The Firearm Blog

Defense Industry daily reports that the Marines have procured 7750 LAWs (M72A7) from Nammo Talley Defense for a total of $15.5 million (which works out to be $2000/unit).

Nammo Talley Defense, Inc. in Mesa, AZ received a $15.5 million firm-fixed-price contract for 7,750 LAW M72A7 portable rockets from Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, VA, in order to replenish stockpiles.

The short (unextended length of 0.67 m) low cost and low weight (5.5 lbs) 66mm one-shot rocket system is useful in urban environments against buildings and lightly armored vehicles, such as those found in Iraq/Afghanistan.

M72 LAW

Razvodnik posted this on MP.net:

It was build by J. Barbarić in 1944, in the small village of Čelebić, Livno. Some 100km east of Split Croatia. One piece is displayed in Belgrade Army Museum

I like the lines on this subgun.

The Kurdistan Regional Government has been stealthily arming their militia. Recently three planeloads of small arms and ammunition from Bulgaria were delivered to Kurdish officials. The Washington Post reports:

The weapons arrived in the northern city of Sulaymaniyah in September on three C-130 cargo planes, according to the three officials, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the information.

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Experts on Iraq’s constitution said the document does not clearly say whether provincial officials have the authority to import weapons. However, Iraqi and U.S. officials said the Ministries of Interior and Defense are the only entities authorized to import weapons. The Defense Ministry provides weapons to the Iraqi army, and the Interior Ministry procures arms for the country’s police forces.

A pre-order website lists it as $2295.00, see the update.

Don’t expect to get your hands on the Bushmaster ACR anytime soon. Bushmaster and Magpul issued this joint statement a few days ago:

“The ACR is being redesigned to be a superior offering to compete for the next generation US Army infantry carbine and subcompact weapon requirement and will be available to select customers in 2009.”

This is the third delay. The ACR was originally promised to be on sale late 2008, it was then delayed again until Q1 2009. It now looks like that unless you know someone at Bushmaster or Magpul you will not get your hands on one for quite a while.

As “hga” said, with the possibly of the AWB 2.0 I imagine both Bushmaster and Magpul are trying to maximize short term production for existing products until demand slows down. This does make financial sense. The cost of improving the ACR with the aim of winning a US Army contract will be minimal compared to the cost of decreasing production on AR-15s and tooling up to produce the ACR, not to mention the opportunity cost of not producing AR-15s which are currently selling like, well, they are about to get banned. I also expect Bushmaster and other AR-15 producers are stockpiling AR-15 lower receivers so that in the event of a ban they will be able to sell high priced pre-ban rifles.

Thanks to “hga” for alerting me to the statement.

The Magpul Masada before it became the Bushmaster ACR
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Scientist say that may realistically be able to regenerate the Mammoth. The NY Times reports:

Scientists are talking for the first time about the old idea of resurrecting extinct species as if this staple of science fiction is a realistic possibility, saying that a living mammoth could perhaps be regenerated for as little as $10 million.

I think this would be the hunting equivalent of space tourism. The richest hunters from all over the world would be competing for the title of “First Mammoth Hunter in 10,000 years”. Ancient animal hunting would become an industry in of itself and firearm manufactures would no doubt jump on the opportunity to manufacture the .900 Mammoth Express.

Wooly Mammoths by Mauricio Anton (CC-By-2.5)

Unfortunately a T-Rex will not be able to be bred:

The same technology could be applied to any other extinct species from which one can obtain hair, horn, hooves, fur or feathers, and which went extinct within the last 60,000 years, the effective age limit for DNA.

Scientist seem to be eternal optimists. I don’t expect to see one in my lifetime.

Fiocchi have announced new Super Match ammunition called Exacta Biathlon Match.

What makes it interesting is that it is Standard Velocity (1,120 fps) which is unlike most match grade target .22LR ammunition which are usually Subsonic.

No surprises … looks like a .22 LR round

From the press release:

Fiocchi begins with an exclusive case priming procedure that ensures precise priming mixture weight. Next, only premium, ultra-reliable powders are selected. Precise care is given to ensuring the cases used are of exact and consistent dimension. Finally, the specially-lubricated bullets are loaded using a unique process that prevents the bullets from touching one another during processing to prevent even the slightest deformation from occurring.

Hat Tip: Tactical Life

The Firearm Blog reader Edward contacted Steyr about pre-ordering the AUG SA (civilian semi-automatic model) and was told it would $2995.00 $2295!

Wow! If you want to buy one you had better start saving. It makes that $500 Steyr AUG SA NATO stock (allows use of AR-15 magazines) not seem all that expensive!

Thanks to Edward for the info.

UPDATE: Edward just emailed me to say Steyr linked to PJs which is listing the price as $2295.00. That sounds much more realistic.

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Charter Arms have issued a press release heralding their “revolutionary new rimless revolver” the Charter Arms Rimless Revolver (CARR), that will go on sale Q1 2009.

Problem: The major drawback to rimless semi-auto cartridges in revolvers is they require specially made revolvers. These low-production, somewhat scarce and, highly-specialized revolvers are limited to sometimes fragile and expensive moon/half moon ammunition clips. Generally, only revolver aficionados and collectors bother with (.45ACP and 9mm Parabellum) rimless revolvers. While they may sometimes be fired without the specialized moon clips, generally the ejector rod will not eject the free-floating fired cases (got a pencil?).

Solution: Charter Arms has come up with an affordable revolver that chambers rimless semi-auto rounds in the same manner as a standard rimmed-cartridge revolver.

The first caliber on offer will be .40 S&W which will be followed by .45 ACP 3-4 months later and 9mm Parabellum (that will also be able to chamber .380 ACP) 3-4 months after that. All will be able to handle +P ammunition.

Initially only snubnosed models will be produced (2″ barrel for 9mm and 2.2″ barrel for .40 and .45ACP).

The MSRPs are:
9mm: $399
.40 S&W: $449
.45 ACP: $449

Although revolvers that fire rimless cartridges are not new, I am sure these will sell well. I think quite a few auto pistol owners but may balk at the thought of having to stock up on revolver caliber ammunition, but would be tempted by a revolver that chambers their favorite pistol cartridge.

Hat Tip: Ammoland

The Russian State Research and Production Enterprise (SPE) have unveiled the latest RPG, the RPG-30. The system has been designed with one purpose: to bypass Western (and no doubt Chinese) active protection systems and possibly reactive armor.

Cut-away RPG-30. Photo from ARMS-TASS.

It uses a very clever system. A small rocket is launched from a secondary tube (mounted on the side of the main tube) moments before the 105mm PG-30 round. The smaller caliber round activate the active protection system early (and possibly detonate reactive armor) allowing the PG-30 round to smash through the armor plating. A simple and clever idea.

RPG-30 vs M1 Abrams. Click to expand. Image from WAFF.

The system weights 10.3 kg (I think that is unloaded).

ARMS-TASS reports (translated using Google):

MOSCOW, Nov. 19. (Korr.ARMS-TASS). A leading global developer in the area of munitions, the State Research and Production Enterprise (SPE), “Basalt, completed the development and testing of new anti-tank rocket RPG-30. This system is anti-tank weapons capable of overcoming any active protection systems (KAZ) vehicle created so far in various countries.

As explained korr.ARMS-TASS military experts, RPG-30 is designed for single use and represents a double device. In the large-diameter cylindrical container placed tandemnaya cumulative anti-grenade PG-30 caliber 105 mm. In the container of smaller diameter, located below, is a special projectile – a false goal. His appointment – to activate when podlete means of active air defense and create conditions for smooth penetration to the goal of the primary means of destruction – PG-30.

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According to the military representative, the test program RPG-30 is fully completed. There are currently waiting for the RPG-30 by the Russian army and its inclusion in the list of No. 1, allowing the delivery of the product for export.

Looks like Western tanks could be in trouble. I expect Hugo Chávez will be all over this once it is approved for export.

Russian media report.

Hat Tip: WAFF

Next year (2009) Lipsey’s LLC is selling an exclusive line of Ruger Blackhawk Flattop 44 Special revolvers. Two models will be available, one with a 5.5″ barrel and another with a 4 5/8″ barrel.

4 5/8″ model.

Hat Tip: Outdoor Wire

Command Arms Accessories have designed an interesting AR magazine called the the CountDown Magazine (CDMAG). It displays a self-illuminated round count indicator that as well as showing the number of rounds it also changes color. 20 – 30 rounds have a green background, 10 -19 have a yellow background and less than 10 have a red background

It also includes an indicator underneath.

Interesting concept. No word of pricing or if it meets STANAG specs (compatible with all firearms that accept STANAG magazines).

Hat Tip: American Police Beat.
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Earlier this month SIG announced an the new SIG 556 Classic. The design is modeled on the SIG 550. From what I can see the primary difference is the swiss style folding stock and polymer handguard.

SIG 556 Classic

SIG 550 (Photo from Wikipedia)

I am surprised they did not duplicate the “classic” 550 handguard exactly since the main selling point of this rifle is the look. It does not include the 550 integral bipod.

Specs:

Caliber: 5.56mm NATO
Overall Length: 37.1”
With stock collapsed: 34.3”
With stock folded: 28.1”
Barrel Length: 17”
Rifling: 1 in 7”
Weight (w/o magazine): 8 lbs. 2 oz.
MSRP: $1998.00

I like the lines on the Classic. Very sleek looking, at a price.

Hat Tip: Police One

Google is hosting a huge archive of millions of Life magazine images since 1750. I thought I would see what interesting gun photos I could find.

Winchester 1890 pump action rifle. © Time Inc.

Actress Donna Drake taking aim with a rifle on the balcony of her home, dressed in a two-piece swimsuit, her dog lying on a cushion nearby.

Location: CA, US
Date taken: 1942
Photographer: Peter Stackpole

Hollywood is just not the same anymore. Imagine the media frenzy if Scarlett Johansson was spotted with a rifle on her roof!

Full sized photo here.

Guy waterskiing with revolver. WTF?

Swiss farmer’s rifle with bandolier. Taken 1941. Presumably on hand in case of a German invasion.

Ordnance shop at Skoda Munitions factory. Too little too late. Less than a year later the factory would be producing arms for the German war machine.

What not to do with a gun.