FN has published a press released claiming that "allegations recently found on the web that USSOCOM abandoned the 5.56 version of the SCAR" are untrue. This is an interesting twist considering FN previously published a press release that implicitly confirmed that the program was cancelled.
The latest press release ...
Belgium-based firearms manufacturer FN Herstal hereby refutes the allegations recently found on the web that USSOCOM abandoned the 5.56 version of the SCAR® rifle and reconfirms USSOCOM's decision to acquire the full FN SCAR® family of weapons, including the 5.56mm rifle.
The FN SCAR® family of weapons consists of the 5.56mm SCAR® rifle, 7.62mm SCAR® rifle and 40mm LV Enhanced Grenade Launcher Module (respectively designated as MK 16, MK 17 and MK 13 by USSOCOM). These three components were developed by FN Herstal in close cooperation with USSOCOM and have each met all the operational and fielding tests required by the program. This resulted in the notification by USSOCOM last May that the full SCAR® system entered into Milestone C phase, allowing production and deployment of the full range of SCAR® weapons. The 5.56 version will be part of USSOCOM's inventory.
The choice between the 5.56 and the 7.62 caliber will be left to the discretion of each constitutive component of USSOCOM's Joint Command (e.g. Seals, Rangers, Army Special Forces, USMC, AFSOC) depending on their specific missions on today's battlefield.
Military.com, who had the exclusive on the original story, did not claim that USSCOMOM was destroying their FN SCR Mk.16 inventory. They simply said that no more would be purchased that that the M4 Carbine would be used instead.
I look forward to see how this story develops.
UPDATE: I did not realize when I first posted this that this latest press release came from FN Herstal (Belgium) not their subsidiary FN-USA. I would be willing to bet that the Belgium FNH bosses are not happy with FN-USA after their press release.
UPDATE 2: Military.com Kit Up responds to the latest developments.
This incredibly gorgeous rifle was built by French gunmaker Dorleac & Dorleac who celebrate their 25th anniversary in September.
The rifle is Dorleac's Heeren Stutzen model. It uses the 19th century Nagel and Menz action that has been strengthened for modern cartridges. It is chambered in 6.5x57R, a cartridge that is comparable to the .260 Remington. The engraving and inlays by done by Michel Courant in an Art Deco style with gold in different colors. The wood is select English walnut.
The rifle will be sold in September.
[ Many thanks to Mehul for emailing me the information and photos. ]
Many more photos after the jump ... Continue Reading »
Eight experts weigh in on the shooting "tip" they think is the worst.
An anonymous reader email me these two logo's that are apparently for a new Remington shotgun which will be launched next month.
I did some Googling to confirm this and found that the Office of the California Attorney General's Roster of Approved Firearms Safety Devices has approved a safety device for the "Remington VersaMax Shotgun".
Regal Industrial Sales RTL10 Regal Industrial Sales Model RTL10 trigger lock is designed to fit Remington VersaMax Shotgun exclusively
My guess is that the VersaMax is a tactical autoloader. Remington has a great line of tactical Model 870 pump guns but only one barley-tactical autoloader, the Model 1100 TAC 4. The only tactical feature os the TAC 4 is its four magazine extension. It lacks the short barrel and picatinny rails which which make sense on a home defense / tactical scatter gun.
[ Many thanks to the anonymous reader for emailing me the link. ]
UPDATE: Sadly I was wrong. It looks like it is a hunting shotgun with a 26" barrel and a MSRP of $1,599. Well done to Jay for digging up this info.
I was sure that the promotional video for the Begane or "BIGGUN" was a hoax. Unfortunately the gun, which is described as a "civilized gun for civilized people", is all to real.
You would be forgiven for mistaking the Begane for a 19th century ceremonial baton. This was intentional. One of is many features is that it can be used as a standard baton or an electric shock baton. Another useful feature is the bayonet which can be used for defense when you are reloading the four .38 Special shotshell cartridges it holds. They also managed to squeeze in a pepper spray dispenser.
It has four barrel in a derringer-style configuration which are fired by twisting the handle. Reloading is accomplished by open the hinged handle.
[ Many thanks to Heimdal for emailing me the link. ]
Anthony Williams has written a fascinating account of his time spent shooting the Brugger & Thomet MP9 chambered in the diminutive 6.5x25mm CBJ round. The standard 6.5x25mm CBJ Ball1 round consists of a necked down 9x19mm NATO case with a 4mm (0.157") tungsten bullet, weighing 30 grains, inside a 6.5mm plastic discarding sabot. Look what it does to armor ...
9mm armor plate from a Russian APC
One of the rounds biggest advantages is that is can be used in any 9mm NATO gun with nothing but a barrel change.
The wide range of bullets. Including non-saboted subsonic Copper Solids and Frangible.
I highly recommend reading Tony's article.
Mechanix Illustrated has an article online, first published in 1957, about "revolutionary" The Dardick revolver and its triangular rounds (Trounds).
I wonder how reliable those guns were. I imagine that the design would have combined and amplified the feeding problems associated with autoloaders and the heavy trigger pull of double action revolvers.
[ Many thanks to Sven (Defense and Freedom) for emailing me the the info. ]
Google Translate has failed me and so I know very little about this pistol. I think it is named the Shark and is currently in pre-production in Turkey. It is single action only and holds six rounds in its magazine. I like the design.
UPDATE: Apparently it chambers 9mm PA, not 9mm Luger/Parabellum. Wosiu said in the comments below ...
9 mm PA is non-lethal caliber with blank, tear gas and rubber bullets loads (popular in Russia as so-called traumatic loads).
If you know Russian, you can read more about it at Casatic's blog.
Smith & Wesson have just applied for a patent on their AR-15-patterned .22 rifle, the M&P15-22.
U.S. Patent Application 20100162604: LIGHTWEIGHT, LOW COST SEMI-AUTOMATIC RIFLE
A lightweight and low cost semi-automatic rifle includes an upper receiver, a lower receiver, and a forend fabricated from injection-molded polymers. The rifle permits firing .22 LR or similar low-power ammunition from an AR-15 style frame, operates on the blowback principle, and provides a fully functional bolt catch and extractor/ejector/deflector.
Every five years the Swiss get together for a month long shooting competition / party. This year the Eidgenössische (Federal) Schützenfest was held in the city of Aarau. There were 2300 teams made up over over 45,000 individual shooters!
Swiss reader Laurent, who competed in the event this year, explained ...
The infrastructure is mainly provided by Army and they were very friendly. This year the competition was held in Aarau (about 25 miles from Zuerich), with four shooting location, Rupperswil (the main one, with 120 shooting lines), Buchs, Suhr and Linsburg. You can shoot with anything that is or was army issued ("Schmidt-Rubin" Mousqueton 11 or 31, FASS57 or FASS90 for rifles at 300 meters, and swiss Luger, SIG P210, SIG-Sauer P22x, SIGPro, Glocks in 9 x 19 and Sphinx for pistols at 25 meters).
Beer advertisement featuring a gun!
Gun control Swiss style: a yellow sticker
Locker room with assault rifles
McDonalds advertisment featuring targets
Main shooting hall with 120 lanes.
I have to say that I love the Swiss! Schützenfest is high on my list of things to see before I die.
[ Many thanks to Laurent for sending me the photos. ]
