SADJ 7#5

VOLUME 7, NUMBER 5 

DEFENSE 

Unlocking the Mystery of 

Recoil 

Mk12 

RIFLE 

M1 - M2 

CARBINES 

Saab 

Barracuda 

Conference 

Trijicon MRO 

WORLD PREMIERE 

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ON THE COVER: The Honduran government established 

TIGRE, a special police force consisting right now of three 

special police squadrons (Alpha, Bravo and Charlie), each 

with 100 operators. Its elements were chosen from military 

and police ranks, and respond to police HQ. The U.S. provides 

specialized training, which leads up to a stress test that examines 

the officer’s knowledge gained during the week. Here, 

a TIGRE operator demonstrates his skills while armed with a 

Dashprod M14. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Steven K. Young)

COLUMNS 

10 INDUSTRY NEWS 

JASON WONG 

11 NEW PRODUCTS 

CHRIS A. CHOAT 

14 INTERNATIONAL LEGAL AFFAIRS 

JASON WONG 

94 ADVERTISING DIRECTORY 

97 MACHINE GUN MEMORABILIA 

ROBERT G. SEGEL 

FEATURES 

16 SMALL ARMS POLICE ARSENAL 

IN CENTRAL AMERICA 

JULIO MONTES 

30 GALIL ACE MODEL 21 

IN SOUTH SUDAN 

MICHAEL SMALLWOOD 

31 UKRAINIAN COPIES OF SWISS B&T APR 

N.R. JENZEN-JONES 

32 COMBAT PROVEN “FLYING ROBOT BINOCULARS” 

WALTER CHRISTIAN HÅLAND 

40 TRIJICON MRO 

SADJ STAFF 

44 RUSSIAN MRO-A ROCKET LAUNCHERS 

N.R. JENZEN-JONES 

46 MK12 SPR 

CHRISTOPHER R. BARTOCCI 

56 SYRIAN ANTI-MATERIAL RIFLES 

JONATHAN FERGUSON 

60 US CARBINE 

FRANK IANNAMICO 

66 UNLOCKING THE MYSTERY OF RECOIL 

GEORGE E. KONTIS PE 

70 SAAB CONFERENCE 2014 

DAN SHEA 

76 IRANIAN AM50 & RUSSIAN ORSIS 

T-5000 RIFLES IN IRAQ 

YURI LYAMIN AND MICHAEL SMALLWOOD 

78 COLT PISTON RIFLES 

CHRISTOPHER R. BARTOCCI 


VOL 7 NO 5 // by JASON M. WONG 

INDUSTRYNEWS 

FINE FOR IMPROPER WIRE TRANSFER 

The Office of Foreign Assets Control 

(OFAC) announced that it had fined the 

New York branch of the National Bank of 

Pakistan $28,800 in connection with seven 

wire transfers made by the Bank in an 

amount totaling $55,952.14 to an entity 

on OFAC’s Specially Designated Nationals 

and Blocked Persons List. The transfers 

went to Kyrgyz Trans Avia, an airline 

headquartered in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. 

The transfers were from or to an account 

denominated “LC Aircompany Kyrgyztransavia.” 

Although the SDN List contains 

references to both Kyrgyz Trans Avia 

and Kyrgyztransavia, the Bank’s screening 

software failed to identify the match. 

OFAC noted that the base amount 

for the penalty under its guidelines was 

$64,000. That the error was a software error, 

meaning that no one at the Bank was 

aware of the violation, was considered a 

mitigating factor. But this mitigation still 

resulted in a substantial fine equal to approximately 

half of the funds transferred 

and far more than any profits the bank 

made on the wire transfers. 

U.S. SENATOR JOHN MCCAIN MOVES TO 

EASE ARMS EMBARGO ON VIETNAM 

Senator John McCain, R-Ariz., announced 

a plan to introduce legislation to 

ease a decades long ban on selling weaponry 

to Vietnam; a decision that the Senator 

said was directly linked to China’s growing 

aggression in the Pacific. 

Senator McCain also called for the Pentagon 

to keep China away from this year’s 

Rim of the Pacific (RIMPAC) exercise in 

response to a series of reclamation projects 

that has ignited controversy in the South 

China Sea. 

McCain referred to China’s actions 

as “a blatant violation of international 

law” and warned the nation is making a 

“serious mistake” that is driving other nations 

in the region toward alignment with 

the United States. “Their actions have 

united the countries in the region in a way 

that was unheard of a short time ago,” Mc- 

Cain told reporters, echoing comments 

made earlier in the week by U.S. Secretary 

of Defense Ash Carter. 

U.S. State Department Publishes Proposed 

Rule Tightening On-Line Publication 

of Technical Data 

The U.S. State Department has issued 

two statements confirming its intention to 

act as gatekeeper for when Americans can 

legally publish online data that could allow 

someone to digitally fabricate a gun. 

The U.S. State Department published a 

proposed rule change that would require 

prior approval for the online publication of 

any ITAR restricted “technical data.” In a 

separate notice, the U.S. State Department 

warned the controversial gun access group 

Defense Distributed that it will require 

the group to get specific permission from 

the government before publishing its 3-D 

printable gun files online. 

The agency’s statement warns that publishing 

those weapon files to the Internet, 

with its global connections, could amount 

to violating the International Trade in 

Arms Regulations (ITAR) by exporting 

controlled weapons data to a foreign country 

– hardly different, by its definition, 

from sending missile schematics to Iran. 

The Legal Affairs column within this issue 

contains a deeper discussion of this issue. 

U.S. CUSTOMS TO ASSIST INTERNATION- 

AL TRAVELERS WITH CBP FORM 4457 

Hunters travelling internationally from 

the U.S. typically do not need an export 

license for their rifles, when certain conditions 

are met. With the advent of export 

reform and online management of 

all transactional paperwork, the U.S State 

Department is requiring all exporters to 

file notice of exports on the Automated Export 

System (AES), an online system used 

by export professionals to documents outbound 

international shipments. 

Generally speaking, the AES system 

is not available to individuals outside 

of the export community. There is little 

reason for the casual international 

hunter to become AES trained so that 

an AES filing may be performed for an 

once-in-a-lifetime hunt. 

In response, U.S. Customs announced 

that its officers will help travelers with firearms 

fill out CBP Form 4457 “to ensure 

that no traveler attempting to legally take 

their firearm out of the country experiences 

significant delays.” Form 4457 is a 

registration of exported goods designed to 

permit them to be returned to the United 

States without payment of duties or complying 

other regulatory requirements. 


NEW PRODUCTS 

VOL 7 NO 5 

trigger, Magpul PRS adjustable stock and a Magpul 

Kivaari .338 Lapua Rifle Now Shipping M-LOK rail for accessory attachments. Other features 

include a left side non-reciprocating charging 

handle and a Silencerco QD muzzle brake for suppressor 

use. The rifle comes with two 10-round box 

magazines and an Otis cleaning kit. 

The new rifle weighs only 13.6 pounds empty 

because it operates on DI gas system. The ability 

to change barrels in the field and the most compact 

transportable long range semiautomatic rifle is what 

Kivaari offers to hunters, target shooters, military 

and law enforcement customers, with 1-MOA accuracy. 

It is available in hard coat anodized black or 

FDE finish, and you can choose a hard case or Tactical 

Taylor Trekker back pack. As always all parts and 

raw material are made in the U.S.A. It is distributed 

by www.eurooptic.com. The retail price of the new 

rifle is $6,900. You can find more information at 

www.drdtactical.com. 

by CHRIS A. CHOAT 

DRD Tactical is happy to announce 

that they have started shipping their new 

Kivarri .338 Lapua semiautomatic rifle. 

Their latest rifle is designed to be a quick 

takedown rifle using their patented quick 

change barrel system. The rifle features a 

24 inch barrel with 1/10 twist, ambidextrous 

controls including the safety selector, 

bolt catch and magazine release, 2-stage 

Adaptive 

Tactical Firearms 

and Accessories Now in 

Kryptek Camo 

Adaptive Tactical, LLC, manufacturers 

of innovative firearm stocks, magazines, 

conversion kits and accessories, is pleased 

to announce that its firearms and accessories 

are now available in the Kryptek Highlander 

Camouflage pattern. They have 

partnered with Kryptek because their patterns 

are unique and remarkably effective. 

Unlike most camouflage patterns that only 

work at close distances, Kryptek provides 

concealment when seen from long range. 

One of the products offered in Kryptek’s 

Highlander Camo option is the Sidewinder 

Venom Kit with 10-round box magazine 

and Wraptor forend. This at-home installation 

kit transforms your Mossberg 590, 

500 and 88 series 12 gauge pump action 

shotgun into a 10-round magazine fed, 

smooth operating, fast cycling, tactical 

shotgun. The kit also adds to your shotgun 

an adjustable stock and a tactical forend 

with a patented “sight tunnel” that allows 

the user to rapidly attain a sight picture and 

acquire targets faster. Kryptek is offered on 

a variety of Adaptive Tactical products, including 

its SE 4000 Kits, Sidewinder Magazines, 

Complete Sidewinder Shotguns 

and EX Stock & Forend sets for Remington 

and Mossberg shotguns. Adaptive Tactical 

also offers its firearms and accessories in 

other camouflage options, such as Desert 

Digital, MultiCam, DCS A-TACS Camo and 

StonCamo. For more information go to 

www.adaptivetactical.com. 


Kalashnikov USA’s 

New American Weapons 

Now Available 

Kalashnikov USA, manufacturer of Kalashnikov style firearms, 

proudly announce that the new American Kalashnikov models are 

now available. Under the new banner “Russian Heritage / American 

Innovation,” the new U.S. models are built on the classic AK 

47 rifle and shotgun platforms with a focus on designing firearms 

for the American shooter using the latest manufacturing technologies. 

New features on the Kalashnikov USA models include a nitrocarburized 

case hardening on barrels and chambers to extend 

life and provide a high corrosion resistance. Also, the barrels have 

been threaded to accept muzzle brakes and suppressor systems. 

The bolt and bolt carrier have been enhanced for a smoother action, 

and an integrated hold open feature has been added to the 

safety lever. Kalashnikov USA says that American innovation has 

provided a better weapon at a better price. For more information 

on Kalashnikov USA, visit www.kalashnikov-usa.com. 

Swarovski Announces 

Digiscoping Adapter 

for the iPhone 6 

Swarovski Optik North America, a subsidiary 

of the Austrian-based company, announces the 

release of the PA-i6 Adapter for the iPhone 6. Digiscoping 

your favorite subject or landscape is now 

possible using your iPhone 6. Use this adapter to 

turn your long range optical devices into telephoto 

zoom lenses in a single motion. The adapter from 

Swarovski Optik will be available from retailers 

beginning August 2015. The new PA-i6 allows you 

to quickly and effortlessly assemble the adapter 

and relevant eyepiece to an iPhone 6 as you have 

New Pistol Green 

Laser Light Combo 

from Firefield 

A Powerful One, Two Punch as Firefield releases 

the new Compact Green Pistol Laser 

Light Combo. Test your tactical ability, hone 

your shooting skills or target your prey with the 

new Firefield Compact Green Pistol Laser Light 

Combo. Designed to mount to most compact or 

subcompact pistols, the Firefield Compact Green 

Pistol Laser Light Combo is a multi-functional 

laser and flashlight aiming device. Featuring an 

ambidextrous digital switch activation, it’s ideal 

for both right- and left-handed shooters to 

use. Powered by a CR2 battery, the device features 

three modes: laser only, flashlight only, 

and a combo of the two. The 5mW green laser 

and 180 lumen flashlight deliver clear visibility 

of the target and precision accuracy, perfect 

for home defense application. To learn more 

about Firefield’s latest optics and accessories, 

visit www.fire-field.com. 

in the past with the iPhone 5 versions. The PA-i5 

Adapter Rings can also be used with the new PAi6 

Adapter body. If the adapter ring is removed 

after digiscoping, the remaining aluminum frame 

provides protection for your iPhone in everyday 

use. Adapter rings are available for the following 

Swarovski Optik spotting scopes and binoculars: 

CL Companion, EL family, (32, 42, 50), new SLC 

family (42, 56), EL Range, ATX/STX, ATS/STS, 

ATM/STM & STR. For more information go to 

www.swarovskioptik.com. 


Savage Arms Introduces 

Magnum Target Rile in .338 Lapua Magnum 

Long-range shooters who chamber 

the .338 Lapua Magnum have long been 

limited to a relative handful of expensive 

target rifles. The new Model 112 Magnum 

Target from Savage Arms provides a highly 

effective and more affordable platform for 

the powerful cartridge. Shipments of this 

new model are currently being delivered to 

distributors. Savage built the rifle around 

its single-shot Magnum Target Action, and 

then coupled it with a pillar-bedded heavy 

barrel and Target AccuTrigger, which can 

be adjusted by the shooter to a pull of just 

6 ounces. The result is competition-grade 

accuracy at a price that lets shooters afford 

to send more rounds downrange. 

The new rifle features a 26 inch heavy 

barrel with matte black finish and muzzle 

brake, an oversized bolt handle and 

a gray laminated wood stock with pillar 

bedding. The rifle is 49.8 inches long 

and weighs in at 12 pounds. The retail 

price of the new rifle is $1,100. For more 

on this and their full line of fine rifles go 

to www.savagearms.com. 

Mission First Tactical Introduces 

Metal AR 13.5 inch KeyMod 

Rail System 

Lehigh Defense Teams With 

Underwood Ammunition 

on .458 SOCOM 

Mission First Tactical, LLC (MFT), a leader in USAmade 

rifle/carbine accessories, is proud to release its 

latest product, the Tekko Metal AR Free Float 13.5 

inch KeyMod Rail System (TMARFF13KRS). This all 

metal free float 13.5 inch rail system allows secure 

mounting for KeyMod accessories such as Mil-Std 

1913 Picatinny Rails, tactical accessories like vertical 

grips, bipods, lights, lasers and other rail mounted 

kits. Mission First Tactical claims you won’t be able 

to find a lighter, tougher or better rail anywhere. The 

free floating nature of the rail allows for less torque 

on the barrel, making it easier to shoot tighter groups. 

The rail is made out of Type 3 hard coat anodized 

aluminum, making it lightweight and able to handle 

abuse. The rail was designed to accommodate most 

suppressors while allowing use of the KeyMod mount 

locations (1.7 inches internal dimension). It comes 

with a patent pending mounting, indexing and lock 

up system that utilizes a standard barrel nut. It has 

a monolithic style top rail that eliminates the gap 

between the receiver and rail. Minor assembly and 

a low profile gas block (MFT E2LPGB) are required 

and utilize a standard barrel nut. The rail is made in 

the USA, available in Black and Scorched Dark Earth 

and features a lifetime warranty. For more on this and 

their full line of tactical accessories contact them at 

www.missionfirsttactical.com. 

Lehigh Defense teams up with Underwood Ammunition to offer 

one of the most exciting lines of .458 SOCOM ammunition on the 

market. Underwood Ammunition is known for their high performance 

ammunition. Their ammunition is manufactured with absolute 

care during the loading process to ensure consistent quality and 

each round is individually sight inspected before being packaged. 

Underwood Ammunition strives to provide you with the finest precision 

ammo available and take pride in delivering a product you 

can be confident in at a price you can afford. By teaming up with 

Lehigh Defense, Underwood is now able to offer the world’s most 

advanced projectile technologies in their precision ammunition. 

Underwood’s expanded line of .458 SOCOM ammunition includes 

Lehigh Defense’s Controlled Fracturing Technology as well as their 

Xtreme Penetrator technology. Controlled Fracturing Technology 

produces a minimum of four separate wound channels resulting in 

extensive damage. The bullets are CNC machined from solid copper 

or brass, not formed or swaged. This makes for exceptional accuracy 

from the advanced manufacturing process. The Deep penetrating 

projectile produces razor sharp petals for maximum terminal performance. 

Expansion is initiated by hydraulic energy – expansion 

only where it is required. Why Xtreme Penetrator Technology? It 

uses a progressive nose geometry for deep, straight penetration plus 

it is CNC machined from solid copper to overcome barriers to penetration. 

The radial flutes force the hydraulic energy inward to build 

pressure. The ammunition also has exceptional acceleration that 

creates high pressure energy spikes. There is minimal surface area 

to increase the force at the point of contact and sharp cutting edges 

that defeat barriers. It creates a permanent wound cavity that is 2 

to 4 times greater than flat or ball nose bullets and is available for 

both handguns and rifles. See more at www.underwoodammo.com 

or www.lehighdefense.com. 


INTERNATIONAL LEGAL AFFAIRS 

FIRST AMENDMENT RIGHTS VERSUS THE ITAR 

VOL 7 NO 5 // by JASON M. WONG 

On June 3, 2015, the U.S. State Department 

published a proposed rule on the publication 

of firearms related information on 

the internet. Word of the proposed rules 

was quick to spread across the internet via 

on-line firearm discussion forums, firearm 

industry blogs, and other social media sites 

online. In light of the proposed restrictions, 

what’s the big deal? The First Amendment to 

the U.S. Constitution regulates free speech, 

with that right applying to the internet. 

Why the big fuss? 

The heart of this issue starts with the 

creation of the International Trade in Arms 

Regulations, or the ITAR. Created long before 

the advent of the internet, the regulations do 

not contemplate the free exchange of information 

across international borders at near 

light speed. Instead, the regulations seek to 

govern the export of defense articles, defense 

services, and technical data. Herein, lies the 

issue – now more than ever, it is possible to 

transfer sensitive technical data around the 

world, instantly. When restricted technical 

data is posted to a public U.S.-based internet 

forum, there are usually no restrictions on 

who may visit the forum – Syrians, Iranians, 

Chinese, and Cubans – countries prohibited 

from receiving U.S. arms exports under the 

ITAR suddenly have access to technical data 

that would otherwise be restricted. To better 

understand the issue, one must first understand 

the basics. 

What is technical data? Technical data is 

defined within the ITAR as “information… 

required for the design, development, production, 

manufacture, assembly, operation, 

repair, testing, maintenance or modification 

of defense articles. This includes information 

in the form of blueprints, drawings, 

photographs, plans, instructions or documentation.” 

(See 22 CFR 120.10) As one can 

see, this definition is quite broad, and could 

(if strictly applied) cover almost all online 

discussion between firearm designers, hobbyists, 

and enthusiasts. With the definition 

of technical data clearly defined, why does 

an online discussion matter to the U.S. 

State Department? 

The ITAR defines an export as the “sending 

or taking a defense article out of the United 

States in any manner, except by mere travel 

outside of the United States by a person 

whose personal knowledge includes technical 

data; or… disclosing (including oral or visual 

disclosure) or transferring technical data to a 

foreign person, whether in the United States 

or abroad.” (See 22 CFR 120.17) Publishing 

technical data on a U.S. based website could 

result in the disclosure of technical data to a 

foreign person that happens upon the internet 

forum. Indeed, there are many known 

foreign users on AR15.com and subguns.com, 

two well-known internet venues for the discussion 

of firearms. Both websites promote 

the vigorous debate and discussion of firearm 

design, usage, and modification. 

Thankfully, not all discussion about firearms 

is regulated. Under 22 CFR 120.11, there 

are exemptions for information in the public 

domain. The ITAR defines the public domain 

as “information which is published and 

which is generally accessible or available to 

the public… through sales at newsstands and 

bookstores; through subscriptions which are 

available without restriction to any individual 

who desires to obtain or purchase the published 

information; or [information found] 

at libraries open to the public or from which 

the public can obtain documents.” Note that 

120.11 does not mention the internet – there 

was no internet when the regulations were 

first drafted, and section 120.11 has never 

addressed the internet and information disclosed 

via the internet. That is, at least not 

until June 3, 2015, when the U.S. State Department 

proposed new rules regarding public 

domain and disclosure of technical data. 

The “modern” internet was created in 

1990. On-line forums focused on the discussion 

of firearms date back to at least 1995, 

when F.J. Vollmer created a website to discuss 

NFA (National Firearms Act) firearms. 

AR15.com was formed shortly thereafter in 

1996. After nearly 20 years of online discussion, 

why the recent interest in online firearm 

discussions? In December 2012, a Texas 

based educational organization named Defense 

Distributed published files for the creation 

and manufacture of a single shot pistol 

manufactured entirely via a three-dimensional 

printer. Unlike other written forms of 

publication, the files were published online. 

In response, on May 8, 2013, DDTC sent notice 

to Defense Distributed that read, “DTCC/ 

END is conducting a review of technical data 

made publicly available by Defense Distributed 

through its 3D printing website, DEFCAD. 

org, the majority of which appear to be related 

to items in Category I of the USML. Defense 

Distributed may have released ITAR-controlled 

technical data without the required 

prior authorization from the Directorate of 

Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), a violation 

of the ITAR.” 

Defense Distributed removed the files 

from its servers, but not before the files had 

been downloaded more than 100,000 times. 

Based upon the original file, additional CAD 

files have reportedly been developed increasing 

the strength and reliability of the single 

shot pistol. 

FIRST AMENDMENT CONSIDERATIONS 

AND PRE-PUBLICATION APPROVAL OF 

TECHNICAL DATA 

From 1969 to 1984, there was a presumption 

that ITAR Section 125.11 imposed 

a prepublication approval requirement for 

privately generated ITAR-controlled technical 

data. The regulation at the time noted 

that “[t]he burden for obtaining appropriate 

U.S. Government approval for the publication 

of technical data falling within the 

definition in § 125.01, including such data 

as may be developed under other than U.S. 

Government contract, is on the person or 

company seeking publication.” 

In 1978, the U.S. Department of Justice’s 

Office of Legal Counsel issued a series of writ-

ten opinions advising Congress, the White 

House, and the Department of State that 

imposing a prior restraint on publications 

of privately generated unclassified information 

into the public domain violated the First 

Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. As a 

result, in 1980, the Department of State Office 

of Munitions Control, (the predecessor 

to DDTC) issued official guidance that section 

125.11 did not require pre-publication 

approval for publication of technical data 

within the United States. (Emphasis added.) 

ITAR section 125.11 was later amended 

to make clear that there is no pre-publication 

requirement, in accordance with 

the U.S. Constitution. 

ARE THE DEFENSE DISTRIBUTED FILES 

TECHNICAL DATA? 

Are the Defense Distributed files technical 

data? Therein lies the issue. If the files are 

not technical data, the files can be freely distributed 

without ITAR restriction. If the files 

are deemed technical data, there are ITAR 

restrictions on distribution, notwithstanding 

the public domain exemption. In response 

to DDTC’s order to remove the files, Defense 

Distributed sent a commodity jurisdiction 

request to DDTC and the Department of Defense 

Office of Prepublication Review and Security 

(DOPSR). Together, the two agencies 

are tasked with determining whether data 

submitted for review is ITAR controlled. As 

of publication, and more than two years after 

the commodity jurisdiction request was submitted, 

no determination has been made by 

DDTC or DOPSR. Without a determination 

that the files are technical data, there can be 

no analysis or determination of whether the 

public domain exemption fits the Defense 

Distributed case. 

The Defense Distributed files are very 

likely to be classified as ITAR controlled 

technical data. Recall that technical data is 

“information required for the manufacture or 

assembly of a defense article.” A single shot 

pistol is classified as a defense article under 

the U.S. Munitions List Category I (a). 

The Defense Distributed files were exported 

under the definitions of the ITAR. The 

export of technical data (under the current 

regulations) easily occurs via the internet. It 

is not hard to imagine the transfer of a CAD 

file or blueprint showing the critical dimensions 

of a firearm from the United States to a 

foreign national via e-mail. Notwithstanding 

the ease in which the transfer may happen, 

the transfer of technical data to a foreign 

national is a regulated act under the ITAR. 

Technical data is ITAR controlled. Transfer 

of technical data to a foreign national is an 

“export” under the regulations. The export 

of technical data requires DDTC approval 

prior to transfer. 

Does the public domain exemption cover 

Defense Distributed? Possibly. Note that 

the 1980 guidance removes the requirement 

for pre-publication approval of technical 

data within the United States. The guidance 

predates the modern internet by at least ten 

years, and could not possibly contemplate 

the modern capability of transferring information 

instantly throughout the world. Defense 

Distributed may have created a better 

case had they published the files within this 

magazine, or on an established firearm publication’s 

website. Nevertheless, most public 

libraries offer access to the internet, and 

there are many examples of publications that 

exist solely online. Can the internet be public 

domain? Possibly – but if the internet is 

public domain, anything published online is 

not outside of the current ITAR regulation on 

export and transfer of ITAR governed technical 

data. The proposed changes to internet 

publication by the U.S. State Department on 

June 3, 2015 are meant to address this issue. 

What about the First Amendment issues? 

There are generally two ways in which free 

speech within the United States may be restricted. 

Regulations may be imposed upon 

the time, place, and manner of expression, 

but the restrictions imposed must be content-neutral, 

the restrictions must be narrowly 

tailored to serve a significant government 

interest, and the restrictions must leave 

open ample alternative avenues of communication. 

Restrictions on content (as being 

contemplated by the U.S. State Department 

proposed change to the ITAR) may be permissible 

if the restriction passes “strict scrutiny.” 

Strict scrutiny requires the government 

to show that the restriction serves “to promote 

a compelling interest” and is “the least 

restrictive means to further the articulated 

interest.” It is unlikely that DDTC can overcome 

the strict scrutiny threshold under the 

current proposed regulation language. 

WHY DOES THIS MATTER TO THE 

INTERNATIONAL COMMUNITY? 

In strict terms, the proposed rulemaking 

only applies to U.S. citizens and U.S.-sourced 

technical data. A firearms enthusiast in New 

Zealand, the Netherlands, or the Philippines 

is free to post technical data from their home 

countries without restriction as long as the 

technical data is not U.S.-based or sourced. 

Sadly, the U.S. State Department takes a 

skewed view of international jurisdiction. 

When exporting a defense article, DDTC 

takes the position that it retains jurisdiction 

over the re-transfer and/or sale of the 

item for the life of the item. As an example, 

a rifle exported to Canada, and resold to the 

Netherlands requires (under U.S. law) DDTC 

re-transfer approval. The transaction could 

be many years old – yet DDTC asserts that 

it retains jurisdiction over re-transfer. The 

same policy would also apply to the re-transfer 

of technical data. 

Major allies are typically quick to follow 

U.S.-based regulations. In countries without 

First Amendment protections, adoption of 

similar regulations and policies would have a 

chilling effect on the discussion of firearms in 

online forums. 

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? 

What happens next? Defense Distributed 

filed a lawsuit against DDTC and DOPSR 

on May 6, 2015, seeking a determination of 

whether its files are ITAR restricted technical 

data, and seeking a determination that 

pre-approval of free speech within the U.S. is 

not permitted by the U.S. Constitution. Motions 

for preliminary injunctions from both 

parties are scheduled throughout the summer. 

Litigation in this case is likely to take 

quite some time to be resolved. In the meantime, 

the proposed regulatory changes to the 

ITAR are located at 80 FR 31525, and online 

here: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/granule/ 

FR-2015-06-03/2015-12844. Comments (for 

or against the proposed change) were accepted 

by the U.S. State Department through 

August 3, 2015. Updates on this issue will be 

published here in future issues as the case 

matures and develops. 

Mr. Wong is a Washington licensed attorney. 

He regularly provides legal counsel 

to the firearm and defense industry via his 

law firm, The Firearms Law Group. Mr. 

Wong also manages Hurricane Butterfly, 

an import/export company that assists firearm 

manufacturers, resellers, and collectors 

from around the world wade through the 

regulatory quagmire of U.S. import/export 

regulations. He may be found online at FirearmsLawGroup.com. 

The preceding article is not intended as 

legal advice, and should not be taken as legal 

advice. If the reader has specific legal questions, 

seek competent legal counsel. 


Police 

Small Arms 

Arsenals 

in the Northern 

Central American 

Triangle 

By Julio A. Montes 


TIGRES operators are trained at Lepaterique, Francisco Morazán, 

where they attend a 12-week course provided by Colombian police Jungle 

Commandos, and 7th USSF Group, along with Chilean Carabineer 

advisers. This police squad is equipped with Dashprod M14/AR-M4 rifles. 

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Steven K. Young) 


Violent crime in the Central American “northern triangle” is 

reaching unprecedented levels, with murder rates among 

the highest on the planet. Its effect has even shaken U.S. 

borders, with up to 70,000 unaccompanied minors calculated 

to have arrived by the end of 2014 illegally into Texas. 

These numbers were calculated after the Border Patrol apprehended 

20,000 children in May and June, and another 5,508 in 

July 2014. The kids are mainly being displaced by the violence, 

with their parents preferring to risk their trek from home to the 

north than to allow them to fall victims of the local gangs and 

crime. Nowhere else is this situation more latent than in what 

is known as the Central American “northern triangle,” a region 

comprising Honduras, El Salvador, and Guatemala. The violence 

is fueled by drug trade, gang warfare, organized crime, weak state 

institutions, rampant corruption and impunity. 

These three countries in particular have the unique misfortune 

to be located geographically between the world’s largest drug producers 

in South America (Colombia and Ecuador) and the world’s 

largest consumer of illegal drugs, the United States. The region 

is flooded with drug money, bandits and all sort of economic and 

political problems. 

In addition to the availability of quantities of weapons left over 

from years of wars, police and military arsenals have been made 

available to criminal enterprises. In El Salvador alone, between 

2009 and September 2014, the national Civilian Police (P.N.C.) 

had confiscated 68,198 weapons. The problem appears to be more 

serious in Honduras, where huge amounts of police firearms have 

been lost. A few years back, in 2011, for instance, the Honduran 

government announced that 300 FAL rifles have been lost from 

a warehouse, under the watch of the C.O.E., the elite police command 

locally known as COBRA. Previously, in 2008, the then National 

Security Secretary, Jorge Rodas Gamero, acknowledged the 

loss of 98 Beretta AR-70/90s, 40 Galils, and 9 M16 rifles, along 

with five gas grenade launchers, 32 CZ-75s and two M9 Beretta 

pistols. Investigations had started after a suspect was apprehend- 


Police Small Arms 

OPPOSITE PGEE: A Guatemalan police 

officer in training, and using a Beretta M9 

to make a simulated arrest. These are elements 

of the Tecún Uman Task Force, 

trained and equipped by elements of the 

U.S. Armed Forces to patrol the Mexican 

border. (Photo U.S. Army Kaye Richey) 

ABOVE: Honduran policemen, armed 

with Galil rifles, practice during a training 

session with USSF. (U.S. Army photo by 

Spc. Steven K. Young) 



ed with a Galil, along with 9 AR-70/90 rifles, 

with their serials traced to the police 

warehouse. By 2011, it was calculated that 

the police had lost thousands of weapons, 

to include AK-47s stored at the COBRA’s 

HQ and the rest at the installations of the 

National Border Police, or D.N.S.E.I. (for 

). Later that same 

year, another 20 M9 Berettas and 20 CZ- 

75s had been lost at the Police Technical 

Institute (I.T.P. - Instituto Técnico Policial) 

at La Paz, and another 32 pistols 

at the Public Ministry. 

With its police completely in disarray 

and in disgrace, and flooded with emergency 

calls and chaotic criminal situation, the 

Honduras government desperately looked 

for fast solutions. By 2012, it had created 

the Public Order Military Police (P.M.O.P. 

- Policía Militar del Orden Publico), and 

by 2013 the National Inter-Agency Security 

Force (FUSINA). This was followed 

by the establishment of the Investigations 

Police Task Force (F.T.P.I. or Fuerza 

de Tarea Policial de Investigación) by 

merging the mentioned DNSEI with the 

National Criminal Investigations Directorate 

(D.N.I.C. for Dirección Nacional 

de Investigación Criminal). Similarly, in 

El Salvador, a completely new Anti-Gang 

Directorate was organized to fight street 

crime. Guatemala increased its police and 

military forces, organizing them into task 

forces to fight back. 

LINCES, COBRAS, TIGRES AND OTHER 

EXOTIC ANIMALS 

A National Police was established in 

Honduras around January 1882. This was 

reinforced with diverse organizations until 

June 1959, when it is replaced with a Civil 

Guard. In 1963, the government creates 

the Special Security Corps (C.E.S. – Cuerpo 

Especial de Seguridad), along with the 

Rural Detachment and the Road Patrol, 

and from 1974, a Treasury Police. In January 

1975, Honduras started to concentrate 

all different police and law enforcement 

elements into what became known as the 

F.U.S.E.P. (Fuerza de Seguridad Publica). 

As part of the Armed Forces, these policemen 

were equipped with Browning-HP 

pistols, Uzis, and some M16A1 and Mini- 

14 rifles. FUSEP became formally established 

under Decree No.369, on August 16, 

1976, and was reequipped with FAL-50- 

00 and FALO-50-42 rifles acquired from 

the Fábrica Militar de Armas Portátiles 

Domingo Matheu, Rosario, Argentina. 

Within the FUSEP, the military established 

the Internal Security Detachment 

(D.I.S.), and in March 1979, FUSEP was 

reorganized in squadrons, subdivided 

into detachments, sections, platoons, 

and teams. The following month, a DIS 

Military Police Platoon transformed 

into the LINCE Squadron, tasked with 

rapid police response. 

Towards the late 1970s, FUSEP established 

an Anti-Terrorist and an Anti-Riot 

squadron, and these, along with LINCE, 

become the response, combat and crowd 

control battalion C.O.B.R.A. (for Comando 

y Batallón de Operaciones y Reacción 

Antiterrorista). In February 1982, the unit 

becomes the A.E.E.C.O. (for Agrupamiento 

de Escuadrones Especiales Cobras), 

with its squadrons being divided into an 


ABOVE: Honduran police and TIGRE elements practice 

movement with their Dashprod M14/AR-M4 rifles. 

The National Police offers the Special Ops Course 

(C.O.P.E. - Curso de Operaciones Policiales Especiales), 

lasting 8 weeks, and established in 1997 under 

the leadership of Tte. Col. Rafael Antonio López 

Rodríguez and as replacement of the COAT. (U.S. 

Army photo by Spc. Steven K. Young) RIGHT: The 

Honduran government established TIGRE, a special 

police force consisting right now of three special police 

squadrons (Alpha, Bravo and Charlie), each with 100 

operators. Its elements were chosen from military and 

police ranks, and respond to police HQ. The U.S. provides 

specialized training, which leads up to a stress 

test that examines the officer’s knowledge gained 

during the week. Here, a TIGRE operator demonstrates 

his skills while armed with a Dashprod M14. 

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Steven K. Young) 



Salvadorian Military Policemen with a FN FNC. This carbine has replaced the MP5. (J. Montes) 

Urban Special Ops. (Operaciones Especiales 

Urbanas), Rural Special Ops. (Operaciones 

Especiales Rurales), and Anti-Riot. 

This outfit becomes C.O.E.C.O. on April 3, 

1996, with the acronym standing for Comando 

de Operaciones Especiales Cobra, 

(Cobra Special Operations Command), 

commanding the COBRA squadron 

(tasked with VIP protection, Special Ops, 

and Intervention), and G.E.A.S. or Special 

Anti-Hijacking Group (Grupo Especial 

Anti-Secuestros), established with 53 operators 

trained by U.S. Special Forces. 

Under Decree No.229-96, dated December 

17, 1996, FUSEP ceased to exist 

and all national law enforcement police 

functions are transferred to the new National 

Police under civilian command. An 

Internal Review Board (Junta Interventora), 

under the leadership of Dr. Hernán 

Corrales Padilla, decided in 1999 to separate 

the police arsenal from that of the 

military, and ordered the return of the 

FAL and M16s to the Army, and selected 

the Galil and Beretta AR-70/90 rifles to replace 

them. The CZ-75 was chosen as the 

standard police sidearm. 

In 2008, under Decree No.67-2008, 

dated October 31, 2008, COECO becomes 

C.O.E., or simply Special Operations Command, 

comprising the COBRA squadron, 

tasked now only with special ops and intervention 

duties, and GEAS Squadron. Later 

it assumes command of the National Anti-Extortion 

Force (F.N.A. - Fuerza Nacional 

Antiextorsión), established on March 

6, 2013, to operate in Tegucigalpa. 

In 2014, the Honduran Security Secretariat 

and the National Police (PNH) 

experience a reorganization, and the police 

Special Units Directorate (D.N.U.E.) 

is created to oversee the C.O.E. (comprising 

COBRA, GEAS and FNA squadrons), 

and the newly established Intelligence 

Troops and Special Response Security 

Groups (T.I.G.R.E. - Tropa de Inteligencia 

y Grupos de Respuesta Especial de 

Seguridad) (fielding Alpha, Bravo and 

Charlie squadrons). 

Parallel to the National Police, the government 

established the Public Order Military 

Police (PMOP) under the Ministry of 

Defense, Decree 168-2013. Each PMOP 

battalion comprises a headquarters element, 

two MP squadrons (companies), one 

Special Forces squadron, and a K9 unit. 

This translates to a force of 36 officers, 46 

NCOs, 398 military policemen, and 12 K9 

operators. It is expected that the PMOP 

Corps will eventually total 10 battalions. 


FROM G.R.P. TO G.I.A.P. 

The Salvadorian Civilian National 

Police (P.N.C.) was established after 

the Chapultepec Peace Treaty that ended 

the internal civil conflict. As result of 

the Treaty, Article 159 of the Salvadorian 

Constitution was modified, and the three 

Security Forces that functioned under the 

Ministry of Defense ceased to exist. Under 

Law Decree No.269, passed on June 

25th, 1992, the National Congress established 

a new police, and a Public Security 

Ministry to oversee it. 

Among the three former paramilitary 

police forces, the National Police (NP) 

functioned as an urban law enforcement 

unit tracing its lineage to the Civil Guard 

established in July 1867. By the early 

1990s, the NP was deployed in four metropolitan 

battalions (Monserrat, Zacamil, 

San Benito, and Honor). In addition, there 

was a “Panther” Anti-Terrorist Infantry 

Battalion, and a Special Response Team 

(E.R.E. for Equipo de Respuesta Especial). 

The NP deployed 38 police Companies, 

distributed among 6 Police Commands (1st 

San Salvador, 2nd Santa Tecla, 3rd Santa 

Ana, 4th San Vicente, 5th San Miguel, and 

6th Usulután). Until the early 70s, the NP 

was equipped with M1 and M2 Carbines, 

Madsen M50 and Uzi submachine guns. A 

little later, the police received MP5 SMGs, 

and G3/G91 rifles. Then, the NP supplemented 

its arsenal with M16 and T65s and 

Ruger Mini-14 rifles, as well as hundreds 

of FMK-3 SMGs. 

The new PNC absorbed most of the 

arsenal available to the former National 

Police, with exception of the G3/G91 rifles 

and the M50, FMK-3 and MP5 SMGs. 

The Army transferred all the M9, Browning-HP, 

and any other pistols and revolvers 

at hand. Eventually, the PNC adopted the 

Chilean SAF SMG, and the Galil semi-auto. 

The sidearm was also standardized, 

adopting the CZ-75 pistol. The Special 

Response Team received MP5s, HK53 and 

HK-33 rifles, and adopted the SIG P-228. 

Snipers were equipped with SIG SG2000 

precision rifles. 

Elite police outfits eventually concentrated 

into a Special Operations (Police) 

Directorate, comprising the Anti-Riot 

Unit (U.M.O. – Unidad de Mantenimiento 

del Orden), the Tactical Operations 

Unit (U.T.O. – Unidad Tactica de Operaciones), 

the Special Response Group 

(G.R.P. – Grupo de Respuesta Especial), 

and the Special Police Operations Group 

Salvadorian police officers practicing with SAF SMGs. This is a blowback operated weapon built in 

Chile based on the SIG 540 rifle. (J. Montes) 

(G.O.P.E.S. – Grupo de Operaciones Policiales 

Especiales). UTO operates in teams 

of 6 agents, all equipped with Galils, who 

patrol in their pickups gang-infested urban 

areas. The GRP was established with assistance 

from the U.S. Border Patrol as their 

version of the special tactics and weapons 

unit, operating in groups of 8 subdivided 

in two teams. The GOPES was modelled to 

its counterpart in Colombia. UMO was established 

with assistance from the French 

gendarmerie and the Chilean Carabineers, 

and would become operationally independent, 

responding directly to the National 

Police General Directorate. 

In early 2012, the PNC unveiled the 

Anti-Gang Intervention Group (G.I.A.P. 

– Grupo de Intervención Anti-Pandillas), 

and a complete police structure reorganization 

followed a few months later. The 

Anti-Gang Sub-Directorate was established 

under Executive Decree No.18, dated 

February 1, 2014, and immediately organized 

with the new GIAP, the Anti-Gang 

Intelligence Division, the Anti-Gang Special 

Investigations Division, the GOPES, 



and the Anti-Gang Special Investigations 

Division, along with the Transnational Anti-Gang 

Center (C.A.T.). 

INTER-AGENCY TASK FORCES 

As with El Salvador, the Guatemalan 

Peace Agreement of 1996 brought an end 

to the decades-long internal struggle between 

the Armed Forces and Communist 

Guerrillas. The Peace Agreement, among 

others, ordered the cessation of the National 

Police and the Treasury Police, and 

the establishment of a new National Civilian 

Police (PNCG). However, and unlike 

the Salvadorian case, the government was 

allowed to “recycle” most members of the 

old guard into the new organization. The 

new PNCG started operations in mid-1997, 

and operated along the 22 departments by 

August 1999. It initially deployed from 6 

Districts, 27 Commissaries, 127 Stations, 

and 343 Sub-Stations. Another 8 mobile 

commands were established to support diverse 

districts within the capital. 

The Police Special Forces Division 

(F.E.P. - Fuerzas Especiales Policiales) 

was established, comprising the Rapid Reaction 

Group (G.A.R. - Grupo de Acción 

Rápida); the Police Intervention Force 

(F.I.P. - Fuerza de Intervención Policial); 

and the Police Special Group (G.E.P. - 

Grupo Especial Policial). However, FEP 

LEFT: Guatemalan police approaching a suspected 

vehicle during training. In the background, 

several J8 APVs are ready to support the police 

action. (U.S. Army Kaye Richey) RIGHT: GRP 

operators practice movement and coordination in 

preparation to a raid. (J. Montes) BELOW RIGHT: 

In case the Berettas and Glock pistols do not deter 

the bandits, use the M1919 machine gun to do 

the job. Here a Guatemalan policeman learns to 

fire the elderly M1919A6 on a J8 APV under the 

watchful eye of a U.S. advisor. (U.S. Army photo 

by Kaye Richey) 

is basically an anti-riot outfit comprising 

some 650 elements. It does not have 

a specific group or team equivalent to a 

SWAT. In November 2014, the PNCG 

established the Wolf Unit, a motorcycle 

special police force, trained and equipped 

to maneuver in the gridlock and narrow 

streets to respond to emergencies and to 

chase criminals. 

The vacuum created by a decreasing 

military presence, and an ineffective, weak 

and badly equipped police force, was filled 

by Mexican drug cartels partnering with 

local thugs. The cartels stormed into Alta 

and Baja Verapáz, Petén, and most departments 

in the country. Finally, the government 

decided to bring back the Army and 

increase police. In order to take back the 

cities and fields, combined tasks forces 

were established with U.S. assistance, and 

a complete rearmament took place. 

By November 2014, the Chortí Task 

Force was consolidated with hundreds of 

policemen and soldiers to operate along 

the Honduran border. This outfit would 

eventually receive some 40 J8 troop/cargo 

transports and APV models, and new 

weapons; it would be the latest of about 

10 task forces organized to fight all sort of 

crimes and problems. 

The Guatemalan National Police was 

equipped with elderly M1A1 Thompson 

and M3A1, as well as MP-38 SMGs, Winchester 

M1 and M2 carbines. As the PNC 

deployed, it was reequipped instead with 

thousands of Uzis, and AKM rifles left 

over from the internal conflict. FEP took 

instead over 2,000 new IWI Tavor-21s 

to equip all its forces. By late 2014, the 

PNCG had reached 30,000 policemen, 

and was planned to increase to 35,000 by 

2015. With this in mind, the Ministry of 

the Interior had ordered 33,000 pistols, 

SMGs and rifles to be supplied between 

2014 and 2016. 

POLICE ARSENALS 

It is still common to see Browning-HP 

pistols in the hands of police officers from 

all three countries, Guatemala, Honduras 

and El Salvador. However, most common 

in the hands of law enforcement in the 

region is the ČZ 75, produced by CZUB in 

the Czech Republic. Guatemala was actu- 



The Salvadorian police obtained two SMT-9s manufactured 

by Forjas Taurus S.A. for testing. If adopted, the 

SMT-9 will provide for a sturdy 9mm submachine gun, 

fed by curved 30-round magazines. This model was 

photographed in Chile, during FIDAE 2014. (J. Montes) 

Folding stock in a SMT-9. When unfolded, the stock extends to three positions to adapt 

to the shooter’s build. (J. Montes) 

ally one of the first countries to make the 

CZ-75 its standard military sidearm, 

and consequently passed to the police; 

thousands more have been incorporated 

into the police forces of Honduras 

and El Salvador. 

The Uzi and MP5, along with a few 

MP-12s, are found in the hands of police 

forces in the region. The Chilean FAMAE 

(Fábricas y Maestranzas del Ejército) 

delivered hundreds of SAF submachine 

guns, mainly to the Salvadorian Police. 

The weapon started production in 1993, 

as a blowback-operated submachine gun, 

firing from a closed bolt. 

In 2010, the Salvadorian PNC invested 

in 700 M4 carbines and 1,760,000 rounds 

in 5.56mm, and another 1,480,000 in 

9mm. In mid-2014, it announced the purchase 

of 1,426 PT92 AF pistols from Taurus 

in Brazil, for $900,000, and another 

$235,000 in 500,000 rounds of 5.56mm 

ammunition. The deal was done through 

Centrum S.A. de C.V., the same intermediary 

that had supplied the Galils and probably 

the Galil-ACE. In addition to the PT92 

AF pistols, the deal included spare parts 

and single examples of PT917 Compact, 

P24/7 G2, and PT809C pistols, two SMT-9 

SMGs and one LT37/38 grenade launcher 

(probably for testing purposes). 

Forjas Taurus S.A. has produced the 

SAF as well, and now it is marketing the 

SMT-9 with law enforcement in mind. The 

SMT-9 feeds through curved 30-round 

magazines, and uses a blowback-operated 

system firing from a closed bolt at a cyclic 

rate of fire of 700 to 800 rpm. Although 

the SMT-9 is chambered in 9x19mm, it 

uses a Taurus 5.56x45mm caliber rifle 

platform in the form of the IA2 modular 

assault rifle system (a design from the Brazilian 

State-owned IMBEL). Interestingly, 

if the SMT-9 is adopted by the Salvadorian 

PNC, logically, the semiautomatic 

CT-556 in 5.56mm caliber should also be 

considered since it has been conceived as 

police patrol rifle. It sports the same folding 

stock that extends in three positions to 

adapt to the shooter’s build. The gun has a 

fully machined lightweight aircraft-grade 

aluminum upper receiver, and a fiberglass-reinforced 

polymer lower receiver. 

It is STANAG 4179 compliant, so it uses 

NATO-standard magazines, and sports a 

full-length top Mil-Std 1913 Picatinny rail. 

In December 2010, the Guatemalan police 

had ordered 8,000 Jericho pistols and 

3,000 Galil-ACE 31 and 32s in 7.62x39mm 

(to back-up the existing AKMs). The 

contract was politically resisted, and 

eventually was partially abandoned in 


early 2011. In August 2013, the PNCG announced 

renewed contracts for over $12 

million with Pietro Beretta SPA, Israel 

Weapon Industries Ltd. (IWI) and Glock 

America SA, for more than 17,346 weapons. 

The deal specified 14,000 Pietro Berettas, 

3,000 Glocks, 100 rifles, and 100 

Uzis. Later it was indicated that there was 

a lag of 6,000 weapons to supply the police, 

so the orders had increased to 33,000 

weapons, to include 25,000 pistols, 4,000 

SMGs, and 4,000 rifles. 

Most common in the hands of police 

forces in Honduras and El Salvador had 

been the Taiwanese T-65. The Asian allied 

delivered hundreds, if not thousands, 

of their M16 look-alike. It has resurfaced 

with the Honduran National Police. In El 

Salvador it was issued exclusively to the 

police and some National Guard units, and 

then passed to the PNC. The most common 

variant observed has been the Type- 

65, much similar actually to the ArmaLite 

AR-18, lacking the distinctive carrying 

handled of the M16. The T65 is said to use 

a short stroke gas piston, and it uses the 

same M16 magazines. In March 2010, the 

Salvadorian Army supplied 700 T-65 rifles 

to the PNC to expedite the re-equipment 

of police units; however, these were almost 

identical to the Colt M16, sporting the typical 

carrying handle, which indicates they 

were Type 65K2 models. 

The Honduran Police Internal Review 

Board ordered in 1999 to replace the FAL 

and M16 rifles in police use with semiautomatic 

Galils and AR-70/90 rifles. The 

acquisition of the Beretta 70/90 to equip 

the Honduran police between then and 

2001 is a little puzzling. The rifle is uncommon 

in the region, and even uncommon 

outside Italy. The rifle traces its lineage 

to 1968, when the Italian company 

started developing its own assault rifle in 

5.56mm. This resulted in the AR-70/223 

model presented in 1972. This initial model 

evolved in the mentioned AR-70/90. 

This is a conventional gas operated assault 

rifle, using the STANAG magazines (M16 

type). It has a detachable carrying handle, 

and it is equipped with NATO-standard accessory 

rails. Honduras would receive the 

SC-70/90 variant, with folding stock, and 

the short-barreled SCP-70/90 carbine, 

also with skeleton metallic buttstock. The 

deal appears to have involved Mod 93R automatic 

machine pistols, also from Beretta. 

This is a variation of the Mod 92/M9, with 

a selector for three-round bursts. 

Between 1999 and 2001, the Honduran 

and Salvadorian Police ordered over 2,000 

Galil rifles each, in semiautomatic mode 


A Salvadorian GRP armed with M4 carbine, 

and another one with a MP5 SMG. 

In 2010, the police acquired the first 700 

M4 carbines from the U.S. (J. Montes) 



only. These were probably the last rifles 

built by IWI since the production of the 

rifle switched to the Colombian Indumil, 

and it is not known that Colombian examples 

have been acquired by those countries. 

When Honduras needed additional Galils 

for the police, it resorted to the Dashprod 

SAR M14 and Arsenal AR-M4 SF models. 

The Dashprod resembles the Galil since its 

mechanism is identical to that of the AKM. 

In fact, it uses a receiver from a “Suchka” – 

a short AKM-AKSU “Krinkov” (also known 

as Krinks) made in Bulgaria and modified 

by Dave Sheer Products from South Africa. 

It uses the same folding stock found 

in the South African R rifle series (Galil), 

and shares the same 35-round magazine. 

It is chambered for the NATO 5.56mm 

caliber (.223), with an overall length of 

730 mm, which reduces to 504 mm with 

the stock folded. Barrel length is only 

215 mm, having a weight of 3.2 kg and a 

rate of fire of 720 rpm. 

It appears that the rifle has been supplemented 

as well with the Arsenal JSCo. 

AR-M4 SF. This is actually the Bulgarian 

made AKSU receiver modified as the SAR 

M14, in 5.56mm, with short barrel, folding 

butt, and reinforced glass fiber used in 

the lower and the upper handguards and 

pistol grip. It can be equipped with Tritium 

Self-illuminated Night Sight (3-dot 

sights), and sports a unique muzzle brake/ 

flash hider – as does the SAR M14. They 

are also equipped with a build-in tactical 

flashlight. Its rate of fire seems to be lower 

at 600 rpm. 

In Honduras, over 5,000 Galil-ACE examples 

have been acquired to completely 

equip the PMOP since this is a military 

unit, and its weapons must be different, by 

law, from those used by the police. PMOP 

operators have also been equipped with 

5,000 protective vests, and S&W .45 pistols 

as well as reincorporating some of the 

1,866 M1911A1s from Army arsenals. In El 

Salvador, some 2,000 Galil-ACE examples 

have arrived to equip the Anti-Gang units. 

Among the thousands of rifles ordered by 

the Guatemalan Police, the Galil-ACE is 

included as well. No question that this Israeli 

rifle appears to be the future standard 

weapon of the northern Central American 

triangle’s law enforcement agencies. 

ABOVE: Salvadorian GRP fully-equipped with a shot gun and MP5. (J. Montes) OPPOSITE PAGE TOP: Honduran policemen training with SC-70/90 rifles. In 1988, then 

A.E.E.C.O. commander and founder, Captain Billy Fernando Joya Amendola, established the Anti-Terrorists Operations Course (C.O.A.T.), later replaced with the C.O.P.E. 

(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Steven K. Young) OPPOSITE PAGE BOTTOM: An Arsenal JSCo. AR-M4 SF as used by Honduras police. As with the Dashprod SAR M14, the 

AR-M4 use a Bulgarian made AKSU receiver modified to fire the NATO 5.56mm caliber. The Honduran police make use of the Galil, SAR M14, and AR-M4. The Honduran 

Army has some 2,000 AKMs that could be modified to fire 5.56mm ammunition in order to supplement these rifles. This example was photographed in London. (J. Montes) 



Galil ACE Model 21 in South Sudan 

By Michael Smallwood 

A documentary still photo depicting the Galil ACE Model 21 carbine. (VICE) 

The image shows a Galil ACE Model 21 carbine reportedly in 

the possession of the Sudanese People’s Liberation Army 

(SPLA) Air Force. The ACE family is based upon the earlier 

Galil rifles, with updates to improve ergonomics and offer 

modern features and accessory mounting options. The ACE 

family is comprised of models in 5.56 x 45 mm, 7.62 x 39 mm, 

and 7.62 x 51 mm, with weapons in each calibre available in up to 

three different lengths. 

Whilst some sources have claimed the ACE series was originally 

designed and developed by Indumil of Colombia, the official statement 

from Israel Weapons Industries (IWI) is that IWI was responsible 

for initial development. IWI notes that Indumil is licensed to 

produce major component groups of the 5.56 x 45 mm variants for 

the exclusive use of Colombia’s armed forces. 

Chambered for 5.56 x 45 mm, the Model 21 is a compact, 

short-barrelled, gas-operated assault rifle with selective-fire capability. 

The example shown features a 35-round magazine and a 

collapsible buttstock. Sources indicate that several more of these 

weapons have been seen in South Sudan recently. One possibility 

is that the ACE rifles may have been supplied by Uganda; the UPDF 

are known to use the ACE rifle. 


ABOVE: TS308 rifle. (Tactical Systems) 

BELOW:Ukrainian security personnel equipped with a license-produced 

copy of a Brügger & Thomet APR rifle. 

(Brügger & Thomet) 

Ukrainian Copies of 

Swiss Brügger & Thomet APR Rifles 

Used During Protests in 

Kiev By N.R. Jenzen-Jones 

During the ongoing civil unrest in 

Kiev, several images have circulated 

showing Ukrainian security forces 

equipped with a range of lethal 

weapons, including sniper rifles. In 

addition to the SVD-type rifles commonly 

seen, security forces have been documented 

using a license-produced copy of one of 

the Brügger & Thomet (B&T) APR rifles. 

APR rifles are bolt-action sniper rifles 

produced in .308 Winchester (APR308 series) 

and .338 Lapua Magnum (APR338). 

They have guaranteed accuracies of 1 MOA 

up to 1,000 and 1,500 metres respectively. 

The Ukrainian copies are produced 

under license by Tactical Systems Ltd 

(TS). According to B&T, the license for 

the entire APR range (four models), along 

with other B&T products, was approved 

by the Swiss licensing body, SECO, in 

2009. The TS rifles are known as the TS 

308 and TS 338, and are produced in 

Ukraine and branded with the TS logo. 

B&T told us there may also be “some 

technical differences.” 

According to Konstantin Khurshudian, 

director of Tactical Systems, TS series rifles 

were sold to the Ministry of Internal 

Affairs for use by special security forces 

during the 2012 UEFA European Championship. 

Thus far, Ministry of Internal 

Affairs forces are the only users. The APR 

range is available with B&T produced suppressors 

and anti-mirage bands, and B&T 

branded Schmitt & Bender optics. These 

are likely available for the TS copies as 

well. According to the Tactical Systems 

and B&T websites, TS also distribute B&T 

produced rifles in Ukraine. 

A YouTube video (http://youtu.be/ 

B4OgynH-7Is) shows Ukrainian security 

forces equipped with what is likely the TS 

308 rifle, fitted with what appears to be a 

customised buttstock. It is unclear whether 

these stocks are offered by Tactical Systems, 

or whether the weapons are modified 

after purchase by Ministry of Internal 

Affairs troops. It also features a range of 

other weapons, including various AK type 

rifles, SVD type rifles, PKM machine guns, 

PM type pistols, and what appears to be 

a Sako TRG-22 sniper rifle. TRG-22 rifles 

are known to be in use (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-UBcVIFLzhU&feature=related) 

by the Ministry of Internal 

Affairs’ specialised ‘Omega’ (Омега) anti-terrorist 

unit. 

Special thanks to Mari Batashevski. 

Thanks to Karl Brügger, Jonathan Ferguson, 

Konstantin Khurshudian, and a confidential 

source. 


The World’s Smallest 

Combat Proven and Advanced 


“Flying 

Robotic 

Binoculars” 

By Major (ret) Walter Christian Håland 

LEFT: Black Hornet is a “flyable robotic video camera” 

that bears a resemblance to a helicopter if you can see 

it – it is small like a colibri (hummingbird). Its small size 

and electric motor makes it virtually inaudible and invisible 

beyond short distances. (Prox Dynamics) 

surveillance micro drone, easily 

A 

started from the palm of a soldier’s 

hand, can fly horizontal and look 

on a suspected area or hover beside 

a building and look into a window, 

giving soldiers on foot patrols an advantage 

of seeing what’s there from a safe distance: 

that is the Black Hornet. 

When U.S. troops in Iraq and Afghanistan 

needed to see whether danger lurked 

over the next hill or on the next city block, 

they often relied on small, hand-launched, 

fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicles, such 

as the Army’s Raven and the Marine Corps’ 

Dragon Eye. 

Perhaps no technology is more important 

today for soldiers on foot patrol than 

flying robotic micro drones equipped with 

cameras that can be used to get a bird’seye 

view over a certain object so they can 

accurately assess situations. 

MILITARY AND SPECIAL 

FORCES APPLICATION 

The game changer, PD-100 Black Hornet 

PRS (Personal Reconnaissance System 

(PRS) provides the modern day warrior 

with a piece of equipment for instant use 

on the battlefield. The personal pocket-sized 

intelligence, surveillance, target 

acquisition, and reconnaissance capability 

this small system gives, allows immediate 

situational awareness for soldiers executing 

dismounted operations. The system 

provides real-time live motion video back 

to the operator and the opportunity to 

take snapshots during missions. Combat 

proven in Afghanistan by NATO-forces 

and with a range exceeding 1.2 km, the 

PD-100 PRS represents an operational 

capability available to military units. 

Its features include: 

• Instant situational awareness within 2 

minutes of activation 

• Organic and extremely light weight 

• Capable of covert target surveillance 

and route reconnaissance 

• Easy to operate 

• No assembly required 


Flying Robotic Binoculars 

With the very small, micro drone (copter), 

the PD-100 Black Hornet PRS (Personal 

Reconnaissance System), a patrol 

infantry team or Special Forces soldier 

can quietly conduct surveillance missions 

in urban areas, or in areas with dense obstacles, 

providing security and see the hidden 

threat. What the PD-100 Black Hornet 

PRS brings to the team is the ability to get 

a close look at dangerous situations as they 

unfold. A major tactical advantage of this 

very small micro drone is that it is easy to 

carry, attached to the combat carrying harness, 

and that it starts from the palm of the 

hand enabling launching from confined areas. 

The PD-100 Black Hornet PRS maintains 

its combat proven credentials with 

a variety of international military forces 

since 2012. Designed to operate by the 

soldiers in the field, it is simple to operate. 

The PD-100 PRS is a force multiplier that 

provides the warfighter on foot with immediate 

eyes-on-target and real-time situational 

awareness. Inherently safe and truly 

organic, the PD-100 PRS has introduced a 

unique game-changing dimension to small 

team covert reconnaissance tasks. 

THE UNMANNED AERIAL SYSTEM 

A PD-100 Black Hornet PRS is a complete 

nano UAS (unmanned aerial system) 

consisting of two nano helicopters, base 

station, single hand controller, display 

unit and pouch. Total system weight is 1.3 

kg. The system is delivered in a waterproof 

hard transport case. 

NANO AIR VEHICLE 

Black Hornet is a “flyable robotic video 

camera” that bears a resemblance to a helicopter 

(if you can see it) – it is small like 

a colibri (hummingbird). Its small size and 

electric motor makes it virtually inaudible 

and invisible beyond short distances. The 

nano air vehicles are inherently safe and 

pose virtually no risk to other air vehicles 

or personnel, allowing the system to be operated 

almost anywhere at any time without 

prior airspace coordination. 

BASE STATION 

The nano copter can hover and fly in 

any direction and is operated by a soldier 

using a small control unit that directs its 

movements in the air. The base station 

holds the two nano air vehicles, and contains 

all necessary functions to plan, execute 

and analyze missions. All mission 

data is stored in real time on the base 

station. Internal rechargeable batteries 

supply power to the external display and 

recharge the nano air vehicles. The base 

station also contains the detachable single 

hand controller. In addition to external 

head mounted display options, Prox Dynamics 

offers a lightweight daylight readable 

display for the Black Hornet. The high 

quality 7 inch screen allows information to 

be shared between users. 

ABOVE: What’s lurking behind the next city block? With the very small, micro drone (copter), 

the PD-100 Black Hornet PRS can patrol with infantry teams or Special Forces soldiers 

while quietly conducting surveillance missions in urban areas, or in areas with dense obstacles, 

providing security and the ability to see the hidden. (Prox Dynamics) 


The nano copter can hover and fly in any direction and is operated by 

a soldier using a small control unit that directs its movements in the air. 

The base station holds the two nano air vehicles, and also contains the 

detachable single hand controller. (Prox Dynamics) 



What’s on that hill? PD-100 Black Hornet PRS maintains 

its combat proven credentials with a variety of international 

military forces since 2012. The PD-100 PRS 

is a force multiplier that provides the warfighter on foot 

with immediate eyes-on-target and real-time situational 

awareness. (Prox Dynamics)

CONCEPT OF OPERATION 

The PD-100 is designed as a short 

range ISTAR (information, surveillance, 

target acquisition, and reconnaissane) 

system for lower echelon combat units. 

The complete system is easily carried by 

a single soldier in a pouch attached to the 

load bearing system along with the rest of 

his combat gear, providing the unit with 

a quick reaction reconnaissance and surveillance 

capability. It is easy to use and 

requires only a few hours of training. The 

UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicle) are fully 

assembled and ready to fly after a short 

initialization period. The system may be 

operated in standby mode for prolonged 

periods of time. Pre-planning of waypoints 

and reference points may be performed, 

but is not required for flight operation. 

Guidance is provided through the GUI 

(graphical user interface), and live video 

and still images are downlinked on the 

digital data link to the operator and stored 

automatically in the base station. After 

completing the mission the UAV is placed 

Police and law enforcement organizations 

are also interested in the PD-100 

Black Hornet PRS. (Erik Thallaug, 

Prox Dynamics) 

back inside the base station for system 

checks and recharging. When the team is 

about to enter a suspicious area, for example, 

the little drone is sent out to take 

a closer look at the suspected area with 

its “birds eye.” 

NOT ONLY MILITARY 

APPLICATION 

The PD-100 Personal Reconnaissance 

System (PRS) provides law enforcement 

agencies with a pocket-sized ISR (intelli- 


Flying Robotic Binoculars 

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS OF THE PD-100 BLACK HORNET PRS: 

Rotor diameter: 120 mm 

Fuselage length: 120 mm 

Mass: 16 grams including payload 

Performance: Endurance up to 25 minutes 

Max speed: 6 knots ground speed 

Wind tolerance: 10 knots sustained, gusts up to 15 knots 

Navigation: Internal GPS 

Guidance: Advanced autopilot directed and autonomous mode 

Data Link: Digital two ways 

Range: Beyond 1,000 m line of sight 

Light precipitation 

Payload: Daytime steerable camera 

Real time live video 

High resolution still images. 

BASE STATION OF THE BLACK HORNET PRS 

Dimensions: Approx. 200 x 80 x 50 mm 

Mass: Approx. 0.6 kg, excluding controller 

Display: External Head Up or Head Down 

Data storage: Video and still images from more than six missions 

Power: Internal batteries or external power (9-48 V) 

Functions: Mission planning, execution and analysis 

C4IS integration 

UAV recharging and support 

Storage of all mission video and data. 

gence, surveillance, and reconnaissance) capability that provides instant situational 

awareness. The PRS provides Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) 

with a unique piece of equipment for use in both urban and rural settings under 

any climatic conditions. The personal pocket-sized ISR capability allows the 

worker to get situational awareness and reconnoiter points of interest from a safe 

distance. Hence, the PD-100 PRS can be used as an effective tool to enhance force 

protection for worker’s own organization and civilians. 

WHO MAKES THE PD-100 BLACK HORNET PRS? 

Prox Dynamics was established in 2007 by three aviation enthusiasts with a 

background in defense and the technology company Tandberg. They established 

a joint venture with the Norwegian Defence Research Establishment (FFI) as 

the other party and the ‘Innovation Norway’ as a third party, to start the development 

of an unmanned, flying reconnaissance micro copter for defense units. 

Dialogue with Norwegian soldiers in the field have provided important input in 

product development and the result is the nano copter Black Hornet that police 

organizations and defense organizations around the world are interested in. Prox 

Dynamics is a privately held company, focusing on the development of world 

leading nano and micro air vehicles and associated technology. 

SUMMARY 

With search and rescue applications, the PRS provides 

Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) with a unique 

piece of equipment for use in both urban and rural settings 

under any climatic conditions. (Prox Dynamics) 


Capable of covert target surveillance and route reconnaissance, the The PD- 

100 PRS provides the modern day warrior with a piece of equipment for instant 

use on the battlefield. It is organic and extremely light weight, no assembly is 

required, is easy to operate, allows instant situational awarness within 2 minutes 

of activations, and the personal pocket-sized ISR capability allowss immediate 

situational awareness for soldiers executing dismounted operations. The system 

provides real-time live motion video back to the operator and the opportunity to 

take snapshots during missions. Combat proven in Afghanistan by NATO-forces 

and with a range exceeding 1.2 km, the PD-100 PRS represents an operational 

capability available to military units – it is a game changer.



Trijicon MRO 

ANOTHER BRILLIANT AIMING SOLUTION FROM TRIJICON 

Once seen as an enhancement to your duty or combat 

rifle, quality RDS (Red Dot Sights) have become all 

but mandatory equipment for many working rifles. 

Enhancing accuracy, speed to target, and the ability 

to deliver controlled and effective fire, the combat 

RDS has simply been a game changer. Each passing year 

brings better sighting systems with rugged construction, 

extended battery life and improved designs relegating 

iron sights to a permanent back-up role. Each varying 

sight design has brought strengths and weaknesses to 

the equation. Now, the Trijicon MRO brings them all together 

providing the operator with the best of all worlds! 

RUGGED, ERGONOMIC DESIGN AND 

SIMPLE FUNCTION 

The shortened optical length and large objective 

of the MRO virtually eliminates the tube effect. With 5 

years of continuous use on a single 2032 battery, the dot 

is bright, crisp and always visible when you need it! The 

MRO is parallax free with infinite eye relief for quick and 

accurate engagement no matter your position. Half-minute 

adjustments with 70 MOA available allow for zeroing 

in most any configuration on numerous weapons with no 

special tools required. The MRO features eight bright- 



Trijicon MRO 

ness settings, including two that are night vision compatible 

and one extremely bright setting for use with lights or in bright 

outdoor conditions. Placing the adjustment knob on top keeps 

things ambidextrous. With a 2MOA dot you get fast target acquisition 

up close without washing out or losing the target at longer 

ranges. Tested to operate in temperatures ranging from -60F to 

+160F, the MRO covers the world! Waterproof to 100 feet, chemical 

and corrosion resistant, and housed in 7075-T6 Aluminum it 

is built to withstand the harshest combat or duty conditions. 

From CQB distances to the limits of the 5.56mm cartridge, 

the MRO delivers a compact, light, and rugged aiming solution. 

Learning from years of RDS use in combat and Law Enforcement, 

along with input from operators around the world, the 

MRO takes combat RDS sighting to the next level. The sense of 

looking through a tube or tunnel is all but eliminated. The glass is 

clear, the dot crisp, and the overall size about perfect. Zeroing is 

easy with no special tools required for adjustment – even a 5.56mm 

casing will work. Snap your rifle into the pocket and the dot is just 

there, no tunnel, no searching, just a dot and your threat, satisfying 

the needs of just about any real-world operator. 

Trijicon has once again taken the science of the red dot sight to 

the next level. Built to withstand the rigors of combat, or the mean 

streets of law enforcement, the Trijicon MRO sets the standard. 

Light, rugged, easy to use, mount and zero, with extended battery 

life and a clear field of view it does everything you can ask of a red 

dot sight. Trijicon’s proven track record ensures longevity, dependability, 

and usability in the real world. If you are looking for the best, 

then look no further than the Trijicon MRO! 



Russian 

MRO-A 

Rocket Launchers 

in the Ukraine 

BY N. R. JENZEN-JONES 

Images emerged from the Ukraine following fighting 

in Ukraine’s Donetsk region on the 25th of May, 2014 

showing alleged pro-Russian Ukrainian separatist 

fighters in possession of Russian-made MRO-A rocket 

launchers. 

The MRO is a self-contained, disposable, single-shot 

72.5 mm rocket launcher, developed from the larger 93 

mm RPO family to provide a lighter alternative. Both the 

MRO and RPO series weapons have descriptions translated 

from Russian as “flamethrowers,” referencing the three 

incendiary-type warhead variants produced. 

The MRO-A,pictured in, carries a thermobaric warhead 

and is distinguishable by the two short red stripes 

towards the firing end of the weapon. The MRO-D variant 

carries a white phosphorous (WP) smoke warhead, identifiable 

by one red stripe, and the MRO-Z an incendiary 

warhead, marked by a single yellow stripe. The RPO series 

is available in the same variants, featuring the same markings 

and designations. 

The presence of the MRO in Ukraine was significant 

because, unlike the RPO, it is not known to be in the 

Ukrainian military arsenal. As seen, a cache of RPO-A 

launchers was allegedly captured from pro-Russian separatists 

following fighting at the Donetsk airport. In late 

January 2014, Pravda News also reported a request Vitaly 

Zakharchenko, then Ukrainian Interior Minister, asking 

for permission to use the RPO-A to “help maintain public 

order and public safety.” 

TECHNICAL SPECIFICATIONS: 

MRO SERIES: 

Calibre: 72.5 mm 

Length: 900 mm 

Weight: 4.7 kg 

Effective Range: 90 m 

Maximum Range: 450 m 

Variants: MRO-A (Thermobaric warhead) 

MRO-D (WP Smoke warhead) 

MRO-Z (Incendiary warhead) 

RPO SERIES: 

Calibre: 93 mm 

Length: 920 mm 

Weight: 11 kg 

Effective Range: 200 m 

Maximum Range: 1000 m 

Variants: RPO-A (Thermobaric warhead) 

RPO-D (WP Smoke warhead) 

RPO-Z (Incendiary warhead) 

A soldier holding a Russian-made MRO-A rocket launcher. 

Special thanks to Ivan Kochin and Yuri Lyamin for 

their assistance. 


The Mk12 SPR has seen significant amount of action 

in the Global War on Terrorism being very popular 

with the Special Operations operators who use 

them. They have proven themselves to be a very 

lethal rifle with the Mk262 Mod 1 ammunition that 

was designed for it. It is not unusual to get 100% 

hits at 850 yards on human silhouette target in the 

hands of a properly trained sharpshooter. 


The 

Mk12 

SPR 

(Special Purpose Rifle) 

By Christopher R. Bartocci 

The accuracy of the AR-15/M16 has 

always been top rate. For the longest 

time, when one would think of a long 

range designated marksman rifle 

(DMR) you would think of something 

in 7.62x51mm NATO and more than likely 

bolt action. During the Vietnam War, it 

was seen that there is a benefit to having 

a semiautomatic DMR-type rifle so the accurized 

M14 appeared. In the calm of the 

Cold War, little attention was paid to small 

arms; money was going into nuclear weapons 

and advanced aircraft. Since the Vietnam 

War, U.S. troops encountered little 

combat and small arms would remain virtually 

unchanged. After 9/11 all that would 

change. Now with the Global War On 

Terrorism, infantry battles would be back 

rather than the high tech air war, which 

really was the First Gulf War. Prior to that, 

former Army Colonel Mark Westrom, former 

President of ArmaLite, Inc. conceived 

a 5.56x45mm SPR (Special Purpose Rifle); 

originally envisioned by Westrom to be in 

18 inch, 20 inch and 22 inch barrels. The 

SPR as initially designed was to be an upper 

receiver that would be adaptable to 

current M4/M4A1 carbines that would fill 

two roles. First as a light sniper rifle and 

then, if need be, it could be used as a light 

machine gun. There was again no one rifle 

or carbine available that would fit this particular 

role so SOCOM would build it. Unfortunately 

it stopped, at least for a short 

period of time. 

The concept sat dormant for years until 

SOCOM revived the concept in the 1990s 

as an initiative by the 5th Special Forces 

Group. They envisioned the SPR as a 

Special Purpose Receiver that drops on 

a standard M16/M4-type lower receiver. 

This receiver was to be highly accurized 

and would shoot a new type of 5.56x45mm 

round – one that would go on to be the 

most accurate 5.56mm cartridge in the 

world. The SPR upper receiver would provide 

a lightweight, compact, long-range 

precision fire and light support capability 

to the small Special Operation Forces 

groups that were not in a position to receive 

support from aircraft or artillery. 

SOPMOD Programs Office at the Naval 

Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana, 

drafted the requirements desired and went 

to work soliciting and testing the concept 

at hand. In late 1998 and throughout 1999, 

the 5th Special Forces Group collaborated 


Mk12 

with the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit 

(USAMU) at Fort Benning, Georgia, to 

develop initial prototypes of this new requirement. 

During the program, SOPMOD 

funded several prototypes that were made 

and tested by the USAMU working closely 

with the 5th Special Forces. 

The first SPR prototypes were tested 

with handloaded ammunition and the 

concept was solidified with the requirements 

being realistic and achievable. Several 

match grade projectiles were tested 

with weights as high as 88 grains. After 

rigorous accuracy testing, the 73-grain 

boat tail match open tip bullet manufactured 

by Berger was chosen for the SPR 

program. However, due to the immediate 

requirement for ammunition to go along 

with the SPR upper receiver, the Berger 

factory was in the process of moving and 

could not deliver the bullets in the needed 

quantities. With this kink in the chain, a 

new bullet was needed to fit the requirement. 

The new bullet would be the Sierra 

77-grain Boat Tail Match King. Jeff Hoffman, 

president of Black Hills Ammunition 

was charged with designing and producing 

the ammunition that would both maintain 

match accuracy and combat reliability of 

theM16A2 rifle. Based on these findings, 

in October of 1999, the SPR was validated 

as part of the SOPMOD requirement. 

First requirements called for the drop-in 

SPR for the M4A1 carbine along with the 

match grade ammunition. Conceptually, 

there would be a modified M4A1 carbine 

that would have precision match grade 

accuracy in a lightweight rifle that could 

provide semi- or automatic firepower 

on demand. The rifle is designed as a 

match grade rifle but if the need would 

arise the heavy barrel would provide fully 

automatic suppressive fire. 

All first production SPRs were assembled 

at NSWC Crane, Indiana. The first 150 

receivers utilized 18 ½ inch barrels manufactured 

by Krieger (50), Douglas (50) and 

Snider (50 polygonal). Interestingly, the 

initial rifles used a 20-inch barrel. When it 

came time to procure, the Navy would not 

procure a 20-inch barrel because one already 

existed – the 20-inch M16A2/M16A4 

barrel. So a new barrel could be procured 

to conform with the requirements. The 

length was reduced to 18.5 inches and that 

was ok to procure due to it not already 

being in the inventory. The barrel would 

use a standard rifle length gas system. The 

Douglas barrels, primarily based on performance 

as well as cost, became the barrel 

of choice. These barrels were attached 

by an aluminum free-floating handguard 

to an ArmaLite flat top (M1913) rail upper 

receiver. Added to the upper receiver was 

the Swan #38 sleeve rail or Swan Sleeve. 

SOCOM found that the ArmaLite as well as 

Colt receiver was approximately .005 too 

tall and caused some problems. To keep 

parts commonality with parts available in 

the supply chain, SOCOM eventually went 

with as many existing parts in inventory as 

possible. There were two main triggers in 

use. Due to the fact the SPR would have to 

perform as both a sniper rifle and a light 

machine gun, a match grade trigger was 

required but also with the capability to 

fire fully automatic. The first trigger implemented 

was the Knight’s Armament 

Company two stage selective fire trigger 

and the second was Accuracy Speaks single 

stage trigger. Based on research, it appears 

that the last production rifles used 

the Accuracy Speaks single stage selective 

fire trigger group. 

When the MK12 was finalized, the acronym 

would remain the same but what it 

stood for would be different. SPR originally 

meant Special Purpose Rifle; however 

now it would stand for SOF Precision Rifle 

or Special operations forces Precision Rifle. 

Within 12 months, Crane took all their 

gained knowledge and used it to develop 

24 second generation prototypes that were 

more adaptable to production on a larger 

scale. As originally envisioned, the upper 

receiver was designed to be dropped into 

the M4A1 lower receiver. For any number 

of reasons, this really was not a good 

idea. By building a dedicated rifle, it could 

be designed as an accurized rifle – for instance 

having a match trigger installed 

and a longer stock that would be more 

comfortable than the telescopic stock of 

the carbine. The host weapon would be 

the older and outdated M16A1 rifle due 

to the lack of availability of the M4A1 carbine 

at the time and a large number of 

obsolete M16A1 rifles were being turned 

in to Crane by National Guard and Reserve 

Units for destruction. In order to 

achieve the full performance requirements 

of the SPR, more was needed than just a 

drop in upper receiver. 

In October of 2000, formal testing of 

the first SPR rifles began at Thunder Ranch 

in Texas. Combination of operational and 

technical experimentation showed the remaining 

weakness that would be corrected 

before the production run of the second 

generation SPR rifles. During winter of 


LEFT: Modified M12 Mod 1. It has the fixed A1 

stock replaced with an LMT SOPMOD stock with 

a six position receiver extension. Although the 

MK12-series SPRs all came with fixed stocks 

from Crane, Indiana, once the rifles went to their 

assigned units modifications were made by the 

users. Also the Ops, Inc. sounds suppressor is attached. 

Note the Harris bipod. BELOW: Finalized 

MK12 Mod 1 rifle. Note the M16A1 lower receiver 

that would be equipped with a Knight’s Armament 

two stage selective fire trigger group. This rifle differs 

from the Mod 0 with the handguard and backup 

sights. The handguard used is the Knight’s 

Armament M4 Match Free-Floating Rail Adapter 

System (KAC part number 99167) and the KAC 

rail fore end flip-up front sight (KAC part number 

99051). The Mod 1 also uses the KAC 600 meter 

flip up rear (KAC part number 98474). 

A 

B 

C 

A: On the left is the Sierra 

MatchKing 77gr OTM as 

first used in the Mk262 

Mod 0 ammunition compared 

to the current 

Mk262 Mod 1 load on the 

right with the addition of 

the cannilure. 

B: Ballistic gel tests of the 

Mk262 Mod 1 ammunition 

provided by Jeff Hoffman, 

President of Black Hills 

Ammunition. 

C. On the left is the early 

Mk262 Mod 0. Note the 

77gr Sierra OTM projectile. 

On the right is the 

current Mk262 Mod 1. 

Note the addition of the 

cannilure to the 77gr projectile. 

There were several 

improvements made to 

the ammunition from its 

initial to current load. 


ABOVE: Finalized MK12 Mod 0 rifle. Note the 

M16A1 lower receiver that would be equipped with 

a Knight’s Armament two stage selective fire trigger 

group. The rifle uses Precision Reflex carbon fiber 

free floated handguard with a A.R.M.S., Inc. Swan 

#38 SPR sleeve and rear sight as well. The front 

sight is Precision Reflex and the Harris bipod is attached 

via A.R.M.S. #32 bipod adapter. 

2000 and 2001, all the final changes were 

made and deficiencies were corrected. The 

first 100 Limited User Test (LUT) was set 

for large production runs. The plans called 

for these LUT rifles to be deployed with 

SOCOM operators overseas by the summer 

of 2001. These initial deployments allowed 

the users to evaluate and make suggestions 

for improvement before the final 

production run. Most of these initial 100 

rifles were called into service due to Operation 

Enduring Freedom in September 

2001 so the field trials were conducted in 

just that, the field. The SPR has been used 

with great success with Special Operations 

Forces engaged in combat in Afghanistan. 

The SPR is responsible for an extremely 

high percentage of enemy soldiers engaged 

and killed with precision rifles. The SPR rifle 

was now to be named, the Mk 12. There 

would be two basic models of the Mk12, 

the Mod 0 and Mod 1. 

The Mk 12 Mod 0 and Mod 1 use the 

same lower receiver. The M16A1 lower receiver 

is fitted with a selective fire match 

grade trigger; the Knight’s Armament 

2-stage selective fire trigger or the Accuracy 

Speaks single action trigger. The rifle 

is designed as a precision shooting rifle, 

however if needed, with the flip of the selector, 

the rifle can put down a heavy volume 

of fire. The barrel would be done as 

a match barrel after heavy automatic fire 

but that can be easily replaced if a high 

volume of fire was needed to save lives. 

The rifles may or may not be found with 

the ergo-grip manufactured by Falcon Industries, 

or with the standard A1-style pistol 

grip. Many of the lower receivers will 

have ambidextrous selector levers as well 

as ambidextrous Norgon magazine catches. 

Once rifles got to their units/end users, 

they were also customized for the unit or 

end user. Various pistol grips may be found 

and also seen has been telescopic stocks 

on Mk12 rifles. Due to the rifle length gas 

system and shorter 18-inch barrel, along 

with the heavier profile of the barrel, it was 

found the Mk12 would not run reliably on 

full automatic with a carbine buffer but 

would with the standard stock and buffer. 

However, some felt the shorter stock was 

worth the tradeoff of difficulty with automatic 

fire. During research, photographs 

have been found with Mk12 rifles built on 

M16A2 lower receivers as well with the 5/8 

of an inch longer stock. 

The upper receivers for the SPR/Mk12 

series rifles utilize the standard flat top 

upper receiver with feed ramp cuts for 

use with a barrel extension also cut with 

extended feed ramps. Early production rifles 

would use a standard M16A4 flat top 

upper receiver (no extended feed ramps) 

and the feed ramps would be cut into them 

with a Dremel tool. The feed ramps were 

necessary so the thin jacketed 77-grain 

MatchKing bullets would not be damaged 

while feeding. The upper receivers in use 

are mostly produced by Colt that also includes 

upper receivers made by Diemaco/Colt 

Canada. Colt purchased Diemaco 

May of 2005 renaming the company Colt 

Canada. Prior to this acquisition, Colt pur- 


Mk12 

chased Diemaco manufactured upper receivers 

for both production M4 carbines as 

well as spare parts. 

In the development stages, three manufacturers 

of barrels were used and tested; 

these would be Douglas, Kreiger and 

Schneider. In final selection, the Douglas 

barrel was chosen for a combination of 

accuracy, quality and cost. The barrel is 

made of high quality 416 stainless steel. 

This barrel utilizes a 1 turn in 7 inch twist 

with six lands and grooves and a right 

hand twist. The 1/7 twist was necessary to 

stabilize projectiles from 77 to 100 grains 

(subsonic). The end of the barrel has an 

Ops, Inc. muzzle brake, which has threads 

for mounting the silencer. The silencer is 

made by Ops, Inc. as well. Both incorporate 

Harris bipods. The rifles may also be 

found with various sound suppressors. 

The muzzle brake was very effective but 

also very loud. Due to complaints about 

the loud muzzle blast a screw-on flash suppressor 

was designed. This makeshift flash 

suppressor slid over the muzzle brake and 

screwed onto the threads. The concept was 

excellent and worked well but never really 

made it out of the prototype stages. 

Both versions of the rifle utilize the PRI 

made Gas Buster charging handle, which 

is designed to prevent any gas from the upper 

receiver exiting out of the rear. The Gas 

Buster charging handle seals the rear of 

the receiver so the shooter will get no gas 

in his face. Some operator were known to 

put rubber ATV around where there were 

gaps in the fit between the charging handle 

ABOVE LEFT: Update done to the 

Mk12 Mod 0 rifles by Precision Reflex, 

Inc. in July of 2007. Note the 

shorter 16-inch barrel and the rail 

mounted front sight. The rifle has 

the PRI Gen III forearm and ACE M4 

SOCOM stock. ABOVE RIGHT: The 

MK12 Mods 0 and 1 are designed for 

the Ops, Inc. sound suppressor. In 

order to accept the suppressor, the 

Ops, Inc. muzzle brake and suppressor 

collar are installed on the barrel. 

On the bottom was an experimental 

flash suppressor attachment. It was 

screwed onto the muzzle brake converting 

the muzzle brake into a flash 

suppressor. Many users requested 

this due to the extreme muzzle flash 

seen with the use of the muzzle 

brake. It never went to production 

but was an excellent solution to the 

problem at hand. 

The front sight base of the MK12 Mod 0 contains a folding front sight that is adjustable for elevation only. 


Mk12 

the scope can be removed and both backup 

sights can be engaged and the rifle will 

be ready for action. 

The optics (light sources, bipod, etc.) 

are attached by A.R.M.S., Inc. throw lever 

mounts that allow for quick detachment if 

there is an immediate need to go to iron 

sights. For scopes, the throw lever mount 

#22M is used. Both Harris bipods as well 

as Versa-Pods are used. The upper receiver 

provided for this article was one of David 

Dunlap’s original uppers he built towards 

the beginning of the project. David Dunlap 

is the President of Precision Reflex, Inc. 

In July of 2007, Precision Reflex, Inc. 

rebuilt 12 Mk12 Mod 0 rifles at Fort Campbell, 

Kentucky. These rifles deviated from 

the standard Mod 0 in 8 ways: 

1. Replaced the barrels and bolts with 

a 16” Douglas, 1:8 twist 5.56 barrel 

– PRI #06-681BB 

2. Removed the barrel mounted front 

sight with a PRI Rail Mounted Flip 

Up Front Sight – PRI #05-0028 

and receiver to further seal that area from 

escaping gas. 

Both rifles utilize the same main optical 

sight: the Leupold TS-30A1 and the TS-30 

A2. Both are a 3x to 9x variable scope. The 

A2 model has the option for the operator 

to use an illuminated reticle. The intensity 

of the light may be adjusted by the knob 

on the top rear of the scope. This was the 

standard optic but you will encounter numerous 

types of optics in use. 

THE MK 12, MOD 0 

NSN 1005-01-504-3275 

The Mk 12, Mod 0 is carried by the 

U.S. Army Special Forces Rangers. The 

Mod 0 has a weight of 11.70 pounds. The 

major difference in the Mod 0 and Mod 1 

is the handguard assembly and the backup 

sights. The Mod 0 uses the A.R.M.S., 

Inc. #38 SPR Mod. Swan Sleeve with the 

PRI (Precision Reflex Industries) Ged III 

Freefloat Forearm, which is made from 

aluminum and carbon fiber materials. The 

Swan Sleeve goes from the handguard and 

covers and protects the rail on the upper 

receiver. At the rear of the rail is the SWAN 

#40 Stand Alone Flip-Up rear sight. The 

gas block is made by PRI and has a folding 

front sight. The front sight post is adjusted 

for elevation by a dial on the front sight 

assembly. If the optic was lost, by turning 

the two throw levers on the scope mount, 

ABOVE: The rear sight for the MK12 Mod 0 is the A.R.M.S., Inc. #40 backup sight that has both long and 

short range apertures and is adjustable for windage only. RIGHT: The Mod 1 also uses the KAC 600 meter flip 

up rear (KAC part number 98474), which is adjustable for windage only. OPPOSITE PAGE TOP: The Mod 1 

uses the KAC rail fore end flip-up front sight (KAC part number 99051) which is adjustable for elevation only. 

OPPOSITE PAGE BOTTOM: Issue box of the highly regarded Mk262 Mod 1 ammunition that was designed 

with the Mk12 SPR. 


3. Added a new gas block with intermediate 

length gas tube – PRI #05-075- 

01 

4. Replaced the forearm with a new PRI 

Gen III Rifle Length Forearm – PRI 

#05-073-03 

5. Replaced the old OPS Brake and 

sleeve with a New Ops Brake and 

Sleeve 

6. Added a new ACE M4 SOCOM stock 

7. Added an Accuracy Speaks full auto 

trigger 

8. Replaced the Old PRI Gas Buster 

Charging Handle with new PRI Gas 

Busters – PRI #05-0031. (Old ones 

quickly “disappeared” to other users) 

THE MK 12, MOD 1 

NSN 1005-01-504-3276 

The Mk 12, Mod 1 is carried by U.S. Army 

Rangers, U.S. Navy SEALS and the U.S. 

Air Force Special Tactical Teams. The Mod 

1 has a weight of 10.80 pounds and uses 

many of Knight’s Armament Company’s 

(KAC) components. The Mod 1 uses the 

KAC Free Floating RAS (Rail Adapter System) 

that has full length quad Mil-Std 1913 

rails. This rail system does not use a sleeve 

like the Mod 0. Optics would be mounted 

right to the upper receiver or the rails on 

the Free Floating RAS. The KAC folding 

back-up sight is used on the rear of the upper 

receiver rail and a folding front sight 

is used. The gas block is made at Crane. 

The Mod 1 uses A.R.M.S. #22 High scope 

rings that attach right to the rail. The Mk12 

Mod 1 upper receiver used during the research 

of this article was provided by Lamont 

LeClair, active duty SEAL and owner 

of Centurion Arms. Monty was able to 

provide much insight to how the Mk12 is 

used and what it really brings to the table 

for SOF units. 

THE NEW IMPROVED SOCOM 

5.56X45MM CARTRIDGE 

In 1999, SOCOM requested that Black 

Hills work with them jointly to develop the 

MK12 Special Purpose Rifle (SPR) weapon 


Mk12 

system. SOCOM was to develop the rifle 

and Black Hills Ammunition was to develop 

the ammunition the new rifle would 

shoot. This rifle was to be accurate out to 

600 yards. The load would use the proven 

Sierra 77-grain open tip match projectile 

of the AMU. To meet the requirements 

the cartridge must be “militarized.” This 

included switching from .223 Rem. to 

5.56mm cartridge cases, loading to the 

increased 5.56mm pressures, crimping 

and sealing the primers and adding flash 

retardant to the powder blend. Black 

Hills Ammunition has developed the first 

5.56mm sniper cartridge, the MK262 

Mod 0 cartridge adopted in 2002. 

During evaluation of the new round, 

issues came up with reliability when the 

temperatures dropped and the guns got 

dirty (external dirt, not ammunition). Issues 

with short stroking when the rifles 

were in these conditions without sound 

suppressors were encountered in the 

cold with the SPR, which uses a 2 inch 

shorter barrel than the original 20-inch 

M16A2 gas system the SPR was built on. 

Black Hills got right on the problems and 

through switching to a slower burning 

powder with a pressure curve tweaked for 

the 18-inch SPR barrel, the MK262 Mod 

1 was born. Later during extremely rigorous 

function testing at Black Hills, when 

the weapons were fired at rates greatly 

exceeding the 12 to 15 round spec rate 

of fire for the M16/M4 weapon system, 

it was found that the new propellant was 

more sensitive to heat from the chambers 

of hot weapons. This resulted in the increased 

pressure and increase incidences 

of failure to extract. Black Hills notified 

NSWC-Crane and set out to work again to 

improve the load. By working on a powder 

blend with higher heat tolerance and improving 

the brass, these issues were overcome. 

Another issue that needed to be addressed 

during the product improvement 

was Black Hills desire to have Sierra manufacture 

a cannulure on the 77-grain OTM 

projectile. Sierra feared this would affect 

the accuracy of the projectile. Black Hills 

knew that this round is being used in an 

autoloading rifle and wanted to avoid the 

possibility that a rough feed could cause 

the bullet to push back or telescope back 

into the case, resulting in a malfunction. 

Sierra agreed to produce the cannilured 

version of the projectile. The new and 

final round was named the MK262 Mod 

1 in 2003 and with the correction of the 

temperature sensitive powder the specification 

changed but remained the Mod 1. 

The Mk262 Mod 1 has gone on to be 

the most sought out ammunition in the 

5.56mm line up for the U.S. military. Primarily 

used Mk12 SPRs, it has also proven 

to increase the accuracy and lethality 

of the 14.5 inch M4 as well as the Mk18 

CQB with a 10.5 inch barrel. This author 

has shot a Mk12 Mod 1 at a silhouette 

steel target at 850 yards consistently, 

which is way out of the range of a standard 

5.56mm/.223 Rem. caliber rifles 

and ammunition. The combination of 

rifle and ammunition has served admirably 

in both Iraq and Afghanistan. Special 

operations troops have great confidence 

and there is an interest in clones of this 

rifle in the commercial market. For someone 

looking to build a Mod 1, Centurion 

Arms offers a complete upper receiver 

down to the last detail including a Douglas 

barrel. If one wished for a Mod 0, 

the upper receivers are built and sold by 

Precision Reflex, Inc. 



A 

B 

Syrian Rebels 

Produce Home-Made 

Anti-Materiel Rifles 

C 

By Jonathan Ferguson 

The Syrian conflict continues to yield 

interesting expedient small-arm designs. 

ARES has received YouTube 

video links that document Syrian 

rebel forces manufacturing anti-materiel 

rifles (AMRs), of which there appear 

to be two variants. They are both homemade 

bolt-action anti-materiel rifles similar 

to, and possibly inspired by, homemade 

and custom hobbyist-type rifles 

found in other parts of the world, most 

notably the U.S. The examples shown are 

chambered for the Russian 12.7 x 108 mm 

machine gun round, and are referred to 

in the videos as the Nimr 2. They were 

manufactured in the workshops of Katibat 

Abu Asad al-Nimr, a group associated 

with the Hazzm Movement. 

The tubular receiver is constructed out of 

steel, and is shown being machined in a mill 

or drill machine, with extensive hand-finishing 

whilst held in a bench vice. A length of 

M1913 rail is attached to its upper surface. A 

simple rectangular trigger-mechanism housing 

(with rotating trigger-bar safety) and 

magazine well appears to be welded onto the 


D 

F 

E 

G 

A: A home-made anti-materiel rifle (AMR) made by Syrian rebels. (YouTube video) 

B: An anti-materiel rifle (AMR) being worked in a bench vise. (YouTube video) 

C: Machining the receiver of a home-made anti-materiel rifle (AMR). (YouTube video) 

D: Scribing markings onto a home-made anti-materiel rifle (AMR). (YouTube video) 

E: The completed anti-materiel rifle (AMR) with a camouflage sleeve. (YouTube video) 

F: The completed anti-materiel rifle (AMR) with a camouflage sleeve. (YouTube video) 

G: The completed anti-materiel rifle (AMR) with a camouflage sleeve. (YouTube video) 

underside of the receiver. The magazine is 

also fabricated from sheet steel, and is seen 

in one of the videos being matched up to the 

magazine well to establish the proper seating 

depth and angle of presentation of the 

round. The bolt (whose locking arrangement 

is unclear) and long, tubular firing pin are 

also milled components, finished using an 

angle-grinder, and even the single chambered 

muzzle-brake is built from scratch 

using welded sheet steel. One variant features 

a custom wrap-around wooden stock 

and a fixed tubular bipod, whilst the other 

has an off-the-shelf plastic AK-type pistol 

grip and home-made skeletal buttstock 

and folding bipod. 

An unusual feature on the pistol-gripped 

example is the camouflage sleeve cover 

shown being slipped over the barrel and 

receiver. This cover incorporates a flap 

dust-cover for the bolt handle slot to protect 

the otherwise-open action. The barrel used 

on both variants is the only significant factory-produced 

component, and was originally 

made for the Chinese W-85 heavy machine 

gun, available commercially from Norinco 

and previously documented in Syria. The 

lack of a factory-produced muzzle-brake 

may imply that these barrels were not cannibalised 

from complete weapons, but rather 

sourced as spare parts. The telescopic sight 

is also likely to be Chinese, resembling some 

cheaply-made models in the 20x magnification 

range available online. The test fire of 

the barrelled action in the first video shows 

a large muzzle-flash, but nothing from the 

unused machine gun gas port, which suggests 

that it has been sealed off. The complete 

weapon is later test-fired several times 

with apparent success, although its accuracy 

cannot be assessed. 

WOOD-STOCKED VARIANT: 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t- 

VuuR-teXOg 

Pistol-gripped variant 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x9hyd- 

9pn5J8 

The weapon seems to be associated with the 

باهش وبأ Facebook page. Thanks to @JohnnySix 

and N.R. Jenzen-Jones. 




U.S. Carbine Caliber 

.30, M1, M2, and M3 

By Frank Iannamico 

Most readers of SAR are familiar with the current U.S. military 

issue M4 carbine, but some may not know why it 

was designated as the M4. This article is a brief history of 

the M4’s predecessors. 

In 1938, as a result of numerous surveys of the U.S. 

Army Field Forces, the Chief of Infantry outlined to the Adjutant 

General, and the Chief of Ordnance, certain weapons requirements 

of the infantry. In these requirements he stated that the 

advisability of equipping ammunition carriers, machine gun crew 

members, mortar crews and administrative personnel, with a 

light-weight shoulder weapon. The document dated September, 

1938 requested consideration by the Office of the Chief of Ordnance. 

An evaluation of the Chief of Infantry’s request was made 

in November of 1938. The use of a new light rifle was not favorably 

considered at that time. 

With the German invasion of Poland in 1939, the Chief of Infantry 

resubmitted his request for the development of a light rifle. 

This time the suggestion was considered and by June of 1940 the 

War Department acted to initiate a weapon development program. 

By directive 00 474.5/120 from the U.S. Secretary of War, 

the Chief of Ordnance was ordered to undertake the development, 

testing, and selection of a light rifle. It was estimated that 500,000 

of the new light rifles would be needed, which turned out to be a 

very conservative figure. 

The Chief of Infantry submitted general requirements for the 

proposed weapon, these were: 

a. Not less than .27 caliber. 

b. Not more than 5-pound weight with a loaded twenty round 

magazine. 

c. Effective range not less than 300 yards. 

d. Operating system to be semiautomatic, bolt or lever action. 

e. Five or seven round capacity, seven rounds preferred. 

f. Fixed aperture sights, effective to 300 yards. 

g. Ammunition to have mid-range ordinate of no more than 

eighteen-inches at 300 yards. 

h. Barrel should be short. 

i. A 1903 type sling should be used. 

The Cavalry (Armored Forces) and other combat units concurred 

with the Infantry’s requirements. The Chief of Infantry 

specifically recommended that each of the following be developed 

for possible use: 

a. A light semiautomatic rifle 

b. A submachine gun type 

c. A bolt action rifle 

The desired characteristics for the light weight rifle were prepared 

by October of 1940 and were approved at an Ordnance 

Committee meeting. The requirements were presented to eleven 

manufacturers and individuals by the end of 1940 including: 


LEFT: Circa 1950, an Air Force officer with his 

modernized version of the M2 carbine featured 

an in-line stock, raised sights, muzzle brake and 

bipod. BELOW: A U.S. Army armorer inspects a 

stack of well-used M1 carbines. 

a. The Auto-Ordnance Corporation 

b. Colt’s Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Company. 

c. Hi Standard Manufacturing Company. 

d. Johnson Automatics. 

e. Marlin Firearms. 

f. J.D. Peterson. 

g. Remington Arms Company. 

h. Savage Arms Company. 

i. Smith & Wesson 

j. Winchester Repeating Arms Company. 

Each concern received a circular listing weapon requirements, 

a drawing of the new .30 carbine caliber cartridge and 

minimum chamber requirements. Within a few months, twenty-five 

corporations and individuals were invited to submit 


a design with testing scheduled for 8 May 1941 at Aberdeen 

Proving Ground. Several weapons that were submitted were 

immediately rejected. As a result of the preliminary testing certain 

changes were recommended in the original requirements. 

The weight was increased to 5.5 pounds and the full-automatic 

requirement eliminated. 

U.S. CARBINE, CALIBER, .30 M1 

The Winchester Repeating Arms entry was the eventual winner 

of the light rifle trials. The Winchester carbine used a unique 

short-stroke tappet gas system, and was adopted as Carbine, Caliber 

.30, M1 in October of 1941. By the war’s end there were more 

carbines manufactured than any other U.S. small arm. A number 

of diverse companies manufactured the carbine during the war; 

these prime contractors were supported by hundreds of subcontractors. 

Many of the prime contractors involved in the carbine 

program had no previous gun making experience, many of them 

manufacturers of music boxes, automotive parts and business 

machinery, rallied for the war effort to manufacture 6,079,648 

carbines by 1945. Although the price of the carbine varied by 

contractor and contract, the average cost was approximately $50 

per weapon. M1 Carbine prime contractors were: Winchester, 

Inland (Division of General Motors), Underwood-Elliot-Fisher, 

National Postal Meter (A very limited number were made under 

the name Commercial Controls Corporation), Rock-Ola, Quality 

Machine and Hardware, Standard Products, Saginaw Steering 

Gear (Division of General Motors), International Business Machine 

(IBM), Irwin-Pederson Arms Company (their contract was 

taken over by Saginaw). 

Years manufactured: M1:1941-1945 (M2: 1945 only) 

Magazine capacity: fifteen and thirty round box 

Caliber: .30 carbine, 110 grain round nose bullet, 1,970 fps 

Cyclic rate (M2 only): 750-775 rounds per minute 

Operation: gas operated, closed locked bolt, select-fire (M2) 


.30, M1, M2, and M3 

Weight: 

Barrel length: 

Overall length: 

5.2 lbs. (M1A1 model 5.5 lbs.) 

18 inches 

U.S. CARBINE, CALIBER, .30 M1A1 

35.75 inches (M1A1 length, stock folded 25.75 inches; 

stock extended 35.75 inches) 

To make the carbine more compact for paratrooper use, the M1 

carbine was fitted with a side-folding metal buttstock and wooden 

pistol grip. Carbines in this configuration were designated as 

the M1A1. With the stock in a folded position the overall length 

was reduced to 25.75 inches. With the stock unfolded, the overall 

length of the M1A1 was the same as an M1 carbine. The M1A1 was 

specifically designed for airborne troops and the action was the 

same as an M1 carbine. The only manufacturer of the M1A1 was 

the Inland Division. A total of 140,591 were manufactured from 

1942-45. There were no M1A1 carbines originally manufactured as 

select-fire M2s. 

CARTRIDGE, CARBINE, CALIBER .30 

Winchester had also developed a new mid-range cartridge to 

be used in the new “light rifle.” The cartridge was designated as, 

Cartridge, Carbine, Caliber .30 M1 and was approved as Standard 

on 30 September 1941. The Ordnance Department awarded contracts 

to the Western Cartridge Company, Winchester Repeating 

Arms, Remington Arms Company, Lake City Ordnance Plant and 

the Kings Mills Ordnance Plant. While corrosive primers were 

used in World War II .30-06 and .45 ACP caliber U.S. service cartridges, 

the .30 caliber carbine rounds all utilized non-corrosive 

primers. The decision to use non-corrosive primers greatly extended 

the service life of the carbine’s barrel. 

The original configuration of the .30 caliber carbine cartridge 

was changed early in 1942. The original .30 caliber 110-grain projectile 

had a cup style base, which tests had shown was unstable 

during firing, and would often leave a ring of gilding metal in the 

forward end of the chamber. A new flat base 110-grain projectile 

was designed to eliminate the problem. The type of powder used 

in the carbine cartridge was also changed. The original DuPont 

OPPOSITE PAGE TOP LEFT: With the selector on an M2 carbine in the 

forward position (shown) the carbine fired full-automatic. The rearward position 

was for semiautomatic fire. OPPOSITE PAGE TOP RIGHT: The fire 

control components of a semiautomatic M1 (top) and the select-fire M2 

carbine. LEFT: M1 Recoil Check, designed to help control muzzle rise on 

the M2 in the full-automatic mode of fire. The device was secured to the 

barrel with a clamp. ABOVE: An early M1 and folding stock M1A1 “paratrooper” 

carbine. RIGHT: Very early box of carbine ammunition: note that 

the nomenclature is Caliber .30 M1 Short Rifle M-1, so that it would not be 

confused with M1 Garand ammo. (Courtesy of John M. Miller) 


powder proved to be too bulky for the 

small case. To achieve a higher projectile 

velocity a new DuPont powder was introduced. 

The new powder increased the 

carbine’s muzzle velocity to 1,970 feet per 

second and raised the chamber pressure to 

40,000 psi. 

In September of 1944, the nomenclature 

of the .30 carbine round was 

changed to Cartridge, Ball, Carbine, 

Caliber .30 M1. The change, adding the 

word “ball,” was to avoid confusion with 

the newly adopted tracer and grenade 

launching cartridges developed for the 

carbine. The early characteristics of the 

new cartridge were: 

a. Bullet weight: 110 grains. 

b. Charge weight: 14.5 grains of IMR 

4227 

c. Primer: Winchester No. 116 

d. Pressure: 31,000 psi 

e. Muzzle velocity 1,860 feet 

per second. 

The new specifications for the improved 

carbine cartridge were: 

a. Bullet weight; 110 grains 

b. Charge: DuPont 4809 or Hercules 

3950.8B (alternate) 

c. Primer: commercial non-corrosive 

d. Pressure: 40,000 psi 

e. Muzzle velocity 1,970 feet 

per second 

In September of 1944, the nomenclature 

of the .30 carbine round was changed 

to Cartridge, Ball, Carbine, Caliber .30 M1. 

The change, adding the word “ball”, was 

to avoid confusion with the newly adopted 

tracer and grenade launching cartridges 

developed for the carbine. 

ABOVE: Select-fire M2 carbine with 30-round 

magazine and muzzle brake. The cyclic rate was 

approximately 750 rounds per minute. RIGHT: M3 

carbine with late production M3 sniper scope. (U.S. 

Marine Corps National Museum) 


.30, M1, M2, and M3 

U.S. CARBINE, CALIBER .30, M2 

The original 1940 requirements for 

the carbine included a select-fire feature. 

In order to get a new weapon developed 

quickly, this requirement was dropped. 

The select-fire M2 would not be fully 

developed and subsequently adopted 

until the fall, 1944. 

Early in 1944, the Inland Division began 

to develop a method to convert the M1 

carbine into a select-fire weapon. Two Inland 

engineers, Paul Hamisch and Frederick 

Sampson, designed a conversion that 

required only a few new parts along with 

minimum changes to the weapon’s original 

design. The experimental select-fire 

M1 carbine was designated as the T4. After 

extensive testing of the modified carbine, 

the weapon was recommended for adoption 

as the Carbine Caliber .30, M2 in September 

of 1944 and was adopted as Standard 

in October 1944. Subsequently, the 

M1 and M1A1 carbines were reclassified as 

Limited Standard. By the time the weapon 

began getting into the hands of the troops 

in the field the war in Europe was almost 

over. The M2 carbine saw little combat use 

in World War II. 

The firepower of the M1 carbine was 

greatly increased with the introduction of 

the select-fire M2 version. Like a submachine 

gun, the full-automatic M2 was effective 

for close-in combat situations and 

street fighting. The M2 could also be used 

effectively in the semiautomatic mode at 

longer ranges, where a pistol caliber submachine 

gun could not. Original M2s were 

only manufactured by Inland (199,500 

M2 carbines), and Winchester (17,500 

M2 carbines). Early Winchester M2s were 

marked by over-stamping the numeral 1 

on the front of the receiver with a number 

2. All later manufacture M2s were factory 

roll-marked “M2.” Original Inland and 

Winchester M2s all have high serial numbers 

over 6,000,000. There were a few 

very early Inland M2s manufactured with 

six digit serial numbers beginning with 

zero. Original manufacture M2 carbines 

were usually factory fitted with late style 

features, such as the adjustable style rear 

sight, improved safety lever and the barrel 

band with the bayonet lug. 

The M2’s published cyclic rate was 

from 750 to 775 rounds per minute. A 

large capacity 30-round magazine was 

introduced to keep up with the M2’s high 

rate of fire. The carbine’s light weight together 

with its relatively fast cyclic rate 

made it somewhat difficult to control in 

the full-auto mode of fire. One item designed 

specifically for controlling muzzle 

rise on the M2 carbine was the M1 recoil 

check or muzzle brake. 

Some M1 carbines were converted to 

the M2 configuration by using the “Kit, 

Conversion T17.” This kit contained all the 

parts needed for unit armorers to upgrade 

their M1 carbines to the M2 status. Many 

existing M1s that were converted were 

remarked by over-stamping the number 

1 with a 2 on the receiver by hand. After 

World War II ended in Europe, FN Belgium 

was contracted to inspect and rebuild 

carbines, and convert some of them 

to the M2 configuration. The FN program 

was completed in 1946. Virtually all weapons 

returned to the U.S. were rebuilt before 

being placed into long term storage 

after the war. During the Ordnance Department 

rebuilding programs, a large 

number of M1 carbines were also rebuilt 

to M2 specifications. Just a few years later, 

the M2 carbine would see its share of 

combat action in the Korean Conflict. 

U.S. CARBINE, CALIBER, .30 M3 

Based on scientific experiments begun 

in the 1930s, the “Sniperscope, T120” was 

developed in late 1943. Electronic devices 

could distinguish objects illuminated by 

infrared light and make them visible in a 

telescope. A 6-volt light with an infrared 

filter mounted under the stock provided 

invisible light to illuminate an area up to 

a distance of 400 feet. This combination 

of a light source and telescope using infrared 

light became the first practical night 

vision sight. A handle and a switch for the 

light were mounted on the stock. Both the 

telescope and the light source got their 

power from a heavy, lead-acid wet cell 

battery carried in a canvas pack. 

Before the M3 carbine and M1 sniperscope 

were type-classified, they were 

known as the T3 and T120, respectively. 

The M3 was a carbine fitted with a mount 

designed to accept an infrared sight for 

use at night. It was initially used with the 

M1 sniperscope, an active infrared sight, 

and saw action in 1945 with the Army 

during the invasion of Okinawa. An improved 

M2 sniperscope extended the effective 

nighttime range of the M3 carbine 

out to 100 yards. Both the M1 and M2 

sniperscopes had the light source located 

below the stock. 

The original T-3 version of the carbine 

was complicated, requiring a number 

of unique parts to mount the sniperscope. 

Eventually it was decided to 

design a simple kit that would enable a 

standard M1 or M2 carbine to be easily 

converted to use night vision sights 

in the field. The special mounting parts 

would be included with the sight sets. A 

new flash hider was added to conceal the 

user’s position. Mass production of the 

improved infrared night vision system 

began in 1950 with the “20,000 volt Set 

No. 1.” This could be mounted on any 

M1 or M2 carbine, making it an “M3” 

Carbine. The M3 sniperscope had a large 

active infrared spotlight mounted on top 

of the scope body itself, allowing its use 

with the operator in a prone position. 

The revised M3 had an effective range of 

around 125 yards. The improvements in 

this system included better electronics, 

resulting in better vision, but were still 

limited. Fog and rain further reduced 

the weapon’s effective range. Heavy 

weight and short battery life remained 

major shortcomings. 

The U.S. M1 and M2 carbines remained 

in U.S. Army service until the M14 was accepted 

as their standard weapon in 1957. 

However, the service life of the carbine 

had not ended. The U.S. Air Force and 

Navy still issued them, and the carbine 

would see more action in the Vietnam 

War. Large numbers of carbines were 

provided to many allies and some former 

enemies as military aid. 


Unlocking the 

Mystery of 

Recoil 

BY GEORGE E. KONTIS PE 

Have you ever thought about all the 

tests that must be used during the 

development of a firearm? A recently 

introduced test device will change 

the way guns are designed particularly 

with respect to recoil and controllability. 

The new device, called the Weapon Recoil 

Simulated Shoulder (WRSS), will aid manufacturers 

in making guns more controllable 

and at the same time assist in the development 

of more efficient muzzle brakes 

and recoil reducing devices. Data from the 

device will be used to assure that scopes, 

laser pointers, and other accessories are 

designed to endure the harsh environment 

of a weapon mount. 

Since 1742 an ancient device called 

the ballistic pendulum has been used 

to find the recoil level. This shoot-from 

type of ballistic pendulum involves free 

hanging the gun from wires and firing 

it in mid-air. The distance the gun 

raises is a measure of what is called 

free recoil energy. The shoot-at type 

of ballistic pendulum is used to determine 

the energy of a projectile. With 

some minor variations and the addition 

of modern instrumentation, we’ve 

been using these methods for the last 

three centuries. 

Controllability evaluation is more 

challenging. In cases where everyone 

fires the same weapon and ammunition 

and tries to evaluate controllability, 

a great inconsistency between shooters 

becomes evident. Even the same 

shooter does not repeat the same controllability 

performance. Most controllability 

evaluations involve little more 

than asking shooters how quickly and 

accurately they felt they could get off 

that second or third shot. Inconsistent 

results are a huge frustration to the 

military as controllability is important 

to keeping a burst of full automatic 

fire on target. 

A few years ago, the U.S. Army’s 

Program Manager for Small Arms saw 

the need for advancement in technology 

and awarded a study contract to 

Knight’s Armament Company, Titusville, 

Florida. Project goals included 

the improvement of recoil measurement 

techniques and a better metric 

for controllability. 

The engineers at Knight’s began 

their study with a thorough review 

of every recoil study report available. 

They found that almost all the reports 

had the same theme. A gun follows 

Newton’s 3rd law of physics: “For every 

action, there is an equal and opposite 

reaction.” The force that pushes the 

bullet and gun gas through the barrel 

and out the muzzle is equal to the recoil 

force of the gun. The rearward velocity 

of the firearm and its weight are 

multiplied together in a formula that 

gives the recoil energy. It’s hard to figure 

out how fast the firearm is recoiling 

especially if there is any device on the 

muzzle that diverts the gun gas from 

going straight ahead. Muzzle brakes 

and even flash suppressors turn the gas 

to give a forward force on the weapon 

that slows its recoil velocity. This 

is why researchers generally take the 


easy way out and find the energy with the 

ballistic pendulum. 

Knight’s engineers noted that recoil 

studies for the military almost always focused 

on the shooter. Repeated input of 

high levels of energy into the shoulder 

causes bruising and very high recoil energy 

can cause damage to the eye. The U.S. 

military measures the free recoil energy of 

every shoulder fired weapon it fields; classifying 

each into categories that limit how 

many rounds per day can be fired. Their 

table shows that if a gun develops less than 

15 ft-lbs, (20 Joules) of energy, unlimited 

firing is permitted. The M4 and M16 

fit this category. The highest level on the 

table is 60 ft-lbs (81 Joules), above which 

no shoulder firing is permitted. Knight’s 

testing found that a typical 3½ inch 12 

gauge magnum shotgun develops 59 ft-lbs 

of energy which is alarmingly close to the 

military’s maximum. 

While the energy method might be 

useful for making decisions about how 

many rounds per day are appropriate, its 

value is limited when studying recoil. The 

level of free recoil energy doesn’t tell anything 

about how much recoil force goes 

slamming into the shoulder. Here’s an 

example with results that may surprise 

you. Suppose one gun has a constant 300 

pound recoil force and pushes against your 

shoulder for 1 inch of travel. In this case, 

recoil energy is calculated by a simple multiplication 

to give 300 inch-pounds of energy. 

Now take a second gun that pushes 

with a constant load of 100 pounds over 4 

inches of rearward travel. The second gun 

has 400 inch-pounds of energy. It’s hard 

to appreciate that the gun with the lower 

force has significantly higher free recoil 

energy, but it’s true. This is what is so 

perplexing about the study of recoil. The 

energy method only tells part of the recoil 

story and that’s why the Army supported 

Knight’s investigation. 

At the beginning of their study, Knight’s 

engineers instrumented both guns and 

shooters with the latest accelerometers, 

force gages and other measurement devices. 

Data recovered from the tests with 

the new instrumentation was good and 

certainly usable, but not remarkably better 

than what had been found previously 

with older test equipment. Their worst 

surprise came when they had shooters fire 

at full auto and filmed the target using high 

speed video looking for a pattern to shot 

placement. They were frustrated by the inconsistencies 

between shooters. The project 

results to that point were very disappointing, 

showing no promise to advance 

the technology in recoil measurement and 

controllability. 

One of the engineers found an old Government 

report that talked about replacing 

the human shooter with a mechanical device 

that mimicked the shooter’s motion 

during firing. The metal body parts were 

to be connected with springs and dampers 

(shock absorbers) having the same characteristics 

of muscle and bones. Army researchers 

inserted a sketch of the concept 

in the report, but never built it. Knight’s 

engineers liked the idea and took it to a 

higher level. They also modeled the human 

vibrational characteristics in order to pick 

the right springs and dampers and then 

built a mechanical device with the same 

characteristics. This required the use of 

a sophisticated analytical method called 

modal analysis. 

To understand modal analysis, you 

must first accept that all bodies vibrate 

at their natural frequency. For example, 

a guitar string vibrates at a natural frequency 

when plucked. It is also true that 

most bodies – guitar strings included – 

have more than one natural frequency, 

and these can occur simultaneously. The 

lowest natural frequency is called the first 

mode of vibration, followed by the second 

mode, etc. Each mode is at a higher frequency 

than the preceding one, and each 

has its own shape. For all bodies, there is 

also a natural tendency to stop the vibration 

called damping. Some bodies, like 

the Tacoma Narrows Bridge built in 1940, 

didn’t have enough damping and destructed 

when excited at its natural frequency 

(YouTube shows a fascinating video of the 

Tacoma Narrows Bridge failure.) In contrast, 

there is so much damping in the human 

body that vibration dies out quickly. 

To find the natural frequencies and mode 

shapes, engineers input different levels of 

vibration into a mock up weapon being 

held by a shooter. Each shooter was fitted 

with instrumentation to study the body’s 

response to each level of vibration. In this 

way, they found the vibrational modes of 

what the military describes as their smallest, 

average, and largest size shooter. Using 

this information, the WRSS was built 

to have the same characteristics. 

To be able to measure controllability, 

Knight’s put angular measurement devices 

on the WRSS in order to determine the 

up and down movement of the end of the 

barrel (pitch) as well as the side-to-side 

motion (yaw). The WRSS precisely tracks 

the point of aim during and after the firing 

event. For hunters this information 

is critical for the follow-on shot. For the 

military this is important for controlling 

bursts of automatic firing, and essential 

to the design of muzzle devices. A precise 

measurement system is invaluable in 

the development of devices designed to 

reduce muzzle motion during shooting. 

Why? Simply because unless there are 

huge performance differences in these devices, 

even an expert shooter can’t detect 

changes in performance. 

Besides controllability measurements, 

the new shooting fixture records the force 

on the shooter’s shoulder, the acceleration 

levels (g-loads) at the buttstock and on the 

barrel. The new WRSS has other benefits 

as well. Using the acceleration data, the 

WRSS has already been useful in solving 

problems with failures in gun mounted optics 

and other electromechanical devices. 

A data plot called a Shock Response Spectrum 

(SRS) has been used to study how 

many g’s the shooter, gun, and mounted 

accessories must endure at various frequencies. 

(Remember that at 1 “g” a 10 

pound body weighs 10 pounds, but when 

subjected to 10 g’s, that same body weighs 

100 pounds.) These g-levels are important 

to shooter reaction and more important 

in the development of relatively fragile 

accessories like scopes, laser pointers, 

and night vision. 

Using the WRSS fixture and SRS data 

plots, Knight’s engineers determined the 

cause of a puzzling failure of a night vision 

scope. The scope was tested on one 

gun and determined to be capable of withstanding 

the high shock environment, 

yet failed when fired from a differently 

designed weapon of the same caliber and 

weight. Why the night vision scopes failed 

on the second gun, but held up well on the 

first gun, became immediately evident on 

the SRS data. The SRS curve of the two 

guns was almost a perfect match at low 

frequencies, but at high frequencies where 

electrical equipment is susceptible to failures, 

the second gun showed that much 

higher forces were being experienced. 

The US Army intends to use the WRSS 

in its testing laboratories, and the design 

has been turned over to a not-for-profit 

organization called the Institute of Military 

Technology (IMT). IMT will offer the 

WRSS to weapons manufacturers, government 

laboratories and testing facilities 

worldwide. Commercial firearms manufacturers 

may also procure the WRSS from 

IMT for their use. 




SHOW COVERAGE 

SAAB Bofors Dynamics 

Customer Conference 

STORY & PHOTOS BY Dan Shea 

Barracuda Signature Management, a 

SAAB company, held their Customer 

Conference on 21-22 May 2014 in 

Sweden. These conferences are held 

periodically, when management feels 

they have significant products to showcase. 

This conference in particular had a 

large amount of interest to the small arms 

community. There were numerous presentations 

by scholars and engineers from the 

company, as well as a few marketers. As 

we all know, the marketers are frequently 

more exciting and dynamic presenters, 

while an engineer might give you the real 

depth of the program he’s working but 

leave you longing for the coffee and snack 

table. All told, the attendees had their attention 

held by all of the speakers, and I 

was impressed with how much interaction 

was occurring between the speakers and 

the attendees after the presentations. That 

is a good sign of matching the interests of 

the attendees. 

A number of SAAB affiliated companies 

were showing products at the show: 

BARRACUDA SOFT ARMOR 

First and foremost to the community- 

the Barracuda Soft Armor System was 

showcased. This is the “Ceramic ball” system 

that has been growing in prominence 

over the last few years. For our purposes, 

the Soft Armor was the most interesting 

product, with a very informative presentation. 

Some attendees expressed a desire 

to live fire a belt fed machine gun into a 

Soft Armor target, however, the venue did 

not lend itself to firing weapons- it would 

have terrified both the waterfowl and the 

local inhabitants. This writer has extensive 

experience with this Soft Armor, having 

fired thousands of rounds of 7.62x51mm 

in fully automatic fire at backstops that 

are frighteningly thin, and not one single 

round ever made it even close to getting 

through the backstop. This is a truly 

impressive product. 

It’s a very simple product in many 

ways. Soft Armor consists of pellets of 

approximate 13mm diameter (1/2 inch), 

and they are made of aluminum dioxide 

and silicon dioxide. This patented 

mixture is mold proof, does not absorb 

moisture, and is static until fired upon 

with a projectile or fragment of a mortar 

round. When a projectile penetrates the 

outer layer, it comes into contact with the 

ceramic pellets, which become unsettled 

and fluid, tumbling around the projectile 

until it comes to a halt. Directly hit pellets 

are crushed, absorbing energy, and 

the remaining energy from the projectile 

is distributed throughout the other 

pellets. This is often described as similar 

to the effect of one ball in billiards 

striking many others, which absorb and 

distribute the divided energy. In effect, 

one will observe some pellets crushed to 

powder by the projectiles and almost instantly 

replaced by others around them, 

as the projectile is diverted off-trajectory 

and energy is spread throughout the assembly. 

A 200 round burst from a beltfed 

weapon, aimed into the same area, 

will not penetrate! 



The Barracuda Soft Armor can be put 

into various containers- from purpose built 

walls and sentry points to cloth bags for 

fast up-armoring ship or vehicles. “Hardening” 

walls becomes easier in a retrofit, 

by filling existing walls with the ceramics 

(allowing for studs and structural supports 

must be taken into account of course). The 

thickness of the ceramic pellet mass will 

dictate the protection level. 

hot climates. This flexible system is used in 

order to protect the vehicle while moving, 

and can be made of a number of different 

materials. It is easy to attach using systems 

of Velcro, straps or existing bolts on the 

vehicle, which Barracuda will design for. 

The materials are flame resistant- self-extinguishing 

and no bromated chemicals 

are used. The systems are designed for 

1-2 years in service, with a shelf life of ten 

years in storage in controlled conditions. 

BARRACUDA- MOBILE 

CAMOUFLAGE SYSTEM 

The Mobile Camouflage System (MCS) 

can be adapted to any platform, vehicle, 

container or equipment that needs Stealth 

capabilities. The unique capability includes 

a possibility of lowering total fuel 

consumption by up to 25%. This is a multispectral, 

multi-layer mobile system. The 

MCS also can provide a cooling effect in 

Spectral Performance of the MCS: 

• Visual (Camouflaged) 

• NIR = 0.7 -2.5 μm 

• TIR = 3-5 μm and 8-12 μm 

• Radar = 1 GHz – 100 GHz 

BARRACUDA OBSERVATION POST- TENTS 

ABOVE CENTER: Camouflage tents that were shown 

were much more than just “Camouflaged.” The observation 

posts/tents are an example of “Multi-Spectral 

Signature Management.” This simply means that the 

device used- in this case a tent- has properties that 

camouflage it from observation on a variety of levels. 

Visually blending into the environment, and in this case, 

having chemical and construction qualities that mask 

the tent from thermal opto-electronics. As we used 

to say “Camouflage is more than painting your face 

green, it’s appearing to be something other than what 

you are.” With Barracuda’s Signature Management, the 

tent appears to be a continuation of its surroundingsan 

outcropping on the ground, perhaps- with a similar 

thermal footprint as well as blending in visually. 


Mobile Camouflage System in green 

Mobile Camouflage System in desert coloring 


DECOY VEHICLES 

1192, 1208 – Barracuda was utilizing realistic, 

lightweight decoys of military vehicles 

for “Faking out” the enemy observers in 

their display. These were quite well done, 

and this writer overheard several attendees 

refer to the “vehicle” as if it was real, when 

they were at a distance and then remark 

and laugh about how it “Fooled them” when 

they got closer. The “Vehicles” serve another 

purpose- which Barracuda utilized 

here at the show- using it as an easy prop 

to showcase other products. Here, the 

team is putting the “Vehicle” into place, 

and then it is shown with the Mobile Camouflage 

System installed. It’s a lot easier 

to export and import these fake vehicles 

to trade shows and exhibitions, much like 

many accessory manufacturers will send 

AirSoft replica guns to a show. 



Iranian AM50 & Russian 

ORSIS T-5000 Rifles 

in Iraq 

By Yuri Lyamin and Michael Smallwood 

A: A soldier with the new Iranian AM50 rifle. (Yuri Lyamin) 

B: A soldier holding the new Iranian AM50 rifle. (Yuri Lyamin) 

C: An Iraqi soldier with a Russian ORSIS T-5000. (Yuri Lyamin) 

D: The Russian ORSIS T-5000. (Yuri Lyamin) 

E: An Iraqi soldier holding the Iranian AM50 rifle. (Yuri Lyamin) 

Recent photos to emerge from Iraq 

show government troops with new 

Iranian AM50 (sometimes written as 

‘AM-50′) anti-materiel rifles (AMR) 

and Russian ORSIS T-5000 sniper 

rifles. Whilst initially misidentified as the 

Austrian Steyr HS .50, the photos suggest 

that these rifles are actually an Iranian-produced 

copy of the HS .50, known as 

the AM50. In 2006-2007, Iran acquired 

800 Steyr HS .50 rifles; shortly thereafter, 

Iranian copies of the rifle were observed. 

Manufactured by the Iranian state-controlled 

Defence Industries Organization’s 

(DIO) Individual Combat Industries 

Group (ICIG), the AM50 is a single-shot, 

bolt-action anti-materiel rifle chambered 

for 12.7 x 99 mm (.50 BMG). The most 

easily distinguishable differences between 

the HS .50 and the AM50 are in the grip 

and barrel. The Iranian AM50 seems to 

make use of a pistol grip that ICIG produces 

for the S-5.56, a copy of the Chinese 

CQ rifle (which is itself an AR-15 clone). 

HS .50 rifles are derived from a Heinrich 

Fortmeier design developed for Steyr in 

2002, now available as the Fortmeier .50 

BMG. Whilst the Iranian AM50 features 

the modified bolt handle and muzzle brake 

adopted by Steyr in the production HS .50 

rifles, the barrel appears to be of an evenly 

tapered, non-fluted design, as seen in the 

Fortmeier rifles, rather than the stepped, 

fluted design adopted by the Steyr rifles. 

Whilst the AM50 has been documented 

in use by both Iranian and Syrian government 

troops, and a handful have been 

observed in the possession of non-state 

armed groups in Gaza and Syria, it is only 

in the last few months that these pictures 

from Iraq have surfaced. The method by 

which these rifles came to be in possession 

of Iraqi troops is unknown, but two possibilities 

are more likely than others. 

First, the rifles may have been captured 

or otherwise acquired from one of 

the non-state armed groups in possession 

of these weapons. They may have been 

captured from fighters from the Islamic 

State of Iraq and the Sham (ISIS), who 

are known to have captured such weapons 

from forces loyal to Assad, and are 

also operating inside Iraq. Alternatively, 

Iraqi troops may have acquired these rifles 

through the pro-government Shiite militias, 

who in turn may have received such 

rifles from Iran. 

It is also possible that Iraq purchased 

the AM50 directly from Iran. According 

to a report from Reuters in February, Iraq 

signed a deal to buy arms and ammunition 

from Iran worth $195 million USD. The 

documents cited by Reuters included provisions 

for “light and medium weapons.” 

Whilst such a contract would violate UN 

sanctions against Iran, it remains a possibility 

that these weapons could have been 

delivered to Iraqi troops. 

The presence of the Russian ORSIS 

T-5000 sniper rifles in Iraq is more readily 

explained, as the Iraqi government 

recently purchased them from Russia in 

a sizeable arms deal. As with the AM50, 

pictures of the T-5000 began to appear 

around March 2014. 

The ORSIS T-5000 is a precision 

bolt-action sniper rifle fed from a detachable 

box magazine (either five or ten 

rounds). Manufactured in Moscow at 

Promtechnologies Group’s ORSIS1 rifle 

factory, the T-5000 is produced in 

three different calibres: 7.62 x 51 mm 

(.308 Winchester), .300 Winchester 

Magnum, and .338 Lapua Magnum. 

There is currently no clear indication of 

which calibre, or combination of calibres, 

Iraq has purchased. 



The Evolution 

of the Piston Operated 

M16/ M4 Rifles 

By Christopher R. Bartocci 


When looking at the overall number of manufacturers 

making AR-type rifles, very few 

of them are long stroke/short stroke piston 

variations. Some manufacturers such as 

LWRCI have made it their primary business 

to make rifles in this configuration. Going 

back to the early 2000’s when H&K brought out 

their HKM4/HK416 they touted it as being a revolutionary 

leap in technology. But where does the 

evolution of the external piston operated M16 begin? 

Go back to the early years of the Vietnam War 

for the answer. From 1966 to early 1968 the newly 

introduced AR-15/M16 and XM16E1 rifles began 

heavy use in combat. Although the Army had procured 

the “One time buy” and General Westmoreland 

requested that all American ground forces 

be armed with the new weapon, the Ordnance 

Corps, like many other times in the history of the 

US Army failed the American soldier. Secretary of 

Defense Robert McNamara ordered them to get 

a combat ready rifle into the hands of the Army 

and they disobeyed that order trying to keep Rock 

Island and Springfield Armory pumping out the 

M14 rifle, which was not optimum for jungle warfare. 

News reports came into the already skeptical 

American public that soldiers were dying next to 

faulty, malfunctioning AR-15 rifles. The soldiers 

lost confidence in their new state-of-the-art rifles 

and felt strongly about the superiority of the enemy 

AK47 rifle. From the troops’ perspective, they 

did not understand increased cyclic rate due to 

powder change, corroding of bore and chambers 

causing failures to extract or parts breakage due 

to high cyclic rate: he understood “My rifle does 

not work, and theirs does.” 

At this time in 1967, a congressional sub-committee 

headed by Senator Richard Ichord convened 

to investigate the AR-15/M16 and all of 

the issues surrounding the procurement, rights 

to the technical data package, chain of events 

to milestone decisions and malfunctioning. 

Colt engineers went to work making a version 

of their AR-15/M16 rifle that would make use 

of the (perceived) more reliable long stroke 

piston of the AK47. 

The Colt Model 703 was the first external piston 

operated rifle of the platform. For all intents 

and purposes the Model 703 left the ergonomics 

LEAD: Third generation model Colt LE1020 successfully passing a mud test in 2008. Although never put into production, 

the final production LE6940P/APC is a direct descendent of the LE1020. ABOVE TOP: The first external piston version 

of the M16 series rifle is the Colt Model 703. Careful examination shows that Colt engineers knew in the 1960s that to 

correctly make an external piston operated version of the rifle a completely new upper receiver was required and the rifle 

had to be designed as an external piston rifle and not converted. ABOVE: Then next generation Colt model LE1020 is 

based on the Type-C SCAR rifle but many refinements were added built on comments/criticisms of the Type C rifle. This 

would include making the gas system easily removed for maintenance and cleaning, elimination of the UCT finish and a 

simpler way to attach the carrier key to the bolt carrier, which did not require machining. Later, the steel insert would be 

added to the rear of the cam pin, which prevented damage to the receiver seen in all other external piston AR-series rifles. 



of the AR-15 and stuck an upper on it designed 

around a piston operated rifle. The 

lower receiver remained the same as the 

new upper receiver could retrofit any stock 

lower receiver. The prototype had the Foster 

Sturtevant designed four-position selector 

offering the shooter safe, semi-auto, 

auto and 2 or 3 round burst. 

The Colt engineers back then realized 

the best way to make an external piston 

operated rifle was to redesign the upper receiver, 

not to take the current one designed 

for direct gas impingement and turn it into 

a host for an operating system it was not 

designed for. The bolt carrier has the long 

stroke operating rod/piston pinned to the 

top of the bolt carrier. The bolt carrier has 

two longitude grooves on the side that fit 

into two slots in the upper receiver acting 

as guides to keep the bolt carrier group 

moving straight back and forth in the receiver 

(no carrier tilt). 

The gas system utilizes a gas regulator 

allowing the shooter to tune the rifle for 

any combination of ammunition type or 

environmental condition. Self-regulating 

gas systems are more finicky due to extremes 

of ammunition types, propellants, 

as well as weather and atmospheric conditions. 

Allowing this all to be regulated is an 

excellent solution. The problem is if an untrained 

user messes around with the regulator 

not knowing how to adjust it properly, 

the rifle may not function, and may 

beat itself up from over gassing or function 

unreliably. It has always been a double 

edged sword whether to permit the soldier 

access to adjust gas or take a self-regulating 

system and try to control the 

ammunition that goes into it. 

Colt issued a report in May of 1969 titled 

Colt’s Automatic Rifle Model 703. The 

lead off into the report stated, “It is Colt’s 

belief that Colt’s Model 703 will demonstrate 

better performance and superior 

durability when compared to the M16/ 

M16A1 rifle.” Nobody can be sure, all of 

the engineers who worked on this project 

are gone, but evidence points to the fact 

Colt was both involved in the investigation 

of what was in fact going wrong with 

the AR-15/M16 rifles in Vietnam but they 

also wanted to be ready with a solution 

if the problems pointed to the operating 

system of the AR-15/M16. It appears as 

though the Model 703 was a proactive 

step on Colt’s part. 

According to the report, “Prototype 

Number 1 features a closed, adjustable gas 

system which is completely housed in the 

front sight assemble. This allows the user 

to optimize his weapon’s efficiency according 

to conditions dictated by climate or 

ammunition. No gas deposits are permitted 

to enter the breech mechanism and the 

result is a cleaner operating weapon. In 

addition, a larger extractor, a failure-free 

extractor spring and increased dwell time 

before unlocking have been incorporated.” 

The report also stated a list of features of 

the Model 703: 

1. Better extraction through delayed 

ABOVE: Field stripped Colt Model 703. Note how the bolt carrier has rails on the side that fit in a groove inside of the upper receiver. This prevents carrier tilt. 

Also notice the long stroke piston operating rod connects right to the top of the bolt carrier. RIGHT: The Colt Model 703 was built as a long stroke piston operation 

design. (Courtesy of Gary Paul Johnston) 


unlocking and stronger extractor. 

2. Top and side sling capability. 

3. Adjustable gas system. 

4. Burst control (2 or 3 rounds). 

5. Buttstock stowage of cleaning 

equipment. 

6. Simplified handguard disassembly. 

Also listed were Model 703 Advantages: 

1. Gas is exhausted behind the front 

sight rather than into the bolt group 

thereby reducing the frequency of 

cleaning. 

2. Weapon can be slung over the 

shoulder in the assault-ready position. 

3. Adjustable gas system compensates 

for ammunition and climatic 

conditions. 

4. Rate of fire remains relatively constant 

(within ± 15 rounds/minute) 

at any setting. 

The rifle’s upper receiver was very 

cumbersome when compared to that of the 

direct gas rifle although it weighed only 4 

ounces more. All stats were comparable to 

the M16/M16A1. However, this rifle was 

never let out of the gate. 

At the same time, there was another 

organization looking to change the direct 

gas operating system to a short stroke 

tappet system. The contract, DAAG25- 

68-C-0742, was awarded to Olin Mathieson 

Chemical Corporation’s Winchester 

Western Division with the mandate to 

create a system to retrofit existing upper 

receivers with “The object of this contract 

is to improve the combat and operating 

effectiveness and reliability of the existing 

M16A1 rifle by developing a short-stroke 

gas system.” 

The program objectives consisted of: 

1. Determining the functioning characteristics 

of 25 unmodified M16A1 

rifles. 

2. Designing a test rig to establish 

parameters for a short-stroke gas 

system. 

3. Testing and developing two prototype 

short-stroke gas systems. 

4. Conducting a 6,000 round test, 

with Government surveillance, on 

three Short-Stroke models for delivery 

to the Government. 

5. Fabricating ten Short-Stroke Models 

for delivery to the Government. 

6. Estimating contractor cost for retrofitting 

M16A1 rifles with shortstroke 

gas system. 

“It is concluded from this program that 

the short-stroke gas system is functionally 

a practical system for the M16 Rifle and 

will significantly enhance the operating effectiveness 

and reliability of this rifle.” 

The control rifles were 25 government 

furnished M16A1 rifles with the new and 

improved sliding weight buffers and the 

early non chrome lined bore/chambers. 

It should be noted a major issue with the 

reliability of the M16 in Vietnam was in 

fact due to the non-chroming of the chamber 

of the rifles. The corrosion and pitting 

caused a majority of the failures to extract, 

which were catastrophic in combat. The 

only way to remove the stuck cartridge 



material cost per rifle was $4.16 and labor 

costs (excluding burden) would be $4.13 

per rifle. The value of machinery, tools and 

gages required (incl. benches, heat treatment 

and Parkerizing equipment) would 

be $2,064,000 and the contractor start-up 

costs would be $205,000. The conclusion 

of the contract is as follows: 

• The dynamic operating characteristics 

of the M16 rifle can be duplicated 

with a short-stroke gas system. 

• The short-stroke gas system will 

substantially eliminate those malfunctions 

associated with fouling, 

i.e. failure to fully open and fully 

close. 

• The M16A1 rifle with a short-stroke 

gas system is capable of firing a significantly 

larger number of rounds 

without cleaning and lubricating 

than the standard M16A1 rifle. 

case was to knock it out with a cleaning 

rod. Once the chamber was corroded there 

was not enough cleaning possible to correct 

the failure to extract. The barrel would 

have to be replaced. 

The gas cylinder location was to be located 

5.5 inches forward of the bolt face. 

The original gas port location was not used 

for several reasons including the need for 

a complete redesign and replacement of 

the already pinned on and costly front 

sight base. Additionally, a long flexible gas 

piston would be susceptible to damage in 

handling and usage, the gas piston falling 

outside of the handguard cap and forward 

portion of the handguard and probably 

most important was the gas to be tapped 

at an inconsistent low pressure portion of 

the pressure-time curve. The shorter gas 

system would permit a short and sturdy 

gas system and tap consistently high pressure 

portion of the pressure-time curve. 

The new gas block would be pinned to the 

barrel for stability and durability under 

the hand guard. The gas block consisted 

of gas cylinder housing, housing plug and 

utilized a plain piston. There was a new gas 

port drilled. The bolt carrier was modified 

with a solid carrier key that was reinforced 

by a carrier key pin that was copper brazed 

to the carrier key. The pin is inserted into 

the existing gas hole in the carrier and 

the carrier key screws were torqued and 

staked. A chamfered cam pin or a steel insert 

in the receiver is required to overcome 

peening of the receiver at the rear corner of 

the clearance cut for the cam pin rotation. 

This peening is the result of the cam pin 

impacting on the cam in the bolt carrier 

after bolt pickup and rotating into the receiver. 

The final design omitted the chamfer 

of the cam pin and opted for the steel 

insert, which is basically a steel screw that 

prevents the cam pin from damaging the 

aluminum receiver. There is a hole drilled 

in the upper receiver, on the left side where 

the hump is, where the cam slot is on the 

receiver and the screw inserted. 

The result of the study concluded that 


• Information to date indicates that 

functionally the short-stroke gas 

system is a practical system for the 

M16A1 rifle. 

• Certain functional characteristics, 

including “fail to fire” and “fail to 

eject” are independent of the operating 

energy source (gas system), 

but are sensitive to other mechanical 

conditions. 

• A substantial amount of data has 

been generated that would be useful 

in further analysis of the M16A1 

rifle system. 

Like the results of the Colt Model 703 

development, the retro fit program was 

quite viable. However, neither system was 

destined to replace that of the AR-15/M16 

rifle. The findings of the numerous investigations 

showed what the root causes in the 

malfunctions were in Vietnam. In reality it 

was not a deficiency in the rifle system, in 

fact it was a good viable system destined 

to become one of the most prolific combat 

rifles of all time. It was found that the major 

problem, failure to extract, was caused 

by a combination of failing to chrome plate 

the chamber as well as lack of cleaning 

tools to maintain the rifle. Along with this 

there was no instruction on maintenance 

of the rifle. The other major issue was the 

untested and quantified decision to switch 

from IMR to Ball powder against the advice 

from both Gene Stoner and Colt’s. In a 

LEFT: Shown is the way Winchester-Western dealt with the damage from the cam pin cutting into the receiver right behind the cam slot in the 

upper receiver by using a hardened steel screw. Colt would later adopt this concept with their steel insert they added to their receiver in late 

2008 and would later be used on all of their monolithic upper receivers. ABOVE: The lower handguard is removable on the LE1020 for the 

attachment of the M203 grenade launcher. BELOW: Right side of the Colt Type-C SCAR rifle. Note the VLTOR modstock, the M1911-like 

ambidextrous selector lever, the Colt 1-piece upper receiver as well as the SOCOM mandated tan color. The gas system was held in place 

with a roll pin. One of the few criticisms SOCOM had on the rifle was the lack of ease of disassembling the operating system for maintenance 

and cleaning. This problem would be corrected on the next generation LE1020. 



nutshell, the rifle could work reliably with 

ball propellant if it was in fact modified to 

do so, which is what was done: the change 

from a basic spring guide to a buffer that 

had sliding weights to prevent light strikes 

due to bolt carrier bounce and shot peening 

the bolts to increase its strength due to 

the higher cyclic rate that cause bolt breakage. 

Also, the firing pin was lightened and 

the disconnector strengthened. With all of 

these modifications there was little to no 

benefit in going backwards to the external 

pistol. The direct gas system would go on 

to prove itself in the late 1960s right up 

through the introduction of the M4. There 

was no further military interest in a new 

gas system. Although Rhino offered a retrofit 

kit for commercial sales in the 1980s, 

it never really gained momentum. 

Right after the initial years of Gulf 

War 2, combat missions by Special Forces 

showed the newly introduced M4 carbine 

was about to go from a back-up rifle for 

those who had jobs that did not require 

the full length rifle but needed more than 

a pistol could provide, to a preferred primary 

combat rifle by SOCOM as well as 

regular Army. In the early days, SOCCOM 

began to experience failures of bolt breakage, 

and barrels rupturing, as well as failure 

to extract. Oddly enough, regular Army 

was not seeing the same issues. These reports 

let way into the HKM4/HK416 program 

that claimed to create a retrofit kit 

as well as a new rifle touted to “improve” 

combat reliability of the M4 by use of a 

short-stroke tappet operating mechanism. 

So literally the HKM4/HK416 upper receiver 

conversion was designed initially 

for SOCOM to help with their perceived 

problems with the M4. SOCOM had decided 

they needed their own rifle, not one that 

the Department of the Army was project 

manager of, which included the XM-29 

program that would later be whittled down 

to the XM8, but one they fully controlled. 

SOCOM in no way wanted a weapon that 

was an Army weapons program – hence 

the commencement of the SCAR Special 

operations Combat Assault Rifle Program. 

It was also no secret that the Army did not 

want the SOCOM SCAR rifle; they wanted 

the XM8. With both rifle programs running 

consecutively, there was a race to get 

the SCAR rifle adopted before the Army 

could get the XM8 adopted. In the end, the 

XM8 program was cancelled. Any manufacturer 

of firearms who wanted a piece 

of the government sales knew the M4 was 

sole source from the U.S. Govt. to Colt and 

that the Army was happy. The only way to 

get into the U.S. military market was to say 

what they had was deficient and to open up 

the market to non-Colt M4 rifles. 

Everybody knew that SOCOM was 

looking for an external piston operated 

rifle although it was not written that way. 

Colt was willing and ready to partake in the 

competition. They, however, would intro- 

ABOVE: The unique selector lever on the Type C SCAR as requested by SOCOM. U.S. Patent US 

2005/0241470 A1 was granted on Nov. 3, 2005 to Colt’s Paul Hochstrate and the late Michael LaPlante. 

This was only used on the SCAR rifles. CENTER: The operating rod/piston, removed from the Type C 

SCAR upper receiver, is simple and robust. The operating rod would continue to be improved for the next 

two generations. The gas plug can be seen as well as the hole in the front sight base for the roll pin that 

held it in place. The rear sight was cut from a detachable carrying handle to make as compact and light as 

possible. BOTTOM: The operating rod was modified to accept a larger return spring as well as the piston 

is now part of the operating rod. The gas cylinder is now removable by a detent pin identical to that of the 

takedown and pivot pins of the lower receiver. 


ABOVE LEFT: Evolution of the piston rifle bolt carrier groups. On top is the Type C SCAR. 

This is UCT coated and notice the modifications required to install the carrier key. The second 

is also UCT coated but a simple sheer pin was added to the carrier key so any standard bolt 

carrier group could be used. The “skis” on the rear of the carrier were welded on the first two 

versions. The one shown is an early UCT coated carrier but production ones were made in 

standard manganese phosphate finish. The third carrier is a carrier designed specifically for 

the piston gun. The gas port holes removed and the “skis” machined as part of the carrier. 

The bottom is the final design that is a 1-piece carrier increasing the strength of the key thus 

extending service live dramatically. ABOVE RIGHT: Finalized gas system including the operating 

rod, the articulating link piston removed from the operating rod as well as the gas plug. 

duce and submit 3 rifles to the competition; 

two of which were their well proven 

and tested direct gas variations and the 

third would be Colt’s first external operated 

piston rifle since the Model 703 and 

that was in 1969. At the same time, both 

the government and Colt were looking 

into the issues with the rifle failures that 

SOCOM had. Was it a defect in the rifle 

design, quality, or was it user induced. Regardless 

of this outcome SOCOM wanted 

their own rifle. 

Colt submitted three rifles to the SCAR 

competition. Both types, A and B, were 

based on their combat proven direct gas 

system. The Type C was based on the short 

stroke tappet piston system. The system is 

simple and robust. There is an operating 

rod with a return spring attached, a piston 

and a gas cylinder sleeve. All this was held 

into the Type C rifle with a roll pin. Due 

to time constraints the roll pin was not removable 

for cleaning at the user level. The 

piston head had a tapered cone shape to 

it rather than the conventional flat shape. 

The upper receiver was the newly developed 

monolithic upper receiver with removable 

bottom rail to allow installation 

of the M203 grenade launcher. The carrier 

key was solid with no gas holes and part of 



the bolt carrier was machined to install the 

carrier key. The entire rifle was coated in 

UCT (Ultra Chem Tech), which is a nickel 

boron coating and then painted tan as per 

the specification. The piston operating system 

required an H2 buffer. The rifle used 

a unique and patented short throw ambidextrous 

selector lever and a Norgon ambidextrous 

magazine catch. There was an 

Otis Technology grip cleaning kit installed 

and a VLTOR modstock. The front sight 

base had a folding front sight that engaged 

and disengaged by a detent. 

The Type C faired very well in the competition. 

Sources claim it was number two 

in the selection. The winner was the FN 

rifle. There were lessons learned by Colt 

from feedback on the Type C rifle that 

would assist them in further refinement of 

their piston rifle. The industry was calling 

upon Colt to produce an external piston 

operated rifle. There was growing demand 

in the international market for something 

to compete with the HK416. 

In the secrecy that Colt is known for, 

they went to work on their next generation 

piston rifle in the 2007 time frame. This 

new rifle would be called the LE1020. The 

Top: The LE1020 piston that is pyramid in shape. 

Bottom: The final production LE6940P uses a flat 

piston with the articulating link. 

first major change was to have a way the 

operating rod and grooved piston could be 

removed at the user level for cleaning. On 

the front sight base was added a captive pin 

similar to that of the takedown and front 

pivot pin. This made it simple to remove 

and install. Also, to cut down on parts that 

could be lost, the piston was attached to 

the operating rod. The carrier key was simplified 

as well. A dowel pin was added so 

a standard bolt carrier could be used. The 

dowel pin went into a hole drilled into the 

gas slot in the top of the carrier and drilled 

into the bottom of the carrier key and the 

carrier key was held in place by two carrier 

key screws. The intent of the dowel pin was 

to take all of the stresses off of the carrier 

key screws. Barrels were offered in 10.5, 

14.5 and 16.1 inches. The lower receiver 

went back to the standard lower receiver. 

The UCT finish was dropped in favor of 

standard Mil-Spec hard coat anodizing as 

well as manganese phosphate on the bolt 

carrier group and barrel. From 2007 to 

2010, the LE1020 made its way into all the 

major trade shows in both the military and 

commercial arena. The LE1020 got a significant 

amount of attention from both attendees 

and press at SHOT Show and Colt 

was flooded with phone calls from customers 

regarding the high demand for the Colt 

piston rifle. At this time the controversy 

was in clear swing as to the question if 

the U.S. military is giving their warriors 

the best small arms available in the world. 

Colt’s resources were heavily involved in 

that fight. It is this author’s opinion that 

Colt higher management felt that if they 

introduced an external piston operated rifle, 

it would be an admission that their M4 

was inferior. Perhaps in hindsight this author 

feels the better way to look at it would 

have been to give the customer what they 

asked for rather than give the business 

away to another company. 

In 2009, Colt released for sale their first 

monolithic upper receiver but in the direct 

gas configuration called the LE6940. As 

expected, the rifle was an instant success. 

It also was the first new rifle introduced 

by Colt since the LE6920, which was 

in the late 1990s. 

In 2010, Colt introduced to the military 

market their refined LE1020 as the 

APC or Advanced Piston Carbine and for 

the LE market as the LE6940P. The biggest 

change between the LE1020 and the 

APC/LE6940P is the operating rod/piston. 

The new system was called an articulating 

link piston. This pivoting piston 

and op-rod connection compensates for 

deflection of the barrel during firing and 

due to thermal expansion. It also reduces 

recoil and muzzle climb during firing with 

the piston system closer to the bore. On the 

end of the piston are gas rings to seal the 

expansion chamber. The face of the piston 

is flat rather than tapered cone shaped as 

was the LE1020. 

Added to the upper receiver is the steel 

insert behind the cam slot to prevent damage 

to the receiver. This is the same in 

concept to what Winchester-Western did 

Current production LE6940P/APC (Advanced Piston Carbine). This refined LE1020 

sports the proprietary Articulating Link Piston rod, the cam pin slot protector as well 

as the final production 1-piece bolt carrier. The rifle is offered in 10.5, 14.5 and 16.1 

inch barrels as well as selective fire of semiautomatic only. 


in 1968 but Colt further refined the design 

to make it that much more effective 

than the original. 

After getting customer feedback, Colt 

modified the folding front sight base with 

a sliding lock. Customer comments came 

in that if they were to bump the front 

sight the sight would disengage causing 

them issues with engaging targets. Colt 

put a durable sliding lock that prevented 

this from happening. 

Further testing on durability showed 

that the current bolt carrier design could 

be improved. Heavy usage showed that 

even with the dowel pin locating the bolt 

carrier key on the bolt carrier, upward recoil 

stresses on the carrier key screws allowed 

them and the dowel pin to break. 

Colt decided to switch to an integral bolt 

carrier/carrier key design with the impact 

area of the operating rod being on the face 

of the shortened integral carrier key portion 

of the bolt carrier. This eliminated this 

problem from happening. 

The APC was submitted to the Individual 

Carbine competition. There were modifications 

to the lower receiver to make the 

rifle fully ambidextrous. The lower receiver 

was the new 7.62x51mm modular LE901 

lower receiver with the ambidextrous bolt 

and magazine release. The front of the receiver 

was cut back to a 5.56mm configuration. 

The Colt entry was one of the finalists 

but the Individual Carbine program was 

cancelled due to nothing showing a significant 

increase in reliability over the standard 

M4. It is this author’s opinion that the 

testing in the IC program was flawed. They 

tested to the same 6,000 round protocol as 

they used for the M4. Of course they will 

see no major improvement. Perhaps if they 

pushed it out to 12,000 rounds they may 

have seen some significant improvements. 

But as the saying goes, the best is the enemy 

of good enough. According to the Army 

the M4 with its product improvement features 

is fully suitable for the Army. There 

is no requirement for anything to exceed 

those specifications. 

The current APC/LE6940P rifles are 

what you have come to expect from Colt – 

durable workhorses that one can bet their 

life on. The APC will surely have a future in 

the international market and is in fact involved 

in testing in several countries. Unfortunately, 

it is the new kid on the block 

competing with piston operated AR rifles 

that have been in the field and refined for 

more than a decade. In time the Colt rifle 

will achieve a combat record and prove itself 

the way all of its predecessors have for 

the last 50 years, on the battle field. 

ABOVE: A historic depiction of the development of 

the Colt short stroke tappet system: starting on top 

was the original proof of concept designed by Art 

Daigle in a Greek hotel room. The second is the 

Type C SCAR system, the third is the Colt LE1020 

system and on the bottom is the final LE6940P/ 

APC system. Note the main changes had to do 

with the ease of disassembly and decreasing of 

number of components. The final two major designs 

was the change in the piston shape and then 

the implementation of the articulating link piston. 

RIGHT: The captive pin that allows for the removal 

of the operating mechanism. This is probably the 

easiest of any of the piston operated rifles in the 

industry to remove/install. Start the pin inward with 

a cartridge or suitable tool and pull out to detent. 

The heavier return spring pushes the system right 

out of the front sight base where it is easy to grab 

and remove. 








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MACHINE GUN MEMORABILIA 

by ROBERT G. SEGEL 

LEFT: World War II Japanese home front 

patriotic fan. Made of bamboo and paper it 

measures 7-1/2 inches long and opens up to 

be about 10 inches wide. Printed in bright 

colors, it depicts heroic Japanese battle 

scenes that include an officer on horseback, 

airplanes, tanks and machine gunners firing 

a Hotchkiss pattern heavy machine gun. 

The reverse simply has a large red Japanese 

“meatball” against a white background. 

BELOW: Massive (5 inches long) pocket 

knife issued by the Canadian Expeditionary 

Force (CEF) to machine gunners in World 

War I. Deeply stamped on one side “M&D 

Canada 1914” (M&D for Militia & Defense), 

the knife consists of two blades and a marlin 

spike as well as a carrying loop. Hand 

etched on the other side (probably with a nail 

or other sharp instrument) is the insignia of 

the Machine Gun Corps of King’s crown over 

crossed Vickers over MGC and identified to 

Cpl. L.B. Lefroy 2887. 

LEFT: Portrait photograph of an Australian Machine Gun Corps soldier in souvenir holder in the form of a 

post card. The soldier is identified to “Gunner H. J. Brown, Australian M.G.C. on Active Service.” The holder 

is marked “For The Honour of Australia and the British Empire. Souvenir of the Great War.” British made. 

ABOVE LEFT: U.S. World War I felt pillow cover. Handmade home front item from a souvenir kit, to the 

Machine Gun Company of the 127th Infantry, 1917. ABOVE RIGHT: World War I British Guards Machine 

Gun Battalion cap badge. Used 1916-1918, the brass metal star has five points being bullets. In between 

each bullet point is a symbol representing the five regiments of the Foot Guards that made up the Guards 

Machine Gun Battalion. These include a grenade (Grenadier Guards), rose (Coldstream Guards), thistle 

(Scots Guards), shamrock (Irish Guards) and leek (Welsh Guards). To the center is a “GMG” (Guards 

Machine Gun) monogram and “1916,” the year in which the unit was formed. This badge was discontinued 

in May 1918 to embrace the Dismounted Household Cavalrymen and the new unit, and their new insignia, 

was designated the Guards Machine Gun Regiment.

SADJ 7#5

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