by David Crane For all you Kalashnikov collectors out there, Ohio Ornance Works is offering a unique AK alternative. It’s called the VZ 2000. The VZ 2000 is a custom semi-auto version of the Czech VZ.58, and is made to look identical to the genuine military full-auto version. The Ohio Ordnance VZ 2000 looks like… a very interesting rifle. Just …

by David Crane There is growing interest by the military in the 20mm cannon round for anti-material use, since it’s capability in this area significantly exceeds that of the .50 BMG. Special Operations units are particularly interested in the development of sniper/anti-material rifles chambered for a cannon round, since they offer significantly increased performance to even the Nammo/Raufoss Mk211 Multipurpose …

DefRev has obtained the original "white paper" proposal that was submitted to the U.S. Army for the Stavatti TIS-1 (Tactical Infantry System-1) Gasdynamic Laser Weapon. The TIS-1 is a laser rifle that utilizes a hypersonic jet of gas to create photonic energy in the form a very powerful laser. Thus the term "gasdynamic". The Stavatti TIS-1 was submitted as a …

DefRev just found this company on the web. Stavatti is an Aerospace Defense Prime Contractor that "is engaged in the design, qualification, production, distribution, service and total system support of new and original: fighters, sportplanes, tactical and strategic reconnaissance platforms, high performance corporate transports, heavy-lift theater transports, bombers, strike aircraft, launch vehicles and additional advanced aerospace vehicles." Apparently, they make …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Inc. has just come out with their 25mm "Payload Rifle". The new Payload Rifle is basically a modified Barrett M82A1 Light .50 antimateriel rifle. The new offering utilizes a replacement upper receiver with a shorter barrel (17.5 inches) mounted on a slightly modified M82A1 lower receiver. The 25x59Bmm round the Payload Rifle fires …

Several months ago, in a phone conversation, Alex Robinson, owner of Robinson Armament, told me he was working on a new rifle project for the military. He couldn’t disclose very much at the time, but it certainly sounded very interesting. Well, it now appears that he was talking about the brand new Robinson Armament RAV02 MC (pronounced "RAVE") select-fire rifle/carbine. …

By David Crane October 5, 2002 Over the last few years, I’ve been fortunate to own a number of top notch semi-auto pre-ban AK’s (AKM and AK-47 rifles) by some of the best makers. I’ve owned several Hungarian pre-ban underfolders and fixed-stock models made by FEG, a couple of Yugoslavian under-folders and fixed-stock models made by Zastava, and a couple …

Well, Jeff Zimba is at it again, calling this one "without a doubt, the nicest AK style firearm" he has ever seen. Whoah, that’s a pretty definitive statement. This thing must be pretty good, although we here at DefRev really don’t know, since we haven’t ever fired one. I actually had the opportunity to visit Arsenal Inc.’s booth at Shot …

by David Crane david@defensereview.com Just about everyone and their mother is making AR-15’s/M16’s these days, at least it seems like it, anyway. After all, it is one of the two most popular infantry rifle platforms on the planet, and no other rifle in the world can compete with the AR-15’s/M16’s upgradable nature, in terms of accessories and add-ons. One company …

The QBZ-95 bullpup infantry rifle from China, a.ka. Type 95 rifle, fires the proprietary 5.8x42mm round. Many small arms experts consider the ideal infantry/light machine gun caliber to be between 6mm and 6.5mm in diameter, and between 39mm and 45mm in length, making the new Chinese caliber very close to the ideal dual-purpose infantry round. Click here for pics and …