I first learnt about the Ares Carbine from GunPundit who spotted it at SHOT Show '09. It was supposed to go one sale in the first or second quarter but nothing was seen of it since SHOT.
Tyler Kreis, the NRA's Firearms Inventory Manager, is the first to have gotten his hands on the Ares Defense Systems Ares-22 RCU and has shot a video of it in action. It looks like a very fun system.
UPDATE: I was wrong. This is the QBZ-95B (The sailors white gloves are covering the barrel).
Earlier this month there was a huge military parade celebrating the 60th anniversary of People's Republic of China. I was astounded to see a photo from the event of what appears to be a sub-carbine version of the QBZ-95 being carried by Chinese sailors.
To the best of my knowledge the existence of this weapon has never been reported. The barrel is definetly shorter than the 14.5" of the QBZ-95B (Carbine) that was developed for use in the Navy. I suspect the sub-carbine / PDW has a 10" or 11" barrel.
Has anyone here heard of a QBZ-95 PDW?
Thanks to Caleb for sending me the link to the Chinese parade photos.
For the last fifty years 100,000's of M1 Garands and M1 Carbines have been sitting in Korean warehouses, many of which will now be sold to US collectors. AFP reports:
Washington has approved South Korea's plan to sell about 86,000 M1 and 22,000 carbines together valued at 130 billion won (108 million dollars), the ministry said.
The rifles used during the Korean and Vietnam wars have been kept at military warehouses, it said.
"The US government recently approved our plan to sell old M1 and carbine rifles, which were given to our soldiers as part of a US aid programme," a ministry spokesman told AFP.
The rifles are occasionally used by reserve forces for drills, he said without giving details.
The military will dispose of all its M1s but will keep about 640,000 carbines for reserve forces, the Chosun Ilbo newspaper said.
That means 640,000 more are patiently waiting in cosmoline to be shipped over stateside 
Many thanks to REMOV for the link.
Another new gun on display at DSEi was this H&K HK416 sub-carbine / PDW. What is very interesting about this gun is the buttstock and upper receiver design.
It has a much shortened buffer tube and a collapsible stock in the H&K G3 / MP5 style.
This firearm appears to be positioned in direct competition to the Sub-Compact Weapon (SCW) that Colt is developing. The SCW features a similarly shortened buffer tube.
I think the H&K design is much more elegant. The H&K stock pull straight out, while the Colt stock must be unfolded out and then down before it can be adjusted for length.
Now if H&K would just stop hating us and start selling this nifty upper to us civilians!
Big thank you to Lusaka for the information and photo.
UPDATE:
REMOV has kindly provided me with these photos that he took of the new H&K. The gun has a 9.3" barrel.
Many thanks REMOV!
James explores the idea of using a carbine chambered in a pistol cartridge for home defense (emphasis mine):
The fact that carbines are larger than handguns, and that they are fired while braced against the shoulder, means that the perceived recoil is almost unnoticeable even if you are using Magnum ammunition. A few of my students who were suffering from disabilities painful enough to keep them from using handguns, rifles, or shotguns for their defense had great success when they used carbines. Accurate, light, relatively inexpensive, easy to use. They were literally the answer to a few prayers.
I had not considered before the benefits they would offer to a person with certain disabilities.
During the past few years India’s Armaments Research and Development Establishment (ARDE) have been developing an interesting Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) called the Modern Submachine Carbine (MSMC).
Modern Submachine Carbine
The firearm chambers a round developed in India called the 5.56×30mm. This round is sometimes referred to as the “5.56×30mm INSAS” after the first gun to chambered the round, the INSAS Carbine.
5.56×30mm MARS
Those of you who follow the industry closely may recall that Colt developed a round named the 5.56×30mm MARS during the 90’s as part of their now defunct Mini Assault Rifle project. I imagine the INSAS cartridge is very similar. The Colt patent describes the MARS cartridge:
The MARS cartridge is designed as part of the weapon system and exploits the high energy densities of modern ball powders. It for the first time uses magnum pistol type powders burned at rifle pressures to achieve high rifle velocities in a short rifle barrel. It uses a fast ball powder to achieve 2600 ft/sec with a 55 gr full metal jacket projectile in only an 11 inch barrel.
The MARS cartridge/rifle was able to achieve similar ballistics as a ultra-short barreled 5.56×45mm NATO rifle (I use the term rifle loosely, sub-carbine is more correct), but with less muzzle flash, noise and weight. The Indians went with the 5.56×30mm over the 5.56×45mm for these exact same reasons as Colt.
Out of a 11″ barrel, the MARS Rifle was able to push a 55 grain bullet at 2600 fps, generating 825 ft/lbs of muzzle energy. For comparison, according to Wikipedia, the original Colt Commando (11″ barreled sub-carbine) could push a bullet (presumably a 55 grain M193 Ball) at 2750 fps.
Colt M4 Commando (current model)
While the 5.56×30mm has advantages over a pistol cartridge such as the 9mm NATO, to wit, less weight and kevlar vest penetration, it has in my opinion one fatal flaw. 5.56mm bullets were never designed to operate at such low velocities. While 2650 fp/s may seem fast, that is at the muzzle, not 200 meters downrange where the target is situated.
A graph I generated. Numbers are estimates for illustration only.
Col. Martin L. Fackler, MD famously did a study which determined that a 5.56mm bullet (M193 and M855) would fragment only slightly ,or not at all, when hitting flesh below the speed of 2500 fps. Low fragmentation results in a .22″ sized hole in the target – less damaging that a .38″ (9mm) or .45″ hole.
Col. Martin L. Fackler, MD results
It will be interesting to see how this new sub-carbine and perform in real life, and what official nickname the cartridge is given. I think 5.56mm India or 5.56mm Short should are much better named than 5.56×30mm INSAS.
Hat Tip: 8-AK Defense News and Ammoland
Tag: 5.56×30
Benelli, not wanting to miss out, has entered the lucrative black rifle market with Benelli MR1 Carbine, a 5.56mm gas piston operated rifle.
Benelli MR1 Carbine
The MR1 Carbine is the civilian version of the Beretta Rx4 Storm (which never took off). Benelli, a subsidiary of Beretta, designed the ARGO gas system used by the MR1/Rx4 and manufactured both the MR1 and the Rx4 Storm.
Beretta RX4 Storm with accessories. The collapsible stock is not available currently on the RX4.
What differentiates the MR1 from other 5.56mm rifles is the gas system it uses. Originally the Auto-Regulating Gas System (ARGO) was designed for the Benelli M4 Super 90, better known by its US Military designation, the M1014 Joint Service Combat Shotgun. Benelli then adapted the system for their ARGO line of hunting rifles (branded the R1 in the United States). In 2005 the Beretta Rx4 Storm, a tactical version of the ARGO rifle, was introduced and marketed to law enforcement. As far as I know the Rx4 has never been available in a select fire variant but they decided to market it to civilians as the Benelli MR1.
Benelli M4 Super 90 / M1014
Benelli ARGO EL
The ARGO gas system has an interesting short stroke piston design. Gas is trapped very close to the chamber. The high pressure gas ensures reliable cycling regardless of ammunition. This means that it can cycle any shotgun shells, regardless of the load. For a rifle it means the barrel can be very short and a suppressor could be fitted without any cycling issues. This gun is just asking to be converted into a Short Barreled Rifle!
The gas is then fed into an expansion chamber. The pressure in the chamber drives the piston assembly, which has dual rods. The high pressure is regulated by a release value. These diagrams should illustrate how the system works.
The receiver is made of aluminum, it is fully compatible with AR-15 magazines (including the 100 round drums) and, like all Benelli shotguns and rifles, the main spring is placed inside the butt stock - meaning a folding stock is not an option, although hopefully an M1014 folding stock will be made available.
MR1 Specifications:
Caliber: 5.56mm NATO / .223 Rem. Barrel: 16". Hard chrome lined. 1:9 twist. Rear Sights: Military-style Aperture Weight: 7.9 lbs.
The MSRP is $1299. I think they have priced it right. Although not cheap, and they can do better than the one five round magazine they ship with it, I doubt they could sell it much cheaper.
MR1 with 5 round magazine.
Ruger was that attractive girl at high school who you wanted to love but she stabbed you in the back and you just could not trust her again. That was two decades ago. Sturm, Ruger & Company CEO Michael O. Fifer has listened us, the customers, and changed the company culture for the better.
There is no better illustration for this change than the Evil Black Rifle itself which has just joined the Ruger product offering. The slogan for the SR-556 is "a platform redefined". I say it should be "a company redefined". I present to you the Ruger AR-15, the SR-556:
Ruger SR-556
Ok, I will wipe the tear from my eye, be a man and shove my emotional outburst back down where it came from 
Onto the features ...
The most significant feature is a new short stroke gas piston designed by Ruger. It shares the same benefits as other gas pistons system: a cleaner, cooler bolt carrier as the excess gas it vented out the gas block, far from the upper receiver. The AR-15 was not designed for a piston and retrofit piston systems can cause problems, for example the pressure from the piston operating rob can cause the bolt carrier to bind. It was been suggested that the Ruger bolt carrier is designed to mitigate this particular problem. Time will tell (I am no expert on this topic).
The chrome lined SR-556 bolt carrier.
Disassembly of the gas system.
Another feature is a four position gas regulator. The first position prevents any gas entering the piston system. This turns the rifle into a single shot which requires the bolt to be manually cycled between shots. The next position allows the normal quantity of gas into the piston system to cycle the bolt. The next two position each let in more gas than the previous system which can help when the rifle is dirty or the ammunition is low powered. It is a compelling feature for reloaders because it gives them a greater range of adjustment for thier powder loads.
Chromed gas regulator.
Gas regulator positions.
The rifle also features:
Ruger branded Troy Rear Sight
The Specs:
Caliber: 5.56mm NATO / .223 Remington Barrel: 16.12" Barrel Twist: 1:9 Right Hand Weight: 7.92 lbs Total Length: 32.75" - 36" (depending on stock position) Stock: 6 position M4 style
It is nice to see Ruger has explicitly said .223 Remington AND 5.56mm NATO are compatible with the rifle.
The MSRP is $1,995. It is expensive and you could build one your self from parts for less, but if the gas system works flawlessly then I think it will be a good seller. I think it will sell for about $1800 on the street.
Here is the Ruger promotional video. They seem to be keen to promote it to law enforcement and military:
GunBlast.com made this video showing the rifle in action:
This photo is from Snowflakes in Hell. For the high resolution version and many more photos as well as on the ground reporting from the launch visit Snowflakes in Hell:
This photo Adam's Incoming blog. For many more photos check out the Guns and Hunting Incoming blog.
More information about the rifle is at Caleb's Gun Nuts Media blog.
Thanks to y'all who emailed me about the SR-556. I appreciate it. Contrary to popular belief I am not dead just slow and overworked.
UPDATE: Many thanks to Brian for sending me these photos of his new Ruger SR-556.
Fore-end and gas regulator.
The Backup Iron Sights.
Nice touch with the buttstock Ruger logo.
This is the first photo I have seen showing an Iraqi solider with a M4 Carbine with all the goodies that go with it.
A Soldier from Al Anbar’s 9th Battalion, Iraqi Special Operations Forces, storms an entryway during close-quarter combat training on April 4 in Al Asad, Iraq. The ISOF Soldiers are being trained and advised by U.S. Special Operations Forces. “The training will make them better and we are happy to be included,” said the 9th BN commander. “We are capable to make the area safe.”
(Photo by Sgt. Brandon Pomrenke : Combined Joint Special Operations Task Force – Arabian Peninsula)
The Iraqi Army are slowing migrating from AK-47s to M16s and it looks like their Special Forces are getting M4 carbines for good measure. I am pleased to see they are getting the equipment they need.
German firm HERA Arms make a glock carbine kit called the GCC (Glock Carbine Conversion). REMOV told me the kit costs only 250 EUR and are available in various European states without any restrictions. The SD model is a suppressor compatible version of the kit .
Click to expand the photos.
SD model. Photo ⓒ Remigiusz Wilk (REMOV). Used with permission
Standard Model.
Other Glock carbine kits include the CAA Glock Carbine kit and the Stellar Rigs Carbine Kit.
Dr. StrangeGun has taken a bunch of photos showing how to detail strip a 1911 pistol.
Dr. StrangeGun’s 1911 based Space Gun (MechTech CCU 1911 carbine)
Read it here.
Command Arms Accessories at SHOT Show had a prototype kit to convert a Glock pistol into a carbine on display. The kit is called the PTP. I have not idea what it stands for. It is a clever design that prevents any chance of the slide hitting the operator on recoil.
Photos Copyright Remigiusz Wilk (REMOV). Used with permission.
It is not quite the carbine glock fanboys have been waiting for
No more information on this compact carbine is available other that what I have already posted, but here is a photo taken at SHOT by Remov:
Click to expand. Photo Copyright Remigiusz Wilk (REMOV). Used with permission.
Click to expand. Photo Copyright Ken Lunde. Used with permission.
The new line of Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact Rifles are very very cool. They are 16.5″ carbines chambered in the intermediate .223 Rem, 7.62×39mm and 6.8mm SPC cartridges as well as the .300 Ruger Compact Magnum, .243 Win. 7mm-08, .308 Win. and .260 Rem.
Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact 6.8mm SPC.
They feature a shorter stock and proportionately shortened forends and buttstocks. This shortened forend makes the rifle look longer than it is in the above photo. The intermediate caliber rifles weight 5 3/4 lbs.
I think these will be big sellers, especially the models chambered in intermediate cartridge where the short barrel will not have a significant impact on performance.
From the press release:
These 16-1/2 inch barreled rifles have an overall length of 35-1/2 inches, making them ideal hunting rifles for rugged terrain and heavy brush. The Hawkeye Compact rifles are available in a Hawkeye Matte Blued with an American walnut stock or the Hawkeye Matte Stainless model with a black laminate stock. The slim American walnut stock offers wrap-around cut checkering on the forearm and more rounded contours on the bottom of the stock and top of the pistol grips.
The Ruger M77 Hawkeye Compact rifles are offered in eight short action calibers, including .300 RCM, 7.62X39 and 6.8SPC. The walnut and blued models weigh approximately 5.75 pounds, while their laminate and stainless counterparts average 6.25 pounds each. Magazine capacity is 4 rounds.
The M77 Hawkeye Compact rifles feature the smooth and crisp Ruger LC6™ trigger, Mauser-type controlled feeding and a powerful claw extractor. A 3-position safety, hammer forged steel barrels and Ruger patented scope rings (provided at no charge) that install on the integral mounts and never shoot loose are also standard fare on all Ruger M77 Hawkeye rifles. The steel floorplate, bearing the distinctive Ruger logo, provides easy unloading and eliminates accidental “dumping” of ammunition.
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
