I was very surprised when a reader email me about this new rifle from Winchester. The poor Browning BAR hunting rifle has been through yet another evolution and rebranding.
In early 2008 FN announced a tactical sniper rifle, the FNAR, based on the Browning BAR (FN owns both Browning and Winchester Arms). It added a detachable magazine, pistol grip and top, bottom and side picatinny rails.
The new SX-AR is a heavy barreled FNAR in a Mossy Oak camo finish but without the side rails and full length top rail (interestingly the bottom rail remains). It comes full circle, taking the tactical FNAR improvements back to the hunting market.
| Specifications |
|
| Caliber |
308 Win. |
| Finish |
Mossy Oak Brush |
| Receiver |
Aluminum |
| Magazine Capacity |
10 (compatible with 20 round FNAR magazines) |
| Barrel |
Match grade hammer forged chrome plated heavy contour with recessed target crown |
| Barrel Length |
20" |
| Rate of Twist |
1:12" |
| Overall Length |
41 1/2" |
| Length of Pull |
14 1/8" |
| Weight |
9 lbs. 14 oz. |
| MSRP (Price) |
$1,379.00 |
This rifle will have been developed to fight the new AR-10 based hunting rifles that have been coming into the market, for example, the Remington R-25. I suspect the reason it is being rebranded and marketed under Winchester, and not Browning, is so that the risk of the BAR being named in any Assault Weapon Ban (federal or state) is reduced. The Browning BAR can continue to be a "traditional" styled hunting rifle.
For comparison, there are photos of the SX-AR ancestors ...
A big thank you to Reese for emailing me about this new rifle.
RobArm has started shipping XCR pistols to dealers. I have discussed the pistol previously on the blog. It is essentially a semi-auto XCR PDW without the butt stock. This allows civilians to own it without having to pay BATFE tax.
A very mean looking pistol. Note the nifty sling attachment that replaces the butt stock.
| Specifications |
|
| Caliber |
5.56mm NATO |
| Barrel |
Quick Detachable 7.5" Chrome Lined |
| Barrel Twist |
1/7 Twist |
| Length |
18.25" |
| Rails |
13.25" Monolithic top rail. 4.1" bottom and side rails |
| Conversion kits |
6.8SPC and 7.62x39 will be available in late November |
| Safety |
Ambidextrous Paddle Safety |
| Trigger |
Two Stage Enhanced Trigger System |
| Weight |
5.8lbs |
| MSRP |
$1500.00 |
Many thanks to Armando for the info and photos.
The Sig P238 has been given the "Rainbow Titanium" treatment. This model will retail for $751, about $200 more than the standard "Nitron" model.
Sig Sauer is now producing an "R" model of their .45 ACP chambered SIG P220 Compact pistol. The P220R Compact does away with the beaver tail, reducing the frame length by 0.5", and adds an accessory rail.
SIG P220R Compact (Two Tone model).
SIG lists two models, a blued model and two-tone model, although no price is given for the two-tone which I suspect means it is not yet able to be purchased.
| Specifications |
|
| Caliber |
.45 ACP |
| Action Type |
DA/SA |
| Trigger Pull DA |
10.0 lbs |
| Trigger Pull SA |
4.4 lbs |
| Overall Length |
7.10" |
| Overall Height |
5.0" |
| Overall Width |
1.5" |
| Barrel Length |
3.9" |
| Sight Radius |
5.7" |
| Weight w/Mag |
29.6 oz |
| Mag Capacity |
6 Rounds |
| Sights |
SIGLITE Night Sights |
| Grips |
Black Polymer Factory Grips |
| Frame Finish |
Black hard anodized |
| Slide Finish |
Nitron |
| Accessory Rail |
Yes |
| CA Compliant |
No |
| MA Compliant |
No |
| MSRP |
$1,050.00 (Same as the regular P220 Compact) |
Zel Custom are just about to put their 3rd generation Tactilite .50 BMG / .416 Barret AR-15 Upper into full production.
The new Gen-3 receiver is CNC-machined from a single piece of steel. It includes an integrated picatinny which is machined into the receiver.
Zel are also working on a quad rail system for the Gen-3 upper (see photo below).
Shown without coating on the rails
Some years ago Ruger was not giving customers what they wanted but they have really turned things around. Following on from the recently launched tacti-cool Ruger SR-22, the newest in the 10/22 line is the Ruger 10/22 VLEH Target Tactical Carbine. It is essentially a new version of the Ruger 10/22T (Target) styled after the Ruger M77 Hawkeye Tactical, which was also launched this year.
Ruger 10/22 VLEH Target Tactical Rifle
The 10/22 VLEH1 features a Hogue OverMolded stock, in my opinion the best for the Ruger 10/22. The barrel is 16" heavy .920" profile match-grade barrel with target crown. It has the same trigger group as the Ruger 10/22T, which is much superior to the standard factory trigger. To top it all off, a bipod is included.
The VLEH configuration is almost identical to my favorite 10/22 configuration. It makes perfect sense for hunting and general plinking. My only complaint would be the lack of iron sights, although few people will miss them.
| Specifications |
|
| Caliber |
.22 LR |
| Capacity |
10 Rounds (with factory magazines) |
| Finish |
Black Matte |
| Stock |
Black Hogue OverMolded |
| Barrel Length |
16.12" |
| Groove |
6 |
| Twist |
1:16" RH |
| Overall Length |
34.5" |
| Weight |
6.88 lbs |
| Front / Rear Sight(s) |
None |
| Suggested Retail Price |
$ 555.00 |
Hat Tip: Down Range TV
DS Arms are now selling half-assembled AR-15 receivers. Half assembled means no bolt, bolt carrier or charging handle.
- Forged 7075T6 A3 Flattop Upper Receiver
- Forged Front Sight Base with Bayonet Lug
- A2 Flash Hider
- 16 Inch 5.56mm NATO Nitride Treated Chrome Moly 1:9 Twist ZM-4 Barrel
- M4 Style Handguards
- Aluminum Delta Ring
- M4 Style Feed Ramps
The introductory price is $275.
Stag Arms's newest AR-15 is the piston operated Model 8 carbine.
Stag have not released much information about the rifle. It looks much the same as their M4-style Model 3 carbine. I am not sure if the piston system is their own design (if you can identify, please do in the comments). It looks like it could be a long-stroke design, but I am not sure. UPDATE: See below.
Piston system can be seen when upper handguard is removed.
| Specifications |
|
| Caliber |
5.56mm NATO |
| Upper |
Forged and Mil Spec |
| Operating System |
Short Stroke Piston |
| Sights |
Midwest Industries Front & Rear Flip Sight |
| Barrel |
16" Chrome Lined 1/9 Twist |
| Magazine |
Standard AR-15 |
| Stock |
6 Position Collapsible |
| MSRP (Price) |
$1,145 (standard model) and $1,175 (Model 8L left handed) |
| Availability |
December this year. |
Lefties will be pleased to see that a left-handed model will be available.
UPDATE: David from Stag told me that it is a short-stroke piston that Stag Arms designed.
Last week the Polish Army sighed a contact for over 5000 new modernized wz. 96 Beryl assault rifles and Mini Beryl carbines. The updated rifle features a telescopic buttstock, quad picatinny rails, new pistol grip and forgrip design and nifty semi-transparent magazines.
A mean looking rifle! I like the magazine. Photo by REMOV.
REMOV told me that included into he contract is a set of four camo paints and paint thinner. This apparently means the rifle was officially adopted into the Polish Army!
Many thanks to REMOV for the photo and the information for this post.
During the Iraq War the Marines urgently ordered 180 of the Mk11 Mod 0 Sniper Weapon System's, but with the Army M110 Rifle Upper Receiver. This Mk11 / M110 hybrid was known as the Mk11 Mod 1. Later, the Marines began ordering the Mk11 Mod 2, a SOCOM / Navy developed variant of the SR-25 that is very similar to the M110.
Knight's Armament are now selling the last 50 of the Mk11 Mod 1 rifles that will ever be produced to civilians.
The suggested retail price ... $8508! Most of these 50 rifles are already spoken for with only a few left for sale. It is more than I would spend on a rifle of this class, but I suppose it is also a piece of military history.
Big thanks to Jesse for sending me the info.
