Advanced Innovation and Manufacturing announced the company will be selling Manta M700 suppressor covers in 2014.  The covers are designed to fit over 1.5″ diameter suppressors and protect the shooter from being burned.

According to the company, the covers will also reduce the IR signature of the suppressor.

The M700 covers can be trimmed to fit short suppressors, or linked together for longer ones.  This allows the shooter to custom fit the cover to his or her rifle suppressor.

The below video shows the M700 in use.  It definitely looks like it does what it claims.

No MSRP has been announced.  While the initial suppressor covers will fit 1.5″ cans, the company anticipates releasing additional covers for other popular suppressor sizes.  A variety of colors are expected to be offered as well.

Recently my friend Chris with Campbell Defense has become a Bowers retailer. He asked if I wanted to review a few of the Bowers suppressors, and it took me about a tenth of a second to respond with a yes!

The suppressors by Bowers Group are well known for their affordability and light weight, but as an added bonus they make a plethora of full auto rated submachinegun cans. I am a huge fan of sub-guns due to their low recoil, cheap ammo, and cheap parts (generally speaking), and it just seems like a suppressor is  a great accessory for any sub gunner.

Chris brought out a CAC 45 threaded for my Lage equipped M10, a VERS 9 with an UZI adapter, and a VERS 9s (a compact version of the VERS 9). Below is my M10 with the CAC 45:

As per Bower’s website, “This suppressor is also suitable for 9mm and subsonic .30 caliber applications such as the .300 Whisper. It is 11.25” overall and 1 ¾” diameter. It is strong and light, weighing approximately 18 oz.” Retail is listed at $485 as well, which is a great price for a great suppressor.

The dedicated 9mm can with UZI adapter was neat. The suppressor’s attachment point replaces the barrel nut on the UZI and installation is quick and easy. Unfortunately all we had that day was supersonic ammo, but that did not stop us from getting in some excellent trigger time!

Of course reviewing suppressors is hard, as it is difficult to describe the sound reduction, so I have shot a video to display them in action:

As you can see, the Bowers suppressor put a smile on my face, and with the new ATF eforms, transfer times have dipped back down to 2 and a half months (if you use the system rather than mailing forms the old fashioned way).

Now for the bullet points:

The Good:

• Affordable
• Quiet
• Light
• Multiple mounting systems available
• Mounts interchange in seconds with just a wrench
• Multi-caliber rated

The Bad:

• NFA hassle of $200 tax and a wait (not Bower’s fault in the slightest)
• Extra adapters are pricey, and the UZI mount is $100 more

The Ugly:

• POI shift was about a foot high and right at 20 yards

All in all, I don’t think you can go wrong with a can from Bowers Group. If you own one, I would love to hear your feedback in the comments as well!

Recenly our friends at TPM Outfitters really did us a favor by showing up at out KRISS Vector demonstration with an H&K UMP to use for comparison. I mentioned that they surprised me by bringing an MP5-N I commissioned them to build for me and I was absolutely thrilled to shoot it, and now I figure it is time to do a full review, especially considering that 2014 is the 50th anniversary of the MP5!

I showed up at TPM with a box of MP5 parts I had collected over the years that I eventually planned on building into a complete gun. I had everything I needed, and had bought a part here and there every time I found a good deal. I probably had $1,000 or so dollars in components, so I did not want to risk ruining anything by trying to bend and weld up my own receiver. After I saw the detail that TPM puts into every gun they build, I knew that they would do me right if I had them finish everything out. They told me they would do it all for $900, a price I was more than happy with considering Vector clones cost $2,200 new!

At the KRISS shoot I had the opportunity to run it for the first time and boy was I hooked. Since the gun was built for me as a pistol, it transferred normally on a 4473, but with the addition of a registered auto sear you are allowed to legally add a stock the fun is multiplied by ten fold:

I also got to run it with a Knight’s Armament suppressor, which I would like to buy in the near future. While not as quiet as an MP5/SD it was still very cool:

When the day came for me to come pick up the gun, Ken called me and mentioned that he was at the grand opening of a local premier shooting range that was setting up as a big time H&K dealer, so much so that members of the H&K corporate staff and the H&K shooting team were there. Ken said that he took my MP5 pistol there to show the guys too, and they even they were impressed by it!

As soon as I took possession of the pistol I threw it in my safe and planned a nice big range day, with the MP5 being the main focus (at the KRISS demo we were obviously more fixated on the Vectors).

On 12/17/13 my friend Chris and I headed to my shooting range with the MP5 in tow, auto sear installed.

For those wondering, the red tape on the mags are to keep my mags separate from other people’s. I can’t tell you how many times I have had a mag make it into someone else’s range bag, and a few pennies worth of electrical tape is a quick and easy fix!

This gun is equipped with an “S-E-F” trigger pack. These represent German words.

S translated to Sicher, or ‘Safe’. E translates to Einzelfeuer, meaning “single shot” but literally “single fire”. F translated to Feuerstoß meaning “burst fire” but is the German way to say fully automatic. A running joke among German soldiers is that the “F” setting for fully automatic actually means “Frieden”, or “peace” in English (who said the Germans don’t have a good sense of humor?). American shooters have of course developed their own translations for the S-E-F packs according to HK Pro:

S= Safe
E= Economical
F= FUN!

And boy was I in for some fun that day.

Chris and I started slow, doing a burst here and burst there:

I also got a quick accuracy test at 25 yards from a standing position with 115 grain S&B ammo. Here is the

best:

And the worst:

I am sure I could have done better using a rest of some kind, but as a sub-gun would almost always be used while standing or on the move, I like to try and get accuracy tests that way with them.

But of course we then moved onto gratuitous mad dumps and all sorts of fun:

Chris and I shot 700 or so rounds with the MP5 with zero malfunctions, but were left with some sore thumbs from loading mags!

Anyways, onto my bullet points:

The Good:

• Affordable for an MP5
• Accurate
• Incredibly reliable
• Full auto ready
• Unmatched build quality
• Updates received during the build process

The Bad:

• This post will probably generate a flame war in the comments, haha
• To really shine, you need to plop down the cash to SBR one of these or throw in a sear

The Ugly:

• I got nothing!

So that’s that. TPM did right by me and this gun will now be my “all purpose weapon”. Matt opened my eyes into hunting with an MP5, so it will be used for hogs, target practice, sub-gun matches, other competitions, defense, and a tool tool for farming lead!

Wyff4.com reports that a thief fired shots at a business using a squash as a suppressor. He then threw a cinder block through the window and stole lottery tickets.

… deputies say they saw someone walk up to the building and fire two shots from a gun that had a squash on the end of it.

Seems this guy has gone out of his way to break as many laws as possible, including manufacturing a suppressor illegally.

Thanks to Andrew for the tip.

New from SilencerCo are the Harvester and Harvester Big Bore suppressors. Both are designed with hunting and long range shooting in mind. As a long-time suppressor hunter (both rimfire and centerfire) I recommend suppressors to hunters wherever it is legal for them to be used. The public have been taught to believe suppressors give hunters an unfair advantage, but this is far from the truth. Unless you are hunting with subsonic ammunition, the bullet will hit the game long before the game hears the gunshot. The benefits to hunters is safer shooting with less risk of injury to their hearing, less recoil and less chance of annoying anyone living nearby (or even far away in mountainous terrain).

From the press release …

SilencerCo is pleased to announce the launch of the Harvester and Harvester Big Bore suppressors. With a focus on hunting and long-range precision shooting applications these two suppressors are lightweight, tough, and accurate.

Utilizing its lightweight design, the Harvester is barely noticed on the end of your barrel. Designed to enhance your shooting experience, the Anchor Brake offers best-in-class recoil reduction across a range of calibers. Using modular thread adapters, the Harvester can be used on a wide range of threaded barrels.

The Harvester Big Bore encapsulates all the features of the Harvester, but adds the capability to allow the use of a modular adapter to utilize various mounting options. From direct thread to Patented ASR mounting applications, the Harvester Big Bore has your needs covered.

The modular thread adapters make the Harvester and Harvester Big Bore an excellent choice for a variety of shooting disciplines. Utilizing fully-welded hardened tool-grade stainless steel baffle design, the Harvester and Harvester Big Bore are among the lightest centerfire silencers available. Rated for magnum calibers up to, and including 300 Winchester Magnum (minimum of 24″ barrel) and .338 Lapua™ respectively.

The Harvester is shipping now, with the Big Bore version in production and shipping in Q2.

SilencerCo announced the launch of their new Saker 762 suppressor for 7.62/.308 caliber rifles. It’s less than an inch longer than their 5.56 model, the Saker 556, and weights in at 20.7oz. Sound reduction was at 126 dB with 300BLK subsonic ammo and 139 dB with .308. It includes a lifetime warranty and retails at $1300. They’re currently in production and should be available in Q1 of 2014. Check them out at Silencerco.com.

CALIBER: 7.62 / Multi Caliber
WEIGHT: 20.7 OZ
DIAMETER: 1.5”
LENGTH: 7.5”
SOUND REDUCTION:
139 dB (tested with .308)
134 dB (tested with 5.56)
126 dB (tested with 300 BLK Subsonic)
FINISH: Black Oxide
MOUNT: Trifecta RS Flash Hider Mount
FEATURES:
Multi Caliber and Full Auto Rated
Interchangeable mounting options with MAAD Mount
Interchangeable front cap feature with MAAD Cap
Worry-free, positive locking, one hand on/off QD mount
Stellite™ baffle material +30% more durable than Inconel®
Hoplon baffle reduces harmful erosion (available on Saker556 model only)
Lifetime warranty
MSRP: $1300

West Valley City, UT- SilencerCo is pleased to announce the launch of the highly anticipated Saker 762. At less than an inch longer than our Saker 556, this new addition to our 30 caliber lineup is small and light weight. Despite it’s size, it offers outstanding sound suppression- as low as 126 dB with subsonic blackout. With our Stellite™ baffle system, the Saker 762 is over 30% more durable than our competitors Inconel® suppressors.

The Saker 762 embodies all the great features of the Saker 556 including the MAAD Cap, with standoff’s and flash hiders being produced to enhance and expand the user’s functionality. The Patent pending Trifecta MAAD mount and Trifecta flash hider are the industry’s most superior quick detach mounting system, allowing the user one hand operation. The Saker 762 MAAD is compatible with existing Saker 556 devices and mounts out of the box, and can achieve 134 dB’s with 5.56. Tough enough for 300 Remington Ultra Mag, and full auto use, the Saker 762 is optimized for .308 and smaller.

In production now, the Saker 762 will be shipping in Q1.

Yup, $40,000. And of course all the appropriate paperwork, tax stamp, etc, so if you win the lottery you can come to Knob Creek to buy some machine guns.

The M60 is chambered in 7.62x51NATO/.308 and the E4 designation is one of the more modern variants.

Perhaps someone will be shooting an M60 at Knob Creek during Saturday night’s fun shoot…

Pictured here is a full-auto MP5K in 9mm. Obviously this isn’t any normal configuration. It’s in a suitcase made by Hofbauer in Germany and is valued around $2,000. Contrary to some info out there, the suitcase by itself is not an AOW, according to my contact at the NFA-TCA, a firearms trade group.

The suitcase has a spring-loaded safety that must be engaged before pulling the trigger in the suitcase handle. The rounds eject inside the suitcase so there are no shells left behind.

Apparently the suitcase is difficult to shoot if you are holding it like a normal briefcase, and you could easily shoot yourself in the leg without proper training. A more secure way is to hold the suitcase on your waist with the muzzle end pointing away from you. This way, your waist absorbs the recoil and gives you more control.

Now we’re talking. The M134 fires 7.62x51mm NATO rounds at a variable rate of 2,000-6,000 rounds per minute. It’s gatling-style six barrels are spun using an electric motor designed by General Electric and other brands. It makes a very distinctive “zipping” noise when firing. Here’s an example I randomly found on YouTube:

And here are more pictures of the one I saw on display at Knob Creek:

This one wasn’t for sale, but it sure was fun to look at.

The Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot in West Point, Kentucky is a machine gun fan’s dream come true. Not only do you get to watch a good number of machine guns going off, if you’ve got the cash then you can come to the firing line and have at it. I didn’t catch the price, but this ain’t cheap!

www.knobcreekrange.com/events/featured-events/machine-gun-shoot.

Just a small sample of some fun guns.

From left to right:

1) H&K MP5 in 9mm
2) Ruger 10/22 .22LR in full-auto
3) H&K MP7 in 4.6×30
4) H&K UMP in .40

The gun community is full of interesting characters, and Knob Creek is quite the place for people watching. Pictured here is my new Quaker friend Valerie of Great Machine LLC with an Mk46 lower with Mk48 parts, chambered in .308 that the company will be producing and selling in about six month’s time.

Based out of Ohio, Valerie noted that all parts will be made in-house, with the exception of its plastic parts, which will also be made in the U.S.

They also make closed-bolt rifles along with ARs, and other goodies.

You can contact Valerie via their website.

www.GreatMachineLLC.com

Lots of awesome here, with less words, and more pictures.

The owner was talking to me about this StG 44 (also known as the MP44) that took a hit with a British .303 round, which is what you see below.

It’s too bad that the bullet was removed because the rifle would be even more interesting with it still embedded. The owner doesn’t know why the previous owner removed the bullet.

…Bacchanalia.

The Knob Creek Machine Gun shoot runs Friday through Sunday, twice a year, and Saturday night is the main event. About an hour before dark, folks are out on the range setting up all sorts of explosives while a crowd builds, anxiously awaiting what we all know is coming.

The lights go out, and the next thing you know machine guns are going off for almost 20 straight minutes. This year’s October 2013 edition did not disappoint. I’ve now crossed this off of my “Things to Do Before I Die” list.

Other than the beginning, my favorite part is at the 5:50 mark. Enjoy!

MasterPiece Arms based out of Comer, Goergia recently debuted two new suppressors, the the MPA556S-II and the Murmur II that they make entirely in-house. Their new MPA556S-II suppressor features a monocore design that allows shooters to clean and service it without requiring them to send it back to the manufacturer. It features a titanium out tube and front cap and weights in at 15 ounces. The MPA556S-II is compatible with 5.56x45mm, .223, 5.7x28mm, .22LR, .22 WMR as well as .17HMR. It’s rated at around 133 DB for 5.56 and 113 DB for .22LR. It retails for $339.99.

Their new MPA22 Murmur II suppressor on the other hand has a 17-4PH monocore baffle and a 304L stainless steel outer tube, it’s also easy to service and clean. It’s rated in the 114-115 DB range. It features a “MPA” texturing on the outer tube and is finished in cerakote. It’s pretty light at just 5.4 ounces and is only 5.8″ long and 1″ in diameter. It’s compatible with .22LR, 17HMR, 22 WMR and 5.7x28mm and also retails for $399.99. Check out Masterpiecearms.com for more info.

Pictured are various simple hand built submachine guns primarily recovered by police in and around Haifa District. Yet more examples of how an infinite supply of cheap and effective firearms will always be available to criminals and the wrongfully disarmed.

A number of DIY guns were recovered by the Philippines army after the the rebel siege of the southern city of Zamboanga. They include 40mm grenade pistols, a gun vaguely patterned after an M4 and a Mac-10 clone.

While only bearing on a slight resemblance to the real thing, this does appear to have an AR-15-style buffer tube.

A high quality MAC-10 clone (not Mini Uzi) made with stamped metal (like the real item)

40mm Grenade Launcher

Many thanks to Mike 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.

The Royal Danish Army have been running a competition to select a new GPMG/medium 7.62mm machine gun. I was told that all the well known manufacturers of 7.62mm General Purpose Machine Guns entered into the competition, but my source is bound by an NDA and could not tell me exactly who entered. What he could tell me is that the two finalists are the Heckler & Koch HK121 (pictured below) and the US Ordnance M60E6 (pictured above).

H&K HK121

The HK121 is a brand new design which recently won the German competition to replace their aging MG3 machine guns. The HK121 is being promoted by H&K in a number of different configurations. The version pictured above looks to be an HK121 I (Infantry) model with the forward rail borrowed from the HK121 U (Universal) and for some unknown reason, maybe to keep the weight within spec, the barrel heatshield has been removed. I cannot determine the exact weight of this particular HK121, but for comparison the HK121 I weights 12.4 kg (27.3 lbs) unloaded and without accessories installed.

The USO M60E6 is not your fathers (grandfathers?) M60. US Ordnance have been tweaking, lightening and improving the performance of the M60 for decades. The most recent well known iteration of the M60 is the M60E4 aka. the Mk43 Mod 0/1 which went into production in 2000. This newer iteration of the design shaves some weight from the Mk43 while adding an improved rail system and bipod. The M60E6 in the photos looks to be the standard model with a short barre (albeit it with a new black/FDE color scheme which I have not seen before). It weighs 9.27 kg (20.44 lbs) unloaded and without accessories.

M60E6

The video below shows Danish troops putting these two guns through their paces …

More photos for your enjoyment are below …