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Analysis (continued) LONG SHOT
All of the first day's shooting took place on Blackwater's long-gun (1,200-yard) range, the longest known-distance range on the facility. To accommodate the CheyTac team's request, our group moved to a spot several hundred yards beyond the limits of the 1,200-yard line. After feeling out a few potential shooting positions, CheyTac's marksman settled down on a spot from which his target, an 18-inch glass panel, was barely visible to the unaided eye. Using a Cassiopeia Pocket PC with an integral laser rangefinder, he determined the target was about 1,700 yards away. He then fingered the control panel on the PC, which quickly computed a ballistic firing solution based on wind speeds and direction at three points between the weapon and the target, the ammunition's burn rate, and effects caused by the earth's rotation. With that information, he turned the weapon's sight's windage and elevation knobs to the positions indicated on the PC, and let loose the first of five rounds - a 419 grain slug - from an Intervention Model 200 Military system. An intermittent wind was now kicking up dust between the shooter and the target, bringing with it a threatening sky. Four more rounds were sent on their way over the next few minutes; each was preceded by a new reading on the PC. (AFJ later learned that, according to the wind readings from the PC, during the course of the five-shot sequence the wind direction shifted 180 degrees and kicked up to 18 mph.) With the last shot, the group headed downrange. Two hits were visible in the glass; a third round had torn through the frame holding the pane. All things considered, not a bad showing. The CheyTac .408/Ballistic Computer combination is truly a unique shooting system. In its military version, the computer carries ballistics data for all commonly used U.S. military cartridges plus the .408 and the .338 Lapua. In the alternative "civilian" version, the computer is loaded for various other cartridges. CheyTac offers both military and civilian target/law enforcement long-range systems. The Intervention Model 100 and Shiloh Model 300 are designed for target and law enforcement use; Intervention Model 200 and Shiloh Model 400 systems are designed for military applications. All are chambered for the .408 cartridge, which is available in 419 grain (2,950 fps) and 305 grain (3,500 fps) versions. The rifle's action features a removable bolt head that can handle groups of cartridges with the same cartridge rim diameter. The bolt for the .408 CheyTac cartridge, for example, has a 0.6402-inch rim; therefore, it can handle cartridges spanning from the .300 Kong and .338 A-Square to the .505 Magnum Gibbs and .585 Nyati. OUR TURN After watching the first day's shooting from behind the firing line, the evaluators were ready by their second day at Blackwater to get their hands on the impressive hardware arrayed on three of the facility's ranges. A CheyTac .408 Intervention Model 200 was among more than a dozen weapons aligned on the midway point of the 1,200-yard range. Outfitted with a Nightforce 5.5-22-by-56 NXS scope, and wearing an OpSinc suppressor with a mirage-defeating thermal cover, the 27-pound rifle was ready for the day's business. A 30-inch, fluted match barrel, nestled in a free-floated barrel tube, accounts for more than half of the weapon's overall 55-inch length (with its retractable stock extended). It came as no surprise that the M200 rated consistently high marks from all who fired it. "I didn't want to let go of it," one wrote, "this weapon touched my ergonomic roots!" He went on to note that the system delivers "superb bolt-action firepower at long ranges." He found loading and unloading "smooth and easy," and the weapon's recoil "acceptable - I had expected more. Truly a pleasure to shoot this magnificent firearm." His colleagues were equally effusive. "An extremely pleasant shooter," another noted. "Soft recoil for its capability. Superior to the .50 BMG for most precision applications. The suppressed gun was impressively quiet, and I'm very impressed with the ballistic computer integration." Noted another, a bit more succinctly: "A sweet-shooting rifle. Low recoil makes it easy to get back on target and maintain control." The only negative concerning the .408 CheyTac concerned the location of the weapon's safety. He found its positioning (above the trigger, about an inch from the closed bolt handle) "a bit awkward." A CheyTac spokesman later told AFJ that future improvements being considered for the system are likely to include a change to the weapon's safety. BIG BUBBA After experiencing the .408's relatively low recoil, the evaluators found quite a contrast just a few short steps away. There, nestled among FNH's more familiar offerings, was a prototype, shoulder-fired system with a truly intimidating tube - 76mm, to be precise. Through that 3-inch-wide opening - a baseball-sized hole -- the High-Impulse Weapon System (HIWS) is capable of hurling the 2.2-pound payload of a 3.3-pound round more than 700 yards in an indirect-fire mode. In a direct-fire role, the HIWS can engage targets out to 300 yards. Manufactured by Lacroix Pyro-Technologies of France, the HIWS will be marketed by the FNH team. Touting a sophisticated recoil-mitigation system, the weapon produces no back blast and no overpressure, making it possible to fire the system from an enclosed space - even from inside a vehicle. The HIWS is also relatively quiet: Ear protection isn't needed when firing the system. Despite a quick rundown on how to arm and fire the HIWS, some of the evaluators clearly had reservations about the system's imposing size and equally imposing statistics. A couple of questions that probably flashed through their minds were: How large a bruise can be caused by a maximum projectile acceleration of 65,600 ft.sec-2? And just how much shoulder pain should be expected from a firing impulse of 22.5 pounds per second? Perhaps these questions went unasked because Lacroix engineers are considering developing an 84mm HIWS, which would make the 76mm version something akin to a girly-man system. For whatever reasons, our fearless evaluators rose to the challenge. But one failed to heed the salesman's twice-proffered advice to keep 80 percent of his body weight on his forward foot: A trigger pull later, he did a 180-degree spin to his right, stumbled three steps sideways, and ended up on his butt. And he isn't a little guy. Subsequent shooters didn't have to be reminded. Lacroix engineers actually have plans for an 84mm HIWS; they've already developed a 66mm version; and they're working on a 40mm variant that's sure to be offered to U.S. forces. Despite any pain our evaluators suffered firing the 76mm variant, there was nearly universal agreement that the concept is, in fact, worth pursuing. "Excellent potential for less-lethal payloads," noted one. "Great idea," said another. "Its possible uses include less-lethal weapons applications. I'd like to see further development of this concept." "Tremendous potential to provide the dismounted infantryman with lightweight, shoulder-fired lethality at ranges well beyond our current family of munitions," another observed. "Awesome potential to place 2.2-pound warheads 300 to 400 meters downrange to defeat various target sets." Other comments suggested that Lacroix designers continue developing and improving the system with an eye toward evolving it from an area weapon to a point weapon system, and that they figure out a way for a shooter to use the HIWS from a prone firing position. STEP ON IT The folks from FNH also brought with them a tamer tube weapon - a compact, 51mm "toe mortar." Manufactured by Titanite S.A., the FLY-K-TN8111 (where do they get these designations?) weighs in just shy of 10 pounds. Its maximum range is 650 meters. The FLY-K is designed to take out point targets, such as machine-gun positions and snipers. Under most battlefield conditions, the system can be fired without giving away its position. It has a very low acoustic signature - less than 52 decibels at 100 meters - and fires smokeless, flashless ammo. In addition to high-explosive ammunition, several other types of mortar rounds are available for this shoulder-carried weapon. Two of the more interesting types are an infrared illuminating round and a percussion round that functions under water. The system's big brother, an electronically fired 12-round system, is dubbed the FLY-K-TN8464. This 220-pound unit, effective out to 800 meters, is an area-protection system that can be hauled around in the back of a small, open military vehicle, mounted on a light armored vehicle, set up on a beach or used to cover some other likely avenue of enemy approach. A 12-round salvo with high-explosive fragmentation ammo is sufficient to saturate an area of 130 meters by 80 meters with 6,960 preformed fragments, its manufacturer points out. This larger system was not demonstrated during the Shoot-out. Our evaluators liked the shoulder-carried FLY-K. "A great weapon," said one. He noted that the rather small base plate for the system settled quickly in the soft sand on the Blackwater range. ""Might want to consider a slightly broader base adapter for use in desert/soft soil," he noted. Other comments about the system pointed out that it "could be useful if the system is fired in rapid succession, as in close combat situations. Overall, a great weapon. My only concern is about night sighting." Said another: "Very interesting to be able to carry as effective a weapon as this in so small and simple a package." He went on, however, to succinctly allude to the fact that this might not be the right time to try to generate U.S. interest in the system: "Unfortunately," he concluded, "it is French." COMPLETE LINEUP In addition to the HIWS and FLY-K, the FNH team also brought along the company's traditional crowd-pleasers, including the P90 subgun and FiveseveN pistol, both of which fire the 5.7-by-28mm round, and the F2000 tactical weapon system, which packs 30 rounds of 5.56-by-45mm and a 40mm grenade. The 5.7-by-28mm ammo is available in several varieties. The basic SS190 round carries a pair of metal inserts - a steel penetrator that's backed by an aluminum core that is heavier than the forward tip. When this round strikes soft body tissue, it begins to tumble after penetrating about two inches. This action reduces prospects of overpenetration and causes quick incapacitation of the targeted individual. All three weapons have been covered in previous AFJ reports (August 2001, August 2002); however, it is noteworthy that they continued to generate considerable interest among this year's evaluators, including those who had previously fired the weapons. Typical of the comments received about the P90 was the observation that the weapon's "size, feel and amount of firepower are very impressive." Noted another: "Extremely easy to shoot. Well engineered, great to use in a team environment since the casings eject downwards. Fast acquisition of target; extremely low recoil." On the negative side, one evaluator found the P90 "weirdly shaped and unergonomic; heavy trigger action on full auto." The FiveseveN pistol also netted kudos: "Very light recoil; easy to shoot fast and accurately." The same evaluator went on to note, however, "I am not convinced that terminal ballistic performance is adequate. Seems like too small a caliber, especially when the trend is toward larger handgun calibers (witness the resurgence of interest in .45s among special operations and law enforcement)." The F2000, which carries both 5.56 ammo and a 40mm grenade, garnered equally favorable comments. An evaluator was particularly impressed by its "fully functional fire-control system - a neat idea to have an integral laser-ranging capability." He was not enamored by its "very heavy double-action trigger and oddly shaped stock," although he admitted that he is "not sure what can be done to improve this, given the high elevation required to hit [targets with grenades] at 270 meters." Similarly, FN's Mk48 Mod 0 Lightweight Machine Gun garnered praise from our evaluators. "Tremendous firepower in a compact package," said one, noting that the 7.62-by-51mm (NATO) system "feels like a big squad automatic weapon [SAW]." "A nice, light SAW," commented another. "Good weapon-to-shooter fit. Easy to use; fast to reload; a weapon to have in your arsenal." FAMILIAR LOOK The Mk48 wasn't the only 7.62mm light machine gun waiting for our evaluators. An M60E4/M43 Mod. 0, from U.S. Ordnance Inc., of Reno, Nev., looked very familiar to our evaluators but, as they say, looks can be deceiving. Although the gun's major components are interchangeable with other M60 configurations, the E4 model sports major improvements over those more-familiar guns. The E4 features Stellite-lined, thick-walled barrels, giving it boasting rights to sustained-fire capabilities in all barrel types (short, long and assault versions). Depending on barrel type, E4 models weigh from 21.3 pounds to 23.1 pounds. The guns have a cyclic rate of fire of 500 to 650 rounds per minute, and a maximum effective range of 1,100 meters. The manufacturer stakes claim to barrels that will withstand the wear caused by more than 15,000 rounds; a barrel-changing handle negates the need for a heat mitten during that operation. Also, the forward grip is larger than that of a standard M60, providing additional heat protection for the gunner. U.S. Navy SEALs are numbered among U.S. Ordnance's E4 customers. AFJ's shooters covered most of the E4's other attributes in their evaluations. "Good recoil for a machine gun," wrote one. "Nice handling; easy to shoot. I like being able to load it with the bolt in either the forward or the rear position." "A dramatic improvement over the M60s I remember shooting in the Marine Corps," noted another. "Better reliability, ergonomics and recoil control." "The front handle on the weapon is a great feature that not only adds stability but also reduces push from recoil and helps keep the weapon on target," said another. "Trigger is good - allows control of bursts. The feed tray configuration is easier on loading. One of the best features is that the piston does not clog with carbon and jam, as the old M60 does. Its weight and its length reduction make it easier for airborne forces to take on jumps." "This is a magnificent modernization of the M60," another wrote. "They have transformed an old Chevy truck into a Corvette!" This evaluator added a question that was on the minds of more than a few of his colleagues: "Is it possible for this gun to ever jam?" AFJ posed a similar question to the U.S. Ordnance folks, who replied by linking together 8½ (100-round) belts of ammo and inviting an evaluator to see for himself. One minute and 45 seconds and a pile of brass later, he had pumped 850 rounds through the E4 with a single pull of the trigger. |
