#Masada

Since the announcement that Fabryka Broni is seeking to import the MSBS modular rifle into the United States civilian market, there has been a great deal of discussion about the relationship of the MSBS to the Remington ACR or Magpul Masada. The two rifles are very similar, similar enough that I’ve previously referred to the MSBS as a “Masada derivative”, but I wanted to take a closer look. Therefore, at the 2016 SHOT Show, I took a look inside both rifles, to compare their similarities and contrast their differences. I found that, while there are conspicuous similarities that previously led me to believe the MSBS is a Masada derivative, there are also a great deal of subtle differences that suggest more convergent development based on similar requirements and design philosophy – and likely cross-pollination of a few ideas –  than the Fabryka Broni team picking up where Magpul left off.

Last year, at the 2015 SHOT Show, Polish gun manufacturer Fabryka Broni told us that they would be working to bring the MSBS modular rifle to the United States civilian market. Speaking with them at the 2016 SHOT Show, I learned that this effort is ongoing. In 2015, the company submitted 10 weapons – rifles and pistols – for approval to the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives, but only one – a .22 rifle – was approved for importation. The MSBS pistols that were submitted were apparently rejected on the grounds that a removable vertical foregrip was mounted to a Picatinny rail section on the handguard. Fabryka Broni’s representatives told me that they are continuing to work with the ATF to get approval for the importation of their weapons, including the MSBS and BRS99 semi-automatic pistol.

Remington, America’s oldest gun company, and also several of its newest, since the Freedom Group consolidation, had a massive presence at the 2016 SHOT Show. Its booth was seemingly an avatar incarnated of the true nature of the company itself: A conglomerate of multiple booths collected into one sprawling location, with distinct and sometimes disharmonious personalities.

Kinetic Research Group’s was for me one of the most interesting booths in the whole show. Justin, the CEO of KRG, is a delight to talk to for anyone interested in the details of small arms design. TFB’s Rusty S previously covered some of KRG’s other products, but left it to me to discuss one of their most interesting products: The FOX-42 semiautomatic precision rifle. KRG brought an early FOX-42 non-firing prototype to the SHOT Show last year to gauge interest, and apparently that paid off, since 2016 saw them bringing a fully-functional firing prototype, albeit still sporting some rapid prototyped components.

Fabryka Broni of Poland is eyeing more than just the 5.56mm market with its new MSBS rifle; the arms maker just announced a new, larger variant of the rifle chambered for the more powerful 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge, called MSBS-7.62. Both assault and designated marksman rifle variants are planned, with the rifles reportedly being ready for showing in Fall of 2016 at the International Defense Industry Exhibition MSPO. Altair.com reports (below is a somewhat rocky machine translation of the original Polish, Polish readers should follow the link and read it in its original form):

Polish gun manufacturer Fabryka Broni recently announced the full line up for the MSBS “Radon” modular dual conventional/bullpup layout rifle, in development since 2007. The MSBS is an improved relative of the Remington ACR/Magpul Masada. Frag Out! released a video recently of the MSBS in action, with a guest appearance by the 1930s Radom wz. 35 “Vis” pistol, embedded below:

The Small Arms Defense Journal website have published an article written by Leszek Erenfeicht describing the history and function of the MSBS Radon rifle, one of the major dark horses of 21st Century rifle designs. The Radon was designed from a clean sheet, ignoring previous Polish developments and attempting to draw from the best industry knowledge available. The rifle began as a collation of “good ideas” and was refined through hard work by the folks at Radon into something very much its own:

Big news for tactical and precision rifle fans: Justin J, the designer of the prototype 7.62x51mm rifle companion to the 5.56mm Masada – called “Massoud” – has kept his idea for a semiautomatic 7.62mm rifle alive in Kinetic Research Group’s prototype FOX-42 precision rifle.

The ARFCOM rumor mill is reporting that Magpul, and/or Bushmaster, will soon be launching a new version of the Remington/Bushmaster ACR.

Ryan Smith, of Bushmaster, hosted Drake Clark from Magpul at the Bushmaster factory. Drake was one of the co-designers of the original Magpul Masada. This video, a TFB exclusive, shows Drake putting an ACR through its paces …

The specifications of the Remington ACR (Adaptive Combat Rifle) have finally been published. Bushmaster and Magpul are both still very much involved in the development of the rifle although I can see very little that has changed since the original Magpul Masada was unveiled.

The Massoud is a concept semi-automatic 7.62x51mm rifle by Magpul. It looks like it is s scaled up Magpul/Bushmaster Masada/ACR. The Massoud takes 7.62x51mm PMAGS.

Travis of Magpul put together a very cool AK/Saiga. Click to expand the photos:

Don’t expect to get your hands on the Bushmaster ACR anytime soon. Bushmaster and Magpul issued this joint statement a few days ago:

S&W have announced the M&P15R, an AR-15 chambered for the 5.45x39mm. The idea being you can save costs by shooting the cheaper round instead of 5.56mm.