The Republic of Korea’s Army Special Warfare Command has selected the Dasan Machineries DSAR-15PC as its new service carbine to replace the current K1A carbine and K2 rifle. The piston-driven DSAR-15PC was the preferred bidder for the tender reported to be worth KRW3.8 billion or $3.1 million.

Here we go again. If you recall, the ATF, unfortunately, has a history of backpedaling pre-established decisions and interpretations of the law and later changing their minds. The Bump Stock Ban is a great example where they took a pre-established firearm accessory and changed the narrative to claim that they are now considered machine guns. If you want to refresh your memory read my analysis of the bump stock ban. Recently news has broken from Congressman Gaetz about the ATF’s secret brace ban.

Winchester Ammunition have confirmed that they have been awarded a substantial $38 million contract to provide frangible 9mm ammunition for close-quarter battle and indoor/outdoor CQB training. The firm-fixed-price, indefinite-delivery/indefinite-quantity contract awarded by the Department of Defense, on behalf of NSWC Crane, also has the option of of an expansion up to a value of just over $62 million.

The United States Supreme Court has once again denied certiorari to all firearms related cases appealed from lower courts. These denials are added to a decade long list of other denials since the last landmark firearms case, McDonald v City of Chicago in 2010. The cases currently being rejected include arguments such as “justifiable need” in relation to carry a firearm, California’s “Unsafe Handgun Act”, prohibiting interstate handgun sales (in person sales), restrictions on firearms and magazines, and more we’ll look at below.  The denial to hear these cases means that whatever ruling was handed down by the last, highest court under the Supreme Court remains in effect within that court’s jurisdiction.

The US Army has begun fielding their new M110A1  Squad Designated Marksman Rifle or SDMR. The latest familiarisation initiative began at Fort Stewart, Georgia, earlier this month. Soldiers from the 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division (the Raiders) began familiarisation with the new rifles at Fort Stewart’s sniper range on 5th June, 2020.

Back in April, Brazil’s IMBEL released a statement on their future plans for expanding their product portfolio, this included a passing reference to a potential partnership with SIG Sauer. The statement, however, did not go into details of what the cooperation between the two companies might involve. We now have some more details on what the potential cooperation will focus on.

For several years, many shooters looking for bulk premium remanufactured ammo turned to Stand 1 Armory. The Dallas, Texas-based bullet farm was first incorporated in 2013 and soon became a popular source of ammo for shooters of many different calibers and styles. Offerings included a variety of 9mm, .40, .45, .223, .308, 300BLK rounds, and more. Stand 1 Armory struck a particular chord in the competitive shooting community, with their “chubbies”. These 147 grain 9mm reduced power (-P) loads were purpose-built for events like 3 Gun, USPSA, IDPA, and others in which such a load could prove advantageous. The -P characteristics were intended to allow shooters to still knock down steel plates during matches, but provide decreased felt recoil and enable faster reacquisition and followup than with punchier loads.

Last month, TFB reported on Canada’s sweeping new ban of more than 1500 firearms – including more than a few unusual or unexpected entries on the list. Of note were numerous items that civilians would have almost no opportunity to purchase anyway, such as rocket launchers and mortar systems. There are also tentative plans to institute a “buyback” program, although this looks to be still just in the planning stages and has not yet been funded or fully developed.

It probably won’t come as a surprise to anyone that the decision on which supplier that will deliver the next standard assault rifle for the German Army has reportedly been delayed once again.

The Department of Defense recently released some interesting photos of members of Special Operations Joint Task Force-Operation Inherent Resolve familiarising themselves with the Smart Shooter system. The training session took place at a range near At-Tanf Garrison, Syria on the 30 May.

Last November, TFB reported that American Outdoors would be splitting from Smith & Wesson. In a June 1, 2020 press release, American Outdoor Brands announced substantive new strides to this end with a name and stock ticker symbol change. They are preparing to spin off their outdoor products and accessories business, which will remain under the American Outdoors name, from their firearms manufacturing business, chief among which is the Smith & Wesson brand. This move is pending additional preparatory steps including a tax-free stock distribution as well as a 4Q and full fiscal 2020 financial release. This stock distribution, slated for late summer, will effectively create the two independent, publicly traded companies. The press release reads as follows.

In a press release dated May 31st, 2020, Czechoslovakian firearms manufacturer Česká zbrojovka Group SE (CZG for short, more commonly known as CZ) announced shares of their company will be listed on the Prague Stock Exchange as of June 1st. This is not yet an IPO, or Initial Public Offering, by which shares of ownership in CZ can be bought and sold. Rather, this is a technical listing in preparation for CZ to go public sometime between the third quarter of 2020 and the 1st quarter of 2021, dependent on a number of variables including market conditions.

With the US Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapons program pushing ahead, despite the ongoing Coronavirus Pandemic, the three companies involved have shipped their prototype weapons. SIG Sauer commemorated the dispatch of their NGSW-Rifles and NGSW-Automatic Rifles with a team photo and a new video highlighting the weapon systems’ features.

Continuing the Underground Arms Watch series, here are a number of black market made and modified firearms which have recently surfaced. First up, here are three corpses of what were once guns which were seized in Zimbabwe earlier in the month.

Last October, TFB reported that Magpul had released a line of enhanced parts for CZ’s Scorpion. These upgrades included a grip, mag release, and 35-round PMAGs. Today H&K connoisseurs, Nakatomi Plaza hostage-takers, and roller-delayed blowback fans of all kinds can rejoice together. The Scorpion’s granddaddy, the MP5 (and clones like the semi-auto SP5), is getting some fresh parts. Magpul is giving the MP5 its own set of enhancements, bringing a bit of a modern update to this classic design. Let’s take a closer look at the two Magpul MP5 handguard options and the enhanced selector kit available now, plus the grip module set to join the team soon.

The US Marine Corps has recently undergone a top down doctrinal reevaluation of its future role. As part of these changes in the make up of the Corps have been planned and now a brand new initiative has also been launched – Marine Corps Systems Command’s Program Manager for Infantry Weapons has begun a large-scale modernisation program to increase the lethality of the Marine infantry squad.

Earlier this year the Canadian government confirmed it would be procuring a further 3,626 C6A1 FLEX General Purpose Machine Guns (GPMG) from Colt Canada. This large contract is worth CA$96.97 million and was awarded under the Canadian government’s Munitions Supply Program.

The Canadian Army have ordered just under 300 new semi-automatic precision rifles from Colt Canada. The initial order for the new 7.62x51mm C20 is worth a reported CA$8.5 million. We at TFB got our first look at Colt Canada’s new C20 rifle last summer at DSEI 2019, when Colt Canada were kind enough to talk us through the new rifle. Check out that earlier article about the rifle here.

Remington have officially launched their R2Mi .50 BMG rifle. A couple of weeks ago the news broke that Remington would be introducing a .50 calibre long range precision rifle, replacing the Bushmaster BA50 in their catalogue.

In December 2019, we reported that the Japanese Self-Defense Forces had completed evaluations for both a new service pistol and rifle. It was announced that they had selected a 5.56x45mm rifle developed by Howa and the Heckler & Koch SFP9. Today, the Japanese Self-Defense Forces unveiled their new weapons and confirmed that the rifle will be designated the Type 20.

The MEPRO Foresight from MEPROLIGHT USA was one of the more intriguing optic offerings of SHOT 2020, boasting some interesting features offering the functionality of a heads up display within a red dot sight.

Cast your mind back to January, a COVID-19 free world and SHOT Show. One of the many surprises of SHOT 2020 was just how many 5.7×28 offerings there were. Well fast forward to May and Diamondback Firearms are celebrating the launch of their DBX 5.7.

For firearms enthusiasts, having guns seized by law enforcement is a nightmare we’d rather not think about, but unfortunately, it has been a path some gun owners have had to walk.  Finding that personal property has been mistreated, neglected or outright damaged by law enforcement, is sadly a real possibility when it comes to seized guns.  In today’s case, we’ll detail a plaintiff’s claims that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (BATFE, or ATF) damaged his seized guns, lost parts and original boxes, and perhaps even used them on other raids.

Leupold Optics has announced that they have become the Official Optics Partner of the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) to support their mission of conservation through hunting. Both companies have a similarly invested interest in ensuring the future of hunting and conservation for all of us in the US. The complete Press Release outlining the new relationship between the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and the Leupold Optics can be read below:

A shocking announcement blared its way across the nation of Canada on May 1st as the Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau ordered the banning of over 1,500 different models of firearms. However, despite claims to the contrary, the bans of so-called “military-style” firearms actually encompass far more than the Prime Minister lets on.

Do you carry a Beretta PX4? Have you been looking for a simple trigger upgrade? Well, Pheonix-based Langdon Tactical may have the trigger bar for you. Langdon have previously brought trigger improvements for Beretta’s iconic Model 92 now they’re looking to improve one of Beretta’s more recent pistols.

Primary Arms and Strike Industries have partnered up to launch a series of new rifles – the Sentinel and Sentinel Elite. The new Sentinel rifles (pistols coming soon) are chambered in .223 Wylde and are priced between $749.99 and $1149.99 (MSRP).

Federal Background checks, which are required for every firearm purchase from a licensed dealer, are a good way for us to determine just how busy the consumer gun industry is. Several months into COVID-19 the number of performed background checks remains high as people continue to buy up firearms.

Germany’s Federal Office for Equipment, Information Technology and In-Service Support of the Bundeswehr (BAAINBw)  awarded French company Nexter a contract for 20mm cannons earlier this month. Seven P20 assemblies featuring pintle mounted 20M621 cannons have been ordered for the German Army’s KSK (Kommando Spezialkräfte).