#acr program

The TAB Advanced Combat Rifle Colouring Book is back in stock!

You may remember back in December 2019 I released a fun informative colouring book all about the abortive Advanced Combat Rifles tested by the US Army in the 1980s. Well I'm pleased to say they're now back in stock!

Colt ACR

This week The Armourer’s Bench brings you the last in our series on the US Army's Advanced Combat Rifle Program. Vic takes a look at Colt's entry into the program - very much a product improved M16.

The Colt ACR was the most conventional of the four entries into the ACR program. However, it did have a number of interesting features which set it apart from the M16. It used duplex ammunition with two projectiles, had a recoil mitigating muzzle device and a hydraulic buffer to make the weapon more controllable under fully automatic fire.    

While the ACR program proved a failure it pushed the bounds of small arms technology. In the case of the Colt entry the flat-top upper receiver would be used on later M16s and M4s and the Elcan sight used would be adopted for use with the M240 and M249.

March Patreon Supporter Wallpaper - Steyr ACR

Hey guys, I’ve just posted this month’s Patreon supporter wallpaper featuring the Steyr entry into the US Army's 1980s Advanced Combat Rifle program. You can download the high resolution version over on the Historical Firearms’ Patreon here.  

The wallpaper includes one of my photos of the Steyr ACR, you can view more photos of the rifle here. I've gathered together diagrams from the half a dozen patents which protected Steyr's ACR entry.

The Steyr was arguably the best of the unconventional designs entered into the ACR program. It used a rising chamber which alleviated overheating and interestingly it fired from an open bolt.

You can read more about it and watch a TAB video on the rifle here

As always thanks for supporting the site and reading the blog! If you can’t support the site via Patreon sharing the blog and articles with people who might enjoy it really helps too. I count myself very lucky to have a community of readers, I really appreciate it!  

Heckler & Koch G11

I’m very excited to share the first Armourer’s Bench video looking at the legendary German HK G11. This introductory video is a primer for both future in-depth videos looking at the G11′s incredibly complex action and discussing its history in greater depth but also looking at weapons of the US Army’s Advanced Combat Rifle program.