From Cans to Carbines, Making a Better M4

Feuer Frei! · 08-05-11, 07:29 AM

In 2005, Jimmy Stavrakis received an order to make components for Colt's M4 rifles as they were being rapidly fielded for units in Afghanistan and Iraq. In just a few days, Stavrakis and his engineers at ADCOR Industries Inc. had carved out precisely made upper receiver components for the Army's individual rifle.
But when officials came to inspect the parts, there was one small problem. Stavrakis and his team had printed the logo upside down. ADCOR, which until then mostly specialized in making precision components for the beverage industry, had never seen a completely assembled M4.
"We made the uppers in less time than they thought we could, and the components were right to specification," Stavrakis chuckled. "But we had no idea how they actually went on the rifle."

Despite the mix-up, this small manufacturer based in an industrial section of Baltimore, Md., found a way to make Colt's design better. After several years of building many of the rifle's parts, ADCOR's engineers decided to take a whack at making their own carbine.
What they came up with is the Brown Enhanced Automatic Rifle, or BEAR. The BEAR is a piston-operated AR design that features a variety of internal enhancements, including a forward charging handle, a bolt carrier-mounted dust shield and a free floating barrel.

"When we look at this weapon, what we see is another machine -- and it's a very simple machine for us in comparison to what we do for the bottling industry," Stavrakis said, explaining that some of his bottling machines have 20,000 parts and can fill 2,000 cans per minute.
"It's basically a giant Gatling gun," Stavrakis said.
The company plans to submit the rifle to the Army for the service's Improved Carbine competition, which could result in a wholesale replacement of the Colt-made M4.
An April 19 report from independent weapons testing firm HP White provided to Military.com by ADCOR shows that two of the carbines fired 6,000 rounds with no stoppages -- including 60 shots from a BEAR that had been submerged in water and buried in sand. The entire rifle, including the piston system, is designed to be disassembled and cleaned using a firing pin or rifle round.
Company officials say they've sold about 50 rifles to the Baltimore City police department, which called it in an October 2010 test report "an exciting and truly innovative weapons platform."
"We saw how much [the M4] has come under scrutiny on Capitol Hill and we took it upon ourselves as mechanical people to see if we could solve some of these problems," Stavrakis said.

SOURCE

Growler · 08-05-11, 07:33 AM

Yay for Baltimore business!

This town knows its guns!

Quote:

Company officials say they've sold about 50 rifles to the Baltimore City police department...

Oh, great.

Stealhead · 08-05-11, 05:48 PM

What is so bad about your police getting 50 of the rifles(they replaced other units more than likely).Guess that you did not notice that guys in the photo are cops?
See the CE of POLICE on the second person.

There are several gun markers that have improved certain areas of the basic AR-15 design Barrett and H&K both have good concepts I believe that both
improved the gas system getting ride of the jam prone gas tube the most poor part of the AR-15 design not only jam prone but it easily over heats.

Growler · 08-05-11, 06:44 PM

Stealhead, it's Baltimore. We have a hard enough time with cops shooting other cops, let alone genuine criminals.

yubba · 08-05-11, 07:27 PM

Just like the gestapo needin the M-40 too keep the citizenery in line

Stealhead · 08-05-11, 08:07 PM

More like to deal with violent criminals that are armed with automatic weapons in some cases.I did not know that the Germans had the M40 back then:

And why be so upset you can buy this weapon legally as well short of being full auto but a true marksmen does not need full auto anyway it is only truly useful for a combat unit needing mass suppression fire all other times deadly rapid controlled single shots are all you need LE mainly only uses semi restricted long barrel weapons anyway.As they say **** happens people including cps make mistakes and errors in judgment so take away all the guns from cops that made no mistakes and let the criminals have free reign.You would not like it very much if suddenly everyone knew that there was no law enforcement you'd need plenty of bullets to say the least.

I think that the carrier mounted bolt cover is a clever idea(you can clearly see it in the picture) on most AR-15s and clones is a dust flap that is held in place by a spring the flap must be manually closed upon firing the weapon or operating the action. http://www.intrudershop.com/mmc/imag.../M16-08-02.jpg

Here is the BEAR Looks like it also has a dust cover but there is clearly an improved design on the bolt as well seems like a pretty good rifle.
http://www.adcorindustries.com/wordp...elite-main.jpg

Marine in the field with one
http://militarytimes.com/blogs/gears...hanistan-1.jpg

There are several good entries in that Army program hopefully they actually make the best choice.

kraznyi_oktjabr · 08-06-11, 02:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Growler

Stealhead, it's Baltimore. We have a hard enough time with cops shooting other cops, let alone genuine criminals.

Could you explain reasoning behind use of lethal force in this case?

Here in Finland its very very uncommon that Police use deadly force. Even in cases where their life is in risk. In most cases when they have to use firearm they try to disable target by shooting to hand or legs. Use of deadly force is absolute last option and not used lightly.

I'm not saying that Baltimore Police Department use of deadly force was unjustified. I would just like to know why they chose to use it in this case and also in general.

ajrimmer42 · 08-06-11, 03:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stealhead

There are several gun markers that have improved certain areas of the basic AR-15 design Barrett and H&K both have good concepts I believe that both
improved the gas system getting ride of the jam prone gas tube the most poor part of the AR-15 design not only jam prone but it easily over heats.

Not forgetting ZM-Weapons and their LR-300. They honed the design so well it can be used with a fully side folding stock.

08-05-11, 07:29 AM	#1
Feuer Frei! Navy Seal Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Valhalla Posts: 5,295 Downloads: 141 Uploads: 17	From Cans to Carbines, Making a Better M4 In 2005, Jimmy Stavrakis received an order to make components for Colt's M4 rifles as they were being rapidly fielded for units in Afghanistan and Iraq. In just a few days, Stavrakis and his engineers at ADCOR Industries Inc. had carved out precisely made upper receiver components for the Army's individual rifle. But when officials came to inspect the parts, there was one small problem. Stavrakis and his team had printed the logo upside down. ADCOR, which until then mostly specialized in making precision components for the beverage industry, had never seen a completely assembled M4. "We made the uppers in less time than they thought we could, and the components were right to specification," Stavrakis chuckled. "But we had no idea how they actually went on the rifle." Despite the mix-up, this small manufacturer based in an industrial section of Baltimore, Md., found a way to make Colt's design better. After several years of building many of the rifle's parts, ADCOR's engineers decided to take a whack at making their own carbine. What they came up with is the Brown Enhanced Automatic Rifle, or BEAR. The BEAR is a piston-operated AR design that features a variety of internal enhancements, including a forward charging handle, a bolt carrier-mounted dust shield and a free floating barrel. "When we look at this weapon, what we see is another machine -- and it's a very simple machine for us in comparison to what we do for the bottling industry," Stavrakis said, explaining that some of his bottling machines have 20,000 parts and can fill 2,000 cans per minute. "It's basically a giant Gatling gun," Stavrakis said. The company plans to submit the rifle to the Army for the service's Improved Carbine competition, which could result in a wholesale replacement of the Colt-made M4. An April 19 report from independent weapons testing firm HP White provided to Military.com by ADCOR shows that two of the carbines fired 6,000 rounds with no stoppages -- including 60 shots from a BEAR that had been submerged in water and buried in sand. The entire rifle, including the piston system, is designed to be disassembled and cleaned using a firing pin or rifle round. Company officials say they've sold about 50 rifles to the Baltimore City police department, which called it in an October 2010 test report "an exciting and truly innovative weapons platform." "We saw how much [the M4] has come under scrutiny on Capitol Hill and we took it upon ourselves as mechanical people to see if we could solve some of these problems," Stavrakis said. SOURCE __________________ "History is the lies that the victors agree on"- Napoleon LINK TO MY SH 3 MODS

08-05-11, 06:44 PM	#4
Growler A long way from the sea Join Date: May 2005 Location: Iowa Posts: 1,913 Downloads: 21 Uploads: 0	Stealhead, it's Baltimore. We have a hard enough time with cops shooting other cops, let alone genuine criminals. __________________ At Fiddler’s Green, where seamen true When here they’ve done their duty The bowl of grog shall still renew And pledge to love and beauty.

08-05-11, 05:48 PM	#3
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	What is so bad about your police getting 50 of the rifles(they replaced other units more than likely).Guess that you did not notice that guys in the photo are cops? See the CE of POLICE on the second person. There are several gun markers that have improved certain areas of the basic AR-15 design Barrett and H&K both have good concepts I believe that both improved the gas system getting ride of the jam prone gas tube the most poor part of the AR-15 design not only jam prone but it easily over heats.

08-05-11, 07:27 PM	#5
yubba Admiral Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: in a neighborhood near you Posts: 2,478 Downloads: 293 Uploads: 2	Just like the gestapo needin the M-40 too keep the citizenery in line

08-05-11, 08:07 PM	#6
Stealhead Navy Seal Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Kentucky Posts: 5,421 Downloads: 85 Uploads: 0	More like to deal with violent criminals that are armed with automatic weapons in some cases.I did not know that the Germans had the M40 back then: And why be so upset you can buy this weapon legally as well short of being full auto but a true marksmen does not need full auto anyway it is only truly useful for a combat unit needing mass suppression fire all other times deadly rapid controlled single shots are all you need LE mainly only uses semi restricted long barrel weapons anyway.As they say **** happens people including cps make mistakes and errors in judgment so take away all the guns from cops that made no mistakes and let the criminals have free reign.You would not like it very much if suddenly everyone knew that there was no law enforcement you'd need plenty of bullets to say the least. I think that the carrier mounted bolt cover is a clever idea(you can clearly see it in the picture) on most AR-15s and clones is a dust flap that is held in place by a spring the flap must be manually closed upon firing the weapon or operating the action. http://www.intrudershop.com/mmc/imag.../M16-08-02.jpg Here is the BEAR Looks like it also has a dust cover but there is clearly an improved design on the bolt as well seems like a pretty good rifle. http://www.adcorindustries.com/wordp...elite-main.jpg Marine in the field with one http://militarytimes.com/blogs/gears...hanistan-1.jpg There are several good entries in that Army program hopefully they actually make the best choice.