By Dan Shea In the 1970s-80s, there was a movement in the U.S. to create rifles in .50 BMG (12.7x99mm.) .55 Boys rifles were converted,…
By Dan Shea I’ve followed Skip Patel’s designs for about 20 years, since his BA50- mag fed .50 BMG rifle and the MCR Multi-Cal semi…
ARSENAL® JSCO, BULGARIA MG-1M The 7.62x54mm ARSENAL MG-1M machine guns are powerful automatic weapons, used as armament against enemy troops and firing points….
“Solving the Riddle of Steel” By Dan Shea “The secret of steel has always carried with it a mystery. You must learn its riddle,…
HORNADY’S NEW 6mm CARTRIDGE Hornady® is proud to introduce the new 6mm ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge). Recently tested, selected and fielded by a specialized group…
SMITH & WESSON M&P M.A.G.I.C.® Assisted Opening Liner Lock Folding Knife Smith & Wesson® Large M&P® M.A.G.I.C.® Assisted Opening Liner Lock Folding Knife is…
A Bolt-Action Variant for Every Use and Taste By Oleg Volk The Mossberg MVP line of rifles was introduced in 2012. As of 2020, this innovative…
Expodefensa: A Hub Linking North and South America By Julio A. Montes Expodefensa was held for the first time in 2009 at Corferias International…
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) had depended upon its F88 5.56mm rifle—a Thales Australian-built variant of the Austeyr or Steyr AUG A1—since 1988. Australian “diggers”…
Computer-aided design, advanced metallurgy, polymer composites, material forming technology and propellant formulation enable today’s ammunition advances, and that subsequently drives weapon design, not the reverse….
When laser rangefinders (LRFs) first appeared on the civilian domestic market a decade or so ago, they were large and somewhat expensive. And they were…
The collapse of the Soviet Union plunged the new Russian state into chaos, plagued by organized crime and terrorism. To face these challenges, the Ministry…
How Cues from Athletic Helmets Can Help Reduce Traumatic Head Injuries For more than 3 decades March has been designated by the Brain Injury Association…
The XM17 Modular Handgun System This article begins with a simple fact: SIG SAUER successfully won the military’s coveted XM17 Modular Handgun System (MHS) competition….
At the turn of this century, American tactical shotguns were generally tube-fed pumps and semiautos. The few attempts at box or drum-fed scatterguns were squashed…
Nikon Sport Optics has manufactured quality optics for decades. Several years ago, Nikon released the BLACK X1000 series riflescopes. The second focal plane BLACK X1000…
In terms of firearm product development, we live in exciting times. Computers, compact circuitry and manufacturing techniques have opened a Pandora’s box of new items….
FN HERSTAL FN® FCU Mk3 Fire Control Unit The FN FCU Mk3 Fire Control Unit provides a complete sighting and aiming solution for 40mm LV…
Turkey has a longstanding tradition of manufacturing licensed models, then producing evolved domestic variants. The Canik series of handguns started as budget clones of the…
Many have become increasingly interested with the ability to “see” at night albeit via traditional image intensifying night vision or thermal technology for various reasons…
There has been a resounding boom in popularity of suppressors in recent years. They have become less the stuff of secret agents and more the…
A Long Way from Fender Guitars Established in Anaheim, California, in 1977 by founders Dave Sanderson and Steve Kottman, SKB first began manufacturing guitar cases….
Gunshot localization systems have been in use for several decades by both the military and law enforcement. Their purpose is to detect the origin of…
A History of South African Firearms South Africa has a rich history evident in its firearms, but this is a story that is seldom told…
The UH-1’s housing “disappears” when focusing on the holographic projected reticle. Innovations in AR Platform and Optics Make a Perfect Team The urge to take…
Newer isn’t always better, but in the case of American-made Inceptor Ammunition, we beg to differ. For a relatively young company, Inceptor is making some…
New Standard for Long-Range AR Performance What comes to mind when someone mentions that they are looking for a specialized long-range precision rifle? By “long-range,”…
The Vortex Razor AMG UH-1 offers a holographic 65 MOA circle and 1 MOA center dot reticle that is renowned for speed. To address the…
ABOVE: George Salg fires the RAS47 during the semi-automatic testing at the Sportsman’s Club of Franklin County range. Century Arms’ RAS47 & C39V2 Face the…
Hand Grenades M-84 KRUŠIK HOLDING CORPORATION Hand Grenades M-84 & M-75 M-84 Hand Grenade Manufacturer: Krusik Holding Corporation Model: M-84 Type: Hand Grenade Discharge Time:…
ABOVE: The Razor adds little weight or bulk to the Aklys Defense ZK22 bullpup conversion of 10-22 action. Designed in 2012, the Vortex Razor Micro…
ABOVE: YANKEE HILL MACHINE 5.56 Turbo Suppressor YANKEE HILL MACHINE 5.56 Turbo Suppressor The Turbo™ was designed to meet the increasing demand for a quiet,…
Primus 8×56 King of the Night & 8×42 Universal Genius Binoculars BLASER Primus 8×56 King of the Night & 8×42 Universal Genius Binoculars Rather than…
The CSA45 carbine by Flint River Armory is a gas piston design chambered in 45ACP. In the world densely populated by AR15 derivatives, it’s an…
Bringing the HK G3 into the 21st Century The HK G3 is still soldiering on more than 50 years after its introduction. Cheap and reliable,…
Possibly the most common classification of an AOW is the smooth bore handgun. According to the legal description of a concealable weapon, the Bureau of…
ABOVE: The above photo is one frame from a high speed video of the second round of a 200-round belt. The camera used was an…
AK-47 The Grim Reaper (Second Edition), by Frank Iannamico THE GRIM REAPER The Story of the Weapon of Choice for Many of the World’s Armies…
ABOVE: K2C with BUIS, with stock fully extended. This gun is Cerakoated. As many of our readers know, the K2 rifle and K1A “SMG” are…
The venerable HK G3 family is a reliable warhorse that canfeel dated in its ergonomics and accessory interface. With an AIM Sports handguard, however, one…
ABOVE: The author ran the gun through some CQB drills with the excellent Innovative Arms Grunt-M suppressor attached. The suppressor is hearing safe even indoors…
Paratus: DRD Tactical & the Covert Arms of the Free World Dan Shea Features, Reviews, Volume 9, V9N1 ABOVE: With the Paratus, VCOG, Harris Bipod,…
ABOVE: FIME Group FM-AK-47-11 Rifle FIME Group Introduces the FM-AK-47-11 Rifle FIME Group of Las Vegas, Nevada, introduces the latest member of the Molot family…
ABOVE: Windham Weaponry MCS The M16/M4 weapon system entered a new era in 2003 and would redefine the term “modular rifle”. In 2003, Lewis Machine…
ABOVE: “Canadian Rangers test-fire the recently-adopted C-19 rifle”. (Image credit: Canadian Armed Forces) The Canadian Rangers are a sub-component of the Canadian Armed Forces Reserve,…
There have been a number of attempts in the last decade to integrate all of the possible futuristic ideas for the modern “Battlespace.” Most are…
INTRODUCTION At the end of the 1950s the Italian economy was booming, thanks to both the creativity of manufacturers and the enormous boost provided by…
ABOVE: Barrett employee in an assault stance with the LWS, in the way that Barrett envisions the LWS being most useful in. The handguards allow…
Truvelo Manufacturing started in the 1960s in South Africa manufacturing various electronic devices. In 1994, the Truvelo Armoury branch was formed and entered into the…
ABOVE: The Caracal CAR816 in the hands of a UAE soldier. This rifle is the basic assault rifle with a 14.5 inch cold hammer forged…
ABOVE: Accuracy International AX50 .50BMG rifle was designed with long range accuracy in mind. Accuracy International (AI) has been a well known entity in the…
ABOVE: M9A3 pistol equipped with a SilencerCo Octane 9mm sound suppressor. In 1985 a legend was retired. The highly regarded M1911A1 pistol was replaced with…
ABOVE: Compact, lighter than one might think, the MGA SAW in 6.8 SPC brings serious firepower to the engagement. In almost all modern militaries, the…
ABOVE: The new IWI US UZI Pro Pistol offers a civilian legal pistol version of the UZI Pro submachine gun. The UZI 9mm submachine gun…
Every so often a product comes along that is completely, unequivocally “new.” Not just a new variation on an old design, or a new design…
ABOVE: GLOCK offers users a choice in handguns chambered in 10MM Auto in the form of G29, G20, G40 MOS. Full stable of 10MMs with…
ABOVE: The P220 chambered in 10mm was tested with many different types of ammunition including Hornady Critical Duty, Hornady Custom, Buffalo Bore as well as…
ABOVE: Colt’s O1070CCU – COMBAT UNIT™ RAIL GUN® Colt The COMBAT UNIT™ RAIL GUN is an upgraded Duty Ready pistol based on the Colt Rail…
The author firing the M6 PSD MKII chambered in 6.8x43mm SPC caliber. Notice the proprietary Magpul magazine designed for optimal feeding of the 6.8mm SPC…
Range vehicles presented realistic ambush scenarios during Barrett REC 7 DI T&E. Barrett has taken its vision of the AR rifle another step forward with…
Left to Right: SWFA 3-9x42mm, Leupold VXR Patrol 3-9x40mm, Vortex PST 2.5-10x32mm, Burris XTR II 2-10×42, Leupold MK4 LRT 3.5-10x40mm Front Focal, Nightforce NXS 2.5-10x32mm,…
From soldiering to civilian life I have had the opportunity to use some of the world’s greatest CQ optics. SADJ was given the chance to…
ABOVE: POF’s engineers did not just add some extra parts. They perfected this gun. There’s something better about this rifle. Under sustained full auto fire,…
ABOVE: The VP9 is inspired by the Welrod design but modernized for Veterinary use. The legendary silenced Welrod pistol that was developed during the Second…
U.S. MACHINE GUN ARMORY ANNOUNCES THE MGA SAW K The U.S. Machine Gun Armory, an international provider of multi-caliber military belt-fed machine guns, often referred…
ABOVE: The Mk12 SPR has seen significant amount of action in the Global War on Terrorism being very popular with the Special Operations operators who…
Once seen as an enhancement to your duty or combat rifle, quality RDS (Red Dot Sights) have become all but mandatory equipment for many working…
Kivaari .338 Lapua Rifle Now Shipping Kivaari .338 Lapua Rifle Now Shipping DRD Tactical is happy to announce that they have started shipping their new…
ABOVE: The RCE is CMMG’s version of a “Recce” or Recon AR. The driving force behind the Recon was to give sniper/observer teams a support…
Nammo Lapua .338 PS The Nordic Ammunition Company, or Nammo, is a familiar name in the defense industry, and their products are well known to…
ABOVE: Field expedient firing positions were utilized during GII SASS evaluation at Echo Valley Training Center’s “Jungle Walk” range. DPMS offers one of the broadest…
ABOVE: After a thorough evaluation, the FNS 9 stands head and shoulder above many other 9mm handguns. A Superior Polymer Pistol The FNS 9 9mm…
The MLE will exceed every intent and expectation of the combat shotgun. By and large the shotgun has been traditionally regarded as something of a…
ABOVE: Rheinmetall Vario-Ray SWIR Rheinmetall adds a new offering to its line of electro-optical equipment: the Vario-Ray (LLM-VR). It’s designed to be used on small…
SureFire Releases Its Most Powerful LED Flashlight Ever SureFire Releases Its Most Powerful LED Flashlight Ever SureFire, LLC, manufacturer of high-end illumination tools and tactical…
Aimpoint has had a lot of success in the individual weapon categories, with their military and civilian programs. After years of being asked to address…
ABOVE: The P320 in full business attire. The extra-long Picatinny spec rail allows for a multitude of add-ons. SIG Sauer means quality and performance. Their…
Our fighting soldiers – the recon units and scouts and expeditionary fighting forces that carry all of their equipment on their backs in and out…
ABOVE: Police Officer and SWAT Sniper Fabian Rivera firing the H&K USP Tactical. Notice the pistol is in full recoil. His SWAT team carried USP45…
ABOVE: The Avtomat Nikonova 94 The war machine of the Soviet Union has always been a source of intrigue to those interested in the development…
ABOVE: Right side of the Colt LE901 with the Smith Enterprise Vortex flash hider and the folding front sight base. Most of the Black Rifle…
Barrett is known for their innovative approaches in designing rifles. Much of this stems from Barrett’s non-typical background for a firearms firm. Their first product the semiautomatic M82 .50 BMG’s typifies this. Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee was founded in 1982 and centered on Ronnie Barrett’s idea of a shoulder-fired .50 BMG rifle. Barrett’s first conventional military success was the sale of about 100 M82A1 rifles to the Swedish Army in 1989. World events then transpired to give Barrett a major impetus towards success in 1990, when the United States armed forces purchased significant numbers of the M82A1 during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Kuwait and Iraq. About 125 rifles were initially bought by the United States Marine Corps, and orders from the Army and Air Force soon followed. The success of the Barrett .50 BMG rifles allowed for Barrett to expand its product line to include AR and precision bolt action rifles.
Throughout the industry there are numerous combination tools for the AR-15/M16-series rifle. Most of them are not what you would consider to be armorer combination tools. They are mostly combination tools for cleaning such as the eFECT maintenance tool, Multi Tasker and the Samson Field Survivor to name just a few. These will often contain sight adjustment tools, firing pin retainer pin removal tool, carbon cleaning tools, punch, scraper and screw driver for optics. Some also will come with a broken shell extractor as well as cleaning brushes and or cables. None of these were intended for repair but just field cleaning.
The key to reliability with any auto loading firearm is the feeding device whether it is a magazine, clip, belt or whatnot; the buck stops at the feeding mechanism front door. Over the last several years the industry has produced many different magazines for the black rifle. With the popularity of the rifle there simply wasn’t enough to go around as the demand was overwhelming. On the other side, there have been numerous attempts and some successful endeavors to improve greatly upon the standard aluminum GI magazine. Though not the first to produce a polymer AR magazine, Magpul has revolutionized the way we feed the black rifle. Earlier attempts to make a durable polymer magazine met with disaster. Magpul’s introduction of the PMag set a new standard, not only for polymer magazines but for the AR magazine in general.
It is nice to see a product evolve over time. The ArmaLite AR-31 .308 Win rifle is a great case in point. The AR-31 shares its design lineage
with previous ArmaLite precision rifles in the form of the AR-30 and its updated version AR-30A1. The AR-30A1 rifle is chambered in “long
action” bolt cartridges such as .300 WinMag and .338 Lapua. The AR-31 takes the no nonsense ArmaLite concept of the tactical rifle another
step forward. While the AR-31 (and AR-30A1) may resemble its AR-30 predecessor, only the pistol grip, buttpad, trigger, and a few small
components from the original AR-30 transferred over to the AR-31. All other components are new or redesigned. This is especially true with
the AR-31’s bolt action. The AR-31’s “short action” describes the length the bolt needs to travel to function/cycle the .308Win cartridge.
The longer .300 WinMag and .338 Lapua cartridges require a “long action.” The AR-31’s shorter action provides for a stiffer receiver often
translating into better accuracy.
In January of 1990 a new cartridge hit the market that would pretty much be a game changer as to the cartridge preferred by law enforcement. The product of a joint effort between Smith & Wesson and Winchester would spawn the .40 S&W cartridge. The .40 caliber cartridges roots go back to the 10mm Auto cartridge when it was tested by the FBI as a potential replacement for their 9x19mm caliber pistols and .38 Special/.357 Magnum caliber revolvers. When tested, the FBI found two major problems with the 10mm Auto caliber firearm. First was the heavy recoil and second was that the current pistols did not hold up to the potent round. Due to the power it was difficult if not impossible to make a small compact version of the pistol. What if you could make a 10mm Short? Reduce the powder charge to make recoil manageable and shorten the overall length of the 10mm cartridge so it will fit in a 9x19mm size magazine/mid size pistol frame? Thus, here is the introduction of the .40 S&W. The first defensive cartridges in this new caliber were Winchester 180 grain jacketed hollow points.
They say that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. If that is the case, Norinco of China is the Mecca of flattery. Aside from their original designs, Norinco of China has copied many firearms and sold them including the M1911, Remington shotgun, SIG P226 pistol, M14 and also the M16. In the early 1980s, Norinco introduced the CQ M311-1. This was a semiautomatic only version of the M16A1 intended…..
The Accuracy International AX PSR was developed to compete in USSOCOM’s solicitation H92222-09-PSR2 for a “Precision Sniper Rifle” on 15 January 2009. The essence behind this solicitation and the numerous amendments that followed resulted in a final request for a modular rifle that could be quickly transformed from a 7.62mm to a .300 Winchester Magnum to a .338 Lapua Magnum….
One does not often think of shotguns as viable combat weapons and in the law enforcement arena, shotguns have lost traction in favor of the patrol carbine. The destructive power of the 12 gauge shotgun is not disputed; the real issues with the changeover had more to do with the patrol carbine being more versatile with its ability to penetrate body armor and reduce collateral damage from stray pellets. In the military arena, the shotgun still has its place but it’s rather limited. The standard….
Feedback from Afghanistan was clear – much small-arms combat was taking place at far greater distances than expected, a lot more than the U.S. Army’s standard carbine and light machine gun were designed for. The Army was being outgunned, and had to rush older, more powerful weapons to the dismounted troops. These did the job, at the cost of significantly greater weight and recoil. Mitch Shoffner has come up with a different solution – the 6.5×40, a new cartridge designed to fit….
While military or law enforcement budgets often fixate on high end equipment procurement, it is the unspoken rule that trained personnel are the real commodity in any organization. There are multiple companies involved in producing ballistic protection systems. This business competition has not only spurred R&D, but also lowered the cost making it available to a wider range of clients besides the military; such as law enforcement, private security, and individual citizens. A leading ballistic protection….
With the creation of NATO, several programs were put into place for militaries of these nations to have some sort of compatibility. One part of that would be standardization of small arms ammunition. Throughout the NATO countries numerous calibers and different types of weapons were being used. The United States had great influence in the NATO ammunition trials, or it could be better said, they drove it. Even after World War II and the success of the StG44 Sturmgewehr or assault rifle, NATO countries….
The NG7 is a light machine gun (LMG) operated by a gas system called “gas impact.” The firearm starts the shooting cycle with the open bolt to avoid cook-off after prolonged fire. When the trigger is pulled the bolt, that is locked in a full rear position, is released and starts to go forward pushed by two compressed recoil springs. During its travel a cartridge is taken from the belt, chambered and the bolt, thanks to its locking lugs, engages the corresponding lugs in the barrel extension and locks. The bolt carrier, in this phase, keeps going forward….
Maneuvering with pinpoint accuracy and efficiency at night as well as in daytime requires situational awareness, target classification and target identification capability. Cooled thermal imagers provide superior range performance and large field of view at night and in adverse weather conditions, with a compact design and sensitive detectors with high resolution together with large depth of focus. As part of the Soldier Modernization Program IdZ, the Federal Armed Forces of Germany implemented a cooled thermal sight for infantry weapons….
The corporate symbol for Sirarms rifles is the halberd; a two-handed pole weapon (5 to 6 feet long) that consists of an axe blade topped with a spike mounted on a long shaft with a hook on the back side of the axe for grappling mounted combatants. For over two centuries, the halberd was one of the most valuable tools of war in use among soldiers, a weapon that allowed them to be able to withstand cavalry charges, unseat the attackers and counter attack. The emotional appeal to its effectiveness in the field therefore makes the brand mark….
In the early 1980s a requirement came down from the U.S. Army for a new pistol that would replace the legendary but well aged M1911 pistol. With the new NATO standardization, the new pistol would be chambered in the 9x19mm NATO cartridge: hence the beginning of the XM9 program. This would be entered by several manufacturers including Smith & Wesson, Colt, FN, H&K, Star, Beretta and SIG Sauer. After the testing was done and the reports were in, there were only two left standing: the Beretta 92F and the SIG Sauer P226….
In the movies, the scary music always gets louder just before they go around the blind corner. For operators, worrying about what is waiting around the corner can be the worst. The Corner Shot CSM is the tool that takes that worry away, and makes the bad guys worry about what’s coming around the corner for them….
Over the last several years many new calibers have been introduced to the AR-type platform; from the .204 Ruger, 6.8mm Rem SPC, 6.5 Grendel, 7.62x39mm, 5.45x39mm, 5.7mm, .450 Bushmaster, .458 SOCOM, .50 Beauwolf and .499 LWR. These are just for the AR-15 platform; there is a whole other array to the AR-10. Of all those mentioned, the only one who has really done well is the 6.8mm Rem SPC. There are several manufacturers of rifles as well as ammunition. As of this writing this author could not find any ammunition….
At SHOT Show 2010, SIG showed their new Model 516 and 716 rifles to the industry. The 516, a short stroke tappet version of the M4 was released to compete in the military and law enforcement markets both world wide as well as the U.S. With the direct gas versus piston operated controversy, SIG decided everyone is making a direct gas gun, why not then make a high quality piston operated rifle to satisfy those who have the piston bug. The 5.56mm SIG 516 is an M4 carbine with the only major differences being….
In December of 2012, the Korean company S&T Motive received a contract with South Korean DAPA (Defense Acquisition and Purchase Agency; an agency who performs all government defense purchasing) to supply 3.2 billion won (close to 3 million USD) worth of K14 sniper rifles with all optics and accessories, including training ammunition. These are for the Korean Army for delivery during 2013. This is the first time the ROK (Republic of Korea) Army has purchased a large number of sniper rifles, and the K14….
The first edition was published in 2008 and takes the reader through the development of the assault rifle, manufacturers in Russia, detailed looks at the 1st-3rd generation AK-47 rifles, AKM update, AK-74 family of weapons, AK-100 series, other Kalashnikov designs, Warsaw Pact countries manufacturing AK-type rifles, AK-derivatives, AK comes to America, made in USA AK-47 rifles, magazine and ammunition variations. The second edition greatly enhances the reader’s knowledge by the addition of many detailed photographs of various models, additional information and updated information of the current status of this family of weapons….
Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, based in Murfreesboro, Tennessee, was founded in 1982 and was centered on Ronnie Barrett’s idea of a shoulder-fired .50 BMG rifle. Many…
The Global War on Terrorism has put to the test many new weapon systems adopted in the post Cold War period. Many of those weapons and tactics had never really been tested in a real combat environment. They worked well in the lab and in testing but never really saw combat until the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Small arms were no exception; in fact they would be the first to be put on trial….
The Galil, the first IDF assault rifle, has been completely redesigned by IWI engineers developing a version that incorporates a fair number of improvements concerning ergonomics and materials, giving to this military classic a new operative life. When Ysrael Galil and Ya’akov Lior designed the Galil they were solving an emergency. During 1973, Israelis were equipped with the Belgian FAL in two versions: the “Aleph” model as individual weapon and the “Beth” model…
For a compact assassination pistol, the Soviet PSS with its companion SP4 silent ammunition is a hard combination to beat. While the PSS resembles a somewhat large conventional blowback pistol, it is definitely unique. The weapon is 6.7 inches long and weighs 30 ounces. Its size is comparable to a SIG P226 pistol, but the specialized ammunition delivers a close range lethal projectile with almost no sound signature….
It was clear that the EF88 is significantly better than its predecessors, and exhibits all of the traits of a competitive modern assault rifle. Within its niche as an advanced bullpup rifle, it has little competition – perhaps only from the IMI Tavor series – and exceeds the standards provided by Defence under Land 125. Thales Australia have managed to correct some of the weaknesses of the F88SA2 (poor cheek weld, excessive weight….
The famous MAG-58 General Purpose Machine Gun has its roots in John Browning’s 1918 Browning Automatic Rifle: the BAR. FN Herstal’s relationship with Browning is well-known and it’s no surprise that the excellent BAR operating system would evolve in their hands. The FN Model D BAR added features such as a quick-change barrel, but the core operating system was alive and well throughout the evolution. Put simply….
At the 2012 SHOT Show, ArmaLite introduced their new and long anticipated AR-10A family of rifles. This is an AR-10 that uses the standard magazine rather than the proprietary M14 based magazine that the ArmaLite AR-10B rifles have used since their introduction in 1995. To trace the history a little, the ArmaLite AR-10B series was introduced to the commercial market in 1995, which was one year after the infliction of the 1994 assault weapon ban that prohibited production of magazines that held more than 10 rounds for commercial purposes. Former U.S. Army Ordnance officer and President of ArmaLite Mark Westrom had a dilemma on his hands while….
Choosing the name of the most popular home video cassette system for your nation’s rifle might not have been intentional, but that’s the association that the Višenamjenska Hrvatska Strojnica (multipurpose Croatian automatic weapon) would not be able to shake off easily. Anyone who knows anything about weapons would also recognize the source of the stylistic inspiration – the French FA MAS F1 “Bugle,” an icon of the 1980s on par with the Phillips video cassette recorder system called the Video Home System….
The familiar look, feel and function of the legendary 1911 pistol designed over 100 years ago are alive in this new offering from Rock Island Armory. For those who are followers or even “fans” of this beloved design, simply holding one brings a smile to their face. For this latest incarnation, the .22TCM by Armscor, everything remains the same – until it is fired for the first time. At that single point of contact between firing pin and primer, the interest of all surrounding shooters is evident. This is not so much about a new 1911 family pistol, as it is a new cartridge with a….
Left side of the VKS rifle less scope, with iron sights raised. Over the last several decades, counter-terrorism operations became very important for most ‘civilized…
To appreciate the complexity of situations where police or military forces charged with peacekeeping duties utilize force, one must conceptualize force not as a static concept but rather as a continuum of responses, ranging from verbal commands, as a minor exertion of force, to deadly force, the maximum amount of force possible to apply. A use-of-force continuum relies on the concept of multiple categories of increasing officer perceptions of suspect resistance linked to similar groupings of the officer’s response to those perceptions….
For a rifle to be considered versatile it must be able to satisfy multiple roles with equal aplomb. A viable rifle candidate for this title is the SIG Sauer 716 Patrol chambered in .308Win/7.62x51mm. The SIG 716 Patrol joins the growing number of AR style platforms chambered in .308Win/7.62x51mm. .308Win/7.62x51mm potency in terms of ballistics and terminal effect makes it a favorite among U.S. troops and law enforcement personnel in more rural environments. A quick look at the resurrection of the M14 and…
The B&T Advanced Police Carbine 9 (APC9) is a rather nice blend of existing, proven design and some truly unique engineering. It is a clever and well thought out balance between time proven features, high tech production materials and manufacturing procedures to keep costs to a minimum. It is a statement to the excellence of Swiss engineering and innovation. The APC, not unlike the Glock pistol, was designed from the very beginning to be produced…
For the last 15 or so years, the AR-10 has seen a rebirth from the dust on the floor of the former Ordnance Corps. With the lack of vision and judgment which would eventually be their demise and have their doors shut forever by Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara “Tomorrows Rifle Today” wound up being “Today’s Rifle Yesterday!” It would be Gene Stoner who would resurrect the AR-10 from the dead with the assistance of C. Reed Knight, Jr. With the introduction of the SR-25 sniper rifle the industry would experience a shift in what a sniper rifle really was….
The Czech arms industry made a great impact in 20th century weaponry history with a large range of remarkable products. Probably the most original of them all was a “special submachine gun” named the Skorpion, a successful effort for covering the gap between service pistols and traditional submachine guns chambered in pistol cartridges. The Skorpion, in its initial, less powerful caliber, i.e. 7.65mm Browning (.32 Auto), has not met modern security unit’s requirements for some years, much less that of the armed forces; nevertheless….
Afghanistan, November 13, 2011: A gang of armed Taliban terrorists hold 18 hostages in the Kabul offices of Esko International, a North American company specializing in food distribution. Task Force 45, the intervention unit of the Italian Armed Forces composed of elements taken from Italian Special Forces units; storm the building in a well coordinated, multidirectional, simultaneous attack. The raid of TF45 ends with the liberation of all the 18 hostages and the total elimination of all the terrorists winning attention and praise from the international Special Forces community for the perfect way they executed their mission….
Early in the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq it was clear by the entire sniping community there was a need for a new updated sniper rifle. Modern semiautomatic rifles show little to no accuracy degradation from the traditional bolt action rifles used throughout the last century. The use of a semiautomatic sniper system not only would provide the snipers with their existing capabilities but so much more. Snipers could engage five targets in at least half the time it would take a sniper with a bolt action rifle. Also, the snipers ability to engage multi-targets is vastly increased….
A direct derivation from the TAR-21 Tavor bullpup rifle, adopted in 2003 by the Israel Defence Forces, we are going to introduce to SADJ readers the version designed for the Sayeret (Special Forces) units, a shorter and more modular rifle that, in case of need, can be converted into a SMG. The TAR-21 project in Ramat Hasharon was started in 1995 when the Israeli company name was still IMI (Israel Military Industries)….
The end of the first decade of the new millennium saw Czechs and Slovaks as the Last of Mohicans in the Unified Europe: the only country with its own creative rifle possibility to use 7.62mm caliber for the main battle long arm. The Sa-58 (Samopal vzor 58) rifle, the mainstay of the Czechoslovakian People’s Army (Ceskoslovenska lidova armada, the CSLA) has been in use since the early 1960s, when Czechoslovakia became the only Warsaw Pact country not to introduce a clone of Kalashnikov’s AK/AKM series….
Chinese submachine gun technology has come a long way in the past 50 years. From the days of chop-shop PPSh-41 variants through the copies of Thompson submachine guns and M3 Greaseguns, a very efficient and high-technology infrastructure has evolved. Westerners may not be quick to understand the devotion the Chinese have to developing the manufacturing base in their defense industry….
The new Gemtech Quicksand sound suppressor, now available for purchase, is used on 7.62 NATO rifles and utilizes a patented quick mount system. It can be fastened securely in only two seconds and at only 17.5 ounces in weight it is the lightest quick-detach .308 suppressor available….
The reintroduction of the AR-10/SR-25 in the early 1990s re-revolutionized the use of semiautomatic rifles as sniper/tactical rifles. The direct gas system combined with the eight-lug rotating bolt and a free floating barrel made this system sub-MOA with little difficulty or maintenance. Although the AR-10 was discarded nearly 50 years ago by a biased and self serving….
A soldier from the 1st Battalion the Scots Guards looking through the scope of his Sharpshooter rifle. Members of B Company, the 1st Battalion The…
The SPR Mod 1 being put through its paces by Monroe County Sheriff’s Department Deputy Steve Worden. The ArmaLite rifle is equipped with the Trijicon…
The sample rifle was extremely accurate with Silver State Armory 69grain OTM ammunition. Groups hovered between 1” to 1.5” @ 100 yards. At the 2007…
A machinegunner of the Polish 16th Air Assault Battalion preparing to open fire at the Wedrzyn Training Ground pop-up target range. Note the obvious outer…
The 40mm grenade launcher has seemingly become ubiquitous in the catalog of modern rifle manufacturers. It seems that no catalog is complete without a 40mm…
Daewoo Precision, maker of the USAS12 combat shotgun, K1 and K2 battle rifles, and the K3 LMG, has manufactured well designed and robust weapon systems. …
When Small Arms Defense Journal was contacted to see if we were interested in testing the initial batch of Caracal pistols imported into the United…
Over the last 15 or so years, the sniper rifle in both concept and rifle has changed. It was not until the Vietnam War where…
The industry has seen much change over the last 10 to 15 years in caliber as well as weapon revivals. In the mid 1950s the…
At SHOT Show 2004, a new black rifle was introduced that was not just a copy of the standard design that most of the industry…
The phone call from Carl Bertil Johansson in early summer 2009 came out of the blue. The founder of the Swedish company CBJ Tech had…
The Blyskawica (‘Lightning’, pronounced bwiskavitsa, with ‘wi’ to be read like in ‘wisdom’) was designed and manufactured fully clandestine, for the Home Army (Armia Krajowa,…
At the NRA Show in early 2009, Ruger introduced a new member to their semiautomatic rifle line: the SR-556 – Ruger’s Black Rifle. When they…
A relatively new product on the U.S. market, the Multi-Purpose Aiming Reflex Sight (MARS) has been on the international market for several years, and is reportedly…
The Makarov PB suppressed pistol with the secondary suppressor removed. This was easily concealed, and the secondary suppressor could be attached literally in seconds. The…
Dr. Philip H. Dater takes aim with the SSP-1M 4-barrel underwater pistol. The sound signature was recorded as 160.1 dB average in open air. (Dan…
The strategic placement of elements on the battlefield has been the subject of millions of words, from many sources, both experienced and those who are…
Switzerland is well known for its exquisite time pieces, fine chocolate, and its highly professional banking practices. The firearms manufactured by the Swiss are of…
There are few people intimately involved with the gun industry who have not had a favorite 1911 or two. Testing the latest .45 ACP offering…
The authors were invited to attend the presentation ceremony of the new Beretta ARX 160 Assault Rifle from the world’s oldest firearm manufacturer still in…
Right side view of the Steyr SSG 08 with Heavy Barrel-type of barrel. The SSG 08 is a new marksman bolt-action rifle intended to replace…
Canadian made LSW in the hands of Danish soldiers in Iraq. Notice the Elcan scope and Canadian designed and manufactured polymer magazine. The Danish soldier…
U.S. Ordnance M2HB shown with a U.S. Ordnance Mk93 cradle, Vinghøg AS Vingfoot Combi Lightweight Tripod, B.E. Meyers Flash Suppressor, and US Ordnance improved sighting…
The Soviet Union and its current iteration, Russia, have long been known for innovative weapon development; only some of which has seen the light of…
An armorer test fires the PSS silent pistol. (Photo by Dan Shea) Little is known in the Western world of the Soviet silent pistols utilizing…
The 5.56mm wz.96 Beryl assault rifle in its original form – still with shrink tubes on the stock tubes, standard bipod, old type muzzle device…
Rochester Police Department Emergency Task Force Operator Henry Favor test fires the LWRC M6A1 rifle. The rifle is equipped with the Magpul CTR Stock, MIAD…
Chambering the Black Rifle in .308 Win. (7.62x51mm NATO) is anything but a new idea. From the early ArmaLites to the current selection of workhorse…
The face view of the M6X Tactical Illuminator. Shown is the illumination light with the laser off to the side. Throughout the years, flashlights were…
Weighing in at only 7.2 ounces including the recoil device and with a diameter of only 1.25 inches, the Gemtech Tundra more resembles a rimfire…
What’s not to like about a real machine gun that’s significantly lighter than a chunky M240, about the same size as a puny SAW, pumps out powerful 7.62mm rounds with reliability and accuracy, and has long been a force multiplier in elite Navy SEAL Teams? GIs who’ve tried ‘em love ‘em, they’re comparable in price to buy and sustain as the FN guns, they’ve been in the logistics and combat doctrine chains for ever, and they’re 100 percent American designed and built. Slam dunk? Sorry….
Over the past 10 years the industry has seen several new weapon systems emerge with the older piston technology making a comeback. Due to the campaign of certain manufacturing firms, the consensus is that the older retro piston operating system is superior to the current direct gas system of the current issue M16 and M4 weapon systems. While no statistical data has come forth to support the claim, several manufacturers are coming out with piston operated 5.56mm weapon systems including Colt, POF, Heckler & Koch, LWRC and, now, Magpul Military Industries….
The sniper and spotter have been lying in their concealed position for hours observing the handful of windows and doors. Luckily they were shaded from the heat by the hide chosen in the rear corner of the room looking thru a hole in the wall caused by earlier combat in the area. Intelligence had indicated that the insurgent commander was in the area and likely using the observed structure as a safe house. The team had inserted by dropping off the back of a patrol sweeping thru the area. Range was not going to be a problem as the spotter and sniper had….
