USMC Awards Infantry Automatic Rifle Contract to HK

Heckler & Koch

Las Vegas, NV --(Ammoland.com)- Heckler & Koch was awarded a competitive contract to produce the U.S. Marine Corps’ new Infantry Automatic Rifle (IAR).

The formal “Full Rate Production” announcement by the Marines caps a competition that began more than three years ago.

Designated the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, the lightweight, 11.62 pounds weapon with ancillary equipment, is a variant of the highly successful Heckler & Koch HK416 used by military, law enforcement, and special operations units in the U.S. and throughout the world.

The M27 IAR replaces the heavier, M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) which has been used by the Marines in Infantry Squads since the mid-1980s in the automatic rifle role. Both weapons fire the 5.56 mm NATO cartridge.

The five-year, indefinite delivery, indefinite quantity contract calls for possible delivery orders up to $23,600,000 for the production, delivery, and associated support of the Marines’ Infantry Automatic Rifle program.

The Marine Corps approved the full rate production and fielding of the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle during the summer of 2011. There will be one M27 IAR per four-man fire team, with three M27 IARs per squad, 28 per company and more than 4,000 across the entire Marine Corps.

“After a rigorous testing process, both in garrison and deployed environments, and in-depth consultation with weapons experts through the Corps, the commandant approved the fielding of the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle,” said Marine spokesman Major Joseph Plenzler in a press statement in June.

“The fielding of the IAR will significantly enhance the ability of our infantrymen to gain and maintain fire superiority, reduce their fighting load and provide them a more ergonomic and accurate weapons system that can keep up during the assault.”

“Winning the Marine’s IAR competition is another milestone for our HK416,” said Wayne Weber, President of Heckler & Koch USA.

“Developed at no cost to the U.S. taxpayer and with U.S. military input in the aftermath of the September 11th attacks on America, the HK416 competed against-and beat many worthy challengers. This contract award is a direct testament to the superior performance of the HK416 and it is an honor for Heckler & Koch to equip the Marines with such a fine rifle.”

Heckler & Koch M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle

About:
Heckler & Koch is the world’s premier small arms systems company and a major supplier to global military, law enforcement agencies, and civilian shooters. An international company with a manufacturing presence in Germany and the USA, Heckler & Koch is a transformative leader in design and manufacturing. Heckler & Koch provides technologically advanced firearms, logistical support, training, and specialized services with the highest standards of innovation and reliability to its customer base. Heckler & Koch’s well-known range of products include the USP series pistols, MP5 submachine gun, the MP7 Personal Defense Weapon, the G36 weapon system, HK416 rifles and carbines, and the recently introduced HK45 and P30 series pistols. US WEBSITE: www.hk-usa.com

Leupold Tactical 728 Mark 8 1.1-8X24mm CQBSS Riflescopes

Leupold Tactical Optics

BEAVERTON, Ore. --(Ammoland.com)- Leupold’s Tactical Optics Division has won a contract with the United States Marine Corps (USMC) to supply 728 Mark 8 1.1-8x24mm CQBSS riflescopes for use with M2 heavy machine guns and MK19 grenade machine guns.

The sight will carry the M521 designation.

Ordered to meet the need of Afghanistan-based Marine units for a Heavy Day Optic, the Mark 8 CQBSS scopes will be employed to support combat operations. A key feature of the scope is Leupold’s new Marine-Tactical Milling Reticle (M-TMR), which is designed to allow successful range estimation and target engagement with more flexibility than generally possible with other reticle styles.

The M-TMR’s “staircased” configuration preserves the instinctive-fire capabilities on low magnification while allowing precise range estimation at any power setting.

“The Marine Corps’ innovative employment of this new technology will bring enhanced lethality to two combat-proven systems, the M2 and MK19 heavy machine guns,” said Kevin Trepa, vice president of Leupold’s Tactical Division. “We will continue working hard to deliver the new tools that our warfighters need to succeed on the battlefield.”

The Mark 8 CQBSS has a state-of-the-art lens system providing operators with the capability of an 8-power precision riflescope in one rugged, field-proven unit. The 34mm maintube features a fully checkered ocular bell for making quick magnification adjustments even while wearing gloves.

A front focal plane reticle, the M-TMR is accurate at all magnification settings. Eight illumination settings allow for optimum contrast with or without night vision. An off position between each intensity setting makes returning to the preferred setting nearly immediate.

In addition, the Mark 8 CQBSS has Auto-Locking Pinch and Turn turrets with 0.10 mil clicks that are extremely easy to adjust, yet eliminate accidental adjustment in the field. Leupold’s Index Matched Lens System with DiamondCoat 2™ helps enhance optical performance by providing increased light transmission and scratch resistance that exceeds mil-specs.

Mark 8 CQBSS riflescopes have a matte black finish and are filled with an argon/krypton gas blend, making them second-generation waterproof, fog proof and shock proof. Flip-open lens covers and a 2.5″ sun shade are standard issue.

Leupold Tactical Optics undergo arduous environmental and impact testing to ensure they meet the highest quality standards for durability and dependability. Leupold Tactical Optics are backed by the company’s long history of customer-satisfaction warranties. For warranty information on specific products, call 1-800-LEUPOLD (Option 4) or e-mail tacticaloptics@leupold.com. For additional product information, go to www.leupold.com.

Supported by a team of dedicated engineers, the Leupold Tactical Optics staff works with American warfighters, law enforcement personnel, and competitive shooters to design and build products that meet their needs. Currently, more long-range Leupold Tactical Optics are in service with the U.S. military than any other brand.

Leupold & Stevens, Inc., the preeminent American-owned and -operated optics company, employs more than 700 people in its state-of-the-art facility near Beaverton, Ore., where Mark 4 and Golden Ring optics are designed, machined and assembled. Leupold & Stevens, Inc. is a fifth-generation, family owned company. The product line includes rifle, handgun and spotting scopes; binoculars; rangefinders; trail cameras; flashlights; mounting systems; and optical tools and accessories.

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA --(AmmoLand.com)- Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Carl G. Roe today announced that the agency is again participating in the U.S. Marine Corps Reserves’ “Toys for Tots” program by opening the doors of the Game Commission’s Harrisburg headquarters to serve as a drop-off collection site.

The Game Commission’s office is at 2001 Elmerton Avenue in Susquehanna Township, just off of Progress Avenue. (For those using mapping devices, the mailing address is Harrisburg, PA 17110-9797.) Donations will be accepted until noon on Friday, Dec. 11, at which time all items will be taken to the USMC’s central collection facility for distribution to area children.

“The Pennsylvania Game Commission, past and present, has had many men and women serve in the United States armed forces, including the U.S. Marine Corps,” Roe said. “It is in their honor that we have decided to serve as a collection site for the Toys for Tots program.”

“We recognize at this time of year, it is important to share with those in need.

“Much like our hunters support programs to help feed their fellow Pennsylvanians through the Hunters Sharing the Harvest, we want to support a program that has been around for 60 years to make sure that disadvantaged children are not forgotten at Christmas time.

“And, as we will see hundreds of hunters come through our doors to purchase their licenses prior to the bear and deer seasons, we encourage them to consider bringing a toy to donate to deserving children.

“We also are surrounded by many other state agencies and private business along Elmerton Avenue and surrounding roads. We welcome them to stop by and drop off their donation.”

In addition to serving as a collection point for the program, for the third year, Roe announced that the agency was donating stuff black bears to the Toys for Tots program.

“Each of these 50 stuffed animals has a small tag with a bit of information about our black bears,” Roe said. “The black bear is just one of the more than 460 species of wild mammals and birds that the Pennsylvania Game Commission is responsible for managing. We hope that these stuffed animals will provide those who receive them some joy this season, as well as help them learn about this important part of Pennsylvania’s wildlife community.”

2009 USMC and Air Force JROTC Service Championships Now Live on Internet

2009 USMC and Air Force JROTC Service Championships

Camp Perry, Ohio – -(AmmoLand.com)- The 2009 USMC and Air Force Junior ROTC Air Rifle Championships kicked off this morning at the Camp Perry, Ohio, Marksmanship Center. As in the Army JROTC Championship last weekend, not only the scores, but also live target images for the shooters in this competition are being displayed on the Internet. Now, you can be a target shooting spectator wherever you are by watching on your own computer.

126 individual high school age Cadets representing 16 different schools from the Continental USA and Alaska are competing in the National USMC and Air Force JROTC Championships. Competi­tion today takes place between 12:30 AM and 5:30 PM, EST. The two days of competition will continue tomorrow be­tween 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM, EST. Indi­vidual finals take place tomorrow, start­ing at 3:30 PM, EST.

If you want to see how these young marksmen and markswomen are If you want to see how these young marksmen and markswomen are doing, go to the CMP website at http://odcmp.com. Click on “USMC and Air Force JROTC Air Rifle Championship Results” at the top center of the page. Open the results lists shown at the bottom of the page to see cur­rent individual and team rankings schools the competitors represent. In­complete scores are live and continually updated until a day’s course of fire is completed. The names of each of the competitors who are currently shooting are shown in red at the top of the page. Click on a name and an image of that shooter’s current target will appear. You can open images for each of the shooters whose targets you want to watch. If the targets are temporarily blank, that means they are in between 20-shot competition series. If a white triangle appears in the upper right-hand corner of the target image, that shooter is firing in “sighter” or practice mode. The trian­gle disappears when they begin record firing. Two relays of competitors will fire each day so the lists of competitors and their rankings will change throughout both days.

To appreciate the tremendous skills of these young competitors, you must know that to score a ten, the shot fired with a .177 caliber air rifle at a distance of 10 meters (33 feet) must hit the tiny dot in the center of the target. That 10-dot is on one-half millimeter in diameter.

Find the names of some of the leaders on the results lists and check their targets to see some very impressive marksmanship. The best way to find out who the leaders are is to click on “Sporter or Precision Class Leader­board” at the bottom of the list of competitor names. The CMP hopes many of you will take advantage of this unique and pioneering opportunity to see how an exciting target competition among many of the best junior shooters in the country unfolds.

To see this competition live on your computer, go to the CMP website at http://odcmp.com. Click on “USMC and Air Force JROTC Championship Results” at the top center of the page.