The Firearm Blog

I blogged about the new AR57 earlier this year. The AR Five Seven is a one piece 5.7×28mm upper that attaches to a AR-15 lower and uses the 50 round FN P90 magazines. 57 Center posted a few photos of their new SBR suppressed submachine gun/PDW:

How cool is that!

UPDATE: After writing a three paragraphs about integrally suppressed firearms it turns out this is not integrally suppressed! The suppressor fits inside the handguard. I got this via. email from the 57 Center:

This particular AR57 PDW Upper in Full-Auto with 6″ Barrel, with 6.5″ Gemtech Suppressor, is currently being produced for a couple LE Agencies.

We currently have our 11″ Pistol/SBR Upper available as well as our standard 16.125″

So they are now directly competing with the full-auto FN P90. Personally, if I had a choice between this and the P90 I would go with the AR platform.

I think the pistol configuration could be a lot of fun.

UPDATE: I asked if the 6″ barrel gave adequate performance. From 57 Center:

We have excellent results with both 6″ and 11″ Pistol/SBR Barrels, this would be peoples choice, LE prefers 6″ with the 6.5″ Suppressor, this unit also works in Sub Sonic,

It is very impressive that the action can cycle subsonic rounds (a light 30-50 grain 5.7mm bullet traveling below the speed of round is comparable to a 40 grain .22 LR Standard subsonic round).

Ballistics by the inch is an exhaustive ballistics experiment done by Jim Kasper, Jim Downey and Steve Meyer.

We decided to test thirteen common pistol calibers, each over a range of barrel lengths from 18″ down to 2″, and each using a variety of ammunition (most of it “premium” ammo made for self-defense purposes). In each case we fired three rounds of a given ammo at a given barrel length, recording the velocity of the bullets at 15 feet with two commercial chronographs. If we did not get two reliable readings for each of three rounds, we repeated the process until we did. Altogether we fired over 6,000 rounds of ammunition.

Thousands of rounds waiting to be shot in the name of science.

They throughly documented the results which are available on the website online and as Excel and PDF documents.

Jim Downey told me the project cost in excess of $15000, not including the man hours put into it. I asked Jim if they were going to do the same for rimfire and centerfire rifle cartridges, his reply: “Heh – we’re all too exhausted by doing this one . . . but talk to me again in a couple of years. “.

These guys have created a great resource that will likely settle some bets, resolve some arguments and be referenced by gun blogs, magazines and books for many years, maybe even decades!

iSnipe is a very polished looking external ballistics calculator for iPhone / iPod Touch created by a Canadian firm.

Created with ease of use in mind, iSnipe is the perfect companion for any gun aficionado, competition shooter, or even law-enforcement officer… It’s just that accurate. With all the ingredients you’d expect from a portable ballistics calculator, including the ability to save and load ballistic profiles, automatic save of form values and all the other features you’d expect from an integrated iPhone app, there is no better way to get on target every time. Finally there is a portable desktop quality application that we can all take along with us to the range.

A Palm OS Calculator for comparison.
I was a palm fanatic back in the day.

According to Joe Huffman, the current version does not include the ability to set altitude or temperature these features will be available soon (See update below).

A couple of weeks ago I predicted this application would be available soon (not a hard prediction to make considering there is a ballistics calculator for just about every mobile platform invented), now just waiting for my other prediction, a full IPSC timer.

UPDATE: iSnipe has been updated and how includes many new features including temperature, weather conditions, air pressure etc.

Hat Tip: SayUncle

Mr Completely is trying to find blanks for his micro-sized blank firing pistol

Pictured next to a .45 ACP case.

You’ve all seen those videos of various mini-guns being fired from helicopters and so forth, but here’s a little different mini-gun. I got it sometime in the late 1950’s, along with a couple of packages of ammunition. There’s no name on it, and “Japan” is stamped on it’s side

…

The report was amazingly loud, louder than a .22 rifle.

A very cool device!

If you know where to find blanks let Mr Completely know.

Been having some server downtime. Everything is back up and running.

For a while I have been waiting for Colt to a announce a ultra-reliable ultra-high capacity magazine that will accompany the Colt Infantry Automatic Rifle. One of the requirements for the Marine IAR is a ultra-high capacity magazine.

At the Pakistan IDEAS-2008 expo an M16/M203 was on display with a MWG 90 Rounder High Capacity Magazine, sitting directly above a Colt IAR poster (Photo by skybolt @ Defence.pk).

The tan colored weapon on the poster is the Colt IAR. Click to expand.

I think it would be safe to assume that Colt is going with the MWG 90.

MWG 90 Rounder High Capacity Magazine

If you look closely at the first image it appears that the MWG 90 magazine is attached to the M16 upper receiver. Something is attached to the receiver which extends towards the magazine. Anyone know what this is? It does not appear visible on MWG promotional photos, such as this one:

Colt may have customized the MWG 90 to increase reliability/durability.

These days it seems no defense exhibition is complete without the unveiling of a new Corner Shot clone. The Pakistan IDEAS-2008 expo, which finished today, did not disappointed!

The POF Eye was purportedly developed in only 6 months by Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF).

Click to expand. Photos from Defence.pk.

According to Wikipedia, there will be three variants: pistol, submachine gun and grenade launcher.

While I have always been skeptical about the usefulness of the Corner Shot concept I think a grenade launcher could be very useful, especially in police-type situations using non-lethal ammunition.

The original Corner Shot also has a 40mm grenade option as well as an “Assault Pistol” (5.56mm M16 pistol) configuration.

Pakistan joins Iran, who early this year announced a clone, and China whose clone is called the HD66 (scroll down link for photo).

Thanks to Shoaib for letting me know about the POF Eye.

The Israelis, and their ancient forerunners, have had a history of snipers going back at least 3000 years since David famously took out Goliath with a sniper-esque head shot.

The Doubletapper has written an article on the history of IDF snipers since the turbulent beginning of the modern Israeli state. Well worth reading.

In 2006 Sauer, a 257 year old German company, produced their first semi-automatic rifle the S 303

(Sauer should not be confused with Sig Sauer, which is the American arm of the European conglomerate that owns J. P. Sauer & Sohn).

In the January 2009 issue of Guns Magazine they review the S303 and call it a “new” rifle. I think they mean “new in the USA”.

Sauer S 303 Elegance model with scope.

The rifle is a high-end elegant rifle (in other words: a non-evil non-black rifle) designed for European drive hunts. In drive hunts game is flushed out towards hunters and quick shots are needed as they run past; at least that is my understanding of drive hunts, never having seen one.

The S 303 includes some interesting features. It has a feature called the Silent Cocking System (SCS) which Guns magazine describes:

With the magazine in place if the cocking lever is pulled back and allowed to go forward the firearm is cocked and ready to go. However, if you allow the lever to go forward slowly, it stops about 1″ shy of actually closing and then can be pushed into place silently.

I can’t quire figure out what this mean in practice. Walking around with the bolt open 1″ with a round not quite chambered seems to me like asking for a jam but I am sure there is more to it than that.

The cocking/decocking lever can be seem at “1″.Click to expand.

The S 303 also features a innovative detachable mounting system called isiMount. The scope can be move into two different positions, depending on desired eye relief, without effecting point of impact.

isiMount bottom diagram. Smart Tube gas system top diagram.

The under barrel gas system, Smart Tube, has been designed with accuracy in mind.

Specs:

Models: Classic (least expensive), Elegance, Individual (most expensive)
Barrel length: 510 / 560 mm – 20″ / 22”
Total length: 1065 / 1115 mm – 41.9″ / 43.9”
Weight: 3.25 / 3.35 kg (7.16 / 7.38 lbs)
Calibres: 7×64mm, .30-06, 8×57mm IS, 9.3×62mm, .300 Win. Mag.
Magazine: 2 rounds (optional 5 round magazine available)

Guns Magazine says that the price will be $3999 (presumably for the least expensive Classic model).

The top end Individual model. Look at that wood!

With its elegant non-threatening appearance I think Sauer have a winner on their hands. While the rifle is expensive, it is not when compared with the double rifles it is competing with. It also has many advantages compared too double rifles such as decreased recoil (semi-auto action) and increase accuracy (one barrel).

It is available in 9.3×62mm which is the minimum African dangerous game caliber so it should be more than sufficient for any animal found in Europe or North America. Due to import restrictions on semi-automatic rifles it is unlikely that many (if any at all) will end up hunting the Big 5.

More info available at Sauer and Guns Magazine (Jan 2009 issue).

(Photos and diagrams from Sauer-Waffen.de)

Bushnell have announced an ultra-compact GPS device called the BackTrack. It is designed to find your way back to your car/home/hotel/camp site.

Camo or Pink, take your pick.

This could be very useful as a backup GPS unit. When it come to GPS systems I consider myself an expert. Never trust GPS with your life, and never rely on small GPS units, especially when in a car, indoors, under a tree or even under clouds!

Saying all that. I wouldn’t mind one myself as an emergency backup when outdoors or as a way to find my hotel in a foreign city.

From the press release:

Key features include: compact design so it fits in a pocket, pack or purse; and lanyard for easy attachment; self calibrating three axis digital compass, backlit screen with location mode icons (Home Base, Car and Favorite Spot); water resistant construction. The unit includes a SiRF Star III GPS receiver for optimal GPS sensitivity. The BackTrack is powered by two AAA batteries and will run for over 100 uses. One use is equal to ten minutes or less. There is an auto shut-off feature after ten minutes.

The BackTrack will come in five different color ways – orange/gray, green, pink, tech gray and camouflage.

MSRP: $69.00

More at Bushnell

From the press release:

Southport, CT- November 26, 2008 – Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE:RGR) is pleased to announce that the Ruger® SR9® pistol has been placed on the Roster of Handguns Certified for Sale within the State of California, as well as the Massachusetts Approved Firearms Roster. The SR9 pistol, chambered for 9mm Luger, was introduced last October and is the first striker-fired pistol from Ruger.

If you are thinking about getting an SR9 read the comments on the SR9 post. It is a wealth of information.

Ruger SR9 Blackened stainless version

Even Hollywood has not gone this far!

Major Robert Henry Cain VC did this at Arnhem. From Dickiebo:

When Cain joined the battle the Staffords were under heavy attack by tank and heavy guns. By firing mortars at almost point blank range towards the Germans, the British were able to hold their ground. Cain and Major Jock Buchanan assisted Lieutenant Georges Dupenois in repelling the tanks by drawing fire and providing him with ammunition for his PIAT gun (low-tech anti-tank gun). Although no tanks were destroyed they were held back until Cain’s forces were ordered to retreat.

Hat Tip: MP.net

MilitaryTimes has listed the contenders for the M4 replacement. They are:

AR-15 Platform (Direct Gas Impingement):

* Colt ACC Monolithic
* Troy Industries M7A1 (can use either DI or piston system)
* Sabre Defense Industries M5
* S&W MP-4
* Precision Reflex PRI (Upper receiver only. Attaches to M4 lower).

AR-15 Platform (Piston):

* LWRC International M6A4 IAR
* H&K 416
* Knight’s Armament SR-15
* Superior Arms S-15
* Barrett REC7 PDW
* Patriot Ordnance P416

Not based on the AR platform:

* Bushmaster/Magpul ACR
* Sig Sauer 556 Classic
* Robinson Armament XCR
* FN SCAR

Sig 556 Classic

I am not sure if this list is complete. The Beretta ARX-160 Carbine is conspicuously missing.

Defense update has an interesting article about the wearable Boomerang Warrior acoustic shooter detection system.

Part of the wearable system. Photo from Defense Update.

If the entire system was ever made small enough to fit into a wristwatch I think it would become an essential hunting tool and could prevent accidental shootings.