I first mentioned the new "Tan" M16/M4 magazine back in June.
The Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier agency has just blogged about it ...
“With the improved magazines, we’re taking weapons reliability up another notch,” said LTC Chris Lehner, Product Manager Individual Weapons. “By incorporating a heavier, more corrosion resistant spring, along with a new follower design that does not tilt inside the casing, our engineers were able to develop a magazine that presents a round to the weapon with even greater stability. Increased magazine reliability results in overall improved weapon system performance.”
...
“Soldiers can remember it like this: ‘Tan – is the plan. Green – start to lean. Black – take it back,’” said LTC Lehner. “While the improved magazines increase reliability to an even greater degree, the new magazines by no means reduce the importance of Soldiers keeping their weapons clean and lubricated appropriately for the environment. Also, Soldiers must be proficient on conducting immediate action (SPORTS) if their weapon has a stoppage.”
Video of the new follower in action.
The Army has also developed a nifty tool to check if the feed lips are worn out. It is kind of a no-go gauge for magazines. If this does not already exist for civilians or law enforcement, I imagine it would be a popular accessory.
[ Thanks to Solomon and Daniel for the link ]
Argentine gun maker Bersa, best known for their Bersa Thunder 380 pistol, will be entering the lucrative compact-plastic-fantastic pistol market next year with the BP9CC, chambered in 9mm, and the BP40CC, chambered in .40 S&W.
The inspiration for this pistol was the SIG P250. The external appearance and internal organization of parts resemble the P250, but I don't think it also uses the P250's true double action mechanism.
Unfortunately it includes Bersa's anti-features: the dreaded key-lock and magazine safety.
The pistols are slightly larger and heavier than a true sub-compact, such as the Kel-Tec PF-9, so I am unsure if they should be classed as compact or sub-compact.
| Specifications |
|
| Caliber |
9MM (BP9) 40 S&W (BP40) |
| Operation |
Semi-Automatic |
| Action |
Double Action |
| Frame |
High impact polymer |
| Slide |
AISI 4140 alloy steel |
| Overall Length |
6.35” |
| Height |
4.8” |
| Width |
.94” |
| Barrel Length |
3.2” |
| Weight |
21.5 oz. |
| Magazine Capacity |
7+1 in BP 9 cc 6+1 in BP 40 cc |
| Magazine |
Alloy steel |
| Safeties |
Integral Locking System, Trigger, Firing Pin, Magazine |
| Finish |
Matte black or two-tone |
| Grips |
Black Polymer |
| Rear Sight |
Interchangeable glock type |
| Front Sight |
Interchangeable sig sauer type |
| MSRP (Price) |
$425 (Lipseys) |
| Availability |
1st Quarter 2010 |
Some online stores are listing the pistol but at a much lower price than what Lipseys, a major distributor, says. I think $425 sounds right for a pistol of this class.
From MP.net ...
AGUSAN DEL SUR, PHILIPPINES - DECEMBER 12: Hostages of tribal gunmen are seen on December 12, 2009 in San Martin, Philippines. The suspected bandits, reported to be former government-armed militia led by Danilo 'Ondo' Perez, have abducted dozens of villagers, included schoolchildren and teachers, in the Southern Philippines.
I was surprised to see a polymer Thermold magazine being used by these bandits.
Thermold's nylon AR-15 / M16 magazine.
The long-awaited 7.62x51mm PMAG has finally been given a name and is now in production. At $19.95, Magpul are going to be selling truck loads of these mags.
The PMAG-LR holds 20 rounds of 7.62x51mm or .308 Winchester rounds and is compatible with the following rifles ...
- Mk11 / M110
- KAC SR25
- DPMS LR308
- LMT 7.62 MRP
- LaRue Tactical OBR
- LWRC REPR
- POF P-308
It is not compatible with the AR-10, M14/M1A or SCAR-H.
Interesting, SCAR-H compatibility (or incompatibility) is not mentioned. I am not sure what to make of this omission.
Many thanks to optimus.prime for sending me the information.
UPDATE: Thanks to R.A.W and Rex for SCAR-H info.
I did not realize that physics would allow spudguns to achieve the level of power achieved by Sureshot's guns cannons.
Most of Sureshots guns operate by injecting Methylacetylene-Propadiene gas into an expantion chamber and then igniting it.
The BL-415, which uses the Methylacetylene-Propadiene gas system, can generate up to 450 ft/lbs of muzzle energy. That is around the same muzzle energy of a .45 ACP round!
For comparison, the FN 303 less-lethal launcher generates just 16-24 ft/lbs of energy. The most powerful "less" lethal 12 gauge, 37mm and 40mm rounds top at just over 100 ft/lbs. The Sureshot guns could not be considered less-lethal.
The 60" long tennis ball sized barrel of the BL-525 can generate 2000+ fl/lbs of energy if loaded with a proprietary 4090 grain UHMW/steel projectile. That is more energy than a 6.8mm Remington SPC cartridge!
Impressive? You have seen nothing yet ... The below video shows a proof of concept developed for a Mexican defense contractor. It fires a 6790 grain projectile and generates 3000 ft/lbs of muzzle energy!!! That is more than a .308 Winchester!
Check the legality of spudguns in your state or country before you embark on building one.
Express Police Supply have a win-a-gun-a-month competition. In May the prize is a M&P in .380!
SayUncle also blogged about the competition.
From the WHQ Forum ...
"Both the SOW (Special Operations Weapon) and its magazine-fed Remington 870 predecessor (bottom) were
products of mechanical wizard Carroll Childers, an engineer at the Naval Special Weapons Center. The 870 mod
kit provided SEAL shotgunners with a quick-change magazine holding 20 rounds. The SOW was full-auto."
http://img522.imageshack.us/img522/6861/sowg.jpg
Very interesting. It must have been a fun gun to shoot!
Thanks much to Sven for emailing me the info.
UPDATE: Daniel found the patent for the SOW. Worth reading if you are interesting how it worked.
If, since the 1st of March, you have started up a gun (technical or political) and/or military blog, please post the URL in the comments below. Next week I will do a blog post listing them all.
( If it was started prior to 1 March 2009, don't post it. No exceptions)
Todd, who blogs at Pistol Training, wrote on the M4Carbine.net forums that he believes that a striker fired version of the SIG P250 will be made available soon. Currently the P250 uses a true double action hammer system1. From Todd's forum posting (emphasis added) ...
They've selected it. No guns have been delivered or fielded yet.
As others have said, the rank-and-file seem unhappy with the choice. But again, most of them have zero actual experience with the gun and only know what they've heard. The FAM2 contract will be a major turning point for the P250. If the gun runs well, meets the agency's durability expectations, and the average FAM feels he can shoot it well, it could turn things around for the P250 after the false starts of the past couple years. If, on the other hand, the FAMs ditch it within the first year or two (even if they just go back to the P229, which has served them very well since 9/11) then it could be the final death knell for the P250 line.
The striker-fired version of the P250 is expected to be released soon, perhaps even at SHOT. While it will solve complaints about the long reset, it might not make a difference for the FAMs. The FAM solicitation specifically disallowed any striker-fired weapons. One manufacturer even filed a formal protest over the issue. So there is no way the FAM Service could adopt a striker-fired version (or modification) to its P250s without incurring a landslide of legal problems from Smith & Glock.
UPDATE: Todd has written about it on his blog.
![p250 c n detail l tfb SIG P250 to adopt a striker fired system [Rumor] photo](http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/p250_c_n_detail_l-tfb.jpg "p250 c n detail l tfb SIG P250 to adopt a striker fired system [Rumor] photo")
