Honey Badger
TypeCarbine
Personal defense weapon
Place of originUnited States
Production history
ManufacturerAdvanced Armament Corporation
Produced2011–2020
Specifications
Mass6.5 lb (2.9 kg) (unloaded)
Length24 in (610 mm) retracted with suppressor

29 in (740 mm) extended with suppressor

  • Q Honey Badger: 20 in (510 mm) retracted, 25 in (640 mm) extended[1]
Barrel length6 in (15 cm)
Cartridge.300 AAC Blackout
Rate of fire~800 rounds per minute cyclic
Feed systemSTANAG magazines
SightsPicatinny rail provided for optics

The AAC Honey Badger 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).[2] The weapon is named after the honey badger.[3]

History

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.

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.[5] Though Q tried to resist this claim, they ceased production of the weapon, and confirmed this in an official statement on the 14th.[6][7] 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."[8]

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.[9]

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.[10] Whilst with the added silencer, it is 7.62-15.24 cm longer than the MP5SD, the mass is nearly identical unloaded.[9]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "The Honey Badger". liveqordie.com. October 25, 2013.
  2. ↑ "Honey Badger SD by Q Review | The must have .300 Blackout rifle". Lynx Defense. October 1, 2020. Retrieved October 5, 2020.
  3. ↑ "Honey Badger® by Q SBR". January 5, 2023. Archived from the original on January 5, 2023. Retrieved September 11, 2023.
  4. ↑ "Honey Badger Cares: AAC Getting Out Of Rifle Market - Tactical Retailer". Tacretailer.com. Archived from the original on August 3, 2017. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
  5. ↑ C, Luke (October 6, 2020). "BREAKING: ATF Issues Cease And Desist For Honey Badger Pistol". The Firearm Blog.
  6. ↑ C, Luke (2020). "SHUT DOWN: Q LLC Forced to stop producing Honey Badger Pistol". The Firearm Blog. Archived from the original on October 26, 2020.
  7. ↑ Q, LLC. "UPDATE: ATF ISSUES 60-DAY CEASE & DESIST SUSPENSION" (PDF). Live Q or Die. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 31, 2020. Retrieved October 23, 2020.
  8. ↑ Weingarten, Dean (October 15, 2020). "ATF Pistol Brace Reversal Political Move, 60-Day Suspension of Honey Badger Decision". AmmoLand. Archived from the original on October 17, 2020. Retrieved June 9, 2021.
  9. 1 2 "AAC .300 BLK Honey Badger PDW". Gears of Guns. December 5, 2011. Retrieved August 2, 2017.
  10. ↑ "AAC's HONEY BADGER PDW (with video)". Tactical-life.com. November 15, 2011. Retrieved November 2, 2017.
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