As the western world moved away from full power battle rifles such as the H&K G3, FN FAL and M14, Heckler & Koch developed the HK32 and HK33 chambered in 7.62×39mm and 5.56×45mm respectively. Both were based on the G3 design and roller-delayed blowback operating mechanism.
The magazine, both outside appearance and curvature, is significantly different from the HK33.
HK33 5.56×45mm. Showing 25, 30 and 40 round magazines.
The receiver also looks slightly different to the SW32, a clone of the HK33 made by Specials Weapons Inc chambered for 7.62×39mm.
SW32
I think the most likely explication for these rifles ending up with the Mexican police is that H&K sent pre-production samples to the Mexican Army who manufacture H&K weapons under license and they somehow made their way into the police arsenal.
An Albanian woman was hit by a stray bullet 12 years ago during civil strife. The doctor incorrectly thought it passed through her cheek and it was only discovered last week. The BBC reports:
But doctors told her the bullet passed straight through her cheek and simply patched up her wound.
The truth was discovered a week ago when she collapsed in pain, and the 2.8cm-long bullet was eventually found.
“I was covered in blood and my husband took me to casualty where there were many people injured,” she told Albania’s Ata news agency of the 1997 incident.
“But the doctor told me the bullet had come out and cleaned the wound.
…
“The unique thing about this case is not the operation, but the fact she kept it unknowingly for 12 years in her head,” the surgeon told Reuters news agency.
The captain held in a lifeboat by pirates off the coast of Somalia has been rescued by the US Navy after snipers took out his captors. CNN reports:
U.S. Navy snipers fatally shot three pirates holding an American cargo-ship captain hostage after seeing that one of the pirates “had an AK-47 leveled at the captain’s back,” a military official said Sunday.
…
The three pirates, who were armed with AK-47 rifles, were killed by shooters who were aboard the Bainbridge, Gortney said.
The on-scene commander gave the shooters approval to open fire after seeing that “one of the pirates had an AK-47 leveled at the captain’s back,” Gortney said.
That is some incredible shooting!
Earlier this year a team of Marine Scout Snipers were deployed to the region for counter piracy work. They are armed with the SR-25 (Mk 11) 7.62×51mm semi-automatic, an AR-10 style rifle. They may well have been the men that were deployed to take out the pirates.
A scout sniper fires an MK-11 rifle from a HH-60H Sea Hawk helicopter
The Italian army adopted the Beretta BM59, basically an M1 Garand chambered for 7.62×51mm NATO capable of select fire. It was about as successful as all the other select fire battle rifles adopted around the world (not very). From Wikipedia:
After World War II, Italy adopted the US-designed M1 Garand rifle in .30-06 (7.62×63mm) and also manufactured it under license. This semi-automatic rifle proved itself well during WWII, but in the late 1950s it was considered outdated and obsolete. The Italian military wanted a new rifle chambered for the NATO-standard 7.62×51mm.
Beretta designed the BM59, which was essentially a rechambered M1 fitted with a removable 20-round magazine, folding bipod and flash suppressor/grenade launcher. The BM59 is capable of selective fire.
I came across this Class III, full auto, Beretta BM59 on Gunbroker (The auction has since close). Click to expand the photos:
The Winchester 1885 single shot rifle, designed by the one and only Mr John M. Browning, has been in and out of production for over 120 years. Winchester is once again manufacturing it. A variety of models are available:
The UK have adopted the Benelli M4 shotgun, dubbed the L128A1, as their new combat shotgun. The photo below was taken at a combat display held last week.
Click to expand.
Private Colin Shead, A Company, 3 MERCIAN, displays the new Combat Shotgun, brought into service for use in close quarter battle in southern Afghanistan. The shotgun fires both pellet and slug-type shells [Picture: Cpl Russ Nolan RLC]
The Benelli M4 has been fitted with the 8+1 extended magazine. Along with the rail, fore grip and optics, it is one mean looking machine.
We are pleased to announce that CBC has acquired Sellier & Bellot, an industry leader of quality ammunition since 1825. Acquiring Sellier & Bellot’s proven brand with over 184 years of history will complement our existing product lines and enable us to further expand our global presence in the ammunition industry. Sellier & Bellot fits perfectly within our philosophy of investing in leading, high- quality, highly recognized brands which complement our existing portfolio of branded ammunition product companies
I incorrectly stated on a couple of occasions that Remigiusz Wilk aka. REMOV, who has contributed many photos to the blog, was a professional military photographer. He is in fact the editor-in-chief of Polish firearm magazine Bron i Amunicja (which translates as “Weapons and Ammunition”, not to be confused with US publication “Guns and Ammo”)
Sorry Remi !
Posted by Steve on Apr 10th 2009 | Filed in misc | Comments Off
Capitalizing on the phenomenal popularity of the AR-15, Leupold have produced a line of scopes designed for AR-15 hunting rifles.
Mark AR 1.5-4×20mm
The Mark AR 1.5-4×20mm model is a light weight scope allowing a wide field of view at the 1.5x zoom, while giving the option of 4x zoom for longer shots. The disadvantage of this scope is the poor low-light performance from the 20mm OA (objective aperture).
The Mark AR 3-9×40mm is your standard 3-9×40mm scope but with pre-engraved bullet drop compensation on the elevate adjustment dial for a 55 grain .223/5.56mm NATO load.
Daniel Defense, known for manufacturing AR-15 parts, have produced their first complete rifle.
Daniel Defense M4 Carbine
The carbine features:
* their own in-house manufactured lower receiver
* 1:7 16″ barrel
* Daniel Defense Omega X 12.0 FSP rail that extends forward of the front sight / gas block
* Daniel Defense A1.5 rear sight.
* Magpul stock.
* Daniel Defense forward grip
This recently taken photo shows a blank firing line throwing AR-15 (or the original C7, the C7A1 has an A3 style upper receiver) in use by the Canadian Navy.
Hi, welcome to The Firearm Blog! This blog is dedicated to all things firearm related. If you are into AR-15 and AK carbines, skeet shotguns, self defense pistols or hunting rifles then 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 focus on firearms and shooting rather than country specific politics. There are already many great blogs defending your rights!
). The internet does not disappoint:
Hi, welcome to The Firearm Blog! This blog is dedicated to all things firearm related. If you are into AR-15 and AK carbines, skeet shotguns, self defense pistols or hunting rifles then there will be something here for you. I hope you enjoy it.
