This is cool. The MICOR Leader 50 weighs 17 lbs. and is a semiautomatic, magazine fed bullpup .50 BMG! In the video, the manufacturer says it is accurate out to 2000 yards as well, and I think that would make this weapon an outstanding choice for ship security.
It answers several needs for this industry. It is compact, lightweight, and portable. A weapon like this gives the shooter quick follow up shots and the ability to quickly reload with a ten round magazine. This is important, because if you want to take out the engine of a boat at distance, a weapon like this will help you to get on target and adjust quickly.
A semiautomatic weapon can also help a team to engage multiple boats, and at distance. This is important, because you do not want these boats maneuvering close enough to the vessel so they can use their weapons at an effective range. A pirate that can lob shots at a boat, without any fear of the return fire, is a dangerous pirate and certainly a threat to your vessel.
Think PKM’s, RPG’s, Dragunov SVD’s, AK-47’s, and what kind of weapons your security team can carry to not only compete with these weapons, but actually give you an advantage over them. A weapon like the MICOR Leader 50, along with good supportive weapons, a sound strategy, a well led and trained team, all could give you the edge out there.
Now I cannot fully endorse this weapon quite yet, just because I have yet to hear any serious tests or real world usage of the thing. Once the gun community puts this weapon through the paces, then we will get a good idea about how it stacks up. But I do support the concept of giving the armed security team out there, every advantage they can get.
Here is another reason why I support this kind of weaponry. Today’s pirate forces are evolving and seeking advantage too. The amount of money each ransom brings in (4 to 5 million), is only increasing, and only fueling today’s piracy operations. They will do everything they can to protect their money making machine, much like the cartels in Mexico protect their cash machines called drug sales. With more revenue, comes more options for these pirates, and each pirate company out there will take the path that will help them to secure a capture.
At this time, if only 10 percent of the boats that transit through pirate infested waters have armed security, then the other 90 percent will be the group these pirates will focus in on. But what happens when that 10 percent becomes 80 or 90 percent with armed security? These pirates will have a choice–go back to fishing at home and being poor, or attempt to take down the armed vessels to maintain their business. Yet again, the cartels of Mexico are a good example of how powerful this profit motive is, and what men are willing to do to keep the money coming in.
To underestimate the lethal effects of that kind of entrepreneurial death machine, or offense industry, is a lesson that the entire world is learning and experiencing as we speak. Doom on those security companies and shipping companies who think they can compete against such offense industries, by poorly paying, equipping and ‘arming’ their security teams. –Matt