Recently we received an opportunity to sit down with one of the founders and current leader of Battle Arms Development, George Huang at the companies new location in Las Vegas. We discussed everything from the beginnings of the organization to how George applies his architectural engineering background to designing eye-catching and reliable AR15s.

Welcome back my quiet-time friends and thanks for reading TFB’s Silencer Saturday. My name is Pete and I’ll be your host for today’s show.  Before we start talking metering and decibels, I’d like to start by asking for some help from you, our readers and fellow shooters. The five questions posted at the end of this week’s edition will start to help me understand your interests a bit better and help me better tailor Silencer Saturday’s future topics. In return, I’ll announce a giveaway in next week’s post. (It’s a surprise, so don’t ask). Obviously participation is completely voluntary. And now, A Tale Of Two Barrels.

Makers of the now iconic MK18 URG (Upper Receiver Group) in use by U.S Special Operations Forces for many years, Daniel Defense will be holding a live DIY event on June 14, 2018 at 7P EST. Viewers will be able to watch the experts properly assemble a MK18 URG, ask questions and pickup tips along the way. At the conclusion of the event, one lucky member of the virtual audience will win a Daniel Defense RIS II.

A confidential source has revealed to TFB the current contestants that have passed the most recent phase of the Next Generation Squad Automatic Rifle Competition (NGSAR). This phase is less of an actual competition between small arms prototypes but more of a theoretical feasibility of design concepts before any trials progression ensues. Results from this recent Prototype Opportunity Notice (PON) showed that out of ten industry contestants, only six were advanced to the next stage of the competition. These six companies are in order of most successful: Aircraft Armaments, Inc. Textron (AAI Textron), PCP Tactical (a division of PCP Ammunition), Sig Sauer, General Dynamics Ordnance & Tactical Systems (GT-OTS), and two entries from FN America (labeled as Lightweight and Adaptive).

21st Century Asian Arms Race spotted an image shared on the website of the Office of the Azeri President that is showing a rifle of Belarusian origins in a unit armory locker of the Azeri Armed Forces. The rifle in question was previously reported on by TFB in February of this year. Appearing in a display put on by the state-owned Military-Industrial Committee of Belarus was an AR15 chambered in 7.62x39mm, configured to take AKM-patterned magazines (as opposed to STANAG configured ones, also popular for 7.62x39mm AR15 derivatives). Where the rifle is made or imported from is difficult to discern. Originally the design is actually a U.S. one, introduced at SHOT 2017 by a startup called Arsenal Firearms, with the nomenclature as the “Switch”, also offered in 5.45x45mm. The website appears to be down and it doesn’t look like it saw much success in the United States. However at the display of the rifle in Belarus, there was a BSVT flag and placard right next to it. BSVT is an abbreviation for BELSPETSVNESHTECHNIKA, a subsidiary of the aforementioned Military-Industrial Committee of Belarus. The company produces defense items from small arms to missiles.

Steel Targets can be an awesome addition to any training regime, whether it be for self-defense, long distance shooting, any sort of competition, or just plain bragging rights at the range with buddies. Due to their reactive “CLANG”, steel targets give shooters instant feedback on whether or not the fundamentals are being properly applied. But with that great training value comes some responsibility. Especially when it comes to safety precautions. Shooting at steel isn’t like shooting at paper or cardboard targets. There are chances of fragments or even whole bullets coming right back at you due to various factors involved. Distance from the targets is one of them, design of the targets is another. Wearing eye protection and having a proper medical kit on standby is certainly good advice when working with any sort of steel.

The US Army’s new Squad Designated Marksman Rifle, or SDM-R, is set to be fielded at the brigade level starting in September 2018, according to the Program Executive Office Soldier.

For those of you who are veterans of the Clone Wars – building visually and technically correct military rifles – or are just getting started, the previously announced Geissele USASOC upper receiver groups are starting to show up in the wild. For the moment, only the stripped version (no charging handle, BCG or flash hider) is showing in stock at Brownells, but the complete version can’t be far behind.

Wilson Combat has announced that their Recon Tactical and Super Sniper rifles are now available chambered in .224 Valkyrie. The rifles are built with Wilson Combat barrels that feature a fast 1:6.5″ twist rate which allows stabilizing some of the heaviest (90 grain) .224 projectiles currently available on the market. Let’s take a look at each of these rifles.

A recent post on the DOD’s media release branch has shown elements of the 180th Cavalry Regiment (National Guard, based out of Oklahoma) on a security mission around the Afghan capital of Kabul. Unique to the quick-eyed observer would be the extensive use of Steiner Optics DBAL Advanced Target Pointer/ Illuminator/ Aiming Laser (ATPIAL) devices mounted to the M4 carbines of the troopers on patrol. Although not an extremely rare sighting among U.S. Forces, it is worth noting that the use of the DBAL series of ATPIAL devices is far exceeded by the L3/Insight Technologies AN/PEQ-15, AN/PEQ-16, LA-5, and most recently from the company (currently in use by SOF elements) the Next Generation Aiming Laser. Of course, this is relatively speaking because there was a 66,040 DBAL unit order in 2012. What exact model of DBAL is being used by the troopers is unknown, possibly a DBAL-A2 which falls under the nomenclature of AN/PEQ-15A when in use by the U.S. Military.

Kaiser Shooting Products has released the second generation of their X-7 Fusion  polymer AR-15 upper and lower receiver set. The primary difference of the V.2 receiver set from the V.1 is the use of a new polymer which has improved characteristics compared to the previous one. Another difference is that unlike the V.1 receiver set, V.2 comes with an anti-walk trigger and hammer pin set.

A potentially fatal flaw with some of the US Army’s M4A1’s has recently emerged. Unofficial footage, filmed by troops, surfaced showing a serious malfunction where an M4A1 carbine unintentionally discharged as its selector was shifted from semi to full auto. At least 900 carbines are known to be affected by the flaw.

For the remaining days of May, Daniel Defense is offering a free Vortex Sparc AR red dot to anyone purchasing one of their firearms or suppressors. Links, details and information on the redemption program can be found below. Additionally, I have included information and a link for the Vortex Sparc AR red dot optic.

Everyone knows about Binary Triggers by Franklin Armory by now. It is a clever design that allows your firearm to fire on pull and release of the trigger. This has been approved by ATF as two independent manipulations of the trigger and therefore considered semi-automatic. At SOFIC 2018, Franklin Armory debuted their latest Binary Trigger the TR-4. It is a Binary Trigger with a full auto option.

Last week we reported about the Russian ADAR company’s Ladoga straight pull bolt action rifle. Earlier,  this company has been publishing images of an AR-15 pattern rifle called ADAR 2-15 that they were preparing to manufacture. And recently, the company announced that they had launched the rifle on the Russian market.

Strike Industries has announced that their new enhanced low profile AR-15 gas block is now available for purchase. The company advertises this gas block to be a robust, lightweight and affordable product. Let’s take a closer look.

Not long ago, MEAN LLC, introduced a California Compliant Magazine Loader for the AR-15; The 10-round bullet loading device allows California gunners to reload a fixed magazine without the need to break down the firearm. The Firearm Blog featured it last year and you can read more here –   Yesterday, Mean Arms announced the release of a similar product for the AR-10, the MA10-Loader. Combining either of these loaders with the MA-Lock allows Cali folks yet another solution to the ever changing gun laws and the parameters thereof.

Over the last few month the New Zealand Army has begun fielding its new standard issue infantry rifle, the LMT MARS-L. The MARS-L is replacing the F88 Austeyr which has been in service since 1988.

This started off with a Facebook post shared by my friends. A woman claims a .223 fired was from an “assault rifle” and the bullet penetrated her house. It went through some walls and the crib for her baby stopped the bullet. Well my friends and I were discussing the validity of this and bullet path was brought up. Do bullets fly flat or do they change pitch like a football?

One of the hardest things to do is color match a rifle build. One such color is Magpul’s discontinued Foliage Green. Sure you can seek the help of a competent Cerakoter or similar weapons refinishing professional. But one of the joys of firearm ownership is making it your own by adding some personalized touches. I recently discovered a way to DIY Foliage Green with an off the shelf can of spray paint. The can is not what you think it is.

I found this in a Facebook group. It seems that the Taiwan 205th Armory (the same people who make the T91 rifle) is experimenting with arming drones. The T91 drone is equipped with a T91 rifle while the other is a 40mm armed drone with three grenade launchers.

On this segment of Picture-of-the-Day (POTD), we take a look at an AR-15 receiver set. That statement alone sounds riveting, we know, but stick with us here. We have all seen skeletonized components before. Ones that have a little material trimmed to reduce weight while still maintaining rigidity and functionality. Well, this one might as well be crowned the winner of that metaphorical competition. This is a Weaponsmart “Holy Roller” stripped receiver set that takes skeletonizing to the max!

After 3 successful years on the market with the Gen 3 folding stock adapter, Law Tactical brought their newest side-folding adapter, made specifically to fit the CSASS for display at NRAAM 2018. The limited-edition Winkler-Law Tactical SURV blade also made an appearance.

In early May 2018, Seekins Precision launched it’s newest AR-15 accessory to bear the company’s logo – the NX15 BCG. With forward assist serrations, the magnetic particle inspected (MPI) and melonite finish make this bolt carrier group a no-brainer for the avid Seekins consumer.

Vista Outdoors, owners of Savage Arms, Stevens, Federal Premium, Bushnell and other major outdoor brands announced a Strategic Business Transformation Plan that explores the possibility of selling certain assets. As part of the Full-Year Operating Results for FY2018, the report announced today stated that the company is exploring “strategic options” for brands that fall outside of the transformation. While the plans for Savage and Stevens are not detailed at all in the report, the Associated Press is reporting that Vista will stop manufacturing firearms (see the below article).

Survivor Systems Inc, based out of Southern California offers a Featureless AR stock system that allows the end user easy access to an extra ten round magazine. Let’s check out the OPTION ZERO stock that has storage for a 10 round magazine.

Springfield Armory has pulled away the curtain on another firearm before heading off to the NRA Annual Meeting last week. This NEW offering of a SAINT AR-15 Pistol is chambered in .300 Blackout and is suppressor ready.

Hello everyone, thanks for dropping in to TFB’s Silencer Saturday. This weekend marks the National Rifle Association’s Annual Meeting (NRAAM) In Dallas, Texas where manufacturers display their latest releases to shooters from across the country. We’ll take a look at some of the newest suppressors on the market in a minute. But first, let’s venture into the world of MIL-STD (aka Milspec) silencers versus commercial silencers and if it should make any difference to you.

Let’s do the math, shall we: At a conservative estimate of $0.30 per round, these SureFire suppressors spit a metric tonne of copper and lead. Carry the one, move the decimal point, grab the calculator… a grand total of a brand new, fully loaded Toyota Camry – for each silencer. While most civilians will not use their silencers to the extreme levels of soldiers or specialized law enforcement teams, it is a a solid datapoint that is difficult to reproduce in a controlled settings. Either way, 100K rounds is an impressive feat, considering a barrel’s realistic service life is between 10K-20K rounds.

It is that time of year again, when we reflect on all the times we have under appreciated the mothers in our lives. And now you think you can make up for 364 days of neglecting your most cherished relationships with a generic greeting card or some imported flowers in a cheap glass vase? Surely you jest. However, if you are lucky enough to have a woman in your life, be it your mom or the mother of your children, that enjoys some range time just as much as you, we’ve put together a TFB Shooters Special in plenty of time to buy and ship before Mother’s Day on Sunday, May 13th.