver mounts. Weaver’s tactical line surpasses expectation. They’re made from supreme materials and manufactured to exacting standards.

The Picatinny and one of its accessory items. This mounting interface is the most reliable and repeatable for high-load applications. Under recoil and leverage applied by the shooter, a bipod mount may be asked to bear hundreds of pounds of force on a very small area.

ArmaLite

The AR-10 carry handle was first used as a scope mount around 1959 by the Dutch. The internal contour and structure of the carry handle on the ArmaLite AR-10 and later the AR-15 were seemingly designed with the forethought that they would perform as a base for optics. The contour where the mount meets the optic includes opposing 45-degree shoulders that serve to consistently align the optic as it is drawn into the wedge formed by the interior angles. The system only requires a single mounting fastener—usually a knurled nut or screw. One advantage to this mount’s design is its integration into an existing feature of the rifle—no intermediary mounts or adapters are required. Thus, it is light, strong and repeatable. And this mount pattern was designed to maintain full utility of the fixed iron-sights on the weapon. The downside to this system is that the shooter cannot make a solid cheek weld—the optic is placed so high above the intended line of sight, an add-on cheek riser must be used to elevate the comb to an operative height. But in doing so, the iron sights cannot be used. Weapon utility is compromised in this condition. To maintain full utility, the rifle can be aimed and fired with the head suspended above the stock comb. But accuracy and shooter comfort (and thus his proficiency) during prolonged use are both equally compromised.

After the AR-10 and AR-15 projects had moved on, the great men of ArmaLite would eventually produce the AR-18. This was an attempt to broaden the company’s reach and market share by offering a more affordable option to the AR-15. This weapon platform included an optic base that was formed in the shape of a triangular dovetailed wedge, tapering toward the rear. The dovetail was engineered and oriented such that the scope, while mounted, could only shoot tighter onto the dovetail under recoil. The mount uses a spring plunger to keep the mount pressed firmly forward onto the dovetail in case of reverse recoil or incidental rearward pressure. And as a failsafe, the optic mount incorporated a swinging lock that would be actuated by the user’s thumb before the dovetail could be disengaged. The system allowed for one-handed attachment or removal of the optic from the firing position. As excellent a design as it is, the exact pattern has only ever been used on the AR-18 and its commercial variant, the AR-180. It is an excellent and ingenious device that deserves another chance at widespread success. It is the opinion and wish of the man writing this that Armalite should bring this mount back to commercial presence immediately.

The basic idea of the wedge-type mount may be attributable or derived from other sources. Years before the AR-18 existed, the BALVAR scope and mount from Bausch and Lomb relied on a spring plunger to keep the scope wedged into an adjustable base. The presence of a spring plunger used to press the mount into a wedge is present in several European optics mounting systems. SIG used something akin on the STG57 rifle. We see more modern generation of SIG rifles still using a similar mounting system—with a spring plunger forcing the scope base onto a triangular dovetail wedge (although quite small in comparison to the ArmaLite). Some mounts for the SIG system feature a mechanically arrested plunger to provide a more positive lock than spring pressure alone.

Warsaw Pact Rail

The Warsaw Pact Rail is commonly encountered on AK variants and other small arms of Eastern-European or Soviet origin like the PSL, SVD, VSS, etc. (post-1950). This rail base is a horizontal dovetail riveted to the side of the rifle; opposite the ejection port. This configuration lends well to the basic design of the AK—the sheet-metal receiver top cover is not solidly affixed to the receiver (some top covers do exist that incorporate a scope base but tend to lose zero every time the cover is removed). The scope mount clamps and locks onto this rail while a simple pin provides a positive stop against the rearmost face of the rail. This hard stop combined with friction generated by the clamping mechanism is generally sufficient to resist recoil. The mount has been proven to be imminently reliable in strength and tends to “return-to-zero” after removal. There are mounting adapters for the Warsaw Pact Rail that provide Picatinny rails, STANAG rails and even direct ring-mounts. The only demonstrable flaw to this system is its bulk and location. Some mounts of this pattern can increase a rifle’s width by almost an inch. The only imaginable failure would be attributed to the height of the mounting adapter. The optical device may be up to 3 inches away from the base rail. This extra-tall structure can compound the moment load on the mount. Perhaps not a demonstrable concern, but the possibility can give pause to the average “western” shooter who is used to a low-set scope mount right atop of his rifle.

A Picatinny, or “quad,” forearm for the AR-15. Quad obviously refers to the presence of four rail sections. This is the strongest and resultantly heaviest RIS option.

Picatinny

The “Pic rail” is obviously based on the old weaver base, but with a more comprehensive, precise and robust structure. The rail’s profile and relative proportions have been refined to provide a predictable and consistent surface for any nominally crafted accessory designed to interface with the system. The Picatinny is correctly named M1913—the MIL-STD-1913 criteria defining the new mount was adopted and published February 3, 1995, by the DOD. Later, it was adopted into the NATO standards of agreement as STANAG 2324. It is presumed that the development and standardization of the mount were in response to the need identified in the first Gulf War (if not all other recent previous military actions). As warfare evolved away from a daylight-only venture on a directional battlefield, our soldiers needed their rifles to exercise some optical versatility. The battle rifle would have to become capable of operating with iron sights, red-dots, short-range and long-range telescopic sights and even dedicated night and thermal vision scopes—and of switching between them routinely. The Picatinny was the answer, and continues to be the answer, to the multi-role universal weapon system. Beyond universal adaptability, the Picatinny ensures near-perfect return-to-zero for optics after removal.

A modern SIG 556 with a permanently affixed NAR mount atop the receiver.

NAR

The “NATO Accessory Rail” is best explained as a redefined Picatinny rail. The new standard institutes a revision in the overall tolerance and operative datum points in an attempt to improve consistency and strength of the accessories meant to interface with the rail. The older Picatinny defined the four outer faces along the edges as the critical interface. The NAR calls out the relation between the top flat and two lower angles as the critical data points. The new definition ensures that the mounting devices made to this new spec make solid contact on those three datum planes. It has been insisted that this system will eventually allow for power and data transfer between the weapon and the accessories and peripherals. This ideal is expected to lead to the integration of smart systems into the battle rifle. Battlefield communication, navigation, onboard logistics and even a soldier’s vital stats are expected to become centralized in the rifle of the future.

The “STANAG” mount configuration showing the interface with a first-model Hensoldt 4x24. This base adapts the STANAG scope to a Picatinny rail.

STANAG

This is an acronym for “standardization agreement” among NATO nations. There are thousands of STANAGs in place to ensure that we and our allies are operating by consistent procedures and with compatible equipment. For example, the implementation of STANAG 4172 made 5.56 NATO a standard among NATO nations. The STANAG 4179 standardized the magazine pattern among 5.56 NATO chambered small arms. STANAG 2324 defines the universal adoption of the MIL-STD-1913 rail as the optic mount for small arms. Despite all the specifics and code-speak, there is one mount configuration that has become known simply as the STANAG. You’ll be hard-pressed to define it by more specific terms.

This mount pattern consists of a pair of square pockets at each end of the base. These square recesses interlock with lugs that protrude from the optic—usually these lugs are cast into or machined directly into the body of the optical device. Mounting relies on a pair of large screws to fasten the optic to the mount base. Return-to-zero after removal is nominal at best, but the system proved reliable enough to become the most widely used standardized mount system in Europe before the M1913 Picatinny came into favor. The STANAG mount pattern was a standard kit on numerous commercial and military arms from last century. Variants of the FAL, FN-49, MAS, Swiss K31, SIG SG-510 and most HK rifles have been originally made, or can be fitted, with aftermarket STANAG-patterned scope mounts. The STANAG mount held enough market shares, as did the optics designed to interface with it, that one can still easily procure any array of adapters to convert a Picatinny-equipped rifle to accept a STANAG optic or convert a STANAG -based rifle to accept adapters for Picatinny style optics.

ACCESSORY MOUNTS

It seems unlikely that the Picatinny could ever be replaced as the prevailing standard as the optics mount for the small-arm. It has experienced continued success as an accessory mounting platform on the battle rifle; its presence may have spawned the booming accessory market as it is today. But there is a great need by both the consumer and professional markets to accessorize and expand a rifle’s capabilities. The obvious place to affix this burden was the handguard. These handguards were typically aluminum and exhibited four lengths of M1913 Picatinny rail at the top, bottom and sides (hence, quad). From the mid-‘90s every premium and professional grade AR-15 was expected to include a “quad” rail as standard kit. Some RIS (rail interface system) handguards are strong enough to serve as a mounting point for other weapons. There are indeed 12-gauge shotguns and grenade launchers designed to grab directly onto a Picatinny handguard. This solves some of the difficulty of removing the lower half of the handguard to expose the barrel for launcher mounting. This capability also allowed launcher mounting on barrels that might lack the specific provisions for direct launcher attachment. Picatinny rails were soon found on upper receivers, buttstocks, magazine pouches and even the sides of scopes and the tops of scope rings. A shooter could accessorize his rifle to a point of nausea. However, the high-profile, obtrusive shape and inherent weight of the pic left much room for refinement. It was soon realized that it was impossible to utilize the total 39 inches of rail afforded by the average rifle length quad handguard. The average shooter might only utilize 2 to 4 inches of rail, to attach one to three peripheral items.

Around 2009-2011, we saw a growing trend in “quad” handguards. They began losing the bottom and side rails—only the top rail section would remain. The rest of the handguard would present with a regular pattern of tapped holes or pockets arrayed around an otherwise smooth handguard. The user was free to attach small sections of pic rail where he needed them. So, the RIS, as it was originally created in the “quad” pattern would soon need to evolve. Many brands released their own modular handguard system, and some still survive as proprietary offerings with a fair fan base. There are two clear heavyweights in terms of accessory mounting systems. VLTOR Weapon Systems gave us the KeyMod, and shortly after, Magpul Industries presented the world with the M-LOK. After exhaustive R&D and the associated cost, these companies made their new standardized patterns public domain. Any manufacturer of weapon accessories could reproduce the mount and the interfacing accessories.

KeyMod handguard for the AR-15.

KeyMod

The VLTOR Weapon Systems KeyMod system was the first new modular mounting pattern to become standardized since the M1913 Picatinny. And for many years, it was the best if not the only option to the “quad” handguard. The design is complex as it demands a level of precision in the manufacture of the handguard and accessory mounts. The “key” as it is described, comes from the shape of the pocket. The widest portion is a 3/8-inch round hole, with a narrow pocket extending from one side. The narrow section is relieved on the back (or inside of the handguard). A contoured “nut” passes through the wide portion, and then becomes mechanically locked behind the shoulders of the narrow section. The accessory mount features a fixed cylindrical lug on the back face that locks into the large cutout behind the nut, thus preventing it from slipping out the way it entered the pocket. If the binding screws remain tight in the nut, the mounting arrangement will stay put. The only limitation one might point out is the thin web of material between each keyhole. In destructive testing, this narrow web is regularly where material failure initiates.

M-LOK and KeyMod shown side by side with their Picatinny adapter mounts.

M-LOK

The M-LOK pattern calls for a small T-shaped recess in the handguard—narrow cut facing outward while the head of the “T” is cut on the back, or inside surface. Lateral locking is achieved by a fixed stud set between two T-nuts. The stud and one T-nut essentially match up to each end of a short pocket (each pocket is 1.26 inches long), while the other T-nut straddles the web between the pockets (.315 inch). Each T-nut is engaged by a screw—accessible from the outside of the accessory adapter. Upon tightening the screw, the T-nut swings 90 degrees until the head of the T comes into full mechanical interference with the back side of the slot. The nature of this design transfers load forces to the steel locking screws and appeals directly to the strength of the material used in the handguard’s construction.

These two systems provide the same service—modular accessory mounting on a rifle’s handguard. Some have wondered, and others argued, about which is superior. Pullout and shear strength of the M-LOK have been tested and proven to be superior in strength to the KeyMod—up to three times stronger under abusive testing. Some M-LOK pattern handguards have been tested to resist 1,400 pounds before mount failure. KeyMod can be expected to fail near 400 pounds. Also, M-LOK’s return-to-zero after removal is up to 50% better than KeyMod. That said, most accessory mounting bases are short Picatinny rail sections fastened onto the handguard, and accessories are mounted to those rail sections. It is safe to assume that under actual use, only the accessory would be removed from the Picatinny section; the Picatinny’s return-to-zero is largely dependent on the clamp or mount chosen. It is worth noting here, that direct-connect accessories do exist for each pattern. These accessories are largely limited to flashlight mounts, forward grips and sling attachment points.

And as far as abusive testing to the point of material failure, by all intents and purposes, nobody who has bought a rifle with their own hard-earned cash should ever be expected to subject their rifle to that kind of use. As these patterns are indeed open-source, any company may produce the handguards as well as the accessory mounts for them. The patterns are well defined, but there is no guarantee as to material quality or dimensional tolerances used in their construction. Once again as we see the proliferation of a market we will also see knock-offs and clones and the diminished quality that comes with them. Any of these handguards would be more likely to fail under normal use due to material and manufacturing faults than failure directly attributed to the mounting pattern you’ve chosen. Quality never disappoints. The comparison test in reference above was performed by USSOCOM, and results were published in May 2017. The test is exhaustive and conclusive; it’s worth a quick study. The numbers demonstrate fact, but real-world application and consumer acceptance will decide the fate or coexistence of these two mounting patterns.

There will always be room and opportunity to improve on any current system. It might seem unlikely that we’ll see any major shift from our current systems considering our current state of refinement and the level to which the world has become vested in the Picatinny-type rail. The NAR might just be the last chapter in this treatise.

To understand the bump stock, one needs to go back to the Firearm Owners Protection Act (FOPA) of 1986. Prior to 1986, civilian-legal machine guns could be manufactured and sold, subject to a $200 transfer tax. The FOPA changed that. The bill was passed into law on May 19, 1986, and made the new manufacture of civilian-legal machine guns illegal.

In 1986, machine guns were mostly limited to a small core group of collectors and enthusiasts. Prices for a machine gun were expensive, but still within the reach of cost for most shooters. Machine Gun News and Soldier of Fortune magazines regularly discussed the civilian ownership of machine guns, but their readership and reach was limited. It wasn’t until the dawn of the Internet in the mid-’90s that Internet forums became widely available, and that the exchange of information became much easier. As the AR-15 rifle and other “modern sporting rifles” became more accepted and commonplace, it was only a matter of time before machine guns also became more sought after. As interest in civilian-legal machine guns increased, the prices also increased—guns manufactured prior to May 19, 1986, were still legal. Increased demand, combined with a fixed supply, will result in increased prices.

The price of pre-1986 machine guns continued to rise through the 1990s to the present. In the mid-2000s, the price of machine guns started to exceed the reach of most consumers. It wasn’t uncommon for a converted AR-15 to exceed $10,000. A true Colt M16 was much more. When the majority of shooters could no longer afford civilian-legal machine guns, innovation came along to work within the existing law and regulation.

In the mid-2000s, the first bump fire stock was introduced. Christened the “Akins Accelerator,” the original version used a spring to simulate fully automatic fire. A sample on an SKS was sent to the Firearms Technology Branch of ATF, and the design initially received legal approval. Production of the Akins stock was initiated for a different rifle, and sales started to rocket. Within months, ATF was asked to re-examine their opinion on the legality of the Akins design. The Akins design used a spring within the stock to simulate fully automatic fire; ATF determined that the spring converted the prior existing semiautomatic rifle into a fully automatic rifle, and was now illegal. Removal of the spring made the system legal, but the stock no longer functioned as intended. The solution: create a bump fire stock that did not use a spring.

The FOPA of 1986 was very specific in how it classified a “machine gun.” The law states that a machine gun is “any weapon which shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot, automatically more than one shot, without manual reloading, by a single function of the trigger.” The determination of whether a firearm is a machine gun is defined by the function of the trigger. The trigger for an M4 rifle mechanically functions differently than that of a semiautomatic AR-15 trigger. This is a cut-and-dry example of trigger function and legality. A larger issue arises when the trigger of an AR-15 rifle functions the same when utilized with a standard stock, or when placed within a bump fire stock. There is no functional difference, and by law, the bump fire stock is legal.

As the cries for additional laws and regulation rise in volume, one must remember that ATF does not write or create law—only the U.S. Congress can write laws. Laws are drafted and approved by Congress, and sent to the president for approval. When signed by the president, the proposed bill becomes law. This is where ATF (and most other federal agencies) comes into play. Congress has no ability to monitor or enforce laws; federal agencies are tasked with this job. As a result, ATF is tasked with implementing and writing rules and regulations based upon the laws passed by Congress. The rules and regulations written by the federal agency are not subject to review. Instead, most new rules and regulations are required to go through a notice-and-comment process, where industry and citizens may comment on the process, and propose alternate means of enforcing the law.

The enacted rules and regulations may not exceed the scope of the law. If one believes that the rules and regulations exceed the scope of the law, the courts are asked to step in to make a determination. Regulations that exceed the scope of the law are deemed null, and are not enforceable.

Apply existing law and regulation to the bump fire stock, and one can understand how and why the device is legal. Rick Vasquez, the (then) assistant branch chief of the Firearms Technology Branch at ATF was tasked with examining the device in 2010. The invention of the bump fire stock did not alter a gun’s trigger mechanism, as defined by the law. There were no springs, hydraulics or electric current involved. At a minimum, the stock only made the existing semiautomatic rifle fire faster. As a result, it did not violate the law that bans the manufacturing of machine guns. More importantly, the devices were being sold for as little as $100. Where a civilian-legal machine gun now cost thousands of dollars, the bump fire stock could legally replicate the same effect at a reasonable cost.

Of course, the answer is not to impose additional laws and regulations. The bump fire stock is legal in the U.S., will continue to be legal until Congress passes a new law. The bump fire stock was invented as a result of existing law and economics. Without the passage of the FOPA in 1986, the bump fire stock would never have been invented.

Mr. Wong is a Washington licensed attorney. He regularly provides legal counsel to the firearm and defense industry via his law firm, The Firearms Law Group. Mr. Wong also maintains Hurricane Butterfly, an import/export company that assists U.S. firearm manufacturers and foreign buyers wade through the regulatory morass of U.S. import/export regulations. He may be contacted via email at jason@HurricaneButterfly.net

For 20 years, as of 2016, the German Armed Forces’ (Bundeswehr) standard assault rifle Heckler & Koch G36, caliber 5.56x45mm NATO, has been used. Germany decided to search for a new assault rifle in two different projects:

(1) Program Sturmgewehr Spezialkräfte (Special Operators Forces)
(2) Program System Sturmgewehr Bundeswehr (Sturmgewehr = assault rifle).

Introduction of a new assault rifle [Sturmgewehr Bundeswehr] is anticipated to begin in 2020, and about 167,000 G36 used by the Bundeswehr will be discarded. Special operations forces and police use the G36 worldwide, however, and it’ll remain the standard assault rifle by NATO members Spain and Lithuania.

Bundeswehr Six Dismounted Close Combat soldiers are equipped to fight with the state-of-art-system IdZ-ES (Infanterist der Zukunft–Erweitertes System, Infantry Soldier of the Future-Expanded System). The cannon gunner and driver remain in the vehicle for fire support. (Bundeswehr)

Sturmgewehr Bundeswehr

The German Federal Office of Bundeswehr Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support (Bundesamt für Ausrüstung, Informationstechnik und Nutzung der Bundeswehr—BAAINBw) issued a tender document throughout Europe —written in German and dated April 4, 2017—describing specifications and delivery terms for a new standard rifle as a successor to the G36. At first glance, the document contains some interesting information:

The caliber of the new weapon is not fixed; both 5.56mm NATO and 7.62mm NATO are mentioned.

A total of 120,000 of the new standard rifles are expected to be procured during a framework agreement of seven years. The estimated value is 245 million Euros plus VAT, a little more than 2,000 Euros per weapon.

The prospect of a larger international participation depends on how many other bidders there are. What is interesting is that Bundeswehr officials issued, in early January 2017, a tender for 1,750 rifles as replacement for the G36 used by the Germany’s SOF. The deadline for submitting offers was February 9, 2017, with deliveries to start in September 2017 and be completed by June 28, 2019. The technical requirements for the SOF differ somewhat from the description for the Bundeswehr new standard assault rifle with various applications. October 10, 2017, the BAAINBw announced in a press release that the new Sturmgewehr for Spezialkräfte and Kommando Spezialkräfte der Marine will be acquired from Heckler & Koch. The new SOF assault rifle is the HK-416 A7 (designated G95) in caliber 5.56mm x 45 NATO. The rifle’s weight is 3,690 grams. The barrel length is 14.5 inches. 1.745 assault rifles with accessories will be acquired. Technical tests will start November 2017, and deliveries to the troops are anticipated to be in January 2019.

HK416 A5, 14.5-inch barrel, STANAG 4694 profile on 12 o’clock, handguard Picatinny rail profile on 3, 6 and 9 o’clock, with GLM 40mm add-on grenade launcher, HK269 grenade launcher caliber 40x46mm (low velocity), range up to 350m. Suitable for both lethal and nonlethal. The launcher barrel can be unlocked either towards the left or right. Interfaces with assault rifles, with an option to use it as a stand-alone weapon.

As it appears, the tenders of the weapon for the SOF and the Bundeswehr will be one of the most competitive European procurement programs in the assault rifle sector for many years.

Sturmgewehr, Long-Barrel and Short-Barrel Versions
Source: Auftragsbekanntmachung, Lieferauftrag: Gewehre Deutschland-Koblenz, 2017/S 078-15142 (BAAINBw).

The listed BAAINBw’s specifications for the System Sturmgewehr (assault rifles system) with accessories:

• Version Sturmgewehr long barrel and Sturmgewehr short barrel (conversion must be possible by barrel change)
  Length of Sturmgewehr short barrel without signature damper (sound suppressor) max. 900mm
  Length of Sturmgewehr long barrel without signature damper max. 1000mm
  Caliber 5.56 x 45mm NATO or 7.62 x 51mm NATO
  Ambidextrous controls for right- and left-handed users
  STANAG 4694 rails on bottom of hand guard and on the top of the receiver
  Use in areas with climatic categories A1-3, B1-3, C0-3 and M1-3 according to STANAG 4370 without restriction of functionality (except electrical components)
  Receiver life should last 30,000 rounds. The barrel life is to last at least 15,000 rounds (soft core ammunition/double core) / 7,500 rounds (hard core ammunition)
  Maximum weight 3.6kg (without magazine and optics)
  Accessories in different quantity: Bayonet with sheath and carrying device, signature damper with transport pouch, exercise cartridge device, blank firing bolt mechanism, drum magazine, gun cleaning device, shell casings catch bag, STANAG 4694 rail for side mounting, cover for STANAG rails, flash suppressor caps, magazines, bipod, loading aid, carrying straps, emergency sights, transport bags, angled for grip
  Spare parts kit. Optional accessories: shot counter, magazine pouches for two magazines

Interpretation of the Stated Specifications

Conversion of barrel length means easy change in the field by the operator.

Short barrel: A total length without sound suppressor means that the barrel length cannot be longer than 14.5 inches. A carbine, for example the HK 416 A5 with a barrel length of 14.5 inches (368.3mm), has a total length of 893mm. The Bullpup TAVOR X95 5.56 x 45mm has a fixed length of 670mm with a 16.5-inch barrel, which means that the X95 also can be used as a CQB rifle.

Long barrel: Means that the barrel length can be 16.5 inches.

5.56mm vs 7.62mm, the HK417 caliber 7.62 x 51mm NATO has been used worldwide for the past 10 years by several nations, especially in operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Since 2011, the 7.62x51mm HK417 designated G27 has been used by German infantry squads as a multipurpose support weapon with precise single shots or fire burst. HK417 A2, with a short barrel (13-inch/330mm) designated G27k (k = kurz =short), has been in use for some time by GSG 9 (German Special Forces), and some other special forces, due to a bigger kinetic energy (KE) effect on the target.

Easy operation for both right- and left-handed users. Almost all assault rifle manufacturers today present the popular AR-15 architecture with some modifications and ambidextrous controls.

NATO Standardization Agreement, STANAG 4694: Standard for mounting auxiliary equipment such as telescopic sights, tactical lights, laser-aiming modules, night-vision devices, reflex sights, fore grips, bipods and bayonets. STANAG 2324 describes a standard mounting platform consisting of tactical bracket rails with multiple transverse slots, for accessories. The MIL-STD-1913 rail is also known as a NATO Picatinny rail. In order to balance the center of gravity of the weapon when it is filled with accessories and ready for fire, it is important that the upper receiver has a full-length and flat-top rail space for various optics and side and bottom Picatinny rail positions on the handguard. The modular locking accessory mounting system must be light but strong enough to mount a grenade launcher or vertical combat grip. Those rails allow the operator to add only accessories required for the mission, thus reducing the weight burden and increasing the weapon’s maneuverability.

The HK433 is a fully ambidextrous operation weapon for both right-handed and left-handed shooters. Non-reciprocating charging handle; convertible from left to right without tools. H & K is offering two variants of the HK433: one with a G36-type magazine release lever and one with an HK416/AR-15 magazine release push button. (Heckler & Koch)

Operation in climatic categories A1-3, B1-3, C0-3 and M1-3 according to STANAG 4370 means function in hot-dry, hot- humid, cold and maritime environments without restricting functionality.

A receiver life of 30,000 rounds and a barrel life of at least 15,000 rounds demand a solid weapon. Cold-hammer forged barrels have proven to be the longest-lasting rifle barrels. The most accurate and durable are finished with either a Mil-Spec heavy phosphate or another high quality coating outer finish and inner chrome lining.

Maximum weight 3.6 kg (without magazine and optics) is a realistic demand for a modern 5.56mm NATO caliber rifle. The venerable Colt M16 carbine with adjustable buttstock has an empty weight of only 2,676 grams (5.9 pounds) and 3,130 grams (6.9 pounds) loaded with 30 rounds. US Colt M4’s cousin Colt C8A2 with a 14.5-inch barrel, unloaded weight, is 2,810 grams (7.53 pounds). Compared to the G36K’s empty weight of 3,370 grams and add magazine with 30 rounds weighs approximately 620 grams.

Today’s normal accessories. For example, an optical sight with superimposed reflex sight, laser light module and, eventually, clip-on night vision device/thermal weapon sight and vertical combat grip or, eventually, mounted 40mm grenade launcher. These increase the weight—very light receiver groups and rails are therefore an advantage and give an assault rifle system the ability to be tailored for special needs. Signature dampening is an important performance for designated marksmen, SOF operators and snipers—i.e. effective reduction of sound attenuation, flash and dust signature with a sound suppressor.

The F90MBR 5.56x45 NATO converted to a CQB rifle with a 14-inch barrel. Its overall length is only 653mm and its weight is 3.15 kg.

On average, suppressors reduce the noise by 20 to 35 decibels. To eliminate the noise with a suppressor is only obtainable with sub-sonic ammunition.

A shot counter can be defined as a firearm’s life memory, as it acts as an electronic logbook of the maintenance history of the firearm and other user-defined information; this includes the number of shots. It’s embedded inside the lower receiver and generates its own power.

One can deduce that the above given specifications are not tailored especially for a specific rifle, for example, to the HK416F (le nouveau fusil d’assault de l’armée de terre), a choice of the French for the “future individual weapon”.

The AR-15 architecture is not listed above as a technical requirement (although that is the SOF’s new weapon’s style). Other technical solutions may also be relevant but there are several suitable COTS rifles on the market to choose from that fulfill the stated specifications.

Deliveries

The first acquisition will be the 390 Sturmgewehr (160 of long-barrel version, 230 short-barrel version) as a reference model for qualification and operation tests as well as realization of the system compatibility weapon/optics. The actual acquisition of the first series weapons from the framework agreement is expected in third-quarter of 2020 after completion of successful operational testing (13,929 Sturmgewehr (long barrel) including muzzle flash dampers; 3,104 Sturmgewehr (short barrel) including muzzle flash dampers; and 1,514 weapons for integration into training simulators). Planned total acquisition of the series: 120,000 Sturmgewehr. Competitors for the new Sturmgewehr acquisition are Germany’s Heckler & Koch, the Austrian company Steyr Mannlicher, in cooperation with Rheinmetall, the German company SIG SAUER and Thales Australia, with their new generation F90 MBR (Modular Bullpup Rifle). Offers from other countries are not excluded.

RS556 has adjustable light-weight stock with seven different positions, allowing optimal adjustment to individual equipment like a ballistic vest/harness. (Rheinmetall/Steyr Mannlicher)

Not Only Firearms “Made in Germany”

It’s not publicly known which candidates are participating—such information is not shared. Conditions for participation are that companies around the world can take part and offer their weapon model as long as they are ISO 9000 certified and have sales of more than $1,000,000 USD. Other bidders probably include FN Herstal with an FN SCAR and the Italian manufacturer Beretta.

The Heckler & Koch 433 and the RS556 Assault Rifles

It was assumed in the beginning that Heckler & Koch would offer the HK 416 A5 caliber 5.56x45mm. Combat proven in Iraq and Afghanistan, and used by Tier 1-Special forces around the world. (Known from media reports as used by Seal Team 6-Operation “Neptune Spear” [Osama bin Laden]). The HK 416 is standard assault rifle for the Norwegian Armed Forces, and chosen, as mention before, as the new standard assault rifle for the French Armed Forces (HK416 FRAÇAIS).

The RS556 with a 16-inch barrel, 30-round magazine, ready to fire, weighs around 4.2 kg—just over 9 pounds. (Rheinmetall/Steyr Mannlicher)

HK433 and RS556

The HK433 fourth generation rifle family of assault rifles and the new RS556 assault rifle based on the tried-and-tested Steyr Mannlicher Universal Army Rifle (AUG) were in details described by this author in Small Arms Defense Journal, Vol 9, No 4. Here is a recap of some of the main specifications given by the two competitors and how they can meet the specifications demanded by BAAINB (highlighted):

Version Sturmgewehr long barrel and Sturmgewehr short barrel (conversion must be possible by barrel change)

HK433: The barrels are exchangeable by the user.
RS556: The barrels can be easily and rapidly exchanged without tools.

Length of Sturmgewehr short barrel without signature damper (sound suppressor) max. 900mm

HK433: [Length min/max, buttstock folded/extended]
634mm/931mm (14.5-inch barrel).
RS556: [Length min/max, buttstock collapsed/extended]
824mm/924mm (14.5-inch barrel).

Length of Sturmgewehr long barrel without signature damper max. 1000mm

HK433: [Length min/max, buttstock folded/extended]
705mm/989mm (16.5-inch barrel).
RS556: [Length min/max, buttstock collapsed/extended]
860mm/960mm (16-inch barrel).

Caliber 5.56x45mm NATO or 7.62x51mm NATO

HK433: The 5.56mm HK433 assault rifle is the backbone of a new weapon family, although other calibers such as 7.62x51mm (HK231), Special Operator’s .300 Blackout/Wisper (HK437), and 7.62x39mm (HK123) may also be offered.
RS556: Chambered in 5.56x45mm (A future option will be barrel change between calibers for example .300 Whisper or .300BLK).

Ambidextrous controls for right- and left-handed users

HK433: The charging handle is flat, fully ambidextrous with integrated forward assist function Option: one with a G36-type magazine release lever and one with an HK416/AR-15 magazine release pushbutton. In both cases the bolt hold open/release lever is integrated with the front part of the trigger guard.
RS556: AR-15 style architecture with ambidextrous controls for right- and left-handed users.

STANAG 4694 Rails on bottom of hand guard and on the top of the receiver

HK433: The monolithic upper receiver is made of strong aluminum and features a long STANAG 4694 NAR. The handguard is a slim-line type with Picatinny/NAR rail in the six o’clock position and HKey at 3 and 9 o’clock positions (optional MIL-STD-1913) to fit various optics, night sight devices, and laser light modules.
A 40mm grenade launcher can also be mounted.
RS556: Fixed accessory rails and optional NARs according to MIL-STD-1913, STANAG 2324 and STANAG 4694 to fit various optics, night sight devices, and laser light modules.
A 40mm grenade launcher can also be mounted.

Use in areas with climatic categories A1-3, B1-3, C0-3 and M1-3 according to STANAG 4370 without restriction of functionality (except electrical components)

HK433: According to the quality requirements of the manufacturer, the rifle is suitably and functionally to cover the temperature range defined by NATO—from extremely hot temperatures to extreme cold.
RS556: A special breech system with an emergency operation feature ensures that the weapon always functions reliably even under extreme operating conditions, e.g., in severely hot and cold environments.

Receiver life should last 30,000 rounds. The barrel life is to last at least 15,000 rounds (soft core ammunition/double core)/7,500 rounds (hard core ammunition)

HK433: Receiver life time is not mentioned, but sliding elements are self-lubricating. The cold-hammered barrel with hard chromium plating should last the demanded amount of rounds. A positive feature is that the lower receiver group has a maintenance-free and a non-manipulate able shot counter from which the weapon data can be transmitted wirelessly. The shot counter is an electronic system which records the shots fired in order to reduce the life cycle cost of the weapon and optimize the operational availability of the weapon.
RS556: Receiver life time is not mentioned, but it has steel guide bolt carrier with permanent dry lubrication. The cold hammer forged and chrome lined barrel should count for outstanding accuracy and long service life time.

Maximum weight 3.6 kg (without magazine and optics)

HK433: 3.5 kg (16.5 inches)
RS556: ~3.6 kg (16 inches).

Thales Australia’s new generation F90MBR (Modular Bullpup Rifle) 5.56 x 45mm NATO. With a 20-inch barrel, it’s compact and has an overall length of only 802mm. Weight: 3.39 kg. It’s easy to convert it to a CQB rifle.

SIG SAUER

The SIG MCX SB, available in 5.56 x 45mm and 300BLK, is built for optimum performance with the .300BLK cartridge and a sound suppressor with both supersonic and subsonic loads. The user can easily move between .300BLK and 5.56mm with the changeable barrels. The Netherlands Maritime Special Operations Force (NLMARSOF)—the Netherlands Marine Corps’ elite unit—was the first publicly known to purchase the .300BLK chambered rifle by any military .
FN Herstal (FNH)

In 2003, the U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) issued a tender for an assault rifle designated as SCAR (SOF Combat Assault Rifle). USSOCOM was looking for a weapon in two versions: the SCAR-L caliber 5.56x45mm assault rifle and the SCAR-H caliber 7.62x51mm, with the latter being possible to convert to other calibers. Both SCAR systems should also be available in a number of other variants. In 2010, the SOCOM waived the procurement of the SCAR-L in favor of the SCAR-H and had the existing SCAR-L assault rifles reconfigured to the SCAR-H version . The SCAR has been introduced, to a large extent, to Special Forces, anti-terror units and ordinances. The marines in Chile bought 1,800 weapons. The Belgian army initially ordered 4,500 SCAR-L assault rifles to replace its previous FNC.

U.S. soldiers fire their SCAR-H and SCAR-L. SOCOM waived the procurement of the SCAR-L in favor of the SCAR-H and had the existing assault rifles SCAR-L reconfigured to the SCAR-H version. (FN Herstal)

Ballistic Body Armor Protects Against 5.56 X 45mm Bullets

A majority of armies have invested deeply in 5.56 x 45mm NATO. The U.S. Army uses the 5.56 x 45mm M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round (EPR). This round offers better performance than the M855 against all targets likely to be engaged with small arms, but it’s not up to the task at penetrating ceramic plate armor; neither are M855 bullets.

SIG SAUER SIG MCX AR-15-style assault rifle is a fully modular design and mission configurable system capable of quick barrel change with user level tools. The MCX can be used with three different stocks, a telescoping/side-folding stock, a collapsible stock and a thin, folding aluminum stock. (SIG SAUER)

“Ratnik” (Warrior) second-generation Russian Warrior equipment: The new-generation body armor, in particular, would provide exceptional protection against small arms. It will be able to deflect NATO’s basic 5.56mm rifle round. It presents a big challenge to rifle and munition makers. The new bulletproof armor body has ceramic plates (modules made up of composites on the basis of corundum ceramics) and Aramid fiber, so it can effectively resist even numerous sniper rifle bullets. Here the insert plate is shot at from a range of 10 meters with a sniper rifle caliber 7.62mm.

Examples of 7.62 x 51mm COTS rifles (Upper) Präzisionsgewehr HK241 (G28) 7.62x51mm semi-automatic sharpshooter rifle. Used by Bundeswehr in Afghanistan and Mali. Firepower: (Muzzle velocity - energy) ca. 780 m/s – 3000 J (16.5-inch) barrel, NATO standard rounds AB22 (FMJ)/AB24 (Tracer)/Selected accuracy rounds with bullet weights up to 12.3g (190g). (Middle) HK417A2 7.62 x 51mm (G27) – Firepower: approx. 775 m/s – 2855 J [16.5-inch barrel, NATO standard rounds]. Rifle weight unloaded: approx. 4.40 kg (9 pounds, 11.2 ounces). (Lower) HK417A2 7.62 x 51mm (G27k) with the 40mm grenade launcher HK269. The G27k with 2,500J gives muzzle energy around 25 percent more than the Kalashnikov AK47 and the G36. (Aud Håland)

The Turkish Armed Forces sticks to the 7.62 x 51mm caliber with its new MPT-76 National Infantry rifle, with gas-operated, short-stroke piston system with rotary bolt.

HK-416 A7 (designated G95) will be the new standard assault rifle for the German Special Operation Forces. (Heckler & Koch)

Seoul ADEX (Aerospace and Defense Exhibition) is South Korea’s most prolific defense exposition; originally begun as the Seoul International Air Show in 1996, it soon merged with other defense exhibitions and became Korea’s representative defense trade show. Now it’s a biannual event with 33 countries participating, 405 companies and 282,373 visitors.

While this has its roots as an airshow, and main concerns are heavy equipment like fighters, tanks and other large items (even the USAF F-22 Raptor and F-35 Lightning 2 was there), there’s some degree of small arms companies showing off their products to the buyers and crowds.

Dasan’s semi-auto DMR in .308win caliber.

Of all the small arms we could see in the ADEX, there are some interesting developments. Originally there was only one military small arms manufacturer in Korea, the S&T Motiv. The company was originally called Daewoo Precision, but with the collapse of the Daewoo conglomerate and following M&A changed the name of the company into S&T Daewoo, then the S&T Motiv we know today. Even with all the name changing, basically it’s the same company ever since, and almost all the major staff this writer has known for more than 20 years are still working for the company’s ’special business department’, the name they call the small arms section of the company.

Until 2016, the only military small arms manufacturer who could manufacture and supply small arms to Korean Armed Forces was S&T Motiv; but after 2016, things were changed considerably. Now Dasan Co, a firearms parts manufacturer who supplies many gun parts from barrels to receivers to various well-known gun manufacturers, is certified as a second manufacturer/supplier eligible for ROK Armed Forces. Theoretically they can manufacture even the K1A/K2 rifles if the government gives a contract to them; while the possibility of Dasani-made K1A/K2 rifles actually going into the ROK Armed Forces is not that high, it’s enough of a possibility for them to introduce some new weapons and supply those to the armed forces.

K2C-1 Carbine, a variant of K2C Carbine. Basically the same, but has a newly designed buttstock (the same as K2C1) and folding front sight.

That chance is relatively close at hand. Now the Korean Army Special Forces, who are eager to change out their aging K1A carbines within a few years, is looking for new weapons, and Dasan seems to be the most probable candidate for that. The purchase for this program would be as many as 20,000 carbines, but not only the quantity is large, this is very symbolic because the client is “Special Forces” and that would be a very big PR victory, which can help Dasan on the export market, and they might eventually be able to replace most of K1/K2 series of weapons in ROK Armed Forces which are now close to 40 years old.

Dasan’s entry would be either the Caracal CAR816, which Dasan can license-manufacturing in country, or the DAR-15P, a piston-driven AR Carbine which Dasan recently developed by themselves. Since Korean special operators are of course familiar with and admire the AR series of weapons which their US counterparts use, especially the HK416 series, they already have a good impression about the Dasan-made ARs, which are way more ergonomic and adaptive than the old K1As.
Of course, S&T Motiv isn’t sitting idly by for this competitive threat. They are now developing new carbines based upon their previous K2C Carbine and K2C1 rifle. They are making K2C-1 carbine and K2C-2 carbine, which are basically K2Cs with some modifications, and K2C1 short (not K2C-1), which is K2C1 rifle but with K2C’s 13-inch barrel. It’s puzzling that they brought out basically the same rifles with different names (the only difference between K2C and K2C1 short is the rail hand guard design), but using the K2 platform which is so familiar with ROK forces may also be an advantage in terms of familiarization and logistics.

K2C-2 Carbine. There are some significant differences with other K2C or K2C1 variants shown on the show floor. Unlike other K2 variants, this has a lower receiver which can accept M4 style buffer tubes. This prototype has the Colt PDW folding stock; the reason to make this is probably the popularity of ROK Special Force’s attaching AR stocks on their K1As, which can accept AR stocks via a special adaptor. This and other short K2 variants are probably aimed at the upcoming trials for a Special Operations Carbine program.

Right now the new Special Forces carbine program is still in its infant stage, so no serious evaluation has been made. Whatever the situation would be, the result may change the ROK small arms situation considerably.

While the new Carbine program was the most prominent small arms item during this year’s ADEX, other small arms matters also were interesting. First, S&T Motiv introduced their first prototype of an anti-material rifle. It was a very typical .50BMG bolt action rifle, with 1,800m of alleged effective range. The prototype is capable of live fire and might soon be mass-produced once a decision to do that is made. However, it’s not clear whether the most important client, ROK Armed Forces, would actually buy them. But there was some debate within the armed forces over whether such thing is necessary or not, and while most other countries have similar weapons systems, the possibility of ROK forces adopting this is considerable.

Polish Radom FSB’s MSBS rifles also were on display at the ADEX show.

Another company-oriented development program aimed at ROK forces was Dasan’s semi-auto DMR. It is a very typical .308 semi-auto rifle of AR-10 pattern, which is very natural since Dasan is accustomed to making AR parts. Right now ROK forces are using bolt-action K-14 rifles from S&T Motiv, but requirements for a semi-auto DMR also exist within ROK forces. If that requirement becomes reality, Dasan and S&T Motiv (who are known to have a similar prototype DMR, which wasn’t on display at ADEX) will compete for that.

Another interesting thing from Dasan is their clone of Glock type weapons. While they’re prototypes, it is interesting because they have metal frames; there are twos type of frames—one has a full-metal frame, and the other is a hybrid, which has an upper metal frame and lower polymer grip, not unlike that of the STI2011 series of handguns. They were made by an order for some other nation’s civilian buyers, but the hybrid frame for Glock may provide a good platform for race guns or tactical pistols which have very rigid rail platforms for attaching accessories.

Whichever it may be, the ROK small arms scene is now becoming interesting due to this newly staged competition.

Polish UKM2000P machine gun, a conversion of a PKM into 7.62x51mm NATO. This a modernized version, previously called UKM2000M, with a folding stock and Picatinny rail.

S&T Motiv’s K-12C2 medium machine gun. This is a lightened version of the K-12 machine gun for helicopters; basically an enlarged version of the K-3 machine-gun in 7.62x51mm NATO caliber, it weighs 10.5kg weight with an effective range of 800m to point targets and a cyclic rate of 650–950rpm.

K2C-2 Carbine.

A Glock clone prototype from Dasan. This sample has a full metal frame.

Dasan’s DAR-15P. An AR-pattern carbine, with Dasan’s own gas piston system. Similar to other piston ARs like the SIG516 or CAR816, it is one of the top contenders for the soon-to-be-started Special Forces’ carbine program of ROK forces.

Polish bolt-action bullpup sniper rifle Alex-338. As its name suggests, it is using .338LM.

S&T Motiv’s 12.7mm sniper rifle prototype. With 12–14kg of weight and 1.35m of overall length, it’s a very typical .50CAL bolt-action rifle. Effective range is 1,800m.

A decoy tank made by a Korean company.

K1A and K2C1 from Dasan. While they are originally the products of S&T Motiv, ROK defense ministry ordered Dasan to test whether they are capable of manufacturing the country’s current service weapons. While the test results seem good, it’s unclear whether the production of them will actually be diverted to Dasan or not.

K2C1 short-barreled version. K2C1 is not a variation of the K2C, but a variant of the K2 rifle with full-length barrel. Actually, this a K2C; K2C-1 has practically no difference.

Polish Radom FSB’s MSBS rifles.

A prototype Glock clone from Dasan. While externally different, it can accept almost all Glock internal parts (up to Gen4). This sample has a hybrid frame, which has upper metal parts and lower polymer parts like the STI2011.

USAF F-22A demonstrates its power during ADEX.

Polish GROM MANPADS, which is a copy/upgrade version of the Russian SA-7.

Marathon Robotic Targets are dressed as OPFOR (opposing forces) to assist snipers in their direct fire engagement process. Marathon Targets can be used as hostile and non-hostile role players in training.

Traditional Army ranges only offer fixed, pop-up or rail-mounted target systems that lack the realism of human-like behaviors and often just present a front-facing profile that tracks sideways. In these conditions, snipers do not efficiently develop the credible marksmanship skills required to engage moving targets.

Modern targetry from Marathon Targets has been making headway regarding moving targets that provides realism and versatility, and their employment is limited only by those who design the training activity for their snipers.

Marathon Targets is an Australian-based company that describes their targets as, “Our targets provide a Robotic Opposing Force (ROPFOR) to conduct live fire training over uneven and lightly wooded terrain in rural field environments. Our robots appear as realistic human-shaped targets, especially when observed at the range by field snipers. Common training scenarios involve robots simulating enemy convoy movements, formations and rendezvous, giving snipers the opportunity to practice threat identification and target acquisition.

When engaged, robots can rapidly change speed and direction to provide a realistic marksmanship challenge. This challenge strengthens the communication between sniper and observer and builds a realistic appreciation of field operations. Our system allows users to very easily command robots to move in a formation to key areas and select appropriate responses when engaged” (See http://marathon-targets.com/applications/).

A United States Army sniper is providing overwatch in Baghdad, Iraq. Being able to train on autonomous targets will assist the sniper in becoming more lethal on the battlefield. 

The way forward for snipers is through utilization of Autonomous Robotic Targets to increase their proficiency in neutralizing a moving enemy combatant on the field of battle. Combatant Commanders who employ snipers need to look to companies such as Marathon as to provide snipers adequate training targetry to increase their lethality and improve their performance that will pay dividends on the front lines.

These days, a company located in Palm Bay, Florida, has appropriated the saying as their company name. And … considering their products, they might not be far out of line. Cry Havoc Tactical (CHT) is marketing a quick-release barrel kit for the AR-15-type rifle (QRB Kit). The idea behind the barrel release kit is to have an AR-15 rifle, or carbine, that is small enough to fit into a backpack. If you have a barrel at least 16 inches in length, about the shortest rifle you could own would be slightly over 26 inches in length, counting the receiver group and the barrel. Disassembling the rifle by pulling the two push pins still leaves you with an upper receiver/buttstock too long to fit comfortably into a standard backpack.

The Quick-Release Barrel Kit from Cry Havoc Tactical consists of five pieces and can be mounted on a rifle with no changes to the rifle.

Cry Havoc Tactical took a hard look at some AR-15 short rifle conversions; however, most of them didn’t hold zero when broken down and reassembled or were unnecessarily complicated. CHT decided that rather than separating the rifle by using the push pins, they would design a barrel release kit that separates the barrel from the upper receiver. That way, the overall package could easily fit in a laptop case or briefcase without having to go the route of building and papering a short barrel rifle (SBR). An SBR by definition is a rifle that has a barrel less than 16 inches in length, or less than 26 inches in overall length. These are controlled under the National Firearms Act (NFA) and require approval from the BATFE. Until you get the BATFE approval letter, you cannot have possession of the parts needed to build an SBR. The ATF considers having all the parts in your possession just the same as having the fully assembled rifle. They have no sense of humor when it comes to ATF violations, and if you are caught with what they term “constructive possession,” you will get a very close-up and personal introduction to federal law enforcement. Military and LE users do not have this worry, although in the US, these still require registration and transfer. If it is a machine gun, then any barrel length will be fine, the machine gun registration will allow for that.

So, what CHT did was design a kit that allows an AR-15 owner to build a take-down rifle that still classifies as a Type One firearm and is completely legal. An SBR upper/barrel assembly can have an overall length of 21+ inches when built with an 11-1/2-inch barrel. The QRB longest piece is 17.5-inches. This is with a 14-inch barrel with a 1-1/2-inch flash hider permanently attached.

The main clamping levers hold the barrel to the upper receiver. The gas tube is altered so it can be removed.

The QRB kit consists of a hard-anodized aluminum main body, stainless steel hooks, levers, star nut and gas extension tube. If you are capable of installing a barrel on an upper receiver, you can install this kit. However, CHT recommends that either a gunsmith do the conversion, or that your rifle is sent back to CHT where their experienced technicians will do a professional installation. The modification does not require any changes to your AR-15. It can be converted back to stock configuration in the same amount of time it takes to install the kit.

Once installed, the QRB kit is simple to operate. Remove the magazine, lock the bolt back, insert the barrel into the adaptor, line up the gas tube and locating pin and then seat the barrel and close the locking levers. Removal is almost the reverse. Because of the tight barrel-to-adaptor tolerance, the locking levers may have to be extended out slightly to move the barrel out about 1/8 inch. Then the barrel can be removed by hand.

The receiver is on the right. The barrel slides into the adapter, and the clamps hold it all together.

Shooting 5.56 /300 Blackout

For research purposes, I fired a carbine based on a Kaiser with their KSP X-7 polymer upper and lower receivers. CHT had fitted it out with their QRB kit, but went a ways further and provided two different barrels in two different calibers. Both the 5.56 x45mm and the .300 Whisper/Blackout can use the same mag and bolt so other than changing the barrels, no other modifications were required. The first was a Bravo Company 5.56 BCM-KMR-A9 KMOD rail holding a 9-inch barrel. The second was an Advance Manufacturing Tactical CQB 9.7-inch suppressed barrel in .300 Blackout. Both calibers feed from a Magpul PMAG20 5.56 magazine. Both barrels qualify as SBRs, so BATFE paperwork and tax stamps had to be acquired for each caliber. Each barrel assembly had Troy iron sights mounted, and in addition, the 5.56 barrel had a Primary Arms MD-ADS Advanced Micro Dot red sight. As an aside, the CR 2032 battery in the red dot is said to be good for 50,000 hours. The upper receiver also had Troy iron sights.

Due to the iron sights, shooting range was held to 50 yards. Three different loads were fired, all Black Hills Ammunition:

1. 5.56mm 77 grain OTM–2,750 fps, 1,293 ft/lb energy
2..300 Blackout 125 grain OTM–2,220 fps, 1343 ft/lb energy
3..300 Blackout 220 grain OTM–1,000 fps (subsonic), 488 ft/lb energy

The barrels were changed frequently and only allowed to cool enough to remove by hand. The 5.56 out of the short, un-suppressed barrel was quite loud, with a fairly large muzzle flash. Both .300 Whisper loads were quite comfortable to shoot, and the sound, while not totally diminished, was reduced to manageable levels. The subsonic 220-grain loads didn’t have the supersonic crack of the other two calibers and were relatively tame to shoot. The suppressed 220-grain loads were not fired over a sound mike, but general opinion was that they sounded like a .38 Special. More than one person said the short-barreled 5.56mm was unpleasant when fired within 15-20 yards.

The star ring interlocks with the clamp on the barrel. The two small upper holes are for the locating pin and the gas tube below.

The QRB kit had no malfunctions and was checked for return to zero when changing barrels, or just pulling one off and remounting it. The fit stayed tight throughout all the range work, and there was no discernable change in point of impact at the short ranges we used. The .300 Blackout 220-grain load was run through a magazine dump at 25 yards, and while it didn’t shoot MOA, it sure shot MOBG (Minute of Bad Guy). It was easy to hold on target, and recoil was so controllable that reacquiring the target after a shot was quickly and easily accomplished. One 20-round dump was done without taking the rifle off the shooter’s shoulder, and all holes in the target could be covered with one hand.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Cry Havoc Tactical, Inc.
sales@cryhavoctactical.com
P: 321-537-2141
QRB Kit: $349.00
Factory installation–Contact the factory

Advance Manufacturing builds the suppressed barrel in .300 Blackout.

20 rounds, 25 yards, rapid fire. Lots of firepower in a little package.

From the left: .300 Blackout–125 grain; .300 Blackout–220 grain; 5.56 mm–77 grain.

The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) is charged with defending Japan and its territories. Founded in 1954 in the wake of World War II, it is the largest service in the Japan Self-Defense Force. At last count the JGSDF had 150,863 soldiers, and could call upon 54,075 reserves if required.

The JGSDF has been undergoing deep and far-reaching changes as it plays catch-up in the transition from the Cold War to a period of regional and asymmetric threats. Whereas once the greatest danger came from an invasion by the Soviet Union, now the most dire threats emanate from a belligerent North Korea armed with ballistic missiles and nuclear warheads, as well as an increasingly assertive China that has been testing Tokyo’s resolve over sovereignty of the Senkaku/Diaoyu islands.

The transformation of the JGSDF thus revolves around the ability to quickly move units around the country to respond to any threat, especially in the southwestern islands. That requires brigades that are mobile and readily deployable.
Japan has an extensive defense industry and it is able to cater to most of the JGSDF’s needs in terms of small arms. Some weapons are designed and manufactured locally, whereas others are foreign designs that Japan has chosen to produce under license. The following sections outline the main small arms used by regular infantry units of the JGSDF.

A close-up view of the 7.62mm Type 64 general-purpose machine gun. Of interest, it has been mounted on a plastic base so it will not sink into the snow when fired.

9mm Pistol

This 9 mm pistol is a license-produced version of the Sig Sauer P220, which was adopted by the JGSDF in 1982. Made by MinebeaMitsumi (formerly Minebea Co., Ltd.), a company specializing in ball bearing manufacturing, it has a nine-round magazine. Typically issued to officers, it is carried in a leather holster. More recently it has been carried in a black-colored carbon-fiber thigh holster. The Japan Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) and Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) also use this sidearm.

The JGSDF employs the M24 Sniper Weapon System from Remington, seen here on static display at Mount Fuji, as its standard 7.62mm sniper rifle.

M9 9mm Machine Pistol

The JGSDF refers to this weapon as the M9, but not many people use this nomenclature so it is more commonly referred to as the 9 mm Machine Pistol. Introduced in 1999, it is distributed to elite units such as the 1st Airborne Brigade, 12th Brigade and Western Army Infantry Regiment (WAIR), as well as non-frontline troops such as drivers and artillery crews. The M9 is also used by the JASDF (including air base guard units) and JMSDF (it is carried on warships and submarines).

Manufactured by MinebeaMitsumi and designed to replace the ageing M3, the M9 is based on the Israeli Mini Uzi. However, Minebea designed its blowback shooting principle, plus it differs in that there is a foregrip under the barrel. It features a flash hider and telescoping bolt. Original weapons had wooden pistol and foregrips, but later ones changed to plastic.

The M9 is 399 mm long (of which the barrel is a mere 120 mm) and it weighs 2.8 kilograms. The machine pistol fires 9 x 19 mm rounds from a 25-round magazine.
Its range is listed as 100 meters but, as one Japanese paratrooper told Small Arms Defense Journal during a recent exercise, it is not accurate and is only good for spraying fire. Certainly, its rapid 1,100 rounds-per-minute rate and the lack of a shoulder stock greatly affect its accuracy. This all explains why the JGSDF has been considering a replacement for some time now.

The M9 9mm machine pistol was introduced in 1999. Here it is in the hands of a JGSDF officer of the elite 1st Airborne Brigade.

Type 89 5.56mm Assault Rifle

Made by Howa Machinery, Ltd, the Type 89 is the standard assault rifle of JGSDF soldiers. It replaced Howa’s 7.62 mm Type 64 rifle upon its introduction in 1989. Representing Japan’s first move to a 5.56 mm-caliber rifle, it costs much less than its predecessor due to 10 percent fewer parts than the Type 64.
The Type 89 bears certain similarities to the Armalite AR-18, which Howa once produced. The gas-operated rifle uses forged aluminum and molded thermoset plastics to reduce weight and improve fit. There is a folding bipod that soldiers can easily detach. Weighing 3.5 kilograms unloaded, it is suitable for Japanese soldiers whose physique might be lighter than that of the average Westerner.

Due to strict export laws regarding military equipment, the 920 mm long Type 89 has never been exported. The barrel is 420 mm long, and its rate of fire is 850 rounds per minute at a muzzle velocity of 920 m/s. Its effective range is 500 meters.

As well as the rifle with standard fixed buttstock (which boasts a storage compartment inside), a shorter Type 89-F version with folding tubular stock is available for troops such as paratroopers, tankers and mortar crews. When folded, the Type 89-F is 670 mm long.

Ensuring interoperability with allies such as the U.S., this rotating-bolt weapon fires a 5.56 x 45 mm round. Indeed, it can accept magazines designed for the M16 family, although the Type 89’s 30-round magazine has a specially shaped follower that holds the bolt open after the last round is fired. Soldiers complain its magazines are not easy to reload because the magazine well is not beveled or tapered. A bayonet can be fitted.

There is a flip-up aperture rear sight, while the selector switch offers settings for safe, auto, three-round burst and semiauto. Some soldiers serving in Iraq added a red dot sight such as the MD-33 from Tasco Optics Japan. Removable foregrips were added to some Type 89 rifles by troops serving in Iraq but this is now prohibited by the JGSDF because it caused damage.

Type 06 rifle grenades that attach to the muzzle can be fired from either Type 89 or 64 rifles. Made by Daikin Industries, the JGSDF opted for this type of grenade rather than the M203. The Type 06’s development kicked off in 2002 and it entered service four years later. It has a HEAT warhead for use against armor, and if the contact fuse fails to detonate, it has a second time fuse to ensure self-destruction.

At this stage there seems to be no desire to get rid of the Type 89 rifle, but the government has explored future modifications. As part of its Advanced Combat Infantry Equipment System (ACIES), a modified carbine version of the Type 89 appeared around 2010. It measured 800 mm long and had a four-sided rail and polymer retractable stock. This work by the Technical Research and Development Institute also spawned a full-length rifle with extendable buttstock and rail system. In a prototype publicized in 2015, there appeared an under-barrel digital interface on a foregrip, while a massive NEC infrared sight incorporating a ranging device and video camera was mounted on top. This included a flip-out video screen so soldiers could shoot round corners, for example. However, it appears that development work on ACIES may have halted as no new information has appeared in the past couple of years.

This Type 96 40mm automatic grenade launcher is mounted on a Type 96 8x8 WAPC. However, the weapon can also be mounted on a tripod for dismounted use.

Type 64 7.62mm Battle Rifle

The Type 64 battle rifle preceded the Type 89, though it can still be found in reserve or second-line units since there are not enough newer rifles to go around. Development commenced in 1957 when the JGSDF was dependent on 7.62 x 51 mm cartridges, and it uses a 20-round detachable box magazine. When introduced, Howa’s Type 64 replaced the in-service M1 Garand. However, its overcomplicated design led to reliability problems.

Each round uses 10 percent less powder charge in order to reduce recoil and muzzle climb and make it more manageable for Japanese soldiers. Another feature is a large muzzle brake. The Type 64’s muzzle velocity is 715 m/s, making it more controllable on full auto.

It uses a tilting bolt and a short-stroke gas piston located above the barrel. The stock has a hinged butt plate to enhance accuracy. A manual external gas regulator controls its cyclic rate, and there is a setting available for firing normal 7.62 x 51 mm NATO rounds. Open sights are mounted on folding posts, while the rear sight has settings for 200 meters and 400 meters.

A 2.2x scope (e.g. an M84 or local equivalent) can be fitted to convert the Type 64 into a designated marksman rifle, but the scope’s attachment with a single screw is problematic.

Even though it was produced until 1988, the Type 64 is definitely geriatric. It is heavy, too, at 4.4 kilograms (without bipod or magazine). It measures 990 mm long and has a 450 mm barrel. Its rate of fire is 500 rounds per minute, and the maximum effective range is 400 meters.

These paratroopers of the 1st Airborne Brigade are aiming Type 89-F assault rifles fitted with Aimpoint red dot sights. Note that these rifles have a folding stock that hinges to the left.

7.62mm Sniper Rifle

The standard bolt-action sniper rifle is the 7.62 mm M24 Sniper Weapon System from Remington. It is used by snipers, the 1st Airborne Brigade, Special Forces Group and the Special Boarding Unit.

Minimi 5.56mm Light Machine Gun

This famous FN Herstal weapon is another one produced under license in Japan. In this case, Sumitomo Heavy Industries has manufactured it since 1979. It was designed to replace the Type 62 machine gun.

This Type 96 40mm automatic grenade launcher is mounted on a Type 96 8x8 WAPC. However, the weapon can also be mounted on a tripod for dismounted use.

Type 62 7.62mm General-Purpose Machine Gun

Produced by Sumitomo, the Type 62 is an air-cooled machine gun of 7.62 x 51mm caliber. Although it has been largely supplanted by the much lighter Minimi, it can still be seen in JGSDF units. Development commenced in 1954 and it was formally adopted in February 1962. However, production models suffered reliability problems that cause it to jam too often.

The Type 62 weighs 10.7 kilograms without a bipod, and it is 1.2-meters long, of which 546 mm is the quick-detachable barrel. Its rate of fire is listed as 650 rounds per minute. With a bipod fitted, the maximum effective range is 1,500 meters, and for sustained fire a tripod is available.

The weapon uses a long-stroke gas piston positioned beneath the barrel. The extraction system is unusual in that it employs a solid claw-shaped hook above the breech face instead of a more common spring-loaded hook extractor. The Type 62 is belt fed from the left side. A three-times scope from Fuji is available for this weapon that only fires on full auto.

The Type 74 7.62 mm machine gun from Sumitomo is a variant of the Type 62. It is used as a coaxial machine gun on armored fighting vehicles and can be door-mounted on helicopters. It is 1.085-meters long and weighs 20.4 kilograms.

It is becoming more and more difficult to find the Type 64 7.62mm battle rifle in JGSDF units. This Howa weapon was produced from 1962-88. (Koji Miyake)

M2HB 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun

As well as the Minimi, Sumitomo also produces the M2 heavy machine gun under license. Production started pretty much in line with the formation of the JGSDF.

Type 96 40mm Automatic Grenade Launcher

The Type 96 automatic grenade launcher, produced by Howa, can be fitted on vehicles (most commonly on the Type 96 Wheeled Armored Personnel Carrier) or on a tripod as a dismounted weapon.

It weighs 24.5 kilograms and is 975-mm long. The barrel measures 454 mm and the weapon can fire 250-350 rounds per minute using the blow-forward principle. While this principle contributed to a reduction in weight, the Type 96’s reliability is regarded as insufficient. The Type 96’s maximum range is 1,500 meters, with the 40 x 56 mm grenades fed on 50-round belts. The operator uses a ladder sight to aim.

Made by Howa Machinery, Ltd, the Type 89 is the standard 5.56mm assault rifle issued to JGSDF soldiers.

Those anti-armor weapons available to the JGSDF are Saab’s 84 mm Carl Gustaf recoilless rifle (made under license by Howa) and the 110 mm Panzerfaust 3 license-built by Nissan/IHI Aerospace. The JGSDF used the Carl Gustaf M2 but it eventually became ineffective against third-generation tanks. The Panzerfaust 3 was therefore introduced to reinforce the antitank capability of infantry units. The Panzerfaust 3 is known as the Light Anti-armor Munition (LAM) in the JGSDF.

When the JGSDF was allotted guerrilla, commando and peacekeeping missions, the service reevaluated the multipurpose capability of the Carl Gustaf, as it can shoot HEAT, HE, smoke and illumination rounds. The JGSDF therefore introduced the M3 in 2012 and it is deployed preferentially to the WAIR and 1st Airborne Brigade.

Mortars

Mortars include the 120 mm-caliber towed 120 RT from TDA Armements. Produced by Howa Machinery since 1992, this heavy mortar is typically towed behind a Toyota 4×4 HMV.

The most common mortar is the 81 mm L16 license-built by Howa since 1992. It replaced the Type 64 of 81 mm caliber. More recently the JGSDF has started to field the 60 mm M6C-210 light mortar from Hirtenberger Defence Systems. Small numbers have been fielded by the WAIR.

Special Forces

JGSDF special forces keep a low profile, and they use a range of additional small arms. Types known to be in use include the Heckler & Koch USP pistol, MP7 machine pistol and G36 and HK417 rifles, plus the M4 carbine, FN SCAR, M203 grenade launcher and M32A1 multishot grenade launcher.

Acknowledgements

The author would like to thank Koji Miyake for his kind permission in using some of his photos, plus his technical expertise in helping make this article more accurate.

The aim of this article is to present an introduction to the world’s most advanced robotic target, the Targabot. It’s the world’s first portable, battery-operated, live-fire moving target that is designed to behave unpredictably—like real threats in the real world. The Targabot target platform offers the modern-day warfighter, law enforcement officer, security official and tactical/competitive shooter a challenge, engagement and heightened realism to small-arms training. Shooting techniques like the modern technique/sighted method and point shooting/unsighted in close quarters shooting will not be described—experts have written a lot about that elsewhere. The advanced Targabot robotic target makes a paper target that shows up, moves and moves away in cover.

“The bad guy.” This author has 38 years of army service and has used rifles and pistols both for training and competition. Shooting against the robotic target was the most thrilling ever.

Clark County Shooting Complex, January 22, 2015

Targamite, a robotics company which produces advanced tactical training platforms, invited this author to come to try the world’s first portable, computer-controlled target system, Targabot. This is a target system that offers both predicable and unpredictable behavioral characteristics. Targamite had arranged a shooting point with the robotic target at the rifle range at the Clark County Shooting Complex. Anyone who wanted to shoot could select between 9mm or .45 caliber pistols and an Armalite 7.62mm rifle. The Targabot:

• Features up-and-down or 180-degree rotational movement patterns or a combination of both functions.
• Is lightweight for one person to carry (only 20.5 lbs.).
• Can be carried and rigged up in a few minutes. The Targamite representative set up the system by himself.
• Operates autonomously or can be remote controlled.
• Is battery powered and can be used stand-alone in the field or can also use AC in an indoor range, for example.
• Allows difficulty and complexity to be adjusted to accommodate for user skill level, tactical situation or training needs.
• Can be networked with multiple other units to create complex training scenarios.
• Can be used at long range (beyond 1,000 meters) by snipers, in close for handguns or mounted inside of shoot houses.
• Is compatible with almost all existing paper and cardboard targets.
• Has future accessories including laser targets, hit counters and virtual gongs.
• Is affordable. The Targabot costs about the same as many static steel targets.
• Is user-programmable—comes with built-in sequence patterns, or the instructor can create his own pattern on a real-time remote control.

The 1,000-meter range Targabot real-time remote control with graphic sequencer interface gives the trainer, trainee or spotter a master control for multiple units or one simply programs any autonomous scenario he/she imagines, with the user-friendly graphic sequencer. (Targamite)

Aside from being unbelievably engaging and fun, the Targabot gives the shooter a new dimension of challenge and training ability.

It is an effective way to enhance live-fire unpredictable engagement and marksmanship capabilities. Training with the Targabot improves critical shooting skills such as rapid sight and target acquisition, rapid target engagement, rapid target identification and vision effectiveness. It can be programmed for random movement that more closely reflects unpredictable “field” conditions. One can create complex hostage and combatant scenarios with multiple Targabots. For example, switching between different targets forces the shooter to distinguish between “bad guy” and “innocent hostage.” The Targabot chassis requires only approximately 14-inch by 16-inch protective steel plate. This author had a miss with the 7.62mm rifle and accidently hit the steel protective plate. The plate withstood the force from the strong 7.62mm projectile without any damage. And, most important, the exposed plastic shafts and target mounts are designed to be shot at and are inexpensive to replace. A shooter that is training with this system can build muscle memory in his/her shooting skills that will translate into confidence and effectiveness in the field. Tactical training for military, law enforcement officers and security personal with Targabot will help increase the hit rate.

The Targabot comes with eight factory-modes of operation, each with individualized difficulty-ramping capabilities. Simple movements or random behavioral capability (unpredictability). The trainer may also direct the system in real time by remote control. (Targamite)

Targabot users include:

U.S. Army
U.S. Army Asymmetric Warfare Group
U.S. Marine Corps
U.S. Marine Corps Security Forces Regiment
U.S. Coast Guard Academy
U.S. Coast Guard–MSST
U.S. Coast Guard–MSRT
U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM)
Dept. of Homeland Security–ICE OFTP (DHS)
Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA)
Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)
Internal Revenue Service–CIU
Federal Corrections Complex
Federal Bureau of Prisons
Fort Bragg Provost Marshal Office
Las Vegas Metro Police Dept.
Unified Police Dept. of Greater Salt Lake City
Salt Lake County Sheriff’s Office, Salt Lake City
Louisiana State Police Training Academy, La.
San Diego Co Sheriff’s Dept., San Diego
Allen Co Sheriff’s Dept., Fort Wayne, Ind.
Porter Co Sheriff’s Dept., Valparaiso, Ind.
LaGrange Co Sheriff’s Dept., LaGrange, Ind.
Coshocton Co Sheriff’s Office, Coshocton, Ohio
Charlotte Co Sheriff’s Office, Punta Gorda, Fla.
Freemont Co Sheriff’s Office, Cañon City, Colo.
Gwinnett Co PD, Lawrenceville, Ga.
Trinidad Police Dept., Trinidad, Colo.
Alliance Police Dept., Alliance, Ohio
Whitehouse PD, Whitehouse, Texas
SIG SAUER Academy, Epping, N.H.
Smith & Wesson Academy, Springfield, Mass.
National Rifle Association, Fairfax, Va.
Calgary Police Service–Alberta, Canada
Tasleeh Consultancy–Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates
Dubai Police Force–Dubai, United Arab Emirates
NATU–Indonesian National Counter-Terrorism Agency

Target shafts (3 feet), target mount adapters, target backings (12-inch by 12-inch) and paper targets are easy to change.

Targamite is developing an enhanced version of the Targabot platform that will be available later this year. (Targamite)

The Targabot is a lightweight (20.5 lbs.) all-weather system that can be used indoors and outdoors, as well as in shoot houses, inside/around motorized vehicles, on boats and ships, or on mobile ranges. Here is the inside of the Targabot main unit. Power supply AC or battery-powered (onboard; up to six hours runtime). (Targamite)