We are in the middle of durability testing with the LRIPS. Before we went to a side cocker we did nearly 18 months of durability testing. Suppressed it went longer than any other semi auto I know of and would have gone longer if it did not start sleeting. The protos went about 20K before accuracy slightly deteriorated. There were no significant problems with the gun. We are changing the rail slightly to deal with some mirage when the gun gets really hot. So we started. One gun is going to SWC for them to put through SOTIC as a direct comparison to the M110. This is just market research for them which they do all the time.
The comments about rails, and 9mm, and PE90's are all pretty funny. Obviously the writer knows nothing about the UNS, or PEQ 2. You likely do not have these items, but there are other advantages to rails. We will make a handguard model, but not for a while as this configuration is most in demand.
The advantages of rails, especially on piston guns that you do not account for are: They are an excellent heat sink, they free float the barrel, they provide superior ventillation from convection cooling, allow end user configuration, they are extremely lightweight.
I can tell you that you are dead wrong about the Canadian Forces and their use of tubes vs rails. At least at the tip of the spear. Just because they are Canadian, doesn't mean they do not desire all of the advantages I list above. They get their SDMR's plenty hot too.
SMG's are dead, PDW's are dead in all but very specific circumstances. Please do not argue with me....we spend our days mfg and selling firearms to end users and those with SMG's or PDW's leave them where they belong...in the armoury.
I am amazed by the one member here who argues that this is an AR10 derivative and that it should be restricted. I can't really find words for that guy. As we configure the Canadian model of this rifle and get our ducks in a row, I can tell you this should not be deemed restricted, especially in light of the sig rifles being deemed un-restricted. It is a new design from toes to t**s despite how it looks.
I am doing this because I am Canadian. Not because I think it will be a home run money making venture in Canada. The market is very small compared to the US, and I doubt we will be able to keep up with demand here for the guns. This is something I personally want to do, so for Mr. Expert who would make a great anti-gun bureaucrat, take your negative defeatist comments and store them in your backside.
Just to give you an example, RSR which is 1 US distributer sells 5500 bushmaster rifles a month. That is one brand, one distributer.
The Teleportation Device picture is really tongue and cheek. I know that does not play well in uber politically correct markets like Canada, but it seems to me in the right hands in a combat zone, it is accurate inshallah.
The military market for a relatively lightweight, reliable accurate .308 SASS is large worldwide. Here in the US, the USMC is returning their M110's and threaten to resolicit an SASS. The real role for an SASS is a number 2 gun in a sniper team, the number 1 guy with a .338 Lap Mag. In special forces circles, the sniper/assaulter currently carries 2 weapons. An M4 to fight and clear to overwatch, and an M110 for overwatch/sniping/counter sniping. This allows him to carry a 12" assualter with the SASS upper on his back. One platform, one type of magazine, one type of ammo. He does not stick out as a sniper in the battlefield. 12" barrels do not optimize the .308 cartridge. For the assaulter piece, it is MORE than adequate though.
The AR10 predates the AR15, and is not a variant of it and is not lumped into the AR15 variant pile as a direct result.
