From: erudnick@pica.army.mil (FSAC-SID)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: 1992 AUSA Show
Date: 15 Oct 92 01:55:13 GMT


The following are various observations on small arms exhibitors at
the 1992 Association of the United States Army Show held this week 
in Washington, DC, as seen through my unbiased ( :) ) eyes. I was
there on other business, but took in the small arms stuff while I
was there.

1. Hirtenberger Patronenfabrik, the Austrian ammunition company, plans
to enter the US market with a real importer in the next few months.
Previously their fine products were only available through the infrequent
odd lot.

2. Steyr showed the 5.56mm and 9mm AUGs, and their line of sniper rifles.
The big news was the TMP - Tactical Machine Pistol, about the size of
the Mini Uzi, but with the usual Steyr advanced materials and (IMHO)
ergonomically excellent design. The semi only SPP - Special Purpose Pistol,
is supposed to be available next month. For how long after depends on
the election results.

3. Glock had nothing new to show, but did have their full line of
pistols on display. No Glock 18 though :-(. Forgot to ask about the
purported 10mm carbine for the FBI. The rep said that the retrofit program
for privately owned older Glocks is beginning now.

4. Beretta had nothing new to show this year. I did handle a 96FS, which
turns out to be the same size as a 92FS. The barrel of the 96 was stamped
".40", evidently to prevent confusion during assembly and thereafter.

5. Chartered Industries of Singapore displayed their (IMHO) non-exciting
SR-88 rifles and their very interesting Ultimax 100 SAW. Damn that thing
is light! The 100 round drum magazines do not seem all that sturdy.

6. Colt had nothing new to show or say either. I asked the rep about the
"Offensive Pistol", but he knew nothing.

7. HK had their complete line of firearms, but nothing new. I asked the
rep about the aforementioned "Offensive Pistol", and he told me that
they had strongly considered showing it, but felt that it would be
improper in that Colt had not delivered theirs to Uncle yet. I also
found out that the Italian Navy's combat divers (quasi-SEALs, but not as
good) were not supposed to have displayed the P8 5-shot rocket gun at
their exposition some years back.

8. DEFEX, the Spanish arms conglomerate, showed Astra and Star pistols.
Those Firestars are unbelievably small; I had no idea.

9. GIAT, which owns FN, showed the FN P90 Personal Defense Weapon and
[Browning] BDA pistol, and had a very capable and attractive young lady
there to discuss them. The P90 has been sold to the Saudi National
Guard, several SpecOps units worldwide, and is being evaluated just
about every where. As to the BDA, I tried an earlier model about two
years ago, and found the safety/decocker all but impossible to work
with the thumb of the shooting hand. The new version, so new it's not
in the brochure, has a downward-functioning decocker at the back of
the frame, and is worlds better. The gun, as much as I could handle it
at the show, seems destined for success.

10. Remington had a booth, but I couldn't figure out why they were there,
as there were no reps around, just a pile of _consumer_ gun catalogs.

11. SNC of Canada showed their nifty SIMUNITION, which basically adapts
paintball technology into standard cartridges for training purposes. They
had a number of full auto guns, including a Calico and an MP5, and a
glassed-in 15 yd range where one could actually shoot their product at
a "terrorist" target. Unfortunately for me the line was long and the
time I had until my flight home wasn't :-(

As an aside, I wonder how Washington's contingent of gun grabbers felt
about all those "assault weapons" in their city?    :) :)
	[MODERATOR:   Now now ... this is r.g....]


Ed Rudnicki     erudnick@pica.army.mil     All disclaimers apply
Protect the Second Amendment - boycott Ruger products
"That's not true," Bill hissed to his lawyer. "The facts are-"
"Don't worry about facts, Bill, no one else here does. Facts can't
alter this case."       -"Bill the Galactic Hero" Harry Harrison