Gordon Ingram's Westarm .308 Battle Rifle
This video delves into Gordon Ingram's ambitious but ultimately failed Westarm .308 Battle Rifle project from the late 1970s and early 1980s. The description highlights a complex international collaboration involving Italy, Britain, Somalia, and the Dominican Republic. Prototypes were manufactured using British castings in Italy, intended for testing in Somalia as part of a rifle factory project. The rifle's mechanical design is compared to a scaled-up M1 Carbine with a long-stroke gas piston. Production versions were select-fire, while US-imported prototypes were semi-automatic only. The video mentions compatibility with FAL, AR, and AK magazines depending on the caliber (.308, .223, and 7.62x39mm respectively). The project's collapse is attributed to financial corruption, resulting in the Somali government receiving unreliable prototypes after a significant payout.














