Inferior Rifles is a fun little niche of the gunternet that touches into cloning and a few other hobby nooks. This video covers they hyper niche LVAW, the deployed variant of the SIG MCX that a few Western SOF branches picked up to be their newer stronger better faster MP5SD.
For those that know the history of .300BLK, probably the most successful “wildcat” caliber based around the ubiquitous 5.56/.223, the caliber had several goals in its refinement. The final state was to hopefully get these all into a toolless single weapon, but minimal parts swapping such as a buffer and spring would work too.
The goals summarized were
- Current parts inventory compatibility, mags, bolts, etc.
- Current ergonomics compatibility, AR-15 platform.
- Subsonic component with lethality improvements over current 9mm and 45 ACP systems
- Supersonic ballistics comparable or superior to 7.62×39
In short, a rifle that could ballistically match and out ergo the AK47 with a highly capable subsonic component matching the MP5SD.
The SOF roles where the MP5SD would be employed can also employ the LVAW to even greater effect. Better terminal ballistics, better ergonomics, better effective range with a supersonic swap over available for much greater effective range beyond. Load bearing gear set up to run any variant of STANAG rifle can also run the LVAW no problem. It is a system that simplified many aspects of that suppressed weapon role in a forward thinking manner.
There are now more advanced variants of the system that integrate the updated parts and M-LOK negative space mounting system but they’re polishing up what was already the LVAW concept. No different than adding the KAC RAS to the M16 and M4 or MP5 was, or lightening the suppressor or decreasing its back pressure and signature while maintaining weight. Incremental improvements that allow a tool to do more and cover more of its role.
Specialist items will still remain, especially in dedicated CQB guns running cans and sniper systems. Rifles however, continue to cover a wider sphere of effect as systems improve. In many instances the shooter remains the greatest limiting factor.
This was an NGSW progenitor, we’ll see what the future brings.
