New Scientist has reported on a company that is developing a “Variable Velocity Weapon System” that works by
mixing a liquid or gaseous fuel with air in a combustion chamber behind the bullet. This determines the explosive capability of the propellant and consequently the velocity of the bullet as it leaves the gun. “Projectile velocity varies from non-lethal at 10 metres, to lethal at 100 metres or more, as desired,” says Lund.
The concept of a variable amount of gas is not new, pump air guns have had this feature for a long time but, at least according to the article, the gas is ignited making it a true firearm.
Interesting concept. Although I wonder about how useful it is compared to existing systems: a non lethal gun and a lethal side arm.
Another company filed a patent in 1997 for a “Variable Velocity Weapon System”. The system they describe ports gas from behind the projectile to in front of it creating pressure and slowing it down. Sounds like a great idea to create huge amounts of pressure and blowing up the barrel.
The present invention relates to weapon systems that accelerate projectiles using gases generated by the rapid combustion of a solid propellant, in particular, such a weapon system is able to vary the barrel exiting velocity of the projectile through a barrel venting means. In one embodiment, a front venting means exhausts gas generated by combusting propellant from behind the accelerating projectileand redirects a portion of the exhausted gas either to at least one fixed volume, to the front of the projectile, or to a combination of at least one fixed volume and to the front of the projectile. Redirecting some of the exhausted gas to the front of the projectile restrains the projectile, thereby slowing the projectile, and thus further decreasing the muzzle velocity of the projectile. In another embodiment, gas from behind the projectile is exhausted into a fixed volume, thereby decreasing projectile acceleration, and thus, the muzzle velocity of the projectile.
Apparently these are Ogadeni minority tribespeople who are being killed by the majority tribes in Somalia. They arm themselves to keep from being slaughtered.
The above photo shows Chinese UN peacekeepers performing during a medal ceremony in Lebanon. It is interesting to see how they hold the bullpup to use the bayonet.
Zak has written a very interesting article on “Fighting Optics for the AR-15″. He focuses on M4 type rifles and SBRs (Short barreled rifles).
Now that optics have come of age on fighting rifles, one of the most compelling reasons to have a longer barrel has been removed. With iron sights such as those on the M16A2, practical accuracy depends on sight radius; it is easier to shoot accurately with more distance between the front and rear sight. Optical sights have no sight radius; barrel or weapon length is now separated from the ability to obtain a precise sight picture. This change allows a 14.5-inch M4 to have the same sighting precision as a 20-inch M16A2 or even sniper rifle.
This combination of features gives you an extremely active tank that has no dead or hot spots resulting in maximum cleaning capability for heavy duty use. This technology allows the user to clean and lubricate the field-stripped only firearms rapdily without using hazardous solvents or oils. Night sights, rubber grips and plastic frames are not affected by the process.
Gun capacity: [referring to the F636HT Heavy Duty Long Gun & Handgun System pictured above] Long gun system will fit up to 10 handguns or 4 long gun parts up to 35.5″ long. Great system for the gunshop gunsmiths or shooting ranges, law enforcement agencies and U.S. Armed Forces. Will clean/lube everything from derringers to belt fed MG’s.
Features: Enough adjustable heat for parkerizing & some bluing, extended rear flange for rack or lube pan, adjustable power and is ported for optional filtration system! Has two weapon racks and lube pan rack drip holder. Optional rolling stand and multi tank set ups available. Optional half-sized accessories allow simultaneous cleaning and lubrication for smaller parts.
And the cost …. $7100. For that price they should be able to handle wood as well!
Special Interest Arms are selling a new .45 Enfield kits. Richard at SIA send me an email about the new kit:
I have been busy getting my Enfield .45 conversion kits designed, manufactured, and ready to sell. Today I achieved that goal, I now have kits in stock for immediate delivery. They are vastly improved over the defunct “Rhineland” kits!
The magazine adaptors fit the receiver without having to force them in, the magazine latch locates the magazine properly, it no longer sticks through the gun when inserted with the bolt open. The magazine latch is a lever, it points toward the bottom of the adaptor, no more having to cut your trigger guard or wood!
I incorporate an actual ejector, so the converted rifle actually ejects the spent round.
I use Montana Rifleman® match grade barrels. Barrels may be ordered in 16.5″-18.0″ length, they may be ordered pre-threaded for a suppressor or flash hider.
Several units will be shipped next week, I look forward to the buyers feed-back as I am positive they will be pleased.
(Click to expand images)
If this is not cool, I don’t know what is. Complete with AR-15 stock and pistol grip.
The current .45 adaptor, greatly improved over the defunct Rhineland version.
GunsAmerica has the 7th production M16 listed for sale. It is listed for $295,000!
Without a doubt the most famous and most documented Armalite/Colt M16 in existence, serial no 106 manufactured in 1959 (the 7th production gun) and of course the earliest known gun to exist. Yes, this is the gun that Gen Curtis LeMay shot the coconuts and melons with at the cocktail party and then turned to the Cooper-McDonald rep and said,”I want 10,000 of them and I want them yesterday!”. It is said this gun was also shot by Pres Kennedy (off the Presidential Yacht), Batista, MacNamarra, Diem, and a host of other important people. Traveling to Viet Nam twice, its history is part of America’s History, and I feel there is no other gun in existence as important as this firearm - at least as far as 20th century military firearms are concerned.
This is big news. Bushmaster have licensed the Magpul Masada! It will be mostly the same but with additional features such as firing pin block and ambidextrous charging handle.
Okay guys, first things first – just to clear this up, the Bushmaster ACR (Adaptive Combat Rifle) is the final production version of the Masada prototype that we debuted at SHOT Show last year. Like the press release says, we’ve spent the last 12 months refining and re-designing the Masada, but I will not be posting any updates yet. The ACR will officially be unveiled at SHOT Show starting on Saturday, so do us a favor and have patience until then. If you happen to be in Vegas, swing by the Magpul and Bushmaster booths – there will be plenty of ACRs to play with. Photos welcome - just ask before you snap. Post ‘em if you got ‘em.
Next, I need to address some of the things I’ve been reading on the forums lately. From the get go, the idea behind the Masada was go big or go bust, no middle ground. We’re going big. We designed the best rifle we could with the ultimate goal of putting it in civilian, law enforcement, and military hands. Licensing the design to a well-established American firearms manufacturer offered the best opportunity to achieve these original goals. Enter Bushmaster and the ACR.
We’ve spent a lot of time with the Bushmaster guys over the last few months. I have personally been impressed with them. Down to earth and and down to business, very stand up. We jived right off the bat. The tolerances and specs Magpul laid out for the original Masada were tight, and the Bushmaster guys didn’t blink. Both sides of the table have kept open minds about the project, and Bushmaster will be building the ACR to the same quality and material standards as the original Magpul concept. The lines of communication on the ACR remain open between Bushmaster and Magpul.
As far as Magpul’s direct involvement goes, we’ll be designing and manufacturing all polymer ACR parts including, but not limited to, handguards, lowers, and stocks. The bottom line: you get high-end Magpul kit straight from the factory on your Bushmaster ACR.
A couple of things in closing - for those of you who are wondering, Magpul is still an independently owned and operated company. We will also continue to expand our product line. In the following days at SHOT we plan to release several new products. These are fast and exciting times for those in our industry.
I think think was a brilliant move by Magpul. There was speculation about how Magpul would fare producing large quantities of Masadas if they became popular.
The Bushmaster ACR (Adaptive Combat Rifle) will initially be offered in 5.56 NATO, available for law enforcement and civilian purchase second quarter 2008. This release will be followed by military ACR versions in the 3rd quarter of 2008.
Windham, ME - Bushmaster Firearms International, LLC (BFI) announced today that it has signed an exclusive license deal with Magpul Industries Corp. for the production, future development, and sales of Magpul’s prototype MASADA weapon system.
The Bushmaster ACR (Adaptive Combat Rifle) will initially be offered in 5.56 NATO, available for law enforcement and civilian purchase second quarter 2008. This release will be followed by military ACR versions in the 3rd quarter of 2008.
“The opportunity to partner with such an innovative company as Magpul, is a very exciting step in the growth and evolution of Bushmaster’s product line.†said Chad Brooks, CEO of Bushmaster Firearms International, LLC.
Without government funding or outside influence of any kind, the Masada concept was developed from scratch in Boulder, Colorado by Magpul’s Design Group. The initial Masada concept was first shown publicly at the 2007 Shot Show and its success prompted Magpul to spend a year redesigning the system for production.
Richard Fitzpatrick, CEO Magpul, said, “As the design progressed, we began to realize we needed to find a partner who shared our vision, and could drive production at a suitable volume without sacrificing quality. We entertained a number of ideas and offers, but in the end, a partnership with Bushmaster was the logical choice. Their production capabilities, distribution network, and brand name were the best match for our goal of getting this rifle into civilian, law enforcement, and military hands.â€
The result is the ACR (Adaptive Combat Rifle) which keeps the fundamentals of the Masada concept with added advanced features such as firing pin block and true ambidextrous charging handle.
The ACR will be available for hands on viewing in the Bushmaster and Magpul booths in the Law Enforcement section at SHOT Show 2008, in Las Vegas, Nevada. Among the ACR’s key features are a gas piston operating system, tool-less quick change barrel, multi-adjustable folding stock with integrated storage, and backward compatibility with a number of AR15/M16 parts. Due to similar operating controls, user transition from the M16 series of weapons is easily facilitated with minimal re-training.
The Bushmaster ACR will initially be available in 3 SKUS: Standard Carbine with fixed stock, Entry Carbine with folding stock, and Special Purpose Rifle with Precision Rifle Stock. Live fire demonstration and test and evaluations beginning in the end of March to qualified law enforcement and federal government agencies.
Marlin has introduced a new line of bolt action rifles this year, the XL7. It comes in two models, the XL7 and XL7C (Relatree Camo).
XL7C
It is available in 25-06, 270 and 30-06.
Specs:
Capacity: 4+1 Barrel: 22″ Weight : 6 1/2 lbs.
The XL7 has been built for those who demand premium features at a fair price. Noteworthy features include our NEW adjustable Pro-Fireâ„¢ trigger system, Soft-Techâ„¢ recoil pad, fluted bolt for speed and smoothness, a pillar bedded stock for accuracy and recessed “target style” muzzle crown Price right, the XL7 is a rifle that you can be proud of at a price you can afford.
I like accurate rifles. I especially like accurate rifles that are a real bargain in today’s market. I usually do not list prices in a review, as our articles stay up on Gunblast in the Archive section forever, and we are constantly getting new readers who find our site. In this case, however, I will make an exception, as this new XL7 carries a list price, as of this writing, of only $326 US. This price, combined with the accuracy, comfort, and handling of the rifle, along with that excellent trigger, makes this new Marlin XL7 one of the best bargains available in a quality rifle. In addition to that, it is made in the United States by American skilled workers. Considering reliability, accuracy, and price, the Marlin XL7 is hard to beat, and I highly recommend it.
Sako has launched a new 1/2 MOA guaranteed bolt action rifle, the A7.
It will come in two models. The A7 and A7 stainless. Both models are chambered for .243, .22-250, 7mm-8, .270 WSM, .300 WSM, .25-06, .270, 7mm Rem Mag and .300 Win Mag.
Prices:
UPDATE:
The press release:
ACCOKEEK, MD (January 28, 2008) — When it comes to buying a new hunting rifle, nothing is more important to a rifle shooter than accuracy and reliability. But equally important in today’s economy is value. The new Sako A7 meets all of these criteria straight out of the box. Available in 2008 as the new benchmark for the perfect American hunting rifle, mixing the world’s finest out-of-the-box accuracy rating with superior value, the new Sako A7 offers the rare combination of unprecedented accuracy and ultimate reliability at an affordable price.
The Sako A7 improves upon the world famous Sako 75 design, featuring a machined forged-steel bolt, match-grade hammer-forged barrel, adjustable single-stage trigger (adjustable between 2.2 and 4.9 pounds), detachable magazine and synthetic stock. The A7 also integrates the new “Total Control” Magazine Latch introduced on the Sako 85, eliminating any chance that the box magazine can come loose during operation. This new rifle is available in two finishes: blued and Sako’s no-glare Stainless Steel. The A7’s bolt offers a silky-smooth movement with a 70-degree throw. Together with Sako’s super-crisp trigger, the A7 provides an incredibly fast total lock time of less than 1.3 milliseconds.
Since 1921, Sako has led the industry in accuracy by setting the standard by which all other rifles are compared. Each rifle must place five shots within one inch at 100 yards or they don’t ship. Serious shooters know that in order to obtain consistent sub-inch groups one must start with a high-quality firearm and move forward from there. The new A7 not only holds the same level of accuracy as its brother the Sako 85, but it offers a price that makes the A7 the hands down best value in the American market.
The new Sako A7 rifle series is a superbly executed medley of tradition, technology, out-of-the-box accuracy and unprecedented value.
Established in 1921, Sako was originally created to build and service firearms for the Civil Guard in Finland. Since that time, the company has been dedicated to providing innovative solutions to shooters’ emerging needs for precision firearms. For decades now, Sako has developed world-class military, target and hunting rifles. The Sako brand offers the shooter uncompromising accuracy and reliability in a variety of calibers. Along side Beretta and its unique firearms traditions that reach all the way to the year 1526, Sako proudly carries on the precision rifle craftsmanship that has led to the success of the Sako products. Today, Sako manufactures, distributes and markets a complete line of rifles. Beretta USA is the exclusive distributor in North America for Sako products. For additional information visit: www.berettausa.com.
Hi, welcome to my blog! This blog is dedicated to all things firearms related. I hope you enjoy it.
I want this blog to appeal to a worldwide audience and so I will be focusing on firearms and shooting rather than country specific politics. There are already many great blogs defending your rights!
Hi, welcome to my blog! This blog is dedicated to all things firearms related. I hope you enjoy it.