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 [Read More…]
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 [Read More…]
I missed this article when it was published last month, but luckily a reader alerted me to it. The Marine Times reported last month (Sep 21, 2009) that the result of the Infantry AUtomatic Rifle competition will be announced this month! The Marine Corps plans to [Read More…]
A leaked US Army report about the Battle of Wanat criticizes the reliability of the M4. On July 13, 2008 200 Taliban fighters attacked 48 US and 24 Afghan troops. Outnumbered 2.7 to 1 the M4 Carbines, which the troops were carrying, could not function reliably under the [Read More…]
During the Iraq War the Marines urgently ordered 180 of the Mk11 Mod 0 Sniper Weapon System’s, but with the Army M110 Rifle Upper Receiver. This Mk11 / M110 hybrid was known as the Mk11 Mod 1. Later, the Marines began ordering the Mk11 Mod 2, a SOCOM / Navy [Read More…]
The legendary Daniel Watters has unearthed compelling evidence that the Marine MEU(SOC) M1911 pistol has now been given the official designation “M45 Close Quarters Combat Pistol”. Two documents 1, recently posted on Navy.mil, provide information about the [Read More…]
There is an interesting article at Human Events about the US Army culture favoring the M4, while the Marines culture being pro-M16A4. Two years ago when I was in Iraq, I noticed there were essentially two different primary infantry weapons (the M16 automatic rifle and [Read More…]
James found this photos of a pair of homemade pistols that appear to be chambered in .303 British! Apparently they, along with the cartridges, were confiscated from some students. Can you imagine the blast of burning power that must shoot out of these! I found the [Read More…]
DOD Buzz has some thoughts on the weapon platform used by the SEAL Snipers who took out the pirates: And let’s not get carried away with the sea state, says DT contributor Joe Buff. A multi-thousand ton destroyer is a pretty stable platform in any but the most [Read More…]
The captain held in a lifeboat by pirates off the coast of Somalia has been rescued by the US Navy after snipers took out his captors. CNN reports: U.S. Navy snipers fatally shot three pirates holding an American cargo-ship captain hostage after seeing that one of the [Read More…]
Defense Industry Daily reports that the Marines are getting a new spotting scope called the Scout Sniper Observation Telescopes (SSOT). The SSOT is a variant of the Horus Vision Leupold spotting scope system designed specifically for snipers. Horus Vision Leupold [Read More…]
The Marines are back doing what they do best – kicking pirates ass. Marine Scout Snipers are being deployed to provide protection for counter-piracy teams in and around the Gulf of Aden, Arabian Sea, Indian Ocean and Red Sea. Navy.mil reports: The nine-member [Read More…]
Murdoc @ GunPundit reports: Since there has been a rash of weapons related incidents recently, the Provost Marshals Office has made it a priortity to emphasize safety among the Marines, Sailors and civilians aboard the Tri-Command area. According to Randy Walz, the [Read More…]
The FN IAR is based on the SCAR. It has a rate of fire of 650 RPM and weights in at 10.4 lbs. FN IAR. Click to expand. One very interesting features is that it switches automatically from closed bolt to open bolt depending on the chamber temperature. From FNH-USA: Today [Read More…]
It looks like the Marines have narrowed down the search for the Infantry Automatic Rifle to four designs from three manufactures: Colt was awarded two contracts worth up to $14 million apiece: M67854-09-D-1035 and M67854-09-D-1036. FN was awarded one contract worth up [Read More…]
GunPundit stumbled across a photo at Marines.mil with a caption that suggests that some Marines are hunting ducks with 5.56mm NATO rounds and/or 5.56mm blanks. My take on it: They reckoned punt guns are pretty cool for duck hunting but rifle grenades (fired with a blank [Read More…]
For a while I have been waiting for Colt to a announce a ultra-reliable ultra-high capacity magazine that will accompany the Colt Infantry Automatic Rifle. One of the requirements for the Marine IAR is a ultra-high capacity magazine. At the Pakistan IDEAS-2008 expo an [Read More…]
Defense Industry daily reports that the Marines have procured 7750 LAWs (M72A7) from Nammo Talley Defense for a total of $15.5 million (which works out to be $2000/unit). Nammo Talley Defense, Inc. in Mesa, AZ received a $15.5 million firm-fixed-price contract for 7,750 [Read More…]
Over the past few months Colt has been unveiling a variety of new AR-15 firearms. If a replacement for the M16 or M4 is chosen they want it to be a Colt. To ensure this designed a range of weapons that should cover all bases. David @ Defense Review has been relentlessly [Read More…]
I have previously discussed the Ultimax 100 Mk4. This is the latest iteration of the Ultimax 100 design and is being entered into the IAR competition by General Dynamics, although it designed by Singapore Technologies Kinetics (STK). Photos by SMGLee. Click to expand: [Read More…]
Marine Corps Times has an interesting article on the IAR competition. It seems the Army is not interested in a lightweight automatic rifle. That’s why the Army, which also uses the M249, has ruled out a soldier version of the Marine IAR. “We are not considering [Read More…]
SayUncle blogged a video of this ulta-high capacity 150 round AR-15 compatible (STANAG) magazine: the Armatac Industries CL-MAG. The CL-MAG™ offers for the first time a reliable and efficient 150 rd magazine for the .223/5.56mm rifle. Designed to fit NATO standard [Read More…]
Trying to become predators instead of prey, Marines headed to Iraq will go through training built on advice from big-game hunters, soldiers of fortune and troops who grew up around firearms in the woods or the inner city. More here. Hat Tip: Danger Room
FN Manufacturing in Columbia, SC received a $33.7 million firm-fixed-price, contract for M16A3 and M16A4 Rifles to support the U.S. Navy and the U.S. Marine Corps. …. Colt Defense in Hartford, CT received a $15.9 million firm-fixed-price contract for M16A3 and [Read More…]
The Marines are testing the .338 Lapua chambered TRG-42 rifles in Iraq: The current M40 barreled for the .308 round is dependable and can reach out and touch someone at about 1,000 meters. But the TRG-42 is designed for the sniper who wants a little more range – [Read More…]
Your Privacy Choices