It looks like the Army is trying to get a new rifle in a roundabout way, much like how the USMC is procuring a new rifle under the guise of a machine gun. What do you think?

Remington's M24A2 (a product name, not a military designation) is a possible candiate for the M24 upgrade.

Here are a few interesting specifications for the new M24 ...

• Trigger pull must be between 3 - 5 lbs. Operators must not be able to adjust the trigger.

• Magazine must have a minimum capacity of 5 rounds. It must not touch the ground when the bipod legs are at their shortest setting.

• The rifle, with minimum length of pull set and with suppressor attached, cannot be longer than 48".

• It cannot weigh more than 17 lbs with magazine full and with day optic and suppressor attached.

• MRBS (Mean rounds between stoppage) must be at least 1200. The MRBEFF (The mean round between essential function failure) must be at least 2300.

• The minimum accuracy must be 1 MOA (at 100m), although they are hoping for at least 0.8 MOA. These days 0.8 should be easily achieved.

• The rifle and optics must survive a 5 foot drop test.

• Iron sights that mound on the rail system must be included.

• The day scope must have variable magnification. The minimum magnification must be from 3.5-6.5x. The maximum magnification must be from 14-25x.

North Carolina investigators with the Department of Labor visited the plant last week and have been talking to current and former employees.

Before the guns are shipped out, they must be test fired. Sources say employees have complained about injuries. Also, there are complaints that the range is poorly ventilated.

A lot of gun companies seem to have had visits from Feds in recent months ...

UPDATE: It is the NC Dept. of Labour, not the US Dept of Labor.

[ Many thanks to John for emailing me the link. ]

Some companies are sure to submit 6.8 SPC chambered carbines; whether they get anywhere is another story altogether.

Carranza was just a few feet away. She survived a gunshot to the chest, but the the bullet left a scar and deflated the implant.

"She's just one lucky woman," Dr. Ashkan Ghavami told the LA Times. "I saw the CT scan. The bullet fragments were millimeters from her heart and her vital organs. Had she not had the implant, she might not be alive today."

Something does not seem right about this story. I wonder if she hit by just a fragment. I would imagine that the hydrostatic shock from a bullet ripping through a gel implant would have a devastating impact on the surrounding tissue.

A ruptured Silicon gel implant. Photo from Wikipedia.

Gentlemen: please be considerate and don't drive away my female readers away with jokes at their expense!

[ Many thanks to jdun1911 for emailing me the link. ]

Cavalry Arms Corp. says on its Web site that it has been "engaged in an ongoing dispute" with the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, or ATF, for two years over "regulatory and compliance mistakes."

But in federal court last week, owner Shawn Nealon admitted that he and his company illegally sold as many as 40 weapons to an out-of state buyer, and he voluntarily surrendered his federal firearms licenses, meaning Cavalry will no longer be able to import, manufacture or deal in weapons or ammunition.

"This is not some individual setting up a stand at a gun show," U.S. Attorney Dennis Burke said Friday. "These are the preliminary steps that individuals take to get around federal laws in order to traffic in illegal firearms."

Sebastian makes the point that the firearm industry is unique in that unlike other heavily regulated industries, such as pharmaceuticals, it is made up of lots of small companies.

One reason I think we see a lot of things like this and like this in the firearms industry is that you’re dealing with smaller players who don’t have the money to hire full time legal staff, or maintain staff that deal specifically with ensuring regulatory compliance

NASHVILLE, Tenn., February 17, 2010 – Sabre Defence Industries LLC, an established manufacturer of firearms and weapon systems to the United States military, state and local law enforcement, and worldwide commercial markets, is fully cooperating with federal agents in an ongoing investigation into potential criminal misuse of certain non-saleable firearms produced by Sabre and purchased by some its employees. Sabre has received information that employee(s) involved in inventory control may have obtained and re-sold some items without appropriate licenses. Sabre is and has been cooperating with federal agents in this investigation.

[ Thanks to Ray for the link ].

A US judge doubts there was a single conspiracy in arms dealing bribery case where 22 people, include a S&W executive, were arrested. Reuters reports ...

"I read all 16 indictments and I didn't see it," U.S. District Judge Richard Leon said during a hearing on Wednesday. "I have zero sense that there was an omnibus grand conspiracy."

While many of those charged worked for different companies, the common theme running through the indictments is that they all believed they were bribing an African defense minister as part of a $15 million business deal.

...

The sting operation produced voluminous evidence, including some 5,287 taped phone calls, more than 800 hours of video and audio recordings and 231 recordings of meetings between undercover agents and the defendants, according to prosecutors.

Defense Review has just published an article about the above two news items.

The DOJ has unsealed the indictment against Viktor Bout aka. The Merchant of Death. From the Department of Justice press release ...

The indictment unsealed today charges Bout and Chichakli with nine individual offenses:

Count one: Conspiracy to violate the International Emergency Economic Powers Act;

Count two: Money laundering conspiracy;

Count three: Wire fraud conspiracy; and

Counts four through nine: Wire fraud.

If convicted, Bout and Chichakli face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison on each of counts one through nine. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge William H. Pauley III.

The charges unsealed today were the result of the close cooperative efforts of the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York, the DEA, the U.S. Department of Justice Office of International Affairs, and the U.S. Department of State.

These charges are all very fine but he is currently out of reach in a Thai maximum security prison. Both Russia and the United states are trying to get their hands on him. Personally, I think Russia is going to get him. I reckon they want him to shut up more than the DOJ want him to talk.

[ Many thanks to Ray, Defense Review for emailing me the link. ]

Anvil Arms AR-15 lower receivers.

Their website is still online but no products are listed.

From Weapons Cache Forum ...

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that pursuant to Fl St. s. 679.610 et seq., MILTON DISSER, LLC, as secured creditor, intends to sell the personal property described below to enforce a lien imposed on said property. The secured creditor will sell at public sale on the 24th day of November, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. at Kass, Shuler, Solomon, Spector, Foyle & Singer, P.A., 1505 N. Florida Avenue, Tampa, Florida 33601, the following:

Debtor’s Name: JONATHAN A. KRUEGER

Description of Collateral:

One Hundred Percent (100%) of the outstanding membership interests in Anvil Arms, LLC, a Florida limited liability company with a place of business in Lakeland, FL. Terms of the sale are cash, or certified check. Property will be sold to the highest bidder “AS IS” without warranty relating to title, possession, quiet enjoyment or the like. Additional terms of sale to be announced on date of auction.

PHILIP K. CLARKE, Esq.
KASS, SHULER, SOLOMON,
SPECTOR, FOYLE & SINGER, P.A.
1505 N. Florida Avenue
Tampa, FL 33601
November 6, 13, 2009 09-5058H http://www.review.net/legal-notice-u...1-06-Hills.pdf (page 4, middle of 4th column in this pdf)

[ Many thanks to Matt for emailing me the link. ]

Federal law enforcement agents, led by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, descended on Nashville's Sabre Defence Industries this morning and closed down the facility for at least the day.

...

Law enforcement officials were seen escorting employees one by one of the company out of their 35,000-square-foot facility on Allied Drive. Each employee was searched next to their personal vehicle, had their vehicle searched and, when cleared, were allowed to leave the premises. No individuals were witnessed being arrested.

I wonder what is going on.

Sabre's M4 Tactical Piston Carbine

[ Many thanks to jdun1911 for emailing me the link. ]

Civilian model of the LAR-40. FBI will probably use a short barreled version.

Their reasons for choosing the RRA LAR-40 carbine is that, because they already use AR-15s, training and maintenance will be minimized. From the solicitation notice ...

BASED ON THE MARKET RESEARCH AND FBI REQUIRMENTS, , USE OF A COLT PATTERN .40 S&W CALIBER CARBINE, WILL RESOLVE THE MAINTENANCE ISSUE, ENSURING A RELIABLE SOURCE OF PISTOL CALIBER CARBINES. FURTHER, THE ROCK RIVER ARMS LAR40 PISTOL CALIBER CARBINE WILL ALLOW THE FBI TO MAXIMIZE TRAINING, SINCE THE OPERATIN SYSTEM AND CONTROLS ARE VIRTUALLY IDENTICAL TO THE COLT PATTERN 5.56 X 45 ADDITION, BY USE OF A COMMON WEAPON PLATFORM, THERE IS A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF PARTS INTERCHANGEABILITY BETWEEN EXISTIN FBI 5.56 X 45 MM LAR15 ROCK RIVER ARMS CARBINES AND THE LAR40, FURTHER ENHANCING THE COST EFFECTIVENESS OF THIS ACQUISITION. THE FBI REQUIRES AN INTEGRAL MAGAZINE WELL (AS OPPOSED TO A PINNED MAGAZINE WELL ADAPTOR) AND A CALIBER DEDICATED MAGAZINE, DEVELOPED SPECIFICALLY FOR THIS WEAPON SYSTEM AND CALIBER, WHICH ENSURES THE LEVEL OF RELIABILITY REQUIRED BY FBI SPECIAL AGENTS DURING HIGH RISK SITUATIONS. THE FBI REQUIRES THIS CARBINE TO BE MANUFACTURED IN .40 S&W CALIBER, WHICH WILL PROVIDE GREATER OPERATIONAL EFFECIENTCY, SINCE BOTH THE ISSUED SERVICE PISTOL AND THE PISTOL CALIBERCOLT PATTERN CARBINE WILL BE CHAMBERED FOR THE SAME AMMUNITION (I.E., .40 S&W CALIBER). ROCK RIVER ARMS IS THE ONLY MANUFACTURER KNOWN TO MEET THESE CRITICAL REQUIREMENTS.

You have got to hand it to the FBI, first 20mm rifles and now AR-15 carbines chambered in .40 S&W, they do think outside the box.

[ Many thanks to jdun1911 for emailing me the link. ]

VLTOR's Modular Firearm Buttstock - Patent 6925744

Magpul ACS

Both stocks feature a removable storage compartment. It looks like VLTOR may have a legitimate case.

[ Many thanks to jdun1911 for emailing me the link. ]

Click through to view the lawsuit and patent ...

NEW DELHI: Maoists may have been dependent on weapons looted from armouries but now they have developed the expertise to clone sophisticated weapons, including assault rifles of AK series, in a development that should worry security agencies as they brace for the offensive against the ultras.

...

The CRPF also seized as many as 59 different types of instruments, which were used to manufacture and assemble these rifles and various types of pistols. An official said, “Around 100 personnel of the CRPF’s 190th Battalion conducted the operation and arrested one Maoist. Though the rest of the ultras fled away, they left behind the instruments used in making not only duplicate AK series rifles but also pistols of different makes.”

While you can laugh at the AK being called "sophisticated", the fact is that is a capable, albeit simple, modern weapon that can hold its own on the battlefield. That is can be easily built in a cave means it is not going to disappear from the battlefield for a very long time.

[ Many thanks to Mehul for emailing me the link. ]

The procurement is notable because the rounds are not loaded with classic 230 gr hardball bullets, but the lighter and faster 185 grain FMJ-SWC bullets.

[ Many thanks to Matt for emailing me the info. ]

UPDATE: Daniel pointed out that the purchase was for the USMC Competition-In-Arms Program and that the solicitation appears to have been canceled.

WASHINGTON, Jan 19 (Reuters) - An executive of Smith & Wesson (SWHC.O) and 21 others have been charged with violating U.S. bribery laws after an undercover sting in which federal agents posed as arms-buying representatives of an African defense minister.

The defendants, including a senior Smith & Wesson sales official Amaro Goncalves, were accused of violating the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act, or FCPA, and conspiracy to commit money laundering tied to the sale of guns, body armor and other law enforcement equipment.

[ Many thanks to Jeffrey for emailing me the link. ]

UPDATE: S&W make a statement ...

SPRINGFIELD, Mass., Jan 19, 2010 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Smith & Wesson(R) Holding Corporation (Nasdaq: SWHC), parent company of Smith & Wesson Corp., today made the following statement in response to Justice Department enforcement actions that were announced today regarding one of its employees.

Through media reports today, we became aware of the Justice Department enforcement actions which were taken yesterday and which made reference to an employee of our company. We have no information beyond what has been reported and are prepared to cooperate fully with law enforcement in their investigation into this matter.

ABC News reports ...

One of the citations on the gun sights, 2COR4:6, is an apparent reference to Second Corinthians 4:6 of the New Testament, which reads: "For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ."

The tradition of inscribing bible verse references on the sights was started by the founder, a devout Christian, and continued after his death in 2003.

[ Many thanks to all the readers who emailed in this story ]

UPDATE: Brits also complaining.

Steyr Arms announced the acquisition of Merkel USA today. Merkel USA is the U.S. importer and service center for Merkel’s side-by-side and over/under shotguns, fine double rifles, drillings, combination guns, K1 single-shot stalking rifles, the innovative KR1 bolt-action rifle, and the exceptionally reliable SR1 semiautomatic rifle. Merkel Hunting And Sporting Arms was created in 1898 in Suhl, Germany, and its firearms have been available in the U.S. since 1991, two years after the fall of the Berlin Wall.

Merkel USA is also the importer for Anschutz precision rimfire sporting rifles. It also imports Grulla’s exquisite line of Spanish-made sidelock side-by-side shotguns as well as Docter Optic sights and scopes.

Merkel USA is an importer and should not be confused with Merkel in Germany who manufacture firearms.

Robinson Arms, manufacturers of the XCR have filed suit yesterday in US District Court for Utah against Remington, Bushmaster, Rock River Arms, and Magpul Industries based on alleged infingement of their patent (Multi-caliber ambidextrously controllable firearm #7,596,900) issued 6 October, 2009 and initially filed in August of 2003.

I will be sure to ask Robarms about this at SHOT (and they will be sure to tell me they cannot say anything for legal reasons).

RobArms

The patent in question can be read after the jump.

[ Many thanks to jdun1911 for emailing me the link. ]

For bulk purchasers, a new M-4 costs about $800 per rifle, though the price is often higher when after-market rail systems, used for mounting optics and lights, are included. For rifles used by the American military, the United States Army requires Colt to install a rail system manufactured by Knight’s Armament Company of Vero Beach, Fla.; this pushes the price per piece to about $1,100.

[ Many thanks to Keith for emailing me the link. ]

“We welcome Randy and his team to the Freedom Group family,” commented Ted Torbeck, CEO of the Freedom Group, Inc. “With the acquisition of Barnes; the Freedom Group continues to demonstrate our commitment to the ammunition business. Barnes offers a premium line of high performance bullets for the hunting and shooting communities; and for law enforcement, military and commercial consumers around the world. We are excited about their research and development capabilities and the breadth of the products they bring to our portfolio.”

Cerberus. A Watercolour by William Blake (and modified slightly by myself)

About Freedom Group, Inc.

Freedom Group is the world’s leading innovator, designer, manufacturer, and marketer of firearms, ammunition, and related products for the hunting, shooting sports, law enforcement, and military markets. As one of the largest manufacturers in the world of firearms and ammunition, we have some of the most globally recognized brands including Remington, Bushmaster, DPMS/Panther Arms, Marlin, H&R, NEF, LC Smith, Parker, EOTAC, AAC, Dakota and INTC. The Company distributes its products throughout the U.S. and in over 80 foreign countries. More information about the Company can be found at www.freedom-group.com.

Michael Bane has already gotten his hands on a new Ruger single action ...

We took the new Ruger to the range today, and it clocked pretty much rave reviews. It safe to say, I suppose, that the gun is a revolver and it is a single action. A nice gun!

My guess is a Ruger Vaquero chambered in .22 LR. It would be very popular Cowboy Action shooters, with whom the Vaquero is popular.

Caleb spotted a Ruger press release which says that a Mini-30 with 20-round magazines will be available in 2010. What better time to launch it than at SHOT?

The popular Ruger Mini Thirty® rifle is now available with 20-round magazines. Chambered for 7.62×39, the Mini Thirty is an ideal autoloader for deer-sized game. Featuring the reliable action of the Ruger Mini-14® series of rifles first introduced in 1974, the Mini Thirty is simple, rugged and reliable, hallmarks of all Ruger firearms.

Ruger Tactical Mini-14 with 20 round magazine.

It makes perfect sense now that the Mini-14 has factory 20 rounders available.

SaysUncle noticed that a chromed version of the Ruger LCP is listed at Lipseys for $405. This is sure to be at SHOT.

A standard Ruger LCP which was chromed by its owner.

New machines were still being installed at the 26,687-square metre plant as The Malay Mail was shown around by Colt Defence executive vicepresident James R. Battaglini.

It takes 3 1/2 hours to complete a single M4 and the plant can churn out 900 a day with options for more when required.

The finished product then go below the plant for the test-firing process to ensure it performed to specifications.

Colt boasts a record of every gun made so that if it does not perform well, the company can determine if it is made to specs.

You may be thinking what a Malaysian newspaper is doing in West Hartford, Connecticut? Back in 2007 Malaysia announced plans** to switch away from the Steyr AUG and adopt the M4.

The Malay Mail also has a photo of some rare Colt pistols. Daniel Watters told me ...

there is one interesting picture showing a couple of rare Colt prototype pistols. These include the SSP and their submission for SOCOM's OHWS competition. I don't have a definitive name for the pistol above the OHWS, but I believe it was going to used as the platform for their "Smart Pistol". It certainly doesn't match any AA2000 variant that I remember.

[ Many thanks to Daniel E. Watters for sending me the link. ]

The full letter can be view after the jump.

[ Many thanks to False for emailing me the letter. ]

I am very pleased that our Swiss friends will continue to enjoy their unique, and very practical, tradition.

M2A1 Machine Gun

The Army was recently demoing the upgraded, and long-overdued, version of the M2 Browning machine gun. Army.mil reports ...

The M2 A1 is an upgrade to the M2 machine gun. It provides a quick-change barrel and fixed head space and timing to reduce Soldier errors and associated safety risks, according to a report prepared by the Small Arms Branch. The Army is also working on a lightweight .50-caliber machine gun to augment the M2 A1, Henthorn said.

Also on demoed was the light-weight version of the M240, the M240L, which will be deployed next year ...

One of the weapons showcased was the M240L medium machine gun, a lighter alternative to the M240B machine gun. The M240L weighs 21-and-a-half pounds, six pounds lighter than the M240B.

"Lightening Soldiers' loads is a key element of what we want to do," Henthorn said. "We are carrying a lot of weight downrange on missions because we want capability. Every pound we take off a guy is a pound he doesn't have to carry up and down a hill."

Along with reduced weight, the branch is shortening the barrel and providing a collapsible butt stock for the M240 L, said Troy Harris, deputy chief of the small arms branch.

Henthorn said Army-wide fielding could begin in 10 months.

[ Many thanks to Lance for emailing me the link. ]

The Italian Ministry of Defense has become the first military group to receive shipments of Beretta's new ARX-160 automatic rifle. The first 1,600 units have been delivered subsequent to the ARX-160's having been formally approved by the Italian Army in March.

Beretta ARX-160

I have previously written extensively about the Beretta ARX-160

[Hat Tip: Ed @ Tell me Why?]

The first 7.62 mm Kalashnikov round hit the weapon head on, narrowly missing the barrel and tearing apart the bodywork, while the second blew the sight off and the third smashed into the side, ripping through the inside of the gun and blasting out of the pistol grip.

Miraculously none struck Pte Cole, already wounded twice in the battle, and last night he saw the remains of the weapon for the first time since it saved his life in the Taliban ambush two years ago.

The remains of the rifle is now proudly display at the 4th Battalion HQ.

[ Many thanks to Daniel E. Watters for sending me the link. ]

The weapons laden aircraft seized in Bangkok en route from North Korea at the weekend has been linked to two renowned East European arms traffickers by a respected Swedish think-tank in the latest twist in the mysterious saga.

The Ilyushin-76 aircraft, which was found to be carrying 35 tonnes of weapons including rockets and grenades, was most recently registered under a company called Beibars, linked to the Serbian arms dealer Tomislav Dmanjanovic. It had previously been registered with three companies identified by the US Department of the Treasury as firms controlled by the notorious Russian arms dealer Viktor Bout, according to a researcher at the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute.

UN sanctions passed in June after Pyongyang tested a nuclear warhead ban North Korea from exporting any arms except light weapons — a big blow to the arms trade, which provides a significant source of income to the rogue state.

The first, entitled "Bridged extractor spring for firearms" describes a a duel spring designed to prevent extraction problems in short barreled AR-15s.

Jay (jdun1911) pointed out that a $5 spring and o-ring will achieve the same result and does not require a modified bolt.

Does anyone know if Wilson has ever made use of this invention? The patent application dates back to 2007.

The other patent awarded to Wilson is for a new night time pistol sight. I only skim-read the patent, but form what I made out it uses a combination of an angled mirror, tritium insert and fiber optics to provide a supposedly superior night time sight picture.

New and unique improvements of prior known fiber optic sights for firearms with day and night time capabilities are disclosed that comprise (A) a sight base, (B) a fiber optic rod mounted in said base having an angle cut at the distal end which is positioned on the underside of the rod, and (C) an artificial light insert that is positioned in a cavity in the fiber optic rod. The cavity is sealed with a fiber optic rod plug and epoxied using an optically clear epoxy. The sight provides increased light output, co-located day and night sight views with increased illumination during the day, and uses a low power tritium insert for night time use. At night the sight achieves a transition from a bright ring during the day to a small central dot at night while maintaining the same color light for both.

Many thanks to Jay for his help.

The good news is that the OBR, after much delay, is shipping.

Thanks to Isaac for the info.

Hilarious! 12 cops and a chopper! I could imagine this response in a city where handguns are illegal, but unless I am mistaken handguns are legal in Toronto.

Brickgun's Glock

He was building the gun from a kit sold by a company called Brickgun. In a recent tweet they said that they are overwhelmed by the orders that have been pouring in since the incident.

Thanks for Chris and Jon for sending me the links.

One things Uncle said got me thinking ...

It will have a different frame texture, which I have heard from others is somewhere between the standard Glock frame and the Glock Rough Textured Frame.

Could this new texture be the RTF3 texture which I blogged about earlier this year?

(Hat Tip: Blue Gun Blog)

I have also heard from a trustworthy source (I cannot reveal the source) that the Gen-4 G17 and G22 models will be initially offered, with the 19 and 23 compact models following shortly after. I also heard that Glock is planning on introducing a model chambered in .22 Long Rifle, although this is not expected for a while yet.

Dan Lamothe, who broke the news, updated his The Marine Times article and added that it now appears that the H&K IAR has not officially won but is the frontrunner ...

With several months of testing ahead, the decision isn’t considered final, but it makes the H&K model the clear front-runner in the competition.

...

The Corps will now put H&K IAR through five months of testing beginning in January and taking place in locations ranging from Panama to the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center and Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center in California, Eby said. The Corps has ordered 24 H&K IARs for testing, said Capt. Geraldine Care

Rob Curtis who blogs at GearScout (also part of the Military Times) wrote that the DoD appear to done a downselect, rather than awarding H&K an outright win ...

From what we understand, this is actually a downselect to just one system as opposed to a contract win

Dan send me an email regarding my previous comments on the supposed weight of the H&K IAR, which is almost identical to the standard HK416 carbine. He sent me the spec document which H&K provided him with. It does indeed list the weight as just 7.9 lbs!

Daniel E. Watters wrote that he suspects that the Marine command may have been framing the IAR as a partial M249 replacement but in reality they may have just wanted a piston operated full-auto carbine. By procuring what is sold as a new class of weapon they could sidestep the inter-service politics and bureaucracy ...

The weird thing is that the HK416 IAR is roughly the same weight as the M16A4, if not lighter when the latter is fitted with the M5 ARS. I'm certain that someone in Congress will ultimately ask what the HK416 can do that their issue M16A4 retrofitted with full-auto trigger groups can't.

Like others have mentioned, I can't help but wonder if the USMC didn't game the IAR requirements so that a basic carbine could win instead of a HBAR. The idea would be to gradually increase the number of IAR issued so that they could later justify standardizing on it to replace not just the infantry squad's M249, but their M16A4 and M4 as well. By framing it as a service-specific supplement to their M249, they skirted the need to argue with the other service branches over a set of joint requirements.

As for winning the contract, everyone needs to remember that Colt, FN, and HK were already awarded Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contracts for their IAR last year. An IDIQ contract guarantees the awardee that they will have a specific minimum of items ordered, with the possibility of additional orders up to a specific maximum. There is no guarantee that more than the stated minimum will ever be ordered. I've long suspected that contracting officers have been purposefully making multiple awards of IDIQ contracts prior to a final downselect in order to head off potential award protests by the disgruntled losers. It is my understanding that by accepting their IDIQ award, the contractor only has grounds to protest if the guaranteed minimum has not ordered before the end of the contract. They cannot protest that they did not receive additional orders in excess of the guaranteed minimum.

Make of all this information as you will. All I know is that DoD procurement was never designed to be understood by a mere mortal such as myself!

The Brisbane-based weapons maker said this morning it has again given the first tranche of Assure Fast Holdings' $US35m funding due 7pm Brisbane time last night (8pm AEDT) another 24 hours and that it was now “testing the issue of solvency each day".

"The company has reduced its day to day expenditure to remain solvent for as long as possible to allow as much time as possible for this funding to be received," Metal Storm said in a statement.

Metal Storm share price (ASX:MST)

It would be sad if this company is forced to close and sell off their technology when it is just starting to show real promise.

MetalStorm 3GL Grenade Launcher (bullpup configuration)

Many thanks to Daniel E. Watters for the tip.

Ambassador Vladmir Zaemskiy told a news conference that Russian engineers and Venezuelan construction firms were building the rifle and cartridge plants which, when operational, would employ more than 1,500 workers.

He gave no completion date for the plants under construction in the central state of Aragua.

Details about Moscow's military shipments and projects have been scarce since socialist President Hugo Chavez's government began signing military agreements with Russia back in 2001.

I do wonder why the construction of a massive industrial complex, employing 1,500 people, can be justified to supply a country with a population just 25% greater than that of the NYC metro area. So the question on my mind is who do they plan on exporting to? ... and how long before these rifles turn up on the Mexican/US border?

Many thanks to Todd for sending me the link.

South Korean troops to be deployed in Afghanistan will be armed with the latest K-11 airburst assault rifles for self-defense, according to the Ministry of National Defense.

The ministry unveiled the timeline as well as the troop numbers and equipment to be sent to the Central Asian nation, last week.

About 350 soldiers will be dispatched to Afghanistan with the main mission of protecting 120 South Korean civilian reconstruction workers, Defense Minister Kim Tae-young said in a National Assembly session. Two dozen civilian reconstruction workers have already been sent to the war-torn country.

Daewoo K11. From Wikipedia.

Built in the style of the now defunct XM29 OICW, the Daewoo K11 features a 5.56mm assult rifle mated to a airburst grenade launcher and ballistics computer. Where is differs from the XM29 is that the grenades are 20mm, not 25mm, and the grenade launcher is bolt action, not semi-automatic.

Like the XM29, a ballistic computer programs each grenade before firing, instructing it how long after firing before detonation. This video of a prototype K11 demonstartes the functionality.

It will be very interesting to see how well this concept works in real combat. The US Army tests found that a 20mm grenade was not big enough to be effective in a airburst configuration. Unless I am mistaken, the shrapnel from an airburst grenade will go in all directions, and therefor at least 50% is going up instead of down towards the intended target.

Many thanks to Snafu Solomon for sending me the link.

Diagram of the follower from the patent.

The patent can be viewed after the jump.

I asked Aurelien, an authority on the French military, what he thought of these rumors. I was surprised when he told me that the FAMAS has caused many problems.

The F1 model only works with the older M193 (55 grain) 5.56x45mm ammunition and it uses propriety magazines. The FAMAS G2 corrected these problems by modifying the rifle to work with STANAG (AR-15) magazines and the modern SS109 (62 grain) round. So far only the Navy has adopted the newer G2 model. The Army has to source M193 for the FAMAS and SS109 for the FN Minimi machine gun and to make matter worse, stocks of the old M193 are running low.

The French special forces, because of the lack of modularity of the FAMAS, have been using M4-style and Sig 5xx rifles for decades.

FAMAS G2. Photo from Wikipedia.

Aurelien says that while their have been talks of a replacement to the FAMAS, the FELIN program (the French equivalent of the Land Warrior program) still involves fielding an upgraded FAMAS G2.

I am sure I had always heard good things about the FAMAS. Admittedly from non-French sources. Talking to a locals always gets better quality information. Since running the blog I now have contacts all over the world.

Many thanks to Aurelien for taking the time to answer my questions.

Hat Tip: Eric @ LightFighter

The complaint also alleges that Dani Nemr Tarraf conspired to acquire anti-aircraft missiles and conspired to possess machine guns. According to the complaint, in or about mid-June 2009, Tarraf asked whether the UC could supply guided missiles and told the UC that he (Tarraf) wanted the UC to export approximately 10,000 "commando" machine guns [Colt M4 Carbines with short barrels] from the United States. On or about July 28, 2009, in Philadelphia, Tarraf paid the UC a deposit of approximately $20,000 toward the cost of purchasing FIM-92 Stinger missiles and approximately 10,000 Colt M4 Carbines and shipping these items outside the United States.

I wonder where these men thought they would be able to source spare parts, magazines and ammunition once they had purchased the weapons.

ACR on display at Milipol '09. Serial number: ACR00067.

The Bushmaster website still says it will go on sale in the first half of 2010.

It has been promised so many times before that I will only believe that it is on sale when it is on sale and not a moment before!

Many thanks to Aurélien for the tip.

Eight servicemen were killed and two injured on Monday in a new explosion at an arms depot in the city of Ulyanovsk, in Russia's Volga region, a Defense Ministry spokesman said.

Col. Alexei Kuznetsov said the explosion occurred when ammunition was being loaded into a truck.

This happens just 10 days after since the last ammo dump explosion in Ulyanovsk. RTE News (via. Shooters Log) report ...

The blasts took place while munitions were being detonated in a controlled operation at the city's number 31 arms depot, the Ulyanovsk branch of Russia's FSB security service said in a statement.

May the dead rest in peace, and the military prevent this tragedy happening for a third time.

The new FNX 9 and FNX 40 pistols offer the key features demanded by today’s serious handgunner. New ergonomic polymer frames have a low bore axis for flat shooting and less felt recoil resulting in improved control. Deep checkered grip panels are comfortable and designed for no-slip shooting. Four interchangeable backstrap inserts quickly offer a custom fit and feel. The profiled stainless steel slide has cocking serrations front and rear, a 4” hammer-forged stainless barrel delivers long life and pinpoint accuracy. Fully ambidextrous operating controls make the FNX perfect for competition and personal defense for both right and left-handed shooters. Each FNX comes with both a decocker and manual safety making it one of the safest hammer guns on the market. Every part is proudly made in the USA.

FNP-9 is now the FNX 9

Hat Tip: Caleb @ Gun Nuts

• Heavy barrel. This will increase the rate of fire and decrease heat problems but at the expense of weight.
• Add gas-piston system so that the carbine will run cleaner.
• Improve trigger pull.
• Adding monolithic full length rail system for added strength. Makes sense, but is expensive.
• Add electronic round counter to pistol grip to track rounds fired. Is this really needed?
• Ambidextrous controls.

A special “integrated product team” will evaluate the pros and cons of each of the proposed improvements and decide which options, if any, will give the service the “biggest bang for the buck,” Tamilio said.

The team will be made up of multiple agencies such as the Infantry Center, Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center and Program Executive Office Soldier. It will also include soldiers with combat experience and members of the small-arms community.

Representatives from the Marine Corps, Navy and Air Force will also get a chance to weigh in on the decision for future improvements to the M4.

What do you think of the proposed changes? Sound off in the comments.

Many thanks to Morten for emailing me the link.

The Outdoor and Shooting Wires have received- and verified the accuracy of an internal Remington memorandum that effectively answers most of a question that has been making the rounds of the industry: Is Remington getting into the handgun market?

Short answer, yes.

...

A 1911 is in first-production testing, and may be ready for introduction at SHOT Show in January.

This is incredibly interesting news! I have wondered for a long time why Remington did not seem to want a piece of the handgun market. Not wanting to be associated with "evil" handguns was my guess.

I do find the suggestion that they are going with the 1911 platform odd. While the 1911 is a very popular pistol with civilians, police departments are not adopting it. Instead they are dropping the Glock in favor of other polymer pistols like the Springfield XD and Smith & Wesson M&P pistols.

We know Remington loves military and police contracts and that they are willing to delay consumer products in order to make a grab for lucrative military contracts. The constant delays of the Bushmaster ACR are a testament to this.

So is Remington making a 1911 because they know something we do not? Will we soon be hearing about a new military competition for a .45 ACP pistol¹ ? Or are they developing a polymer 1911 or some other polymer pistol ² ?