S&W has pulled out of the Army’s next generation carbine competition. Army Times reports …

Smith & Wesson’s M&P 4 is another strong competitor that has backed out for financial reasons. Company officials were confident they had a shot at the contract. But research and development cost a chunk of change, and the competition is drawn out over three years with no guarantee of payoff. Smith & Wesson decided the better financial strategy would be to focus on existing sales and walk away from the carbine competition.

This decision makes sense. The M&P carbines are nice AR-15s but they don’t have any major distinguishing features.

Colt says they are entering the Colt CM901 because they do not want to reveal trade secrets to competitors. This sounds dubious to me. The Army is not looking for multi-caliber capability, so the slightly bulkier 7.62mm capable Colt CM901 would be at a disadvantage against lighter 5.56mm-only competitors. Colt is instead entering their Enhanced M4 carbine. Ironically, Canada had to cancel a weapons purchase last month after the firearm industry refused to hand over technical specifications to Colt’s Canadian subsidiary.

[ Many thanks to Jason & Lance for emailing me the link. ]

Colt Defense is the latest AR-15 maker to offer a rifle shipped from the factory with Magpul MOE accessories. The LE6920MP is a Colt 6920 with a MOE vertical grip (MVG), MOE hand guard, Magpul MBUS rear sight, MOE-K hand grip, MOE trigger guard, MOE stock and two 30-round Magpul PMAGs.

Colt will offer models with Magpul furniture in black, flat dark earth and olive drab. The LE6920MPG-B features green anodized receivers and Magpul furniture in black.

Colt’s Manufacturing Company (not to be confused with Colt Defense) is opening a new in Kissimmee, Florida. From the press release …

Colt’s Manufacturing Company is pleased to announce that the company will continue its progressive momentum by opening a new facility in Kissimmee, Florida. The new 16,000 square foot facility will allow Colt’s Manufacturing Company to expand into new markets and business lines in parallel with the company’s existing 100,000 square foot facility in Connecticut. Specific information on facility renovations and employee requirements will be determined over the course of the next several months.

From Gov. Rick Scott’s press release …

Today, Colt’s Manufacturing Co. LLC announced its commitment to create 63 jobs in Osceola County for its new regional headquarters and product manufacturing center. The center will hire people for engineering and manufacturing jobs, among others. In 2012, Colt is projected to begin phasing in the first of 63 jobs paying an average salary of $45,060 to be created during the following three years. Governor Rick Scott and Colt’s Manufacturing Company President and CEO Lieutenant General M. William Keys USMC (Ret.) were joined by the Osceola County Board of County Commissioners for the announcement.

Read more about the new facility at No Lawyers – Only Guns and Money.

[ Many thanks to Matt for emailing us the link. ]

Pricing for the new Colt SP901 Modular Convertible Carbine has been reported in forums. The MSRP will be $2,129.00, which is not a bad price for a high-end .308 AR-style carbine. The SP901′s distinguishing feature is that it’s fully ambidextrous lower receiver can be used with standard AR-15 mil-spec upper relievers.

The naming of this rifle is confusing. Stamped on the rifle is “Colt Convertible Carbine”, but the marketing folk have been referring to it as the “Colt Modular Carbine”.

Matthew Cox at Military.com reports that Former Army Chief of Staff Gen. George Casey is joining the governing board of Colt Defense LLC.

“We don’t want to rush to judgment, but it does raise troubling questions,” said John Hart, communications director for Oklahoma Republican Sen. Tom Coburn, who played a significant role in the Army’s decision launch its improved carbine effort.

Casey’s position on Colt’s board is an example of “a pattern of behavior we see throughout the military and government when high-ranking officials end up working for a particular interest,” Hart said.

If Gen. George Casey canceled the carbine competition in favor of retaining the Colt M4 Carbine and then left for a high paying job at Colt, I would be very suspicious. I would also be suspicious if a high-level Colt employee left their job for a high-level procurement position at the Pentagon.

It is not suspicious that a General takes a job at a defense contractor, anymore than when a Captain takes a job with a defense contractor. It is natural for a person to find a job in the industry where they have the most expertise.

Gen. George W. Casey Jr. in Iraq, 2006.

From the press release …

Colt’s Manufacturing Company LLC, celebrating its 175th anniversary this year, is proud to announce the new Colt® Gold Cup® National Match®; currently shipping to distributors across the United States. This match-grade target pistol is the newest to come from Colt’s timeless Gold Cup Series of competition firearms. With Colt’s inherent use of high quality materials, superior manufacturing processes and storied pistol expertise, the Gold Cup National Match is sure to provide top shot performance.

“Beginning in the 1930s, Colt’s National Match pistols have set the standard by which all target pistols are judged,” said Joyce Rubino, Vice President of Marketing, Colt’s Manufacturing Company, “Because this line of guns is designed with match shooters in mind, the Colt Gold Cup National Match gives anyone the potential to make quality shots.”

The Gold Cup National Match’s fully adjustable Bo-Mar style rear sight combined with the high profile, target front sight, gives shooters confidence in shot placement. Adding to the viability of this single-action pistol as a competitive firearm, is the beveled magazine well, which allows for speed and ease during reloads.

Two standout features of the new Colt Gold Cup National Match are the match-grade trigger and barrel. The wide, three-hole aluminum trigger is factory tuned for a crisp break each time. The National Match barrel is CNC machined from forged stainless steel, measures five inches and is chambered for .45 ACP ammunition.

Also CNC machined are the receiver and round-top slide, both made from forged carbon steel with a blued finish. The wrap-around, rubber target stock features nickel medallions that showcase the rampant Colt. Overall, the gun measures 8.5 inches and weighs 2.5 pounds.

No word on pricing at this time.

Colt’s new LE901-16S Multi-Caliber Carbine is similar to the Colt SP901. From looking at the photo, the LE901 appears to have a shorter rail, shorter length gas system, a standard A2-style grip and a 3-prong / wire-cutter style flash suppressor.

Colt Defense LLC, one of the world’s leading designers, developers, and manufacturers of rifles and carbines, will bring to market the highly anticipated LE901-16S modular, multi-caliber rifle. The Colt LE901-16S was built with both the tactical professional and modern sportsman in mind. This rifle will be offered in black, with other finishes available later in the year, and has superior accuracy. This modular rifle can be easily changed from .308 Winchester (7.62×51 NATO) chambering to .223 Remington (5.56×45 NATO).

“This is an exceptional rifle for a wide variety of shooters due to the interchangeability in caliber,” said David Ridley, Vice President of Colt Defense, LLC, “With a simple swap of the upper receiver shooters can switch to the caliber they need for the shot they want to achieve.”

In the classic .308 Winchester (7.62×51 NATO), the LE901-16S is chambered perfectly for a tactical professional’s sniper shot, civilian shooters’ target practice or a hunter’s big-game shot. With a simple swap of the upper receiver and buffer system, this versatile rifle’s chambering can be changed to .223 Remington (5.56×45 NATO) and transition into a law enforcement officer’s tactical weapon of choice or a small game hunter’s standard carry.

The Colt LE901-16S rifle weighs only 9.4 pounds and measures 37.5 inches with the stock extended. It has an effective range distance of 700 meters and a rate of fire between 700 and 950 rounds per minute when configured for .308. Exceptional accuracy comes by way of the free floated, 16-inch, chrome-lined barrel and one-piece monolithic upper receiver.

All operating controls on the LE901-16S are ambidextrous, including the magazine release, bolt catch and fire control selector. The monolithic rail covers the fore end and is suitable for mounting the shooter’s choice accessory in addition to the back up iron sight (BUIS) offered standard on the rifle. The LE901-16S features a black Vltor™ buttstock and comes with two black 20-round Magpul PMAGs.

With its simplicity of use and versatile chambering, Colt Defense’s LE901-16S is a prime weapon choice for tactical operations, big-game hunting, and small-game shots.

Colt is now manufacturing a fully functioning replica of the 1877 Bulldog Gatling Gun. It fires .45-70 cartridges at up to 800 rounds per minutes (the speed depends on how fast you can crank the handle). It is an incredibly beautiful piece of machinery and worked flawlessly.

The gun weighs about 250 lbs.

It took almost two decades, but Colt Defense is finally offering a consumer-legal M4 Carbine. The Colt LESOCOM is very close to the M4A1 that Colt manufactures for the military. The main difference is the longer 16″ barrel and the semi-automatic-only fire control. The lower receiver is marked “M4 Carbine”.

It a KAC Rail System, Matech rear back-up iron sight and ambidextrous fire controls. The barrel twist rate is 1:7 RH and it chambered for .223 Remington (ie. 5.56×45 NATO or .223 Remington).

I am overjoyed to see Colt finally giving the general public what they have been clamoring for years. I like the new Colt!

Kit Up has info on the new rifle. The MSRP is $3,800! It should not be confused with the M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle, which is manufactured by Remington.

[ Many thanks to Joe for emailing us the link. ]

Mr. Curtis over at Gear Scout broke the news that Remington will be manufacturing M4 Carbines for the US Army.

According to the Department of the Army’s Chief of Legislative Liaison, the Army today executed a delivery order on an existing contract to buy 24,000 M4/M4A1s worth $16,163,252.07. The order comes as line 001 on an IDIQ contract for up to 120,000 carbines worth $83,924,089.00, though U.S. Army Contracting Command lists the “Max Potential Contract Value $180,000,000.00.” The rifles will be made at Remington’s factory in Ilion, N.Y., from the Colt technical data package and, by my math, will cost about $673 a copy. That’s a hell of a group buy price.

This comes as no surprise. In 2009 the US Army took control of the M4 TDP (Technical Data Package), allowing the Army to second source production. The DoD likes to spread production around in order to maintain a “manufacturing and industrial base”.

Colt will still receive royalties from the DoD for any guns derived from the M16 until 2050! I doubt anybody at the time thought the M16 would still be in service today, nearly 50 years later (the previous service rifle, the M14, only lasted 11 years).

Colt M16s and M4 Carbine

In 2009 gun historian Daniel E. Watters wrote (emphasis added) …

It is a bit of an exaggeration to say the Army has control of the TDP. As of July 1, the Army merely gained limited license rights to use the M4 TDP to second source production, as an extension of the 1967 licensing agreement for the M16. Until the end of calender year 2050, the Army will have to pay 5% in royalties to Colt for every M4 procured from second sources. The TDP will remain Colt proprietary data, and any second source M4 contractor will no doubt be required to sign non-disclosure agreements
just as they do for the M16.

This is not the end of Colt’s current .mil contract for the M4. The current contract allows new delivery orders to be placed to the end of calender year 2010. As it now stands, the current delivery orders stretch production out to Spring 2011.

[ Many thanks everyone who sent this in. ]

The new Colt LE6920MP-R combines Magpul furniture with a Troy rail system. From the press release ..

Like its predecessor, this rifle comes standard equipped with many of Magpul’s most popular firearm accessories. The added benefit of the LE6920MP-R is the addition of a Troy Industries rail system. Available this month, the Colt LE6920MP-R with Troy Industries rail system and Magpul accessories gives the operator one of the most versatile and mission-configurable rifle systems available.
…

The 6920MP-R is based on Colt’s popular 6920 Law Enforcement Carbine, proven to be effectively mobile during tactical deployment and traditional patrol. This versatile M4 carbine features a 16.1” 1-7” twist chrome-lined barrel and is chambered for 5.56×45 NATO (.223 Remington). With the all-black MOE buttstock fully retracted, it measures 32.25 inches and weighs a mere 6.8 pounds. Standard Magpul accessories include the Generation 2 Rear Back-Up Sight (MBUS), MOE Vertical Grip (MVG), two 30-round Magpul Polymer Magazines (PMAGS), MOE Hand Guard, MOE-K Hand Grip, MOE Trigger Guard and MOE Carbine Stock. Also standard are an RVG fore end grip and Colt Flash Suppressor. These rifles are available with a bullet button for California compliance.

Solider Systems & Gear Scout report that the Colt 1911 Rail Gun has been selected as the next M45 MEU(SOC) pistol.

Photo © Lionel

[ Many thanks to Lance for emailing me the link. ]

Remington and Colt are threatening to relocate their factories if New York and Connecticut pass legislation requiring microstamping on semiautomatic handguns. Fox News reports …

“Mandatory microstamping would have an immediate impact of a loss of 50 jobs,” New York State Sen. James Seward, a Republican whose district includes Ilion, said, adding that Remington employs 1,100 workers in the town. “You’re talking about a company that has options in other states. Why should they be in a state that’s hostile to legal gun manufacturing? There could be serious negative economic impact with the passage of microstamping and other gun-control laws.”

…

Fired cartridge from microstamped gun. Photo from The Coalition to Stop Gun Violence via. Joe Huffman

…

New York Assemblywoman Michelle Schimel, a Democrat and the chief sponsor of the microstamping legislation on semiautomatic pistols that was last considered by the state’s full Senate in 2010, said she believes Remington’s vow is merely a threat.

“Their main product isn’t even semiautomatic guns; the main thrust of what they do are long guns and military contracts,” Schimel told FoxNews.com. “As a former businessman, it would be foolish for them to leave the New York market. They are getting a lot of money from the state.”

Implementation of microstamping technology would cost roughly $12 per gun and would go a long way to helping solve crimes, she said.

A cost of $12 per firearm is not inconsiderable. The other cost will be from decrease demand from consumers. Many consumers worry that brass cartridges with serial numbers will be collected by criminals at gun ranges and left at crime scenes. Any criminal with half a brain will use sandpaper to remove the microstamp from their firearms.

Last year Colt announced plans to open a new facility in Florida and earlier this year Remington announced the purchase of North Carolina based Para USA.

You can read more about microstamping at Joe Huffman’s blog.

[ Many thanks to jdun1911 for emailing me the link. ]

Below is an email a reader sent to me (reproduced with his permission) …

A while back I purchased a new agent. The firearm would not feed a mag without jamming. The gun shop told me it needs a break in period so I shot about a 1000 rounds with the gun jamming on every mag. I tried different magazines and the gun jammed on all of them. I tried different recoil springs and still the gun jammed on all mags. I tried all top brands of ammo and still produced jams. I talked to the gun shop and it was suggested the feed ramp needs to be smoothed out with jeweler’s rogue which I did. Still the gun jams. So I finally decided to send the gun into Colt customer service. It takes 3 different phone calls for them to email me the prepaid FedEx shipping label. I finally mail the gun off on Aug 30 2012. The gun arrives at Colt a few days later. I wait a month and call to check up on the gun. I am told Colt is behind and nothing has been done. I wait roughly another month (Oct 24 2012) and I am told I now have an invoice. The invoice is to replace the barrel and frame which will cost around 800 dollars and that my warranty is void. Their reasoning is that work has been done on the gun which results in my warranty being void. To me this solution is ridiculous and unacceptable on many levels.

1. Why would I repair the gun for 800 instead of buying a new one (At this point, I am thinking Glock for 600 bucks. I have personal experience with several that out of the box have never jammed)

2. Why should the warranty be voided? Colt produced a gun that jammed constantly and it made it pass its quality inspection. It was purchased and then I spent extra money trying various solutions that the gun store suggested. If the gun would have worked like it should out of the box then no modifications would have been needed.

So far Colt has not offered me any other solution besides stating my warranty is void. At this point in time I would like as many people as possible to know what kind of company and customer service you get by buying colt. Please do not get caught up in the Colt B.S. of Colt being the American gun and its American history. An American company would not treat its customers like this.

I sympathise the reader because if a gun I purchase does not work I immediately try fix the problem. I am capable of doing many gunsmithing tasks myself. On the other hand I sympathise with Colt because they have no way of knowing if the work done on the gun was done to fix a pre-existing problem or was the cause of the problem. They cannot be expected to fix botched DIY gunsmithing.

If you have a problem with a new gun, the best thing is to immediately send it back to the manufacturer for repair.

Colt New Agent

Colt has released a new caliber of AR in their precision Competition Rifle name. The photos here are of the .308 caliber model that was at Media Day on Monday. The trigger was crisp and short, as we’d expect from a competition rifle trigger. On all models the upper and lower receivers are matched together.

All Colt Competition Rifle models feature the “CR” logo on the right hand side, including the M2012 bolt-action on the website.

The rifle is not related to the LE901 series of rifles. Much to the exhaustion of the Media Day rep’s voice, the question of their relation would be repeated by each person in line. The series has its own website at ColtCompetionRifle.com and features the .223 models. Future plans include a 6.5 Grendel and a .300 BLK, the representative was hopeful both would be available later this year.

As you can see the magazine-well is flared for faster reloads.

The .308 AR10 type model (marked simply “Competition”) did not have an MSRP released (at the time of talking with the Media Day rep) and is yet to be added to the website. Below are the two AR15 models currently listed, we expect the coming calibers to not be too disimillar.

The Colt “Pro” CRP-18 in .223 Remington caliber has a free-floated 1:8 twist 18″ custom fluted stainless steel match barrel with a rifle length gas system. The rifle weighs in at 7lbs with an MSRP of $2029.00.

The Colt “EXPERT” CRE-18 is a lighter .223 at 6.78lbs with a Hogue free-float tube but still features a stainless steel match 1:8 twist 18″ barrel (minus the fluting) with the rifle length direct gas impingement. The MSRP is $1599.00

If the pink rifle phenomenon taught us anything, its that there is a large market for guns that are not black in color. Colt Defense, the original maker of the Black Rifle itself, is now offer the AR-15 in a range of colorful patterns. From the press release …

The hydro patterned rifles are quite a change from the traditional black rifle that the gun market is used to seeing from Colt,” said David Ridley, Vice President of Domestic Sales for Colt Defense LLC.  “We are happy to be offering more options to customers looking to add their own personality to their rifles.”

The new patterns are available on many of Colt’s most popular rifle models. The patterns available include: Muddy Girl® camouflage
Tiger Stripe Vietnam™ camouflage
Carbon Fiber pattern
Silver Flame pattern
Brushed Stainless Steel pattern
Wildfire™ camouflage
A-TACS FG™ (foliage green camouflage)
Gray finish
Bounty Hunter camouflage
A-TACS AU™

The video below, which was released in 1990, shows the four rifles that were battling it out become the Army’s next generation Advanced Compact Rifle. It is amusing to see what was considered a good idea back then, like the high sight rib on the Colt ACR (pictured above) which was supposed to help with “point shooting”. On the other hand it is sad to see rifles more than a two decades old with more advanced ammunition than we have available to us today.

Many thanks to crisara772 for the tip.

The Marine Corps of the Chilean Navy has ordered 2,000 M4 Carbines from Colt reports IndoDefensa …

The first order, with deliveries to be completed in 2014, is designed to equip combat units that integrate Amphibious Expeditionary Brigade (BAE) , rapid deployment training from sea with 1,400 troops created in 2012. The remaining members of the BAE and other units of the CIM will continue to use the rifles in caliber 5.56mm HK33A2 acquired in the early nineties.

…

The final shortlist selection process also included CIM HK 416 German manufacturer Heckler & Koch and SCAR-L produced by FN Herstal of Belgium.

The M4 version produced under license by DPMS Panther Arms U.S. manufacturer was also evaluated, but was discarded in view of the problems faced with the rifle by the Brigade of Army Special Forces.

Thanks to Albi for the tip.

TFB’s resident South American gun expert Ronaldo Olive sent us these photos of a Colt M16A2 Commando (Model RO735B) owned by the  Polícia Militar do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (the Rio de Janeiro State Military Police).

The upper receiver has been blown apart, the magazine baseplate has been blown off and the bolt is lodged in the buffer tube. These symptoms point towards an out of battery detonation. I hate to think what damage was done to the operator. Ronaldo was not given any additional information about the incident.