The Firearm Blog

Military.com reported a few days ago that the entire Iraqi army is moving to the M16A2 and M4. Some Iraqi units have been using M16s since May last year. The move was originally announced last April.

So far, the U.S. military has helped the Iraqi army purchase 43,000 rifles - a mix of full-stock M-16A2s and compact M-4 carbines. Another 50,000 rifles are currently on order, and the objective is to outfit the entire Iraqi army with 165,000 American rifles in a one-for-one replacement of the AK-47.

“Our goal is to give every Iraqi soldier an M-16A2 or an M-4,” Scott said. “And as the Iraqi army grows, we will adjust.” - Military.com

Reasons given are logistical and that the M16 is a superior and more reliable weapon. Many think it is superior but few would say more reliable. It is easier to see the logistical benefits. I imagine training will also be easier.

The big advantage is that the rifles can be easily traced. Mexico has gone down this route by using a weapon they themselves designed. If a FX-05 “Xiuhcoatl” ends up in the hands of a drug runner, the Mexican army will know where to find the culprit who supplied it.

Last year it was reported that then an Iraqi soldier gets issued an M16 he is finger printed, undergoes a digital retina scan, and is photographed with the rifle serial number. The information is then transfered into a central database.

The weapon exchange is just the first step in a five-day program of instruction for the Iraqis. However, new rifles are not handed out in a one-for-one swap. Coalition Forces assign each IA recruit a weapon using a high-tech, biometric issue system.

Verified against a master list and having tuned in his old rifle, the IA soldier and his new M-16 continue on to one of ten biometric stations, where he is finger printed, undergoes a digital retinal scan and is photographed with the M16’s serial number. Officials then transfer the information to a database in Baghdad, to ensure accountability and to prevent the weapon from ending up in the wrong hands. - Blackanthem Military News

The BAT (Biometrics Automated Toolset) in Iraq

The DOD Biometric Task Force

My thoughts on the move to the M16

The move of course also sends money to American factories. It makes sense as hundreds of millions have been spent on arms for the Iraqi army. At the end of last year Iraq’s defence Minister Abdul-Qadir al-Obaidi announced a US$230 million deal with Serbia for what is likely to be rifles, machine guns, explosives and ammo.

Serbia has signed a US$230m (£116m) deal with Iraq to sell weapons and military equipment, the defence ministry said yesterday.

It did not specify the weapons but Serbian military experts believe they include Serbian-made assault rifles, machine guns, anti-tank weapons, ammunition and explosives. - IRAQ UPDATES

Training with M16s in Iraq. May 2007. US Army photo.

Unfortunately for the rest of us who do not own shares in ammunition manufacturers the supply of 5.56mm to yet another army at war, and who will be at war for a long time, means the price is only going to go up and up.

What does not make sense is why they do not supply them with the gas piston AR variants. Politics would be my guess. I think they had enough media attention over the body armor, they don’t want to be accused of issuing the Iraqi superior rifles.

Iraqi Army soldier loading
5.56mm ammo.

If bright red handguards grips or stocks are your thing, Coal Creek Armory are selling them cheap. More info here.

The POF-USA P-308 is a interesting rifle. It is a gas piston operated rifle, based on the AR-10/AR-15 design and requires no lubrication.

14.5″ version

They achieve this by plating the upper receiver with silicon nickel and chroming and heat treating the bolt and carrier.

Upper receiver

Here is a video of it in action

In spite of its name, it is chambered in 7.62X51mm, not .308 (yes, there is a difference).

More info at POF-USA and Defense Review.

ATI has some products to make your single shot Rossi or H&R rifle look more like an AR-15 patterned rifle.

Rossi Rifle Before

After

The above photo has the “Collapsible, six-position SHOTFORCE Buttstock with Pistol Grip and Forend Package is patterned after the Colt AR-15/M-4 style assault rifle.” installed as well as the Muzzle Mount, laser and heat shield. The Muzzle Mount is a fake muzzle break and does not extend past the end of the barrel.

Now I have no problem with people installing a pistol grip. If you prefer it ergonomically then go for it. But a head shield on a single shot rifle?

Special Interest Arms are selling a new .45 Enfield kits. Richard at SIA send me an email about the new kit:

I have been busy getting my Enfield .45 conversion kits designed, manufactured, and ready to sell. Today I achieved that goal, I now have kits in stock for immediate delivery. They are vastly improved over the defunct “Rhineland” kits!

The magazine adaptors fit the receiver without having to force them in, the magazine latch locates the magazine properly, it no longer sticks through the gun when inserted with the bolt open. The magazine latch is a lever, it points toward the bottom of the adaptor, no more having to cut your trigger guard or wood!

I incorporate an actual ejector, so the converted rifle actually ejects the spent round.

I use Montana Rifleman® match grade barrels. Barrels may be ordered in 16.5″-18.0″ length, they may be ordered pre-threaded for a suppressor or flash hider.

Several units will be shipped next week, I look forward to the buyers feed-back as I am positive they will be pleased.

(Click to expand images)

If this is not cool, I don’t know what is. Complete with AR-15 stock and pistol grip.

The current .45 adaptor, greatly improved over the defunct Rhineland version.

They look great and I am sure will sell well.

More info available at Special Interest Arms.

Billet uppers and lowers at SHOT Show.

(Photo by TalonArms)

GunsAmerica has the 7th production M16 listed for sale. It is listed for $295,000!

Without a doubt the most famous and most documented Armalite/Colt M16 in existence, serial no 106 manufactured in 1959 (the 7th production gun) and of course the earliest known gun to exist. Yes, this is the gun that Gen Curtis LeMay shot the coconuts and melons with at the cocktail party and then turned to the Cooper-McDonald rep and said,”I want 10,000 of them and I want them yesterday!”. It is said this gun was also shot by Pres Kennedy (off the Presidential Yacht), Batista, MacNamarra, Diem, and a host of other important people. Traveling to Viet Nam twice, its history is part of America’s History, and I feel there is no other gun in existence as important as this firearm - at least as far as 20th century military firearms are concerned.

The original black rifle was not all that black!

It is listed here.

SIA are considering producing this stock adapter for the Enfield rifle.

DPMS/Panther introduced this big game AR this year. Chambered in .338 Federal it packs quite a punch.

With the LR-308’s growing popularity among hunters and competitive shooters, DPMS opened the LR Series up into several other popular calibers to increase versatility.

The LR-338L was designed with one thing in mind…

HUNTING.

The main focus of the rifle is lightweight, fast handling, and single round precision. The 18” lightweight barrel with custom compensator, carbon fiber hand-guard, skeletonized stock, and lightweight upper receiver, allows this rifle to weigh in under 8 lbs.

The new .338 Federal is a cartridge that provides the energy of a 7mm Remington Mag in a necked-up .308 case. It’s the ultimate big game caliber with 200fps more velocity than a standard .308 round.

The LR-338L is the large game hunting rifle.

It sells for about $1500, depending on how you customize it.

Specs:

Barrel: 18″ Fluted Barrel. 6 grooves, right-hand 1×9 twist, button rifled.
Weight: 7.9 lbs.
Sights: None
Magazine capacity: 19

I wrote a post last year about Orange County Sheriff’s Office has purchasing 14 Alexander Arms .50 Beowulf AR-15 rifles so that they would be equipped to deal with big game escaping from theme parks. A rifle in this caliber would be more appropriate to take on marauding elephants and provide much longer range.

It seems the Afghans are moving to the AR platform, along with the Georgians.

After a frustratingly long three-year wait, the fledging Afghan National Army finally has a new weapon in its arsenal: the Canadian C7 rifle.

Some 42 boxes of surplus weapons arrived at the ANA base just up the road from Kandahar Airfield last week, Brig.-Gen. Gul Aqa said Wednesday in an interview with The Canadian Press. And training is already underway. Aimed at replacing the Afghan army’s old Soviet-era AK-47s in order to bring the force’s fire power capabilities in line with that of NATO countries, the Canadian rifles are a welcome addition, Aqa said. “They’re very modern and new weapons and the C7 is a real necessity for the ANA,” he said through a translator. He said the AK-47s often jam, leaving soldiers vulnerable to enemy fire. “It’s the difference between old and new.”

It’s a project that’s been in the works for several years.

The C7 rifle

Hat Tip: The Western Star

CMMG have announced an .50 Black Powder AR-15 Upper!

To fire, the powder charge and bullet are loaded via a ramrod. Using a standard magazine with a single shot follower, an unloaded 5.56 case is loaded into the mag, inserted in magazine well and loaded just like a standard rifle.

Once the rifle is fired, the empty brass is ejected manually and then reloaded.

…

It is a modified .223 case that uses a 209 primer. Currently .50 cal. Should have pricing and other specs tomorrow.

Interesting! As one commenter said

Can you imagine the face of an unsuspecting
game warden the first time he runs across these..

They have yet to announce pricing.

UPDATE

This isn’t a loaded case, it is a 209 primer in a piece of .223 brass. There is no way a live round or a blank will load into the “chamber”.

UPDATE

A video of it in action. Actually, it looks pretty good.

More at AR15.com

Hat Tip: Freedom Sight

I don’t like pink guns but I must say that the detail on this California legal AR-15 is amazing! I wonder if it is real or a photoshop.

Click to expand the photo.

More about it at RifleGear

Hat Tip: Gizmodo

UPDATE

It is real!

Pre assembled:

This video from SHOT Show 2007 shows Advanced Armament’s new suppressors. Including a quick release suppressor designed for the SCAR-L, the quietest .45 pistol suppressor (or so they claim), a new AR-15 and .22 suppressor.

Malaysia is apparently switching from Steyr rifles to Colt M4 Carbines.

The Deputy Prime Minister has said a Malaysian company, SME Ordnance (SMEO), has a license to manufacture the M4 for use locally and possibly for export in the future.

“We took this decision as we want to enable our soldiers to be soldiers of the future, equipped with the latest modern technology”

Interesting. I don’t think Colt will allow export to North America. Export will probably be limited to South East Asian countries.

More here.

Hat Tip: Rustmeister @ The Gun Blogs