F-1 Firearms BDR-15-3G

     Notes: Designed specifically for 3-Gun Competitions, the BDR-15-3G presents an almost skeletonized appearance, with lightening cuts at the end and rear of the handguards, along the receiver, and magazine well and in addition, uses a Magpul MOEopen, adjustable stock.  There is a standard Rifle, but F-1 will customize a customer’s BDR-15-3G in just about any way desired – caliber, color, trigger pack, barrel contour and length, buttstock, optics, and bolt carrier group.  The handguards are F-1’s custom 12.75-inch C7K Contoured Handguard.  The top and underside of the handguard have full-length Picatinny Rails, while below the front lightening cuts are KeyMod points may also be used to attach short lengths of Rail or other accessories. Further KeyMod points are behind the rear handguard lightening cuts. Under the handguard is a heavy profile 16-inch stainless steel barrel tipped with F-1’s Flat Face Compensating Muzzle Brake.  The handguards make the barrel free-floating.  The bolt carrier group is coated with nickel/boron, and is a FailZero bolt carrier which is strong enough to be used in a full-auto rifle (though the BDR-15-3G is a semiautomatic-only rifle).  The charging handle is a further weight-saving AXTS Raptor.  The upper and lover receiver are made from the standard 7075-T6 aluminum of most AR-15-type rifles, but it is Class 2 hard-anodized.  The metalwork has a titanium finish.  The trigger guard is oversized for use with gloves.  The trigger itself is a Hiperfire Hipertouch 24 3G trigger, designed for 3G competition and with a low pull weight of 3.5 pounds, very fast reset, and clean breaks. The magazine well is beveled for quicker loads and reloads.  The pistol grip is a black Magpul MOE grip. The BDR-15-3G does not come with iron sights – it is expected that since sights are so important to a 3G shooter, he will pick his own, and F-1 does sell several choices of open sights. Tolerances are high, and in some crucial places, hand-fitted.

       One defect that has been called out is the stock, the Magpul MOE cannot be positively locked into position, leading to a bit of wobble.  This is acceptable for a standard assault rifle, but not for 3G, and most BDR-15-3G owners do eventually change the stock.

Faxon Firearms ARAK-21

     Notes: The ARAK-21 is sold both in upper form to mount on your lower receiver or in complete rifle form.  For purposes, we will use the complete rifle form.  The ARAK-21 uses a long-stroke piston, unlike the short-stroke pistons found on most piston-driven ARs.  The uppers may have a 12.5-inch barrel with a permanently-attached suppressor, a 16.2-inch barrel, or a 20.2-inch barrel.  The buyer may have a left-hand or right-hand receiver – this is especially important, because the charging handle is in the forward portion of the handguard instead of being at the rear of the receiver.  Left-handed receivers also have reversed ejection ports and controls.  The user may specify a “pencil” barrel, a medium contour barrel, or a heavy barrel, in the 16.2-inch or 20.2-inch barrels.  The barrels are made of re-sulfurized 4140 chrome/moly steel, with a rifle-barrel-quality heat treatment.  The gas block is pinned to the barrel, and is adjustable with three settings.

     The ARAK-21 uses operation inspired by the AK and FAL.  It’s not a normal AR, since the operation is very different.  The upper receiver is built around a modular, monolithic receiver, with a Picatinny Rail atop and below the handguard.  Cooling slots are each side, and are also on the bottom, useful if you remove the lower rail.  The top rail runs from the rear of the receiver to about the middle of the barrel, while the lower rail runs about six inches back from the front of the handguard.  The front of the handguard is clamped to the gas block. The handguard and upper receiver may be colored/finished in black, red, olive, off-white, or blue.  The barrel and lower receiver have a deep black Nitride finish, as do the controls.  The upper is modular, able to change handguards or barrels of different calibers or lengths.  The bolt is designed for use with all calibers offered for the ARAK-21.  The receiver halves are manufactured from aluminum billets, 7075 for the lower and 6061-T6 metal for the upper.  The action is contained completely in the upper receiver, meaning that the ARAK-21 can use folding, sliding, or collapsing stocks as desired.  The charging handle does not reciprocate when firing, so it will not throw off aim or contribute to felt recoil, or pull the barrel to one side or the other.  The charging handle may be folded down when not in use.  The rifle comes with a set of Magpul MBUIS for use if optics are not used.  The stock is also deep black, and is a B5 SOPMOD Bravo collapsible stock with a recoil pad.

Franklin Armory XO-26

     Notes: The XO-26 is sort in a nebulous class of firearms by US law – it is too long to be a pistol, but it lacks many of the features of a short-barreled rifle (SBR), as it has no stock (though there is a padded tube at the rear for the recoil spring and mass to operate), and it has no bayonet stud.  It is not sold with a sling, but has attachment points for several types of sling swivels.  The XO-26 has a flash suppressor, but it is not a standard AR flash suppressor.  Essentially, by US law, The XO-26 is classified as a “non-gun” as well as a “non-pistol;” it goes on an “other” line.  Even more strangely, California does consider it a pistol for purposes of its laws.  The XO-26 is considered too large by the US and California governments to be concealable. (In essence, I put the XO-26 here because I don’t know how to classify it in game terms either.)

     The XO-26 uses a modification of the AR platform, with the same upper and lower receiver as an AR as well as an A2 grip (though it may be white or black).  The barrel is 11.5 inches long, tipped by a notched flash suppressor (or a Ross Schuler muzzle brake on the .450 Bushmaster version), and a folding front sight over the gas block that is otherwise based on an AR front sight.  The rear sight is again folding but otherwise based on the AR sight. Connecting the two sights is a full-length top MIL-STD-1913 rail, above the receiver and continuing down the top of the handguard.  The handguards also have rails on the sides and underneath and the AO-26 is sold with a foregrip.

     The XO-26b is essentially a more streamlined XO-26.  The metal parts are given special hardening and protection against corrosion.  The handguard has only a lower “rail block,” designed primarily to mount a foregrip. Above the gas block is a mounting point for a folding or non-folding front sight assembly.  The upper receiver is topped with a MIL-STD-1913 rail.  No actual sights are sold with the XO-26b version, though the sling attachment points remain.  Chamberings are very limited on the XO-26b, and the XO-26b does have an A2-type flash suppressor.

     In both cases, the barrels are contained in free-float handguards.

Fulton Armory FAR-15

     Notes: The FAR-15 is advertised as being “as close to an M16 as legally possible.”  Depending on the version, it may have a 20-inch or 16-inch barrel, long or short handguards, round or AR-15A1-type handguards, a barrel that has a standard, heavy or government profile, and railed or plain handguards.  FAR-15s are equipped with a plastic Accu-Wedge, with solidifies the joint between the barrel and receiver.

     The FAR-15A2 Service Rifle is basically an AR-15A2, with a fixed stock instead of the sliding stock so common on ARs these days.  It has a 20-inch heavy-profile barrel, fed from a Wylde chamber.  The handguards are round, A2-type handguards, with a standard heat shield.  Operation is by the standard direct gas impingement method.  The end of the handguards has a sling swivel, but also has an FA Power wedge, to which optics or a bipod can be attached (in some cases with an adapter).  The sights are standard A2, with a rear sight adjustable for windage and elevation and a front sight adjustable for elevation.  The stock has a butt trap for a cleaning kit or other items, something I have not seen on most AR-15A2s and M16A2s.  For the most part, this is a standard AR-15A2, built with Fulton Armory parts.  The FAR-15A4 is mostly the same for game purposes, but has a flattop receiver with a MIL-STD-1913 rail atop it.

     The FAR-15 Legacy Rifle is essentially a copy of the AR-15, with largely Milspec parts and no Mil-STD-1913 rails; it has the standard carrying handle atop the receiver.  It looks just like an AR-15.  Internally, it has an HPT/MPT Bolt with an HD extractor spring.  The Bolt Carrier is chromed inside and out, slick-sided, with no forward assist notches or forward assist.  The barrel is 20 inches long, of lightweight profile, and tipped with a three-prong flash suppressor. The handguards are standard AR-15-type; the stock and pistol grip are standard AR-15-type.  The stock has a metal, checkered buttplate. A departure from the AR-15-type rifle is a rear sight adjustable for elevation and windage (Fulton calls this a Power Wedge), and the front sight is also a standard AR-15-type, adjustable for elevation. 

     The Liberator-H comes with an A4-type receiver-top, with a MIL-STD-1913 rail.  The handguard is a Daniel Defense Lite Quad Rail, with full-length rails on top and below and 2/3-length rails on either side from the rear of the handguards.  Rail covers come with the rifle. The chamber is a Wylde chamber.  The gas block is low-profile.  The barrel is 20 inches, is of heavy profile, and tipped with an A2-type flash suppressor.  The stock is checkered metal, with a buttplate door for storage.  The pistol grip is an Ergo Sure Grip.  The trigger is two stage, with the first stage having a 4.5-pound pull weight. The Liberator-H comes with BUIS. The Liberator-L is the same rifle, with a lightweight profile barrel. 

     For game purposes, the Guardian-H is almost identical to the Liberator H, with a slight weight difference and a non-adjustable trigger, as well as slightly longer handguards (the Liberator has 12-inch handguards; the Guardian has 13.5-inch handguards). The barrel is free-floating in addition to being of heavy profile and specially-bedded. The Guardian-L is the same, but uses a lightweight barrel.

     The Predator Varmint Rifle starts with an A4 receiver and stock, but uses a 24-inch bull barrel that is free-floating and specially-bedded, as well as having a target crown.  As with most varmint rifles, it is heavy-barreled, heavy in weight, and very accurate at short to medium ranges.  The handguard is one-piece, round, and made of PVR, with no MIL-STD-1913 rails (though it has a sling swivel and attachment point, which could be used to mount certain bipods).  The top of the receiver does have a MIL-STD-1913 rail. Grip points on the handguard are knurled to increase hold.  The Predator Varmint does not have a forward assist, nor forward assist grooves on the bolt carrier.  The stock is an A2 stock, with a metal buttplate and a compartment in the butt.  The pistol grip is an Ergo SureGrip.  The gas block uses a compression fit. The trigger is two-stage, with the first stage breaking at 4.5 pounds. The Predator Varmint Lite is similar, but uses a heavy match-quality floating 20-inch barrel tipped with an A2 flash suppressor.

     The Peerless NM A2 Service Rifle is basically a standard AR-15A2, but improved to National Match standards.  This includes a rear sight block like an A2, but micrometer-adjustable, a 20-inch heavy floating match-quality stainless steel specially-bedded barrel tipped with an A2 flash suppressor and with a Wylde chamber, able to use civilian and military ammunition.  The front sight post is also adjustable for elevation, the triangular front sight riser is also adjustable for windage. They are also NM quality (though they are not micrometer adjustable), and can be set and locked in place. The twist rate is 1:8, so it is a compromise between civilian and military twist rates.  The trigger is two-stage breaking at 4.5 pounds and is specially tuned by Fulton Armory.  The handguards look like normal A2 handguards, but are made of steel.  The entire rifle is reinforced to prevent bending and flexing, and parts are hand-fitted.  The Peerless NM A4 is similar, but has a flattop receiver with a MIL-STD-1913 rail.  The front sight is as the NM A2, but the rear sight is a BUIS with the same characteristics as the sight block on the NM A2, and of course, it can take a variety of optics.  The barrel and chamber is the same as on the NM A2.  The trigger pack is also the same as on the NM A2.  It is the same weight as the NM A2, and shoots the same and costs the same.

     The FAR-15 line also includes a number of carbines.  The M4 Service Carbine is for the most part as a civilianized version of the M4A3 military carbine, with a flattop receiver with MIL-STD-1913 rail.  The barrel is 16 inches, of heavy profile, and match quality; it is tipped with an A2 flash suppressor.  It has a Wylde chamber.  Most other parts are Milspec, including the bore, which is chromed and has a 1:9 twist, and the bayonet lug at the base of the front sight.  The A2 Service Carbine is essentially the same, but has a carrying handle instead of a MIL-STD-1913 rail.  For game purposes, it is identical to the M4.

     The Phantom Carbine is immediately identifiable by its extended MIL-STD-1913 rail, which goes over the carbine-length gas system and cooling slots and is continuous with the rail above the receiver. The rest of the Diamondhead VRS-T handguard is round and has holes along its top and sides for the attachment of further MIL-STD-1913 rails (though it is not sold with them).  The 16-inch barrel is of heavy profile and match-quality, specially-bedded, and the barrel floats.  The chamber is a Wylde chamber.  The gas block is low profile and made of stainless steel. The stock is a standard M4-type collapsible stock, and the pistol grip is an Ergo SureGrip.  The trigger is two-stage and breaks at the first stage at 4.5 pounds, but is not adjustable.

     The Liberator Carbine is, as its name suggests, a carbine version of the Liberator-H Rifle.  It shares the Rifle’s handguards (with a carbine-length gas system beneath them), and has a 16-inch heavy profile, floating, and match-quality barrel, tipped with an A2-type flash suppressor and specially-bedded.  Like the rest of the carbines of this series, it has an M4-type collapsible stock.  The pistol grip and the sling swivels are the same as the Rifle, as is the trigger pack.  The Guardian Carbine is virtually the same as the Liberator Carbine; the primary difference is the shorter handguards, no MIL-STD-1913 rails on the sides of the handguards (though there are mounting holes) and lighter weight.

Fulton Armory Ultimate M-1 Carbine

     Notes:  The Ultimate M-1 Carbine is usually a conversion of existing M-1 Carbines, though some are built from new parts.  The parts are first gauged and modified if necessary to accurize the weapon, and then the M-1 is turned into something quite different from the original M-1 Carbine, making it into a useful police carbine or military PDW.

     The stock is totally replaced with a Choate composite fiberglass folding stock.  This not only makes the weapon easier to store and use from a vehicle, it also slightly lowers the receiver and barrel in the stock and slightly reduces the already small recoil by making the recoil path more in a straight line.  The length of pull is also slightly longer, making the weapon more comfortable for most people to shoot.  The stock also has a pistol grip, and the recoil is light enough that the Ultimate M-1 can be fired one-handed with the stock folded if necessary.  The receiver and barrel are drilled and tapped for use with optics, and a MIL-STD-1913 rail is mounted on the weapon to allow use with virtually any accessory.  Under the fore-end is another MIL-STD-1913 rail.  Three sling swivels are mounted, at the front of the fore-end, at the pistol grip, and at the stock hinge, allowing maximum utility.  A “recoil check” muzzle brake is also added, though it really isn’t necessary with a weapon firing .30 Carbine cartridges; it is more for looks than anything else, though it is an effective flash suppressor. 

     Twilight 2000 Notes: This weapon does not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline as such, though conversions similar to it are occasionally carried out by private armorers and tinkerers, on M-1s as well as M-2s.

     Merc 2000 Notes: In addition to the M-1 Carbine-based Ultimate Carbine, Fulton Armory also makes an M-2-based Ultimate Carbine, primarily for police work, though some civilians possess them as well. 

     (It should be noted that the Ultimate M-2 Carbine is fictional; Fulton Armory does not make them in the real world.)