When I answered the phone, I could sense the frustration in his voice. The caller was a friend of mine who head up small arms procurement in a Scandinavian country. His quick greeting was followed by the description of a small machine screw. As he gave me the dimensions in millimeters, I banged out a few numbers on my calculator, and realized he was describing a 6-40 screw – common in our inch-system. He told me it was for a U.S.-made gun sight. He had checked all of his sources in Scandinavia and even some in Europe, but none of these suppliers had any on hand. He asked if I would buy him some of these screws so he could pick them up when he visited me in Florida during the following week.

This episode started me to thinking about U.S. small arms. Is it time we consider going metric? I know we’ve been at this crossroads before, but it has never happened. Maybe there are good reasons now to reconsider. If you’ll allow me to present some facts, I’ll let you be the judge.
One of the first facts to consider, is that a “decimal-based measurement system” (the metric system) was proposed by Thomas Jefferson in 1790 and the U.S. mint was formed to produce the world’s first decimal currency with the U.S. dollar equal to 100 cents. Our system of measure did not go that way. As I’m sure you know, our inch-system is a carryover from our days as an English colony. The last major holdouts for the inch system were one-time fellow colonies: New Zealand, Australia, and Canada who switched over to metric more than 40 years ago.

Flirtation with a Metric Small Arm — the FN FAL
In 1953, the U.S. military had to decide what they would do if the 7.62mm Belgian FN FAL (U.S. designation T48) were to win the competition against the U.S. T44 (M14.) After beating out the M14 in several trials, the FAL was on the fast track to become the official U.S. service rifle, but the FAL did have one detractor: the design was metric. To assure there would be no U.S. production problems, Harrington and Richardson was awarded a contract to convert the design over to the inch system. H&R built a quantity of 500 inch-system FAL’s of exceptional quality. As this production was ongoing, engineers under the direction of Springfield Arsenal’s Roy Rayle, worked around the clock to correct deficiencies in the M14 design. In 1954 testing, the two rifles – T44 (M14) and the U.S.-made T48 (FAL) tested to a draw, and in subsequent trials the T44 went on to win.

Why the big exercise to make an inch-system rifle? To enable U.S. production of the T48-FAL in the 1953 timeframe, there was almost no choice but to convert the design and the drawings to the inch-system. Factories across America had manual lathes and milling machines that could produce weapon components, but these were all set up with inch-system controls. Screws, roll pins, solid pins, spring wire, and sheet metal stock were readily available in U.S. markets, but only in inch-system sizes. Similarly, measurement tools, like vernier calipers, micrometers, and gage blocks were configured for inch-system only measurements. Producing metric components in the U.S. without converting to the inch system was simply not a reasonable option. Success of the T44-M14 made the issue temporarily go away, with no need for further consideration of the metric system in small arms for a long time afterwards.

U.S. Government Mandates Metric
By 1968, most of the world had become metric so a Federal law authorized a 3-year study to determine the impact of increasing metric use in the U.S. Many of the major companies in the U.S. passed out conversion manuals for the International System of Units (SI) that was being adopted throughout the world and trained their workers to use the metric system. By this time, the newer Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) lathes and milling machines were capable of easily converting back and forth from inch to metric so there would be no major trauma when metric drawings reached the production floor.

U.S. made M240 Coax with “Spirit” button for meeting the first year production goal.

The U.S. Metric Study was completed in 1971 and their published report recommended we should “go metric” on a carefully coordinated national program. Congress passed the Metric Conversion Act of 1975 and established a U.S. Metric Board, but a timeline was never established for metric conversion. U.S. arms producers like the General Electric Armament Systems Department, followed a government directive mandating that new guns should be metric. They complied in the next product they released, making the drawings for the newest Gatling gun totally metric. And what about the ammunition feed system that connected to it? It was produced using inch system dimensions. Why? Because the government directive said the guns had to be metric, but made no mention of the feed system, so it was a half measure at best. This was typical of the resistive mood of the country towards the metric system. After years of public apathy, spending money, and achieving only marginal results, the U.S. Metric Board was disbanded by President Reagan in 1982.

European Small Arm is adopted: It’s a Sweet Baby but it’s Metric.
In the mid 1970s an international shoot-off resulted in the adoption of the first metric weapon in modern U.S. military history, the 7.62mm FN Herstal Belgian MAG-58. The machine gun, U.S. designation M240, was designed totally in metric. The Army bought the manufacturing rights and the drawings with the intent to competitively procure the weapon and spare parts from manufacturers in the U.S. This required that the Army bring these 1950s era drawings up to current standards, meaning the ones outlined in a specification known as ANSI-Y-14.5 managed by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers. The Army converted the drawings themselves but left the metric system in place. They also left the drawings in first angle projection – the European standard – but more about that later.

It is important to note that by the late 1970s, the manufacturing scene in the United States changed dramatically. CNC machine tools were everywhere, with most of them easily capable of switching from inch to metric. Many conventional lathes and milling machines had digital readouts added to them, making them capable of inch/metric conversion with the push of a button.
FN Herstal won the 1979 production contract to make the M240 in the U.S, and built a factory in South Carolina. FN knew they would be faced with a challenge in finding qualified machinists and other factory help, but they had experience in setting up small arms factories in third world counties and reckoned South Carolina would be easy by comparison. They brought in their own manufacturing team to train the workers, hired manufacturing managers who had prior experience setting up manufacturing plants outside the U.S., and went totally metric on the manufacturing process. During the first full production year, a quantity of 4,509 M240’s was the production goal set by the Army. Guns from every production lot that year had to pass an interchangeability test with other M240s made on the same line. At specified intervals, U.S. made M240s were interchanged with FN Herstal-made guns and were required to pass the same acceptance test. In every case, the weapons functioned flawlessly and the production goals were achieved.

Five years later, the FN South Carolina plant submitted the lowest bid and won the manufacturing contract for the M16A4. If there was to be a metric/inch production challenge, this was it. There was no plan to change the M16 drawings to metric. In fact, it was never discussed. Rather, buttons were pushed on the CNC machines and machines that were formerly making metric M240 parts were now making M16 components. Not only were both inch and metric drawings on the shop floor at the same time but the U.S. drawings were in third angle projection and ones of European origin were in first angle projection.

First Angle – Third Angle: What is it and Who Cares?
The “projection of a drawing—first or third angle” relates to engineering drawings, or “blueprints” if you prefer that term. Since we must use a two dimensional drawing to define a three dimensional component, rules have been set up for where different views are positioned on the drawing – this is called the “projection.” Europeans set their drawings up in first angle projection while in the U.S. we prefer third angle projection. First angle and third angle drawings have one view in common but the rest of the views are in opposite locations. The differences between these conventions are explained in the illustration, and it all makes more sense if you consider the logic behind them. In the third angle system, the user moves his/her eye around the part 90° at a time to “see” another side of the part and the view is positioned accordingly. In the first angle projection system the part is “rotated” 90° each time for a new view. If you are familiar with one system and not the other, you’ll find the left side view where you expect the right side to be, the top where the bottom should be, and so on.

Textbooks describing these systems make the case that Americans find first angle projection illogical. To avoid confusion, drawing standards specify that a figure with two views of a truncated cone be placed in the title block of every drawing to show the part is depicted in first or third angle projection. There is little danger in confusing metric dimensions for inch dimensions; like making a firing pin 400 inches long instead of 400 millimeters. Not paying attention to whether the part to be made is described in first or third angle projection, however, can easily result in parts being made backwards.

By now you may be wondering how FN Manufacturing made out manufacturing with drawings in first and third angle projection as well as metric and inch. Surprisingly it didn’t cause them any problems. The U.S. Army eventually did convert the M240 drawings to third angle projection, fearing that small businesses making spare parts without understanding the application could mistakenly make the parts backwards.

Where Are We Now?
He we are today, 30 years after the metric M240 was put into U.S. production and where is our manufacturing technology? Essentially with the flip of a switch, practically every modern machine tool will operate in metric or inch. Electronic digital readouts on manual milling machines and lathes give even those machines dual capability and the opportunity for even the smallest machine shop to produce in either system. Even inspection equipment from Coordinate Measuring Machines to hand held vernier calipers and micrometers swap metric units for inch units at the push of a button. And what about first and third angle projection? Most good Computer Aided Design (CAD) systems that we now use to make our drawings can switch from either system by the mere selection of a “radio” button. Our military continues to procure metric weapons including the Beretta M9 pistol and the Heckler & Koch M320 grenade launcher and at the same time inch-system weapons like the M4 and M110.

It is the job of U.S. arsenals and military directorates to specify what small arms will be bought along with the drawing packages that define them. There is a directive in the Federal Acquisition Regulations that specifies metric dimensions should be used. Officially, the metric system is preferred, but there are open ended exceptions to the Metric Conversion Act. This means the military doesn’t really care if your drawings are inch or metric or if your hammer rotates on a 1/8-inch pin or one 3 millimeters in diameter. One of the newest small arms under consideration by the military is the LSAT designed by AAI. This light machine gun, firing cased telescoped ammunition, is designed in inch system and is likely to stay that way unless the military directs otherwise.

Pro – Let’s Do It
Just how difficult would it be to specify totally metric weapons from here on out? There would be changes to threaded fasteners, pins, nuts, spring wire, rollers, ball or roller bearings and other hardware. For the most part, the standard metric sizes are close enough to the standard inch sizes so that nothing is sacrificed in strength or durability. Sheet metal comes in standard metric sizes but this is one where direct substitution that could cause a problem causing the substituted part to be too thick or too thin. This change does require careful study and potentially some dimensional changes to mating parts.

Our NATO and other allies are all using the metric system and sometimes our weapons systems. If our small arms were designed with metric, components like pins, screws, and other hardware, would be available to them in their normal supply chains avoiding situations like the one my Scandinavian friend encountered. In short, metrification would make all U.S. small arms more attractive to the rest of the world.

Likely the best reason is that the metric system is incredibly simple. U.S. schools are teaching the metric system and students are finding it easier than our inch system. One high school teacher told me that when her students are required to make measurements, she gives them metric rulers. She switched from inch rulers because students became so bogged down with fractional inch conversions; they were missing the point of the exercise.

Con – Let’s Don’t
We’ve been making parts in inch system dimensions for a long time, now, and have a ready supply of inch system hardware and components. In many cases, metric components are more expensive. The easiest path forward is to continue to let small arms manufacturers produce weapons using any system they want.

Any change, no matter how small, always has an associated price. Not every machine shop is equipped with the latest machine tools and measuring equipment, and even those that do, will still find a certain percentage of their equipment will become obsolete.

The manufacturing success at FN aside, it cannot be denied, there is always the possibility of making manufacturing mistakes when using both inch and metric drawings in the same factory. Introducing metric drawings in first angle projection will only compound the problem.

Conclusion
It’s decision time. Do we make the change to metric in small arms now, or do we kick the can down the road and hope for the best? After all, we still have some allies who, like us, have not adopted the metric system – Liberia and Myanmar. If we hurry, we might at least say we’re not the last country to “Go Metric.”

Leonardo Sperry of Taurus Brazil with a Model 24/7 Gen 2 pistol. BOTTOM LEFT: The Taurus 24/7 Gen 2 pistol.

Taurus
Taurus introduced its PT24/7 G2 pistol, a 2nd generation to the model 24/7 series. Similar to the original 24/7, the G2 is featured in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .45 ACP chambering. The new pistol system features a new trigger mechanism, interchangeable back straps to adjust grip size, and a new trigger safety. Of note, the new 24/7 Gen 2 features a unique system that allows the user to load and chamber a round, while maintaining double action trigger pull on the first round. Subsequent rounds are fired single action. In describing the system, Leonardo Sperry of Taurus explained that the newly designed trigger was intended to overcome high stress situations encountered in police and military use. The 24/7 Gen 2 is scheduled for release within the United States during the summer of 2010.

Taurus also discussed the redevelopment of the PT09 SMG. Currently produced in 9mm and .40 S&W variants, the newly designed system will feature a lower cyclic rate. The current PT09 SMG features a cyclic rate of 1,200 rounds per minute. The redesigned PT09 Gen 2 will have a lower cyclic rate of approximately 650 rounds per minute, and will reportedly feature increased use of Mil-Std 1913 Picatinny rails built into the foregrip, a larger cocking handle, and a redesigned collapsible/folding butt stock. The redesigned PT09 SMG will enter production in summer 2010, and is not scheduled for sale within the United States.

Curtis Debord, Sr. (CEO of U.S. Ordnance) and David Wang (U.S. Ordnance sales representative for Asia), with the U.S. Ordnance M2 HB CQB system.

US Ordnance
U.S. Ordnance has been a player in the U.S. arms market for several years, producing the MK 43, an updated version of the venerable M60 general purpose machine gun, and M2 HB machine guns. U.S. Ordnance unveiled their Quick Change Barrel (QCB) system for the M2 HB machine gun. The QCB system is not a new idea – Fabrique Nationale and Saco Defense each attempted a QCB system for the M2 HB.
Unlike the predecessor systems, the U.S. Ordnance QCB system is different in three aspects: First, the U.S. Ordnance system allows the barrel to be changed within seconds, without the need to check headspace and timing. The newly designed system is guaranteed to provide headspace and timing upon installation of the new barrel. Second, the system allows any barrel to be used with any receiver. Prior legacy CQB systems required that a specific barrel be used with a specific receiver. While this may be acceptable in the garrison environment, this limitation is unacceptable in wartime use. Finally, the system allows the use of traditional M2 HB barrels, with the limitation that headspace and timing must be checked and adjusted when using a traditional M2 HB barrel.
Small Arms Defense Journal has scheduled an endurance test on the CQB system; watch for an in-depth review of the system in a future issues.

The VMS07 by Technopol International. The 9mm SMG features a 30-round magazine and a 7.6” barrel.

Technopol International VMS 07
Despite the transition to 5.56 weapon systems for use in CQB roles, the 9mm SMG continues to evolve. Many examples of newly designed (and legacy) 9mm SMGs were on display, including the Technopol International VMS07. Hailing from the Slovak Republic, Technopol designed the VMS07 as a compact, ambidextrous 9mm SMG capable of full auto, burst, or semiautomatic fire through the use of a fixed barrel, and partially locked breech system. Complete with integrated Mil-Std 1913 Picatinny rails, the weapon features a 30-round magazine and a 7.6-inch barrel. Cyclic rate of fire was not available.

Ceska Zbrojovka (CZ)
CZ displayed the Skorpion Evo3 A1 9mm SMG as a follow up version to the venerable Skorpion VZ61 machine pistol. Featuring a 7.7-inch barrel, the new Skorpion fires 9mm Parabellum ammunition from a 30-round magazine. Standard features expected of an SMG are all present – semi/semi-burst/auto function, with prolific use of Mil-Std 1913 Picatinny rails, the ability to use iron sights or optical sights, a collapsible butt stock adjustable for length of pull, and a threaded barrel to allow the use of a flash hider or sound suppressor.

The weapon system was ergonomic, with fire controls easy to manipulate. The cyclic rate of fire is reportedly 1,150 rounds per minute. Initial production is scheduled to begin in summer 2010.

A man-portable anti-personnel mine system developed by Hanwha of Korea. Deployed by a two-man team, the system can be deployed in less than a minute, will clear an area measuring 50 meters long by 50 centimeters wide, and will destroy anti-personnel land mines and barbed wire barriers.

S&T Daewoo
Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, S&T Daewoo has returned to producing small arms. The history of Daewoo (as an arms manufacturer) is long and storied. Having gone bankrupt in the late 1990s, the assets of the bankrupt company were put up for auction by the Korean bankruptcy court, where the assets were promptly purchased by S&T. Together, the newly formed company is known as S&T Daewoo. Other than the name and legacy products, the only commonality with the old Daewoo is in the name.

Daewoo was known for its K1 and K2 battle rifles, and the K3 belt-fed LMG. S&T Daewoo has continued manufacture of these legacy systems. With a view to the future of small arms design, S&T Daewoo has successfully developed an OICW-type weapon system. Similar to the OICW program that was pursued (and later terminated) within the United States; the Korean K11 system features a 5.56mm battle rifle with an integrated magazine fed 20mm grenade launcher.
Small Arms Defense Journal has arranged to test fire and evaluate the K11 weapon system. Look for a detailed article reviewing the K11 weapon system in a future issue.

DSA 2009 was a great success, and offered a wide glimpse into the international arms market. Hosted on a biennial basis, the next show is scheduled for April 16-19, 2012, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Additional information regarding the show can be found at www.dsaexhibition.com.

On April 11, 2010, I traveled to Harrodsburg, KY where I met with my good friend, Howard “Buddy” Howells.  Buddy is the only grandson of the famous Col. George M. Chinn, author of the five-volume series entitled The Machine Gun.  The last time I was in Harrodsburg was in 1985 when I met with Col. Chinn and Buddy at their office.  I was working for FN and went there to discuss the Mk19 and to get Chinn’s opinion on the maturity of the design and the producibility of the weapon using the drawing package developed by the Navy.

George Chinn had accumulated a wealth of firearm information through the years and was inspiration to many of us in firearm design.  The Colonel made great contributions to firearm design and usage, and his historical reference book series is a classic of the last century.  Buddy worked with his grandfather on some firearm designs and has an amazing memory of historical facts.

Buddy suggests we begin our meeting in the office used by George M. Chinn.  Upon entering I can’t believe what I’m seeing.  Chinn’s favorite pictures, letters, commendations, and other memorabilia still adorn the walls.  Pencils, Rolodex, pads of paper and reference material are out on his desk.  It was if the old master would return at any moment.  Unable to resist the urge, I sit in the Colonel’s chair.  Now was a good time to begin the interview.

George: Before we talk about George M. Chinn, could you give me a little insight into the Chinn family history.  

Buddy: The Chinn’s are an old pioneer family with roots in Mercer county Kentucky.  I know you remember my grandfather joking about being Chinese, but our ancestry is French.  George’s Grandfather Jack was into horse racing and even owned a Kentucky Derby winner.  Politics, farming, and Calcite mining were also family businesses.

George: So, as pioneers and frontiersmen, the Chinn family must have been around guns all the time. 

Buddy: Actually, they were familiar with both ends of a gun.  Back in 1900 Kentucky elected William Goebel as Governor.  Just one day before his inauguration, Goebel was standing on the capitol steps between his two bodyguards, one of them Chinn’s Grandfather Jack, when a shot rang out.  A sniper shot Goebel, fatally wounding him.  Following his passing and true to the Kentucky sense of fairness, for the first time in U.S. history, a dead man was sworn into office.

Col. Chinn shows off his favorite Browning trophy to FN’s Skip Kitchen.

George: What about George Chinn?  Did he have an interest in firearms when he was a youngster? 

Buddy: Chinn’s father was the warden of the prison in Frankfort, Kentucky.  This gave George many opportunities to disassemble guns from prison assets.  Chinn had access to explosives too, from the family’s calcite mine.  He led a charmed childhood and like most kids of that era, he enjoyed target shooting and plinking.

George: Tell me about George Chinn’s early education and his career plans.

Buddy: George went to a Millersburg Military Institute, a boarding high school where he was a member of the “Saturday Afternoon Tea Club.”  That’s what they jokingly called the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) program.  He graduated in 1920 in a class of nine.   Since he was in ROTC at the close of WWI, he received a WWI victory medal even though he was never in theater.

George: I read where Chinn graduated from Centre College where he claimed to have majored in “football and penmanship.”  What can you tell me about his football career? 

Buddy: As a freshman George played lineman on the Centre team that won what would today be recognized as the national championship in 1921 after beating Harvard 6-0.  It was a huge upset.  The Centre team was coached by two of the greats in football history, Charlie Moran and Robert Myers.  These men greatly influenced George.  Their coaching style and football experience itself made a huge impact on his life.  Also significant was the relationship he developed with Albert. B. “Happy” Chandler, a guy who was a kind of team “groupy.”  Happy rode along on the football trips and in later life became Governor of Kentucky – twice.  He also served as a U.S. Senator, giving George an important political connection during much of his adult life.

George: What did Chinn do after college? 

Buddy: He coached football; assistant coach at Bucknell and head coach at Catawba.  His coaching experience was very valuable throughout his career.  He refined his coach’s instinct and he knew how to prepare a team for an “operation” by making sure his players knew what to do, how to do it, and had the right equipment and training to get the job done right.  This mentality served him well in later years when he helped Naval aviators and Marines with the operation, repair, and maintenance of automatic weapons.

George: But he didn’t stay in coaching – what happened? 

Buddy: While he was vacationing in North Carolina he had an opportunity to visit a tourist attraction there called the Bat Cave.   The sight of all those tourists buying food, drinks, and souvenirs got him thinking.  He owned a piece of property alongside the road near the Brooklyn Bridge that crossed the Kentucky River.  So near this scenic river, George knew it would be a good place for a tourist stop except that the property was a sheer cliff: almost all rock, and nearly 150 feet high.  Chinn had the perfect spot and all he needed was a cave.  That part wasn’t any problem at all as he knew an explosives expert named “Tunnel” Smith and had him blast a hole at the base of the cliff.  The tunnel went straight in about 20 feet and then veered to the left about 100 feet.  At the front entrance he built a grill with a snack bar counter on the left and directly across from it was the bar.  Chinn designed the bar in a particular way that discouraged people from hanging around it.  George wanted customers to buy drinks, but he didn’t want to make a hangout for potential troublemakers.  Out in front were tables for people to sit after they’d gotten their food and drink.  Through the years there were several modifications, including a pair of columns that were made from the same stone as Chinn’s house.

George: This had to be during the depression.  There couldn’t have been the same level of tourist traffic that Bat Cave had in those years, did he make any money?  

Buddy: He did very well.  My grandmother made delicious sandwiches for what could be called a “giveaway” price.  These were prohibition years; the real money was made from liquor and slot machines.

George: Slot machines? 

Buddy: He had penny and nickel slots in the back part of the cave.  Chinn was doing great until the law caught up with him.  He was charged with running “a game of chance” at Chinn’s Cave House.  In typical self-assured Chinn fashion, he defended himself and was able to convince the court that “you didn’t have a chance” when you gambled at Chinn’s.

George: It sounds like George has led a charmed life.  Did this magic continue?

Buddy:  Well, no.  A life-changing event happened at The Cave House near the end of its operation.  George got into an argument with the owner of the business across the road.  Somehow it escalated to the point of violence when the neighbor entered the Cave House and shot George in the leg.  George was wearing his .38 revolver at the time but he didn’t want this thing to escalate so he didn’t go for his gun.  George’s wife, Cotton, however, tried to get Chinn’s gun away from him.  It was all George could do to keep his wife away from that revolver.  My grandmother was a crack shot and George was certain she would have killed the guy.  Accompanied by his wife and daughter, Ann, Chinn went immediately to the hospital to get his wound cared for.  My mother Ann, who was quite young at the time, recalled she had never seen so much blood in her life.  Chinn got patched up and carried that slug in his leg for the rest of his life.

There was a significant international showing of defense and security products, but the small arms on display were primarily from the indigenous Romanian manufacturers. Romania has a well developed infrastructure of small arms manufacturing, and these groups, working under the international sales umbrella of Romarm, made a very respectable showing of their standard warhorses and new products. One theme that SADJ found as recurrent in the presentations and discussions was the entering of Romania into NATO, and the compliance issues with ammunition and weapon systems. Romania of course, like most NATO countries, wants to have their arms manufacturing inside their own country, and of their own design. Melding the NATO requirements to this desire is an involved process.

BSDA as a show is smaller than many found in Western countries, but it has a respectable 7,500 square meter footprint inside two buildings, as well as a large outdoor display, with highlights from many industries. Many heavy hitters from the U.S., UK, Europe, Turkey, and others, such as General Dynamics, Lockheed Martin, Bumar, BAE were there. There were over 200 exhibiting companies, representing 15 countries with 8,680 attendees being recorded. In our discussions with exhibitors, they seemed pleased with not only the face time they had gotten with the Romanian government, military personnel and potential business partners, they were also pleased with the amount of international delegations that had shown up. One contractor had serious discussions with a three-star Iraqi general and his staff in regards to small arms and training, and another discussed the opportunities he had with the Serbian delegates. The show was well attended with quality contacts, and the fact that it is also an Aero Show brought in many members of the general public as well. We found that almost all of these public attendees were either involved in the military as families, cadets, or respected military retirees, and the signal to noise ratio for secondary contacts appeared to be very good. Long-time show exhibitors have learned that if a show provides the quality delegates and buyers, it makes it worth the trip, but the associated public perception of their company and products can help win hearts and minds of the end users and buyers as well. It’s one reason that you’ll see professional behavior on the part of exhibitors who are seeing young children and teens on a family day, giving them tours and letting them try out the simulators. These may be children or cadets today, but in ten years they will be officers and NCOs.

Romarms and all the small arms factories we spoke with in Romania requested that SADJ come to Romania and go from facility to facility testing the small arms and ammunition. We plan to do so as soon as possible and bring the report to our readers.

TNT Productions has the BSDA show scheduled for April 2012, dates to be determined, but they also are starting a show in Split, Croatia, called the Adriatic Sea Defence & Aerospace exhibition and conference. This is scheduled for 6-8 April 2011, and a significant number of both exhibitors and delegates from different countries told us they would be attending. For more information on ASDA, email at asda@tntexpo.com.

This Puma 330 L helicopter has been upgraded to day/night attack configuration along with modifying the controls and radar. Note what appear to be 57mm UB-16-57UMP rocket pods and NTD Guided Missile modules, as well as the nose gun stinger – a single barrel 20mm.

S.C. Uzina Mecanica Sadu S.A. is a Romanian ammunition manufacturing facility for small arms ammunition. Aside from regular production, there are two items of note: a 9x19mm subsonic round using a heavier projectile, so the round is under the speed of sound without barrel porting in a suppressor like the integral can on the MP5 SD, this is for use with muzzle suppressors, and the new production of 5.45x39mm tracer is offered. (www.umsadu.ro)

U.P.S. Dragomiresti S.A. is a Romanian company making artillery ammunition but they also make Composition B, and can fill liquid smoke rounds. They make 60mm, 81mm, 82mm, and 120mm mortar rounds as well as 23mm, 25mm, 30mm and 35mm ammunition. 23mm ammunition for the Gsh-23 machine cannon is shown, as are the various 40mm rounds including what is apparently the new longer cased 40x74.5mm for the new Romanian AGA-74 Grenade Machine Gun that we have not seen yet. (www.upsdragomiresti.ro)

The New and the Old: SFC Dumitru from the Combat Unit Training School is in his uniform as a modern Romanian Tanker, next to Emil Boboescu from the living history group the Military Traditions Association (www.traditia-militara.ro). Emil is in the uniform of a PFC (Lance Corporal) in the 4th Line Infantry Regiment circa 1859: this was the formation of the Old Kingdom period, where the form of modern Romania originated. They are standing in front of a TR-85M1 Romanian Main Battle Tank with its 100mm rifled main gun, and 7.62x54R PKT coaxial, as well as a manually aimed DShKM 12.7x108mm machine gun on top.

S.C. Carfil S.A. had their normal mortar, SPG-9, and RPG-7 display, with two additions – the new PG-7 EI thermobaric round for the RPG-7 type launcher that has a tremendous impact for a shoulder launched grenade. They have also changed their manufacturing process on the AG-7 (RPG-7V type), deleting the bore chroming process and hardening the steel tube in a different manner. While some factories inform people that the life of an RPG-7 type tube is only 250 rounds, that low round count is not this author’s experience, and the Carfil engineers claim that either chrome lined or the new special heat treated will give a barrel life in the thousands of rounds. (www.carfil.ro)

Lockheed Martin’s Hellfire II; the AGM-114R (Romeo) – it’s not just for Air to Surface anymore. Lockheed Martin had the newest version of the Hellfire on display: one major change is that this one unit handily replaces the four others that are currently offered, and the blast-fragmentation effect of the II is within 10% of the effect of the thermobaric round, and still has its shaped charge and reactive armor capability. The Norwegian Navy is using the earlier model on small watercraft with a Kongsberg type gyro that they made in Norway, as well as a ground tripod the Norwegians are using as a lightweight platform to take the Hellfire with infantry so they aren’t fully dependant on air support. Hellfire II has three different trajectory modes to choose from including a newer method of flying low and hitting 90 degree targets like cave openings or doorways. This new ground capability gives an 8 km range from surface launch. The DAGR kit adapts 2.75inch/70mm rockets to the guided missile technology used in Hellfire, with a 7 km range from sea level launch. This allows lock-on-at-launch or lock-on-after-launch capability in a four rocket pod that mounts up on an aerial platform. As shown in the picture, 8 DAGRs and 3 Hellfires can be mounted. There is talk of adapting the pods to ground mounting which SADJ immediately envisioned mounted on a Humvee, of course. The famous Javelin infantry portable rocket system provides 2.5 km range with tandem shaped charges to defeat reactive armor. (Courtesy Lockheed Martin) (www.lockheedmartin.com)

Otokar is a Turkish vehicle manufacturer and they are working in the U.S. market with AM General. The item of most interest to SADJ was the Cobra vehicle, a 4-wheel drive armored vehicle with anti IED design, good speed, nice cupola for .50 BMG with back and side armor protection for the gunner. The Cobra shares many parts with the Humvee. There are numerous models, but the Cobra can basically achieve 110km/hr highway, 8km/hr in water, and on the armored open turret model shown, seats six comfortably. (www.otokar.com)

IOR is the Romanian optics manufacturing company that recently branched out into night vision, offering good quality variants of most of the West’s ToE as well as some very much improved variations of the Combloc staples such as the IOR LON-4x (shown). The LON-4x is a rugged, 4x night vision weapon sight that provides excellent observation, target acquisition and aiming capabilities. There are a variety of image intensifier tube configurations to fit into a wide array of budgets. IOR also had some thermal imaging in their opto-electronics display but we were unable to gather more information. (www.ior.ro)

Uzina Mecanica Plopeni is another of Romania’s munitions manufacturers that has a midrange as well as artillery program with 20x102mm (M61A1, M39 cannons) (shown) and 23mm, 30mm, and they have added 40x53mm for MK19. Their 25mm program includes Armor Piercing Fin Stabilized Discarding Sabot with Tracer- APFSDS-T 25mm. (www.ump.ro)

Bumar Group from Poland was only showing their opto-electronics but discussing all other programs like the Radwar group. PCO Joint-Stock company makes high quality NV units, and the NVG units SADJ was most impressed with were the PNL-2 and the PNL-3 Aviator’s units. www.bumar.com

S.C. Uzina Mecanica S.A. manufactures the larger caliber machine guns including the modern DShK-M (top), and their new DShK in .50 BMG that they refer to as the “12.7mm MG,” DShK mounts, the 14.5mm KPV and KPVT, as well as the twin barreled 30mm GSh-23mm Aircraft MG (bottom). Their new automatic grenade launcher is called the AGA-74 and uses a new ammunition, the 40x74.5mm, which is new to the planet. AGA-74 range is claimed as 1,550 meters, rate of fire is 380-450rpm from a 10-round drum magazine and operation is select fire. None were on display, and the staff was not interested in discussing at this point. They manufacture small arms calibers as well as 12.7x108mm, and 14.5x114mm, including the B32 and BZT rounds. They also have hand belt loading devices for the DShK, KPV and now for the YAK-B (right). We noted their new 9x19mm submachine gun is a Kalashnikov type action, but could not get hands-on with it nor with their Model 2000 9x19mm pistol. (www.umcugir.ro)

Sig Sauer Model 741 rifle.

German Sport Guns
Following the success of the GSG-5, German Sport Guns announced the release of a new .22 caliber pistol. Available in 5 variants, the GSG-1911 is a dimensionally accurate to a full sized 1911 pistol. The five variants include target, tactical, standard, and a fancy presentation model. Retail price is expected to be approximately $400. In addition to the complete pistols, German Sport Guns also displayed a .22 LR conversion for shooters with an existing 1911 frame.

The lawsuit with Heckler and Koch over the GSG-5 has reportedly been settled, with minor cosmetic changes made to the (former) GSG-5. Now named the GSG-522, the changes to the family of firearms are minimal and cosmetic in nature. Additional information may be found online at http://www.gsg-waffen.de.

Tula Ammunition
Tula Cartridge Works of Russia displayed a cute 5.45×18 cartridge, reportedly for training and sport shooting. The design appears to be a combination of a 9mmx18 cartridge, necked down to accept a 5.45mm projectile. According to press material released by Tula, the projectile features a 40-grain projectile, moving at 1,050 feet per second. No information was available about pistols or carbines chambered to fire the cartridge.

SADJ Senior Editor Robert Segel, with Brugger and Thomet Model TSP A1 carbine.

Brügger and Thomet MP9
Brügger and Thomet displayed an updated version of the MP9 9mm SMG, and a newly released .45 ACP version. Initial reports indicate that the newly issued .45 ACP SMG may be issued to a (yet unnamed) police agency for daily use.

The firing system is a blow back design, with light recoil. Designed to be ambidextrous, the safety, charging handle, sling attachment and magazine release functions are designed to allow left or right handed operation. Measuring 30 cm with the stock folded, and 52 cm with the stock extended, the system is smaller and more compact than a Heckler and Koch MP5A3 SMG.

B&T 40mm Reload System
Recognizing the high cost of 40mm training ammunition, Brügger and Thomet displayed a field portable 40mm reload system. With the system, 40mm foam training rounds may be reloaded quickly and easily for re-use by replacing the .38 caliber blank cartridge used to propel the foam projectile, and reseating the foam projectile. Independent tests show that the foam projectiles can be reused as many as fifty times before replacement. For a law enforcement agency on a budget, the system may prove to be an efficient use of budgetary funds while also allowing practical training with the 40mm system.

New AR-15/M16 locking mechanism from Schmeisser.

Schmeisser
Schmeisser has returned to the market after an extended absence. While at the show, Schmeisser promoted a new weapon lock, designed to render an AR-15/M16 type rifle inoperable. Utilizing the magazine well, the lock fits up and into the chamber of the rifle, while concurrently locking the bolt to the rear. Upon locking the mechanism, a bolt extends forward into the chamber. In this manner, the bolt is locked to the rear (preventing the weapon from being easily taken apart) while also preventing a magazine from being inserted, and ensuring that the chamber is clear. As of press time, no pricing information was available.

Zestava Model LK M808 precision rifle. Reportedly capable of sub-MOA accuracy, the rifle is available in sport models or law enforcement models.

Zestava Arms
Zestava displayed the new Hawkeye M07 bolt action rifle, chambered in .308 Winchester. Built on a Mauser type action, the rifle is reportedly capable of sub-MOA accuracy. As the IWA show is a sport-themed show, the rifle displayed was dressed as a sport rifle, but Zestava representatives indicated that the rifle is fully capable as for use in the designated marksman role. Weighing 5.4 kilograms, with a muzzle velocity of 840 meters per second, the rifle is well suited for both civilian and military roles.

IWA 2010 was a great success, and offered a glimpse into the European firearms markets. The 2011 show is scheduled for March 11 – 14, 2011. Additional information regarding the show can be found at www.iwa.info.

As the debate started in the early 2000s, the direct gas versus piston debate heated leading several companies to introduce piston operated 5.56mm rifles. One of the pioneers was LWRC, Inc. (LWRCI) who was primarily a research and development company. In 2008, essentially all assets of LWRC Inc. were bought Richard Bernstein whom is well known on the Eastern Shore of Maryland for his many companies which are all defense related. This includes L3’s BAI Aerosystems, and Matech, Inc. LWRCI has had their weapons in the field for refinement and fine-tuning for more than a decade. But that was 5.56mm and 6.8mm SPC. LWRCI has picked up the torch, gone into full fledged manufacturing, and has expanded their line of products to include a 7.62mm rifle that has taken many years to design and refine. Initially the project was spurred by the promise of an open competition by the U.S. Marine Corps for a new semiautomatic sniper rifle, but to date, that has not surfaced.

The REPR (Rapid Engagement Precision Rifle) is a 7.62mm rifle that utilizes the LWRCI short stroke tappet piston system. Like other piston-operated rifles, the REPR uses a free-floating configurable handguard/rail system. One of the common criticisms of piston systems is that the operating rod is attached to the barrel assembly/gas block, which in many designs affects the natural harmonics of the barrel. Now how much that affects accuracy with the REPR will have to be seen at the range. LWRCI’s reason for utilizing the piston system not only revolved around their mantra of a cleaner, cooler more reliable operating system, but they felt it was essential to provide reliability with the shorter barreled versions of the REPR. The barrels can be had in 12-inch (light), 16-inch (light and heavy), 18-inch (heavy) and 20 inches (heavy). Depending on the need, you can have a lightweight carbine, a battle rifle or a sniper rifle configuration.
The REPR system was designed around the needs of a Special Operations Sniper/Assaulter. Sniper/Assaulters deploy with their Special Operations Assaulter teams taking down high value targets be they buildings, encampments or vehicles. Typically the Sniper/Assaulter provides infiltration cover, exfiltration cover and security for the team and target area. To date, the Sniper Assaulters have used either the venerable SR-25 or M110. Most carry a primary weapon as well – typically an M4 or a 10.3-inch barreled MK18 Mod0 5.56mm Carbine. They do this because the M110 and its mounted optic are not ideal for the job of clearing buildings, alleys, and rooms to get to their overwatch position. Sniper rifles usually have long heavy barrels making the system difficult to operate through tight quarters. This is exaggerated when a sound suppressor is in place making the system even longer.

LWRCI envisioned a system that takes advantage of the modularity of the Stoner design. Just push two pins to change the upper, and you have a completely different tool for the job at hand, complete with zeroed optics appropriate for the mission. With the REPR, the Sniper/Assaulter carries one primary weapon, one caliber of ammunition, and does not have to carry two types of magazines. A typical load out might be a 12 inch Assaulter REPR upper with an Aimpoint or EOTech 1X sight. On his back in a courier type tactical case a 20-inch complete with magnified illuminated optics. The 12.7-inch is short enough for CQB, even with a sound suppressor in place and is effective to 400 meters. Once in overwatch position, the upper can be changed out in 20 seconds extending the effective range of the Sniper/Assaulter to 800 meters. The short stroke gas piston allows the uppers to be swapped without changing the buffer or buffer spring ensuring the gun is reliable regardless of what size upper is used. LWRCI claimed they were looking for a rifle that acted like a sniper rifle, but was required to have the durability and reliability of an assault rifle.

One such technology was the adoption of a precision manufactured cold rotary hammer forged barrel. This is a solid departure from most of the other precision semi-auto rifles manufactured in North America. Hammer forging is much more common in Europe, and has not yet been accepted here in anything other than machine guns or assault rifles. Colt Canada (formerly Diemaco) has been using the process since the mid1980s in their C7 and C8 series rifles and carbines. Hammer forging forms the cold metal over a precision mandrel that has the reverse image of the rifling by use of high tonnage rotary hammers. The rifling is imprinted into the bore much like the heads and tails image of a coin is imprinted from a die under high pressure. This work hardens the steel and gives the barrel a much longer service life.

Generally, sniper rifle barrels are unlined precision cut rifled barrels in stainless steel alloy to ensure consistency and precision of the rifling. This provides an accurate barrel, but with one major trade off: life expectancy. A good stainless cut barrel may only last 2,000 rounds before the accuracy degrades. This would not be acceptable for LWRCI’s REPR due to its dual role as a battle rifle. LWRCI knew the major factors in accuracy are consistency of the bore diameter; lack of took marks or chatter in the bore, concentricity of the bore to the outside diameter of the barrel, a perfect crown, clean consistent rifling, concentricity of the chamber to the bore, and lack of structural stresses that might be present in the barrel. Their hammer forging process and finish machining create a very clean barrel devoid of the accuracy robbing problems stated above. Plating the bore with chrome does protect the bore but it is inconsistent in its application, and ruins the work you did to perfect the bore. Instead of plating the barrel with chrome, they developed a process they call NiCorr. NiCorr converts the surface of the material – case hardening it to a depth of 0.005 inch and turning it a lustrous black. They do this inside and out of the barrel. The black finish is from carbon being brought to the surface of the material in the NiCorr process. This same process is used to extend the life and sharpness of metal cutting and machining tools. The barrels are submerged and treated in molten salts followed by a quench and polish process. The temperature of the process is regulated to ensure the case hardening of the barrel while at the same time stress relieving the barrel. Just like heating up a spring until it is no longer springy, the stress relief process prevents the barrel from wanting to shift in one direction when firing the weapon and heating up the barrel. LWRCI claims NiCorr is harder than chrome, has a lower co-efficient of friction, more resistant to heat and does not interfere with the previous work of creating a perfect bore.

The gas piston system removed from the REPR.

Historically the U.S. military would never accept an M16/M4 barrel that was hammer forged even when Colt offered. The U.S. government believes the sharpness of the leading edge of the lands cannot be duplicated in a hammer forge and that the sharp leading edge was critical to accuracy. Some claim the hammer forged barrels last longer and others say the button cut barrel is more accurate. This debate will reconvene for me on the range and be settled one way or another. As there are several technologies present here I have not seen used in combination, I will let the performance of the rifle decide.

LWRCI claims they configured their rifle to meet the requirements of its intended mission and make it as comfortable and ergonomic as possible. They threw out the traditional top rear mounted T shaped charging handle common to Stoner rifles in place of a left side mounted non-reciprocating charging handle with integral forward assist. The reasons cited were three fold. The users required the ability to operate the charging handle without breaking their cheek weld or eyes on target through the optic. If the weapon were to malfunction after a miss, or fail to fire, the valuable seconds required to clear or re-charge the weapon and regain your target in the reticle could be the difference between mission success and failure. They also have a gas shut off on their gas regulator allowing the use of the rifle and charging handle as a straight pull bolt gun. If a sniper was taking a long shot and did not want to leave brass on the battlefield, or when employing subsonic ammunition and a suppressor might prompt its use as a straight pull bolt gun to ensure elimination of any noise from the action. Since Sniper/Assaulters would run the REPR, there is a good chance a sound suppressor would be in use much of the time. The top-charging handle of the Stoner rifles allows a space for gas to escape directly into the shooters face when a suppressor is used. The side charger allowed LWRCI to close off this gap and eliminate AR gas to the eye altogether.

The side charger along with other minor configuration differences took some getting used to, but once it took it was clear LWRCI was on to something. The side charger was easier to manipulate than the standard. Eye relief requirements of powerful optics often cause the optic to overhang the top-charging handle of the M110 making the charging handle difficult to manipulate. LWRCI’s left sided charging handle fixes that annoyance as well. The handle has a forward bolt assist built into it eliminating the right side AR button style forward assist. Pulling back the handle, pressing the handle inward toward the receiver engages the bolt carrier allowing it to be forced forward and closed. The charging handle configuration has also changed the practicality of other operating controls like the bolt catch. Yes, there is still a standard bolt catch in the standard location, but they added another bolt catch to the right side operated by the trigger finger. This makes engaging and releasing the bolt catch very fluid while manipulating the charging handle.
When LWRCI started the REPR project, they went through several iterations; the first being the SABR, or Sniper Assaulter Battle Rifle. They felt the SABR needed to lose some weight, improve in the ergonomics department, and had to be user configurable. They also sought to strengthen and elongate the interface between the barrel and the receiver to limit flex between these assemblies. The stiffer interface would also limit some of the point of impact shift that can occur when a sound suppressor is installed. The threaded front receiver extension was extended almost twice the size that of an AR-10 pattern. They created a new barrel nut that was also very long, and pulled double duty as the handguard/rail mount providing perfect alignment with the receiver. The rail itself is a free float design with a removable top with an integral Mil-Std-1913 rail that is designed to allow access to the piston system and return to zero once reinstalled. The 3, 6, and 9 o’clock rails are user configurable. You only need to install the length of rail you need in a particular location for the accessory you need. This makes the handguard/rail very comfortable, low profile, and cuts unneeded weight.