Adcor Defense will introduce a new AR-style rifle at the SHOT Show this coming week. Called the Super-16 A-556 Elite, the gun is a combination of an Adcor Defense build with a SilencerCo suppressor. Here are a few of the details…
IWI US announced the company will show its brand new TAVOR SAR chambered in 300 BLK at the 2016 SHOT Show. According to Michael Kassnar, the VP of Sales and Marketing for IWI US, the company has received “a ton of requests” for a TAVOR chambered in 300 BLK.
The new TAVOR rifles will be available with either a 16.5″ or 18″ barrel. The barrels are cold hammer forged from chrome-moly steel. The barrels are chrome lined. Like the original TAVOR in 5.56 NATO, these bullpup rifles use a long stroke piston system.
One of the issues I have run into with some 300 BLK guns is making them run reliably with both super- and subsonic ammunition. The new rifle has a built in gas regulator to allow the shooter to tune the gun for normal or subsonic ammunition.
Since the 300 BLK fits into the same deisgn envelope as the original TAVOR and uses the same magazines as the 5.56 NATO, virtually all existing accessories should work with the new guns. Anything dependent on bullet diameter – such as a muzzle device – are not interchangeable. So, don’t throw a .223 caliber sound suppressor on this gun and expect it to work more than once.
The suggested retail price on the complete rifle is $2,049.
In addition to selling a rifle chambered for the .30 caliber cartridge, the company also announced it would sell conversion kits for existing TAVOR rifles. So, if you already own a 5.56 or 9mm TAVOR, you only need buy the conversion kit to run the 300 BLK.
The conversion kits will come with your choice of a 16.5″ or 18″ barrel made of chrome-moly steel, a headspaced bolt and barrel wrench. The barrels are cold hammer forged with a 1:7″ twist and are topped with an A2-style flash hider. The suggested retail price on the conversion kit is $499.
We will try to get more information for you on the TAVOR from the SHOT Show. I’m also looking forward to seeing another bullpup at the show: the Desert Tech MDR.
Personally, I like the company’s newer X95 rifle better than the SAR line. You can read my IWI Tavor X95 review here.
Smith & Wesson released a new generation of its popular semi-automatic .22 LR rifles. The new M&P15-22 Sport II rifles feature a number of small upgrades that I believe make the guns an even better buy that before.
The M&P15-22 is a AR-style rifle chambered for the .22 LR rimfire cartridge. I know people who use them for everything from teaching their kids how to shoot to training to just recreational plinking. I have no doubt that a lot of people use them to put rabbit on the table as well.
For 2016, Smith & Wesson added a new 10″ slim handguard with M-LOK attachment points. The thinness of the handguard is likely to be appreciated by kids and others with small hands. My hands are more of a medium size, and I know that I prefer M-LOK handguards compared to quad-rail systems and the two-piece handguards.
M-LOK is an attachment system that consists of precisely defined holes in the handguard that mate to the “male” potion on the accessory to be attached. The system is very secure and eliminates a lot of wasted weight associated with a quad rail system. The new guns weigh 5 pounds, while the older quad rail rifles were 5.4 pounds – nearly a half pound heavier.
I’ve been very impressed by the M-LOK system when I’ve tried it on other rifles.
Another upgrade to the M&P15-22 Sport II is the use of Magpul MBUS sights. These are polymer folding sights that replace the rather ugly adjustable sights that Smith & Wesson was using on the original generation of these guns. While completely functional, the original sights tried to imitate the look of an A2-type front sight tower and carry handle rear sight. Frankly, I thought they looked out of place.
The new MBUS sights are lightweight and work well in my experience. Yes, they are polymer but I have found them to be fairly rugged and more than good enough for anything short of a long term overseas deployment. Since this gun is not intended for that purpose, they should work very well on this rifle.
The standard M&P 15-22 Sport II is finished in all black, comes with a 25 round magazine and retails for $449. Two additional standard models are available in other finishes: one in Kryptek Highlander and the other in Muddy Girl camo. Both of these models carry a suggested retail of $499.
| SKU | 10208 | 10211 | 10212 |
| Caliber | .22 LR | .22 LR | .22 LR |
| Magazine Capacity | 25 rounds | 25 rounds | 25 rounds |
| # of Included Magazines | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Barrel Length | 16.5″ | 16.5″ | 16.5″ |
| Overall Length | 30.7″-33.75″ | 30.7″-33.75″ | 30.7″-33.75″ |
| Weight | 5 lbs | 5 lbs | 5 lbs |
| Action | semi-auto, blowback | semi-auto, blowback | semi-auto, blowback |
| Stock | 6-position, adjustable length | 6-position, adjustable length | 6-position, adjustable length |
| Sights | Magpul MBUS | Magpul MBUS | Magpul MBUS |
| Finish | black | Kryptek Highlander | Muddy Girl Camo |
| MSRP | $449 | $499 | $499 |
Smith & Wesson has not forgotten about its customers in states where politicians have restricted the kinds of guns law abiding citizens may own. A basic 10-round compliant model will sell for $449.
Additionally, another model meeting the neuter standards of Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland and New Jersey can be had for the same price. The state compliant model has a fixed stock, 10-round magazine and removes the muzzle device.
| SKU | 10206 | 10207 |
| Caliber | .22 LR | .22 LR |
| Magazine Capacity | 10 | 10 |
| # of Included Magazines | 1 | 1 |
| Barrel Length | 16.5″ | 16.5″ |
| Overall Length | 30.7″-33.75″ | 33.75″ |
| Weight | 5 lbs | 5 lbs |
| Action | semi-auto, blowback | semi-auto, blowback |
| Stock | 6-position, adjustable length | 6-position, adjustable length |
| Sights | Magpul MBUS | Magpul MBUS |
| Finish | black | black |
| MSRP | $449 | $499 |
Not to be left out, the Performance Center is also adding two models to the line up. The first features a longer barrel that has been threaded, a VLTOR adjustable stock, a Hogue pistol grip and a two-stage match trigger. The barrel and chamber are considered match grade. This model retails for $709
The second Performance Center model is a state compliant model for residents living in Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Jersey. The stock is fixed and the barrel is not threaded. It has the same suggested retail price.
| SKU | 10205 | 11507 |
| Caliber | .22 LR | .22 LR |
| Magazine Capacity | 10 | 10 |
| # of Included Magazines | 1 | 1 |
| Barrel Length | 18″ threaded | 18″ threaded |
| Overall Length | 32.5″-37.25″ | 37.25″ |
| Weight | 5.6 lbs | 5 lbs |
| Action | semi-auto, blowback | semi-auto, blowback |
| Stock | VLTOR adjustable | VLTOR fixed |
| Sights | Magpul MBUS | Magpul MBUS |
| Finish | black | black |
| MSRP | $709 | $709 |
These new rifles were announced on the heels of the new SW22 Victory rimfire pistols. Those new guns look to be a quality successor to the Model 22-A line of pistols. I don’t have any insight into Smith & Wesson’s internal dynamics, but it seems the company is making a real investment in the sport shooting market after several years of spending a lot of their resources on their law enforcement/self-defense offerings.
Follow all of the new gun announcements from the 2016 SHOT Show here.
Several months after the new 15-22 Sport models rolled out, Smith & Wesson added a pair of MOE SL models to the line. Both of these guns add additional Magpul furniture to the package:
One gun will be all black, while the second will have all of the furniture and magazines in a flat dark earth (FDE) finish. Both guns will retail for $499. For my money, these are a great deal.
Last Update: October 17, 2022
With major manufacturers like Ruger and Smith & Wesson driving the price of entry-level AR rifles down, Colt responded in 2016 with a new rifle called the Expanse M4. The new rifle is a (very) basic AR-15 that comes in with a suggested retail price of $699.
The new rifle is a direct impingement gun with the basic M4-style features. It has a collapsing buttstock, pistol grip and A2-type front sight assembly. A polymer two-piece handguard is standard.
As is typical for AR-15 rifles, this gun is chambered in 5.56 NATO. It can safely fire both 5.56 and .223 Rem ammunition.
The 16.1″ barrel has a 1:7″ twist that should allow it to stabilize most of the bullet weights commercially loaded for the calibers.
Colt uses a flattop upper and does not ship with a rear sight. However, the Picatinny rail makes adding one a quick process. Many people will opt to add a red dot like the Trijicon MRO instead of, or in addition to, a rear sight.
A single 30-round aluminum magazine ships with the Expanse M4.
Colt states on its web site that these rifles do not ship with a forward assist or dust cover. That’s unfortunate as these items are pretty standard with even budget AR rifles. (Thanks to reader TechnoTriticale for pointing this out.)
Here are the specs for the Colt Expanse:
| Model # | CE1000 |
| Caliber | 5.56 NATO/.223 Rem |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 |
| # of Included Magazines | 1 |
| Barrel Length | 16.1″ |
| Overall Length | 32.0″-35.5″ |
| Action | semi-automatic, direct impingement |
| Stock | 6-position, adjustable length |
| MSRP | $699 |
In the wake of the Sandy Hook buying frenzy, there was a glut of AR rifles on the market. In economic terms, supply exceeded demand and prices dropped.
While there have been a number of smaller manufacturers that have targeted the budget-priced AR market, additional pressure was applied by the introduction of lower-priced models from more prominent gun makers adjusting to consumer expectations of less expensive rifles.
| Colt Expanse M4 | PSA FDE AR-15 | Ruger AR-556 | S&W Sport II | |
| Caliber | 5.56 NATO | 5.56 NATO | 5.56 NATO | 5.56 NATO |
| Magazine | 30 round aluminum | 30 round Magpul PMAG | 30 round Magpul PMAG | 30 round Magpul PMAG |
| # of Included Magazines | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 |
| Barrel Length | 16.1″ | 16.0″ | 16.1″ | 16.0″ |
| Twist Rate | 1:7″ | 1:7″ | 1:8″ | 1:9″ |
| Chrome Plating | no | no | bolt carrier, gas key | firing pin |
| Finish | unknown | hardcoat anodized FDE | Milspec Type III | Armornite |
| Handguard | 2-piece | 2-piece Magpul MOE M-Lok | easy removing 2-piece | 2-piece |
| Pistol Grip | A2-style | Magpul MOE | Ruger grip | A2-style |
| Front Sight | A2-style | A2-style | milled A2 Style with QD-socket | A2-style |
| Rear Sight | none | folding Magpul MBUS | folding Ruger | folding Magpul MBUS |
| Price | $699 | $749 | $799 | $739 |
On a price-to-features comparison, the PSA AR-15 makes the most sense for a budget rifle. You can see my PSA AR-15 review here.
Smith & Wesson seemed to be doing well with it’s budget friendly M&P15 Sport rifles that were selling for less than $700 in many shops. Then Ruger introduced the AR-556 – another entry level rifle that came very well equipped with an MSRP of $749. Both of these rifles allowed a novice AR shooter to buy a rifle from a readily recognizable name.
With the Expanse M4, it seems Colt is trying to capitalize on its name to reach new shooters buying their first AR rifle and more experienced hands who prefer the Colt name as a basic platform to build a more custom gun.
Watch for additional information on the Colt Expanse M4 and other new guns at the special 2016 SHOT Show page I have set up.
Last Update: June 26, 2022
Ithaca Gun Company will launch a new hunting rifle at the 2016 SHOT Show. The new bolt-action gun has the classic stylings of a traditional hunting rifle with the niceties of modern design.
Initially, the rifle will be available in .308 Win and .300 Win Mag. The company will offer two barrel lengths: 20″ and 24″. There will be a variety of trigger options available.
The receiver is built from 4340 alloy. The bolt is a one piece design with two lugs and a M-16 style extractor. No word yet on pricing, but there will be a number of options available including a choice of stocks. I’m hearing the Tiger Maple and Black Walnut stocks will both be available on this rifle.
Ithaca began teasing this rifle about a month ago on its Facebook page, but has not released much more than a photo of the new gun.
Ithaca Gun Company opened shop in Ithaca, NY in 1883. Since that time, the company has changed hands and locations several times. The current owners purchased the company’s assets in 2007. At that time, the company was already located in Ohio.
In addition to the new hunting rifle, the company makes a line of shotguns and 1911 pistols. I’m hoping the current owners are able to keep things going both in terms of profitability and new designs.
Although inexpensive hunting rifle designs have been introduced in recent years by Mossberg, Ruger and others, I expect the Ithaca rifle sets aim at a more refined market that is less price sensitive. However, until the company releases suggested retail pricing information, I simply will not know.