The Firearm Blog

Since the last time I wrote about the Australian International Arms M-10 Lee Enfield clone the company has expanded their product line, secured a EU importer (Polish firm LD Diana) and may be exporting to the US in the near future.

The new M10-A1 7.62x39mm Jungle Carbine

I was very surprised to learn that they had listed a US export model on their website. American Enfield fans have long been waiting to get their hands on the rifle. Because parts of the rifle were made in Vietnam importing it stateside would be illegal. If AIA are truly gearing up to export to the United States they must be manufacturing at least the export model elsewhere.

No.4 Mk 4 - Blued US export model

7.62x51mm No.4 Mk 4 - Blued US export model
No.4 Mk 4 (7.62mm NATO)
No.4 & No.4(T) rifle configuration, 10-rd.
Parkerized finish on standard model.
Adjustable frontsight, elevation & windage, dual rear aperture at 200, 400m.
Provision for steel Picatinny rail to fit telescopic sight.

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

Until recently you did not have many options if you wanted a bolt gun chambered in 7.62×39mm. In the United States the most readily available gun was the CZ 527 Carbine and Remington Model 799, in Canada it was the Norinco (Chinese) made rifle (I forget the model name).

Then earlier this year Ruger came out with the M77 Hawkeye Compact, chambered in 7.62×39mm, and I applauded their efforts. I just learnt from Michael Bane that FNH USA have a new bolt action rifle called the TSR (Tactical Sport Rifle) and, you guessed it, will be available in 7.62×39mm!

FN TSR USA

FNH owns Winchester Arms and manufactures all the Model 70 rifle actions in its South Carolina plant, so naturally the rifle is based on the famous action. The rifles feature:

* The new Tactical Sport Trigger ( factory set at 3.75 lbs )
* Hogue rubber stock with full aluminum bedding block
* Fluted barrel
* One piece picatinny rail

There are two models, each available in a variety of chamberings. The FN TSR USA has an Ultra Short action ( 5.56×45mm, 7.62×39 ), 20″ barrel and hinged floorplate magazine. The FN TSR XP has Short Magnum action ( 308 Win., 300 WSM), 20″ or 24″ barrel and a floorplate magazine for the .300 WSM rifles and a detachable box magazine for the .308.

It is great to see another company recognize the potential of the 7.62×39mm as a sporting round in bolt rifles. It also allows the owners of SKS and AK type rifles ammunition parity with a bolt gun. It is just a pity they are not offering a detachable magazine model in 7.62×39mm. Hopefully this will be offered in the future, although for hunting this is not that much of a big deal.

Robarms will be making a PDW (personal defense weapon) version of their XCR rifle. The PDW has a shortened stock and a 9″ barrel. From the videos it looks like it will be available with either a fully automatic trigger group, for those who can buy such things legally, and a semi-automatic trigger group for the rest of us.

So far they have a 5.56mm NATO and 7.62×39mm model.

5.56mm NATO model


7.62×39mm model

Compare the sound and recoil of the 5.56 and 7.62 models in these videos:

5.56mm NATO model


7.62×39mm model

A very sexy firearm that will be available in July. This video shows a 5.56mm semi-automatic model being shot:

Also from Robarms is a new two stage trigger for the XCR called the Enhanced Trigger.

This trigger is two-stage with a 3.5 pound pull. We’re calling it an “Enhanced Trigger” rather than a match trigger for several reasons. First, match triggers usually have very small tight control surfaces and/or small screws or springs that cannot hold up under tough use. Our Enhanced Trigger is a very light two-stage trigger that is very controllable whether shooting paper at a distance or at moving targets. We are taking orders for the Enhanced Trigger now. The parts consist of a a new trigger, hammer, and disconnect. They can be added to existing XCRs without modification to the rifle.

UPDATE: 6.8 SPC is now also offered. Two models are available: the Mini (9″ barrel) and Micro (7.5″ barrel). The basic models cost $1500.

Lee, a Blackwater armorer, emailed me some info on the BW15:

1.Yes we do offer the BW15 in more than just 5.56mm. As of now we are making them in 6.8mm and 7.62×39mm as well. The BW15 lower receivers are stamped Multi-cal.

2.We are using out own receivers and each weapon is a matched upper and Lower receiver. All of the serial numbers begin BW.

3. As far the weapons shooting MOA, we use only the best barrels and the Armorer that builds the weapons also test fires it. I do believe that if we say that it will shoot MOA it will. But on the other hand what if the customer can’t shoot that well. Are we to take the weapon back? In case you did not know, everyone is an expert when to shooting.

4. Barrel lengths start at 16″. You can request a 14.5 with a pinned and permanently affixed flash hider to make total length overall 16″. We can have a custom barrel made to your specs (will take extra time POR). However if a customer wants a 18″- 26″ barrel we can accommodate.

5. All weapons have standard anodized finish. We are not doing any coatings at this time.

6. All weapons are shipped with 2 Magpul 30 round magazines and a lock.

If you have been following this blog you know the Chinese have been in the news recently.

A Chinese ship carrying 3 million rounds of 7.62×39mm and 1500 RPG rounds destined for land locked Zimbabwe tried to offload in the South African port of Durban.

Robert Mugabe’s Zanu (PF) party have been arming militias to drive out farmers and terrorize opposition supporters since the election they probably lost (but refuse to announce the results). Despite this the South African Defence Secretary approved the shipment: “This is a normal transaction between two sovereign states and we don’t have to interfere”. Not that surprising since the South African president openly supports Robert Mugabe.

Luckily for the people of Zimbabwe the dock workers have refused to offload the cargo.

Read the article here.

Poster from SearAndHammer.com

(and yes … I am aware this post does violate my non political rule

Jack @ Rule .303 posted his top five worst new cartridges

1. 7.62×39 Ackley Improved
2. .22 belted magnum
3. .338 rimfire
4. 28 gauge Buckhammer saboted slugs
5. .50 BMG shotshells

I posted a comment saying a hotter 7.62×39 might not be so bad.

Jack went on to post an interesting comment on why this would be a very bad idea, at least economically

Steve,

In theory, one could give the 7.62×39 the Ackley treatment and wind up with a cartridge that makes an extra 120 fps or whatever. And I agree that this would be kinda neat in theory because a little extra oopmh at 150 yards would make this a better deer cartridge.

However, let’s think about this a little bit. The allure of 7.62×39 has little to do with it’s ballistics. America is falling in love with 7.62×39 because it’s become the cheapest centerfire cartridge available (excluding corrosive milsurp ammo). At a time when ammunition costs in general have been going ballistic (heh heh) this thing showed up right on time.

Buying specialty ‘Ackley improved’ ammo would probably cost $16 a box or so. As much as a box of 30-’06 hunting ammo. Kinda defeats the purpose, huh?

As far as reloading goes, one of the attractions of Ackley chamberings has always been that you could shoot the regular ammo in it and the standard cases get blown out to the slightly larger Ackley dimensions of the chamber. Then you can reload that brass and you have cartridges that give you the full Ackley advantage.

That’s great, except that the vast majority of the 7.62×39 that is out there is not brass. It’s steel cased, which is such a pain in the butt to reload that it’s basically impractical. Heck, some of it is even berdan primed as well. I don’t even know if steel cases will blow out to Ackley dimensions on firing the way that brass cases do.

Read the rest of his comment here.

Since when has a bad idea ever stopped a cartridge manufacturer? So if Winchester, Remington, Hornady, Federal or Sierra are reading this and you are looking for the next fad, checkout my .30 Steve.
It is guaranteed to kill deer just as well as the old fashioned 7.62×39mm but costs 5x as much! Your shareholders will love it!

I read many shooting magazines from around the world and I came across this advertisement in an Australian magazine. It shows what must to be the current AIA M-10 range being produced.

I scanned it into the computer. Click the image below to enlarge it.

Australian International Arms (AIA) calls the M-10 the the 5th generation Lee-Enfield, read more about it here.

I fired up Skype and actually tried calling one of the Australian companies at the bottom of the advert to see if I could get any more information about the rifles. Unfortunately after trying two numbers I realized my rough timezone calculations were a bit off. Checking a timezone website confirmed this!

It is a pity they do not offer the 7.62×39 version anymore. Not at all practical but a 30 round AK-47 magazine on a bolt action rifle would be … unique! Although the special edition M10-B3 that has a M134 mini-gun barrel is very cool

I have no new information about their availability in the US.

A photo of the M10 No4 MK4 Classic:

A photo of the M10-B2 Match:

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