Aero Precision M5E1

     Notes: The M5E1 may be thought of as an evolutionary improvement of the AR-10.  It’s positioned as an accurate yet light hunting rifle, with a secondary use as a DMR (though it is not considered a sniper rifle for game terms.  The strengthened receiver and top handguard rails give the solid feed of a monolithic MIL-STD-1913 rail.  Under the handguard is a short section of rail, used by most shooters as a bipod attachment point (and one is included in the stats and cost below). The handguards allow the barrel to free float within them, and the barrel mounting allows the handguards to be changed, and if the right handguards are used, replaced with another set of handguards, and also removed for cleaning without breaking the free-floating characteristics.  (This is a common problem with free-float handguards.  The handguards attach directly to a mounting surface around the barrel with just four screws.  Handguards are 12 inches for the carbine and 15 inches for the mid-length and 20-inch rifles. Though they do not come with the rifle, the handguards allow for additional rails or accessories compatible with the KeyMod system.  The sides and bottom have KeyMod holes, while the rest of octagonal handguards have large ventilation slots.

     The M5E1 is equipped with a 6-position adjustable Magpul CTR stock, which is skeletonized and saves weight while keeping the M5E1 compact.  This is important when firing from a deer blind or other hidden hunting position. Recoil is said to be negligible. It can digest at least a dozen different types and loads of ammunition, including soft-point rounds and hollow-points (unusual for a semiautomatic weapon). The trigger guard is large enough for a heavy-gloved finger.  The M5E1 is also fitted with a compartmented Magpul pistol grip.

     Barrels come in a 16-inch carbine length, an 18-inch mid-length, and a 20-inch full length.  The barrels ere tipped by AR-15A2-type flash suppressors. As noted above, the barrels are floating, and are of stainless steel. Finishes for the rifle are flat dark earth or black.  Edges have been rounded and smooth, particularly on the lower receiver and handguards.  On the 18-inch and 20-inch-barrel versions, the rifles are a bit front-heavy, but the addition of optics to the receiver rail that most shooters use puts this in line. (The rifle comes with a 1-6x Vortex Razor HD scope.) One tester says that a goblin-sized target can be tracked and shot at 600 meters using the scope (I’m not sure what he means; in various legends, a goblin ranges from a half a foot tall to 4 feet.)  The M5E1 is capable of .75 MOA accuracy.  Magazines sold with the rifle are Magpul synthetic magazines, though it will also accept standard AR-10-series magazines, M-14 magazines, FAL magazines, or other manufacturer’s magazines.

     The fit and finish are excellent; internals stayed relatively clean after 400 rounds fired.  There is no play between the upper and lower receiver.  Many shooters suggest an extended charging handle, because quick grabs often skins the fingers on the rear of the MIL-STD-1913 rail. It is a little heavy when equipped with a bipod and scope, but this is generally acceptable because it is designed for firing from prepared positions, though walking around can make the rifle a bit of a burden.

     At least one amateur gunsmith has modified the M5E1 for .45 Raptor and .450 Marlin.  These are being done on 20-inch barrel, the most common length for the M5E1. It should be noted that this is rare, difficult, and expensive.  (I have included these chamberings below, however, for general interest.) It should be noted that a full build of the M5E1 is not available on Aero Precision’s site, though full builds of the rifle are being sent out to testers and some gun shops.

Alexander Arms Beowulf

     Notes:  This weapon is described by Alexander Arms, the manufacturer, as a “large caliber carbine.”  It is a highly-modified AR-15 firing a proprietary round called the .50 Beowulf; this round was made to fit in existing AR-15/M16 series magazines with only slight modifications.  The rifle was designed based on recommendations from US special operations soldiers after experience in Afghanistan, and combat tested in small numbers by them in Afghanistan and Iraq.  The rifle is basically an AR-15 lower receiver built to stronger standards, along with a new upper receiver and collapsible stock.  The upper receiver uses a Picatinny Rail instead of the normal carrying handle.  The muzzle has a massive pepperpot-type muzzle brake. 

     It should be noted that there are essentially two “generations” of the Beowulf.  The 1^st generation is essentially as above.  The second generation, which is the model on their web site and sold through Alexander Arms now, dispenses with the 16 and 24-inch barrels; only one, with a 16.375-inch barrel, is now offered.  This barrel has a high-quality steel inner barrel with a composite external barrel. The barrel may be made with its standard pepperpot muzzle brake, or with a more California-friendly version with no muzzle device.  The handguards are now mid-length and made with an internal head shield. The gas block is low-profile and has its own short length of MIL-STD-1913 rail.  This version of the Beowulf does not come with any iron or BUIS sights.  The Entry Model has the handguards made of ThermoPlastic triangular end caps, and the barrel is of medium profile; the handguard has a four-point MIL-STD-1913 with the top rail joining with the rail atop the receiver. The Precision Model uses G10 FR4 composite handguards; the barrel is a match-quality floating heavy barrel. The Precision Model does not have the MIL-STD-1913 rails on the handguards, though there is an attachment point under the handguard. The Precision Model has a match-quality trigger pack. The AWS is similar to the Entry Model, but uses a Midwest Industries aluminum handguard with 4-point MIL-STD-1913 rails.  The barrel is free floating and of medium profile.  The Plus Model is sort of like the Precision and AWS put together.

     The newer Beowulfs are not normally sold with a bipod, though the Plus is. In the mid-2000s, the US Coast Guard experimented with the older version of the Beowulf, both with 16-inch and 24-inch barrels.  These were to provide heavy firepower in boarding actions as well as to do things like shoot out boat engines or put holes in boats.  2006 is the last year I heard anything about the experiment with the Beowulfs.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: These weapons do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Alliance Arms AK-47 .460

     Notes: A private venture by the company, the Alliance Armament AK-47 .460 is sold as a complete rifle as a kit to convert existing AK-series weapons to the new caliber.  The standard configuration which Alliance uses is an imported Egyptian Wasr-10 (the Egyptian version of the AK-47), with wood furniture and the primary modifications being the barrel, the addition of a muzzle brake, and appropriate internal parts, as well as a change to semiautomatic fire.  (The SBR uses an ACE side-folding stock, and has MIL-STD-1913 rails atop the receiver and 4-point rails o the synthetic handguards.) Alliance sells not only as a standard-length rifle with a barrel length of 16 inches, but as an SBR (Short-barreled Rifle) with a length of 8.5 inches.  The AK-47 .460 is designed for damaging and stopping unarmored and lightly-armored vehicles, and therefore is chambered for a new, proprietary round – the .460 Alliance. Ballistics are similar to those of the .50 Beowulf.  The AK-47 platform was used due to the ease of conversion and the fact that the AK is more common in the world; Alliance is hoping for not only civilian sales, but police and military as well.  Externally, the AK-47 .460 is virtually identical to the standard AK-47, though the fit and finish are greatly improved.  Sights are standard AK sights, and there are no embellishments like MIL-STD-1913 rails.  The basic toughness of the AK means that it is capable of accepting the more powerful round.  Magazines are modified standard AK magazines.

Armalite AR-10

     Notes: The AR-10 is the direct ancestor of the AR-15/M16 series of rifles, built to compete for the standard US service rifle with the likes of the M-14 and AR-10, and losing out to the M-14 primarily due to politics rather than any real shortcoming of the weapon (of which there were many).  The AR-10 itself had a rather inglorious career as a military rifle; it was almost a year too late for the weapons trials that eventually produced the M-14, was rejected by even the special operations troops of most countries, suffered in its early forms from burst barrels, and was bought in semi-large numbers only by Sudan (made under license by the Dutch), and Sudan’s troops largely rejected it and they mostly went into storage for decades.  Another large manufacturer was Portugal, and the Portuguese sold them in small numbers to Guatemala (where they soldier on today), Burma, Italy, and Cuba.  And in particular, in the hands of Portuguese Marines, the AR-10 helped to fight a 13-year Colonial War in Angola, Guinea-Bissau and Mozambique. (Many of these remain in action with rebel, insurgent, and terrorist forces in those countries.) Starting in the early 1990s, there was a revival of sorts for the AR-10, this time in civilian semiautomatic form; these versions have had far more success than the original version.  The original AR-10 has a 20-inch barrel tipped with a flash suppressor.

     There are number of modern AR-10 clones that have been popping up as of late.  These versions are mostly made by Eagle Arms, a division of Armalite. The AR-10B was the first of these clones, introduced in 1996; it was introduced in 7.62mm NATO caliber, with a .243 Winchester version was introduced in 1998, and in 2004, a version firing .300 Remington Short Action Magnum was put on the market.

     The AR-10B is closely-based on the original AR-10B, but the parts are made of more modern materials and manufacturing methods.  Emphasis has been given to functionality, reliability, and parts commonality with the AR-15/M16 series as well as the M15 series (Armalite’s improved version of the AR-15/M16 series).  They use forged aircraft aluminum upper and lower receivers, a firing pin spring to prevent firing if dropped or bumped, and modifications to allow the AR-10B to use the more powerful loads available today.  The AR-10B can use original AR-10 magazines, modified M-14 magazines, and magazines built by Armalite for AR-10B use.  The AR-10B, like the original AR-10, has no forward assist.  AR-10Bs are equipped with compact muzzle brakes instead of flash suppressors, both for control and to comply with the Assault Weapons Ban, which was still in effect at the time of their introduction.  Civilian and police models do not have bayonet mounts.  The AR-10A2 was designed specifically for civilians, is locked on semiautomatic and cannot be fired on automatic, and does not come in a .300 RSAUM version.  A carbine version of the AR-10A2 is new as of 2006; it is essentially the same as a standard AR-10A2, but uses a 16-inch barrel, a sliding M-4-type stock, and can be had in an optional flattop version with a MIL-STD-1913 rail.  The AR-10A4 is basically identical to the AR-10A2, but the carrying handle is deleted from the upper receiver as is the front sight, and the gas block shape is modified.  This allows for the mounting of a full-length MIL-STD-1913 rail.  The AR-10A4 LE (Law Enforcement) carbine is designed for SRT-type teams; it uses a flash suppressor instead of a muzzle brake, and the handguards have four-position MIL-STD-1913 rails.  The AR-10A4 LE uses a collapsible stock, and it may be had in semiautomatic or full-automatic versions.  In all these cases, the standard barrel length is 20 inches, though carbine versions with 18-inch barrels are also made; in the case of the AR-10A4 LE, a version with a 16-inch barrel is also made.

     The AR-10(T) version of the AR-10 has a heavy match barrel, no flash suppressor, rounded, fluted, free-floating handguards, and a MIL-STD-1913 rail for use with any sort of sight or optic.  (There are no iron sights sold with the AR-10(T), though they can be mounted on the MIL-STD-1913 rail.)  The lower receiver is basically a larger version of the AR-15 lower receiver.  The AR-10(T) uses a 24-inch heavy match barrel with a target-crowned muzzle instead of a flash suppressor or muzzle brake.  It uses round aluminum handguards instead of AR-15-type handguards.  The AR-10(T) is equipped with a lightweight folding bipod adjustable for height and cant. Recently, Armalite has introduced versions of the AR-10(T) chambered in .260 Remington and .338 Federal.

     When the US Army began looking for a SASS (Semiautomatic Sniper System), Armalite responded by developing the AR-10 SASS.  This version was to be used as a tactical sniper weapon by the spotter member of a sniper team.  The SASS is quite similar to the AR-10A4, but also has three other MIL-STD-1913 rails at the 3, 6, and 9-o’clock positions on the handguards, a free-floating heavy SST 24-inch barrel, a Harris bipod adjustable for cant and height, flip-up/removable front and rear iron sights as well as a Leupold scope, a Magpul stock with an adjustable cheekpiece and buttplate, and a screw-off flash suppressor which can also take a silencer or suppressor.   The AR-10 SASS was not selected by the US Army, but Armalite decided to sell them on the civilian and international markets starting in the 3^rd quarter of 2006, calling it the AR-10 SuperSASS.  Though perhaps more appropriate in the Sniper Rifles section, it is included here for completeness. 

     The AR-10 Tactical is new for 2016 and is basically an up-to-date form of the AR-10 platform.  The AR-10 Tactical is thoroughly modernized, with a receiver-length Picatinny rail that forms a continuous length of rail with the rail above the handguards. The stock has been replaced with sliding Magpul MBA-1 stock that also has an adjustable cheekpiece, which is skeletonized to save some weight. Barrels are 16, 18, and 20 inches and tipped with a compact muzzle brake.  The barrel is a double lapped chrome-moly barrel of high-quality; the bore is chromed. The barrel and other steel parts are finished in black Cerakote. The gas system is adjustable, partially to adjust for dirt and fouling conditions, but primarily to adjust for different muzzle devices.  Magazines sold with the rifle are Magpul PMAG high-cap magazines, though other AR-10, M-14, FAL metric, and some other aftermarket magazines can be used.  The handguard is a KeyMod design; which allows for the attachment of three more Picatinny rails of various lengths as desired.  The charging handle is a Raptor ambidextrous handle. The receivers are 7075-T6 receiver halves forged from an aluminum billet.  The receivers have a black anodized finish.  There are no permanently-attached sights, though they are sold with Magpul MBUS BUIS.

     The AR-10A is a version which, despite its nomenclature and date of introduction, a development of the AR-10B.  The AR-10A functions identically to the AR-10B; the major difference is that the AR-10A is designed to use early AR-10 (as well as good-quality copies) and the new polymer magazines such as MagPul PMAGs instead of proprietary magazines derived from the M14 like the AR-10B.  Shooters also report that the AR-10A will take magazines designed by KAC, DPMS, or Remington, or the MIL-Spec magazines designed for the M110 SASS, though Armalite stresses that they have done any testing with these magazines and cannot attest to their reliability with the AR-10A.  In addition, many of the internal parts are larger, smaller, or slightly differently-shaped, enough that they cannot be used in an AR-10B or vice versa.  The upper receiver is also a somewhat different shape and will not mech with an AR-10B lower, or vice versa.  It should also be noted that the whole fit and finish of the AR-10A is much better, and tolerances are closer in the AR-10A.  It should further be noted that the AR-10A is not a replacement for AR-10B, since some shooters prefer the older rifle and its magazines.  Currently, only a 20-inch-barrrel version of the AR-10A.

     Many companies make clones of the AR-10.  For the most part, they are like the AR-10B in 7.62mm, though they may have barrels as short as 16 inches, or as long as 22 or 24 inches.  They have no muzzle brakes. Several companies also make match-quality AR-10 clones.  These may have 16, 18, 20, 22, or 24-inch match-quality heavy barrels.  They typically have scope mounts and flattop receivers, and they may have Weaver or MIL-STD-1913 rails atop their receivers.  These are noted below as “AR-10 Match-Quality Clones.”

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The AR-10A4, AR-10 SuperSASS, and AR-10(T) do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.  The AR-10A2 is very rare, but the AR-10A2 Carbine does not exist as such in manufactured form, though some such modifications have been done after the fact.  The AR-10A4 LE Carbine also does not exist, except in forms modified from actual AR-10A4s, and the AR-10 SuperSASS is also absent from the Twilight 2000 timeline.  The original AR-10 is a rather rare commodity in the Twilight 2000 timeline, merely because few serviceable copies exist by 2000.

Black Rain Ordnance PG13

     Notes: Shooters who have or test the PG13 like it; they say that it requires to tuning and little or no aftermarket accessories.  The especially like how it digest nearly any ammunition type or load, even problematic steel-cased .308 ammunition.  Unlike earlier Black Rain AR-15/AR-10 clones, the PG13 uses a special dipping procedure for its undercoat, and then black Cerakoted for its steel parts, including the barrel and flash suppressor.  The interior of the receiver halves and the bolt carrier group is Nickel-Boron-coated. The internal coatings are such that the PG13 can be run for several hundred rounds with no lubrication added.

     The ejection port has been enlarged and flared; this, along with the NiBo coating of the working parts, allows for much more reliable ejection of spent cases or dud rounds. They stayed with standard ejector springs instead of the overpowered springs found on most AR-15/AR-10-type rifles.  This also (important in Twilight 2000) easier to finds one’s spent brass.  The PG13 has an adjustable low-profile gas block, partially to compensate for dirt and fouling, but also to allow for the use of several different muzzle devices, particularly suppressors. It also reduces felt recoil. It also vents some hot gas, which keeps the chamber, gas tube, and receiver halves cleaner, as well as providing cooler running.  The stocks are Magpul, as are the MIAD pistol grip; unusually, the PG13 uses a UBR stock, instead of the more common types of Magpul stocks. This stock slides out in halves underneath each other (though the butt is still normal sides.  The receiver finish is a black type of anodization done by Silver Skulls, which is harder than most anodization, and has a Silver Skull on each side of the magazine well.

     The barrel is 18 inches, stainless steel inside and out, and spiral-fluted along it’s heavy-profile length. It is specially-bedded with aluminum blocks.  The trigger is a Black Rain design called the BRO-DIT, and is a one-stage trigger with a very light pull. Magazines sold with the rifle are Magpul PMAGs, though the PG13 can use a wide variety of 7.62mm/.308 magazines.

Bushmaster .308

     Notes: The Bushmaster .308 moniker encompasses a number of related rifles that are based on the AR-15/M16 series of rifles.  These rifles can be had in 16-inch or 20-inch barrel lengths, in flattop configuration with a MIL-STD-1913 rail or with a carrying handle, and with either an AK-74-style muzzle brake or the more effective “Izzy” muzzle brake.  They can have skeletonized stocks or standard AR-15-style stocks.  All of them come with 10 or 20-round magazines (depending upon whether they are sold to civilians or police/military), but all can feed from any FAL-type magazine.  Flattop versions are generally referred to as Bushmaster A3’s, while those with carrying handles are called A2’s.  “Izzy” style brakes are, for the time being, paired with skeletonized stocks, while AK-74-style brakes are paired with standard stocks.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Bushmaster .450

     Notes: The Bushmaster .450 began with US military forces in Iraq needing a more powerful weapon for CQB, but allowing for the “muscle memory” of troops used to the M16/M-4 series.  Bushmaster and Tim LeGendre of LeMag Firearms worked together to produce an AR-15 derivative that fired a modified version of LeGendre’s .45 Professional round, called the .450 Bushmaster round.  The idea was to produce a round that had good short-range penetration and damage while still providing decent damaging effects at short range.  Another part of the design was to produce a weapon that could deal with car bombers by disabling their vehicles with powerful small arms fire.  For civilian use, the .450 Bushmaster is quite capable of one-shot stops versus any North American or European big game.

     The Bushmaster .450 is essentially built on a highly-modified Bushmaster AR-type base.  The Bushmaster .450 uses a 16 or 20-inch free-floating barrel that is noticeably wider, tipped by a slotted muzzle brake.  The upper receiver is a flattop, with a full-length MIL-STD-1913 rail; the handguards also have three more rails.  DPMS Mangonel folding iron sights are included as backups. The Bushmaster .450 can be had with a variety of stocks and pistol grips, but a folding or collapsible stock is not presently among the selections.  Current magazines are based on 20-round AR-15/M16 magazines, but larger ones are being devised.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The Bushmaster .450 does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Bushmaster MOE Enhanced ORC

     Notes: The ORC (Optics-Ready Carbine) is based on the AR-10 platform, and with a barrel of only 16 inches, has a short barrel for a 7.62mm-firing rifle.  The Enhanced ORC is meant to be a budget-priced but ready for action .308 rifle, able to shoot good groups right out of box. Features include a receiver Picatinny rail and a short rail atop the end of the handguard normally mounting a standard A2 front sight, a folding rear BUIS, Magpul enhancements such as the PRS six-position stock and MOE pistol grip, and the ability to use almost any 7.62mm magazine and digest just about any sort of 7.62/.308 ammunition (though shooters report a preference for 168-grain bullets).  Though heavy for those who are used to AR-15s and their ilk, it is light for a 7.62mm-firing rifle.

     The low-profile gas block is used with a mid-length gas tube, and with the 16-inch heavy-profile barrel, makes for a compact rifle.  The barrel is tipped with an A2-type flash suppressor. The trigger is a Geiselle two-stage design, a match-quality trigger. The handguards are Troy Alpha handguards and are slab-sided except under the handguard, except for a short rail length up front on top and bottom and KeyMod holes on the sides. The receiver halved are forged from aircraft aluminum billets; the barrel is 16 inches and made of 4150 steel which is chrome-lined. (The harder steel than average keeps down corrosion.) The upper receiver also has a monolithic MIL-STD-1913 rail. The standard barrel device is an A2-type flash suppressor, but is threaded for attachment of other barrel devices, including suppressors. The rifle is optics-ready, and includes a Nightforce NXS 1-4x24mm scope. It does not have ambidextrous controls, but includes an extraction block to keep hot brass out of a lefty’s shirt. The Enhanced ORC will take virtually any sort of .308/7,62mm magazine; Bushmaster themselves recommend Magpul PMags.  Finish is uniformly black.

     Several shooters report that the handguard halves have a bit of wobble in them.  (Those of us who have experience with ARs know that this is par for the course.)

CMMG Mk3

     Notes: CMMG (Central Missouri Machineguns) started out as a print shop in the early 2000s before morphing into the AR-clone giant it is today starting in 2005.  In about 2014, they introduced the Mk3, and now it produces six variants of this rifle.

     The base model, the Mk3, it is not so much based on the AR-10 platform as that of the DPMS LR308. It is equipped with an A1-type stock and A2 pistol grip, and the CMMG-designed extruded aluminum RKM15 KeyMod handguards. The RKM15 handguard has a MIL-STD-1913 rail at the top of the handguard, and KeyMod slots down the length of the other three sides.  The top of the receiver also has a MIL-STD-1913 rail, the BUISs are used instead of fixed iron sights.  The 18-inch barrel is a heavy-taper-profile barrel, and is made of 416 stainless steel.  The barrel is matte bead-blasted, and tipped with an A2-type flash suppressor.  Controls are basically those of the LR308, which are modified AR-10 controls.  The bolt is machined from 9130 steel, and bolt carrier from 8620 steel.  The extractor is hardened S7 tool steel.

     The Mk3 CBR is a carbine-length version of the Basic, and while in some ways it is similar, it has a number of improvements.  The barrel is nitrided instead of being bead-blasted.  The barrel is tipped with a CMMG SV muzzle brake, similar in appearance to the AK-74’s brake.  It has a Geissele SSA 2-stage match trigger, a Magpul MOE pistol grip and a Magpul ACS-L telescoping stock.

     The Mk3 3GR is designed specifically for 3-Gun Competitions, but is also well-suited for hunting and target shooting.  The barrel uses the same barrel as the Basic, but the barrel is match-quality and the handguards are free-float handguards.  It uses the CMMG SV muzzle brake and an RKM15 KeyMod handguard with upper MIL-STD-1913 rails.  The trigger used is the Geissele 2-stage match-grade trigger.  The stock and pistol grip are a Magpul MOE grip and a Magpul MOE fixed stock, which has a hinged compartment in the butt for batteries, cleaning supplies, tools, etc.

     The Mk3 T combines modularity, affordably (in RL prices) and quality. It uses the same quality barrel as the Basic, but it is 16 inches and medium-tapered-profile.  It is tipped with an A2-type flash suppressor. It has an RKM15 KeyMod handguard (basically, this means that the handguards are 15 inches long) which is a free-float handguard.  The stock is Magpul, but is identical to an M4-type telescoping stock.

     Shooters say that groups with these rifles are tight, even with BUISs.  They also say that the A1 stock and A2 pistol grip are not ergonomically the best for a .308 rifle.  (One shooter in particular says that using the A1 stock is as painful as shooting the HK91’s collapsing stock, which is known as the “cheese grater: in HK circles.)  Most shooters of the basic Mk3 seem to replace the stock or put a rubber recoil pad on the butt.

Colt LE901-16S

     Notes: The LE901-16S is an AR with a twist – not an uncommon twist, but a twist.  The LE901-16S is primarily designed to be used as a 7.62mm/.308 rifle, but can be swapped out with virtually any 5.56mm/.223 upper receiver/barrel assembly. (A comparable one is given below.) This trick is not accomplished by using an untenable bolt carrier of the same size, but by a bolt in the 7.62mm version that fills almost the entire receiver, yet is coated to prevent binding and stoppages due to fouling and dirt. The magic trick does include the need for takedown pin adapters and magazine well adapters for AR-15 magazines.

     The LE901-16S is equipped with largely off-the-shelf furniture, including an M-4-similar Vltor IMod sliding stock with a raised cheekpiece, standard A2 pistol grip, and MIL-STD-1913 rails above the receiver continuous with the rail atop the handguard, and three more rails around the handguards (Removable).  BUIS are provided.  The trigger guard is a winter trigger guard.  The barrel is 16.1 inches, heavy, and floating, and tipped with a pronged flash suppressor that any competent gunsmith may swap out for other muzzle devices.  (It is not designed to be user-replaceable).  The controls are partially ambidextrous; the selector lever is one-sided, but the bolt catch works from both sides.

     Finish is currently black or desert tan only.  The sliding stock has two compartments for batteries or small items.

     Users have complained to Colt about the pull weight and pull length of the trigger.  It is a bit heavy and creepy; it’s still a Mil-Spec trigger, but only just so. Most users say that the first thing about this rifle that they replace is the trigger. Other complaints center around keeping the weapon adequately lubricated for reliability; one writer said, “After soaking the damned thing in CLP, I couldn’t get it to run reliability.”  The same writer saw several of these rifles run quite well at SHOT, so he said he would dismiss it as a fluke, and used a lighter buffer spring. Another complaint is the accuracy – one tester couldn’t manage a 1 MOA group at 50 yards, and quickly widened out to an 8-MOA group. Optics and excessive zeroing are often required for even halfway-decent accuracy.  One other note: This is a headspace-and-timing error, but the 7.62mm format and the 5.56mm format require different buffer mass tubes.

     In the June 2013 issue of Recoil magazine, a custom build of the LE901-16S was featured.  It comes in 7.62mm, 7.62mm Kalashnikov, or.300 Blackout versions, and features a 16-inch heavy. match-quality barrel tipped by a Vortex open birdcage-type flash suppressor.  The upper receiver is actually a Bushmaster design, though the lower receiver is a Colt lower.  The upper receiver has a monolithic Picatinny Rail Which runs the length of the receiver and out over the top of the handguard, and ends just short of the gas block/front.  The sides of the handguard also have rails, as does the bottom, which mounts a CTC Defense MWF-600 foregrip/tactical light combination. The top rail normally mounts a Bushnell Elite Tactical 1.8-5x scope, which is suitable for short-range shots as well as long-range shooting.  (The build will also take thermal, image intensification, IR, or laser sights, or other scopes for that matter, but these are not included in the stats below.) The scope is fitted to a GDI mount, designed for mounting on a Picatinny Rail. The trigger pack has been replaced with the JP Enterprises Original Fire Control Kit, which gives the build a precision, match-quality trigger with a 5-pound pull weight and a short reset..  Even the trigger guard has been replaced with a Tactical Machining wide trigger guard, suitable for shooting with heavy gloves, and the bottom of the trigger guard may be swung down to allow shooting with mittens on.  The pistol grip has been replaced with an Ergo Grip Deluxe Grip. The build has front and rear sights, but these are folding sights, allowing the mounting of optics. The stock is an M4-type, but is made by Vltor and has positive locking and 6 positions instead of four. Recoil magazine used 30-round Magpul PMags in their build, but any magazine compatible with the LE901-16S will work in Recoil’s build.

     (It should be noted that the Twilight 2000 price of the Recoil build is far less than the actual RL MSRP.)

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This rifle is not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline.

Colt Monitor BAR

     Notes: In the 1930’s, the FBI was finding out that the Thompson submachineguns issued to FBI agents as heavy weapons were incapable, in many cases, of penetrating the heavy bodies of the cars of the period, especially from the front angles.  They were interested in acquiring the Browning BAR, but the BAR was just too large and heavy for most FBI purposes.  Therefore, the FBI had Colt redesign the BAR into a lighter weapon for them, and built about 90 of them for their agents, they saw little use, but one famous use was the team that took down Bonnie and Clyde; the Monitor was in the hands of a Texas Ranger named Frank Hamer.  The Monitors were farmed out to various police agencies after that, though many were destroyed later on. 

     The basic receiver of the Monitor is virtually identical to that of the standard BAR, but stock is shortened, a pistol grip is fitted, the sights are designed for the shorter barrel of the Monitor, and the gas tube and operating rod is also redesigned.  The muzzle brake, designed by Cutts, was specifically designed for the Monitor, and is huge.  (Despite the compensator, the muzzle blast is massive, though it cuts recoil quite a bit.) 

Daniel Defense DDM4 ISR

     Notes: This is an integrally-suppressed .300 Blackout-firing carbine.  Though the rifled portion is only 9 inches, the suppressor brings it out to the 16-inch barrel required by US law for civilians.  The barrel is cold-hammer-forged with a pistol-length gas impingement system and the gun is an AR derivative and therefore most shooters have muscle memory for the controls. The suppressor can fire both supersonic and subsonic projectiles with greatly-reduced muzzle flash and recoil.  Finish is with Cerekote-C, to a color chosen by the buyer.  The handguard is a full-length 15-inch handguard, and the suppressor barely protrudes from the handguards.  The receiver and top of the handguard have a continuous Picatinny rail, and the sides and bottom of the handguard have half-length KeyMod rails. The buttstock is a Daniel Defense Mil-Spec 7075-T6 aluminum alloy construction design, as is the Pistol Grip, and the solid portions of both are glass-fiber filled.  The cheekpiece has a soft rubber pad, and the entire furniture are very ergonomic. The suppressor has a contrasting black Cerekote-C finish.  Upper and lower receiver halves are mil-spec 7075-T6 aluminum alloy and M-4 feed ramps. The barrel and barrel extension through the suppressor are of Chrome/Moly/Vanadium steel, with the portion beyond the barrel being stainless steel with a Chrome/Moly/Vanadium liner.  It has an ISR Gas Block, pistol length. The sights are standard M-4-type BUIS, though optics (not included) are more common.

     Note that standard DDM4 ISR’s are semiautomatic only; I have included automatic stats due to its testing by SOCOM.

Daniel Defense DD7.62

     Notes: Though Daniel Defense makes a large crop of 5.56mm semiautomatic rifles, and, it is rumored, been tested in a full-auto form factor by the US Military and the FBI HRT.

     It is obviously derives from their 5.56mm rifles.  It is a relatively new rifles, introduced as mid-2015 shooting shows, and has not been shown yet as the biggest shooting shows such as SHOT.  The DD7.62 uses a proprietary barrel mounting system.  Muscle memory makes the rifle easy to shoot, while the upper receiver has a full-length MIL-STD-1913 rail, while the handguard' MIL-STD-1913 can be connected to the receiver to produced one continuous rail.  On the rail are a front sight and rear sight which are both adjustable and removable.  The 16-inch barrel is, as stated is not free floating, but has a special bedding for its military profile. This is tipped with a compact muzzle brake.  The rifle has an MOE stock which slides to one of six positions to adjust length.   The trigger guard is rounded and somewhat larger for a gloved finder, and can be hinged open for use with mittens. Stats are included for an automatic version, due to general interest.

Doublestar STAR10-B

     Notes: This is a big brother to Doublestar 5.56mm ARs.  It features a seven-position ACE Hammer sliding stock with a fully-adjustable cheekpiece.  It has several QD sling mounts, a BCM Gunfighter charging handle with MOD4 latch, a nickel-boron-coated bolt-carrier group, 7076-T6 billet receiver halves, a CMC match trigger with a 3.5-pound pull and a flat trigger, a Hogue pistol grip, a 15-inch Samson Evolution handguard, and an 18-inch, free-floating, Wilson air-gauged, stainless steel barrel tipped by a Bullseye multi-baffle muzzle brake.  The upper receiver and handguard form one long Picatinny rail.  Finish is Anodized mil-spec.

DPMS .308 Panther

     Notes: These rifles are basically 5.56mm DPMS Panthers that are “sized up” to fire 7.62mm NATO (.308 Winchester) ammunition.  There are a number of versions, in some cases corresponding to their smaller-caliber counterparts.

     The Panther Long Range 308 (LR308) is greatly re-engineered to produce better accuracy.  The company refers to it as a “precision rifle.”  The receiver is milled, rather than cast or stamped, and the entire rifle is much more robust than the normal AR-15-type rifle.  The LR308 is equipped with a MIL-STD-1913 rail that allows the mounting of virtually any sight or optics. The rail on the LR308 is raised slightly to optimize it for telescopic sights.  The barrel is a very heavy bull barrel that is 24 inches long.  The LR308 has no dust cover, no brass deflector, and no forward assist.  The magazines that are sold with the LR308 are see-through plastic.  The LR308 B 18 is similar, but uses an 18” barrel.  The Panther LR308 T 16 H-BAR is also similar, but uses a heavy free-floating barrel instead of a bull barrel, and it is a 16” barrel. The Panther LR308C is similar in many ways to the LR308 T 16 H-BAR, in that it is basically a long-range carbine variant of the .308 Panther, but it is a more militarized weapon able to use standard Panther 10-round magazines as well as 20-round magazines which are compatible with the FAL or AR-10, uses a flash suppressor, a heavy barrel, a flattop upper receiver with a MIL-STD-1913 rail, a dust cover and brass deflector a more snag-free design, a more snag-free design, and a 6-position composite folding stock. The rumor mill says the LR308C is available in automatic form to qualified buyers, but I cannot confirm this.  Nonetheless, I have included automatic stats below.

     The Panther LR300 is a different sort of beast, as it is much heavier than even the LR308, and it fires .300 RSAUM ammunition instead of 7.62mm NATO.  It uses a 20-inch fluted bull barrel, and a skeletonized stock to reduce the weight of the weapon somewhat.  It is otherwise similar to the LR308.

     In mid-2006, DPMS introduced the Panther LR260 rifle with a 24-inch barrel, and later followed it with the Panther LR260H rifle with a 20-inch barrel.  Both of these weapons fire the .260 Remington (6.5-08 A-Square) cartridge, and are based on the Panther LR308.  The LR260 uses a bull barrel which is button-rifled, has a chromed bore, and made of stainless steel.  Finish is primarily in various shades of matte black, and the LR260 has sling swivels as standard; the forward sling swivel can used as a bipod mount.  The top of the receiver has a MIL-STD-1913 rail, and the gas block also have very short rails of this sort suitable for use with tactical lights, laser aiming modules, bayonet mounts, and suchlike.  There are no iron sights.  The LR260H is virtually identical except for its somewhat lighter 20-inch barrel which is tipped with a DPMS-designed flash suppressor.  Both feed from proprietary magazines which are made of steel.

     The Sportical is sort of a version of the LR308C which is made over into a sport version.  This version has a MIL-STD-1913 rail atop the receiver, and in general has DPMS Panther’s quality of construction.  No iron sights are offered with the standard Sportical, as it is meant to be used with add-on optics. (the rails above the receiver and gas block can mount add-on iron sights if desired.)  The 16-inch barrel has an A-2-type flash suppressor.  Parts are phosphated and plated. The upper receiver has no shell deflector or a forward assist.  Both the upper and lower receivers are of aluminum alloy, with the upper receiver being of 6066-T6 aluminum billet and the lower being of 6061-T6 aluminum billet.  The receivers are hard-coat anodized.  The stock is a 6-position Pardus stock.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: The LR308C is not available in the Twilight 2000 timeline, nor are the two LR260 rifles or the Sportical.

DPMS GII

     Notes: This carbine was designed to produce a lightweight counterpart to the Panther 7.62mm series.  They are quite popular with US Police forces. There are many weight-saving features, such as the skeletonized MagPul MOE sliding 6-position stock, forged receiver halves which are lighter yet stronger than standard for an M-4-type rifle, An MOE hollow pistol grip which can also be used as a compartment to store various items, reduced overall length, width, and height of the receiver, reduced-mass bolt carrier, and 5.56mm-sized handguards.  Other features include a battery compartment in the stock, an enlarged ejection port, a beveled magazine well, an ambidextrous magazine release, a steel feed ramp, and MIL-STD-1913 rails above the receiver and on all sides of the handguards. The ejector uses a long-lasting elastomer ejection spring, and it has duel ejectors.  The 16-inch barrel has a military profile and a steel feed ramp; the bore is chromed, while the barrel extension and ramp are Teflon-coated; the barrel is tipped by a Cancellation compact muzzle brake. The gas tube is enlarged to prevent fouling and to increase the gas available to the system. The trigger guard is enlarged for use with gloves. The receiver halves are anodized and Teflon-coated.

     The GII AP4 is the lightest version of the series, with a light-profile barrel.  It uses an M-4-style stock rather than a MagPul MOE.  It comes with MagPul Gen2 rear BUIS with a standard M-4-type front sight riser and post. It uses standard M-4-type handguards made by Glacier. The GII MOE is basically the same as described in the previous paragraph, except that the handguards are MOE Carbine-Length handguards with air slots on all four sides and no MIL-STD-1913 rails on them.  They are rather large and blocky.

     The GII Recon is also almost exactly what is described above, but the barrel is stainless steel, heavy profile, and equipped with a flash suppressor instead of a muzzle brake.  The flash suppressor is equipped with threads so that is may be exchanged for other muzzle devices. It’s heavier than the AP4 and MOE.

     The GII SASS is designed to be a designated marksman’s rifle, and has an 18-inch bull fluted barrel made of stainless steel and tipped with a Panther Flash Suppressor.  The stock is a MagPul PRS stock, with an adjustable cheekpiece, adjustable LOP, and a recoil pad, but not sliding or otherwise adjustable in that manner. The pistol grip is a Panther Tactical Grip and has a hand stop. It is equipped with rails as above and a bipod on the bottom and a low-magnification scope on top. The railed handguard is a free-float tube. It is quite popular with US SWAT teams.

     The GII Hunter is just that – a hunting version of the GII.  It uses a MagPul MOE fixed stock with adjustable LOP, a 20-inch stainless steel medium-profile barrel tipped by a target crown, and a DPMS Carbon Fiber Free Float Tube.  The trigger is two-stage, and the pistol grip is by Hogue. The handguards are DPMS aluminum free-float handguards which have no rails. It has a fixed A2-type stock.

     The GII Bull is designed for benchrest competitions and has a 24-inch stainless steel bull barrel with a target crown. Rails are only above the receiver and on top of the low-profile gas block.

DSA SA58

     Notes: This is basically an American-made FAL, modified for civilian use.  They range from almost-exact copies of real FN-made FALs (except for a semiautomatic sear) to versions with folding stocks, short barrels, or modified for some of more extreme antigun laws (such as California).  The standard SA58 looks just like a standard FAL, but is modified for semiautomatic fire only.  The upper receiver is of blackened steel (though stainless steel is an option, and looks sharp), and the lower receiver is of blackened aircraft aluminum.  The barrel is equipped with an FN-style flash suppressor, and the barrel has an attachment point for a bipod.  (There is, of course, no attachment point for a bayonet.)  The stock, handguard, and pistol grip are of reinforced fiberglass.  Like most military rifles, the rear sight is adjustable for windage and the front post for elevation.  Options for the SA58 Standard include a handguard, pistol grip, and stock of walnut, a scope mount, a rubber recoil pad, a bipod, and a match-grade set trigger.  The SA58 Carbine is similar, but the barrel is either 16.25 or 18 inches, as opposed to the standard SA58’s 21 inches.  Also similar is the SA58 Medium Contour, but the barrel is somewhat heavier (and called a medium contour barrel, hence the name).  The SA58 Bull Barrel has a heavy bull barrel for more accuracy and resistance to heat deformation, and the barrel is match-grade and free-floating.  The pistol grip is the same style as that of the Minimi SAW instead of the standard FAL-type pistol grip.  A MIL-STD-1913 rail is standard with the SA58 Bull Barrel. 

     The SA58 Predator is a civilian hunting variant of the SA58, with no flash suppressor, a 16 or 19-inch medium contour barrel, green synthetic furniture, a MIL-STD-1913 rail for scope mounting, with backup iron sights, smaller magazines, and three choices of caliber.  The SA58 Graywolf is a modification of the Predator, finished in gray and black, with round ventilated handguards, a 21-inch match-grade bull barrel, a Minimi-style pistol grip, a Harris bipod, and a skeletonized stock.

     The SA58 Collector’s Series are rifles designed to look and function as much as possible the more unusual military FALs of the past.  The SA58 Congo is finished in black, with standard FAL-type furniture, and a standard 18-inch barrel. The barrel is equipped to accept a bipod.  Being actually a civilian rifle, it is not able to take a bayonet.  The SA58 Para Congo is the same weapon, but is equipped with a folding stock.  The G1 FAL is a copy of the original German post-war battle rifle (the G1, a German-made copy of the FAL), and has a 21-inch barrel, a wooden stock, a long flash suppressor (as opposed to the short Belgian-style flash suppressor), a black finish for all surfaces except the stock, a folding bipod, and even markings in German instead of English.  In addition, the lower receiver is of steel instead of aluminum, as per the original G1 version of the FAL.  The SA58 T-48 is an unusual version with a fixed magazines which is fed by stripper clips from the top, a walnut stock, pistol grip, and handguards, a 21-inch barrel, a long flash suppressor, and a black finish for the metalwork. 

     The Tactical Series is a line of SA58s designed for police, military, and government agency use.  They may be had in selective fire or semiautomatic versions, and typically have features not meant or legally available to the general public.  The SA58 Tactical Carbine  (also known as the SA58TAC) has a 16.25-inch fluted medium-contour barrel with an M16-type flash suppressor, a MIL-STD-1913 rail above the upper receiver, a shortened gas system for increased reliability, a standard or skeletonized stock, and synthetic furniture, with the entire carbine having a black finish.  The Limited Edition Tactical Carbine is similar, but is meant more for collectors who are legally allowed to possess such weapons; the receivers and the barrel are of stainless steel, with a medium-gray finish to the metalwork and furniture.  This version uses a short muzzle brake instead of a flash suppressor.  The SA58 OSW uses a very short 11 or 13-inch barrel with an M16-type flash suppressor, a MIL-STD-1913 rail atop the weapon, four-position MIL-STD-1913 rails on the handguard, a standard or folding stock, and a Minimi-type pistol grip. 

     The SA58 SPR is a member of the Tactical Series was originally designed in response to the US Army’s SASS competition; though it lost that competition, it is still offered for sale by DSA.  The SPR has a fully-adjustable gas system to allow the SPR to get the most out of the rifle regardless of what ammunition is used or the dirt conditions.  The 19-inch heavy 19-inch barrel is match-quality and fluted to reduce weight and increase cooling, and tipped by a flash suppressor.  The Speed Trigger is designed for easy adjustment (by an armorer), quick follow-up shots, and smooth action.  The SPR has four-point MIL-STD-1913 rails, with the upper rail being continuous with the MIL-STD-1913 rail atop the receiver.  The SPR has flip-up iron sights front and rear.  The stock not only folds to the right, but is adjustable for length of pull and has an adjustable cheekpiece.  The buttplate is also adjustable for angle and has a recoil pad.  The pistol grip of the SPR is the same as used on the M-249 SAW rather than a standard SA58 or FAL pistol grip.  The SPR is a sniper rifle, but is included here for completeness.

     Another sniper rifle included here for completeness is the DMR (Designated Marksmanship Rifle). It is in many ways an SPR with less features; the accent is on tactical sniping and for designated marksmanship, and for use by the spotter of a sniper team.  The 16.25-inch heavy barrel is tipped with a muzzle brake that doubles as a standoff device.  The barrel is fluted, and is fluted with a tighter twist to allow it to properly stabilize heavier bullets, as the muzzle device is removable on threads and can be replaced with a silencer.  The handguard used is a Vltor CAS-V Short Rail MIL-STD-1813 rail handguard; the rifle comes with a bipod adjustable for height and cant under the lower rail.  The bipod is quick-detachable. The sides of the handguard can also be fitted with rails, but are not normally equipped with them.  The rear iron sight is adjustable for windage and elevation, though of course a telescopic sight is standard.  The stock is not adjustable per se, but is adjustable to a limited extent for LOP.A recoil pad is included.

     The SA58 Target Series is designed, as the name would indicate, for target and precision shooting.  Barrels are heavy and match-quality; the stocks are synthetic and the butt has a recoil pad. They are designed for precision shooting and hunting, and are optimized for this role. They have traditional-profile FAL stocks, and handguards, though they have a MIL-STD-1913 rail above the receiver.  Three models exist: The Target, which has a 21-inch barrel tipped by a target crown; the Predator, which has a 16 or 19-inch barrel tipped by a target crown; and the Pistol, which has a  8-inch barrel tipped by an A2 flash suppressor, synthetic handguards with a free float tube. It is stockless.

     DSA also makes some standard FAL clones, of the Standard, Carbine, and Medium Contour.  I refer you to the Belgian Battle Rifles’ FAL entry for these rifles.

     There are also “California” models of almost all these weapons (except the Tactical Series and the G1 FAL); these have no flash suppressor of any kind, no bipod lugs, no carrying handles, and are limited to special 10-round magazines; they are otherwise identical to their parent models.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: Most of these rifles are available in the Twilight 2000 timeline; however, the “California” models are not.