In the latest tactical shooting sports news...
The French Army has adoped the Glock G17 Gen5 as its new standard handgun, along with multiple accessories, to replace its decades-old sidearm.
Glock announced the news after the 3-year contract was awarded by the French Armament General Directorate (Direction générale de l’armement - DGA). Glock will equip the entire French Army with its new G17 Gen5, which has a coyote frame with a black slide and front serrations, luminescent U-shaped sights and extended slide lock.
The contract includes more than 75,000 pistols, holsters, magazine pouches, suppressors, several types of ammunition and protective cases. The offered pistols underwent stringent testing by the French STAT (Section Technique de l’Armée de Terre) under the supervision of the DGA, to make sure the selected pistols and holsters fit their high standard military requirements due to the high operational employment of the French forces.
The tender was launched in early March 2019. The tryouts were composed of a series of stringent tests to assess both the reliability and user friendliness of the offered pistols and accessories, in particular with a minimum expected lifetime of 26,350 rounds.
“This award follows several Armies in Europe and throughout the World," said Richard Flür, International Sales Director at GLOCK. "The importance of the program is underlined by the fact that it will equip all French troops both regular but also special operations with GLOCK pistols. We are very proud and honored to deliver our high-quality Safe Action pistols, as well as excellent and reliable accessories to the French military.”
The first G17 Gen5 pistols and accessories are to be distributed to the French troops within the first months of 2020.
Sig Sauer Ammunition Selected by U.S. Army
Sig Sauer Ammunition has been selected by the U.S. Army Contracting Command for a $10 million firm-fixed priced contract to manufacture the MK 248 MOD 1 and MOD 0 .300 Win Mag ammunition for use in U.S. Military sniper platforms.
“This award by the U.S. Army is validation of our state-of-the-art manufacturing that has resulted in the highest quality, and most precise, ammunition delivering on target accuracy for snipers in the field,” said Ron Cohen, President and CEO, Sig Sauer.
The U.S. Military sniper.300 Win Mag ammunition will be manufactured at Sig Sauer's ammunition manufacturing facility in Jacksonville, Arkansas.
“This is a very exciting development for SIG SAUER, and for the rapidly growing SIG SAUER ammunition division, and we are honored to be recognized by the U.S. Army,” Cohen added.
Geissele Automatics, Barrett Firearms Agree to Deals
Geissele Automatics has acquired the 240LW and 240LWS machine gun technical data package and intellectual property from Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, and entered into a technical support agreement with Barrett for both.
The 240LW and 240LWS are lighter, more robust versions of the medium machine guns fielded by U.S. and allied forces around the world. The design uses a patented two-piece construction process that simplifies and solidifies the forged receiver without resorting to exotic materials or having to rely on rivets that can loosen.
“The Barrett team has taken the good performing, but dated, M240 weapon system and made it into a machine gun for the 21st century," said Bill Geissele, President and Founder of Geissele Automatics. "The 240LW/LWS is improved in every performance aspect: it’s lighter, more reliable, easier to load, easier to maintain, more ergonomic and more controllable. With the addition of Geissele’s forged long life barrels and NanoWeapon (Picatinny DSL) coating we look forward to providing the U.S. warfighter and our allies with 240LW/LWS machine guns.”
Since 2007 Geissele has been serving the U.S. Special Operations community and SOF units world-wide with high performance weapon systems and components. Geissele is also proud to provide these same products to our law enforcement officers and civilian shooters.
“Barrett is the leader in large caliber, long range precision rifles for the most demanding shooters on earth," said Sam Shallenberger, President of Barrett. "Barrett .50 caliber systems have been adopted by the U.S. Military as the US Rifle M107, and the Barrett MRAD has recently been adopted by USSOCOM as the Mark 22. After working with Geissele on other projects for several years, we are confident they are the right organization to maximize the potential of this latest Barrett firearms design.
Barrett is a family-owned and operated company and a leader in large-caliber, long-distance, precision rifle design and manufacturing. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military and more than 73 State Department approved countries around the world.
Trijicon Expands AccuPoint Riflescope Series
Trijicon has expanded its AccuPoint riflescope series with new models in the series allowing shooters and hunters extend their range in any light - without the need for batteries. New offerings include
3-18x50, 4-16x50, 4-24x50 and 5-20x50 options.
Built with the same military-grade construction and premium glass that has earned Trijicon a world-class reputation, the AccuPoint series now features nine different variable power models with a wide array of intuitive second focal plane reticles to choose from. The new AccuPoint models are available in a variety of the most popular reticles, such as BAC Triangle Post and Standard Duplex, as well as the brand new MOA and MRAD Ranging reticles.
The new models feature exposed elevation adjusters with zero stop, enhanced reticles with finer subtensions, increased windage and elevation adjustment range, and re-positionable magnification levers. Users have a choice of either a matte finish with tactical knurling or an all-new satin finish for a more refined aesthetic.
Heckler & Koch Upgrades VP9 Pistol
Heckler & Koch has made several updates to its popular VP9 pistol while retaining existing features users appreciate.
- New sight configuration, which includes a high-visibility front sight and a “clean” black serrated rear.
- Updated 17-round, flush-fit magazines.
- Optics-ready cut for mini reflex sight. Sold with cap installed. Adapter plates are sold separately and are available from the HK web store.
“While the VP is easily the most successful pistol in the history of HK, we are still very committed to making it even better” HK-USA COO/CSO Mike Holley said. “From a business perspective, these improvements will certainly help the VP perform even better in the marketplace. But more importantly, they will make the VP pistols, and even those who shoot them, perform better in the field too.”
The VP’s short, crisp trigger is one of the best out-of-the-box striker-fired triggers available. Additionally, the adaptable grip frame allows shooters to interchange both backstraps and side grip panels in 27 unique configurations for a custom fit.
