Guns Holsters And Gear

SIG SB15 Brace

The recently announced SIG SB15 brace is now a standard option on several of the company’s pistols. The new pistols include the P516 with the 7.5″ and 10″ barrels, the SIG P556 SWAT with a 10″ barrel and the P556 Classic.

The SB15 brace is a forearm brace that looks like a very short buttstock with adjustable straps that affix the unit to the shooter’s forearm. The idea is to provide greater control and stability when shooting one of these large pistols.

The unit passed ATF scrutiny (see the ATF arm brace compliance letter here) so no worries about violating any NFA rules on having a SBR (short barrel rifle) without a tax stamp.

SIG Sauer announced the SB15 earlier this year, and these are the first pistols on which SIG is offering the device as a standard option. The pistols are similar to the rifle versions of the gun, but without a buttstock and with shorter barrels. Magazines and other accessories will interchange between the guns.

Tags pistols, Sig Sauer, SIG SB15

Rifles

Caracal CAR 816

Post author By Richard Johnson
Post date June 14, 2013

The Caracal Assault Rifle 816, or CAR 816, is a piston-operated M-4 type carbine that was introduced earlier this year. The gun uses a two-position gas port for normal operation and suppressed shooting. Rate of fire is listed as 850 rpm. (Ed. note: See the September 2013 update at the bottom of the article regarding the gas port and rate of fire.)

The CAR 816 is chambered in 5.56 NATO and comes in three barrel lengths: 10″, 14.5″ and 16″. The barrels are chrome lined and cold hammer forged from chromolybdenum steel. The barrel uses a 1:7″ twist.

The barrels are threaded, and come with a “standard muzzle break [sic].” From the photos, it appears the muzzle device is a standard A2 type birdcage flash hider. Of course, with so many different muzzle devices on the market today, it is hard to say for certain from the photos alone.

According to Caracal, the rifle comes with a magazine release on the right side of the receiver, but an ambidextrous option is available. The gun uses STANAG-compliant magazines, and ships with a 30 round mag. The rifle is shown with a PMAG, but it is not known if Magpul magazines ship with the gun, or more pedestrian USGI mags.

Tags AR-15, CAR 816, Caracal, carbine, M-4, rifle

Rifles

Paul Howe Tactical Carbine

Paul Howe worked with Wilson Combat to build a new rifle that bears his name. The Paul Howe Tactical Carbine is an AR-platform gun chambered in 5.56 NATO. It has a very distinctive look and some very nice features and add-on options.

The carbine has a 14.7″, match grade barrel with a 1:8″ twist. The barrel has deep fluting. Permanently attached to the barrel is a three-prong Accu-Tac flash hider, which makes the gun legal without the need for a NFA stamp.

On this gun, Howe selected a two-stage Wilson Combat TTU trigger that uses heavier springs. The trigger release is set at 4.5 pounds, which Howe preferred for golved shooting. The weight of this gun is 7.5 pounds.

The finish is called Camouflage Armor-Tuff and it is a hand-applied pattern. According to the Wilson Combat press release, the finish also reduces the gun’s IR signature and can help to keep the rifle cool in hot weather.

Tags carbine, Paul Howe, rifle, Wilson Combat

Rifles

SVD Dragunov: 50th Anniversary

Post author By Richard Johnson
Post date June 12, 2013
3 Comments on SVD Dragunov: 50th Anniversary

This year represents the 50th anniversary of the SVD Dragunov rifle. Introduced into the service of the Soviet Union army in 1963, this semi-automatic sniper rifle has proved itself a capable performer in the field.

Since 1964, the Dragunov has been made by Izhmash, a Russian arms and vehicle manufacturer. To commemorate the 50th anniversary, Izhmash announced the modernized SVD will be completed later this year. The modernized Dragunov will feature:

new barrel
Picatinny rail for optics
folding bi-pod
adjustable buttstock
improved accuracy

The Dragunov has been used by at least 30 different countries around the world. While the United States has never officially used the SVD Dragunov, it has helped equip and train friendly countries with the rifle. It was just one of these weapons that Staff Sergeant Clinton L. Romesha used on October 3, 2009 to help repel some 400 enemy fighters in Nuristan Province, Afghanistan.

Tags 7.62x54R, Dragunov, rifle, sniper, SVD Dragunov

Ammunition

DoubleTap Equalizer Ammo

DoubleTap Equalizer ammo uses two projectiles in a single cartridge to deliver a devastating blow on the target: both game animals and criminal attackers. The projectiles are of different design, each wounding the target in different manners.

The exposed bullet is a standard jacketed hollowpoint. The second projectile is stacked under the hollowpoint and is solid lead. Exact configuration of the second projectile – ball or wadcutter type bullet – depends on the load. There are some great photos of these cartridges and bullets at the IAA forum here.

Tags ammo, Ammunition, DoubleTap