The Firearm Blog

After a year of speculation and commentary from pundits, myself included, the Marine Times reports that the H&K has won the competition and that their entry will enter production next year ...

The Marine Corps has selected the infantry automatic rifle made by Heckler & Koch as the weapon that will replace the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon in infantry fire teams, a senior service official told Marine Corps Times on Wednesday.

The H&K IAR “was truly the best in the class on multiple levels and will finally allow the billet of automatic rifleman to be performed as intended without the disruption of the squad integrity that the M249 created,” Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jeffrey Eby, the Corps’ senior gunner, said in an e-mail.

Despite what is said in the above quotation, I do not think that the SAW is being replaced outright. The Marine Times has at times reported that the SAW would be replaced with the IAR, and at other times reported that it would augment the IAR, not replace it ...

The plan is to buy 4,100 IARs and reduce the number of SAWs in the Corps from 10,000 to 8,000, Cantwell said.

“We are still going to maintain SAWs in the company,” he said. “Only 2,000 SAWs will be replaced. The reminder will be kept as an organizational weapon for when commanders need them.”

The H&K entry was a modified version of their HK416 piston-operated AR-15 rifle. Unlike the Colt and FN entries, it is said to fire only from a closed bolt. Given the lack of an open-bolt fire mode I had presumed it was the least likely choice for an automatic rifle.

Presumably it is fitted with a heavy barrel, like H&K's previous, and commercially unsuccessful, attempt at the automatic rifle: the MG36. The Marine Corps has been reporting the weight of the 16.5" barreled H&K IAR as being 7.9 lbs. This is not possible as a standard 16.5" barreled Hk416 weights in at 7.84 lbs. I also think that the photo of the H&K IAR shown by the Military Times is that of a standard HK416.

HK416 standard rifle (not IAR)

I have contacted H&K to see if they are willing to publicly acknowledge if they have won. If they do, I will endeavor to get the specs of the new weapon.

UPDATE: The Marines Times has an updated article here.

Many thanks to Mark and Matt for sending me the news.

Military Times (via. SNAFU!) reports ... (emphasis mine)

James Conway had questioned how the IAR will fit into fire teams, but said that his concern was “answered in short order.” Smith declined to elaborate, and Maj. David Nevers, a spokesman for Conway, said the commandant was unavailable for comment.

At the Modern Day Marine exposition held at Quantico in October, FN Herstal displayed a high-capacity magazine for its IAR variant that can hold 100 to 150 rounds. Another con­tractor, Armatac Industries, has approached the Corps about a 150-round magazine it makes and says is compatible with each of the finalists’ weapons.

Early in the evaluation process for the IAR, the Corps’ requirement called for the weapon to use 100-round magazines. That was eventually elimi­nated in favor of using the same 30-round maga­zines, as Marine officials sought to cut weight from the SAW’s replacement.

Translation: Ultra-high capacity magazines have poor reliability and so we are pretending that they are in fact too heavy for our Marines to carry.

I was not aware that the requirement had been dropped. Not having a ultra-high capacity magazine would seem to significantly decrease the utility of the rifle, insofar as it being a replacement for the SAW.

150 round AR CL-MAG

Many thanks to Solomon for the link.

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.

I try not to use words like “awesome” in the title for blog posts, so I substituted it with “game changing”. But don’t let that word change deceive you. I am *really* excited by this new stock coming out of Savage.

The Savage Accutrigger raised the bar on what consumers could realistically expect from a mass-produced factory trigger.Savage have brought custom-performance to factory-mass-produced stocks. They call it the AccuStock.

Savage explains the technology in their press release:

The AccuStock uses an aluminum spine and 3D Bedding Cradle molded into the stock in such a manner that it becomes an integral part of the composite stock.

The result is a polymer composite stock that possesses many of the same properties of high-end aftermarket stocks, bringing this high level of performance to the production rifle.

…

Rigidity – With its integral aluminum spine that runs from the action down the length of the forearm, the AccuStock is the most rigid factory polymer stock in the marketplace. No matter how hot the weather or the barrel, the forend stays rock-solid and the barrel remains free-floating.

Three-Dimensional Bedding Pressure – Pillar-bedded and v-block stocks, as good as they are, only apply bedding pressure on one axis, up and down. The AccuStock uses a wedge bolt to push the recoil lug back into the aluminum spine to prevent any movement forward and aft, while the bedding cradle literally squeezes the action from the sides when the action screws are tightened.

Initially two rifles will be available with the AccuStock:

Model 10 FCP

* AccuTrigger
* Proprietary Muzzle Brake (new from Savage)
* Detachable Box Magazine
* Oversized Bolt handle
* 24-inch heavy, fluted barrel
* Matte Finish
* Available in 308 Win. And 223 Rem.
* Left-hand models available

Model 10 FCP

Model 10 Precision Carbine

* Camo: Digital Green Camo
* 20-in medium-contour barrel
* AccuTrigger
* Detachable Box Magazine
* Oversized Bolt Handle
* Matte Black Metal Finish
* Available in 308 Win. and 223 Rem.

Model 10 Precision Carbine

No word on pricing. Unfortunately it is not yet offering rimfire models.

Last month the Croatian Ministry of Defense unveiled the final design of the VHS assault rifle (Višenamjenska Hrvatska Strojnica – Multifunctional Croatian Machinegun). The rifle has been in development for many years by Croatian manufacturer HS Produkt who are better known for their HS 2000 pistol ( sold as the Springfield Armory XD in the US).

The first version of the rifle bore a striking resemblance to the Israeli Tavor and Singaporean SAR-21:

Early prototype

The early prototype rifle utilized an interesting gas system. Reading the patent and other info on the internet it seemed to be a new take on gas delayed blowback. A piston is used to push back the bolt and gas is piped behind the bolt to slow it down.

The new final production model. Click to expand. (Photo by Remigiusz Wilk (REMOV))

The new model bears more than a slight resemblance to the French FAMAS. The external design is without doubt inspired by the FAMAS.

French FAMAS (from Wikipedia)

The gas system was ditched and the final production model uses direct gas impingement, the same system as the M16/AR-15, unlike the earlier model or the FAMAS, which uses a lever-delayed blowback action.

The rifle will come in two models. The 20″ barreled rifle model called the VHS-D (pictured above,) the 16″ carbine model called the VHS-K (pictured below). The VHS is chambered in the 5.56×45mm NATO and takes STANAG (AR-15) magazines. The price is estimated to be €1000.

According to Wikipedia the rifle will undergo trials in earyl 2009 and by 2012 60,000 will be in service with the Croatian army.

VHS-K prototype. Very compact!

This video clip show the rifle in use:

Guns.ru has more info on the rifle.

EOTech have developed a next-generation grenade sight at the request of the Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center (ARDEC). SMGLee grabbed some exclusive shots of it.

The reticle tracks up and down as the weapon is raised or lowered. How cool is that? I don’t have a grenade/flare/golf ball launcher but I want one!
More photos at MP.net

Ruger Charger Stainless with Black Laminate Stock

AcuSport is the distributor for the new Ruger Charger in stainless steel. The Ruger Charger is a pistol build on the Ruger 10/22 .22LR rifle action.

UPDATE: Brian at AcuSport old me the MSRP is $387.25.

More on the Ruger Charger here.

Hat Tip: Shooting Wire.

Next year (2009) Winchester Ammunition will be will be introducing the Winchester Super-X Power Max Bonded and the Winchester Supreme Elite Bonded PDX1.

From the Super-X Power Max bonded press release:

Super-X® Power Max Bonded™ is specifically designed for the whitetail deer hunter and takes the time-proven jacketed bullet design to a new level of performance at an affordable price. Winchester’s proprietary bonding process welds lead to a copper alloy jacket where the two act together during expansion for improved penetration and retained weight.

It will be available in .270 Win, .270 WSM, .30-30 Win, .308 Win, .30-06, .300 WSM and .300 Win Mag.

From the Winchester Supreme Elite Bonded PDX1 press release:

The new Winchester Supreme Elite Bonded PDX1, which was chosen by the FBI as their primary service round, is now available in a full line of popular handgun calibers. The PDX1 is engineered to maximize terminal ballistics, as defined by the demanding FBI test protocol, which simulates real-world threats.

It will be available in .38 special, 9mm, 40 S&W and 45 ACP. UPDATE: Full press release after the jump.

Hat Tip: Outdoor wire
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In 2006 Sauer, a 257 year old German company, produced their first semi-automatic rifle the S 303

(Sauer should not be confused with Sig Sauer, which is the American arm of the European conglomerate that owns J. P. Sauer & Sohn).

In the January 2009 issue of Guns Magazine they review the S303 and call it a “new” rifle. I think they mean “new in the USA”.

Sauer S 303 Elegance model with scope.

The rifle is a high-end elegant rifle (in other words: a non-evil non-black rifle) designed for European drive hunts. In drive hunts game is flushed out towards hunters and quick shots are needed as they run past; at least that is my understanding of drive hunts, never having seen one.

The S 303 includes some interesting features. It has a feature called the Silent Cocking System (SCS) which Guns magazine describes:

With the magazine in place if the cocking lever is pulled back and allowed to go forward the firearm is cocked and ready to go. However, if you allow the lever to go forward slowly, it stops about 1″ shy of actually closing and then can be pushed into place silently.

I can’t quire figure out what this mean in practice. Walking around with the bolt open 1″ with a round not quite chambered seems to me like asking for a jam but I am sure there is more to it than that.

The cocking/decocking lever can be seem at “1″.Click to expand.

The S 303 also features a innovative detachable mounting system called isiMount. The scope can be move into two different positions, depending on desired eye relief, without effecting point of impact.

isiMount bottom diagram. Smart Tube gas system top diagram.

The under barrel gas system, Smart Tube, has been designed with accuracy in mind.

Specs:

Models: Classic (least expensive), Elegance, Individual (most expensive)
Barrel length: 510 / 560 mm – 20″ / 22”
Total length: 1065 / 1115 mm – 41.9″ / 43.9”
Weight: 3.25 / 3.35 kg (7.16 / 7.38 lbs)
Calibres: 7×64mm, .30-06, 8×57mm IS, 9.3×62mm, .300 Win. Mag.
Magazine: 2 rounds (optional 5 round magazine available)

Guns Magazine says that the price will be $3999 (presumably for the least expensive Classic model).

The top end Individual model. Look at that wood!

With its elegant non-threatening appearance I think Sauer have a winner on their hands. While the rifle is expensive, it is not when compared with the double rifles it is competing with. It also has many advantages compared too double rifles such as decreased recoil (semi-auto action) and increase accuracy (one barrel).

It is available in 9.3×62mm which is the minimum African dangerous game caliber so it should be more than sufficient for any animal found in Europe or North America. Due to import restrictions on semi-automatic rifles it is unlikely that many (if any at all) will end up hunting the Big 5.

More info available at Sauer and Guns Magazine (Jan 2009 issue).

(Photos and diagrams from Sauer-Waffen.de)

Barrett has announced their new bolt action Model 98 Bravo .338 Lapua mag rifle. Barrett has a dedicated website for the rifle but is very light on details.

Tactical Weapons reports that is weighs in at 16 pounds (including scope and empty magazine) and will deliver 0.5 MOA at 800 yards. Not too shabby.

Defensive Review reports that it will feature an adjustable straight rearward pull trigger, 10+1 capacity and a 27″ 1:10 match grade barrel.

Those of you with a good memory will remember a previous .338 Lapua rifle from Barrett called the Model 98. This rifle is not based on that rifle, which was a semi-automatic.

The rifle will be available in 2009.

It will be very interesting to see how it stacks up against the incumbents: Sako TRG-42 and Accuracy International Arctic Warfare family of rifles.

Last year the Marines were testing the .338 Lapua TRG-42. I wonder if Barrett has their eye on the Marines.

UPDATE: Barrett have finally published info on the rifle:

MSRP: $4495
Weight: 13.5 pounds (6.12Kg)
Overall Length: 49.75” (126.36cm)
Barrel Length: 27” (68.58cm)
Twist rate: 1 in 10 Right Hand Twist
Scope Rail: 18.125” integral 1913 rail
Safety: Manual Reversible, thumb lever

Broken down

Some more photos (click to expand):

UPDATE: Photos taken by SMGLee taken at AUSA:

Mossy Oak have launched a new camo pattern designed for …

… hardcore whitetail hunters who hunt from an elevated position. Treestand offers whitetail hunters the ideal camouflage solution for altering their silhouette among the bare limbs of a tree in late fall.

Some photos


The press release

Mossy Oak, the industry leader in camouflage design, is proud to introduce its newest pattern, Treestand, designed specifically for hardcore whitetail hunters who hunt from an elevated position. Treestand offers whitetail hunters the ideal camouflage solution for altering their silhouette among the bare limbs of a tree in late fall.

“Hunting whitetails from a tree is one of our favorite pursuits here at Mossy Oak,” said founder and CEO Toxey Haas. “If we took the time to add up all the hours that our staff has spent in a treestand over the years, we’d probably wonder just how anything gets done around here. But it is exactly that dedication to the sport that helps us bring you a pattern as effective as Treestand.”

Nearly 20 years ago, Mossy Oak introduced the original version of Treestand and revolutionized the way we look at camo by being the first to incorporate tree limbs into a pattern. Almost two decades later, Treestand now utilizes digital technology to exactly reproduce the details and subtleties of actual tree limbs laid over the neutral tones most commonly seen when looking up through bare trees.

“This pattern was specifically designed with the elevated hunter in mind,” said Butch English, Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Mossy Oak. “Treestand is built to defeat the ‘deer’s eye view’ of looking up through the limbs of bare trees. Our new Treestand pattern is the ultimate camo for the over 12 million hunters that hit the woods each year in pursuit of whitetails.”

Looks alright.

GlockWorld.com is now allowing preorder on the Glock 30SF

Yet another groundbreaking firearm from Glock. The new Glock 30SF (slim frame) .45ACP Sub Compact pistol uses the same advances as its predecessor, the Glock 21SF. A slimmed down backstrap, ambidextrous mag-release and mil-spec picatinny accessories rail are sure to make the Glock 30SF an instant classic. Pre-Order yours today!

The Glock.com website is not showing the Glock 30SF yet.

Hat Tip: Foot Pounds

UPDATE:

Photo from TopGlock.com:

The pistol is out. The press release:

After releasing the highly popular G21 SF at the 2007 SHOT Show in Orlando, Florida, the Austrian Handgun manufacturer announced today the release of the compact version of the .45 AUTO short frame pistol, the model 30 SF. The newly released pistol includes new features to the GLOCK pistol that have been desired for the last couple of years by military, law enforcement and civilian markets. These features were fulfilled with the G21 SF pistol and the GLOCK 30 SF offers all the accuracy and power of the model G21 SF in a more-compact, highly concealable, faster- handling .45 AUTO companion pistol. These features include the GLOCK tactical rail for modular mounting of GLOCK Tactical Lights and weapon accessories. The 30 SF also features a hammer forged octagonal rifled barrel with a 1 in 15.75 inch rate of twist designed for increased durability, low maintenance and precision of accuracy when firing.

With the “SF” designation, the G30 receiver has been reengineered to provide a smaller diameter grip, resulting in a trigger reach that is more comfortable for individuals with smaller hands. This reduction in the grip does not affect the pistol’s reliability and accuracy.

In order to utilize older magazines with the G30 SF, the ambidextrous magazine catch will not be offered as an option as it was with the G21 SF. With a magazine extending slightly below the receiver, the G30 SF offers a 10 round magazine capacity. The compact form of the G30 SF makes the pistol a perfect backup weapon for law enforcement to attach to their protective vests or comfortably carry in a concealed rig.

The G30 SF will be available with the GLOCK Standard Rail design that will allow the use of all GLOCK Tactical lights (GTL 10, GTL 21, GTL 22, GTL 51 and GTL 52). This standard feature on the G30 and G30 SF continues the tradition of excellent reliability and dependability of GLOCK lighting products designed for the GLOCK family of pistols.

All GLOCK pistols, including the new G30 SF are backed by the GLOCK Limited Lifetime Warranty. With exceptional world-class customer service and support provided from the GLOCK, Inc. plant in Smyrna, GA, GLOCK customers have learned the importance of rock solid reliability backed up with support and service that is unmatched in the industry. “With our superior engineered pistols and accessories, our incomparable service staff, and our employee’s single minded desire to satisfy each and every GLOCK customer, the lifetime experience of owning a GLOCK is second to none,” states GLOCK, Inc. Vice President of Sales and Marketing, Gary Fletcher. “Adding the G30 SF to the GLOCK family of pistols is a natural progression of our product line as the G30 SF meets the need for a concealable and reliable backup pistol for Law Enforcement and civilian concealed carry requirements harnessing the powerful .45 AUTO cartridge in a shorter frame.”

Another photo: