The recent terrorist threat to Europe has spurred the EU to do SOMETHING, which in their vocabulary means a knee-jerk reaction of imposing more gun bans, so that their subjects, err, citizens, would not realize they are in fact sitting idly, doing nothing. At the same time, the Swiss, always far from gun-grabbing EU politics, instead of just disarming more targets for the criminals, have proposed a real response to the threat.

The Swiss proposal may be convincing for some more than others (after all, the idea of making another CZ 75 copy isn’t either bold or particularly original), but it comprises an accessory that already made a lot of fuss the world over.

Ever since the premiere of the Aimpoint Micro T-1/H-1, after its second Generation Micro T-2/H-2 made a splash, the question was raised of Swedish company following the punch with something still smaller, which was partly provoked by the size of the Micros–they were only “micro” compared to the Comp M4, let alone the Aimpoint Hunter. The Micro was still a rifle-sized sight compared to open red dot sights, the likes of say, the Leupold Delta. Company reps responded carefully that yes, something is brewing indeed. But it is still too early to go into details, and they have enough orders for their cement-mixer-sized models not to have to compete with those who can’t make a decent-sized sight.

Aimpoint Nano prior to mount attachment–note battery compartment cover (with crossing slots) and polymer cover of the top mounting screw

In June 2016 Aimpoint rolled out their newest product, the Nano. It tends to be a tad bigger than the main rival, Insight MRDS, but–in keeping with the new Aimpoint tradition–works much longer on one battery change. The battery in question is the .50 dia., .1 thick lithium CR 1225 of 3 Volts–not your customary CR 2032. The battery compartment is situated in the sight base, in front of the optical system. The sight is fastened to the base by two screws, covered with a polymer insert. POI adjustment is all internal, by outside-accessible screws, turned with a Torx-headed wrench. Right side screw shifts windage, elevation, is taken care of by an identical screw on top.

The red dot is brightness-adjustable via two rubber-covered buttons on the sides of the casing. The left button is marked with minus and dims the dot, while the right one marked with plus makes it brighter. Pressing both at the same time switches the sight on and off. The manual of the sight is instinctive and instantly comprehensible to all who are familiar with such sights.

The optical system is a closed one, traditional for Aimpoint, as opposed to smaller open units. It is enclosed inside the sturdy aluminum alloy casing; the front lens is–as usual in Aimpoint products–deliberately askew and tinted red to reduce internal reflections, which might harm the red dot visibility.

USW holster with a pistol inside seen detached from the duty belt. Note muzzle draining hole and light bezel window, allowing the turn off the light if left ‘on’ while holstered. Useful feature – there were several incidents of lights left ‘on’ melting down the plastic holsters.

So having thus dealt with the Swedish bait, let’s take onto the Swiss hook–or the USW pistol (or is it a carbine? Fortunately there is no SBR built as such in Europe). As per factory brochure, it was designed as a first-responder weapon to deal with terrorists perpetrating whatever their dastardly deed is in an urban environment, where patrolling with long arms could be awkward. The draw-and-extend time (once again according to B+T) from the Retention Level III holster is under 1.5 seconds, and with the Nano and extended stock, the USW groups within 1.5 inches at 30 yards, enough to safely administer lead injections in an urban environment. To avoid collateral damage, the USW is strictly a semiautomatic only weapon. The same serves to keep the design simple enough, with no switches to get accidentally moved and no need for a compensator to keep the muzzle on target.

USW Compared to HK P30

The USM folding stock does not look like it is rock-solid, but at the same time, it is not a slap-on accessory. It is integral to the frame, a non-detachable item.

As the back of the slide is covered by the sight bridge, the racking grooves were moved to the front of the slide, where winglets were provided for better gripping, the latter being of steel rather than polymer as in HK SFP 9 (VP9) and non-detachable.

USW Compared to Glock 17

Aimpoint Nano RDS mounted on weapon, left and right side views–note sight controls

B+T USW with stock extended and short magazine in place

The election of Donald Trump as our country’s forty-fifth President brings an experienced businessman and staunch supporter of the Second Amendment to the White House. Business people all over the country have high expectations the new administration will eliminate unnecessary government regulations and make it easier to operate profitable businesses. There are a number of executive actions President Trump can take to make things better for the U.S. firearms industry and improve its standing in the world defense markets. This article outlines ten specific actions the President can implement to improve the regulatory landscape for the U.S. firearms industry.

1. Permit Importation of U.S.-Origin Firearms

President Trump should revoke the policy of denying requests to bring into the United States “military-grade firearms” of U.S. origin, which President Obama first announced by way of a Fact Sheet titled, “New Executive Actions to Reduce Gun Violence” on August 29, 2013. See https://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/08/29/fact-sheet-new-executive-actions-reduce-gun-violence (last visited Nov. 18, 2016).

Regulations of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) require that applications to import U.S.-origin firearms be accompanied by written retransfer authorization from the Department of State (DOS). Prior to 2013, DOS had approved retransfers of U.S. origin firearms including M1 Garands, M1 Carbines, and 1911 pistols, sought for importation back into the United States. The 2013 White House directive put a halt to such importations.

The fact sheet does not offer a definition of what constitutes “military-grade firearms.” However, with the stated goal of “Keeping Surplus Military Weapons Off Our Streets,” it is clear this import ban was intended to capture all U.S. origin firearms exported overseas, whether through direct commercial sales or through the foreign military sales or military assistance programs.

What President Obama has never acknowledged is the fact that existing law already restricted importation of surplus military firearms. The Gun Control Act (GCA) permits the importation of surplus military firearms only if they are classified as “curio or relic” and are being imported by a licensed importer. To be classified as “curio or relic” firearms, the firearms must be at least 50 years old or certified by ATF or a museum curator as being of collector interest. Arguably, this pre-existing law should have been sufficient to ensure that no firearms of interest to traffickers or criminals are brought into the country for commercial sale.

There is tremendous U.S. collector interest in the WWII-era firearms that the Obama Administration has banned from being imported back into the United States. This so-called “common sense” policy should be reversed immediately.

2. Direct the Departments of State, Commerce, and Defense to Complete Export Control Reform

In 2009, President Obama directed an interagency reform of the U.S. export control system with the goal of strengthening national security and the competitiveness of the U.S. manufacturing and technology sectors. As part of this process a number of items have been moved from the U.S. Munitions List (USML), administered by DOS pursuant to the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR), to the Commerce Control List (CCL), administered by the Department of Commerce pursuant to the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). This reform process has not been completed for firearms, firearm parts, components and accessories, and ammunition, which remain regulated under the untouched Categories I-III of the USML.

It is anticipated that moving firearms and ammunition from the USML to the CCL will streamline the process for U.S. exporters to obtain export licenses, as well as eliminate the more burdensome aspects present of the ITAR, including the requirement that foreign customers and partners obtain retransfer authorization from DOS for U.S. defense articles. This, of course, would increase the competitive positioning of U.S. companies in the world market and benefit our allies, two of the key forces that have driven export control reform from the beginning. The President should immediately direct the executive branch agencies to move forward with the export control reform process and revise USML Categories I-III accordingly.

3. Streamline The Form 9 Process for Exports of NFA Firearms

Exports of firearms from the United States are subject to the license requirements and restrictions of DOS. However, to export certain firearms falling under the National Firearms Act (NFA), such as machineguns, short-barrel rifles, short-barrel shotguns, silencers, and destructive devices, one must obtain approval from a second agency, the ATF, on the Form 9 Application and Permit for Permanent Exportation of Firearms. There is no apparent reason why two federal agencies should approve the same export, but this dual licensing system has been in place for at least 40 years. Indeed, ATF will not approve a Form 9 without an approved permanent export license issued by DOS, so the process of getting approval for a particular shipment of registered NFA firearms can be lengthy and burdensome, not just for the U.S. exporter but also for the foreign customer or partner.

On August 27, 2015, the F.A.I.R. Trade Group submitted a petition for rulemaking to ATF, requesting that regulations relating to the Form 9 be amended, so it is a notice submitted following lawful exportation, rather than an application submitted prior to export. The F.A.I.R. petition (available on its website www.fairtradegroup.org) noted this change would avoid a delay of 30-60 days in getting firearms lawfully exported and end needless duplication in issuance of export licenses. The President and Attorney General should direct ATF to immediately publish a notice of proposed rulemaking proposing the amendments to NFA regulations outlined in the F.A.I.R. petition.

4. Reduce Registration Fees Imposed by State under the ITAR

The Arms Export Control Act and the ITAR require persons who engage in the business of manufacturing defense articles, including firearms and ammunition, to register with DOS, even if such persons never export. Registration fees under the ITAR are significant. First-time registrants pay a fee of $2,250 per year. Compare this to the fees ATF collects for issuance of a manufacturer’s license under the Gun Control Act, which range from $50/year for firearms other than destructive devices to $1,000/year for manufacturers of destructive devices.

On May 24, 2016, the F.A.I.R. Trade Group petitioned the State Department to amend the ITAR registration fee structure to create a flat, per-license application fee that applies equally to all sectors of the industry. The petition is available on the trade group’s website at www.fairtradegroup.org. The White House should direct the Secretary of State to immediately review and reduce the registration fee structure to create a more transparent and level playing field.

5. Direct the Department of State to Discontinue Congressional Notification for Parts and Components of Firearms Parts

The Arms Export Control Act requires the President to notify Congress of license applications for commercial exports of defense articles exceeding certain dollar thresholds. For defense articles that are “firearms” controlled under Category I of the United States Munitions List, the value is $1 million or more. The $1 million threshold for firearms is well below that applicable to other defense articles, which range from $14 million-$100 million depending on the article and location of the end user. Export licenses requiring congressional notification can take 3 to 9 months in addition to the normal processing times. Such delays are extremely burdensome on industry and our allies, and weaken our standing in the world marketplace as foreign customers choose non-U.S. sources for firearms.

DOS has taken a broad view of what constitutes a “firearm” requiring congressional notification, expanding the term to include certain parts or components for firearms. State’s broad interpretation is at odds with the definition of “firearm” in the ITAR and guidelines published on the agency website.

In an advisory opinion dated October 27, 2016, State’s Directorate of Defense Trade Controls provides a nonsensical justification for this position. Rather than pointing to a clear requirement in either the statute or its own regulations, DDTC relies solely on prior legal and policy review and a “long-standing practice” of notifying Congress to support its interpretation that the $1 million threshold applies equally to parts and attachments listed in USML Cat. I paragraphs (e), and (g). DDTC does not articulate what the prior review entailed, and does not address the fact that such interpretation is in direct conflict with the regulations. DDTC does explain, however, that the statutory requirement to notify “firearms” valued at $1 million or more could “reasonably be interpreted” to extend to firearm parts, components and attachments identified in USML Cat. I(e) and (g) because of the “treatment” of the term “firearm” in other statutes and regulations.

State has failed to articulate any public policy requiring congressional notification for firearms parts and components. Requiring this lengthy process for firearms parts delays shipment of repair and replacement parts to allies who have already received shipments of U.S. firearms approved by State. DOS should be directed to immediately discontinue the practice of requiring congressional notification for export of firearm parts and components totaling $1 million or more.

6. Revoke and Replace State’s Guidance on Registration for Firearms Manufacturers

On July 22, 2016, DOS published guidance addressing the registration requirements of the ITAR as they relate to gunsmithing activities. The guidance addressed differences in activities DOS believes are manufacturing, which requires registration under the ITAR, and gunsmithing, which does not require registration. Unfortunately, the guidance turns the concept of firearm manufacturing on its head, stating that any operation using special tooling or equipment to improve the capability of assembled or repaired firearms is manufacturing. The guidance also indicates that threading of muzzles or installation of muzzle brakes, operations frequently performed by licensed dealers, is manufacturing that requires registration. Blueprinting of firearms is also included as an example of an operation that requires ITAR registration.

DOS guidance requires many small machine shops and gunsmiths to register under the ITAR and pay the significant registration fee. There is no public purpose served by the registration requirement, as all these businesses are already licensed under the GCA.

The Trump Administration should direct the Secretary of State to revoke the July 22, 2016, guidance and issue new guidance that is more consistent with established understanding of what constitutes firearm manufacturing.

7. Allow Licensed Manufacturers to Transfer Registered Machineguns to Other Qualified Manufacturers

Prior to 2014, ATF authorized qualified manufacturers of machineguns to transfer registered machineguns, including frames or receivers, to another qualified manufacturer. Authorization was granted through variances issued by ATF’s Firearms Technology Branch. The system worked well for the industry, as it is often necessary to transfer registered receivers to another manufacturer for heat treating, coating, or another manufacturing process. Transfers were accomplished through Form 3 transfers, and a copy of the variance issued by Firearms Technology was submitted with the transfer application.

In 2014, ATF issued ATF Rul. 2014-1 revoking all variances that authorized manufacturer-to-manufacturer transfers of registered machineguns. The ruling announced the position that 18 U.S.C. § 922(o) prohibits such transfers unless there is specific written authorization from a federal, state, or local government agency authorizing the transfer. Members of the industry advise it is very difficult to obtain government contracts that specifically authorize such transfers.

In the 2014 ruling, ATF recognized the need for more than one manufacturer to be involved in the manufacturing process and noted that an unlawful transfer can be avoided if an employee of the registrant maintains continuous custody and control of the machineguns while they are at the premises of the second manufacturer. This type of “babysitting” is extremely costly for manufacturers, but it is the process many use for getting machineguns manufactured without violating the law.

ATF officials, when questioned about the necessity for issuing ATF Rul. 2014-1, have been unable to articulate any law enforcement basis for imposing restrictions on manufacturer-to-manufacturer transfers. The only reason ATF has provided publicly is that lawyers at the Department of Justice believe this is the only permissible reading of section 922(o). The authors believe the statute can be interpreted to authorize transfers between qualified manufacturers if the machineguns are destined for federal, state, or local government agencies or for export. As ATF authorized this practice prior to 2014, it is clear personnel within the agency believed it was permissible under the law.

The new White House and Department of Justice should revisit the issues addressed in ATF Rul. 2014-1 and supersede or overrule it. The ruling imposes significant costs on manufacturers of machineguns and serves no apparent law enforcement or public safety purpose.

8. Direct the Department of the Treasury to Provide More Resources to the Alcohol and Tobacco Tax and Trade Bureau

Manufacturers and importers of firearms and ammunition are subject to a 10-11 percent federal excise tax on the sale of their products. The tax is collected by the Treasury Department’s Alcohol and Tobacco Tax & Trade Bureau (TTB). In the fiscal year 2015, TTB collected over $638 million in excise taxes from the firearms and ammunition industries.

In addition to its responsibility to collect firearms and ammunition excise tax, TTB responsibilities include collection of federal tax on alcohol and tobacco and administration of the Federal Alcohol Administration Act. This is a lot of responsibility for a tiny agency with just over 500 employees nationwide.

Members of the firearms industry have been complaining for years that it is virtually impossible to get guidance from TTB on the complex rules relating to firearms excise tax. It is not uncommon for written requests for guidance to take 6 months to a year for a response. This is an untenable situation that cannot continue if industry members are expected to accurately calculate and timely pay excise tax. The Secretary of the Treasury should be directed to provide TTB with more resources dedicated to firearms and ammunition excise tax.

Alternatively, the new Secretary of the Treasury should consider re-delegating administration and enforcement of firearms and ammunition excise tax to the Internal Revenue Service, the agency responsible for this tax from 1918-1991.

9. Direct ATF to Implement Reliable and Efficient e-Forms

ATF has an e-Forms system industry members may use for some, but not all, of the agency’s firearms-related forms. ATF’s e-Forms system is down at least one day per week for maintenance. Even when the system is up, it is slow and cumbersome to use. A significant number of licensees opt to submit ATF applications in hard copy rather than through e-Forms because of the time required for employees to navigate the slow, unreliable system. When forms are submitted in hard copy, ATF data entry contractors must input all the information from the forms so they can be processed. This slows down processing and may result in data entry errors. The unreliability of ATF’s e-forms system and the fact it is not available for all firearms forms is one of the reasons some National Firearms Act (NFA) forms take over 6 months to process. These delays often result in late delivery of essential equipment to law enforcement agencies within the U.S. and abroad and make consumers wait for months to get firearms that are legal for them to possess.

ATF’s regulatory forms processing suffers in comparison to the Departments of State and Commerce. State and Commerce will not accept hard copies of their applications for export licenses and other authorizations. All forms must be submitted via their on-line systems (SNAP-R and D-Trade), which are rarely down and easy and efficient to use. State and Commerce have personnel available to answer questions about e-Forms and assist industry members in using them. State and Commerce recognize the importance of customer service and put considerable resources into the software and hardware necessary to maintain their e-forms. Forms processing times for Commerce and State are significantly less than those of ATF.

ATF officials have promised upgrades and improvements to their e-forms for the last 5 years, but very little has changed. In 2015 ATF officials announced discontinuance of funding for e-Forms, as the agency’s top priority for its IT budget is an agency-wide case management system.

President Trump and the new Attorney General should direct ATF to commit funding to upgrade and maintain its e-forms system. The system needs to include all forms required for administration of the Gun Control Act, National Firearms Act, and Arms Export Control Act. ATF also needs to establish a help desk to assist members of the industry who use the system. ATF’s budget is well over $1 billion annually, and the agency should be able to reprogram funds to cover this expense. The firearms industry needs and deserves customer service from ATF commensurate with the level of service they get from State and Commerce.

10. Consider Another Amnesty Period

Last but not least, the President should direct the Attorney General to study the legal and policy issues raised by declaration of another firearms amnesty period. The Attorney General has authority to declare an amnesty period allowing possessors of firearms regulated under the NFA to register them. Allowing owners of such firearms to register them with ATF would get more firearms out of the attics and basements of our country and accounted for in accordance with the law. Many valuable firearms of historical significance could enter commerce and be displayed and used in accordance with law.

The Department of Justice should be directed to review the legal and policy issues relating to declaration of another amnesty period and provide options for the administration on this important issue.

Conclusion

The executive actions identified in this article are clearly within the authority of the new administration and involve issues that have a significant impact on the firearms industry. We urge President Trump and his Administration to seriously consider implementing these initiatives to improve the regulatory environment for this essential segment of the defense industry.

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

About the authors

Johanna Reeves is the founding partner of the law firm Reeves & Dola, LLP in Washington, DC (www.reevesdola.com). For more than 10 years she has dedicated her practice to advising and representing U.S. companies on compliance matters arising under the federal firearms laws and U.S. export controls. Since 2011 Johanna has served as Executive Director of the F.A.I.R. Trade Group (www.fairtradegroup.org), a 501(c)(6) non-profit organization dedicated since 1994 to protecting the interests of the firearms and ammunition import and export community.

Teresa Ficaretta is an expert on ATF regulations under the Gun Control Act, the National Firearms Act, the Arms Export Control Act, and Federal explosives laws. Before joining Reeves & Dola in 2013, Teresa served as legal counsel to ATF for 26 years, followed by 2 years as Deputy Assistant Director in Enforcement Programs and Services. Teresa was elected partner to Reeves & Dola in January 2016.

Both Johanna and Teresa can be reached at 202-683-4200, or at info@reevesdola.com.

The new White House and Department of Justice should revisit the issues addressed in ATF Rul. 2014-1 and supersede or overrule it. The ruling imposes significant costs on manufacturers of machineguns and serves no apparent law enforcement or public safety purpose.

What could we expect if government arsenals became the sole source for military and law enforcement firearms? A glimpse into the past may provide useful insight into what might lie ahead.

Commercial sales are largely responsible for the $42.3 billion dollar annual revenue of America’s privately owned small arms industry where more than 288,000 workers are employed. The small arms industry is currently a flourishing business because it is located in one of the few remaining countries with free access to firearms. The firearm is the single tangible item the U.S. Constitution grants to its citizens the right of ownership. Besides commercial sales, many of the small arms manufacturers compete for government and law enforcement contracts. Those contracts alone would not be sufficient for long-term sustainment if commercial sales vanished.

Challenges to Private Small Arms Industry

In 1999, the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) initiated lawsuits against almost 100 small arms manufacturers.

The stated purpose of the lawsuits was not to win, but in the words of NAACP President, Kweisi Mfume, these lawsuits were “… an effort to break the backs of those who help perpetuate this over saturation of weapons in our communities.” The lawsuit labored on for 9 years driving the legal fees for small arms manufacturers’ defense to more than 10 million dollars. The firewalls held, and none of the manufacturers closed. Sadly, the NAACP paid legal fees too—money going to lawyers that might have been better spent advancing lives of the people they claim to represent.

With such heavy reliance by the military on small arms production by private industry, one might expect strong support for the industry. Sadly, it is not always the case. Upon his retirement in 2010, General Stanley McChrystal, former commander of our forces in Afghanistan, questioned the need for civilians to have military style assault rifles. His message was heralded by the anti-gun media. Recently, retired general Stephen Xenakis met with Vice President Joe Biden to discuss gun control. General Xenakis suggested that members of the military could help the White House move forward with its gun control agenda. Military helping government control guns—isn’t that called a police state? Surely these two will give their plan a more innocuous sounding name?

On the political scene, the small arms industry has few friends, with one very important exception. It’s an association founded in 1878 by two American military officers. Frustrated by the poor marksmanship of new recruits who offered little experience in firearms handling, the two officers founded the National Rifle Association (NRA). Its purpose was to “study rifle shooting on a scientific basis” with a heavy emphasis placed on firearms safety. Today the NRA has a huge membership and continues to provide technical information and safety training. At the same time, the NRA provides responses to newly proposed restrictions on firearm ownership, which have been mostly effective thus far.

Small Arms from the Arsenal System

After his election, President John F. Kennedy made good on his campaign promise to clean up longstanding inefficiencies in military spending. To that end, in 1961 he appointed Robert McNamara as Secretary of Defense. Kennedy’s choice was not without good reason.

McNamara was an industrial genius who pulled the Ford Motor Company up from its failing posture and turned it into a highly profitable and motivated company. As Secretary of Defense, McNamara brought in experienced industrialists, nicknamed “Whiz Kids,” to get their help in modernizing and streamlining the Department of Defense. McNamara placed heavy scrutiny on the operation at Springfield Armory where he uncovered widespread mismanagement, inefficiency and waste. Bloated with excess personnel, Springfield even had its own marketing organization with the purpose of selling guns to itself.

During McNamara’s tenure, Springfield Armory was to develop the next service rifle. The new rifle, designed to fire the new 7.62 mm NATO cartridge, was designated M14. Manufacturing was originally planned for the Arsenal, but small arms industry leaders applied pressure to have the manufacturing released for competitive procurement. It was not at all uncommon for private industries to compete for any new service rifle. The M14 was facing stiff competition from the FAL, a very fine rifle designed by Fabrique National who was and is a longstanding private industry from Belgium.

The basic design of the M14 was sound, but the management at Springfield paid little attention to program needs during the competition. They continually introduced little-tested prototype hardware designed to address any problems uncovered in testing. Many of these hurry-up fixes failed and as a result, the M14 was falling behind in the competition. What’s worse, Springfield management didn’t even know it. When they brought in an outsider, Ltc. Roy Rayle, to head up the R&D department, they briefed him on the project and assured him the M14 was running smoothly and on target to beat out the FAL. Two days later Rayle learned the M14 had been performing so poorly for so long, it was destined to failure. Using his engineering skills and leadership ability, Ltc. Rayle rescued the M14 from defeat and eventually beat out the FAL.

Not long after the competition was over, the Army began clamoring for their weapons. Private industry was ready to go, but Springfield offered no solicitation. The reason was simple. Springfield did not prepare the engineering drawings in a timely manner, and there would be no competition until drawings were released. Ltc. Rayle had been transferred to his next assignment, and without his leadership skills, the program languished. Finally, a solicitation was released with hurried-up drawings. Private industry struggled with them but eventually used their own expertise to work through the issues and produce guns.

Cartoon Style Manual for M73 (U.S. Army)

After seven years, McNamara could stand the inefficiencies of the Springfield Armory no longer. The time had come to put an end to this self-licking ice cream cone. In late 1968, he ordered Springfield Armory to close. America’s small arms would now be built by private industry.

At the time of Springfield’s demise, I was working for the General Electric Armament Systems Department in Burlington, Vermont. GE was competing for single-barrel cannons, and I was an engineer assigned to work on those programs. So where do you suppose I found myself working in January 1969? It was the Springfield Operation of the General Electric Company. GE had hired many of the Springfield employees who worked on the two machine guns in current production. The two guns, M85 and M219, were not having any obvious production problems, so GE took over both machine gun contracts. The same people would be making the same guns on the same production lines with no reported issues. GE saw it as a sound investment and a sure money-maker.

The .50 caliber M85 machine gun and the M219 (formerly designated M73) were arguably two of the worst small arms to ever be fielded by US forces. The least worst was the M85. It was designed by private industry, but Springfield took over control of the design and the drawings. Parts could be built to these drawings, and some combinations would result in working machine guns. Others would not. Just as soon as GE took over the production line M85’s would not pass the acceptance tests.

The M219 (M73) was designed totally at Springfield and built there as well. Its design years were marked by ever-changing project leaders who took the design in convoluted directions and never gave their design changes a thorough testing. The original M73 weapon was so unreliable, extensive modifications had to be made by Springfield. So different was the new design, a second type classification was required with the newer version being designated M219. Under GE’s responsibility, the M219 production line faltered as well. During the final acceptance tests, guns would either run too fast or too slow. Too fast and the fired cases were either lost by the grippers holding them or torn apart by the ejectors. Firing too slow caused the gun to come to a grinding halt.

As part of GE’s engineering task force, our job was to figure out why the guns wouldn’t pass acceptance tests. Considering they had passed every month previous, there was obviously something very wrong, and it was left to us to figure it out. Since the gun had already been accepted and type classified, we couldn’t change anything. It was our worst nightmare. We went through the design drawings and compared them to manufactured parts. Parts met drawing requirements. We looked at the test stands and the ammunition for any anomalies. Nothing! We even asked the former Springfield employees what was different now than then? After all, they had been producing both guns month after month with no reported problems. Responses varied and delivered with some hesitation and were of little use in solving any of the problems. We never felt we were hearing the full story. The more we stirred the worse it smelled.

Unable to successfully produce the M85 and M219, General Electric accepted its losses and closed the Springfield Operation. The two production lines were transferred to Rock Island Arsenal where production continued since both of these guns were needed to arm the new M60 main battle tank. How production fared at Rock Island is not known, but we did hear about these two guns again. They were used by the Israelis during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Reviews on the M85 were not great, but the M219 performed so miserably the Israelis wanted their money back, and who could blame them? Politicians demanded to know how the leader of the free world could develop such awful products. The U.S. Congress mandated a world-wide competition for a better weapon, and the FN Belgian MAG 58 (U.S. M240) was selected.

A System That Works

Our small arms industry supplies weapons to the military and law enforcement using a time-proven system. The military and arsenals develop specifications for weapons they want to procure. These specifications are outlined in a solicitation to industry and released for competitive procurement. Contract award does not necessarily go to the lowest bidder; rather, it’s the company who can show they are providing the best value for the amount they quote. After production starts, each monthly delivery is monitored by U.S. Government inspectors to assure quality and consistency. The arsenal system carefully monitors the technical data package reserving the right to approve or disapprove any changes suggested by the contractor. It’s a system of checks and balances to assure the warfighter is armed with the best possible small arms. Sure, an arsenal system could be put in to supply our nation’s small arms, but experience has shown it might come at a cost.

The weapon appears to integrate several parts from the Croatian made Zagi M-91 submachine gun, itself a ‘modernised’ copy of the British 9 mm STEN gun which was produced during the 1991 Croatian War of Independence. This new weapon, however, appears to have been purpose-built rather than modified from the M-91, with its cocking handle guide on the left side of the receiver as opposed to the right. It also uses a more compact trigger group, housed in an identical but shortened MP5-style plastic grip. The similarity to the M-91 suggests that individuals with prior experience of its manufacture, or at least access to a surplus of original components, may be involved with production of these new pistols.

The magazine well appears to be the same as that of the M-91, but with a different magazine release catch, positioned much lower. It accepts an UZI type magazine, likely from the Croatian Pleter 91 SMG which uses a near copy. Rather than having a large recoil spring, a smaller diameter spring on a guide rod rides inside the bolt for maximum compactness. There appear to be at least two different sized variations in circulation.

This article is courtesy of Armament Research Services (ARES). www.armamentresearch.com

One machine pistol variant with a shorter receiver, reportedly seized from the Dutch Carribean island of Curacao, 2013. Photo credit: Knipselkrant Curacao

One of the machine pistols seized in Italy, displaying ‘Intratec TEC-9’ markings, April 2010. Photo credit: Corriere Della Sera

A Croatian Zagi M-91 submachine gun. Photo credit: Hutsul

Photos posted to Twitter show a pro-government fighter in northern Quneitra, Syria, with a Croatian VHS-D1 rifle. These images were first posted to Facebook on August 31, 2013, and March 18, 2014, although the earliest appearance of the weapon appears to be April 8, 2013. The combatant pictured appears to be a Druze militiaman.

There are photos of numerous other fighters posing with a VHS-D1, however no more than one rifle is visible in any picture. The fighters mostly employ a mix of AK type rifles, including Chinese and Romanian variants, as well as FAL, AR-15 and SVD type rifles. Some photos show the fighters with at least one Iranian AM50 anti-materiel rifle. The VHS-D1 is a bullpup self-loading rifle developed by HS Produkt and chambered for 5.56 x 45 mm. It is a comparatively modern design that was developed in the early 2000s, entering military service in Croatia in 2009 alongside the shorter-barrelled VHS-K1. Despite external similarities to the FAMAS series of weapons, its operating design is distinctly different. The weapon pictured appears to be fitted with an ACOG type optical sight, however many visually similar (but functionally inferior) copies of these sights have been documented in Syria and Iraq.

ARES has previously documented VHS-1 series weapons with Kurdish forces in Iraq, with HS Produkt having supplied Iraqi government and Kurdish forces with VHS rifles for testing in 2014. In 2015 it was reported that HS Produkt had signed a contract to export 10,000 of the newer series VHS-2 rifles to Iraq, and that delivery of some of these rifles had already taken place. Whilst it is unclear how the VHS rifle in this picture entered Syria, one noteworthy possibility is that they were transferred through Syrian connections to Iraqi Shi’a militias.

Special thanks to Mathieu Morant. Technical specifications from HS Produkt. Photo credit: hs-produkt

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

The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is host to the SOFEX military trade show held every two years in Amman, Jordan. Regionally, this is one of the most important shows that concerned people can attend.

It’s not just the juxtaposition to current combat areas—Jordan has always been a meeting ground for concerned military groups. Vendors report a lot of success if their products meet the current threats, but the Jordanian Armed Forces have always looked at different possible solutions to the threats and tried many—in other words, if you have an innovative weapon or military product, the odds are that there will be people in authority willing to give it a test. And those people are definitely at the SOFEX show, looking to talk with the vendors.

This atmosphere attracts a lot of interesting companies, thus, SOFEX has become a gathering place for interested end users as well. A lot of exhibitors were from US companies, as always. This doesn’t mean that the Russians and Chinese weren’t heavily represented—they were and had their own buildings. It’s just that a plethora of US small arms manufacturers were there at the show, with real weapons on display instead of just posters. That tends to draw more interest. Poland, Bulgaria, Serbia, France and the UK also had heavy representation.

Every two years SOFEX coincides with the annual KASOTC Warrior Competition, so SADJ attended both on one airline ticket (see the sidebar). While the SOFEX show has a concentration of vendors in a variety of buildings around a central parade ground with outdoor exhibits, there is also an air show and numerous demonstrations of tactical skills. The heliborne assault that is presented is not only visual but a crowd pleaser. Special forces troops ride in to rescue “hostages” in a very high speed and theatrical manner. So, the show is broken up for the attendees by outdoor events that are right on premises and don’t take the attendees away from the displays for very long. All in all, a very satisfying event and SOFEX, while a mature show, shows all the signs of continued growth.

The next SOFEX is scheduled for May 8-10, 2018 (MESOC is the 7th).

MESOC Conference: May 7, 2018

Every two years in Amman, Jordan, in conjunction with SOFEX, The Middle East Special Operations Commanders Conference (MESOC) takes place under the high patronage of His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan, with the support of the Jordanian Joint Special Operations Command. MESOC is the official conference of the highly acclaimed Special Operations Forces Exhibition (SOFEX) going on to its 12th Edition in 2018.

MESOC presents an exceptional opportunity to participate in an unrivaled conference with over 750 delegates from the special operations forces and industry partners gathered to listen to in-field innovators and thought leaders. The MESOC program, made up entirely of special operations forces commanders from around the world, is crafted to provide the latest insights into the changing operational environment and the latest in technology applications.

MESOC 2018 will feature special operations forces commanders, offering briefings to political and military leaders, diplomats and industry representatives among Arab and international delegations headed by Ministers and Chief of Staffs, followed by opportunities for direct question-and-answer sessions between the audience and a panel of discussants, punctuated with regular, informal networking opportunities in between main sessions.

Sponsorship opportunities are available for private sector partners looking for the highest level platform to reach out to a high density of decision-makers. For more information, please contact MESOC at the following address:
Nour.hadid@inegma.com.

The Ukrainian company UkrOboronProm usually has a strong presence at SOFEX and has a variety of tank and anti-aircraft weapon systems.

Australia, Austria, Belarus, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Indonesia, Italy, Jordan, Korea (South), Kuwait, Lebanon, Norway, Pakistan, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Serbia, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, The Netherlands, Turkey, Ukraine, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and the United States of America.

KASOTC 2016: The King’s Challenge

“We have to understand that it is called ‘international’ terrorism, however, we as Special Forces, special operations units all over the world are not yet international. The bad guys always work together, have always been coordinating and have always been international. The good guys never have been. Progress has been made in intelligence-sharing, thus, we have to work together in order to defeat the bad guys’ will. Soldiers know better than anybody whether their training is good or not. Soldiers will always know if the instructor coming in their country is showing [them] one 100 percent of what that person knows, or just showing [them] a bit. Our philosophy in Jordan is to share everything we have with our brothers and counter parts around the Middle East and beyond. At the end of the day if your partners are strong, you are strong.” – King Abdullah II Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan

This optic for the RPG-7 is from Belarus. It is very innovative and helps simplify longer range aiming of the RPG-7 recoilless rifles.

The Jordan Armed Forces/Arab Army hosted the 8th Annual Warrior Competition at the King Abdullah II Special Operation Training Center (KASOTC) held on May 2-6, 2016, with the participation of 27 teams from around the world. The competition always brings together the world’s elite Military, Special Operations, Counter Terrorism and Law Enforcement Forces to compete to be the best of the best; the Warrior of 2016.

This year in its 8th edition the Warrior Competition coincided with the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan’s celebrations of the Great Arab Revolt Centennial and the approaching opening of the Special Operations Forces Exhibition (SOFEX) 2016. The Warrior Competition is also of interest to the participants of that exhibition in regards to small arms and military training and missions that could be used in the state-of-the-art ranges and facilities available at KASOTC.

The competition has undergone a complete transformation in the way the competition is designed which redefines the standard at which terrorism is faced and combated, taking the challenge to an unprecedented international height that echoes the ever changing threats. The transformation is reflected in every quest of the competition where the competing warriors demonstrate competencies and adaptability of marksmanship, endurance, teamwork, tactics and communications on the battlefield.

Jadara’s J-9 Sniper Rifle is a bolt action rifle in .338 Lapua Magnum.

Each competing team is comprised of 8 members that consist of 1 team leader, 5 competitors and 2 alternative members. All the teams adhere to the rules and regulations of the competition in regards to gear and equipment that are permitted to be used; furthermore, the competing warrior’s capability is observed and judged by a panel of reputable international experts from various professional military and law enforcement backgrounds in the industry. The Colt Top Shot 2.0 event is an individual event that assesses the best shooter from each team, and one team member is selected to compete in it and receives a special trophy in the awards ceremony.

The Annual Warrior Competition is a combat-oriented competition that is based on physical ability, team work, communication and individual accuracy. It takes place at the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center (KASOTC) in Yajouz, Jordan. The Annual Warrior Competition is designed to build team spirit among contestants partnered against terrorism. The competition also facilitates sharing of best-practices, technology and hardware through gear and weapons display and live demonstrations by international retailers.

For more information, registration, media inquiries and sponsorship opportunities please visit www.warriorcompetition.com or email info@warriorcompetition.com.

Serbian company YugoImport represents many of the companies in Serbia—in this case, munitions from Sloboda and Krusik factories can be seen, as well as the rifles from Zastava.

The King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center, also known as KASOTC, is located in Yajouz, Jordan and is a one-of-a-kind facility. The 2.5 square kilometer site boasts over 250 million dollars’ worth of cutting-edge training facilities and support structures. Its unique nature derives from an extraordinary combination of cutting-edge training, elite instructor and support staff and its integrated advanced technology. KASOTC offers tailored training courses or training support for clients with their own programs. Simply put, if special operations units are the tip of the spear, then KASOTC is the sharpening-tool that hones it.

2016 Winners

Country: Lebanon

The 8th Annual Warrior Competition has concluded, and this event had 27 teams representing 11 nations from around the globe.

First place:
Lebanon–Black Panthers–Team (2)

Second place:
Palestine–National Security Forces–NSF 101

Third place:
Canada–Canadian Special Operations Regiment

Jadara has partnered with the Russians to produce an indigenous RPG-32 rocket-fired, cassette reloaded ATGL and a new optic system.

Jadara has also taken the RPG-32 system and made it into a quad mounted salvo system for multiple target engagements.

King Abdullah II Bin Al-Hussein of Jordan

MRO-A rocket launchers were produced in Russia after the fall of the Soviet Union and are not known to have been exported. ARES has previously documented MRO and RPO series weapons in the hands of separatist fighters in Eastern Ukraine. ARES has been tracking the presence of modern Russian arms and munitions in the hands of pro-Assad forces in Syria, with more than a dozen systems identified to date.

Example of markings on an MRO-A Rocket Launcher. Year of production: 2006. Note weapon number removed.

Markings on MRO-A Rocket Launcher documented in Syria. Year of production: 2005. Number: 0387.

Photo credit: Russianarms forum

Photo credit: Ajnad Alsham

This article is courtesy of Armament Research Services (ARES). www.armamentresearch.com

ABOVE: With the Paratus, VCOG, Harris Bipod, Gemtech Quicksand, three magazines and 60 rounds, the weight of this floating discreet pack is only 22 lbs! There are, however, numerous other things you might choose to add to the pack.

On Arrival into harm’s way, the prudent person has prepared for the eventualities of a bad day.

This can mean anything from quietly surviving through a rough spell or suddenly interdicting armed enemies after having appeared to not be a threat to them. That means keeping a covert appearance. This author was fond of pointing out through the 1970s and 1980s that “Camouflage isn’t painting everything green, it’s appearing to be other than what you are.” From hobby shooting to hunting, from US Army to contracting and from training thousands of military armorers to writing and MILspec testing—first with my beloved M16A1 rifle and the thousands of AKs, FALs, HKs and machine guns I’ve worked on, in almost every imaginable circumstance on five continents—I have some opinions on weapons. There are other much more combat experienced or trained people, and they have their opinions. What you are about to read comes from my thoughts, and there are certainly others with different opinions, and I urge you to consider their input. I hope you find these opinions and this covert system to be suitable for inclusion in your unit’s TO&E, or just as a real “Go-Bag.” DRD Tactical has outdone themselves.

Left side views of Trijicon’s VCOG optic on the Paratus rifle.

Skip Patel has been making outstanding military firearms for many, many years. His first company, Cobb Manufacturing, Inc., was sold in 2007. After that, he enjoyed the luxury of being able to focus on his true passion: building high quality rifles that have unique and desirable attributes for the end user. Skip listened to his government customers and looked for the things they wanted, but weren’t being offered COTS (Commercial Off The Shelf). One of those things was a truly concealable takedown rifle system, which was not only accurate but returned to accurate after assembly.

SADJ has presented the Kivaari, DRD Tactical’s .338 Lapua Magnum takedown rifle, in the past (the article is online at www.sadefensejournal.com). Our take was that it was perhaps the most innovative long range rifle we’ve seen in recent years. The Paratus honestly outdoes that rifle at shorter range, clearly in a different category; as a true Designated Marksman Rifle. While it is classed as a sniper rifle and can certainly perform in that longer range capacity, SADJ much preferred it as very discreet DMR.

During the Clandestine Break-Down Sniper Rifle (CSR) project under the Joint & Special Operations Program, DRD Tactical had a working project rifle that was the most compact semi-automatic rifle ever seen in this type of competition.

While the envelope of the rifle is clearly AR-15 family, there are some notable changes. Aside from the takedown capability, the operating group is unique to DRD Tactical. More about that later. Attention to detail has not been forgotten.

While talking with Skip, the idea gelled to take the Paratus and make it into a backpack gun—a truly discreet rifle. DRD does offer a backpack with the Paratus, but we wanted to go further. Most serious shooters know that a marksman or sniper has to be prepared to take a long, long hike to get where he’s in position for the shot.

Recently, a lot of that job has been to Humvee into an area, scout a building and climb to a perch. I suppose that carrying a small hard case is good for that, but for the 10-15 kilometer hike to get deep into a territory and quickly prepare for a long, accurate shot, a backpack is much better. The choice is whether you want to try to be camouflaged military style or simply pass as a backpacker out in the wilderness. We chose the “blend in” method and used the 5.11 Covrt18 backpack for this. Again, more about that later. Sound suppression is key, as well as extremely accurate shooting out to about 6-800 meters. Thus, the Trijicon VCOG and the Gemtech Quicksand have been chosen for this project. And, of course, the DRD Tactical Paratus is a starting point.

Magpul’s MBUS low profile, light weight front and real folding back up sights were the choice for the Paratus/VCOG sighting system. The back sight tucks in way out of the way, and the front sight is unobtrusive as well. Both are robust and easy to use.

DRD Tactical has worked long and hard to make an accurate Designated Marksman’s Rifle that fits in a small case. Part two of that “Ready” is how fast can you put it together, and part three is does it return to accurate? The quick answers? First, it fits in a very small case, 18x12x8 inches; second, with a bit of practice, it goes together in less than 60 seconds; and third this is one minute of angle rifle, and every time we tested it, it returned to point of aim. Basically, this rifle shoots better than I can, and it’s all done with a 16-inch barrel.

While the spec sheet gives some idea of the basic rifle, the details require a bit more information. We chose the “Battle Worn” finish for the project rifle, because it tends to blend into backgrounds for urban areas or in shadow and because that finish looks pretty cool. Face it, we like our weapons to perform but we like to have a nice appearance as well. More importantly of course, is “How does it work?”

The answer is that it works very, very well. Every part is carefully thought out, from the unique operating system described in the takedown sequence of this article, to the ambidextrous controls and the bolt release system—the blending of many technologies simply works. The controls are easy to operate, and I have to commend DRD on the charging system. It’s almost an OCD thing for this author—removing the right hand from the pistol grip and trigger position (the fire control) and especially removing the eyes from line of sight to target are big disadvantages. Eugene Stoner once said that his original design of the AR series had an ambidextrous charging handle inside the carry handle for that very reason, but Big Army had him change it (partially due to the heating of the gas tube entering in that area). With DRD’s design, eyes can stay on the sights, fingers on the controls, and the weak hand can perform mag changes etc as well as charging. It shortens response time in those critical seconds of combat engagement.

The barrel support system is excellent—very solid, connecting the barrel base to the receiver assembly, not allowing for any looseness at all—it’s a smooth fit.

“The Trijicon VCOG (Variable Combat Optical Gunsight) is a rugged variable powered riflescope with an LED illuminated first focal plane BDC reticle. The VCOG is designed for extreme durability and features superior glass quality. The magnification range accommodates CQB and long distance marksmanship. The VCOG is a MIL-spec grade optic, robust enough for any application.”

During the test period of the rifle, when we would have government groups in for training at Phoenix Defence, I would walk into the room with the backpack, set it on a table, take a bottle of water out of it and drink some while discussing the course with the attendees. Then, I would take a notepad from the pack, and make notes. Finally, I’d ask if anyone had a stopwatch on him— usually a volunteer with a phone would pipe in. I’d ask him to start it, then drop the pack on its back, open it, remove the first tray and the receiver system. Flip the stock open, then assemble the barrel and forend. Next, the bipod, the suppressor, and the magazine snapped into place, placed neatly in front of the class and then say “Stop.” It is almost invariably under 60 seconds from the innocuous looking backpack, to a deadly accurate suppressed sniper rifle, and it always starts the conversations going. Many of these people are not fully aware of the COTS solutions they could encounter, especially from DRD Tactical.

The hard case is a small one, enough to not raise eyebrows, but the backpacks they offered were basic off-the-shelf variants. The test gun was ordered with the 5.11 Covrt 18 discreet backpack in Asphalt/Black. There were 7 colors to choose from—Ice, Storm, black, and foliage among them—there was a maroon offered as well. With the idea being to “Fit in” with backpackers, the COVRT 18 is an excellent choice—no moly on the outside, nothing that looks military showing other than the small 5.11 tag. I’ve used these backpacks for years, all over the planet, with no one noticing other than another contractor seeing the 5.11 tag and mentioning it while going through screening at an airport in the Middle East. (Tag + scissors = no more comments). There are other companies making discreet backpacks, but I like this one.

5.11 COVRT18 Pack

Why did I want it for the Paratus? Because it’s tried and true, and I’ve used these packs for 4-5 years. The accessibility of the various pockets is excellent, and inside I’ve got the moly I need to position important items like an Otis cleaning kit, Gerber tool (The mine probe tool they make is my choice), med kits, range finder, the small tools you need, extra magazines and even a small computer will fit. There are flop outs to display a unit or organization badge that can be pulled out if needed. There is an inner pocket almost the size of the pack that opens from either side, has a Velcro base, and is very convenient for placing a holster in either direction for quick access to a handgun. I fit an MP5K in mine for a while, and at other times a SIG P227 with Gemtech suppressor. Basically, the Covrt 18 was an excellent choice for the Paratus project.

VCOG’s brightness control for the LED lit reticle is on the left side, and the notches between numbers are “Off” making for a very quick choice in light level, or none.

There is room in the back section to carry a Level III or Level IV hard plate. I played with the idea of adding that, but the weight and the fact that the discreet nature of the pack and the idea of potential missions a user might be on, precluded adding this. Instead, I opted for Level IIIa soft armor cut to match the stiffener that is inside the water compartment—the Covrt 18 allows for a hydration system. I prefer to put a couple of water bottles in the side pouches, it looks better anyway. So, the backpack system will stop a .44 Magnum handgun round, and the pack can be swung around in front of you to wear as an improvised vest. I had the custom cut Kevlar sealed in a waterproof cover for added longevity.

The Suppressor: GemTech’s Quicksand

Having known Dr. Philip H. Dater for 30 years or so, and being very familiar with the Gemtech products, I chose the Quicksand for this project. The Bi-Lock mount Gemtech uses is very fast, secure, and returns point of impact every time—it can only be installed in one position, so if there is a bit of point of impact shift when suppressed, it will be repeatable. Suppression is a key point in this backpack DMR system, so the operator should assume firing will be suppressed but be aware of any shift when unsuppressed.

The specifications are the party line from Gemtech (all manufacturers try to give a reduction number but there are a lot of variables), and we wanted to know how the Quicksand would perform on the rifle. Suppression of a bolt action is different from a semi-auto which is different from a machine gun, and variations in models and barrel lengths are common. Our first test was not successful due to a mechanical issue with the initial test rifle and suppressor mount (quickly solved but we needed to mention it). Suppressor testing after this was done on an equivalent length rifle barrel on a semiauto using two types of ammunition: Black Hills 175 grain Match and military M80 Ball from Lake City/ATK.

Due to the current understanding of the need to know suppression levels at various locations, especially due to the massive damage to hearing suffered by veterans and the current focus on this, we are using two locations of recording—the old school, i.e., 1 meter left of the muzzle at 90° to the bore axis, and at the Shooter’s Left Ear (SLE).

On a bolt action, the sound reduction would be better. Longer barrel, again, probably better. When one of SADJ’s readers is looking at this chart, they usually understand. So, what does this mean? NATO and other standards point out that 140 db or over is going to cause more hearing damage, and if you can get underneath that magic number at the shooter’s left ear, it’s considered hearing safe. That damage can be cumulative of course, and it’s a major problem, with billions of dollars spent every year for treatment. Suppression is an important part of today’s health issues for shooters. On the Paratus, a semi-automatic rifle, these are very good numbers indeed.

Testing was performed with a Larson-Davis 880B meter, Atmospheric conditions at the time of testing were 77° F, 22% humidity, and station pressure of 683 mmHg. Wind gusts were under 2 mph.

There are tonal differences in suppressors as well, and many hard to define characteristics. Will the Quicksand mask the location of the shooter? Yes. Is it interfering with accuracy? No.

Regarding accuracy, this testing was done later with the Quicksand and without. There was virtually no discernable shift in point of impact, and the groups stayed just as tight with the Quicksand installed, as without. The Quicksand performed as expected—very quiet, and very accurate. At 17.5 ounces, with a very durable finish, the Quicksand matched our needs.

The Optic: Trijicon’s VCOG

It’s not for 1500 meter shooting. Neither is the rifle/system we’re putting together. There are a lot of other criteria much more important in this package. If we start listing a few of the features we require, the choice will become clear: compact, robust, easy to use, clear optics, good reticle choices, uses one AA battery, and will stay dead on at 600+ meters after being in a backpack on a long recon or hike. Check mark on all of these. I had a different choice (Nightforce Beast) on the Kivaari, but we’re not trying to go there. Trijicon also offers several longer range options, the AccuPoint and the AccuPower, but in this situation, the VCOG was my choice.

But what are we really asking the optic to do? We’re looking for something that can survive rigorous and sometimes abusive events. The VCOG does this while many others don’t. One look at the heavy duty aircraft aluminum tube and the low mount, the adjustment knob covers, and the magnification control, and you’ll understand this is built to last. It is also crispy-clear for viewing and the field of view while not the greatest, it is very acceptable at the ranges we’re talking about. The magnification dial is large, long, ribbed and has a very tactile ridge to make adjustment easy with either hand or even light gloves.

A couple of notes about the reticle: First, I chose the red Segmented Circle .308 Crosshair for 175 grain projectiles. That’s basically what most people would feed this rifle. Second the brightness settings are a dream. Every half turn shuts down the LED. Once you decide what the best illumination is for the reticle, you can easily choose between two numbers such as 3-4, and quickly get rid of illumination if needed by clicking between them. Then, back to illumination of the chosen power with one notch turn.

Profile 1

Regarding adding a reflex sight, or setting one up on the quarter side right or left, or offset back up sights, the idea was to simplify and save weight where possible. While it’s being taught tactically to rotate the rifle quickly to use the RMR or offsets, the Trijicon fast sighting system works with the VCOG just as well as any occluded eye system would. I opted to engage targets at 300-600 meters, then quickly to about 15 meters just to acclimate and it worked perfectly. This is simulating the real job of the rifle at longer ranges, and suddenly a threat appears at close range. At this point, both eyes open, looking at the target and the red LED illumination centered and it was very fast and accurate. I chose not to add anything extra to the sighting, just some personal training in close target acquisition.

On the other hand, a backup iron sight is a must whenever using a scope. If you’re scope goes down, it needs to come off and give you some options. The simple, low-profile and very light weight Magpul MBUS front and rear sights were my choice in this case. No extra protrusions to the side and just pull the damaged optic and move to iron sights.

Everyone has to fall down somewhere, and my failing in this sighting system was the choice of a moun—I should have chosen the VCOG with quick release mount system that Trijicon offers, but I stuck with the standard Thumb Screw mount out of old habit. It’s a good mount, but in this situation it wouldn’t add any weight to the package and if the optic is damaged would have perhaps been quicker to remove.

the ammo choice:

Profile 2

There are a lot of options on ammunition today, and Black Hills Ammunition stands at the head of the pack on many levels.

For this system, I’ve chosen what many of today’s marksman and snipers use: .308 175 grain Match Hollow Point. Jeff Hoffman ensures that the quality of his ammunition is top notch. Every aspect of production is closely watched, and I’ve supplied many hundreds of thousands of rounds to satisfied end users over the years. At 2600 FPS, in a 16-inch barrel there’s little velocity loss and a lot of energy left on target. The accuracy was a known factor, so if the groups were “Off” I would know it wasn’t the ammo. In this case, the groups were up to expectations- which are always high with Black Hills.

Filling Out The Pack:

Bipod: The Harris Bipod 6-9 inch adjustable is a no-brainer for a lightweight, reliable bipod. Combined with their quick detach mount for Picatinny rails, and the adjustable cant and lock, it’s one of the most versatile on the market.

Magazines: Magpul P-Mags were our choice—the 20 rounders, but you could choose the 25 rounders. I did not use magazine holders, opting to keep them loose in the front pack.

Cleaning Kit: We used the Otis sniper type cleaning kit. Small, well thought out, a good thorough system.

Male, female, old, young, it doesn’t matter, you should always have at least one sharp knife in your pocket and kit. It’s not so much of a “Fighting Thing,” it’s an everyday survival thing. Today’s airport flying rules and security checks mess with this and many of the old school feel naked when they arrive un-bladed. In this case, due to the weapon involved at the core, let’s assume you can arrive with blades intact.

Knife One: This one’s for fighting, my choice was the Spyderco Salt. Knife Two: This one’s for immediate attachment on a pants pocket edge and its job is cutting, paring, anything from trimming a ripped fingernail to cutting paracord—this would be a small locking knife. Knife Three: This one’s for work. OR, get a tomahawk.

Gemtech Quicksand

Knife sharpener: I’ve been using the DMT Diamond folding flat sharpener for some time. It’s lightweight and slides into the moly inside. Add a Firestarter as well.

Medical: You know what you need. Betadine, sutures, clotting bandages, etc., add in alcohol swipes—cleaning blades as well as sterilizing.

Water: You can put a hydration system in the backpack if you want, I tend to put two bottles in the side pouches. It looks more natural.

Food: A couple of MRE pouches should last a while, I tend to split them up into different pouches and toss what I don’t want to save weight. Not what the Army intended but, hey, I get to choose.

Gemtech Quicksand

DRD Tactical and Skip Patel have built several amazing rifle designs and this one tops our list. While it might not be the answer to 1500-meter targeting, it wasn’t meant to be. It’s meant to be covert, discreet, and do a job out to perhaps 1000 meters depending on the optic. We’re suitably impressed with this rifle—it’s one of the best and most innovative rifles we have tested recently. When combined with some of the systems above, the versatility really shines. SADJ highly recommends the Paratus for those who have the interest or need. There are many ways you can make a discreet system out of this, personalized for your needs; this was just one exercise in what one man thought would accessorize the Paratus properly.

Contacts: DRD Tactical
Tel: +1-678-398-9059
Email: drd@drdtactical.com
Website: www.drdtactical.com
Trijicon: www.trijicon.com
Gemtech: www.gemtech.com
5.11 Tactical: www.511tactical.com
Magpul: www.magpul.com
Black Hills: www.black-hills.com
Harris: www.harrisbipods.com
Spyderco: www.spyderco.com
DMT Sharpeners: www.dmtsharp.com

Trijicon’s VCOG is a 1-6x24mm optic that has been covered numerous times in SADJ.

It’s not for 1500 meter shooting. Neither is the rifle/system we’re putting together. There are a lot of other criteria much more important in this package. If we start listing a few of the features we require, the choice will become clear: compact, robust, easy to use, clear optics, good reticle choices, uses one AA battery, and will stay dead on at 600+ meters after being in a backpack on a long recon or hike. Check mark on all of these. I had a different choice (Nightforce Beast) on the Kivaari, but we’re not trying to go there. Trijicon also offers several longer range options, the AccuPoint and the AccuPower, but in this situation, the VCOG was my choice.

trijicon says:

“The Trijicon VCOG (Variable Combat Optical Gunsight) is a rugged variable powered riflescope with an LED illuminated first focal plane BDC reticle. The VCOG is designed for extreme durability and features superior glass quality. The magnification range accommodates CQB and long distance marksmanship. The VCOG is a MIL-spec grade optic, robust enough for any application.”

Beyond the “Three Block War”

“The environment we will face will be different,”

Neller said. “It won’t be open desert where we will have clear sight lines; it will be complex terrain, urban sprawl along the coastline. We won’t have guaranteed air supremacy or technological supremacy. The fight will not be linear or sequential.” General Robert B. Neller, 37th Commandant of the Marine Corps

In his second year as Commandant, and second visit to MDM, four-star General Neller’s keynote address on Wednesday to an overflow crowd in the cavernous Briefing Center tent at the 2016 Modern Day Marine Expo. The General introduced the new Marine Corps Operating Concept (MCO), comprehensive guidance to plan and prepare for how the Corps will operate and fight in 2025.

Neller’s choice of this time and place to drive home his personal commitment to MCO for the coming decade is hard evidence of the importance of this annual event for all Marines, and other serious warfighters to see and learn about what Marines have to move, shoot, and communicate now and in anticipation of inevitable upcoming conflicts worldwide.

Tell & Show

The Corps wisely uses the annual Expo in a number of ways as an efficient venue for meaningful interaction with large and small sources in the defense industry. It’s a two-way information superhighway that bypasses many of the bureaucratic bottlenecks encountered in other services making up the US Armed Forces.

Interestingly, on Monday, the day before the Expo’s official kickoff, MARCOR Systems Command held the Infantry Equipment Challenge Industry Day at MCB Quantico. Some seventy vendors attended the event where USMC requirements, capabilities, operation and areas for possible improvement were discussed. Along with presentations on current and future operating environments, potential engineering assessment criteria, and current requirements.

General Robert Neller introduced the new Marine Corps Operating Concept (MOC), outlining how the Corps will operate and fight in 2025. There’s a video of his full address at MDM16 on YouTube and the whole MOC document is available at mccdc.marines.mil/MOC/ USMC photo

Then it was time for vendors to have individual meetings with MCSC Program Managers and subject matter experts: “This is what we’ve got, are you interested?”

More information, including follow-on events, can be found at: marcorsyscom.marines.mil/InfantryEquippingChallenge/.

Up Close & Personal

Continuing Systems Command’s very successful inauguration last year of the “Integration with Industry Workshop,” grunt gear innovators were invited for all three days of the expo to showcase and demonstrate equipment intended to be worn or carried by dismounted Marines.

The emphasis this time, conducted by the Marine Expeditionary Rifle Squad Office, was on items that could be used by the infantry community.

Centrally located in Tent B’s distinctive “Marine Zone,” scheduled vendors got up to an hour each to make their pitch and if appropriate, to actually adorn a combat-ready Marine’s standard outfit with whatever gadget or gear enhancement being offered. Then, an expert panel provided a “usability assessment” right on the spot.

For example, Mystery Ranch’s Overload Packs, customized for selected heavy man-portable weapons and already in use in Special Operations Command, got a chance at this one as well as at Monday’s Infantry Equipping Challenge.

Straight Scoop in Sessions & Panels

Over the Expo’s three days, scheduled panels and sessions provided essential information to help defense firms and others understand current requirements and anticipate what will be needed for expeditionary warfare in the near future and beyond.

In the Report to Industry, Planning Brief to Industry, Combat Support System Industry Day, Special Operations Brief, and Small Business Programs Brief, there was something for everyone to learn and act on; from top executives of strategic level mega-contractors to small business vendors hoping to identify and supply Corps-specific gear.

MARCOR Systems Command’s Planning Brief to Industry consisted of three back-to-back sessions. Years of the Republican leadership allowing the Obama administration’s drastic cuts to the DoD budget continue to bedevil the Devil Dogs in particular as was starkly revealed by Program Managers in necessarily but dangerously austere acquisition plans.

“Expeditionary Convention Center”

Billed as “the world’s largest military exposition focusing on enhanced capabilities for expeditionary forces,” this year’s Modern Day Marine Expo was held from September 27th to 29th aboard Marine Corps Base, Quantico, Virginia.

“It provides education for everyone,” said Michael Regner, retired Marine major general and current national director of government affairs for the Marine Corps League, which puts on the expo. “Not just for junior and senior Marines, but for military family members, spouses and children, members of Congress, their staffs and civilian Marines.

Co-sponsored by the base, the Marine Corps League, and Marine Corps Systems Command, the 36th annual MDM showcased the products and services of nearly 200 entities that support military land, air, and sea operations.

Exhibits at this year’s exposition filled three enormous, sparkling white, climate-controlled tents, as well as others showcasing small business and housing the briefings. These, and adjacent space in the outdoor display area, were packed with the latest operational equipment and technology, along with videos, models, and prototypes of items soon to enter service.

Defense contractors from throughout the U.S., and some allied nations, signed on to show their products and services, get feedback from the warfighters, and respond to questions.

Much of the equipment now used by Marines and other U.S. and allied forces confronting enemies in Iraq, Afghanistan, and elsewhere around the globe was first presented to military leaders, operations planners and acquisition managers at previous editions of the expo.

As well as experiencing the latest, greatest technological advances, MDMME attendees can go face-to-face with many of the nonprofit organizations and agencies that exist to assist service members and veterans.

As always, our focus was on infantry weapons and ammunition, so we paid close attention as Colonel Mike Manning, PM Infantry Weapons Systems, gave some particularly bad news in revealing his office’s 2017 funding cut nearly in half.

Emphasis on infantry Marine Corps Systems Command exhibit in Tent B included an ongoing “Integration with Industry Workshop,” where individual exhibitors could showcase and demonstrate equipment intended to be worn or carried by dismounted Marines. Marcorsyscom.marines.mil Photo by Robert Bruce

But in true “Semper fi” tradition, Manning vowed to meet the needs of tip of the spear Marines, renewing the perennial call for industry to help with cost and weight reduction in body armor, weapons, ammo, and optics.

Meanwhile, modest enhancements are promised to Marine snipers, but other grunts will have to carry on with current issue weapons; most all designed and fielded decades ago. Many if not most of these are at the end of their long life cycle, “rode hard” repeatedly on ranges, in rigorous training exercises and countless brutal battlefields.

On the somewhat bright side, PM Ammunition’s budget has “only” been cut by $1.2 million. Opportunities for ammo suppliers include battlefield effects simulators, 5.56mm SESAMS, 9mm blanks (for dog training), and match rounds for competition.

Actual briefing slides from Manning and other PMs can be found and downloaded from System Command’s website marcorsyscom.marines.mil Click the COMMAND BRIEFINGS bar.

Overload pack Seen here with a shoulder launched rocket system secured, the tough and capacious Overload is Mystery Ranch’s most advanced weapons carry backpack. It features quick-access 3-ZIP design and the ability to secure sniper and crew-served weapons or Pelican cases between the pack and frame without decreasing capacity for mission essentials or sustainment gear. Already in use by USSOCOM and Marine Scout Snipers, the Overload was pitched to SYSCOM at Monday’s IEC and then at the Integration Workshop. Mysteryranch.com, Photo courtesy Mystery Ranch

There’s a special link on the top menu bar for the Small Business Program, and all potential vendors are invited to review the ACQUISITION FORECAST.

For specific solicitations and contract awards at FEDBIZOPS and Defense Innovation Marketplace is a comprehensive resource: defenseinnovationmarketplace.mil.

Small ARMS Showplace

While it’s easy to get sidetracked by exhibits featuring enormous armored fighting vehicles, lethal drone aircraft, weaponized robots and such, guns are number one for us, and there were plenty to handle and discuss with knowledgeable reps.

2016’s lineup included infantry weapons from prominent names like Beretta, Barrett, Colt, FN, General Dynamics OTS, Glock, HK, Knight’s, LaRue, Sig Sauer, and Troy. Also, several rising contenders in the firearms arena include Combined Systems, FightLite, Magpul, Phoenix Defence, Seekins Precision, and others.

Anticipating future warfare. Always a top draw at MDM, the expansive display from the Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory/Futures Directorate showcases items under development for possible near-future deployment. Its mission is to identify future challenges and opportunities, develop warfighting concepts, and comprehensively explore options in order to inform the combat development process to meet the challenges of the future operating environment. Mcwl.marines.mil Photo by Robert Bruce, Photo courtesy Mystery Ranch

But first, let’s deal briefly with Marine Corps’ interest in the Army’s XM17 Modular Handgun System program. Very briefly.

As of this writing in late October, a possible replacement for the long-suffering 9mm M9 Beretta is apparently stalled, and the eagerly anticipated “mid-September downselect” of finalists hasn’t been announced. And it would be bad manners to ask industry exhibitors about it.

Maybe we’ll all have found out together by the time you read this. Capsule Cartridges, COLT, CVRT, and Clones

Here’s our customary update on AAI/TEXTRON’s CT (Cased Telescoped) weapons and innovative ammo: still alive and kicking as evidenced by an official status report presentation at NDIA’s Armaments Conference earlier this year and CT project engineer Ben Cole’s cheerful demeanor at MDM 16.

Grunt gear. Marines model the individual combat load for various Marine MOSs during Industry Day of the Infantry Equipping Challenge at MCB Quantico on 26 September 2016 Marcorsyscom.mil USMC photo

Proudly showing the latest mockup of the new CT Carbine that joins the well-proven 5.56 and 7.62mm CT belt-feds, Cole said that firings of its test fixture mechanism are going well and the “architecture” of the actual weapon is being finalized. Caliber to be determined (possibly) by long-anticipated results of the Army’s Caliber Configuration Study.

COLT Canada’s Warren Downing brought us up to date on latest innovations in SWORD (Sniper Weapon & Observer Reconnaissance Devices). It’s said that the USMC’s intel group has ten systems for evaluation of this networked targeting system for infantry soldiers.

Kevin Weyraugh of Seekins Precision tells us that the stubby barreled SBR8 CVRT (covert), designed specifically for use with a suppressor, is custom-built only for LE and government customers.

Corps Cartridge question. With a muzzle mounted chronograph fitted to quick change barrels chambered in 7.62 NATO, .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges, a Marine Scout Sniper fires an M40A6 rifle (Remington Defense Precision Sniper Rifle) in MARCOR Systems Command’s caliber study at Fort AP Hill in July 2016. The purpose of this comprehensive evaluation in relative long range accuracy and effectiveness was to inform acquisition leaders in advance of any decision. Marcorsyscom.marines.mil USMC photo

Always on the lookout for friendly female faces and fine firearms, we made a point of stopping to see Troy Industries. There, Alyssa Fuentes and Molly Troy graciously modeled the two new ‘Nam era civilian-legal commemorative clones “shorties,” the USAF-fielded GAU.-5/A/A and Army XM177E2, a U.S. Special Operations icon specifically built for the covert combat needs of MACV-SOG in Vietnam.

Linked in

In addition to AAI’s two CT platforms, some other belt fed guns caught our eye as we elbowed our way through crowded aisles.

First was FightLite’s MCR (Mission Configurable Rifle) that not only ingests its 5.56 from SAW type linked belts, but also from conventional AR compatible mags. We’re told that the MCR is slated for testing soon by the Army’s PEO Soldier, and it was pitched to the Corps at MDM16’s Integration with Industry Workshop.

Current infantry weapons. During Industry Day of the Infantry Equipping Challenge at MCB Quantico on 26 September 2016, Brigadier General Joseph Schrader, Commander of Marine Corps Systems Command, inspects a display of weapons common to Marine infantry squads. Marcorsyscom.mil USMC photo

Knight’s continues to promote their superbly simple 5.56mm Stoner LMG and Barrett’s remarkable 7.62mm 240LW offers considerable savings in cost and weight over the venerable M240 series.

“Crossroads of the Marine Corps”

Strategically located about 30 minutes’ drive south of Washington DC, America’s capitol city with powerful lawmakers, the Pentagon, numerous defense contractors, and foreign embassies, MCB Quantico is an ideal Expo location.

It is the home to the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, charged with developing Marine warfighting concepts and determines the Corps’ capability requirements for doctrine, equipment, organization, training, education and support.

The Marine Corps Warfighting Laboratory at Quantico is part of the Development Command and responsible for improving current and future naval expeditionary warfare capabilities for the Marines and their amphibious roles and missions.

Colonel Mike Manning. The Program Manager for Infantry Weapons Systems, gave some particularly bad news in revealing his office’s 2017 funding – cut nearly in half. But in true “Semper fi” tradition, Manning vowed to meet the needs of tip of the spear Marines. marcorsyscom.marines.mil

Also at Quantico is Marine Corps Systems Command, principal agency for acquisition and sustainment of systems and equipment for the Marines’ warfighting mission. Many of the personnel who staff those organizations took advantage of continuously-running shuttle buses to visit the exhibit halls and discuss missions, capabilities, and requirements with defense industry professionals.

Reach Way Out

A Truvelo CMS precision rifle in .338 Lapua from Phoenix Defence and Gun Mountain (full disclosure – associated with this publication) grabbed attention with its long sleek lines and distinctive muzzle brake/flash suppressor.

The 7.62mm SIG716 Designated Marksman Rifle continues SIG Sauer’s distinguished line of military and LE weaponry.

CT Carbine. Marine Captain Phillip Smith listens intently as AAI/Textron engineer Ben Cole explains unique design features of the developmental
CT Carbine that fires tubelike plastic cased telescoped ammunition. Textronsystems.com/lsat

HK Defense was proud to note recently winning the CSASS (Compact SemiAutomatic Sniper System) competition, represented at the expo by a well-accessorized HK417.

Then there was the impressive, multi-caliber Barrett MRAD, triumphantly sitting atop a stack of big ammo crates filled with expended brass, testifying to a recent extreme torture test. And not to be overlooked was LaRue Tactical’s 20-inch barreled PredatOBR in 7.62mm.

“We own the night” (and daytime too in rain, fog, snow and sandstorms, CQB or extreme range) due to technological leaps and bounds made by Aimpoint, B.E. Meyers, FLIR, Trijicon, L-3, Leupold, Night Vision Depot, and others at the expo.

Each year, the MC League’s Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock Award recognizes an enlisted Marine who has made outstanding contributions to marksmanship training. The 2016 honoree was Sergeant Joshua K. Sherman for his superior performance while serving as a Combat Marksmanship Trainer, Marksmanship Training Company, Weapons Training Battalion, Quantico, Virginia from January 2014 to May 2016. (Left to right) USMC Commandant Neller, MCL Commandant Richard Gore, Sergeant Sherman, Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps Ronald Green. Mclnational.org USMC photo

Honors and Awards

With so many high-level Marine leaders and other VIPs converging on the Expo, important ceremonial events are conveniently scheduled to coincide. At Wednesday evening’s Grand Banquet and Awards Dinner at Pentagon City’s Ritz-Carlton Hotel, US Representative Robert Wittman (R-VA) received the Marine Corps League’s Iron Mike Award and the Dickey Chapelle award went to Dr. Betty Mosley Brown. Information on these is available on the Marine Corps League’s website www.mclnational.org.

When heavy rain washed out the traditional Wednesday morning Enlisted Awards Parade, ten outstanding Marines and one Navy Hospital Corpsman were personally honored by the Commandant Neller in the Expo’s Briefing Center tent.

US Representative Robert Wittman (R-VA) received the Marine Corps League’s Iron Mike Award and the Dickey Chapelle award went to Dr. Betty Mosley Brown. Information on these is available on the Marine Corps League’s website Mclnational.org. USMC photo

For us, the Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock Award for outstanding contribution to marksmanship training is most prominent among these. The 2016 honoree was Sergeant Joshua K. Sherman for exemplary performance while serving as a Combat Marksmanship Trainer, Marksmanship Training Company, Weapons Training Battalion, Quantico, Virginia from January 2014 to May 2016.

Truvelo CMS. Standing in at the Phoenix Defence booth, General Manager Debbie Shea prepares to field a question about the Truvelo CMS, seen here in its .338 Lapua version with distinctive muzzle brake, it is also available in 7.62 NATO and .50 BMG chamberings. Design features include a foldable stock, fully adjustable recoil assembly, adjustable grip, Picatinny rails, and removable bipod. Phoenixdefence.com and Gunnmountain.com

Barrett balancing. A balance scale type display stand helps Jordan Procar demonstrate the remarkable weight saving offered by Barrett’s 7.62mm 240LW over the M240, its Marine-standard rival. “Pounds equal pain” to grunts, and the 21-pound 240LW saves plenty of it. Barrett.net

Marine Corporal Max Schultz of Marine Corps Intel Quantico, with the Truvelo CMS. Topped by a Night Force variable power scope or comparable optic, this precision rifle is capable of hitting man-sized targets out to 1800 meters. Phoenixdefence.com and Gunnmountain.com Photo by Robert Bruce

Today, as Small Arms Defense Journal begins its 9th year, we thought that it might be a good idea to help introduce our readers to a few places where they can get help—legal firms who specialize in the subject matter and have been honest in the dealings we have seen, former regulatory employees who will consult on issues and resources to help guide you and your company before you have trouble (and perhaps help clean up issues that might arise from violations). If you don’t see someone on our lists, it may not mean we consider them untrustworthy; we may simply be unaware of their services, or they might be too locally focused for this publication.

Attorneys Handling NFA, Firearms Law, Manufacturing, Import and Export:
Reeves & Dola, LLP
1775 Eye St., NW
Suite 1150
Washington, DC 20006 USA
Phone: +1-202-683-4200
www.reevesdola.com

Help for Dealers and Manufacturers:
Chris Chiafullo
FFLGuard, LLC
244 5th Ave., Suite 1960
New York, NY 10001 USA
Phone: +1-888-335-4731
www.fflguard.com

Firearms Trademarks & Patents:
Ben Langlotz
Phone: +1-888-852-4246
patent@langlotz.com
www.gunpatent.com

Consulting on Technical Firearms Issues and Laws:
Richard Vasquez
Rick Vasquez Firearms, LLC
Phone: +1-540-535-6633
Email: rick@rickvasquezfirearms.com
www.rickvasquezfirearms.com

Import/Export Customs Brokers and Problem Solvers:
AirSchott
Doors 116–119, 23901 Cargo Dr.
Dulles, VA 20166 USA
Phone: +1-703-471-7444
www.airschott.com

Import/Export Specialists:
Jason Wong
Hurricane Butterfly Research Corp.
100 Andover Park West
Suite 150 – 105
Tukwila, WA 98188 USA
Phone: +1-253-272-4700
www.hurricanebutterflyresearch.com