Colt Defense was split off from Colt's Manufacturing Company in 2002 in order to focus on the military, law enforcement and security markets. It is based in West Hartford, Connecticut.
While I was visiting with Colt Defense personnel at Colt headquarters, one of the weapons they showed me and allowed me to test-fire was a 10.3"-barreled M4 CQBR/PDW-type 5.56×45mm NATO (5.56mm NATO) /.223 Rem. select-fire SBR/subcarbine called the Colt Sub-Compact Weapon a.k.a. Colt SCW (or, as I like to call it–and the Colt APC, both–the "HK416 Killer", or just "416 Killer" for short). The SCW is designed specifically for CQB/CQC in confined spaces like buildings and small dwellings in urban warfare environments, vehicle deployment during security operations (i.e. PSD ops), and any other operation where a compact 5.56 weapon is the optimal solution, while still allowing the operator to effectively engage medium-range targets, as required. In addition to the shorty barrel, the SCW sports an interesting and unique side-folding/telescoping a.k.a. folding/collapsible buttstock that reduces overal (OA) weapon length even further during transport. This makes the SCW the most compact of all of Colt Defense’s shoulder weapons/long guns.
The end-user can choose from three different operating systems:…
1) An Upgraded Direct Gas Impingement System, which incorporates Colt’s proprietary gas regulator sleeve a.k.a. gas impingement sleeve (patent pending) that fits into the front sight and is designed to eliminate the negative effects of gas port erosion on cyclic rate/ROF over the life cycle of the weapon system while simultaneously increasing weapon reliability
and durability.
2) The Colt Piston System (CPS), which is a gas piston/op-rod-driven system that was originally designed and developed specifically for the new Colt Advanced Piston Carbine (APC), which DefenseReview will be covering later. The Colt Piston System seemingly capitalizes on the lessons learned from the Colt M5 and Colt LE1020 projects, and uniquely utilizes an articulating-link piston (ALP) system that’s designed to reduce operating stresses on crtical weapon components, and thus solve a problem that is inherent in competing piston-driven systems like the HK416 (HK 416), LWRC M6A2, etc. The Colt articulating link piston operating system is also supposed to increase the weapon’s accuracy and ease piston/op-rod removal for weapon cleaning and maintenance. During my visit and firing session, I asked Phil Hinckley, Executive Director of Quality and Engineering at Colt Defense LLC, if the Colt Piston System is "bulletproof", i.e. perfected and totally reliable under adverse conditions and high round count, and Mr. Hinckley assured me that it was.
3) The Colt Advanced Hybrid System (AHS), which is perhaps the most interesting and fascinating system, for it combines Colt’s upgraded direct-gas-impingement system with its advanced piston operating system. It’s DefenseReview’s understanding at present that the Advanced Hybrid System, originally designed and developed for the Colt Advanced Hybrid Carbine (AHC), utilizes both the aforementioned gas regulator sleeve in the upgraded/product-improved direct-gas-impingement (DGI) portion of the system and the articulating link piston on the piston portion of the system. We’ll try to get verification on this point.
The end-user also has receiver configuration and barrel choices. He can have Colt’s patented Mil-Std-1913 "Picatinny" monolithic upper receiver or a standard Mil-Std-1913 flat-top upper receiver with separate handguard (quad) rail system/forend rail tube. He can also choose between a button-rifled or cold-hammer-forged barrel, either of which can exceed 15,000 rounds before replacement.
"Bolt Carrier Buffer System" that attenuates/mitigates recoil and barrel climb and thus improves full-auto controllability and results in more hits on target. I could go into more detail about how this feature works, but I won’t until and unless I receive clearance from Colt Defense. Let’s just say that components of this buffer system have been tested in excess of 36,000 rounds on multiple units, and the system allows for a shorter receiver extension tube (3.25" long) that allows the utilization of a folding/telescoping a.k.a. folding/collapsible buttstock.
- New Cam Pin Protector that "eliminates damage to the upper receiver cam pin slot inherent in other piston designs."
- New "Pivot Forward" Extractor that improves grip on the cartridge case during hard extraction, particularly during full-auto fire. This is a crucial and welcome component, for all AR-based carbines and subcarbines in the U.S. military inventory, including the Colt M4 Carbine, M4A1 Carbine, Colt M4 Commando (11.5") and Colt-based M4 CQBR (10.5").
- Enhanced Dust Cover "Wiper" (patent pending) which obviates the need for a traditional manual dust cover (a.k.a. ejection port cover), except perhaps for a training situation where the user might want to walk around with a cleared weapon where the bolt carrier group is locked to the rear and the (traditional manual) ejection port cover is closed over the open ejection port to keep out foreign debris. I could describe the Enhanced Dust Cover Wiper automatic ejection port cover in more detail (because I’ve actually seen it and touched it), but we’ll check with Colt Defense personnel to make sure we’re cleared to do so.
- Side-Folding/Telescoping Quick-Detach Buttstock Assembly, which is pretty slick. I examined and utilized this component during my visit, which included a firing session.
- Optional Titanium Folding Front Sight/BUIS that, due to it’s lightweight (or, at least, lighter-weight) nature, reduces weight on the barrel and thus increases accuracy and zero retention.
- Optional Colt Grip Laser (CGL) vertical foregrip with integral white light and visible laser. The laser has two modes: pulse mode and constant laser mode.
- Multi-Functional Holster, Sling and Magazine/Accessory Pouch that "provides the user rapid access to weapon from seated, standing or prone position."
As I alluded to at the beginning of this piece, I got to test-fire the SCW among several other Colt Defense weapons, but while I got to test it on full-auto, I was only able to put a few magazines through it. I didn’t get to run the SCW through the proverbial ringer under adverse conditions and high round count like the U.S. military inevitably will. I was able to control the weapon on full-auto, although it had a higher cyclic rate/ROF than the FERFRANS Specialties SOAR 10.5" SBRs (DGI and gas piston). I’d have to run the Colt SCW and FERFRANS SOAR 10.5" SBRs side by side to see which allowed more hits on target while firing full-auto strings.
It would be interesting to see how Colt Defense’s various select-fire/full-auto military offerings, including the SCW, would perform if they integrated FERFRANS Specialties’ patented Rate Reduction System (RRS), as it would simultaneously make all the weapons more controllable on full-auto (increasing hits on target) and enhance reliability, durability and weapon longevity by reducing heat and stress on crucial weapon components. Understand that the RRS operates outside of the weapon’s gas system. So, while the RRS reduces cyclic rate/ROF to the sub-700 RPM range (approx. 625-675 RPM), according to Ferdie Sy, President/CEO of FERFRANS Specialties, the RRS does not reduce weapon reliability in the slightest.
Without shooting the weapons side by side, and just going on memory, I’d have to give the FERFRANS SBRs the edge over the Colt SBRs (10.3" and 11.5" barrels) for hits on target during full-auto fire, due to their (SOAR SBRs) employment of the RRS. In my opinion, the FERFRANS RRS would give Colt 5.56mm weapons an even greater edge over their competitors in the military and law enforcement arenas.
The Supplier will perform, to the extent required, receiving inspection, in-process inspection, and final inspection to assure conformance of items to contract requirements. Minimum inspection requirements are specified in Colt's Inspection Instruction Sheets (F-5031), which are available to all Suppliers. Suppliers may use Colt's Quality Control Record (F-5032) to document and maintain inspection results. An Inspection Record for each lot of parts or material delivered to Colt must be maintained on file and be readily retrievable for the length of the record retention requirements listed below.
a)
Record Retention –
Suppliers are required to keep all COLT related quality records for a minimum of (3) years plus the current year. Records must be readily retrievable and available for review upon request
Suppliers who provide products and/or services that directly or indirectly affect COLT end products are subject to a Supplier Evaluation process. Suppliers are evaluated and selected based on their ability to meet Colt’s requirements including the quality system and any specific contractual customer requirements.
a)
When requested by COLT Purchasing, a new supplier may be added to the COLT Approved Supplier List as “conditionally” approved, pending a review of the Suppliers quality system.
b)
The Supplier Quality Engineer will conduct an evaluation of the supplier’s quality system. .
c)
The COLT Supplier Quality Engineer will review the Suppliers’ Quality Manual, Supplier Self-Assessment Survey (F-5015), and any relevant audit reports to determine if the Suppliers’ Quality System is adequate. The Supplier Quality Engineer will report this determination to the Supplier Quality Manager, Purchasing, and to the Suppliers’ Quality Representative.
d)
“Approved” status is attained when all quality system issues have been satisfactorily resolved and pre-production samples from the initial purchase order have been inspected and accepted.
While I was visiting with Colt Defense personnel at Colt headquarters, one of the weapons they showed me and allowed me to test-fire was a 10.3"-barreled M4 CQBR/PDW-type 5.56×45mm NATO (5.56mm NATO) /.223 Rem. select-fire SBR/subcarbine called the Colt Sub-Compact Weapon a.k.a. Colt SCW (or, as I like to call it–and the Colt APC, both–the "HK416 Killer", or just "416 Killer" for short). The SCW is designed specifically for CQB/CQC in confined spaces like buildings and small dwellings in urban warfare environments, vehicle deployment during security operations (i.e. PSD ops), and any other operation where a compact 5.56 weapon is the optimal solution, while still allowing the operator to effectively engage medium-range targets, as required. In addition to the shorty barrel, the SCW sports an interesting and unique side-folding/telescoping a.k.a. folding/collapsible buttstock that reduces overal (OA) weapon length even further during transport. This makes the SCW the most compact of all of Colt Defense’s shoulder weapons/long guns.
The end-user can choose from three different operating systems:…
1) An Upgraded Direct Gas Impingement System, which incorporates Colt’s proprietary gas regulator sleeve a.k.a. gas impingement sleeve (patent pending) that fits into the front sight and is designed to eliminate the negative effects of gas port erosion on cyclic rate/ROF over the life cycle of the weapon system while simultaneously increasing weapon reliability
and durability.
2) The Colt Piston System (CPS), which is a gas piston/op-rod-driven system that was originally designed and developed specifically for the new Colt Advanced Piston Carbine (APC), which DefenseReview will be covering later. The Colt Piston System seemingly capitalizes on the lessons learned from the Colt M5 and Colt LE1020 projects, and uniquely utilizes an articulating-link piston (ALP) system that’s designed to reduce operating stresses on crtical weapon components, and thus solve a problem that is inherent in competing piston-driven systems like the HK416 (HK 416), LWRC M6A2, etc. The Colt articulating link piston operating system is also supposed to increase the weapon’s accuracy and ease piston/op-rod removal for weapon cleaning and maintenance. During my visit and firing session, I asked Phil Hinckley, Executive Director of Quality and Engineering at Colt Defense LLC, if the Colt Piston System is "bulletproof", i.e. perfected and totally reliable under adverse conditions and high round count, and Mr. Hinckley assured me that it was.
3) The Colt Advanced Hybrid System (AHS), which is perhaps the most interesting and fascinating system, for it combines Colt’s upgraded direct-gas-impingement system with its advanced piston operating system. It’s DefenseReview’s understanding at present that the Advanced Hybrid System, originally designed and developed for the Colt Advanced Hybrid Carbine (AHC), utilizes both the aforementioned gas regulator sleeve in the upgraded/product-improved direct-gas-impingement (DGI) portion of the system and the articulating link piston on the piston portion of the system. We’ll try to get verification on this point.
The end-user also has receiver configuration and barrel choices. He can have Colt’s patented Mil-Std-1913 "Picatinny" monolithic upper receiver or a standard Mil-Std-1913 flat-top upper receiver with separate handguard (quad) rail system/forend rail tube. He can also choose between a button-rifled or cold-hammer-forged barrel, either of which can exceed 15,000 rounds before replacement.
"Bolt Carrier Buffer System" that attenuates/mitigates recoil and barrel climb and thus improves full-auto controllability and results in more hits on target. I could go into more detail about how this feature works, but I won’t until and unless I receive clearance from Colt Defense. Let’s just say that components of this buffer system have been tested in excess of 36,000 rounds on multiple units, and the system allows for a shorter receiver extension tube (3.25" long) that allows the utilization of a folding/telescoping a.k.a. folding/collapsible buttstock.
- New Cam Pin Protector that "eliminates damage to the upper receiver cam pin slot inherent in other piston designs."
- New "Pivot Forward" Extractor that improves grip on the cartridge case during hard extraction, particularly during full-auto fire. This is a crucial and welcome component, for all AR-based carbines and subcarbines in the U.S. military inventory, including the Colt M4 Carbine, M4A1 Carbine, Colt M4 Commando (11.5") and Colt-based M4 CQBR (10.5").
- Enhanced Dust Cover "Wiper" (patent pending) which obviates the need for a traditional manual dust cover (a.k.a. ejection port cover), except perhaps for a training situation where the user might want to walk around with a cleared weapon where the bolt carrier group is locked to the rear and the (traditional manual) ejection port cover is closed over the open ejection port to keep out foreign debris. I could describe the Enhanced Dust Cover Wiper automatic ejection port cover in more detail (because I’ve actually seen it and touched it), but we’ll check with Colt Defense personnel to make sure we’re cleared to do so.
- Side-Folding/Telescoping Quick-Detach Buttstock Assembly, which is pretty slick. I examined and utilized this component during my visit, which included a firing session.
- Optional Titanium Folding Front Sight/BUIS that, due to it’s lightweight (or, at least, lighter-weight) nature, reduces weight on the barrel and thus increases accuracy and zero retention.
- Optional Colt Grip Laser (CGL) vertical foregrip with integral white light and visible laser. The laser has two modes: pulse mode and constant laser mode.
- Multi-Functional Holster, Sling and Magazine/Accessory Pouch that "provides the user rapid access to weapon from seated, standing or prone position."
As I alluded to at the beginning of this piece, I got to test-fire the SCW among several other Colt Defense weapons, but while I got to test it on full-auto, I was only able to put a few magazines through it. I didn’t get to run the SCW through the proverbial ringer under adverse conditions and high round count like the U.S. military inevitably will. I was able to control the weapon on full-auto, although it had a higher cyclic rate/ROF than the FERFRANS Specialties SOAR 10.5" SBRs (DGI and gas piston). I’d have to run the Colt SCW and FERFRANS SOAR 10.5" SBRs side by side to see which allowed more hits on target while firing full-auto strings.
It would be interesting to see how Colt Defense’s various select-fire/full-auto military offerings, including the SCW, would perform if they integrated FERFRANS Specialties’ patented Rate Reduction System (RRS), as it would simultaneously make all the weapons more controllable on full-auto (increasing hits on target) and enhance reliability, durability and weapon longevity by reducing heat and stress on crucial weapon components. Understand that the RRS operates outside of the weapon’s gas system. So, while the RRS reduces cyclic rate/ROF to the sub-700 RPM range (approx. 625-675 RPM), according to Ferdie Sy, President/CEO of FERFRANS Specialties, the RRS does not reduce weapon reliability in the slightest.
Without shooting the weapons side by side, and just going on memory, I’d have to give the FERFRANS SBRs the edge over the Colt SBRs (10.3" and 11.5" barrels) for hits on target during full-auto fire, due to their (SOAR SBRs) employment of the RRS. In my opinion, the FERFRANS RRS would give Colt 5.56mm weapons an even greater edge over their competitors in the military and law enforcement arenas.
The Supplier will perform, to the extent required, receiving inspection, in-process inspection, and final inspection to assure conformance of items to contract requirements. Minimum inspection requirements are specified in Colt's Inspection Instruction Sheets (F-5031), which are available to all Suppliers. Suppliers may use Colt's Quality Control Record (F-5032) to document and maintain inspection results. An Inspection Record for each lot of parts or material delivered to Colt must be maintained on file and be readily retrievable for the length of the record retention requirements listed below.
a)
Record Retention –
Suppliers are required to keep all COLT related quality records for a minimum of (3) years plus the current year. Records must be readily retrievable and available for review upon request
Suppliers who provide products and/or services that directly or indirectly affect COLT end products are subject to a Supplier Evaluation process. Suppliers are evaluated and selected based on their ability to meet Colt’s requirements including the quality system and any specific contractual customer requirements.
a)
When requested by COLT Purchasing, a new supplier may be added to the COLT Approved Supplier List as “conditionally” approved, pending a review of the Suppliers quality system.
b)
The Supplier Quality Engineer will conduct an evaluation of the supplier’s quality system. .
c)
The COLT Supplier Quality Engineer will review the Suppliers’ Quality Manual, Supplier Self-Assessment Survey (F-5015), and any relevant audit reports to determine if the Suppliers’ Quality System is adequate. The Supplier Quality Engineer will report this determination to the Supplier Quality Manager, Purchasing, and to the Suppliers’ Quality Representative.
d)
“Approved” status is attained when all quality system issues have been satisfactorily resolved and pre-production samples from the initial purchase order have been inspected and accepted.
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