Frag Out! Magazine

SHOOTING All the shooters on the range were experienced guys with sport shoot- ing background. They started from IPSC and now they are mostly into the tactical shooting. Guns they mostly deploy during the trainings are AR-15/M4 rifles but they familiar with all the AK platforms or even less popular platforms like FN SCAR. After 7 hours spent downrange and about 1000 rounds put through the barrels we cannot claim we "have tested the MSBS". Testing is some- thing more complex, it takes a lot of time and it should be conducted in different weather, terrain and climate conditions. Also, we could not test the wear and tear resistance or even reliability in dirt, sand and so on. Our goal was to try out the rifles by expe- rienced shooters who could be able to verify weapons functioning and ergonomics. It should be noted that MSBS assault rifles we have been playing with are still in development phase (bull-pup is still less advanced in progress) and some elements could be modified. The MSBS will be the infantry rifle, replacement for old wz. 96 Beryl and AKM rifles in service with the Polish Armed Forces so it does not have to have huge upgrade or modification potential as the platforms for civilian shooters or SOF operators. For infan- try soldier, the reliability, resistance to wear and tear plus easy maintenance are more important than possibility of replacement of the stock or the handguard with the part from one of famous brands. It is still the beginning of the MSBS way – the complete family of rifles will be developed, together with proper accessories. Long story short: all you see will be probably the basic configuration of rifles which could be later modified with the parts and elements developed by FB Radom in future. Taking in account the role of the new rifle as the basic infantry weapon for Polish Armed Forces, the MSBS has great potential in it. It is modular by design and both standard and bull-pup variants share the com- mon upper receiver making it used adaptable. Of course, the "usual Joe" will not use both of the MSBS vari- ants but probably armed forces will procure pre-configured assault rifles (standard ones) plus some bull-pup conversion kits. The fact, that 80% of the parts are interchangeable between both versions will simpli- fy the manufacturing and logistics. Introducing into service of bull-pup MSBS-5,56B could replace Mini-Beryl as a weapon of vehicle crews or sup- port weapons with more compact solution. www.fragoutmag.com

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