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
Those lucky Canadians will be able to purchase the Norinco Type 97 later this year.
Type 97A. Click to expand.
The Type 97 is the civilian export version of the QBZ-97 rifle, which in turn is the export version of the 5.8×42mm QBZ-95. It is chambered in 5.56×45mm and takes STANAG magazines. Looking at the photo I think it has a 20″ barrel.
According to CanadaAmmo it will be available in December 2008 and will sell for $849.00.
This is very interesting. A one piece 5.7×28mm modular upper that attaches to a AR-15 lower receiver and uses 50 round FN P90 magazines.
TrueWPN at AR-15.com took these photos. Click to expand.
Well this thing is interesting. Its a AR-15- PS90 cross bread. The one piece modular upper snaps onto any AR-15 lower. Allowing you to fire 5.7×28mm with the PS90 50 round mags. I added HK 416 rifle sights. I wanted to use the LaRue Tactical Aimpoint mount in the picture but I think the sight may stick out to far to mag change:( we will see. I just used a DPMS complete lower with a Magpul grip and stock. It has a right side charging handle. The upper and lower color match perfect. I am really impressed with the quality.
It still has the bolt open feature like the AR-15. It does utilize the buffer tube with the stock AR spring and a Heavy buffer that came with it. It ejects the spent cases through the mag well. I had a cheap 30 mag that was no good so I gutted it and cut the top off so it will work as a funnel for the spent cases. I purchased the Upper from www.HKSpecialist.net who shipped and I received it over night. Great guy to deal with. Unfortunately I can’t find them for sale anywhere else and I got the only one Gordon had left. The Manufacturer’s web sight is www.57center.com . I put 150 rounds down the pipe today after work with out a hitch. Really sweet accuracy at 50 yards open sights. And it was easy to engage multiple targets with no recoil throwing me off. I cant wait to put a optic on it. I am leaning towards a Aimpoint Micro T-1. Enjoy the pics…………………
The 5.56mm AR magazine is not used.
These photos are from the 57 Center’s website.
Hat Tip: Defense Tech
Lee, a Blackwater armorer, emailed me some info on the BW15:
1.Yes we do offer the BW15 in more than just 5.56mm. As of now we are making them in 6.8mm and 7.62×39mm as well. The BW15 lower receivers are stamped Multi-cal.
2.We are using out own receivers and each weapon is a matched upper and Lower receiver. All of the serial numbers begin BW.
3. As far the weapons shooting MOA, we use only the best barrels and the Armorer that builds the weapons also test fires it. I do believe that if we say that it will shoot MOA it will. But on the other hand what if the customer can’t shoot that well. Are we to take the weapon back? In case you did not know, everyone is an expert when to shooting.
4. Barrel lengths start at 16″. You can request a 14.5 with a pinned and permanently affixed flash hider to make total length overall 16″. We can have a custom barrel made to your specs (will take extra time POR). However if a customer wants a 18″- 26″ barrel we can accommodate.
5. All weapons have standard anodized finish. We are not doing any coatings at this time.
6. All weapons are shipped with 2 Magpul 30 round magazines and a lock.
Benelli USA is now importing the Stoeger X Series air rifles.
The rifles come in a variety of models, finishes and scope options. They are all .177 in caliber and have a break barrel action.
X5: Scoped, hardwood, 16.5″ barrel.
The “Made in China” is prominently displayed …
They have a nice website, although a bit flash heavy, with more info.
1962 model
guns.ru just posted an article on the Korobov TKB-022, an early bullpup assault rifle designed by Russian gun designer G. A. Korobov.
All weapons were tested by Soviet army, but turned down on unpublished reasons (most probably becuse the gun was simple too advanced for contemporary military thinking, but also possibly because no-one at the time could tell for sure if plastic housing would hold its integrity in extreme weather conditions or during many years of storage or use).
More here.
S&W have announced the M&P15R, an AR-15 chambered for the 5.45×39mm. The idea being you can save costs by shooting the cheaper round instead of 5.56mm.
The product spec sheet says the launch date was “May 1, 2008″, yet the website says coming soon.
M&P15R. No surprises if you have seen an AR before 
It will also be available as a complete upper.
It ships with one 30 round 5.45×39mm magazine.
Specs:
Model: M&P15R
Caliber: 5.45 x 39 mm
Capacity: 30 Rounds
Action: Semi-Auto
Barrel Length: 16”
Barrel Twist: 1 in 8”
Front Sight: M4 Post
Overall Length: 35” Extended ,32” Collapsed
Stock: 6-Position Collapsible
Weight: 6.5 lbs.
Barrel Material: 4140 Steel
Receiver Material: 7075 T6 Aluminum
Finish: Hard Coat Black Anodized
Chromed Comp: Barrel Bore, Gas Key
Bolt Carrier, Chamber
Another photo:
When I interviewed Magpul they were planning on releasing a 5.45×39mm conversion kit for the Masada so that trips to the range would cost less. I wonder if Bushmaster is going to follow through with this with the ACR.
Press release after the jump
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What is cooler than a .50 BMG? A suppressed .50 BMG 
I found this photo on the Advanced Armament website. Click to expand
The Cyclops Suppressor
The Fedorov Avtomat is possibly the first (see comments) an early firearm used in action that would classify as a true self-loading battle rifle.
Photo by Semen Fedoseev
It weights in at about 4.4kg compared to the 7.7-8.8kg of the BAR: much closer in weight to that of a battle rifle (rather than a light machine gun).
3200 were produced and it saw action during the Russian civil war and WWII.
More about it at Wikipedia and guns.ru.
Aviation Week reports that last week the U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office Soldier, Brig. Gen. Mark Brown weighed in on the M4/.223 issue:
“I don’t think we need an unhealthy, discordant debate over the current carbine because I don’t think the current carbine is a long-lived solution anyway. However, the M4 carbine has been continuously improved. It has 68 substantial engineering design changes and about 380 total engineering design changes, so it’s become a modular system. It’s very accurate, it’s the most accurate of the carbines, it’s the lightest of the carbines, and it’s the shortest of the carbines. We’re very pleased with it, and we expect it to be the Army’s carbine of record, for a little while.”
An unfinished AR upper made from a 60% Beryllium alloy is being sold on GunBroker. Dr. Strange gun pointed out that Beryllium is toxic. Machining and finishing it off could cause Berylliosis, a chronic lung disease that has no cure.
Even handling it could be have unpleasant side effects. According to wikipedia:
Beryllium contact with skin that has been scraped or cut may cause rashes, ulcers, or bumps under the skin called granulomas.
Scary stuff, considering the buyer may not be aware of this.
The 60% Beryllium upper.
The auction description is:
60% A1 BERYLLIUM UPPER, YOU WILL NEED TO REAM FRONT TO REAR THE CENTER TO FIT THE BOLT , DRILL FRONT AND REAR TAKE DOWN PIN HOLES,EJECTON PORT DOOR HINGE PIN HOLES, ROLL PIN FOR THE FWD ASSIST, AND THREAD THE FRONT FOR THE BARREL NUT…..S/H…10.00
Jennersen was kind enough to photograph his Bushmaster A3M4 Gas Piston system for me. He took some really good shots.
Thanks Jennersen!
The rest of them are here.
DoubleTapper has taken photos of a Tavor being field stripped in his kitchen. Very interesting.
More here.
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