MG Industries have developed an interesting quick change barrel / takedown upper receiver for the AR-15.
Tam has got her hands on one of them and has an interesting discussion going on about it on her blog.
Bison Armory, which is part owned by gun blogger SayUncle, have gotten in new 16" 6.8 SPC barrels for the AR-15.
The 16" Recon profile barrel is manufactured by E.R. Shaw according to the Bison Armory specifications. It sells for $200.
While watching a video of the MetalStorm 3GL 40mm Grenade Launcher I was blown away by the incredible technology1 that these Australians have developed. I have blogged about the 3GL before, but I had not imagined it worked so well in practice. The video is worth 1000 words ...
The MetalStorm technology allows multiple rounds to be loaded into, and fired from, a single barrel. This makes a much more compact weapon than competing MGL2 systems such as the Milkor. The weapon has been designed to be within the same tolerances as the M203/M320 and so achieves similar range, velocity & accuracy. It makes use of standard 40x46mm grenade warheads which are inserted into the MetalStorm 'tail assembly'. This would make the system much more attractive to nations which currently use the standard 40x46mm rounds.
The grenades are fired electronically as fast as the trigger can be pull and the barrel is capable of 720 rounds per minute! I asked Mark, MetalStorm's armorer, about battery life and he told me that the 2xAA batteries is uses will last as long as the barrel does.
What really impressed me was how fast it could be reloaded. In the video you see the operator remove the rifle's magazine when reloading - this was for safety and it not required in the field.
In its stand-alone configuration (not attached to a rifle and with its own stock) it weighs 5 lbs - less than half the weight of the 11 lb Milkor MGL!
MetalStorm have also been working on a bullpup version of the 3GL. Aside from the shorter overall length, it allows the system to be used with rifles, such as the AK variants, which require the magazines to be rocked into place. The pistol grip of the non-bullpup version would get in the way during magazine changes,
As I said before, I am very impressed with this weapon. It offers a lot of power in a very small package.
Many thanks to David for answering my questions and providing photos and videos for the blog.
DS Arms are now selling half-assembled AR-15 receivers. Half assembled means no bolt, bolt carrier or charging handle.
The introductory price is $275.
Guy Sagi, the Editor in Chief of Shooting Illustrated, has written about his experience hunting antelope with an AR-10.
It is great to see semi-automatic rifle hunting going mainstream.
Troy Industries have developed a nifty new diamond aperture rear sight for the AR-15.
Troy claim the diamond shaped aperture helps the shooter acquire a sight picture faster than a round aperture.
The DIO has two aperture settings, one for 300 meters and another calibrated for 550 meters. The price starts is $140 and it comes in a variety of colors.
Thanks to Konrad for the info.
During the Iraq War the Marines urgently ordered 180 of the Mk11 Mod 0 Sniper Weapon System's, but with the Army M110 Rifle Upper Receiver. This Mk11 / M110 hybrid was known as the Mk11 Mod 1. Later, the Marines began ordering the Mk11 Mod 2, a SOCOM / Navy developed variant of the SR-25 that is very similar to the M110.
Knight's Armament are now selling the last 50 of the Mk11 Mod 1 rifles that will ever be produced to civilians.
The suggested retail price ... $8508! Most of these 50 rifles are already spoken for with only a few left for sale. It is more than I would spend on a rifle of this class, but I suppose it is also a piece of military history.
Big thanks to Jesse for sending me the info.
Suburban noticed a empty webpage on Magpul's website entitled "LOWER RECEIVER TECHNICAL RESOURCES".
With their expertise in plastics I would not at all be surprised if they plan on producing a plastic AR-15 lower receiver like the Calvary Arms CAV-15.
The LaRue Tactical OSR has been a long time coming but LaRue are nearing shipping the rifles that are currently on order.
The OSR is an AR-10 type rifle styled after the Knight's Armament SR-25 and M110. It is built from high quality components and shoots sub-MOA groups at 100 yards. THe price reflects this, and it starts at $2,485.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 7.62x51mm NATO |
| Rifle Weight | 9.7 lbs (unloaded / no optics) 14.0 lbs (fully-loaded as seen above) |
| Recievers | Upper and lower CNC machined from 7075-T6 billet |
| Length | 37.5“ (with A2 stock) |
| Barrel | 16.1" (18" & 20" also available) LW50 Stainless |
| Barrel Twist | 1/11.25 twist |
| Barrel Life | 10,000 |
| Max Effective Range | 800 meters |
| Magazine | Standard 10 or 20 round M110 magazines |
| Accuracy | Average size of a 5-shot group less than 1 MOA |
| Price | $2,485 (base model) |
After having recently launched their first AR-15, the Ruger SR-556, Ruger have now unveiled the Ruger SR-22, a Ruger 10/22 in a tactical AR-15 configuration. For years we have been asking for it, and finally they have delivered!
You are probably thinking that the action in the above rifle does not look much like a Ruger 10/22. This is because a standard Ruger 10/22 action and trigger group sits inside a Nordic Components designed conversion chassis / enclosure.
The chassis allows a standard AR-15 stock and pistol grip to be used on the rifle. It also allows a standard Ruger 10/22 barrel, which attaches to a v-Block, to be used with a the AR-15 style handguard. This breakdown photo illustrates how it all fits together:
The mid length handguard is drilled and tapped to allow picatinny rails to be installed on the 3,6,9 and 12 o' clock positions, if desired. These rails allow all standard AR-15 accessories to be used with the rifle.
Another benefit of the SR-22 over a standard 10/22 is that the barrel is factory threaded and a Ruger SR-556 / Mini-14 flash suppressor is installed.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Receiver | Ruger 10/22 |
| Trigger Group | Ruger 10/22 |
| Caliber | .22 LR |
| Pistol Grip | Hogue Monogrip pistol grip |
| Capacity | 10 Rounds |
| Finish | Black, Hard Coat Anodized |
| Stock | 6-Position M4-Style (on a Mil-spec diameter tube). |
| Barrel Length | 16.12" |
| Groove | 6 |
| Twist | 1:16" RH |
| Overall Length | 32.35" - 35.25" |
| Weight | 6.5 lbs |
| Flash Suppressor | Mini-14 / SR-556 with 1/2”-28 thread |
| California Approved | No1 |
| Massachusetts Approved | No |
| Front Sight(s) | None |
| Rear Sight(s) | None |
| Other Features | Cross Bolt Safety |
| Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) | $625.00 |
The Ruger press release:
Sturm, Ruger & Company, Inc. (NYSE-RGR) announces the introduction of the Ruger® SR-22™ Rifle, an autoloading, rimfire rifle that combines the legendary reliability of the Ruger® 10/22® with the ergonomics and configurability of the new AR-style Ruger SR-556™. The new SR-22 Rifle allows shooters to use economical .22 LR ammunition, while still enjoying the look and feel of an "AR" and experiencing the reliability they have come to appreciate from Ruger.
Because it utilizes the unique rotary magazine supplied with the Ruger 10/22, the SR-22 Rifle offers the same gold standard for reliability in autoloading rimfire rifles. Like the 10/22, the AR-style SR-22 Rifle also has an extensive array of accessories available, allowing shooters to select a custom configuration that best suits their tastes and needs.
The SR-22 Rifle uses a standard 10/22 action inside a top-quality, all-aluminum chassis that faithfully replicates the AR-platform dimensions between the sighting plane, buttstock height, and grip. The SR-22 Rifle provides a Picatinny rail optic mount, and includes a six-position, telescoping M4-style buttstock (on a Mil-Spec diameter tube), plus a Hogue® Monogrip® pistol grip. Buttstocks and grips may be swapped out for any AR-style compatible option.
The SR-22 Rifle also features a round, mid-length handguard mounted on a standard-thread AR-style barrel nut. Picatinny rails, specifically designed for this handguard, are available from Ruger, allowing the handguard to be configured to accept any number of rail-mounted sights or accessories. A barrel support block is installed in the handguard, ensuring accuracy and allowing the standard 10/22 V-block barrel attachment system to be used.
The SR-22 Rifle is equipped with a precision-rifled, cold hammer-forged alloy steel barrel. The 16-1/8" barrel is capped with an SR-556/Mini-14 flash suppressor mounted with a 1/2"-28 thread.
More photos:
Ruger advertisement for SR-22:
Michael Bane has also created a video review over at the Down Range TV Blog. Michael hinted at the rifle earlier this week, but I must admit I did not imagine a tactical Ruger 10/22 was what Ruger had in store for us!
Ruger currently state that the SR-22 is not California compliant. This may be a misprint. ↩
You saw it here first! I had no idea that Sig Sauer were making AR-15 / M16 rifles but my DSEi spy spotted this prototype SIG516 1 PDW at the DSEi 09 expo. It features a 7" barrel, putting it firmly in the PDW class, and chambers the 5.56mm NATO.
I do not know if Sig plan on a civilian carbine version. If they did it would compete directly with their Sig 550 line of full length and short barreled rifles.
UPDATE: jcmiller points out that the lower receiver is semi-automatic. A production PDW would have to be fully automatic. Maybe Sig are thinking of civilian sales.
UPDATE:
The SIG516 Tactical Rifle line has three different models:
They are all piston operated and feature an adjustable gas regulator like the Ruger SR-556.
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 5.56mm NATO |
| Fire modes | single shot, 3 round burst and fully automatic (except marksmen models which are semi only) |
| Controls | Ambidextrous |
| Gas system | piston system with 3 or 4 position gas regulator |
| Upper Receiver | Flat top with picatinny rail |
| Lower Receiver | forged 7075-T6 aluminum |
| Trigger | Milspec for all models except the Marksmen which have 2-stage match trigger |
| Capacity | Takes standard AR-15 magazines |
| Finish | black hard coat finish |
| Barrel | chrome lined, cold hammer forged, nitrate finish |
| Barrel Twist | 1:7" right hand |
| Stock | collapsible SOPMOD buttstock |
| Weight | 6 lbs. (PDW) - 7.28 lbs (Patrol) - 8 lbs (Precision Marksman) |
| Rails | Free floating aluminum alloy M1913 picatinny quad rails |
| Sights | flip-up BUIS (backup iron sights) |
| Magazine | Ships with 30 round AR-15 magazine. Marksmen models ship with 10 or 20 round magazine. |
| Other Features | 0.5x28TPI threaded muzzle |
| MSRP (Price) | not known |
Upper receiver assemblies will be sold. Just before anyone gets their hopes up, while it is likely that Sig will sell civilians models, this has not been confirmed.
Big thank you to Lusaka for the information and photos.
SIG 516 as in M16 ... get it? ↩
Magpul have developed a device called the B.A.D (Battery Assist Device) which allows quick bolt release on an AR-15 using just the trigger finger – no more fumbling around to find the bolt release.
The BAD attaches to the bolt release button. Its lever extends through the trigger guard which allows the bolt to be released with only the trigger finger .
.
Incidently, Magpul designed the Remington ACR / Magpul Masada rifle so that the bolt could be released with the trigger finger.
The price on the Magpul website is $29.95.
Hat Tip: Solider Systems
Zel Custom Mfg. have developed a new model of their Tactilite AR-15 Upper Receiver chambered in .416 Barrett. Like the .408 Cheyenne Tactical that I mentioned yesterday, the .416 is also a long range sniping round that sits between the between the .338 Lapua Magnum and .50 BMG. Over the .50 it offers greater energy past 1000 yards and is California compliant (it is fortunate that the Cali legislators do not understand ballistics).
The .50 BMG version with custom finish.
You can read my coverage of the Tactlite .50 BMG AR-15 Upper and listen to the Gun Nuts Media podcast that features an interview with Michael Brendzel, owner of Zel Custom Mfg.
The ENDO Tactical Stock Adapter Glock Edition (TSA-G) is an adapter that allows any AR-15 / M16 compatible stock to be attached to a Glock pistol.
Glock with Magpul UBR stock, 33 round magazine and sling.
The adapter can be easily attached and removed in about 30 seconds. The benefits of such a system are numerous. Even with the stock attached it is small enough to be carried concealed under a jacket – unlike a rifle or carbine. The stock improves accuracy by steadying the pistol against the shoulder. This also helps soak up recoil allowing faster followup shots.
The downside of such a system, for civilians, is that any pistol it is used with must first be registered as a Short Barreled Rifle (SBR) with the BATFE. I am no expert, so don’t quote me, but my understanding is that carrying an SBR concealed, even without the stock, would not be allowed with a CCW permit in many, or all, states.
Another downside is the total cost of the weapon system. If we assume a new Glock 17 costs $500, then add $200 for the ATF stamp, $154.99 for the ENDO stock adapter and $60 for a Magpul MOE Carbine Stock, we get a total cost of 914.99! This is a lot more than a 9mm carbine such as the $400 Kel-Tec SUB-2000.
Cost aside, I really like the system. I don’t think there will be a shortage of enthusiasts who will be willing to pay. I expect ENDO will be marketing this heavily to Law Enforcement Organizations who carry Glock pistols.
The system is compatible with the G17, G22, G24, G31, G34, G35 and G18 (including the L, C and RTF versions).
On a side note, I am surprised by the attachment mechanism. A steel detent pin must be manually pushed through the pistol backstrap. Compared to the system used by the FAB Defense (Israel) stock which clips in, it takes longer to install and is more of a fiddle. I wonder if the clip system is patented.
The FAB Defense stock
The ENDO stock
A big thanks to Kevin for links and information.
Hi, welcome to my gun blog! This blog is dedicated to all things firearms related. If you are into AR-15 and AK rifles, skeet shotguns, self defense pistols or hunting arms 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 be focusing on firearms and shooting rather than country specific politics. There are already many great blogs defending your rights!
- Steve