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.

“Utterly useless!”  So wrote a frustrated U.S. Army Captain in a letter to the Chief of Ordnance of the United States Army in late 1916, requesting to exchange his Automatic Machine Rifle, Model of 1909 light machine guns for the new Lewis gun.  “We have been using these guns for four years and have never been able to get more than two shots out of any of the guns without a jam.”

The Hotchkiss Model 1909 as made in France by the Hotchkiss Company was known on the European Continent as the Hotchkiss Mle 1909.  Copied and made in the United States, it was designated as the Automatic Machine Rifle, Caliber .30, Model of 1909, or colloquially as the “Benét-Mercié” after the two men at Hotchkiss responsible for its development.  The gun had a cyclic rate of fire of about 400 rounds per minute with an actual deliverable rate of fire of about 150 rounds per minute.

Laurence Benét was an American engineer who worked for the Hotchkiss Company in Paris, France.  He, along with another Hotchkiss engineer name Henri Mercié, collaborated to develop an air cooled, gas operated, light weight machine rifle based on the Hotchkiss Mle 1900 and Mle 1907 heavy machine gun design.  The Mle 1909 differed from these heavy machine guns in that it weighed just 30 pounds and was fitted with a wooden stock with elevation gear and a bipod.  The main modifications mechanically were the means by which the breech closed and changing the feedway from the left to right side of the gun and redesigning the feed mechanism to accept the horizontal 30-shot feed strip with the cartridges held on the underside of the feed strip rather than resting on top of the feed strip.  Being a simply designed gun reduced the number of parts of the gun to just twenty five.  Located in the forward part of the receiver directly behind the breech is a cylindrical device known as the fermature nut.  The function of the fermature nut is to lock the breech closed before firing and unlocking when the gas pressure has dropped to a safe level.  A unique aspect of this gun is that it is capable of changing barrels quickly.  When the gun was used in sustained fire the barrel would get very hot.  The barrel can be removed and a cool barrel replaced in a very short period of time.

U.S. Model of 1909 mounted on an Indian motorcycle.

In 1909, the French Army adopted the Hotchkiss Mle 1909 gun chambered in their 8mm Lebel cartridge.  It was also manufactured in Great Britain by Hotchkiss and was adopted by the British and designated as the Hotchkiss Mk I and Mk II Portable chambered in .303 caliber.  (The Mk I had a wooden stock and was strip fed, while the Mk II was the tank or cavalry version with a removable straight metal stock and could use a strip or a special articulated metal belt.) Also in 1909, the United States adopted it as the standard U.S. machine gun chambered for the .30-06 cartridge and, after a lengthy set of trials, an order was placed by the U.S. Army with the Hotchkiss Company for 29 guns.  Funding was so tight in those days that that was all the Army could afford to buy.  However, the rights to manufacture the gun in the United States were secured and the Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company and the Springfield Armory were contracted to produce the Hotchkiss as the Automatic Machine Rifle Model of 1909.  A discernable difference between the two manufacturers is that the Colt has a smooth barrel in front of the cooling fins whereas the Springfield Armory has sharp-point checkering around the barrel in front of the cooling fins – presumably to assist in better gripping during barrel changes.  It has been reported that both manufacturers combined produced a grand total of 670 guns.  However, higher serial numbers have been encountered (one, a Colt in the 900 range with Navy markings) so more were clearly made and it is possible the 670 number applies to those purchased by the U.S. Army rather than the number produced; as one source notes that another 400 were made for the U.S. Navy and Marines.  Unfortunately, production records have not been encountered to determine if the serial numbers from each manufacturer were mixed, or if each manufacturer started with 001.

The stock of the Model 1909 is made of well-seasoned black walnut, cut down in front so as not to interfere with the sighting and a pistol grip.  On the upper end of the butt plate is a long tang for supporting the weight of the weapon on the shoulder when firing without the elevating mechanism.

The Model 1909 had a unique rear monopod elevation system that fits into the rear of the wood butt stock and employs a double elevation screw and a foot plate that slides on a bar attached to the elevation screw.  When in the closed position, the elevation screws screwed up into the buttstock and the foot plate rotated along the axis of the gun and locked into place with a metal catch.  When the foot plate was unlatched, the elevation screw could be extended by an elevation wheel.  When the desired height was obtained, the elevation wheel could be locked into position and the foot plate rotated to be perpendicular to the axis of the gun.

The Warner & Swasey Model of 1908 telescopic musket sight mounted on the left side of the Automatic Machine Rifle Model of 1909.

The gun was also fitted with a bipod that is attached underneath the front sight barrel band.  The bipod is rather flimsy and an often field expedient solution to help prevent the bipod from collapsing was to run a length of leather strip from one front leg through the trigger guard and back to the other side front leg.  The legs can be folded back and secured to the hand guard during transportation.

The front sight for the Model of 1909 consisted of a thin blade slightly beveled to the front, and on each side is cut a circular groove to better define the sight proper.  The lower portion has a dovetailed lug and engages the dovetail groove of the front-sight carrier allowing for adjustment for deflection.  The front sight is protected by a hood.

The rear sight was an adjustable leaf that is graduated from 0 to 2,800 yards.  The drift slide moves forward and back on the leaf and on the top is small open sight.  There is also a circular aperture disk containing five sight openings: four peepholes, 0.04, 0.06, 0.08 and 0.10 inch in diameter, and one large aperture which contains an open sight.  The entire rear sight in on a movable base that by turning the windage correction knob moves the base left or right for windage corrections.  There is a scale on the base with wind-gauge graduations, each point of which corresponds to a lateral deviation of 4 inches for each 100 yards.

The Model of 1909 “Benét-Mercié” was issued for service with the Model of 1908 Warner & Swasey telescopic musket sight, which was originally used for sharpshooter use with the Model of 1903 Springfield rifle.  The sight was mounted on a dovetail bracket on the left side of the receiver rather than directly above the centerline of the weapon.  The rationale behind this was that the barrel heated up during firing and produced heat mirages that distorted the sight picture.  Mounting on the side of the receiver enabled the firer to avoid the heat mirage and keep proper target acquisition.  The sight also aided in target recognition and allowed the gunner to observe his strikes.  The sight is 6-power and has a field of 4 1/2 degrees.  The glass reticule is etched with vertical and horizontal cross lines and a stadia line, the latter being so placed that it spans the height (5 feet 8 inches) of an average man standing at a distance of 1,000 yards.  Located on the top of the telescopic sight is a wind and range table and drift table.

Since 2006 there has been a small but efficacious little defense show held in Fayetteville, NC, home of Fort Bragg and the U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC).  The SpecOps East Warfighter Expo, held congruently this year with the Special Operations Symposium at Fayetteville’s Crown Convention Center, brought fifty-five defense industry exhibitors under the same roof as troops, representing the “tip of the spear” in the current global struggle against terrorism providing for an ideal environment of casual networking without the chaos or crowds of a larger venue like the SHOT Show.

Present and Accounted For
With fifty-five vendors in a show designed to cover the entire array of Special Operations mission sets, it was pleasing to find that the small arms industry had some visibility.  Some of the big players like Colt and FNH were no shows, but the time was redeemed well with industry regulars like Sabre Defence, Rock River Arms, and Glock as well as some less familiar faces who were showing some impressive products.

~~~Eye-Catching ARs in the Hall~~~

Sabre Defence
Sabre’s exhibit was eye catching this year with guns on the table that just weren’t quite the same as the ones I had seen in the past.  Those who are familiar with Sabre Defence will recall that not only are they one of the number of manufacturers of AR-15 type platforms, but they are the only “small” privately held company to hold DoD contracts for M16 rifles and they even produce barrels for the M2 .50 cal. “Ma Deuce” on government contract.  They produce quality products.

Sabre Defence showcased some impressive systems at SpecOps East to include the Sabre Gas Piston Rifle (top) and the company’s 6.5mm Grendel Squad Designated Marksman Rifle (center).

So what was on the table out of the AR norm? First, the Sabre Defence Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) chambered for the 6.5 Grendel cartridge.  It’s no surprise to see such a configuration, as Sabre’s Dave Power explained to me, since Sabre is a barrel supplier to Alexander Arms, the flagship company of Bill Alexander, the father of the 6.5 Grendel round.  The rifle itself is in its first year and is available in barrel lengths of 14.5, 18, and 24 inches.  The twist rate is 1 in 7.5 inches and the barrel itself is chrome lined in typical Sabre fashion.  The system has some undeniable potential.  6.5 Grendel itself is supersonic out to 1,000 yards in some loads and platform configurations, and is a notoriously flat shooter.  Only time will tell just how this system is received.  Rumor has it that it saw some use in the USASOC/JSSOC sponsored shooting match held recently but details are not forthcoming.

As Dave Power discussed the DMR, two business partners from Adams Arms, James Granger and Aloysius Donovan approached eager to show the Adams Arms joint venture with Sabre Defence: the Sabre Gas Piston Rifle.  The platform is much like what any industry regular would expect, a gas piston solution to the problems encountered in a standard AR type direct impingement (DI) operating system (an alternative M4 type operating system).  Having been exposed to quite a few piston operated AR based platforms in recent years it’s quite easy to follow the evolution taking place in the designs and separate the well thought out products from those that are immature, or problems waiting to happen.  As explained to me by James Granger, the Sabre/Adams system bears the trademarks of engineering, testing, and design work that one would expect to see in a half decade after the type appeared on the scene, taking into account the different obstacles and problems known to be common in piston designs and incorporating material solutions to counteract them.  Some notable operating features include:

1. A one piece bolt carrier that contains relief cuts for stress reduction and specially designed rear carrier to combat the vaunted bolt cant/tilt issue.
2. Ion bonded and blown finish on the operating rod, bolt group, and upper receiver for sustainable durability and operability.
3. Mechanical actuation feature (gas cut off) for single shot operation.
4. Gas escape between the plug and sleeve that pushes gas away from the operator and gas flow cycle that reduces thermal wash out under NVGs and low light conditions.
5. Precise engineering of moving parts based on the range of motion of the piston meant to alleviate unnecessary stresses from competing physical motions inside the weapon.
6. Free floating gas piston negating the harmonic effects on the barrel caused by the function of the operating system.

The Sabre Gas Piston Rifle is currently intended for more than commercial success; Dave Power acknowledged the system is in fact the current Sabre/Adams vision for the Army’s M4 Improvement Program and the up and coming Carbine solicitation.  It is wise to keep a close eye on this system and product.  The Sabre Gas Piston Rifle is a unique “from scratch” design and a joint venture between Sabre Defence and Adams Arms.  It should not be confused with other piston upgrades available from Adams Arms.

James Granger of Adams Arms explains the operating mechanism on the Sabre Gas Piston Rifle. The Adams Arms’ free floating piston is designed to negate effects of piston movement on barrel harmonics while providing reliable operation and simplistic take-down.

Rock River Arms
Mark Hanssen at the Rock River Arms (RRA) table bore an air of enthusiasm that was quite uplifting; he was speaking while holding RRA’s new rifle before a crowd of interested Special Forces attendees.  What is it called?  For now it seems to simply be “Prototype Rifle #01”.  This gun is a serious departure from the conventional AR.  It is small, compact, and has a side folding stock.  The charging handle is ambidextrous and moved to the forward part of the weapon over the barrel.  As for the buffer tube, well, there isn’t one.  This gun would make a great PDW or compact carbine once proven – the size-to-performance ratio being achieved through several departures from conventional AR designs as follows:

An easy access piston operating system; the operating rod being integral to the bolt carrier.  Another appropriate name for the operating rod would be “operating chunk of thick sturdy metal.”

A redesigned recoil spring.  The new spring looks familiar in concept to other firearms, but is radically different than the typical AR buffer spring.  It is fully contained in the upper receiver and allows for elimination of the buffer tube all together allowing the use of a side folding stocks: a handy thing to have where a compact individual weapon provides a useful platform in vehicle and Airborne operations, MOUT/FIBUA, cave/tunnel clearing, along with a myriad of other uses that require the improved ergonomics that come with a small package.

Rock River’s prototype features a forward ambidextrous charging handle located over the barrel of the weapon system which operates independently from the standard rear AR-15 type charging handle (which has been retained in the design). The dual charging handle design will help prevent muscle memory mishaps from veterans institutionalized on the standard AR platform.

A shortened bolt carrier.  This is a reminder of the old ZM design and is necessary to achieve buffer tube elimination.  This comes with a classic problem however; how do you trip the auto sear with a bolt group that is half the length?  Currently you don’t, but that doesn’t mean this nut won’t be cracked.

There is no real performance data on RRA’s new gun as of yet and I speculate the verdict will not be out for some time.  One thing is certain, it is refreshing to walk even the smaller shows and see the flurry of innovation that is occurring in the area of individual weapons.  It’s not just the big kids of the small arms industrial base that are bringing new concepts and designs to fruition.  Prototypes are appearing here and abroad in what seems to be record numbers; a sign of a healthy industry and of governments that are recognizing it is time to turn a page and bring new hardware into service.  As for the American market, the U.S. Army Carbine solicitation we’re all waiting for should make for some tough competition.

~~~~~~~Other than ARs~~~~~~~ 

Glock, Inc.
Glock was in attendance with the highly publicized “Gen4” model.  Touted in a number of publications quite a bit lately, but as Glock’s Tony Musa put it, “these are the most changes to a Glock in a really long time,” which in itself merits that it be readdressed.  Gen4 is nice; fired earlier this year at SHOT Show, it handled well and the claimed improvements in my opinion are realized.  There is no secret to the reengineering to the platform, the most radical of which is the redesigned dual recoil spring which produces a 10% reduction in felt recoil, but also your industry standard features such as interchangeable back straps and a true fully reversible/ambidextrous magazine release lever.  There are a couple of things that should be noted: the Gen4’s dual recoil assembly is not interchangeable with any other pre-Gen4 Glocks.  Furthermore, the laws of physics just won’t allow the previous generation Glock magazine to interchange in the Gen4 frame when configured for a left side magazine release as the mag body does not possess the magazine catch on the left side like the Gen4 upgrade (righties are in the clear).  This all said, most interesting is the Gen4’s extended life cycle claims as they do not stem solely from the dual recoil spring assembly as Musa explained; the small springs in the gun have also been “revamped” for improved life expectancy and durability.  This is all pretty impressive for a legacy firearm that possesses such a record for longevity and by this time next year I expect some end-users will have put the Gen4 to the test and there will be plenty of data to sift.

Peak Beam
Whenever one thinks of weapon lights, names like Surefire, First Light, and Stream Light come to mind, but Peak Beam was a new one and needed investigation.  Peak Beam’s Maxa Beam MBPKG-WM-AX3S CSWL is their flagship product and is designed to answer the need in the critical area of crew served weapon lights, particularly for the M2 .50 cal. machine gun.  Weighing in at 4.5 pounds and requiring a power supply with a NATO slave receptacle or two BA5590 lithium rechargeable batteries (as used in the ASIP radio) this ruggedized system may not be the right choice for the M4 MWS, but has all the features needed for a weapon light small enough yet powerful enough to exploit the potency of a crew served weapon like the M2 BMG.

The current CSWL is a Gen II development of the original Maxa Beam CSWL and has been enhanced to meet certain requirements established by the U.S. Army.  The system utilizes the standard M1913 Picatinny type rail mount adapter and must be coupled with the MBA-ATSSMKVIII rail adapter for the M2 machine gun.  Other standard features include a lockable IR Filter, shock-resistant lens and lamp (1,500 hours service life), and a control toggle that allows for full off/on mode operator control.  The lamp itself is powerful and you would certainly not want to look straight at the beam as the system is capable of generating 12,000,000 candle power with a white light visibility out to 3,500 meters (1,400 IR).  Furthermore, this light will grab the attention of just about anyone with its strobing feature, which gives the operator the ability to use the CSWL as a non-lethal visual device and hopefully dissuade the complacent war zone civilian from inadvertently driving up too close to the business end of a light bearing M2.

The End State
Lodestar’s SPECOPS East show may not be very large as shows go, and certainly not an all out small arms expo, but it has merits as a tiny venue that serves the warfighter first and foremost.  Any military or industry personnel that can make it down to Fort Bragg for the event might well consider it as a premier venue that hosts the very best audience our country can furnish in an atmosphere that is conducive to one-on-one relationship building.

Note: This article is a continuation of Guns & Gear of the U.S. Navy’s Riverine Forces, which originally appeared in Volume 2, Number 3 of SADJ.

The twelve men of a Riverine Security Team (RST) are the detachment’s landing force, Sailors who go ashore primarily for reconnaissance but also a variety of other “muddy boots missions.”  The team is often augmented by an Intelligence Specialist for information collection and a Hospital Corpsman for medical support.

New RSTs receive initial training in the same basic skill sets as boat crewmen, including Expeditionary Combat and Riverine Combat.  This is followed by several weeks of specialized Security Team instruction before assignment to a detachment.

After coming aboard, their Advanced Unit Level Training is heavy on mastery of individual weapons including fast transition from carbine to pistol.  They learn to effectively engage moving targets, provide supporting fire as a unit, fire and maneuver, and utilize signaling devices such as smoke grenades and pop flares.

Battle drills training consists of small unit maneuver tactics and patrolling formations, insertions and extractions both hot (under fire) and cold, as well as verbal and non-verbal communications with supporting watercraft.  AMOUT (Advanced Movement in Urban Terrain) is also emphasized where RSTs learn techniques for patrolling in villages and towns, how to conduct two and four man room entries, and defensive strong pointing of buildings.

RSTs are well armed with a variety of standard U.S. military small arms that allow a fast and furious response to situations both likely and unexpected.  As with Riverine boat crewmen, they carry both the 9mm Beretta M9 semiautomatic pistol and the 5.56mm Colt M4 series selective fire assault carbine.

These flattop M4s feature adjustable telescoping buttstocks and are topped with Aimpoint no-magnification red dot reflex sights or Trijicon ACOG 4 power day scopes.  The carbine’s Rail Accessory System forearm carries the AN/PEQ-15 laser aiming device with its pressure switch usually taped on a detachable vertical foregrip.  A visible beam tactical light is optional for selected missions.

There are six Riverines on each of the detachment’s two fire teams, consisting of a patrol leader, grenadier, machine gunner, and three riflemen.  Grenadiers have single shot 40mm M203 grenade launchers clamped under their M4s and the machine gunner is formidably armed with the 7.62mm belt-fed FN MK 48.  12 gauge Mossberg M500 pump shotguns are carried when needed for door breaching and room clearing.

Depending on the specific mission, a team member who has undergone additional specialized training in long range precision shooting with the powerful 7.62mm M14 rifle may perform as a Designated Marksman.  Additional duties for selected RSTs include Navigator, Communicator (radio operator) and JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) who skillfully directs the awesome firepower of attack aircraft or artillery.

10 April 2009, Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. A modern version of the classic Gatling Gun from the 1860s, this six barrel Minigun is ready to go with linked 7.62mm ammunition seen in the flexible feed chute and sturdy electrical cables for its drive motor plugged into the boat’s 24 volt DC system. Riverines we talked with had good things to say about the GAU-17’s reliability now that they are equipped with the Dillon Aero feeder-delinker. Note the AN/PEQ-15 ATPIAL laser mounted on top. (Robert Bruce)

RSTs also receive training on all of the boat-mounted crew served weapons so they will be able to effectively man the guns in the event a designated gunner is out of action.  They become proficient in the use of Combat Rubber Raiding Craft (Zodiacs) for stealthy waterborne insertions and extractions.  They provide impressive supplementary firepower to ground convoys as well as strengthening defense and security of the detachment‘s landside base of operations.

The Art and Science of Hot Extractions
A week after our first meeting we caught up with Det 1 at the U.S. Army’s Fort A. P. Hill, about 235 miles to the north of Lejeune and a conveniently short duration vehicle convoy just 75 miles northwest of the unit’s home base at Yorktown Naval Weapons Station, Virginia.  Yorktown-based defense contractor ITA International was advancing the detachment’s training evolution at Lejeune with some intensive practical exercises for the Riverines in live fire from multiple boats maneuvering at White’s Lake Tactical Raft Training Site.

Lieutenant (JG) William Ashley, Detachment 1’s serious but personable OIC, explained that ever since coming out of Iraq in December 2008, his unit has been in the post-deployment/pre-deployment training cycle, gearing up for its next assignment.

Now, building on extensive static landside shooting of crew served weapons and small arms, as well as preparatory weapons training while underway, it was time to move up to waterborne ops with boats moving and shooting in confined space.  White’s Lake multipurpose range, Ashley said, adequately supports some typical riverine fire and maneuver missions, in this case insertions and “hot extractions” of Riverine Security Teams.

10 April 2009, Fort A.P. Hill, Virginia. Like most of these versatile carbines in the detachment, Lubrani’s flattop M4 carries a 4 power Trijicon ACOG day sight and PEQ-15 laser with pressure switch taped to a grip on the forearm rails. The ACOG gives excellent accuracy in day shooting and the infrared laser is spot-on for night use with PVS-14 NVGs. (Robert Bruce)

“They’ll be inserting an RST, about six guys, into the woods,” Ashley explained.  “They’ll be doing their maneuvers while the boats are shadowing them.  The RST will take (simulated) contact, start firing and make their way back towards the lakeside/river.  As they mark their flanks the boats will engage their contacts at the same time they’re moving in to extract the ground team.  And as they ‘exfil’ (exfiltrate) the area, they’ll be engaging the targets.  We’ll be doing that in several iterations with different crew swaps.”

Because each boat has two crews and the RST has two separate fire teams, there was plenty of time to observe preparations and conduct of this flexibly choreographed live fire training.  We also had time to interview an RST member under the watchful eye of Lieutenant (JG) Jeremy Baer, Assistant OIC of Det 1, RIVRON THREE.

Don’t Get Off The Boat?
John Paul “JP” Lubrani, Hull Technician 2 (EXW) is a native of Venice Beach, Los Angeles, CA.  He’s 31 years old with seven and a half years in the Navy, the last two in Detachment 1.  He started as a boat crewman and then began working with the RST while on deployment to Iraq.  JP said that he is one of the first to be dual qualified for both boat crew and RST, where he is the assistant JTAC (Joint Terminal Attack Controller) in training.  His awards include the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal and the Expeditionary Warfare pin.

SADJ:  You were originally a gunner on a Riverine boat and then volunteered for RST.  Didn’t you see the movie Apocalypse Now and know not to get off the boat?

Lubrani:  (laughs) ‘Chef – never get off the boat!’

SADJ:  You joined the Navy soon after the terrorist attacks of 9-11-01.  Is this why you enlisted?  

Lubrani:  I had a daughter and I wanted to join for her.  I didn’t want anyone else to fight my fight.  It was up to me.  I spent about five years in the LCAC (Landing Craft Air Cushion) community then asked for assignment to Riverine because it sounded like it was something above and beyond what I was currently doing.  I wanted to see if I could push myself to those limitations.

SADJ:  Has this assignment lived up to your expectations?

Lubrani:  Yes it has, 110 percent.  It’s physically demanding, mentally demanding, very challenging all around.  Every time you complete something they set a new standard, a new bar that you’ve got to try to achieve so we keep rising.

SADJ:  How are the living conditions in a Riverine unit?  No snack bar, you don’t get movies on the boat at night or a lot of hot chow.

Lubrani:  No we don’t.  Not big fans of MREs (Meals Ready to Eat) but we do eat ‘em quite a lot.  We keep ourselves entertained.  We have camaraderie and that goes a long way….  There’s a brotherhood in being a Riverine: we’re a very tight knit.  There’s roughly about three hundred of us in the squadron, broken down into three dets (detachments), about sixty people per det and a command element.  Within that det we’re very, very close.  Most of us know each others families, we get together quite often for barbecues, hanging out, birthday parties for our children, so it’s very tight knit.

11 July 2008, Rawah, Iraq. US Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Shawn Sass performs a biometrics scan on a fisherman the Riverine Security Team from RIVRON THREE encountered on the Watah Peninsula. The scan is unique to each individual and will be entered in a census database to improve security and deter insurgent activity. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Seth Maggard)

SADJ:  Are you personally interested in firearms and shooting?

Lubrani:  Absolutely.  But believe it or not coming from Los Angeles, I had never even held a weapon before I joined the military.  It made me nervous at first when you’ve got to do your qualifications.  But now, with the Riverines, I actually qualified as an Expert shooter with both the pistol and rifle so I think I’ve come a long way.  I’m a lot more comfortable around guns than when I first began.  They’re a necessity.  It’s a hard life out there sometime the way the world’s changing and I definitely think they’re a necessity.

SADJ:  Any personal firearms?

Lubrani:  A Springfield XD in .40 S&W caliber.  I wanted something a little more than a nine mil.  My wife’s in the Navy as well and she’s used to the Beretta (M9).  When we went to the range I taught her how to use the Beretta very well but I wanted something just a little more powerful for home protection.  The XD’s a gun she felt comfortable with.  No other weapons.  We’ve got four children so money’s kind of tight.

SADJ:  What formal schools and subsequent training have you received for your duties on the RST?

Lubrani:  Our initial training was at Blackwater USA (security company in Moyoc, NC), a few weeks there that covered small arms, rifle, a little bit of CQB (Close Quarter Battle), and combat first aid.  Then we deployed to Iraq.  When we came back we went through another course at the Chesapeake Annex with land warfare and a little bit of land navigation, taught by ITA.

SADJ:  Do you believe you’ve had adequate training time?

Lubrani:  Absolutely, we spend a good portion of the year just training, not only in an environment like this (AP Hill) but also self sustained training.  We have qualified guys within our own detachment to run ranges and things like that and we’ve got plenty of ammunition.

SADJ:  How about computer simulators?

Lubrani:  We’ve used those at Camp Lejeune.  We all went through SOI (USMC School of Infantry) when the command was first established.

SADJ:  Night training with NVGs?

Lubrani:  Absolutely, we spend a lot of time training with NVGs (PVS-14 Monocular Night Vision Goggle) not only on the boats but on land as well.  The more we practice with them it helps because your depth perception is so much different (shallow) when you’re wearing ‘em.