Since we’ve covered the two most prominent PDW rounds of today, I want to take a quick detour and look at an interesting – but obscure – personal defense weapon/assault rifle round from history. After World War II, the apparati of the German war [Read More…]
If the 5.7x28mm FN is the first successful modern PDW round, then the 4.6x30mm HK is the second, and its biggest rival. German firm Heckler and developed the microcaliber 4.6mm in the 1990s as a response to a NATO solicitation for a Personal Defense Weapon, to which [Read More…]
At this point, we’ve talked about 25 different intermediate and full power calibers as part of a series comparing different types of modern small arms ammunition. However, one subject not yet thoroughly covered is rounds for personal defense weapons (PDWs). These [Read More…]
The National Firearms Act really is a drag. Thanks to its legal restrictions on short barreled rifles, some of the lightest and handiest classes of firearms are substantially restricted from common ownership in the US. The police carbine (semiautomatic short barreled [Read More…]
Today’s photo is a 7.5″ 300 Blackout. AR-15 format, but Low Visibility Gear and a lot of fun to shoot. AAC’s “Honey Badger” did play a part as a role model for this rifle (it’s not a “pistol”), and there’s a B&T [Read More…]
In May of this year, I got the rare opportunity to travel to Heckler & Koch’s headquarters in Ashburn, VA, to take a look at some of the experimental and prototype firearms they have located there in their famous “Grey Room”. It wouldn’t be worth as much for [Read More…]
Kalashnikov Concern’s newest weapon releases have received quite a lot of attention since they were first shown off at the ARMY 2016 military and technology forum in Moscow, and as the conference winds down, I want to take a more thorough pass through four of [Read More…]
Switzerland, a country with gun laws that would make a lot of (but far from all) Americans jealous. What a great country to get represented by this Blitz SBR! In summary, their gun laws can be described as less restrictive than most other European countries. On the [Read More…]
The pursuit of short operating systems for AR-15s and their derivatives has been insanely fun to watch. Options keep getting shorter and shorter, especially with the latest offerings from Battle Arms Development, Maxim Defense, and others, all using a modified base [Read More…]
Swiss company B&T is only a small to medium sized company, but with big ears and very short distance from demand to R&D to production and delivery. Don’t ask why Heckler & Koch springs to mind as something being the total opposite. To meet the latest [Read More…]
Precision Firearms had a booth at the Great American Outdoor (GAO) Show. They had a 9mm SBR PDW stolen. According to the report it was a one of a kind prototype build that they showcased at the show. The reporter calls it a “sub machine gun” but I do not [Read More…]
Among a number of interesting products on display from Lewis Machine & Tool, was an exceptionally short AR Personal Defense Weapon (PDW). Now, when we talk about short ARs, it might be in terms of barrel length, or maybe some of those different folding stock [Read More…]
In October, I traveled out to see my co-writer Alex C. to collect data on the weights of different long guns and some of their components. Over that weekend, I weighed 58 rifles and submachine guns, and numerous magazines, bolts, bolt carriers, and other miscellaneous [Read More…]
Though rare in the wild, mostly seeing use with special units and some police departments, is a favorite of Hollywood movie-makers and Triple-A video game developers, thanks to its compact size, striking looks, and fully automatic firepower. The gun itself, however, [Read More…]
New from Strike Industries comes a picatinny top rail with integrated backup iron sights for the H&K MP7. This must easily be the most niche product Strike have ever developed! The front post and rear aperture sights fold down into the rail to avoid obstructing [Read More…]
The submachine gun had been perfected by the end of World War II as a dirt cheap, nearly disposable weapon for arming large numbers of men to fight the largest war of economy in history. However, despite this, post-war submachine gun designers would seek to push the [Read More…]
Gun blogger and MVD agent KardeN released some rare high-definition photos of the unique Russian PP-2000 submachine gun. This lightweight select-fire weapon was designed as a concealable PDW and CQB weapon for VIP protection and special police and military units. [Read More…]
I am partnering with C&Rsenal’s Othais to bring you companion articles to his Primer series of videos looking at some of the most important firearms in history. First, Othais tackles the iconic Mauser C96 pistol, used by diverse characters from Chinese [Read More…]
Last month, I featured a couple of photos from British gun author Anthony Williams, which showcased some of the major developments in PDW ammunition in the last century. While his collection certainly beats mine for completeness, I still figured it would be worthwhile [Read More…]
After our respective first forays into the Firearms Radio Network, Daniel Watters and I both were asked to return to the program for a Handgun Radio segment. Our topic for this week was machine pistols, their history, their relationship with PDWs, and the possibilities [Read More…]
Anthony Williams, small arms theorist and co-author of the book Assault Rifle with Maxim Popenker, wrote an article in February of 2006 on the development of the Personal Defense Weapon and its ammunition, which he amended in late 2013. He includes in the article two [Read More…]
For those looking for a more compact option, Rainier Arms has introduced a “PDW” lower receiver for the AR-15, with a more compact buffer tube and collapsible dual-rod stock arrangement. An article at Guns.com elaborates: Rainier Arms is taking orders for [Read More…]
According to IHS Jane’s, the Swiss Armed Forces have adopted the B&T MP9-N as a personal defense weapon (PDW) for its echelon troops: The Swiss Armed Forces have selected the 9 mm Mp 14 submachine gun and the 40 mm single shot grenade launcher Mzw 14 from [Read More…]
Hognose tackles one of the most confusingly designated of all Heckler and Koch weapons, the HK36 (distinct from the G36) and its 4.6x36mm round (itself distinct from H&K’s 4.6x30mm PDW round): Around 1970, Heckler & Koch was doing well, but their restless [Read More…]
Florida-based Safety Harbor Firearms is now selling a PDW-style collapsable stock for the AR platform. The Kompact Entry Stock, or KES, is available in a single position and multi-position versions. The single position can be completely collapsed (8″ length of [Read More…]
Angstadt Arms debuted their new UDP-9 PDW (personal defense weapon) at the 2015 SHOT Show. The new UDP-9 is chambered in 9mm and accepts Glock magazines. It features a 7075-T6 billet aluminum lower and upper receiver, flared magwells, an oversized trigger guard and a [Read More…]
FNH had their elusive SCAR PDW on display at SHOT Show 2015. The PDW is based off of a SCAR 16S. However the upper receiver is slightly different. SCAR uppers usually have three holes at the front behind the sling loop. That is not the case here. As you can see there [Read More…]
Troy is making a tiny PDW with a slither stock somewhat similar to the MP5. I called Troy to see if they will be offering the stock/bolt assembly separately so I could retrofit it to my Troy Carbine, they do not have any plans at this moment to sell the stock [Read More…]
CMMG has now released the line of pistols, which are available now on their website. Made from their popular line of rifles, the pistols will have the same high quality that CMMG is known for. I foresee their line of pistols being popular, especially after the [Read More…]