DPMS have teamed up with Gun Broker to auction off a pink version of their Lite 16" rifle.
100% of the proceeds with go towards Susan G. Komen for the Cure, an organization which supports breast cancer research.
Hat Tip: ericire12 @ Downrange.tv
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).
MG Industries have developed an interesting quick change barrel / takedown upper receiver for the AR-15.
Tam has got her hands on one of them and has an interesting discussion going on about it on her blog.
Bison Armory, which is part owned by gun blogger SayUncle, have gotten in new 16" 6.8 SPC barrels for the AR-15.
The 16" Recon profile barrel is manufactured by E.R. Shaw according to the Bison Armory specifications. It sells for $200.
While watching a video of the MetalStorm 3GL 40mm Grenade Launcher I was blown away by the incredible technology1 that these Australians have developed. I have blogged about the 3GL before, but I had not imagined it worked so well in practice. The video is worth 1000 words ...
The MetalStorm technology allows multiple rounds to be loaded into, and fired from, a single barrel. This makes a much more compact weapon than competing MGL2 systems such as the Milkor. The weapon has been designed to be within the same tolerances as the M203/M320 and so achieves similar range, velocity & accuracy. It makes use of standard 40x46mm grenade warheads which are inserted into the MetalStorm 'tail assembly'. This would make the system much more attractive to nations which currently use the standard 40x46mm rounds.
The grenades are fired electronically as fast as the trigger can be pull and the barrel is capable of 720 rounds per minute! I asked Mark, MetalStorm's armorer, about battery life and he told me that the 2xAA batteries is uses will last as long as the barrel does.
What really impressed me was how fast it could be reloaded. In the video you see the operator remove the rifle's magazine when reloading - this was for safety and it not required in the field.
In its stand-alone configuration (not attached to a rifle and with its own stock) it weighs 5 lbs - less than half the weight of the 11 lb Milkor MGL!
MetalStorm have also been working on a bullpup version of the 3GL. Aside from the shorter overall length, it allows the system to be used with rifles, such as the AK variants, which require the magazines to be rocked into place. The pistol grip of the non-bullpup version would get in the way during magazine changes,
As I said before, I am very impressed with this weapon. It offers a lot of power in a very small package.
Many thanks to David for answering my questions and providing photos and videos for the blog.
DS Arms are now selling half-assembled AR-15 receivers. Half assembled means no bolt, bolt carrier or charging handle.
The introductory price is $275.
Guy Sagi, the Editor in Chief of Shooting Illustrated, has written about his experience hunting antelope with an AR-10.
It is great to see semi-automatic rifle hunting going mainstream.
Troy Industries have developed a nifty new diamond aperture (DIA) rear sight for the AR-15.
Troy claim the diamond shaped aperture helps the shooter acquire a sight picture faster than a round aperture.
The DIA has two aperture settings, one for 300 meters and another calibrated for 550 meters. The price starts is $140 and it comes in a variety of colors.
Thanks to Konrad for the info.
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.
Suburban noticed a empty webpage on Magpul's website entitled "LOWER RECEIVER TECHNICAL RESOURCES".
With their expertise in plastics I would not at all be surprised if they plan on producing a plastic AR-15 lower receiver like the Calvary Arms CAV-15.
