Early last year, Advanced Armament made a splash unveiling their Honey Badger PDW. It was a thing of beauty; a custom-designed .300 AAC Blackout rifle that’s no bigger than an MP5SD and with looks that could kill. But as the year wore on, the Honey Badger ran into some trouble. Now, with the unveiling of SIG SAUER’s MCX line, even Kevin Brittingham (the man who championed the Honey Badger’s development) admits that his beloved creation has been bested by SIG’s engineers . . .
I was sitting on Kevin’s porch late one night (and after way too many drinks) when the topic of the Honey Badger came up. As he tells it, the initial response to the new gun from units-which-shall-not-be-named was overwhelmingly positive. They loved the concept, they loved the design, and they even loved the “let’s not take ourselves too seriously” attitude of the packaging (the rifles were delivered in hot pink rifle cases).
The Honey Badger may be an M4 at heart, but only in the same way that Boeing’s new 747-8 is a 747 — the concept is the same but the materials, the operating bits and exterior design were completely new. Advanced Armament re-designed the system to operate without a buffer assembly, engineered in a collapsible skeletonized stock and designed a completely new barrel in order to make the thing work. While this allowed them to take some nifty steps forward, it also meant that there were some serious bugs to be worked out.
By the time that the initial response from the field about the gun was coming back, Kevin had been fired from AAC (the company he founded) by Freedom Group, the engineers in the R&D department had been re-assigned to boost production of existing products, and the Honey Badger hadn’t been touched in ages. Prototypes almost never meet all the requirements for the end user on the first try, and this rifle was no exception. But now, there was no one around to make those changes. Freedom Group hired the interns that had worked on the project previously to come back and try to fix it, but it was too little too late — the damage had been done.
In the meantime, SIG SAUER caught up. Their R&D team, honed by years of working with the military and law enforcement on special projects, had already designed a competitor to the Honey Badger — and they had done it better than AAC. But what was even more important was that Sig Sauer had the ability to respond quicker to requests from the military to modify their design, something that AAC’s mothballed R&D department wasn’t able to do. Freedom Group had traded off long term development for short term productivity and profitability (in keeping with their purported plan to flip the gun companies for a profit), and it seems like it bit them in the ass.
When Kevin first saw the MCX, he knew that Sig had the better product. It was a more well polished design, with a more rugged skeletonized stock and other major improvements. The first time Kevin held one, he dubbed it the “Black Mamba” — the snake that could kill the Honey Badger.
Sig finally unveiled the design for their MCX this year, and even I have to admit that it’s a much better product. The gun is being offered in the standard 5.56 NATO flavor as well as 7.62×39 (for former Soviet countries with a touch of surplus ammo available in that size) and Kevin’s favorite .300 AAC Blackout. So while the actual Honey Badger may be about to be kicked to the curb, the spirit of the firearm and the design concepts (as well as the ammunition that was specifically designed for it) live on.
With the choice of calibers, the better R&D team, and the production capacity that Sig Sauer offers, it’s hard to see how AAC could battle back to win against the old-school gun masters. But then again, it’s happened before.
Lead image from Gear Scout, other photos by David Crane over at DefenseReview.com, used with permission.
Bond Arms makes a two barrel derringer that also swaps barrels on the fly, is more comfortable to hold, and is cheaper. Is the weight and size reduction really worth the extra cost?
shouldn’t this article be titled “how the freedom group killed the honey badger?” just thinking out loud…
Am I mistaken or would the plastic from the opened crimp on a .410 shell stick out of the barrel after it was discharged?
I think out of all the posts you do, the ones that sort of chronicle the current Freedom Group + AAC debacle while celebrating AAC’s successes are my favorite. I hope I’m not projecting too much here, but I believe I feel the same anger and rage at TFG for fucking with such an amazing thing as AAC as you do. Every single time I read about Freedom Group and their determination to completely screw up some of the strongest companies in the biz, I have the reflexive “what the fuck are you guys doing?” emotion that runs through me, and nowhere else is this stronger but when I read about AAC.
anyways, thanks for your coverage on cool stuff, and here’s to Mr. Brittingham and his killer ingenuity. I hope wherever he lands, they treat him the way someone of his skill and talents should be.
/rant off
Now if only Sig could ever get this to market in a timely manner and in available quantities for the average consumer, I’m pretty sure they would start stacking up the profits and Sig converts, but I’m not holding my breath on it. I’d like to be proven wrong though, as this is one of the few Sig products I would consider spending money on.
Will these be available in semi-auto for civilian purchase, or are they select-fire only?
HCI and the Brady Bunch poop their “collective” depends.
I find some of the worst advice comes from YouTube gun channels. There are only a few providing reliable advice and those primarily focus on rifles.
My process followed pretty much in order:
1) Determine what exactly it is that I want and proceed to research
2) Rely on word of mouth reviews from people I know with experience/insight; this might be good enough and I may not move onto step 3.
3) Look to reviews from reputable online sources. This may complete my research and I may not move onto step 4.
4) This all be damned, this is cool and I want it no matter what. This step may supersede all other steps in certain hard on for circumstances.
It depends. It’s usually a three-step process.
#1. Does it fill a need?
#2. Does it fill a want?
#3. Is there a place to shoot it?
I own three .22 rifles and three handguns. Two of the .22 rifles are for my kids. One is for me.
Of the three handguns, my Beretta 92 was purchased for home defense. My Kel Tec is for carry and my .45 is a WW II Army reproduction and just a range toy.
My days of buying cool guns just two own and look at are over. I got rid of all of the sexy modern guns and went back to wood and steel. I don’t hunt. I have no illusions about fighting zombies, aliens or the gub’ment. I just want to plink at cans with my sons, defend my home and protect myself if attacked on the street.
I have considered adding a Springfield XDs to my collection, but I didn’t: mainly because it didn’t do anything that my Kel Tec couldn’t.
So what would it take me to buy another gun? Either a major change in my hobbies, like deciding to take up Skeet or a major change in environmental threat. If my neighborhood went downhill I may consider a shotgun or lever gun but there isn’t much else that would get me to change.
Generally speaking, out of need….
I’ve only been a gun owner for 4 years.
The first one I bought shortly after I moved to Northern Michigan (It’s a whole ‘nother country, eh). Single shot 12 gauge, sold by a guy I work with. The deal was done next door to the plant in the parking lot of the local ball field due to our shop’s self imposed gun free zone. Let the anti’s get ahold of that….
After that I bought a .22LR. I wanted to shoot more, I wanted to learn more about guns in general, and .22LR was cheap and readily available…oh how I miss those days.
I bought a .30-30 for a deer rifle, again availability of ammo played a big factor in that specific choice. And in a completely vain way, I wanted me a lever gun…
I bought a Remmy 870 because I was tired of only getting one shot off per flock of ducks. Ironic because since then I haven’t seen a flock of ducks….
When I wanted to buy a pistol it was also a completely vain choice…1911. Because. 1911. That one price played the biggest factor. I was actually going to buy a 1911 .22 because the gun was cheap as was the ammo. I had to convince the wife to let me run up the charge card for a .45.
Those are all of the ones I’m willing to talk about 🙂
In most of the cases, except the first, the primary choice was based on need. “I need a gun that will do X.” If I look at why that SPECIFIC gun for that role, it was mostly influenced by name and price.
I asked around and the 336 is an extremely popular deer rifle up here, several friends have 3rd generation rifles that still function flawlessly (I didn’t know about Marlin’s problems when I bought mine). The 870 is the 870; been around forever and a solid platform. And, like I said, 1911.
Price is always a big factor (hopefully soon to change with my forthcoming, better paying position). My gun budget is exactly zero. In fact, some of the guns on that list I’m still paying interest on. So getting something reliable at a good price is a concern for me, and so far they’ve all been flawless (even when I had to take a punch and hammer to get the bolt out of the Marlin….don’t ask….)
Its referring to the mechanical trigger as opposed to an inertia trigger that requires force to reset it, as most O/U’s have inertia triggers
If you are going to review something then follow the instructions in the manual. I own one and have never had a jam or mis-feed because of a weak spring in the magazine… Why? because I crank it the number of times it says to.
I have had it cause a problem when I tried to slowly lower the bolt when cocking it, you can’t do that, you have to let it snap back…. But hey I didn’t follow the instructions on that part so I can’t complain.
Maybe you should go buy a diesel truck to review and then fill it with gasoline before you do the test drive, it would make as much sense as what you did here.
Note that the stories also say that he was recently “transfered” to an alternative school. Which is code for deliquent behavior. He thought he was a tough guy and no gringo cop was going to tell him want to do. Reconquista attitude baby.
Took mine out to the range recently, 22 WMR. I like the rifle except for the loose fit, action to composite stock. My action does not secure well in the stock and makes for loose groups. I like the rifle, just need to figure out a fix for the loose fit. And I did have a screw driver along to tighten the screws. Still not what I expect. Did not have any issues with the magazine. Put 40 rounds through it.
At first, I got sucked in because I “needed” a gun of type X (MSR, subcompact handgun, full size, etc)
Then I looked around and picked a winner from that style that was within my budget. Based on reviews, capacity, price, reputable manufacturer, etc
These days? If something new catches my interest I read reviews on it, and then decide if I want to take the chance or not. I am more willing to shell out cash to a company that has given me a trouble free experience so far, or to one with a similarly good reputation. I wait until I hear the horror stories from the others on smaller name groups (looking at you Keltec) and then pass.
Marginal people skills doesn’t necessarily translate into a superior/inferior product, especially from an engineering viewpoint. I’m sure it’s not over by a long shot either – most of us know corporations would rather spend umpteen bucks on lawyers to drag out a given case when it would be cheaper to settle merely to save face or avoid setting a precedent.
FWIW I say score one for the good guy.
Tom
essentially good article but the beginning premise is bunk.
If I go up to a gay couple and make a sh*tty remark that questions their fidelity, hygiene, spirituality or legality, (unless they’re jaded old school) they will be hurt, offended, angry and my ignorant commentary is nowhere near the truth nor is their reaction any indicator.
But also remember in this decades-long assault on “pigs” that cops are people. they hate paperwork, they do the best they can for themselves and their family and their coworkers. Just like us social service dweebs, or the guys on the assembly line.
When sh*tty legislation comes down, remember the officer didn’t write it. He probably voted against it if anyone in the state was allowed a vote at all. In fact, treat an officer with respect beyond what they treat you and you’ll get through fine.
In fact, think of it like judo- an officer comes on with “authoritah!” and if there’s no resistance, and add some assistance and he/she will probably trip right over their own roll. 🙂
Save the internet lawyer crap (see that soo much from neighborhood kids getting busted for their weed and unlicensed motorscooters) for the judge, where there are more witnesses and a chance to attack the bad law at it’s source.
If you’re living in the projects to start with you are at an economic disadvantage. 340 bucks for a permit could be a months groceries for a hard up family. How, in NYC does a project dweller that has mastered all the hoops to legally buy a gun do so? Are there ffl’s in the projects? How far does the project dweller have to travel on public transit to a licensed dealer and can he then carry his new purchase home on public transit without being arrested?
Too bad it’s so F**KING ugly! At lest the HB looks nice!
As a person of way to many years (decades) of experience with tried true and new firearms.
I CRY FOUL.
I have owned proven weapons M1’s – M14’s – most anything with BDL after it – KG’s – Uzi,s – Mac10’s Ingrams not the trash that followed and well before Hollywood made odd cool.
I have also possessed a few turkeys in my time nothing a bigger failure than the .45 Uzi. Yes they made’em don’t shake your head in dis-belief.
However I gotta say I’ve seen few weapons that deliver in practical use as the Honey Badger or style there of has for me.
300 Blackout is a god send to Qc situations. Accuracy is better than expected. Not a good day to be a hog if your in sight anywhere in Texas.
maybe they don’t stack up when commercially built in mass quantities but I’ll put my Badger against all comers and that includes the mamba any day.
Not trying to be a naysayer and I’m sure that y’all have earned the respect of those you share with but don’t count the 300 out some things just won’t stay dead.