Wooden handguards fitted for an M16/AR15-patterned rifle are nothing new in the United States among the boutique custom build community. Some folks prefer the older, more nostalgic look of the solid wood grips that used to be so common on firearms of all types prior to the switch to polymer within small arms of all types throughout the world.

A YouTube channel called 45Snipers has published a video showing a very detailed 3D model of the IWI Tavor X95 rifle and demonstrating how different parts and assemblies of that weapon work. The animation starts with stripping the rifle down to the firing pin then adding the parts and naming them and then it goes on showing how the action and controls of this weapon system work. You can find the mentioned video embedded below.

Auto Ordnance from the Kahr Firearms Group has once again partnered with Outlaw Ordnance to bring us a custom new spin on a classic firearm. For this collaboration effort, they have produced a Custom “Vengeance” WWII M1 Carbine rifle. This rifle is of the same iconic construction that Auto Ordnance has always produced their M1 Carbines with, but now it has history emblazoned directly into the wood stock.

Currently boosting a force of over 30,000 fighters, the United Wa State Army (UWSA) has always been a force of reckoning on the Burmese border with China. And although arms production among the Wa (northern Shan State) isn’t a new or hot topic ( this Irrawaddy article documenting such production in 2008), there have has been very little written about exactly what is being produced and how to tell it apart. Both the armed factions of the Wa and the Kachin ethnic groups will publicly and proudly claim that their small arms are entirely produced domestically. Although both ethnic armies do have a limited assembly ability and the Kachin appear to manufacture their own mortars, the nexus behind both groups originates from neighbouring China in the form of Type 81 derivatives.

In an earlier article on TFB, we covered the early efforts at producing a precision rifle for the Burmese Army, culminating in the MA-Sniper. In this article, we look at the production variant.

In two previous articles on TFB we looked at the Burmese MA-Sniper in-depth while being used in the field by Tatmadaw Infantrymen. If readers recall there were a number of different variants of the MA-Sniper, to include early attempts at modifying MA-2 Light Machine Guns with optics. An interesting twist in this history is that variants of the MA-Sniper were actually modified to be used in the ASEAN Armies Rifle Match competition that is held annually. These variants have not been seen in service in the field and are very different from what we have seen in service with the Burmese Army’s operational forces. Although there isn’t much information available on these rifles, one of the variants was actually on the logo of the 23rd AARM competition held in Burma in 2013!

Just so we are clear, I have not actually seen Mile 22, but I am a sucker for a flashy preview that features guns, explosions, dramatic pauses a lots of ballistic nylon. Story aside, the prop armorers behind the movie seem to have their sh*t together, displaying a wide variety of popular, historic and capable firearms for viewers. Let’s take a look.

The eleventh Installment of Build of the Week was contributed by Steve and is a 10/22 Stainless Takedown model with some simple and clean mods.

French Small Arms manufacturer Verney-Carron Defense are in search of industry partners to ensure their entry into the French Army’s upcoming precision semi automatic rifle trials. Back in July, we reported that Verney-Carron, one of France’s premier sporting gun makers was hoping to bid for the rumoured contract, submitting  their 7.62x51mm VCD-10.

During the age of the G3, manufactured in Burma by Defense Industries under contract from Heckler & Koch through the West German company Fritz Werner, the Tatmadaw produced a designated marksman variant. It was called the BA-100 (Burma Army-100) and was the fourth variant of the locally produced G3 series, others being the BA-63 (full-length rifle), BA-64 (LMG variant with heavy barrel, bipod, extended charging handle, carrying handle, and enhanced handguard), and the BA-72 (short rifle variant with shortened barrel and handguard). But when it comes to the BA-100 we actually don’t have a single photograph to research the weapon system from. We do know that the 7.62x51mm rifle had a telescopic scope mounted to it, most likely of commercial off the shelf manufacture from a NATO country origin as Burma was seen as a front against Chinese communism and was thus allotted foreign military supplies and sales. These most likely would have been mounted to an H&K patterned claw mount, possibly imported (not produced locally). When it comes to the reliability of these rifles we have at least one Burmese veteran who claims that the rifles were little more than production BA-63s with optics mounts attached to them. Apparently, they weren’t liked very much as they weren’t accurate and presumably didn’t make too much of a difference in actual combat operations against the ethnic groups.

Night vision for civilians used to be exorbitantly expensive, if not prohibited in some places. However, as technology has improved, the devices have gotten to a point where civilians can now afford very decent night vision devices at a price that you don’t have to take a second mortgage out on. In this episode, we break down some myths and talk about some of the practical lessons that are important to take into account when looking at night vision devices. But more importantly, we look at the ability to actually engage a target through while donning night vision and how to best go about it.

Your enemy is the best teacher when it comes to combat. In a move that appears to be imitating what the Kachin Independence Army pioneered in 2010 when it comes to bullet trap rifle grenades being fired from locally assembled Type 81 derivatives (the Chinese Type 81 already uses one, but they tried a different method), Burmese Defense Industries has introduced a rifle grenade firing capable variant of the 5.56x45mm Myanmar Army (MA) family of infantry small arms (locally produced Galil ARM). At the current time it appears that the nomenclature of this variation is the MA MK II. Thus, MA-1 MK II (full-length rifle), MA-3 MK II (folding stock carbine), and the MA-4 MK II (UBGL variant). It most likely isn’t the case that the MA-2 has been retrofitted to fire rifle grenades as a light machine gun platform being used for that purpose is rare anywhere in the world. In addition, the MA-2 MK II is the new 7.62x54mmR variant of the LMG. In addition there has been modifications to the MA-3 carbine, but if the folding stock can withstand the recoil of the grenade isn’t known either.

The Twitter analyst Everest65 has shared photographs of some bullpup Kalashnikov experimentation within the arms trade social media groups in Syria. There are a couple of iterations of the design, some appear to be more experimental and might be low in production while others are more standard in their craft method of production. Craft-produced bullpups are no stranger to the region with the experimentation in bullpup PKM GPMGs appearing within the past couple of years from Libya to Syria. Although innovative and certainly an attempt to improve upon the design, the problems of a bullpup are most likely magnified in a craft-produced one. Namely the horrendous trigger pull and especially with the “tilt, lock, and rock” method of inserting most any Kalashnikov platform magazine.

In this video, I give Larry Vickers a quick rundown of an SVCh DMR in 7.62×54. If you have any problems with the video, here is the direct link:  https://kalashnikov.media/en/media/videolibrary/4522395

Kalashnikov Gun Magazine has published another interesting article telling about Sergei Simonov’s 7.62x54mmR SKS-31 rifle that preceded the SKS that we know today. The purpose of KGM’s article was not only to tell about this rather unknown rifle but also to bust the myth according to which SKS has been used in WW2.

Circle 10 AK has announced on their social media pages that Century Arms will start importing again the Romanian PSL rifles. The company will offer two versions of the newly imported PSLs that will differ in the scopes they will come with. One version will have a Romanian scope with its serial number matching to that of the rifle and the second version will be available with a Russian made scope with a non-matching serial number. The rifles are manufactured by  ROMARM.

Seekins Precision has joined the list of companies that make .224 Valkyrie products. They launched a variety of products for this caliber including barrels, complete upper receivers and complete rifles. Perhaps the most notable product in this new line is the VKR20 rifle which we will talk about in this article.

Over the years, conducting trials in different countries, I had countless opportunities to test the accuracy of an AK in multiple calibers. There are a lot of myths and misconceptions regarding AK accuracy, and despite people putting out good information out there, a lot of folks still think that Kalashnikov rifle can’t hit the broad side of a barn past 100 yards.

The seventh Installment of Build of the Week was contributed by Rick.  This is actually a full repost of his write up that he originally submitted on ar15.com in May of 2017.

Recent news from the Department of Defense has shown that the 2nd Marine Law Enforcement Battalion, based out of Camp Lejeune, North Carolina has been working with Marine Corps Systems Command in testing a new target system that the Marine Corps could possibly purchase and integrate into marksmanship qualifications. Although the DOD imagery was very discrete about where the targets were from, not mentioning the company name or showing them up-close, the Australian-based company Marathon Robotics Corporation made it clear that 2nd LEB was indeed testing their moving target systems through a post on their Facebook page.

I came across this photo a while ago without any context. From the photo it appears to be two Kochs MP5s with elongated muzzle devices on the end of the barrel while the person in the photo has pierced his cheeks with them.

My friend Brian Miller aka @bkmiller556 on Instagram, loves to tinker with guns for the purpose of USPSA competition. When the Ruger PC Carbine came out I agreed to buy one if he would make upgrades for me. Here are some of the Ruger PC Carbine upgrades he has made.

A G3 patterned self-loading rifle with a collapsible stock has recently been observed through numerous online sources with Houthi fighters in Yemen and with an Al-Aqsa Brigade fighter in the Gaza strip. The rifle in question is a 7.62x51mm NATO G3-patterned rifle that has been modified to fire what would appear to be rifle grenades through a canister that appears to be a part of the trunnion and serves as a handguard as well. At this point the analysis is based upon the five available photographs that have surfaced and is thus rudimentary so far. Some have contended that the circular handguard is perhaps a craft-modified suppressor but we’ll present an argument that it most likely isn’t. We think it’s a rifle grenade launcher, but please, if any readers have some serious input on this, let us know.

About a year ago, we reported about the SVD rifle chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum. This rebarreling project was done by the  Sureshot Armament Group, a company well known for making different accessories for the SVD platform. In order to give a more in-depth explanation, Valentin Vlasenko, the owner, co-founder and chief engineer of the company,  published an article telling about the details of this project: how and why they started it, what challenges they faced and what decisions made etc.

The Turkish firearm component manufacturing company MERTSAV Defense has recently unveiled an under barrel 40x46mm Low-Velocity grenade launcher, as revealed by posts on Pakistan Defense forum. The launcher utilizes an M1913 Picatinny rail attachment system to marry to the 6 o’clock rail on any rifle so equipped. We don’t know too much about the system, but from the single photograph online it appears that the barrel is under at least 12 inches in length, swings to one side upon opening, has a manual safety positioned just being the base of the 40x46mm cartridge, has a full pistol grip with the barrel latching button inside it, and has a short Picatinny rail section positioned just ahead of the trigger guard and underneath the barrel, on the frame of the system. In the image shown, there is an attached forward grip on the launcher.

A recent flood of images from the excellent Turkish defense armaments based Twitter account Aybars have revealed that Turkish infantrymen are receiving the latest variant of the 7.62x51mm NATO MPT76 as a Designated Marksman’s Rifle. To be clear, this isn’t the first time that the new Turkish service rifle has been configured and issued in the DM role to frontline units, but it is certainly the most advanced attempt by incorporating a new scope, dedicated bipod, Turkish made 3E EOS LIRIL 300 laser designator, and possibly match ammunition. One of the scopes that have been in use for some time was a variable power Schmidt & Bender, however, in these new photographs, it appears that a Bushnell LRS 4.5-30x 50mm has been mounted in place of the previous optics in use. Gone is the Grippod that is still prevalent on numerous MPT76s in service today.

The Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 To 2004 made me a thumbhole stock nut. Why? Thank California, which initially allowed thumbhole stocks as a compliant part.  Now, it is just a finger shelf away from a bumpfire stock, and it can reinforce weak plastic lowers – factory-made, 80% builds, 3-D printed, or cast.   Trigger Jig rifle builds also use thumbhole stocks.  And finally, there’s that thumbhole style.

The Iraqi Al-Kadesiah rifle was named after a battle bearing the same name in 636 AD which marked a key point in the Islamic conquest of what is current-day Iraq and Iran. The naming of weapon systems  whether it be small arms or missiles in Saddam’s Iraq was often based on important events in history, religion, or geography so this odd naming scheme comes as no surprise.

Thanks to the Kalashnikov Gun Magazine, today we have a chance to take a look at one of the Soviet experimental sniper rifles/DMRs chambered in the 6x49mm caliber. The rifle is called TKB-0145S (ТКБ-0145С) and as one can expect from an experimental rifle, it has a lot of interesting and unusual design solutions.

For this episode, we took a trip to the folks at Battle Arms Development in Las Vegas and were able to get our hands on some of the companies newest rifle entries that were premiered at SHOT this year. The Tanker and the Paratrooper is sort of the manifestation of Battle Arms in the company entering the full rifle market from the parts manufacturing business. They also have a lightweight piece, a .308 rifle, but these aren’t covered as much in the episode above.