Much has already been written about German military weapons. But still today some real treasures are left to be discovered. Some of them are re-discovered – like the Erma EMP44 of the Erfurter Maschinenfabrik (in short “Erma”).

When the 3rd U.S. Army under the command of General Patton reached the city of Erfurt on 12 April 1944, Berthold Geipel, the owner of the Erfurt Maschinenfabrik “Erma”, had already fled. On trucks packed with special-purpose machinery and construction documents, he and his companions were trying to slip out to Bavaria. What remained was collected by the Americans, just in time before the Russians later took control of this area. Along with other booty, a submachine gun with the designation “EMP44” was shipped to America. The weapon was briefly tested at the Aberdeen Proving Ground (Maryland), but due to the absence of technical refinements it evoked no interest and was soon put in storage. The Allies’ focus was on German assault rifle developments. Thus, the EMP44 was soon forgotten and it’s a small miracle that the weapon survived the scrapping-orgies of the postwar time.

The EMP 44 (left side) is not a pretty sight.

The EMP44 is the result of attempts from the years 1942/1943 to create a much simpler submachine gun as the introduced MP40. At this time German weapons were still made in high quality. Other nations, however, much more early on put their focus on quantity instead of quality. The Russians introduced the PPSh-41, designed by Georgy Semenovich Shpagin, in December 1940. With its simple and uncomplicated receiver, bolt and wooden stock the weapon could be made in large quantities even in small workshops. For the completion of a PPSh-41 only 7.3 machine hours were estimated. In 1943 an even simpler weapon followed: the PPS-43. Developed by Alexei Ivanovich Sudajew, it was completely made of pressed sheet metal and its production time was only 2.7 machine hours.

The new hope in Germany was the assault rifle MP44 (later renamed Sturmgewehr 44). In 1943, Erma stopped the production of the MP40 in favor of the new assault rifle. The EMP44 was developed in the time before the switch of production. “EMP” means Erma Maschinen-Pistole. The weapon is mainly made of metal tubes welded together. The tubular receiver is extended by a sheet-metal barrel jacket of the same diameter that is riveted to its front. The jacket has four rows of four cooling slots and a laterally open muzzle brake. The trigger assembly is located in the middle of the gun between the magazine well and a vertical grip. Since the grip is hollow and not closed at its bottom, it is believed that it may have served as a mount on a bar-shaped gun carriage or installation in vehicles. At the rear end of the receiver, a nearly identical second grip is fixed. This one can be removed in order to disassemble the weapon for cleaning or repair. The sights rest high above the weapon on two bases and are protected by side plates. The rear sight consists of three leafs with a V-shaped notch for 100, 200 and 300 meters distance. Behind the rear sight base a deflector for the ejected empty cartridge cases is welded on top of the receiver.

The rear grip closes the receiver’s end. It is held in place by a spring-loaded rod.

The bolt is designed in two parts. Its front half is very similar to the bolt of the well known MP40, but it contains a moving (and thus replaceable) firing pin. The other half of the bolt is made of a solid rectangular striking piece with a tip and a sheet-metal tube riveted to its rear end for stabilization. The cocking handle is inserted transversely in a bore in the front half. The tip of the striking piece reaches through an oval hole in the middle of the cocking handle.

The weapon is put on safe by pressing the cocking handle. Then it projects out on the opposite side of the bolt and engages in one of the two holes in the left side of the receiver. This can be done either in the cocked or uncocked position of the bolt. That way the cocking handle is fixed in position and the oval hole in the cocking handle prevents a forward movement of the striking piece. There are no additional safety devices on the EMP44. A carrying sling can be looped through a slot in the front sight base and a lug welded to the rear grip.

The bolt is designed in two parts. Its front half is similar to the bolt of the well known MP40. The rear half is made of a solid rectangular metal plate and acts as a striking piece. Note the oval hole in the middle of the cocking handle. Some parts are marked with the correct serial number 15. The cocking handle is from the weapon with serial number 8.

The disassembly and reassembly of the EMP44 is done as follows: Pull down the spring-loaded rod inside the rear grip and rotate it about 90 degrees. Now the grip can be removed and the receiver is open. First, the recoil spring can be pulled out. But before the bolt can be pulled out, the cocking handle must be removed. This is possible only at one particular position along the lateral opening in the receiver. Moreover, the striking piece must be pushed back with a finger so that its tip is no longer extended into the oval hole in the cocking handle. Otherwise, the cocking handle can not be pulled. After that process the receiver is tilted backwards and both parts of the bolt will slip free from the receiver tube. The assembly is again a tricky matter: First, the front part of the bolt is inserted, then the cocking handle is pushed into its correct place from the side and after that the rear half of the bolt is inserted. Since there are no guide rails, both parts of the bolt can rotate freely during insertion. For the most part, the little finger is needed to rotate the bolt parts to their proper position. Also, the right location for insertion of the cocking handle is hard to find along the lateral opening in the receiver because there are no markings. A lot of trial and error is necessary.

The most unusual feature of the EMP44 is its double magazine well. It holds two of the 32-round MP40 magazines side by side. A very complicated and partly movably sheet metal cover encloses the magazine well to avoid the ingress of dust and dirt. When pressing a button on the front of the magazine well, the well can be moved laterally and the cover follows this move. The idea was to save the time that would be needed for changing the magazines in the traditional way by removing the empty magazine and inserting a new loaded one. The two magazine release buttons can be found on the back of the magazine well. Nevertheless, it fits the standard MP40 magazines, since the retaining clips of the EMP44 engage in a production-related rectangular recess on the magazine back. Whether this way of changing the magazines brings advantages in combat is doubtful. Nonetheless the magazine well of the MP40 is slightly widened at its bottom to form a funnel for easier insertion of the magazine. The double magazine well on the EMP44 is missing this advantage. In a hurry or in the dark it is tricky to insert the magazines quickly without problems.

Markings on the EMP44. Note date of manufacture February 1943 and serial number 00015. The number 15 can also be found on other parts of the weapon.

The EMP44 weighs 3.66 kg without magazines, which is about 300 grams less than an MP40 or 800 gr less than an MP38. In action, the weight of two filled 32-round magazines has to be added (in total 1.35 kg). The overall length of the weapon is 72 cm and the barrel length is 25 cm. In contrast to the MP40, their barrel has only 4 grooves with right-hand twist.

Interestingly, a double magazine well of almost the same design was used on an MP40 variation called MP40/1. Only the complicated sheet metal dust cover was omitted. Of this weapon, a few pieces were produced by the Erma company in the period from late 1942 to early 1943. In contrast to the EMP44, that was specifically designed for this kind of magazine well, the MP40/1 was just a converted standard MP40. A large piece of metal was cut out of the receiver to make place for the double magazine well, but this weakened the weapon’s body. No additional reinforcement was added to the receiver to compensate the loss of stiffness. So in hard combat life the weapons would not work for long. When researching for this article the author noted that some of the still existing MP40/1s have slightly distorted receivers just caused by the long storage time. These weapons could no longer be cocked without using violence, since the bolts were jammed in the receivers in their front position.

The rear sight consists of three leafs with a V-shaped notch for 100, 200 and 300 meters distance. Note the safety by pushing in the cocking handle.

Nevertheless the MP40/1 is officially mentioned in the secret regulation D.97/1+ Geräteliste (list of equipment) of 1 July 1943 under the equipment number 1-3-3004, whereas the EMP44 is missing. All receivers of known MP40/1 came from the production of Erma and Steyr (Austria). Whether Steyr undertook modifications on its own or only supplied Erma with receivers is not known.

No information was found about the development of the EMP44. Certainly it was an attempt by the Erma company without any official order. Despite the designation E.M.P.44, the weapon was developed in the years 1942/1943. On one hand, emphasis was placed on a simplified design for easy production, but on the other hand some complicated features such as the moving dust cover or the two-piece bolt were created. Probably, the weapon was simply “too primitive” for the decision makers at that point of time and hope still rested on the new Sturmgewehr 44 assault rifle. Even in the later stages of the war, the design of the EMP44 was not taken up again. Today, only one weapon made in February 1943 with the serial number 00015 is known to exist in complete condition. It is part of the former Aberdeen Ordnance Museum collection that was moved to Fort Lee, Virginia as part of the Base Realignment and Closure Act of 2005. Unfortunately due to a budget shortfall the plans for building a new museum have been delayed indefinitely. For the moment, only a small new exhibition, “Subject to Recall: Collecting Intelligence,” showing captured items from enemy hands, represents the Ordnance Collection in rooms of the Quartermaster Museum. In the recent past the nonprofit organization “Ordnance Training and Heritage Center Foundation” was created by concerned members of the Ordnance Corps. Among its primary goals is raising funds to build a new Ordnance Museum.

The muzzle with laterally open muzzle brake and large front sight base.

The author would like to thank Gregory Hagge (Curator of Arms & Armour, U.S. Army Ordnance Training & Heritage Centre, Fort Lee, Virginia) for his support.

Up until the 1960s all machine guns manufactured in China were of foreign design. The first heavy machine gun to be produced in China was the 12.7mm Type 54, a straight-up copy of the Soviet DShKM 1938/46, made on Soviet machinery, using Soviet documentation and assistance. This weapon fired the 12.7x108mm round of Soviet origin, which was roughly similar in performance to the American .50 BMG round. Four years later it was joined by its younger but more powerful comrade, the 14.5x114mm Type 58 heavy machine gun. It was another licensed copy of the Soviet weapon, in this case the Vladimirov KPVT. 14.5mm ammunition of Soviet origin brought this weapon to a wholly new level of power delivering 60-80% more muzzle energy compared to contemporary 12.7mm rivals. The latter gun was very useful as a low level anti-aircraft defense weapon, especially when used on specially designed twin and quadruple AA mounts, known as ZPU-2 and ZPU-4, or on lightweight mountain-type single gun ZGU-1 mounts. More than a few of these guns were used during Vietnam War to shoot down numerous U.S. aircraft and helicopters flying at low level. Following political and tactical trends, Chinese designers were then tasked to create more modern replacements for these weapons, starting with the 12.7mm.

Chinese soldiers firing 12.7mm Type 54 HMG, a copy of Soviet DshKM.

During the mid-1970s it was decided to develop a lighter 12.7mm weapon, suitable for mobile AA applications, from ground and vehicle mounts, as well as for ground troop support. The new weapon was officially adopted by the PLA in 1977 as the 12.7mm Type 77 HMG with mass production commencing in 1980. This weapon had a somewhat unusual (for a machine gun) direct impingement gas operated action, apparently in an attempt to save on the weight of the moving parts. Its basic locking system and belt feed were adaptations of the proven Degtyarov DShKM solutions, and the entire gun with a universal tripod weighs some 56 kg (120 lbs) – less than half that of the Type 54 / DShKM on its mount. The Type 77 HMG has a very heavy barrel with a prominent muzzle brake and a slender, tubular receiver. The Type 77 was usually issued with a low-magnification optical sight suitable for both anti-air and ground applications. It seems, however, that this gun left something to be desired as just five years after its entrance into service it was replaced in production by a newer weapon, known as the 12.7mm Type 85 HMG. The Type 85 can be considered as a further evolution of the Type 77 as most of the improvements concentrated at either end of the basic weapon. The “business end” of the new gun received an updated muzzle brake and the dual spade grips and separate cocking handle of the “rear end” were replaced with a sliding trigger unit with horizontal grips of Czechoslovak ancestry. The Type 85, like its predecessor, was also used as a ground and vehicle weapon.

12,7mm (.50BMG) W95 HMG, an export-only derivative of the Type 85 HMG.

There is another weapon in this line-up, which has no official “Type” designation. Known as W-85, at first glance it looked much like the Type 77 HMG, but closer examination reveals certain differences, such as very thick gas tube below the barrel (which conceals a conventional gas piston, as opposed to piston-less system of the Type 77 and Type 85), and the receiver is of generally rectangular cross-section, while the receivers of the Type 77 and Type 85 are more or less of tubular design. It is believed that the W-85 was built in parallel with the Type 85 HMG, most probably on a competitive basis, but lost in the PLA trials. Apparently, it survived as a commercial venture, as available information suggests that the Norinco Corporation sold for export at least some armored vehicles armed with a “W-85 12.5mm machine gun.” Recently, information has surfaced in Chinese publications about the “new” 12.7mm QJC 88 tank machine gun, which looks exactly like the tank version of W-85.

One of the few available photos of the new 14.5mm externally powered machine gun of Chinese origin.

Still, the PLA was not yet satisfied with the Type 85 HMG, as it was too heavy to be considered as a “high-end” replacement for the 7.62mm GPMGs as used by mobile infantry on foot. Just two years after the adoption of the Type 85 HMG, the PLA adopted an entirely new 12.7mm machine gun, which can be defined as a “lightweight heavy machine gun.” Officially type-classified as the QJZ-89 (12.7mm Type 89 heavy machine gun), this remarkable weapon weighs only 26 kilograms complete with its universal tripod. This is significantly less than the weight of the widely promoted Russian 12.7mm “Kord” machine gun, which weighs 32 kg – on a bipod mount. The only 12.7mm machine gun that weighs less that the QJZ-89 is the U.S.-made XM312, which weighs only 19 kg on its tripod, but, because of its low rate of fire, cannot be effectively used against low-flying targets such as combat helicopters. The remarkable weight reduction of the QJZ-89 is achieved, according to official information, by the use of a combination gas / recoil action. This system is not unique, although it is most often encountered in automatic cannons, where gas action is used to unlock the breech, and recoil can be used to operate the feed, and, more importantly, to decrease the peak recoil forces induced on the firearm housing and the mount. Not much technical information is available on the QJZ-89, and it is yet to prove its worth as a mobile infantry support weapon. According to Chinese sources, the QJZ-89 is capable of using the newly developed 12.7mm APDS ammunition, which increases its performance against lightly armored vehicles.

Up until recently, the most powerful machine gun in the PLA inventory was the 14.5mm Type 58 – a straightforward copy of the Soviet Vladimirov KPV, used on single, twin and quad AA mounts. Only recently has the PLA bothered with a replacement for this old, but still effective weapon, and in 2002 it adopted the new QJG 02 14.5mm HMG. This weapon is of indigenous design, and it looks somewhat like an enlarged W-85. So far it has been observed only on low-profile, single-gun AA mountings, which also can be used for ground applications. However, it seems that Chinese designers decided to go a step further and develop an even more formidable weapon. This resulted in a prototype three-barreled Gatling-type gun firing the 14.5mm ammunition. Externally, this gun looks like a proportionally enlarged GAU-19/A machine gun of American origin, but it is not known if the new 14.5mm weapon is a direct copy of it or not.

12.7mm Type 77 HMG.

Type 77 Heavy Machine Gun
Caliber: 12.7×108
Weight: 28 kg / 62 lbs (gun) + 28.3 kg / 63 lbs (tripod)
Overall length: 2,150 mm / 85 inches
Barrel length: 1,016 mm / 40 inches
Cyclic rate of fire: 650 – 700 rounds per minute
Feed and capacity: Belt, 60 rounds

The Type 77 heavy machine gun is a gas operated, air cooled, belt fed weapon that fires from an open bolt and in automatic mode only. It has a very slim, tubular receiver machined from steel, and uses a direct-impingement gas system with no separate gas piston. The powder gases are fed from the gas block through a three-position gas regulator, which is located at the middle of the barrel, and are then fed through the gas tube to the receiver, where they strike the bolt carrier. The locking system is based on the Degtyarov / Kjellman system, with two pivoting locking flaps located at either side of the bolt.

The barrel is quick-removable; the carrying handle, which is normally attached to the gun at the junction of the receiver and barrel, is used as a barrel lock. To remove the barrel, the carrying handle is rotated counter-clockwise until it can be removed, thus unlocking the barrel; then the carrying handle is attached to the front sight base / gas block and is used to remove the hot barrel from the gun. The front of the barrel is fitted with a large, cylindrical muzzle brake.

The belt feed module is similar to that of the Soviet DShKM system, and is operated through the oscillating arm by the projection on the bolt carrier. Feed is from the left side only. The feed system uses DShK-type belts with open pockets and single-stage, push-through feeding. The belt box can be attached to the weapon to provide better mobility.

Controls include dual spade grips and thumb-triggers; the charging handle is located below the receiver.

The gun is usually issued on a universal tripod, which can be used for both ground and AA missions. This has an adjustable-length front leg, which is retracted for low-profile “anti-ground” use, or extended for AA missions, for which it can be fitted with a special shoulder stock made from steel tubing. The Type 77 is fitted with fully adjustable open sights, plus it has provisions for mounting various telescopic, night vision and special AA sights.

12.7mm Type 85 HMG installed on a Chinese truck, exported to an unidentified African country.

Type 85 Heavy Machine Gun
Caliber: 12.7×108
Weight: 24 kg / 53 lbs (gun) + 17.5 kg / 39 lbs (tripod)
Overall length: 2,150 mm / 85 inches
Barrel length: 1,003 / 39.5 inches
Cyclic rate of fire: 650 – 700 rounds per minute
Feed and capacity: Belt, 60 rounds

The Type 85 heavy machine gun is broadly based on the Type 77, but with certain improvements. It uses the same direct-impingement gas system with flap-locking bolt. The belt feed system is also similar to the Type 77, as well as the barrel change procedure that involves the removal of the carrying handle.

The key difference between the Type 85 and its predecessor is in the arrangement of the trigger and cocking system, which is patterned after the pre-WW2 Czechoslovak ZB 53/vz.37 machine gun. The trigger module of the Type 85 HMG is a separate unit that is attached below the receiver and can slide forward and back. To cock the bolt (as the gun fires from an open bolt) one must release the trigger unit lock, then push the trigger unit forward using the horizontal spade grips, which are attached to the unit. Once the trigger unit is in its forward position, its sear engages the bolt, so retraction of the trigger unit causes the bolt group to unlock and go rearwards. Once the trigger group is fully retracted, it is locked in place by its own lock and holds the bolt in a cocked position until the trigger is released.

The Type 85 HMG is fitted with open sights and has mountings for telescopic, night or special AA sights. It is used from either special vehicle mounts or from a special lightweight infantry tripod. It is also normally fitted with a tubular shoulder stock.

Modifications
W-95: an export version, adapted for .50 BMG/12.7×99 ammunition.

12.7mm QJC-88 tank machine gun.

Type 88 (QJC 88) Tank Heavy Machine Gun
Caliber: 12.7×108
Weight: 18.5 kg/41 lbs (gun body)
Overall length: 1,500 mm / 59 inches
Barrel length: n/a
Cyclic rate of fire: 540 – 600 rpm
Feed and capacity: Belt, 50 rounds

The QJC 88 tank machine gun is a gas operated, air cooled, belt-fed, automatic only weapon. Its design is loosely based on the Soviet DShKM heavy machine gun of 1946, although there are many differences in various subsystems.

The QJC 88 uses a long-stroke gas piston, located below the barrel. The piston is rigidly attached to the bolt carrier, which carries a compact breech block (bolt). The locking system can be described as an “inverted” Degtyarov / Kjellman flap lock; it uses two pivoting flaps, one at either side of the bolt, to engage cuts in the receiver walls. The key difference between the QJC 88 and DShKM is that, in the QJC 88, the flaps are pivoted at the rear and have special locking projections that lock into the receiver walls.

The feed is also broadly based on that of the DShKM. The feed module is a detachable unit attached to the top of the receiver. It is operated by a swinging arm that projects down at the right side of the feed. The fork-shaped bottom end of the arm engages a reciprocating charging handle, which is attached to the bolt carrier. Feed is from the left side.

12.7mm W85 heavy machine gun.

The gun fires from an open bolt, in automatic mode only. The firing pin is operated by a projection on the bolt carrier; the same projection forces the locking lugs outwards so the gun cannot fire unless the bolt is fully locked. A manual trigger is fitted to the rear of the receiver and an electrical solenoid trigger is provided as a part of the tank mounting.

So far the gun has been observed on a roof-top tank mount, with an electrical trigger and a collimating sight installed on the gun cradle.

Modifications
W-85: the original version of the same machine gun, available in either tank or infantry versions. The latter was installed on a universal tripod, and the gun was fitted with dual spade grips and a tubular shoulder stock.

12.7mm QJZ-89 lightweight heavy machine gun.

Type 89 (QJZ 89) Heavy Machine Gun
Caliber: 12.7×108
Weight: 17.5 kg/39 lbs (gun body) + 8.5 kg / 19 lbs (tripod)
Overall length: 2,119 mm / 83 inches
Barrel length: 1,003 / 39.5 inches
Cyclic rate of fire: 450 – 600 rpm
Feed and capacity: Belt, 50 rounds

Very little information is available on this machine gun. It is claimed to use combination gas / recoil operated action, with gas system cycling the bolt group and the receiver being allowed to recoil inside the outer gun housing to decrease peak recoil, which must be significant for such a light but powerful gun. The gun uses a direct impingement gas system, apparently borrowed from the Type 77 HMG.

Type 89 HMG uses standard belt feed with belt movement direction being left to right. The barrel is quick-detachable and is fitted with a massive muzzle brake. Standard furniture includes a pistol grip with rifle-type trigger and a tubular shoulder stock. The gun is used from a lightweight tripod of adjustable height, which can be used for both ground and AA applications.

14.5mm QJG-02 heavy machine gun on low profile AA mount.

Type 02 (QJG 02) Heavy Machine Gun
Caliber: 14.5×114
Weight: About 75 kg/165 lbs (w/ universal AA mount)
Overall length: n/a
Barrel length: n/a
Cyclic rate of fire: n/a
Feed and capacity: Belt

The Type 02 is a gas operated, air cooled, belt fed machine gun that fires from an open bolt. It uses a rotary bolt locking system.

The Type 02 is associated with a special low profile mount, which consists of an adjustable tripod with a turntable that hosts the gunner’s seat, traverse and elevation mechanisms and the gun cradle with built-in recoil dampers. When traversing, the entire turntable with gunner and gun is rotated; the rotation is controlled by a horizontal wheel located in front of the gunner. Elevation of the gun is controlled by another wheel, located to the left of the traverse control. The gun’s trigger is operated by the pedal. The entire system is said to be easily disassembled into five man-packs, each weighing 20 kg or less.

The Type 02 is typically fitted with a special telescope sight, installed on a parallelogram mount well above the barrel. The sight mount is attached to the gun cradle.

14.5mm QJG-02 heavy machine gun on low profile AA mount.

Modifications
QJG 02G: export version with minor changes The tripod can be mounted with two small rubber wheels on two legs, with the third being used as a towing boom for transportation using a jeep-type vehicle.

This event is held annually in the last full working week of August at the Defence Academy of the United Kingdom. It remains the focal point for European infantry weapons and small arms developments and complements the National Defense Industrial Association (NDIA) Joint Armaments conference normally held annually in May in the United States.

The Shrivenham Symposium provides a personal atmosphere, giving a vital opportunity to ‘network’ and the 27th annual Small Arms and Cannon Symposium held in August of 2013 continued to be well attended, even if budgetary constraints prevented some from attending. This year the symposium was again held in the two full day format (changed by attendee’s request in 2011 from two full days over a three day format) and this years’ Symposium was therefore held over the 21-22 August 2013. It is rumored that the 2014 edition of the Small Arms and Cannon Symposium will include an extra event- a live fire exercise where attendees can participate and vendors can have their products on the line for testing. This discussion started many of the industry attendees who did not have booths this year to discuss setting up booths and going to the range- always a hit for everyone involved. Attendees get to try lots of weapons and accessories, vendors get to show the “proof in the pudding” by letting potential buyers try their wares. Fingers are crossed that this will be possible in 2014.

Beechwood Equipment Ltd. are a regular attendee and a major UK company specializing in specialist products for the law enforcement and military markets. They are the UK agent for SIG-Sauer products and a range of optical and night-vision products. www.beechwoodequipment.com

In addition this year, the second edition of a one-day Wound Ballistics Symposium was held immediately prior to the Small Arms & Cannon Symposium to enable delegates who wished to attend both symposia to do so in a single visit.

The programme format consisting of short presentations on various subjects is well established and allows maximum coverage of a large subject matter area to cater for the varied interests of those attending. The programme over the two days offered twenty presentations and the wide-ranging spectrum of the presentations covered the following subjects:

Day One

• How will the British Infantry be Equipped, Train & Fight in the Future? – UK MOD
• Details of Future Themes – UK Army HQ
• Improving Lethality by Non Equipment Means – UK, Small Arms School Corps
• Small Arms as a Last Resort – Independent Consultant, UK
• The Use of Soldier Error Budgets to direct UK Lethality Research – SEA
• Tactical Effectiveness – Nammo, Sweden
• Soldier Integrated Precision Effects Systems (SIPES), An Industry Perspective – Colt Canada
• Automatic Cannon Ammunition 20-57mm: Caliber’s, Applications and Projectile Developments – IHS Jane’s
• Where to Now? – Independent Consultant, USA
• An overview of the Canadian Small Arms Research (FSAR) Program – Defence Research and Development, Canada

Qioptiq remains the largest UK manufacturer of night vision, image-intensified and surveillance optics. The company manufactures the proven Kite image-intensifiers and Vipir uncooled thermal weapon sights with the Maxikite-2 and S Vipir-2S+ being the latest models in the series. The company continues to market its very successful Dragon-C (compact), Dragon SR (short-range), Dragon-LR (long-range) and Dragon-S (sniper) multi-purpose thermal weapons sights. www.qioptiq.co.uk

Day Two

• 12.7mm (.50 cal.) Multipurpose Effectiveness Study – Nammo Raufoss, Norway
• 12.7mm ‘Reduced Ricochet’ Ammunition – ARMAOME Ltd
• MAC Lightweight Polymer Ammunition – Status and Path Forward – MAC LLC
• Grenade Launchers and their Ammunition: An International Survey –HIS Jane’s
• An update on the Canadian Research and the Small Arms Program – National Defence HQ, Canada
• The HALVAR Small Arms Model – TNO, The Netherlands
• Serious Games Herald Increased Interaction and Collaboration in Defence and Security – Serious Games International
• GPMG Rate-of-Fire Considerations – Independent Consultant, Germany

Following on from previous years, subject matter of the presentations reflected an increasingly pragmatic approach to what is achievable in the immediate future, (particularly when set against financial constraints). Again absent were the presentations, or indeed updates, on Future Soldier. While in excess of twenty such programs remain globally on the books, with perhaps the notable exception of Canada, all appear to be moving forward, albeit slowly with the business end of the programme retaining existing small arms and light infantry weapons already in service or somewhat modified to support the primary areas in which such programs are indeed advancing, such as situational awareness, command and control at the unit level and enhanced personal protection levels.

As commented here last year, recent combat operations have fined-tuned the needs of the warfighter in terms of the infantry weapons mix required, which had seen the return of the larger rifle calibre 7.62 x 51mm weapons in general and the ‘Sharpshooter’ or ‘Designated Marksman’ rifle in particular. The low and high-velocity grenade-launcher is clearly here to stay and the user has an increasing variety of options in terms of ammunition types available, including less-lethal options.

Primetake Ltd. are the manufacturers of specialist ammunition for both military and law-enforcement applications. www.primetake.co.uk

The current draw-down and pending final withdrawal from Afghanistan of NATO forces has required participants to review their national inventories post-operations. UK MOD briefed on the way ahead in terms of small arms inventories – the L129A1 Designated Marksman Rifle (Sharpshooter) purchased in considerable numbers as an Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) is to be taken into the core inventory, the Combat Shotgun (L128A1) will not be. (In this author’s opinion, the militarized shotgun has seen an ad-hoc use over the decades in the British service, primarily in insurgency operations or for use in explosive ordnance disposal, being purchased as needed and is needed). The selection of the Glock 17 as the future handgun (L131A1) in the British service will also see a change in issue strategy – gone will be the issue of a handgun to every combatant as a defence against ‘Blue-on-Blue’ encounters, reverting, as in the past, to one of need or primarily a means of self-protection when either duty or circumstances dictate against carriage of a larger weapon.

Attention continues to be directed at the harmful effects of small arms ammunition discharges, with tests showing that issues can also arise with the new non-toxic types (lead-free) currently being introduced. The operational use of weapon suppressors has also raised the issue of post-operational use as standard under a ‘duty of care’ banner.

Simulation modeling continues to play an important part in predicting current and future weapon effects, covering both bursting munitions and individual small arms fire.

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Additional activities provided as part of the Symposia programme include visits to the on-site DA-CMT Small Arms Facility, which is a teaching and reference collection of infantry weapons. The staff of this facility also provide a live-firing demonstration of selected weapons and accessories to which delegates are invited. The Symposia itself is held in the Defence Capability Centre (DCC – not to be confused with DCC – Dismounted Close Combat) which houses the Defence Academy collection of artillery, armoured vehicles and ammunition, and tours of the various collection can be arranged on request.

A long-established feature of the Shrivenham Small Arms and Cannon symposia has been the formal evening dinner. The venue again this year, after a very successful event last year, was the Steam Railway Museum of the Great Western Railway in the nearby town of Swindon. The museum is situated in the renovated premises of the former Swindon Railway Works and guests were seated among the major and minor historic artifacts of the museum for an excellent four-course dinner, with pre-dinner drinks (with a chance to wander around the museum) and wine in abundance. A good time was again, as the British would say, had by all.

SADJ would like to encourage the small arms community to lend their support to the XXVIII Small Arms & Cannon Symposium to be held in August 2014.

2nd Wound Ballistics Symposium
The Inaugural Wound Ballistics Symposium was held in 2012 with the intention, if successful, that a similar event be held every two years. In the event, however, the considerable number of papers submitted could not be presented over the allotted one-day period and the decision was taken, as all papers were of significant value and relevant to the community’s needs, to present half at the inaugural symposium and the remaining papers the following year. It is expected that the 3rd Wound Ballistics Symposium will be held in 2015, and again for convenience, to run concurrently with the Small Arms and Cannon Symposium to allow delegates to attend both symposia if required.

Shield Firearms & Sights Ltd. is a UK manufacturer of sights and sight mounts. They are also a training provider and firearms distributor, and are the UK agent for Smith &Wesson products. www.sheildpsd.sharepoint.com

Eight papers were presented during a busy day. These are listed by title for the benefit of those professionally involved in the subject matter area as a guide to future attendance:

• The Development of a Skin-Skull-Brain Model for Ballistic Testing.
• Postmortem Alterations on Gunshot Wounds in Ribs Recovered from Marine and Terrestrial Environments.
• The Use of Lethality-Related Terms in the Metropolitan Police Service.
• What’s lethality got to do with it?
• A Comparison of Incapacitation Criteria: Kokinakis and Sperrazza vs Courtney and Courtney.
• The Role of Hydrocode Modeling for the Development of Enhanced Lethality Small Arms Ammunition.
• Evaluation of Bone Surrogates for Wound Ballistics Studies.
• Using Real Data for Validation of 3D Injury Modeling.

It goes without saying that the subject matter of the presentations is not for those of a sensitive nature and those who work in this area must be given credit for continued work that has seen significant advances in recent years in the understanding of the wounding mechanism and concurrent support to the forensic science community.

Examining and trying to appreciate the latest greatest technology being promoted at the near countless booths at a show the magnitude of AUSA, one underlying question must be answered. What does any particular technology mean to fighting and winning? Small arms technology can be categorized into the following areas – weapon material construction, operating systems, fire control and sighting, ammunition, and accessories. The general direction the small arms industry appears to be taking is most curious.

The AR-15/M16 assault rifle has been in service since the early 1960s. There have literally been hundreds of AR variations produced, but the operating system, upper and lower receivers have largely remained the same. While some variants are chambered to fire 7.62 NATO, 6.8mm Remington and several other similar rounds, the M16 and M4 remains chambered for the NATO standard 5.56mm, 62 gain, SS-109 round.

Note the gold electrical contacts in the Intelligent Rail.

Barrels have been chrome lined, floated and made from stainless steel. Buffer assemblies have been made smaller, been modified with drain holes for the SEALs, and stocks have been made collapsible and folding. The classic top carrying handle has been replaced by a flat top 12 o’clock rail that on many AR variants now extends well down the hand guard above a low profile gas block so an in-line night vision scope can be mounted in front of a telescopic sight.

Three, six and nine o’clock rails have been added to the hand guard so a soldier can attach numerous cool gadgets like IR and visual laser aiming and illuminator accessories, lights, bipod, hand grips, navigation, video, sling swivels, grenade launcher, shotgun module, etc., even auxiliary power source modules to power the electronic accessories. The imagination is the limit to these rail-mounted accessories whether or not they actually improve upon the soldier’s hit probability and make tactical sense.

Mark 21 sniper rifle.

With the above in mind, it is apparent that the push by several major gun manufacturers at this year’s AUSA show was systems integration of many individual rail-mounted components into an interoperable power sharing smart system. Colt had its Sniper Weapon & Observer Reconnaissance Devices (SWORD) technology demonstrator on display. SWORD’s fire control system is based upon Colt Canada’s Patented Small Arms Network Power Data System (NPDS). The NPDS can be used with most sniper and assault rifle platforms and provides power, data and navigation infrastructure enhancing it into a Networked Weapon System (NWS). SWORD takes NWS several steps further by integrating it with a Small Arms Rail System that provides an electrical interface with an impressive capabilities menu, extending into the cloud that the operator has at his fingertips.

Taking a more sophisticated path, Prototype Productions, Inc. (PPI) has developed an Intelligent Rail system for the U.S. Army’s M4 Carbine and civilian AR-15-based weapon platforms. More recently, under a long-term product integration and license agreement with Beretta U.S.A., PPI is integrating the Intelligent Rail system into the Beretta ARX 100/160 series carbines. The result is a seamlessly integrated weapon and accessory management system that is lighter and significantly more capable than existing platforms.

The raised over-insertion stop is molded into the M3 Magpul magazine.

The Intelligent Rail is a future-oriented solution that centralizes power for all weapon accessories, standardizes a universal connector for all accessory platforms, and integrates a control and communication pathway over a “Picatinny”-style rail bus. The Intelligent Rail will provide infrastructure for advanced fire control, video interfacing, signal controls, laser ranging-finding and targeting, soldier networking, enhanced vision such as thermal or low light, less-than-lethal capabilities, and other component advancements. Current initiatives aim to integrate the Intelligent Rail system into weapon platforms during manufacturing as well as proliferating lighter, more capable, accessories, including fire control systems, with soldier network and increased situational awareness capabilities.

Magpul has consistently been a forward-thinking company with a solid product line. There is no argument, especially among today’s combat soldiers, that Magpul manufactures great AR-15/M16 magazines. Magpul’s new M3 magazine has some very subtle improvements over the previous generation that makes it even more reliable (if that’s possible). The M3 incorporates a new, more rugged polymer that is molded in the United States. The M3 has an over-travel insertion stop molded into the magazine that forms a raised welt around the magazine, preventing over-insertion of the magazine into the mag well by positively stopping it at the correct installed height. The M3 also has a slimmer more streamlined floor plate. The M3 mag is offered in both a 30- and 40-round capacity and it’s compatible with FN’s SCAR 16, HK’s 416, and of course all the other AR-15/M16s out there.

The SIG 227 gen 4 has subtle improvements.

SIG Sauer continues to produce highly reliable, affordable handguns. Their new SIG P-227 is a fine example of ergonomic grace, sporting a stainless slide paired with an aluminum frame. Almost exactly the same geometry as the 9mm SIG 226, the 227 is a .45 bullet launcher with a round capacity of 10 + 1. SIG also offers an extended 14-round high capacity magazine for police and military applications. The 227 is offered in three barrel length variations all possessing SIG’s SA/DA trigger. The “Nitron” is a full size gun and has a 4.4 inch barrel. The more concealable “Carry” has a 3.9 inch barrel. The “Carry SAS 2B” also has a 3.9 inch barrel, but is additionally equipped with a unique short reset trigger. An additional plus gained from the shared SIG 226 geometry means the 226 and 227 share holster size – so for those upgrading from the SIG 226, purchasing new holsters may not be necessary.

SIG additionally offers a line of quality AR-style flattop rifles that employ short-stroke pushrod gas systems like the SIG516 chambered in 5.56 NATO and Patrol AK chambered in 7.62×39. The SIG716 Patrol rifle chambered in 7.62 NATO launches a “real” bullet downrange and offers superb reliability with formidable accuracy past 1,000 yards. All have quad rail systems integral to the design with structural 12 and 6 o’clock rails.

The Glock 30 gen 4 is .45 ACP perfection.

Remington now offers a superbly engineered bolt action sniper rifle that evolved from decades of lessons learned from its combat-proven Model 700. The Remington Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR) is a magazine fed, air cooled sniper weapon system designed to be user configurable. A complete kit of accessories can be provided for sustained deployment in remote areas. Because of the weapon’s unique design, the operator can easily change the configuration of the weapon, including barrel lengths, calibers and stock geometry to meet mission-specific requirements.

The caliber change is accomplished by changing out the barrel, bolt head (if necessary) and the magazine (if necessary). Current configuration offerings include .338 Lapua Magnum (.338 LM), .300 Winchester Magnum (.300 WM) and 7.62mm NATO/.308 Winchester. Magazine capacities are 5 and 10 rounds for the .338 LM, 5 rounds for the .300 WM and 10 rounds for the 7.62mm/.308 Win.

Trijicon’s rugged VCOG trumps them all.

The military version recently purchased by SOCOM is the Mk 21 Mod 0. [Pic#5-Mk 21 sniper rifle here] The top rail is structurally rigid providing a rock solid base on which to mount telescopic sights with in-line night vision and /or IR scopes without parallax. The barrel is fluted and floats, reducing weight while increasing extreme accuracy. This 14 1/2 pound sleek-looking hi-tech work of art is also commercially available and legal in most states.

Glock has consistently led the polymer frame pistol market with their innovative designs, out-of-the-box accuracy, superb reliability, availability and affordability. The Austria-based manufacturer continually strives to perfect its line of pistols with new generation improvements that notably surpass their predecessor version. The subcompact Glock 30 Gen 4 is no exception. The most desired new feature is its reduced trigger reach. Trigger reach is defined as the distance between the face of the trigger to the back of the backstrap. This reduction in trigger reach is visually negligible, but has a new distinctive feel and tactility making it an awesome handling first choice for concealed carry. Chambered for the .45 ACP round, the big bore Glock 30 Gen 4 sports a 10 + 1 standard carry capacity. Its rough-textured frame and aggressive checkering assures a solid grip under the worst environmental conditions. The pistol comes with multiple interchangeable backstraps so the grip geometry can be precisely tailored to the shooter’s hand dimensions. Glock specifically designed this 6.9 inch short frame powerhouse for concealed carry situations where first hit knockdown muscle is paramount.

IMI’s 5.56, 42 gr frangible bullet eliminates ricochets and fragmentation splash back.

FN Herstal’s SCAR was a design success that mated a composite polymer construction lower to a steel flattop upper, incorporating a gas short-stroke pushrod operating system. Its novel interchangeable barrels that automatically head space, are held by 4 captured set screws – 2 on each side. Still under development, FN has taken this design and created the FN PDW (Personal Defense Weapon) that is fundamentally a 6 3/4 inch barrel, 5 1/2 pound shorty-version of the SCAR MK-16. The PDW has a collapsible stock rather than the SCAR’s folding stock making it as concealable as any submachine gun. It has the same great hammer forged chrome lined floating barrel as the SCAR – just shorter. Like the SCAR, all the operating levers and safety are fully ambidextrous. The PDW prototype on display had quad rails and FN claimed it has an accurate range of 200 m.

Trijicon has unarguably led the tritium-light aiming systems industry in the U.S. since its founding in 1981. Quite simply, they make a range of quality tritium sights for both tactical and sporting applications. Their latest, LED illuminated VCOG has a 1×6 magnification with a 24 mm objective lens sight that sports a 4-inch eye relief, making it suitable for sighting high power recoil weapons. The adjustable brightness LED is powered by a single readily available lithium AA battery that touts an estimated 700 hours of continuous power, depending upon the operational environment. Additionally, the VCOG is built to survive the harsh environmental demands of extended combat operations. It has a rugged military-grade aluminum housing that completely seals and protects its optical innards from impact, water and dirt. The VCOG is offered in a thumb screw mount or quick release mount for any rail application and it is compatible with the older ACOG mounting adaptors. This sight is a winner.

At 550 meters, IMI’s 5.56, 77gr Match King’s accuracy only varies about 50 centimeters.

On the small arms ammunition front, Israel Military Industries Ltd. (IMI) Small Caliber Ammunition Division has developed three new boxer primed, brass cased, 5.56 special rounds worthy of note. Designed for use in rifles and machine guns, IMI’s new bevel tipped, aluminum-colored, 42 grain frangible lead free round is made from a sinterized mix of copper and tin. Designed to disintegrate into small particles when impacting hard surfaces, it almost entirely eliminates ricochets and fragmentation splash back. This makes it ideal for close quarter battle, use in machinery-sensitive areas like nuclear power plants, oil and gas storage and refinery areas, & great for both indoor and outdoor lead free firing ranges.

The second 5.56 round IMI has developed is their 77 grain hollow point Match King. IMI has paid great attention to detail in developing and manufacturing this new high performance round that can be fired from any AR-15/M16 variant that far surpasses performance of the NATO M855 Ball round. Accuracy is achieved through the control of tight bullet tolerances, shell casings, gun powder and an exacting assembly processes throughout the overall manufacturing process. This precision round also minimizes gunpowder residues, making it ideal for use with sound suppressors. IMI claims its Match King’s accuracy at 550 meters only varies about 50 centimeters (obviously under ideal range conditions) – which offers a significant increase in hit capability for the M16/M4 shooter at extreme effective range.

IMI’s 5.56, premier 54 gr, Armor Piercing Hard Core (APHC) round far surpasses the performance of NATO’s M855 Ball round and closely approached that of the M-995 for half the cost.

The third is IMI’s premier Armor Piercing Hard Core (APHC) 5.56 round designed specifically for use in rifles and machine guns. This impressive black tip, non-toxic, lead free 54 grain bullet far surpasses the penetration of the NATO M855 Ball round against armored targets – especially at long range. Remarkably, it also closely approaches the performance of the M995 round while being economically priced at only half the cost. Since the APHC round contains no toxic lead, and is affordable, it is perfect for both indoor and outdoor range use. This round is an example of IMI’s cutting edge metallurgy composition, state-of-the-art projectile manufacturing and it’s in production today.

In summary, it appears the future direction of the small arms industry is headed toward rail-oriented integral systems and ammunition improvement. Until there is a major technical breakthrough in man-portable directed energy weapons and/or caseless ammunition, requiring the major rethinking and redirection of the small arms industry, we will unlikely see much more than repackaging of old firearms technology and more fine tuning.

They say that imitation is the most sincere form of flattery. If that is the case, Norinco of China is the Mecca of flattery. Aside from their original designs, Norinco of China has copied many firearms and sold them including the M1911, Remington shotgun, SIG P226 pistol, M14 and also the M16. In the early 1980s, Norinco introduced the CQ M311-1. This was a semiautomatic only version of the M16A1 intended for commercial sales.

This rifle was definitely different and unique in several ways. You would notice immediately the unique shape of the stock, pistol grip and round handguards. Chambered in 5.56mm/.223 Rem., the rifle had a forward assist, standard small hole pivot pin, 1/12 twist barrel for the M193 ammunition and standard A1 sights. The Chinese are not known for making aesthetically pleasing firearms. They are known for making reliable firearms and that is where the focus is. The rifle appears to have a painted-on finish. The receivers are manufactured of 6064 T6 aluminum but not from forgings. They use a metal injected molding (MIM) process. The outward appearance was not the quality of an LMT or Colt rifle; then again the rifle is half the cost. The rifle was also produced in .222 Remington caliber for export to countries that cannot have military caliber rifles such as Italy. These semiautomatic rifles are still for sale in the markets of Canada, South Africa and Europe. As far as the United States is concerned, the Norinco CQ is quite rare. Due to the importation ban of military products from China by President Bush, less than 500 CQ rifles ever entered the U.S.

Right and left side of the Norinco CQ-A; a copy of the U.S. M4A1 carbine. Slight differences can be noted but for most you have to look really close.

Rifles were also built for military and law enforcement sales; these were known as the CQ-311/CQM-311. This is basically a Chinese copy of the M16A1 selective fire rifle with the unique stock, pistol grip and round handguards. Sales were made to the Cambodian Royal Army, Thailand Royal Navy and Costal Defense Command, Libyan Army and Syria. Paraguay manufactures a copy of the CQ-311 for military use

The CQ-A
Released in 2006 was the CQ-A; a Chinese copy of the M4A1 carbine. In looking at this rifle, it holds true that it was not designed to be a pretty gun but to be a functional military rifle – which it is.

The receiver extension permits six positions for the commercial diameter stock assembly.

The upper receiver has an early “Tear Drop” style forward assist with a flat top Mil-Std 1913 rail upper receiver. The barrel is 14.5 inches with a 1/9 inch twist. The barrel has a painted-on black finish. The barrel has a rifle barrel extension (no extended feed ramps) as well as a rifle upper receiver without extended feed ramps. The ejection port is the early AR-15 style. The front sight base is pinned in place and has a bayonet lug with a sling swivel riveted into the front sight base. The A1-style birdcage flash suppressor is held on with the early spring washer. The rifle uses a 5 position round A1-style front sight post. The handguards are the same shape as the M4 double heat shield handguards. However, there is only a single heat shield on the bottom handguard on the CQ-A. The rifle comes with a detachable carrying handle. This is also a MIM part. The locking nut screw is not peened so the locking nuts will come off. The detachable carrying handle and the receiver are both serialized; in this case they both say 009. The rails on the top of the receiver are not numbered. There is no consistency in the numbers that appear on the rifle. The serial number, numbers on the upper and carrying handle, bolt carrier, upper under forward assist and lower near the trigger are all different. The only two that coincide are the upper and removable carrying handle.

The markings on the left receiver are the Norinco mark with the model number 311-3 indicating it is chambered in .222 Remington caliber. This is a commercial semiautomatic only rifle. The right is the selective fire CQ-A rifle, which is a copy of the M4A1 carbine.

The bolt carrier looks fairly standard. There is a large crater around the firing pin retainer pin on the right side to allow the pin to be pushed out with a small finger. The machining is fairly crude but this is only cosmetics we are talking about. The carrier key is staked in place. Unlike the norm, which use round wedges to stake, the CQ-A uses square wedges to stake the carrier key. Both the bolt and the carrier have the British BNP proof mark on them. There is no extractor spring buffer.

The lower receiver has a 6-position receiver extension with a commercial receiver extension. The stock is a commercial polymer black stock. The receiver endplate has ambidextrous sling/1-point sling adapter mount on it. This actually hinders access to the forward assist. The receiver extension nut was not staked nor torqued down. The buffer in the CQ is an H weight. The receiver is MIM and painted black. The profile of the lower receiver is the older A1-style. The lower does not feature the strengthened front pivot pin area or reinforced receiver extension area on the lower receiver. The selector lever is ambidextrous. The receiver also has the British proof mark right under where it has AUTO marked on the left side of the receiver. The right side of the receiver is not marked SAFE, SEMI or AUTO. The receiver has an A2-style pistol grip and a MIM trigger guard that opens for use with heavy gloves. The magazine release button is also MIM. The magazine catch is ambidextrous and appears to be a copied Norgon ambidextrous magazine catch. The bolt catch is a little different; it is not consistent in shape all the way around. This has nothing to do with function. The trigger pull was weighed at 5 1/2 pounds.

The receiver extension plate is ambidextrous for mounting a sling or a one point sling. Notice how it obstructs the use of the forward assist. You can also see the ambidextrous selector lever.

The rifle and 400 rounds of M855 ball ammunition were taken to the Pro Gun Club Range in Nevada. The magazines used were standard GI aluminum, Magpul Gen 3 PMag and the Hera Arms polymer magazine. The first couple attempts to fire were unsuccessful. Examining the primer on the cartridges showed light strikes. Inspection revealed the hammer spring was damaged, not able to give enough energy to set off the round. The hammer spring was replaced with a US made spring, and the rifle then fired 400 rounds of mixed semi and automatic fire with no malfunctions of any sort. For accuracy testing, a Trijicon ACOG 4×20 scope was added and the target placed at 50 yards. The group was within 2 inches. Perhaps with better ammunition this could have tightened up. At the time of testing, only M855 ball was available. The Chinese reverse engineered the M4 carbine and made a rifle that functions flawlessly.

The CQ-A has seen military and law enforcement service. In fact, the legendary Chinese Snow Leopard Commandos have been seen using it. The Snow Leopards are a special police unit officially known as 3rd Group, 13th Detachment, People’s Armed Police, Beijing General Corps. They are trained to respond to counter terrorism, riots, bombs and highjacking. There was a video shown in China on the Snow Leopards that showed them armed with CQ-A rifles. This rifle has also seen service with the Paraguayan Special Forces.

The barrel extension on the CQ-A is a standard rifle extension with no extended feed ramps cut into it. Likewise, the upper receiver is a rifle receiver as well; no extended feed ramps cut there either.

The CQ-A is a military grade weapon that functions well. In the U.S., gun owners are very much interested in the high quality perfect finish rifles. The Chinese concern themselves with combat reliable guns with appearance being of little concern. Semiautomatic rifles of the CQ-A are available all over the world. They are cost effective and people can afford them. In Canada they are looked upon as starter rifles. Foreign militaries can afford to equip their troops and police with a low cost rifle that functions the same as the higher cost rifles.

The Emerson Electric Company was founded in 1890 in St. Louis, Missouri as the Emerson Electric Manufacturing Company. The company initially produced electric motors and then went on to produce entire electricity powered machines like fans, sewing machines, and power tools. By the time the Second World War broke out, Emerson turned its already half century of experience with electric power into lucrative defense contracts.

One of the most notable products that Emerson made during the Second World War was power turrets for aircraft. The U.S. strategy of daylight aerial bombing raids over occupied Europe led to a demand for improved defensive armament for bomber aircraft. Emerson joined other companies like Bendix, Erco, Martin, and Sperry to produce powered turrets for various Allied bomber aircraft. Among these was the Emerson Model 250 bow turret, which was used by the U.S. Army Air Forces and the U.S. Navy on Consolidated B-24J and PBY aircraft respectively.

After the end of the Second World War, Emerson’s work with the U.S. military continued. By the end of the 1950s, Emerson had become one of the companies cooperating with U.S. Army efforts to develop armament subsystems for helicopters, a relatively new frontier at the time. One of the first standardized armament subsystems for U.S. Army helicopters, the M6 armament subsystem for the UH-1 series of helicopters, began with work Emerson started in 1958.

The first notable application of the TAT product line was the integration of the TAT-101 turret into Bell’s Model 207 Sioux Scout attack helicopter demonstrator. (U.S. Army Aviation Museum via Ray Wilhite)

The M6 was a fully powered weapon system, involving two sponsons mounted on each side of the aircraft, each mounting two 7.62mm M60C machine guns. The mounts could be elevated eleven degrees and depressed sixty-three degrees. The mounts could also be traversed inboard twelve degrees and outboard seventy degrees. A safety mechanism prevented the guns from traversing inboard enough to fire into the aircraft fuselage. This was all controlled from the co-pilot’s station, which was fitted with a flexible sighting system. The guns could also be locked in a forward position and fired by the pilot. Emerson later developed a variant of this subsystem, which also allowed for the carriage of 2.75-inch rocket pods. Further variants were developed from these, replacing the four M60C machine guns with two 7.62mm M134 “Miniguns.” The Minigun and rocket combination, which was designated the M21 armament subsystem, became one of the most popular armament combinations for UH-1 gunships during the conflict in Vietnam.

Emerson did not stop there, however. During the 1960s and 1970s, Emerson developed an entire line of powered turrets for aircraft, primarily helicopters. Emerson marketed these systems both to the U.S. military and overseas as part of the Tactical Armament Turret (TAT) line. Emerson’s in-house nomenclature designated these systems with the prefix TAT followed by a three digit number. The TAT family included aircraft turrets, as well as turrets for land vehicles and ships and other watercraft. Some turrets were marketed as being readily suitable for use in various environments.

Few products from Emerson’s TAT line met with significant success and many never progressed beyond the developmental stage, possibly never making it off the drafting table. While the TAT line was a major product offering, little information remains readily available about it. By the 1980s, Emerson had dropped the TAT nomenclature from its marketing literature. It is likely that any overview of the line is incomplete. For Emerson itself, an end to an era came in 1990 when the company completely divested its Government and Defense Group division. It was spun off to form the ESCO Electronics Corporation. Emerson no longer lists armament products on its website.

The Marine Corps purchased a total of ninety-four TAT-101E turrets for its UH-1Es. Seen here is one of these aircraft at the Bell factory. (National Museum of Naval Aviation via Ray Wilhite)

TAT Origins: The TAT-101, TAT-103 and TAT-111
The first product in Emerson’s TAT line was the TAT-101, a turret featuring two 7.62mm M60C machine guns. The turret’s power supply and five hundred round ammunition magazine were external to the turret. The turret was flexible, allowing for elevation, depression, and left and right traverse, which could all be controlled by using a flexible sighting system like the one developed for Emerson’s M6 armament subsystem. A number of subvariants were produced. For instance, Emerson offered the TAT-101D turret for the UH-1D helicopter. This particular turret had seventy three degrees of traverse left or right and the guns could be elevated fifteen degrees and depressed forty-five degrees. It is unclear whether all TAT-101 turrets had the same flexibility specifications or whether it varied depending on the aircraft to which the turret was fitted.

The first notable application of the TAT-101 came in 1963 after Bell Helicopter had been awarded a contract to produce a proof of concept attack helicopter demonstrator. The resulting aircraft, the Bell Model 207 Sioux Scout, took elements of Bell’s earlier Model 47G and 47J Sioux aircraft, but coupled with a completely new front fuselage. This new front gave the helicopter a look that is now common to most dedicated attack helicopters, with its two-man crew seated in tandem, one behind the other, and a with the Emerson turret in the chin position.

The U.S. Army decided not to pursue the Sioux Scout, but it did pave the way for future attack helicopter development. Emerson subsequently offered variants of the TAT-101 to the U.S. military for the UH-1 series of helicopters, marketing the TAT-101D to the U.S. Army and the TAT-101E to the Marine Corps for their UH-1E. In addition, given the larger main cabin of the UH-1D, Emerson also offered the option of a second flexible sighting system mounted on a sliding track attached to the cabin roof for individuals situated in the rear of the helicopter.

Emerson also offered the TAT-101D for the UH-1D, the general arrangement of which is outlined in this artwork. (National Air and Space Museum)

The U.S. Army did not procure the TAT-101D turret, but the U.S. Marine Corps did procure the TAT-101E. The Marine Corps purchased a total of ninety-four TAT-101Es, beginning to modify the UH-1E to carry them in April 1967. Aircraft fitted with the turret were used by helicopter units in Vietnam. Marine Corps experience with the turret in the Southeast Asian environment was not positive. The turret was found to be fragile and sensitive to environmental factors. Though delivered with a protective cover, Marine aircrews often dispensed with it due to the need to conduct frequent repairs. Instead, when the aircraft was on the ground, the turret assembly was wrapped in some manner of protective covering. By April 1972, the TAT-101Es had been removed from all aircraft.

Emerson also sought foreign sales for the TAT-101 series. The Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) evaluated a variant of the TAT-101D in the 1960s for its UH-1D aircraft. The turret for the FRG was designated as the TAT-103 and differed from the basic TAT-101 turret only in that 7.62mm MG1 machine guns were substituted for the M60s on turrets offered to the U.S. military. Emerson had already marketed the TAT-101 as being able to readily accept various major 7.62mm machine guns in use by the North Atlantic Treaty Alliance, including the MG1 and FN MAG. The FRG had no better an experience with the system and decided against procuring the system for its UH-1D fleet, canceling the program in August 1972.

In addition to the TAT-101 and TAT-103 turrets, Emerson developed a derivative of the turret with smaller ammunition magazines inside the turret itself. This was designated as the TAT-111. Emerson also marketed the TAT-101 for naval applications.

Minigun TATs: The TAT-102 and TAT-112
Emerson’s second TAT offering, the TAT-102, was similar in basic design to the TAT-101, but instead of having two machine guns it was designed specifically for the General Electric Minigun. Like the TAT-101, the turret’s power supply and ammunition magazine were external to the turret was flexible allowing for elevation, depression, and left and right traverse linked to a flexible sighting system. As the Minigun was electrically driven, by controlling the amount of power to the gun, the weapon’s rate of fire could also be controlled. In the TAT-102, the weapon could be set to fire at either two thousand or four thousand rounds per minute.

The TAT product line was not Emerson’s first foray into helicopter armament. Seen here is the left hand portion of the M6 (XM6E3) armament subsystem mounted on an HU-1B helicopter. (U.S. Army Aviation Museum via Ray Wilhite)

The TAT-102 was notably the first chin turret used on Bell’s AH-1G Cobra, continuing the close cooperation between Bell and Emerson in armed helicopters. The AH-1G was an outgrowth of Bell’s Model 209, a private venture to develop a purpose built attack helicopter. The Army initially procured the AH-1G in 1966 as an interim solution as delays continued to hound the Advanced Aerial Fire Support System (AAFSS) program. The prototype Model 209 and the initial production AH-1Gs featured the TAT-102 turret (sometimes also referred to as the TAT-102A), along with an eight thousand round magazine. The TAT-102 was only viewed as an interim system and was seen as being limited with its single gun. It was quickly replaced by the TAT-141 on the AH-1G.

In addition to being used on the AH-1G, the TAT-102 was also used on U.S. Air Force and U.S. Navy helicopters. The Navy’s HH-2C Seasprite, a specially configured version of the helicopter for the combat search and rescue, was initially fitted with a TAT-102 turret – the TAT-102K – in the chin position. The turret was mounted to the left of the aircraft centerline under the co-pilot’s position. Like the TAT-101, the TAT-102K had reliability issues, but also simply affected the aircraft’s center of gravity and added considerable weight. In many cases the turrets were removed from HH-2Cs and the turret was not a feature on the follow-on HH-2D.

Perhaps more interestingly, Emerson offered versions of the TAT-102 turret that were more like gun pods that could be carried on an aircraft’s stores stations like standard aircraft ordnance. The pod contained the TAT-102 turret and an eight thousand round magazine. The U.S. Air Force procured a limited number of TAT-102Bs for use on their CH-3E and HH-3E Jolly Green Giant aircraft, while the U.S. Navy procured a limited number of TAT-102Cs for use on their HH-3A Sea King aircraft. On the CH-3E and HH-3E, TAT-102Bs would be mounted in lieu of the jettisonable fuel tanks normally carried. On the HH-3A, a TAT-103C could be carried on the stores stations on either side of the aircraft, normally used on Navy SH-3A aircraft to carry torpedoes or depth charges. The guns were aimed using flexible sighting systems mounted in the main cabin of both types of aircraft.

Emerson developed all of the turrets for the abortive AH-56A Cheyenne attack helicopter, including the TAT-123 depicted in this artwork. The TAT-123 received the designation XM53. (U.S. Army Aviation Museum via Ray Wilhite)

The use of the TAT-102B and TAT-102C was limited for many of the same reasons as the TAT-102K on the HH-2C. The added weight reduced mission endurance and aircraft maneuverability. Air Force pilots were reportedly unhappy to have to choose between weapons and fuel on CSAR missions, where running out of fuel could place both the aircraft’s crew and any potential survivors in additional danger. Pintle mounted weapons at the crew doors and the rear ramp were more popular defensive armament on Air Force CH-3Es and HH-3Es and Navy HH-3As.

Also, as with the TAT-101, Emerson developed a derivative of the turret with smaller ammunition magazines inside the turret itself. This was designated as the TAT-112.

Arming the AH-56A: The TAT-123, TAT-124, and TAT-132
Though it developed turrets for use on the Bell AH-1 series of helicopters, Emerson also developed the turrets for the Lockheed AH-56A Cheyenne, the helicopter selected for the Army’s AAFSS program. The AH-56A helicopter was designed to feature two turrets, one in the chin, and one under the center of the fuselage, which could rotate along with the gunner’s seat – the XM112 swiveling gunner’s station. Sighting could also be achieved using the XM110 helmet mounted sight or the XM114 reflex sight in the pilot’s position. To provide additional flexibility, AH-56As could be fitted with one of two different chin turrets as well.

The two chin turrets were the TAT-123 and TAT-124. The major difference between the two was the weapon mounted. The TAT-123 contained a single XM196 machine gun, a variant of the basic M134 Minigun specifically designed for the installation that differed from the basic gun in that it lacked a rate limiter. The TAT-124 contained a single 40mm M129 automatic grenade launcher. The TAT-123 was coupled with a magazine containing over eleven thousand rounds. The TAT-124 on the other hand had a magazine with only seven hundred and eighty rounds. The TAT-123 and TAT-124 turrets received the designations XM53 and XM51 respectively. The TAT-132 belly turret contained a 30mm XM140 automatic cannon and fed from a magazine with a capacity of two thousand and ten rounds. The TAT-132 received the designation XM52.

The TAT-141 was the most successful product in the line, becoming the standard armament for the U.S. Army’s AH-1G, AH-1Q, AH-1S, and AH-1P helicopters. The TAT-141 received the designation M28. (U.S. Army Aviation Museum via Ray Wilhite)

Cannon Armed: The TAT-136 and TAT-140
Not to be dissuaded from a less than enthusiastic response to the TAT-102B, Emerson proposed additional methods of up-gunning U.S. Air Force HH-3Es in the late 1960s. The first of these proposals simply involved the fitting of a TAT-102 turret to the underside of the aircraft’s rear cargo ramp. In flight, the ramp would be lowered to make the turret level with the underside of the fuselage and from there it could provide three hundred and sixty degree coverage. The weapon would be controlled from one of four sighting stations or from a master control station in the cockpit.

At the same time, Emerson also proposed the fitting of two turrets at the front of the sponsons on the left and right side of the CH-53A aircraft, which the Air Force was investigating as a replacement for the HH-3E in the CSAR role. These turrets, the TAT-136, could be fitted with larger automatic cannon and installed in the sponsons would provide over one hundred and eighty degrees of coverage on either side of the aircraft. According to Emerson, the TAT-136, which was also offered as an armament option for the AH-1G, could accommodate a 20mm Mk 12 Mod 0 cannon, a 20mm M24 cannon, or a 30mm XM140 cannon. The U.S. Air Force decided against both the TAT-102 ramp arrangement and the TAT-136 for use on the HH-3E and the HH-53B/C aircraft.

The TAT-136 was also not selected for the AH-1G, after which Emerson developed another turret for the AH-1G, specifically designed to provide a “universal” mount for a wide variety of weapons. Only one weapon could be fitted at any one time, but Emerson marketed the turret as being able to accommodate most machine guns and cannon in the U.S. arsenal from 7.62mm to 30mm. The TAT-140 was evaluated by the U.S. Army, after being passed over initially, fitted with the XM140 cannon and designated as the XM120. In the end, both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Marine Corps selected the General Electric universal turret fitted with the 20mm M197 cannon for their up-gunned AH-1 aircraft.

Issues with the TAT-102B and TAT-102C did not dissuade Emerson from proposing a TAT-102 installation on the rear cargo ramp of the HH-3E to the U.S. Air Force. (National Air and Space Museum)

Arming the AH-1G: The TAT-141
In addition to the TAT-136 and TAT-140, Emerson also offered the TAT-141 as an option for additional firepower on the AH-1G. Unlike the TAT-136 and TAT-140, which were passed over, the TAT-141 became the standard armament for the AH-1G, receiving the designation M28. This turret was further refined and remained in use on the AH-1Q, AH-1S, and AH-1P Cobra helicopters, with the final variant being designated as the M28A3.

A significant improvement over the TAT-102, the TAT-141 allowed for the mounting of two M134 Miniguns, two M129 automatic grenade launchers, or one of each. The latter configuration became the most common. The weapons in the TAT-141 could be elevated twenty degrees and depressed fifty degrees, and the turret could be traversed one hundred and ten degrees to the left or right. The weapons fed from separate magazines, the type of which depended on which weapon was fitted in which position. Machine guns fed from four thousand round magazines, while grenade launchers fed from thirty round magazines.

M61A1 Turrets: The TAT-157 and TAT-161
Emerson’s TAT-157 and TAT-161 were both turrets for the General Electric M61A1 Vulcan cannon. There is some dispute about the turret nomenclatures, however. On 20 August 1968, the U.S. Air Force’s Air Staff directed Air Force Systems Command to mount an M61A1 cannon in place of the rotating bomb bay door on a B-57G Tropic Moon III aircraft as part of a project codenamed Pave Gat. This came after the demonstrated success of the M61A1 cannons mounted on the AC-130 gunship when attacking truck convoys. The gun would be linked to the onboard Low Light Level Television (LLLTV) and laser range finder on the Tropic Moon III aircraft.

Emerson also offered podded versions of the TAT-102, such as this TAT-102B, seen mounted on a U.S. Air Force HH-3E. (U.S. Air Force)

A weapons pallet that combined a turret developed by Emerson, an ammunition magazine, and power supply was fabricated in early 1969. The pallet arrangement, which replaced the aircraft’s bomb bay door, allowed the system to be rapidly mounted and demounted without major modification to the aircraft. Emerson documentation says that the turret system used for the Pave Gat program was the TAT-157. Air Force documentation says that it was the TAT-161. Emerson documentation acknowledges both turrets and it could be that they were functionally identical, but the TAT nomenclatures only refer to the specific type of aircraft on which the turret was to be fitted. Emerson documentation says that it proposed the TAT-161 as yet another possible armament option for the AH-1 series of helicopters.

Regardless of the appropriate nomenclature, Pave Gat continued into 1970. In addition to the weapon’s pallet, the aircraft’s AN/AQX-5 weapon delivery system was modified by Westinghouse to aim the gun. Westinghouse was also the primary contractor in the integration of the gun system. By April 1970, after a number of flight tests, the system was proven to be feasible. At that time, Westinghouse proposed the Air Force procure two Pave Gat systems for evaluation. The Air Force agreed and proposed one aircraft be tested at Eglin Air Force Base in Florida and another prototype system be deployed for operational evaluation at Ubon Royal Thai Air Base in Thailand.

The first aircraft arrived at Eglin Air Force Base in January 1971 and began conducting testing and evaluation. During these flights, the aircraft also tested a special type of flechette ammunition, which was also being developed under Pave Gat. The arrowhead-shaped flechettes, made of dense metal, were specifically designed to do maximum damage to soft-skinned vehicles that would be the aircraft’s primary target. Delays affected the Pave Gat program and in August 1971 it was decided as part of the U.S. drawdown in Southeast Asia to return the deployed B-57Gs in Thailand to the United States. Despite the functional nature of the Pave Gat system, it was decided that an operational evaluation of less than ninety days would be insufficient time to glean any useful information. In addition, the AC-130 gunship had fully proven itself already and the requirement for a second system to fill a similar role was reduced. On 21 December 1971, the Pave Gat program was terminated.

The second member of the TAT product line was the TAT-102, which featured a single Minigun. This TAT-102 is mounted on an early AH-1G. (U.S. Army Aviation Museum via Ray Wilhite)

TAT Cousins: The Mini-TAT and TAP-239
As mentioned, the Emerson TAT line gradually faded from view in the 1970s. Still, Emerson did market a small turret system for a period as the Mini-TAT. This system was designed to be mounted on almost any helicopter and was armed with a Minigun. The weapon was mounted so that while on the ground it would be folded under the aircraft in a stowed position. Once in flight, the weapon would be lowered and have a full three-hundred and sixty degrees of rotation below the helicopter.

The U.S. Army explored the Mini-TAT as part of the Modem Army Selected Systems Test, Evaluation and Review (MASSTER) as a possible weapon for scout helicopters. The system was also evaluated by the Canadians, who loaned some to the U.S. Air Force as part of the Joint Countering Attack Helicopters (J-CATCH) program, which sought to develop tactics to counter Soviet attack helicopters such as the Mi-24 Hind. Though it was not procured by the U.S. or the Canadians, Emerson continued to market the Mini-TAT. At least one sale was made to Oman, who mounted the system on Bell 206 helicopters. Emerson continued to offer the system into the 1980s, but having dispensed with the TAT nomenclature, relabeled the system as the Flexible Turret System (FTS).

Emerson also produced at least one traditional gun pod called the TAP-239, with TAP standing for Tactical Armament Pod. The TAP-239 contained a single 20mm M39 cannon, and was marketed again primarily for the AH-1 series of helicopters, though it could be mounted on any aircraft with the appropriate mounting hardware.

In a previous article published in SADJ, we examined the QBZ95 (Type 95) assault rifle used by the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) in China.  In this issue we expand our remit to look at a wider range of standard small arms used by infantry units in China’s enormous military.  As before, the photos and much of the technical data derive from the Hong Kong Garrison of the PLA.

The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) returned to China’s bosom on 1 July 1997.  The HK Garrison is a force of carefully selected PLA personnel; somewhere between 4,000 and 5,000 soldiers strong.  Strategically, it may not be a large garrison for the PLA, but it does represent a politically symbolic force for the Chinese government.  Thus, the force is often among the vanguard to field new weapon systems.

We will examine a total of nine different weapons operated by the HK Garrison, and of course these are representative of what are used by the wider PLA.  The weapons have been arranged in general order of size.  We would also point out that the nomenclature used here is that favored by the PLA itself.  Whereas many Western sources add hyphens in weapon designations, the PLA does not do so (e.g. QLZ87 rather than QLZ-87).

A QSL92 pistol in 5.56mm caliber belonging to the Hong Kong Garrison of the PLA. Note the ambidextrous safety/decocking lever that is mounted on both sides of the handgun.

QSZ92 Pistol
The QSZ92, a product of Norinco, has been the standard semiautomatic pistol used by the PLA since it was introduced in the late 1990s.  It is believed development commenced around 1994.  Of conventional design with some idiosyncrasies, it can be chambered in either 9x19mm Parabellum or 5.8x21mm caliber (referred to as the QSZ92-9 and QSZ92-5.8 respectively).  The frame is made of polymer and it is recoil-operated and has a locked breech.  The barrel rotates upon recoil to lock and unlock itself from the slide using two rows of split locking lugs.

A total of 15 9mm rounds, or 20 rounds of 5.8mm ammunition, are dual-stacked in the magazine.  The pistol employs a double-action trigger mechanism and a three-dot fixed sight.  A laser light or flashlight can be fitted on an integral rail underneath the barrel.

The PLA’s preferred caliber for soldiers (e.g. special forces) is 9mm, while commanders and officers are issued the 5.8mm-caliber version.  The handgun is also commonly used by police forces in China.  The QSZ92 has been adopted by the militaries of Bangladesh and Cambodia.

Weight:760 g
Length:190 mm
Barrel length:111 mm
Magazine:15 rounds (for 9mm)
Muzzle velocity:350 m/s
Effective range:50 m

The PLA’s 5.8mm QCW05 submachine gun is easily identified by the carry handle, whereas the JS has a Picatinny rail fitted instead. Note the silencer that is here attached to the barrel.

QCW05 5.8mm Submachine Gun
The QCW05 (its name Weisheng Chongfeng Qiang literally means ‘Silenced Assault Gun’) is a 5.8x21mm-caliber submachine gun that joined PLA service after winning a competition to replace Type 79 and 85 silenced submachine guns in 2001.  Although it bears some familial resemblance to the standard QBZ95 assault rifle, it was jointly developed by the 208 Research Institute and Jianshe Industries (Group) Corporation in Chongqing.  The latter is part of China South Industries Group, and the QCW05 was officially unveiled at the International Police Equipment Expo in Beijing in 2005.

The QCW05 of bullpup configuration operates on the blowback principle, firing from an open bolt.  It is said to possess easy construction characteristics, and polymers are used for elements such as the shoulder stock and pistol grip.  The weapon can fire in single, 3-round-burst or fully automatic modes.  The gun is fed from a four-row box magazine that holds 50 rounds.  Like the Type 95 rifle, spent cases eject only from the right side, meaning it is not advisable to fire left-handed.  It has a deliberately low rate of fire to aid controllability.  It has a flip-up rear sight.

The PLA fires 5.8x21mm cartridges with the QCW05, and it is typically issued to non-combat personnel such as vehicle crews and aircrews.  Its compact size makes it easy to use in cramped environments like vehicle interiors.  Of course, it is also intended for Special Forces use, hence the detachable silencer that can be fitted.  The 5.8x21mm DCV05 subsonic round is available when the silencer is employed.

When chambered in 9mm caliber, it is known as the JS, and it is commonly used by the People’s Armed Police (PAP).  The JS has a lower-capacity 30-round magazine owing to the larger 9mm rounds.  The QCQ05 is a version without a suppressor.

Weight:2.2 kg
Length:500 mm
Barrel length:250 mm
Magazine:50 rounds
Muzzle velocity:150 m/s (w/ silencer)
Effective range:50 m (silencer fitted)

A QBU88 sniper rifle seen with its bipod and 4x telescopic sight attached. It offers a longer range than the standard QBZ95 assault rifle. It has adjustable iron sights fitted as standard.

QBU88 5.8mm Sniper Rifle
The QBU88 (or Type 88) is more of a designated marksman rifle than a true sniper rifle, and it is perfectly capable of providing aimed semiautomatic fire at longer ranges.  This is a significant weapon since it was the first of a new generation of Chinese weapons to use the proprietary 5.8x42mm caliber.  As indicated by its Type 88 designation, it was adopted by the PLA sometime in the late 1980s or thereafter.

The gas-operated QBU88 fires a heavier 5.8x42mm round, although it can still shoot the regular 5.8mm cartridge used with the Type 95 assault rifle.  The short-stroke gas piston is located above the barrel, and it utilizes a three-lug rotating bolt.  Diopter-type adjustable iron sights are standard, but typically it is fitted with a 4x magnification scope.  A night sight is also available, which can be fitted on a short rail.

This weapon is used by both the PLA and police in China.  Generally it is used in conjunction with a detachable bipod.

Weight:4.2 kg
Length:920 mm
Barrel length:620 mm
Magazine:10 rounds
Effective range:800 m

This QJY88 general-purpose machine gun is mounted on a tripod for sustained fire. It can alternatively be operated with just a bipod for the light machine gun role.

QJY88 5.8mm Machine Gun
The Type 88 is a 5.8x42mm general-purpose machine gun that replaced the incumbent Type 67.  It has an integral bipod or it can be mounted on a lightweight tripod for sustained fire.  A standard crew in such a role comprises two soldiers.

Despite its name incorporating the digits 88, it seems the weapon only entered PLA service earlier this millennium.  This light machine gun from the Norinco stable is reportedly not so popular among troops because it lacks the range and lethality of its predecessor.  Although lighter than the Type 67 machine gun, it is still considerably heavier than foreign counterparts such as the FN Minimi.

The QJY88 is air-cooled and gas-operated with a long-stroke gas piston, and the barrel can be quickly detached.  The weapon is fed from a 200-round disintegrating steel belt contained in a plastic box mounted on the left.  The standard round is 5.8x42mm.

Weight:11.8 kg (16 kg w/ tripod)
Length:1,160 mm
Barrel length:600 mm
Magazine:200 rounds
Muzzle velocity:895 m/s
Effective range:800 m

A QJZ89 heavy machine gun on display at the PLA’s Stonecutters Island Naval Base in Hong Kong. It is mounted on an adjustable-height tripod and an optical sight is fitted.

QJZ89 12.7mm Heavy Machine Gun
The QJZ89 is the Chinese equivalent of the M2 .50 cal. machine gun commonly used in the West.  This crew-served weapon offers sustained fire support for ground troops and it can also be mounted on light vehicles (the Dongfeng EQ2050 4×4, for example).  As well as attacking lightly protected targets and lightly armored vehicles, it could be used in the antiaircraft role too.  A standard weapon crew is three men, and it is fielded at both the battalion and company levels within the PLA.

The air-cooled Type 89 uses a gas-/recoil-operated action.  The machine gun is typically mounted on a tripod and the QJZ89 is fed from a 50-round belt contained in a box mounted on the left.  The detachable barrel can be quickly changed, while the muzzle brake is particularly large.  Its first public appearance was with the Hong Kong Garrison in 1997.

This heavy machine gun usually features an optical sight for improved long-range accuracy, but a night vision sight can also be mounted.  Its rate of fire is 450-600 rounds per minute, and it fires a 12.7x108mm round (armor-piercing, high explosive and incendiary are available).  The gunner operates the weapon by holding a pistol grip with rifle-type trigger, supported by a tubular shoulder stock.

Weight:17.5 kg (26 kg w/ tripod)
Length:1,920 mm
Barrel length:1,002 mm
Magazine:50 rounds
Muzzle velocity:825 m/s
Effective range:1,500 m

A QLZ87 35mm automatic grenade launcher displayed with an optical sight and rubber shoulder pad. Note the fitted 15-round drum magazine, and the smaller 6-round drum alongside.

QLZ87 35mm Automatic Grenade Launcher
This automatic grenade launcher (AGL) of 35mm caliber was developed by Norinco in the late 1980s, building upon studies of the Russian AGS-17 and development of the W87 export type.  Issued in the mid-1990s, it is notable for being the first such weapon to enter PLA service as standard issue.  It is issued at the platoon and company level to give direct fire support to infantry.

Great effort was invested into making the weapon as light as possible, which explains why a locked-breech action was chosen.  The QLZ87 can be operated in two ways: as a standard 12 kg type with bipod fired by a single soldier and with a range of 600 m; or a 20 kg tripod-mounted heavy version served by three crewmen and with a 1,750 m maximum range.  The tripod allows 360º traverse and an elevation range from -10º to 70º, which thus gives it a theoretical capability against low-flying aircraft.  It is gas-operated (direct impingement) and air-cooled.  A 3x optical sight is fitted as standard.  The QLZ87 can also be fitted on vehicles and helicopters to give them a degree of firepower.

The AGL fires a range of 35x32mm rounds, including high explosive (HE), high explosive anti-tank (HEAT), incendiary and smoke grenades in either single or burst mode.  Its sustained rate of fire is 45 rounds per minute.  The grenades can be loaded in either a 6-round or 15-round drum magazine underneath the weapon instead of a more complicated belt feed.  The 35mm grenades, weighing 250 g each, have a better blast radius performance (claimed 10 m kill radius) and armor penetration capacity (up to 80 mm) than 40mm grenades of the American Mk 19 AGL.

An unusual feature is the position of the pistol grip that extends laterally from the right side alongside the trigger and safety/fire selector.  Its rate of fire, especially when using the light version, must make accurate shooting difficult.  Another problem is the very low drum magazine capacity.  The PLA obviously opted for maneuverability instead of firepower with this AGL.  As the first generation adopted by the PLA, the QLZ87 apparently had some teething problems, and this would explain why the belt-fed QLZ04 AGL was later fielded.

Weight:20 kg (heavy variant)
Length:970 mm
Magazine:6 or 15 rounds
Muzzle velocity:200 m/s
Effective range:1,750 m

The QLT89 is a handheld grenade launcher that fires 50mm rounds at targets up to 800 m away. The lightweight weapon is fired by one man and there is no bipod attached.

QLT89 50mm Grenade Launcher
This is a handheld grenade launcher of 50mm caliber (i.e. it has no bipod), with the design being finalized in the early 1990s.  It weighs just 3.8 kg and is capable of lobbing a round out to 800 m to produce a suppressive-fire effect.  Components include the tube assembly, seat assembly, trigger assembly and strap.  A simple flip-out sight at the end of the tube helps with basic aiming.

The PLA highlights the QLT89’s lightness and ease of handling, as well as the fact that it does not produce smoke or flash, and makes minimal sound, when fired.  It is utilized by platoons and companies within the PLA.  The main round is a 50mm anti-personnel grenade that produces 800 fragments in a 16 m-radius kill zone. The grenade weighs 700 g and is 330 mm long. Smoke, incendiary and illumination grenades are also available for the QLT89.  An improved QLT89A has since been developed.

Weight:3.8 kg
Length:600 mm
Effective range:800 m

A PP87 mortar viewed from the front right. This is the standard 82mm mortar used by the PLA. Its maximum range is 4.66 km.

PP87 82mm Mortar
This is a larger crew-served mortar produced by Norinco.  The medium-caliber Type 87 replaced the older Type 67 and it is widely used at the battalion level.  The PP87 can fire three types of round – HE, smoke and illumination.

Weight:39.7 kg
Length:1,400 mm
Effective range:120 m – 4,660 m

This battalion-level PF98 rocket launcher is fitted with the more substantial digital fire control unit. The PLA weapon is here mounted on a regular tripod.

PF98 120mm Rocket Launcher
The final weapon we are presenting is the PF98 anti-tank rocket launcher from Norinco, which succeeded outdated Type 78 and 65 recoilless rifles.  Development of this more modern anti-tank weapon commenced in the 1990s, resulting in the PF98, and it fills the gap between individual rocket launchers and more sophisticated anti-tank guided missiles (ATGM).  The PF98 fires 120mm rockets designed to destroy enemy tanks, armored vehicles, bunkers and fortifications.

This weapon was first seen in the Macao Garrison of the PLA in 1999, but the PLA now widely fields the rocket launcher at battalion and company levels.  It can fire either a 120mm HE multipurpose or HEAT round, with the PLA claiming an 800 mm penetration capability for the latter.  This 6.3 kg HEAT round has a tandem warhead and an electronically controlled timer fuse.  The 7.5 kg HE round, meanwhile, contains 120 steel balls and incendiary material that can pierce 400 mm of armor.

The PF98 exists in two versions – one with a basic fire control unit with optical sight (with night vision channel), laser rangefinder, fire control computer and LED display (referred to as the battalion-level PF98); and the other with a simpler 4x optical sight with night vision channel (known as the company-level PF98).  The former version offers a much better chance of a hit since the system makes ballistic calculations for the gunner.

In 2010, the Hong Kong Garrison displayed a newer version called the PF98A.  The most obvious difference is a modified fire control unit that offers enhanced accuracy and fewer buttons to press (25 keys reduced to about 12).  The sight is improved & a new rocket was developed in 2006 too.  The PLA gives the PF98A’s length as 1.25 m, which reflects the altered and lighter launch tube (now approximately 7 kg in weight).

The one- or two-man crew can fire the PF98 from a tripod (with -6º to +30º elevation range, and 360º traverse) or from the shoulder.  Reaction time from target acquisition to firing for the original PF98 is 10 seconds, and between four and six rounds can be fired per minute.  The older fiberglass reusable tube launcher weighs approximately 10 kg.  Bangladesh, Indonesia and Zimbabwe have also acquired the PF98 system.

Weight:29 kg
Length:1,191 mm
Effective range:800m (HEAT), 1,800m (HE)

The Accuracy International AX PSR was developed to compete in USSOCOM’s solicitation H92222-09-PSR2 for a “Precision Sniper Rifle” on 15 January 2009.  The essence behind this solicitation and the numerous amendments that followed resulted in a final request for a modular rifle that could be quickly transformed from a 7.62mm to a .300 Winchester Magnum to a .338 Lapua Magnum (not necessarily in that order).  The official reason for the solicitation was to possibly replace the MK13, M40 and M24 platforms.

Owning an AX PSR allowed us to put it through its paces as we desired, with no limitations.  With the generous contribution of Fiocchi in providing us with 400 rounds of match grade (Fiocchi EXO) ammo and the use of both private and public ranges, we hope to have provided a close up view of this fantastic rifle and what it can achieve despite a major setback due to nature: very heavy snowfall the night before long range testing.

The original SOCOM solicitation stemmed from the fact that it was necessary to change/upgrade the then current sniper platforms in use in the U.S.  The principle calibers in use were the 7.62mm that was great for up to a generally accepted effective range of 800m and the .300 Winchester Magnum that was good for a few hundred more meters/yards.  The .338 Lapua Magnum (the L115A3 Accuracy International rifle) in use by the British Army was proving to be an exceptionally good extended range round, both in terms of accuracy, range and knockdown power.  It clearly did not possess the same terminal kinetic energy as a .50 BMG, however, that is hardly necessary when discussing knocking down the enemy as the .50 BMG comes into its own as an anti-material round.

Briefly, the barrels (one could expect that to mean to specifically change caliber, that is to say, barrel, bolt and magazine) within two minutes, though up to twenty minutes were noted during the go/no-go phase, the same applied to major breakdown of the weapon and subsequent reassembly.  The rifle should have a folding stock, overall maximum length not to exceed 52 inches and no individual component to exceed 40 inches and a 1913 rail was a must.  In terms of accuracy, using commercial ammunition, a maximum vertical spread (this spread was chosen to at least partially negate the lateral effect of wind) of 1 MOA (minute of arc) from 300 out 1,500 and the intervening 300m intervals was essential, no single 10 shot group should exceed 1.5 MOA.  An 80% confidence rate had to be achieved with at least 1,000 rounds fired before any potential failure.  The entire platform loaded with 5 rounds should not weigh more than 18 lbs.

The AX PSR as delivered to the client. The scope was an extra the shooter had ordered.

An important factor was that after disassembly and reassembly of the weapon, the zero should be maintained and finally, how the sniper platform should be delivered.  The major components specifically requested were: the rifle including the barrels, bolts and three magazines per caliber, sound suppressor (not in our case as sound suppressors are illegal for civilian use where we reside), mirage mitigating device, operator manual, sling, cleaning kit, bipod, drag bag and the hard carrying case.  All the above in the case the rifle tested meant a total weight (including the scope with no ammo) of about 115 pounds.

Accuracy International

Accuracy International was founded in 1978 by a group of top level competition shooters, most notably a two-time Olympic Gold medalist: Malcolm Cooper.  The idea was to produce rifles that had the precision of rifles used in top level competitions as well as have the ruggedness required by rifles used by law enforcement as well as the armed forces.  The range of rifles produced are household names for most shooters: AE, AW and the AX series.  To the best of our knowledge the only non-bolt action rifle ever produced by the company was the semiautomatic AS50 (as the name suggests, it is a .50 BMG) produced to respond to the request of a certain section of the U.S. Navy.  The rifles are used in at least 60 countries under different denominations in some cases, however, they are minor modifications.  The L115A3 (.338 Lapua Magnum rifle set an official world record confirmed kill in November 2009 at a range of 1.54 miles or 2.47km).  The company is quite right to want to maintain its reputation for being the best producer of sniper rifles in the world.

The impressive UK specification muzzle brake.

The AX PSR

The AX PSR has been designed in such a way that changing barrels is extremely simple because of the solidity of the action body and the generous dimensions of the barrel thread (a protective cover is provided for both muzzle brake and barrel thread when not attached to the rifle).  The thread has a 13/1 inch twist rate and a diameter of 1.07 inches with a length at either end of the thread and 1.18 inches at the threads.  The length of the entire barrel thread section that interlocks with the action is 1.5 inches.

The AX PSR when empty weighs in at 14.5lbs (6.6kg), fully extended it is 49.75 inches (1.26m) long, (well short of the originally required limit) and folded it is 39.5 inches (1.03m) long (just under said limit).  The trigger pull is long and smooth and is set at between 1.5kg and 2.0kg.

All the barrels are 26 inches long with four grooves and all have identical muzzle brakes attached (a UK specification in our case, clearly larger than the one for the U.S. market).  The barrels have also had a coating of specially treated ceramic paint.

A 4mm Allen (Hex) key is contained in the upper internal part of the cheek piece.  It can essentially be used to almost totally dissemble the rifle; just the screws on the scope mount are beyond its ability.

The barrels are made from match grade stainless steel (AISI416) and are all 26 inches long.  They are slightly conical with the external diameter at the muzzle being 22 mm (.88 inches) for all three calibers.  There are small but significant differences externally in order to identify the barrel even in the dark.

The 7.62mm barrel has a 1 in 12 twist rate and is identified by a single indented white dot near the muzzle; the same applies to the bolt of the 7.62mm.  The .300 Winchester Magnum barrel has a 1 in 11 twist rate and is identified by two indented yellow dots near the muzzle; again the same procedure for its bolt.  The .338 Lapua Magnum barrel has a 1 in 9.3 twist rate and is identified by three indented red dots near the muzzle and the same applies to the bolt.

This system clearly helps when changing caliber in the dark.  The magazines have also been given differentiating marks/forms to avoid loading the wrong magazine especially in the case of two similar in size magazines such as the .338LM and the .300WM.  The 7.62mm is a classic double stack magazine with no lip on the bottom, the same shape as for other Accuracy International rifles of the same caliber.  The .300WM on the other hand has a pronounced lip at the base, clearly distinguishing it from the larger .338 LM caliber as that magazine is a normal flat bottom.

The muzzle brake is very large and extremely effective.  There is very little recoil irrespective of caliber despite the Fiocchi EXO ammunition being quite potent.  As a simple test whilst shooting at the gongs, we turned the muzzle brake about 45 degrees.  The difference was impressive: with the muzzle brake set correctly, the reticle would stay on target, once changed at 500m range the reticle shifted about four to five meters.  Not a great surprise but an aspect that many underestimate when toying with muzzle brakes.  At the fore of the muzzle brake there is a ring that can be unwound and a suppressor added as well as unwinding the muzzle brake and attaching one more classically directly to the barrel.

The three different caliber bolts and their common bolt shroud and firing pin.

Changing Calibers – Barrels, Bolts and Magazines

This is surprisingly easy and took no member of the team, shooter or bystander more than ninety seconds to change caliber, i.e.: barrel, magazine and bolt and safely stow the exchanged equipment.

First, fold the stock of the rifle by depressing the release button next to the folding joint for ease of subsequent extraction and insertion of a new bolt.  Cock the bolt so that the firing pin is clearly visible, then put the safety lever to the first position (the second of the three clearly visible safety circles) and extract the bolt having depressed the bolt release catch.  Press the pin bolt and with the bolt in one hand turn the bolt shroud anticlockwise and after just over half a turn, the shroud including the firing pin will simply release.  Get the new bolt and do the reverse and insert the new bolt into position and then straighten the stock.  The bolts, as is the case with all Accuracy International bolts, are very well designed and made as well as being very robust, 0.9 inches in diameter (22mm).  One should not forget the impressive 6 front locking lugs, two sets of three, very solid and zero movement when locked and the bolts move like a dream even just slightly oiled.

Second, for ease of twisting the barrel at a right angle, the rifle was raised and the butt put on the floor after having extracted the Allen key from the cheek piece.  After a bit more than a full turn on the barrel clamping screw, the barrel could be twisted by hand and extracted.  The new barrel could then be inserted and then tightening the barrel clamping screw using the Allen key.  (Clearly, one must be careful not to overdo it and break the threads.  The recommended torque is 5.0 to 5.5 Nm.)  There is a helpful guide when screwing on the barrel to make sure that it is locked in position before using the Allen key: there is a barrel flange inspection slot painted red: by looking through that slot one can quickly check whether full contact has been made and lock the screw.  If the barrel is stuck or stiff to pull out, there is a clear flat area on both sides of the barrel just before the muzzle brake where a 22mm spanner can be used for leverage.

Third, changing magazines is the simplest part.  Depress the release catch and extract the magazine and insert the new one.  This procedure is simpler for the two magnum calibers as the magazines fit perfectly.  However, the 7.62mm magazine requires that an adapter be inserted in the same manner as a magazine.  A click will be heard once it is in position as the retaining plunger button becomes clearly visible on the extractor side of the rifle (right hand firing rifle).  In order to release the magazine, press the release button and extract the magazine as normal, then use the Allen key to depress the retaining plunger and push the adapter out.

The AX PSR is one of the only sniper platforms, if not the only one from this solicitation, that has ten round capacity magazines as standard for all three calibers with three magazines per caliber as requested provided.

The Rail and Bipod

The rail, as per USSOCOM request, is a 1913 type and made from very light but high resistance alloy.  All manner of optics and devices can be attached on all four sides of the rail.  There is plenty of space between the rails and the fully freefloating barrels within.  The rail can be released very easily by using the usual Allen key and unscrewing two retaining screws locked into the chassis, via the polymer lower chassis.  In the U.S., that is sufficient.  If using a UK style muzzle brake that should be removed, simply unscrew it with the Allen key and unwind it, this being due to the much larger muzzle brake.

The AX PSR can clearly use any type of bipod that can be attached to a rail.  In our case we have the factory bipod for the PSR, which is attached and released by simply depressing the release catch.  This particular bipod can be attached at any point along the rail by simply unscrewing the two retaining screws.  The bipod legs can be extended like that of a Harris BR bipod and either be used in a fixed position by tightening the star shaped device or free moving for uneven terrain.  It is very wide at the base and extremely low allowing for great stability.

View of the right side of the rifle.

The Receiver

This rifle, although highly modular, has one central piece that is essentially produced from a single block of steel.  The chassis, action, trigger mechanism and pistol grip are all basically housed in one block.  This makes it very robust, obviously having been designed to be able to house the largest caliber – the .338 Lapua Magnum – and it can easily accommodate the other calibers in terms of recoil and pressures.  A Picatinny rail has been incorporated onto the action and guarantees more stability for the telescopic sights especially when fixed by the mono block rings by three retaining screws and a retaining lug that fits perfectly in the rail for even more stability and safety.

The Stock

The stock has been made from high grade alloys and polymer.  The instant visual difference between this stock and that of the normal AX rifles is that this is skeletal.

The stock, despite appearing fragile, is actually solid and comfortable to grip given the multitude of adjustments that can be had in adjusting the height and horizontal distance of the cheek piece as well as extension of the butt if desired.  The butt, too, can be adjusted 360 degrees.  The rear grip is also adjustable in a horizontal direction.

The shape of the alloy part of the stock that gives the stock its strength would also seem to have been designed with the tip of the triangle towards the action and two parallel lines going to the butt in order to better spread the recoil pressure.  It is clear that the strong and light alloys have been used where mechanical stress/strain is involved and the polymer for “comfort.”

The Scope

The scope mounted on our AX PSR is the same one that won the USSOCOM contract.  It is a Schmidt & Bender 5-25×56 PM II/LP/MTC/LT with the addition of an extension with a honeycomb filter.  The model mounted on our PSR has the P4L fein (L meaning that the center of the crosshairs can be illuminated) reticle set in the second focal plane.  The click values are 1/4 MOA on both elevation and windage turrets.  This scope is essentially the same as the classical 5-25×56 PM II/LP apart from the color.  It also has a locking function by using the supplied Allen key to block the elevation and windage turrets.  The scope without the honeycomb extension weighs in at 1.15kg (about 2.53 lbs.) and is 41 cm long (16.1 inches).  The tube is 34 mm thick.  On a clear day at 800m, one can see near misses enter the snow in the mountain – not the splash but the a darkish hole of a direct entry into deep snow.

The scope is very robust and the various turrets/drums for parallax, elevation, windage and illumination can all be used easily with shooting gloves in the cold.  The same applies to the thick rubber magnification ring as well as the eyepiece diopter.

The Ammunition

We are most grateful that Fiocchi provided us with 400 rounds of very high grade competition ammunition called EXO in order to test the AX PSR.  This ammunition has been very specially designed and is produced by hand at the head office factory of Fiocchi in Lecco in northern Italy.

We received 100 rounds of .308W HPDT in 175 gr. and a further 100 rounds of .300 Win Mag HPBT in 190 gr.  We then also received two lots of 100 rounds of .338 Lapua Magnum rounds: 250gr and 300gr.

Test Procedure

As we had 400 rounds with which to do a lot of work it was decided to divide the rounds as follows for each of the four lots.  Due to the above mentioned limitations and the atrocious weather we could not replicate the original tests, especially talking it out to the full 1,500m:

• 5 rounds to zero the rifle at 100m
• 10 rounds for chronograph tests at the Vigevano shooting range whom we thank for their time and patience.  This allowed a basic ballistics table to be created to use as much ammo as possible in the tests in the range and mountains without wasting too much on “climbing” towards the target.
• 10 rds for 2 five shot groups at 100m
• 10 rds for 2 five shot groups at 300m
• 20 rds for shooting at 5×5” gongs at 500m
• 20 rds for shooting at 5 x5” gongs at 600m
• 10 rds for shooting at 5×5” gongs at 800m
• 5 rds were the most that could be spared to correct if the calculations were too far off.

When shooting at the range, we used standard procedure where each shooter attending the range has one hour, therefore, we fired our groups of 40 rds per distance in one hour including changing barrels.

All shooting was done from a prone position using the bipod with the butt against the shoulder with no other form of support such as rear bench rests, sandbags, etc. 

An important premise that should be made is that these four hundred rounds are the first that this AX PSR has fired and was taken out of the box.  Therefore, there is no breaking in of the barrel, a few rounds to zero the weapon and test the robustness of the rifle by dunking it and the scope in snow filling the magazine, chamber (partially) and muzzle brake with snow.  The first round was understandably harder than normal to chamber because of the compressed snow, however, it fired without problem and there were no stoppages and shots were on target.

The PSR’s bipod.

We had to resort to using gongs as opposed to firing groups onto paper targets as it was physically impossible go across the valley & up the side of the mountain with the targets due to the heavy overnight snow.

Results

All shooting on the mountain was filmed with HD video as we could not physically set up, let alone take down paper targets, hence the sole use of 5 by 5 inch gongs (the smallest available at all ranges).

Below are the average speeds recorded at the Campo di Tiro di Monte Varro: the main atmospherics were as follows: 21F (-6°C), 82% humidity, pressure 892 mb and elevation 996m (3,267 feet).

The following average speeds were taken at the shooting range of Vigevano: the main atmospherics were as follows: 54F (12.3°C), 74.3% humidity, pressure 1000 mb and elevation 116 m (380 feet).

The results in the mountains were surprisingly good seeing as how we had treated the rifle with a good immersion in the snow.  It took 3 shots to hit the 500 m gong from our initial 100 m zero.  We easily stayed well within the 80% confidence rate required by the USSOCOM go/no go tests, most cases we were at 100%.  Most of the shooting took place below the minimum temperature as dictated in the go/no go program: 40F.  The gongs were 5 by 5 inches; therefore, even in the worst case scenario we were well within the 1 MOA.  From video evidence, half that easily as the strikes are clearly visible especially with the .338LM rounds.  The gongs did a number of full 360 degrees that was both gratifying as a shooter and entertaining for those watching.

Then came the range tests involving 2 sets of 5-rd groups per lot at 100m & 300m.

Groupings at 100 m at 16:00-17:00, 26°F, 656 feet, 50% humidity, 1003mb.

.308W: 175 gr 12.0 mm 0.41 moa
.300WM: 190 gr 22.4 mm 0.77 moa
.338LM: 250 gr 24.3 mm 0.83 moa
(TSN Vigevano range – same atmospherics)
.338LM: 300 gr 29.4 mm 1.00 moa
(TSN Vigevano range – same atmospherics)

Groupings at 300 m at 10:00-11:00,  23° F, 656 feet, 64% humidity, 999mb.

.308W: 175 gr 48.0 mm 0.55 moa
without snap 4 rounds in 0.23moa
.300WM: 190 gr 42.0 mm 0.48 moa
.338LM: 250 gr 49.0 mm 0.56 moa
.338LM: 300 gr 46.0 mm 0.53 moa
without snap 4 rounds in 0.26moa.

The follow measurements refer to the maximum vertical spreads, which is one of the principal yardsticks as it could partially negate the effects of wind.

Groupings at 100 m at 16:00-17:00, 26° F, 656 feet, 50% humidity, 1003mb.

.308W: 175 gr 12.1 mm 0.41 moa
.300WM: 190 gr 13.3 mm 0.46 moa
.338LM: 250 gr 20.3 mm 0.70 moa
(TSN Vigevano range – same atmospherics)
.338LM: 300 gr 22.2 mm 0.76 moa
(TSN Vigevano range – same atmospherics)

Groupings at 300 m at 10:00-11:00,  23° F, 656 feet, 64% humidity, 999mb.

.308W: 175 gr 47.4 mm 0.55 moa
without snap, 4 rounds in 0.23moa
.300WM: 190 gr 34.4 mm 0.39 moa
.338LM: 250 gr 37.7 mm 0.56 moa
.338LM: 300 gr 36.4 mm 0.53 moa
without snap, 4 rounds in 0.20moa.

All the targets have been legally certified and the shooting director at Monte di Varro also confirmed the hits as well them being captured via HD video.  Clearly, the groupings are not the tightest, however, as always, the principal error is down to the shooter  

First round fired lying in the snow.

Conclusion

Testing a number of AW series rifles we were both rather skeptical of the robustness of such a skeletal design and the accuracy of having a multi-caliber firing platform not to mention not being fans of folding stocks.  After these tests, we are glad to say that we both misjudged the rifle on all counts and believe it to be a superb sniper platform.  We had a few days of total freedom and 400 rounds to test the AX PSR in a variety of atmospheric conditions and height elevations and it proved superb all-round.

One final thanks must go to Accuracy International for such a outstanding rifle that when it was zeroed at 100m all three caliber rounds ended up in the same hole.  Just as pleasing was the fact that at 300 m there was never more than a 10 cm (4 inch) difference in point of impact when firing one round per caliber at the same target.  We had initially been worried about how such different calibers with their varied ballistic properties could be fired in a user friendly manner with just one scope.

– – – – – – – –

We would like to thank the shooting range of Campo di Tiro di Monte Varro (the mountain range), especially Ernesto Fabris and Battista who risked life and limb to get myself, my colleague and the spotter up the mountain where no one else could.  Mr. Luciano Turani owner of Armeria 911 for kind permission for using their range and facilities and allowing us free reign.

The Beginning: 1922-1939
The history of Skarżysko-Kamienna, a town of now 48,000, started in 1923.  Prior to that only a village called Milica was situated nearby, mentioned in chronicles as early as 1183, but later lost amongst the woods.  In the 1890s the Russians, occupying this part of Poland, built a railroad connecting their fortress of Ivangorod (now Dęblin) with Sosnowiec on the fringes of Silesia.

In 1922, the Central Military Production Plants Authority in Warsaw sent Mr. Leonard Łabuć (future first director of the State Ammunition Factory) with Mr. Franciszek Kuropatwiński to Skarżysko Kościelne commune to delineate a place somewhere close by the railhead, where the ammunition factory would be organized.  They chose a large forest clearing on the banks of the river Kamienna.  The new township outside Milica, where workers erecting the factory were to be lodged, was christened Kamienna and given municipal status in 1923.  Soon the first factory buildings were standing and on 25 August, 1924, the Phase I of the State Ammunition Factory (Polish: Państwowa Fabryka Amunicji, PFA) construction was finished, and the first manufacturing lines were busy filling artillery grenades.

Pistol ammunition from Mesko: standing 9mm Luger, LRN, SJSP, FMJ, blank and AP, lying 9mm Makarov FMJ.

Later the factory still grew, with case-making, primers, fuzes and rifle ammunition plants built. The PFA was designed to be Europe’s most modern ammunition plant, and was built from the ground up to accommodate the very best and most modern machinery available. In 1926 the fuze department delivered their first batch for the military acceptance. In 1927 the rifle ammunition plant started manufacturing 7.9 mm x 57 rounds (8mm Mauser), and soon it was capable of delivering 1 million rounds per month, with only powder being contracted from outside Kamienna – primers, bullets and cases were all manufactured on site.

By now the PFA in Kamienna employed 3,500 blue-collar and 250 white-collar workers.  In 1927, the state-owned munitions concern of State Armament Works (Państwowe Wytwórnie Uzbrojenia, PWU) was established, with all hitherto independent factories its subsidiaries.  The State Ammunition Factory (PFA) now became the Ammunition Factory of the State Armament Works (PWU-FA).  Together with the privately-owned smaller company Z.A. “Pocisk” S.A. in Rembertów by Warsaw and the Warsaw-based, military-owned Ammunition Plant No.1 (WA-1) they supplied all rifle ammunition consumed by the Polish military.  The PFA/PWU-FA headstamp at that time (1927-1939) was comprised of the Polish Eagle at 12 o’clock on the head.  The workers’ township rapidly grew into a real city, soon thwarting and swallowing the communal authorities’ seat at Skarżysko Kościelne.  In 1928, Kamienna was thus renamed to the current name of Skarżysko-Kamienna (of which only the first part is usually used in non-formal parlance).  Milica was likewise swallowed into it, and soon became one of the city districts.

Sentry armed with Sten submachine gun at the gate of the State Ammunition Factory in 1946.

The plant developed a sizeable mobilization capability reserve, which was kept busy with civilian production, cooperating with the automotive and domestic appliances industries.  The PWU-FA had its own Bureau of Studies, where up to 500 mostly ammunition-connected designs were created and developed.  As of the mid-1930s the PWU-FA took up production of handgun rounds: the 9×19 Luger with two different FMJ ball variants; the 115-gr for the Army’s Vis (F.B. Radom) pistols and 124-gr for the Police Suomi SMGs, as well as 7.62x38R for Nagant gas-sealed revolvers used by the Police.  As of 1936, the 7.9×107 DS, the PWU-FA’s own design of high-velocity antitank rifle ammunition, was also manufactured for the wz.35 ATR.  Heavy machine gun rounds, the 13.2×99 Hotchkiss were made for the imported Hotchkiss wz.31 HMGs used by the Polish Navy.  In 1938, the 20x138B automatic cannon ammunition came into manufacturing for use in the Polish 20mm wz.38 cannon.  Other light automatic cannon ammunition made by PWU-FA was the 40x311R for Bofors wz.36 antiaircraft gun.

At War: 1939-1945
After the defeat of Poland in 1939, the PWU-FA was taken over by the German Hasag (Hugo Schneider AG) of Leipzig and Altendorf.  The Skarżysko plant operated under German control, manufacturing 7.9×57 and 9×19 German-style ammunition; in 1944 adding the 7.9×33 Kurz intermediate round, all three in steel lacquered cases headstamped with German manufacturing code “kam.”  Many prewar PWU-FA employees were forcibly deported to other Hasag plants, and more than 30,000 people died in a Nazi forced labor camp situated on the plant’s premises.  The Polish and Jewish slave workers were sabotaging the production, despite severe penalties including numerous public executions of the culprits.  Nevertheless, the large scale smuggling of ready ammunition and components by the Polish workers continued, and clandestinely loaded rounds were delivered to the partisans.

In the summer of 1944, with the Soviet steamroller gaining momentum westwards into Poland, the Skarżysko-Kamienna plant machinery and supplies were evacuated to the German subsidiaries of the Hasag, leaving only gutted ghosts of what once used to be Europe’s most modern ammunition plant.

Shooting range ammunition from Mesko: pistol ammunition with SJSP anti-ricochet bullets and rifle rounds with plastic-cored ball to prevent ricochets and reduce danger zones.

Behind The Iron Curtain: 1945-1989
Skarżysko-Kamienna was liberated in January, 1945, and the plant was ordered re-opened as soon as possible.  The first postwar manager of the PFA, Mr. Antoni Kunicki, faced a difficult task: he was left with a gutted ruin where his factory once was.  During that year though, the machinery started to be repatriated from Germany, and by winter of 1945 rifle ammunition plant started to deliver first trial batches 7.62 mm x 54R rounds.  The name was again PFA, the State Ammunition Factory, but for the first time these letters were introduced into the headstamp.  In the later 1940s, handgun ammunition was again manufactured – the 7.62mm x 25 Tokarev, as the new ‘liberated’ Poland was forcibly aligned with Stalin’s Eastern Bloc and its army was re-armed with Soviet arms.  In 1950, the case headstamp was changed from PFA to a “21 in oval” cryptic code, which replaced the letters on military ammunition since then.  The oval was discarded in 1955, but “21” is still Skarżysko’s manufacturer code featured in military headstamp.

Meanwhile the factory underwent a number of name changes.  In 1945, it was the State Ammunition Factory, in 1948 the product nature was removed from the name to conceal the real production, and the plant was given a typically Communist non-descript name of United Metal Works, Plant Nr 2 in Skarżysko, ultimately changed in 1951 to Metal Works Skarżysko, with acronym Mesko (Me S-ko) being used as a logo on civilian product lines.  During the 1970s the acronym worked its way into the official name of the factory, then Predom-Mesko Metal Works (Predom being a nation-wide domestic appliances holding company).  Mesko then made its way onto the headstamps of the civilian ammunition being made at the time: hunting rifle cartridges and .38 Special ammo manufactured for the Police.  In the mid-1980s the ‘Predom’ title was dropped and the company was called General Sikorski Mesko Metal Works as of 1988.

23x152B cannon ammunition from Mesko: OFZT, dummy, blank, BZT.

During the Cold War era, the Skarżysko plant manufactured all types of Combloc military ammunition: 7.62×25 Tokarev (1948-1956), 9×18 Makarov (1965-today), 5.45×39 Kalashnikov (1983-1994), 7.62×39 Kalashnikov (1956-today), 7.62x54R Mosin (1945-today), 12.7×108 DShK (1955-1977), 14.5×114 KPVT (1955-1988), and light automatic cannon ammunition.  Experimental work included development and limited production of the 7mm x 41 Lantan intermediate round in the 1970s, as well as caseless ammunition in 1980s, including an indigenous 9mm handgun round and 5.45mm rifle round projects.  Additionally during the 1980s, the Mesko plant started licensed production of the Strela-2M (SA-7 Grail) man-portable air-defense system (MANPADS), and independently developed it into an aerial version, the Gad (Reptile) missile, used on Polish helicopter gunships as a self-defense weapon.

Mesko At Large: 1990-2014
In the early 1990s, following the fall of Communism, Mesko along with the rest of the Polish defense industry was thrown into disarray.  Commercialized in 1991 as ZM Mesko S.A., and no longer the state’s top priority, the plant survived mostly on civilian lines of production, including kitchen ovens, lighting fixtures, automotive parts, mixers, meat grinders, lawn mowers and other – fortunately – indispensable domestic appliances.  New types of ammunition were started then, hoping for export deals.  Soon, however, the Army started to prepare for integration with the NATO alliance, moving from Soviet calibers towards Western ones.  9×19 Luger was to replace the 9mm Makarov, while the 5.56×45 and 7.62×51 NATO rifle rounds were to replace both Kalashnikov rifles calibers and Mosin rounds, still used for the excellent PKM machine guns.  New handgun (Wist 94), submachine gun (PM-84P), rifle (Beryl) and machine gun (UKM 2000) were designed and chambered in the Western calibers, while the HMG manufactured in Tarnów (the licensed copy of the NSV) was rechambered for the .50 BMG (WKM B).  At the same time, 9×19 ammunition was offered for export, along with .38 Special and .357 Magnum, including the (probably) world’s only .357 Magnum with a wadcutter bullet.

Mesko offered 5.56mm ammunition: M193 equivalent, tracer, blank, RS ball.

After a few years of dark despair, Mesko finally regained footing in the mid-1990s.  In 1995, the military again started to order sizeable consignments of ammunition, this time mostly in Western calibers. Mesko had by then developed its own MANPAD, the Grom (Thunder) being a development of Strela (or rather Strela’s replacement, the 9K38 Igla or SA-18 Grouse) with Western counterparts or their own developments replacing the Russian-supplied components.  The Grom was accepted into the Polish Army in 1995, and is still modernized and updated on a yearly basis, now becoming the backbone of the Polish troops (as well as Georgian and Indonesian, with Peru declaring they will soon follow suit) direct antiaircraft defense.

In 1996, Mesko formed a consortium with Israel’s Rafael, offering to the Polish Army an Israeli Spike ATGM.  The bid was successful and as of 2003 Mesko is supplying the Polish Army with license-manufactured Spike-LR antitank guided missiles.  More than 2,000 missiles and over 260 launchers were accepted into the Polish Army so far.

In 1999, Mesko started cooperation with the Scandinavian ammunition concern Nammo, which at first concerned 70mm rockets, medium-caliber artillery ammunition and ecological ammunition disposal, but later branched off into virtually all aspects of ammunition production, with both companies exchanging their products and services and offering products using the other company’s products and components.  E.g., Mesko is making .50 BMG cases for Nammo, while Mesko-manufactured .50-Cal. ammunition features Nammo-supplied NM-series multipurpose projectiles, while most of Mesko small arms ammunition is loaded with Vihtavuori powders.  Other foreign partners of Mesko include French missile giant MBDA, Swedish SAAB Bofors Dynamics, and many others.

Selection of small caliber ammunition from Mesko: to the left 7.62x39 (tracer, ball, HPT), .50-Cal. M33 Ball, 7.62x54R dummy, blank, 5.56mm blank, ball and tracer, 7.62x51 AP.

In 2011, during an internal reorganization of the then Polish defense industry’s holding concern, the Bumar Group, Mesko was appointed a leading company of the product division Bumar-Amunicja, and to mark that occasion, the name of the company was changed again, this time to Bumar-Amunicja S.A.  Shredding a recognized trademark like Mesko for a temporary whim of a company that imploded and disappeared just two years later seems unwise enough to warrant hope, that Mesko would be back with us – and sooner than later.  But the plant itself is still very much alive and kicking for a 90 year old.

– Mesko’s offerings in 2014 –

Handgun ammunition:

• The 9×18 pistol ammo is loaded in brass case.  The varieties offered include a lead-cored ball and a blank (23mm long crimp-closed).
• The 9×19 pistol ammunition is loaded in brass case.  The varieties offered include: 124 gr plain lead RN ball, 124 gr semi-jacketed ball, 124 gr FMJ ball, 113 gr KPO low-ricochet FMJ ball, 124 gr brass-washed lead SWC and blank (28mm, crimp-closed).
• .38 Special revolver ammunition is loaded in a brass case.  The varieties offered include: 148 gr Wad Cutter practice load, 157 gr SJSP and LRN combat loads, and three variations of Short Stop loads of different velocities.
• .357 Magnum revolver ammunition is loaded in brass cases.  The varieties offered include three 157 gr balls: a wadcutter (WC), SWC and SJSP.

Intermediate rifle ammunition:

• The 5.56×45 rifle ammo is loaded in brass cases.  The varieties offered include two types of ball, the 62 gr RS with steel penetrator (red primer annulus, plain bullet), and 55 gr lead-cored projectile (M193 equivalent, export only), a tracer round (red PA, red tip), a blank (M200 equivalent, crimp-closed, green-tipped).
• The 7.62×39 rifle ammo are loaded in brass or lacquered steel cases.  The varieties offered include: steel-cored ball, tracer (green tip), short range training ball (plastic core and tip), and blank (48 mm long, crimp-closed), as well as HPT ammunition.

70mm aerial rocket NLPR-70 with Nammo warhead and Mesko booster.

Rifle ammunition:

• The 7.62×51 rifle and machine gun ammo is loaded solely in brass cases.  The varieties offered include: lead-cored ball (plain), tracer (red tip), AP (black tip), API (silver tip), short range training (plastic core and tip), and blank (66 mm long, crimp-closed).
• The 7.62x54R rifle and machine gun ammo is loaded solely in brass cases.  The varieties offered include: steel-cored ball (plain), tracer (green tip), short range training (plastic core and tip), blank (54 mm, crimp-closed) and HPT ammunition.

Heavy machine gun ammunition:

• The 12.7×99 (.50 BMG) HMG ammunition is loaded in Mesko-manufactured brass with RUAG primer.  The varieties include plain M33 Steel-Cored Ball, as well as a range of Nammo-supplied multi-purpose projectiles, like NM 173 Multi-Purpose Armor Piercing (AP-S, aluminum tip), NM 140 MP (green tip), or NM 160 Multi Purpose-Tracer (green over red tip).  The NM 140 MP is loaded in two variations, a machine gun load and a special enhanced consistency sniper load (green over yellow tip).

Light Automatic Cannon Ammunition:

• The 23x152B ammunition is used with AA weapons (ZU-23 towed or ZSU-23 Shilka quadruple SPAAG).  Varieties offered include the API-T (BZT), HEI-T (OFZT), two spin-stabilized discarding sabot loadings: the APDS-T (Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot – Tracer) and FAPDS-T (Fragmenting Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot – Tracer), as well as blank (cardboard-tipped, 158 mm) and dummy.
• The 30×173 cannon rounds are used for the Mk44 Bushmaster Chain Gun.  Varieties offered include the APFSDS-T (Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot Fin-Stabilized with Tracer), the FAPDS-T round (Fragmenting Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot with Tracer), the MP-T/SD (Multi-Purpose-Tracer w/ Self-Destruction feature) and TP-T (Target Practice-Tracer).
• The 35×228 cannon rounds are used for Oerlikon KDA light anti-aircraft cannon.  Two varieties are offered: FAPDS-T (Fragmenting Armor Piercing Discarding Sabot – Tracer) and TP-T (Target Practice – Tracer).

Mesko 5.56x45 used by the Iraqi National Army trainees – note distinctive crate and legend in Polish.

Rockets and missiles

• The NLPR-70 rocket is meant for firing from aerial pod-launchers.  They feature RA 79 MOD1 or RA 79 High-Explosive Incendiary Semi-Armor Piercing (HEISAP) warheads with Nammo impact fuzes, powered by a double-based solid fuel rocket booster by Mesko.  The 70mm caliber, 12.2 kg rocket with 5.9 kg warhead is 1362.5 mm long and reaches speeds up to 45 mps, with maximum range of 10.3 km.
• The Grom Man-Portable Aerial Defense System (MANPADS) is meant for firing at line-of-sight aerial targets approaching at speeds up to 400 mps or receding at speeds up to 360 mps, at an altitude of 10-4,000 m, with engagement distance between 500 and 5,500 m.  The complete Grom system comprises a multiple use handgrip with thermal sight and disposable launching tube containing a 10.3 kg, 72mm of caliber missile, making up to 580 meters per second under sustaining motor.
• The Spike-LR ATGM is meant for engaging tanks and other AFVs or helicopters at distances between 200 and 4,000 m.  The 107mm caliber, 10.5 kg missile contains tandem, shaped-charge warhead, fired at 150 mps under sustaining motor from the 5.1 kg launcher fitted with optoelectronic, dual-circuit homing device (CCTV and argon-cooled infra-red detector), capable of transmitting the image from the seeker head to the display at the launcher.

A defining moment for a sniper is when he can positively identify a threat within his area of operation and exercise certain actions, from an intelligence report to target neutralization.  The ability to identify a target is vital in a stability operation or counterinsurgency (COIN) environment, where precisely aimed fire is at a premium and collateral damage isn’t an option.

The Basics: Calibrating Your Rifle Zero
Military sniping is an application that involves both precision and accuracy.  Precision is from the characteristics of the rifle and ammunition.  Precision is how well it prints group sizes, whereas accuracy is an indication of how a group of shots hit relative to the intended aim point, regardless of group size.  The requirement for great accuracy is having a reliable zero.  When you zero your weapon from different support positions, you can incur a different POI (point of impact).  For the traditional sniper role, this will be from the prone bipod position.  Realistically, the sniper will not always be able to shoot from the prone bipod position.  Positional shooting (kneeling, standing) and even off a tripod is highly likely.  A recommendation is to analyze POI shifts from those alternate support positions on a dot drill target at your zero range.  If you see that when you shoot off a tripod you generally shoot .2 MILS low, you can accommodate for that error and add .2 MILS to your firing solution.  Other POI shifts in your weapon’s zero can come from temperature effects and harmonics.  Annotate these changes and account for them.  Lastly, when zeroing, a three shot group isn’t recommended.  A five round shot group, shot five times will give a good representation of the rifle’s inherent precision.

RAPTAR LRF/IR/Vis aiming device. A must have to device to measure range to targets.

Un-calibrated sight adjustments are a common problem in long range shooting.  Many snipers take for granted that when they dial up or hold a certain correction in a reticle, that they’re getting exactly the intended correction.  In reality, it’s generally more often that there is some amount of error in a scope’s turret or reticle.  As with every other measurement instrument, the turrets and reticle need to be verified before they can be trusted.  The test to use to conduct the calibration is called “The Tall Target Test.”  The tall target test is conducted in the following manner; remember, the Tall Target Test is a calibration exercise, so it’s very important to know the exact zero range.  Verify with a LRF (laser range finder) or tape measure.

1. Put up a tall target (36 inches tall) at your 100 (meter/yard) zero range.  Have an aim point at the bottom of the target and a plumb line (leveled line) drawn up from the center of the aim point.  You can use a carpenter’s level or a plumb bob to draw the vertical line.
2. Shoot the lower aim point to verify your zero.  Now dial your elevation turret up 30 MOA or 10 MILS.  Still shoot at the aim point when doing this.
3. After you have fired your groups, you can calculate the correction factor for that given scope.  Measure from the zero group to the actual group for your 30 MOA increment.

Correction Factor: 1 MOA (minute of angle) equals 1.047 inches at 100 yards.  30 X 1.047 = 31.41 inches.  Let’s say your scope only moved 29.5 inches: it’s only moving 94% as far as it should when it’s adjusted – 6 % less than it should move.  Therefore, when you have to dial for elevation, you have to dial 106% of the intended adjustment.  For example: You have a target that requires 30 MOA of elevation, but by doing the tall target test, you know that you actually need to dial 30 X 1.06 = 31.8 MOA in order to get a true 30 MOA on the scope.

A sniper conducts Mountain operations at AMWS in Vermont. Sniper is using a Larue Tactical OBR outfitted with a Nightforce NXS riflescope.

The Tall Target Test is also a way to check if your scope is vertically tracking correctly.  You want to eliminate any cant.  Leveling your scope is very important and a necessity for long range shooting.  Shooting with a verified leveled rifle and scope will promote in better wind reading since it will allow you to observe wind effects directly without an unknown component of cant.  By shooting the Tall Target Test with your level installed, you will assure your wind zero is calibrated.  Every sniper should have a scope level installed in order to prevent the accuracy damaging effects of cant.

MOA Consistency Errors
When it comes to a MOA standard across the industry, many manufactures fall short.  Many manufactures will advertise MOA adjustments but fail to specify if the turrets and/or reticle are SMOA (shooter minute of angle 1 MOA = 1 inch at 100 yards), IPHY (inches per hundred yards) or TMOA (true minute of angle = 1.047 inches at 100 yards).  This type of error equals a miss at 1,000 yards and can create a huge dilemma for a sniper team if one shooter is using X brand of scope and the other is using Y brand of scope.  You’re speaking two different languages.  One manufacture that gets this right is NightForce optics.  They offer clear and concise descriptions of their scope turrets and reticles in the user manual.

NightForce NXS compact 2.5-10x42mm riflescope. This scope performs flawlessly in low light scenarios and is night vision compatible and has 3 illumination settings. This is one of the only 10x scopes on the market to offer adjustable parallax.

Echelons of Capability
The latest craze taking over the military sniper community is the use of MIL based grid system reticles.  Calibrated in USMC mils (6283 mils/circle) (1 mil = 3.60 inches at 100 yards) (10cm at 100 meters).  These reticles let you visually place the target on the appropriate horizontal and vertical grid lines to correct for elevation and windage visually without turning knobs or counting clicks.  These reticles are great for when you are in desert mountainous regions where you can generally see dust fly from misses, but once you move into an area of operation such as the Philippines, were foliage is dense, this type of reticle gets lost.  A finer reticle, such as NightForce’s MIL-R reticle or the Mil Dot reticle offered in their scopes is excellent in dense foliage areas.  It allows the sniper to stay focused on the center intersecting lines of the scope and offers an uncluttered FOV (field of view) of the target area.

Designated Marksman Solution
Reticles such as the TReMoR2 and CMR-W reticles are an excellent DM (Designated Marksman) solution.  These types of reticles are a full minute of man tools, not long-range precision on partial obscured targets tools.  For a line dedicated marksman outfitted with a 16-inch .308, these reticles can give the DM speed and accuracy to 600m effectively and beyond potentially.  Generally, DMs are rightly being placed on support by fire lines in Afghanistan.  Effective support by fire is critical for the assault team’s success and safety.  DMs have the ability to engage point targets on the objective in close proximity to the assaulters.  Today’s battle rifles such as the FN SCAR17s and LaRue OBR 7.62, outfitted with a variable power, lightweight scope such as the NightForce NXS Compact 2.5-10×42 in MIL/MIL configuration gives the DM an ideal platform to deliver 175 grains of diplomacy onto targets of opportunity.

Sniper team from CCG 4/3 IN TOG using a Nightforce NXS riflescope w/ Horus H59 reticle.

Magnification
Magnification is a function of mission requirement, weight, cost and bulk.  Magnification is an enabler when it comes to acquiring positive identification on a HVT (High Value Target) or the presence of small arms.  A magnified scope will allow the sniper or DM to ID further and faster than shooters with minimal magnification like an ACOG or Short Dot.  9x or 10x magnification will get you to 1,000 yards, but magnification greater than 10x will give you precision aiming for smaller targets or partially exposed targets.  One thing you have to be cautious of in First Focal Plane (FFP) scopes, the stadia line thickness increases with magnification, which could hinder the sniper in refining his aim point.  Scopes with larger magnifications (3-20x and greater) tend to be heavier and bulkier then their lighter counterparts.  Weight is an important consideration when it comes to mission planning.  In the end, the Mission will drive the tools necessary to complete the mission.  Snipers need to continue to evolve and progress.  Don’t let the lessons we learned from over a decade of fighting go by the wayside with the drawdown.  Continue to reinvent the wheel and fine-tune the greatest all weather, day and night offensive and defensive firing platform, the SNIPER.