Winchester, Ky. (March 2017) – DoubleStar Corp, manufacturers of high-quality, US-made AR components, rifles and pistols, debuts the Oops! Replacement Kit. This popular repair kit includes the most commonly lost or worn springs and detents in the AR15 platform and is a vital component of every AR15 owner’s tool kit.
The Oops! Replacement Kit includes:
The Rampart CEW testing chamber is a laboratory tested and certified device that is designed to dramatically improve workplace safety when handling Conducted Energy Weapons.
Benefits:
-A safe way to prevent serious injuries when performing function tests or scheduled downloads
-Safely contains probes during accidental discharge
-Laboratory tested & certified – NON conductive
-CEW decibel output decreased by over 50%
-Made in Canada – Patent Pending
-Currently in use with Canadian Law Enforcement Services
The new Beretta APX has been released into the LE/Military Channel and is available exclusively to LE/Military/1st Responders for the next 30 days before being released fully into the commercial market.
Features:
-Striker Deactivation Button – Field strip without pulling trigger
-Trigger Safety
-Ambidextrious Slide Catch
-Automatic Striker Block Safety
-Reversible Magazine Release
-Interchangeable Backstraps
-Interchangeable Grip Frame
-Flat-Faced 6lb Trigger
-Low Barrel Axis
-Picatinny Rail
Specifications:
Model: APX
Caliber: 9x19mm
Magazine: 17 Rounds (Includes 3 Magazines)
Rifling Pitch: 10in/ 250mm
Rifling: R.H. – 6 Grooves
General Operation: Semiautomatic, short recoil system
Locking System: Tilt-barrel, locked breech
Sights: Removable front and rear sights
Chassis frame: Stainless steel
Grip frame housing: Fiberglass reinforced technopolymer
Slide: Steel with black Nitride finishing
Barrel: Steel with black Nitride finishing
Action: Striker fired
Safeties: Striker deactivation button, firing pin block safety, trigger safety
If you are Military (Active/Reserve/Retired), Law Enforcement (Active/Retired) or 1st Responders, you can purchase yours at one of Quantico Tactical’s stores or on their website.
Back in 2012, General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems unveiled their belt-fed Lightweight Medium Machine Gun, in .338 Norma Magnum. I saw the weapon, but didn’t take it too seriously, because at the time, there was no money in DoD for new starts. I remember being asked by a friend what a .338 machine gun could be used for and I replied, “shooting $10 bills.” It just seemed like the timing wasn’t right. Now however, its prospects are looking better than ever.
A few things have happened since 2012. First off, the development of Polymer cased ammo has progressed to the point that it is now viable. Second, there’s now money available for an initiative like this. What’s more, we’ve got a Chief of Staff of the Army who wants to retool the Army for the next war. The LWMMG offers an overmatch capability that promises to change how the Infantry fights.
Developed via internal R&D Dollars, GD identified a capability gap between the M240 and M2 machine guns. They set about to create a machine gun which would offer similar handling characteristics as the M240, yet rival the reach of the venerable M2. Combining the .338 Norma Magnum cartridge and their “Short Recoil Impulse Averaging” recoil mitigation system, the LWMMG can engage targets out to 1700m (some GD literature offers 1900m) with a 300gr Sierra HPBT, FMJ, or AP projectile. That round offers 5 times the energy of a 7.62 projectile at 1000m.
While GD chose the .338NM over the .338 Lapua Magnum due to its less tapered case for use in belts, and the promise of longer barrel life, the LWMMG can be converted to use the .338LM cartridge.
At the 1700m range, the performance of the M2’s .50 round limits it to use as an area weapon, while the .338NM has been demonstrated to hit point targets at that range. This more than adequately overmatches the Russian PKM which has been a concern for anyone who has found themselves at its receiving end.
The weapon weighs 22 lbs which places it well within the 240 weight class of 27 lbs and rivals the new M240L. The LWMMG also features a quick change barrel with fixed headspace and timing as well as integrated MIL-STD-1913 rails. Additionally, there is a collapsible stock and GD has been offering the weapon with a 6x optic.
This 2012 chart depicts the weights of the M240, LWMMG and M2 and is based on conventional, brass cased rounds for the LWMMG. In addition to weapon upgrades, Poly case technology is going to further lighten that load, or better yet, increase the amount of ammunition a machine gunner can carry.
Finally, GD has also successfully demonstrated the LWMMG with a suppressor.
Conceptually, the Army is interested in something along these lines, but out in the nebulous world of the future. The thing is, the stars are aligning now.
Now is the time for one of the services or USSOCOM to write a requirement for this capability. Let’s see what industry can do to offer the US Warfighter a capability unparalleled anywhere else. Take that, PKM!
All photos from General Dynamics.
Although Jim Schatz passed away, he left a great deal of knowledge with us, including the “9 Known Truths”, based on his experience in the Small Arms industry. I have a feeling they’ll still be as valid in a decade or more, as they are today.
1 The asymmetric threat, unencumbered by “western” doctrine and politics, exploits our capability gaps faster than we can react within our cumbersome infrastructure.
2 Kinetic Energy (KE) kill mechanisms (launched bullets, fragments) have been and remain state-of-the-art weapons technology since the 15th century. That will not change anytime soon so we should embrace and improve on it.
3 Man-portable “directed energy” technology is decades away. One cannot “schedule a break through”, regardless of what the sci fi writers and S&T community developers espouse.
4 For the ground combatant, pH and pI/K has not been markedly improved by so-called “Leap Ahead” or “Revolutionary” technology and “Star Wars” S&T projects, yet $B’s have been spent on unrealistic and undelivered promises.
5 Desired Target Effects (direct hits or effective target suppression) depends on aiming and launch “hold proficiency” (marksmanship) be it used for semi, burst or full auto KE fire, air-bursting engagements via accurate lasing, XM25 or “TrackingPoint”-style FS/FCS, or even directed energy “pulses”.
6 Repeatable First Shot hits/kills will never be readily accomplished due to the many “hold” and error factors beyond the control of the operator. Immediate through-optic BDA and rapid adjusted follow-on shots offer the greatest chance of improved target effects, BUT the equipment must provide that core capability to the trained operator.
7 Snipers as “force multipliers” exploit magnified optics, superior weapons, sights and ammunition to increase pH & PI/K at all ranges, especially those beyond assault rifle range. Rifleman can/should leverage that capability by employing affordable “paradigm shifting” precision enablers.
8 Training is paramount to effectiveness BUT advanced hardware enables advanced training and employment.
9 Incremental, available and emerging (and affordable) advancements in small arms, sighting and ammunition technologies offer the greatest return on investment and are waiting to be exploited.
(U.S. Army photo by Sunny Burns, ARDEC)
The RAMBO or Rapid Additively Manufactured Ballistics Ordnance, is a 3D-printed grenade launcher developed as a collaborative effort between the U.S. Army Research, Development and Engineering Command; the U.S. Army Manufacturing Technology Program; and America Makes, the national accelerator for additive manufacturing and 3-D printing.
(U.S. Army photo by Sunny Burns, ARDEC)
The RAMBO, and the 3D-printed round it fires, is the result of a project to “demonstrate the utility of AM [Additive Manufacturing] for the design and production of armament systems.” Rather than try to determine if AM/3D-printing could result in less-expensive or superior manufacturing, the researchers wanted to test the validity of AM/3D-printing technologies in building a weapon system, as well as if the properties of the materials were robust enough for a functioning weapon system.
(U.S. Army photo by Sunny Burns, ARDEC)
RAMBO has proven itself initially successful: every component of the launcher, save the springs and fasteners, was developed using AM techniques and processes. The barrel and receiver were fabricated from aluminum processed using a Direct Metal Laser Sintering (DMLS) process, while other components were printed in 4340 alloy steel.
(U.S. Army photo by Sunny Burns, ARDEC)
The round, a M781 40mm training round chosen for its simplicity and lack of energetics, was manufactured using Selective Laser Sintering along with other AM processes to print glass-filled nylon cartridge cases and windshields. The projectile body underwent four separate manufacturing approaches, including printing the body in aluminum; steel with a urethane obturating ring; and zinc with a lost-wax casting process. Only the .38 cal cartridge case was not printed, as the capability to print cases isn’t quite yet feasible.
The RAMBO system and its accompanying 3D-printed rounds were test fired at both indoor and outdoor faculties, including the Armament Technology Facility at Picatinny Arsenal, New Jersey, remotely fired for safety purposes, and recorded with high-speed video. 15 test shots showed no degradation of the system, and rounds met muzzle velocities within 5% of a production M781 round fired from a production grenade launcher.
While widespread adoption of AM/3D-printing processes is still a ways out, the RAMBO project has show that there is validity in these processes for developing weapon systems. If anything else, AM/3D-printing can be used to greatly expedite the production of prototypes, which will be of benefit towards better equipping our warfighters.
Original story: asc.army.mil/web/news-alt-amj17-rambos-premiere
We all know that small guns can be less fun to shoot, and often that’s because they come with heavy, creepy, gnarly triggers. The aftermarket trigger market for handguns has long been dominated by products for only a handful of polymer guns; we aim to change that with the BRZ Trigger.
The Overwatch Precision BRZ features a hybrid flat/curved trigger face, allowing a uniquely self-correcting, straight rearward press, combined with insane comfort. Pre-travel has been reduced as much as possible without compromising firearm safety features, and the result is a clean, crisp break with reduced overtravel, and a tactile reset.
Each trigger shoe and trigger safety tab is machined in the USA out of 7075-T6 billet aluminum alloy, anodized and affixed with stainless steel coil pins.
As always, Overwatch Has You Covered with a transferable, unlimited lifetime warranty.
The EDC X9 is the latest pistol from Wilson Combat, a double stack 1911-pattern 9mm pistol designed principally as a carry pistol. Sized similar to a G19, the EDC X9 features an aluminum X-Frame, an X-TAC frontstrap/mainspring housing treatment, and various Wilson Combat Bullet Proof components: the hammer, mag release, and thumb safety. The 4″ barrel and the chamber are both fluted, and the EDC X9 is designed as match grade; it comes with an accuracy guarantee of 1.5″ at 25 yards. Also like a G19, the EDC X9 features a 15+1 capacity.
Additional features include:
Check out the video below to see Gunfighter Moment-contributor Larry Vickers’ impressions of the EDC X9.
