Danger Room reports that the US Army is look at developing a less-lethal grenade that “shower of high velocity rubber pellets that sting and disorient”.
Airsofters have long been using non-lethal gas powered reloadable “grenades” such as this one from Airsplat.com:
It will be interesting to see what the military come up with. A gas system instead of a pyrotechnic solution would definitely decrease the danger of injuring or killing people in a crowd which is one of the problems with flashbangs.
Next year (2009) Savage will be selling a new “modular sniper system” called the Model 10 BAS (I have not worked out what the acronym stands for).
BAS/T (adjustable target-style butt-stock)
BAS (M4 style butt-stock)
The rifle is build on the Model 110 action and features the AccuTrigger and AccuStock. It accepts standard AR-15 butt-stocks and pistol grips. Two top rails and side rails allow for accessories. At a first glance this rifle resembles an auto-loader (and puts it out of reach for our Australian friends).
It also features a 24″ free floating barrel, Savages’ new proprietary muzzle break and a 10 round detachable magazine. I am not sure what calibers they are offering but looking at the above photos I would say it is a short action so they are probably offering .308 Win and/or .223.
The difference between the BAS and BAS/T models are the butt-stocks as seen above.
The rifle was developed for the law enforcement market. In the press release they did not explicitly state that the rifle will be available to civilians.
I try not to use words like “awesome” in the title for blog posts, so I substituted it with “game changing”. But don’t let that word change deceive you. I am *really* excited by this new stock coming out of Savage.
The Savage Accutrigger raised the bar on what consumers could realistically expect from a mass-produced factory trigger.Savage have brought custom-performance to factory-mass-produced stocks. They call it the AccuStock.
Savage explains the technology in their press release:
The AccuStock uses an aluminum spine and 3D Bedding Cradle molded into the stock in such a manner that it becomes an integral part of the composite stock.
The result is a polymer composite stock that possesses many of the same properties of high-end aftermarket stocks, bringing this high level of performance to the production rifle.
…
Rigidity – With its integral aluminum spine that runs from the action down the length of the forearm, the AccuStock is the most rigid factory polymer stock in the marketplace. No matter how hot the weather or the barrel, the forend stays rock-solid and the barrel remains free-floating.
Three-Dimensional Bedding Pressure – Pillar-bedded and v-block stocks, as good as they are, only apply bedding pressure on one axis, up and down. The AccuStock uses a wedge bolt to push the recoil lug back into the aluminum spine to prevent any movement forward and aft, while the bedding cradle literally squeezes the action from the sides when the action screws are tightened.
Initially two rifles will be available with the AccuStock:
Model 10 FCP
* AccuTrigger
* Proprietary Muzzle Brake (new from Savage)
* Detachable Box Magazine
* Oversized Bolt handle
* 24-inch heavy, fluted barrel
* Matte Finish
* Available in 308 Win. And 223 Rem.
* Left-hand models available
Model 10 FCP
Model 10 Precision Carbine
* Camo: Digital Green Camo
* 20-in medium-contour barrel
* AccuTrigger
* Detachable Box Magazine
* Oversized Bolt Handle
* Matte Black Metal Finish
* Available in 308 Win. and 223 Rem.
Model 10 Precision Carbine
No word on pricing. Unfortunately it is not yet offering rimfire models.
TFB reader Mehul emailed me some photos that his friend, a law enforcement officer, took of confiscated homemade pistols manufactured by Naxalite (communist) rebels in North East India.
Mehul said that when he was in India some years ago their backyard guns were very primitive. Automobile exhaust tubes were being used as barrels for crude muzzle loading blackpowder firearms. They appear to have improved their gun making skills since then.
My understanding of Australian guns law is that unless you are a farmer, professional shooter (such as professional competition shooter or professional pest hunter) or collector you are only allowed paintballs markers, air guns and non-semi-automatic rimfire/centerfire rifles and shotguns (pump action shotguns are subject to same restrictions as semi-auto shotguns). Pistols can only be owned by target shooters and the caliber is restricted in most cases to .38 (9mm).
Things just got worse for our Australian gun owning brethren:
The Federal Government will change import regulations to tighten controls on firearms that have a “military-style appearance”.
…
Mr Debus said that there was “absolutely no reason” for anyone to own a shotgun that looked like a semi-automatic rifle.
Now any rifle, shotgun or even paintball marker looks like a semi-automatic is will be destroyed by customs. This will limit the import of pump-action rifles into the country. Apparently they have been importing the Romanian pump-action AK pattered PAR-3/PAR-1 rifle.
From the above article. Looks like a
AU legal PAR-3 or PAR-1 (top).
I am sure they will ban the pump action Remington 7600 rifle pistol grip and M4 style stock as well. I believe the 7600 is popular in Australia. The politicians must have forgotten to ban pump action rifles.
2A Musing has posted a list of what guns he wants and what gun he couldn’t care less about. Personally I lust over most of this couldn’t-care-less list.
I did not expect this. Remington will be selling a new pump-action shotgun next year (2009) called the Model 887 NitroMag. The design is not based on the popular 870 and will not replace it.
I am guessing by the name “Nitro Mag” that it will chamber 3 1/2″ 12 gauge shells. According to Adam the barrel and other parts are coated in a polymer to prevent rust. Air guns barrels are often coated with plastic, although I think this is also done to add strength to the thin air gun barrels..
It looks like it will compete head-to-head with the Mossberg 835 Ulti-Mag which was designed specifically for firing 3 1/2″ magnum shells.
Two models will be available. The 887 Nitro Mag Synthetic and the 887 Nitro Mag Waterfowl
Remington redefines pump shotgun technology with the 12 gauge Model 887 Nitro Mag. The most durable and reliable shotgun ever built; it has minimal external surfaces to rust. Our exclusive ArmorLokt™ construction process seals the receiver and barrel in a vault of weather-impervious polymer material. Its overmolded surface is built to withstand abrasion and hard-core hunting abuse whether that’s barbed wire, gnarly thorns or the bottom of a Jon boat. And when it’s time for action, our revolutionary new SuperCell™ Recoil Pad so effectively reduces rearward force that it makes a magnum 12 gauge feel like a light field load. The Model 887 Nitro Mag is our softest-shooting pump gun ever. That means enhanced confidence on the first shot and smoother, faster follow-ups.
Because the Model 887 Nitro Mag’s design is inspired by the strength and dependability of our Model 870, you can count on it to cycle flawlessly and stand up to abuse like no other. Similar to the Model 870, its receiver is manufactured from solid steel and the barrel is hammer-forged. Our ArmorLokt process packages it all under a weather-impermeable outer shell. Twin steel action bars ensure smooth, positive chambering and ejection for the long haul. And the sleek receiver design, awesome balance and natural pointing characteristics spell trouble for any bird within reach of its 12-gauge 3 ½-inch Super Magnum capability. The extremely rugged synthetic stock and fore-end are ergonomically contoured to offer a positive grip and comfortable handling while the built-in swivel studs insure a solid attachment for adding slings.
taofledermaus has published a video tutorial on how to fit a Ruger 10/22 receiver, trigger and barrel into a $30 airsoft P90 stock and how to hook up the airsoft trigger to the 10/22 trigger at the rear of the stock. A very clever idea.
The LBA’s trigger blade is not nearly as deep as that of the AccuTrigger. In fact, without using a measuring device, I’d say it’s about two-thirds to half as deep. Considering one of the primary purposes of this type of trigger system is to eliminate trigger creep, I think it makes sense that there isn’t a lot of anticipation as you bring the blade flush with the trigger itself. Bottom line: When I wanted the 4×4 to fire, it broke crisply at that moment, and not a millisecond later.
LBA Trigger
While I love the Savage AccuTrigger I hate the little tool it uses for adjustment. I just know if I ever need to adjust it the thing will have gone missing. The LBA uses a screwdriver which is a much better idea.
The LBA will be available next year on Mossberg 100 ATR and 4×4 bolt action rifles. I previously wrote about the LBA here.
More at The Gun Shots
Jane’s Intelligence Review, via Burmese (Myanmar) news website Irrawaddy, reports that the United Wa State Army (UWSA) rebels in northern Burma have begun manufacturing AK-47s and ammunition for themselves and to sell to their allies in the region.
Burma (From Wikipedia)
Like the Taliban their arms revenue supplements their drug income. Previously they had been purchasing arms from China and then reselling to other rebel groups.
Reader Tarkan emailed me a couple of interesting news article about the assassination of a former Chechen commander in Turkey last week. Sabah reports:
According to police investigations the gunshots hit the victim from a diagonal angle and the weapons used were especially made for the KGB. Known as ’small special guns’ and used in assassinations, both the SP3 and SM4 models only let off minimal noise when shot. Police are stating that the previous Chechen commander that was murdered, Gazhi Edilsultanov was also killed by a 7.62 gun and the same weapon might have been used in both murders.
As usual, the media got the facts incorrect. The SP-3 is a cartridge. The S4M is a pistol.
The round is one of many Russia piston silenced rounds. The gas from the primer propels a piston (I doubt they contain any powder) which in turn propels a 123 grain bullet at 490 fps generating 66 lbs of muzzle energy. This is significantly less energy than a High Velocity .22 Long Rifle (130+ lbs). The piston then locks in the gas preventing muzzle noise.
The bullet itself is similar to the 7.62×39mm (AK) bullet. In theory this is supposed to fool investigators into thinking the victim was shot by a conventional rifle. This may have worked when the cartridge was classified but any modern forensic expert would not be fooled by a rifle bullet that clearly left the muzzle slowly and had very poor penetration.
A combination of very low power and a relatively large caliber bullet means the round is not capable of much apart from gangland style executions as demonstrated in the recent assassination.
JamesTown.org reports that in September another Chechen was assassinated in Turkey:
On September 6 Gazhi Edilsultanov, a former Chechen colonel, was gunned down in Istanbul reportedly during a dispute over financial aid being collected in Turkey for Chechen separatists. Edilsultanov was the head of the Chechen refugee camp in Istanbul
It is suspected that the killing was not a robbery but an assassination:
Perhaps, however, the story of killing Edilsultanov for the €50,000 was not true, and the suspects invented the money story to cover up the fact that the murder was committed by Russian intelligence.
I would be surprised if Russian intelligence are still manufacturing the pistols themselves. Ammunition on the other hand is relatively simple to make. I am sure with a lathe and reloading press any competent machinist could manufacture the SP-3 cartridge.
A bit thanks to Tarkan for the information he emailed me.
In 2009 Mossberg will be selling a range of Mossberg 590A shotguns and accessories to the general public. The 590A is sturdier than the 500/590 and is the model generally sold to law enforcement and military. The 590 has a heavy barrel, metal trigger guard, metal safety and bayonet lug.
Reader Beau emailed me this video. It shows a RC Helicopter firing a Springfield 1911 .45 ACP pistol.
I am impressed by the accuracy. The recoil does not seem to be much and at first I wondered if the video was a hoax. But it looks like it is a big RC helicopter, which has a lot of forward thrust which would counter some of the recoil.
Hi, welcome to my gun blog! This blog is dedicated to all things firearms related. If you are into AR-15 and AK rifles, skeet shotguns, self defense pistols or hunting arms there will be something here for you. I hope you enjoy it.
I want this blog to appeal to a worldwide audience and so I will be focusing on firearms and shooting rather than country specific politics. There are already many great blogs defending your rights!
Hi, welcome to my gun blog! This blog is dedicated to all things firearms related. If you are into AR-15 and AK rifles, skeet shotguns, self defense pistols or hunting arms there will be something here for you. I hope you enjoy it.