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

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

PERFORMANCE

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

HUXWRX RAD 9 SUPPRESSOR

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

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

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

VORTEX SPITFIRE AR PRISM SCOPE

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

MRADELR SPECS

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

BARREL

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

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

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

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

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

CARTRIDGE

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

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

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

MAGAZINE

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

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

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

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

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

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

BOLT

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

OPTIC

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

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

BIPOD

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

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

ATMOSPHERICS

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

RANGEFINDER

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

SPOTTING SCOPE

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

ON THE RANGE

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

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

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

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, the magazine and barrel were close to the dimensions, 20mm Lahtis were as well, and a few extremely dangerous designs were showing up at civilian shoots with the incumbent accidents. Gunny Carlos Hathcock had famously made three kills at 2500 yards with “Ma Deuce” in Vietnam (only one confirmed), an M2HB with a craft-made mount from the SEABEE chop shop, for his 8-power Unertl optic. This author has seen cobbled together .50 cals all over the world from the revolutionary groups in South America to communist guerillas in Africa, mostly from the 1950s-60s. But it wasn’t until 1983 when a shooter/inventor named Ronnie Barrett showed up at the Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot in Kentucky with his M82, that the idea of a semi-automatic .50 BMG sniper rifle could be taken seriously. At the time, this author was blown away by the functionality of Ronnie’s design, and I’ve had a long history with these rifles; shooting, training, armorering, supplying, use in the field OCONUS… and on this visit to the factory, I spent a few days with Ronnie and Barrett’s engineers with the intent to bring you this technical article on the M107A1- introduced in 2011- about what makes the M107A1 what it is today, an advancement beyond the M82A1 and M107.

By 1989, Ronnie Barrett’s M82A1 rifle was making serious waves in military circles; the Swedish Army ordered 100, and various “OGAs” (other government agencies) were taking notice and buying them. In 1990, the U.S. armed forces were making special buys, the Israeli Defense Force and others were lining up. The M82A1 was a hit with operators; it did a job they needed done, better than any other small arm. It had amazing range and impressive terminal ballistics. The U.S. Army adopted the M82A1 as the M107 in 2005 (with a longer rail and other mods), and Barrett immediately started on a quest to lighten the system, improve the recoil pressures, and make the new design suppressor friendly – the M107/M82A1 cannot reliably or safely use a muzzle sound suppressor. More on that below.

NIOA ACQUIRES BARRETT FIREARMS

M107A1 : THE GREAT LEAP FORWARD

Typically, in the firearms industry, we discuss aluminum using the 4-digit system- there is also a 5-digit system which is more precise but not prevalent. 7000 series aluminums use zinc as their main alloy element. The next three digits indicate an agreed-on mix of other alloy metals. The common example in firearms manufacture, especially AR-15 type firearms, is 7075, a WWII Japanese alloy mix adopted by the U.S. and others. It has a lot of advantages, one of which is its ability to 11% stretch without cracking. The second nomenclature for this would be “T6” which is a temper. 7075 T6 aluminum would have 5-6% zinc, 2-3% magnesium, and 1-2% copper, as well as some other small metal quantities. The zinc and magnesium making the alloy heat treatable. The “T” designations are temper processes for heat treatable aluminum alloys. In this case, T6 means that the 7075 was “Solution Heat Treated” then artificially aged. Solution Heat Treating means to heat the alloy just under its melting point, and some planned lower percentage alloys dissolve into the aluminum, creating a “solid solution.” The material is quickly quenched and preserves the new metal structure. 7075 age-hardens naturally, so if welded properly, the heat-treating recovers.

Why discuss this? Because Ronnie Barrett wanted to lighten the M107/M82A1 system and the first place to start is the upper receiver – a very large component. Barrett did not choose 7075 T6; it would be the wrong temper for the job. It’s difficult to extrude into the needed shape, it suffers a lot of internal stress which can cause deformation in processing, and it would not have the structural strength to match the cold-rolled 1045 steel in the M107/M82A1 upper. 1045 is a medium carbon steel that is very strong, with a high yield point (about 45,000 PSI). A lot of machinery parts, bolts, gears, shafts, etc. are made from this. It’s a good steel, especially for a long channel like the M107 upper.

Trying to match that strength with an aluminum alloy that can be extruded in long shapes to cut to length and machine is difficult and “7075 T6 isn’t it.”

Barrett’s engineers developed a scientific testing method with weights and distances to match the yield point of 1045 steel with a reasonable thickness, extrudable aluminum alloy, and they decided on 7075 but with a T6511 temper. The T6511 temper adds stress relief by stretching along with the solution treating and artificial aging. Perfect for the job; extruded, machinable lengths that won’t distort in machining.

The new 7075 T6511 upper receiver is finished with a type-3 hard-anodizing and then an oven-cured Cerakote finish, which matches durability with the M107/M82A1 1045 steel finished with a manganese phosphate parkerizing.

Front is the M107A1 showing the optic rail is milled into the aluminum extrusion, with allowance for a bolt-in-place rear back up sight. Rear is the M107 steel optic rail bolted in place, with the rear back up sight mounted on the rail. The optic rail on both the M107 and M107A1 is angled at 27 MOA. 

This new upper receiver was just the first of the techniques used to lighten the M107 system and create the lighter, suppressor-friendly M107A1.

As part of the lightening process, the bipod yoke, yoke mount, and the internal shaft of the bipod are made from titanium for the M107A1. The foot for the bipod legs is plastic for the M107A1. The M107A1 has plastic flat feet, the M107 has steel spiked feet, and the 82A1 has steel flat feet. Note the quick release pins must be put in from the rear, as recoil forces can dislodge them if they are inserted from the front.

M82A1/M107 top, M107A1 bottom: Some of the most important changes that were made were in the recoil system. Barrett’s M82A1/M107/M107A1 operate on the short recoil principle; i.e. the bolt and barrel are locked together and travel in recoil a specified, short distance/time until pressures have dropped, then unlock from each other and recoil and return separately. The first thing to notice in this picture is that the barrel springs in the M107A1 have a larger wire diameter but have a smaller overall outside diameter. Due to the smaller outside diameter of the barrel springs, the barrel spring relief cuts in the barrel were removed to aid in making the barrel stiffer. The M82A1/M107 barrel has the two deep grooves, the M107A1 barrel does not. Second, the impact bumper – the plastic cylinder behind the barrel key – is longer on the M107A1; this shortens the stroke for the barrel recoil. The (return to-) battery bumper is the same for all.

Top in each picture, is the M82A1/M107 bolt carrier assembly, bottom is the M107A1. Note there are several more cuts/wells in the M107A1; this is for the bolt extender, which is critical for suppressor use.

SOME BALLISTIC TALK ON .50 BMG & TRANSONIC SHIFT

Shooting at long ranges requires extensive understanding of exterior ballistics – from the projectile uncorking from the barrel, to striking the terminal end, as well as all the environmental factors that are constantly changing. There is a lot of information out there to digest, and we don’t have time or space to explain it all but there are a couple of things relevant to the subject of this article to start with. First, the Barrett rifles were designed to fire military ball ammunition back in the times when that was all there was. M33 Ball with a 660-grain (42.8 gram) FMJ boat tail bullet with a mild steel core. Fired in a 45-inch barrel from an M2HB machine gun, its muzzle velocity was 2,910 fps. In today’s world, there are many options – solid, turned, very accurate bullets, of 750 grains and other weights. These are designed for accuracy at long ranges, and are fired from 20-, 29-inch or other barrels but not the 45-inch barrel of “Ma Deuce.” Thus, velocity comparisons must be apples-to-apples – barrel length, rifling twist, etc. to understand at what distance the supersonic projectiles will drop into the zone approaching the speed of sound – the transonic region – and below, the subsonic region. Larger projectiles like .50 Browning Machine Gun (BMG) rounds are less affected by environmental pressures than smaller diameter/weight projectiles; but there is still an effect on accuracy.

When people are discussing calibers in comparison and make statements like “.50 BMG destabilizes as transonic at 1320 meters,” it’s inaccurate. There might be a combination of barrel length, bullet weight, etc. that does, but the U.S. M33 from a 45-inch barrel goes transonic in the 2200-meter range according to longtime military data, however today’s ballistic calculators show it at 1500 meters and a 750-grain AMAX bullet may go transonic much further from a 29-inch barrel. There is much more to it than simple calculations. A skilled shooter knows more than just the math, he reads the wind and everything else in the theatre he’s firing through and into. Hitting targets well beyond that theoretical transonic distance is both science and art, and is done frequently – look up “The King of 2 Miles” competitions.

WEIGHT:

• Weight M107A1 unloaded: 28.7 lbs (13 kg)
• Weight M107   unloaded:  32.7 lbs (14.8 kg)

BALLISTIC PERFORMANCE WITH M33 BALL AMMUNITION:

• 20-inch (508mm) 1:15 in. (381mm) 2,550 fps (778 m/s) Transonic at 1300m
• 29-inch (737mm) 1:15 in. (381mm) 2,799 fps (853 m/s) Transonic at 1,450m
• 45-inch M2HB:  1:15 in. (381mm)  2,910 fps (890 m/s) Transonic at 1,500m

FEEDING THE BEAST

One of the hardest parts of designing a firearm, is feeding the rounds into the chamber properly. It’s pretty basic on a straight-pull single-shot rifle, but when you go semi- or fully-automatic, there are many forces that come to bear. It’s not just a case of presenting the cartridge properly to the feed ramp, it must be done fast enough so that, as the bolt goes into recoil, the spring consistently presents the next round for feeding. Spring fatigue is also an issue. This can be a lot trickier than it seems, and it does explain why many firearms inventors adopt existing magazines, such as the M16 style for 5.56mm. In Barrett’s case, he had to deal with the length and weight of 10 rounds of .50 BMG cartridges, a much different animal than the 5.56mm.

MARKINGS

SUPPRESSING THE M107A1

Barrett and other knowledgeable people continually warn against firing the M107/M82A1 with a suppressor – it just isn’t safe. But some users have done this. There are a number of references in this article regarding upgrades to M107A1, and they all add up to: The M107/M82A1 system is not designed for suppressor use, which changes recoil forces, time of locking and unlocking, pressures, velocities, etc. While these rifles are robust, and some have successfully fired them, Barrett cannot guarantee their product with suppressor use. That is what the M107A1 is for – it has been purpose engineered to withstand these forces. I’ve had several people tell me about using a suppressor on the M82A1, each unaware of the real dangers involved and one manufacturer who explained his suppressor “worked” as is, and when pressed, he had made modifications to the rifle that would void his warranty and frankly, I did not see how they addressed the issues involved. It’s best to purchase the proper rifle for suppression, the M107A1, which is properly engineered for this. There have been charging handle impacts damaging the upper receiver, and broken bolt handles. One thing to remember – the recoil forces of putting a suppressor on an M82A1/M107, can easily warp the bolt latch into failure. That is a negative event…

The arrowhead muzzle brake designs used on the M107/M82A1 work very well for mitigating the recoil force with  rearward gas energy; approximately 70% reduction in recoil. In order to make the M107A1 suppressor-friendly, the design had to change so there could be a quick mount suppressor, which is the round one in the three photos here.

We at Small Arms Defense Journal hope that this focus on the Barrett M107A1 and its technical upgrades helps you in understanding the quality of this product. We have long experience with the Barrett systems, and there are quite a few misconceptions about why the M107A1 was needed- hopefully, this helps the readers and users understand the great leap forward the M107A1 is for the .50 BMG Sniper systems.

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 auto that got to phase II in the SCAR trials. He sold that company, built DRD Tactical with much success, sold DRD, and in 2022 started 21^st Tec, with lessons learned from 20 years in the industry. A personal favorite is the Paratus takedown 7.62×51 rifle. I made a backpack system with foam that floats, a Gemtech Sandstorm silencer, Magpul bipod, Trijicon optic, and in under 60 seconds could have a solid, suppressed, tactical 7.62 semi-auto DMR with 1 MOA accuracy, covertly carried in a civilian pack. Skip Patel’s designs have always been interesting. So, when discussing the release of the new Bellator rifle, we had to try it out.

21^st Tec was not making the Bellator in .338 Norma Magnum, just .338 Lapua Magnum and .300 Norma Magnum and some smaller calibers, but I badgered Skip until he had Satern barrels make a custom 24-inch .338 Norma Magnum for this test and we broke-in the new caliber. Thus, it took a bit of time to get it rolling properly, but once we got it together, the system was a very good one. The .338 Norma Magnum is where SOCOM and many others have moved, that’s to say away from the Lapua Magnum – which is also a very good round. I just wanted this test to be in the new sniper sweetheart caliber that Jimmy Sloan evolved. It’s an excellent cartridge. I’m saying this to be fair – there was a bit of beta testing until the new caliber conversion was 100% on. Skip Patel has always been an innovator and designer, as this article will show.

The Bellator Rifle System (Bellator is Latin for “warrior”) is a multi-caliber, bolt action, long-range rifle system designed with a lower overall budget in mind. When the rifle came to us, it was in a special case, deceptively small like many of Skip Patel’s other designs. There were two magazine wells, two barrels, and two bolts, along with good instructions for assembly and maintenance. 21^st Tec has chosen the KGM suppressor mounting system, more on that later. We decided to put a Vortex RAZOR Gen III optic on the system, and for our test, several types of .338 Norma Magnum from the SOCOM trials, as well as a preferred cartridge from Black Hills Ammunition. We went to the range several times as we learned the system and worked to get it sighted properly. The plan was to go to 1000 meters, and any real shooter knows that isn’t on the first day. It did not take too long to get there.

The testing team was long range shooter Dennis Powell, well-known firearms trainer Chuck Bolding, Phoenix Defence Armorer Damon Bolding, and myself. Dennis has done long range testing for Small Arms Defense Journal in the past, and he took control of getting the primary needs. After several trips to the range, we were ready for the two-day testing regimen.

SMALL ARMS DESIGNS BY SKIP PATEL

• BA50 Bolt action magazine-fed 50 BMG rifle.
• MCR Multi-caliber auto loading rifle (patented) that made it to phase II testing in SCAR trials.
• Paratus 7.62 NATO (two patents, one for internal recoil system and one for take down barrel system.)
• Aptus 5.56/300 uses above two patents.
• M762 LR308-pattern 7.62 NATO with barrel take-down like Paratus.
• CDR15 AR15-pattern 5.56/300 same barrel take-down as Aptus.
• Kivaari .338 Lapua semi-auto with same barrel take down.
• PMG Paratus machine gun using G3 fire control. (Sold to international military.)
• AMG Aptus machine gun using G3 fire control. (Sold to international military.)

We’ve been using the Magpul bipod on smaller caliber rifles because it gives a lockable or resisted cant (tilt) ability up to 50°, independent of the legs. This is very important for uneven ground and when adjusting body position. Second, it has a panning feature that gives a 40° pan of the field of view – which is desirable on machine guns but not on a sniper rifle. Magpul made this bipod so the panning can be locked out.

RECEIVER CONSTRUCTION

Patel chose 6061 T6 aluminum for the upper, lower, and the separate extruded rail. The 6000 series aluminum alloys feature magnesium & silicon as main alloys, as magnesium silicide. This makes the 6000 series aluminums heat treatable. Other alloy metals that make 6061 what it is, are chromium, copper, iron, manganese, titanium, and zinc in small quantities. The T6 tempering of 6061 aluminum (heat treating) is solution treatment at temp 985°F and then for forgings/extrusions such as the billet used for the receivers, and the extruded rail, an additional artificial aging for 8 hours at 350°F. This makes a very strong alloy with good return from flex properties for the split collet (no cracking), good machining qualities for intricate profiles, weldability, and corrosion resistance. The aluminum is then type III hard coat anodized with, in this case, a tan/flat dark earth finish.

It’s possible to fire a round in this position, but probably not advisable. When the rifle was ordered, we were asked if we wanted the KRG side-folder or the Magpul PRS fixed stock. We should have opted for the PRS; none of us found the KRG stock to be solid or comfortable enough under the .338 Norma Magnum recoil. It’s a good stock for lighter recoil setups. Skip informed me that neither company is continuing with these stocks, and 21^st Tec is in process of making a proprietary stock.

21^st Tech has kept some key components that will interchange with AR style parts; the fire control parts such as pistol grip, trigger, hammer, springs, pins, fire control selector and mag release, as well as the rear takedown pin. This allows for the customization of some of these components by end users. Note that this model has the bolt charging handle at the front left. This is desirable, as it means the shooter doesn’t have to take their eye off the sights or break their fire control grip to work the action. 21^st Tec also offers a right-hand charging option, but this is my preference.

Barrel installation and removal, as well as the front rail/forend, are reliant on the two bolts seen at center. This is a split collet-type system, with the barrel put into place and keyed in, the forend slid over it, and the two bolts tightened to 65 inch-lbs (with the Fix-it Sticks torque driver included.) The rear is done first. On disassembly, the two bolts are put back into position but must be removed for reassembly.

The charging slot ends where it does because if the slot went all the way it would weaken the rear support of the rail/optics. Behind the safety is the takedown pin. The chamber must be cleared, then the bolt run forward, and the pushpin is pushed to the right.

The rifle can now be disassembled. The lower and stock are secured with a stud going to the magazine well rear, and the takedown pin. The lower assembly is swung back and down, slightly. The magazine well is slid to the rear and downward and the barrel and forend are removed (not shown). Taking the bolt out requires removing the bold handle with a set screw, then the bolt comes to the rear (not shown).

Barrel markings; in this case “21^st -Tec .338 Norma Mag 1-9.4 5R”. Our barrel is a 5-groove right hand twist of 1:9.4 inches. All Bellator barrels are 416R stainless steel, custom made by Satern Barrels.

Disassembly of the bolt carrier assembly, is fast. The round-headed guide pin is removed, the bolt is then removed to the front, and the firing pin removes to the front. The set screw behind the guide pin holds a spring-loaded ball bearing detent that clicks into a matching round indentation when the bolt is closed. This keeps the bolt from rotating out of battery but allows a fast rotation of the handle for retracting.

AMMUNITION

Black Hills Ammunition was recently awarded part of an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract (H92403-23-R-0002) to allow U.S. Special Operations Command the flexibility to procure numerous types of ammunition requirements for all USSOCOM components. Fiscal 2023 operations and maintenance funding in the amount of $27,500 is being obligated at the time of award. The contract has a maximum total ceiling of $750,000,000. Source selection procedures used full and open competition. 16 proposals were received, 11 met the criteria for award. USSOCOM, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity.

This is great news. Jeff Hoffman of BHA is a great friend and asset to the shooting, as well as the special operations community. His work was seminal to the development of SOCOM’s needs in the Norma Magnum calibers – and Black Hills Gold is about the best .338 Norma Magnum ammunition available. Hoffman supplied some ammunition for this article, and it lived up to its reputation. This was .338 Norma Magnum, 300gr, OTM projectiles. OTM is “open tip match” and it is thanks to the late Hays Parks that we have this accurate, effective projectile available to the sniper community. The ICRC wanted it banned by the UN as “hollow point” which it is not. Since that attempt failed, companies like BHA are able to supply extremely accurate, effective ammunition to the sniper community.

Jeff has been a sworn law enforcement officer for over 37 years and been in the ammunition community seemingly forever.

In this photo, next to the ammunition, are some headspace gauges for .338 Norma Magnum. It’s important to have in these changeable caliber firearms. These gauges are from Pacific Tool & Gauge, which now offers them on its website.

Ammunition, above (left to right):

• .50 BMG MK211 “Raufoss” Multi-Purpose Lake City
• .50 BMG AMAX 750-gr. Hornady
• .338 Lapua Magnum 300-gr. Lapua Scenar Black Hills
• .338 Norma Magnum 300-gr. OTM Black Hills Gold
• .300 Norma Magnum 215-gr. Hybrid OTM Berger
• .300 PRC 225-gr. ELD Match TAP Precision
• .300 Winchester Magnum 178-gr. Hornady A-Max Black Hills Gold
• .30-06 150-gr. FMJ Boat Tail American Eagle
• 7.62x52mm 175-gr. M118LR Lake City
• 6.5 Creedmoor 125-gr. Open Tip USA Ready Winchester
• .260 Remington 130-gr. Berger Match AR Hybrid OTM ABM
• .280 British (7mm) 140-gr. MK1Z Ball Radway Green

PERFORMANCE

The 300-grain projectiles should be traveling at about 2700 fps from our 24-inch barrel. As we dialed the scope in – the rounds walked up to center. The five rounds to center were one group, with scope adjustments, the last three, to right of the left-hand red square are the measured group; .75-inch center-to-center. This is at 100 meters. The sun was rising at our 12 o’clock, we were firing at our 10 o’clock. After Dennis achieved sub-minute of angle, we started working the farther targets. Steel at 400, 600, and finally 900 meters. After Dennis was done getting comfortable with ringing the gongs the rest of us tried long range firing. This is a very good rifle combination, and the suppressor brought our groups in tighter than unsuppressed.

SUPPRESSOR

Kyle Grob, founder of KGM Suppressors, has multiple manufacturing talents. KGM is a veteran owned business, and Grob’s experience as a very high-grade welder with solid experience in titanium welding has made their products lightweight and very strong. Combine that with the scientific study KGM has done on sound and pressures of high velocity gases, it adds up to a very safe suppressor.

A suppressor is a pressure vessel, experiencing high temperature, high pressure events.

KGM R338 SPECIFICATIONS

• Weight: 18.2 oz. (w/o muzzle device)
• Length: 9.1 in. long (w/o muzzle device)
• Diameter: 1.87 in.
• Expected Sound Reduction: On a 26 in. 338 LM. barrel the R338 has a net sound reduction of 26-30 decibels.
• The R338 is constructed entirely out of titanium, giving it a robust, yet lightweight form factor with a combination of grade 5 and grade 9 titanium.

For most of suppressor history, manufacturers and users concentrated on methods of sound reduction. For end users, that’s an important consideration, but not the most important one. In today’s environment, gases coming back onto the user; accuracy, and POI shift; overall size (the “nose” it adds to a firearm), back pressure, flash signature… all are more important than a couple of decibels of sound reduction or how sexy it looks.

The claimed dB reduction of 26-30 dB for this suppressor, from my experience, is well in the pocket. It’s very quiet on this 24-inch barrel .338 Norma Magnum bolt action. It also is short enough, controls the gas away from the shooter, lightens recoil, tightens groups, and as a bonus, looks good on the rifle.

Bellator KGM Silencer 5 For mounting, the R338 uses a proprietary taper-mounted muzzle device which has been adopted for the Bellator. With a large taper surface, POI shift is reduced, and repeatability is a key design factor. A coarse thread pitch allows the suppressor to be removed from the muzzle device quickly.

Bellator KGM Silencer 6 The R338 utilizes KGM’s patented “Integrated Gas Flow” baffle design that maintains consistent gas flow through the baffle stack, allowing shot-after-shot repeatability. In conjunction with the Integrated Gas Flow design, the front of the suppressor is outfitted with another patented design of KGM’s, the APEC (Adjustable Port End Cap). This technology utilizes pressure inside the suppressor and puts it to work by venting it radially around the periphery. This allows the suppressor to mimic the characteristics of a radial muzzle brake in terms of a linear recoil impulse, while providing excellent suppression and reduced flash signature. An even more unique feature of this endcap design is the ability to tune the gas flow characteristics and recoil kinematics by closing off or opening the ports by means of small threaded plugs. All of the side holes in the picture are internally threaded, and set screw plugs are provided with the suppressor. This gives the end user the ability to tune the suppressor to the host weapon as well as the shooting style of the operator.

OPTIC

We’ve used the Vortex RAZOR HD Gen III in other tests in the past. It is a superb scope. We chose the EBR-7D MRAD Reticle, it’s a flagship reticle for Vortex, and it was crisp and clear out to 900 meters and beyond. The Bellator has a 0 MOA rail, so for longer work the scope mount base should be figured with appropriate MOA built into it. Even though there’s technically 120 MOA built into the scope.

VORTEX RAZOR HD Gen III 6-36×56 RIFLESCOPE SPECIFICATIONS

• Aluminum Grade: Aircraft
• Scratch-Resistant Lens Coating: ArmorTec Ultra-hard, scratch-resistant coating protects exterior lenses from scratches, oil and dirt.
• External Rotation Indicator: Provides quick visual and tactile reference of elevation turret’s rotational position.
• Multi-Coated Lenses: XR Plus Fully Multi-Coated HD Lens Elements
• L-Tec+ Zero System: The L-Tec+ Zero System is easy to use with all captive parts and only one set screw, making zeroing quick and simple. Once set, it also allows for more travel.
• Micro Adjust Zero Setting: Infinite zero setting positions allow zero to be set between clicks for optimal accuracy.
• Optically Indexed Lenses: Optimize image sharpness and brightness from edge to edge.
• Plasma Tech: Cutting edge coating application process provides unparalleled coating durability and performance.
• Shockproof: Rugged construction withstands recoil and impact.

Those are the factory specs. A couple of things of note from an end user: during this testing, smoke from California forest fires was smogging its way across Las Vegas valley – we were on the other side of the mountains, towards California. We got it first. This has always been an issue with a scope, but our clarity was excellent. Second, seeing into shadow at range: when you get to 600 to 1000 meters, any tree line or shadow area on mountainside becomes a problem. Many scopes I’ve used give a flat image of the darkness. The lens coatings used by Vortex, along with the quality of the glass, open up the shadows, giving a more three-dimensional view. There are many scope manufacturers, a few that I like, but for this type of shooting I tend to favor the Vortex RAZOR. It’s also FFP, Fixed Focal Plane, which I prefer, as well. It’s got great field of view, the hashmarks are fast for me to use at higher magnifications, and make my adjustments.

CASE

The Bellator came in a custom case; 20x25x12 inches, with two layers. The tools, spare magazines and caliber conversions were in the case- for this rifle, it was .338 Norma Magnum and 7.62x51mm NATO barrels, bolts, and mag wells. The KGM suppressor can fit on all the Bellator barrels, from the factory.

CONTACT

21^st-Tec: 21st-tec.com
KGM Suppressors: kgm-tech.com/suppressors
Vortex Optics: vortexoptics.com
Black Hills Ammunition: www.black-hills.com
Kestrel: www.kestrelmeters.com

COMING SOON FROM 21^st Tec: VASA – multi-caliber magazine fed bolt action extreme long-range rifle in 50bmg/.416 Barrett with conversion kit to 408x77mm and 375x77mm.

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. The MG-1M design is specially intended and allows operation of the weapon in heavy climatic conditions, which are typical for the regions of the Middle East, Southeast Asia and Africa.

arsenal-bg.com

Caliber/Bore: 7.62x54mm
Barrel Length: 605mm
FFL Status: For American manufacturer
Type of Links: Integrated via joint springs
Rate of Fire: 650 RPM

ARSENAL® JSCO, BULGARIA

MG-M2

The 7.62x51mm ARSENAL MG-M2 machine gun is a powerful individual automatic weapon designed to be used against enemy troops, light armoured targets and aerial targets by firing in single and automatic fire mode.

arsenal-bg.com

Caliber/Bore: 7.62x51mm
Barrel Length: 545mm
FFL Status: For American manufacturer
Type of Links: Disintegrating metal belt, M13 type
Rate of Fire: 650 RPM

DILLON AERO

M134D 7.62×51 Minigun

The Dillon Aero M134D 7.62×51 Minigun is renowned worldwide for its reliability, speed and accuracy. With low recoil forces, a firing rate of 3,000 rounds per minute (RPM) and an effective range of 1,200m, the M134D’s offensive and defensive capabilities are unmatched in air, land and sea applications.

dillonaero.com

Caliber/Bore: 7.62x51mm
Barrel Length: 18in to 22in
FFL Status: Importer/Exporter
Type of Links: M13
Rate of Fire: Up to 4,000 RPM

DILLON AERO

503D

Dillon Aero introduced the 503D, our new .50-caliber Gatling gun. Weighing 84 pounds, firing 1,500 rounds per minute (RPM) with increased resistance to internal component damage, the 503D has applications on air, sea and land platforms. The 503D is lighter, faster and smarter than other .50-caliber Gatling guns.

dillonaero.com

Caliber/Bore: .50 BMG
Barrel Length:
FFL Status: Importer/Exporter
Type of Links: M9
Rate of Fire: Up to 1,500 RPM

FIGHTLITE INDUSTRIES

MCR® Dual Feed Upper M-LOK® (MCR-060)

The MCR® (Mission Configurable Rifle) belt-fed, upper receiver assembly is designed to interchange with standard AR/M4-type uppers and readily fits any MIL-SPEC lower receiver without permanent modification to the host lower and is rearward-compatible to AR-15/M16 models produced as early as 1963. Once installed, the patented MCR® upper receiver system can be user-configured in seconds without tools to adapt to virtually any mission profile. Standard features include: gas-piston operation for extreme reliability in adverse conditions; a 16.25-inch quick-change (3 seconds) barrel system; and a MIL-STD-1913 co-planar handguard with a rail-interface system for the mounting of optics and modern accessories. Spanning the capability range from the optic-ready carbine to a lightweight support rifle, the MCR® accepts standard box-type AR-15/M16 magazines or M27 linked ammunition.

fightlite.com

Caliber/Bore: 5.56x45mm NATO
Barrel Length: 16.25in quick-change barrel
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: M27 linked ammunition
Rate of Fire: N/A

FN AMERICA

FN® MK 48 MOD 1

The FN® MK 48 MOD 1 brings the extended range and greater penetration of the hard-hitting 7.62x51mm round in a lighter, more compact platform. The light and compact MK 48 MOD 1 incorporates improved receiver pins, a new gas block and a vented handguard with improved heat shield and three MIL-STD-1913 rails. The MK 48 MOD 1’s cold hammer-forged MIL-SPEC barrel has a hard-chromed bore for longer life and improved accuracy and serves as the mounting point for the carry handle. The receiver is formed steel and is equipped with a top-mounted MIL-STD-1913 optical rail. A hydraulic buffer greatly reduces recoil, helping the operator keep more rounds on target. The crossbolt safety and curved trigger help enhance operator control. Includes one spare barrel.

fnamerica.com

Caliber/Bore: 7.62×51 NATO
Barrel Length: 19.75in
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: NATO standard disintegrating link belt-fed
Rate of Fire: 730 RPM

FN HERSTAL

FN MINIMI® 7.62 MK3

The FN MINIMI® 7.62 Light Machine Gun is now of 3rd generation and ensures improved ergonomics and improved mobility.

fnherstal.com

Caliber/Bore: 7.62
Barrel Length: 16.61in
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: N/A
Rate of Fire: 800 RPM

GENERAL DYNAMICS

Lightweight Medium Machine Gun (LWMMG)

The next generation Lightweight Medium Machine Gun (LWMMG) gives warfighters a distinct advantage in both extended and close-in fighting. Eliminating the gap between 7.62mm and .50 caliber weapons, the LWMMG utilizes the highly efficient .338 Norma Magnum cartridge to offer increased accuracy and lethality while extending the battlespace out to an impressive 1,700m. At 1,000m, the LWMMG is capable of defeating Level III body armor and incapacitating soft-skinned vehicles by delivering over 1,900 foot pounds of energy to the target—more than four times the terminal effect of the 7.62mm NATO cartridge.

gd-ots.com

Caliber/Bore: .338
Barrel Length: 24in
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: N/A
Rate of Fire: 500 RPM

HECKLER & KOCH

MG4

The MG4 is a lightweight, compact machine gun of high firepower, with a goal of being carried by one soldier and guarantee full mobility in difficult terrain and also in the urban environment. The MG4 offers the latest technological advances and provides unmatched performance characteristics: Due to its low recoil, the shot is readily controllable, giving high-target precision. Its great combat effectiveness and range, optimal rate of fire and simple handling makes it a weapon unlike any other.

heckler-koch.com

Caliber/Bore: 5.56mmx45
Barrel Length: 450mm
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: N/A
Rate of Fire: 830+120 RPM

HECKLER & KOCH

MG5

As the successor of the MG3, the MG5 opens a new era of universal belt-fed 7.62mmx51 machine guns. The gas-operated MG5 offers an intelligent and contemporary build standard, with numerous technical and ergonomic innovations. The mounting interface of the MG5 is compatible with MG3 mounts and tripods already in service. The universal MG5 can be used by dismounted infantry in the ground role, as well as for air defence or as a vehicle mounted/co axial machine gun.

heckler-koch.com

Caliber/Bore: 7.62mmx51 NATO
Barrel Length: 550mm
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: N/A
Rate of Fire: 680 / 740 / 800 RPM

IWI–ISRAEL WEAPON INDUSTRIES

NEGEV 5.56 LMG

The 5.56x45mm NEGEV is a robust and reliable Light Machine Gun (LMG), deployed by the IDF in Israel and by military entities worldwide. The NEGEV has a powerful target acquisition and accurate performance for the modern battlefield. It is exceptionally lightweight (less than 8kg) and can be operated safely under adverse and extreme environmental conditions.

iwi.net

Caliber/Bore: 5.56x45mm
Barrel Length: 460mm (18in) or 330mm (13in)
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: Fed by belt, assault drum or by NATO magazine
Rate of Fire: 850–1,050 RPM (magazine/belt) / 950–1,050 RPM (belt)–extreme conditions

IWI–ISRAEL WEAPON INDUSTRIES

NEGEV NG-7 LMG

The NEGEV NG-7 is the only 7.62x51mm LMG weighing less than 8kg with a semiautomatic mode enabling its safe use in Close Quarter Battle (CQB). The NG-7 is a powerful LMG with superior features such as precision, accuracy, reliability and enhanced human ergonomics and is battle-proven under adverse and extreme environmental conditions.

iwi.net

Caliber/Bore: 7.62x51mm
Barrel Length: 508mm (20in) or 420mm (16.5in)
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: Fed by belt, assault drum or by NATO magazine
Rate of Fire: 600–750 RPM (position 1 & 2)

OHIO ORDNANCE WORKS, INC. (OOW)

OOW240P (Patrol)

OOW manufactures light (249), medium (240) and heavy (M2) machine guns for customers in 43 countries worldwide. Our newest “Patrol” models of our “240” product line feature reduced weight while allowing more operator customization and greatly increasing the ability to accurately fire these weapons from the shoulder.

oowinc.com

Caliber/Bore: 7.62mm
Barrel Length: 19.5in
FFL Status: Type 10/11 Manufacturer/Importer/Exporter
Type of Links: M13
Rate of Fire: 650–750 RPM

OHIO ORDNANCE WORKS, INC. (OOW)

OOW249P (Patrol)

OOW manufactures light (249), medium (240) and heavy (M2) machine guns and has customers in 43 countries worldwide. Our newest “Patrol” models of our “249” product line feature reduced weight while allowing more operator customization and greatly increasing the ability to accurately fire these weapons from the shoulder.

oowinc.com

Caliber/Bore: 5.56mm
Barrel Length: 13in
FFL Status: Type 10/11 Manufacturer/Importer/Exporter
Type of Links: M27
Rate of Fire: 750–1,000 RPM

SIG SAUER, INC.

MG 338

The SIG SAUER MG 338 machine gun is a belt-fed, lightweight medium machine gun weighing under 20 pounds, chambered in .338 Norma Mag. The MG 338 features a short-stroke, gas-piston system and a proprietary recoil mitigation system, with a free-floating, quick-change barrel; ambidextrous controls; switchable feed tray; charging handle that can be alternated to either side depending on operator preference; and as a modern, multi-caliber, modular system, the new SIG MG 338 is easily convertible to 7.62×51 caliber.

sigsauer.com

Caliber/Bore: .338 Norma Magnum
Barrel Length: 20in
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: Disintegrating metal links
Rate of Fire: N/A

SIG SAUER, INC.

NGSW-AR MG 6.8

The primary objectives set forth by the U.S. Army for the NGSW-AR was a weapon with the firepower and range of a machine gun, coupled with the precision and ergonomics of a rifle. The SIG SAUER NGSW-AR 6.8mm submission is an ultra-light, medium-caliber machine gun with AR ergonomics and is chambered in 6.8mm hybrid ammunition. Features include quick-detach magazines, side opening feed tray, increased available 1913 rail space for night vision and enablers, folding buttstock and a suppressor.

sigsauer.com

Caliber/Bore: 6.8x51mm Hybrid, 7.62×51 NATO
Barrel Length: 16in
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: M13 disintegrating link
Rate of Fire: N/A

ST KINETICS

STK 50

The STK 50 machine gun fires from an open bolt, eliminating “cook-off” of ammunition. It has semi- and fully automatic firing modes, selectable from a push-type selector at the trigger module. Left or right feeding allows quick change-over of ammunition type, and the quick-change barrel with fixed headspace allows the barrel to be changed within seconds without adjustment of headspace. The STK 50 is designed for easy maintenance without the need for special tools.

stengg.com

Caliber/Bore: 12.7mm
Barrel Length: 1,141mm
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: Disintegrating M15A2 link belt
Rate of Fire: 400–600 RPM

S&T MOTIV

K12

S&T Motiv’s K12 7.62mm machine gun is easily converted from aircraft mode to infantry mode. It uses an open-bolt operation, is belt-fed with a quick change barrel and has a gas-operated and rotating bolt locking system for greater reliability. The K12 can be mounted to a bipod, tripod or aircraft. The machine gun has multiple integrated MIL-STD-1913 mounting rails for optics, lights and laser devices and is fully automatic only.

sntmotiv.com/eng

Caliber/Bore: 7.62mmx51 NATO
Barrel Length: 22in
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: N/A
Rate of Fire: 650–950 RPM

U.S. ORDNANCE 

M2A2

The U.S. Ordnance M2A2 machine gun is an air-cooled, belt-fed machine gun that fires from a closed bolt and operates on the short recoil principle with fixed headspace and timing. It is capable of both sustained automatic and accurate single-shot fire. It can be mounted on a vehicle, boat, helicopter or other aircraft. Ammunition may be fed from either the left or right side of the gun, making it suitable for use by both infantry and in armored vehicles. The M2A2 weapon system has been tested to well over 50,000 rounds. Its single-breech lock system allows for field rebuild, eliminating the need for depot-level maintenance during its lifetime and thereby greatly reducing logistical support.

usord.com

Caliber/Bore: 12.7mm
Barrel Length: N/A
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: N/A
Rate of Fire: N/A

ZID (OPEN JOINT STOCK COMPANY “V.A.DEGTYAREV PLANT”)

Pecheneg 6P41

The 7.62mm 6P41 Pecheneg machine gun is intended to engage hostile manpower, fire means and aerial targets. The whole range of rifle cartridges is used to fire from the machine gun. The gas regulator ensures the reliable operation of machine gun automatics in various operating conditions. The high degree of commonality with the PKM machine gun and similar layout of its automatics action ensure the reliability of the Pecheneg machine gun in any operating conditions. The 6P41 Pecheneg incorporates some design novelties aimed to increase the effectiveness of barrel cooling, which has allowed a spare barrel to be eliminated from the machine gun set.

zid.ru/eng

Caliber/Bore: 7.62mm
Barrel Length: N/A
FFL Status: N/A
Type of Links: N/A
Rate of Fire: 600–800 RPM

By Dan Shea

“The secret of steel has always carried with it a mystery. You must learn its riddle, Conan. You must learn its discipline. For no one—no one in this world can you trust. Not men, not women, not beasts. But steel; this you can trust.”—Conan the Barbarian’s father as he points to a sword he’d made.

It’s probable that most English-speaking readers of SADJ have seen John Milius’ adaptation of the Robert E. Howard stories in “Conan the Barbarian.” Entrenched in our modern martial culture, many of us jokingly quote the movie’s lines, because on an elemental level, it speaks truths to fighting men. The Riddle of Steel—it calls us; we philosophize around it, perhaps jokingly, but there is always a truth hidden in the words. At the core, the various answers appear to be contradictory: First, steel is strong and flesh is weak; Second, the opposite—flesh that wields the steel is strong, and steel is nothing without that; Third and perhaps most important, that the will and determination to use the steel in righteous endeavor is the true strength.

In fact, the Riddle of Steel is solved if all three of those are blended into one truth.

In the United States military, we have a group called SOCOM (USSOCOM)—it is comprised of warriors, working for warriors, to enhance their fighting capabilities. At the risk of being trite, this brotherhood is dedicated to using steel in righteous endeavor, and they train hard to have the physical capabilities to wield the steel, and, of course, their weapons are almost always the best that can be found. Started in 1987 to create a unified command for US Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force special operations groups, a significant part of the mission is new equipment.

In the modern fighting arena, in that hardened place that is called “downrange,” increasing distances of engagement as well as armoring of targets are challenging the warriors. There have been many attempts to address this—not all failed, but few are chosen by the warrior leadership. Barrett Firearms has been chosen more than once …

One item of “steel” that has been chosen by SOCOM to be at the forefront for these warriors, is the newly adopted Mk22 Mod 0 “ASR” Advanced Sniper Rifle—the next evolution of Barrett Firearms Manufacturing’s MRAD rifle system. For SOCOM, where the physical strength and the righteous will are, the Mk22 very nicely completes the triad of the Riddle of Steel.

Barrett’s MRAD Concept

To understand the Barrett MRAD (Multi-Role Adaptive Design) rifle requires some background information. You can get the spec sheet story by searching “MRAD” online; our job at SADJ is to help the readers really understand the Mk22 system. Creating an accurate rifle that can interchange calibers is a unique challenge. Easy enough to change out a barrel and bolt, but to do so and maintain true precision accuracy, that is an entirely different matter. There have been many systems with interchangeable barrels, especially in machine guns; but those are area weapons, not point weapons. This has to be made in a man-portable manner as well, so steel is too heavy a choice for the chassis.

“The Riddle of Aluminum” doesn’t sound quite so interesting, but in fact that is where Barrett’s engineers went to create the MRAD/Mk22. There are eight “Thousand” series of aluminum alloys and some oddities; each has a commonality within its group. Pure aluminum is a very soft metal and requires additives (alloy) and treatments to gain strength. What are called the 7000 series aluminums are aluminum/zinc alloys with percentages of other metals that dictate the actual number. When searching for a material to CNC mill the MRAD monolithic receiver, the light weight of alloys and reasonable cost are a quick draw; but out of the hundreds of potential alloys, which one?

Starting after World War II, an alloy used by many in the aircraft industry is 7075 (a Japanese mix). It is an alloy of 90% Aluminum, 5.6% Zinc, 2.5% Magnesium, 1.6% Copper and 0.23% Chromium; some various tiny amounts of other metals are used as well. This lightweight, easily tempered and machined 7075 is ideal for use in firearms, and 6061 (6xxx—Silicon as main additive, not Zinc) and 7075 are alloys favored in the “AR” industry. Almost every written description of an AR will say “7075 T6 Aluminum” as if it was magical transition of knowledge to a reader. Actually, in the 5.56mm AR platforms, the real benefits of 7075 don’t fully show up. However, Barrett’s engineers are smart enough to know those other attributes solve almost every issue the MRAD faced, and in particular, the split collet nature of the barrel clamping. More on that later.

After cold rolling (adding about 4–6 times the strength) we get to the second part of the magical “7075 T6” invocation, the T6, which is the tempering. In the case of Temper 6 the 7075 is heated to 840ºF (450ºC) for approximately 2 hours, solution quenched, and an artificial “ageing” is physically done by resting at 250ºF (120ºC) for 24 hours (yes, this is a heat treatment). Of the many treatments that can be done, this method (called precipitation strengthening) ensures that the precipitates (tiny particles less than 0.001mm in diameter composed of aluminum and the added alloy metals) forming inside grains and on the grain boundaries produce excellent mechanical strength all through the material and add excellent surface-wear resistance. This is where the phenomenal elongation tolerance of 7075 T6 comes in. But that’s not the best thing…

“OK, Dan, so what is this about the split collet and Barrett engineers?” 7075 with a T6 temper has excellent tensile strength (74,000–78,000 psi) and yield strength of 63,000–69,000 psi. This is all great news for the 5.56mm, 6.5mm and 7.62mm AR builds, but it is the elongation tolerance before breaking of up to 11% that caught the Barrett engineers’ eyes. This is the exact right material tolerance (and heat tolerance) for heavier calibers like the Lapua and Norma Magnums.

The icing on that cake is that with changing calibers, using a split-collet-style clamp built into the upper receiver, the material must elongate and clamp, over and over, maintaining its original form on each return. 7075 T6 is ideal for this.

There are many parts to the MRAD as presented by Barrett, but the most critical is maintaining the accuracy in different barrels that are field changeable. The split collet is the key.

Why tighten to exactly 140 inch-pounds (in-lb)? We go back to the Riddle of Aluminum and that 11% maximum flex before breakage on 7075 T6. We don’t want to flex anywhere near that much, but seating a barrel in an accurate rifle must be done precisely in order to lessen barrel harmonics. Accuracy comes from tightly repeatable events in the physics of the rifle. Get rid of variables in barrel harmonics; tighten them up; shoot a tighter group. In discussion with Barrett, they indicated that when tightening up over 90 in-lb on these screws the group stabilized, and at 140 in-lb, the barrel was supported perfectly, the aluminum sides of the collet area were not overstressed, and the steel screws didn’t distort the threads in the aluminum. Thus, 3.5 inches of 360-degree-supported barrel clamped properly to rigidify it with the monolithic receiver results in the ability to have extreme accuracy from a field changeable rifle. This is the real heart of the rifle.

“The MRAD itself is a manually operated bolt-action rifle fed from a 10-round detachable magazine. It is designed to be a rugged, configurable, precision rifle system; the MRAD can quickly be converted to multiple calibers or barrel lengths. With M-LO[K] mounting slots at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock, its handguard offers a rigid, highly adaptable interface for attachment of rails, electro-optics and other accessories.”—Barrett manual description

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Magazines

Longtime readers know this author is a magazine fanatic. Feeding the weapons is often one of the hardest parts of weapon design, particularly in semi- or fully automatic firearms. In the case of a bolt action, it’s not as complex, but it still must be perfect, or you will experience misfeeds. The 10-round MRAD magazine is perfectly designed for presentation and in four basic flavors to properly present cartridges of different length/shoulder location. A properly treated flat spring is used to keep even presentation of the follower, ensuring the cartridge ramps into the chamber without cant.

The first MRAD (now called the Large Breech gun) was in .338 Lapua Magnum, and the magazine has no identification letter and zero ribs on it. After the MRAD was fully developed in different calibers, a system was needed for visual and tactile identification. The Mk22 comes with C- and D-type magazines:

A: .338 Lapua Magnum 6 ribs

B: .300 Win Mag/7mm Rem Mag/.300 PRC 4 ribs

C: .308/6.5 Creedmoor/.260 Rem 3 ribs

D: .338 Norma Magnum and .300 Norma Magnum 6 ribs

The obvious question to end users is whether A and D magazines are interchangeable—no, not reliably. The D magazine is specifically designed to accommodate the shorter shoulder location of the .338 Norma Magnum and .300 Norma Magnum cartridges; you could feed them in the A magazine but probably lose some reliability in feeding. Vice versa, if you had the .338 Lapua Magnum conversion kit for the Mk22, which is after all an MRAD, the A magazine would be needed.

The ASR Award 

Date: 03/11/2019
Issued From: HQ USSOCOM – Tampa, FL
Contract #: H9240319D0002
System: Barrett MRAD Rifle System
This is a 5-year Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity (IDIQ) contract for the Advanced Sniper Rifle and various components identified herein including three barrels in the calibers listed below, spare parts and Barrett AML338 suppressors. No optics are included.
The maximum quantity that shall be purchased is a total of 2,675 units.
The maximum contract value for all orders issued shall not exceed $49,936,299.50.
Calibers: .338 Norma Mag; .300 Norma Mag; 7.62x51mm

Mk22 Mod 0: The Changes from Other Programs

In the first place, the Mk22 does not need the large breech to small breech conversion unit—that was only on the early MRADs in .338 Lapua Magnum to smaller calibers when Barrett added them, and the Mk22 is purpose-designed from the current MRAD, using one homogenous breech for all calibers. The calibers in the Mk22 Mod 0 are the following and no others. There are other USG and DoD groups that add the .300 PRC or 6.5mm Creedmoor kit, but not for ASR. Could you add them? Yes, but it’s not currently authorized in the Mk22.

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The Mk22 rifle uses an M-LOK system as opposed to Barrett’s proprietary system on the MRAD. The Mk22 has the toggle bolt disassembly and a captive bolt pin.

The Mk22 Mod 0 is in the above calibers only, uses the Harris 6- to 9-inch bipod with a cant dial lock and is Coyote in color. The US Navy MRAD is Flat Dark Earth in .300 PRC and also uses the Harris bipod. The Mk22 does not use a monopod, but the bag rider is included. DoD MRAD issues the Accu-Shot monopod and no bag rider. Regarding the cheek piece, the Mk22 has the positive lock with increments, and the DoD MRAD has a friction lock with free adjustment. Several other differences are that the Mk22 safety has pictograms, and the DoD MRAD is S/F red and white; the trigger for Mk22 is fixed as I mentioned, but the DoD MRAD has a fully adjustable trigger that bottoms out at 1.75 pounds; and the Mk22 barrels are fluted stainless steel, DoD MRAD barrels are not fluted and are carbon fiber constructs. There are a lot of small changes and variations between the Mk22 and the DoD MRAD, but that’s not really our subject here.

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In addition to the MRAD and manufacturer markings, the Mk22 Mod 0 has US markings on it for issue model, etc.

USSOCOM Advanced Sniper Rifle Requirements

• Must be convertible to fire 7.62mm NATO, .300 Norma Magnum and .338 Norma Magnum cartridges.
• Must not exceed 17 pounds with an empty magazine but is ideally 13 pounds or less.
• Must not exceed 50 inches when fully extended, but is ideally 40 inches.
• Must not exceed 40 inches when collapsed for transport, but is ideally 36 inches.
• Must perform with at least 1 MOA accuracy for the 7.62 NATO and .300 Norma Magnum at 300 yards. Ideally .5 MOA.
• Must perform with at least 2.5 MOA accuracy for the .338 Norma Magnum at 300 yards. Ideally 1.5 MOA.
• Must have a modular flash or sound suppressor.

Calibers

Recently, the SOF community has tried a variety of calibers. The list is dizzying, and if you imagine the testing that has been done, it has occupied a lot of procurement people and design engineers, as well as end users. Here are just a few.

• 6mm Creedmoor
• 6.5mm Creedmoor
• 6.5mm Grendel
• .260 Remington
• .264 USA
• 6.8mm SPC
• .300 PRC
• .300 Norma Magnum
• .338 Norma Magnum
• .338 Lapua Magnum
• And now, 6mm ARC

Jimmie Sloan—Changing the Course

As the rest of the military/LE community (and this author) were variously adopting .338 Lapua Magnum and .300 Win Mag and finding some issues with these calibers in field use (not reliability, other issues), a parallel development had been going on in Willis, Texas. A very devoted long-range shooter named Mr. Jimmie Sloan was working on some new long-range loads, starting about 2005.

To some, Jimmie comes off more than “a little bit country,” and his down-home euphemisms might camouflage the brilliant mind inside there. Frequently, the most interesting leaps forward in technology come from a genius working in his garage—John Browning’s barn/workshop, Gene Stoner’s designs started in his garage, and heck, Carbine Williams did the M1 Carbine in jail!

Rumor has it, a room full of school-taught mechanical engineers tried to have a bit of fun at Jimmie’s expense, and it didn’t work out the way they expected. I asked Jimmie about it; he said, “I told them I didn’t have the schooling they did, but I had 50 years of experience designing, studying and shooting every day, and that over 8 years I hand-made brass and over 190,000 rounds of what became .338 Norma Magnum and made sure of every level of performance. I then asked them how many of their college degrees concentrated on ballistics, ammunition and firearms design. You could hear the crickets.”

The hard fact is, getting a degree in mechanical engineering is not a key to being able to design firearms—many graduating students find out very quickly that the firearms world is basically OJT. You might have training in metals, materials, even heat engines (that’s what firearms basically are) and ME101, but you need to apprentice all over again to be in firearms/ammunition design. The US education system simply doesn’t have firearms design in the curriculum. You can hope to work with someone who has 50 years’ experience and is willing to share it. You have to get your hands dirty. Besides, as the late Jim Schatz used to say, “Any day at the range beats a day at the office!”

Jimmie’s original designs used 240-grain (gr) MatchKing and 230-gr Berger bullets in the .300 Norma Magnum and 230-gr Berger bullets in the .338 Norma Magnum. The performance was superb, with barrel life in the 3,000-plus rounds. These are all excellent projectiles, and Jimmie designed the cartridges for the performance he wanted. Jimmie worked with General Dynamics on their Medium Machine Gun in .338 Norma Magnum, helping get that program moving.

Rumor also has it that one of the government arsenals changed the .300 projectile to a 215-grain and opened up the chamber, with resulting loss of performance and knocking barrel life down to 700 rounds or so. Jimmie’s reply is the eternal designer’s lament: “I gave you a balanced system; you changed something and then complained about the symptoms.”

In any event, the .300 Norma Magnum adopted now has a 215-grain OTM projectile, but Barrett ensured the chamber is “right,” and they’re getting 3,000-plus rounds life. The Barrett engineers worked with JGS Precision for chamber reamers on the MRAD and Mk22 programs (jgsprecision.com).

We should note here that Jimmie worked with Dave Kiff at Pacific Tool & Gauge (PTG) for much of his chamber design/reamers during the design project (pacifictoolandgauge.com). The headspace gauges this author used in the testing were PTG also. We checked headspace after barrel changes of course, as we got used to the system.

Ammo, Ammo, Ammo!

One of the most helpful ammunition companies in the US regarding law enforcement and special operations cartridges is Black Hills Ammunition (BH ammo) (black-hills.com). Started in 1981, Black Hills is synonymous with quality and reliability. This author has known Black Hills founder Jeff Hoffman for decades and has supplied numerous government contracts with BH ammo. Jeff was an active end user, is still a shooter, knows the needs and has the commitment to the end users. The BH ammo is solid, reliable and extremely accurate, and Jeff’s company worked very hard to come up with the loads needed for many other SOCOM projects as well as the Mk22 system. (Jeff was the 2010 recipient of the GySgt. Carlos Hathcock Award from NDIA Small Arms Committee.)

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Jeff was kind enough to send us a variety of the 7.62x51mm, .300 Norma Magnum and .338 Norma Magnum rounds exactly as used for the ASR program, and that is what we used in our testing. The Black Hills 7.62x51mm is legendary, a superbly accurate 175-grain projectile that is considered even with, if not better than, the military issue M118LR cartridge. In fact, many military and OGA groups use the Black Hills ammo. The .300 Norma Magnum and .338 Norma Magnum supplied to us show the clear results of what SOCOM was looking for during development—see the target section of this article. During development of the Mk22 system, the government awarded a sole-source contract to load reference ammunition to Black Hills. Part of that ammunition contract included a “surrogate” cartridge in .338 Norma loaded with the Sierra 300-grain OTM MatchKing that rifle manufacturers could use in development of the .338 Norma barrel for the system. This was done because of the expense of the AP-loaded cartridge and the close ballistic match between the 300-grain Sierra and the Lapua AP529 projectile. So, in short, there are two different projectiles that have been loaded in .338 Norma: the AP529 and the Sierra 300-grain OTM MatchKing. Only the AP529 is designated as the projectile in XM1162 (.338 Norma Magnum cartridge for the ASR). Many end users want the non-AP round to be adopted also, for use on ranges that can’t accept the AP round.

We also used some of the RUAG 7.62x52mm SWISS P Precision ammunition; longtime readers of SADJ will remember that in 2019 this author tested their palette of 7.62 offerings—seven various tactical rounds that have different jobs, but match point of impact; a truly desirable attribute. Unfortunately, RUAG was not in the competition, but it performed as well as expected.

The ammunition contract to supply the Mk22 Mod 0 “ASR” program did not go to Black Hills; earlier this year it was awarded to Ultra Defense Corp. Ultra Defense, as contract holder, has awarded a subcontract to Capstone Precision Group for manufacturing the cartridges. Capstone will be assembling the cartridges from subcontracted components—Capstone is the US sole distributor for Berger, Lapua, SK and Vihtavuori, among others. The single-year SOCOM agreement is for approximately 1 million rounds of ammunition: 800,000 rounds of .300 Norma Magnum with 215-grain OTM Hybrid Berger projectiles and Lapua-made cases. There will be 200,000 rounds of .338 Norma Magnum and 300-grain AP529 projectiles—both projectiles and cases are from Lapua, a NAMMO company, the AP529 is a NAMMO product and is NOT an OTMHC (Open Tip Match with a Hardened Core) as in numerous publications; it is an Armor Piercing Full Metal Jacket round with Tungsten Carbide Core. Excellent choice, in this author’s opinion, and more importantly the choice of the experts at SOCOM who exhaustively studied and fired tens of thousands of rounds. You can see the results on the targets later in this article. (Ultra Defense is sending SADJ some of the issue ammo for a separate test.)

Optically Speaking

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1. Eyepiece
2. Eyepiece lock ring
3. Power throw lever
4. Power zoom ring
5. ZeroStop™ elevation adjustment
6. Contract-specific UltraMount
7. Contract-specific removable laser platform
8. Capped windage adjustment and battery compartment (Opposite side: Parallax adjustment)
9. Objective/Objective lens

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The days of putting rounds on target with open sights are long in the past. I’m not saying that no one shoots open sights; most shooters have favorite Garands or ‘03s they can ring a gong or cut an impressive group with. The fact is that in military and LE scenarios, accuracy is king, lives are on the line, and high-grade optical sights, opto-electronics and the training to use them are the way to get there. The operator pulling the trigger and the chain of command up-hill have to answer for the accuracy of the shot and where the projectile lands, among other issues in this very complicated world.

The optic for the Mk22 PVPS (Precision Variable Power Scope) was not contracted with Barrett; but this is a system, and the chosen optic is a critical part of it. The Mk22 Optic contract was awarded to Nightforce® (nightforceoptics.com).

I should mention at first, that the Mk22 Mod 0 has a top rail slope of 10 MIL (ECP), and the DoD MRAD has a 20 MOA slope.

In that separate contract, SOCOM chose the Nightforce MIL-SPEC ATACR™ (Advanced TACtical Rifle) in two flavors, both with 34mm tubes and Horus Vision TREMOR3™ reticles in MRADs. The example sent to us for testing was the MIL-SPEC ATACR 7-35×56 F1 with custom mount. The other option SOCOM chose is the MIL-SPEC ATACR 5-25×56 F1. “MIL-SPEC” indicates these scopes are not the commercial version of the ATACR; they must meet the MIL-SPEC.

While this author found shooting at 1,000 meters with the 35x was very helpful, the real end users generally only use the 25x level for engaging and having more field of view; the 35x end is used for observation.

Nightforce is well-known for the rock solid scopes they build—they’re made to go in the field. The reticles chosen for the ASR are First Focal Plane and of course etched on glass; as magnification is used the reticle will also be magnified. (The Second Focal Plane is behind the magnification lenses and stays at one grid size no matter the magnification—useful in some scenarios, but this author prefers FFP, target adjustments at range seem much more precise.) Nightforce optics are also well-known for their light transmission capability. Looking through a Nightforce optic is almost breathtaking in clarity; clearly this was a factor in SOCOM’s choice of the optic. One bit of lore from the end users—highly trained snipers—many have told this author that at extended ranges the Nightforce scopes are decidedly better at seeing deeper “into” shadow areas compared to other scopes, a function of the NF lens treatment. This is very hard to quantify, but many end users swear by this.

The mount chosen is the Nightforce MIL-SPEC UltraMount with the RAP-I Laser Rangefinder attachment bridge; a soft case is supplied. Nightforce supplies a tool kit for the Optic system, with some additional tools not in the ASR kit supplied by Barrett: Torque tools of 100 in-lb and 25 in-lb, as well as a T15 Torx head bit.

Note: The Nightforce MIL-SPEC ATACR described here was also selected for the US DoD MRAD in .300 PRC caliber.

The optic selected for the US Army PSR version of the MRAD was the Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25×56 with MIL Grid 4 Reticle.

Nightforce ATACR 7-35×56 F1 

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Suppression

There are many considerations regarding suppressors for rifles; suppression of noise is not the only one. From the outset, SOCOM knew there would be a compromise on sound reduction for the 7.62 and .300 Norma Magnum calibers if they wanted one suppressor to use on all the calibers and barrels in the Mk22 Mod 0 system. Barrett’s engineers knew this as well; the bore had to accommodate the largest diameter projectile. The alternative would be to carry two suppressors, but for the small decibel reduction gained, the weight gain to the system would not be worth it. Thus, SOCOM chose one suppressor—the AML338. Barrett makes excellent suppressors, the AM series thread onto the outer section of the patented muzzle brake with the DC series being threaded directly to the barrel. Obviously, the AM series won out. The AML338 suppressor is on the Mk22. The DoD MRAD has the AM338. The main difference is that the AML338 has a secondary lock and of course the color; AML338 is Coyote, AM338 is FDE.

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Each of the Mk22 barrel muzzle brakes has an identical diameter threaded outer section, and the muzzle brake is actually designed with being part of the entry chamber of the suppressor in mind.

Where some loss of suppression occurs is that the AML338 has its bore diameter keyed to the .338-inch projectiles, and when the .308- or .300-inch (.300 Norma Magnum projectiles are actually a .308 diameter) projectiles are fired through, there is some blow-by that raises the decibel level. Honestly, to the ear it wasn’t very noticeable when we changed calibers. Then again, all of us who were shooting have high frequency hearing loss so the only way to really quantify it was using a proper meter like a Larson Davis 800B, which we did not have, and Dr. Philip H. “Doc” Dater wasn’t with us.

Barrett manufactures the AML338 suppressor out of a high-strength Titanium alloy. They use modern CNC machining and orbital welders to keep the hoop strength with the lowest amount of material. Precision bore alignment maintains accuracy, reduces point of impact shift and aids in flash reduction.

During our firing, we found that almost all of the groups tightened up when we fired suppressed. This phenomena is frequently observed in well-made, well-matched rifle systems. Doc Dater covers this in the Suppressor Class he teaches at Phoenix Defence, so I’m deferring to him on this:

This tightening up of a group happens the majority of the time as long as there is no misalignment. You also get a 20–50 ft/s velocity increase, not germane to this discussion. There are two factors in play. First is a change in barrel harmonics from the mass of the suppressor (and how tightly it is screwed on). Second (and probably a greater effect) is that on uncorking, the gas has approximately twice the velocity of the projectile and rushes around the bullet which then has to traverse the various shock waves that can cause a little instability. The can shears off this gas in the entrance chamber much in the way muzzle brakes do. The gas loses velocity quickly as it interacts with the air. Look at the three high-speed photos from a 20-inch barreled .223 gun.

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Per Doc Dater: “These were consecutive frames taken at 15,000 fps. The sun was just right so the lower image is a shadowgraph of the direct image above and better shows the shock waves. This series is used in my talk (with about eight other frames) as part of a flash study. The Mach disk is a high pressure, high temperature shock wave that actually ignites the carbon monoxide to make the fireball.”

Range Day 1: Intro to the Mk22

I’ve heard that government users have regularly seen groups in the sub-half minute range. Obviously, no one discusses the specifics of accuracy requirements or testing results other than what is put out publicly. Even if I knew, I would self-censor; we’re talking about national defense. I will say, that our testing confirmed the rumors.

SADJ is a firearms magazine—our writers and almost all of the staff are shooters of various levels and experience. Long-range shooting is a specific skill, and testing a rifle system like the Mk22 Mod 0 requires the person on the trigger to have the skill, not just be a “good shot.” Dennis Powell, a well-known civilian accurate shooter, joined us at the range for 3 of our days, along with long-range shooter Harry Bovie, Chuck Bolding, who is highly respected in training circles, Damon Bolding, a gunsmith at Phoenix Defence, and this author. Dennis was chosen by me to do the record shooting so I could hide my own deficiencies. We fired from bench; I did not want to get down and fire from “Rocking Horse Prone.”

Our chosen range? Boulder Rifle & Pistol Club in the high desert near Boulder City, Nevada. Excellent ranges, good people (brpc1.org).

Our first day at the range was learning the rifle. Before we started, we knew the rifle was coming in from another tester, so we had to bring it all back to zero and learn it from the start. By the end of the morning, we were hitting not-so-impressive groups at 100 yards and ringing the gong at 1,100 yards. Not time for serious shooting yet, time to study.

Range Day 2: Learning the Lessons

We went back to the shop at Phoenix Defence. We got out the manuals and filled in the blanks. This is a rifle, not a complex space station or mega-computer; it is a rifle system, however, and it takes study, trial and error to learn to make all the components perform at top level. This was a very boring day with Lessons Learned and studied out.

Range Day 3: Printing Paper 100

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After digesting the information for another week, it was back to the range. There were many sub-half-minute-of-angle groups, the best being a .300 Norma Magnum Berger 215-grain from a suppressed rifle—this was center to center under 0.3 inches. Very respectable group for Dennis. We now felt ready to take on the longer ranges.

Range Day 4: Long-Range Day

18 August 2020: Today was the day we’d been waiting for—we’d learned the system, and we were reaching out to 1,000-plus yards, for the record.

Conditions Day 4

Shooting times: 07:30-11:30
Pressure Hg: 27.66–27.71
Humidity: 22% down to 14% at 11:30
Wind: 5–8 MPH cross-range R-L
Temp: 96–110˚F
Elevation: 2,450ft

Vortex Razor Spotting Scope

Just as difficult as it is to be a sniper in the field without a spotter, it is the same at the range. Two sets of eyes work together and make the task quicker, and the feedback helps.

Vortex Optics has an excellent reputation; they gather light and give clarity that is at a top level. I’d honestly never looked through a spotting scope compared to this, too often the spotting scope is an afterthought on range day. Once you use the Razor® HD, and if you’re a serious shooter or end user, there’s no question of skimping on this essential tool again.

We had the availability of the Vortex Razor HD 27-60x85mm angled spotting scope with an MRAD reticle eyepiece. The reticle on the Vortex is MRAD, matching the MRAD system in the Mk22 optic. The Vortex has the ability to change to straight spotting with no reticle or to a reticle matching MOA if the optic being used is MOA. This is accomplished with an interchangeable eyepiece. Range can also be calculated easily with either reticle if there is an object of known dimensions in the field of view (vortexoptics.com).

MRAD vs. MOA? Without getting into a street fight like “9mm vs. .45ACP,” let’s keep it simple. SOCOM called for MRAD, and that’s what everyone is using. MOA is “Minute of Angle,” and old guys like your faithful correspondent usually use that. MOA is an angle measurement; in effect, 1 MOA at 100 yards is one inch. Take that to 1,000 yards, 1 MOA is 10 inches. MRAD stands for “Milliradians,” also a unit of measurement of angle. Lord help you if you have a scope in MRAD and other devices in MOA, you’ll be doing lots of unnecessary math in an already complex program such as long-range shooting. Both are based on the 360 degrees of a circle, and the discussed measurement is an arc that is a very small part of that circle when discussing accuracy in shooting. Without doing all the long division, at 1,000 meters, a one MOA click on your scope is 3.5 inches of adjustment on a target; and a one MRAD click on your scope is 3.9 inches. It makes a difference. Thus, if you’re using an MOA optic, make sure you have the MOA reticle eyepiece for your Razor HD spotting scope, and vice versa if you had the MRAD like we did in this test.

Vortex describes the Razor HD as having a “sophisticated triplet apochromatic lens system” and honestly, that’s a bunch of twenty-dollar words that don’t mean much to most people. Here’s basically what is being said: Triplet means there are three pieces of glass lined up; apochromatic means there isn’t any false color, shifting red and blue light to a different plane. Multiple lenses tend to shift colors and that has to be designed out. Thus, Vortex has the “sophisticated” job of getting three lenses to line up perfectly and stay there in long-term, rugged use, while keeping true color to the viewer’s eye—no small task with lens finish and refraction. This costs money, and the Razor HD is an expensive spotting scope, listing out at around $1,900. If you’re a professional, this is short money for what you are getting. Color can make all the difference in identifying targets and non-targets.

We used the Vortex PRO GT tripod to mount the spotting scope. It has a balance weight hook to the center, strong, lightweight legs and a very steady panning head.

The Vortex Razor HD 27-60x85mm spotting scope is under testing with many special operations groups, and we know it is currently with the Scout Sniper Section of Panther Team JMRC Operations Group in Germany.

Tools and Changing Calibers

As all men-at-arms know, you need the kit for your weapons. Tools, cleaning kit, gauges, and in a soldier’s kit, what is there has to be carefully considered regarding need, bulk and, of course, weight. SOCOM specifies the TO&E (Table of Organization & Equipment) it wants. The Fix It Sticks Torque Limiters (store.fixitsticks.com) are gaining in popularity, and SOCOM as well as Barrett and Nightforce call for this product in the inch-pound (in-lb) requirements. With this system, there is no need for carrying a torque wrench, each needed setting has its own torque limiter, preset and marked. These fit into any standard ¼-inch driver, including the Fix It Sticks T-Way T-Handle that is supplied, and any standard ¼-inch bit fits into the receptor end. The torque limiter will spin once the correct torque has been reached (within +/- 6%)—no over-torquing. Torque measurement is not required in removal, so no kit is needed for that (this is a measurement-only tool and not relevant here). I have not seen the Nightforce tool kit, but the Nightforce mount requires at least two things SOCOM did not dictate for Barrett’s contract: 100 in-lb torque limiter and a T15 Torx bit—I’ve no idea if Torx or Torx PLUS. I do know there was room in the Barrett supplied kit, so I added them for our field work.

Speaking of the Torx head screws and bits in the Barrett-issue kit, these are not regular Torx bits; they are Torx PLUS, denoted by the “IP” in front of the size, “IP30” instead of “T30” on a regular Torx. You can strip the star heads out of the bolts if you don’t use the PLUS bits. The lobes of the star points are more square on the PLUS heads, stronger than standard Torx and can handle more torque IF you use the correct bit. As noted by your faithful correspondent over the decades, nothing ruins quality firearms like a large hammer and a small mind.

The Mk22 Mod 0 Tool Kit

• 140-in-lb miniature torque limiter
• 65-in-lb miniature torque limiter
• 45-in-lb miniature torque limiter
• 25-in-lb miniature torque limiter
• 15-in-lb miniature torque limiter
• T-Way T-Handle Wrench
• 8 different bits (IP30 Torx, IP27 Torx, IP25 Torx, 5/32-inch hex, 1/8-inch hex, 5/64-inch hex, 1/16-inch hex) NOTE: The “IP” Torx are Torx PLUS!
• ½-inch socket and ¼-inch bit adapter set
• Deluxe zippered pouch with 3×5-inch Velcro® and MOLLE rigging on reverse
• 3 long Tekton® punches (1/16 inch, 3/32 inch, 1/8 inch) replacement parts 66061, 66063 and 66064

The only deficiency this writer saw in the kit was no “Snap Caps.” I like to train trigger release, and it’s not the healthiest thing for the firing pin to undergo unsupported release. If SOCOM wanted it, they would have specified and Barrett certainly could have provided. However, .300 and .338 Norma Magnum are not cartridges with COTS (Commercial Off-the-Shelf) snap cap availability. I used my standard A-Zone 7.62x51mm, but the .300 and .338 Norma Magnum cartridges have significantly shorter cases than .338 Lapua Magnum, and the bullets are seated deeper as well. The Norma cartridges have less taper, a slightly sharper shoulder and a slightly longer neck—once again, no COTS availability. I contacted the originator of the high-grade snap caps, Eric Kennard, from Harbour Arms. (harbourarms.com), and we discussed at length. I sent him some of the live rounds to work from, and within a few weeks he produced two of each for our use. Perfect. The custom work cost more than the COTS products he sells for almost every sniper/precision caliber, but it’s worth it. As a side note, Harbour Arms is a Disabled-First-Responder-owned company. I forwarded his contact to Barrett and SOCOM; hopefully there’s some support there—it would be nice to see Eric and Cindy get a shot at supplying.

Headspace Gauges

There were no headspace gauges supplied. They’re not needed at the operator level according to doctrine, even with all the barrel changing inherent to the system. I used my Pacific Tool & Gauge headspace gauges, PTG worked with Jimmie Sloan on the chambers, and Barrett used JGS Precision chamber reamers and gauges. It became clear early on that the Barrett MRAD system is virtually perfect. Our confidence in properly installing barrels and bolt heads went up immediately; this is a very reliable system.

Cleaning: The Right Way

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Once the firearm is cleared, the upper receiver can be opened upward by pressing the release lever on the lower (note the silver lug). The bolt can then be removed to the rear, and the rear bolt guide and front bolt guide can be removed.

Bolt Disassembly

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The bolt pin is pushed through—it can only go one way, and it is captured so it won’t come out. When you reach the proper position, the bolt will come out forward. Reassembly is the reverse.

Changing Calibers

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Changing calibers is a simple yet precise operation. The barrels and bolt heads will be engraved with their caliber—match them up. Remove the magazine then the bolt as above, and change out the bolt head to the new caliber.

Unscrew the two barrel screws, but not completely. Remove the old barrel to the front and then slide in the new caliber barrel into the receiver; make sure the index pin at the top seats all the way. Starting with the rear screw, tighten the two barrel screws to 140 in-lb using the torque limiter marked for that and the T30 PLUS (IP30) bits. Be careful not to strip the screw heads. Assemble the firearm and ensure the bolt is properly rotating into position.

Changing Safety

The Mk22 Mod 0 has the same feature as the MRAD regarding the reversible safety selector. This is operator preference regarding safety manipulation. It’s a quick change.

With the upper and lower opened, the selector, in this case on the right, is moved to the halfway position between “safe” and “fire.” It will drop into a detent, enough to be felt. It is then pushed out to the selector side. Place it at the halfway position on the other side of the receiver and insert, then rotate to “safe.”

Forward Handguard

The Mk22 features the same M-LOK systems as the MRAD at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions, and some short Picatinny-style rails are supplied. In this case, the Harris 6–9 inch bipod can be seen with the LaRue Tactical® adapter and the rotating cant knob (not lever).

Case & Carry Bag

I’m not sure if the system hard case was chosen by Barrett or SOCOM. In any event, the Pelican™ 1770 is perfect. The system is laid out where all parts can be easily gotten to—this is a full system “Overseas Case” for deploying. Pelican paved the way on heavy-duty rolling hard cases and wasn’t afraid to work with the military. It’s heavy, but it’s not supposed to be dragged around in the field; it’s supposed to protect the equipment and nest it so it’s easy to visually ID a full system and choose needed components. The hard case is for the base camp (sorry, that’s old-speak—for the FOB). The soft case is for the field.

Armageddon™ Gear was chosen for the soft case for the Mk22 Mod 0 as well as the suppressor mirage cover. The stitching and bar-tack work are flawless. This is a very well-made case, and it is thought out for the end user, clearly by end users. The company’s advertising has some braggadocio, and I was skeptical, then I looked this case over carefully. Damn. Will Sonnett (Walter Brennan in “The Guns of Will Sonnet”) used to say “… and I’m better than both of ‘em—no brag, just fact,” referring to his sons and gunfighting. It’s pretty clear that the Mk22 case is based off of Armageddon Gear’s CSASS precision rifle case. To start with, that would be 1000D (Denier) CORDURA® fabric. Denier is the thickness of the textured nylon filaments used in the fabric. 1000D is very, very durable, for heavy duty uses—most soft cases use 500D or less. Armageddon uses a fabric that is solution-dyed which guarantees a homogenous color, and since this is a low-IR signature finish, that will be homogenous also. I spent a couple hours exploring all the ways to use the case, what I could put where, set it up for backpack with the straps and tried it as a drag bag. I carried it slung and used it rocking horse prone to keep the sharp desert pebbles from causing my delicate constitution discomfort. Seriously, this is long-time gear, versatile and well thought out. Excellent choice by SOCOM and Barrett, Armageddon Gear: “No brag, just fact” (armageddongear.com).

In Conclusion

I’ll keep it short and sweet. Barrett’s MRAD as the Mk22 Mod 0 is absolutely deserving of the award they received. We fired a significant amount of ammunition, suppressed and unsuppressed; changed calibers out numerous times and went between 100 and 1,100 yards. All of us were impressed. I don’t remember a discouraging comment, and as all shooters know, put a bunch of us together with a new system, and there will be grumping and carping. None at all with Mk22. SOCOM’s due diligence in testing is clearly optimum; without seeing the inside of their thought process, it’s clear the end results have paid off. From this humble correspondent’s view, the end users and procurement testing personnel at SOCOM have hit a clear home run with the Mk22 Mod 0 selection. I would bet that Barrett Firearms staff are proud of this (Nightforce as well!), and I would expect to see many follow-on contracts for this system by US end users, and especially the overseas SOF community taking advantage of the exhaustive testing done to adopt the Mk22. Bravo!

Hornady® is proud to introduce the new 6mm ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge). Recently tested, selected and fielded by a specialized group within the U.S. Department of Defense for its multipurpose combat rifle program, the 6mm ARC is a truly versatile cartridge that maximizes the potential of the AR-15 platform. The consumer offerings will feature bullets selected to deliver ideal performance for hunting, match shooting and personal protection applications.

“The 6mm ARC began with a simple question: What can we do with today’s technology to maximize the performance of the AR-15 platform?” Hornady Ballistician Jayden Quinlan said. “We subsequently modeled and tested a variety of designs in different calibers until we were able to produce the most flexible cartridge possible within the limits of the AR-15 system.”

This new cartridge delivers less felt recoil than larger short-action-based cartridges, yet takes full advantage of modern, heavy caliber 6mm bullets that provide excellent accuracy and ballistic performance at extended range.

The 6mm ARC delivers substantially better ballistics than the 5.56 NATO with similar recoil and yet delivers comparable ballistics to the venerable .308 Winchester with 30% less weight on both weapons system and ammunition.

Hornady plans to have the CIP approval at the end of 2020. The 6mm ARC will be available in the following product lines: 6mm ARC 105-grain BTHP Hornady BLACK®; 6mm ARC 108-grain ELD® Match™; and 6mm ARC 103-grain ELD-X® Precision Hunter® (Available Fall 2020).

Hornady also offers everything needed to reload the 6mm ARC with a multitude of existing 6mm Hornady bullets, dies and components. Reloading data will be available on the Hornady Reloading App.

Hornady.com/6mmARC

ST ENGINEERING SECURES OVER $1.6B IN NEW CONTRACTS

ST Engineering announced new contracts worth about $1.6B, secured by its Aerospace and Electronics sectors in the first quarter (1Q) of 2020. These contracts are over and above a defence contract that its Land Systems arm secured.

The group’s Aerospace sector secured about $838M across its spectrum of aviation manufacturing and MRO businesses. The MRO contracts included A320 heavy maintenance contracts and CFM56-7B engine maintenance contracts from Chinese airlines and a component Maintenance-By-the-Hour (MBHTM) contract from a Southeast Asian airline to provide comprehensive component maintenance services for its entire fleet of Boeing 737 and Bombardier Q400. ST Engineering’s Electronics sector secured about $730M worth of contracts for products and solutions in smart mobility, cybersecurity, data analytics as well as training and simulation.

Defence Contract by the Land Systems Sector

In addition to the above $1.6B new contracts, the group’s Land Systems arm secured a Phase 2 contract for the production and supply of the Hunter Armoured Fighting Vehicle (AFV) from the Singapore Ministry of Defence. Under the contract, ST Engineering will also provide integrated logistics support which includes spares, training and documentation.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and its evolving circumstances, ST Engineering is discussing adjustments to delivery schedules or addressing order cancellations with its customers. As at the end of 1Q, the group’s order book remains robust.

The above developments are not expected to have any material impact on the consolidated net tangible assets per share and earnings per share of ST Engineering for the current financial year.

All figures are denominated in Singapore dollars unless indicated otherwise.

ST Engineering is a global technology, defence and engineering group specializing in the aerospace, electronics, land systems and marine sectors.

stengg.com/en/singapore-technologies-engineering

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 made with a black stainless-steel partially serrated clip point blade with ambidextrous thumb plate. Its gun metal blue aluminum handle comes with black rubber inlay, a safety lock, glass breaking tool and a pocket clip.

store.smith-wesson.com

HENSOLDT

IRV 600 A1

The thermal sight attachment IRV 600 A1 is the enhancement of the well-tried IRV 600–developed for assault rifles or light machine guns. The IRV 600 A1 was developed especially for long ranges. It is characterized by its simple operating concept and its central control panel. The infrared attachment is equipped with a video connection for an external monitor. Its additional Picatinny rail offers space for optional accessories. A battery pack allows the user to easily replace the battery without having to use tools.

At a size of 640×480 pixels, the detector offers the highest geometric resolution available on uncooled devices. The IRV 600 A1 can be either used as a clip-on system with 1x magnification or as a stand-alone targeting optic with digital zoom.

hensoldt.net

NATIONAL POLICE AMMUNITION

HELO Premium Defense Hollow Point

National Police Ammunition (NPA), a leader in lead-free ammunition, is pleased to announce the development and the release of their HELO Premium Defense 9mm 115 grain + P solid copper hollow point with proprietary interior skives. Unlike bonded jacketed bullets, the HELO (High Expansion, Law Enforcement, Ordinance) is formed from a solid piece of high-grade virgin copper. At that point, a proprietary cavity is formed with interior skives, the copper bullet is heat-treated to the ideal hardness to allow the projectile to achieve maximum penetration and expansion while retaining 100% of its grain weight through ballistic gel and does not break apart like many copper hollow points on the market. The HELO has a black oxide coating that reduces copper fouling in a firearms barrel. The HELO will penetrate the minimum length of 12 inches into bare gel from a GLOCK 43 sub-compact pocket pistol and will penetrate an average of 15 inches of gel from a full-size defense pistol averaging 1,150 FPS from a 4-inch barrel.

npaammo.com

ACCURACY INTERNATIONAL LTD 

AX MKIII

The Accuracy International (AI) AX MKIII is the latest in a long and distinguished line of combat-proven sniper rifles from AI and has been designed to meet current operational needs in Europe and around the world. The AX MKIII is evolved from the successful AXMC multicaliber rifle, is a variant of the AXSR, is produced for the U.S. market and shares many features.

The rifle as supplied is configured in .338 Lapua Magnum and has multi-caliber conversion kits that are user configurable and mission adaptable.

accuracyinternational.com

FOXFURY LIGHTING SOLUTIONS 

D3060 Drone Light

Foxfury Lighting Solutions announced the arrival of the D3060, the newest addition to its family of drone lights. The D3060 is a small format drone and utility light. Dual LEDs give the D3060 360-degree lighting. There is 30-degree light on the front and a 60-degree light on the top of the unit. Each one has three modes: low, high and strobe. These lights can operate independently or simultaneously depending on the user’s needs. The D3060 weighs 1.3 ounces, so it has a minimal impact on flight time. The D3060 comes with dual lock fasteners as well as a strap insert in the base plate, so you can mount it to most drones in addition to wearing on helmets, clothing, bags, etc. Various mounting options can make the D3060 into a utility, anti-collision or navigation light. The strobe mode meets FAA and global regulations for UAV night flight and anti-collision drone lighting. The D3060’s base plate swivels 360-degrees, allowing it to point in any direction necessary.

foxfury.com

By Oleg Volk

The Mossberg MVP line of rifles was introduced in 2012. As of 2020, this innovative design has become available in .223 Remington, .224 Valkyrie, 6.5mm Creedmoor and .308 Winchester for a total of 17 variants. Available in light configurations for hunting, rugged and railed for defense, and on a chassis for long-range precision, all these rifles have one thing in common: they feed from commonly available and easily loaded detachable double-stack, double-row feed box magazines. The .223 version uses AR-15-compatible magazines, while the 6.5 and .308 versions can use both AR-10 and M1A magazines. M1A magazines even latch with the same motion as AR-10 mags. This approach makes MVP rifles significantly easier to support than brands using proprietary feeding devices. The Mossberg rifles ship with compact 10-rounders, but the availability of larger magazines up to 150-round capacity (in .556) makes clip loading unnecessary. For practical field use, 20-rounders are most handy in all four calibers. AR magazines are helpfully affordable and lightweight. Feeding reliability has been 100% across all three Mossberg MVP rifles I’ve used, and no special effort is required to keep it that way. Running the bolt slower or faster made no difference. The mag release latch and the indentation for it are a bit on the small side for thumbs or gloved fingers but not to the point of being a serious issue. Extended aftermarket release levers are available from Crosshair Precision.

MVP Bolt and Trigger

The bolt is a conventional two-lug design with fluting to resist fouling and environmental dirt. The bolt feels loose once unlocked, but that subjective perception doesn’t affect accuracy. Practical accuracy with a moderate power scope and an average shooter like me hover around 1MOA with 168- and 175-grain match ammunition, around 2MOA with 150-grain hunting soft points and a little looser with various ball cartridges. At least with match ammunition, the marksman was the obvious limiting factor. A very nice 2.8-pound trigger helps to make the most of the theoretical precision available. The trigger may be adjusted more heavily up to 7 pounds by turning an internal screw for use with gloves. The safety is also conventional—a right-side push-lever with the forward position being FIRE and back position being SAFE. The bolt can be cycled with the safety applied.

The MVP bolt has only moderate lateral support when at the rear-most point of its travel, so it wobbles a bit and makes the cycling less smooth than ideal. That and the generally bulky, rounded forms of the stocks make the rifles look and feel unrefined, but that feeling goes away as soon as range time begins. In actual use, MVP ergonomics proved superior to most other bolt actions. The stock shape combines with the thick recoil pad, making recoil very controllable even in the short Thunder Ranch model. The rifles are easy to shoot well, and I found myself going through a lot more ammunition than expected on every range trip.

MVP Barrels

MVP actions come pre-bedded on the same block that holds the magazine well. Barrels are free-floated. All models come with threaded muzzles: 1/2×28 in .223 and .224; 5/8×24 in 6.5 and .308. The stocks have separate studs for the front sling swivels and for bipods. This rifle series basically took all the items from my “must-have” list for modern bolt action and checked them.

The .223 Thunder Ranch model uses a medium, fluted 20-inch barrel. The model set up, which had a LUCID Optics 4-16x scope and a sound suppressor, proved not only accurate in experienced hands but was an effective teaching tool for a brand new shooter. After stepping up from rimfire, our Australian visitor was able to hit pop cans at 75 yards … that’s no small feat for the first day behind the gun. By mere chance, 77-grain match ammunition and 55-grain ball trajectories match up almost exactly at 100 yards, so they can be used for training and range demonstrations fairly inexpensively. True to its Thunder Ranch heritage, the gun is light enough for off-hand deployment and is accurate enough while supported for precision at long range. Thanks to free-floating, the barrel wasn’t deflected by a tight hasty sling. The 75- to 77-grain match ammunition from SIG SAUER and PRIME shot slightly under an inch, and the 69-grain Federal Premium® Gold Match shot around 1.1 inches consistently.

The .308 Thunder Ranch model mounts a shorter, 16-inch fluted barrel equipped with open sights. Meant for such uses as brush hunting and short-range sniping, this rifle handles well at speed and settled down comfortably on a bipod or sandbags. Recoil, while more pronounced than with the .223, is far from distracting. I have not tested this rifle for accuracy quite as extensively, mainly because the other .308, the 20-inch Long Range (LR) model, got all of my attention. The Thunder Ranch gun is amazing inside of 100 yards and is handy and easy to use even with the open sights. The extra 4 inches of barrel length combined with the AMTAC reflex sound suppressor made the longer variant much easier to shoot, with less blast and recoil. While the rifle looks very compact, the full-length barrel and the all-steel sound suppressor add up to a hefty package; though not as easily hand-holdable with my strength level. For distances beyond 100 yards, the LR rifle is a clear win, being both steadier and possessing an adjustable cheek rest for centering the eye behind large-diameter scopes. Inside of 100, which, incidentally, includes the overwhelming majority of police sniping and defensive uses, the Thunder Ranch variant with a low-power scope would be superior.

Testing

The 175-grain High Precision Range (HPR), SIG SAUER, PRIME and Federal Premium match ammunition printed around an inch at 100 yards: my variations from string to string revealed no clear superiority of any one load over the others. The 168-grain Magtech® and 175-grain PPU Match, as well as the 165-grain Federal Fusion® printed in the 1.75MOA to 2MOA. Between the hefty barrel and the braking effect of the sound suppressor, the recoil could be described as mild, to the point where even an inexperienced shooter could try the gun without risk of bruising.

While Mossberg MVPs come in a bewildering variety of configurations, only one of them puzzled me: the .308 Scout. Equipped with a long eye relief scope mounted on an extended rail, it still cannot be loaded with stripper clips due to the Picatinny rail being in the way. It’s also entirely unnecessary with the removable box magazine. The Scout’s extended rail, however, would work very well with a thermal or night vision optic mounted in tandem with a daylight scope.

Value

Depending on the configuration, Mossberg MVP rifles retail from the mid-$500s to about twice that amount. In my experience, their consistent performance as multi-role arms makes them a good value. At range events, they are among the most popular rifles with people who have tried everything on the table.

By Julio A. Montes

Expodefensa was held for the first time in 2009 at Corferias International Business and Exhibition Center (Bogota, Colombia) as an event of a specialized nature for the technological development and innovation in defense and security. A decade later, on its sixth exhibit, the fair had industrial representation from 26 countries, to include 218 international and Colombian exhibitors. It hosted in six pavilions representing Brazil, Spain, France, Israel, the United Kingdom and the United States.

Small Arms 

Expodefensa last opened its doors at Corferias on December 2, 2019, with exhibits covering land, sea, air and space marvels. Israel Weapon Industries (IWI), an SK Group member, presented its new multi-caliber suppressed ARAD M-4-type assault rifle/carbine. IWI’s ARAD is a weapon of modular design that enables the user to easily disassemble the rifle to exchange barrels to fire either 5.56x45mm or .300 Blackout. The Picatinny rail is an integral part of the upper receiver of the rifle to enable a variety of optics and other attachments. In addition, the weapon has M-LOK rails at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions along the handguard and a telescopic buttstock which allows users to adjust the length individually for their particular needs. It is of modular structure that enables the user to easily dismantle and replace the barrel, and it is fully ambidextrous with controls on both sides of the rifle. The ARAD uses a short-stroke gas piston operating system with a two-position regulator mechanism which allows constant operation in all environmental conditions. A two-step enhanced trigger ensures both comfort and shooting accuracy. Additional features include a hard-anodized, monolithic aluminum MIL-STD 1913 rail in the upper receiver. The ARAD weighs only 2.85kg, and right now it comes with either a 292mm (11.5-inch) or 368mm (14.5-inch) barrel length . All metal parts of the weapon are corrosion-resistant, and it has a hammer-forged, chrome-lined, free-floating barrel, for enhanced accuracy and life cycle. In addition, the quick detachable barrel allows it to be replaced in a matter of seconds. It takes any NATO MIL-STD 5.56 steel, aluminum or polymer magazine. It has a retractable polymer stock, an ergonomic pistol grip, and it comes with four points for QD or cord/sling attachments.

The ARAD was presented along with another recently developed IWI rifle, the CARMEL, a conventional configuration multi-purpose, modular, 5.56X45mm caliber assault rifle. The CARMEL is made of superior steel, aviation-grade aluminum and high-strength, impact-modified polymer for outstanding performance in all environmental conditions. It has a short-stroke gas piston rotating bolt system with a three-position gas regulator, matched to a hammer-forged, chrome-lined, free-floating barrel, for enhanced accuracy and a prolonged life cycle. It is equipped with hard-anodized monolithic aluminum MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny rails at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions to allow 100% compatibility with any available sights, devices or accessories. The rifle is equipped with a significantly efficient jump compensator for better shooter stability and uses any NATO MIL-STD 5.56 steel, aluminum or polymer magazine. The CARMEL is offered with four different barrel lengths. The weight of the rifle without a magazine or sight is 3.3kg. The CARMEL has a foldable and retractable folding polymer stock and can be fired with the stock folded; it also comes with an adjustable cheek-rest. It has an ergonomic pistol grip and three-point sling attachments.

Also present at the show was the UZI PRO pistol. It is a modernized Micro-UZI semi-auto pistol based on the UZI submachine gun. A couple of years ago, IWI offered to recycle all the Colombian National Police Mini-UZIs and their conversions to a newer, modern, standard. The Mini-UZI is a smaller version of the regular UZI. It measures 600mm (23.62 inches) long or 360mm (14.17 inches) long with the stock folded. Although the government did not take the offer, a new variant of the Mini-UZI was present at INDUMIL’s booth.

Industria Militar (INDUMIL), the Military Industry company, was prominent among the exhibitors with its full range of products. INDUMIL produces a number of defense items including explosives and ammunitions, as well as a 40mm grenade launcher, a 40mm multiple grenade launcher and a 60mm mortar. However, INDUMIL is better known for manufacturing the Galil and Galil series of weapons. The Galil became the standard military and police rifle in 1992, replacing the HK G3. The Galil was produced by Israel Military Industries. Upon privatization of its small arms division, manufacturing of the Galil was passed to IWI. As INDUMIL developed a closer partnership with Israel, it assumed the manufacturing of the rifle under license in 2006, and by 2010, Colombian and Israeli technicians had worked together to produce the Galil ACE®. INDUMIL had modified 43 out of 96 parts of the rifle, retaining the mechanism of the Galil but reducing its weight by balancing the design and using modern construction materials.

INDUMIL produces the Córdova pistol, a semi-automatic handgun with polymer frame that uses traditional Browning-type short-recoil-operated action with a tilting barrel. It has a double-action trigger, with exposed hammer and ambidextrous slide-mounted safety/decocker lever. The pistol is equipped with a three-dot iron sight, removable grip backstraps (three sizes available) and a removable cover for a Picatinny rail under the barrel. It is named after Colombian War of Independence Hero, General Jos Mara Crdova Muoz (the “Ayacucho’s Lion”). By 2019, INDUMIL was producing its Córdova 3.0 version with some 1,300 built so far. There is also a Córdova 9mm SMG that uses the same mechanism of the pistol and shares the same magazine. The weapon is obviously designed with the law enforcement and police market in mind. The Córdova family includes rifles and carbines that can be described as modernized Galil variants, with MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny rails, new molding and stocks. A 22LR subcaliber kit has been developed for the Galil/Córdova rifle family to make training and practicing more cost-effective.

U.S. Ordnance was well represented at every exhibit of the local armed services. The NATO M60E6 GPMG (general purpose machine gun) has effectively replaced all M60 and M60A3 machine guns in Colombian hands. Although the model uses the same basic chassis of the old M60, all those M60E6 assimilated by the Colombian military services are of new construction. The M60E6 retains the gas-operated, disintegrating link, belt-fed, air-cooled mechanism. It fires from an open bolt and features upgrades to include the special piston design on the quick-change barrel. Barrett came with a full variety of its products as did Dillon Aero with its well-known M134D and a wide range of weapons.

Deadly Aim from Above

Lockheed Martin and Sikorsky highlighted the depot-level maintenance facilities at Tolemaida Air Base. Sikorsky opened a full support office in Bogota in 2012 and followed with the establishment of a helicopter training center in Melgar. The Colombian Army, Air Force and National Police have acquired 103 Black Hawk aircraft since 1988, some 96 of them are still operating, and the Colombian Air Force is due to receive two additional C-130Hs from U.S. stocks.

BlueBird Aero Systems showcased ThunderB®, a 32kg, 4m wing-span tactical Unmanned Aircraft Vehicle (UAV) with a 24-hour endurance capability and extended control range up to 150km. Eyal Navarro, BlueBird Aero System’s international sales director, explained that this small UAV is a perfect Intelligence, Surveillance, Target Acquisition and Reconnaissance (ISTAR) instrument, offering triple CCD, cooled IR and optional laser pointer payload. It is ideal for mapping on demand for open area as well as urban scenarios for military, peace keeping, low-intensity conflict, security, law enforcement, S&R, disaster management and commercial applications. It can carry small cargo capsules under each wing, which can be released automatically or by a GCS command. The capsule can reach the target with high accuracy following a ballistic trajectory or can be dropped with the aid of a small parachute to prevent damage to fragile items. Wander B VTOL is interesting in that provides a vertical take-off and landing option even in strong winds and on cloudy or rainy days, assuring high operational availability for up to 2.5 hours and a communication range of up to 50km. It is an electric, mini UAS optimized to facilitate covert, “over-the-hill” operations or extensive, day-and-night intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) missions in real time.

UVision company, on the other hand, showcased the Hero Family. This is a range of lethal loitering solutions for deployment from air, land and sea. It incorporates advanced airborne guidance, a unique cruciform configuration, navigation systems, abort and recovery capabilities, embedded simulators and C4 stations fully integrated with high-speed data links. Tal Shprung, simulator instructor, demonstrated its easy operational effectiveness. Shprung served in the IDF as Spike missile instructor. At Expodefensa, she demonstrated the Hero-30, a man-portable, short-range, lethal loitering system. The Hero-30 consists of a launcher, a man-packed tube much like any portable anti-tank missile launcher containing a loitering munition, a communication device/antenna and an operator control unit. The Hero-30 is capable of speeds of up to 100 knots and is ideal for anti-personnel missions. It has a weight of 3kg, with a warhead weighting 0.5kg. Its range (LOS) is 5, 10 and 40km, having an endurance of 30 minutes. The smallest of the family is the Hero-20, a man-pack portable and extremely lightweight smart loitering system. It is deployable within minutes, capable of loitering for 20 minutes and ideal for anti-personnel missions. It has a weight of 18kg, with a 0.2kg warhead. Its range is 10km.

INSTALAZA of Spain displayed its ALCOTAN-100 (M2), a man-portable 100mm caliber weapon that can be fired from confined spaces. The weapon consists of a reusable VOSEL (M2) firing control unit with integrated night vision. This sight calculates the target position and trajectory, measures the propellant temperature, calculates the projectile trajectory and shows the gunner the future aiming point to maximize the hit probability. The ALCOTAN-100 (M2) comes with anti-tank, dual-purpose, anti-bunker and multipurpose munitions, integrated in a disposable launching tube. Its range varies between 600m and 1,000m against area targets. It has an extremely high single-shot hit probability (SSHP) and produces no recoil upon firing. It has confined space firing capability and an integrated night vision firing control unit. INSTALAZA also displayed the C90-CR (M3) weapon system, a 90mm caliber launcher with anti-tank, dual-purpose, anti-bunker and smoke munition integrated in a disposable launching tube. The system includes a 2X optical sight and a firing mechanism, both disposable integral parts of the launching tube. An optional sight is the VN38-C that provides for night vision and can be attached and removed within seconds. The sight also provides for 3.3X magnification. It is the lightest 90mm caliber weapon system in the world, weighing 5kg. It is shoulder-fired with an effective range of 350m for point targets and 700m for area targets. The C90-CS refers to the disposable launching tube variant that can be fired from small confined spaces. The weapon includes a 2X optical sight and a firing mechanism as integral parts of the launching tube. It weighs 6.5kg, and it has an effective range of 350m. The C90 Reusable is the reloadable variant with an integrated 2.5X optical sight.

Tank Boat Concept

John Cockerill Defense exhibited its newest CPWS (Cockerill® Protected Weapon Station) armed with the Northrop Grumman M242 Bushmaster cannon firing 25x137mm NATO ammunition. John Cockerill Defense designs, manufactures, integrates and improves cannon-turret systems for the entire range of calibers, from 25mm to 120mm. The weapons systems are modular and designed to evolve, with a moderate cost, adapting to the needs of its users. The company’s target is the upgrade of the Colombian’s Commando APC armored vehicle, increasing the vehicle’s firepower with a medium-caliber turret instead of the current 12.7mm machine gun/40mm automatic grenade launcher. Initially, it was proposed to be fitted on the EE-9/EE-11 armored vehicles, but these platforms are considered too old, and attempting to bring them up to modern standards would increase the cost too much and to the level that it would be better to obtain a new vehicle instead. The CPWS has an effective range that allows engaging targets at greater distances. The CPWS comes with a fully gyrostabilized commander’s periscope capable to cover 360 degs. This allows for recording images, as well as target tracking. The weapon can be reloaded from inside the vehicle, 155 rounds of two different types being available. The gunner has a screen and a joystick at his disposal while the vehicle’s commander is also equipped with a screen to monitor the gunner’s engagements. The Cockerill CPWS turret has a total storage capacity of 155 ready rounds for the main gun, and it also contains a coaxial 7.62mm machine gun and can accommodate various supplementary systems such as grenade launchers. The turret and gun are equipped with a bi-modal stabilized high performance (thermal) day/night sight for 24-hour use. The aiming system provides the operator with panoramic 360-deg vision, independently of the position of the turret. Once locked onto the target, the gun automatically aligns with the aiming system. A ballistics computer guarantees the highest probability of hitting the target when firing on the move. The turret can easily be accommodated on the Colombian’s 4×4 Commando and/or M113 APCs. The station has been successfully tested on the VAP and the Sherpa.

John Cockerill Defense also offered information on the Tank Boat®, a concept forwarded by the Indonesian PT Pindad, North Sea Boats (PT Lundin) consisting of an X-18 eighteen meter-long catamaran fitted with either a Cockerill 3030, a 3105 or a CPWS turret. It was indicated that John Cockerill was talking to COTECMAR on the concept. In fact, COTECMAR has developed a number of armored boats to patrol the rivers. The John Cockerill CPWS allows operations at night with its optronic package that includes a thermal imager beside a video camera and a laser rangefinder. The concept includes the APC-60 variant consisting of a boat able to transport up to 60 soldiers and equipped with the CPWS Gen.2 25mm/30mm remotely controlled turret with a bi-modal stabilized high performance (thermal) day/night sight for 24-hour use. The aiming system provides the operator with panoramic 360-deg vision, independently of the position of the turret. Once locked onto the target, the gun automatically aligns with the aiming system.

Although it follows the lines and heritage of the Navistar, company officials Andres Mejia and Luis Torres expressed that the chassis, including the engine, transmission and electrical train, are made in Colombia, easing logistics by tapping the local commercial market. It departs from a WorkStar® 7300 chassis, motorized by an International® Trucks diesel engine with a 6-speed forward synchronized automatic transmission. The vehicle has been designed as an independent monocoque mounted on a Navistar WorkStar chassis, with a V-shaped floor and protected compartment for the engine. It is said that it can withstand impacts up to 7.62x51mm caliber, as well as anti-personnel mines and IEDs. It has thermal and reverse cameras, 12 windows, 5 doors, 11 hatches and a crane system with a winch. The Xl can also be viewed as an evolution of the company’s Hunter and Hunter TR-12 exhibited along the outside corridor.

The next show, Expodefensa 2021, is scheduled to take place November 29 to December 1, 2021.

EXPODEFENSA 2021 SHOW MASTER INFO

Location

Corferias International Business and Exhibition Center, Bogota, Colombia

Website

expodefensa.com.co

Contact

David Roukoz

+33 (0)1 44 14 64 82

d.roukoz@cogesevents.com

Léa Benassem-Durieux

+33 (0)11 44 14 51 14

l.benassem@cogesevents.com

Next Show

November 29-December 1, 2021

Focus

Expodefensa is an annual international trade fair focused on the scientific and technological developments in the field of defense and security. The exhibition showcases artillery systems, non-lethal weapons, military ground weapons ammunitions; as well as, defense and rescue systems to name a few.

Hotel Hints

Visit expodefensa.com.co/practical-information/useful-information for a list of our recommended hotels and preferential rates and packages for Expodefensa 2021.

Power & Plug Types

Electrical outlets and plugs Voltage: 110V covers a range of 100-127V. Outlets use the same connectors as used in the United States. See wanderingtrader.com/using-electronics-overseas-outlets-in-south-america for more information.

Country Warnings

Security in Columbia has improved significantly in recent years, adding safety measures for both tourist and business travel to Bogota. As with any urban area, be mindful and use caution. Be wary of a person claiming to be a plainclothes policeman, even with an ID. Don’t accept drinks, cigarettes, gum, etc., that could be tainted with a colorless, odorless drug. Use the guidance of Expodefensa’s personnel when booking travel arrangements.  Currently, there is a global health advisory due to COVID-19. Should you have questions or concerns, just ask. Enjoy the show in the beautiful tropical highlands of Colombia.

Cultural Hints

Bogota is a world class urban city, comparable to cities such as San Francisco, Washington D.C., Dubai or Berlin. Be prepared to experience a scenic city of contrasting cultures, where the old meets the new.

Tipping

Do tip: In restaurants tipping is not required but most people tip 10%, and the amount goes to the staff. Tipping in hotels follows most international rules. Tip any tour guides. Airport baggage handlers should be tipped when possible. Do not tip taxi drivers. See traveldudes.org/travel-tips/tipping-colombia-guide-where-and-how-much-you-tip/3220.

Currency

Colombian Peso. Approximately at press, 1.00 USD = 3,700 COP. For up-to-date international currency exchange rates, visit xe.com.

Getting Around

The best and fastest way to travel around Bogota is by a taxi or bus. The same applies if you are going from the terminal to the city center; you can take a bus or TransMilenio, but it’s best to go by taxi. See colombia.travel/en/practical-information.

Military Museums

In Bogota’s La Candelaria Historical Center, visit the Military Museum of Colombia to see over 200 years of Colombian military history. For more information, see museomilitarco.com/en.

Tourism

Bogota’s travel guide is a great resource for gathering information regarding an upcoming trip to Colombia: colombia.travel/en.

NOTE: All information subject to change. Go to expodefensa.com.co for up-to-date information.