Barrett M468 Carbine

     Notes: This modification of the M16/M4 series was designed specifically for use by US special operations forces.  The weapon was initially tested in very limited quantities in Afghanistan starting in 2002, and some are also being used in Iraq.  The M468 is essentially a stock M4 or M16 lower receiver with a new upper receiver and barrel designed by Barrett, and firing new ammunition designed by Remington.  The new upper receiver has a bolt carrier group designed for the new cartridge, and the weapon is fed from modified M16-style magazines.  The upper receiver is fitted with a MIL-STD-1913 rail in lieu of a carrying handle, there are four further such rails on the handguard, which is similar to that of the M4 SOPMOD.  Folding iron sights are fitted to allow clear use of optics and accessories. 

     Recently, a version with a short 12.5” barrel and the capability to mount a suppressor has been designed.  This version is primarily aimed at military users (particularly special operations), and a civilian version is not planned, as the barrel is too short for legal civilian sales in the US.  In this version, the muzzle brake is much more beefy, and a sliding stock is standard.

     The model number “468” refers to the year 2004 (the official date of entry into military stocks) and the caliber (6.8mm).  Barrett also produced a semiautomatic version for civilian use, without all the bells and whistles.

     In 2008, Barrett released the REC-7 (Reliability Enhanced Carbine, designed in 2007) carbine.  This is essentially an M468 with the operation changed to use a gas piston system instead of a straight Stoner-type gas impingement system.  More of the key components are of stainless steel, particularly the innards.  The gas regulator is adjustable, allowing for the removal of the flash suppressor and attachment of a silencer.  The iron sights are folding types.  Barrel length is 16 inches with a heavy barrel.  The stock is an M4-type sliding stock. In 2010, Barrett introduced the REC-7 in 5.56mm NATO.  At the same time, the stock for all REC-7s was changed to a Magpul MOE sliding stock, an adjustable gas regulator was added for suppressed fire, and the upper receiver has a MIL-STD-1913 rail as well as four-point rails on the handguards.  The top rail forms a continuous rail, including one above the gas block.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist.

BF1 Vindicator

     Notes: Introduced in 2004, this is a truly weird small-caliber weapon: a belt-fed, rimfire carbine.  It is normally only available in semiautomatic form, but an automatic version is available to Class III dealers or police, military or certain government agencies.  Currently, the stocks are made of laminated walnut, but other stock options are promised for the future.  The BF1 can take clip-on and bolt-on bipods without modification, but a bipod is not provided as standard equipment.  The sights are a proprietary design and consist of a combination of a post rear sight and a front sight called a “spade” (due it’s shape being reminiscent of a spade in a deck of playing cards).  This system helps cut down on target obstruction from the sights themselves.  Current BF1’s are chambered for .22 Long Rifle and .17 Mach 2 Rimfire, but in the future, Eric Graetz (the designer) plans to chamber the weapon for .22 Winchester Magnum Rimfire and .17 Hornady Magnum Rimfire.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist.

BCM Recce-16 KMR-LW

     Notes: BCM (Bravo Company Manufacturing) is well known for its custom versions of ARs and its drop-in upper and lower receivers, but its complete ARs are less well known.  One of these is the Recce-16 KMR-LW, a lightweight version of some of their other ARs.  The rifle is of high-quality; the 16-inch barrel is made of 1159E Certified steel, inside a KMR-Alpha 13 free-float handguard, and tipped by a compact muzzle brake.  The barrel profile is described as “enhanced light weight,” about like a medium-weight barrel in game terms.  The Recce-16 uses an M4 feed ramp barrel extension, and the bore and chamber are chromed. The barrel finish is Manganese Phosphate.  The bolt is an HPT (High Pressure Tested) bolt, which is also MPI (Magnetic Particle Inspected), and shot-peened. The bolt carrier and gas key are chromed.  The extractor is of tool steel and has an insert to ensure positive extraction.  The receiver halves are of standard M4-type aluminum alloy, hardcoat anodized. The buffer and spring are a standard M4 assembly, except that one of the weights in the buffer tube is of tungsten instead of steel. The Recce-16 has a match-quality trigger and an M4-type sliding stock. Atop the receiver and handguard is a long length of Picatinny rail.

     An automatic version is included below for general interest, though the actual Recce-16 is semiautomatic-only.

Blackheart International AK Civilianized Rifles

     Shooters in the US and the West will believe the builder of these rifles is Blackheart International; however, they are merely the importers and assemblers, and the most of the parts kits are made in Romania from AK-63 and AK-86 bases, though the Romanian parts are actually new-manufacture parts. (The forged bolt carrier and stainless steel gas piston are made by US Hammer in the US.)  They basically have enough US psts (and some others have more American parts) to satisfy US BATF regulations. It was therefore a tough call whether to put them under US Assault Rifles or Romanian Assault Rifles. They are also known as SAAKs, (SemiAutomatic AKs).

     The BFV762-101 is basically a copy of the AKM-63, without the full-auto parts, and modifications to make unlikely that a gunsmith will be able to convert it to automatic fire.  The handguards are of wood, and they enclose and aluminum heat shield.  It does not have the foregrip of the AKM-63.  The pistol grip is polymer, and the stock is a side-folding strut-type stock.  The receiver is stamped steel.  The 16.25-inch barrel has an AK-47-type muzzle, and overall finish is Parkerized matte black.  Magazines sold with the BFV762-101 are polymer.

     The BFV762-B10A is essentially the BFV762-101 with polymer-furniture, including a mostly-polymer M4-type Phoenix Kick-Lite stock, with further Phoenix pistol grip and handguards.  The recoil spring is by Wolff. The barrel is also 16.25 inches and made of 4150 steel, but is also chrome-lined. It has a bayonet lug and short sections of MIL-STD-1913 rail on either side of the end and bottom of the handguards, for small accessories such as lasers, small flashlights, bipods, etc.  The stock has a recoil pad on the butt.  The BFV762-B10B is essentially the same, except for an AK-74-type stock that is hollow and can be used to store a variety of items.

     The BFW762-B10W   is a more basic, AK-like version of the BFW762, having beechwood handguards, a beechwood stock, an AK-shaped polymer pistol grip, and no unnecessary accouterments.  It is a semiautomatic variant of the AK-86 Romanian assault rifle.  It does, however, use a light alloy steel receiver.

Bushmaster Carbon-15

     Notes: This has been described as an improvement over the original Carbon-15 by Professional Ordnance.  (Bushmaster acquired the Carbon-15 after Professional Ordnance declared bankruptcy in 2002.)  It is, in appearance and operation, quite different from the AR-15, from the lightened stock to the “miniaturized” bolt carrier group.  The biggest difference is the use of light carbon-fiber construction in the new stock, handguards, and even the upper and lower receiver housings.  The bolt carrier group is much shorter than the standard AR-15 bolt carrier group due to the deletion of the forward assist; it is felt by Bushmaster that its Carbon-15 design, together with improvements in ammunition, make the forward assist unnecessary.  The selector controls are ambidextrous.  The Carbon-15 uses a flattop receiver; a MIL-STD-1913 rail extends from the rear of the upper receiver to the end of the handguards.  The barrel is heavy, but made of lighter alloys and is fluted, further driving down the weight without compromising accuracy.  The Carbon-15 has a new muzzle brake that is extremely effective, actually driving the barrel down when firing.  At present, the Carbon-15 is available only in a semiautomatic version, but an automatic version is contemplated for the future for law enforcement and military use.

     A post-ban variant of the Carbon-15, the C-15M4 (Carbon-15 Model 4) is an M4-style Carbon-15 which still has the carbon-fiber upper and lower receiver and handguards, but there is also a partially-synthetic collapsible stock.  The barrel is similar to that of the standard Carbon-15, but is not fluted.  Unlike the Carbon-15, the C-15M4 will accept standard M16/AR-15/M4 parts.  The C-15M4 uses standard AR-15/M16/M4 magazines; automatic versions are sold only to military or law enforcement concerns. Another post-ban variant of the Carbon-15 is the Carbon-15 in 9mm Parabellum; this version is basically a C-15M4 rechambered for 9mm, with appropriate changes in the sights.  Though technically a submachinegun instead of an assault rifle, it is included here for completeness.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist.

Bushmaster Minimalist-SD

     Notes: The Minimalist-SD is a new for 2017 compact and lightweight version of the AR-15.  It accomplishments by carefully-placed lightening cuts and a carbon-fiber lower receiver, pistol grip, and handguards.  It also has a chrome-moly-steel barrel tipped by an AAC 51T flash suppressor. The upper receiver is an AR-15A3’s flattop receiver, complete with a full length Picatinny Rail, and M-LOK holes down the other sides of the six-sided handguards.  The stock is the lightweight Mission First Tactical with a rounded rubber buttpad.  The barrel is normally 16 inches, though a version with a 14.5” barrel is made for LE and Military concerns.  The short version is light and handy for assault purposes, and the standard length version is light enough to be carried all day. The Minimalist-SD can take most AR-15-compatible magazines.

Bushmaster M17S

     Notes: This weapon was originally designed in Australia by a company named Edenpine, and meant for sale on the civilian market.  Edenpine realized that Australia’s rather restrictive civilian firearms laws would severely limit its sales in that country; therefore, Edenpine reached an agreement that Bushmaster would build and sell the M17S under the Bushmaster name, with Edenpine receiving royalties from each sale as well as money from the licensing of the design. 

     The M17S is basically a bullpup version of the AR-18 in a semiautomatic version.  The Bushmaster company made no apologies for the fact that it would use any magazine that would fit in the AR-18, AR-15, or M16 series, nor the fact that it could be very easily converted to automatic fire.  The operating parts of the M17S are largely made from stainless or chrome-plated steel, with the upper receiver being made almost entirely of a single aircraft-grade aluminum extrusion and the lower receiver from fiberglass-filled nylon composites.  Because of the bullpup layout, Bushmaster was able to lengthen the barrel to 21.5 inches, giving the M17S greater accuracy than most assault rifles. The M17S has a carrying handle topped with a MIL-STD-1913 rail.  The M17S is specifically meant for use with optical sights or other aiming accessories, but it does have rudimentary backup iron sights.  The M17S is no longer in production, but when it was, it was primarily built as a semiautomatic rifle, with a flash suppressor for police/military use or without one for civilian sales.  (Rumors state that a small number were also built with automatic fire capability, but this is not confirmed.  I have included stats below for automatic fire just in case.) 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: There was some limited military and police use, but this was mostly a weapon used by civilians and militia forces.  Most were found in the US, but some were also found in the UK. 

Bushmaster XM15E2S Dissipator Carbine

     Notes: The Dissipator is a carbine variant of the M16A2 that uses standard-length M16A2 handguards and a front sight placed further forward than most carbine variants of the M16A2.  This means that despite the shorter length, the sight radius is almost identical to the standard M16A2, which allows a little better accuracy.  It also allows better dissipation of heat than a normal M16A2 carbine (hence the name), and means that the Dissipator can mount the M-203 using a standard M16 interface rather than having to have a custom-made interface. 

     Other versions of the Dissipator include the Shorty, which has a fixed stock, the Target Model, which is almost identical to the M16A3 and A4 except for the burst/automatic selector, and semiautomatic-only versions of the weapon for civilian use (these do not have flash suppressors or bayonet lugs, and cost $6 less than their military counterparts).  Other than civilian sales, the only large-scale users of the Dissipator series as of 2002 were the US Department of Energy. 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: As the Twilight War intensified, the US company of Bushmaster became, along with Colt, Armalite, and a few other companies, a major supplier of M16 series weapons to the US military and its allies.  (Some US soldiers were actually equipped with the Dissipator Target Model instead of the M16A3 or A4.)  They did not have much luck with the Dissipator before the war, but as Bushmaster was one of the weapons manufacturers that survived the November Nuclear Strikes, the MilGov asked them to distribute some of their Dissipator Carbines to some of the militia units formed in the aftermath of the nuclear strikes.  MilGov thought the carbine would be especially suited to female militia members, and some of the younger members (some militia members were as young as 12 in some places).  Bushmaster complied and even manufactured a limited extra quantity, hampered only by irregular supplies of raw materials. 

     Merc 2000 Notes: As the Notes, except that the Dissipator is also routinely supplied to CIA-equipped mercenaries.

Bushmaster XM15LE Superlite Carbine

     Notes: This is basically an M16 with a collapsible stock, shorter barrel, and otherwise made as light as possible and still maintain the tactical utility of an M4.  The handguards have 4-way MIL-STD-1913 rails to allow the mounting of as wide a variety of accessories as possible; there is another MIL-STD-1913 rail on top of the receiver, which does not have the usual carrying handle.    There are two versions; the military model, as described, and the civilian model, which is semiautomatic only, has no flash suppressor or bayonet lug, and does not have the special handguards.

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist.

Bushmaster XM15 Varmint Rifle

     Notes: This is a version of Bushmaster’s AR-15 clone optimized for accurate shooting at small targets like squirrels, gophers, rats, field mice – small mammal pests (though some shooters report that it well accurate enough to pick off toads as well, and that it can take down something as large as a small wolf – or possibly put down a human to a point where he won’t want to get up again).  The XM15 Varmint Rifle is also known as the XM15 V-Match Varminter, due to the V-Match handguard and other V-Match parts, or simply the XM15 Varminter. It is equipped with a 24-inch DCM match-quality which is of heavy profile and fluted to save weight.  (An option is a 26-inch barrel.) There is no muzzle device, but the barrel is tipped with a target crown.  It is not threaded, but is free-floating.  The barrel is made of Chrome/Moly/Vanadium steel alloy. The 1:9 rifling is capable of stabilizing most .223 Remington rounds, and most 5.56mm NATO round loads; the Varmint Rifle is capable of firing both .223 and 5.56mm rounds.  The Rock River trigger’s pull is smooth, with only a 4.55-pound pull weight, is a competition two-stage trigger. Atop the receiver is a receiver-length MIL-STD-1913 rail, and these are further topped with very short MIL-STD-1913 rail blocks to raise any BUIS to the level of a standard AR-15 sight line.  In front of the gas block is another short section of rail for a front BUIS.  The stock is a standard A2 stock; the handguards are round, textured, ventilated aluminum handguards.  The pistol grip is rubberized for a positive grip. They have not bayonet lug, or MIL-STD-1913 rails of any king, though the front sling attachment point can also be used as a bipod attachment point.

     The XM15 Stainless Varmint Special, also known as the XM15 Stainless Varminter, is essentially the same rifle, but with a 24-inch stainless steel rifle of otherwise the same quality of the barrel of the Varmint Rifle.  The pistol grip is largely the same, but has a palm swell. (Some shooters, particularly those with smaller hands, find it a bit big.) A light bipod is provided that is adjustable for height and cant, as well as a very short section of MIL-STD-1913 rail as an attachment point, and the sling attachment is moved to behind this attachment point.

     Standard magazines sold with the Varmint Rifle are 5-rounders, but the Varmint Rifle is capable of using other Bushmaster XM15-compliant magazines (which is most AR-15/M16-compatible magazines and drums).  Metal finish is uniformly black, as it the furniture.