Hot on the heels of their purchase of custom rifle and barrel maker Spencer Arms, Masterpiece Arms are teasing a AR-15 style precision bolt action rifle they are calling the MPA 308BA.

We don’t know much about it other than the above low resolution photo and that it uses a Remington 700-style bolt, is chambered in .308 Winchester, has a detachable magazine, a threaded Spencer Precision Barrel, a monolithic rail/handguard and uses AR-15 pistol grips and stocks. The MSRP will be $2495.99 and it will not be available until next year.

The folks at 762PR Defence PR Marketing sent us some photos of the H&K HK416A5. The A5 model was unveiled late last year and incorporates some of the features H&K developed for the H&K G28 DMR (which is itself based on the HK417).

Ruger has just announced the Ruger American Rimfire, a bolt-action rimfire rifle that uses the Ruger 10/22 magazine. As much as I love the .22 cartridge, feeding it is a problem in many guns. I generally find a brand of ammunition that feeds well in a particular gun and stick to it. The Ruger 10/22 is the exception, its rotary magazine makes chambering the rimmed .22 LR round easy. Like with the Ruger 10/22, both the .22 Magnum and .22 LR magazines sit flush with the stock. The magazine release is an extended 10/22-style release.

The 10/22 magazine is not the only notable feature of the Ruger American Rimfire. The gun comes standard with fiber optic front sight and foldable rear 10/22-style leaf sight. The blued barrel has a target crown.

The rifle comes with a modular synthetic stock system that includes two interchanges pieces allowing you to adjust the comb height. If you are shooting with the iron sights you want a low comb, if using optics you want the high comb. The stock has an integral bedding block system called Power Bedding(tm) to improve accuracy.

It also features an adjustable Savage-style trigger. A 3/8″ rimfire cope base is machined into the receiver and is drilled and tapped for Weaver #12 bases. The bolt has a 60-degree throw.

The MSRP is $329. The .22 LR and .22 Magnum are both available in a regular or compact model. A regular sized rifle can be converted to the compact, or visa versa, by purchasing a new stock comb for $19.95.

Here are a couple of videos about the Ruger American Rimfire from GunBlast and NRA Publications …

The press release …

This review was written by Dr. Jim and Mary Clary.

The CVA Optima V2 was introduced at the 2013 SHOT Show in Las Vegas.  Although it has the same name as previous Optima muzzleloaders and the stock and barrel are essentially the same, the new Optima V2 borrows its action and trigger designs from the “top-of-the-line” Accura V2 series.

The Optima V2 uses the same trigger-guard actuation breeching lever, which is an improvement over the old Optima’s breeching lever located in front of the trigger guard — which looked like the safety on the Ruger Mini 14.  The rest of the internal action components are also of the Accura design, with the exception that the trigger weight is not adjustable.  In fact, at first look, this gun looks just like the Accura with a one-inch shorter barrel and without the deluxe finish and grip features of the Accura V2 stocks.

The major discernible difference that  we could determine was that the Accura V2 models feature a Bergara-branded barrel, while the Optima V2 has a “regular” CVA barrel.  For those folks not familiar with the Bergara Barrels, this company supplies high quality center-fire barrels to many of the most respected rifle manufacturers in Europe and the USA.  CVA uses these premium quality Bergara Barrels in its top-of-the-line Apex and Accura models.  All of the Bergara-branded barrels used in these CVA guns are drilled from 416 stainless steel bar stock and button rifled.

All Bergara Barrels, be they for CVA or other manufacturers, are made in the same manufacturing facility as the standard CVA barrel – as the parent company of CVA also owns the Bergara Barrels plant.  The major difference between a Bergara-branded barrel and a “regular” CVA barrel is that the Bergara-branded barrel is put through an additional special 3-step honing process that simulates hand lapping, except that it is more precise.  This process removes any deviation in bore diameter.  That being said, do not get the idea that the CVA branded barrel is “cheap”.  It isn’t!  In fact, in our tests, we noticed hardly any difference in accuracy at 100 yards between the two barrels (Accura V2 vs. Optima V2).  Having been F-Class target shooters, we will speculate that maybe, just maybe, the Bergara-branded barrel would give a competitive shooter an edge, but for the average hunter, we do not believe that you could ever tell the difference.

Here are the features and specifications for the CVA Optima V2 rifle:

• 416 Stainless Steel, Fluted, 26″ Barrel – .50 caliber with 1:28″ Twist Rifling
• Bullet Guiding Muzzle
• 100% Ambidextrous stock
• Solid Aluminum Palmsaver ramrod (a neat cap that makes field loading easy)
• DuraSight® Integral Scope Mount or DuraSight® Fiber Optic Sights
• QRBP -Quick Release Breech Pug
• Reversible Hammer Spur
• CrushZone® Recoil Pad
• 41″ Overall length
• 6.65 lbs.Total Weight
• 14″ Length of Pull
• Lifetime Warranty

The manual of the Optima refers to the trigger as a “neutral center of gravity” design to provide a light and smooth trigger pull with no creep.  I will confess that the term “neutral center of gravity” doesn’t mean much to me, but I will say that this gun had a 2 lb. trigger pull, out of the box, with absolutely no creep.  It was absolutely as crisp as any target trigger we have ever used.  In this day and age when so many companies are installing “lawyer-triggers” which make it virtually impossible to squeeze off a good shot, CVA gets a “tip of our hat” for this one.  In fact, when shooting on the range, one old chap (older than Jim) asked if he could shoot the Optima.  Of course, Jim told him “Yes”.  After the first shot, he asked if he could shoot it again…. a second shot, then a third…. end of story, after ten rounds he proclaimed that he could shoot competition with that gun.  Jim thought he was exaggerating, until he pulled out his customized Anschutz 22LR…. he was still shooting in competitions at 78.  That pretty much says it all in regards to the trigger.  Oh yea, almost forgot…. once John got the “hang of the gun”, he put four rounds, into the bull at 100 yards for a group measuring 3/4″.  Jim can only dream of shooting that well and I can only beat that if I use my 6mmBR.  Old John is a shooter!

Jim’s .50 caliber CVA Optima V2 with DuraSight® Integral Scope Mount and TB-ML 3-9×40 Hi-Lux Scope

However, we are getting ahead of ourselves.  We mounted a Hi-Lux TB-ML 3-9X40 muzzleloader scope on the Optima.  This scope was designed by Toby Bridges specifically for muzzleloaders.  It is unique in that it comes with range crossbars below the primary crosshair to provide an accurate point-of-impact for ranges out to 250 yards.  Unlike conventional scopes with similar crossbars or mil dots, Toby and the folks at Hi-Lux fired more than 1,000 rounds, using different loads/bullets to compile four ballistic charts included with the scope.

After such extensive tests, we considered it unnecessary to verify the ballistics charts; however, we know that some readers would question our taking them at face value.  So, Jim hit the local range and fired over one hundred rounds with the Optima V2 using Blackhorn 209 powder, Alliant Black MZ powder, Hodgdon Triple7 pellets and IMR White Hots pellets.  He used the 260 grain Harvester

Scorpion PT Gold with Crush Rib sabots and 250 grain “Powerbelt” Aerolite bullets.  Our results confirmed the accuracy and validity of the charts.   The main chart that we used is reprinted below.  It is for hunters using three of the most popular spitzer or spire point bullets with sabots, as well as CVA’s Aerolite bullet.  Our range test confirmations have been inserted for reference. You will want to verify the crossbar distances for your gun on the range before heading out to hunt, as your velocities may be more or less due to the working bore of your gun.

All that remains is for us to determine is the inherent accuracy of the Optima V2 at 100 yards with the four propellants above.  Muzzle velocities are provided for performance comparisons between the propellants.  However, bear in mind that we are shooting at an elevation of 5,232′ above sea level.  The results of those tests for 3-shot groups are as follows (we fired five 3-shot groups with each powder/bullet combination):

100 grains of Blackhorn 209 Powder

Powerbelt AeroLite 250 grain:  Average group size = 1.00″ (Mean M.V. = 2,015 f.p.s.)

Harvester 260 grain Scorpion PT Gold:  Average group size = 1.00″ (Mean M.V. = 1,965 f.p.s.)

100 grains of Alliant Black MZ

Powerbelt AeroLite 250 grain:  Average group size = 1.30” (Mean M.V. = 1,880 f.p.s.)

Harvester 260 grain Scorpion PT Gold:  Average group size = 1.25” (Mean M.V. = 1,845 f.p.s.)

2 IMR White Hots 50 Grain Pellets

Powerbelt AeroLite 250 grain:  Average group size = 1.13″ (Mean M.V. = 1,800 f.p.s.)

Harvester 260 grain Scorpion PT Gold:  Average group size = 1.18″ (Mean M.V. = 1,770 f.p.s.)

2 Hodgden Triple7 50 Grain Pellets

Powerbelt AeroLite 250 grain:  Average group size = 1.38” (Mean M.V. = 1,725 f.p.s.)

Harvester 260 grain Scorpion PT Gold:  Average group size = 1.25” (Mean M.V. = 1,700 f.p.s.)

All four propellants performed well with both the Aerolite and Scorpion bullets.   For the average muzzleloader hunter, the accuracy difference between them is negligible.

The redesigned Optima V2 is an excellent shooter, regardless of the propellant you use.  It is more than adequate for just about any hunting situation.  Although we only ran our tests with 100 grain equivalent loads, in our discussions with the director of technical support at CVA, he told me that he has shot three pellet loads with no problems, although the recoil was tough.  In talking with the folks at Western and Alliant, they have used loads up to 110 grains with good results.  However, once again, the recoil increases.  Our feeling is that unless you are going for big bear, bison or moose, 100 grain loads are more than adequate.

Your muzzle velocities will vary depending on the condition of your barrel, the working bore of your gun and environmental conditions.  The above values were taken from our Chrony and are posted to give the reader an idea of the approximate velocities to expect.  However, as with any inline muzzleloader, you are throwing a heavy projectile downrange and as long as the velocity is sufficient to produce enough energy to take down your game.. your primary concern should be accuracy and bullet placement, rather than the velocity.

Some shooters have reported problems using Blackhorn 209 with the regular QRBP, so CVA, in cooperation with Western Powders, designed as an aftermarket item, a Blackhorn 209 breechplug for their entire line of rifles.  We fired more than 120 rounds with it and did not experience any misfires or fizzles.  As such, if you prefer shooting Blackhorn 209 powder, we recommend that you definitely order the Blackhorn 209 QRBP with your gun. It has an MSRP of $20.95.

With an MSRP of $391 ($317 for standard blued barrel with black stock), this gun should find a comfortable niche in the muzzleloading market – and, as with all guns, you are likely to find them being sold at 10% to 20% below the MSRP at your local dealer.  It is well made, comfortable to shoot and handles well.  And, it is hard to beat a lifetime guarantee.  Jim is keeping this one and intends to use it on his fall mule deer hunt here in New Mexico.

We would like to thank the folks at Alliant, Hodgdon and Western Powders for generously providing us with enough powder to perform all of our tests.  And, we are also very appreciative of the folks at B.P.I. and Harvester for providing us with CVA Aerolite and Harvester Scorpion PT Gold bullets.  Without the generosity of these companies, it is doubtful that we would have been able to conduct the preceding tests.

This new product from Blue Force Gear looks as useful as it is simple. The Blue Force Sling Sleeve is just an elastic tube that you can thread thought sling through. When putting your gun away in the safe, truck, under your bed etc. you can fold the sling into the tube. This prevents the rifle sling getting tangled with other guns or other objects. A very neat idea. The MSRP is $6.

The Sling Sleeve™ is a 5” long tube of military grade elastic that holds your sling neat and snag-free but remains ready for instant deployment. To use, thread your sling through the Sleeve and then mount the sling to your rifle. “Z fold” your sling taut and slip the Sling Sleeve over the bundle. To deploy, simply grab the sling and pull.

A group of netizens from the weapon forum /k/ have bandied together to build a clone of the infamous Russian VSS Vintorez suppressed rifle.

A (original) VSS Vintorez. Photo by Vitaly V. Kuzmin

They wrote on their Tumblr blog …

Swedish website Expressen.se published photos of Swedish National Response Team (NI) snipers setting up on someones roof prior to Obama’s arrival in the country. This is the first time I have been the Sako TRG M10 in the wild. The NI snipers have a high-end Swedish-made Spuhr mount and a scope which I cannot identify (maybe S&B?).

For reasons unknown, Beretta, which owns Sako, continues to refuse to sell the TRG M10 to consumers.

Since August the Royal Malaysian Police have been running  ’Ops Cantas’ (Operation Cutover), a nationwide crackdown on organized crime specifically targeting illegally acquired and manufactured firearms. This operation has included many road block around the country and raids by the Rapid Action Unit SWAT team. Last Thursday the police raided a house occupied by two men who were suspected gangsters. Among the cache of firearms they captured, which included three Colt carbines and a number of AKs, was a M1 Carbine with an interesting stock which looks better suited for a competition target .22 and out of place on an old battered M1 Carbine in the jungle.

The  thumbhole stock, while quite worn, looks like it was expertly crafted. It has a high Monte Carlo comb (cheek rest) and a moulded grip. Curiously it has a picatinny scope rail that extends almost all the way to the butt. I can’t think of why they would have installed the scope rail like this. Maybe nobody had a hacksaw on hand to cut it to the correct length? The scope looks to be either an original or a clone or a Walther-branded red dot.

Thanks thanks to Azril for the information.

Quebec firearm accessory maker Cadex Defence was displaying their new pink colored Strike Dual Rifle Chassis at DSEi ’13 in London today. This high-end stock sells for just under $2,400. The new color “Double Candi” is offered alongside Black, Tan, OD Green and Bio-Z (a slightly lighter green).

The Strike Dual Rifle Chassis’ are made in short action, long action and .50 caliber sizes and are avalible for a wide range of rifle actions, including Remington, Sako, McMillian, Surgeon and Stiller.

The Cadex Defence Booth

We have received our first photos of the brand new Beretta ARX-160 A3 which has just been unveiled at DSEi in London. I have not seen a specification sheet for this rifle so I do now know what the internal changes, if any, are. We will keep you updated as we learn more.

Externally the handguard has been updated. The top row of air vent slits have been replaced with large square cut outs. The row of vents below it still has the thin slits. These larger cut outs would shave off some weight while letting more air circulate around the barrel.

The white screen shows a ARX 160 A3, the rifle below it is a A2 model.

UK firm Range Master Precision Arms unveiled a new tripod that is light and packs down into a small bag, but is sturdy enough to use with heavy .50 BMG and .338 LM rifles. Its carry mag is about the size of a six-pack and the entire package weights about 4.5 lbs (2 kg). Impressive.

Packed down into carry bag.

The company has not uploaded the specifications to their website yet, so I don’t have any more specs for you. The rifle shown in the photos is the Range Master Precision Arms G2 (Strike 30 Chassis) chambered in 7.62x51mm.

There is an interesting video on LiveLeak (embedded below) showing Kurdish snipers in North Syria clearing out an al-Qaeda-linked rebel group from a Kurdish village. The four snipers are using identical .50 caliber rifles that are either completely hand made or at least partially hand made.

http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=c0b_1379250525

The first sniper in the video has very little training. It looks like he is flinching, standing on his toes, not following through on the shot, has trouble cycling the bolt, can’t handle the recoil and has the rifle barrel rested on the tree rather than the handguard (which will mess with the accuracy). The next two snipers are also resting their rifle barrels on the trees, but they are more proficient in handling the rifle and are following through on their shots. The last sniper in the line looks far more experienced than the rest of them and is shooting using the bipod.

None of them are using ear or eye protection, but in one shot you can see ear protection sitting unused. I think they look off their protection to look more manly for the propaganda footage.

According to the video description (also propaganda) they managed to clear out the village, killing most of the rebels  …

Western Kurdistan’s People’s Defense Units (YPG) have launched “Martyr Dilovan and Aleppo Martyrs” operation in Tal Abyad (Girê Spî) as part of the “Şehîd Çekjin Revolutionary Operation” they started early September in response to the attacks of al-Qaeda linked Islamist gang groups fighting against them.

YPG fighters have attacked the headquarters of the gang groups deployed in the Susik village, 10 km away from Tal Abyad, at around 2 a.m. last night. YPG took the control of the village where 60 members of the gang groups were killed and two others taken captive in the operation which lasted till early hours of the morning. Kurdish fighters also seized six vehicles and ammunitions of the jihadist armed groups.The Susik village is the third one YPG has cleared of gang groups since the beginning of the revolutionary operation.

British firm AEI Systems Ltd make everything from 30mm aircraft cannons to bolt action 7.62mm rifles. At DSEi 13 they had a new prototype .50 caliber anti-material rifle on display. The gun has a long action recoil system and curiously it is fed by two side-mounted magazines. The magazines are selectable, so you could load AP rounds in one magazine and HE rounds in the other.

I am not sure what scenario this gun was designed for. It is possible, I suppose, the idea is that it allows snipers to quickly switch to non-chemical/explosive rounds when targeting humans and switch back when targeting vehicles. This would avoid running afoul of the treaties and international agreements that in theory ban explosive ammunition against human targets.

I like the very deep fluting on that barrel and suppressor. That should help keep it cool when shooting in hot climates.

When I wrote about the auction of Saddam Hussein’s Ruger M77 last month I said the estimate sale price of $7,000 – $15,000 was to low. At the low end of that estimate even I was considering bidding on the historic and very symbolistic gun. I contacted Rock Island Auction Company and they told me it sold for $48,875. I am not surprised. I am sure it will end up prominently displayed on the wall of a wealthy person’s man cave.

A colleague of mine had a friend who was planning on bidding on it. If he had won it I would have been able to shoot it

Russian President Vladimir Putin visited the Kalashnikov factory and inspected the new AK-12, AS-1 and the latest version of the AK-74M. What is really interesting is that Kalashnikov appear to be making transparent magazines.

AK-74M (left)

AK-12 (green)

AK-12 Black (center), with transparent magazines, a selection of chromed rifles (left).

Russian soldiers with “Ratnik” (Future Solider Program) AK rifles.

Many thanks to Александр for the photos.

The Romanian Army has publicly unveiled the prototype of their new 5.56x45mm service rifle at the Expomil 2013 military exhibition in Bucharest. The rifle does not yet have an official name and is just being referred to as the “New 5.56mm Army Rifle”. The prototypes have been in use with Romanian soldiers in Afghanistan and will soon enter mass-production.

As you can see in the photos, it is based on the AK platform but with quite a few changes. They moved the charging handle to the right side of the gas tube. It point upwards at a ~45 degree angle and is non-reciprocating. The handle cannot be switched to the left side. All the new rifle designs, including the AK-12, have either ambidextrous charging handles or handles on the left where it is more ergonomic for right-hand shooters. Placing it on the right hand side, and at a upward angle, is a strange design decision.

The fire control selector has safe, semi-automatic, 3-round burst and automatic modes. The switch is ambidextrous. The dust cover is hinged and has a standard picatinny rail on top.

It will be made in a rifle version with a fixed adjustable stock and a compact carbine version with a shorter barrel and fixed wire stock.

Many thanks to Val for the information.

Semi-automatic versions of the Degtyaryov DP28 machine gun are being sold in the United States through AIM Surplus.  The DP28 MG was used by the Soviet Union during World War II and beyond.

It used record-like, 47-round magazines.  Due to the shap of the magazines, the gun was nicknamed the “proigryvatel” or “record player.”  These rifles, like the original machine guns, are chambered in 7.62x54r, which was the cartridge used in the Mosin-Nagant rifles.

The guns are assembled from parts by Wise Lite Arms and use a 1953-marked semi-automatic receiver.  Included with the rifle are four of the round magazines and a carrying pouch that holds three mags.  Total price is a hair under $4,500.  These do not appear to be C&R eligible.

The Trapdoor rifle design is not one you hear about often. It was a breach-loading stopgap between the end of the muzzleloading era and the emergence of bolt actions. Most of the world went straight to the bolt action. Prussia adopted the bolt action Needle gun as early 1841 and in 1866 France adopted the  Chassepot bolt action. Even the US Army was all set to go the bolt action route when they adopted a limited number of Palmer carbines, but after the War Department had its budget slashed following the end of the Civil War, they cut firearms expenditure (who says history does not repeat itself?).

RIA have published a fascinating article on the history of the Trapdoor rifle …

After the Civil War, the War Department wanted a breech-loading rifle.  To be specific, they wanted a breech-loading rifle that would chamber a self-primed, metallic cartridge.  This led to the formation of an Army Board who, in 1865, would host trials of different rifles by makers both foreign and domestic.  The idea of the Master Armorer at the U.S Armory at Springfield, Mr. Erskine S. Allin, was to take the existing Civil War muzzle-loaders, of which there were thousands, and convert them by adding the now well known “trap door” to the receiver.

This appealed to the Board for a number of reasons:

1. It used existing materials, thereby saving money and manufacturing time.
2. Money was even more important with the War Department’s newly slashed budget.
3. Single shots were viewed as more reliable and rugged than repeaters or magazine rifles.
4. It looked like proven guns of the past, especially with its pronounced hammer.
5. Their priority on long range accuracy over rate of fire.
6. Single shot rifles were thought to force a more efficient use of ammunition

If you wonder where the Trapdoor got its name from, take a look at the nifty gif animation below (it may take some time to load) …

My Russian friend and military photographer extraordinaire Vitaly V. Kuzmin sent us high resolution photos of the new Tula ADS Underwater rifle. It is quite an elegant design when viewed up close (rather than low resolution mainstream press images). The 40mm grenade launcher is built in and doubles as the handguard, adding almost no extra bulk to the rifle.

The optics rail double as a carry handle and features an integral rudimentary rear sight. The rail is not very long and would not be able to accommodate certain types of night vision optics. The sight rail appears to be hinged. I am not sure why this is. Anyone have any ideas?

The grenade sight is built in to the left of the foresight. The gas regulator appears to be adjustable.

The flash hider (or muzzle brake) has an interesting v-shaped cutout design.

Both of the triggers (rifle and grenade) are located inside the same trigger guard. Both triggers have blocking safeties that must be switched before the trigger can be depressed.

What do you think of the design?