The Firearm Blog

From a financial point of view, Magpul has had an exceptional year. They got a $13 million dollar injection of cash from TCAP. Hardly a week goes by without a gun company announcing that they are introducing a new AR-15 model that comes from the factory with Magpul accessories. On the other hand, they launched no revolutionary new products and two key employees left the company.

Magpul iPhone 4 case.

Lets take a look at what new products Magpul introduced this year ...

January '11 - The SHOT Show announcement: iPhone case updated for iPhone 4.

February '11 - MOE handguard now available in rifle length.

March '11 - Shipping 5 and 10 round limiters. Introduced instead of the promised PMAG 5/10/15 round magazines.

March '11 - Magpul MBUS 2. The biggest new product of the year. Slimmer profile than 1st generation.

Magpul MBUS 2nd Generation

May '11 - Dummy 5.56mm rounds available in a new color.

May '11 - MOE+ and MOE-K grips accounted. MOE+ is has rubber overmolding. MOE-K has a slimmer than normal profile.

August '11 - MSA sling attachement for MOE handguards.

October '11 - PMAG 30G for H&K G36 rifles. Magpul eyes the European market.

November '11 - Magpul MOE Scout light mount for MOE handguard.

November '11 - Magpul STR and ACS-L Stock.

Magpul MOE Scout

While the new MBUS launch was high profile, backup sights being a very important rifle accessory, I believe the MOE+ grip represents the biggest new innovation at Magpul. They now have the ability to produce accessories with rubber overmolding and I expect to see a lot more accessories with rubber overmolding next year.

What Magpul did not introduce this year is probably more telling than what was introduced. The PMAG 40 was announced in the 2011 catalog but never produced. This product would have been incredibly popular. When I speculated that the product was dead, the Magpul CEO made it clear it was not and they would be introducing it in the future. I hope the PMAG40 does not become vaporware.

Magpul PMAG40 (right)

Also announced but not produced were the 5 round, 10 round and 15 round PMAGs. They did introduce 5 and 10 round limiters, but in some jurisdictions round limiters do not make a full-sized magazine legal for hunting. For a company that takes pride in the fact that they never disclose future products, not producing products that made it into the annual catalog is no small thing.

Drawing from Magpul's Quad-Stack Magazine patent

Surefire beat Magpul to the market wit their quad-stack 60 and 100 round AR-15 magazines. Earlier this week Magpul's patent application for a Quad-stack magazine was approved by the USTPO. Magpul's policy is that no employees are allowed to discuss the Quad-Stack magazine. I know this because I have asked a few of them for a comment.

Chris Costa

At the beginning of the year Travis Haley, Magpul Dynamics CEO former-interim CEO of Magpul industries, left the company to form a consulting firm called Haley Strategic Partners. Last month Chris Costa, President of Magpul Dynamics, announced that he was leaving the company. It will be interesting to see how Magpul Dynamics fares without the brand-recognition that Haley and Costa had. In the blogosphere, a popular blogger usually takes his audience with him when he or she moves to another blog. I suspect the fans of Haley and Costa will follow them, regardless of the company they work for.

This year was certainly interesting, but were the new products announced exciting or lackluster? I was disappointed that there was not more innovation for their consumer customers. The new H&K G36 PMAG is not aimed at US consumers, but at military and LE users of the H&K G36.

What are my predictions for Magpul in 2012? I suspect the quad-magazine will be announced, as will the PMAG40. These products will be big sellers. If the PMAG60 or PMAG100 can be made to work with the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, Magpul could make a lot of money by nabbing a contract with the USMC. As I said before, I predict a few more products which have rubber overmolding. 2012 is going to be an interesting year.

My way out there prediction is this: Magpul will introduce a 1911 accessory in 2012!

What do you predict Magpul will introduce in 2012? Sound off in the comments.

Normally Strike Industries' design with produces with CAD software and rapid prototypers (3D printers) but decided to take a different approach for an AK grip they wanted to produce. They handmade a number of grips and asked people to try them. They picked the most popular grip and then used free 3D scanning software and a digital camera to convert the grip to a 3D model.

They used Autodesk 123D Catch to create the model. 123D Catch takes a number of static photographs of an object or scene and uses them to create a 3D model. It is free and no special equipment, other than a standard digital camera, is needed to use it. If anyone tries modeling a gun with it, please let me know.

A reader emailed us about a clever brass catcher he developed for the Oakdale Gun Club. Club members have encouraged him to commercialize the idea.

A couple of years ago I started designing brass catchers for our range (Oakdale Gun Club). The members liked them so much they told me I should sell them. Well I started making them and have everything set up but need to see if there is a group to sell to out there. Do you have an area where one could see if there is any interrest in a brass catcher like mine? I have tried it with my AR15, M1A, Glock 30, Glock21, Glock 22, Glock 35, SW 4506, SW 4006, 1911's and several other simi autos. The shooter has to make some adjustments as to where he stands but once situated it catches 90 to 98% of the brass ejected. Nothing will catch brass ejected over your head or straight out to the front. This catcher can be positioned left or right side. The fabric I use to make them is designed to last 10 years in the desert sun as a sunscreen and is quite expensive. I plan to sell the units for $79.95 each plus shipping.

To industry, public relations and media professionals: if you would like to schedule a meeting with me at SHOT Show, please email me ASAP. My schedule is filling up fast and soon I will not be able to accommodate you.

This year was the 125th Anniversary of the Statue of Liberty and the 25th Anniversary of Glock USA. Gaston Glock commissioned this beautifully engraved Glock 22 pistol for his personal collection to commemorate both anniversaries.

The "Statue of Liberty" gun is the premier item being auctioned during the annual SHOT Show auction. In addition to the pistol, the winner gets an original 11" x 15" blueprint of the original Glock 17 and a two day hunting trip with R. Lee "The Gunny" Ermey, Glock's spokesperson. Bidding can be done at Gunbroker.

The Navy has announced its intention to buy additional FN SCAR Mk. 16 (5.56mm), Mk. 17 (7.62mm) and Mk. 20 (SSR / Sniper Support Rifle) along with FN Mk. 13 grenade launchers in order to sustain inventory levels.

From Solicitation Number N0016412RJN25 ...

The Government intends to procure Combat Assault Rifles (CAR) and Enhanced Grenade Launcher Modules (EGLM). The weapon systems consist of MK16 Mod 0 (CAR-L), MK17 Mod 0 (CAR-H), MK20 Mod 0 (SSR), MK13 Mod 0 (40mm EGLM), PPL and engineering services. The requirements are in accordance with a government statement of work and technical product specifications. These items have been determined to be non-commercial and intended to fulfill a sustainment of modular weapons.

The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) Code for this procurement is 332994. Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane Division intends to enter into a Firm Fixed Price, IDIQ (5-year) type contract. The contract will be F.O.B. Destination with Inspection and Acceptance by DCMA Northern Europe. This anticipated procurement will be solicited on a sole source basis with FN Herstal SA, Rue Voie De Liege 33, 4040 Herstal, Belgium, CAGE: N0017, in accordance with FAR 6.302-1 only one responsible source and no other supplies or services will satisfy agency requirements.

[ Many thanks to Rijoenpial for emailing us the tip. ]

Pricing for the new Colt SP901 Modular Convertible Carbine has been reported in forums. The MSRP will be $2,129.00, which is not a bad price for a high-end .308 AR-style carbine. The SP901's distinguishing feature is that it's fully ambidextrous lower receiver can be used with standard AR-15 mil-spec upper relievers.

The naming of this rifle is confusing. Stamped on the rifle is "Colt Convertible Carbine", but the marketing folk have been referring to it as the "Colt Modular Carbine".

At SHOT Show next month Glock will be introducing Gen4 versions of the G21 (.45 Auto), G32 (.357) and G34 (9mm). They all use the new(ish) dual recoil spring system. From the press release ...

GLOCK’s newest generation pistol, the Gen4, brings revolutionary design changes to the world’s most popular pistol. New to the Gen4 family, GLOCK will introduce the G21 (.45 Auto), G32 (.357) and G34 (9X19) Gen4 models at the 2012 SHOT Show in Las Vegas.

The ergonomics of the Gen4 pistol have been refined by adding a Multiple Back Strap (MBS) system to the grip of the pistol. Each Gen4 comes with three difference grip options: a short, medium and large size, enabling the pistol to adapt to each individual shooter’s hand size with the removal and insertion of a single pin. In addition, the grip has also been given a new Rough Textured Frame (RTF) to increase grip traction.

The Gen4 magazine release catch has been enlarged and is reversible for the ambidextrous shooter. To utilize the interchangeable magazine release feature, the Gen4 magazines have two notches cut on each side of the magazine body, allowing users to switch access of the catch to the left or right side of the pistol with no additional parts. Previous magazines will continue to work in the Gen4 pistols as long as the magazine release catch is left in its original position. Internally, the original recoil spring has been replaced with a dual recoil spring assembly, which noticeably reduces felt recoil while simultaneously increasing the life cycle of the pistol.

Glock 22 Gen4 showing dual recoil spring.

Colt’s Manufacturing Company (not to be confused with Colt Defense) is opening a new in Kissimmee, Florida. From the press release ...

Colt’s Manufacturing Company is pleased to announce that the company will continue its progressive momentum by opening a new facility in Kissimmee, Florida. The new 16,000 square foot facility will allow Colt’s Manufacturing Company to expand into new markets and business lines in parallel with the company’s existing 100,000 square foot facility in Connecticut. Specific information on facility renovations and employee requirements will be determined over the course of the next several months.

From Gov. Rick Scott's press release ...

Today, Colt’s Manufacturing Co. LLC announced its commitment to create 63 jobs in Osceola County for its new regional headquarters and product manufacturing center. The center will hire people for engineering and manufacturing jobs, among others. In 2012, Colt is projected to begin phasing in the first of 63 jobs paying an average salary of $45,060 to be created during the following three years. Governor Rick Scott and Colt’s Manufacturing Company President and CEO Lieutenant General M. William Keys USMC (Ret.) were joined by the Osceola County Board of County Commissioners for the announcement.

Read more about the new facility at No Lawyers - Only Guns and Money.

[ Many thanks to Matt for emailing us the link. ]

A keen-eyed reader spotted a new variant of the Chinese Chang Feng Submachine Gun in use by Ugandan police. I have never before seen this particular configuration with its rear picatinny rail and H&K-style red/white coloring on safety mechanism. The photo below shows police on duty during the Ugandan general elections held earlier this year.

It is not clear what exactly could be mounted on that short rear rail. The Chang Feng Corporation probably added it so that its customers could tick the "picatinny rail" box. For mounting a scope, the Chinese police variant's scope mount seems like a better design.

China has been giving Uganda military aid for a number of years, just a couple of weeks ago they announced an additional $2.3 million of aid, so it is not surprising to see this relatively rare Chinese gun turn up in the Ugandan police arsenal (probably the envy of the Uganda Army who I am told are still using Soviet-era firearms).

[ Many thanks to James for emailing us the photo. ]