The Firearm Blog

Korean firm Dong In Optical specializes in red dot sights for machine guns, miniguns, grenade launchers and auto-cannons.

The Model DCL100 Red Dot Sight (below) is designed specifically for the FN Minimi / M249 and FN MAG / M240 light machine guns. It is seen here mounted on the Minimi Para, FN's short 13.7" barreled, collapsible stocked, machine gun.

DCL100 mounted on the FN Minimi Para.

The larger Model DCL110 designed for .50 heavy machine guns and 20mm cannons

I have an overwhelming desire to mount one of these on a Ruger 10/22

A big thanks to Groot Mamba for the photos.

Last month a Californian resident was granted a patent application for a wooden hunting style stock for the “M-16/AR-15″.

Photo from the patent

Of course as you can see in the photo the rifle is not a AR-15/M16 as the patent claims. It has a forward recoil system and only the Para USA Tactical Target Rifle (previously know as the ZM LR300) has such a system.

I cannot see how this is an original invention. All he has patented is a standard rifle stock replaces the the pistol grip. The patent system is severely messed up.

Still, I must say I like his laminated stock and handguard in the above photo. I think it looks pretty nifty.

Thanks to the ever vigilant Daniel Watters for sending me the patent info.

UPDATE: It is a patent application, not a patent, and I have been told it was not allowed.

Reader tehmino emailed me photos of his new Para-Ordnance GI Expert pistol. The GI Expert is a new entry level 1911 from Para USA. Click to expand the photos. UPDATE: tehmino has modded his pistol, which I should have realized (It was a late night), I have added a couple of photos of a non-modded below (Thanks Todd and Caleb, for the correction).

From GunBroker with a “buy now” of $529.

Photos of newly released gun “in the wild” are also better than those marketing photos. If you are the proud owner of a gun launched in the past 6 months, please email me some high-res photos for the blog.

Many thanks to tehmino for the photos.

Olav @ Firearms and Training has taken photos of the internals of his Z-M Weapons LR300 (now manufactured by Para Ordnance as the Tactical Target Rifle) and explained how it works.

Bolt Carrier Group

This shows a close up of the bolt carrier group. The gas key is staked. Notice the extra vents for gas to escape from, his allows the gun to run cooler since a lot of the gas and crud vents out of the gun. Also notice it’s missing the portion of the bolt carrier that sits against the buffer which saves on weight. This also means less recoiling mass.

Read the article here. I highly recommend it.

Canadian pistol manufacturer Para Ordnance are moving their headquarters and manufacturing to Charlotte NC. Charlotte Business Journal reports:

The company leased a Pineville facility and estimates 35 to 40 jobs will be filled, mostly in manufacturing and machining.

Para Chief Executive Thanos Polyzos says the company wanted to establish a U.S. headquarters to be eligible for more military and law-enforcement contracts.

How much of its manufacturing, if any, will remain in Canada is not clear.

UPDATE: JR @ Keyboard and a .45 has just point out that this also allows them to get round any import restrictions, now or in the future.

Hat Tip: I can’t remember where I saw this link! If it was your blog let me know

The GI Expert is a new entry level .45 1911 pistol from Para USA.

A 1911 for the 21st Century – it feels like an old friend, the one that the company armorer worked over for you to earn your Expert Marksman’s badge. Using new millennium technology Para has built you a production .45 that is silky smooth with a crisp, clean trigger that makes you the best shot you can be.

Caliber: .45 ACP
Barrel: 5 inches, stainless steel
Twist: 1 in 16 inches, left-hand
Action: Single-action, Semi-automatic
Sights: Dovetail Fixed, 3-White Dot
Receiver: Carbon Steel
Trigger: Medium length
Hammer: Skeletonized Spur
Magazine: 8-round with removable base pad
Weight: 39 ounces
Finish: Covert Black Para Kote™
Stocks: Checkered Polymer
Safeties: Slide Lock, Internal Firing Block, Grip
Additional Features: Lowered and flared ejection port, beveled magazine well, flat mainspring housing, grip safety contoured for spur hammer

The introductory MSRP is $599.

More info here.

Snowflakes in Hell (who, long overdue, is now on my blogroll) has photos of the Para Ordnance TTR AR-15. The Tactical Target Rifle features a unique recoil system above the barrel, which significantly reduces recoil and allows for a folding stock.

The new Para Tactical Target Rifle with its Direct Impinged Gas System™ (DIGS™) gets you back on target faster than any other rifle of its kind. The recoil spring is over the op-rod so there is no “twang” in your ear as your head rests on the rifle’s stock while the bolt cycles between shots.

Having the recoil system up front over the barrel puts it where it naturally pushes the rifle back down on target instead of up and into your shoulder.

The specs:

Caliber: 5.56 Nato
Barrel: 16.5 inches Chrome Lined
Twist: 1 in 9 inches
Sights: Flip up front sight and fully adjustable flip-up rear sight
Overall Length: Stock Open and Fully Extended – 36 inches
Stock Open and telescoped in – 33 inches
Stock Folded – 26.25 inches
Weight: 7.6 pounds
Additional Features: Field strips with no tools
Multiple sling mount points
MSRP: $2,297

The rifle will go on sale in 2008. Next year conversion kits will be offered to install a TTR recoil system on a standard AR.

Sebastian’s photos are here. More info @ Para.

UPDATE:

Roughedge pointed out in the comments that this rifle is a Yankee Hill / ZW Weapons LR300 AXL rifle. It looks like it is either a clone or, more likely, Para has licensed it. YH/ZM are not selling them now. When they were sold they cost $2139.

Here are some photos from ZM and GunBroker (NXL model). Click to expand.

NXL