How the latest firearms stack up

[thedrifter]

How the latest
firearms stack up


By John G. Roos

The superb performance of special operations forces (SOF) in Afghanistan and Iraq triggered widespread appreciation of the capabilities these "silent professionals" bring to joint-force operations. Highly trained, lightly armed and extremely innovative, they are often the first - and last - symbol of U.S. power glimpsed by America's enemies.

Because the operational demands levied on SOF create unique equipment requirements, the SOF community enjoys considerable latitude in procurement activities. The U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCom), for instance, has equal standing with the four military branches in nominating foreign-manufactured items for evaluations under the Defense Department-funded Foreign Comparative Testing program. SOCom and the individual services' SOF also are supported by "in-house" weapons-development activities and all have access to the cash needed to buy the special tools of their trade.
But getting the attention of prospective equipment users and procurement officials in the SOF community presents unique problems for equipment manufacturers, particularly the smaller concerns with no prior experience in dealing with these relatively insular communities. Frequently, items offered for consideration end up competing with the in-house developmental programs that enjoy strong backing from within the SOF community. More often, however, overtures to SOF procurement officials are rebuffed because of the absence of a funded requirement for the unique capabilities offered by a particular item.

In spite of the obvious obstacles that manufacturers must overcome in selling to U.S. military forces, a steady stream of innovative weapons and other systems routinely compete for procurement officials' attention at exhibitions throughout the world. Some succeed in attracting notice by SOF community visitors, resulting in invitations to submit the items for evaluations by various SOF commands. But many other innovative systems go unnoticed by members of the SOF weapons-development and procurement communities, although they do catch the attention of the AFJ staff. And each year, developers of the most interesting systems among those offerings are invited to put their weapons directly into the hands of prospective users and purchasers at a unique gathering - the annual AFJ "Shoot-out."

This event gives weapons manufacturers an exclusive opportunity to showcase their offerings for prospective customers. No less significantly, the Shoot-out delivers a valuable professional-development experience for the members of the SOF community and other guests who serve as evaluators for AFJ.

As in past years, Shoot-out 2003 was held at the renowned Blackwater Training Center in Moyock, N.C. This state-of-the-art tactical training facility hosts a steady stream of SOF, plus federal, state and local law-enforcement officers.

THE TURNOUT

Weapons manufacturers participating in this year's Shoot-out were: SIGARMS; Heckler & Koch Inc.; Alexander Arms; U.S. Ordnance; CheyTac Associates LLC; and FNH USA Inc. The FNH team brought a pair of weapons developed in France that the U.S.-based arm of the Herstal, Belgium-headquartered company is marketing in the United States. A representative from the Crane Division at the Naval Surface Warfare Center also attended with a pair of weapons being developed for SOF by that government agency. A report about those weapons will appear in a future issue of AFJ.

Other industry participants included: American Defense Systems Inc., parent company of bullet-resistant glass concern A. J. Piscitelli & Associates Inc.; LeMas Ltd., distributors of RBCD ammunition; U.S. Global Nanospace Inc. (formerly U.S. Global Aerospace), manufacturers of bullet-resistant and blast-protection products; DAS Electronics, which manufactures a wireless bullet-impact sensor; holster-manufacturer Phalanx (April AFJ); and Instrumentation Marketing Corp., which showcased a prototype, high-speed digital camera.

As in past years, the Shoot-out's potential importance for industry participants is best reflected in terms of the evaluators who tested the weapons and other products for AFJ. By that measure, this year's event was the best ever.

Twenty-five evaluators and observers - primarily active-duty members of the SOF community and the weapons developers who support them -- took part in Shoot-out 2003. The group consisted of: a member of the Naval Operations Other-Than-War Technology Center; a representative from the JFK Special Warfare Center; a weapons specialist from the Army Materiel Command; three members of the Navy's Mobil Security Group Two; four representatives from the Naval Special Warfare Development Group; a ballistics expert from the U.S. Army Special Operations Command; a member of the 75th Ranger Regiment; senior officers from Fort Benning, Ga., and Fort Knox, Ky.; a pair of evaluators from the U.S. Coast Guard; two officers from the U.S. Special Operations Command; three representatives from Canada's Dwyer Hill Training Center; two members of the U.S. State Department; and two representatives from the U.S. Secret Service. Approximately half of the evaluator group had attended previous Shoot-outs.

http://www.militarycity.com/blackwater/highimpulseweapon1.jpg

Warren Zinn / Armed Forces Journal

Lacroix's 76mm High-Impulse Weapon System.


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GLASS CHALLENGE

This year's shooting events, which took place on a Thursday afternoon and a Friday morning, opened with AFJ's traditional glass-busting challenge. At previous Shoot-outs, this event pitted the latest in bullet-resistant glass from American Defense Systems (ADS) against the hottest bullets that LeMas' RBCD can muster. The glass sold by ADS is manufactured by Cardinal LG.

During the past three years, ADS and LeMas have developed increasingly effective products for their annual showdowns at Shoot-outs. On balance, the two concerns have battled to as close to a draw as could be expected. Last year's glass-blasting contest concluded with the RBCD guys hammering five .50-caliber "Medium Armor Killer" (600 grains) rounds from a 30-inch-barreled Barrett Model 99 into an ADS "Heavy-Plus," 4.35-inch glass panel from a distance of 100 feet. The rounds impacted about eight inches from each other: Two penetrated the glass barrier; three were stopped.

Quite appropriately, the ADS folks call their latest line of glass "VistaSteel Transparent Armor." Shown publicly for the first time at Shoot-out 2002, the line is available in Lite, Medium, Heavy and Heavy-Plus compositions.

Not surprisingly, the panels are consistent crowd-pleasers at Shoot-outs. As an evaluator remarked at last year's event: "By far the best [glass] in the world. I've never seen anything like it. Hell, I didn't even know this was possible."

His observation is particularly compelling in light of the extremely devastating effects created by RBCD ammo, as detailed in previous Shoot-out reports. Another evaluator at the 2002 event summed up his impressions of the bullets-versus-glass competition this way: "I am impressed. This was the second-most amazing thing I saw today. The ability [of the glass] to stop the rounds I saw it stop is totally awe-inspiring. It stopped everything shot at it with the exception of the LeMas [RBCD] rounds."

Against this background, ADS and LeMas squared off once again. The ADS team set up an array of its latest glass products which, like the glass featured at last year's demonstration, use a nonpolycarbonate polymer as the lamination medium in lieu of polycarbonate laminates used previously. This process gives thinner, lighter glass the bullet-stopping power of considerably thicker, heavier products.


CHANGE IN PLANS

As originally planned, this year's bullet-versus-glass contest was set to pit both RBCD ammo and some special glass-penetrating rounds from Switzerland's Ruag against the ADS products. Unfortunately, AFJ was told that the Swiss company was prohibited from exporting its ammo to the United States because of a blanket Swiss government prohibition against weapons-related exports to any country engaged in a war. With activities in Iraq still underway at the time, the Swiss company was forced to bow out of the competition. Considering the results of the RBCD ammo against the new glass, it may have been a good thing for the Swiss to stay home.

Despite repeated attempts by the LeMas team to punch through the glass, the transparent barriers held. A .90-inch-thick "Lite Armor" panel withstood 36 hits, including 12 RBCD rounds, from a .45 ACP from 15 feet. A .96-inch panel bettered 15 RBCD rounds fired from a 24-inch-barrel H&K carbine, again from 15 feet. And so it went, all the way up to a pair of shots with two different types of RBCD .300 WinMag ammo - a 130-grain Hardened Armor Priority Penetrator (HAARP) and a 112-grain Armor-Piercing Limited Penetration round - fired into a 1.79-inch-thick panel from 100 yards.

In fairness to the LeMas team, RBCD ammo isn't designed to penetrate glass. What makes this "blended metal" frangible ammo worthy of note is its ability to cut through most hard mediums, such as steel plates, yet not penetrate soft targets such as tissue or even several layers of wallboard (August 2001, August 2002 AFJ). That fact, however, provided little solace to the LeMas team. It's a sure bet the firm is already working on a new, glass-busting round for next year's Shoot-out.

Publicly demonstrated for the first time at AFJ Shoot-out 2001, RBCD ammo has attracted a considerable band of supporters throughout the SOF community. It does, however, have its detractors, who remain convinced that the bullets' performance is due principally to their high velocities. Questions about the bullets' characteristics and suitability for military use should be answered soon: This year's defense budget includes just over $1 million for testing RBCD ammo.

The inability to test Ruag ammunition against ADS' glass presented an opportunity for several other industry attendees to see what their weapons (using standard ammo types) could do against the bullet-resistant glass. By the time the smoke cleared from that exercise, the VistaSteel line had bettered nearly all comers.

A 1.3-inch panel stopped a 5.7-by-28mm round from an FNH FiveseveN pistol at 20 feet; a 1.5-inch panel defeated the same type round at the same distance fired from a P90 tactical assault weapon; a 1.79-inch panel bettered a .408 Cheyenne Tactical cartridge (419 grains/2,950 feet per second, or fps) fired through the 29.5-inch barrel of a .408 CheyTac Intervention Model 200 Military sniper system at 100 yards; and a 1.5-inch glass panel was too much for a 334-grain full metal jacket (FMJ) flatpoint slug pushed through the 12-inch barrel of an Alexander Arms .499 Beowulf at 1,900 fps from 20 feet away. (A "standard" Beowulf carries a 16-inch barrel; a 24-inch barreled version is also available.) It wasn't until an FMJ slug was fired from the 12-inch-barreled Beowulf at a 1.19-inch panel that, finally, a sliver of daylight glinted through an ADS glass panel.


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BLENDED METAL <br />
<br />
While LeMas' RBCD blended metal ammo wasn't up to this year's glass-busting challenge, it performed as advertised against all other targeted mediums. Essentially the same types of...

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LONG SHOT

The first day's activities wrapped up with a demonstration of the .408 CheyTac's long-range capabilities. The unique sniper system has posted a five-shot, five-inch grouping at 1,531 yards. Interested in upping the ante, company representatives said they were ready to demonstrate the system's accuracy during the Shoot-out at any unknown distance out to 2,500 yards.

All of the first day's shooting took place on Blackwater's long-gun (1,200-yard) range, the longest known-distance range on the facility. To accommodate the CheyTac team's request, our group moved to a spot several hundred yards beyond the limits of the 1,200-yard line.

After feeling out a few potential shooting positions, CheyTac's marksman settled down on a spot from which his target, an 18-inch glass panel, was barely visible to the unaided eye. Using a Cassiopeia Pocket PC with an integral laser rangefinder, he determined the target was about 1,700 yards away. He then fingered the control panel on the PC, which quickly computed a ballistic firing solution based on wind speeds and direction at three points between the weapon and the target, the ammunition's burn rate, and effects caused by the earth's rotation. With that information, he turned the weapon's sight's windage and elevation knobs to the positions indicated on the PC, and let loose the first of five rounds - a 419 grain slug - from an Intervention Model 200 Military system.

An intermittent wind was now kicking up dust between the shooter and the target, bringing with it a threatening sky. Four more rounds were sent on their way over the next few minutes; each was preceded by a new reading on the PC. (AFJ later learned that, according to the wind readings from the PC, during the course of the five-shot sequence the wind direction shifted 180 degrees and kicked up to 18 mph.)
With the last shot, the group headed downrange. Two hits were visible in the glass; a third round had torn through the frame holding the pane. All things considered, not a bad showing.

The CheyTac .408/Ballistic Computer combination is truly a unique shooting system. In its military version, the computer carries ballistics data for all commonly used U.S. military cartridges plus the .408 and the .338 Lapua. In the alternative "civilian" version, the computer is loaded for various other cartridges.
CheyTac offers both military and civilian target/law enforcement long-range systems. The Intervention Model 100 and Shiloh Model 300 are designed for target and law enforcement use; Intervention Model 200 and Shiloh Model 400 systems are designed for military applications. All are chambered for the .408 cartridge, which is available in 419 grain (2,950 fps) and 305 grain (3,500 fps) versions.

The rifle's action features a removable bolt head that can handle groups of cartridges with the same cartridge rim diameter. The bolt for the .408 CheyTac cartridge, for example, has a 0.6402-inch rim; therefore, it can handle cartridges spanning from the .300 Kong and .338 A-Square to the .505 Magnum Gibbs and .585 Nyati.


OUR TURN

After watching the first day's shooting from behind the firing line, the evaluators were ready by their second day at Blackwater to get their hands on the impressive hardware arrayed on three of the facility's ranges. A CheyTac .408 Intervention Model 200 was among more than a dozen weapons aligned on the midway point of the 1,200-yard range.

Outfitted with a Nightforce 5.5-22-by-56 NXS scope, and wearing an OpSinc suppressor with a mirage-defeating thermal cover, the 27-pound rifle was ready for the day's business. A 30-inch, fluted match barrel, nestled in a free-floated barrel tube, accounts for more than half of the weapon's overall 55-inch length (with its retractable stock extended).

It came as no surprise that the M200 rated consistently high marks from all who fired it. "I didn't want to let go of it," one wrote, "this weapon touched my ergonomic roots!" He went on to note that the system delivers "superb bolt-action firepower at long ranges." He found loading and unloading "smooth and easy," and the weapon's recoil "acceptable - I had expected more. Truly a pleasure to shoot this magnificent firearm."

His colleagues were equally effusive. "An extremely pleasant shooter," another noted. "Soft recoil for its capability. Superior to the .50 BMG for most precision applications. The suppressed gun was impressively quiet, and I'm very impressed with the ballistic computer integration."

Noted another, a bit more succinctly: "A sweet-shooting rifle. Low recoil makes it easy to get back on target and maintain control."

The only negative concerning the .408 CheyTac concerned the location of the weapon's safety. He found its positioning (above the trigger, about an inch from the closed bolt handle) "a bit awkward."

A CheyTac spokesman later told AFJ that future improvements being considered for the system are likely to include a change to the weapon's safety.

BIG BUBBA

After experiencing the .408's relatively low recoil, the evaluators found quite a contrast just a few short steps away. There, nestled among FNH's more familiar offerings, was a prototype, shoulder-fired system with a truly intimidating tube - 76mm, to be precise. Through that 3-inch-wide opening - a baseball-sized hole -- the High-Impulse Weapon System (HIWS) is capable of hurling the 2.2-pound payload of a 3.3-pound round more than 700 yards in an indirect-fire mode. In a direct-fire role, the HIWS can engage targets out to 300 yards.

Manufactured by Lacroix Pyro-Technologies of France, the HIWS will be marketed by the FNH team. Touting a sophisticated recoil-mitigation system, the weapon produces no back blast and no overpressure, making it possible to fire the system from an enclosed space - even from inside a vehicle. The HIWS is also relatively quiet: Ear protection isn't needed when firing the system.

Despite a quick rundown on how to arm and fire the HIWS, some of the evaluators clearly had reservations about the system's imposing size and equally imposing statistics. A couple of questions that probably flashed through their minds were: How large a bruise can be caused by a maximum projectile acceleration of 65,600 ft.sec-2? And just how much shoulder pain should be expected from a firing impulse of 22.5 pounds per second?

Perhaps these questions went unasked because Lacroix engineers are considering developing an 84mm HIWS, which would make the 76mm version something akin to a girly-man system. For whatever reasons, our fearless evaluators rose to the challenge.

But one failed to heed the salesman's twice-proffered advice to keep 80 percent of his body weight on his forward foot: A trigger pull later, he did a 180-degree spin to his right, stumbled three steps sideways, and ended up on his butt. And he isn't a little guy. Subsequent shooters didn't have to be reminded.

Lacroix engineers actually have plans for an 84mm HIWS; they've already developed a 66mm version; and they're working on a 40mm variant that's sure to be offered to U.S. forces.

Despite any pain our evaluators suffered firing the 76mm variant, there was nearly universal agreement that the concept is, in fact, worth pursuing. "Excellent potential for less-lethal payloads," noted one. "Great idea," said another. "Its possible uses include less-lethal weapons applications. I'd like to see further development of this concept."

"Tremendous potential to provide the dismounted infantryman with lightweight, shoulder-fired lethality at ranges well beyond our current family of munitions," another observed. "Awesome potential to place 2.2-pound warheads 300 to 400 meters downrange to defeat various target sets."

Other comments suggested that Lacroix designers continue developing and improving the system with an eye toward evolving it from an area weapon to a point weapon system, and that they figure out a way for a shooter to use the HIWS from a prone firing position.

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CheyTac's .408 sniper system

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STEP ON IT



The folks from FNH also brought with them a tamer tube weapon - a compact, 51mm "toe mortar."
Manufactured by Titanite S.A., the FLY-K-TN8111 (where do they get these designations?) weighs in just shy of 10 pounds. Its maximum range is 650 meters.

The FLY-K is designed to take out point targets, such as machine-gun positions and snipers. Under most battlefield conditions, the system can be fired without giving away its position. It has a very low acoustic signature - less than 52 decibels at 100 meters - and fires smokeless, flashless ammo.

In addition to high-explosive ammunition, several other types of mortar rounds are available for this shoulder-carried weapon. Two of the more interesting types are an infrared illuminating round and a percussion round that functions under water.

The system's big brother, an electronically fired 12-round system, is dubbed the FLY-K-TN8464. This 220-pound unit, effective out to 800 meters, is an area-protection system that can be hauled around in the back of a small, open military vehicle, mounted on a light armored vehicle, set up on a beach or used to cover some other likely avenue of enemy approach. A 12-round salvo with high-explosive fragmentation ammo is sufficient to saturate an area of 130 meters by 80 meters with 6,960 preformed fragments, its manufacturer points out. This larger system was not demonstrated during the Shoot-out.

Our evaluators liked the shoulder-carried FLY-K. "A great weapon," said one. He noted that the rather small base plate for the system settled quickly in the soft sand on the Blackwater range. ""Might want to consider a slightly broader base adapter for use in desert/soft soil," he noted.

Other comments about the system pointed out that it "could be useful if the system is fired in rapid succession, as in close combat situations. Overall, a great weapon. My only concern is about night sighting."

Said another: "Very interesting to be able to carry as effective a weapon as this in so small and simple a package." He went on, however, to succinctly allude to the fact that this might not be the right time to try to generate U.S. interest in the system: "Unfortunately," he concluded, "it is French."

COMPLETE LINEUP

In addition to the HIWS and FLY-K, the FNH team also brought along the company's traditional crowd-pleasers, including the P90 subgun and FiveseveN pistol, both of which fire the 5.7-by-28mm round, and the F2000 tactical weapon system, which packs 30 rounds of 5.56-by-45mm and a 40mm grenade. The 5.7-by-28mm ammo is available in several varieties.

The basic SS190 round carries a pair of metal inserts - a steel penetrator that's backed by an aluminum core that is heavier than the forward tip. When this round strikes soft body tissue, it begins to tumble after penetrating about two inches. This action reduces prospects of overpenetration and causes quick incapacitation of the targeted individual.

All three weapons have been covered in previous AFJ reports (August 2001, August 2002); however, it is noteworthy that they continued to generate considerable interest among this year's evaluators, including those who had previously fired the weapons.

Typical of the comments received about the P90 was the observation that the weapon's "size, feel and amount of firepower are very impressive." Noted another: "Extremely easy to shoot. Well engineered, great to use in a team environment since the casings eject downwards. Fast acquisition of target; extremely low recoil."

On the negative side, one evaluator found the P90 "weirdly shaped and unergonomic; heavy trigger action on full auto."

The FiveseveN pistol also netted kudos: "Very light recoil; easy to shoot fast and accurately." The same evaluator went on to note, however, "I am not convinced that terminal ballistic performance is adequate. Seems like too small a caliber, especially when the trend is toward larger handgun calibers (witness the resurgence of interest in .45s among special operations and law enforcement)."

The F2000, which carries both 5.56 ammo and a 40mm grenade, garnered equally favorable comments. An evaluator was particularly impressed by its "fully functional fire-control system - a neat idea to have an integral laser-ranging capability." He was not enamored by its "very heavy double-action trigger and oddly shaped stock," although he admitted that he is "not sure what can be done to improve this, given the high elevation required to hit [targets with grenades] at 270 meters."

Similarly, FN's Mk48 Mod 0 Lightweight Machine Gun garnered praise from our evaluators. "Tremendous firepower in a compact package," said one, noting that the 7.62-by-51mm (NATO) system "feels like a big squad automatic weapon [SAW]."

"A nice, light SAW," commented another. "Good weapon-to-shooter fit. Easy to use; fast to reload; a weapon to have in your arsenal."

FAMILIAR LOOK

The Mk48 wasn't the only 7.62mm light machine gun waiting for our evaluators. An M60E4/M43 Mod. 0, from U.S. Ordnance Inc., of Reno, Nev., looked very familiar to our evaluators but, as they say, looks can be deceiving. Although the gun's major components are interchangeable with other M60 configurations, the E4 model sports major improvements over those more-familiar guns.

The E4 features Stellite-lined, thick-walled barrels, giving it boasting rights to sustained-fire capabilities in all barrel types (short, long and assault versions). Depending on barrel type, E4 models weigh from 21.3 pounds to 23.1 pounds. The guns have a cyclic rate of fire of 500 to 650 rounds per minute, and a maximum effective range of 1,100 meters.

The manufacturer stakes claim to barrels that will withstand the wear caused by more than 15,000 rounds; a barrel-changing handle negates the need for a heat mitten during that operation. Also, the forward grip is larger than that of a standard M60, providing additional heat protection for the gunner. U.S. Navy SEALs are numbered among U.S. Ordnance's E4 customers.

AFJ's shooters covered most of the E4's other attributes in their evaluations. "Good recoil for a machine gun," wrote one. "Nice handling; easy to shoot. I like being able to load it with the bolt in either the forward or the rear position."

"A dramatic improvement over the M60s I remember shooting in the Marine Corps," noted another. "Better reliability, ergonomics and recoil control."

"The front handle on the weapon is a great feature that not only adds stability but also reduces push from recoil and helps keep the weapon on target," said another. "Trigger is good - allows control of bursts. The feed tray configuration is easier on loading. One of the best features is that the piston does not clog with carbon and jam, as the old M60 does. Its weight and its length reduction make it easier for airborne forces to take on jumps."

"This is a magnificent modernization of the M60," another wrote. "They have transformed an old Chevy truck into a Corvette!" This evaluator added a question that was on the minds of more than a few of his colleagues: "Is it possible for this gun to ever jam?"

AFJ posed a similar question to the U.S. Ordnance folks, who replied by linking together 8½ (100-round) belts of ammo and inviting an evaluator to see for himself. One minute and 45 seconds and a pile of brass later, he had pumped 850 rounds through the E4 with a single pull of the trigger.


http://www.militarycity.com/blackwater/toemorter.jpg

The shoulder-carried FLY-K, a 51mm "toe mortar,"
weighs less than 10 pounds. It fires smokeless, flashless rounds out to 650 meters.


http://www.militarycity.com/blackwater/f2000.jpg

The F2000 assault rifle, from FN, which fires 5.56
ammo and 40mm grenades, carries a standard 1.6
optical sight on a Picatinny rail.


http://www.militarycity.com/blackwater/p90.jpg

FN's P90 subgun, is a prennial favorite with
evaluators. The P90 carries a clear, 50-round
magazine atop the weapon

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DÉJÀ VU (SORT OF)

Evaluators who participated in last year's Shoot-out saw another line of somewhat familiar weapons - M16 lookalikes with large-caliber barrels - in the hands of a group from Alexander Arms. In the August 2002 Shoot-out report, one of the featured weapons was a "Mini-.50" - the Leitner-Wise LW15.499. Referred to as the Multi-Level Threat Response System (MLTRS) by the folks from the Alexandria, Va., company, the weapon mounts a top-end conversion kit, a new upper receiver bolt, and other modifications on an M16, M4 or AR15, turning those familiar designs into .50-caliber-firing weapons.

Subsequent to last year's Shoot-out, the U.S. Coast Guard placed a substantial order for these formidable weapons.

As reported last August, a somewhat similar weapon design is being marketed by a group whose original roots are intertwined with those of Leitner-Wise. Alexander Arms LLC, headquartered on the U.S. Army's Radford Arsenal in Radford, Va., calls its .50-caliber the Beowulf. As with the MLTRS, the Beowulf is an adaptation of Eugene Stoner's AR15/M16 design chambered for 12.5-by-42mm cartridges based on .50 Action Express handgun rounds. Alexander Arms and Leitner-Wise are now fierce competitors in the .499 market.

Like the MLTRS, the Beowulf can be purchased as a full weapon or as an upper-only conversion kit. Available in various configurations, all models hold seven-round magazines and have flat top receivers with Picatinny rails.

Loaded with standard 325- or 400-grain slugs, the Beowulf packs impressive stopping power in an M16-size package. (Other available ammo includes the 334-grain FMJ that punched a hole in the ADS glass and a lead-free, 300-grain slug.)

The Beowulf, itself, was reason enough to invite Alexander Arms to the Shoot-out; however, the crew from Radford sweetened the pot with the addition of two other variations on the M16 theme. One of those, a 6.5mm version called the Grendel, made its public debut at the Shoot-out.

As mentioned previously during the glass-busting discussion, the .50 Beowulf was the only round that penetrated the ADS glass. The 325-grain slug that accomplished the feat hit the glass at a speed of somewhere around 1,950 fps. But getting that kind of punch from a lightweight package also exacts a toll on the sending end of the tested version, which sported a 12-inch barrel.

"Recoil takes some getting used to," said one person, "but it's to be expected with a bullet this size. It's a good concept: a large caliber adapted to an existing platform."

Another evaluator found the recoil "a little heavy, but acceptable, considering the punch. I'm very impressed with this weapon, especially for special missions." He also was impressed by the Aimpoint sight on the weapon: "It's excellent. I hit the swinging target [about 50 yards away] with every shot."
"I like!" said another. "Love this gun. It's easy to maintain control, and it could stop a vehicle."

Only one of the evaluators said he was unfazed by the rifle's recoil: "Amazingly low recoil for such a large round. It's the ultimate in man-carried stopping power. The .50 Beowulf, paired with LeMas ammo, would be the ultimate point-defense combination."

"Take your AR15 bear hunting!" said another.

Two evaluators felt the Beowulf was an interesting concept, but questioned how it would be used.

In Coast Guard service, AFJ was told, the Leitner-Wise version will be issued to guards at critical facilities to disable vehicles being operated in a threatening manner. The Coast Guard also plans to use the rifles to disable small vessels, such as "Go-fast" drug-smuggling craft.

As for the weapons' broader utility, an evaluator summed it up best in a recent e-mail to AFJ: "After shooting the Leitner-Wise .499 last year, and the Alexander Arms Beowulf this year, I have renewed the drive to get these weapons for our command. … I'd be interested in a shoot-out between these two next year. Either way, if we can get LeMas to start making rounds for these two weapons, everyone would win."


VARIATIONS ON THE M16 THEME

The Beowulf wasn't the only AR15/M16-style weapon on the Alexander Arms table. The group also brought its .21 Genghis, and selected the Shoot-out as the venue for unveiling the new .26 Grendel. Fewer than two dozen people had even seen the Grendel prior to the Shoot-out, a company spokesman told AFJ.

Like the Beowulf, the Genghis is built around an M16 operating system, but is chambered for the Soviet-designed 5.45-by-39mm cartridge, the round for which the AK-74 assault weapon is chambered. This round, Alexander Arms personnel pointed out, delivers 20 percent less recoil than a 5.56, yet creates a wound cavity up to 30 percent greater than the M16's 5.56 round.

The Genghis at the Shoot-out was a semiautomatic version - it lacked three-round and full-auto capabilities; nonetheless, our evaluators found the 11-inch-barreled system a great weapon.
"It's easy to shoot; very similar to a 5.56 M4," an evaluator said. "Alexander Arms claims it has better ballistics than the 5.56; the lower cost of ammo is its main appeal over 5.56 use."

Another found it "a dream to shoot. It has countersniper written all over it. The form and fit were unmatched - what a great gun."

Alexander Arms sees the lower-cost ammo -officials say 5.45-by-39mm rounds can be purchased for approximately half the cost of 5.56 ammunition - makes the Genghis an attractive training system for M16 users.

"It has no recoil," another noted. "Comfortable to shoot; easy to keep on target. I'd like to try one on full auto and with three-round bursts."

"Super-low recoil and smooth operation," another said.

But at least one evaluator felt the weapon would face an uphill battle in being adopted by U.S. military units. "I'm very much impressed with the weapon," he said, "but the caliber limits its potential adoption."

Only a few evaluators got to try their hand with the new Grendel, but those who did liked what they saw. One of them found the 6.5 round "very easy to shoot," and was impressed by the 120-grain round's 2,600 fps speed.

"Good integration of the AR-series frame," another said. He and his colleagues gave the new weapon a resounding thumbs-up.

As learned in Afghanistan and again in Iraq, the M16's 5.56 round lacks the punch needed for long-range engagements. That's why Special Operations Command has been toying with the idea of adopting a larger round - something on the order of a 6.8 - for some time. So it's probably no coincidence that Alexander Arms has adapted an AR15/M16 platform for its 6.5 round, and why company officials demonstrated the Grendel's abilities from the 600-yard line at Blackwater.


http://www.militarycity.com/blackwater/grendel.jpg

Alexander Arms' Grendel, which made
its public debut at the Shoot-out, hurls a
6.5mm, 120-grain slug at 2,600 fps.


continued.......

[thedrifter]

ENDURING AND ENDEARING

Fueled by the continuing interest within the special-operations community for hard-hitting sidearms, several pistol manufacturers are offering new variations on the tried-and-true .45-caliber semiauto pistol theme. That's the case at SIGARMS Inc., whose popular, alloy-frame P220 SIG Classic has much the look - though not the feel -- of the SIG Sauer .45 that was introduced about 18 years ago.

The now-familiar P220 (.45) and P226 (9mm Luger, .357 SIG, and .40S&W) lines incorporate updated safety features over their predecessors, including decocking levers and firing pin safety blocks, allowing them to be carried ready for use. These features are among the selling points that originally sold Navy SEALs on the P220.

About two years ago, the SIGARMS team unveiled the results of the venerable P220's latest return to the drawing board. In place of the alloy frame of its predecessor, the P220ST (Stainless Steel) sports not only a stainless frame but also a stainless slide. Some internal changes were also made, including the addition of a rugged double-strand recoil spring to increase the pistol's reliability.

The switch to a stainless frame and slide added more than 10 ounces - a 25-percent increase - to the pistol's unloaded weight, which now tops 40 ounces. But that additional weight, of course, lessens the recoil from powerful .45-cal rounds, enabling a shooter to more quickly reacquire a target. And it was the P220ST that the SIGARMS team was anxious to put into the hands of this year's evaluators.

"Very well made; easy to shoot fast and accurately," said an evaluator who is a competitive pistol shooter. "Good balance; very good trigger in both single- and double-action shooting."

"The stainless steel-framed .45 seemed easier to handle than the 9mm P226" that the evaluators also fired, said another. "I also like the integral sight rail."

Another old hand at pistol shooting found the integral sights - there's a white bar on the fixed rear sight -- made it a "little easier to acquire targets when transitioning from close-in to distant targets."

"A very nice update of a classic package," another said.

COMPACT PACKAGE

There's no shortage of 5.56 assault rifles available today, a fact that challenges weapons manufacturers to distinguish their offerings from the rest of the pack. SIGARMS' response to that challenge is a compact shooting package called the SG 552.

At 7 pounds, the SG 552 carries an integral Picatinny rail, and features an ambidextrous safety lever and folding stock. With an overall length of less than 29 inches, the weapon has a barrel that's just 8.9-inches long.

The select-fire system (single, three-shot and fully automatic) keeps its weight down when loaded, thanks to lightweight, transparent magazines designed to reduce chances that its user will be unpleasantly surprised by an empty (or nearly empty) magazine. Those magazines, by the way, form a patented system that can be stacked easily and changed quickly.

The weapon's weight was a hit with all who shouldered it. "I really liked its size and weight," said one evaluator.

"The best assault rifle shown this year," said another.

"A great example of a compact 5.56 platform. Controls are clean, it has a good trigger, and good recoil control," said a third evaluator.

Another found it to be "easy to load, and easy to shoot from either shoulder" - a good skill to have in an urban combat environment.

"A very compact, ergonomic package," noted another. "Excellent trigger for an assault rifle. It had significant rise in three-round-burst mode, but that's to be expected in such a short, light weapon. Overall, very handy and well-balanced."

The only negative concerned the selector switch, which "seemed a little stiff; awkward to go from single-shot to three-round bursts. Otherwise, very good."


REACHIN' OUT THERE

What SIGARMS' P220ST pistol and SG 552 assault rifle are designed to do at close range, the Blaser LRS93 Tactical does way out there. The four- or five-shot (depending on caliber) long-range rifle, with its straight pull-back bolt, fully adjustable trigger and adjustable synthetic stock was one of the surprise hits of Shoot-out 2003. If the volume of evaluators' comments are an accurate indication of this weapon's attributes, the .308 Winchester model that they fired is one impressive system.

"Very easy to shoot," said one. "Superb bolt action - very smooth; little effort required. Outstanding trigger."

One of his colleagues found that the bolt "takes a little getting used to, but that's not a detractor." He felt the weapon's design made it easy to "reacquire the target after firing."

"Love the trigger," noted another. "As a left-handed shooter, I also like the interchangeable bolt that can be operated from either side."

The overall design impressed another shooter. "Ergonomic design perfectly matches form to function. Light, crisp trigger, features that easily adjust the weapon to the user, and a smooth bolt action make this sniper rifle an optimum weapon."

"The great trigger, straight-pull bolt and safety are revolutionary design elements," said another. "This is a very easy-to-shoot rifle." He went on to note that in his third shot group, fired at a distance of 50 feet, all holes in the target were touching one another.

"Can't miss; precise," said another shooter. "Exceptional accuracy. Very impressive. Designed like a custom-made rifle."

The Blaser line is available in calibers spanning from .223 Rem to the powerful .338 Lapua. All barrels, except the .338, are interchangeable.


http://www.militarycity.com/blackwater/sg552.jpg

SIGARMS' SG 552 got very favorable reviews
from our evaluators, who were impressed with the
firepower the 7-pound package delivers.


continued......

[thedrifter]

BACK IN GERMANY

Germany's Heckler & Koch, which has a strong presence in the greater Washington, D.C., area through its Sterling, Va.-based subsidiary, is once again a German-owned company. After operating for 12 years under the umbrella of the United Kingdom's BAE Systems, the company was sold last December to a consortium headed by two senior managers of the Oberndorf/Neckar Germany manufacturing operation.

At this year's Shoot-out, Heckler & Koch put various versions of its G36 rifle/carbine/short carbine/light support weapon (machine gun) family, the latest model of its MP5 submachine gun, and its MP7 Personal Defense Weapon into our evaluators' hands.

The various G36 models fire NATO-standard 5.56-by-45mm ammo, but do so from decidedly different weapons (August 2001 AFJ). The G36 line includes the -K model carbine, which features a 12.5-inch barrel, a folding buttstock and integral iron sights. The sights themselves are an integral part of the weapon's Picatinny rail system, which often carries an Aimpoint reflex sight. There's also an integral mounting system beneath the barrel for affixing a tactical light.

The other configurations - the basic G36 rifle, the MG36 light support weapon and the G36 Compact short carbine - can be mated with a variety of options designed for specialized applications.

Two years ago, when Heckler & Koch unveiled a pre-production model G36C at Shoot-out 2001, the weapon played to very favorable reviews. This time, a production model earned mixed reviews.

"I like the G36," an evaluator said. "It's reliable and has a simple functioning design."

"It's a nice gun," said another. "The only thing I don't like is the trigger pull - it has a tight trigger. It is easy to control on full auto, though, and I enjoyed shooting this gun."

Another also commented that it had a "heavy trigger, but was easy to shoot once I got used to the trigger." He was impressed by its "very light recoil" and gave it high grades for being an "ergonomic package with a solid feel."

In response to earlier assessments about the trigger pull on the G36, Heckler & Koch now has a match trigger available for the weapon.

Another evaluator said he was "very high on the system. Even though it's lighter than I expected, the barrel climb isn't bad."

But another shooter experienced "multiple stovepipe misfeeds" with the suppressor-equipped G36C and felt it had a "poor trigger pull." He also felt that, perhaps, the "front grip [is] too close to the suppressor?"

One of his like-minded colleagues noted that the "safety lever is a bad design," the weapon's "rate of fire [750 rounds per minute] is too fast," and he, too, experienced a feed malfunction.


"LIKE A MERCEDES"

No Heckler & Koch display would be complete without the company's venerable MP5 line of submachine guns, and the Shoot-out was no exception. With more than 120 variants of the 9mm-firing line available, it's no wonder MP5s are found in military and law-enforcement inventories in more than 50 countries. U.S. Navy SEALs are numbered among the MP5's customers.

Summing up the impressions of our evaluators, one wrote: "The essence of the modern machine gun - superb! Very impressive engineering; handled like a Mercedes." He added that one of the weapon's strong points is that it delivers "rifle-like accuracy at close and midranges."


SMALL PACKAGE

Two years ago, Heckler & Koch also used the Shoot-out to introduce the company's MP7 Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) to AFJ readers. The compact (just under 15 inches with the buttstock retracted), lightweight (barely 3½ pounds) weapon fires a 4.6-by-30mm round at a rate of approximately 950 rounds per minute in the full auto mode. The MP7 can also be fired as a semiauto weapon.

Capable of carrying either 20- or 40-round magazines, the MP7 exceeded NATO automatic weapon hit/probability standards during preliminary testing by registering hits against a stationary target at least 50 percent of the time at a distance of 100 yards. No less significant, the 4.6-by-30mm round has proven its ability to defeat Crisat vests, which consist of 1.6mm titanium plates and 20 layers of Kevlar, at a range of 200 meters.

According to Heckler and Koch officials, the MP7 was designed around the 26.2 grain, 4.6-by-30mm round. The goal was to develop a compact weapon with minimal felt recoil - 50 percent of a standard 9mm round - that could penetrate protective vests and helmets with enough punch to take down their wearers. The bullet's design makes this possible. The ball cartridges, made from steel or copper, retain their original weight after penetrating personal protective gear, automobile body panels and other hard barriers.

The MP7, it should be remembered, isn't meant as a battlefield combat weapon. Its specialized applications include use during VIP-protection and other high-visibility missions, perhaps as an issue weapon for tank crews and as a survival weapon for pilots. In those and other roles, it has a lot going for it.
"An excellent design for a concealed weapon with a lot of punch," an evaluator said. But, he added, its "nonstandard caliber will make it a hard sell for the military."

Another echoed concern over the bullet's weight and performance: "Ballistics tests were suspect on earlier models," he said. "We're looking forward to the 50-grain-bullet version," which will be introduced in several varieties this summer. A subsonic, 77-grain slug is in final development. Nonetheless, he added, the "concept is interesting."

"A very light, compact weapon," said another. "Negligible recoil. Easy to shoot, but I'm not sure how effective this ammo is."

Overall, though, his colleagues agreed that this is a weapon worth having. "Very impressive engineering," noted one. "Wow! Assault rifle lethality in a small, portable, handgun-like package. I loved this gun; comfortable, easy to carry and fire."

"The PDW is addictive," another said. "This gun has a narcotic effect when fired on full auto. Terminal ballistics aside, it's a very well-designed and executed firearm that is a ball to shoot."


STAYING IN TOUCH

In addition to the "hands-on" firing opportunities enjoyed by this year's evaluators, AFJ Shoot-out 2003 gave members of the weapons-manufacturing community and an important segment of their customer base a unique opportunity to get to know one another. Plenty of business cards were exchanged, and several contacts made during the gathering at Blackwater already have sparked follow-up discussions.

As a result of Shoot-out 2003, more than two dozen members of the U.S. and Canadian special-operations community, weapons-development and procurement specialists who support them, and guests from the U.S. State Department and Secret Service have a broader grasp and understanding of some of the innovations taking place within industries that produce the basic tools of their trade. During the next year, AFJ will remain on the lookout for even more exciting developments within the worldwide firearms community, with the aim of sharing them after Shoot-out 2004.

http://www.militarycity.com/blackwater/blackwater7.html


Sempers,

Roger
:marine: