Several years ago an innovative former Marine and student of history named Richard Fitzpatrick designed a rubber pull device to make it easier to pull a magazine out of an ammo carrier. The device fits on the bottom of a rifle magazine, making it easier to grab and, as an added benefit, protects the floorplate if it's dropped. When naming his invention, Fitzpatrick relied on Occam's Razor: the simple solution is the best solution. Something to pull a magazine... Magpul.

Magpul became the name of Fitzpatrick's new company. Located in Boulder, Colo., Magpul went on to produce a great many superb after-market accessories for the AR-15 rifle such as a fully adjustable stock and an ergonomically changeable pistol grip. But that was just a warm up.

Magpul has recently designed a new rifle that will threaten to upset the ruling elite. Showing his fascination with history, Fizpatrick decided to call the new rifle the Masada, the ultimate symbol of defiance, after the ancient Israeli fortress that held the mighty Roman Empire at bay. Innovative and novel, the new gun's full name is the Masada Adaptive Combat Weapons System (MACWS), a mouthful of a title that will be justified as you read on. When Magpul unveiled its new Masada tactical rifle at the 2007 SHOT Show, all eyes were on it. Combining the most modern production methods with well-proven operating principles, this rifle seemed to combine the best of all worlds. Designed by Fitzpatrick and his colleagues Mike Mayberry, Eric and Brian Nakyama and Drake Clark, the Masada uses a conventional short-stroke gas piston to operate its rotating bolt group, but if that sounds like the end of the story, you're in for a number of surprises. In fact, the Masada is full of surprises and they're all good news for the firearms industry, law enforcement and maybe even the U.S. military.

Basic Design
Starting at the muzzle, the Masada is essentially of M16 configuration using the same muzzle threads, which will accept a SureFire suppressor mount or other muzzle brake. The caliber would be the next logical item to cover, but the Masada's "caliber" is what really makes the weapon special—it doesn't have one, it has many! Not only will the Masada be offered in a variety of models and barrel lengths, but also a number of different cartridges. These include the 5.56x45mm NATO and the 7.62x39mm as well as the 5.45x39mm Russian, the 6.8mm SPC and even the 6.5mm Grendel.

Traveling back from the Masada's muzzle we come to the gas block, which is pinned to the barrel in conventional fashion, and connected here is the handguard. Made of super tough space-age synthetic, the handguard can be equipped with an array of Picatinny rails for mounting lights, vertical foregrips and other equipment. While we're here, it's a good time to mention that the Masada already exists in a half-dozen configurations including a four-rail monolithic upper that totally free-floats the barrel. Held to the rifle by a standard push pin, the handguard is almost instantly removable.

Pulling it forward off the Masada exposes a heavy duty, folding, stainless steel handle mounted onto a steel collar surrounding the barrel at the front of a steel trunion in the upper receiver. With the bolt group locked to the rear, this handle can be instantly unlocked from its detent and rotated 60° counter-clockwise. With this accomplished, interrupted threads in the collar disengage from those in the trunion to unlock the collar, barrel and the entire piston system from the upper receiver group, allowing the barrel group to be removed. Reassembly requires only alignment of the parts and rotating the collar handle back down to its 6 o'clock position where it locks tightly in place.

With the barrel removed, the piston group can be disassembled for cleaning. Of course a Hoppes scrub down won't be nearly as necessary as with a standard AR with its direct gas pressure on the bolt. With Masada's gas piston, carbon fouling is cut dramatically. The barrel can also be instantly exchanged for another. Tests have demonstrated that a different barrel shoots within 1 MOA of the original barrel without being re-zeroed.

Extending forward from the rear of the aircraft alloy upper receiver housing to the folding front sight is a full-length Picatinny rail. Integral with the housing, this rail provides uninterrupted mounting capabilities for virtually any optics. During our tests, we used the new Aimpoint Comp M4 with 3x magnifier, Eotech 553, Trijicon 4x32mm ACOG and an AN-PVS14 night vision monocular. These optics were mounted with ARMS and LaRue tactical mounts, except for the Comp M4, which used its issue Aimpoint mount. Recently adopted by the U.S. Army, the Comp M4 will replace all Comp M3 Aimpoints in the Army and provide unlimited battery life with one AA battery. Many Special Forces troops use the Eotech 553 with its circular illuminated reticle, and the Trijicon 4x32mm ACOG is standard issue with the Marine Corps.

Trunion System
The trunion is the object into which a barrel is mounted, or held. While some current trunions are made of aircraft quality alloy and even plastic, the Masada's trunion is made of CNC machined, heat-treated steel, of which the superior characteristics should be obvious. Leading rearward from the steel trunion is heat-treated steel C-channels, one on either side. Permanently secured to the trunion and the receiver housing, these channels support and guide the bolt carrier as it travels back and forth during operation. The operating rod leading from the piston travels through a guide machined in the top of the trunion.While some other upper receiver housings have been made of plastic or other synthetic material, such as the Steyr AUG or FN P90, the Masada utilizes an extruded outer receiver shell of 7000 series aircraft aluminum, the hardest aluminum that's possible to extrude.

The use of aircraft alloy rather than plastic was done to protect the operator's face. Not only is this upper receiver housing semi-permanently secured to the steel trunion, but the steel guide channels are also permanently fastened to the alloy housing using steel bolts that are then swaged to produce a super-strong rivet. The Masada's barrel is secured into the trunion by the threaded collar and the barrel contains an extension into which the rotating bolt locks, just like the M16 rifle. In basic design, the Masada's multi-lug bolt and bolt carrier resembles those of the HK XM8, HK G36 and the much earlier Armalite AR-18. Like with these rifles, the Masada's recoil spring is housed inside the rear of the bolt carrier and, in the Masada, is captive. A folding back-up iron sight (BUIS) is mounted on the front end of the top receiver rail. Although virtually any aftermarket AR rear sight can be used, Magpul plans to design one of its own.

To adjust for cheek weld, the forward portion of the synthetic buttstock contains a patented cheekpiece that is quickly adjustable for elevation. The buttstock is also instantly adjustable for length of pull to accommodate various body armor and other ergonomics of the operator. The stock can be folded to the right for storage or for use in tight spaces, and yes, the Masada can be fired with the buttstock folded. Like with the M16 rifle, the receiver groups of the Masada hinge open and are held together by push pins.

Fire Control System
The Masada's lower receiver is made entirely of the same proprietary synthetic material as the buttstock and handguard, as well as the magazine, which we'll cover in a moment. This material is simply amazing and totally upsets whatever negative notions you might have about "plastic" guns being "tactical Tupperware." Not only is Magpul's polymer lightweight and capable of being molded in different colors, but also the material is phenomenally tough and resilient.

In practical terms, a molded lower receiver is easy to interchange for different magazine well configurations, the single biggest stumbling block to making a weapon truly multi-caliber-capable. For instance, in addition to the standard M16 lower receiver group, there's one that uses AK-47 magazines as well as a version for a new swing-in magazine of Magpul's design. A dedicated magazine and receiver for the 6.8mm SPC is also being looked at.

In its semi-automatic version, the Masada uses standard AR-15 hammer, trigger and springs, but these are housed in a drop-in module held in place by the safety. In the selective fire version, the fire control module is slightly different from (and not interchangeable with) the semi-automatic module. It contains a simple sear trip mechanism with a connector that works off the bolt carrier. In concept, the system is similar to that of the AR-18 and M14, except that all the parts are neatly contained in the module.

Using a FAL-style ambidextrous manual bolt hold-open/release, the Masada also uses a very simple and effective ambidextrous magazine release. The standard Masada rifle accepts all variations of the AR-15 magazine. The safety/selector is also ambidextrous and operates using the same positions as the M16. I teach my students to never look at what it says on the receiver, but to memorize these basic selector positions by feel, as you won't be able to see them at night. The trigger guard is not hinged, but is ideally enlarged to accommodate gloves.

Did I forget to mention the Masada's charging handle? Being utterly simple, this part can be changed from right to left-hand operation in about 30 seconds, but in either position, the other hand can still operate it by a small protrusion that remains. However, the charging handle is being changed to a push-through type that can be pushed out on either side at any time. This is not only a great solution for general use, but also much better during transitioning of the rifle in CQB roles.

In addition to the standard rifle, the Masada is also offered in a heavy barrel, precision marksman variation with a rigid full-length rail handguard for use with a dedicated bipod and optic. SureFire lights and lasers in both visible and infrared (IR) configurations can be mounted in virtually any location on this rail system.

Any variation of the Masada can be had in any color, the most common of which are black, OD green, coyote brown, foliage green, flat dark earth and arctic white. Special camouflage finishes can be done with Duracoat by Lauer Weaponry including Multi-Cam, from Atlanco.

Trigger Time
While we examined several versions of the Masada along with Magpul's own version of an AR-15 style rifle, we only test fired two versions of the Masada, a heavy barrel precision marksman model and a standard lightweight Masada. We found the standard Masada to handle beautifully and to be extremely controllable on full automatic. There was some discussion about a piston operated rifle having more felt recoil than one using direct gas. I'm sure this has technical validity, but over 40 years ago I cut my teeth on .30 caliber M1 Garands, M14s and FN-FALs, so studying differences in recoil from a varmint cartridge becomes academic for me.

On our sample Masada was a Vickers Sling from Blue Force Gear. Of the highest quality slings made, this simple two-point sling is also one of the best designed, operating like a three-point sling with none of the complexities. It allows instant transitioning, adjustment and disengagement. If that's not enough, it comes in all colors. For those who prefer a three-point or single-point sling, the Masada comes with accommodations for them too. We shot the Masada using SureFire's go-to WeaponLight that the Army prefers. It's a tried and true MU System model, designated M951XM07. We also used the excellent M900 Vertical Grip WeaponLight which was particularly good during full automatic fire.

However, the best little WeaponLight we tested was the X300, an upgraded version of the proven X200, but with a much brighter LED producing over 100 lumens instead of the 60 to 65 lumens of the X200. We used the X300 in conjunction with the GripPod, the novel vertical grip with a spring-loaded, pop-down bipod hidden in its handle. The Marine Corps and the Army have both bought literally hundreds of thousands of the GripPod, and for good reason. With its brand-new Picatinny light rail, angled and offset for ease of access with the thumb, the GripPod is a superb piece of gear.

We mounted the X300 on one side and a SureFire L72 laser on a side rail on the handguard. The new X300 provides plenty of lumens to illuminate targets out to 100 yards and the L72 laser provides instant target acquisition without the need to use conventional sights. The Masada's rail options provide an unlimited mounting platform for these and other tactical tools.

World's Best AR Magazine
Although the Masada accepts any AR-15 magazine, Magpul has developed a new magazine which could very well obsolete all—yes all—other magazines. We realize the enormity of what we're saying and yes, we mean all magazines, even the much heralded new HK mag. Called the P-Mag for polymer magazine, this is nothing like the junk Israeli surplus plastic magazines you've seen. Made of the same amazing polymer synthetic that's used in the Masada, the P-Mag surpassed everything else in a real torture test we'll call the "Like A Rock" test.

We laid different magazines on an asphalt parking lot and brought up a Chevy three-quarter ton pickup to do the heavy work. Waiting their turn to be rolled over by the heavy duty Detroit truck, the magazines represented a good cross-section of everything from genuine Colt to all the various government contract mags, all 30-round versions.

It wasn't much of a contest. One by one the aluminum magazines shattered, flattened, squished and burst. Every one was totally ruined. All, that is, except one. Slightly scarred from being ground into the asphalt, the P-Mag was still in tact. We loaded it and fired it—it still worked perfectly.

We then moved on to the "350 Horsepower Hockey Puck" test. We laid the P-Mag down and backed the truck over it, stopping with a rear tire on the magazine. We waited to see if the 6,000 pound truck would eventually crush the P-Mag. After a few minutes, there was still no sign of buckling or collapsing, so stood on the brakes and revved the engine. When we let off the brakes, the rear tires spun like a hot rod on Friday night, sending the P-Mag skimming across the asphalt. The P-Mag slammed into a curb some 35 yards away. This time the exterior was really scuffed up, but it functioned perfectly, and still does. Try this one at home, if you like. The Magpul magazine comes in the same color choices as the Masada rifle. The P-Mag is compatible with all ARs and can be had with a window to check the ammo situation. Brand-new is a smoked translucent 30-round magazine through which all loaded ammunition can be seen. All Magpul magazines come with a truly useful polymer cap that can be removed in a fraction of a second. This cap not only protects the ammunition from debris, but also protects the feed lips.

While the P-Mag will surely be the winner, what about the Masada? In our opinion, the design is way ahead of the pack in all categories. When you think about all the millions of dollars spent by big defense contractors in designing and developing so-called "state-of-the-art" rifles, you'll wonder how this could be possible from a small company in Colorado with no congressman in their back pocket and no R&D contracts to finance their work. Actually, it's simple. The magic of Magpul is a combination of real "gun guys" thinking outside the box and a company philosophy that welcomes input from real-world end-users, something few of the big boys understand. When it comes to innovation, smaller can be better.

Check out more details on the new Masada at www.magpul.com or for snail mail correspondence, you can find them at Magpul Industries Corp., P. O. Box 17697, Dept. CT, Boulder, CO 80308; phone: (877) 4MAGPUL.

Gas Gun Basics
What about short-stroke and long-stroke gas pistons and why does it matter?

Just so you understand the concept, all self-loading firearms are gas operated. There are eight basic ways to cause the mechanism to self-load and while there is some variance in the exact terminology, the most widely used terms are: Simple blowback uses the gas to open a completely unlocked bolt by the opposite reaction of the case being pushed to the rear, as the projectile is pushed forward. A balance of the weight of the bolt and force of a recoil spring equalize the forces so that the bolt does not open until the projectile has left the muzzle. Blowback weapons firing from an open bolt are often aided by pre-ignition where the cartridge is fired as the bolt is still moving forward into battery, and this kinetic energy slows the opening of the bolt.

Retarded blowback uses a semi-locked bolt, the opening of which is slowed by a combination of mechanical leverage aided by spring pressure, such as is found in HK roller-locked weapons and the French FAMAS.

Delayed blowback is a system using a fully locked bolt that is unlocked by inertia during recoil. Another example is primer actuation to unlock the bolt, such as used by John C. Garand in his early rifle design. Retarded and delayed blowback are almost universally confused.

Short recoil is a system using the weight of the barrel to slow the opening of the bolt or breech of the weapon, as the barrel and breech move to the rear, locked together for a distance shorter than the length of the cartridge. The Johnson Automatic Rifle, and machineguns such as the Browning M1917, 1919, M2HB and the German MG34 and MG42 of World War II are of short recoil operation. Most centerfire semi-automatic pistols operate by short recoil where the slide is the bolt.

Long recoil requires that the bolt and barrel move all the way to the rear together before unlocking. In this case, the barrel moves forward under its own spring pressure while the bolt remains at the rear until the empty case is ejected, and then releases the bolt to go forward to chamber the next round. Some semi-automatic shotguns are of long recoil operation.

Long-stroke gas piston operation uses a piston that travels with the bolt carrier or operating rod for a distance as long or longer than the total length of the cartridge, as the carrier unlocks the bolt to extract and eject the empty case and chamber a cartridge. The long-stroke gas piston system emerged during the early 19th century and is the system used in the M1 Garand and AK-47. This system is also used in light machineguns such as the Browning Automatic Rifle and M60. Because of the extra mass brought to the operating parts by the long-stroke piston, a high degree of reliability results.

Short-stroke gas piston systems, like long-stroke pistons, are almost exclusively found in shoulder arms. Here a separate piston or tappet is used to impinge on an operating rod or bolt carrier to send this part rearward. In doing so, the bolt carrier or operating rod cams open the bolt and the two travel together all the way to the rear together, while the piston remains or returns forward. The short-stroke piston is equally as prolific as the long-stroke in modern weapons and was first made famous in the Soviet M1938 Tokarev rifle. Other rifles using this system are the FN-FAL, M14 and Magpul Masada. Direct gas operation uses a tube extending from the gas port directly to the bolt carrier upon which the gas acts by blowing the carrier rearward. This system was pioneered in the Swedish AG42B Ljungman rifle and a decade later was used by Eugene Stoner in his AR-10 rifle. It was followed by the AR-15 and M16 with over 10 million examples having been made.

Depending on a number of variables, such as design and construction, rifles operating by direct gas, long-stroke and short-stroke gas pistons may prove more accurate than other systems, and have emerged as the preferred systems in use today. In terms of rifles, of the three systems, the short-stroke gas piston appears to be the direction where most manufacturers are heading.

The author acknowledges the work of Col. George M. Chinn, USMC (ret.) and for valuable research based on his book The Machine Gun, United States Navy, Bureau of Ordnance.

Masada Adaptive Combat Weapon System Specs

Caliber: 5.56mm NATO and 7.62x39mm
Muzzle Velocity: 2900 fps from 14.5" barrel
Operation: Short stroke gas piston
Method of Locking: Rotating multi-lug bolt
Type of Fire: Selective or semi-automatic only
Barrel Length: 10.5", 14.5" and 18"
Rate of Twist: 6 groove, 1:9 right-hand
Overall Length: 35" (stock extended)
32" (stock retracted)
25" (stock folded)
Weight: 6.7 lbs. (14.5" barrel)
Rate of Fire: 750 rpm
Feed Device: Any M16 magazine
Safety: Thumb safety/selector
Front Sight: Magpul folding protected post, adjustable for elevation
Rear Sight: Any Picatinny rear sight
Stock Furniture: Proprietary synthetic in all military colors
Finish: MilSpec
Price: To be announced

Sources:

A.R.M.S., Inc.
230 West Center St.
West Bridgewater, MA 02375
(508) 584-7816
www.armsmounts.com

Aimpoint, Inc.
14103 Miriah Ct.
Chantilly, VA 20151
(877) 246-7646
www.aimpoint.com

Atlanco
1125 Hayes Industrial Dr.
Marietta, GA 30062
(800) 241-9414
www.truspec.com

Blue Force Gear
P.O. Box 853
Pooler, GA 31322
(877) 430-2583
www.blueforcegear.com

Eotech, Inc.
3600 Green Ct., Ste. 400
Ann Arbor, MI 48105
(734) 741-8868
www.eotech-inc.com

LaRue Tactical
850 CR 177
Leander, TX 78641(512)
259-1585
www.laruetactical.com

Mounting Solutions Plus
10655 SW 185 Ter.
Miami, FL 33157
(800) 428-9394
www.mountsplus.com

Trijicon, Inc.
P.O. Box 930059
Wixom, MI 48393
(800) 338-0563
www.trijicon.com