TommyBuilt Tactical is an 07/SOT FFL who specialize in customizing H&K rifles. They are busy working on a conversion kit to turn a H&K SLR rifle, the sporting version of the H&K G36, into a H&K XM8 look-alike.

The ill-fated XM8 was designed in that brief period of time when the military realized the value of modular rifles, but before the picatinny rail really took off to become the ultimate way to achieve this. This lead to its futurist design, that looks like it came straight from a hollywood prop supply company, lacking the “tactical” rails which adorn almost every surface of later rifles. It was also designed during that unfortunate period when gun designers thought integrating optics into a gun was a good way to shave a little weight off a rifle. If the XM8 program had not been cancelled, it would have faced strong competition from the FN SCAR, and even H&K’s own HK416, which arrived not long after.

Tommy tactical have not finished this project and so pricing is not available (despite writing this, I am seriously going to be getting about one email per month over the next year from excited fanboys asking about pricing).

SIG has a new AR-15 featuring Magpul furniture and “Muddy Girl”, a camo scheme which sort of cuts the difference between the traditional-black black rifle finish and the in-your-face-bright-neon-pink finish. Forbes’ Vice blogger Susannah Breslin spoke to the Moon Shine, who developed the camo …

“We wanted to do something that didn’t have to be restricted to mimicking nature,” explains Mattern, 42, a hunting and motorsports enthusiast. Armed with his past experience as a designer and an architecture degree from Pennsylvania State University, he set out to design an eye-popping “lifestyle camo” for outdoorsy women. Previously, other brands had simply slapped a pink background behind their camouflage for men. Muddy Girl, one of four Moon Shine camos, combines hot pink and purple, the neon trend, and a thicket of bramble to alarming affect.

On an unrelated note. I have trouble understanding why guns are considered vice by the mainstream media. Can an activity that millions of young children and their parents do in public each weekend be considered in the same category as illegal drugs, illicit sexual activity, pornography and other criminal activities? Sigh….

At the Milipol expo in Paris FN Herstal unveiled a new prototype PDW (Personal Defense Weapon) variant of the FN SCAR. The FN SCAR-P features a sleek upper receiver that lacks a full length top rail and heat vents (for a gun designed to be carried at the ready in tight spaces, less is more). The SCAR-P has a new collapsable wire stock with a very thick recoil pad. In order to accommodate the stock they  removed the ”bumper” barrel screw retainers that are normally on each side of the receiver just forward of the eject port, which makes the gun look a lot better in my opinion (at the possible expense of making maintenance harder).

One thing I like about FN is that they are not afraid to show you a work in progress. This is actually the third FN SCAR PDW we have seen in as many years.

The original FN SCAR PDW (2011)

The current FNH-USA SCAR PDW production model.

The SCAR-P look like a amalgamation of the original FN SCAR PDW prototype and the FNH-USA SCAR PDW. Is the FN SCAP-P the company’s final attempt at a PDW? Probably not.

Our friends at Forgotten Weapons published the Boys anti-tank rifle training film created by Disney for the Canadian Army. It is pretty hilarious. It starts off with Hitler complaining to the devil that they can’t win the war because of the Boys anti-tank rifle, and ends with a private making out with his Boys rifle under the sheets (hoplophilia?) …

According to Wikipedia the movie was made because the troops loathed the rifle. I can just imagine a General who never saw the Western Front deciding that his troops should crawl within 100 yards of a light tank, with a huge rifle, to shoot it in precisely the right places (joints, treads) and at precisely the right angle in order to disable it … only to find it had its armor upgraded and the bullets were useless against it, all the while its gunner is taking aim at them.

… increases in vehicle armour during the Second World War left the Boys largely ineffectual as an anti-tank weapon. A shortened version was issued in 1942 for issue to airborne forces and saw use in Tunisia, where it proved completely ineffective because of the reduced velocity caused by the shortened barrel.^[6] The Boys was so unpopular that the Canadian government commissioned a Disney training film, Stop That Tank, to oppose the rifle’s “jinx” reputation.

…

The weapon was standard issue to British and Commonwealth forces which attempted to stem the Japanese onslaught through the Pacific theatre. At Milne Bay, the weapon proved completely ineffective. It also failed to stop Japanese tanks in Malaya. Some accounts claim that the 1/14th Punjabis knocked out two light Japanese tanks at a roadblock.^[6] This claim, however, has never been substantiated from the Japanese side.

I remember my grandfather, an Army captain during WWII, telling me about his anti-armor training. He and his fellow officers were very skeptical about many of the techniques they were taught.

Nesika Firearms, a Freedom Group owned company based in Sturgis, South Dakota, have introduced a new line of custom rifles built on their own Nesika action. There are three models, the Sporter Rifle, the Long Range Rifle and the Tactical Rifle. Prices start at $3,499 for the Sporter and up to $4,499 for the Tactical.

Nesika Long Range

Nesika Tactical

Nesika Sporter Rifle Specs

• Nesika Stainless Hunter action, receiver made from 15-5 stainless and one-piece bolt with CeraKote^® finished 4340 CM steel
• Douglas air-gauged stainless 24”and 26”barrel
• Timney Trigger set at a crisp, three pounds
• Stainless steel Oberndorf- style hinged floor plate
• Leupold^® QRW Bases
• Sporter hand laid-up composite stock with aluminum bedding block
• Guaranteed MOA accuracy, test target included

Nesika Long Range Rifle Specs

• Nesika Stainless Hunter action, receiver made from 15-5 stainless and one-piece bolt with CeraKote^® finished 4340 CM steel
• Douglas air-gauged 26” stainless barrel, fluted varmint contour
• Timney Trigger set at a crisp, three pounds
• Leupold^® QRW Bases
• Stainless steel Oberndorf- style hinged floor plate
• Varmint/Tactical hand laid-up stock with aluminum bedding block
• Guaranteed MOA accuracy, test target included

Nesika Tactical Rifle Specs

• Nesika Stainless Tactical action, receiver made from 15-5 stainless and one piece bolt from 4340 CM steel
• Douglas air-gauged stainless barrel, 28’ Tactical contour, plus an AAC Blackout muzzle brake/suppressor adapter
• All metal is coated with CeraKote^® matte black finish for added protection
• Timney Trigger set at a crisp, three pounds
• 5-round detachable box magazine
• Tactical hand laid-up composite stock with aluminum bedding block, spacer adj. length and adjustable cheekpiece
• One-piece, stainless Mil Std 1913 rail with 15 MOA taper
• Guaranteed MOA accuracy, test target included

The Military Arms Channel has reviewed the new Wolf Gold 5.56mm ammunition. Unlike traditional Wolf ammunition steel is not used in either the case or the bullet. They are apparently manufactured in Taiwan.

Back in 2005 the Pentagon imported 300 million 5.56mm bullets (or rounds, the media frequently confuse the two terms) from Taiwan because the Middle East wars had drained their stockpile. Taiwan produces 400 million rounds each year.

CAI is now producing a splendid AK74 clone that they have dubbed the M74 Sporter, and I asked our great editor Phil White if I could review one. Let me tell you, we deal with a lot of companies here at The Firearm Blog, but CAI is really on the ball when it comes to reviewing one of their products. A single email sent by Phil to the manufacturer results in a gun at my FFL, with accessories and all kinds of cool ancillary stuff in about 4 or 5 days! To me this speaks well of their organization as far as the administrative side goes, and to me that is an indicator of a good company overall, and there I must give them some serious credit. That being said, I was very excited to have to opportunity to test their AK74.

The M74 Sporter is built on a surplus excellent Bulgarian parts kit (many hold the Bulgarian kits to be among the best out there) and it just looks great. The original furniture is retained (not sure what parts they used for 922r compliance aside from the trigger group, receiver, and barrel but this gun looks fantastic!) as well as most other components. The gun came with the original muzzle brake and bayonet too, which is just awesome! The Bakelite bayonet really adds some charm and I would love to have one just because I think it looks neat. Also after some reading, the Bulgarian “Circle 10″ magazines seem to be held in high regard by the AK community and they definitely work well in the rifle, as did all other mags tested.

I got to the range on a chilly afternoon and set the target up at 100 yards to get a feel for the accuracy. As usual I shot five groups of five shots.

The trigger on the M74 is a single hook Tapco group that breaks extremely well and I was pleasantly surprised by the light trigger pull of the rifle.

After the accuracy test I walked up and inspected the target. All five groups were consistent 3 to 3.5 inch patterns, which is about what I have come to expect of an AK with iron sights in my hands. I am a good shot with traditional western peep sights and rabbit ears, but I have never been too good with the notch and post sight on the AK platform. That said, I am sure with a scope rail and an optic I could have shot better groups with this rifle. Regardless, a 3 inch group with iron sights and surplus 5.45 ammo is definitely minute of man and I was satisfied with that.

After the brief accuracy test it was time to beat on this thing with some rapid fire. Luckily I brought out a 45 round RPK magazine and really cranked some rounds out, then tossed in another loaded mag to really get the gun nice and hot!

The gun throws the spent casings very far to about 2:00, which is away from other shooters. I was also really working the trigger and trying to get a nice “brass rainbow” going:

All in all I fired about 300 rounds through the gun, and it performed as I expect AK variants to: flawlessly. Recoil is also virtually non-existent due to the low caliber 5.45×39 round and the M74′s extremely effective muzzle brake. I also found the furniture to be comfy and I like the bulge in the front handguard as it gives the shooter a bit more material to grab on to.

After I got back to my shop, I stripped the M74 down to get a look at how dirty the internals were. Of course I did not fire as many rounds as I did in the VZ2008 test, but I like to see how clean guns run anyways:

Isn’t that bayonet awesome? It also has a built in can and bottle opener!

Really the piston is the only part of the gun that had much residue on it, and the inside of the receiver was especially clean:

So the M74 is a great rifle at a great price. I also saw that JG Sales has them for $569 which makes this rifle a real bargain, especially considering that 5.45×39 ammunition is very affordable. If you are either a die hard AK guy or just someone looking for a nice gun to begin your collection with, in my opinion you cannot go wrong with the M74. Here is something interesting too; I have a 5.45×39 AK made by Arsenal, specifically an SGL 31-61 and if you were to ask me why the Arsenal cost me $830 and this gun is almost $300 less, I would not really have a great answer aside from the fact that the Arsenal uses all new parts and is a real “Russian” gun… but who really cares if you are just buying a shooter? Had I known about these back then or had the opportunity to buy one of these, it would have been a no-brainer!

Anyways, onto my bullet points:

The Good:

• Great price
• Cheap ammunition
• Great looking AK
• Great trigger
• Low recoil
• Very fun to shoot!

The Bad:

• Not the most accurate AK I have ever shot, but I am not sure if I can entirely blame the gun
• The 1,080 round cans of 5.45×39 are a little harder to find now, but even new ammo is affordable

The Ugly:

• Big builders like CAI have had some trouble with things like canted sights in the past. While the one I got was free of issues, try to look one over before you buy if at all possible.

So that’s that. This gun is a great option if you are in the market for a fun semi-automatic rifle that shoots affordable ammo, and with Christmas around the corner I may just have to buy one for myself!

Weatherby announced a new line of rifles called the Mark V Terramark RC.  The RC stands for “range certified” and will come with a sub-MOA guarantee.

The fluted barrels will be made of stainless steel and will use button rifling.  The 26″ barrels will be free floating and will have a target crown.  Rifles will have a desert camo finished Monte Carlo synthetic stock with a Pachmayr Decelerator pad.  Metal will be finished in Cerakote flat dark earth.

Rifles will weigh 8.75 pounds, and pricing will start at $2,800.  The guns will come with a factory test target signed by Ed Weatherby, the company president.

Lanco Tactical released their original GripStop for non-picatinny handguards earlier this year. The new Mod 2 version attaches to picatinny rails.

Lanco Tactical LLC is pleased to announce the Grip Stop™ Mod 2. The Grip Stop™ Mod 2 is the next step in the evolution of the original Grip Stop™ design. It takes the original Grip Stop™ and adds the ability to mount it directly onto any standard 1913 Picatinny rail. The original Grip Stop™ was the culmination of a brainchild design by a former U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran to fill the void between using a vertical grip and hand stop. It allows a variable angle grip to prevent locking the wrist. Use as an assist to the modern “C grip” technique or as a barrier stop. The Grip Stop™ Mod 2 is 100% designed and made in the USA. It is made from solid billet aluminum and then hard coat anodized black.

The Grip Stop™ Mod 2 fits: MK-18 Block 2 (Daniel Defense); Heckler & Koch 416 & M27 IAR; KAC MK-11, MK-12 & M110 Sniper Rifles; Standard Issue M-16A4, M4 & M4A1; Any Mil-Std 1913 Picatinny Rail. With a weight of just over 3 oz. the Grip Stop™ Mod 2 will not add unwanted weight to a weapon.

The MSRP is  $54.95.

Nosler will be introducing a new long range hunting cartridge at SHOT Show next month. The 6.5mm cartridge is named the 26 Nosler and is capable of shooting a 129 grain high-BC bullet at 3400 fps. This gives a Point Blank Range (range of which no adjustments for bullet drop are required to be made) of 0 to 415 yards. At 400 yards it has the muzzle energy of a .260 Remington.

Internet forums are speculating it is based on a necked-down .375 Ruger. The real question is if this cartridge will gain a following or fade away like so many others. This is a niche cartridge for a small subset of the hunting community. A cartridge as hot as this will generate more recoil than the vast majority of casual hunters could tolerate, and nor should they since most game is taken at much closer ranges than the 26 Nosler will be capable of.

The press release …

The 26 Nosler® cartridge was designed to take advantage of the inherently accurate and high B.C. 6.5mm (.264) caliber bullets, and is capable of shooting the Nosler® 129 grain, AccuBond® Long Range™ bullet at a blazing 3400 fps out of the muzzle.  Zeroed at 350 yards, the 26 Nosler® has a Point Blank Range of 0-415 yards.  Loaded with the 129gr ABLR, the 26 Nosler® retains as much velocity at 400 yards as the 260 Remington® produces at the muzzle.

The 26 Nosler® case is non-belted, thus headspaced off of the shoulder to further enhance accuracy. The “26” also utilizes a standard (30-06) length action meaning shorter bolt-throw and lighter weight than magnum length actions.

“I really feel the 26 Nosler® has great value amongst the large family of 6.5mm cartridges.  With minimal recoil, tremendous velocity, energy and the ability to point and shoot at the intended target up to a quarter mile away, this is the quintessential deer, antelope and long-range target cartridge available on the market today.” –Bob Nosler, CEO/President Nosler, Inc.

The 26 Nosler® is a new and unique cartridge that was submitted to SAAMI® in June, 2013. The formal launch will take place at the 2014 SHOT Show where more exciting news will be released regarding this cartridge. Additional announcements will include Nosler’s new platform rifle, in addition to exciting new bullet, brass and ammunition offerings.

Thanks to Joe for the tip.

The Arkenstone blog published this propaganda photo by the Iranian insurgent group Jaish ul-Adl (“Army of Justice”) that operates in the South East of the country. There is not much information about this group online. They formed last year and seem to be a generic Sunni insurgent group on a “holy war” against the Shia majority. The Iranians claim they are being funded by Pakistan. In October they attacked a police station killing 14 police officers near the Iran-Pakistan border.

Iran.

Why the above photo is interesting is that the two men in the foreground are holding expensive civilian firearms. The gun on the left is a suppressed Steyr rifle and the man on the right is holding a Walther G22 bullpup chambered in .22 LR. In mountainous terrain, that .22 LR must be close to worthless. It is a novel and fun rifle to shoot but nobody has ever claimed it is an accurate rifle.

A propaganda photo published by Jaish ul-Adl after the October attack.

I do wonder if these men are weekend warriors taking their favorite hunting rifles into the mountains to play Cops n’ Insurgents, after which they go back to their dreary office jobs and dream of jihad. Photos published by the group (see above) after the police station massacre show the usual suspects looking like disheveled desert nomads carrying rusty pre-Revolution weapons. They are not carrying expensive consumer rifles while wearing pressed uniforms and quality mountain clothing.

Thanks to Nic for the tip.

CMMG Mk3 CBR  has announced the availability of their new CMMG Mk3 CBR (Carbine Battle Rifle). Other than the name (“Rifle Carbine” is a contradiction in my opinion), it is a very slick looking carbine with quality parts at a reasonable price of $2,000.

From the press release …

The Mk3 CBR (Carbine Battle Rifle) is chambered in .308 WIN/7.62x51mm NATO and is precision-built to deliver the relentless functionality that CMMG rifles are known for. The Mk3 CBR is an ideal rifle for long-range shooting or close-quarters action and because it’s built with CMMG’s premium manufacturing requirements, it gives shooters the chance to own a high-end AR rifle at a practical price.

The Mk3 CBR features the free float RKM15 KeyMod hand guard that measures 15 inches in length to accommodate a wide range of hand positions and allows users to attach an assortment of different accessories. The KeyMod slots are located at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions with a 1913 Picatinny rail on top to give the hand guard an array of mounting options.

The KeyMod system is the new industry standard for mounting accessories. It is a simple, comfortable and lightweight solution that offers users a low profile mounting alternative to the M1913 Picatinny rail. The KeyMod system presents a new level of customization, as it allows the direct attachment of compatible accessories without the use of intermediate M1913 Picatinny rails. For accessories that are not yet KeyMod compatible, users can purchase a separate CMMG 5-slot Picatinny adapter rail that can be easily attached to any of the KeyMod slots for optimal placement of the accessories.

The Mk3 CBR rifle is constructed with a hard anodized, billet 6061-T6 aluminum receiver.  A 416 stainless barrel was selected and features a nitride finish that provides the barrel with long lasting accuracy and corrosion resistance. CMMG’s medium taper (MT) barrel is the perfect balance between weight and rigidity. The rifle also includes a CMMG SV muzzle brake, designed to reduce recoil and increase muzzle control for quick and manageable follow-up shots.

Caliber: .308 WIN/7.62x51mm NATO
Weight: 9 lbs. (unloaded), 10 lbs. (loaded with 20-rd PMAG)
Barrel: 16″ 416 Stainless Steel, 1:10″ Twist, 5/8-24 Threaded
Hand Guard: RKM15 KeyMod Hand Guard
Sights/Gas Block: Low Profile Gas Block
Muzzle: CMMG SV muzzle brake
Furniture: Magpul MOE Pistol Grip & ACS-L butt stock
Trigger: Geissele Super Semi-Automatic (SSA) 2 Stage Trigger
Magazine: 20rd Magpul 20 LR PMAG

TrackingPoint has announced a new .338 Lapua Magnum chambered addition to their Precision Guided Firearm line up. The TrackingPoint XS4 has a range of 1,200 yards. It features a 27″ Krieger barrel, Magnum Surgeon action and McMillan A5 adjustable stock.

Model: XS4 (XactSystem 4)
Rifle Mfg.: Surgeon Rifles (Surgeon XL action & Krieger barrel)
Rifle System Mfg.: TrackingPoint (integrated long range shooting system)
Rifle Type:PGF (Precision Guided Firearm)
Operating System:Bolt action
Caliber: .338 Lapua
Bullet:300 grain Sierra Match King OTM (Open Tip Match) [280 grain LRX (Long Range X Bullet)
Muzzle Velocity:300 grain = 2720 fps (+/- 10 fps standard deviation muzzle velocity) 280 grain = 2715 fps (+/- 10 fps standard deviation muzzle velocity)
Max TTX Range:Tag Track Xact to 1200 yards (+50 yard backend flex)
Min TTX Range:50 yards
Barrel Length: 27” (with M18x1.5 threaded muzzle with cap)
Barrel Twist: 1:9.35 inch – right hand twist
Barrel Contour:MTU and fluted
Trigger System:Guided with integrated ambidextrous track button in trigger guard
Trigger Pull:Traditional Mode 3.5 lbs. (+/- .5 lb.) not adjustable / Advanced Mode –not applicable
Weight Loaded:22.5 lbs. (rifle, scope, two batteries, loaded mag, bipod, brake)
Weight Unloaded:19.8 lbs. (rifle, scope, no batteries, no magazine, no bipod, with brake)
Operating Temperature:-4° to 120°F (-20° to 49°C)
Stock: McMillian A5
Stock Adjustments:Height of comb, length of pull (spacers 6mm x2 and 11mm x 2)
Length of pull:15” with all spacers
Scope:Networked tracking scope with HUD (Heads Up Display)
Zoom:6 to 35x, parallax free
Magazine: 5 round detachable box (x2)
Night Vision:Not optimized for night vision
Thermal Sights:Not optimized for thermal sights

The press release follows …

TrackingPoint™, creator of the world’s first Precision Guided Firearm (PGF) system, today announced the newest addition to its smart rifle line, the XS4 338 Lapua Magnum. Combining the power of a large caliber rifle with a smaller McMillan A5 hunting stock, the XS4 delivers both stopping power and convenience, integrated with TrackingPoint’s revolutionary TTX (Tag Track Xact) technology—the most accurate targeting system on the market today. The company also announced that it intends to announce additional new PGF models at the 2014 NSSF SHOT Show, January 14-17, 2014 in Las Vegas.

Like TrackingPoint’s XS1, the new XS4 has a maximum TTX range of 1,200 yards, the longest effective range offered by the company. The precision rifle’s performance is driven by a bolt-action, .338 Lapua Magnum Surgeon™ XL action. The rifle’s 27-inch, Krieger™ cut-barrel is fitted in a traditional-style, adjustable McMillan A5 chassis. It also features TrackingPoint’s longest parallax-free zoom: 6 to 35X.

“Our customers have been asking for the power of our 338 Lapua Magnum smart rifles in the form factor of our popular XS3 hunting model,” said John Lupher, Chief Technology Officer for TrackingPoint. “One of the best parts of working with our community of TrackingPoint PGF owners is that we can learn from their feedback and develop products to suit customer needs as our company grows.”

Pre-orders for the XS4 are now being accepted. The rifle will be demonstrated at the 2014 NSSF SHOT Show as well as at other industry trade shows in the coming year.

Note – there is an existing post about this interesting light over here hence this post will offer to provide a few more technical details rather than attempting to be a typical photo review.

As it relates to flashlights or tactical lighting, Rosch is a relatively new name to me.  However, my familiarity with and appreciation of Malkoff Devices goes back years, and I posted a review of one of Gene Malkoff’s lights here.  This is my personal light and the review ‘gratis’ due to my appreciation of Malkoff products.

This is relevant because the light engine in the SL1 appears to be a version of the one in the aforementioned review, so from a standpoint of the LED light engine it should have instant credibility.

This very well made light doubles as a front sight for any weapon utilizing the Picatinny rail system.  I didn’t want to remove the front sight from any of my rifles, but I did mount the light on the rail of one of my ARs and didn’t even notice the extra 3.2 ounces  of weight.

Operation is simple.  You’ll note a small boot on the tail cap of the light. This is NOT a ‘clicky’ switch, but rather a simple momentary press.  Tightening the tail cap can activate the light, or when the light is in the off position you can simply press the tail to momentarily engage the light.  This is a simple, virtually fail-proof design and it functions well.

Rosch has also developed a Surefire E series tail cap adaptor.  I haven’t seen this adaptor yet, but by utilizing this adaptor you should be able to also utilize any of Surefire’s accessories (such as a pressure switch) with the SL1.   For size reference here is a photo of the SL1 along side the ubiquitous Surefire E2E as well as the more current Surefire E2DL Ultra.

The light is constructed of 7075 T6 aluminum, anodized then cerakoted.  My bet is that this little light can withstand being abused, and the constant recoil from the weapon should not ever be an issue.

In my homemade integrating sphere I measured 231 lumen output with the included Battery Station primary battery. I believe this to be within the margin of error of the rated 250 lumen.  After all, my sphere is homemade and although it has proven to be reliable, the 250 lumen rating provided by the manufacturer is reasonable.  The beam has a nice shape – a good, solid hot spot for distance lighting of a target, yet good quality spill to light the area.

The SL1 is rated for “high quality (Made in USA) CR123A” batteries only.  Of note is the fact that some of the Malkoff lights that specify “primary only” can function just fine with the 3.2V LiFePO4 cell, shown here.

I tried this very battery in the SL1 and it functioned perfectly with virtually no change in output.  However, since the manufacture provides detailed warnings against using anything other than primary cells, I suggest that you stick with their recommendations.  Any other batteries would be used at your own risk, and you especially do NOT want to use the 3.7 lithium rechargeable cells.

The package includes the light, a battery, 1x sight adjustment tool, 1×5/32 hex key and a small tube of thread lock.

While at $235 the light is not inexpensive, for what you get I believe that it represents a solid value. You get a high quality front sight with a built in high quality light that can be used with most any Picatinny rail equipped weapon.   If you have priced weapon lights as well as the various adaptors required to use them, you will know that this is a good value, and a really brilliant idea.    As Steve Johnson said in his post, “This is one of those products I wish I had thought up myself!”

This guest post is written by German milblogger Sven who blogs at Defense and Freedom.

Assault rifles typically use cartridges which are at most fine for shooting at 250 to 400 metres distant targets. This came into being based on ammunition maker (especially Rheinmetall-Borsig and GECO) experiments during the Interwar Years, and only rarely do demands for the lightweight long range unobtanium rifle flare up again.

The switch from full power rifle cartridges to shorter or smaller calibre rifle cartridges made fully automatic rifles easier to develop, lighter and more gentle in recoil. Ranges at which infantry fought its battles with its basic rifle (instead of with scoped rifles, machineguns, mortars or infantry guns) had been well within the 400 metre range most of the time ever since the First World War.
It’s common to read remarks about how infantry entered (and left) the First World War with unnecessarily heavy and long rifles. Their powerful bullets were supposed to decimate close order (quite parade-like) infantry formations at more than a kilometre distance and were also supposed to stop a horse with a single torso hit. The aforementioned remarks usually conclude that this was unnecessary, as most infantry combat of the First World War happened within 200 metres range, often even in mêlée using bayonets or shovels as weapons.

I’ve never been satisfied with this. There were long-range rifle fights during the Boer Wars with very similar technology, after all. In the meantime, I’ve become so very unsatisfied with these remarks that it’s about time to write my own take on it.

 ——–

The story begins in the 1880s, when inventors finally delivered practical low smoke propellants. (They are often called “smokeless powder“, but they were neither smokeless nor necessarily powders. I’m guilty of calling them “smokeless” at times, too.)

Blackpowder and real rapid fire – not compatible

These ‘smokeless powders’ had several important consequences:

(1) Higher muzzle velocities were achievable thanks to higher gas pressures.

(2) The moderate smoke did not blind the shooter: Rapid fire became practical (unlike with the relatively impractical Mitrailleuses which are often overrated in accounts of the Franco-German War 1870/71).

(3) The weapon wasn’t fouled quickly by blackpowder residue, which again was important for practical rapid fire.

(4) The low smoke characteristic made it difficult to spot hostiles even after they opened fire. This had important consequences for the value of camouflage, for reconnaissance, for ambushes and for distance as an input for survival.

These characteristics allowed Hiram Maxim to develop his initial blackpowder-based machinegun design into the very reliable, very practical Maxim machinegun.

Rifles (and artillery) gained a lot of effective range and power as well (save for projectile weight, which was rather reducing during the move to higher muzzle velocities). Rifle marksmanship training did at times extend to formation targets beyond 1,000 metres range. Such ranges were previously achieved as well, but the technological progress made this capability much more meaningful with much flatter trajectories.

The higher muzzle velocities also allowed for lighter bullets (smaller calibres) and this in turn allowed for much more ammunition carried (though not necessarily by the individual infantryman).

By the 1890s military theorists were thoroughly impressed by the increased firepower of artillery and rifles (even though some did downplay the actual artillery ranges in their publications, apparently because published figures were lower than the secret actual ones).

The great firepower and range allowed for doctrines in which (at the latest after the marksmen-dominated First Boer War) the own infantry was expected to open effective fire at hostiles at more than a kilometer range and was supposed to establish fire superiority at more than 600 metres.

The other side of the coin was that taking such fire while orderly moving over such a distance was unacceptable, of course. The defenders did not have too much trouble with this, as they could use trees, walls and earthworks as cover and could thus reduce their exposure.

A scene from the Second Boer War

The attackers on the hand – and this was understood before the Boer Wars by some authors – had to avoid such destructive fires by exploiting concealment. They had to close to within short range without being seen, moving behind woodland, buildings, hills and obstructions. The theorists did apparently fail to appreciate that this would require the infantry to break up into quite independently manoeuvring platoons if not sections. Even as late as 1915 important authors still considered the company as the relevant unit of manoeuvre.

Now let’s assume the infantry had been equipped with short cartridge carbines and sights good for a few hundred metres only. What would have happened? Judging by individual weapons alone, the attackers could have moved on open fields up to only 400-600 metres distance again. Short cartridges and long range sights would have made things more difficult to predict, but an inferiority against full power cartridges would have been very much evident.

Infantry armament has never been homogeneous, of course. The Maxim machine gun had arrived, and it was capable of shooting well past a kilometre distance with the benefit of a proper carriage with elevation control. The water (evaporation) cooling, reliability and easier ammunition supply to just a few weapons allowed a few Maxim machinegun sections to substitute for the long range rifle firepower of an entire battalion. They were even better than the riflemen at it, as they were much fewer targets and would thus be even less exposed to long range rifle fires than the battalion’s partially covered riflemen would be.

So basically the machineguns were the better choice in the long range fire role (once available in quantity, that is by 1915). They were so good at it that the firepower of a few Maxim-pattern machineguns doomed a battalion advance over open fields from 1,000 to 400 metres distance without the assistance of rifles.

On top of this there was the light field artillery, which was also good at long-range fires, albeit not without its own difficulties.

This allowed for the individual weapons to be reduced into shorter barrel, lighter weight, shorter cartridge case, lower recoil assault rifles. These didn’t appear in service for four decades after massed rifle fires had become technically unnecessary beyond more than 400 metres.

Walking along the streets of south west London, just north of Buckingham Palace, a person will take a step into glamour and glance at the official store fronts of such luxury brands as “Louis Vuitton”, “Gucci”, and “Rolex” to name a few. It is among these prestigious titles on 33 Bruton Street that a very unassuming single floor store front has taken up residence for the past 31 years. On the banner is simply “Holland & Holland, Established London 1835”.

To understand the history and prestige of Holland & Holland, an American must take a step back and first examine the culture and tradition associated with the company before passing judgment. Try convincing an ordinary duck hunter to purchase a 90,000 dollar traditional side by side 12 gauge shotgun and see if he doesn’t ask if you’re part of a comedy routine. No bells or whistles, no competition accessories such as a set trigger, titanium receiver or Benelli recoil system. Just a simple side by side with fancy carvings on the stock and elaborate scenes of the hunt inlaid in the metal.

You see, Holland & Holland is not the same as our historic “Winchester” or “Colt” companies so ingrained in our national history. Holland & Holland is something much more to a British shooter; it’s a lifestyle, an unbroken tradition, a bond of man and weapon that simply doesn’t exist in the United States. Extravagant? Posh? Insane level of upper class? Indeed it is. But if it wasn’t, it wouldn’t be a Holland & Holland.

How can a simple gun company achieve such heights? Founded in 1835 by Harris Holland (later partnered with nephew Henry Holland in), the company started out from modest roots making simple percussion shotguns for bird and target shooting. It goes without saying that the shooting sports in Britain were more of an upper class pastime, unlike in America where it is very much ingrained in the national culture. Holland & Holland continued to grow until it received a breakthrough with a series of tests by the British outdoors magazine “The Field” in which some of their rifles scored first in the firearms trials. This launched the company into it’s heyday of the extravagant safari hunts of the early 20^th century. Ever since, Holland & Holland has been the mark of quality and perfection within the British firearms business and sporting field.  Today the company still maintains its “Royal Warrant”, meaning that is was commissioned by the Crown to provide products to the monarchy of Great Britain, a very enriching crest to keep.

What exactly makes a Holland & Holland firearm? To call a Holland & Holland firearm custom is an extreme understatement. When we talk about custom work in the United States, it might entail some trigger work, refinishing of the stock or receiver, maybe an aftermarket bolt or barrel. When a customer decides he wants a Holland & Holland shotgun or rifle, he visits the gun room and decides the type of caliber, action and receiver. Then his body measurements are taken in relation to the gun, height, weight, arm length, cheek diameter, etc. An appointment at one of Holland & Holland’s shooting centers is in order and here even more measurements are taken as the customer is observed while shooting. With the customers’ requests also added, the design is finalized and is sent to the work room. From here a gun can take months to years to complete. Everything on it is handmade and meticulously assembled. Parts are worked on until their symmetry with connecting parts is flawless. There are no outsourcing, sub-contracting, or third party manufacturers. Everything is made in house and in Britain. What does this cost? In upwards of £60,000 for a single shotgun or rifle NiB.

Did I mention doubles yet? To speed up the rate of fire while bird hunting, the British do something called doubles. A hunter will have two guns built exactly the same and have an assistant hold on to the other during the hunt. After the two shells have been expended with one, he will hand it off to the assistant who will hand a loaded gun to the shooter and commence loading the recently fired gun. This concept is very alien to American shooters who will argue why not just use a pump or semi-automatic shotgun and have an even faster, more efficient method of fire. This is where the divide between British and American shooting is clearly shown; Holland & Holland is a part of an upper class life style, much more than just a gun company. These “Pairs” of shotguns usually run £100,000 to £120,000 for a pair.

Holland & Holland isn’t the only company of this type though, and to be fair this post should include some of the other companies out there. All are considered to produce a gun of “London Best” quality, so named because throughout history such fine shotguns have come from Holland. Companies such as Boss, Purdey, John Rigby, and John Wilkes are a few other British companies to make such “bespoke” guns. Spanish Grulla, German J.P Sauer, and Italian Perazzi are a few international companies that also make such fine shotguns. But where are the American “Best” shotguns? There have been a few; Parker, Ithaca, and L.C Smith. Most of these are out of business but when they are operational, they represented some very well made shotguns in the United States.

Included in this Holland & Holland life style is also an entire luxury fashion line.  In fact there is more to do with hats, coats, ties, suits, and vests than with shooting or guns in the 33 Bruton Street store. These items are not as custom made as the firearms but they are extremely high quality and made of the finest materials. In addition to fashion, the store is also stocked with various interesting trinkets and jewels made from precious metals and a selection of books on the company, safari, and shooting.

When I toured London in August of 2013, one of my priorities was to visit the flagship storefront (the company prefers it called the Gunroom) at 33 Bruton Street. After following the maze of streets leading away from Buckingham Palace and into the Mayfair district, passing through all the high end luxury shops, opposite a pub that opened in 1744. I finally found Holland & Holland with its glass storefront window and unassuming sign board in green with white lettering. Walking into the gunroom I was faced with a clerk at the register and explained I was an American gun enthusiast who wanted to explore the shop. I didn’t want to mislead them thinking I had the funds to actually purchase anything in the place!

Just before the Gunroom, is the records section. Here the company has a book of records for every year of operation that records every gun Holland & Holland has made. Customers can inquire about their own guns and receive a certificate of researched authentication. It was here that I encountered one of the Gunroom’s representatives, James Hart who patiently showed me around and explained all my questions about Holland & Holland.

Stepping into the actual Gunroom is quite an experience. For one, it is a raised platform and at the rear of the store, as if to implicate that the true treasure lies beyond all the other products. The guns themselves are locked behind glass cabinets with bright spot lights all around, focusing the glare on every intricate part of the firearms. And intricate they are! I admired the handcut detail in the metal and the elaborate hunting scenes carved upon the stocks. Professing my mere mortal being, I tenderly asked if I could personally examine one of the side by side 20 gauge (20 bore in English terms). Mr. Hart gingerly pulled out a gun from a pair and matter of factly told me the pair was worth £120,000 together (they are only sold together). Handling it was superb, the action opening and closing like a charm. The individual detail on every single part was simply astounding for the quality, I handed the gun back to Mr. Hart and he ever so carefully placed it back in its velvet cradle.

My quest complete, I proceeded to exit the store but felt the urgent need to not leave without something of material value from the most extravagant gun maker in the Western World. So I looked through the books on sale and settled upon a coffee table history of the company and several of the current catalogs. I also picked up a Holland & Holland gun cleaning cloth for a measly £8. Had to walk away with something directly related to their shotguns!

So why the fuss over a posh gun company that me or anyone in my social group will probably ever be even able to purchase from? In an age of aluminum AR15s, caseless ammunition, and polymer pistols, it is very easy to lose sight of what we have previously placed our utmost admiration upon. A time when the very best firearms were truly works of art, in function, purpose, and aesthetic value. When the stuff of safari legend and romantic ventures on the savannah weren’t fairy tale and actually took place. Well, this timeless epic isn’t about to die yet. Not so long as there is still Holland & Holland.

ATI has been competing with a number of other companies to create a true polymer lower for over a year now.  ATI had created the first OMNI polymer lower, which was reviewed here at TheFirearmBlog in February of 2013.  While the reviewer here had no problems with the lower, there are many cases described online of those lowers failing at the buffer tube collar and rear take down pin.  In response ATI created a second generation of the OMNI Lower, which has an aluminum block around the buffer tube collar and rear take down pin. While these changes appear to solve those earlier problems with polymer lowers, the new Gen2 Omni Hybrid rifles I received exhibited more serious problems.

My initial impression of the lower was that it is very light.  With a stock flat top upper the complete rifle weighed in right at 4.5lbs.  With a loaded steel 30rd magazine it weighs 6lbs.  That weight is pretty impressive for a complete rifle with a loaded magazine. That is where the impressive attributes for this rifle ended.  The first problem I had was the rear takedown pin.  In order to push the takedown pin through you either need a punch or a 5.56 cartridge.  This is not like a standard aluminum lower, where the take down pins protrude enough to push them out with your fingers, giving the shooter the ability to remove the upper in the field without any tools.  While you are more than likely going to have a 5.56 cartridge while out shooting, it is still an annoyance to me to have to strip a round in order to access the internal workings of the lower.

The second issue, and even more of an annoyance than the first, is that ATI built their own anti-walk system on this lower.  There is built up polymer above the trigger pins that are threaded and contains a

Right side of lower receiver, clearly shows the anti-walk system created by ATI.

small slotted flush screw.  In the event of a fire control group (FCG) failure, you would need a small slotted screwdriver in order to remove the pins.  While generally removing the FCG is not a function of field stripping, the beauty of the AR design is that it can be done quickly with nothing more than a punch.  This lower requires the user to carry more tools into the field if they anticipate having to do FCG repairs.  Personally, I have never been an advocate for anti-walk devices on the AR platform in the first place.  Anti-walk system are available to those that choose to install them if there is a want or need to do so.  But there is a difference between installing your own, and being forced into an anti-walk system that is part of the lower.  Having fired my fair share of 5.56mm / .223 Rem. rounds from AR-15s and military M16s and M4s I have never once a problem with a FCG pin walking out and rendering the FCG inoperable.  While the inclusion of them might have to do with the polymer lower, they were not included on the first generation of ATI polymer lowers.

Shooting this rifle was a different feel from the standard AR15.  Something about the polymer, low weight and slow cycle speed combined to make the entire bolt carrier group (BCG) stroke very noticeable to the user.  During every shot down range, I was acutely aware of the BCG travelling rearward, then stripping a round and finally closing.  I was able to fire a total of three 30rd magazines of Federal XM193 55gr rounds before failures started.  After inserting a fresh Magpul Gen2 P-Mag and firing three round, the magazine spontaneously ejected from the rifle without the magazine release being pushed.  I collected the brass that had just come out of the rifle to inspect it for a pushed primer, pressure signs or an out of battery detonation.  I found the brass to be normal and uniform with all of the spent brass I had fired to this point.  I inspected the rifle for any signs of a problem or cracking in the lower and found none.  I then inserted the same magazine into the rifle, dropped the bolt which chambered a round and fired the round by pulling the trigger.  After firing the round, the next round in the magazine was a failure to feed (FTF), binding about halfway into the chamber.  I was able to clear the FTF, chamber a new round and then got a failure to eject (FTE) the spent casing.  I was able to manually cycle the action with the charging handle, chamber a new round and then fire the rifle again.  The rest of the magazine were all FTFs and FTEs.  I was able to look into the ejection port, and found that all of the FTF were

Out of tolerance magwell and magazine wobble caused the follower to miss the bolt catch on several occasions.

being caused by the round nosing down into the area below the feed ramps and binding the action of the rifle when the bolt was headed forward. I took the magazine out of the rifle, inserted an empty magazine and took notice of just how much that the magazine was able to move in the magwell.  At this time I also discovered that I was able to tweak the magazine, and remove it from the rifle without using the magazine release.  I did this several times, and even gave the rifle to a shooting partner who was also able to replicate the problem himself.  I was able to replicate this with a steel GI magazine, and also Gen1 and Gen2 P-Mags.  The last problem that the rifle was exhibiting was the bolt not locking back on the last fired round.  I was able to remove the upper, and see that the magwell was loose enough to cause the magazine follower to miss the bolt catch, and allow it to ride behind the follower, failing to lock the bolt back.  At this point I felt that the rifle no longer safe to continue shooting because of the problems I encountered, including magazine that fell out spontaneously, and the ability to remove the magazine without using the magazine release.

ATI was given the chance to send out another rifle for testing, in the event that the failures of the previous rifle were an isolated problem.  The serial number of the first rifle was AN000835, which would lead me to believe that this lower was #835 off the line.  The new rifle that was received was AN003357, which happens to be 2,522 down the line if the serial is an indication of the order of manufacture. The first impression of the new rifle was problematic, just out of the box at my local FFL was the charging handle bound inside the upper about halfway back.  This happened when picking up the rifle for the first time and checking to ensure the rifle was not loaded prior to handling it.  I was unable to get the charging handle to go either back into place or continue all the way to the rear.  My FFL, who also is a 07 manufacturer, had to get a hammer to get the charging handle free.  After replicating the problem, he made the remark “This rifle is probably unsafe, and if you were just a regular customer, I would not let it out of my shop. It would be going straight back to the manufacturer for a replacement or to be fixed.”

Knowing at that point I would not be shooting the new rifle.  Having a charging handle that binds in the upper could cause a catastrophic failure if it were to get free during shooting.  I took the complete rifle back to my bench and decided to try the charging handle in an upper I know is within spec, the handle did not move, or bind at all.  I took a Rainier Arms Raptor handle, which I know is a high quality handle, and within spec, and put it in the ATI upper on the new rifle, and got the same binding problem.  This led me to believe that the charging handle slot in the upper was not milled properly, and was unsafe to shoot.

Both rifles were taken to a highly regarded gunsmith in the local area for evaluation.  He took both rifles apart and found the measurements on both to be out of spec in several places, including the magwell and the magazine release.  We found that the magwell in both rifles was too large. Specifically it was

Out of spec magewell. This magwell is .003″ too wide and long, making the magazine unstable.

.003” too large both in length and width, leading to the magazine wobble that I experienced with both rifles.  The wobble, coupled with the flex in the polymer lower, caused the magazine to come free without using the magazine release on both rifles (#835 and #3357).  The charging handle slots in rifle #3357 are .002” too wide, and the rails that retain the charging handle in the slot were almost nonexistent.  This meant that the charging handle was able to bind inside the upper when the tabs bound on the out of spec retention rails.  He also found that the upper that was sent with rifle #3357 was fired, in his opinion, much more than the three factory rounds.  There was significant wear in the chamber and a large quantity of unburned powder in the chamber and bolt lugs.  Having not fired rifle #3357 myself, this was directly from the manufacturer in this condition.  The upper shows a build date of Nov 17^th 2013, and shows 3 empty casings in the box with the rifle.  In his professional opinion both rifles were unsafe to shoot, and would not leave his shop if someone was to order them.  His final report to me was that both of these rifles were out of tolerance, and would eventually lead to someone getting hurt.

Circle shows incomplete polymer flow around the aluminum buffer collar. Click for larger image.

There were also several other small things that I noticed about the original rifle that was sent. The first was that the polymer flow at the buffer tube collar and aluminum block was incomplete.  This would lead me to believe that there was either a flaw in the mold used, or the polymer mixture itself.  Being that it is within the first 1000 produced, it is entirely possible that there were problems with the molding process, be it the heat used, polymer blend or the mold used.  While this particular issue does not look like it will be causing any structural issues, it is something to note that they were having what looks to be some flow issues.  In the new lower #3357, the flow issue looks to be resolved, and look to be within normal limits.  What stuck out in my mind was that if there were flow problems with lower #835, where else might there not be enough polymer material in a more critical place that is out of sight that might have caused a failure down the road.

One final note is that rifle #3357 came with was a safety certificate. The certificate also suggests that any regular maintenance, which would include cleaning, be done by a qualified gunsmith, or the safety of the rifle cannot be guaranteed.  While I will occasionally I will take a firearm to a gunsmith for a deep clean and inspection, I would never take a firearm in for routine cleaning.  This certificate would suggest that ATI is implying that if you cleaning the rifle, what can be considered as routine maintenance, and there was a failure or safety problem that it would be the fault of the owner and not ATI.  This appears to be a thinly veiled attempt to shift the blame for any problems with a poorly made, out of spec rifle onto the owner simply for doing what millions of gun owners do every day.

Conclusion

My conclusion of both of these ATI rifles is that they are unsafe.  I have shot a lot of AR-15s in my life, including military M16s and M4s during my time in the Coast Guard.  I have never felt unsafe shooting a semi-automatic rifle, no matter who the manufacturer was.  I own two rifles that some consider mid-grade in terms of quality, and have never felt that they are unsafe.   They might not be as tight tolerance wise or as accurate as a high end AR, but at the end of the day, they do not make me feel unsafe like these rifles did.  Personally, I would not buy an ATI OMNI Gen2 lower or complete rifle, I would not own one and I sure would not hand one of them to a loved one to shoot.  If one of these rifles was to have a out of battery detonation, or catastrophic failure the polymer would blow apart into small pieces, embedding itself into your arm, body, legs and face.  While aluminum can fail as well, it has been engineered to fail at certain places directing the blast and fragments away from the user.  This is why we have seen catastrophic failures, only to learn that the shooter walked away with nothing more than a small cut.

They have fixed the problem of the polymer failing around the rear take down pin and the buffer tube collar, but there are just too many other problems with them right now to be able to recommend that you run out and buy a polymer lower.  If you happen to want to build a nice, light rifle my suggestions would be to find a good aluminum lower, and build the rifle with light materials.  While some will call this a step in the right direction for polymer, it is still far from ready for the open market.  These rifles, as received from ATI are, in my opinion, coupled with the opinion of two gunsmiths, unsafe.  They are out of tolerance and can and will hurt someone that shoots them if ATI continue to sell them as built.  Save a few more dollars and get something better and more reliable made out of aluminum.  Remember, you are purposely setting off an explosion that is 3” from your face; safety is paramount and should never be compromised to save a few bucks.

In complete polymer flow around the buffer collar aluminum block.

Out of spec magewell. This magwell is .003″ too wide and long, making the magazine unstable.

Left side of lower receiver, clearly shows the anti-walk system created by ATI as well as the serial number plate and company name above the magwell..

Right side of lower receiver shows the ATI Omni Hybrid logo and company name by rear take down pin.

Circle shows magazine release protruding beyond the magwell behind the magazine catch, the left side of the magazine catch should be flush to the lower.

Out of tolerance magwell and magazine wobble caused the follower to miss the bolt catch on several occasions while shooting.

Out of tolerance magwell and magazine wobble caused the follower to miss the bolt catch on several occasions while shooting.

Steve (The Editor) writes: Two days ago, after I had edited the final copy of this review, I sent a copy to ATI and asked them if they would like to send us a response which I would post below. the article. As I always do, I made it clear that I would not alter the review in anyway. I did, however, agree with their comment (in the third paragraph below) that the two photos I had included of a cracked lower from another company (for comparison purposes) is confusing and I decided to removed them. Nothing else has been added or removed. Their response …

December 19, 2013

To the Firearm Blog, Thank you for offering us an opportunity to read and respond to this review prior to publication.

While we at American Tactical greatly appreciate the information presented in this review, we are unable to agree with or verify the issues stated by Mr. Cadle, as we have not received either of these firearms back for our own service department to review. The return process for the firearms sent to Mr. Cadle is now underway. Once received, our full‐time gunsmiths will check each gun against the information provided in this review, so that we may address any issues, should they be present.

We would also like to make it very clear that the images used in this review that depict a cracked buffer tube collar are NOT images of the Omni Hybrid lower receiver.

American Tactical also does not know the circumstances of the firearms in between the time they left our facility and were picked up by Mr. Cadle. We do not know if the firearms for this review were inappropriately handled prior to his arrival at his FFL to receive them. We only test fire three rounds through each final assembly for functionality prior to full cleaning and packaging of our products. For liability reasons these test firings are performed by teams of staff and recorded should we experience any issues. We are unable to explain the claim of more than three rounds fired and an unclean rifle prior to Mr. Cadle’s first inspection of the second rifle we sent him.

Polymer molded AR lowers are still a relatively new item in the Shooting Sports industry, and the American Tactical Omni Hybrid is the newest innovation in design for this developing market. We understand that new technologies, especially those that challenge conventional thoughts and perceptions can often be met with resistance. American Tactical has chosen to embrace this new technology and is fully confident in it; so much so, that all Omni Hybrid lower receivers come with our first ever offered Lifetime Warranty in addition to the standard 2 year warranty that accompanies our rifles.

Thank you,

Management
American Tactical

Lithuania’s Ministry of Defense has purchased $3.9 million worth of the designated marksmen version of the FN SCAR-H rifle, the SCAR-H PR, along with Schmidt & Bender optics. While they will not say how many were ordered, my guess based on the contract value, would be about 750. Defense News reports …

Lithuania’s Ministry of Defense has ordered FN SCAR-H PR semi-automatic rifles for the country’s armed forces. The 7.62 mm rifle is produced by Belgian arms manufacturer FN Herstal.

The contract is worth 9.6 million litas (US $3.9 million), the ministry said in a statement. Deliveries of the weapons are scheduled to begin in 2014.

The FN SCAR-H PR rifles will be supplied to the Lithuanian land forces. The weapons are to be fitted with rifle scopes made by German manufacturer Schmidt & Bender. The amount of rifles ordered was not disclosed by the ministry.

When I first started shooting AR’s I was more than satisfied to buy one off the shelf. In the last few years I was leaning more and more toward building my own. What I really wanted was an AR that I built using parts I thought to be some of the best on the market. I also wanted the satisfaction of building it with my own hands and the feeling of accomplishment that goes with it.

Many shooters I’ve spoken with about this subject have been leery about taking a project like this on. I can understand that but if there was ever a rifle that begged to be built by a shooter it’s the AR-15. You can look at an AR much like a large lego set. If the parts are manufactured of quality materials with the proper tolerances, as they should be, it’s just not terribly difficult. Of course before you take on the task of building an AR you need to do your homework.

If you have a friend who has built several AR’s they can help you get started and ensure you avoid some of the common mistakes first time builders encounter. Another source of knowledge can be found in some videos that feature well known gunsmiths. You can watch them through then go back and reference the parts you’re working on. AGI (American Gunsmithing Institute) has an especially good selection of videos on building an AR as well as other relevant topics concerning the AR.

Before beginning the build you need to research the materials and tools you’ll need to do a good job and not struggle in performing a task with inappropriate hand tools. This information can also be found in these AGI videos. Some of the tools needed you probably already have while the others can be purchased for right at $100 depending on brand and where you purchase them.. I’ve always relied on Brownells for any gunsmithing tools I’ve needed. Their staff is knowledgeable and the prices are reasonable.

After you’ve done your research and have the tools you’ll need on hand it’s time to start thinking about the parts you want to use to build your ideal AR. You may have some idea already of the brands and models you prefer. For the remainder talk with those people with experience in building an AR. You can also glean information from those same videos you’ll be using as a reference in building your rifle.

Like everyone else I have my preferences in brands and models of uppers, lower receivers, barrels and the other major components. There are a good number of quality parts manufacturers out there so if you choose other brands that’s fine. The point is to build using the parts you like and feel are high quality. One bit of advice is to purchase quality not just what’s inexpensive that you feel you can get by with. You’ll end up spending more replacing these inferior components than you will buying quality to begin with.

In this build I purchased my lower receiver from Coronado Arms. You may not have heard of Coronado as far as AR’s are concerned but they make a very fine line of custom bolt action rifles and have for some time. All guns and parts are designed and made in house. The owner, Curt Chastain designs all the firearms the company makes. Coronado started out in the black rifle business by introducing the receiver I used on this rifle. They also sell their own brand of AR rifles.

The Coronado CA15 lower is machined from a billet of 7075 T-6 aluminum with a hard coat anodized finish. The magwell is broach cut with very precise lines. Everything about this lower shows extreme precision and quality which was confirmed not only by measurement but how perfectly it mated to the upper receiver. I’ve never seen another lower that was as precisely manufactured as this one. That and well it’s just a very handsome lower. All of the internal parts from the trigger group to the pins holding it in place were snug with no play. Still it’s very easy to separate the upper and lower without having to use a punch.

One thing you’ll notice in the photos is how closely the upper and lower receiver fit. There is a very fine line between the two which is uniform all the way around. There is no rattle or play between upper and lower. All the magazines I’ve used have no play yet eject easily. The magwell is also beveled making magazine handling easier. I highly recommend this lower for a build or replacement.I’ve honestly seen none better.

The next part I chose was the upper receiver. I chose the VLTOR MUR-1 with the forward assist. When I purchased it the shortage was still on and the model with the forward assist was all that was available. The reason I bring this up is the doubt I have that a forward assist is even needed. I can’t remember the last time I used it.

As I mentioned the fit with the Coronado lower is about as perfect as you can ask for. The VLTOR upper has a thicker wall than most, which is a good thing. When you have a good upper and lower fit along with the thicker walls on the MUR you have a stiffer rifle with greater accuracy potential when mated with a good barrel.

Additional Parts

For a charging handle I bought a Bravo Company medium “Gunfighter” model. Along with the charging handle I used a BCM bolt carrier group (BCG) as well as a BCM bolt. I’ve been switching between an ERGO stock and a Magpul STR. The current rail system is also from ERGO in the two-piece configuration. I’ve also been using a Parallax Tactical Gen2 13″ slim rail. One good thing about this rail system is it uses any Magpul add on rails or any other Magpul rail accessory. The trigger group is a two stage Wilson match tactical.

The barrel is of course one if not the most important part in your rifle. I’ve chosen a Bravo Company 16” M4 SOCOM. This barrel has a 1/7 twist, which works well with heavy or lighter bullets. This barrel has a chrome chamber and bore with a manganese finish. It’s also MPI and HPT tested. With a price of $269 it’s a lot of barrel for the money.

There are other parts, which have nothing to do with the overall quality or function of the rifle. They are rather a matter of personal choice. Optics as well as the pistol grip and iron sights fall into this category.

As I mentioned earlier there are many choices out there in a market flooded with all of these parts. I feel these I’ve chosen are among the very best. My advice is take your time. Talk with other AR enthusiast as well as doing your own research. Finally enjoy what you’ve accomplished in building your rifle and practice often. I can promise you’ll build more than one rifle once you complete the first.

One thing I realized I left out was the sling in Ranger green. These slings are handmade by US Veterans. The quality is fantastic. Each vet signs their name to each sling. Each sling comes with a certificate signed by the veteran who made it. Cost is $120 but well worth it considering the quality and the fact it supports these fine men.

Recoil website