The Firearm Blog

Next year (2009) Weatherby will be selling two new additions to the Vanguard line.

Vanguard Predator (Click to expand)

The Vanguard Predator features a hydrographic dip of Natural Gear’s Natural pattern over the entire rifle. Other than that it is a standard Vanguard with 22″ barrel and a 1.5 MOA accuracy guarantee. It will be available in .223 Rem, .22-250 Rem. and .308 Win. The MSRP is $789.

Vanguard Carbine (Click to expand)

I am a bit disappointed by the Vanguard Carbine. When I first saw the press release I expected to see a rifle with an 18″ or even 16″ barrel to compete with the Ruger M77 Frontier. Instead the Carbine features a 20″ barrel and weights 0.75 lbs less than a standard Vanguard (6.75 vs. 7.6 lbs).

The length of a firearm designated a carbine has differed over the past 200 years but these days I think 18″ is the maximum “carbine” barrel length in a non-bullpup firearm.

The Carbine will be available chambered in .223 Rem, .22-250 Rem., .243 Win., 7mm-08 Rem. and .308 Win. I am not sure about the .22-250 (I don’t know enough about the cartridge) but with other cartridges the shorter barrel should have very little impact on performance. MSRP is $499 and it also has the Weatherby 1.5 MOA guarantee.

For comparison the regular Vanguard has an MSRP of $399.

Weatherby have said these rifles were the result of input from members of the official Weatherby forum

“Thanks to all the Weatherby Nation members who expressed their opinions,” said Brad Ruddell, Weatherby’s vice president of sales and marketing. “These new rifles are a direct result of their input.”

It is always good to see a gun manufactures listening to their customers.

This video clip is from a marketing video made by H&K comparing the 10″ barreled HK 416 with the M4 when fired full of water, immediately after being submerged.

It is a pointless comparison. Obviously Stoner did not design the AR-15 platform to be fired waterlogged. If he had it would be piston driven. Still, it is interesting to see what happens.

H/T: MP.net

Earlier this year the Turkish Ministry of Defense announced they will be switching from the G3 7.62mm rifle to the HK416. The Turkish government owned arms and ordnance manufacturer MKEK will be producing the rifle under license from Heckler & Koch.

The H&K G3 battle rifle has been phased out in many countries and replaced with assault rifles chambered in intermediate cartridges. Along with the H&K G3, MKEK also produces the a variety of H&K MP5 models so the move to another H&K rifle is not surprising. Norway is also replacing the G3 with the HK416.

An important Turkish guy holding the Mehmetçik-1.Photo from worldaffairsboard.com

The pistol grip and stock look different to most of the HK416 photos on the internet. The wikipedia page has a photo with “HK416N” markings and the same configuration. The photo is marked for deletion from Wikipedia and there are few other references to the “HK416N” on google.

HK416N markings. Photo from Wikipedia.

Mehmetçik-1 markings

I cannot see any other differences between the Mehmetçik-1 and the HK416N other than the MKEK markings. The only different I have read about on a couple of forums is that MKEK are using different manufacturing techniques and different metals than H&K, which I take to mean a slightly different aluminum and steel alloys, which is not surprising.

The scope pictured above is the Elcan SpecterOS34x scope which well known for its use on the Canadian Diemaco C7/C8. The grenade launcher is the H&K AG416.

The Turkish Wikipedia page says the rifle will be manufactured in four different models. A Sub-carbine (10.5″ barrel), Carbine (14.5″ barrel), Rifle (16.5″ barrel) and “Distance” (Sniper/Marksmen, 20″ barrel).

Below is a video of a press conference with that important Turkish guy showing off the weapons and looking out of his depth:

By all accounts the HK416 is a great rifle combining the best of the AR-15 platform with the benefits of a gas piston system.

Turkey has also adopted a new sniper rifle that I cannot identify. Anyone know what it is? See the below photo.

UPDATE: Alcibiades, correctly identified it as the 7.62×51mm JNG 90, also made by MKEK.

Mehmetçik-1 and JNG 90 sniper rifle. Photo from worldaffairsboard.com

Hat Tip: GunPundit

A big thanks to Ed for correcting my mistake, I had misread the logo. What I thought was called the NRX is in fact the ARX-160 as you can see in the blown up logo below. I had assumed the “NRX” was the M4 equivalent of the ARX-160.

I have update the blog post. Ed has more info about this rifle/carbine at Tell Me Why.

The new ARX-160 Carbine is Beretta’s entry into the M4 replacement competition. Photos by SMG-Lee

M16 magazine, folding iron sights

Folding stock

UPDATE:

Originally I called this rifle the NRX after misreading the logo. It is in the ARX-160. Below is a photo (from MP.net) of the ARX-160 carbine (left) and the rifle version (right). Both have the new Beretta grenade launcher attached.

A big thanks to Ed who was kind enough to let me know about my mistake after he spoke to Beretta. He and has more info on the rifle/carbine.

Apparently the Italian Special Forces will be adopting it in 2009.

I missed a press release that Kel-Tec issued last month. The 18″ barreled version of the bullpup RFB Carbine will be shipping next month.

In order to keep the costs down the rifle will not include sights, although it will include a Picatinny rail, and “will ship in an in-expensive box”.

RFB Carbine Features:

- 18” Chrome lined 7.62 NATO chambered barrel
- Birdcage flash hider included
- Front ejection of cases
- Top Picatinny rail for mounting sights (no sights included)
- Gunsmith replaceable barrel with adjustable headspace
- Click adjustable gas system for various power ammo, or suppressor use
- Accepts FAL metric magazines with straight-in/drop-free magazine well (one magazine included)
- Nylon sling and hardware included
- In-grip storage capability

More info on the rifle here.

Zak has written a very interesting article on “Fighting Optics for the AR-15″. He focuses on M4 type rifles and SBRs (Short barreled rifles).

Now that optics have come of age on fighting rifles, one of the most compelling reasons to have a longer barrel has been removed. With iron sights such as those on the M16A2, practical accuracy depends on sight radius; it is easier to shoot accurately with more distance between the front and rear sight. Optical sights have no sight radius; barrel or weapon length is now separated from the ability to obtain a precise sight picture. This change allows a 14.5-inch M4 to have the same sighting precision as a 20-inch M16A2 or even sniper rifle.

M4 with Trijicon ACOG 4x

Read it here.

Check out this auction. It has thousands of beautiful photos. I think all, or nearly all, come from one collection.

Daniel Fraser Miniature Double Rifle .22 Hornet


Franchi Model 1962 Semi-Auto Carbine 9mm


Smith & Wesson Mark I Light Rifle 9mm

Custom Martz Luger Carbine

Colt Model 1900 .38 ACP

Auto-Ordnance has a new “Tactical Folding Stock Model” M1 Carbine out later this year.

Black polymer folding stock, metal handguard

The Auto-Ordnance M1 .30 Caliber carbine is produced in Kahr’s state-of-the-art manufacturing plant in Worcester, MA. The Auto-Ordnance carbines are produced using newly manufactured parts on high precision computerized machinery.

Markings include the following: Auto-Ordnance, Worcester, MA behind the rear sight; U.S. Carbine, Cal. 30 ML on the receiver in front of the bolt and the serial number is engraved on the left side of the receiver.

Specs:

Barrel 18″
Length 36 1/2″ overall, 27 1/2″ (Folded)
Weight 5 lbs 13 ounces
Finish Parkerized
Sight Post front sight, flip style rear sight
Stock Polymer
Magazine One 15 Shot stick
Price $792.00

Hat Tip: Cryptic Subterranean

Check out the latest Magpul creation. It is a folding carbine. Similar to the Ares FMG and PP-90. It appears to use some glock parts uses the Glock action, magazines and laser systems.

A couple of video demostrations:

Some photos from GlockTalk.com:

It looks very cool!

Compare with other FMG type firearms

The original Ares FMG which was designed by Eugene Stoner:

the PP-90, designed by the KBP design bureau in Tula:

the Ukrainian Goblin

And although very different the Kel-Tec SUB-2000 (this folds for storage, not rapid deployment).

I will update this page as more information becomes available.

UDPATE:

According to this thread, it is called the FMG9 and Magpul do not have plans to put it into production, at this point it is just a prototype… although I am sure James Bond will get his hands on one for his next movie!

UPDATE

Another video demo

UPDATE: From ar15.com:

The advantage to the FMG9 over previous versions are…

1. One button, spring loaded action.
2. Light weight, color coded plastic (can be molded as a non gun color)
3. Closed bolt, safe action (others were open bolt SMGs, ours can be carried with a round in the chamber).
4. Proven Glock action with stock Glock factory magazines and laser systems.

Hat Tip for the update: Cryptic

Atlantic firearms are getting in some semi automatic Thompsons.

Details are sparse. There are two models, one with a push button detachable stock, one with a normal stock.

All the classic details of the time honored original are reproduced in today’s semi-auto Thompson. The frame and receiver are machined from solid steel. The wood is genuine American walnut. This .45 caliber carbine features a 16 1/2″ finned barrel, compensator and is available with a blued steel receiver. This configuration is our most popular.

They are apparently “coming soon” and no price is listed.

Defense Review have written an article about the new SIG 556 SWAT Rifle/Carbine/Subcarbine

SIG 556 rifles/carbines at SHOT Show 2006 (photos accompanying this article), and found them interesting. We’ve always been fans of the SIG 550-series weapons, particularly after we test-fired a Gemtech-supressed (sound-suppressed) SIG 552 SBR/Subcarbine at SWAT Round-Up 2002. The SIG 550-series assault rifles / tactical rifles utilize an AKM / Kalashnikov-type gas-piston/op-rod system for operation, and you can’t really go wrong with that with regard to weapon reliability.

While the SIG 556 series weapons are currently only availale in 5.56mm NATO, 6.8×43mm SPC (a.k.a. 6.8mm SPC a.k.a. 6.8 SPC), 7.62×39mm, and possibly even 7.62×39mm NATO (7.62mm NATO)/.308 Win. (unconfirmed/unverified) versions are on the way. DefenseReview doesn’t know at present whether the select-fire variant of the SIG 556 SWAT is available in true semi-auto/full-auto configuration, or only in semi-auto/three-round burst config, or semi-auto/3-round burst/full-auto config. Unfortunately, Mr. Poole’s article does not make that clear. Defense Review prefers a straight semi-auto/full-auto selector switch. We like our trigger finger to determine how many rounds we put down range on full-auto, not an artificial limiter. In any case, the SIG 556’s trigger action in the 3-round-burst-capable variant appears from what Mr. Poole wrote to be superior to the Colt M4 Carbine trigger with regard to smoothness and consistency.

I like their caliber offering. It looks like they will be competing with the Magpul Masada.

More here.

The Army dust test results are out. As you can see above the M4 has fared very badly.

Weapons officials at the Army Test and Evaluation Command at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md., exposed Colt Defense LLC’s M4, along with the Heckler & Koch XM8, FNH USA’s Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle and the H&K 416 to sandstorm conditions from late September to late November, firing 6,000 rounds through each test weapon.

When the test was completed, ATEC officials found that the M4 performed “significantly worse” than the other three weapons, sources told Army Times.

Officials tested 10 each of the four carbine models, firing a total of 60,000 rounds per model. Here’s how they ranked, according to the total number of times each model stopped firing:

* XM8: 127 stoppages.
* MK16 SCAR Light: 226 stoppages.
* 416: 233 stoppages.
* M4: 882 stoppages.

The results of the test were “a wake-up call,” but Army officials continue to stand by the current carbine, said Brig. Gen. Mark Brown, commander of Program Executive Office Soldier, the command that is responsible for equipping soldiers.

You can bet H&K, FN and Magpul are happy about these results!

Hat Tip: Murdoc Online

Apparently the Israeli ‘Civil Guard’ and licensed tour guide operators on tour still use the M1 Carbine!