Colt CAR-15 / XM-177 Commando (USA)

Colt CAR-15 - earliest version


Colt XM-177E1


Colt Commando (model 733, note M16A2-style brass deflector and forward assist)

Data for current production Colt mod 933 Commando

Caliber: 5.56x45 mm (.223 Remington)
Action: Gas operated, rotating bolt
Overall length: 680 - 762 mm
Barrel length: 292 mm
Weigth: 2.44 kg empty
Rate of fire: 750 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds (or any other M16 type magazine)

The first carbine version of the M16 assault rifle appeared under the name of CAR-15 in 1965, an was intended for US Special Forces who fought in Vietnam. The original M16 was simply shortened by cutting the half of the lenght of the barrel (from original 20 inches to 10 inches) and by shortening the buttstock by another 3 inches. The butt was plastic and retractable, the handguards were of triangular shape and the flash hider was of original three-prong type. Based on the origunal CAR-15, Colt quickly developed the CAR-15 Air Force Survival Rifle, intended, as a name implied, to serve to downed airplane and helicopter pilots. This version had tubular handguards and metallick tubular buttstock, and fo some reasons the pistol grip was shortened.

Initial combat experience with CAR-15 brought up some problems. First, the carbine was too loud, deafing the firing soldier quite quickly. Second, the muzzle flash was also terrific, blinding the shooter at night and giving avay the position of the shooter to the enemies. Colt partially solved this problem by installing a new, longer flash suppressor. This version, known as the Colt model 609 Commando, also carried new handguards of tubular shape. This model was officially adopted by US ARmy as XM-177E1. This wersion had M16A1-style receiver with forward assist button. In the mid-1967 Colt slightly upgraded the Commando by lenghting the barrel up to 11.5 inches (292 mm), and this version was adopted as XM-177E2.

Later, with the introduction of the M16A2 and M16A3 (flat-top) models, Colt also changed the design of itys Commando line, adding three-burst options and flat-top receivers with Weaver-style rails.

Current Colt Commando carbines (Colt still called these Submachine-guns) are based on either M16A2 or M16A3 receivers, and had 11.5 inch (292 mm) barrels with M16A2-style flash suppressors, and available in either 3-round bursts or full-auto versions. Colt Commando carbines are used by various US Special Forces and by some foreign forces, including Israei ISAYERET.

From the technical point of view, the Colt Commando is similar to contemporary M16 rifle, having same light alloy, two parts receiver, direct gas operated, rotating bolt action, with non-reciprocating charging handle at the rear of the receiver. The telescoping buttstock is made from metallic tube. Due to recoil spring, located inside the butt, the Commando cannot be equipped with side- or underfolding stock withouth some redesigning. Currenly Colt Commando assault carbines are issued with standard M16-type 30 round magazines, but any other M16-compatible magazine can be used, including the 100-rounds Beta-C dual drums.

Boys Mk.I, Mk.I* and Mk.II anti-tank rifle (UK)

Boys Mk.I anti-tank rifle, with circular muzzle brake and "inverted T" shaped bipod, as made by BSA in england.

 

Boys Mk.I* anti-tank rifle, with flat muzzle brake and "inverted V" shaped bipod, as made by Inglis in Canada.

Data for Boys Mk.I anti-tank rifle

Type / action	manually operated bolt action
Caliber	.55 Boys (13.9x99B)
Weight unloaded	16.3 kg
Length	1626 mm
Barrel length	910 mm
Magazine capacity	5 rounds
Armor penetration (Range / Angle / Penetration)	W Mk.1 bullet: 100 m / 90o / 16 mm W Mk.2 bullet: 100 m / 70o / 20 mm

 The Boys anti-tank rifle was named after its designer, captain H Boys at RSAF Enfield, who died shortly before the adoption of this weapon late in 1937. This weapon was in service with British forces until about 1943, although its effectiveness against German tanks became insufficient on much earlier stages of war. This rifle was produced by BSA Ltd in three basic versions, Mk.I, Mk.I* and Mk.II, with total production reaching 62 thousands of rifles. The Boys Mk.I was original British-made version, with round muzzle brake and T-shaped bipod. The Boys Mk.I* rifles were produced in Canada by John Inglis co, and were distinguished primary by flat muzzle brake and V-shaped bipod. The Boys Mk.II version was rarest of the three, as it was designed especially for airborne troops and had shortened barrel. Boys rifles were normally used from its own bipods, and also were fitted to "Universal carrier" armored tracked vehicles. The ammunition used in the Boys antitank rifle was peculiar to this weapon, using belted case 99mm long, loaded with AP bullets with steel core (W Mk.1, 60 g, 747 m/s) or tungsten core (W Mk.2, 47.6 g, 884 m/s). Boys anti-tank rifles saw some action against Soviet tanks during the Winter war in Finland (1940), and later against German armor in Europe and Japanese armor in Pacific theater. Generally, this weapon appeared to be less than popular due to complex design of certain parts, heavy weight and recoil, and insufficient armor penetration.

The Boys anti-tank rifle is a manually operated bolt cation rifle. It uses rotary bolt with frontal locking lugs. Feed is from top-mounted detachable box magazine with 5-round capacity. To mitigate the heavy recoil, the barreled action is allowed to recoil against the buffer in the stock, and the barrel is equipped with muzzle brake. Shoulder stock is fitted with additional cushioned pad. Rifle was normally fired from folding bipod, and it was equipped with open sights, which were offset to the left to clear top-mounted magazine. The rear sight was of aperture type, either fixed one (set for 300 yards / 271 meters range), or with two range settings (up to 300 yards and 300-500 yards).

M134 and GAU-2/A 'Minigun' Gatling machine gun (USA)

General Electric M134 Minigun machine gun of Vietnam war (late 1960s) era, on pedestal mount.

 

 Dillon Aero M134D Minigun of current manufacture, with manual control unit and feed chute.
Image: Dillon Aero

 

M134D Minigun of current manufacture, mounted on the roof of the military car.
Image: Dillon Aero

 

M134D Minigun of current manufacture, on Naval pedestal mount, with ammunition container.
Image: Dillon Aero

 

M134 Minigun on infantry type tripod, as often seen on civilian entertainment events such as Knob Creek machine gun shot in USA.

 

Data for M134D Minigun

Caliber	7.62x51 NATO
Weight	24...30 kg gun with motor and feeder/delinker, less ammunition container and power source
Length	801 mm
Barrel length	559 mm
Feed	belt in 1500, 3000 or 4500 round containers
Rate of fire	3000 or 4000 rounds per minute, fixed

The development of a rifle-caliber, externally powered Gatling type machine gun was commenced by weapons branch of the US-based General Electric Corporation in 1960, following the successful development and fielding of the 20mm M61 Vulcan automatic gun (used in aircraft and AA applications). First prototypes of the 7.62mm Gatling-type machine gun were fired in 1962, and in late 1964 first 7.62mm machine guns, dubbed 'the Minigun', were mounted on AC-47 Gunship aircraft for combat trials. Following the definitive success of the first 'Gunship' aircrafts armed with Miniguns, GE commenced mass production of the new weapon, officially adopted by US Army as M134 Minigun and by US Air Forces as GAU-2/A machine gun. By 1971 more than 10,000 Miniguns were produced and delivered to US Armed forces. Most were used in airborne applications, installed in a variety of side- or forward-firing mountings aboard aircrafts and helicopters (AH-1 Cobra, UH-1 Huey, HH-53 Green Giant and others). Some Miniguns also were installed on riverine crafts, used by US Navy and Special forces in Vietnam.Thanks to its sustained-fire capability and high rate of fire, Minigun weapons provided excellent suppressive and area denial capabilities. It must be noted, however, that infantry applications of the Miniguns were very limited due to the weight of the system and its requirement for external electric power. In most cases, Minigun machine guns were (and still are) mounted on high mobility vehicles as anti-ambush weapons.
In recent times, production of the 7.62mm Miniguns was resumed by US-based company Dillon Aero, which is now manufacturing an improved version of the basic design, known as M134D. It has many upgrades in detail, resulting in decreased weight of the system (especially when using titanium gun body), improved reliability and better handling and maintenance. The M134D machine gun is used on board of many military helicopters (such as MH-6 or UH-60), as well as on HMMMV trucks and naval crafts (to provide close-in defense against small, fast-moving vessels such as suicide-bomber motorboats).
It must be noted that M134 miniguns are very rarely used for infantry applications; photos of M134 installed on standard light tripods are almost universally from some 'Civilian' events such as Knob Creek shot in USA, where people can fire a number of legally owned full automatic weapons just for fun. Military has no place for a 30-kg weapon (less mount and batteries) with extremely high ammunition consumption rate in a 'man-portable' class of small arms. Prospects of using M134 in 'Hollywood-style' are even less realistic, not only because of aforementioned properties (heavy weight and unnecessarily high rate of fire) but also due to the extremely high recoil force - at just 3,000 rounds per minute the Dillon Aero M134D minigun generates average recoil force of 150 lbs / 67.5 kg, with peak recoil reaching 300 lbs / 135 kg.

The M134 Minigun is an externally operated weapon which uses electrical motor drive to operate its action. Typical power requirements for 3,000 rounds per minute (50 rounds/second) rate of fire are 24-28 V DC, 58 Amp (~1.5 KWt); with increase of rate of fire power requirements rise accordingly. The gun operates on Gatling principle, that is it employs a rotary cluster of six barrels, each with its own bolt group. Bolts are moved back and forth behind each barrel as their operating roller passes an internal curved track machined inside the receiver cover. Typically, the topmost barrel in the cluster has its bolt fully open and the bottom barrel in cluster has its bolt fully closed, locked and firing pin released to fire the loaded cartridge. Barrel locking is achieved by the rotary bolt head. Since the gun operates on external power, it is immune to dud / misfired rounds, which are ejected during the normal cycle of operation. Feed is provided either by linkless chute or by the linked ammunition, In the latter case, a powered feeder/delinker module is installed on the gun; it receives necessary power through the gear from the gun motor. To properly operate the gun, it is fitted with electronics control box, which, in the case of manually controlled installation, has an 'master arm' switch and fire controls (triggers). Typical feed arrangement uses a large container holding some 1,500 (full weight ~ 125 lbs / 58 kg) to 4,500(full weight ~ 295 lbs / 134 kg) rounds, with maximum capacity reaching well over 10,000 rounds per gun in certain heavy helicopter installations (such as used in CH-53 and CH-47 during Vietnam war). The container is connected to the gun via the flexible chute. If chute is overly long, an additional electrical feed booster is installed on the ammunition container.

Mossberg 500 shotguns (USA)

Mossberg 500A shotgun, 1980s production 'Persuader' model.

 

Mossberg 500A shotgun with shot and slug barrel combo (hunting version).
Image © O F Mossberg firearms

 

Mossberg 500 Persuader shotgun, with 8-shot magazine.
Image © O F Mossberg firearms

 

Mossberg 500 Marine shotgun, with 5-shot magazine.
Image © O F Mossberg firearms

 

Mossberg 500 Tactical shotgun, with 5-shot magazine and adjustable stock.
Image © O F Mossberg firearms

 

Mossberg 500 Cruiser shotgun.
Image © O F Mossberg firearms

 

Mossberg 500 Home Security shotgun, 410 gauge.
Image © O F Mossberg firearms

 

Mossberg 500 bullpup shotgun.

Type: Pump action shotgun
Gauge: 12, 20, or .410;  Chamber 3" / 76 mm
Overall length: varies with different models
Barrel length(s): 355 - 500 mm (14" - 20") for combat/defensive versions. up to 711 mm / 28" in hunting versions
Weight: 3.06-3.29kg
Magazine: 5, 7 or 8 rounds in underbarrel tube magazine

Mossberg model 500 shotguns were first introduced in 1961 by famous US-based gunmaking company O.F.Mossberg & Sons. In fact, one model designation covers a broad range of shotguns in four chamberings (12 gauge models 500A, 16 gauge - 500B, 20 gauge - 500C and .410 - 500D) and in a wide assortment of barrel and magazine lengths, finishes, stock shapes and materials. Other than hunting guns, Mossberg also offers a line of military / security / police guns under names of "Persuader" (various riot-type guns with fixed stocks, cylinder-bored barrels of short to medium length) or "Cruiser" (pistol-gripped shotguns originally intended for storage in police cruiser cars). In mid- or late eighties Mossberg also produced a short-lived bullpup version of the Model 500, with polymer stock, forward sliding pistol grip and additional automatic grip safety. For various reasons this conversion didn't lived on and was soon discontinued. Today Mossberg 500 shotguns are widely used by civilian shooters and hunters as hunting, self-defense and practice / sport guns; many Mossberg 500 guns are also in use by various Law Enforcement agencies in USA and abroad. Mossberg 500 shotguns also saw wide use by US Armed forces since about 1979, although today these are replaced in military service with improved Mossberg model 590 shotguns.
Mossberg model 500 shotguns are known for high reliability and durability, combined with affordable price. Some claim that those guns have loose construction which produces unnecessary noise when gun is cycled or shacked, but this feature in fact is intentionally built into the gun to provide maximum reliability under harsh conditions and heavy fouling.

Mossberg model 500 shotgun utilizes so called pump action, which is operated by sliding forend. Forend is connected with bolt group with dual action bars. Receiver is produced from lightweight aluminum alloy, and the bolt locks into the barrel extension using a single massive lug on the top of the vertically swinging locking piece, installed in the bolt body. Feed is from underbarrel tubular magazine, and one specific feature of Mossberg 500 shotguns is that cartridge lifter stays in raised position through most of the feeding cycle, ensuring trouble-free feeding of the cartridge into the barrel. Manual safety is conveniently located at the rear top of receiver (so called 'tang safety') and is easily accessible by either hand. Barrels are quick removable and could be replaced in less than a minute; there is a wide variety of barrels with fixed or removable chokes, ranging in length from 18.5 to 28 inches (470 to 711 mm); shorter barrels are available mostly for Law Enforcement or Military users. Standard furniture consists of a semi-pistol gripped stock and forend, made from wood or polymer. Pistol-gripped guns are known as 'Cruiser' shotguns, and recently Mossberg also added a line of Tactical models with retractable-adjustable (M4 carbine type) stocks and pistol grips.

Remington model 7600 rifle (USA)

Remington model 760 pump-action rifle, predecessor to Model 7600.

 

Remington model 7600 pump-action rifle with wood furniture.

 

Remington model 7600 pump-action rifle with synthetic furniture.

 

 Remington model 7600P 'Police' pump-action rifle / carbine.

	Remington model 7600 rifle	Remington model 7600P Police carbine
Type / action	manually operated, pump action rifle
Caliber(s)	.243Win, .270Win, .308Win, .30-06	.308Win / 7.62x51mm
Weight unloaded	3.4 kg / 7.5lbs	3.18 kg / 7lbs
Length	1082 mm / 42.6"	953 mm / 37.5"
Barrel length	559 mm / 22"	420 mm / 16.5"
Magazine capacity	4 rounds

 

Remington model 7600 pump-action rifle was introduced in 1981 and replaced in production the externally similar model 760. The model 7600 rifle is the fourth generation of the pump-action rifles, made by Remington Arms company in USA since the 1913 (the year Remington model 14 pump-action rifle was introduced). This rifle is quite popular as a hunting weapon in USA, and is available in four major medium-game calibers. In carbine version it also makes a great all-around weapon, and recently Remington has introduced a special "Police / Patrol carbine" version of the model 7600, which is compact and handy, yet packs some good accuracy and power thanks to its popular .308 / 7.62mm caliber. While the standard magazine capacity for Remington 7600 rifles and carbines is relatively low at only 4 rounds, aftermarket 10-round magazines are available for those who need more firepower. Another thing to consider is that these rifles are known for good accuracy and feature free-floating barrels.

Remington model 7600 rifle is a manually operated weapon which uses sliding forend to operate its action. Barrel is locked by rotary bolt with four radial lugs, and the bolt carrier is connected to the sliding forend by dual action bars. Feed is from detachable box magazines. Standard sights are of open type, with both rear (adjustable) and front sight blades being mounted on the barrel. The top of receiver is drilled and tapped for installation of various telescope sight mounts. Remington model 7600P 'Police' carbines are fitted with protected front sight and receiver-mounted adjustable rear sight of ghost-ring (diopter) type. Depending on the version of the gun, furniture can be made either from wood or synthetics.

XM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle / M2010 ESR (USA)

XM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle

XM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle

 

Caliber	.300 Win Mag (7,62x67)
Action	Manually operated bolt action
Overall length	1135 mm
Barrel length	610 mm
Weight	7,95 kg loaded, with scope
Magazine capacity	5 rounds

 

The XM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle, which was previously known as M24E1 Reconfigured Sniper Weapon System, is a major upgrade of the M24 Sniper Weapon System currently fielded by US Army. The XM2010 (M2010 if formally adopted) was developed by famous American company Remington Arms, to extend range and target penetration capabilities of army snipers while maintaining reasonable weight of the weapon. The XM2010 rifle is a major rework of the M24 rifle, as the only common part between those weapons is the receiver. This is possible because M24 rifles were originally built using Magnum-sized Remington Model 700 actions, with such conversion in mind. Everything else is new, including new stocks, barrels, magazines, optics and sound suppressor. The XM2010 rifle will deliver accurate fire at ranges of up to 1200-1300 meters using currently issued Mk.248 Mod.1 .300 Winchester Magnum ammunition. Accuracy requirements are set as 1 MOA or less at 200 yards.

Issue of XM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifles to US troops operating in Afghanistan is currently scheduled to January, 2011. Current plans call for at least 2 500 rifles.

The XM2010 / M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle is manually operated, rotary bolt action rifle. It uses Remington Model 700 Magnum-size action with frontal locking and 5-round detachable box magazine. New chassis-type stock is made from aluminum and features tubular forend with multiple mounting points for additional Picatinny rails, fully adjustable side-folding shoulder stock and ergonomically shaped pistol grip. The free-floating barrel uses 5R rifling and is threaded at the front to accept quick-detachable sound suppressor (silencer), built by Advanced Armament Co. This suppressor is an integral part of the XM2010 package. The standard optics selected for XM2010 sniper rifle is Leupold Mark 4 6.5-20x50mm ER/T M5 telescope sight. For night-time operations, the AN/PVS-29 Clip-on Sniper Night Sight can be used as well.

LAR Grizzly pistol Winchester Magnum 45 (USA)

LAR Grizzly Mark I pistol, caliber .45 Winchester Magnum

 

LAR Grizzly Mark I pistol, caliber .45 Winchester Magnum

 

LAR Grizzly Mark I pistol, caliber .45 Winchester Magnum with long slide and 10 inch barrel

Type	Single Action semiautomatic
Caliber(s)	.45 Win Mag; also .45ACP, 10mm Auto, .357 Mag, 9mm Win Mag, .38 Super
Weight unloaded	~ 1380 g
Length	267 mm (with 6 1/2" barrel)
Barrel length	165 mm (6 1/2") or 254 mm (10")
Magazine capacity	7 rounds

The Grizzly Win Mag pistol has been developed during early 1980s by L.A.R. Manufacturing Inc (USA; L.A.R. stands for names of company founders - Larisch, Augat and Robinson). This pistol has been designed around the very powerful .45 Winchester Magnum (.45 Win Mag, metric designation 11.43x30mm) ammunition, which generates muzzle energies in the 1100 Joules (810 ft-lbs) region. The prime intended niches for that round and Grizzly pistol were hunting and silhouette shooting, as massive pistol was way too heavy for defensive carry, and .45 Win Mag ammunition was overpowered and generated plenty of recoil. Despite (or because of) merits of .45 Win Mag ammunition, the Grizzly pistol was designed as a multi-caliber platform. Standard Grizzly mark I pistols were sold in .45 Win Mag chambering, but patented factory conversion kits were available for conversion of said pistol into one of many popular calibers, including .45ACP, 10mm Auto, .357 Magnum and several others. Such kits included new barrels, barrel bushings, springs, magazines, as well as "multi-caliber" extractors and ejectors which replaced dedicated ".45 Win Mag only" extractor and ejector of the basic weapon. Later on, LAR manufacturing also introduced two slightly enlarged version of the Grizzly, known as Mark IV and Mark V. Mark IV pistols were chambered for popular .44 Magnum revolver round; Mark V were chambered for very powerful .50AE ammunition, in an obvious attempt to catch up with competitors such as IMI / Magnum Research Desert Eagle or AMT Automag. However, for various reasons manufacture of Grizzly pistols has ceased by the turn of 21st century, and today these pistols are no longer made. However, L.A.R. Manufacturing Inc is still in business and still offers spare parts and service for Grizzly Win Mag pistols.
Grizzly pistols were known for good accuracy, high quality and fierce recoil, especially in Mark V .50AE version; these pistols required replacement of return springs quite often, about every 1000 rounds or so (in more common calibers return springs can serve ten or twenty times more with not a single problem). Pistols were available with different barrel lengths (6 1/2 inch barrel being the standard), with optional muzzle brakes and/or compensators.

Technically, LAR Grizzly pistols were a scaled up copies of eternal Colt M1911 pistol, designed by John Browning. Grizzly used same locked breech, short recoil operated action with tilting barrel and swinging link. Trigger was of Single action type, with exposed hammer, automatic grip safety and frame-mounted manual safety. Magazines were single stack. Standard sights were of target type, with fully adjustable rear.