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« A First Amendment issue | Main | NYPD police gun discharge study »

Military gets new sniper equipment, techniques

Posted by David Hardy · 25 October 2008 02:14 PM

Story here. I find it interesting that all the equipment is civilian invention and manufacture. That may not seem unusual today, but it wasn't but a few wars ago that everyone carried government-designed rifles made in government arsenals (come to think of it, the one civilian made component was the scope sights, issued in small quantities), and firing government-made ammo.

Hat tip to George Mason 1776...

UPDATE: during wars, it was common to farm out gun manufacture to private companies, because the gov't arsenals couldn't keep up, and private industry came in to make arsenal-designed guns. I think the pivotal thing is that private industry has come out with a bunch of devices useful to shooters, which also happen to be useful to military snipers, whereas the military itself ignored that area. Better variable power scopes, rangefinders, backpacks, hydration rigs, etc.

I hope the military is looking into what we saw on the tour of Blackhawk Product Group's HQ. Camo uniforms with two tourniquets built into each sleeve and pants leg.

UPDATE: Blackhawk doesn't sell to civilians? I think you've got the wrong Blackhawk. I'm looking at their catalog right now. Their webpage lets you order online. And I've been to their brick-and-mortar store, open to anyone who walks in.

· shooting

8 Comments | Leave a comment

Alan A. | October 25, 2008 5:38 PM | Reply

Another reason the 2A is a pertinent today as 200 years ago.

Cross-polination of equipment, bullets, techniques, etc. between the military and civilian shooters has become a force multiplier! I don't think this is getting as much press as it deserves. We should do more along the lines of this post and article to get out the message!

Gregg | October 26, 2008 12:47 AM | Reply

Which war, or police action, are you refering to? Prior to WWII there was a significant amount of civilian mfg small arms in most of the conflicts. I am unsure of the support for the banana republics, and the Spanish American outside the Caribbean.

WWII, as far as I know IBM is not, and never was, a gov't arsenal though they made their share of rifles.

Korea, you are likely correct, though this was fought with many weapons originally made for WWII.

Vietnam, weren't the Leatherwood scopes of civilian mfg? Also, I probably ought to look over Hathcock's book again, but I seem to recall mention of the use of civilian rifles for sniping, though I could me mistaken.

Dave Dudley | October 26, 2008 8:21 AM | Reply

...John George ( Americal Division, Guadalcanal, WWII ) carried a model 70, then an M1 carbine, all 6 million of which were produced in civilian shops...Winchester, Inland ( GM ) , IBM, etc.
..Machine guns were also made by private contractors; Buffalo arms, Border cities, Ramo, Colt, Savage and others. H&R made Garands, Colt made the AR-15 and M16, Auto Ordnace, Guide Lamp division of GM, Standard of Port Clinton, Ohio, all made arms for the Goobermint. Hathcock carried a Model 70 Winchester with a Redfield scope.
...I think you are mistaken to say that " everyone carried government-designed rifles made in government arsenals ". Not true in any of our wars.

Jim W | October 26, 2008 12:05 PM | Reply

Blackhawk refuses to sell to civilians, fuck them.

Joe Huffman | October 26, 2008 5:16 PM | Reply

They won't sell body armor to private citizens. Maybe there are other things they restrict as well.

Tim Weaver | October 26, 2008 11:20 PM | Reply

The only thing Blackhawk sells that they do not sell to civilians is body armor. Automatic knives are sort of case-by-case depending on the dealer and the state.

Tim Weaver
Practical Tactical, LLC
Glendale, AZ

straightarrow | October 27, 2008 9:23 PM | Reply

In some states it is illegal for a non-LEO to possess body armor. Or, at least, it used to be. It has been a long time since I discovered that fact in one of the many places I have lived and it may have changed over the last 3 decades.

N.U.G.U.N. | October 29, 2008 7:34 AM | Reply

Good news, just read that certain Navy SEAL units are now utilizing the Blackhawk trousers in an experimental capacity.

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/29/navy_seals_tourniquet_trousers/

If these work as they might, it'll be interesting to see what effect it will have on our main fighting army units in saving lives.

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