Thursday 9 May 2013

Bersa Thunder and Thunder Mini


Bersa Thunder and Thunder Mini / Ultra-Compact pistols (Argentine)

Bersa Thunder Nine (caliber 9x19mm Luger, Bersa Thunder 40 looks exactly the same).
Bersa Thunder Nine (caliber 9x19mm Luger, Bersa Thunder 40 looks exactly the same).

Bersa Thunder-mini 9mm, left side.
Bersa Thunder-mini 9mm, left side.

Bersa Thunder-mini 9mm, right side.
Bersa Thunder-mini 9mm, right side.

Characteristics

 Thunder 9 / 40Thunder 9 / 40
Mini / Ultra-Compact
Thunder 
Ultra-Compact 45
TypeDouble Action
Caliber9x19mm Luger и .40S&W9x19mm Luger и .40S&W.45ACP
Weight unloaded870 gram765 gram780 gram
Length192 mm165 mm173 mm
Barrel length110 mm83 mm92 mm
Capacity, rounds17 (9mm), 13 (.40) 13 (9mm), 10 (.40) 7

Bersa pistols are manufactured in Argentine by the Bersa S.A. company. Thunder pistols are available, in several different versions. The Thunder-380 pistols are of simple blowback design, while more powerful Thunder-9, Thunder-40 and Thunder-45 pistols are of locked breech design. Thunder series pistols are relatively compact and handy, yet they offer significant capacity with major pistol calibers, combined with good, fully ambidextrous ergonomics. Bersa pistols also are relatively inexpensive and offer decent reliability, making them good personal defense firearms. The only differences between Thunder and Thunder-mini pistols (which also sold as Thunder Ultra-Compact) are size and magazine capacity. The Ultra-Compact .45 pistols are roughly intermediate in size between standard and mini pistols, and, unlike smaller caliber brothers, they have a single stack magazine. 
Bersa Thunder 9 pistols are standard issue pistols for the Argentinean Federal Police and the Buenos Aires Province Police.


Bersa Thunder-9, Thunder-40 and Thunder-45 pistols are locked breech, short recoil operated firearms of Browning type. barrel is locked to slide by single large lug, which engages the ejection port in the slide. The unlocking is caused by the cam-shaped underbarrel extension. Trigger  is of double action type, with exposed hammer and ambidextrous frame mounted safety, which decocks the hammer when engaged, then locks the slide and sear. The action also features a firing pin safety, which blocks the firing pin until the trigger is pressed. The slide release lever also is ambidextrous, and the magazine release button can be easily mounted on the either side of the grip. magazines of the 9mm and .40SW versions are of double stack type, .45 caliber magazines are single stack. Sights are fixed, with front sight integral to the slide and rear dovetailed to the frame. Latest production pistols also feature an integral key lock, located above the trigger on the left side of the frame, as well as accessory laser / light rail on the frame below the barrel.


Ballester-Molina / Ballester-Rigaud pistol


Ballester-Molina / Ballester-Rigaud pistol (Argentine)

Ballester-Molina pistol, left side.
Ballester-Molina pistol, left side.

Ballester-Molina pistol, right side.
Ballester-Molina pistol, right side.

Characteristics

Type: Single Action 
Calibers: .45ACP 
Weight unloaded: 1075 gram 
Length: 216 mm 
Barrel length: 127 mm (5") 
Capacity: 7 rounds

The Ballester-Molina pistol, originally known as Ballester-Rigaud (so marked during first years of manufacture, circa 1938 to 1940), were made in Argentine by Hispano Argentina de Automotives SA (HAFDASA) company. Manufacture started in 1938 in attempt to provide Argentinean police and military with less expensive alternative to the Colt modelo 1927 pistol, domestically made licensed copy of the American Colt M1911A1 pistol. Production of the Ballester-Molina ceased in the early 1950s. While Ballester-Molina pistol is externally very similar to Colt, it has significant differences, especially in the safety and trigger unit arrangements. Actually, the only parts exchangeable between Ballester-Molina and M1911A1 are the barrel with link and the magazine. The trigger and safety arrangements were more or less copied from the Spanish Star pistols, with the pivoting trigger, single trigger to sear link, and no grip safety. Ballester-Molina pistols were used by Argentinean military and police, as well as supplied to the Britain during Second World war. Britain issued these pistols to their Special Operations Executives agents, which usually operated behind enemy lines.

The Ballester-Molina pistol is a short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. the locking system is similar to that of Colt M1911A1, with the swinging link used to unlock the barrel from the slide. The single action trigger is pivoted on the axis, the frame-mounted manual safety locks the slide and the hammer.


Thursday 2 May 2013

77 pistol


Type 77 pistol (People Republic of China)

Type 77 pistol, right side

Type 77 pistol, right side

Type 77 pistol, left side

Type 77 pistol, left side


Type: Single Action 
Caliber: 7.65x17 Type 64 ball 
Weight unloaded: 500 g 
Length: 148 mm 
Barrel length: n/a 
Capacity: 7 rounds

The Type 77 pistol is a fairy simple pocket-sized pistol, which fires a marginally effective, low powered 7.65mm Type 64 cartridge, originally developed for the Type 64 silenced pistol. Type 77 pistol is intended as a self-defense weapon for officers of Chinese army (PLA) and police. It has been developed in the late 1970s and was officially adopted circa 1981. Military issue Type 77 pistol shall not be confused with much bigger and much more powerful 9mm NORINCO Type 77B pistol, available commercially and made in China only for export purposes.
Type 77 pistol is a blowback weapon, with striker-fired single action firing mechanism. The only unusual feature is a so-called Chylevsky device, made in the form of a separate front (vertical) part of the trigger guard. This device (originally developed by the Swiss designer Chylevsky in the first decade of the XX century) is used to load and cock the weapon by using only one hand. To do so, shooter must pull the front part of the trigger guard by its index finger. As it is connected to the slide, this pull will retract the slide back, and upon the release of the finger, the slide and front part of the trigger guard will return forward, chambering the cartridge and making the gun ready to fire single action. To avoid damage to the index finger, moving part of the trigger guard is automatically locked forward when trigger is pressed. If the gun is to be carried "cocked and locked", it also features a traditional manual safety on the frame, above the left grip panel. Single stack magazine holds 7 rounds of ammunition. magazine release button is located at the bottom of the trigger guard, on the left side of the frame. Bottom of the grip is provided with lanyard ring.


Monday 29 April 2013

Knights SR-25, Mk.11 Mod.0 and XM110 sniper rifle (USA)


Knights SR-25, Mk.11 Mod.0 and XM110 sniper rifle (USA)

Knights SR-25 rifle, civilian version with 20 barrel.
Knights SR-25 rifle, civilian version with 20" barrel.

Knights SR-25 carbine, civilian version with 16 barrel and telescopic buttstock.
Knights SR-25 carbine, civilian version with 16" barrel and telescopic buttstock.

US Navy / USMC Mark 11 Model 0 (Mk.11 Mod.0) sniper rifle system, with 10-round magazine, daylight telescope sight and bipod.
US Navy / USMC Mark 11 Model 0 (Mk.11 Mod.0) sniper rifle system, with 10-round magazine, daylight telescope sight and bipod.

US Navy / USMC Mark 11 Model 0 (Mk.11 Mod.0) sniper rifle system, with 20-round magazine, daylight telescope sight and installed quick-detachable sound suppressor.
US Navy / USMC Mark 11 Model 0 (Mk.11 Mod.0) sniper rifle system, with 20-round magazine, daylight telescope sight and installed quick-detachable sound suppressor.

US Army XM110 Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle (XM110 SASR), with daylight telescope sight, bipod and quick-detachable sound suppressor.
US Army XM110 Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle (XM110 SASR), with daylight telescope sight, bipod and quick-detachable sound suppressor.

 SR 25 rifleSR 25 carbineMK 11 Mod 0XM 110
Caliber7,62x51 NATO / .308 Winchester
SystemSemi-automatic, gas operated
Overall length1118 mm940 / 860 mm1158 mm1187 - 1200 mm
Barrel length508 mm (20")406 mm (16")508 mm (20")508 mm (20")
Weigth4,31 kg (less scope and magazine)3,86 kg (less scope and magazine)6,9 kg (with scope and bipod, less magazine)7,26 kg (with scope and bipod, less magazine)
Magazine10 or 20 rounds, detachable

The SR 25 rifle (Stoner Rifle, model 25) was developed by Reed Knight (owner of Knights Armament Co) and Eugene Stoner (designer of M16 and Stoner 63 rifles among other things) during early 1990s. In essence, the SR 25 was the AR-15 rifle scaled up to shoot 7,62x51 / .308 Win ammunition, with up to 60% of parts of new rifle being interchangeable with standard AR-15components. This rifle sold well among civilian shooters who needed an accurate semi-automatic rifle in 7,62 / .308 caliber for hunting or target shooting. This rifle also found a favor among US Military - during early 1990s it was adopted by US Navy SEAL groups, as Mark 11 Model 0 sniper rifle system; use of Mk.11 Mod.0 rifle was later extended to US Marine Corps. Mark 11 Model 0 rifle system included the semi-automatic SR-25 rifle, a quick-detachable sound suppressor, also developed by Knights Armament Co, Leupold Vari-X Mil-dot telescope sight, Harris bipod, 20-round magazines and other necessary accessories. In 2005, a modified version of the SR-25 / Mk.11 rifle won US Army Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle (XM110 SASR) competition, and today it is being issued to US Army snipers, in attempt to replace venerable M24 Sniper Weapon System. A certain controversy exists about this replacement, as some experts doubt that Knight's semi-automatic XM110 rifle could equal long-range accuracy of the bolt-action M24. However, Knights Armament Co claims that SR-25 is capable of 0.5 MOA accuracy with match ammo, and in the field Mk.11 or XM110 rifle can proved accurate and rapid fire out to 600 meters or even more, depending on particular circumstances and proficiency of operator. Use of quick-detachable silencer / sound moderator also has several benefits, the most obvious being concealment of the operator's position, as silencer decreases the sound of gunshot and completely eliminates muzzle flash. Another, less obvious benefit is that silencer also acts as an effective muzzle brake, decreasing recoil and thus permitting faster follow-up shots.
All rifles built on SR-25 platform share same basic action, which is based on AR-15 / M16 system. This is a gas-operated system with direct-impingement gas drive, which has no gas piston. Instead, powder gases are fed from the barrel and through a stainless-steel tube back into the receiver, and then into the cavity inside bolt carrier through the gas key. Inside the bolt carrier, powder gases push it back against the bolt, thus first causing the bolt to rotate and unlock from the barrel, and then to cycle the action. The rotary bolt has 7 radial lugs and improved extractor. Both upper and lower receiver halves are made from aircraft grade aluminum alloy, and connected by cross-pins. There is no "forward assist" button on the SR-25 rifles; the brass defelector is present. Barrels are of match class quality, and enclosed into free-floated forearm, fitted with Knights-made and designed Picatiny rails system. Because of AR-15-style recoil buffer, which extends rearwards fro the receiver, SR-15 cannot be fitted with folding buttstock; most rifles are fitted with fixed butt, while SR-25 carbines are fitted with telescoping buttstock. Trigger is also of match grade, fully adjustable.
Military versions of the SR-25, known as Mk.11 Mod.0 (USN / USMC) and XM110 (US Army) have some differences from civilian rifles. First of all, these rifles are fitted with proprietary sound moderator / silencer quick mount, located on the barrel just in front of the gas block. These rifles also finished to military specifications, and equipped with back-up iron sights (marked up to 600 meters and installed on folding bases). XM110 rifle also features a different buttstock, which is adjustable for length of pull, as well as different style forend rail system and a flash hider on the barrel. Military rifles are usually issued along with Harris bipod, Leupold variable-power 3,5-10X sniper scope, and a number of other accessories, including soft and hard carrying cases

Tuesday 23 April 2013

MK11 Sniper Weapon System (SWS)


The US Navy MK11 Mod 0 Sniper Weapon System (SWS) is based on the highly-accurate SR-25 automatic rifle. It was originally conceived and constructed to meet a requirement placed by the Navy SEALs. The MK11 is a highly accurate and durable, precision semiautomatic sniper rifle that operates like an M16 or M4A1, and can deliver a 7.62mm round out to 1,500 yards. Due to its high degree of accuracy, (.5 inch MOA), it is has won acceptance by U.S. Special Operations Forces as one of the finest semiautomatic sniper rifles in the world.
The MK11 system consists of the rifle, 20 round box magazines, QD scope rings, Leupold Vari-X Mil-dot riflescope, Harris swivel-base bipod on a Knight’s mount, QD sound suppressor, and back up iron sights. The free-floating 20 inch barrel and free-floating Rail Accessory System allow for extreme accuracy. This weapon fires the 7.62 NATO round, and is not capable of fully automatic fire.

Specifications:
  • Caliber: 7.62
  • Weight (Empty): 15.3 lbs.
  • Length: 45.5 in.
  • Effective Range: 1500 yards
  • Firing Rate: 750 rounds per min.
  • Muzzle Velocity: 2,951.5 feet per sec.
  • Feed: 20/10/5 rounds