by David Crane david@defensereview.com This article was updated on 2/26/08. Back in July 2005, DefenseReview published information on the HK416 Weapon System a.k.a. HK416 Enhanced Carbine (5.56x45mm/.223 Rem.) in our article titled HK416 Piston-Driven 5.56 Carbine and High-Reliability 30-Round Steel Mag. Well, Heckler & Koch Defense Inc. (HK Defense Inc.) recently introduced the HK417 Weapon System (7.62x51mm/.308 Win.), which is …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Gunwriters David Fortier (David M. Fortier) and Ken Hackathorn have both recently written articles about the HK45 and HK45C .45 ACP combat pistols, and both articles can be viewed at the Vickers Tactical Inc. website (VickersTactical.com). The articles are in PDF format and are downloadable. Vickers Tactical, Inc. is owned by gunsmith/pistolsmith and retired U.S. Army …

by Bob Taubert Like the SHOT Show, the annual Modern Day Marine Military Expo gets bigger and better each year. However, unlike SHOT some of the toys for Uncle Sam’s boys that are on display cost millions of dollars a pop. Aircraft, particularly the unmanned variety, unmanned and manned waterborne patrol and attack platforms, wheeled and tracked robots, people and weapons …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com January 6, 2006 Anyone who knows anything about the custom/semi-custom tactical 1911 pistol field knows how hugely competitive it is out there. That’s one of the reasons why the Phoenix-like rise of Nighthawk Custom over approx. the last year and half is so intriguing. Considering the speed and surprise Nighthawk Custom has exhibited in establishing its …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Sigarms, Inc. and Heckler & Koch, Inc./HK Defense) both recently won monster pistol contracts (in 9mm, .40 S&W, and .357 SIG calibers)–for up to 65,000 pistols, each–with the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). Sigarms’ pistol contract is worth $23.7 million. The SIG-Sauer pistols chosen by DHS are the SIG P226R-DAK, SIG P229R-DAK, and SIG P239-DAO (double-action-only). …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com All digital photos of the HK416 Enhanced Carbine at International SOF Week/APBI below were taken by, and are the exclusive property of, DefenseReview.com. Click on photos below to view them full-size. July 15, 2005 It looks like the FN SCAR-Light (FN SCAR-L) carbine/subcarbine (select-fire, 5.56x45mm) might have some competition in SOF (Special Operations Forces) circles–and, more …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Any military or law enforcement Spec-Operator tasked with employing a tactical shotgun for a living should take a serious look at the Polyshok I.R.P. 12-gauge shotgun round. "I.R.P" stands for "Impact Reactive Projectile", and this specialized shotgun round is designed specifically to maximize stopping power against enemy combatants or hostile subjects (especially hostage-takers), while minimizing the …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com HKPro.com has a pic and description of the prototype HK P46 4.6x30mm "Ultimate Combat Pistol" (UCP). The P46 is apparently a follow-on to the HK MP7A1 PDW (Personal Defense Weapon), which is Heckler & Koch’s original weapon chambered for the 4.6x30mm cartridge. The following comes directly from the HKPRO.com HK P46 (4.6x30mm) Ultimate Combat Pistol page: …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Randy Adams, of Fireblade Systems, has introduced a custom-built, no-nonsense tactical 1911 pistol package in .45ACP, called the "Counter-Strike 1911". The Counter-Strike 1911 pistol is built primarily for extreme reliability and maximum utility under stress. From the pictures DefenseReview has seen, Adams’ Counter-Strike 1911 pistol reminds us of the kind of custom 1911 pistol work we’ve …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Chip McCormick Corp. (CMC) is making some very interesting drop-in “Super Match Trigger Groups” for AR-15/M16’s. The Super Match Trigger Group is made up of a “totally self-contained one-piece assembly”, which, on its face, would appear to adhere to the KISS (Keep It Simple, Stupid) principle. The sales literature on the CMC Super Match Trigger Groups …