The IPSC World Shoot Shotgun 2018 has ended and I hope all competitors are back home safe now. The location was Chateauroux, France, where the French have built an excellent National Shooting Center for all sorts of shooting sports. The Firearm Blog was there of course [Read More…]
At Milipol in France Heckler & Koch exhibited an example of the HK416 F and what it looks like in its different configurations, including the kit that each soldier get with their weapon. All these pictures are unique for The Firearm Blog and have not been shown [Read More…]
The Musée de l’Armée (Army Museum) in Paris houses an excellent display of European medieval small arms, showing a wide array of early firearms design. Apart from this collection, the museum is itself a fascinating portrayal of the French Armed Forces, from the [Read More…]
The 2017 IPSC Handgun World Shoot XVIII was the 18th Handgun World Shoot held at the new National Shooting Center in Châteauroux, France during the end of August and start of September. There were 30 stages divided into 5 areas, with each area being named after and [Read More…]
According to the German finance magazine BILANZ the former Managing Director of Heckler & Koch, Mr. Nicola Marinelli, wants to force his former employer before the Discritc Court to expose its true shareholders. As you may remember there was a another change of [Read More…]
The 131:st IOC Session in Lima has decided that Shooting is confirmed on the sports program of the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris, France. For Olympic Shooting Sports we need gun powder, not lasers! Shooting has been parts of the Olympic Games since the beginning, and [Read More…]
French steelmaker Aubert & Duval have announced a new high purity steel alloy that could allow future firearms barrels to be stronger, be tougher, and last longer. The steel, called “ARMAD”, is a 3% chromoly steel made with a similar composition [Read More…]
In this fourteenth installment of Personal Defense Weapon Calibers, we’ll be looking at a highly minimalist incarnation of the PDW/SMG round: The 7.65x20mm French Longue. The story of the French Longue begins with the US entry to World War I and the brilliant [Read More…]
The French importer of Heckler & Koch in France, RUAG Defence, have announced that they are going to sell two civilian versions of the HK416F. They have been named MR223 F-S (14.5″ Standard version) and MR223 F-C (11″ Short version). I guess that [Read More…]
Today the Main Match for the 2017 IPSC Handgun World Shoot XVIII starts, at the new National Shooting Sport Center (CNTS) in Châteauroux, France. The last IPSC Handgun World Shoot was held in Frostproof (such a cool name!), Florida, United States in 2014. The weather [Read More…]
The French government has received the first production units of the Heckler & Koch HK416F as part of its long awaited Arme Individuelle du Futur (Future Individual Weapon). According to the French government Ministry of Defence website, the first 400 HK416F rifles [Read More…]
As previously reported, the French Army’s new service rifle will be the Heckler & Koch HK416F. The HK416F replaces the rather old FAMAS, and you can sense the depression in the air as this happens, they are letting go of an old friend. 5 000 units are supposed [Read More…]
“J’espère qu’il n’y a rien de grave” – I hope nothing serious happened – those were the words as François Hollande heard a gun shot to his left. Monsieur Hollande was speaking to the public inside a tent, and then continued [Read More…]
As TFB has reported before France will phase out the FAMAS rifle, of which they have about 400,000 pieces of in the F1 and upgraded G1 variant. The FAMAS has been in service for over 30 years. For a period of over 10 years France will phase in the Heckler & Koch [Read More…]
Monsieur Benjamin Gineste (France) has successfully shot a target at 4150 meters, or 4540 yards. He used a .408 CheyTac caliber rifle, with a scope mounted in an extreme 270 MOA inclination. From what I can understand from the french press release he fired 12 rounds and [Read More…]
If any of you still had doubts about the HK416’s rumored win of the French AIF (Arme Individuelle du Futur – Future Individual Weapon) contract, doubt no more. The French DGA (Direction Générale de l’Armement, their defense procurement office) has released [Read More…]
According to an as of yet uncorroborated report from the French publication RETEX MAG, the next French rifle will be a variant of the German-made Heckler & Koch HK416. The report cites notices sent out to the five participants in the French Army’s AIF (Arme [Read More…]
The French next generation rifle competition is coming to an end, the two finalists, one from Belgium and the other from Germany, and the incumbent is set for replacement over the next few years. Before either the SCAR or the HK416 are inducted as the new arm of France, [Read More…]
At the 2016 Eurosatory defense trade show, Czech gunmaker CZ debuted for the first time its improved 806 Bren 2 rifle on the international market. The Bren 2 was announced in October of 2015, and improves on the 805 Bren by being lighter, having an improved selector [Read More…]
Beginning in the last decade of the 19th Century, the French government began work on the next great advancement in infantry small arms technology: The selfloading rifle. By 1916, after the outbreak of World War I, they had produced what many consider the most advanced [Read More…]
This is part 2 of the “Country Rifles” by Rainier Arms and Blown Deadline as shown at the IWA exhibition in Germany 2016. Part 1 can be found here. Bonjour! Some Freedom Fries with your SBR? Aimpoint Micro T-2 2 MOA on top. French flag. Together with [Read More…]
Remy Deville, a French competitive shooter, posted these videos from some matches. I assume they were in France. First up is a stationary bike. The shooter’s pistol is unloaded and sitting in the little box. The box is tied to the back wheel. The shooter must [Read More…]
Nearly two weeks ago, I published an article that caused a great deal of consternation among my readership, even resulting in a prompt rebuttal video from Ian and Karl with InRange TV. That highly negative article was entitled 7 Reasons I Don’t Like The [Read More…]
Recently, I ran an article on this site pointing out some of the less impressive aspects of the MP.44 assault rifle’s history. Many people were unhappy with my assessment that the legendary Sturmgewehr was overrated and over-hyped, and therefore I think it’s [Read More…]
Let it not be said that when provoked, Paris won’t respond in kind. Following the cowardly attacks on the city last week, the French National Police came out in force armed with several different kinds of firearms, some fairly old but still very capable in the [Read More…]
It saddened and sickened me to read the horrific news coming out of France. Our thoughts this weekend were with the French people as they came to terms with the 5th, and deadliest, terrorist attack they have experienced this year alone. Tweets, likes, blog posts and [Read More…]
Ben, an old friend of mine, emailed me this photo of a gun he saw yesterday at the Musée de l’Armée (Army Museum) in Paris. Apparently France’s national military museum is packed full of interesting firearms. This triple barreled wheel-lock pistol was [Read More…]
The MAS 36 is often derided for its crude physical appearance and a few quirks that most shooters aren’t used to, but the gun truly is an under appreciated great. But what about this gun makes it stand out among other distinguished military bolt action rifles? Well, let’s have a look. [Read More…]
The Chauchat Machine Rifle, formally designated the Fusil Mitrailleur Modele 1915 CSRG, has come to be widely regarded as one of the worst firearms ever made. The rifles made for the French military during WWI were chambered for the standard 8mm Lebel, but the weapon [Read More…]
After Alex C’s excellent review of the MAS 49/56 rifle, I decided I just had to have one of my own. The MAS 49/56 is the perfected French vision of a semi-automatic infantry battle rifle, an important piece of late 20th Century history, and a very handy, [Read More…]
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