Author: Travis Pike

Military Grade – This Is What’s Issued

The phrase “military grade” is often used as a marketing term, but in reality, it’s a thing. A description, really, of items made to an exact set of specifications. Gun, knife, life-jacket, or insect repellent; they can all be military grade. The items might be great or they might be crap, and typically the lowest bidder gets the contract. That doesn’t always mean cheap, though. Hell, have you seen how much the military pays for toilet seats?

Note that military grade is not the same as military issue.

For the purposes of this article, we’ll be talking about “military grade” firearms that are commercially available to the private citizen. These weapons, while issued to military personnel in various duty assignments, differ only slightly (if at all) to their “civilian” counterparts.

Let’s dive into the world of the military-grade guns you can own. Yes, you, the average joe, as long as you aren’t a felon and live in a free state. Of course, with many things, a lot of the fun of these guns has been removed. Sadly the NFA and later Hughes Amendment make owning guns with giggle switches somewhat difficult, so you’ll have to excuse the lack of such features.

So without further ado…

Military Grade Firearms You Can Own

Mossberg 590A1

Mossberg designed the 590A1 to meet the military’s requirements for a pump-action shotgun. This includes a heavy, thick-walled barrel, a bayonet lug, a metal trigger group, and an action reliable enough to eat 3,000 rounds of buckshot without issue. Mossberg has long made the 590A1 available to the average joe and in numerous configurations. This mighty mean shotgun is an excellent home defense and fighting shotgun and is one of the few guns on the list that’s legal in all 50 states.

Benelli M4

The Benelli M4, or M1014 Joint Service Shotgun, is what happens when you send the Marines to find you a shotgun. They did just that, and the Benelli name became synonymous with tactical shotguns. You can go two ways with this gun. Purchase the M1014 clone from Benelli with its fixed faux collapsing stock and five round tube. Or go my route, buy a Benelli M4, buy the proper collapsing stock, and get 922R parts from Freedom Fighter Tactical. The latter is the best way to get as close as possible to a military grade M1014.

SIG M17/18 Series

SIG won the MHS contest and almost immediately made the M17 and M18 series available to the civilian market. These are almost 1 for 1 clones of the military’s pistol, and the big difference is the controls are black instead of FDE. A quick visit to the cerakote shop will fix that. The M17 is the full-sized SIG, and the M18 is essentially the ‘Carry’ model. SIG’s military grade handguns are optics ready, fitted with a manual safety, and all you need is a Safariland holster to complete the package.

Beretta M9

Yeah, it might be sour grapes that Beretta has lost their dominant spot on the military’s sidearm list, but the M9 will stick around for a few years. It takes time, often lots of it, to equip the entire military with a new handgun. Until then, the classic Beretta M9 and M9A1 will continue to serve. The M9 is a 9mm, DA/SA pistol with an all-metal frame and is the military-grade version of the 92FS. Beretta makes the M9 and M9A1 configurations available to shooters so you can have a perfect clone of the classic Italian stallion.

The M40 Series

When the Marine Corps needed a new rifle system, they turned to the Remington 700 series of bolt action rifles and have seemingly never looked back. You can buy the base level Remington 700 in .308 Winchester and turn it into any of the M40 variations or go directly to the source. A little company called GA Precision produces the M40A5 as a plug-and-play Marine Corps and military grade sniper rifle. The half MOA guarantee might make you feel a bit better about the 5k price tag!

FN Military Collector Series

I’m combining two for one in this entry. FN produces the Military Collector series to replicate the M16 and M4 almost perfectly, minus the giggle stick. This includes the quad rail, UID sticker, and the classic aluminum magazines. Sure the M4 has a 16-inch barrel instead of the 14.5 the actual M4 wears, buts it’s close enough for collectors who don’t want a stamp. FN makes solid rifles and has been the trusted provider of M16s to the military since 1988.

FN M249

Sticking on the FN train, I have to give them major props for having the balls to release the M249 PARA in semi-auto, closed bolt form. This famous light machine gun has been the squad support weapon since 1984, and out of the blue, FN decided to release a semi-auto belt-fed model a few years back. That’s evolved into the Para model that’s available today. Be prepared to fork over close to 10K if you want your own NFA-free M249. At the end of the day, the civilian M249 is a big, heavy, and expensive rifle, but holy crap, I still want one.

Ohio Ordnance Works M240 SLR

Since we are talking about belt-fed, semi-auto, somewhat nonsensical rifles, I can’t forget to mention the Ohio Ordnance Works M240 SLR. Yep, a full-powered, belt-fed M240 clone in semi-auto, closed bolt form. It’s a thing of beauty, and they replicate the look and feel of the classic M240 well. For a little over 14K, you get the gun, 2,500 links, a custom hard fit case, and almost two dozen accessories. It’s silly to have a nearly 30-pound .308 semi-auto rifle, but you can’t deny it’s not stylish. A semi-auto format might not be exactly military grade, but I give it up to Ohio Ordannce Works for making such a beautiful piece of machinery.

SIG Spear in .277 Fury

SIG recently won the NGSW contest with their entry of the SIG MCX Spear in their new 6.8x51mm round. Coming off that win, they released the SIG Spear in .277 Fury for the civilian market. SIG’s short store gas piston gun features a 13-inch barrel, so it’s an SBR. The first run is a special edition run complete with a suppressor, so it’s a two-stamp setup. This gun is as close as we can get to the new XM5, and it costs a pretty penny to do so. Hopefully, Vortex makes the coordinating optic so we can get the full NGSW experience. As of right now, it’s the latest in military grade rifles.

SIG Rattler

Yep another SIG. I know, I know, they’ve kind of dominated the list. SIG has been getting contract after contract, and the latest isn’t the NGSW but the Rattler. SOCOM wasn’t a personal defense weapon, and SIG’s Rattler fit the bill. The Rattler is a pocket-sized military grade rifle in 300 Blackout and 5.56. Socom apparently purchased quantities of both calibers. It should be noted the SIG Low Visibility Assault Weapon, or LVAW is a variant of MCX very similar to this layout made for Delta Force. SIG sells the Rattler as both an SBR and large format, braced pistol.

B&T APC9K

Last but not least, the B&T APC9K is the first SMG adopted by the United States Army since the Grease Gun. The subcompact weapon contest came out with B&T on top and the little APC9K being the gun to beat. B&T happily made a limited series of SCW clones, as well as releasing the APC9K. I love the APC9K, and it’s my favorite little subgun. It’s certainly high priced, but man, the Swiss sure know how to build a gun, plus they aren’t shy to sell them to you or me, and I can greatly appreciate that.

Military Grade Misses

I provided 11 guns you can purchase today that are in use by the United States military. They aren’t perfect replicas but fall within the lines of what’s legal for the average joe to own. I know I had to miss some, so I’m turning it over to the comments section to help out.

Do guns like the Mk23 and M11-A1 deserve to be on the list? Let us know!

About the Author

Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner, a lifelong firearms enthusiast, and now a regular guy who likes to shoot, write, and find ways to combine the two. He holds an NRA certification as a Basic Pistol Instructor. is the world’s Okayest firearm instructor, and a simplicisist when it comes to talking about himself in the 3rd person. Hit him up on Instagram, @travis.l.pike, with story ideas.

The pistol caliber carbine, or PCC, has become a prevalent weapon’s platform as of late. Why not? Pistol ammo is cheaper, easy to find, and AR 15s have gotten boring for many of us. PCCs also come in a wide variety of designs, and today we are going to look at such PCC operating systems as the delayed blowback (radial and roller), straight blowback, and others. We’ll explain how they tick and maybe even how they tock. 

Straight Blowback – The Basic PCC Setup

Straight blowback is the most simplistic operating system available for PCCs. Like most things PCC, straight blowback came out of the world of SMGs. Straight blowback systems work simply. The bolt rests against the chamber of the barrel and is not locked in place. You pull the trigger, the round ignites, and the force pushes the projectile forward and generates a rearward force that propels the bolt to the rear. 

The movement has to be slowed or delayed in some way. The delay must be long enough to ensure the bullet leaves the barrel before the case leaves the chamber. A straight blowback gun uses a massive bolt, a heavy spring, or some combination of the two to create this delay. Most PCC AR 15 kits are blowback designs. 

Straight Blowback Examples—CZ Scorpion, KelTec Sub 2000, Hi-Point carbines

Pros

Simple and Cheap

Reliable

Cons

Heavy bolts can increase weight, and heavy springs can challenge ergonomics.

Heavier recoil

Radial Delayed Blowback 

Radial delayed blowback is a system created by CMMG for their famed Banshee series. The Banshee series encompasses numerous PCC calibers and is useful for 10mm, 5.7×28, 9mm, and more. The system works by combining a proprietary bolt and chamber designed for AR 15 upper receivers. 

The bolt looks and functions like a AR 15 bolt, except the lugs on the bolt, are cut to be angled, and this allows them to rotate and lock into the chamber. When the weapon is fired, the bolt has to rotate to unlock, and this creates the necessary delay to allow the bullet to leave the barrel before the case leaves the chamber. This system eliminates the need for a heavy bolt or spring and allows the gun to be nice and lightweight. 

Radial Delayed Blowback Example – MK17 Banshee

Pros

Reliable

Eliminates heavy bolt and springs

Cons

Only available in AR platforms.

Roller Delayed Blowback 

Roller-delayed blowback firearms are an old-school design but a very effective one. The most famous rolled delayed SMG or PCC is the MP5 series. Roller delayed firearms utilize rollers built into the bolt that locks into designated ports in the gun.

 When the weapon is fired, and pressure wants to send the bolt rearward, thive rollers prevent that. Roller delayed blowback creates a friction delay that keeps the bolt closed until the bullet has cleared the barrel. The roller delayed system works well with stamped guns.

Roller Delayed Blowback Examples – MP5, Garrow Arms Uppers

Pros

Eliminates heavy bolts and springs

Reliable

Works with stamped guns

Cons

Expensive and complicated design.

Dead Blow Action 

Dead Blow Action is a modified variant of a standard blowback action designed by Ruger for the Ruger PCC series of rifles and pistols. 

The tungsten bolt can move forward and rearward, and as the bolt travels to the rear and slows, the tungsten weight slams forward, forcing the bolt to travel forwards. The end effect is the bolt travels less than a standard blowback action. 

Dead Blow Action Examples – Ruger PCC and PC Charger series

Pros

Inexpensive

Generates less recoil

Cons

It still requires a heavy bolt.

Short Stroke Gas System 

Short stroke gas systems are popular on modern rifles in rifle calibers. PCC rifles and pistols using short-stroke gas systems are very rare. Short stroke gas systems utilize a piston system that is attached to the barrel and a gas block. As a round is fired, gas is generated from the cartridge fired, and some are siphoned off through the gas block. 

This gas propels a piston that is driven rearwards and strikes the bolt. The bolt is sent rearward and continuing the cycle of operations.

Short Stroke Gas System Examples – SIG MPX

Pros

Lightweight

Reliable

Proven

Cons

Expensive for PCCs 

The PCC World

The World of PCCs and submachine guns are rather large and full of all sorts of different fun guns. While almost all use some form of blowback action, the difference in how they handle is significant. The price difference is also no laughing matter. These are fascinating firearms and the different way engineers have recreated the mousetrap could fill a book. Or well, at least an article on it.

Striker-fired guns are the bee’s knees. Rarely do you see a new gun come out in any design besides striker-fired. Hammer fired handguns aren’t dead, but they may be gone as far as armed professionals go. The United States military got rid of the hammer-fired Beretta for the P320. Most police forces have transitioned to these guns in various flavors, and most popular carry guns are striker-fired models. What exactly is a striker-fired handgun? How do they work? Well, let’s find out.

What’s A Striker-Fired gun?

All strikers are firing pins, but not all firing pins are strikers. Striker fired guns can best be described as spring-loaded firing pins. The racking the slide or pulling the trigger, or a combination of both cock the striker and the striker is held in the ready to fire position with potential spring energy behind it. Once the trigger is pulled, the spring energy propels the striker forward.

The striker then hits the primer, which ignites the gun powder, and so on and so forth. Striker fired guns are not all the same, though. They work under different systems, and the only thing they all have in common is that they lack a hammer.

The alternative in semi-auto pistols is a hammer-fired design. Hammer fired models are still prevalent, but less so for duty use, and even fewer are subcompact.

DAO, SAO, Partially Cocked, DA/SA?

What are most striker designs classified as? Are they DAO? SAO? Well, it’s not that simple. They could be both or neither. Most are partially cocked strikers. Glock uses partially cocked with their Glock slide. Glock popularized the partially cocked system in which technically it’s a double-action design, but also not really.

In these systems, the striker is partially cocked, and the trigger fully cocks the striker and releases it. This is technically two actions but does not fully cock the firearm as a tradition DAO would. This is the most popular striker-fired system.

There are DAO striker guns, well there is at least two, and that is the P99c DAO and the CZ 100. I’m sure there are more, but they are a small subset of guns.

There are also SA/DA striker guns, which include the standard P99. These work just like a traditional hammer-fired DA/SA with the first shot being rather long and subsequent shots have a lighter, shorter trigger pull. Besides the P99, the MR9 and individual members of the Canik series are DA/SA, but there are also just P99 clones more or less.

The left side of the PPQ SF.

There are also true single action striker guns. The Walther PPQ, for example, is an actual single action striker-fired design. These guns are like their hammer-fired brethren and have an excellent trigger.

You even get weird designs like the HK P7 in which you squeeze the grip to manually cock the gun into the single-action mode. Striker-fired pistols are likely more varied than hammer-fired guns.

Why a Striker?

One of the most significant advantages of a striker-fired design is a consistent trigger pull. There are very few DA/SA striker-fired guns and even fewer DAO guns. Most striker-fired guns give you one constant trigger pull that’s often light and short, with a positive reset.

Another benefit is without a hammer, you are less likely to snag on the draw, especially from concealment. Striker-fired guns are also much more straightforward than hammer-fired guns. Putting a Glock together versus a CZ makes that readily apparent. A more straightforward gun means it’s more likely you can make upgrades or repairs at home. As someone who’s swapped both a Glock and CZ trigger, I can say the Glock takes about a quarter of the time.

The only real downside is the lack of DA/SA or DAO guns if you prefer that trigger system. A hammer does allow you to restrike a round if it fails to ignite, but with high-quality ammo, that isn’t that big of an advantage. Striker guns are the future for now, and I doubt we’ll see a big move back to hammer-fired guns. Might as well learn to love them, and this is coming from a hammer-fired fella.

Like semi-auto hotties?

Check out Ser Longpyke’s article on the VR80.