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More FN SCAR PDW Details Revealed

Logan

It can be said with more confidence that the real steel FN SCAR Personal Defense Weapon (PDW) will soon be approaching production. We have initially reported about this last December 2010, when the French Defense Ministry wrote something about it. While there isn't one coming out for the airsoft market yet at least there's something to hope for as the airsoft community have been very well receptive of the FN SCAR Family.

More details are coming out, and the more recognisable TAN/FDE colour of the SCAR family is now seen in the upcoming PDW. The photo above was posted above by Rob Jensen of VA Arms at the M4carbine forums, His main comment was "It shoots amazingly soft and very controllable in full-auto in 5.56mm." Though we won't stop there and see what more details we can grab about this small "nicety" as a term used by some Popular Airsoft operators.

I won't go into explaining what a "Personal Defense Weapon is", as it's been discussed so many times what this term pertains to. But for those who want the short and sweet description of the FN SCAR PDW, here are the specs:

  • 5.56×45 NATO
  • 6.75' barrel length
  • 20.5' overall length (stock collapsed)
  • 24.9' overall length (stock extended)
  • 5.5 lbs (unloaded)
  • Hammer forged, chrome lined barrel
  • Full length Picatinny rail on top
  • Short Picatinny rails in 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions
  • Folding front and rear sights
  • Stock is a two-position paratrooper design
  • Adjustable gas regulator for use with suppressors
  • Compatible with standard M4/M16 magazines
  • Ambidextrous selector switch and magazine release
  • Reversible charging handle
  • Available in flat dark earth or black

Many of us go gaga when a PDW gets released, and most of us here at Popular Airsoft have a PDW at hand, whether the KAC PDW or the AKS74U which are in themselves very useful guns in skirmishes and are mostly preferred in almost all skirmishes we've ever been to, ergonomic wise and design wise. The SCAR PDW, accordingly, ticks these two items in the checklist, and just like PDWs designed in Western countries, are ambidextrous and easy to operate. It may not be as nice looking at the front with its stubby look as compared to the KAC PDW, but then who is complaining?

The SCAR PDW has a retractable stock, rather than a folding and telescoping buttstock featured in its bigger siblings. It still has the cheek piece, though smaller this time, but would still be comfortable to use when using the weapon sights. The body, while shortened, is unmistakingly a part of the FN SCAR family.  According to the Guns For Sale website, the SCAR PDW has an unconfirmed ROF of 650 rounds per minute, which is a little bit faster than the SCAR L/H which both fire at 625 rpm.

The big question is among us, airsoft players is: how long will it take an airsoft version reach the market? Cybergun already holds the license to the FNH trademarks, but since there are already licensing deals in place, we might either see a VFC, Classic Army, Ares, or G&G version coming out, with DBoys or AGM coming out with copycat/unlicensed versions. I cannot discount Tokyo Marui out, but it might take the Japanese company longer since it just recently released its SCAR-L version with its shoot and recoil engine; it doesn't want an early  SCAR PDW development that might cannibalize the sales of the TM SCAR-L.

The FN SCAR was more widely received in the airsoft market, as it had, or still ongoing, run in sales as there are more airsoft companies that have their versions, unlike other FN guns such as the FN 2000 or the P90 which were limited to one or two vendors (as for the case of the FN 2000, it's only G&G actually producing it as JLS as nowhere to be heard).

We're excited about this development, but will be even more excited if an airsoft version will be produced. For now, the airsoft commmunity will have to wait.

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