Engineering:AAC Honey Badger
| Honey Badger | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Personal defense weapon |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Advanced Armament Corporation |
| Produced | 2011–2020 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 6.5 lb (2.9 kg) (unloaded) |
| Length | 24 in (610 mm) (fully retracted with suppressor) 29 in (740 mm) (fully extended with suppressor) |
| Barrel length | 6 in (15 cm) |
| Cartridge | .300 AAC Blackout |
| Rate of fire | ~800 rounds per minute cyclic |
| Feed system | STANAG magazines |
| Sights | Picatinny rail provided for optics |
The AAC Honey Badger PDW is a personal defense weapon, frequently used in a suppressed configuration and is based on the AR-15. It is chambered in .300 AAC Blackout and was originally produced by Advanced Armament Corporation (AAC).[1] The weapon is named after the honey badger.
Design
Both the rifle and the cartridge used were developed in close co-operation with American Special Operations units to create a suitable and effective replacement for the HK MP5 and similar close quarters combat weapon systems. The rifle is designed to be very convenient for military use where M16s are issued and in common use, since many similarities would exist in the fire controls, weapon manipulation, and magazines. The weapon is suppressed and it can be made even quieter by using heavy subsonic .300 Blackout ammunition. The weapon is sometimes wrongly referred to as being "integrally suppressed" which it is not. It just has a short barrel and a big conventional suppressor.
Kevin Brittingham, the founder of AAC, wanted to design a weapon which had the ease of use of an AR-15, but the portability of an MP5.[2]
The Honey Badger was developed with a standard M4 upper and lower receiver, a short barrel with a very short gas impingement system and fast rate of rifling twist, a large conventional detachable silencer, and a proprietary buffer tube and collapsible stock featuring two prongs.[3] Whilst with the added silencer, it is 7.62-15.24 cm longer than the MP5SD, the mass is nearly identical unloaded.[2]
Replacement
In 2013, AAC began focusing their efforts on the production of suppressors. “We made the decision that we are getting out of the rifle-making business,” stated Jeff Still, Director of Accessories and Silencers at Remington Outdoor Company. “We are going to focus all of our efforts on silencers and related accessories.”[4] In 2017, Kevin Brittingham founded a new company named "Q, LLC". Along with suppressors and a bolt-action rifle of their own design, Q has also developed and marketed an improved Honey Badger.[5]
Cease and desist
On October 6, 2020, the ATF sent Q a cease and desist letter, asserting that the Honey Badger pistol was a short-barreled rifle.[6] Though Q tried to resist this claim, they ceased production of the weapon, and confirmed this in an official statement on the 14th.[7][8] On October 15, the ATF gave their cease and desist a 60-day suspension, but Q chose not to resume production of the Honey Badger until the ATF made a definitive decision, as they believed "the ATF could arbitrarily withdraw the suspension at any time."[9]
See also
- GA Personal Defense Weapon – another AR-15-based PDW, chambered in 7.62×37mm Musang.
- Magpul PDR – a bullpup PDW chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO.
References
- ↑ "Honey Badger SD by Q Review | The must have .300 Blackout rifle" (in en-US). October 1, 2020. https://lynxdefense.com/q-honey-badger-sd-review/.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 "AAC .300 BLK Honey Badger PDW" (in en-US). Gears of Guns. December 5, 2011. http://gearsofguns.com/aac-300-blk-honey-badger-pdw/.
- ↑ "AAC's HONEY BADGER PDW (with video)". November 15, 2011. http://www.tactical-life.com/online/exclusives/aac%E2%80%99s-honey-badger-pdw/.
- ↑ "Honey Badger Cares: AAC Getting Out Of Rifle Market - Tactical Retailer". https://www.tacretailer.com/2015/04/09/honey-badger-cares-aac-getting-out-of-rifle-market.
- ↑ "The Honey Badger". October 25, 2013. https://liveqordie.com/products/honey-badger-by-q?variant=7696050978844/.
- ↑ C, Luke (October 6, 2020). "BREAKING: ATF Issues Cease And Desist For Honey Badger Pistol". https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/10/06/honey-badger-pistol-2/.
- ↑ C, Luke (2020). "SHUT DOWN: Q LLC Forced to stop producing Honey Badger Pistol". https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2020/10/22/honey-badger-shut-down/.
- ↑ Q, LLC. "UPDATE: ATF ISSUES 60-DAY CEASE & DESIST SUSPENSION". https://www.liveqordie.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/Q-Honey-Badger-Pistol-60-Day-Follow-Up-Final.pdf.
- ↑ Weingarten, Dean (October 15, 2020). "ATF Pistol Brace Reversal Political Move, 60-Day Suspension of Honey Badger Decision" (in en-US). https://www.ammoland.com/2020/10/atf-pistol-brace-reversal-political-move-60-day-suspension-of-honey-badger-decision/.
External links
- Advanced Armament Corp.’s PDW in 300 BLK: the Honey Badger Guns.com
- Original product concept by Robert S. Silvers
- Honey Badger by Q
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