Yesterday PEO Solider had a media roundtable discussion. I should have phoned into the event but I only just realized it was on. One of the topics discussed was the Improved Carbine Competition. According to the PEO Solider twitter account, which was live updated during the roundtable event, the Improved Carbine Competition requirements do not specify a caliber.
Some companies are sure to submit 6.8 SPC chambered carbines; whether they get anywhere is another story altogether.
LTC Chris Lehner of PEO Solider wrote a comment on the blog that I thought deserved its own post. He addresses the issue of why the Army did not just adopt one of the existing anti-tilt follower designs instead of developing their own.
LTC Lehner here. My program office is responsible for the development, production, and fielding of the Improved Magazine (tan follower) along with all the pistols, shotguns, grenade launchers, sniper weapons, rifles/carbines, and even airburst weapons that our Army uses.
Hotgun, you are on target! Our Improved Magazine has been thoroughly tested in every environmental condition for the last several years. We have fired 40,000+ rounds through them, filmed their performance with high speed cameras, and did things to them to try and make them fail. Bottom line, these Improved Magazines offer a 50% reduction in the risk of a magazine related weapon stoppage over our previous Green follower magazines. P-mag, H+K, and others may have “tested” their magazines, but no one has the resources to test the way we do. When an Improved Magazine is fielded from my office (along with all the other kit we provide) there is a commitment and promise to our Soldiers that it will serve them extremely well in combat. The other manufactures of magazines (commercial magazines) usually will not or can not make this promise because of all the unknowns their magazines will face in battle.
As a side note, our Improved Magazines (with the tan, anti-tilt, follower) were developed a few years before similar magazines hit the market. The reason our magazines are only now available is due to the extensive testing regime we must put all of our equipment through. And it is a good thing we do, because there are many commercial magazines that our soldiers bought “off the shelf” that are starting to give them problems. More on this in the future.
For all Soldiers in OIF or OEF, be sure to keep your eyes open for the Armed Forces Network (AFN) Infomercial due out at the end of this month. You will actually learn valuable information on your Improved Magazine and where they are being issued in theater. Also you can log onto the PEO Soldier Web site to learn more about the magazine, new weapons, night vision devices, and body armor that we are fielding. Thank you for your time and keep up the fight!
The photo was taken by Daniel Garcia in Talcahunao, Chile on March 1, 2010. Those shipping containers are scattered amongst peoples homes! The high resolution version of this photo can be see at the Big Picture Blog.
More photos of the man guarding his house can be seen here.
Acusport is distributing a special version of the Remington Model 700 VTR. The VTR Tactical's main drawcard is the use of 5R rifling with a 1:11.25" twist. It also features a tactical style bolt handle.
According to AccurateShooter, the benefits of 5R rifling is a better gas seal (resulting in greater velocity), less fouling and less jacket deformation. 5R rifling is used on the Army's M24 rifle.
The VTR Tactical will only be available in .308 Win.
New Zealand blogger WhaleOil emailed me a link to these photos of New Zealand SAS taken after a firefight in Kabul, Afghanistan. What is odd about the photos is that the elite SAS troops appear to have tied their magazines to the trigger guard with cord ... ?!?!
The British, Australian and New Zealand active and retired soldiers who read the blog may have to correct me, but I remember reading somewhere that British soldiers deployed in Iraq and Afghanistan are not allowed to throw away empty their magazines in a firefight. I also recall reading that in the Vietnam war the NZ and Australian soldiers where also not allowed to dump empty magazines.
That seems the most likely explanation for the above photo but it seems bizarre!
I have seen a couple of suppressed shotguns up close. They were pretty bulky and I wondered how effective the suppression would be with such a big caliber. For comparison: the area of the cross section of a 12 gauge bore is almost twice as large as .50 caliber bore!
This pump action shotgun is a BEAST. I was scared just looking at it! Its large magnum receiver is made even larger with the so called Armorlokt plastic coating which covers the entire gun.
Model 887 Nitro Mag Tactical (Top) makes the Model 870 (bottom) look tiny.
It features an 18.5" barrel with a Rem Tactical Choke (and integrated muzzle brake). A magazine extension increases capacity to 6+1 rounds.1 The gun has two side picatinny rails hear the muzzle to attach lights, lasers or bayonets2 .
The business end.
I asked my friendly booth guide if the gun could rust under the plastic Armorlokt coating. He assured me it would not.
My friendly Freedom Group guide.
The MSRP on this shotgun is $498. I think it is a bargain!
Remingtons new website says it has a 4 round capacity, but I think that is a typo. ↩
PLEASE, I beg of you, do not attach a bayonet to your shotgun. ↩
The new Model 870 Tactical Express with the A-TACS camo finish is a nice looking shotgun. It features a 18 1/2" barrel, tactical choke, extended magazine (bringing capacity up to 7+1) and picatinny rail.
Remington Model 870 Tactical Express A-TACS (bottom)
It chambers 2 3/4" or 3" 12-gauge rounds. MSRP is $665.
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!
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.
