DefenseReview.com (DR): An online tactical technology and military defense technology magazine with particular focus on the latest and greatest tactical firearms news (tactical gun news), tactical gear news and tactical shooting news.
By David Crane
defrev (at) gmail (dot) com
All photos and video clips contained in this article were shot by either by DefenseReview.com (DR) or Nick Leghorn, writer/photographer for The Truth About Guns (TTAG), and are copyrighted. DefenseReview.com owns the copyright on these materials. All photos and video clips below were shot with either a Canon PowerShot S90 10-megapixel digital camera (still camera with video capability) or Panasonic Lumix DMC-G2 12.1 MP Live MOS Interchangeable Lens Camera with Panasonic 45-200mm f/4.0-5.6 Lumix G Vario MEGA OIS Zoom Micro or Olympus 50mm f/2.0 Macro ED Zuiko Digital lens.
June 3, 2011
On May 27, 2011, DefenseReview (DR) published some exlusive video of a prototype FN SCAR PDW (Personal Defense Weapon) being fired at the Camp Atterbury Joint Maneuver Training Center (CAJMTC) firing range at during the 2011 International Infantry & Joint Services Small Arms Systems Symposium, Exhibition & Firing Demonstration Range Day shoot on May 26, 2011. While that high-definition (HD) footage was shot from the right side, the viewer can still see the weapon’s reciprocating charging handle cycling back and forth through the open charging handle slot on the right side of the weapon–but that’s not the optimum viewing perspective.
Fortunately, Defense Review shot some additional (albeit lower-definition) video footage of DR owner/editor-in-chief firing the FN SCAR PDW prototype weapon from the left side, so you can better see its reciprocating charging handle moving back and forth with each shot. There are two video clips. One shows the weapon being fired on full-auto. The other shows it being fired on semi-auto. Both video clips demonstrate why DefenseReview doe not like reciprocating charging handles on tactical firearms (rifles/carbines/SBRs/sub-carbines, specifically), for any reason. If anything (shooter’s support hand, vehicle window, building corner/wall, intermediate barrier of any kind, tree branch, etc.) interferes with the charging handle’s movement during the firing sequence, it can cause the weapon to malfunction, which isn’t good during a gunfight/firefight. The more dynamic and fluid the gunfight, the greater the chance that something will interfere with the charging handle.
By the way, don’t try what you see the shooter doing at home, unless you’re an experienced shooter with full-auto shooting experience, specifically. Notice how close the author’s/shooter’s hand is to the weapon’s muzzle. FNH USA brought the weapon out only at the author’s request, as a courtesy, which the author greatly appreciated. Otherwise, FNH USA most likely would have outfitted it with a stubby vertical foregrip–like the TangoDown Stubby Vertical Grip, for example–for weapon reliability and safety reasons, in order to 1) prevent the shooter’s support hand from interfering with the reciprocating charging handle’s operation, 2) prevent the shooter’s support hand being burned while firing at high round count and/or 3) preventing the shooter from getting his support-hand fingers blown off while firing on full-auto under stress.
And, here’s the original video DR published, showing the FN SCAR PDW prototype firing from the right side, just so you have all the videos, together:
(Reported) FN SCAR PDW Weapons Specs:
Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO (5.56mm NATO)/.223 Rem.
Operation: Short stroke gas piston/op-rod (operating rod), select-fire/full-auto-capable
Barrel: 6.75 inches (6.75″)
OA Length: 20.5 inches (20.5″) with buttstock retracted, 24.9 inches (24.9″) with stock extended
Dry/Empty Weight: 5.5 lbs.
Finish: Black / Desert Tan
Magazine Capacity: 30 Rounds
Pricing: Unkown
Company Contact Info:
FNH USA Military Operations
PO Box 896
McLean, VA 22101
Phone: 703-288-3500
Fax: 703-288-4505
Email: militaryinfo@fnhusa.com
FNH USA Website: http://www.fnhusa.com/
FNH USA Military Website: http://www.fnhusa.com/mil/
FNH USA Military Training Operations
Phone: 540-752-6200
Fax: 540-752-0967
FNH USA Law Enforcement and Commercial Sales
PO Box 697
McLean, VA 22101
Phone: 703-288-1292
Fax: 703-288-1730
Email: info@fnhusa.com
Website: http://www.fnhusa.com/
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