The Firearm Blog

Over at AR15.com Jarrod McDevitt, a Bushmaster employee, has answered commonly asked questions about the ACR rifle. What I did not realize is that the production version of the ACR does not use AR-15 barrels or triggers!

Let me remind you all this forum is for product questions & to share info on your existing BFI products. If your intention is to just come in here and randomly use profanity and bash products, your post will be reported to AR15.Com Staff and deleted. I'm all for talking about product and taking criticism, but the majority of this re: the ACR is over the top and unacceptable.

If I missed something, I'll come back in and answer what I can.

1st Topic M4 Bbl: M4 profile was picked as a trade-off between weight and durability. We tested up to 6 bbl profiles (hvy, med, light, heavy under the handguard M4, M4, and fluted hvy). We found that the M4 offered the best weight/performance ratio.

2nd 1x9 Bbl Twist vs. 1x7: 1/7 bbl assemblies will be offered. BFI did 1:9 bc tests show that for 62 gr and under it was more accurate than 1:7. However, 1:9 does not stabilize 77 gr and above as well, so for customers requiring a. 1:7 it will be offered separate and installed in the rifle late spring.

3rd Civ weight vs. Mil Version: The Mil version is still under development and weight reduction to 7lbs. is part of that process. When completed, application of those design changes and the use of alternate material components can be applied to the civ model.

4th Chrome lined vs. New Proprietary Coating: Many have pointed out that the ACR barrels are not chrome lined and that is correct... They are not. That does not mean that they are not coated. As stated in our original press release the ACR barrels, and all internal components, feature a new, proprietary coatings that are substrate conversions which vastly increase durability, lubricity and reliability.

5th Pricing: To make this weapon combat ready, and suitable for LE application and Civilian sales, it went thru revision after revision after revision. The ACR is not an inexpensive rifle to produce, it is of the highest quality and we are utilizing the most advanced materials available. The $1500 Retail price tag was not realistic. I know we all wanted to produce and offer this weapon for under $2k, but when the cost roll up is done, and all the pricing is tiered the realistic $’s are what we are showing.

6th BFI Targeting Modern Warfare Consumers Absolutely not, especially when a large demographic playing this game are youth and we are very careful not to market to individuals who are not legally able to own a firearm, especially youth. We commented at the show on the phenomenon Modern Warfare 2 has caused, bringing the awareness of the ACR to an entire segment of the population that was previously unaware of it. But this product has never been targeted specifically to the players of video game. Our target, as it has been and remains, are professional firearms users, tactical firearms enthusiasts, target and competition shooters, and recreational shooters who value high quality, performance firearms.

Lastly, replacement bbls, buttstocks, forends, and caliber conv kits will be offered. We are setting up our accessory/spares program, and will release more info on this as we get closer to the offering.

The cheaper Basic model of Bushmaster ACR at SHOT Show '10

He then went on to say ...

1. They do not accept a std AR Bbl. However, spare bbls will be offered.
2. We did show the A-TAC Camo version at Shot, it will follow shortly after the release of the Enhanced ACR.
3. We will be offering the 6.8, 7.62x39, and 6.5.
4. No other trigger option avail..this one is pretty sweet.
5. Enhanced model does not go with an additional hgd, will go with the 3 rail only. Basic hgd will be offered separately.

I wonder why they dropped AR-15 barrel and trigger group compatibility. It was one of the major features touted by Magpul back in the day.

Unbeknown to me, China has been developing a line of underwater guns. Their designs are based on Russia's underwater guns but are chambered in a new cartridge that appears to use 5.8x42mm (Chinese DBP87) brass.

The Chinese version of the Russian SPP-1 three barrels in a triangular configuration, rather than the SPP's four barrel setup.

SPP-1 (top), Chinese variant (bottom)

The Chinese version of the [Russian APS] rifle(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/APS_underwater_assault_rifle) being fired.

More info at China Defense.

[ Many thanks to Sven (Defense and Freedom) for emailing me the the info. ]

Sadly Charles Daly / KBI are no longer trading ...

To all our friends, fans, supporters and consumers of Charles Daly and by extension, KBI products, I regret to inform you that the rumors of our demise are true.

KBI is going out of business and closing its doors, effective today.

I don't want to go into each and every detail as to why this has occurred, except to say that there have been a multitude of events over the past five years that have contributed to our current situation.

For those of you with ongoing service requirements, please be advised that we are currently negotiating with several companies that will be performing after-sale service of Charles Daly, CD Defense and Jericho firearms. As soon as we have finalized a contract with one of these companies we will post the name, address and contact details of that company so you will know who to contact to obtain service on your KBI firearm.

Charles Daly Defense AR-15

I wonder if financial difficulties were the reason why negotiations with Bul, to sell what was supposed to be named the Charles Daly G4 1911, fell through. The pistol was recently brought to the market by Magnum Research and branded the Desert Eagle 1911.

From the companies' "About" page ...

The modern era of Charles Daly began in 1996 when K.B.I. Inc.'s president, Michael Kassnar acquired the brand. Kassnar and his family had been involved in importing firearms from around the globe for more than half a century and had actually been supplying Outdoor Sports Headquarters with Charles Daly products from 1976 to 1985.

In keeping with the Charles Daly tradition of selling custom crafted firearms, K.B.I. Inc., began importing Italian and Spanish over-and-under and side-by-side shotguns and marketing them under the Charles Daly name. The line expanded with the inclusion of Charles Daly 1911 pistols and took off with the addition of a line of semi-automatic and pump action shotguns.

[ Many thanks to James for emailing me the info. ]

Black Dog Machine's .22 50 round magazine was launched late last year. It works with a variety of .22 Long Rifle AR-15 conversion kits and AR-style .22 rifles (Atchisson/Ciener style drop in conversion kits, Kel-Tec, Sig 522, Tactical Solutions uppers, Model 1 Sales and Spikes kits.). Price is $80.

Rachael showing off the Black Dog Machine 50 rounder. Photo © Gregory

Black Dog Machine's 3rd Generation AR 22LR magazine. Photo © Gregory

The improvements in the new gen-3 mag are: steel feed lips, no need for magazine loader (follower can be manually pulled down) and 30-round capacity (old mags were 26-round capacity.)

[ Many thanks to Gregory for the info. ]

For less-lethal hunting? I am confused as you are.

The most likely explanation is that it is simply another color designed to appeal to hunters. I would still make a stylish sidearm for hunters on less-lethal lion hunts in Africa ( in Southern Africa some private game parks offer lion hunting with tranquilizer guns ).

The entire KRISS line is going to be available in .40 S&W later this year. Additionally, lower receivers will be sold so that a .45 model can be converted to .40 S&W. Like the .45 version, it also uses Glock magazines.

The photo below of the prototype .40 S&W submachine gun model. I had to promise them I would make is clear it is a prototype and that the finish on the lower is rough and not what will be seen on the production version.

DS Arms, not wanting be to outdone by their AR-making counterparts, will be selling a Short Barred Rifle (SRB) and pistol version of the FN FAL. They feature a barrel about 8" long (+/- one inch, I forget the exact length).

SRB (top) and Pistol (bottom)

The pistol is essentially the SBR with the stock replaced with a sling attachment. I forgot to ask, but I think they will have made it hard for a regular stock to be attached (the BATFE can be fussy about this).

SBR with para-style stock in folded position.

The SBR pictured above is actually a full auto model; it is in effect a 7.62x51mm Personal Defense Weapon!

DSA were not able to give me pricing for the pistol or SBR and as of now no pricing is on their website.

I am impressed with the answers to yesterdays guess-the-gun. I thought I had made it to hard but many of you got very close. Both sadlerbw and Advocate were right on with their answers. With no further ado ...

1) DS Arms FAL Pistol.

2) Umarex H&K 416 rifle (.22)

3) DPMS AR-10 with wooden furniture.

To the concerned reader who took the time to email me and tell me I am lazy: no I am not, just tired.

I have HORDES of fascinating gun stuff to blog and will start again tomorrow.

Until then, lets see if anyone can correctly guess what each of these guns are ...

Mystery gun one. (Tip: Ignore the blue thing)

Mystery gun two.

Mystery gun three.

You need to be specific. Saying "SKS" for example is not specific enough. Post your guesses in the comments.

UPDATE: Answers are here.

The KRISS Systems' KRISS Vector is now available in a pistol configuration. This allows civilians to purchase a short barreled configuration where previously they were limited to the 16" carbines. The military and law enforcement the select-fire pistol version makes for a compact and controllable PDW.

.45 KRISS pistol