Main Weaponry of the series

Here are the main weapons used by the cast in The Chronicles of Equestria and the Isle of Berk.

## Handguns

### Flintlock Pistol

**Flintlock pistols** were used as self-defense weapons and as a military

 arm. Their effective range was short, and they were frequently used as
an adjunct to a sword or cutlass. Pistols were usually smoothbore although some rifled pistols were produced.

Flintlock pistols came in a variety of sizes and styles which often
overlap and are not well defined, many of the names we use having been
applied by collectors and dealers long after the pistols were obsolete.
The smallest were less than 6 inches long (15 cm) and the largest were
over 20 inches (50 cm). From around the beginning of the 1700s the
larger pistols got shorter, so that by the late 1700s the largest would
be more like 16 inches long (40 cm). The smallest would fit into a
typical pocket or a hand warming muff and could easily be carried by
women.

The largest sizes would be carried in holsters across a horse's back
just ahead of the saddle. In-between sizes included the coat pocket
pistol, or coat pistol, which would fit into a large pocket, the coach
pistol, meant to be carried on or under the seat of a coach in a bag or
box, and belt pistols, sometimes equipped with a hook designed to slip
over a belt or waistband. Larger pistols were called horse pistols.
Arguably the most elegant of the pistol designs was the Queen Anne pistol, which was made in all sizes.

Probably the high point of the mechanical development of the flintlock pistol was the British duelling pistol;
 it was highly reliable, water resistant and accurate. External
decoration was minimal but craftsmanship was evident, and the internal
works were often finished to a higher degree of craftsmanship than the
exterior. Dueling pistols were the size of the horse pistols of the late
 1700s, around 16 inches long (40 cm) and were usually sold in pairs
along with accessories in a wooden case with compartments for each
piece.

#### Users:

* Mr. Great White (.50 cal English pistol)
* Captain Gold Teeth (Spanish Miqulet Flintlock Pistol)
* Sailor John (British 1756 Light Dragoon Pistol)
* Jack Sparrow (.50 cal English pistol)
* Captain Barbossa (Spanish Miqulet Flintlock Pistol)
* Black Beard (short barreled pistol)

#### Gallery

.50 flintlock pistolBritish 1756 Light Dragoon Pistol - .68 caliberSpanish Miqulet Flintlock Pistol
### Remington 1866 Derringer

**A derringer** is generally the smallest usable handgun of a given

caliber. They were frequently used by women, because they are easily
concealable in a purse or as a stocking gun.[3]
 Such weapons designed specifically for women were called "muff
pistols", due to their compact size enabling them to be carried in a muff.[4] Derringers are not repeating firearms—repeating mechanisms such as those used in semi-automatic handguns and/or revolvers would add significant bulk to the gun, defeating the purpose.[4] The original cartridge derringers held only a single round, usually a pinfire or rimfire .40 caliber cartridge, with the barrel pivoted sideways on the frame to allow access to the breech for reloading. The famous Remington
 derringer design doubled the capacity, while maintaining the compact
size, by adding a second barrel on top of the first and pivoting the
barrels upwards to reload. Each barrel then held one round, and a cam on
 the hammer alternated between top and bottom barrels. The Remington
derringer was in .41 Short
 caliber and achieved wide popularity. The .41 Short bullet moved very
slowly, at about 425 feet per second (130 m/s), around half the speed of
 a modern .45 ACP. It could be seen in flight, but at very close range, such as at a casino or saloon card table, it could easily kill. The Remington derringer was sold from 1866 to 1935.[5]
The classic Remington design remained popular even with the advent of
 smaller, higher-powered cartridges, made possible by the use of smokeless powder, rather than the black powder used in the 19th century and before. A Remington-pattern derringer in .38 Special is still smaller than the most compact .25 ACP semiautomatic, and provides superior terminal ballistic performance to the .25 ACP. While the classic Remington design is a single-action,
 manufacturers have also made double-action derringers, including some
four-shot models, with the barrels stacked in a 2 × 2 block. The COP 357 Derringer provided four shots of .357 Magnum
 in a package not much larger than a .25 ACP automatic, and was
significantly more compact than a similar revolver. The COP derringer
was invented by Robert Hillberg and closely resembled his earlier work on insurgency weapons.

### Colt Single Action Army Revolver

    The **Colt Single Action Army** which is also known as the **Single Action Army**, **SAA**, **Model P**, **Peacemaker**, **M1873**, and **Colt .45** is a single-action revolver with a revolving cylinder holding six metallic cartridges.

 It was designed for the U.S. government service revolver trials of 1872
 by Colt's Patent Firearms Manufacturing Company – today's Colt's Manufacturing Company – and was adopted as the standard military service revolver until 1892.

The Colt SAA has been offered in over 30 different calibers and
various barrel lengths. Its overall appearance has remained consistent
since 1873. Colt has discontinued its production twice, but brought it
back due to popular demand. The revolver was popular with ranchers,
lawmen, and outlaws alike, but as of the early 21st century, models are
mostly bought by collectors and re-enactors. Its design has influenced the production of numerous other models from other companies.

Bound by the Rollin White patent (#12,648, April 3, 1855) and not wanting to pay a royalty fee to Smith & Wesson, Colt could not begin development of bored-through revolver cylinders for metallic cartridge use until April 4, 1869.[2] For the design, Colt turned to two of its best engineers: William Mason and Charles Brinckerhoff Richards
 who had developed a number of revolvers and black powder conversions
for the company. Their effort was designed for the United States
government service revolver trials of 1872 by Colt's Patent Firearms
Manufacturing Company and adopted as the standard military service
revolver. Production began in 1873 with the Single Action Army model
1873,[3] also referred to as the "New Model Army Metallic Cartridge Revolving Pistol".[4]

The very first production Single Action Army, serial number 1,
thought lost for many years after its production, was found in a barn in
 Nashua, New Hampshire in the early 1900s.[5] It was chambered in .45 Colt,
 a centerfire design containing charges of up to 40 grains (2.6 g) of
fine-grained black powder and a 255-grain (16.5 g) blunt roundnosed
bullet. Relative to period cartridges and most later handgun rounds, it
was quite powerful in its full loading.[4]

The Colt Single Action Army revolver, along with the 1870 and 1875 Smith & Wesson Model 3 "Schofield" revolver, replaced the Colt 1860 Army Percussion
 revolver. The Colt quickly gained favor over the S&W and remained
the primary US military sidearm until 1892 when it was replaced by the .38 Long Colt caliber Colt Model 1892, a double-action
 revolver with swing-out cylinder. By the end of 1874, serial no. 16,000
 was reached; 12,500 Colt Single Action Army revolvers chambered for the
 .45 Colt cartridge had entered service and the remaining revolvers were
 sold in the civilian market.[6]
The Colt .45 is a famous piece of American history, known as "The Gun That Won the West".

#### Users:

* Applejack (Artillery Model)
* Human Applejack (Artillery Model)
* Braeburn (Artillery Model)
* Timber (Artillery Model)
* Splinter (Quick-draw Model)
* The U.S. Cavalry Engines (Cavalry Model)
* Little Strongheart (6in barrel)
* Big McIntosh (Cavalry Model)
* Apple Bloom (Artillery Model)
* Babs Seed (Artillery Model)
* Penny Ling (13⁄4 in barrel)
* Ernie the Giant Chicken (Cavalry Model)

#### Gallery

Applejack's (equine and human) Colt SAABraeburn's Colt SAA RevolverTimber's Colt SAA RevolverSpinter's Colt SAA RevolverThe U.S. Cavalry Engines' Colt SAA "Cavalry" RevolverLitte Strongheart's Colt SAA RevolverBig McIntosh's Colt SAA RevolverPenny Ling's Colt SAA RevolverErnie's Colt SAA Revolver
### Smith & Wesson Model 3 Revolver "Schofield"

    The **Smith & Wesson Model 3** was a single-action, cartridge-firing, top-break revolver produced by Smith & Wesson from circa 1870 to 1915, and recently as a reproduction by Smith & Wesson, and Uberti.

It was produced in several variations and sub-variations, including
both the "Russian Model", so named because it was supplied to the
military of the Russian Empire (41,000 No. 3's were ordered in .44 caliber by the Imperial Russian Army in 1871),[2]
 and the "Schofield" model, named after Major George W. Schofield, who
made his own modifications to the Model 3 to meet his perceptions of the
 Cavalry's needs. Smith & Wesson incorporated these modifications
into an 1875 design they named after the Major, planning to obtain
significant military contracts for the new revolver.[2]
The S&W Model 3 was originally chambered for the .44 S&W American and .44 Russian
 cartridges, and typically did not have the cartridge information
stamped on the gun (as is standard practice for most commercial
firearms). Model 3 revolvers were later produced in an assortment of
calibers, including .44 Henry Rimfire, .44-40, .32-44, .38-44, and .45 Schofield. The design would influence the smaller S&W .38 Single Action that is retroactively referred to as the Model 2.

The U.S. Army adopted the .44 S&W American
 caliber Smith & Wesson Model 3 revolver in 1870, making the Model 3
 revolver the first standard-issue cartridge-firing revolver in US
service. Most military pistols until that point were black powder cap and ball revolvers, which were (by comparison) slow, complicated, and susceptible to the effects of wet weather.[3]

In 1875 the US Ordnance Board granted Smith & Wesson a contract
to outfit the military with Model 3 revolvers incorporating the design
improvements of Major George W. Schofield (known as the "Schofield
revolver"), providing that they could make the revolvers fire the .45 Colt (AKA ".45 Long Colt")
 ammunition already in use by the US military. Smith & Wesson
instead developed their own, slightly shorter .45 caliber round, the .45 Schofield, otherwise known as the .45 S&W.[5]

When it became obvious in the field that the two cartridges would not
 work interchangeably in the Schofield (although they both worked in the
 Colt), the U.S. Government adopted the shorter .45 Schofield cartridge
as the standard cartridge. Despite the change, old stocks of the longer
.45 Colt rounds in the supply line caused the Army to drop most of the
Schofields and continue with the Colt. Major Schofield had patented his
locking system and earned a payment on each gun that Smith & Wesson
sold, and at the time his older brother, John M. Schofield,
 was the head of the Army Ordnance Board and the political situation may
 have been the main issue for the early end of army sales.[3]

Many of the S&W Model 3 Schofield revolvers saw service in the Indian Wars, and there are reports of them in use as late as the Spanish–American War and Philippine–American War.
 Like the other Smith & Wesson Model 3s, they were also reportedly
popular with lawmen and outlaws in the American West, and were
reportedly used by Jesse James, Bob Ford (who used one to kill James),[6] John Wesley Hardin, Pat Garrett, Theodore Roosevelt, Virgil Earp, Billy the Kid, and many others. The Smith & Wesson No. 3 revolver was famously used by Wyatt Earp during the OK Corral Gunfight with the Clanton Gang.[2]

While the standard barrel length was 7", many Schofields were
purchased as surplus by distributors, and had the barrels shortened to
5", and were refinished in nickel.[3]
 After the Spanish–American War of 1898, the US Army sold off all their
surplus Schofield revolvers. The surplus Schofield revolvers were
reconditioned by wholesalers and gunsmiths (at professional
factory-quality level) with a considerable number offered for sale on
the commercial market with a 5-inch barrel as well as the standard size
barrel of 7 inches. [3]

Of the most notable purchasers of these reconditioned model 3 Schofield revolvers was Wells Fargo and Company,
 who purchased the revolvers for use by Wells Fargo Road Agents and had
the barrels shortened to a more concealable 5 inches length. These
revolvers were then inspected by the Wells Fargo armorer and uniquely
stamped "W.F. & Co" or "Wells Fargo & Co", along with the
original Smith & Wesson serial number re-stamped alongside the Wells
 Fargo stamping on the flat part of the barrel just forward of the
barrel pivot as well as re-stamping any part of each revolver which had
not originally been stamped or stamped in a location that would be
difficult to view the serial number, when needed.[3]

The Wells Fargo Schofield revolvers became so popular with collectors
 from the 1970s onwards that the unique Wells Fargo markings were being
"counterfeited" or "faked" by unscrupulous sellers to enhance the value
of other similar versions that had not been genuinely owned by Wells
Fargo & Co. There are more "fake" Wells Fargo marked Schofield
revolvers than genuine ones in existence and, accordingly, a collector
interested in purchasing a "Wells Fargo" Schofield revolver would be
well advised to have a pre-purchase inspection and verification
performed by an expert who specializes in this model.[3]
The Schofield was produced in two versions, the First Model Schofield
 and the Second Model Schofield. The First Model Schofield has a latch
configuration that is rather pointed at the top and has a circle around
the screw head at the bottom, whereas the Second Model latch has a large
 raised circle at the top of the latch. One of General Schofield's
revisions and improvements to the predecessor Model 3 Revolvers included
 mounting the spring-loaded barrel catch on the frame as opposed to the
standard Smith & Wesson Model 3 which has the latch mounted on the
barrel. In the previous engineering, the posts of the frame would wear
out after heavy usage. Schofield's improvement called for heat treated,
replaceable components at this sensitive "wear" area of the catch and
latch. The serial number range also will give an indication of whether
it is First or Second Model, with the serial numbers changing from the
First Model to the Second Model at a little over 3,000.

In 1877, S&W discontinued production of its other Model 3's such
as the American, Russian, and Schofield—in favor a new improved design
called the New Model Number Three. Standard chambering was .44 Russian,
although other calibers were offered on special order or in related
models such as the .44-40 Frontier Model, the .32-44 & .38-44 Target
 Models, and the very rare .38-40 Winchester Model.[4]

**Australian Model**. In 1880 the South Australia Police, who were then interested in re-arming with up-to-date weapons, noted a display of New Model Number Three revolvers at the Australian Exposition in Melbourne. An order was placed through S&W’s New York agent for 250 nickel revolvers in .44 Russian
 with a seven-inch barrel length. The order, which included extension
shoulder stocks, ammunition, and reloading kits, arrived at Adelaide in March 1882. The revolvers and stocks were thereupon marked with a government broad arrow punch mark, and were called revolver-carbines. They were issued to mounted police, known as troopers, who at that period also policed the Northern Territory. Both the South Australia and Western Australia
 police made further small purchases during 1886-88, none of which was
marked with the broad arrow. For some thirty years the revolver-carbine
was the front line weapon of the mounted police of S.A., W.A., and N.T.
Nearly all serial numbers are known, and are listed in the book *Service Arms of the South Australian Police*.[7] The S.A. revolvers were sold as surplus in 1953 to the Western Arms Corporation of Los Angeles.
An engraved, gold-plated New Model Number 3 with pearl grips was presented to sharpshooter Annie Oakley
 in the 1890s by her husband Frank Butler. The revolver was one of three
 embellished guns that were cased for Oakley as a presentation group.

#### Users:

* Marshall P.F.
* Chomper

#### Gallery

Chomper's S&W SchofeildMarshall P.F.'s S&W No. 3 Revolver
### Chamelot-Delvigne Model 1873 Revolver

    The **service revolver model 1873 Chamelot-Delvigne** was the first double-action revolver used by the French Army. It was produced by Manufacture d'armes de Saint-Étienne from 1873 to 1887 in about 337,000 copies. Although soon replaced by the Modele 1892 revolver, it was nevertheless widely used during the First World War, and issued to reserve units in 1940. The Resistance made widespread use of it during the Occupation.

The model 1874, of which 35,000 were made, was an officer version. It
 differs from model 1873 by a lighter structure and a darker finish.
Many civilians copies were made in France and Belgium.
Both the 1873 and the 1874 use a 11mm cartridge which proved to have
an insufficient velocity. The weapons themselves were very reliable and
resistant.

A Navy version was also produced. A more powerful cartridge was
produced for this version, but production ceased and they turned to the
regular ammunition when the stocks were depleted.

The Franco-Prussian War
 in 1870 clearly demonstrated the need for up-to-date equipment in war
time. A great military tradition and esprit de corps can be defeated by
superior training, and in the case of that war, artillery. After the
war, both Germany and France continued to improve their military
technology. However, neither side was convinced of the importance of
pistols for field officers. The sword continued to be the symbol of
authority for an officer on the battlefield all the way into World War I.
 European general staffs at that time were extremely conservative and
pistols were sometimes grudgingly adopted as personal defense weapons
with no practical offensive use. Even as pistols became more of a symbol
 of the officer, most preferred to privately purchase a smaller and more
 comfortable handgun instead of using a large standard issue revolver.

The Chamelot-Delvigne 11mm Modele 1873 was adopted by the French army
 as a service revolver for non-commissioned officers. The Modele 1874
Revolver d'Officier was the version issued to officers. The differences
between the two models included the following: the 1873 was finished in
the white, whereas the 1874 had a fluted cylinder and a blued finish.
The 1873 and 1874 were the first center-fire cartridge revolvers adopted
 by the French army. They had solid-frame, side-ejection, double-action
mechanisms. The pistols were manufactured by the St. Etienne armoury,
which still continues to manufacture fine sporting arms. The design of
these pistols became so popular that versions were adopted by the Belgian, Dutch, Italian, and Swiss armies.

The caliber of these French pistols was 11x17.8mmR. The French round
was actually 0.47 mm larger than its German counterpart. The German
round could be loaded and used in the French pistol, but French rounds
would not chamber in the German pistol. The cartridge had a pointed lead
 bullet weighing 11 grams. The case length was 17.8 mm, which was rather
 on the short side. Reloading this cartridge could take some patience
due to the shortness of the case. Military specifications called for
black powder loads, replaced by a mild smokeless powder in the early
twentieth century. Standard muzzle velocity was around 550 feet per
second.

The cylinder had a side-loading gate which pulled straight to the
rear. The sight picture was a ball and v type and is easy to align. It
could be difficult to stay on target double-action due to the stiffness
of the action. There was certainly no danger of accidentally pulling the
 trigger double-action. Cleaning and disassembly were easy as the
cylinder pin doubled as a screwdriver and all-purpose tool. Internal
parts were finely machined and finished. The trigger, hammer, and
several of the internal springs were straw-finished, a type of
case-hardening hot oil finish.
The French pistols began their service with the French army in the
late 19th Century and saw service all over the globe in French colonies.
 Many saw service in World War I when European armies finally realized
how important pistols were in the trenches. The Chamelot-Delvigne
finally ended its venerable service as a police sidearm in World War II.

### Smith & Wesson M1917 Revolver

The **M1917 Revolver** (formally United States Revolver, Caliber .45, M1917) was a U.S. six-shot revolver of .45 ACP caliber. It was adopted by the U.S. Army in 1917 to supplement the standard M1911 .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol
 during World War I. Afterwards, it was primarily used by secondary and
non-deployed troops. There were two variations of the M1917, one made by
 Colt and the other made by Smith & Wesson.

U.S. civilians arms companies of Colt and Remington-UMC
 as well as other companies were producing M1911 pistols under contract
for the U.S. Army, but even with the additional production there existed
 a shortage of M1911s. The interim solution was to ask the two major
American producers of revolvers to adapt their heavy-frame civilian
revolvers to the standard .45 ACP pistol cartridge. Both companies' revolvers utilized half-moon clips
 to extract the rimless .45 ACP cartridges. Smith & Wesson invented
and patented the half-moon clip, but at the request of the Army allowed
Colt to also use the design free of charge in their own version of the
M1917 revolver.

Colt had until recently produced a revolver for the U.S. Army called the M1909, a version of their heavy-frame, .45-caliber, New Service model in .45 Long Colt to supplement and replace a range of 1890s-era .38 caliber Colt and Smith & Wesson revolvers that had demonstrated inadequate stopping power during the Philippine-American War.
 The Colt M1917 Revolver was essentially the same as the M1909 with a
cylinder bored to take the .45 ACP cartridge and the half-moon clips to
hold the rimless cartridges in position. In early Colt production
revolvers, attempting to fire the .45 ACP without the half-moon clips
was unreliable at best, as the cartridge could slip forward into the
cylinder and away from the firing pin.[*citation needed*]
 Later production Colt M1917 revolvers had headspacing machined into the
 cylinder chambers, just as the Smith & Wesson M1917 revolvers had
from the start. Newer Colt production could be fired without the
half-moon clips, but the empty cartridge cases had to be ejected with a
device such as a cleaning rod or pencil, as the cylinder extractor and
ejector would pass over the edge of the rimless cartridges.

The Smith & Wesson Model 1917 was essentially an adaptation of that company's Second Model .44 Hand Ejector,
 chambered instead for .45 ACP, employing a shortened cylinder allowing
for use of half-moon clips, and a lanyard ring on the butt of the frame.
 Smith & Wesson had recently (c. 1915–16) produced the Hand Ejector,
 which uses their heavy .44 caliber frame, for the British Army in .455 Webley caliber due to shortages in British production facilities of standard-issue Webley Mk VI top-break revolvers.[1]

The S&W M1917 is distinguishable from the Colt M1917 in that the S&W cylinder had a shoulder machined into it to permit rimless .45 ACP cartridges to headspace
 on the case mouth (as with automatic pistols). The S&W M1917 could
thus be used without the half-moon clips, though the empty cases would
have to be poked-out manually through the cylinder face, since the extractor star cannot engage the rimless cases.

While these revolvers were originally blued, S&W M1917 revolvers rebuilt during and after World War II may have been parkerized during arsenal rebuild or under a refurbish contract with S&W.

### Colt Trooper Revolver

    The **Colt Trooper** is a medium frame double-action revolver featuring a six-round cylinder, chambered for .22 and .38 caliber cartridges. Designed as a less expensive alternative to the upscale Colt .357 and the later Colt Python, it was marketed to law enforcement agencies as well as civilian firearms enthusiasts and collectors.

Introduced to the firearms market by the Colt's Manufacturing Company
 in 1953, the Trooper and its high-end cousin, the .357 Magnum, were
introduced with the intention of addressing the medium frame revolver
market, as law enforcement officers had long complained about the weight
 of earlier models. The two guns were seen as ideal in size and handling
 characteristics for the .38 Special and its big brother the .357. Offered as an alternative and competitor to Smith & Wesson’s Model 28 "Highway Patrolman", the Colts were lighter and handier.

The original Trooper was basically a heavy-barreled version of the Officers Model Match, and was based on Colt’s medium I[3]frame. It was offered in .22 Long Rifle and .38 Special chamberings. Manufactured with fine carbon steel, it was available in both blued and nickel plated finishes. Early blued Troopers boasted a two-tone color scheme with dull Colt Royal Blue on the flat surfaces and a black bead blasted texture on the edges and cylinder flutes. Both Target and Service versions of the Trooper were available, the Target models sporting hand-filling Walnut grips, larger and wider target hammers, and adjustable iron sights. Service versions featured smaller more basic hammers and stocks, and fixed sights. Barrel
 lengths available included four inch in .22 caliber and four and six
inch in .38 Special; the .22 was intended as a ‘practice’ weapon. All
the Troopers from this series had hammer mounted firing pins. The Trooper was targeted at the entry-level and Law enforcement service-level segment of the firearms market while the highly polished and expensive 357 model revolver was intended to be their premium offering. Both models shared the same forged and labor-intensive hand-fitted internal lockwork, however.[1]
After the introduction of the more expensive Python in 1955, most
purchasers bypassed the .357 model, in favor the Python for a top-end revolver
 or the Trooper for a more basic one. This development motivated Colt to
 discontinue the basic .38 Special Trooper in 1961, and to do away with
the .357 moniker,
 so they renamed it Trooper. The new offering retained the .357 magnum
chambering and frame-mounted firing pin, but kept the entry-level
revolver’s more subdued finish. The Trooper continued to be offered in
.22 Long rifle, and like all .357 Magnums, offered the capability of
firing .38 Special ammunition as well.

### Smith & Wesson Model 10 Revolver

    The **Smith & Wesson Model 10**, previously known as the **Smith & Wesson .38 Hand Ejector** Model of 1899, the **Smith & Wesson Military & Police** or the **Smith & Wesson Victory Model**, is a revolver of worldwide popularity. It was the successor to the **Smith & Wesson .32 Hand Ejector** Model of 1896 and was the first Smith & Wesson revolver to feature a cylinder release latch on the left side of the frame like the Colt M1889.

 In production since 1899, it is a six-shot double-action revolver with
fixed sights. Over its long production run it has been available with
barrel lengths of 2 in (51 mm), 3 in (76 mm), 4 in (100 mm), 5 in
(130 mm), and 6 in (150 mm). Barrels of 2.5 inches (64 mm) are also
known to have been made for special contracts.[1]
 Some 6,000,000 of the type have been produced over the years, making it
 the most popular centerfire revolver of the 20th century.

In 1899, the Army and Navy placed orders with Smith & Wesson for
two to three thousand Model 1899 Hand Ejector revolvers chambered for
the M1892 .38 Long Colt U.S. Service Cartridge. With this order, the Hand Ejector Model became known as the .38 Military and Police model.[3]
 That same year, in response to reports from military sources serving in
 the Philippines on the relative ineffectiveness of the new cartridge,
Smith & Wesson began offering the Military & Police in a new
chambering, .38 S&W Special (aka .38 Special) — a slightly elongated
 version of the .38 Long Colt cartridge with greater bullet weight (158
grains) and an increased powder charge, from eighteen to twenty-one
grains of gunpowder.[3]

In 1902 the .38 Military & Police (2nd Model) was introduced, featuring substantial changes.[1]
 These included major modification and simplification of the internal
lockwork and the addition of a locking underlug on the barrel to engage
the previously free-standing ejector rod. Barrel lengths were 4, 5, 6,
and 6.5 inches with a rounded butt. Serial numbers for the Military
& Police ranged from number 1 in the series to 20,975. Most of the
early M&P revolvers chambered in .38 Special appear to have been
sold to the civilian market.[3] By 1904, S&W was offering the .38 M&P with a rounded or square butt, and 4, 5, and 6.5-inch barrels.
The .38 S&W Military & Police Model of 1905
 4th Change (introduced 1915), incorporated a passive hammer block and
enlarged service sights that quickly became a standard across the
service revolver segment of the industry. Heat treatment of cylinders began in 1919.

Many of the Model 10 revolvers were captured and used by some of the police forces, such as the Austrian Police, during the occupation after WWII. Some captured from the allies were used by the pro-Nazi Milice française militia of Vichy France during WWII. From 1942, the United States delivered the Model 10 to Kuomintang troops which were armed by Communist Liu Shaoqi during the Chinese Civil War.

The weapon is currently used by French cash couriers and banks, Disciplined Services of Hong Kong, Myanmar Police Force officers and other Burmese paramilitary units, Peruvian National Police and other police units.

Copies of Smith & Wesson Model 10 are produced in Israel by Israel Military Industries (IMI) as the Revolver IMI 9mm. The weapon is chambered in the 9×21mm caliber instead of .38 Special, the original caliber. Also, Norinco of China has manufactured the NP50, which is a copy of the Smith & Wesson Model 64, since 2000.

Hermann Goering a German politician and a military leader, had a .38 Model 10 for self defense.

#### Users:

* Shai-Shay
* Apple Bloom
* Daring Do
* Gumdrop

#### Gallery

Apple Bloom's S&W Model 10 RevolverDaring Do's S&W Model 10 RevolverGumdrop Pie's S&W Model 10 Revolver
### Smith & Wesson Model 15 Revolver

    The **Smith & Wesson** **K-38 Combat Masterpiece, Revolver Model 15** is a six-shot double-action revolver, with adjustable open sights, built on the medium-size "K" frame. It is chambered for the .38 Special cartridge

 and is fitted with a 4-inch (100 mm) barrel, though additional barrel
options have been offered at various times during its production.
Originally known as the *K-38 Combat Masterpiece*, it was renamed
the Model 15 in 1957 when all Smith & Wesson revolvers were given
numerical model numbers. It is a shorter barrel version of the Smith & Wesson Model 14 Target Masterpiece and essentially an adjustable-sight version of the seminal Smith & Wesson Model 10
 ("Military and Police") revolver with target shooting features. The
main production run of the Model 15 was from 1949 through 1999. It was
discontinued for approximately a decade until 2011, when a re-tooled
version was re-released under S&W's Classics Revolvers line.

The Smith & Wesson K-38 Combat Masterpiece Revolver Model 15[1]
 is a derivative of the classic 1899 K-frame (medium frame) Military and
 Police .38 S&W Special (aka .38 Special) six-shot double-action
revolver. The M&P underwent steady evolution throughout the 20th
century and S&W spun off several variations as separate models in
the post World War II years. One of these was the K-38 Target
Masterpiece, which began production in 1947. The Target Masterpiece
included a number of new and/or special features, including a six-inch
barrel with a narrow rib to provide a level sight plane, a Patridge
front sight, a micrometer click rear sight, S&W’s .375” short-throw
hammer, a trigger adjustment for overtravel, and improved grips.[2]
 Noting the accuracy of the Target Masterpiece, a number of police
departments and the FBI soon requested the same revolver with a
four-inch barrel and a Baughman Quick Draw front sight. The result was
the K-38 Combat Masterpiece. The major distinction between the K-38
Target Masterpiece and the K-38 Combat Masterpiece is the barrel length
and the front sight.[2]

In 1957 the K-38 Combat Masterpiece was renamed the Model 15 when all
 Smith & Wesson revolvers were given numerical model numbers. (The
Military & Police and the Target Masterpiece were renamed the Model
10 and Model 14 respectively.) The model number is stamped on the frame
behind the cylinder yoke, so it is visible (only) when the cylinder is
open. A number of production and engineering changes have been made
throughout the years, some of which are noted by a dash number suffixed
to the Model number (15-1, -2, -3).

Over the years the Model 15 has been produced with several barrel
lengths, with 4" (standard) and 2" (1964–1988) being the most common. In
 1972 S&W released a stainless steel version as the Model 67. In
1997 the hammer and internal lockworks were modified from an
on-the-hammer firing pin / internal hammer block to a floating firing
pin / MIM flat hammer / transfer bar safety design.

The Model 15 was a popular sidearm for law enforcement and was the standard issue sidearm of the U.S. Air Force Police from 1962 until 1992 when it was replaced by the Beretta M9 pistol.
Production of the Model 15 was discontinued in 1999 when Smith &
Wesson was purchased and reorganized, although a couple limited run
“Heritage Series” models were released in 2001 and 2002. In 2011 Smith
& Wesson re-introduced the Model 15 (15-10) under their Classics
Revolvers line, newly machined, with a shrouded redesigned barrel, and a
 built-in trigger lock (located just above the cylinder release
thumbpiece on the left side)

#### Users:

* Rodger
* Human Twilight Sparkle
* Sugardrop

#### Gallery

Human Twilight's S&W Model 15 RevolverSugerdrop Pie's S&W Model 15 Revolver
### Smith & Wesson Model 22 Revolver

    The **Smith & Wesson Model 22** series of revolvers is a refined, commercial version of the M1917 revolver issued during World War I.

The Model 22 was built to directly chamber rimless pistol cartridges like the .45 ACP and the .45 GAP but allows for use with moon clips.
The Model 22 is a large frame double-action revolver chambered in .45 ACP using half or full moon clips. It may also use .45 Auto Rim as they were designed for revolvers chambered in .45 ACP or .45 GAP using the half or full moon clips. Built around Smith & Wesson's
 large N frame, it was originally sold as the Model 1950 and is normally
 fitted with a 5½" barrel with no under lug and fixed combat sights.
Target models are the models 25 and 26.

The Model 22 was re-introduced as the second limited production Thunder
Ranch revolver in 2007. This gun features a 4" match barrel with under
lug, fixed sights, cocobolo
 grips, and an internal lock. The popularity of this revolver led
S&W to continue its production in its classic line as the 22-4. It
is quite an accurate revolver and has a smoother trigger pull than the
original, most likely due to improvements in production. A limited
production run of bright nickel-plated, non–Thunder Ranch models were
made. Only select firearm dealers were considered to be allowed to sell
this particular model. A certain number of Model 22s were made with a
case-hardened (case color) finish by Turnbull Restorations. The finish
done by Turnbull is a true case-hardened finish and not the chemical
wash finish found on firearms by other manufacturers.

#### Users:

* Moon Starlight
* Suri Polomare

#### Gallery

Moon Starlight's S&W Model 22 RevolverSuri Polomare's S&W Model 22 Revolver
### Smith & Wesson Model 25 Revolver

    The **Smith & Wesson (S&W) Model 25**, is a six-round single- and double-action revolver chambered for the .45 ACP (also known as .45 Auto) cartridge and .45 Auto Rim. The 25 in .45 ACP will headspace the cartridge in the chambers without use of moon clips, but since the extractor cannot engage the rimless cartridge, moon clips are needed to facilitate ejection. Based on S&W's stainless steel **N**

 (large) revolver frame, the Model 625, was introduced as the .45 CAL
MODEL OF 1988, in 1988 as a limited edition model intended as an International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) commemorative. It was equipped with a 5-inch (127 mm) barrel with a full-length underlug.[1][2]

The regular production model of the Model 625 was introduced in 1989.
 it was also made with 3-inch and 4-inch barrels. Standard offerings now
 only include the 4-inch and 5-inch barrel.[1]
The S&W Model 625 Mountain Gun is a lightweight version of the
625, with a shortened underlug and tapered barrel, and "Mountain Gun"
etched on one side of the barrel. The standard Model 625 Mountain Gun
fires .45 Colt
 through a 4-inch (102 mm) barrel. In 2001, a limited edition was also
built by the Smith & Wesson Performance Center that uses .45 ACP ammunition. Both of these revolvers have adjustable rear sights and Hogue rubber grips.[1]

The Model 625-10 is the newest version of this revolver from the
Smith & Wesson Performance Center, introduced in 2004. It is a
snub-nosed version of the 625. The S&W Model 625-10 is a stainless
steel update of the Model 25, popular before World War 2 as a starting
gun for conversion to a "Fitz Special" (a concealed, contact-distance defensive gun).[1]

Another recent Performance Center version, the S&W Model 625 JM, was introduced in 2005. The "JM" stands for Jerry Miculek,
 a renowned revolver speed shooter, and is his personal design. The
Model 625 JM uses a 4-inch (102 mm) barrel with rear adjustable sights
and a front gold bead black patridge sight. The Model 625 JM is finished
 in matte bead-blasted stainless steel. The grips are Miculek's design.[1]
The latest .45 ACP revolver from Smith & Wesson is the Model 325
Night Guard. It is similar to the 625-10 in that the frame is an
aluminum-scandium blend. It has a similar grooved rear sight as the
625-10, but the front sight of the 325 Night Guard is a tritium night
sight. The model 325 has a matte black finish.[1] The Model 325 Night Guard has since been discontinued.

### Smith & Wesson Model 29 Revolver

    The **Smith & Wesson Model 29** is a six-shot, double-action revolver chambered for the .44 Magnum cartridge and manufactured by the U.S. company Smith & Wesson. It was made famous by — and is still most often associated with — the fictional character "Dirty Harry" Callahan from the *Dirty Harry* series of films starring Clint Eastwood.

The Model 29 was offered with 3", 4", 5", 6", 6½", 8⅜" and, later,
10⅝" barrel lengths as standard models. Other barrel lengths were
available either by special order from Smith & Wesson's Custom Shop
or custom built by gunsmiths. The 5" barreled variant had a full length
underlug. Finish options available included a highly polished blued or nickel-plated surface.

S&W's production of a large **N**-frame revolver in .44 Magnum began in 1955; the Model 29 designation was applied in 1957.[1] It remained primarily the province of handgun enthusiasts, some law enforcement personnel and hunters until 1971, when Clint Eastwood made it famous as "the most powerful handgun in the world" in the movie *Dirty Harry*. After the movie's release, retailers had trouble keeping the Model 29 in stock.[2]

At the time of its introduction, the Model 29 was the most powerful
production handgun. There were a number of custom, or wildcat, calibers
that were more powerful, as in the old Howdah pistols of the 19th century. Elmer Keith's
 achievements in maximizing the power and performance of the .44 Special
 was the inspiration and driving force behind the introduction of the
.44 Magnum by Smith & Wesson. His intention for the new round was
for it to be used in sidearms for hunters of large, dangerous game,
rather than for self-defense, though with today's specialty cartridges,
it can be a good defensive round.[3]

The Model 29 will chamber and fire .44 Special
 cartridges, as the .44 Magnum was developed from the .44 Special. The
Magnum case is slightly longer to prevent magnum rounds from being
chambered and fired in handguns chambered for the .44 Special.
In the late 1990s, Smith & Wesson discontinued production of many
 models of revolvers, including the 'basic' Model 29; since then, at
various times, the model, in limited or 'custom' configurations, has
been manufactured in as many as 10 evolutions.

The original Model 29 was superseded by the Model 29-1 in 1960, with
modifications made to the ejector-rod screw. The Model 29-2 replaced it
the following year, with one screw that had secured the cylinder-stop
spring being deleted. The barrel length was shortened from 6 1/2" to 6"
in 1979. These two versions are known as "pinned and recessed". "Pinned"
 means that the barrels are screwed in, and secured by a pin driven
through the frame and a notch in the barrel. "Recessed" denotes the rear
 of the bored cylinder holes being countersunk, so that, when loaded,
the cartridge rims are fully enclosed by the cylinder. In 1982, the
cost-cutting Model 29-3 dropped recessed cylinders and pinned barrels
for crush-fit barrels.[1]
The -4 and -5, produced from 1988 and 1990 respectively had changes
to improve durability for heavy use. In 1994 the 29-6 began production,
now fitted as standard with rubber Monogrips from Hogue to replace the
previous wooden items, standard tapped holes also being provided for
attaching scope mounts. The 29-7 started production in 1998 with changes
 to the locking mechanism, the firing pin's attachment, and a hammer and
 trigger produced with a metal injection molding process.

### Smith & Wesson Model 36 Revolver

    The **Smith & Wesson Model 36** is a revolver chambered for .38 Special. It is one of several models of "J-frame" Smith & Wesson revolvers. It was introduced in 1950, and is still in production.

The Model 36 was designed in the era just after World War II, when
Smith & Wesson stopped producing war materials and resumed normal
production. For the Model 36, they sought to design a revolver that
could fire the more powerful .38 Special
 round in a small, concealable package. Since the older I-frame was not
able to handle this load, a new frame was designed, which became the
Smith & Wesson J-frame.

The new design was introduced at the International Association of
Chiefs of Police (IACP) convention in 1950, and was favorably received. A
 vote was held to name the new revolver, and the name "Chiefs Special"
won.[2]
 A three inch barreled version of this design went into production
immediately, due to high demand. It was available in either a blued or
nickel plated finish.[3]
 It was produced as the "Chiefs Special" until 1957, when it then became
 the Model 36. The "Chiefs Special" continued to be manufactured as a
separate variant.

In 1951, Smith & Wesson introduced the **Airweight Model 37**,
 which was basically the Model 36 design with an aluminum frame and
cylinder. The aluminum cylinders proved to be problematic and were
abandoned in favor of a steel cylinder.[3]

In 1989, Smith & Wesson introduced the LadySmith
 variant of the Model 36. This was available with a 2 inch or 3 inch
barrel and blued finish. This model also featured special grips designed
 specifically for women, and had "LADYSMITH" engraved on the frame.[4]

Approximately 615 Model 36-6 Target variations were produced. This
variant had a 3 inch full lug barrel with adjustable sights and a blued
glass finish.

In 2002, Smith & Wesson reintroduced the Model 36 with gold
features (hammer, thumbpiece, extractor, and trigger), calling it the
"Model 36 Gold". The gold color was actually titanium nitride.

In 2005, Smith & Wesson produced the "Texas Hold 'Em" variant.
This was produced with a blued finish, imitation ivory grips, and 24k
gold plate engraving.

A large number of Model 37 variants with a lanyard ring attached were
 made for Japan. Part of this contract was cancelled, resulting in a
large number of these being sold to a wholesaler, who then re-sold them
for civilian use. These entered the civilian market in 2001. In 2006,
the Model 37 was dropped from Smith & Wesson's catalog.

Serial number 337 was shipped to J. Edgar Hoover and is engraved with his name.

#### Users:

* Brittany Biskit
* Zoe Trent
* Sunil Nevla

#### Gallery

Brittany Biskit's S&W Model 36 Revoler (gold-plated, pearl grip, with suppressor)Zoe Trent's S&W Model 36 RevolverSunil Nevla's S&W Model 36 Revolver
### Smith & Wesson Model 38 "Bodyguard"

    The **Smith & Wesson Bodyguard** is a family of small J-frame revolvers with shrouded hammers manufactured by Smith & Wesson. They are available chambered in either .38 Special or .357 Magnum.[1]

As the name entails, the Bodyguard model of pistols is valued by
bodyguards, agents or undercover police officers who need to carry a
highly-reliable weapon clandestinely, as a secondary weapon or a backup
gun, and need the option of single and double action
 fire in a firearm that will not jam inside a pocket when fired from
one. Its compact frame, shrouded hammer which allows thumb-cocking but
minimizes snagging, and light weight make it easy to hide. Every
Bodyguard model has a five round capacity.[2] This is lower than the capacity of many .380 ACP and .32 ACP semi-automatic pistols of similar size, but those are less powerful cartridges.

The Model 38 is aluminum-framed, has a carbon steel cylinder with a five round capacity and barrel. Chambered in .38 Special.

Clyde A. Tolson, special assistant to FBI chief J. Edgar Hoover, owned a Model 38 Airweight, serial number 512236, with his name engraved on the side.[8]

Nguyễn Ngọc Loan, South Vietnam's chief of National Police, was photographed using a Model 38 Bodyguard to execute a Viet Cong prisoner, Nguyễn Văn Lém, during the Tet Offensive of 1968.[9] The picture, which earned photographer Eddie Adams a Pulitzer Prize, is credited with increasing public antipathy towards the Vietnam War.[10]

On December 22, 1984, Bernhard Goetz used a Model 38 Airweight in the shooting on a New York subway train of four men who he believed were about to rob him.

#### Users:

* Pepper Clark
* Human Twilight Sparkle

#### Gallery

Pepper Clark's S&W model 38 "Bodyguard" revolverHuman Twilight's S&W Model 38 "Bodyguard" Revolver
### Smith & Wesson 500 Revolver

    The **Smith & Wesson Model 500** is a five-shot, single-action/double-action large-caliber revolver produced by Smith & Wesson, firing the .500 S&W Magnum cartridge, a .50 caliber bullet.

It is built on S&W's largest frame, the X-Frame, which was developed because none of S&W's existing double-action frame designs could handle the muzzle energy and pressures generated by the .500 S&W cartridge. It is the most powerful production revoler in the world today, and it is being marketed as being "the world's most powerful handgun" by the manufacturer. There are a few larger revolvers, like the Pfeifer Zeliska .600 Nitro Express revolver, however none of them are a "production" revolver. The Model 500 can fire a bullet weighing 350 gr ( 22.7 g; 0.8 oz) at 1975 feet per second (602 m/s) generating a muzzle energy of over 3,030 foot-pounds force (4.1 kJ).

Articles, statements, and opinions vary widely on this firearm. Any of the available bullet weights can be relied on to take game at a range in excess of 200 yards (183 m), a feat matched by only a handful of other handguns. The advanced design of the firearm helps in counteracting recoil felt by the shooter. This includes the sheer weight of the firearm, use of rubber grips, the forward balance, and the use of a compensator. On certain S&W Performance Center models the compensator is replaced with a full muzzle brake.

Like most big caliber handguns the Model 500 is suitable for sport and hunting applications. The high energy of these rounds makes it possible to hunt extremely large African game successfully.

* Model 500ES: 2¾" barrel, stainless steel emergency survival revolver. (No longer offered as of December 2009)
* Model 500: 4" barrel, stainless steel.
* Model 500: 6.5" barrel, half lug, stainless steel with porting.
* Model 500: 8⅜" barrel, stainless steel with standard compensator.
* Model 500 HIVIZ: 8⅜" barrel, stainless steel with interchangeable compensator.
* Model 500: 10" Lothar-Walther custom German rifle barrel, matte finish stainless steel.
* Model 460: version chambered in .460 S&W Magnum

Other variants are available through the Smith & Wesson's Performance Center. Like all Smith & Wesson revolvers, other "custom" variants are available on special production runs with a minimum order of 500 units. An example is the John Ross performance center 5", which features a 5-inch barrel with an external muzzle nut and a millet dovetail front sight.

### Colt Anaconda Revolver

    The **Colt Anaconda** is a large frame double-action revolver featuring a full length under-barrel ejection-rod lug and six round cylinder, designed and produced by the Colt's Manufacturing Company. Chambered for the powerful .44 Magnum and .45 Colt centerfire ammunition cartridges, the Anaconda marked the Hartford, Connecticut firm’s first foray into the popular large-bore Magnum pistol market.

Built on a new and heavier ‘AA’ frame, the Anaconda was brought out to compete with .44 Magnum contemporaries such as the Smith & Wesson Model 29, the Sturm, Ruger & Co. Redhawk and Blackhawk, and the Dan Wesson Firearms
 Model 44. Considering that many of these models had been marketed and
sold for fully 35 years upon its introduction, the Anaconda was a very
late entry into the large-bore handgun market.[2] Unlike most other pistols introduced in the 1980s and 1990s, the Anaconda was never offered with a carbon steel blued finish, but was available only in stainless steel.[1] When originally introduced Anacondas were plagued with poor accuracy, but changes to the barrels quickly corrected the problems to the point that Colt billed its new pistol as among the most accurate .44 Magnum revolvers in production.[2][3] Anaconda revolvers were primarily marketed for sport enthusiast shooters and hunters, as they are too large for law enforcement general duty use or concealed-carry,
 although made-to-order limited production versions of the gun continued
 to be available from the Colt custom gun shop until approximately 2003.

Originally chambered for the .44 Magnum cartridge, in 1993 the Anaconda began to be offered in .45 Colt cartridge as well. Its fit and finish resembled an upsized King Cobra married to a ventilated-rib barrel reminiscent of the Python's.[2]
 Initially marketed with a satin brushed stainless finish, a highly
polished mirror-like option known as "Ultimate Stainless" was cataloged
for a time through the Colt Custom Shop. Anacondas came equipped with
four, six, or eight inch barrels, neoprene synthetic rubber finger-grooved combat-style grips with nickel colored 'Rampant Colt' medallions, large target type hammers and triggers, as well as open iron sights with a red insert front and fully adjustable white outline rear.[2][3] Some models were factory drilled and tapped for telescopic sight mounting, while others shipped with recoil reducing Mag-na-ported barrels.[3]
 The trigger actions on these guns are rated as very high-quality, and
the heavy-duty solid construction and weight tends to absorb recoil,
making the Anaconda relatively easy to shoot with heavy loads.

### Colt Detective Special Revolver

    The Colt **Detective Special** is a carbon steel framed double-action short-barreled revolver, and is an example of a class of firearms known to gun enthusiasts as "snubnosed", "snubbies", or "belly guns". As the name "Detective Special" suggests, this model revolver was used as a concealed weapon by plainclothes police detectives.

Introduced in 1927, the Detective Special was one of the first
short-barreled revolvers produced with a modern swing-out frame. It was
designed from the outset to be chambered for higher-powered cartridges
such as the .38 Special, considered to be a powerful caliber for a concealable pocket revolver of the day.

The Detective Special is by design a shortened and somewhat streamlined Colt Police Positive Special,
 sharing that revolver's slim "D" size frame and six round capacity. The
 DS uses a slightly smaller frame than the Colt Official Police or Smith & Wesson "K" Frame revolvers, but is larger than the compact "J" frame used in Smith & Wesson five-shot revolvers.[1]

The Detective Special went through several issues or series.[2]
 The First Series was produced from 1927 until 1946. Compared to later
production models, the First Series used a narrower frame, with reduced
clearance between the frontstrap of the gripframe and the rear of the
trigger guard. Other distinctive features included a shorter ejector-rod
 with an ungrooved, knurled tip; a checkered hammer spur and cylinder
latch, a "half-moon"–shaped front sight, and an overlapping screw and
locking pin set-up on the right side of the frame. Grip panels were
wooden. A rounded butt on the metal frame became standard in 1933, but
pieces with the original square butt (like that of the Police Positive
Special) continued to be produced into the 1940s.[1]

The Second Series ran from 1947 to 1972. The ejector-rod was longer
and had a groove in its knurled tip; a three-inch-barrel variant was
offered, with a yet longer ejector-rod. The cylinder latch was smooth,
and the trigger spur serrated. The right side frame screw has no locking
 pin, and the rear half of the front sight is a serrated ramp. The grip
panels were plastic in 1947, but were changed back to wood starting in
1955 (first with a silver-tone Colt medallion, and later a gold-tone).
An optional hammer shroud was available from the factory to prevent the
hammer from catching on clothing.[1]

The transition from First to Second Series was gradual, with some
post-WWII Second Series guns retaining short ejector rods and checkered
hammers. Because of this, assigning a given revolver to a particular
issue is best done by serial number.

During the 1960s, the grip frame of the Second Series Detective
Special was shortened, matching that of Colt's other snub-nosed pistols,
 the Cobra and Agent.
 Despite this alteration, the Detective Special's overall grip size
remained unchanged, as Colt fitted the Second Series with new,
lengthened gripstocks that extended below the frame.[1]

The Third Series ran from 1973 to 1986. A new shroud extended down
from the barrel, enclosing and protecting the ejector-rod, and the front
 sight was changed to a full ramp. New, oversize wood gripstocks were
introduced that covered the front frame strap. The Third Series featured
 improvements to the revolver's internal lockwork as well. As with the
previous two Series, a few nickel-plated guns were produced, and a
3-inch-barrel variant was again offered. In 1986, facing stagnant sales
numbers as well as rising production and labor costs, Colt discontinued
production of the Detective Special.[3]

Colt filed for bankruptcy protection in 1992. After reorganization,
the company restarted production of the Detective Special in 1993. The
post-1992 Detective Special is sometimes called the Fourth Series, and
featured "composite" (rubber), wrap-around grips with a gold medallion.
Only a two-inch barrel was offered, in blue or hard chrome finish. The
new production run continued only until 1995, when Colt introduced its
stainless-steel SF-VI as a replacement for the Detective Special.[1]

From its introduction, the Detective Special used Colt's ‘Positive Safety Lock’ (hammer block),
 first featured on the Police Positive; the mechanism interposes a bar
between hammer and frame until the trigger is pulled, preventing accidental discharge if the hammer is struck (e.g., if a dropped gun falls onto its hammer) with the trigger forward.[4]
 First and early Second Series Detective Specials are becoming highly
sought after by collectors, particularly if they are in prime condition
and still have the famous Colt "Royal Blue" finish.

#### Users:

* Snowdrop
* Gail Trent

#### Gallery

Snowdrop's Colt Detective RevolverGail Trent's Colt Detective Revolver
### Colt Python

    The **Colt Python** is a .357 Magnum caliber revolver formerly manufactured by Colt's Manufacturing Company of Hartford, Connecticut. It is sometimes referred to as a "Combat Magnum".[1] It was first introduced in 1955, the same year as Smith & Wesson's M29 .44 Magnum. The now discontinued Colt Python targeted the premium revolver market segment. Some firearm collectors and writers such as Jeff Cooper, Ian V. Hogg,

 Chuck Hawks, Leroy Thompson, Renee Smeets and Martin Dougherty have
described the Python as the finest production revolver ever made.

The Colt Python is a double action handgun chambered for the .357 Magnum
 cartridge, built on Colt's large I-frame. Pythons have a reputation for
 accuracy, smooth trigger pull, and a tight cylinder lock-up.[2] They are similar in size and function to the Colt Trooper and Colt Lawman revolvers.

The Colt Python was first introduced in 1955 as Colt's top-of-the-line model and was originally intended to be a large-frame 38 Special target revolver.[3]
 As a result, it features precision adjustable sights, a smooth trigger,
 solid construction, and extra metal. Pythons have a distinct appearance
 due to a full barrel underlug, ventilated rib and adjustable sights.[3]
 Originally, Colt manufactured Pythons with hollow underlugs but left
them solid to work as a stabilizing barrel weight. When the revolver is
at full cock, just as the trigger is pressed, the cylinder locks up for
the duration of the hammer strike. Other revolvers have a hint of
looseness even at full-cock. The gap between the cylinder and forcing
cone is very tight, further aiding accuracy and velocity.[2]
 Starting in the 1970s each Python revolver was boresighted at the
factory with a laser and was the first mass-produced revolver to do so

In October 1999, Colt Manufacturing Co. announced the termination of its
 production of Python revolvers. In a 2000 follow-up letter to
distributors, the company cited changing market conditions and the costs
 of defending lawsuits as the reasons for the discontinuation of the
Python line as well as a number of other models.[8]
 The Colt Custom Gun Shop continued making a limited number of Pythons
on special order until 2005, when even this limited production was
terminated.

### Charter Arms Bulldog

    The **Bulldog** is a 5-shot traditional double-action revolver designed by Doug McClenahan and produced by Charter Arms. It was introduced in 1973. The Bulldog has been available for the .44 Special and .357 Magnum cartridges with a length of 7.2 inches (184 mm) and 6.7 inches (171 mm) and barrel lengths of either 2.5 inches (64 mm) or 2.2 inches (56 mm). It was a top-selling gun during the 1980s and it is considered as Charter Arms' trademark weapon.  It has been produced by four different companies since it was released.

Designed by the founder of the first version of Charter Arms,[2] Doug McClenahan,[3] the Bulldog was released in 1973. It was one of the best-selling weapons of the 1970s and the 1980s in the United States. Its design and execution, which were quite modern at the time, caught the attention of the gun press and combat shooters. By the mid-1980s, more than half a million units had been produced and nearly 37,000 were being manufactured every year. Bulldog production has been stopped a few times since 1992, when Charter Arms (the original manufacturer) went bankrupt.

Some time later, manufacturing began again under the Charco (descendant company of Charter Arms) trademark, but this company also filed bankruptcy; the models produced during this period showed obvious production flaws. It was produced again by Charter 2000; this company, which failed also, improved the weapon with a one-piece barrel, front sight, ejector-shroud assembly. The original model had no ejector-shroud and the aluminum front sight was soldered to the barrel.

In June 2007, a version of the Bulldog with new features began to be produced by another company named Charter Arms, but this time was distributed by MKS Supply.

The Bulldog was used by the infamous serial killer David Berkowitz aka "The .44 Caliber Killer" and the "Son of Sam" who was responsible for a brutal series of attacks and murders in New York City during 1976–1977 (before he was caught due to an outstanding parking violation).

The accuracy of the Bulldog is aided by its trigger pull. According to reviews, it is more accurate than expected for a revolver of its size and type but probably not enough to be called an "accurate" weapon.

When the gun is fired, the hammer does not actually strike the firing pin. Under normal firing circumstances a small steel bar (called a transfer bar) is raised as the trigger is pulled, placing it into a position between the firing pin and the hammer itself. The falling hammer strikes the transfer bar, which in turn strikes the firing pin, discharging the weapon. If the trigger is not being pulled when the hammer falls, the transfer bar will not be in position and the weapon will not discharge.

The Bulldog is apparently intended for light, fast bullets, as with heavier and slower bullets it is less accurate. With most ammunition types the muzzle velocity tends to be between 705 and 1000 feet per second (215 and 305 meters per second, respectively). For self-defense the Blazer 200-grain (13 g) Gold Dot is, apparently, the load of choice for the Bulldog. If the Bulldog is used to hunt, the most effective ammo is, reportedly, the 240- or 250-grain (16 g) SWC. With this bullet type, the shot is very powerful and has a strong penetration but the recoil can easily be handled. Other ammo types are weaker or provide too much recoil.

### Taurus Judge Revolver

    The **Taurus Judge** is a five shot revolver designed and produced by Taurus International, chambered for .410 bore shot shells and the .45 Colt cartridge. Taurus promotes the Judge as a self-defense tool against carjacking and for home protection.

There have been two model number designations for this firearm, the
4410 (no longer produced) and the 4510 (current). Both model numbers are
 essentially the same revolver, and any 4410 or 4510 will yield
basically the same performance. It got its name "The Judge" in 2006 when
 Bob Morrison, Executive Vice President, learned that judges in
high-crime areas of Miami, Florida
 were purchasing the revolver for personal defense in their courtrooms,
and after Morrison investigated further, the model designation was
changed from 4410 to 4510 to more accurately reflect the revolver's
versatility (.45 Colt + 410 shot → "4510").[1] Taurus International reports that the Judge is their top-selling firearm.[1]

The rifling is shallower than normal, giving single-projectile loads
less stabilization than they would receive in other handguns while
reducing the rapid dispersion of the shot from shotshells.[2] Taurus developed the shallow rifling after numerous experiments to find rifling that worked well with both types of ammunition.[3]
Though Taurus deliberately designed the Judge to fire shotshells, the
 Judge does not qualify as a "short-barreled shotgun" under the National Firearms Act of 1934 as its rifled barrel makes it a regular handgun.[2] However, the Judge is considered a short-barreled shotgun under California state law, which has a broader definition of "short-barreled shotgun," and the Judge is thus illegal to possess in that state.

The Judge, a derivative of the Taurus Tracker, comes in three barrel
lengths (3", 4" and 6.5" - Tracker), two cylinder lengths (2.5" and 3"),
 and two finishes (blued and stainless steel). The 3" barrel model also
comes in two weight classes, the standard steel construction (29 oz
currently, 36 oz previously) and alloy-based "Ultra-Lite" (22 oz
currently, 24 oz previously). Felt recoil can be significant with the
Ultra-Lite series, due to its light weight, especially with .45 Colt
rounds. As of December 2008, spur-less hammers remain available with all
 short-barrel lengths of The Judge. Crimson Trace laser grips are available for standard models of this firearm.[5]

At the Shooting, Hunting, Outdoor Trade Show in January 2009, Taurus
introduced several new models of the Judge. These have been labeled the **Public Defender**
 series and are based on the Taurus Model 85 frame. As with the original
 Judge, these shoot five rounds of either .45 Colt or .410 shot. Taurus
is positioning the Public Defender series as a concealed carry piece.
Taurus also introduced the tactical **R Ported**. The Taurus 4510TKR-3SSR (stainless steel) and 4510TKR-3BR (blued) offer a 3″ ported barrel with a Picatinny rail.[6]

In 2010 Taurus introduced the **Raging Judge** which is chambered for .454 Casull as well .45 Colt and 3" .410 shot shells.[6]

In 2011 at SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada Taurus introduced the **Raging Judge XXVIII**
 chambered for 28 gauge shot shells. The 67 ounce revolver held five
shells in the cylinder and had a 6.5" barrel. The cylinder used a double
 lock-up similar to the Raging Judge chambered in .454 Casull.

However, rumors began to quickly circulate during the show that the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives
 (BATFE) seized the prototype guns due to an initial finding that the
guns were actually short-barreled shotguns, and therefore illegal.[7]
 However, Mark Keefe at American Rifleman reported that Taurus invited
the BATFE to a meeting to discuss the revolver, and no BATFE
determination was made at that time.[8]

On March 27, 2011, Taurus International President and CEO Bob
Morrison stated on the Gun Talk radio show that the Taurus Raging Judge
XXVIII was still under development.[9] Ultimately, the gun never made it into production and no official statement was made by Taurus about the gun again.

### Webley Revolver

    The **Webley Revolver** (also known as the **Webley Top-Break Revolver** or **Webley Self-Extracting Revolver**) was, in various marks, the standard issue service pistol for the armed forces of the United Kingdom, the British Empire, and the Commonwealth from 1887 until 1963.

The Webley is a top-break revolver with automatic extraction. That is, breaking the revolver open for reloading also operates the extractor. This removes the spent cartridges from the cylinder. The **Webley Mk I** service revolver was adopted in 1887. A later version, the **Mk IV**, rose to prominence during the Boer War of 1899–1902. However, the **Mk VI**, introduced in 1915 during the First World War, is perhaps the best-known model.
Firing the large .455 Webley
 cartridge, Webley service revolvers are among the most powerful
top-break revolvers ever produced. Although the .455 calibre Webley is
no longer in military service, the .38/200 Webley Mk IV variant is still in use as a police sidearm in a number of countries.[1] With the use of a half moon clip, the **Webley Mk VI** can safely fire the 45 ACP cartridge.[2]
 Many of the Webley Mk VIs were converted to fire 45 ACP ammunition
after .455 Webley ammunition became increasingly difficult to find.

The British company Webley and Scott (P. Webley & Son before merger with W & C Scott in 1897) produced a range of revolvers
 from the mid 19th to late 20th centuries. As early as 1853 P. Webley
and J. Webley began production of their first patented single action cap
 and ball revolvers. Later under the trade name of P. Webley and Son,
manufacturing included their own .44-caliber rim-fire solid frame
revolver as well as licensed copies of Smith & Wesson's Tip up break
 action revolvers. The quintessential hinged frame, centre-fire
revolvers for which the Webley name is best known first began
production/development in the early 1870s most notably with the
Webley-Pryse (1877) and Webley-Kaufman (1881) models. The W.G. or
Webley-Government models produced from 1885 through to the early 1900s,
(often incorrectly referred to as the Webley-Green) are the most popular
 of the commercial top break revolvers and many were the private
purchase choice of English military officers and target shooters in the
period, coming in a .476/.455 calibre. However other short-barrel
solid-frame revolvers, including the Webley RIC (Royal Irish Constabulary) model and the British Bulldog revolver,
 designed to be carried in a coat pocket for self-defence were far more
commonplace during the period. Today, undoubtedly best-known are the
range of military revolvers, which were in service use across two World
Wars and numerous colonial conflicts.[3][4]

In 1887, the British Army was searching for a revolver to replace the largely unsatisfactory .476 Enfield Mk I & Mk II Revolvers, the Enfield having only replaced the solid frame Adams .450 revolver which was a late 1860s conversion of the cap and ball Beaumont–Adams revolver
 in 1880. Webley & Scott, who were already very well known makers of
 quality guns and had sold many pistols on a commercial basis to
military officers and civilians alike, tendered the .455 calibre Webley
Self-Extracting Revolver for trials. The military was suitably impressed
 with the revolver (it was seen as a vast improvement over the Enfield
revolvers then in service, which American designed Owen extraction
system did not prove particularly satisfactory in service), and it was
adopted on 8 November 1887 as the "Pistol, Webley, Mk I".[5] The initial contract called for 10,000 Webley revolvers, at a price of £3/1/1 each, with at least 2,000 revolvers to be supplied within eight months.[6]

The Webley revolver went through a number of changes, culminating in
the Mk VI, which was in production between 1915 and 1923. The large .455
 Webley revolvers were retired in 1947, although the Webley Mk IV
.38/200 remained in service until 1963 alongside the Enfield No. 2 Mk I
revolver. Commercial versions of all Webley service revolvers were also
sold on the civilian market, along with a numbe of similar designs
(such as the **Webley-Government** and **Webley-Wilkinson**) that were not officially adopted for service, but were nonetheless purchased privately by military officers.

#### Users:

* Zecora (Mk. V model)
* Zeñorita Cebra (Mk. VI model)
* Cheese Sandwich ("WG" Army model)
* Muska (Mk. VI model)

#### Gallery

Zecora's Webley Mk. V RevolverZeñorita Cebra's Webley Mk. VI RevolerCheese Sandwich's Webley "WG" Army Revolver
### Webley-Fosbery Automatic Revolver

    The **Webley–Fosbery Self-Cocking Automatic Revolver** was an unusual, recoil-operated, automatic revolver designed by Lieutenant Colonel George Vincent Fosbery, VC and produced by the Webley and Scott

 company from 1901 to 1915. The revolver is easily recognisable by the
zig-zag grooves on the cylinder. When they can be found, it is not
uncommon for examples to exceed $10,000 at sale.

Semi-automatic pistols
 were just beginning to appear when Colonel Fosbery (1832–1907) devised a
 revolver that cocked the hammer and rotated the cylinder by sliding the
 action, cylinder and barrel assembly back on the frame. The prototype
was a modified Colt Single Action Army revolver. Fosbery patented his invention 16 August 1895 and further improvements were patented in June and October 1896.[1]
Fosbery took his design to P. Webley & Son of Birmingham. P.
Webley & Son, which merged with W.C. Scott & Sons and Richard
Ellis & Son in 1897 to form the Webley & Scott Revolver and Arms
 Co., was the primary manufacturer of service pistols for the British Army as well as producing firearms for civilian use. Webley further developed the design and the **Webley–Fosbery Automatic Revolver** was introduced at the matches at Bisley of July 1900.

The revolver was initially made in .455 calibre for the British
service cartridge, and later in .38 ACP. While the .455 version had a
standard 6-round cylinder, the .38 high velocity (.38 Colt ACP) version
had eight chambers and could be loaded by a circular full-moon clip.
 The .38 version had a shorter cylinder, and thus shorter recoil stroke.
 Some were made with the short frame in .455 calibre. A variety of
modifications led to the production of 6 different models, Marks I
through VI.

In civilian use, the Webley–Fosbery was popular with target-shooters.
 Because the trigger mechanism did not rotate the cylinder, shots were
smooth and consistent, permitting rapid and accurate shooting. Walter Winans,
 a famous contemporary target shooter, preferred the Webley–Fosbery, and
 in 1902 he used it to place six shots in a two-inch bull's-eye at 12
paces in seven seconds. Using a Prideaux speedloader he was able to fire twelve shots into a three-inch bull's-eye in approximately 15 seconds.[2]

The Webley–Fosbery was available in several standard configurations
with barrel lengths of 7.5 inches, 6 in, and 4 in, and was also made to
order. They could also be ordered with Metford (polygonal) rifling. The
pistol could also be purchased with a single-shot .22 adapter for
competitive target shooting; the cylinder was removed and it was
inserted into the barrel.

### Colt M1911A1 pistol

    The **M1911** is a single-action, semi-automatic, magazine-fed, recoil-operated pistol chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge.[1] It served as the standard-issue sidearm for the United States Armed Forces from 1911 to 1986. It was first used in later stages of the Philippine-American War, and was widely used in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. The pistol's formal designation as of 1940 was **Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911** for the original model of 1911 or **Automatic Pistol, Caliber .45, M1911A1** for the M1911A1, adopted in 1924. The designation changed to **Pistol, Caliber .45, Automatic, M1911A1** in the Vietnam era.[1]

In total, the U.S. procured around 2.7 million M1911 and M1911A1
pistols in military contracts during its service life. The M1911 was
replaced by the 9mm Beretta M9
 pistol as the standard U.S. sidearm in October 1986, but due to its
popularity among users, it has not been completely phased out.
Modernized derivative variants of the M1911 are still in use by some
units of the U.S. Army Special Forces, the U.S. Navy and U.S. Marine Corps.[4]
Designed by John Browning, the M1911 is the best-known of his designs to use the short recoil
 principle in its basic design. The pistol was widely copied, and this
operating system rose to become the preeminent type of the 20th century
and of nearly all modern centerfire pistols. It is popular with civilian
 shooters in competitive events such as USPSA, IDPA, International Practical Shooting Confederation, and Bullseye shooting. Compact variants are popular civilian concealed carry weapons, because of the design's relatively slim width and the power of the .45 ACP cartridge.

During the end of 1899 and start of 1900, a test of self-loading pistols was conducted, which included entries from Mauser (the C96 "Broomhandle"), Mannlicher (the Mannlicher M1894), and Colt (the Colt M1900).[6]

This led to a purchase of 1,000 DWM Luger pistols, chambered in 7.65 mm Luger, a bottlenecked cartridge. During field trials these ran into some problems, especially with stopping power. Other governments had made similar complaints. Consequently, DWM produced an enlarged version of the round, the 9 mm Parabellum
 (known in current military parlance as the 9×19mm NATO), a necked-up
version of the 7.65 mm round. Fifty of these were tested as well by the U.S. Army in 1903.[8]

American units fighting Moro guerrillas during the Philippine-American War using the then-standard Colt M1892 revolver, in .38 Long Colt, found it to be unsuitable for the rigors of jungle warfare, particularly in terms of stopping power, as the Moros had very high battle morale and frequently used drugs to inhibit the sensation of pain.[9] The U.S. Army briefly reverted to using the M1873 single-action revolver
 in .45 Colt caliber, which had been standard during the late 19th
century; the heavier bullet was found to be more effective against
charging tribesmen.[10] The problems prompted the then–Chief of Ordnance, General William Crozier, to authorize further testing for a new service pistol.[10]

Following the 1904 Thompson-LaGarde pistol round effectiveness tests, Colonel John T. Thompson stated that the new pistol "should not be of less than .45 caliber" and would preferably be semi-automatic in operation.[10] This led to the 1906 trials of pistols from six firearms manufacturing companies (namely, Colt, Bergmann, Deutsche Waffen und Munitionsfabriken (DWM), Savage Arms Company, Knoble, Webley, and White-Merril).[10]

Of the six designs submitted, three were eliminated early on, leaving only the Savage, Colt, and DWM designs chambered in the new .45 ACP (Automatic Colt Pistol) cartridge.[10]
 These three still had issues that needed correction, but only Colt and
Savage resubmitted their designs. There is some debate over the reasons
for DWM's withdrawal—some say they felt there was bias and that the DWM
design was being used primarily as a "whipping boy" for the Savage and
Colt pistols,[11]
 though this does not fit well with the earlier 1900 purchase of the DWM
 design over the Colt and Steyr entries. In any case, a series of field
tests from 1907 to 1911 were held to decide between the Savage and Colt
designs.[10] Both designs were improved between each testing over their initial entries, leading up to the final test before adoption.[10]
Among the areas of success for the Colt was a test at the end of 1910
 attended by its designer, John Browning. Six thousand rounds were fired
 from a single pistol over the course of two days. When the gun began to
 grow hot, it was simply immersed in water to cool it. The Colt gun
passed with no reported malfunctions, while the Savage designs had 37.

#### Users:

* Button Mash
* Ernie the Giant Chicken (customized)
* Soarin'
* Blackie (nickel plated, pearl grips)

#### Gallery

Button Mash's Colt M1911 PistolWonderbolts Colt M1911A1 pistol (Soarin')Blackie's Colt M1911A1 Pistol (Nickel Plated, Pearl Grips)Ernie's Colt M1911A1 Pistol (customized)
### Browning Hi-Power pistol

    The **Browning Hi Power** is a single-action, semi-automatic handgun available in 9mm and .40 S&W calibers. It is based on a design by American firearms inventor John Browning, and completed by Dieudonné Saive at *Fabrique Nationale* (FN) of Herstal, Belgium.

 Browning died in 1926, several years before the design was finalized.
The Hi-Power is one of the most widely used military pistols in history,[3] having been used by the armed forces of over 50 countries.[1]

The Hi Power name is somewhat misleading and alluded to the 13-round
magazine capacity, almost twice that of contemporary designs such as the
 Luger or Mauser 1910. The pistol is often referred to as an **HP** (for "Hi-Power" or "High-Power")[4] or as a **GP** (for the French term, "Grande Puissance"). The terms **P-35** and **HP-35**
 are also used, based on the introduction of the pistol in 1935. It is
most often called the "Hi Power", even in Belgium. Other names include **BAP** (Browning Automatic Pistol), particularly in Irish service, or **BHP** (Browning High-Power).

The Browning Hi-Power was designed in response to a French military requirement for a new service pistol, the *Grand Rendement* (French for "High Yield"), or alternatively *Grande Puissance*
 (literally "high power"). The French military's requirements were that
the arm should be compact, have a capacity of at least 10 rounds, a
magazine disconnect device, an external hammer, a positive safety, be
robust and simple to disassemble and re-assemble, and be capable of
killing a man at 50 meters; this last criterion was seen to demand a
caliber of 9 mm or larger, a bullet mass of around 8 grams
(123.5 grains), and a muzzle velocity of 350 m/s (1148 ft/s). It was to
accomplish all of this at a weight not exceeding 1 kg (2.2 lb).

FN commissioned John Browning to design a new military sidearm
conforming to this specification. Browning had previously sold the
rights to his successful M1911 U.S. Army automatic pistol
 to Colt's Patent Firearms, and was therefore forced to design an
entirely new pistol while working around the M1911 patents. Browning
built two different prototypes for the project in Utah and filed the patent for this pistol in the United States on June 28, 1923, granted on February 22, 1927.[5][6] One was a simple blowback design, while the other was operated with a locked-breech recoil system. Both prototypes utilized the new staggered magazine design (by designer Dieudonné Saive) to increase capacity without unduly increasing the pistol's grip size or magazine length.

The locked breech design was selected for further development and testing. This model was striker-fired,
 and featured a double-column magazine that held 16 rounds. The design
was refined through several trials held by the Versailles Trial
Commission.

In 1928, when the patents for the Colt Model 1911 had expired,
Dieudonné Saive integrated many of the Colt's previously patented
features into the *Grand Rendement* design, in the Saive-Browning
Model of 1928. This version featured the removable barrel bushing and
take down sequence of the Colt 1911.

By 1931, the Browning Hi-Power design incorporated a shortened
13-round magazine, a curved rear grip strap, and a barrel bushing that
was integral to the slide assembly. By 1934, the Hi-Power design was
complete and ready to be produced. It was first adopted by Belgium for
military service in 1935 as the Browning P-35. Ultimately, France
decided not to adopt the pistol, instead selecting the conceptually
similar but lower-capacity Modèle 1935 pistol.

The HP35 originally had a rounded, serrated hammer with a hole
through it (called a "ring hammer"). This lighter hammer was harder to
cock and had difficulty firing the harder Berdan-primed centerfire
cartridges commonly used in Europe, often requiring a tightening of the
hammer spring. This was replaced in 1972 by a spur hammer on both
civilian and military models. However, the Browning Challenger and
special variants of the Browning pistol still use the classic ring
hammer.

The Browning Hi-Power has undergone continuous refinement by FN since
 its introduction. The pistols were originally made in two models: an
"Ordinary Model" with fixed sights and an "Adjustable Rear Sight Model"
with a tangent-type rear sight and a slotted grip for attaching a wooden
 shoulder stock. The adjustable sights are still available on commercial
 versions of the Hi-Power, although the shoulder stock mounts were
discontinued during World War II. In 1962, the design was modified to
replace the internal extractor with an external extractor, improving reliability.

Standard Hi-Powers are based on a single-action design. Unlike modern double-action
 semi-automatic pistols, the Hi-Power's trigger is not connected to the
hammer. If a double-action pistol is carried with the hammer down with a
 round in the chamber and a loaded magazine installed, the shooter may
fire the pistol either by simply pulling the trigger, or by pulling the
hammer back to the cocked position and *then* pulling the trigger.
In contrast, a single-action pistol can only be fired with the hammer in
 the cocked position; this is generally done when a loaded magazine is
inserted and the slide cycled by hand. In common with the M1911,
 the Hi-Power is therefore typically carried with the hammer cocked, a
round in the chamber, and the safety catch on (a carry mode often called
 *cocked and locked* in the USA or "made ready" in the UK, or sometimes called *condition one*).

The Hi-Power, like many other Browning designs, operates on the short-recoil
 principle, where the barrel and slide initially recoil together until
the barrel is unlocked from the slide by a cam arrangement. Unlike
Browning's earlier Colt M1911 pistol,
 the barrel is not moved vertically by a toggling link, but instead by a
 hardened bar which crosses the frame under the barrel and contacts a
slot under the chamber, at the rearmost part of the barrel. The barrel
and slide recoil together for a short distance but, as the slot engages
the bar, the chamber and the rear of the barrel are drawn downward and
stopped. The downward movement of the barrel disengages it from the
slide, which continues rearward, extracting the spent case from the
chamber and ejecting it while also re-cocking the hammer. After the
slide reaches the limit of its travel, the recoil spring brings it
forward again, stripping a new round from the magazine and pushing it
into the chamber. This also pushes the chamber and barrel forward. The
cam slot and bar move the chamber upward and the locking lugs on the
barrel reengage those in the slide.

The pistol has a small number of design issues. The standard trigger
pull is heavy, especially for a single-action pistol. This disadvantage
is a consequence of the Hi-Power's magazine disconnect safety, which was
 initially added to the model to meet the requirements of the French
military in 1935. The standard Hi-Power magazine safety is connected to
the trigger and is released by a plunger pressing on the surface of the
magazine. This action of the plunger on the magazine adds tension to the
 trigger pull, and the required force to operate this feature adds
resistance as well.[7]
 This problem is often resolved by removing the magazine safety
entirely, thus voiding the pistol's warranty, or by polishing the
interface surfaces between the safety plunger and the magazine.[8] After-market trigger springs with reduced tension are also available to improve the trigger pull.

In addition, the pistol has a tendency to "bite"
 the web of the shooter's hand, between the thumb and forefinger. This
bite is caused by pressure from the hammer spur, or alternatively, by
pinching between the hammer shank and grip tang. Many HP owners fix this
 problem by altering or replacing the hammer, or by learning to hold the
 pistol to avoid injury. While a common complaint with the commercial
models with spur hammers similar to that of the Colt "Government Model"
automatic, it is seldom a problem with the military models, which have a
 smaller, rounded "burr" hammer, more like that of the Colt "Commander"
compact version of the 1911.

Nevertheless, its ability to hold 13 rounds of ammunition, nearly
double that of the Colt M1911, made it very desirable as a
military-issue pistol.

#### Users:

* The Changling Royal Guards (standard issue)

### Beretta 1951 pistol

    The **Beretta M1951** is a 9×19mm semi-automatic pistol, developed during the late 1940s and early 1950s by Pietro Beretta S.p.A. of Italy. The pistol was produced strictly for military use and was introduced into service with the Italian Armed Forces and security forces as the **Modello 1951** (M1951), replacing the Modello 1934 pistol, chambered for the 9×17mm Short (.380 ACP) cartridge.

The pistol was Beretta's first locked-breech design on the market (previous semi-automatic pistols were all blowback-operated)
 and was in limited production circa 1953 and in full-scale production
in 1956 until 1980. The initial production batch featured a lightweight
alloy frame, which proved to be unable to withstand the shock of the
relatively high-powered 9×19mm Parabellum round in the long run. This
was replaced by the 'second series' model with a steel frame that proved
 to be totally adequate in endurance. The steel-framed version was
nearly 250 grams heavier than the alloy version, but the balance was
improved. A special version of this second series (the "Egyptian
Contract" model 951) was modified according to the wishes of the
military of the Egyptian Arab Republic. Approximately 50,000 Egyptian
Contract 951s were produced. Its particular modifications included
larger sights, a simplified, narrower grip and external "thumb-spring"
magazine release, rather than the push-button release in the lower-right
 grip of all other 951 versions. Beretta was in competition with Tokarev
 to become the primary supplier of sidearms to the new Egyptian
republic. Despite intense pressure and incentives from the Soviet bloc,
the Egyptians appreciated the 9×19mm Beretta's accuracy, power and
uncanny reliability in desert conditions, and consequently, the
Hungarian "Tokagypt" was produced in comparatively small quantities.

The "third series" of the model 951 was the definitive production
version. Its lengthened slide further improved the pistol's balance. The
 relatively large sights of the Egyptian Contract version were replaced -
 even on the Maadi-made Helwan 951 - by the original smaller,
unobtrusive sights which were less likely to snag on a holster. Serial
production of this definitive version initiated in Italy 1955, and in
Egypt in the early 1960s. The M1951 is no longer produced in Italy and
was never adopted by the Italian Army. The Italian Army instead opted to keep the .380 ACP Beretta M1934 in service until the adoption of the 9×19mm Beretta 92; the M1951 was instead adopted by the Italian Navy, the Carabinieri and the Italian national Traffic Police,
 but has since been replaced in all services with the above-mentioned
Beretta 92, in 1977. Other military forces to have adopted the M1951
include Egypt (where it has been produced by the local firm Maadi as the **"Helwan"**), Israel, Iraq (license-built as the **"Tariq"**), Nigeria, Libya and Tunisia; in most of these countries, the pistol is now out of service. The pistol is known as the **M951 "Brigadier"** on the civilian market. After 1968, in the United States, it was briefly referred to as the **104** in promotional literature.

The M1951 is a short recoil-operated,
 locked breech pistol with a vertically falling locking piece and an
open top slide (the locking mechanism design was influenced by the Walther P38 pistol).[1]
 The locking piece, located under the barrel, is unlocked by a sliding
pin and locked back into battery by a beveled surface on the pistol's
frame. The locking piece features two locking lugs that engage
appropriate recesses cut into the slide's internal side surfaces. When
the pistol is fired, the locking piece, integral with the slide, goes
back together with the barrel which is locked to the slide. After a
brief period of unrestricted travel of approx. 13 mm (0.5 in) the
unlocking pin on the rear barrel lug strikes the receiver and stops. As
the barrel and slide continue back, the locking piece strikes the
stationary plunger and is forced down into recesses in the slide. The
barrel comes to rest but the slide continues rearward for a further
50 mm (2.0 in). Upon forward return, the slide picks up the barrel and
the locking piece on the barrel lug is lifted up by the receiver cam to
lock the barrel to the slide. The spring-loaded extractor is integrated
into the slide, and the fixed-type ejector is integral to the pistol's
frame. The pistol has a hammer striking mechanism (with an exposed
hammer) and a single-action
 trigger with a disconnector, which enables semi-automatic fire only. A
cross-bolt safety mounted on the weapon's frame (beneath the hammer)
provides safe operation with a cartridge introduced into the chamber. In
 the “weapon safe” position (the safety's button pushed in to the left)
the slide catch is disabled.

The M1951 is fed from an 8-round detachable box magazine. A hold open device will keep the slide locked open after discharging the last cartridge from the magazine.[1]
 The slide can then be released by depressing the slide release lever
located on the left side of the frame. The pistol uses fixed iron sights set for engaging targets at 50 m. These consist of a forward blade and rear notch.

The pistol's barrel has a rifled bore with 6 right-hand grooves and a 1 in 254 mm (1:10 in) twist rate.

The M1951 pistol is chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge.

### Beretta M9 pistol

    The **Beretta M9**, officially the **Pistol, Semiautomatic, 9mm, M9**, is a 9×19mm Parabellum pistol adopted by the United States Armed Forces in 1985. It is essentially a military specification Beretta 92FS.

The M9 won a competition in the 1980s to replace the M1911A1 as the primary sidearm of the U.S. military, beating many other contenders, and only narrowly defeating the SIG P226 for cost reasons.[1] It officially entered service in 1990.[2] Some other models have been adopted to a lesser extent, namely the M11 pistol, and other models remain in use in certain niches.
The M9 was scheduled to be replaced under a United States Army program, the *Future Handgun System* (FHS), which was merged with the *SOF Combat Pistol* program to create the *Joint Combat Pistol* (JCP). The JCP was renamed *Combat Pistol* (CP), and the number of pistols to be bought was drastically cut back.

The M9 is a short recoil, semi-automatic, single-action / double-action pistol which uses a 15-round staggered box magazine
 with a reversible magazine release button that can be positioned for
either right- or left-handed shooters. The M9 is used with the Bianchi
M12 Holster, though other holsters are often used. The specific
modifications made from the Beretta 92 includes:

* Design of all the parts to make them 100% interchangeable to simplify maintenance for large government organizations.
* Modified the front of the trigger guard so that one could use finger support for easier aiming.
* Recurved the forward base of the grip to aid aiming.
* Hard chromed the barrel bore to protect it from corrosion and to reduce wear.
* New surface coating on the slide called Bruniton, which allegedly

provides better corrosion resistance than the previous plain blued
finish.
It also has an enlarged hammer pin that fits into a groove on the
underside of the slide. The main purpose is to stop the slide from
flying off the frame to the rear if it cracks. This was in response to
reported defective slides during U.S. Military testing.

The M9 was updated to the **M9A1** in 2006.[6] It added—among other things—a Picatinny rail
 for the attachment of lights, lasers, and other accessories to the
weapon. The M9A1 has more aggressive front and backstrap checkering and a
 beveled magazine well for easier reloading of the weapon. M9A1 pistols
are sold with physical vapor deposition (PVD) coated magazines developed to better withstand the conditions in the sandy environments in Iraq and Afghanistan.[7]

The M9 features multiple internal safeties, including a firing pin
block that prevents the firing pin from moving without the trigger being
 pulled, and a firing pin striker that rotates when the safety lever is
engaged preventing the firing pin from being hit even if the hammer
falls. The M9 also has an ambidextrous external safety lever allowing
both left and right handed people to engage or disengage the safety
mechanism.

The U.S. Army and Air Force are seeking to replace their M9s through the Modular Handgun System program. The House Armed Services Committee
 wants to terminate the program in favor of upgrading the M9. Program
officials say buying a new pistol is the better option due to advances
in handgun designs, the difficulty in addressing all of the M9's issues,
 other pistols being less expensive to produce and maintain, and the low
 confidence soldiers have in the M9. A three-year engineering,
manufacturing, and development (EMD) phase is to begin in early 2014. Commercial off-the-shelf
 pistols will be tested for capabilities such as accuracy, dispersion,
compatibility, and corrosion resistance under extreme weather and
extreme combat conditions. The pistol's service life is expected at
25,000 rounds. The M9 is required to fire 5,000 rounds, while data from
Beretta shows the average reliability of the M9 pistol to be 17,500
rounds without a stoppage.[22][23]
In December 2014, Beretta unveiled its M9A3 pistol upgrade for a
separate Army effort to identify Engineering Change Proposals (ECPs)
under its existing contract. The company presented the upgrade to
improve the M9's performance as a more cost-effective solution without
needing to buy a different handgun. Improvements include a thin grip
with a removable, modular wrap-around grip, MIL-STD-1913 accessory rail, removable front and rear tritium sights,
 extended and threaded barrel for suppressor use, 17-round sand
resistant magazine, and other small features, all in an earth tone
finish.[24]
 Later that month, the Army decided not to evaluate the M9A3 in favor of
 pursuing the MHS program, maintaining that the M9 design does not meet
requirements and a cost-benefit analysis determined the old fleet would
cost more to replace and repair than buying a new service pistol.
Beretta claims M9A3 upgrade features fix most of the complaints and
could be sold for less than the cost of previous M9 versions.[25] The Army formally rejected the M9A3 ECP proposal at the end of January 2015.

#### Users:

* Rarity (M9A3)
* Nyx
* Human Rarity & Human Pinkie (Inox)
* Joe Swanson
* The Wonderbolts

#### Gallery

Beretta M9 "Inox"Rarity's Beretta M9A3 pistolNyx's Beretta M9 pistolWonderbolt's Beretta M9 pistol
### CZ-75B pistol

    The **ČZ 75** is a pistol made by Česká zbrojovka Uherský Brod (CZUB) in the Czech Republic that has both semi-automatic and selective fire variants. First introduced in 1975, it is one of the original "wonder nines" featuring a staggered-column magazine, all-steel construction, and a hammer forged barrel. It is widely distributed throughout the world. It is the most common handgun in the Czech Republic.

The CZ 75 is a short recoil operated, locked breech pistol. It uses the Browning linkless cam locking system similar to that used in the Browning Hi-Power
 pistol, where the barrel and slide are locked together on firing, using
 locking lugs milled into the barrel mating with recesses in the roof of
 the slide. An enclosed cam track integral with the barrel is actuated
by the slide release lever's transverse pin. After the first few
millimetres of the recoil stroke, the barrel is cammed downwards at the
rear, enabling the slide to continue the recoil stroke and eject the
spent cartridge.

Most models have the capability of being fired in both single and double-action modes, and feature a frame-mounted manual safety.
 Some recent models have a decocking lever that doubles as a manual
safety. Starting in the early 1990s, all CZ 75s have been made with firing pin blocks, designated by the letter B (as in CZ 75B).

The CZ 75 was one of the first high-capacity 9mm pistols with a manual safety similar to that of the Browning Hi-Power.
 This allows the CZ 75 to be carried with the hammer cocked with safety
applied and a round chambered, ready for use simply by switching the
safety off, a configuration known as *condition 1*. It is somewhat unusual for double-action pistols to have this "cocked and locked" type of safety; most such as the Walther P38 and the Beretta 92F
 have a combination safety/decocking lever (as do some later versions of
 the CZ 75). The trade-off of this configuration is that to uncock the
hammer for a double-action first shot, the hammer must be dropped
manually by pulling the trigger while lowering the hammer with the
firer's thumb under control. Once lowered in this manner, a
double-action first shot can be achieved in a similar manner to other
double-action pistols without actuating any controls. Subsequent shots
will be single-action unless the hammer is again manually lowered.

All non–double-action only
 CZ-75 variants feature a "half-cock" notch. This is not a safety
position, but rather an operator aid to provide a safe place to manually
 decock the pistol. All of the "decocker" models decock to this
position, and the manual advises not to attempt to place the hammer
further on any model.

Unlike most other semi-auto pistols, the slide rides inside the frame rails, similar to the SIG P210,
 rather than outside. This provides a tight slide-to-frame fit and a
very efficient barrel lock-up, both of which contribute to its accuracy.

On current models frames are cast and slides are machined from
forgings, though forged frames have been used in very early production
models. The six-groove barrel has traditional land-and-groove rifling
with a higher-than-standard rate of twist (1 in 9.7).

#### Users:

* Sweetie Belle
* Daring Do

#### Gallery

Sweetie Belle's CZ 75B pistolDaring Do's CZ 75B pistol
### Jericho 941 pistol

    The **Jericho 941** is a double-action/single-action semi-automatic pistol developed by Israel Military Industries (now: Israel Weapon Industries) that was launched in 1990.

It was first imported into the US in 1990 by K.B.I., Inc. of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. It was later imported by O.F. Mossberg & Sons and named the **Uzi Eagle** and by Magnum Research, Inc. as the **Baby Eagle** until the end of 2008. Some pistols from Magnum Research are marked **Desert Eagle Pistol**. Despite these names being used in the US market, the Jericho 941 is not related to the IMI Desert Eagle
 other than its

The original Jericho 941 was modeled on the well-respected CZ-75 pistol designed and produced by Česká zbrojovka (CZ) of the Czech Republic and built using parts supplied by the Italian arms house Tanfoglio,
 which had been making their own CZ-75 clones. Using a well-tested
design allowed IMI to avoid the teething problems most new pistol
designs experience, and subcontracting much of the basic fabrication
work to Tanfoglio allowed IMI to quickly and economically put into
production a pistol that would have enough Israeli content to satisfy
government contract requirements.[2]

While the R-versions of Jericho 941 feature a combined
safety/decocker (the decocking lever also acts as a safety and remains
on "safe" when actuated), the decocker version of the CZ-75 (CZ-75BD)
features a simple decocker (the pistol is always ready to fire in
double-action mode when decocked). The barrel of the CZ-75 is
traditionally rifled, while the Jericho 941 features a polygonal
 barrel, furthermore the Jericho 941 is substantially heavier. These
differences translate into substantial differences in the condition in
which the gun is carried. Magazines for the CZ-75 and Tanfoglio T95 will function in the Jericho 941.

One innovation by IMI was a new, much "hotter" cartridge, the .41 Action Express (see below) to go along with the Jericho 941. The difference between 9mm and .41 AE is the same as .44 Magnum and .50 AE.
 The AE bullets have rebated rims which are the same diameter as the
less powerful rounds, but the casing is wider, providing more power.
This allows these pairs of calibers to be used in the same firearm with
only a change of barrel, recoil spring and magazine.[2]

The .41 AE was less commercially successful than the 10 mm, and was soon discontinued.[3] Experience with heavily loaded rounds gave IMI a considerable lead, however, in chambering for the soon-to-be successful .40 S&W and also allowed the Jericho to "up-chamber" to the very popular .45 ACP.[2] The Jericho 941 design has been modified to include accessory rails on the frame for mounting lasers or flashlights, a feature found on many current-generation semi-automatic handguns.

manufacture and design by IMI, and bears only a slight
cosmetic resemblance to the larger pistol. From January 2009 until they
ceased business in January 2010, K.B.I., Inc. (which also imported Charles Daly firearms) imported the handgun as the **Jericho**. Magnum Research, now a division of Kahr Arms, announced a renewed importation of the Jericho.
In December 2014, IWI US, Inc. announced they would begin importing
both the steel and polymer versions of the Jericho 941 in early 2015.

#### Users:

* Maud Pie
* Digit

#### Gallery

Maud Pie's Jericho 941 pistolDigit's Jericho 941 pistol
### SIG-Sauer GSR M1911 pistol

    The **SIG Sauer GSR** ("Granite Series Rail") is a series of pistols with a stainless steel frame and slide based on the M1911 by SIG Sauer. The SIG Granite Series was awarded the 2004 Handgun of the Year Award by the Shooting Industry Academy of Excellence.[1] It is entirely made in the USA, from American parts.

Chambered for the .45 ACP
 round, some GSR models have an accessory rail that can be used to mount
 a variety of different tactical lights, lasers, or just about anything
that can accommodate a Picatinny rail. Standard models have a 5" barrel and 4.5-pound single-action
 trigger. The GSR is reported to have produced range results of a 1.5"
group at 25 meters. The GSR comes in compact (3.5" barrel) and carry
models (4" barrel) and has various sight options available.[3] SIG offers choice of a stainless steel finish, a Nitron dark finish, or a two-tone Nitron and stainless look.[2]
The TAC OPS and Scorpion versions feature a Picatinny rail, night sights, and a threaded barrel to allow the user to attach a sound suppressor.

### Astra Constable .22 pistol

**The Astra Constable** pistol is a compact pistol created by the Astra co.

#### Users:

* Fluttershy
* Minka Mark

#### Gallery

Fluttershy's Astra Constable pistolMinka Mark's Astra Constable pistol
### Star Model 30PK pistol

    The **Star Model 30** was an improved version of the Star Model 28

Pistol with the extractor in the normal location. It was available in
three main models which were the **Model 30M** (with long "military" length barrel), the **Model 30P** (with short "police" length barrel) and the **Model 30PK**
 (with "police" length barrel and lightweight alloy frame). This pistol
was adopted by Guardia Civil and other law enforcement agencies in Spain
 (*actually, the Guardia Civil used the all-steel Model 30M, while the National Police adopted the Model 28PK*).
 Later the National Police adopted the Model 30P (improved Police Model
28 with steel frame) and PK (alloy frame). It was manufactured between
1984-1993.

This pistol had been developed and manufactured in Spain by Star
Bonifacio Echeverria SA company. The Star 30M appeared in 1990 and had
been adopted as a service pistol by the Spanish army and police, as well
 as by Peruvian police.

Technically, the Star 30M is an updated version of the earlier Star 28M
 pistol. Star 30M is a recoil operated, locked breech pistol, that uses
Browning-designed, linkless locking (High Power-type), with two lugs on
the barrel and shaped cam under the chamber that interacts with slide
stop axis iside the frame.
Star 30M features double action trigger with slide mounted ambidextrous
 safety that locks firing ping only, leaving trigger and hammer
unaffected in "safety on" position, thus allowing the gun to be "dry
fired" (however, this is unsafe and is not recommended). Star 30M also
features magazine safety, that disables firing when magazine in not in
position. Another safety feature is a loaded chamber indicator. Star 30M
 features internal slide rails (like the SIG P-210 or CZ-75). The frame
and slide are made from steel (the aluminium-alloy frame version of the
Star 30M is called Star 30PK and is somewhat lighter, as one can
expect). The front sight is fixed, the rear sight is dovetailed and thus
 can be ajusted for windage.

Star 30M is a reliable, accurate service pistol.

#### Users:

* Blythe Baxter
* Belle

#### Gallery

Blythe Baxter's Star Model 30 PK pistolBelle's Star Model 30 PK pistol
### Kel-Tec P-11 pistol

    The **Kel-Tec P-11** is a compact, semi-automatic, short-recoil operated pistol chambered in 9mm Luger. It has been manufactured by Kel-Tec CNC Industries of Cocoa, FL since 1995.

The P-11 was designed by Swedish-born George Kellgren, the designer of many earlier Husqvarna (Sweden), Intratec, and Grendel
 brand firearms. The P-11 uses an aluminum receiver inside a polymer
grip housing held on with polymer pins. The slide, barrel, and magazine
are steel. The standard magazine holds ten rounds, or twelve rounds in
states not limited to 10-round magazines. Both fit flush to the bottom
of the pistol. At 14 oz (400 g) unloaded, the handgun itself is
comparatively light. The P-11 lacks an external manual safety relying
instead on a long and heavy double action only (DAO) trigger pull, which
 requires nine pounds of pressure, to prevent accidental discharge. A
firing pin spring and low-mass hammer prevent discharge if the gun is
dropped. The P-11 will also accept some Smith & Wesson 59 series magazines.[2]
 An available adapter wraps around the base of 15-round Smith &
Wesson model 59 style magazines. Smith & Wesson series 69 compact
12-round magazines will also work, with a matching short adapter sleeve
as well. Accessories such as trigger shoes, finger-rests, belt clips,
steel guide rods to replace the factory installed polymer guide rod,
gray and OD green colored polymer grip housings, night sights and other
accessories are also available from the manufacturer.

For a short period, the P-11 was offered in .40 S&W and .357 Sig
 with reduced magazine capacity. These weapons were designated P-40 and
P-357. These models mated a P-11's frame to a larger slide width and
barrel. Kel-Tec has suspended production of these pistols and conversion
 kits. In 2006, Kel-Tec introduced a single-stack pistol based on the
P-11 with engineering improvements borrowed from the P-3AT. The resulting PF-9 pistol weighs about the same loaded as the P-11 empty and is somewhat slimmer.

The P-11 is designed for concealed carry by members of the general public and law enforcement officers. It is only slightly wider than the staggered-column magazine
 it uses. It is particularly attractive to users who want a concealable
firearm but also desire a "full-power" defensive cartridge. The barrel
is near the minimum length possible with a Browning
 tilting-barrel system of operation. The gun easily fits into a pocket,
small holster, or inside a handbag. All edges are rounded and smoothed
allowing comfort while carrying concealed. There are few protrusions on
the pistol to catch on a pocket holster, a deep concealment or inside of
 waistband holster.

### Desert Eagle Pistol

    The **Desert Eagle** is a powerful semi-automatic handgun designed by Magnum Research, Inc. (MRI) in the United States and redesigned by Israeli Military Industries

 of Israel. It has become an icon of both films and video games the
world over, with its triangular barrel and gaping muzzle. Over the past
25 years, MRI has been responsible for the design and development of the
 Desert Eagle pistol. The design was refined and the actual pistols were
 manufactured by Israel Military Industries until 1995, when MRI shifted the manufacturing contract to Saco Defense in Saco, Maine. In 1998, MRI moved manufacturing back to IMI, which later reorganized under the name Israel Weapon Industries.
 Both Saco and IMI/IWI were strictly contractors: all of the
intellectual property, including patents, copyrights and trademarks, are
 the property of Magnum Research. Since 2009, the Desert Eagle Pistol
has been produced in the United States at MRI's Pillager, MN facility.[2] Kahr Arms acquired Magnum Research in the middle of 2010.[3]
 The Desert Eagle has been featured in roughly 500 motion pictures and
TV films, along with several video games, considerably increasing its
popularity and boosting sales.[4]
Magnum Research has marketed various versions of the short recoil Jericho 941
 pistol under the Baby Eagle and Desert Eagle Pistol names; these have
no functional relationship to the Desert Eagle and bear only a moderate
cosmetic resemblance.

The design for the Desert Eagle was initiated by Bernard C. White of
Magnum Research, who filed a US patent application for a mechanism for a
 gas-actuated pistol in January 1983.[6]
 This established the basic layout of the Desert Eagle. A second patent
application was filed in December 1985, after the basic design had been
refined by IMI (Israel Military Industries) for production, and this is the form that went into production.[7]

The Desert Eagle uses a gas-operated mechanism normally found in rifles, as opposed to the short recoil or blow-back
 designs most commonly seen in semi-automatic pistols. When a round is
fired, gases are ported out through a small hole in the barrel near the
breech. These travel forward through a small tube under the barrel, to a
 cylinder near the front of the barrel. The separate bolt carrier/slide
has a small piston on the front that fits into this cylinder; when the
gases reach the cylinder they push the piston rearward. The bolt carrier
 rides rearward on two rails on either side of the barrel, operating the
 mechanism. Its rotating bolt strongly resembles that of the M16 series of rifles, while the fixed gas cylinder/moving piston resemble those of the Ruger Mini-14 carbine (the original patent used a captive piston similar to the M14 rifle).[2][5]

The advantage of the gas operation is that it allows the use of far more powerful cartridges
 than traditional semi-automatic pistol designs. Thus it allows the
Desert Eagle to compete in an area that had previously been dominated by
 magnum revolvers.
 Downsides of the gas-operated mechanism are the large size of the
Desert Eagle, and the fact that it discourages the use of unjacketed
lead bullets, as lead particles sheared off during firing could clog the
 gas release tap, preventing proper function.[5]

Switching a Desert Eagle to another chambering requires only that the correct barrel, bolt assembly, and magazine
 be installed. Thus, a conversion to fire the other cartridges can be
quickly accomplished. The rim diameter of the .50 AE (Action Express) is
 the same as the .44 Remington Magnum cartridge, consequently only a
barrel and magazine change is required to convert a .44 Desert Eagle to the larger, more powerful .50 AE round.[2][5]
 The most popular barrel length is 6 in (152 mm), although a 10 in
(254 mm) barrel is available. The Mark XIX barrels are machined with
integral scope mounting bases, simplifying the process of adding a pistol scope.
The Desert Eagle is fed with a detachable magazine. Magazine capacity is 9 rounds in .357 Magnum, 8 rounds in .44 Magnum, and 7 rounds in .50 Action Express. The Desert Eagle's barrel features polygonal rifling. The pistol is primarily used for hunting, target shooting, and silhouette shooting.

The *Mark I*, which is no longer produced, was offered with a
steel, stainless steel or aluminum alloy frame and differs primarily in
the size and shape of the safety levers and slide catch.[5] The *Mark VII*
 includes an adjustable trigger (retrofittable to Mark I pistols). The
Mark I and VII are both available in .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum; the
Mark VII has been chambered for .41 Magnum. The barrels had a 3⁄8" dovetail, to which an accessory mount could be attached. Later Mark VII models were offered in .50 Action Express with a 7⁄8"
 Weaver-pattern rail on the barrel; the .50 Mark VII would later become
the Mark XIX platform. Barrel lengths were 6, 10, and 14 inches[5] for .357 Magnum and .44 Magnum, but only 6 or 10 inches for .41 Magnum.

The most recent model, the *Mark XIX*, is available in .357 Magnum, .44 Magnum, and .50 Action Express (or .50 AE). This model comes in a variety of different finishes, such as brushed chrome or titanium gold. Magnum Research offered this model in .440 Cor-bon caliber,
 a .50 AE derived case. There were less than 500 original .440 Cor-bon
Desert Eagles imported into U.S. in December 2000. Mark XIX barrels are
available in 6-inch and 10-inch lengths only.[5] Both the .357 and .44 Magnum XIX version have exterior barrel fluting, whereas the .50 AE versions do not.

The *DE44CA* (*D*esert *E*agle .*44* Magnum *Ca*lifornia)
 is the only XIX that is approved for dealer sales to the public in the
State of California: it differs from standard XIXs in that it has a
firing-pin block incorporated in its design.[8]

Current-model Mark XIX Desert Eagles now have a new-style Picatinny
rail along the top of the barrel, as opposed to the dove-tail style rail
 on previous models. Magnum Research also now offers a proprietary muzzle brake for the .50 AE, .44 Magnum, and .357 Magnum versions to help reduce recoil.

#### Users:

* Shining Armor (Mark XIX)
* Princess Cadance (Mark VII)
* Princess Skyla (Mark I)
* Rainbow Dash (Mark VII)
* Human Rainbow Dash (Mark VII)
* Scootaloo (Mark XIX [changing barrels])
* Spitfire (Mark XIX)
* DoodleBob (Mark XIX)

#### Gallery

Rainbow's Mk. VII Desert EagleScootaloo's Mk. XIX Desert EagleShining Armor's MK. XIX Desert EagleCadance's Mk. VII Desert EagleSkyla's Mk. I Desert EagleSpitfire's Mk. XIX Desert EagleHuman Rainbow's Mk. VII Desert EaglePeter's Desert Eagle Mark I.pngPeter Griffin's Desert Eagle Mark IDoodleBob's Mk. XIX Desert Eagle
### Glock 18C

    The **Glock pistol**, sometimes referred to by the manufacturer as a *Glock "Safe Action" Pistol*, is a series of polymer-framed, short recoil operated, locked breech semi-automatic pistols designed and produced by Glock Ges.m.b.H., located in Deutsch-Wagram, Austria. It entered Austrian military and police service by 1982.[5]

Despite initial resistance from the market to accept a "plastic gun"
due to durability and reliability concerns, and fears that the pistol
would be "invisible" to metal detectors
 in airports, Glock pistols have become the company's most profitable
line of products, commanding 65% of the market share of handguns for United States law enforcement agencies as well as supplying numerous national armed forces and security agencies worldwide.[6] Glocks are also popular firearms amongst civilians for recreational/competition shooting, home/self defense and concealed/open carry.

The company's founder, engineer Gaston Glock, had no experience with firearm design or manufacture at the time their first pistol, the *Glock 17*, was being prototyped. Glock did, however, have extensive experience in advanced synthetic polymers,
 knowledge of which was instrumental in the company's design of the
first commercially successful line of pistols with a polymer frame.[8] Glock introduced ferritic nitrocarburizing into the firearms industry as an anti-corrosion surface treatment for metal gun parts.

Glock became aware of the Austrian Army's
 planned procurement and in 1982 assembled a team of Europe's leading
handgun experts from military, police and civilian sport shooting
circles to define the most desirable characteristics in a combat pistol.[5]
 Within three months, Glock developed a working prototype that combined
proven mechanisms and traits from previous pistol designs.[12]
 The new weapon made extensive use of synthetic materials and modern
manufacturing technologies in its design, making it a very
cost-effective candidate. Several samples of the 9×19mm Glock 17 (so
named because it was the 17th set of technical drawings of the company[13])
 were submitted for assessment trials in early 1982, and after passing
all of the exhaustive endurance and abuse tests, Glock emerged as the
winner with the Model 17.[14][15][16]

The handgun was adopted into service with the Austrian military and police forces in 1982 as the P80 (*Pistole 80*),[17] with an initial order for 25,000 guns.[12] The Glock 17 outperformed 8 different pistols from five other established manufacturers (Heckler & Koch of Germany offered their P7M8, P7M13 and P9S, SIG Sauer of Germany bid with their P220 and P226 models, Beretta of Italy submitted their model 92SB-F, FN Herstal proposed an updated variant of the Browning Hi-Power and the home-grown Steyr Mannlicher entered the competition with the GB).[18]

The results of the Austrian trials sparked a wave of interest in Western Europe and overseas, particularly in the United States, where a similar effort to select a service-wide replacement for the M1911 had been ongoing since the late 1970s (known as the Joint Service Small Arms Program). In late 1983, the United States Department of Defense inquired about the Glock pistol and received four samples of the Glock 17 for unofficial evaluation.[19]
 Glock was then invited to participate in the XM9 Personal Defense
Pistol Trials, but declined because the DOD specifications would require
 extensive retooling of production equipment and providing 35 test
samples in an unrealistic time frame.[19]

Shortly thereafter, the Glock 17 was accepted into service with the Norwegian, and Swedish Armed Forces, surpassing all prior NATO durability standards.[19] As a result, the Glock 17 became a standard NATO-classified sidearm and was granted a NATO Stock Number (1005-25-133-6775).[19]
By 1992, some 350,000 pistols had been sold in more than 45 countries, including 250,000 in the United States alone.

The *Glock 18* is a selective fire variant of the Glock 17, developed at the request of the Austrian counter-terrorist unit EKO Cobra. Originally produced in 1986, this machine pistol–class
 firearm has a lever-type fire-control selector switch, installed on the
 serrated portion of the rear left side of the slide. With the selector
lever in the bottom position, the pistol will fire fully automatic,
 and with the selector lever in the top position, the pistol will fire
semi-automatically. The firearm is typically used with an extended
33-round capacity magazine, although other magazines from the Glock 17
will function, with available capacities of 10, 17, or 19 rounds. Early
Glock 18 models were ported to reduce muzzle rise during automatic fire. Another compensated variant was produced, known as the *Glock 18C*.
 It has a keyhole opening cut into the forward portion of the slide,
similar to the opening on the Glock long-slide models, although the
Glock 18 has a standard-length slide. The keyhole opening provides an
area to allow the four, progressively larger (from back to front)
compensator cuts machined into the barrel to vent the propellant gases
upwards, affording more control over the rapid-firing machine pistol.
The compensator cuts start about halfway back on the top of the
barrel. The two rear cuts are narrower than the two front cuts. The
slide is hollowed, or dished-out, in a rectangular pattern between the
rear of the ejection port and the rear sight. The rate of fire in fully
automatic mode is approximately 1,100–1,200 rounds per minute. Most of
the other characteristics are equivalent to the Glock 17, although the
slide, frame, and certain fire-control parts of the Glock 18 are not
interchangeable with other Glock models.

#### Users:

* Princess Sharon
* Britney Sweet

#### Gallery

Sharon's Glock 18C pistol (with and without extended mag)Britney Sweet's Glock 18C pistol
### SIG-Sauer P226 pistol

    The **SIG Sauer P226** is a full-sized, service-type pistol made by SIG Sauer. It is chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum, .40 S&W, .357 SIG, and .22 Long Rifle. It is essentially the same basic design of the SIG Sauer P220,

 but developed to use higher capacity, staggered-column magazines in
place of the single-column magazines of the P220. The P226 itself has
spawned further sub-variants; the P228 and P229
 are both compact versions of the staggered-column P226 design. The SIG
Sauer P226 and its variants are in service with numerous law enforcement
 and military organizations worldwide.

The P226 was designed for entry into the XM9 Service Pistol Trials (see also Joint Service Small Arms Program) that were held by the US Army in 1984 on behalf of the US armed forces to find a replacement for the M1911A1. Only the Beretta 92F and the SIG P226 satisfactorily completed the trials.[*citation needed*]
 According to a GAO report, Beretta was awarded the M9 contract for the
92F due to a lower total package price. The P226 cost less per pistol
than the 92F, but SIG's package price with magazines and spare parts was
 higher than Beretta's. The Navy SEALs, however, chose to adopt the P226 later.[4]

Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft
 is a Swiss company. In the late 1960s, SIG entered into an agreement
with German gun manufacturer (and eventual owner) J.P. Sauer & Sohn
to increase the commercial marketing of their products. For the U.S.
military XM9 trials, the P226 was imported by Saco Defense. Interarms
 took over importing when the pistol was introduced for civilian sales.
SIG Sauer eventually founded SIGARMS, Inc. in the United States, to
handle importation of their products. In 2000 the SIG Holding AG sold
J.P. Sauer & Sohn GmbH to two German businessmen.[5] The brand name SIG Sauer remained at the J.P. Sauer & Sohn GmbH.

The P226, like the other members of the SIG Classic family, operates by
the locked breech short-recoil method pioneered by John Browning. On
firing, the slide and barrel are locked together for a few millimeters
of rearward movement, after which the barrel is cammed down at the rear.
 By this time the bullet has left the barrel and the pressure has
dropped to safe levels, whereupon the slide completes the rearward
stroke, ejecting the spent cartridge. The recoil spring then propels the
 slide forward, stripping a round from the magazine and in the last few
millimeters of forward movement the barrel is cammed upwards, locking
the slide and barrel together again.

Instead of the locking lugs and recesses milled into the barrel and slide of other Browning-type weapons (such as the Colt M1911A1, Browning Hi-Power and CZ 75),
 the P226 locks the barrel and slide together using an enlarged breech
section of the barrel locking into the ejection port. This modified
system, which was devised by SIG based on Charles Petter's Modèle 1935A pistol and their own SIG P210, has no functional disadvantages compared to the original system, and has since been copied by numerous firearm manufacturers.[6]

The slide of the pre-1996 P226 was a heavy gauge, mill finished sheet
 metal stamping with a welded on nose section incorporating an internal
barrel bushing. The breech block portion was a machined insert attached
to the slide by means of brazing and a roll pin visible from either
side. Since 1996, production has shifted to CNC machining and the slide
is now milled from a single piece of stainless steel. Therefore the
current standard P226 has a Nitron coated, stainless steel slide. This resulted in a stronger slide, which was necessary to chamber the more powerful .40 S&W and .357 SIG cartridges.[*citation needed*] The frame of most models is made from hard anodized aluminum alloy.

The standard SIG P226 incorporates a decocking lever on the left side of the frame above the magazine release button, which first appeared on the Sauer 38H
 prior to World War II, which allows the hammer to be dropped safely. In
 chambering or firing a round, the actuation of the slide automatically
cocks the hammer. By using the decocking lever, the hammer can be
de-cocked without actuating the firing pin block,
 making it impossible to accidentally fire the weapon by using the
decocking lever. Furthermore, using the decocking lever makes the weapon
 "drop safe",
 which means the firing pin will be blocked from striking a loaded round
 unless the trigger is pulled. Pulling the trigger and slowly lowering
the hammer does not make the weapon "drop safe", and can result in an accidental discharge if sufficient force is applied to the hammer.

Properly decocked, the pistol can be holstered safely and can be
fired in double action mode by simply pulling the trigger. The SIG P226
has no manual safety.
 Double action trigger pressure is approximately 44 N (9.9 lbf).
Subsequent shots are fired in single action mode with a lighter trigger
pressure of approximately 20 N (4.5 lbf). As with other DA/SA pistols
such as the HK USP and Beretta 92F,
 some training is required to minimize the difference in point of aim
caused by the different trigger pressure between a first double action
shot and subsequent single action shots. The hammer may also be manually
 cocked at any time by the user to fire in single action mode.

### Heckler & Koch P9S pistol

    The **HK P9** is a semi-automatic pistol from Heckler & Koch in 9×19mm Parabellum and the first to use a variation of H&K's roller delayed blowback system in a pistol format and polygonal rifling

 now common in H&K designs. Design began around 1965 and production
ran between 1969 and 1978. Only 485 single-action P9's were produced and
 were discontinued in 1970.[*citation needed*] A traditional double action version, the **P9S** was manufactured in greater numbers.

The P9 is a roller-delayed pistol manufactured from a stamped steel
main frame and a polymer trigger guard. The stamped steel slide contains
 machined internal parts including a polygonally rifled
 barrel. High-profile fixed sights are fitted with two red rectangles on
 the rear sight and a white stripe on the drift adjustable front blade
sight. Vertical zeroing is accomplished by fitting front sights of a
different height.

The P9S was adopted by the US Navy for use with a sound suppressor.[1]
 The sound suppressors of the period were comparatively large and the
model frequently shown with the P9S make the pistol's sights unusable so
 the suppressor was equipped with sights. The fixed barrel of the P9S
allows the pistol to operate reliably with the suppressor attached
without requiring the recoil booster.
 Most long and short recoil designs need to compensate for the added
muzzle mass and mechanical movement of a mounted suppressor.

A shortened version, the **P9K** was made in prototype form, but was never put into production.
In addition to the standard P9S, a **P9S Target** model was also
offered. This model included a taller front sight, a windage and
elevation adjustable rear sight, an adjustable trigger over-travel stop,
 and an adjustable trigger that could be adjusted down to as low as
approximately a 2.5# pull. The P9S Target model was offered in both 9mm
as well as .45 ACP.

The P9S trigger operates as a traditional double action. There is a
lever on the left side of the pistol grip to both decock a cocked hammer
 or to manually re-cock it for a single action first shot, a feature
first observed on the Sauer 38H.
 A further function of the decocking lever is to release the slide stop.
 The hammer is concealed within the slide (also similar to the Sauer)
with a protruding pin at the rear of the slide as a cocking indicator.
The operating spring surrounds the barrel, allowing for a lower bore
axis than pistols such as John Browning's M1911
 that have the operating spring below the barrel. A manual safety is
located at the left rear of the slide and the magazine release is
heel-mounted.

### Heckler & Koch Mk. 23

    The **Heckler & Koch MK 23**, **MK 23 MOD 0**, **Mark 23**, or **MARK 23**, is a weapon system consisting of a match grade semi-automatic pistol, a laser aiming module (LAM), and suppressor. It was adopted by the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) for special operations units in the 1990s as an offensive handgun. Production began in 1991, and it was the basis for the HK USP, which began production in 1993.

While the MK 23 MOD 0 designation usually applies to the complete system, it is also commonly used in reference to the pistol component alone. The pistol itself, chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge, was developed by Heckler & Koch, and was selected over the Colt OHWS through USSOCOM's Offensive Handgun Weapon System (OHWS) program. The LAM and suppressor were developed by Insight Technology and Knight's Armament Company (KAC), respectively.

The MK 23 is considered a match grade pistol, and is capable of making a 2-inch (51 mm) group at 25 metres (27 yd),. The MK 23 has exceptional durability in harsh environments, being waterproof and corrosion-resistant. It uses a polygonal barrel design, which is reported to improve accuracy and durability. It also features an ambidextrous safety and magazine release on both sides of the frame. The magazine release is at the rear edge of the trigger guard, which is wide enough to allow the use of gloves. A decocking lever is on the left side, which will silently lower the cocked hammer. The MK 23 is part of a larger weapon system that includes an attachable Laser Aiming Module (LAM), a suppressor, and some other features such as a special high-pressure match cartridge (.45 +P ammunition).

The firearm was tested and found to be capable of firing tens of thousands of rounds without a barrel change. It remains reliable in harsh conditions, making it suitable for use by special forces. The .45 ACP round has considerable stopping power and yet is subsonic, making it suitable for use with a suppressor.

In 1989, US SOCOM began reviewing their equipment to see which gear fit the needs of their special close quarters battle role. Studying small arms revealed that there were 120 types and configurations of infantry weapons in different units. The logistics of getting spare parts for all these weapons was overwhelming. In response, SOCOM decided to standardize small arms among all units. One area of improvement was the pistol, undertaken by the Offensive Handgun Weapon System (OHWS) competition. It would replace pistols like the 9 mm M9, which was used by regular troops as a secondary weapon. SOCOM's use of small units that operate in close means that pistols are more likely to be used as primary weapons.

The caliber for the OHWS was quickly decided not to be the NATO standard 124 gr (8.0 g) 9 mm due to lack of stopping power. The FBI had selected the 10 mm auto to replace their 9 mm pistols, but it was too powerful, few manufacturers produced it, and the round caused short weapon service life. The .45 ACP caliber was chosen and improved upon with the high velocity, high pressure 185 gr (12.0 g) +P loading.

The OHWS pistol had to fire many types of rounds in addition to the +P cartridge and have a long service life with the high pressure ammo. The M1911 had been proven in service for over 70 years, but was rejected. High pressure rounds would destroy it and it did not fire reliably with a suppressor. Upgrading the M1911 would cost more than it was worth, so it was decided that they would select an entirely new design. A request for quote was for a system that included a pistol, suppressor, and laser aiming module. The pistol had to be corrosion resistant, have a high mean rounds between failures (MRBF), and be able to serve as a primary weapon.

After several tests, Heckler & Koch and Colt submissions were selected to move to phase I of the OHWS program in August 1991. They were awarded developmental contracts to produce 30 systems. At the time the program was beginning, HK was studying what aspects were most desirable in handguns for the U.S. civilian market. They came up with a design that had these features including reliability, durability, affordability, and others by February 1991. Colt however essentially drew upon existing technologies for their submission called the Colt OHWS. They used an M1911 frame that could accept a 10-round magazine, the decocking mechanism from the Colt Double Eagle, and the rotating barrel locking system from the All American 2000. The barrel of the Colt OHWS could not directly attach a suppressor, so a mounting was added to a rail in front of the handguard.

Colt was eliminated after phase I, leaving only HK to move on to phase II. This phase subjected the pistols to the strictest reliability testing any pistol ever went through. The requirement was for no less than 2,000 MRBF; the HK OHWS averaged 6,027 MRBF and could reach 15,122 MRBF. Three pistols went through a 30,000-round endurance test and maintained accuracy of 2.5 in (64 mm) at 25 meters; only the O-ring needed replacement after 20,000 rounds. The weapons worked in temperatures from -25 degrees Fahrenheit to 140 degrees Fahrenheit while exposed to mud, ice, and sand. Phase III was the awarding of a production contract to HK in June 1995. Their pistol was type classified as the Mark 23 Mod 0, and 1,950 systems were ordered at $1,186 each. All pistols were produced in Germany and the first was delivered to SOCOM on 1 May 1996.

Even though the Mark 23 had performed admirably, several factors worked against its use. Previous operators were trained to fire multiple 9 mm rounds and they thought firing extra rounds made up for not using harder hitting but larger and heavier .45 ACP rounds. The introduction of the smaller and lighter HK USP, political pressures, and shortages of +P ammunition also contributed against the pistol. As the War on Terror went on, operators saw the effectiveness of the .45 ACP in combat and renewed use of the Mark 23, as well as other pistols chambered for the round.

### Heckler & Koch HK45

    The **Heckler & Koch HK45** (*Heckler & Koch, .45 ACP*) is a semi-automatic pistol designed by the German arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch.

The HK45 was designed to meet requirements set forth in the U.S. Military Joint Combat Pistol program which had the purpose of arming the U.S. Military with a .45 ACP semi-automatic pistol instead of the 9mm M9 pistol. The Joint Combat Pistol program was suspended indefinitely in 2006, and the M9 pistol remains the standard issue handgun for the U.S. Military. Even though the Joint Combat Pistol program had ended, HK decided to make the HK45 available on the commercial market as well as to law enforcement and military groups. Heckler & Koch, along with Larry Vickers, an ex-Delta Force operator, and Ken Hackathorn led the development of the HK45 to meet Joint Combat Pistol program requirements which was canceled due to the price of re-arming the entire military.

The HK45 represents an evolutionary advancement of the Heckler & Koch USP, and shares the same operating principles of that weapon. It is available in the same ten variants as the USP. The HK45 is a full size model pistol, but significant effort went towards making it more ergonomic than the HK USP full-size chambered in .45 ACP by incorporating features found on the Heckler & Koch P2000. These include an extended ambidextrous slide release, a textured ergonomic grip with finger grooves, and interchangeable backstraps to fit differently sized hands. The newer grip and backstraps allow the pistol to sit lower into the web of the hand, contributing to greater control of the weapon and recoil management. In order to accommodate the smaller, more ergonomic grip, the HK45 has a magazine capacity of 10 rounds versus 12 rounds for the USP45. The HK45 also added grip serrations on the front end of the slide, a Picatinny rail in front of the trigger guard for mounting accessories, and an O-ring polygonal barrel similar to the USP Expert and Match models and the Mark 23 for more consistent lock-up of the slide and barrel during cycling and increased accuracy.

At least one HK45C Tactical was used in Operation Neptune Spear.

The HK45 is also the first weapon to be manufactured at Heckler & Koch's new facility in Newington, New Hampshire.

### AMT Hardballer Longslide

    The **AMT Hardballer** is a series of pistols that are a clone of the .45 ACP Colt M1911 made by Arcadia Machine & Tool (AMT) from 1977 to 2002. The Hardballer was the first entirely stainless steel 1911 pattern pistol. Other features included adjustable rear sights and a lengthened grip safety.

The Hardballer derives its name from round-nose hardball G.I. ammunition (solid 230 grain full metal jacket bullets). This is the round the pistol was designed to shoot.

The Hardballer series of pistols all share a brushed stainless steel finish and a wide target style trigger with adjustable trigger stop. The later Galena-made pistols have an elongated "beavertail" grip safety and a beveled magazine well. **AMT Longslide**: A version with an extended 7 in (178 mm) barrel, introduced in 1980. It has the same qualities as the Hardballer but with slide and barrel lengthened by 2 in (51 mm).

The Longslide version was the pistol used by Arnold Schwarzenegger in the 1984 film, *The Terminator*. The pistol, modified with a large laser sight, was featured on the movie's poster. The sight was created by flashlight maker SureFire especially for the film.

In the Hitman video game series, dual custom AMT Hardballers (called 'Silverballers' in all games but the first one) are 47's signature weapons.

In the video game *Resident Evil 4*, the AMT Longslide makes an appearance, named the "Killer 7" - the name is most likely a reference to *Killer7*, another Capcom published game. It is the second "Magnum" type pistol obtainable in the game.

In Lee Childs' Jack Reacher book *Bad Luck and Trouble*, AMT Hardballers are the weapons used by two drug dealers in an ill advised attempt to recoup $900 stolen from them by Reacher.

#### Users:

* Brian Griffin (Longslide with laser sighting)

#### Gallery

AMT Hardballer (with Laser sighting)Brian Griffin's AMT Hardballer pistol
### Smith & Wesson 4506 pistol

    The **Smith & Wesson Model 4506** is a third-generation semi-automatic pistol from Smith & Wesson's 4500 series of handguns. The 4506 is chambered for the .45 ACP cartridge and, with the purchase of special springs, the stronger .45 Super. It is constructed almost entirely from stainless steel and is thus extremely resistant to harsh weather conditions. The 4506 is a traditional double-action/single-action pistol. The first shot is fired in double-action mode. Each subsequent shot is fired single-action mode. It features one-piece Xenoy wrap-around grips with either a curved or straight back strap. The 4506 was produced from 1988 to 1999.

Like most 3rd generation Smith & Wesson semi automatic pistols, the 4506 features a combination safety lever and decocker mounted on the slide, a plunger type firing pin safety, a magazine disconnect and a pin mounted, pivoting spring actuated external extractor.

Variants:

**Smith & Wesson Model 4506-1:** Later, modified version of the 4506. Change to the slide manufacturing process. Trigger guard changed from square to round. Much later, the hammer and trigger were changed to being blued instead of receiving a flash chrome finish, and the S&W roll marks were dropped in favor of laser etching.

**Smith & Wesson Model 4516:** Compact version with a 3 3⁄4" barrel on a smaller frame accepting 7 round single column magazines.

**Smith & Wesson Model 4546:** Double-action-only version of the 4506 with a rounded, stubby hammer. Only produced in 1992.

**Smith & Wesson Model 4563:** Midsize version with a 41⁄4" barrel on a full-size alloy frame.

**Smith & Wesson Model 4566:** Midsize version with a 41⁄4" barrel on a full-size steel frame, the 4566 was formerly the issued sidearm of the New Hampshire State Police. Current issue (June 2015) with West Virginia State Police, in DAO (Double-Action-Only; TSW version), with bobbed hammer. Two versions in use: Natural stainless and blackened Melonite. Both have the S&W emblem and "West Virginia State Police" followed by WVSP shoulder patch laser etched left side of slide. "West Virginia State Police" laser etched right side of slide. Picatinney rail in front of trigger guard. WVSP carry two vertical back-up mags left of dutybelt buckle for a total of 24 rounds on patrol.

**Smith & Wesson Model 4567:** Midsize version with a 41⁄4" barrel on a full-size stainless steel frame with a blue carbon steel slide and tritium night sights. Also known as the Model 4567-NS. Only 1236 were produced in the 1992 single year production.

**Smith & Wesson Model 4505:** Rare blued carbon steel version of the 4506, only about 1,200 manufactured in 1992

**Smith & Wesson Model 4586:** A double-action-only version of the 4566, with a partially preset hammer and no external safety/decocker. The issued sidearm of the Idaho State Police from 1992-2002.

### Smith & Wesson 61 Escort

**The Smith & Wesson Model 61** (also known as the **Smith & Wesson Escort** or simply the **Pocket Escort**) is a subcompact semi-automatic pistol chambered in .22 long rifle and designed for self-defense that was made from 1970 to 1973.

It was available in blued or nickel-plated finishes and black or white plastic grip panels.[1]

**Model 61 engineering changes:**

* **61** (B1,001–B7,800; March 1970)[1]
* **61-1** (B7,801–B9,850): Magazine safety (May 1970)[1]

* + **61-1** (B1–B500): Special group of pres. numbers (1970)[1]
* **61-2** (B9,851–B40,000): Barrel nut added (September 1970)[1]
* **61-3** (B40,001–B65,438): Aluminum frame (July 1971)

The Model 61 was not a very popular pistol.

#### Users:

* Mitzi
* Russell Ferguson

#### Gallery

Mitzi's S&W M61 Escort pistolRussel Ferguson's S&W M61 Escort pistol
### Luger P08 pistol

    The **Pistole Parabellum 1908**—or **Parabellum-Pistole** (**Pistol Parabellum**)[1]—is a toggle-locked recoil-operated semi-automatic pistol. The design was patented by Georg J. Luger in 1898 and produced by German arms manufacturer *Deutsche Waffen- und Munitionsfabriken* (DWM) starting in 1900 with other manufacturers such as W+F Bern, Krieghoff, Simson, Mauser and Vickers;[2] it was an evolution of the 1893 Hugo Borchardt–designed C-93.

 The first Parabellum pistol was adopted by the Swiss army in May 1900.
In German Army service, it was succeeded and partly replaced by the Walther P38 in caliber 9mm Parabellum.

The Luger is well known from its use by Germans during World War I and World War II, along with the interwar Weimar Republic and the postwar East German Volkspolizei. Although the P.08 was introduced in 7.65mm Parabellum, it is notable for being the pistol for which the 9×19mm Parabellum (also known as the 9 mm Luger) cartridge was developed. Because of its association with Nazi Germany, the pistol has been used in fictional works by many villainous characters over the past several decades.

One of the first semi-automatic pistols,
 the Luger was designed to use a toggle-lock action, which uses a
jointed arm to lock, as opposed to the slide actions of almost every
other semi-automatic pistol. After a round is fired, the barrel and
toggle assembly (both locked together at this point) travel rearward due
 to recoil. After moving roughly 13 mm (0.5 in) rearward, the toggle
strikes a cam built into the frame, causing the knee joint to hinge and
the toggle and breech assembly to unlock. At this point the barrel
impacts the frame and stops its rearward movement, but the toggle
assembly continues moving (bending the knee joint) due to momentum,
extracting the spent casing from the chamber and ejecting it. The toggle
 and breech assembly subsequently travel forward under spring tension
and the next round from the magazine is loaded into the chamber. The
entire sequence occurs in a fraction of a second. This mechanism works
well for higher-pressure cartridges, but cartridges loaded to a lower
pressure can cause the pistol to malfunction
 because they do not generate enough recoil to work the action fully.
This results in either the breech block not clearing the top cartridge
of the magazine, or becoming jammed open on the cartridge's base.[3]

In World War I, as submachine guns were found to be effective in trench warfare, experiments with converting various types of pistols to machine pistols (*Reihenfeuerpistolen*,
 literally "row-fire pistols" or "consecutive fire pistols") were
conducted. Among those the Luger pistol (German Army designation **Pistole 08**) was examined; however, unlike the Mauser C96, which was later manufactured in a selective-fire version (Schnellfeuer) or *Reihenfeuerpistolen*, the Luger proved to have an excessive rate of fire in full-automatic mode.

The Luger pistol was manufactured to exacting standards and had a long service life. William B. "Bill" Ruger praised the Luger's 145° (55° for Americans) grip angle and duplicated it in his .22 LR pistol.

The Swiss Army evaluated the Luger pistol in 7.65×21 mm Parabellum and adopted it in 1900 as its standard side arm, designated **Ordonnanzpistole 00** or **OP00**, in 1900. This model uses a 120 mm barrel.

The Luger pistol was accepted by the Imperial German Navy in 1904. The **Navy** model had a 150 mm barrel and a two-position (100/200 metre) rear sight. This version is known as **Pistole 04**.

In 1908 the German Army adopted the Luger to replace the Reichsrevolver in front-line service. The **Pistole 08** (or *P.08*) had a 100 mm barrel and was chambered in 9×19 mm Parabellum. The *P.08* was the usual side arm for German Army personnel in both world wars, though it was being replaced by the Walther P38 starting in 1938. In 1930, Mauser took over manufacture of the P.08 (until 1943).[4]

The Bolivian Army
 adopted the DWM Luger in 9 mm Parabellum as the main officer's side arm
 in 1908; a few hundred were bought, starting with a batch of about 250
that were included in an order of 4,000 Mauser DWM 1907 rifles and 1,000
 Mauser DWM 1907 short rifles, both in caliber 7.65×53 mm, and continued
 with smaller batches every year until 1913. Only the first batch wore
crests and the Legend "Ejercito Boliviano" stamped in the receiver.

'Artillery Luger' Lange Pistole 08 with 32-round Trommel-Magazin 08 and removable stock.

A P-08, BYF-41, 1941, 9×19mm caliber Parabellum Luger Mauser pistol—with
 the safety on, and with breech opened, showing the jointed arm in its
most bent and locked position

The **Lange Pistole 08** (German: "Long Pistol 08") or **Artillery Luger** was a pistol carbine for use by German Army artillerymen as a sort of early Personal Defense Weapon.
 It had a 200 mm barrel, an 8-position tangent rear sight (calibrated to
 800 metres) and a shoulder stock with holster. It was sometimes used
with a 32-round drum magazine (**Trommelmagazin 08**). Early issue LP08's had micrometer adjustable front and rear sights which required a 2-pin tool for adjustment. It was also available in various commercial carbine versions with yet longer barrels.

The firm Armeria Belga of Santiago Chile, manufactured the Benke
Thiemann retractable stock that could fold out from the grip section.

The United States evaluated several semi-automatic pistols in the late 19th century, including the Colt M1900, Steyr Mannlicher M1894, and an entry from Mauser. In 1900 the US purchased 1000 7.65 mm Lugers for field trials. Later, a small number were sampled in the then-new, more powerful 9 mm round. Field experience with .38 caliber revolvers in the Philippines and ballistic tests would result in a requirement for still-larger rounds.

The .45 ACP Luger and the Colt Model 1905, from a 1907 report on testing in the US.

In 1906 and 1907, the US Army held trials for a large-caliber
semi-automatic. DWM provided two sample Luger pistols chambered in .45 ACP
 for testing, with serial numbers 1 and 2. The fate of serial number 1
is unknown, as it was not returned. The serial number 2 Luger .45 passed
 the tests, and survived to be traded among collectors. Its rarity gives
 its value of around US$1 million at the time the "Million Dollar Guns"
episode of History Channel's "Tales of the Gun" was filmed,[5] recheck by *Guns & Ammo* as of 1994.[6]

At least two pistols were manufactured later for possible commercial or military sales, and one is exhibited at the Norton Gallery, in Shreveport,
 Louisiana. The other was sold in 2010 and remains in a private
collection. After initial trials, DWM, Savage, and Colt were asked to
provide further samples for evaluation. DWM withdrew for reasons that
are still debated, though the Army did place an order for 200 more
samples. A single .45 Luger carbine is also known to exist.[7]

In 1936 Mauser phased out "straw finishing" the small parts and
levers on their pistols, choosing to blue them with the rest of the
weapon. When in combination with black bakelite grip panels, used on
some examples starting in 1941, these pistols were named the "Black
Widow" model by a postwar US arms dealer as a marketing ploy.
Captured Lugers were much prized by Allied soldiers during both of the world wars as war trophies.[8]
 However, during World War II, German soldiers were aware of this and
would use Lugers as "bait", rigging them to detonate land mines or
hidden booby traps when disturbed.[9]
 This tactic was common enough to make experienced Allied soldiers
deeply suspicious of an apparently discarded Luger that they discovered.

#### Users:

* Sunset Shimmer (Artillery [with drum mag])
* Trixie Lulamoon
* Human Trixie Lulamoon
* The Dazzlings (Artillery)
* Rourke

#### Gallery

Sunset Shimmer's Luger (Artillery model)Trixie Lulamoon's LugerAdagio Dazzling's LugerAria Blaze's LugerSonata Dusk's LugerHuman Trixie Lulamoon's Luger
### Heckler & Koch P30 pistol

    The **Heckler & Koch P30** is a polymer framed semi-automatic handgun. The P30 represents an evolutionary advancement of the technology involved in the Heckler & Koch P2000 and Heckler & Koch USP Compact pistols. Early prototypes of the P30 were referred to as the P3000. The pistol is available in 9×19mm Parabellum and .40 S&W chamberings.

The P30 is positioned by the manufacturer as an ideal law enforcement pistol and has been chosen by several law enforcement organizations as their service sidearm.

As of fall 2006, the German Federal Customs Administration had procured 13,500 copies of the P30V6 for its forces, making them the first customer of the P30. Additionally, the Norwegian Police Service has decided in favor of the P30 pistol with an order of approximately 7,000 copies.

In October 2008, the cantonal police of Zurich, Switzerland was granted the purchase of an undisclosed number of P30s worth 1.6 million CHF (US$1.35 million), replacing the previously used SIG P228.

In late November 2008, the German Bundespolizei ordered 30,000 P30s with the option for another 5,000. Deliveries will take place between summer 2009 and 2011.

In April 2010, the state police of Hesse (Germany) ordered the P30 V2. In addition, correction officers in Hesse's state prisons will be equipped with this model.

The P30 NL (H3) variant was being considered for Dutch police service. This pistol finished second in a European tender, after the winning SIG Sauer P250 was rejected in November 2011, and before the Walther P99Q NL (H3) and Beretta Px4 Storm. When minister Ivo Opstelten concluded that SIG Sauer could not deliver the requisite quality in a mass production setting, he chose the P30 NL (H3). However, Walther and Beretta appealed to court, insisting that a new tender procedure should be started. On 24 January 2012 the court decided that a new tender process should be organized. Opstelten chose to initiate a quick and rigorous new tender process that allows to choose another product if the winner should be rejected. This will delay the introduction of a new police pistol by 1 to 1½ years according to the Dutch Ministry of Security and Justice. In October 2012 it became clear that the P99Q NL (H3) will succeed the Walther P5 and Glock 17 pistols in 2013-2014.

The P30 is a fully ambidextrous polymer framed short recoil–operated locked breech pistol with a modified Browning-type linkless cam action with a vertically tilting barrel.

Technically, the P30 is similar to the Heckler & Koch P2000 pistol; the differences are in exterior appearance and ergonomics.

The P30 is a hammer-fired pistol with an exposed spurred hammer; a bobbed hammer is optional. It has ambidextrous slide release locks and a fully ambidextrous magazine release installed in the trigger guard, on both sides. Various trigger and cocking systems offer the possibility of converting the trigger firing mode from one type to another. Several variants are available based whether the LEM (Law Enforcement Modification) trigger (H&K's double-action only) mechanism is used versus a SA/DA trigger.

All P30 pistols feature an automatic hammer safety and firing pin safety. Some trigger configurations also offer a decocker.

The cold hammer-forged barrel has hexagonal right-hand polygonal rifling while the slide, having both front and rear serrations, is made from a solid bar of nitro-carburized steel. Besides metals the P30 makes extensive use of impact-resistant polymers to reduce weight and production costs.

Major metal components like the steel slide are treated with a protective surface treatment. Heckler & Koch refers to this treatment as the "HE" (Hostile Environment) finish, which is an extremely hard, nitro-gas carburized, black oxide coating. It aids resisting wear and corrosion, including exposure to salt water, making the pistol particularly suitable for individuals carrying the pistol concealed as the highly chloride-resistant finish allows the pistol to better endure the effects of perspiration.

As with other recent Heckler & Koch pistol designs, the P30 is modular to suit individual needs. The grip features three interchangeable backstrap inserts and three interchangeable grip shells both available in small, medium and large sizes. These backstraps and grip shells can be assembled completely at random, also asymmetrically, in 27 different user configurable grip configurations, allowing to customize the pistol's grip to various hand size and shapes and personal preferences.

The iron sights consist of a square notch rear sight and post type front sight. The sight features three-dot contrast enhancements that have been painted with non-radioactive photoluminescent Super-LumiNova afterglow paint that can aid target acquisition under unfavourable lighting conditions.

A MIL-STD-1913 (Picatinny) accessory rail on the dust cover allows mounting tactical lights, laser sights and other accessories. The attachment of such accessories does not require any tools.

The empty weight of a P30(L) 15-round box magazine is 93 g (3.3 oz). The empty weight of a P30SK 10-round box magazine is 82 g (2.9 oz).

For cleaning purposes the pistol can be disassembled into its subassemblies without tools. Disassembly of the pistol is carried out without having to remove the slide release from the grip.

#### Users:

* Sideshow Bob
* James Savoy

### Mauser C96 "Broomstick" handle pistol

    The **Mauser C96** (*Construktion 96*) is a semi-automatic pistol that was originally produced by German arms manufacturer Mauser from 1896 to 1937. Unlicensed copies of the gun were also manufactured in Spain and China in the first half of the 20th century.

The distinctive characteristics of the C96 are the integral box magazine in front of the trigger, the long barrel, the wooden shoulder stock which can double as a holster or carrying case and a grip shaped like the handle of a broom. The grip earned the gun the nickname "Broomhandle" in the English-speaking world because of its round wooden handle, and in China the C96 was nicknamed the "box cannon" (Chinese: 盒子炮; pinyin: *hézipào*) because of its rectangular internal magazine and the fact it could be holstered in its wooden box-like detachable stock.

With its long barrel and high-velocity cartridge, the Mauser C96 had superior range and better penetration than most other pistols; the 7.63×25mm Mauser cartridge was the highest velocity commercially manufactured pistol cartridge until the advent of the .357 Magnum cartridge in 1935.

Mauser manufactured approximately 1 million C96 pistols, while the number produced in Spain and China was large but unknown due to the loss, non-existence or poor preservation of production records from those countries.

Within a year of its introduction in 1896, the C96 had been sold to governments and commercially to civilians and individual military officers.

The Mauser C96 pistol was extremely popular with British officers at the time and many purchased it privately. Mauser supplied the C96 to Westley Richards in the UK for resale. By the onset of World War I, the C96's popularity with the British military had waned.

As a military sidearm, the pistols saw service in various colonial wars, as well as World War I, The Easter Rising, the Estonian War of Independence, the Spanish Civil War, the Chinese Civil War and World War II. The C96 also became a staple of Bolshevik Commissars and various warlords and gang leaders in the Russian Civil War, known simply as "the Mauser".

Winston Churchill was fond of the Mauser C96 and used one at the 1898 Battle of Omdurman and during the Second Boer War; Lawrence of Arabia carried a Mauser C96 for a period, during his time in the Middle East. Indian Revolutionary Ram Prasad Bismil and his partymen used these Mauser Pistols in the historic Kakori train robbery in August 1925. Chinese Communist General Zhu De carried a Mauser C96 during his Nanchang Uprising and later conflicts; his gun (with his name printed on it) can be viewed in the Beijing war museum.

Imported and domestic copies of the C96 were used extensively by the Chinese in the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War, as well as by the Spanish during the Spanish Civil War and the Germans in World War II.

Besides the standard 7.63×25 mm chambering, C96 pistols were also commonly chambered for 9×19mm Parabellum with a small number also being produced in 9 mm Mauser Export. Lastly, there was a Chinese-manufactured model chambered for .45 ACP. Despite the pistol's worldwide popularity and fame, China was the only nation to use the C96 as the primary service pistol of its military and police.

#### Users:

* Gilda
* Lightning Dust
* Helga Sinclair

#### Gallery

Gilda's C96 Mauser "Broomstick handle" pistolLightning Dust's C96 Mauser "Broomstick handle" Pistol
### Walther P38

    The **Walther P38** (also known as a **Pistole 38**) is a 9 mm semi-automatic pistol that was developed by Walther arms as the service pistol of the Wehrmacht shortly before World War II. It was intended to replace the costly Luger P08, the production of which was scheduled to end in 1942.

The first designs submitted to the *Heer* (German Army) featured a locked breech and a hidden hammer, but the *Heer* requested that it be redesigned with an external hammer.

The final developmental stage in the P38's design history was the
Modell MP/H (indicating exposed hammer). Apparently only a few were
produced before the army adopted the HP
 in 1938 (Modell Heeres Pistole—Model Army Pistol). The production
relationship between the HP and the almost simultaneous P38 (Pistole
1938) is unclear and quite confused.
The P38 concept was accepted by the German military in 1938 but
production of actual prototype ("Test") pistols did not begin until late
 1939. Walther began manufacture at their plant in Zella-Mehlis
 and produced three series of "Test" pistols, designated by a "0" prefix
 to the serial number. The third series pistols satisfactorily solved
the previous problems for the *Heer* and mass production began in mid-1940.

Early P38s were almost identical to the HP (which continued to be
produced for "commercial sales," i.e., to well-connected Nazis). The
major differences were different slide markings, an external extractor,
the HP's rectangular firing pin was replaced by one with a round tip, a
different configuration for the locking lever and slide stop lever on
the left side, and a re-configuration of the grip panels.

It is interesting to note that in 1944 the cost of one complete P38
was $14.08, while the cost of one complete P08 Luger was $19.80. The
commercial retail price of the Model HP during this time was $75.[2]

Several experimental versions were later created in .45 ACP, and .38 Super, but these were never mass-produced. In addition to the 9 mm Parabellum version, some 7.65×21mm Parabellum and some .22 Long Rifle versions were also manufactured and sold.

From an engineering perspective the P38 was a semi-automatic pistol
design that introduced technical features that are found in other,
later, semi-automatic pistols like the Beretta 92 and its M9 sub-variant adopted by the United States military.

The P38 was the first locked-breech pistol to use a double-action/single-action (DA/SA) trigger (the earlier double-action PPK was an unlocked blowback design, but the more powerful 9×19mm Parabellum round used in the P38 mandated a locked breech design). The shooter could chamber a round, use the de-cocking
 lever to safely lower the hammer without firing the round, and carry
the weapon loaded. Pulling the trigger cocks the hammer before firing
the first shot with double-action operation. The firing mechanism
extracts and ejects the first spent round, cocks the hammer, and
chambers a fresh round for single-action operation with each subsequent
shot - all features found in many modern day handguns. Besides a DA/SA trigger design similar to that of the earlier Walther PPKs the P38 featured a visible and tactile loaded chamber indicator in the form of a metal rod that protrudes out of the top rear end of the slide when a round is present in the chamber.[3]

The moving-barrel design mechanism operates by use of a wedge-shaped
falling locking block underneath the breech. When the pistol is fired
both the barrel and slide recoil for a short distance together, where
the locking block drives down, disengaging the slide and arresting
further rearward movement of the barrel. The slide however continues its
 rearward movement on the frame, ejecting the spent case and cocking the
 hammer before reaching the end of travel. Two return springs located on
 either side of the frame and below the slide, having been compressed by
 the slide's rearward movement, drive the slide forward, stripping a new
 round from the magazine, driving it into the breech and, in the
process, re-engaging the barrel; ending its return travel with a fresh
round chambered, hammer cocked and ready to repeat the process. The
falling locking block design provides good accuracy due to the in-line
travel of the barrel and slide.

Initial production P38 pistols were fitted with walnut grips, but these were later supplanted by Bakelite grips.[4]

Overall length of the P.38 is 8.6 inches (210.8 mm). The barrel is
4.9 inches (125 mm) with a six-groove bore with a 1:10 right-hand twist.
 The height is 5.4 inches (137 mm) and the width, at the grip panels, is
 1.16 inches (29.5 mm). The weight, empty, is about 34 ounces (.963 kg).

The sights are fixed, front and rear. The rear sight is an open
U-notch and the front sight blade is dovetailed to an integral mount on
the barrel.

#### Users:

* Diamond Tiara
* Silver Spoon

#### Gallery

Diamond Tiara's Walther P38 pistolSilver Spoon's Walther P38 pistol
### Walther PPK

    The **Walther PP** (*Polizeipistole*, or **police pistol**) series pistols are blowback-operated semi-automatic pistols, developed by the German arms manufacturer Walther.[2]

It features an exposed hammer, a traditional double-action trigger mechanism,[3] a single-column magazine,
 and a fixed barrel that also acts as the guide rod for the recoil
spring. The series includes the Walther PP, PPK, PPK/S, and PPK/E.
Various PP series are manufactured in either Germany, France or the United States.[4] Since 2002, the PPK variant is solely manufactured by Smith & Wesson in Houlton, Maine, United States, under license from Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen. In the past, this particular model has been manufactured by Carl Walther in its own factory in Germany, as well as under licenses by Manurhin in Alsace, France, and by Interarms in Alexandria, Virginia, USA.
The PP and the PPK were among the world's first successful double
action semi-automatic pistols and were widely copied, but are still made
 by Walther. The design inspired other pistols, among them the Soviet Makarov, the Hungarian FEG PA-63, and the Argentinian Bersa Thunder 380. The PP and PPK were both popular with European police and civilians, for being reliable and concealable. During World War II, they were issued to the German military and police, and the Luftwaffe.

The most common variant is the **Walther PPK**, a smaller version of the PP with a shorter grip
 and barrel and reduced magazine capacity. The smaller size made it more
 concealable than the original PP and hence better suited to
plainclothes or undercover work. It was released in 1931.

"PPK" is an abbreviation for *Polizeipistole Kriminalmodell* (Police Pistol Detective Model), "kriminal" referring to the police detective (criminal) division.[3] Adolf Hitler shot and killed himself with his PPK (a 7.65mm/.32 ACP) in the Führerbunker in Berlin.[5] Moreover, the Walther PPK (also a 7.65mm/.32 ACP) pistol is famous as fictional secret agent James Bond's trademark gun in many of the films and novels: Ian Fleming's choice of the Walther PPK directly influenced its popularity and its notoriety.[6][7] Fleming had given Bond a Beretta pistol in early novels, but switched to the PPK in *Dr. No* on the advice of firearms expert Geoffrey Boothroyd.[7][8][9]

During a kidnap attempt in 1974 in the United Kingdom, a PPK carried by Princess Anne's bodyguard jammed after he fired once and missed.[10]

A Walther PPK was also used in the 1979 Assassination of Park Chung-hee by Kim Jae-gyu.
Singer Elvis Presley owned a silver-barreled PPK, inscribed "TCB" ("Taking Care of Business").

#### Users:

* Twilight Scream
* Fluttercreep
* Rarshion
* Vinnie Terrio
* Whittany Biskit

#### Gallery

Twilight Scream's Walther PPK pistolFluttercreep's Walther PPK pistolRarshion's Walther PPK pistolVinnie Terrio's Walther PPK pistolWhittany Biskit's Walther PPK pistol
### Tokarev TT-33 pistol

    The **TT-30** (Russian: *7,62-мм самозарядный пистолет Токарева образца 1930 года*, 7,62 mm Samozaryadnyj Pistolet Tokareva obraztsa 1930 goda, "7.62 mm Tokarev self-loading pistol model 1930") is a Russian semi-automatic pistol. It was developed in the early 1930s by Fedor Tokarev as a service pistol for the Soviet military to replace the Nagant M1895 revolver that had been in use since Tsarist times,

 though it ended up being used in conjunction with rather than replacing
 the M1895. It served until 1952, when it was replaced by the Makarov pistol.

In 1930, the Revolutionary Military Council approved a resolution to test new small arms to replace its aging Nagant M1895 revolvers.[3]
 During these tests, on January 7, 1931, the potential of a pistol
designed by Fedor Tokarev was noted. A few weeks later, 1,000 TT-30s
were ordered for troop trials, and the pistol was adopted for service in
 the Red Army.[4]

But even as the TT-30 was being put into production, design changes
were made to simplify manufacturing. Minor changes to the barrel,
disconnector,[5]
 trigger and frame were implemented, the most notable ones being the
omission of the removable backstrap and changes to the
full-circumference locking lugs. This redesigned pistol was the **TT-33**.[4] Most TT-33s were issued to officers. The TT-33 was widely used by Soviet troops during World War II, but did not completely replace the Nagant.

Externally, the TT-33 is very similar to John Browning's blowback operated FN Model 1903 automatic pistol, and internally it uses Browning's short recoil dropping-barrel system from the M1911 pistol. In other areas the TT-33 differs more from Browning's designs — it employs a much simpler hammer/sear
 assembly than the M1911, with an external hammer. This assembly is
removable from the pistol as a modular unit and includes cartridge
guides that provide reliable functioning. The Soviet engineers made
several alterations to make the mechanism easier to produce and
maintain, most notably is that the locking lugs go all around the barrel
 (not just on top), the side and bottom portions do not perform a
locking function, but allow for simpler production. Some models use a
captive recoil spring secured to the guide rod which does depend on the
barrel bushing to hold it under tension. Production even machined the
magazine feed lips into the removable hammer group to prevent damage and
 misfeeds when a distorted magazine was loaded into the magazine well.[6] The TT-33 is chambered for the 7.62×25mm Tokarev cartridge, which was itself based on the similar 7.63×25mm Mauser cartridge used in the Mauser C96
 pistol. The 7.62×25mm cartridge is powerful, has an extremely flat
trajectory, and is capable of penetrating thick clothing and soft body
armor. Able to withstand tremendous abuse, large numbers of the TT-33
were produced during World War II and well into the 1950s. In modern
times the robust TT-33 has been converted to many extremely powerful
cartridges including .38 Super and 9×23mm Winchester.
 The TT-33 omitted a safety catch other than the half cock notch which
rendered the slide inoperable until the hammer was pulled back to full
cock and then lowered manually to the half cock position. Many newer
variants have manual safeties added, these vary greatly in placement and
 function.

### Makarov PM pistol

    The **Makarov pistol** or **PM** (Russian: Пистолет Макарова, ***P**istolet **M**akarova*, literally *Makarov's Pistol*) is a Russian semi-automatic pistol. Under the project leadership of Nikolay Fyodorovich Makarov, it became the Soviet Union's standard military and police side arm from 1951 to 1991.

The Makarov pistol resulted from a design competition for replacing the Tokarev TT-33 semi-automatic pistol and the Nagant M1895 revolver.[2]
 Rather than building a pistol to an existing cartridge in the Soviet
inventory, Nikolai Makarov took up the German wartime Walther "Ultra"
design, fundamentally an enlarged Walther PP, utilizing the 9×18mm Makarov cartridge designed by B.V. Semin in 1946. For simplicity and economy, the Makarov pistol was of straight blowback operation, with the 9×18mm Makarov cartridge being the most powerful cartridge it could safely fire. The Luftwaffe
 had rejected this pistol design some years before because of its poor
accuracy. Although the nominal calibre was 9.0 mm, the actual bullet was
 9.22 mm in diameter, being shorter and wider and thus incompatible with
 pistols chambered for 9×19mm Parabellum cartridges.

In 1951, the PM was selected because of its simplicity (few moving parts), economy, ease of manufacturing, and reasonable stopping power.[3]
 It remained in wide front-line service with Soviet military and police
until and beyond the end of the USSR in 1991. Variants of the pistol
remain in production in Russia, China, and Bulgaria. In the U.S.,
surplus Soviet and East German military Makarovs are listed as eligible curio and relic items by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, because the countries of manufacture, the USSR and the GDR, no longer exist.[4]
In 2003, the Makarov PM was formally replaced by the Yarygin PYa pistol in Russian service,[2] although as of 2012,
 large numbers of Makarov PMs are still in Russian military and police
service. The Makarov PM is still the service pistol of many Eastern
European and former Soviet republics. North Korea and Vietnam also use
Makarov PMs as standard-issue pistols.

The PM is a medium-size, straight-blowback-action, frame-fixed-barrel handgun.
 In blowback designs, the only force holding the slide closed is that of
 the recoil spring; upon firing, the barrel and slide do not have to
unlock, as do locked-breech-design pistols. Blowback designs are simple
and more accurate than designs using a recoiling, tilting, or
articulated barrel, but they are limited practically by the weight of
the slide. The 9×18mm cartridge is a practical cartridge in
blowback-operated pistols; producing a respectable level of energy from a
 gun of moderate weight and size. The PM is heavy for its size by modern
 US commercial handgun standards, largely because in a blowback pistol
the heavy slide provides greater inertia to delay opening of the breech
until internal pressures have fallen to a safe level. Other, more
powerful cartridges have been used in blowback pistol designs, but the
Makarov is widely regarded as particularly well balanced in its design
elements.[6]

The PM has a free-floating firing pin,
 with no firing pin spring or firing pin block. This allows the
possibility of accidental firing if the pistol is dropped on its muzzle.
 Designer Makarov thought the firing pin of insufficient mass to
constitute a major danger. The Makarov is notable for the safety
elements of its design, with a safety that simultaneously blocks the
hammer from contacting the firing pin and returns the weapon to the
long-trigger-pull mode of double action when that safety is engaged.
This is one of a number of different types of safety mechanism generally
 referred to as "manual safety" in order to distinguish it from safeties
 that are disengaged by the user in the course of firing a gun without
manipulation of a separate safety control. A slide-mounted lever has
some safety advantages though there is argument over whether the extra
manipulation required can be a risk, especially when the lever is not
positioned in an ergonomic manner. Small Walther pistols, such as the PPK, are of a similar type to the Makarov.[6]
When handled properly, the Makarov has excellent security against accidental discharge
 caused by inadvertent pressure on the trigger, e.g., in carrying the
weapon in dense brush or re-holstering it. However, the heavy trigger
weight in double-action mode decreases accuracy. The Bulgarian-model
Makarov was approved for sale in California,
 having passed a state-mandated drop-safety test. Other notable features
 of the PM are its simplicity and economy of parts. Many do more than
one task, e.g., the trigger guard is also the take down lever, the
one-piece slide stop is also the ejector and the sear spring also is the slide-stop (and ejector) return spring. Similarly, the mainspring powers the hammer and the trigger,
 while its lower end is the heel of the European-style magazine catch.
Makarov pistol parts seldom break with normal usage, and are easily
serviced using few tools.

## Shotguns

### Blunderbuss

    The **blunderbuss** is a muzzle-loading firearm with a short, large caliber barrel, which is flared at the muzzle and frequently throughout the entire bore, and used with shot and other projectiles of relevant quantity or caliber. The blunderbuss could be considered to be an early form of shotgun, which was often adapted to military and defensive use.[1] It was effective at short ranges, but lacked accuracy for targets at long range. The term **dragon** was used to describe a blunderbuss in handgun form, and it is from this that the term dragoon evolved.

The term "blunderbuss" is of Dutch origin, from the Dutch word *donderbus*, which is a combination of *donder*, meaning "thunder", and *bus*, meaning "Pipe" (Middle Dutch: *busse*, box, tube, from Late Latin, *buxis*, box,[1] from Ancient Greek *pyxίs* (πυξίς), box: esp. from boxwood).
The transition from *donder* to *blunder* is thought by some to be deliberate; the term *blunder* was originally used in a transitive sense, synonymous with *to confuse*, and this is thought to describe the stunningly loud report of the large bore, short barreled blunderbuss.[2] The term *dragon* is taken from the fact that early versions were decorated with a carving in the form of a mythical dragon's head around the muzzle; the muzzle blast would then give the impression of a fire-breathing dragon.

The blunderbuss could be considered an early shotgun, and served in
similar roles. While various old accounts often list the blunderbuss as
being loaded with various scrap iron,
 rocks, or wood, this would result in damage to the bore of the gun; it
was typically loaded with a number of lead balls smaller than the bore
diameter. Barrels were made of steel or brass.
The muzzle (and often the bore) was flared with the intent not only
to increase the spread of the shot, but also to funnel powder and shot
into the weapon, making it easier to reload on horseback or on a moving
carriage; however, modern experiments have shown that the flared muzzle
has no noticeable effect on shot spread. The flared muzzle is the
defining feature of the blunderbuss, differentiating it from large
caliber carbines; the distinction between the blunderbuss and the musketoon is less distinct, as musketoons were also used to fire shot, and some had flared barrels.[5][6][7]
 Blunderbusses were typically short, with barrels under 2 feet (61 cm)
in length, at a time when a typical musket barrel was over 3 feet
(91 cm) long.[8][9] One source, describing arms from the early to middle 17th century, lists the barrel length of a wheel lock dragon at around 11 inches (28 cm), compared to a 16-inch (41 cm) length for a blunderbuss

The blunderbuss, and especially the dragon, was typically issued to troops such as cavalry, who needed a lightweight, easily handled firearm.[9] The dragon became so associated with cavalry and mounted infantry that the term *dragoon*
 became synonymous with mounted infantry. In addition to the cavalry,
the blunderbuss found use for other duties in which the shotgun-like
qualities were desirable, such as for guarding prisoners or defending a mail coach, and its use for urban combat was also recognized.[3][10]
 Blunderbusses were also commonly carried by officers on naval warships,
 privateers and by pirates for use in close-quarters boarding actions.[11] The Portuguese marines used it widely in the 17th century. Many types of ammunition, including gravel and sand, could be shot.

The blunderbuss used by the British mail service during the period of 1788–1816 was a flintlock with a 14-inch (36 cm) long flared brass
 barrel, brass triggerguard, and an iron trigger and lock. A typical
British mail coach would have a single postal employee on board, armed
with a blunderbuss and a pair of pistols, to guard the mail from highwaymen.[12] One 18th century *coaching blunderbuss*
 in another British collection had a brass barrel 17 inches (43 cm)
long, flaring to 2 inches (5.1 cm) at the muzzle; it was also provided
with a spring-loaded bayonet, which was held along the barrel by a catch and would spring forward into place when released.[7]

While the blunderbuss is often associated with the Plymouth Colony Pilgrims of 1620,[13] evidence suggests that the blunderbuss was relatively scarce in the American colonies. After the Battle of Lexington in 1775, British General Thomas Gage occupied Boston, Massachusetts,
 and upon negotiating with the town committee, Gage agreed to let the
inhabitants of Boston leave town with their families and effects if they
 surrendered all arms. While most of the residents of Boston stayed,
those who left under the agreement surrendered 1,778 long arms, 634
pistols, 273 bayonets, and only 38 blunderbusses.[14] The blunderbuss did still have its civilian applications, however; the Lewis and Clark Expedition carried a number of blunderbusses, some of which were mounted and used as small swivel guns on the pirogues.[6]

By the middle 19th century, the blunderbuss was considered obsolete and was replaced in military use by the carbine.
 However, the latter was considered by some to be a poor replacement,
and the blunderbuss still found use with civilians as a defensive
firearm.[15][16] The carbine in use by the British during the Crimean War was lampooned in *Punch* magazine as being able, in the hands of a good marksman, to "hit a hayrick at 80 yards (73 m)".

#### Users:

* Mr. Great White
* Gaston

### Double barrel Coachgun

    A **coach gun** is a double-barreled shotgun, generally with barrels approximately 18" in length placed side-by-side. The name comes from the use of such shotguns on stagecoaches by shotgun messengers in the American Wild West and during the Colonial period of Australia. They often came in 10 gauge blackpowder.

The term *"Coach gun"* was coined in 1858 when Wells, Fargo & Co. began regular stagecoach service from Tipton, Missouri to San Francisco, California. They issued shotguns to its drivers and guards for defense along the perilous 2,800 mile route.[1] The guard was called a shotgun messenger although the phrase riding shotgun was not coined until 1919.[2]
There was no single manufacturer for the traditional coach gun, as it
 was a generic term describing a class of shotguns offered in a variety
of barrel lengths from 12 to 20 inches (300 to 510 mm), either by the
factory or from owners and gunsmiths cutting down the barrels.

These shotguns featured external hammers and were manufactured by Wells fargo, Remington Arms, Ithaca, Wm. Moore & Co. Meriden, Buckley, Burgess, Colt's Manufacturing Company, Hunter Arms, Husqvarna, Lefever, Parker, Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company, Savage-Stevens, Villegia, and Westly Richards to name a few.

Doc Holliday used a 10 gauge Wm. Moore & Co. [5] coach gun to shoot Tom McLaury point-blank in the chest with buckshot during the Gunfight at the OK Corral in Tombstone, Arizona, on Wednesday, October 26, 1881.[6] They stood in such close proximity that the town mortician was able to cover McLaury's wound with one hand."[7] Wyatt Earp also used both barrels of a 10 gauge coach gun to kill Frank Stilwell at a Tucson, Arizona rail yard & to kill "Curly" Bill Brocius point-blank the next year during the shootout at Iron Springs.

Modern coach guns are commonly encountered in Cowboy Action Shooting competitions, among collections of Western guns, as home-defense weapons, and even as "scrub guns" for hunting grouse, woodcock, rabbit, hare, and/or wild pig in scrub, bush or marshlands, where the 24"+ barrels of a traditional shotgun would prove unwieldy.[1][4]
 The modern coach gun can be had in a variety of configurations suitable
 for both Cowboy Action Shooting competition and hunting.[10][11]
Coach guns are similar to sawn-off shotguns
 but differ in that coach guns manufactured after 1898 are offered as
new with 18" barrels and 26" overall length, and meet legal requirements
 for civilian possession in the USA. Australia, and New Zealand
 have slightly different laws for length, with NZ requiring a minimum
overall length of 30" (anything shorter is considered a pistol) with no
minimum barrel length and Australia requiring an 18" barrel and a 30"
overall length. In the United Kingdom, however, shotguns must have a minimum barrel length of 24" to be eligible for ownership on a Shotgun Certificate, and shotguns with barrels under this length (which includes Coach guns) must be obtained on the more stringent Firearms Certificate. Some modern coach guns feature internal hammers as opposed to the traditional external hammers.

#### Users:

* Applejack
* Human Applejack
* Big McIntosh (10 gauge version)
* Diesel 10 (golden version)

#### Gallery

Applejack's Coach GunHuman Applejack's Coach GunDiesel 10's Golden Coach gunBig Mac's W.Richards 10GA coachgun
### Double barrel shotgun

    A **double-barreled shotgun** ("double" in context) is a shotgun with two parallel barrels, allowing two shots to be fired in quick succession.

Modern double-barreled shotguns, often known as *doubles*, are almost universally break open
 actions, with the barrels tilting up at the rear to expose the breech
ends of the barrels for unloading and reloading. Since there is no
reciprocating action needed to eject and reload the shells, doubles are more compact than repeating designs such as pump action or lever-action shotguns.

Double-barreled shotguns come in two basic configurations: the **side by side shotgun** (SxS) and the **over/under shotgun**
 ("over and under", O/U, etc.), indicating the arrangement of barrels.
The original double-barreled guns were nearly all SxS designs, which was
 a more practical design in the days of muzzle-loading firearms. Early cartridge
 shotguns also used the SxS action, because they kept the exposed
hammers of the earlier muzzle-loading shotguns they evolved from. When hammerless designs started to become common, the O/U design was introduced, and most modern sporting doubles are O/U designs.[1]

One significant advantage that doubles have over single barrel
repeating shotguns is the ability to provide access to more than one
choke at a time. Some shotgun sports, such as skeet, use crossing targets presented in a narrow range of distance, and only require one level of choke. Others, like sporting clays,
 give the shooter targets at differing ranges, and targets that might
approach or recede from the shooter, and so must be engaged at differing
 ranges. Having two barrels lets the shooter use a more open choke for
near targets, and a tighter choke for distant targets, providing the
optimal shot pattern for each distance.

Their disadvantage lies in the fact that the barrels of a double-barreled shotgun, whether *O/U* or *SxS*, are not parallel, but slightly angled, so that shots from the barrels converge, usually at "40 yards out". For the *SxS*
 configuration, the shotstring continues on its path to the opposite
side of the rib after the converging point; for example, the left
barrel's discharge travels on the left of the rib till it hits dead
center at 40 yards out, after that, the discharge continues on to the
right. In the *O/U* configuration with a parallel rib, both
barrels' discharges will keep to the dead center, but the discharge from
 the "under" barrel will shoot higher than the discharge from the "over"
 barrel after 40 yards. Thus, double-barreled shotguns are accurate only
 at practical shotgun ranges, though the range of their ammunition
easily exceeds four to six times that range.
*SxS* shotguns are often more expensive, and may take more practice to aim effectively than a *O/U*.
 The off-center nature of the recoil in a SxS gun may make shooting the
body-side barrel slightly more painful by comparison to an OU,
single-shot, or pump/lever action shotgun. Gas-operated, and to a lesser
 extent recoil-operated, designs will recoil less than either. More *SxS* than *O/U*
 guns have traditional 'cast-off' stocks, where the end of the buttstock
 veers to the right, allowing a right-handed user to point the gun more
easily.

The early doubles used two triggers, one for each barrel. These were
located front to back inside the trigger guard, the index finger being
used to pull either trigger, as having two fingers inside the trigger
guard can cause a recoil induced double-discharge. Double trigger
designs are typically set up for right-handed users.[1]
 In double trigger designs, it is often possible to pull both triggers
at once, firing both barrels simultaneously, though this is generally
not recommended as it doubles the recoil, battering both shooter and
shotgun. Discharging both barrels at the same time has long been a
hunting trick employed by hunters using 8 gauge "elephant" shotguns,
firing the two two-ounce slugs for sheer stopping power at close range.

Later models use a single trigger that alternately fires both barrels, called a *single selective trigger* or *SST*.
 The SST does not allow firing both barrels at once, since the single
trigger must be pulled twice in order to fire both barrels. The change
from one barrel to the other may be done by a clockwork type system, where a cam alternates between barrels, or by an inertial
 system where the recoil of firing the first barrel toggles the trigger
to the next barrel. A double-barreled shotgun with an inertial trigger
works best with full power shotshells; shooting low recoil shotshells
often will not reliably toggle the inertial trigger, causing an apparent
 failure to fire occasionally when attempting to depress the trigger a
second time to fire the second barrel. Generally there is a method of
selecting the order in which the barrels of an SST shotgun fire;
commonly this is done through manipulation of the safety,
 pushing to one side to select top barrel first and the other side to
select bottom barrel first. In the event that an inertial trigger does
not toggle to the second barrel when firing low recoil shotshells,
manually selecting the order to the second barrel will enable the second
 barrel to fire when the trigger is depressed again.

One of the advantages of the double, with double triggers or SST, is
that a second shot can be taken almost immediately after the first,
utilizing different chokes for the two shots. (Assuming, of course, that
 full power shotshells are fired, at least for a double-barreled shotgun
 with an inertial type SST, as needed to toggle the inertial trigger.)

#### Users:

* Blackie (over/under 12 gauge)
* Steamy (12 gauge western era)
* Appledoom (sawn-off)

#### Gallery

Stevens 12 guage double barrel shotgun (Steamy's Shotgun)Browning O/U 12 guage double barrel shotgun (Blackie's shotgun)Appledoom's sawn-off 12 shotgun
### Lupara

**Lupara** is an Italian word used to refer to a sawn-off shotgun of the break-open type. It is traditionally associated with Cosa Nostra, the Italian organized crime group dominant in Sicily for their use of it in vendettas, defense—such as its use against Mussolini's army when he decided to break up the Sicilian mafioso network—and hunting.[1]

The shortened barrel (or barrels) of a lupara lend themselves to
easier handling in wooded areas, or to easier concealment and indoor
employment in urban areas. The lack of choke contributes to a wider spread of shot when the weapon is fired.

An early example of criminal use of the weapon in the United States was the assassination of the New Orleans chief of police, David Hennessy, in October 1890.[3] The murder punctuated a rivalry between gangs of Sicilian fruit company stevedores
 whose contracts did not fall under the auspices of the local
longshoreman's union. A pile of sawn-off shotguns was displayed after
the murder, including a homemade gun with a folding iron stock, and
another with a hook on its stock to brace against the arm when firing
one armed. Anti-Italian
 provocation, following the failed prosecution of a group of suspected
men, resulted in a mob assault on the New Orleans Parish Prison and the
subsequent lynching of many Italian prisoners.[4][5]

A double barreled sawed-off break-open shotgun was used by Dylan Klebold during his participation in the Columbine High School massacre.

#### Users:

* Twilight Sparkle
* Sailor John

#### Gallery

Double Barrel side-side Lupara (Sailor John's Lupara)O/U Lupara (Twilight's Lupara)
### Winchester 1887

    The **Winchester Model 1887** and **Winchester Model 1901** were lever-action shotguns originally designed by famed American gun designer John Browning and produced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The Model 1887 was the first truly successful repeating shotgun. Its
lever-action design was chosen at the behest of the Winchester Repeating
 Arms Company, best known at the time as manufacturers of lever-action
firearms such as the Winchester model 1873. Designer John Browning
 suggested that a pump-action would be much more appropriate for a
repeating shotgun, but Winchester management's position was that, at the
 time, the company was known as a "lever-action firearm company", and
felt that their new shotgun must also be a lever-action for reasons of brand recognition. Browning responded by designing a breech-loading, rolling block lever-action. To Winchester's credit, however, they later introduced a Browning designed pump-action shotgun known as the Model 1893 (an early production version of the model 1897), after the introduction of smokeless powder.

Shotgun shells at the time used black powder
 as a propellant, and so the Model 1887 shotgun was designed and
chambered for less powerful black powder shotshells. Both 10 and
12-gauge models were offered in the Model 1887. It was soon realized
that the action on the M1887 was not strong enough to handle early smokeless powder
 shotshells, and so a redesign resulted in the stronger Winchester Model
 1901, 10-gauge only, to handle the advent of the more powerful
smokeless powder. A 12-gauge chambering was not offered, as Winchester
did not want the Model 1901 to compete with their successful 12-gauge
Model 1897 pump-action shotgun. Other distinguishing characteristics of
the Model 1901 are:

* a two piece lever
* the Winchester trademark stamp was moved to the upper tang, behind the hammer
* serial numbers between 64,856 and 79,455

Although a technically sound gun design, the market for lever-action
shotguns waned considerably, as John Browning had predicted, after the
introduction of the Winchester 1897 and other contemporary pump-action
shotguns. Model 1887 production totaled 64,855 units between 1887 and
1901. Between 1901 and 1920, an additional 14,600 Model 1901 shotguns
were manufactured before the Model 1887/1901 product line was
discontinued. Serial numbers for the Model 1901 started where the serial
 numbers of the Model 1887 left off at 64,856 and ran through number
79,455. Thus, only 14,600 Model 1901s were produced indicating the
declining demand for the lever action design.

Over the years, a number of gun companies tried to produce Model
1887/1901 shotguns that could chamber modern, smokeless shotgun
shells—largely for the cowboy action shooting
 discipline—but with little commercial success. Recently however, three
firearm companies have successfully produced viable models for the
commercial firearms market:

* ADI Limited of Australia,

 produced a small trial run of modern Model 1887/1901 shotguns,
chambered for modern smokeless 12-gauge shotshells. This was ostensibly
to exploit a loophole in newer tighter gun laws in Australia which
prohibited semi-automatic rifles and shotguns and pump action shotguns,
amongst others, but still allowed bolt-action and lever-action rifles
and shotguns. Commercial production on this firearm by ADI was
anticipated for 2007, following several years of delays due to
distribution issues, but this has not yet happened.

* Chinese arms manufacturer Norinco

 currently produces the Model 1887 shotgun chambered for modern
smokeless 12-gauge shells, a version of which (featuring a 20" barrel)
is manufactured for the American firearms firm Interstate Arms
Corporation (IAC) and exported for sale in the United States, Canada, and Australia. As the only legal repeating shotgun (besides Mossberg bolt-action shotguns)
 for non-Primary Producer firearms owners in Australia, it has proven
very popular with hunters and sporting shooters alike. U.S. and Canadian
 sales, however, have been largely focused on cowboy action shooting
participants, owing to the ready availability of affordable pump-action
and semi-automatic shotguns in most parts of the U.S. and Canada. In
recent years, this particular firearm has become popular with regular
American and Canadian firearm owners.
The Italian firm Chiappa Firearms
 manufactures modern reproductions of the Winchester Model 1887 series
shotguns. The shotguns appeared on the Australian and the European
firearms markets in late 2008. Chiappa’s replicas are offered with
barrels ranging from 28 to 18.5 inches. They also offer a model with a
rifled barrel and two models with pistol grips.

#### Users:

* Braeburn
* Vinny Griffin (Bootleg special)
* Dile (Bootleg special and colored green)

#### Gallery

Braeburn's Winchester 1887 shotgunVinny Griffin's 1887 shotgun (bootleg special)Dile's 1887 shotgun (bootleg special)
### Winchester 1897

    The **Winchester Model 1897**, also known as the **Model 97**, **M97**, or **Trench Gun**, was a pump-action shotgun with an external hammer and tube magazine manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The Model 1897 was an evolution of the Winchester Model 1893 designed by John Browning.

 From 1897 until 1957, over one million of these shotguns were produced.
 The Model 1897 was offered in numerous barrel lengths and grades,
chambered in 12 and 16 gauge,
 and as a solid frame or takedown. The 16-gauge guns had a standard
barrel length of 28 inches, while 12-gauge guns were furnished with
30-inch length barrels. Special length barrels could be ordered in
lengths as short as 20 inches, and as long as 36 inches. Since the time
the Model 1897 was first manufactured it has been used by American
soldiers,[1] police departments,[2] and hunters.

The Winchester Model 1897 was designed by the famous American firearms inventor John Moses Browning.
 The Model 1897 was first listed for sale in the November 1897
Winchester catalog as a 12 gauge solid frame. However, the 12 gauge takedown was added in October 1898, and the 16 gauge takedown in February 1900.[3]
 Originally produced as a tougher, stronger and more improved version of
 the Winchester 1893, itself a takeoff on the early Spencer pump gun,
the 1897 was identical to its forerunner, except that the receiver was
thicker and allowed for use of smokeless powder shells, which were not
common at the time. The 1897 introduced a "take down" design, where the
barrel could be taken off; a standard in pump shotguns made today, like
the Remington 870 and Mossberg 500
 series. Over time, “the model 97 became the most popular shotgun on the
 American market and established a standard of performance by which
other kinds and makes of shotguns were judged, including the most
expensive imported articles”.[2] The Winchester Model 1897 was in production from 1897 until 1957. It was in this time frame that the "modern" hammerless designs became common, like the Winchester Model 1912 and the Remington 870 and the Model 1897 was superseded by the Winchester Model 1912.[4] However, the gun can still be found today in regular use.

In the new Model 1897, many of the weaknesses that were present in the Model 93 were taken into account and remedied.[3] These improvements included:

The frame was strengthened and made longer to handle a 12 gauge 2¾-inch shell, as well as the 2⅝-inch shell.[3]

The frame at the top was covered so that the ejection of the fired shell was entirely from the side.[3] This added a great amount of strength to the frame of the gun and it allowed the use of a 2¾ inch shell without the danger of the gun
constantly jamming.[5]

The gun could not be opened until a slight forward movement of the slide handle released the action slide lock. In firing, the recoil of the gun gave a slight forward motion to the slide handle and released
the action slide lock which enabled immediate opening of the gun. In the
 absence of any recoil, the slide handle had to be pushed forward
manually in order to release the action slide lock.[3]

 A movable cartridge guide was placed on the right side of the carrier block to prevent the escape of the shell when the gun was turned sideways in the act of loading.[3]

The stock was made longer and with less drop.[3] Of the improvements, the slide lock is the one that really made the gun safer. This improved slide lock kept the gun locked until actual
firing occurred which prevented the gun from jamming in the case of a
misfire. The slide lock "stands in such a relation to the body of the firing pin as will prevent the firing pin reaching the primer until the pin has moved forward a sufficient distance to insure locking of the breech bolt."[6]
 This prevents the action sleeve "from being retracted by the hand of
the gunner until after firing, and hence rendering the fire arm more
safe"
The Winchester Model 1897 evolved from the Winchester Model 1893. The Model 1897 and 1893 were both designed by John Browning. The Model 1897 is an external hammer shotgun lacking a trigger disconnector giving it the ability to slam fire.
 This means that the user can hold the trigger down while pumping the
shotgun and once the pump is returned to the forward position the gun
fires.[8]
 The gun itself is classified as a slide action pump shotgun. It was the
 first truly successful pump-action shotgun produced. Throughout the
time period the Model 1897 was in production, over a million of the type
 were produced in various grades and barrel lengths. 16-gauge guns had a
 standard barrel length of 28 inches, while 12-gauge guns were furnished
 with 30-inch length barrels. Special length barrels could be ordered in
 lengths as short as 20 inches, and as long as 36 inches. Along with
various grades and barrel lengths, the Model 1897 came in two different
chamberings. One was the 12 gauge and the other was the 16 gauge.[8] The shells should be of the 2-¾ inch or 2-⅝ inch model.[3]
 Any shells larger are not recommended. An average Model 1897 held 5
shotgun shells in the magazine tube. After including the one shell that
could be held in the chamber, the average Model 1897 held a total of 6
shotgun shells. However, this would vary from grade to grade.[9]
 When working the action of the Model 1897 the fore end is racked and a
long slide comes out of the receiver and ejects the spent shell while
simultaneously cocking the external hammer. This is why the gun is
classified as a slide action pump shotgun.
The Chinese company Norinco has made an effort to reproduce this
firearm. The Norinco 97 is an almost exact copy of the Winchester 1897,
produced in both Trench and Riot grades, yet lacking in the fit and
finish of the originals.

#### Users:

* Apple Bloom
* Babs Seed
* Cleveland Brown (Trench Version)

#### Gallery

Apple Bloom's 1897 shotgunBabs Seed's 1897 shotgunCleveland's Winchester 1897 Trench Gun.pngCleveland Brown's Whichester 1897 Trench Shotgun
### Winchester 1912

    The **Winchester Model 1912** (also commonly known as the **Model 12**, or **M12**) is an internal-hammer, pump-action, shotgun with an external tube magazine. Popularly-named the *Perfect Repeater*

 at its introduction, it largely set the standard for pump action
shotguns over its 51 year high-rate production life. From August 1912
until first discontinued by Winchester in May 1964, nearly two million
Model 12 shotguns were produced in various grades and barrel lengths.
Initially chambered for 20 gauge only, the 12 and 16 gauge versions came
 out in 1913 (first listed in the 1914 catalogs), and the 28 gauge
version came out in 1934. A .410 version was never produced; instead, a
scaled-down version of the Model 12 known as the **Model 42**, directly derived from scaled drawings of the Model 12, was produced in .410 .

The Model 1912 (shortened to Model 12 in 1919) was the next step from the Winchester Model 1897
 hammer-fired shotgun, which in turn had evolved from the earlier
Winchester Model 1893 shotgun. The Model 12 was designed by Winchester
engineer T.C. Johnson, and was based in part on the M1893/97 design by John M. Browning,
 in that it used a sliding forearm or "pump action" to cycle the
mechanism. It was initially available in 20 gauge only (12 and 16 gauge
guns were not sold until late 1913). The Model 12 was the first truly
successful internal hammer pump-action shotgun ever produced. Its
tubular magazine was loaded through the bottom of the gun. Empty shotgun
 shells ejected to the right. Depending on the particular wooden plug
installed in the magazine, two, three, or four shells could be stored in
 the tubular magazine. The magazine holds six 2¾-inch 12 ga. shells,
when no plug is installed, unlike most shotguns of today which hold four
 or five shells. With forged and machined steel parts, the ultimate
reason for discontinuation in 1964 was that it was too expensive to
produce at a competitive price. The primary competition at this time
came from the much less expensive Remington Model 870,
 which had been introduced in 1950. The majority of "modern" Model 12
shotguns manufactured after 1927 were chambered for 2¾-inch shotgun
shells only, although some specialized models such as the Heavy Duck Gun
 Model 12 were chambered for 3" Super Speed and Super X shells
(basically a 3" magnum). The early 20 gauge Model 12 guns had chambers
that were 2½", and the 16 gauge Model 12's were chambered for a 2
9/16-inch shotgun shell. To add further confusion, some of these early
Model 12's have subsequently been modified, with their chambers
lengthened to accept 2¾-inch shotgun shells, while others remain in
their factory-stock chamber lengths. Careful inspection by a gunsmith is
 always recommended to determine whether or not it is safe to fire a
modern 2¾-inch shotgun shell in older Model 12's.

Special production examples were produced by Winchester, the U.S.
Repeating Arms Company, and Miroku after 1964 through 2006 through
specialized gun collector purchase programs, but the Perfect Repeater
shotgun was never mass-produced after 1964. The U.S. Repeating Arms
Company (a subsidiary of F.N.) announced a complete closing of the New Haven, Connecticut factory facility in January 2006, thus ending the Model 12's long and illustrious career at the age of 95 years.

The United States armed forces used various versions of the Model 12 in World War I, World War II, Korea, and in the early part of the Vietnam War,
 until inventory was exhausted after the Model 12's initial production
ceased in 1964. Versions of the Model 12 were type classified as the **Model 12** or **M12** for short. Approximately 20,000 Model 12 trench guns
 were purchased by the US Army in World War I, differing from the
civilian version by having a shorter barrel, a perforated steel heat
shield, and a M1917 bayonet adapter.

More than 80,000 Model 12 shotguns were purchased during World War II by the United States Marine Corps, Army Air Forces, and Navy, mostly for use in the Pacific theater. Riot gun
 versions of the Model 12, lacking the heat shield and bayonet, were
purchased by the Army for use in defending bases and in protecting Air
Forces aircraft against saboteurs when parked. The Navy similarly
purchased and used the riot gun version for protecting Navy ships and
personnel while in foreign ports. The Marine Corps used the trench gun
version of the Model 12 to great success in taking Japanese-occupied
islands in the Pacific. The primary difference in Model 12 shotguns
between the World War II trench gun version versus the World War I
trench gun version was that the original design, containing six rows of
holes in the perforated heat shield, was reduced to only four rows
during 1942.

During the Korean War, the Marines used the Model 12 extensively.
Likewise, the Marines and Army used the Model 12 during the early part
of the Vietnam War, until, due to the Model 12's production ending in
1963, and the high rate of wartime use, the Model 12 shotguns in
inventory were consumed. The Ithaca 37 soon filled the void caused by the end of the Model 12's production, especially among U.S. Navy SEALS.

Unlike most modern pump-action shotguns, the Winchester Model 12 had no trigger disconnector.
 Like the earlier Model 1897, it too fired each time the action closed
with the trigger depressed. That and its 6-shot capacity made it
effective for close-combat. As fast as one could pump the action,
another shot would be fired.

#### Users:

* Princess Luna
* Princess Cadance

#### Gallery

Cadance's M12 shotgunCadance's M12 shotgun mounted on her riflePrincess Luna's M12 shotgun
### Ithaca 37

    The **Ithaca 37** is a pump-action shotgun

 made in large numbers for the civilian, military, and police markets.
It utilizes a novel combination ejection/loading port on the bottom of
the gun which leaves the sides closed to the elements. Since shotshells
 load and eject from the bottom, operation of the gun is equally
convenient for both right and left hand shooters. This makes the gun
popular with left-handed shooters.

The Ithaca 37 is based on a 1915 patent by the famous firearms designer John Browning, initially marketed as the Remington Model 17. The Model 17 was a 20-gauge of trim proportions, which Remington later redesigned and refined into the popular side-ejecting Remington Model 31. The Model 31 would eventually be replaced in production by the less expensive to make Remington 870 which is still produced to this day.

Following the First World War, the Ithaca Gun Company was searching for a pump-action shotgun to produce, primarily to compete with the ubiquitous Winchester Model 1912.
 They settled on waiting for Remington Model 17 patents to expire. After
 gearing for production of the Ithaca Model 33, they discovered a
Pedersen patent that would not expire until 1937; along with the
introduction date, they changed the model designation from 33 to 37.

With the depression dragging on and war looming on the horizon, it
was possibly the worst time to introduce a sporting arm. Many sporting
arms ceased production entirely during the same period. While Ithaca did
 produce some shotguns for military use during the war, they also
produced M1911 pistols and M3 Grease Guns.

After WW-II, Ithaca resumed production of the Model 37. Made in many
different models, the Ithaca 37 has the longest production run for a
pump-action shotgun in history, surpassing that of the Winchester Model
12 that had originally inspired Ithaca to produce pump-action shotguns.
Ithaca has suffered many setbacks in its history, changing hands
numerous times. At one time, the Ithaca 37 was renamed the Model 87,
although it was soon changed back in one of many ownership changes.
Production paused in 2005 when Ithaca once again changed hands.
Production has resumed in Ohio.

The largest single users outside the US Military were A) the New York City Police Department
 in 2 versions- 13" barrel with forend hand-strap for the Emergency
Service Unit and 18" barrel for the Highway Patrol and B) the Los Angeles Police Department. Along with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department,
 numerous other users include military, police, security agencies, and
prisons. The Ithaca 37 was a popular choice among civilians for both
sport and personal protection. The Ithaca model 37 feather light was
commonly seen in the hands of farmers in the Midwestern United States.
With higher prices for new Ithacas and decreasing availability compared
to the Mossberg 500 and Remington 870,
 use of the Ithaca 37 continues to decline. Interestingly, Ithaca's loss
 of market share was hastened by competition from a copy of the shotgun.
 Chinese copies of the Ithaca 37 have been imported recently.
Additionally, the supply of used civilian and departmental shotguns has
been a steady competitor.

Loading the Ithaca 37 involves inserting shotshells of the proper gauge
through the loading/ejection port in the bottom of the receiver and
pushing them forward into the magazine until retained by the shell stop.
 The slide release is pressed and the slide retracted completely then
pushed forward. Pulling the trigger fires the gun and releases the slide
 for reloading. On most models up to 1975, holding the trigger down
allows the gun to fire the instant a new round is cycled into the
chamber without requiring the trigger to be released, a process known as
 slamfire. Otherwise, the model 37 operates in much the same way as other pump-action shotguns.

#### Users:

* Officer Drake (sawn-off stock, extended mag tube)
* Joe Swanson (Stakeout version)

### Franchi SPAS-12

    The **Franchi SPAS-12** is a combat shotgun manufactured by Italian firearms company Franchi from 1979 to 2000. Production stopped fully in the year 2000 in favour of the newer, enhanced version, the SPAS-15,

 however, production of the SPAS-15 ceased in 2005, meaning there are
currently no SPAS shotguns being produced. Only five percent (about
1,850) of the estimated Franchi SPAS 12 shotguns manufactured were
imported into the United States. The SPAS-12 is a dual-mode shotgun,
adjustable for semi-automatic or pump-action operation. The SPAS-12 was sold to military and police users worldwide on the civilian market, and has been featured in many movies, TV shows and video games.[1]
The appearance and intended purpose of the SPAS-12 initially led to
its "Military" designation as a Combat Shotgun. The SPAS-12 was designed
 from the ground up as a rugged military shotgun and it was named the **Special Purpose Automatic Shotgun**. In 1990 Franchi renamed the shotgun to the **Sporting Purpose Automatic Shotgun**,
 this allowed continued sales to the United States as a
limited-magazine-capacity, fixed-stock model until 1994. Following the
United States Federal Assault Weapons Ban,
 imports of SPAS-12 shotguns were stopped into the United States. In
September 2004 the ban had expired, but Franchi had ended production in
2000 of the SPAS-12 to focus on the manufacturing of the Franchi SPAS-15
 model. The SPAS-12's retail price in its final year of 2000 was
$1500.00 USD averaged for final sales outside the United States to
non-restricted countries. Franchi S.p.A. Italy.

The SPAS-12 was designed to function primarily as a semi-automatic
firearm, with the pump-action mode used to reliably fire low-pressure
ammunition such as tear gas rounds or less-lethal
 bean bags. The firing mode is switched by depressing the button under
the foregrip and also sliding the foregrip forwards or backwards until
it clicks into position allowing the rotating sleeve to open or close
the two gas ports.

The SPAS-12 has a magazine cut-off feature, which prevents loading a
new round from the internal magazine when the gun is cycled. This allows
 the operator to load a specialized round into the chamber without
firing the entire magazine first. A unique feature of the SPAS-12 was
the hook on folding-stock variants. This hook could be rotated in
90-degree increments, so it would fit under the user's forearm when the
stock was extended. With the stock supported under the forearm the gun
can be fired with one hand, an example would be allowing the user to
fire from a vehicle through the passenger side window while driving.

SPAS-12 models feature two safeties: (i) a lever style or push button
 style safety, and (ii) a "quick employment safety." Lever safeties were
 recalled by Franchi and were replaced through the importer American
Arms in the early 1990s.[a]
 There are two different types of push-button safeties. The earliest
version would actually release the hammer on safe up to 1/4in. of travel
 when the trigger was depressed. This would cause a lockup of the action
 that would require the user to relock the bolt assembly to the rear to
reset the hammer and then reload the chamber. The later version
installed a detent and machined hole in the trigger group frame to
prevent an action lock. The detent would prevent the hammer from
engaging when the trigger was depressed and would prevent an action lock
 from occurring. The quick employment safety, which is on the left side
of the trigger guard, disconnects the trigger when put into safe mode.
The quick employment safety can be disengaged with the trigger finger
when ready to fire and is intended for competition or tactical use. A
third safety type, a pistol grip safety similar to the later-developed
SPAS-15, is known to have been developed by Franchi for the SPAS-12,
however the pistol grip safety was not offered for sale to the general
public. Examples of this safety are extremely rare, with only one known
to exist in the United States.

A B-Square rail mount for optics was available for a short time in the 1990s as an aftermarket accessory.

The Barrel of the SPAS-12 was externally threaded to accept a variety
 of attachments. The barrel is cylinder bored and spreads a normal shot
charge to about 900mm at 40 meters range, reducing the need for precise
aiming. The automatic action will fire about four shots per second, and
at this rate of fire, with standard buckshot loadings, it is possible to
 put 48 pellets per second into a one-meter-square target at 40 meters
range. At this range the pellets have about 50 percent more striking
energy than a .32 pistol bullet.

There are four different Magazine Extension Tubes manufactured for the SPAS 12:

1. The 5-shell was designed for the 18" barrel.
2. The 6-shell was designed for restriction on the standard 21.5" Sporting Purpose model.
3. The 7-shell was designed for the 19 7/8in. Barrel.
4. The 8-shell was designed for the 21.5 Special purpose model.

Many different choke types both original and aftermarket exist for the SPAS-12.[3] A 44mm grenade launcher used by France was used for explosive grenades capable of a range of 150 meters.[4]
 A very rare factory shot diverter that spreads shot vertically or
horizontally was originally included with earlier model SPAS-12's.

#### Users:

* Shining Armor
* The Wonderbolts
* Dolphy (stockless)

#### Gallery

Shining Armor's SPAS-12 shotgunThw Wonderbolts' SPAS-12 shotgunDolphy's SPAS-12 shotgun
### Franchi SPAS-15

    The **SPAS-15** is a dual-mode 12 gauge combat shotgun manufactured by the Italian company Luigi Franchi S.p.A..

The weapon is based on the SPAS-12, and has similar pump-action/semi-automatic
 firing modes. In semi-automatic mode a gas piston drives a bolt carrier
 and rotating bolt. In pump-action mode the same components are driven
by sliding the fore-end backwards. Pump-action mode is required to
reliably fire low-pressure (less lethal) ammunition such as tear gas rounds or less-lethal
 bean bags. Switching between firing modes is done by pressing a button
above the foregrip, and sliding the foregrip slightly forwards or
backwards. The barrel is chrome lined and features screw-in choke tubes.[2]

Unlike its predecessor, the SPAS-15 is fed by a detachable box magazine. The gun features a folding stock and a pistol grip safety.
 Amongst Italian troops the weapon is known by the nickname "La Chiave
dell'Incursore" (the key of the commando) because it is used to blast
the locks of closed doors.

In 1994, the United States banned the importation of the SPAS-15 with close to 180 shotguns imported, but later abolished the relevant regulations. In Canada, the SPAS-15 is classified as a Prohibited Weapon and cannot be legally owned or imported except under very limited circumstances.[3] In Italy
 the SPAS-15 is not subject to any kind of restriction for sale,
purchase or possession, and despite no longer being in production it is
still fairly common on the civilian market.

### Mossberg 500 & 590

**Mossberg 500** is a series of pump-action shotguns manufactured by O.F. Mossberg & Sons.[1] The 500 series comprises widely varying models of hammerless repeaters, all of which share the same basic receiver and action, but differ in bore size, barrel length, choke options, magazine capacity, and "furniture" (stock and forearm) materials. Model numbers included in the 500 series are the **500**, **505**, **510**, **535**, and **590**. The Mossberg is currently the number one selling shotgun and second in total production to the Remington 870.

Introduced in 1961, all model 500s are based on the same basic
concept designed by Carl Benson. Originally using a single-action bar,
that was known to bind and even break, this was changed to dual- action
bars in 1970, following the expiration of Remington's patent on the
double-action bar design. A single large locking lug is used to secure
the breech. The magazine
 tube is located below the barrel, and is screwed into the receiver. The
 slide release is located to the left rear of the trigger guard, and the
 safety is located on the upper rear of the receiver (often called a "tang safety").

Sights vary from model to model, from simple bead sight to a receiver mounted ghost ring or an integrated base for a telescopic sight. Most models come with the receiver drilled and tapped for the installation of a rear sight or a scope base. The factory scope base is attached to the barrel *via* a cantilever-type mount, which places the scope over the receiver but keeps it with the barrel if the barrel is removed.

Intended for use in harsh and dirty conditions, such as waterfowl hunting
 or combat, the Model 500 series is designed to be easy to clean and
maintain. All Model 500s feature interchangeable barrels (given a
particular gun's magazine capacity—a barrel designed for a five-shot
tube will not fit a gun with a seven-shot tube), which may be removed
without the use of tools, by loosening a screw on the end of the
magazine tube, allowing the barrel to be removed.

The bolt locks into a locking lug located on the top of the barrel,
ensuring a solid bolt-to-barrel connection and not relying on the
receiver for any locking strength. The trigger assembly, which includes
the trigger, hammer, sear, and trigger body with guard, can be removed
by pushing out one retaining pin and pulling downwards on the guard (if a
 pistol grip is installed, it usually must be removed first as virtually
 all such grips obstruct the removal of the trigger body). The elevator
can be removed by putting the gun on safety and squeezing the sides
together, freeing the pivot pins from the receiver.

The forend can then be moved to the rear, allowing the bolt and bolt
carrier to drop out, and then the forend can be removed by moving it
forward. The cartridge stop and interrupter will then fall free, leaving
 just the ejector and the safety in the receiver, held in by screws. The
 magazine spring and follower may be removed by unscrewing the tube from
 the receiver (this may be difficult on some new 500s). This level of
field stripping is sufficient to allow all components to be cleaned.

The primary difference between the Model 500 and Model 590 is in
magazine tube design. The Model 500 magazines are closed at the muzzle
end, and the barrel is held in place by bolting into a threaded hole at
the end of the magazine tube. Model 590 magazines are designed to be
opened at the muzzle end, and the barrels fit around the magazine tube
and are held on by a capnut at the end. The Model 500 magazine
facilitates easy barrel changes, as the barrel bolt serves no function
other than holding the barrel in place. The Model 590 magazine
facilitates easy cleaning and parts replacement, as removing the nut
allows removal of the magazine spring and follower.

The Model 500 has a plastic trigger guard and safety and a standard
barrel. The Model 590A1 has an aluminum trigger guard & safety, a
heavier barrel, and a bayonet lug, intended for military use under
extreme conditions and rough handling; the metal trigger guard was added
 in response to the 3443G materials requirements, and the heavy barrel
was added at the request of the Navy to prevent barrel deformation if
the shotgun caught in the closing of heavy steel ship doors. Some 590A1s
 have a sling swivel on the back of the bayonet lug, some do not. The
590A1 usually has a swivel mount on the stock even when there is no
corresponding mount on the forward end of the weapon. The 590A1 is
generally sold through military and law enforcement channels, though in
most jurisdictions the 18.5-inch (47 cm) and 20-inch (51 cm) models are
available and may be legally purchased by any non prohibited persons.
590A1s with 14" barrels are Title II firearms, and may be purchased only
 by non-prohibited persons in NFA-legal states, after completing BATF transfer forms. [2][3]

The riot gun
 versions of the pistol grip Model 500 (Persuader, Cruiser, Road
Blocker, and Mariner) are available with an 18.5-inch (47 cm) and
20-inch (51 cm) barrel depending on magazine capacity. The 590 is only
available with a 20-inch (510 mm) barrel and flush-fit magazine tube.
The 590A1 is available with a 14-inch (36 cm), 18.5-inch, or 20-inch
(510 mm) barrel. One model sold as Model 590-SP (catalog item 51663) is
technically a 590A1, as it uses the heavy barrel and military trigger
group, but unlike models designated 590A1 it is sold on the civilian
market.

Unlike Model 500 and 590 shotguns (with the exception of ghost-ring
sight 590 models), Model 590A1 shotguns cannot be easily fitted with the
 common factory 500 heat shield, due to the heavier barrel. A heat
shield and bayonet lug are required for military 3443G Type I riot shotguns,[2]
 and some 590A1s are so equipped. The 590A1 heat shield, p/n 16335P, is
available for purchase from Mossberg for about the same price as the 500
 heat shield.

#### Users:

* Twilight Sparkle (500 Cruiser model w heat shield)
* Princess Anna (500 Cruiser model with folding stock)
* The Wonderbolts (590 model)
* Button Mash (sawn-off 500 model w laser sighting)
* Princess Sharon (mounted on her M16A2 rifle)
* Hodgey (590 mariner model, with laser sighting)

#### Gallery

Twilight Sparkle's Mossberg 500 Shotgun (Cruiser model, extended mag, and heat sheild)Princess Anna's Mossberg 500 shotgun (Folding Stock, door breaking breech, and spar shell holder)The Wonderbolts' Mossberg 590 ShotgunButton Mash's sawn-off Mossberg 500 shotgun (with laser sighting)Princess Sharon's Mossberg 500 shotgun (mounted on her M16A2 assault rilfe)Hodgey's Mossberg 590 shotgun (mariner model, with laser sighting)
### Remington 870

    The **Remington Model 870** is a pump-action shotgun manufactured by Remington Arms Company, LLC.

 It is widely used by the public for sport shooting, hunting, and
self-defense. It is also commonly used by law enforcement and military
organizations worldwide.

The Remington 870 was the fourth major design in a series of Remington pump shotguns. John Pedersen designed the fragile Remington Model 10 (and later the improved Remington Model 29). John Browning designed the Remington Model 17 (which was later adapted by Ithaca into the Ithaca 37), which served as the basis for the Remington 31. The Model 31 was well liked,[4] but struggled for sales in the shadow of the Winchester Model 12.
 Remington sought to correct that in 1951 by introducing a modern,
streamlined, rugged, reliable, and relatively inexpensive shotgun – the
Sales of the 870 have been steady. They reached 2 million guns by
1973 (ten times the number of Model 31 shotguns it replaced). By 1996,
spurred by sales of the basic "Express" models, which were added as a
lower-cost alternative to the original Wingmaster line, sales topped
seven million guns. On April 13, 2009, the ten millionth Model 870 was
produced; the 870 holds the record for best-selling shotgun in history.

The 870 features a bottom-loading, side ejecting receiver,
 tubular magazine under the barrel, dual action bars, internal hammer,
and a bolt which locks into an extension in the barrel. The action,
receiver, trigger system, safety catch and slide release catch of the
Remington Model 870 shotgun are similar to those used on the Remington Model 7600 series pump-action centerfire rifles and carbines. The basic trigger group design was first used in the automatic 11–48.[6][7]
 Twelve gauge stocks will also interchange on the older 12-gauge-sized
20-gauge receivers, although modification is needed to fit the smaller
sized 20-gauge receivers employed since the late 1970s. Several parts of
 the 870 will interchange with the semi-automatic Remington 1100 and 11–87.

The original 870 models were offered with fixed chokes. In 1986
Remington introduced the new Remington "Rem Choke" system of screw-in
chokes (also fitted to Remington model 1100 auto-loading shotguns at the
 same time). Initially, the Rem Chokes were offered only in 12 gauge in
barrel lengths of 21", 26", and 28". The following year the availability
 was expanded to the 20 gauge and included other barrel lengths.[8][7]

Production 870s for over 30 years had a design whereby a user could
fail to press a shell all the way into the magazine when loading such
that the shell latch did not engage the shell, and such actions could
tie up the gun.[9][7]
 This was caused by the shell which slipped out of the magazine under
the bolt in the receiver to bind the action, requiring rough treatment
of the action or even disassembly to clear by the uninitiated. The
potential issue was resolved with the introduction of the "Flexi Tab"
carrier. Guns with this modification can be identified by the "U"-shaped
 cut-out on the carrier, visible from below the gun. The cut-out,
combined with a modified machining on the underside of the slide
assembly, allows the action to be opened with a shell on the carrier.

There are hundreds of variations of the Remington 870 in 12, 16, 20,
28 gauges and .410 bore. In 1969 Remington introduced 28 gauge and .410
bore models on a new scaled down receiver size, and in 1972 a 20 gauge
Lightweight version was introduced on the same sized receiver, and all
of the smaller gauges today are produced on that size receiver. From the
 original fifteen models offered, Remington currently produces dozens of
 models for civilian, law enforcement, and military sales. 870 variants
can be grouped into:

* **Express** – Matte blue/black bead-blasted

 with hardwood, laminated hardwood or synthetic stocks and chambered for
 2 3/4" and 3" 12 or 20 gauge shotshells. All Expresses have been
chambered in 3" in 12 and 20 gauge, but markings have varied.

* **Marine** – Nickel plated with synthetic stocks.
* **Mark 1** – adopted by the United States Marine Corps

 in the late 1960s and saw service into the 21st century. The Model 870
Mark 1 has a 21 inches (53 cm) barrel with an extended magazine
increasing total capacity to 8 rounds, and was fitted with an adapter
allowing use of the standard M7 bayonet for the M16 rifle.[10][7]

* **MCS** (**M**odular **C**ombat **S**hotgun) – A new

modular version of the M870 which can be quickly modified with different
 barrels, magazine tubes, and stocks for different purposes, such as
urban combat and door breaching.

* **Police** – Chambered in 12 gauge only with a 3" magnum chamber. Blued or Parkerized

 steel finish. These models feature a stronger sear spring, carrier
latch spring, and a forged steel extractor (as opposed to the MIM
extractor found on Express models). Receivers are stamped "Remington 870
 Police Magnum" as of 2014.
They are equipped with Police-specific walnut or synthetic stocks
which are fitted with sling mounts. Walnut stocks lack checkering as
found on the Express/Wingmaster models. 870P models come with matching
walnut or synthetic forends that are shortened to prevent interference
with most vehicle-mounted rack systems. The shortened forend also allows
 quick visual inspection of the magazine regardless of what position the
 forend is in, whereas the lengthened sport-type forend on other models
partially blocks the loading port when pulled to the rear.

Police models are available with 18" or 20" barrels, with or without
rifle sights, and have a standard capacity of four rounds. They can be
ordered with a two or three round extended magazine tube from the
factory, bringing total capacity to 6+1 (18" barrel) or 7+1 (20"
barrel). All police barrels come with an Improved Cylinder choke unless
special ordered.

* **Super Mag** – Chambered for 3½" 12 gauge shotshells.
* **Wingmaster** – Blued

 steel with high gloss or satin walnut stocks. They have been offered in
 Skeet, Trap, and field configurations. Originally the basic Wingmaster
was chambered for 2 3/4" rounds and came with a fixed choke, and the 3"
chambered versions were designated Magnum models. Models built after
1986 offer the RemChoke Interchangeable choke tube system, and the 12
and 20 gauge versions are chambered in 3" for either 2 3/4" or 3"
shells. Prior to the introduction of the "Police" model 870, altered
Wingmasters were popular among law enforcement.

#### Users:

* Belle (folding stock)
* Mucker (customized to semi/pump mode)
* Sarah Connor (folding stock)
* Glenn Quagmire (Pistol grip, breech muzzle)

#### Gallery

Belle's Remington 870 shotgunMucker's Remington 870 shotgun
### Remington Model 1100

    The **Remington 1100** is a gas-operated semi-automatic shotgun, popular among sportsmen. The Remington 1100 was the first semiautomatic shotgun to feature significant improvements in felt recoil, weight and reliability.

Designed by Wayne Leek and R Kelley,[1] the Remington Model 1100 was introduced in 1963 as a successor to the Model 58 and 878 gas operated shotguns. The Model 58s had supplanted the recoil operated Model 11-48, which retained the long recoil action of John Browning's original design, present in the Remington Model 11 and the Auto-5. All models of the 1100 are gas operated with a mechanism that noticeably reduces recoil.[1]
 Several variations of the Model 1100, in 12, 20, and 28 gauges, and
.410 bore are still in production as of 2014. The Remington Model 1100
ushered in the era of successful and reliable gas-actuated autoloading
shotguns, and it is the best selling autoloading shotgun in U.S.
history,[1]
 with over 4 million produced. The Model 1100 holds the record for the
most shells fired out of an autoloading shotgun without malfunction,
cleaning or parts breakage with a record of over 24,000 rounds. The
record was set in 1978 with a Remington model 1100 LT-20. Breaking this
record has been attempted with several other models of semi-auto
shotguns but has yet to be broken. In 2011 Remington introduced the
Model 1100 Competition Synthetic. A 50th Anniversary highly decorated
version was introduced in 2013.

The Model 1100 bleeds off gasses to operate the action through ports in
the barrel near the end of the fore end. The gasses then drive a steel
action sleeve that fits around the magazine tube and connects to the
bolt carrier to the rear, ejecting the spent shell. A fresh shell is
released from the magazine, which trips the carrier release, and the
action spring in the stock pushes the bolt forward, picking up the fresh
 shell and loading it into the chamber. With modifications to the
trigger group to regulate feed and firing, the design is basically a gas
 powered Model 870. The design team spent many hundreds of hours test
firing and getting input from shooters on the design before it was
released for production. The fact that plastic shotshells had come onto
the scene, and even the older paper shells were carrying improved
coatings, made for more reliable ammunition, which no doubt assisted the
 1100 to become a true breakthrough in gas operated shotgun reliability.
 The design was self-compensating to an extent not seen previously, in
that any 2-3/4" shell could be fired without adjustment in the standard
models, and both 2-3/4" and 3" Magnum shells could be used
interchangeably on the Magnum versions. The Remington 1100’s carrier
release is located on the underside of the firearm which is unlike a
number of other semi-automatic shotguns such as the Mossberg 930 or the FN SLP whose carrier releases are located on the side.

The Remington 1100 was an immediate hit upon its introduction. It
quickly became "the gun" on the Skeet ranges in the days before the over
 and under came to prominence. It was employed by hunters pursuing
almost any game that could be pursued with a shotgun, and the 3" Magnum
models found favor as waterfowling guns. The 1100 is a popular gun used
in trap shooting, skeet shooting, and sporting clays; and special versions with high ribs and Monte Carlo stocks
 are available. The Competition Synthetic model with an adjustable
carbon fibre stock set was introduced in 2012 and has been received
quite favorably. As with other semi-automatic shotguns, a shell catcher
can be used to avoid spent shells hitting others on the squad when
shooting trap. Modified versions of the 1100 are popular in tactical
three-gun shooting as well.

#### Users:

* Knockout
* Ernie the Giant Chicken

#### Gallery

Ernie's Remington 1100 shotgun (with C Red dot sighting, saddle shell holder, flashlight, and laser sighting)
### Hatsan Escort shotgun

    The **Escort** shotgun is a 5 shot pump shotgun built by **Hatsan Arms Company**

 of Turkey. Imported as both the Escort Guard and the Escort Marine
Guard (Stainless finish) by LSI (Legacy Sports International) of Reno,
NV. Examples of the shotgun sometimes have the large words "Legacy"
stamped on the receiver, leading many to call it a 'Legacy Escort'
though LSI is only the importation company. Recently the shotgun has
been built by Howa of Japan and many Escort shotguns are seen under the
Howa name. The *"Aimguard"* variant of the Escort line is a
specifically built home defense/tactical shotgun with a pistol grip,
shell holder and top folding stock.

### UTAS UTS-15

    The **UTAS UTS-15** is a bullpup 12 gauge pump-action shotgun

 with two 7-round magazine tubes that can feed in an alternating or
selecting pattern. The UTS-15 has a 28.3” overall length with an 18.5”
barrel, chambered for 2½”, 2¾”, and 3” magnum ammunition. Constructed
primarily of fiber reinforced injection molded polymer, the UTS-15
weighs 6.9 lbs. Additionally, there is a top mounted picatinny rail for
the mounting of a wide variety of both iron and optical sights, coupled
with Beretta style barrel threading for choke tubes.

The UTS-15 was developed as a result of a request to UTAS made by Smith & Wesson
 in 2006 to develop "the ultimate police shotgun". Smith & Wesson's
criteria for the shotgun were: 12 Gauge, pump-action, less than 30"
overall length, and 13-round minimum capacity.

The following features are standard on all UTS-15 models:

* **Bullpup design:** pistol grip and trigger are located forward

of the barrel breech and action assembly. This allows for the same
barrel length as a traditional shotgun but shortens the overall length
of the weapon.[3]

* **Top mounted picatinny rail:** allows for the mounting of a wide variety of iron and optical sights.

* **Twin magazine tubes:** set above the barrel to allow for easy access to the loading ports.
* **Alternating or select tube feed:** a selector switch located on

 the top of the tube/barrel assembly allows for use of multiple ammo
types (i.e.: buckshot and birdshot; buckshot and rubber pellets; etc.).

* **Built-in laser/light controls:** the right side of the grip is reserved for controls (a button) for controlling the optional light and laser assembly.
* **Threaded barrel:** Beretta-style barrel threading for choke tubes allows the UTS-15 to be adapted for any situation and a range of attachments.[4]

Accessories and optional equipment for the UTS-15 (as listed by UTAS USA):

* **Front and rear sight assembly:** machined from a solid billet

of 7000 series ordinance aluminium with matte black anodized finish
these sights are elevation and windage adjustable.[5]

* **Tactical Choke Tube:** machined from 4140 ordinance grade steel

 and matte black oxide finished. This choke features muzzle spikes and
gas ports for breeching. Also considered a choked cylinder it can be
used for firing slugs as well as buck shot.[6]

* **7.5" Barrel Extension:** machined from 4140 ordnance grade

steel with a matte black oxide finish. This attachment is threaded to
screw into the UTS-15 barrel (like the Tactical Choke Tube).[7]

* **Red Laser/Flashlight Unit:** the laser/flashlight unit is

specially designed for the UTS-15 shotgun. The flashlight casts a 200
lumen lens focused beam when switched on (using the integrated control
button on the grip). The laser is high-intensity and adjustable for both
 windage and elevation. The machined aluminum housing for the
laser/flashlight holds two lithium batteries and is specifically
designed to slide into the barrel retaining tube in the lower stock
below the barrel where it is held in place by the barrel retaining cap.
The UTAS provided set comes with the necessary equipment for mounting
the assembly into the shotgun.

* **UTS-15 Desert**: features a digitized camo pattern used by both

 American and NATO forces. Incorporates a desert sand base coat over
which the two-color non-glare digital camouflage pattern is applied.[9]

* **UTS-15 Marine**: features a digitized camo pattern which

incorporates a marine blue base coat over which the black and gray
non-glare digital camouflage pattern is applied. The springs have a
corrosion resistant coating and all exposed metal parts are satin nickel
 plated to be resistant to saltwater. All other metal parts, such as the
 barrel are black chromed or similarly treated to further increase
saltwater corrosion resistance.[10]

* **UTS-15 Hunting**: features a hunting-style camouflage pattern.

Due to its unique design the UTS 15 became an easily recognizable weapon
 within the firearms culture and was reviewed by several different
sources. However, over time the UTS 15 became the subject of harsh
criticism in the firearms industry developing a reputation for being
plagued by numerous malfunctions (primarily failure to feed and failure
to extract). UTAS attempted to correct these issues by developing a
generation 2 and generation 3 variant of the UTS 15 that were supposed
to correct the reliability issue.

In Jurassic World, ACU(Asset Containment Unit) trooper Miller fires his UTS-15 at escaped *Indominus rex*
 to cover other troopers, but eventually was eaten. It was also in the
popular first-person-shooter video game Call of Duty Ghosts by
Activision. As well as the popular first-person-shooter Battlefield 4 by
 EA DICE.

### M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System (MASS)

    The **M26 Modular Accessory Shotgun System** (**MASS**) is a developmental under-barrel shotgun attachment for the M16/M4 family of United States military firearms. It can also be fitted with a pistol grip and collapsible stock to act as a stand-alone weapon. It is replacing the current M500 shotguns in service.

The M26 MASS is a militarized version of the Lightweight Shotgun System, developed by C-More Systems and manufactured by Vertu Corporation[2] and originally marketed toward special operations forces. It attracted the interest of soldiers being deployed to Afghanistan
 who wanted to reduce the number of individual weapons they had to carry
 by using a shotgun as a rifle attachment instead of a discrete weapon.

The M26 has been in development at the U.S. Army's
 Soldier Battle Lab since the late 1990s. The idea was to provide
soldiers with lightweight accessory weapons which could be mounted under
 the standard issue M16 rifle or M4 carbine. These would provide soldiers with additional capabilities, such as: door breaching using special slugs, very short-range increased lethality using 00 buckshot, and less-lethal capabilities using teargas shells, rubber slugs, rubber pellets, or other non-lethal rounds.
The original idea was based on the Knight's Armament Masterkey system, which dates back to the 1980s and originally comprised a shortened, tube-fed Remington 870
 shotgun mounted under an M16 rifle or M4 carbine. The M26 improved upon
 the original Masterkey concept with a detachable magazine option and
more comfortable handling, thanks to a bolt-operated system. The
detachable magazine offers quicker reloading and a quicker change of
ammunition types. The relatively large bolt handle is located closer to
the rear rather than the slide on the Masterkey pump shotgun, and thus
is easier to cycle in combat. The bolt handle can be mounted on either
side of the weapon. The M26 was chosen by the U.S. Military over the
Masterkey as a breaching tool.[3]
 At the present time, small numbers of M26 MASS shotguns have been
issued to U.S. troops in Afghanistan. The current contract calls for the
 delivery of 9,000 shotguns.[1] In February 2012, the first unit was fully equipped with M26s.

The shotgun is currently in low rate initial production.[5] In May 2008, the Army announced it would procure 35,000 units.[6]
 The first M26 shotguns were procured and fielded to military police and
 engineer units in 2010. However, some units in both Iraq and
Afghanistan were issued the M26 in small quantities as early as 2003.[7] Full initial fielding began in 2011.

#### Users:

* Scootaloo (mounted on her M4A1 rifle)
* John Connor (mounted on an M4A1 rifle)
* Moon Starlight (Standalone version)

#### Gallery

Scootaloo's M26 MASS mounted on her M4A1 rifleMoon Starlight's M26 MASS (standalone version)
### AA-12

    The **Auto Assault-12** (**AA-12**), originally designed and known as the **Atchisson Assault Shotgun**, is a shotgun

 developed in 1972 by Maxwell Atchisson. The most prominent feature is
reduced recoil. The current 2005 version has been developed over 18
years since the patent was sold to Military Police Systems, Inc. The
original design was the basis of several later weapons, including the USAS-12
 combat shotgun. The weapon is fully automatic only but fires at a rate
of 300 rounds per minute, making it possible to fire one round at a time
 with brief trigger pulls. It is fed from either an 8-shell box magazine, or a 20- or 32-shell drum magazine.

In 1987, Max Atchisson sold the rights of the AA-12 to Jerry Baber of Military Police Systems, Inc., Piney Flats, Tennessee.[5]
 MPS in turn developed the successor simply known as Auto Assault-12,
which was redesigned over a period of 18 years with 188 changes and
improvements to the original blueprint, modifications included changing
the AA-12 from blowback- to gas-operated with a locked breech. "When the
 bolt flies back after firing to cycle another round, around 80% of what
 would normally be felt as recoil is absorbed by a proprietary gas
system. A recoil spring grabs another 10%, leaving the final recoil a
remarkable 10% of the normal recoil for a 12-gauge round—so you can
point the AA-12 at a target and unload the full magazine without
significant loss of accuracy".[6]
 MPS also teamed up with Action Manufacturing Company, and Special
Cartridge Company to combine the gun with FRAG-12 High-Explosive
ammunition into a multifunction weapon system.
The weapon was lightened to 4.76 kg (10.5 lb) and shortened to 966 mm (38.0 in) but retained the same barrel length. The CQB
 model has a 13-inch barrel, and is half a pound lighter than the
regular model. Uncommon in other automatic shotguns, the AA-12 fires
from an open bolt,
 a feature more commonly found in submachine guns and heavy and squad
level machine guns. It uses 8-round box, 20-round drum, or 32-round drum
 magazines, as opposed to the original 5-round box magazine. Due to the
abundant use of stainless steel and the designed clearance for fouling,
MPS has claimed that the weapon requires little to no cleaning or
lubrication.[7] The designer states that cleaning is required after 10,000 rounds.

The AA-12 can use different types of 3" 12-gauge ammunition such as buckshot, slugs, or less-than-lethal rubber stun batons. It can also use high-explosive rounds, essentially becoming a man-portable automatic grenade launcher or autocannon.

In 2004, ten firing models of the AA-12 were produced and demonstrated to the United States Marine Corps.
The HAMMER unmanned defense system by More Industries uses dual-mounted AA-12s on the H2X-40 turret.[9] Neural Robotics has also mounted the weapon on their AutoCopter unmanned aerial vehicle.

## Rifles

### Brown Bess Flintlock Musket

**Brown Bess** is a nickname of uncertain origin for the British Army's muzzle-loading smoothbore Land Pattern Musket and its derivatives. This musket was used in the era of the expansion of the British Empire

 and acquired symbolic importance at least as significant as its
physical importance. It was in use for over a hundred years with many
incremental changes in its design. These versions include the Long Land
Pattern, Short Land Pattern, India Pattern, New Land Pattern Musket, Sea
 Service Musket and others.

The Long Land Pattern musket and its derivatives, all .75 caliber flintlock muskets, were the standard long guns of the British Empire's land forces from 1722 until 1838 when they were superseded by a percussion cap
 smoothbore musket. The British Ordnance System converted many
flintlocks into the new percussion system known as the Pattern 1839
Musket. A fire in 1841 at the Tower of London
 destroyed many muskets before they could be converted. Still, the Brown
 Bess saw service until the middle of the nineteenth century.

Most male citizens of the American Colonies were required by law to own arms and ammunition for militia duty.[1] The Long Land Pattern was a common firearm in use by both sides in the American War of Independence.[2]

In 1808 Sweden purchased significant numbers from the United Kingdom for use in the Finnish War.
During the Musket Wars (1820s–1830s), Māori warriors used Brown Besses, having purchased them from European traders at the time. Some muskets were sold to the Mexican Army, which used them during the Texas Revolution of 1836 and the Mexican-American War of 1846 to 1848. Brown Besses saw service during the Indian rebellion of 1857. Zulu warriors, who had also purchased them from European traders, used them during the Anglo-Zulu War in 1879. One was even used in the Battle of Shiloh in 1862.

One hypothesis is that the **"Brown Bess"** was named after Elizabeth I of England,
 but this lacks support. It is not believed that this name was used
contemporaneously with the early Long Pattern Land musket but that the
name arose in late years of the 18th century when the Short Pattern and
India Pattern were in wide use.

Early uses of the term include the newspaper, the *Connecticut Courant*
 in April 1771, which said "... but if you are afraid of the sea, take
Brown Bess on your shoulder and march." This familiar use indicates
widespread use of the term by that time. The 1785 *Dictionary of the Vulgar Tongue*,
 a contemporary work which defined vernacular and slang terms, contained
 this entry: "Brown Bess: A soldier's firelock. To hug Brown Bess; to
carry a fire-lock, or serve as a private soldier." Military and
government records of the time do not use this poetical name but refer
to *firelocks*, *flintlock*, *muskets* or by the weapon's model designations.

Popular explanations of the use of the word "Brown" include that it was a reference to either the colour of the walnut stocks,
 or to the characteristic brown colour that was produced by russeting,
an early form of metal treatment. Others argue that mass-produced
weapons of the time were coated in brown varnish on metal parts as a
rust preventative and on wood as a sealer (or in the case of
unscrupulous contractors, to disguise inferior or non-regulation types
of wood). However, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) notes that "browning" was only introduced in the early 19th century, well after the term had come into general use.[*citation needed*] [here the author confuses simple varnishing with the browning of metal, two entirely different things]

Similarly, the word "Bess" is commonly held to either derive from the word *arquebus* or *blunderbuss*
 (predecessors of the musket) or to be a reference to Elizabeth I,
possibly given to commemorate her death. More plausible is that the term
 **Brown Bess** derived from the German words "brawn buss" or "braun buss",[*citation needed*] meaning "strong gun" or "brown gun"; King George I, who never spoke English and commissioned its use, was from Germany.
 Bess may be a corruption of bus. The OED has citations for "brown
musket" dating back to the early 18th century which refer to the same
weapon. Another suggestion is that the name is simply the counterpart to
 the earlier Brown Bill.

Kipling's poem most probably "hits the mark". The name have been
initially inspired by the older term of the "Brown Bill" and perhaps the
 barrels were originally varnished brown, but it is well known in
literary circles that the name "Brown Bess" during the period in
question in the 17th to early 19th centuries is not a reference to a
color or a weapon but to simply refer to a wanton prostitute. [4]
 Such a nickname would have been a delight to the soldiers of the era
who were from the lower classes of English and then British society.

From the 17th century to the early years of the 18th century, most
nations did not specify standards for military firearms. Firearms were
individually procured by officers or regiments as late as the 1740s, and
 were often custom-made to the tastes of the purchaser. As the firearm
gained ascendancy on the battlefield, this lack of standardisation led
to increasing difficulties in the supply of ammunition and repair
materials. To address these difficulties, armies began to adopt
standardised "patterns". A military service selected a "pattern musket"
to be stored in a "pattern room". There it served as a reference for
arms makers, who could make comparisons and take measurements to ensure
that their products matched the standard.

Stress-bearing parts of the Brown Bess, such as the barrel, lockwork,
 and sling-swivels, were customarily made of iron, while other furniture
 pieces such as the butt plate, trigger guard and ramrod
 pipe were found in both iron and brass. It weighed around 10 pounds
(4.5 kg) and it could be fitted with a 17 inches (430 mm) triangular
cross-section bayonet. The weapon did not have sights, though it could be aimed using the bayonet lug as a crude sight.

The earliest models had iron fittings but these were replaced by
brass in models built after 1736. Wooden ramrods were used with the
first guns but were replaced by iron ones, although guns with wooden
ramrods were still issued to troops on American service until 1765 and
later to loyalist units in the American Revolution. Wooden ramrods were also used in the Dragoon version produced from 1744 to 1771 and for Navy and Marine use.

Accuracy of the Brown Bess was fair, as with most other muskets. The
effective range is often quoted as 175 yards (160 m), but the Brown Bess
 was often fired *en masse* at 50 yards (46 m) to inflict the
greatest damage upon the enemy. Military tactics of the period stressed
mass volleys and massed bayonet charges, instead of individual
marksmanship. The large soft projectile could inflict a great deal of
damage when it hit and the great length of the weapon allowed longer
reach in bayonet engagements.

As with all similar smooth bore muskets, it is possible to improve
the accuracy of the weapon by using musket balls that fit more tightly
into the barrel. The black powder
 would quickly foul the barrel, making it more and more difficult to
reload a tighter-fitting round after each shot and increasing the risk
of the round jamming in the barrel during loading. Since tactics at the
time favored close range battles and speed over accuracy, smaller and
more loosely fitting musket balls were much more commonly used. The
Brown Bess had a barrel bore of .75 caliber, and the typical round used
was around .69 caliber.

While the looser-fitting musket ball reduced the effective range of a single musketeer
 firing at a single man-sized target to around 50 yards (46 m) to 75
yards (69 m), the Brown Bess was rarely used in single combat. Since
individual soldiers are not aimed for *en masse* volleys, the effective range of the Brown Bess when fired *en masse* was easily 100 yards (91 m) or more.

Standard European targets included strips of cloth 50 yards long to
represent an opposing line of infantry, with the target height being six
 feet for infantry and eight feet, three inches for cavalry. Estimations
 of hit probability at 175 yards could be as high as 75% in volley fire.
 This however was without allowances for the gaps between the soldiers
in an opposing line, for overly tall targets or the confusing and
distracting realities of the battlefield. Modern testers shooting from
rigid rests, using optimum loads and fast priming powder, report groups
of circa five inches at 50 yards.

Many variations and modifications of the standard pattern musket were
 created over its long history. The earliest version was the Long Land
Pattern of 1722, a 62-inch (160 cm) long (without bayonet) and with a
46-inch (120 cm) barrel. It was later found that shortening the barrel
did not detract from accuracy but made handling easier, giving rise to
the Militia (or Marine) Pattern of 1756 and the Short Land Pattern of
1768, which both had a 42-inch (110 cm) barrel. Another version with a
39-inch (99 cm) barrel was first manufactured for the British East India Company, and was eventually adopted by the British Army in 1790 as the India Pattern.

Towards the end of the life of the weapon there was a change in the
system of ignition. The flintlock mechanism, which was prone to
misfiring, especially in wet weather, was replaced by the more reliable
percussion cap. The last flintlock pattern manufactured was selected for
 conversion to the new system as the Pattern 1839. A fire at the Tower
of London destroyed large stocks of these in 1841, so a new Pattern 1842
 musket was manufactured. These remained in service until the outbreak
of the Crimean War when they were replaced by the Minie and the P53 Enfield rifled musket.

### Henry 1860 rifle

    The **Henry repeating rifle** is a lever-action, breech-loading, tubular magazine rifle famed both for its use at the Battle of the Little Bighorn and being the basis for the iconic Winchester rifle of the American Wild West.

Designed by Benjamin Tyler Henry in 1860, the Henry was introduced in the early 1860s and produced through 1866 in the United States by the New Haven Arms Company.
 It was adopted in small quantities by the Union in the Civil War,
favored for its greater firepower than the standard issue carbine. Many
later found their way West, notably in the hands of the Sioux and
Cheyenne in their obliteration of Custer's U.S. Cavalry troops in June 1876.
Modern versions of the weapon are produced by Henry Repeating Arms (a reputedly exact replica) and A. Uberti Firearms (chambered for .44-40 Winchester and .45 Long Colt.

The original Henry rifle was a sixteen shot .44 caliber rimfire, lever-action, breech-loading rifle patented by Benjamin Tyler Henry in 1860 after three years of design work.[1] The Henry was an improved version of the earlier Volition Repeating Rifle. The Henry used copper (later brass) rimfire cartridges with a 216 grain (14.0 gram, 0.490 ounce) bullet over 25 grains (1.6 g, 0.056 oz.) of gunpowder.
 Production was very small (150 to 200 a month) until middle of 1864.
Nine hundred were manufactured between summer and October 1862; by 1864,
 production had peaked at 290 per month, bringing the total to 8,000
manufactured.[2] By the time production ended in 1866, approximately 14,000 units had been manufactured.

For a Civil War soldier, owning a Henry rifle was a point of pride.[3] Letters home would call them "Sixteen" or "Seventeen" Shooters, depending whether a round was loaded in the chamber.[*citation needed*]
 The US Government purchased about 3,140 (early versions with inspector
marks) in late 1863 to early 1864, mostly for Cavalry units.[*citation needed*] Just 1731 of the standard rifles were purchased by the government during the Civil War.[4] The relative fragility of Henrys compared to Spencer repeating rifles hampered their official acceptance. More Henrys were purchased by soldiers than by the government.[5]
 Many infantry soldiers purchased Henrys with their reenlistment
bounties of 1864. Most of these units were associated with Sherman's
Western Troops.
When used correctly, the brass framed rifles had an exceptionally
high rate of fire compared to any other weapon on the battlefield.
Soldiers who saved their pay to buy one believed it would help save
their lives. Since tactics had not been developed to take advantage of
their firepower, rather than in regular infantry formations Henrys were
frequently used by scouts, skirmishers, flank guards, and raiding
parties. To the amazed muzzleloader-armed Confederates who had to face this deadly "sixteen shooter", it was called "a rifle that you could load on Sunday and shoot all week long."[6]
 Those few Confederate troops who came into possession of captured Henry
 rifles had little way to resupply the special ammunition used by the
weapon, making its widespread use by Confederate forces impractical. The
 rifle was, however, known to have been used at least in part by some
fifteen different Confederate units in Louisiana, Texas, and Virginia,
as well as the personal bodyguards of Confederate President Jefferson Davis

The Henry rifle used a .44 caliber cartridge with 26 to 28 grains (1.7 to 1.8 g) of black powder.[8] This gave it significantly less muzzle velocity and energy than other repeaters of the era, such as the Spencer.
 The lever action, on the down-stroke, ejected the spent cartridge from
the chamber and cocked the hammer. A spring in the magazine forced the
next round into the chamber; locking the lever back into position sealed
 the rifle back up into firing position. As designed, the Henry lacked
any form of safety. When not in use its hammer rested on the cartridge
rim; any impact on the back of the exposed hammer could cause a
chambered round to fire. If left cocked, it was in the firing position
without a safety.

While never issued on a large scale, the Henry rifle demonstrated its
 advantages of rapid fire at close range several times in the Civil War
and later during the wars against the Plains Indians. Examples include
the successes of two Henry-armed Union regiments at the Battle of Franklin against large Confederate attacks, as well as the Henry-armed Sioux and Cheyenne's destruction of the 7th Cavalry at Little Big Horn.

Manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company, the Henry rifle evolved into the famous Winchester Model 1866 lever-action rifle. With the introduction of the new Model 1866, the New Haven Arms Company was renamed the Winchester Repeating Arms Company.

The unrelated Henry Repeating Arms produces a replica of the Model 1860 Henry Rifle with the original's brass receiver and American walnut stock, but a modern steel barrel and internal components.[10]
A. Uberti Firearms produces an almost exact copy Henry Model 1860 chambered for .44-40 Winchester and .45 Long Colt
 centerfire calibers rather than the original .44 Henry rimfire.
Distributed by several different companies, these replicas are popular
among Cowboy Action Shooters and Civil War reenactors, as well as
competition shooters in the N-SSA.

#### Users:

* Big Grizz
* The Buffalo tribe

### Winchester rifle

**Winchester rifle** is a comprehensive term describing a series of lever-action repeating rifles manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. Evolved from the 1860 Henry rifle,

 Winchester rifles were among the earliest repeaters. The Model 1873 was
 particularly successful, being colloquially known as "The Gun that Won
the West".

Most popular of all was the Model 1894, a new design by John Browning
 widely adopted as a hunting rifle that saw production of over 6 million
 units before its domestic discontinuation 112 years later in 2006. It
went back into production by Miroku Corp. in 2010.

In 1848, inventor Walter Hunt
 of New York patented his "Volition Repeating Rifle" incorporating a
tubular magazine, which was operated by two levers and complex linkages.
 The Hunt rifle fired what he called the "Rocket Ball", an early form of caseless ammunition
 in which the powder charge was contained in the bullet's hollow base.
Hunt's design was fragile and unworkable, but in 1849 Lewis Jennings
purchased the Hunt patents and developed a functioning, if still
complex, version which was produced in small numbers by Robbins &
Lawrence of Windsor, Vermont until 1852.[1]

Horace Smith and Daniel Wesson of Norwich, Connecticut acquired the Jennings patent from Robbins & Lawrence, as well as shop foreman Benjamin Tyler Henry.
 Smith made several improvements to the Jennings design, and in 1855
Smith and Wesson together with several investors formed a corporation,
the Volcanic Repeating Arms Company,
 to manufacture Smith's modification of the Hunt-Jennings, the Volcanic
lever-action pistol and rifle. Its largest stockholder was Oliver Winchester.[1]

For the Volcanic rifle, Smith added a primer charge to Hunt's "Rocket
 Ball" and thus created one of the first fixed metallic cartridges which
 incorporated bullet, primer and powder in one self-contained unit.
While still with the company Smith went a step further and added a
cylindrical copper case to hold the bullet and powder with the primer in
 the case rim, thus creating one of the most significant inventions in
firearms history, the metallic rimfire cartridge.[2] (Smith's cartridge, the .22 Short, would be introduced commercially in 1857 with the landmark Smith & Wesson Model 1 revolver and is still manufactured today.)

The Volcanic rifle
 had only limited success, which was in part attributable to the design
and poor performance of the Hunt-derived Volcanic cartridge: a hollow
conical ball filled with black powder and sealed by a cork primer.
Although the Volcanic's repeater design far outpaced the rival
technology, the unsatisfactory power and reliability of the .25 and .32
caliber "Rocket Balls" were little match for the competitors' larger
calibers. Wesson had left Volcanic soon after it was formed and Smith
followed eight months later, to create the Smith & Wesson
 Revolver Company. Volcanic moved to New Haven in 1856, but by the end
of that year became insolvent. Oliver Winchester purchased the bankrupt
firm's assets from the remaining stockholders, and reorganized it as the
 New Haven Arms Company in April 1857.[1]

Benjamin Henry continued to work with Smith's cartridge concept, and perfected the much larger, more powerful .44 Henry
 rimfire. Henry also supervised the redesign of the rifle to use the new
 ammunition, retaining only the general form of the breech mechanism and
 the tubular magazine. This became the Henry rifle
 of 1860, which was manufactured by the New Haven Arms Company, and used
 in considerable numbers by certain Union army units in the American Civil War. Confederates called the Henry "that damned Yankee rifle that they load on Sunday and shoot all week!"

After the war, Oliver Winchester renamed New Haven Arms the Winchester Repeating Arms Company. The company modified and improved the basic design of the Henry rifle, creating the first Winchester rifle: the Model 1866. It retained the .44 Henry
 rimfire cartridge, was likewise built on a bronze-alloy frame, and had
an improved magazine and a wooden forearm. In 1873 Winchester introduced
 the steel-framed Model 1873 chambering the more potent .44-40
centerfire cartridge. In 1876, in a bid to compete with the powerful
single-shot rifles of the time, Winchester brought out the Model 1876 (*Centennial Model*).
 While it chambered more powerful cartridges than the 1866 and 1873
models, the toggle link action was not strong enough for the popular
high-powered rounds used in Sharps or Remington single-shot rifles.

From 1883, John Moses Browning worked in partnership with Winchester, designing a series of rifles and shotguns, most notably the lever-action Winchester Model 1886, Model 1892, Model 1894, and Model 1895 rifles, along with the lever-action Model 1887/1901 shotgun, the pump-action Model 1890 rifle, and the pump-action Model 1893/1897 shotgun.

#### Users:

* Puffy (Model 1866 "Yellow Boy")
* The Buffalo tribe (various)

### Winchester Model 1894 rifle

    The **Winchester Model 1894** rifle (also known as the **Winchester 94** or **Win 94**) is a lever-action repeating rifle that became one of the most famous and popular hunting rifles. It was designed by John Browning in 1894 and originally chambered to fire two metallic black powder cartridges, the .32-40 Winchester and .38-55 Winchester. It was the first rifle to chamber the smokeless powder round, the .30 WCF (Winchester Center Fire, in time becoming known as the .30-30).

The 1894 was produced by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company through 1980 and then by U.S. Repeating Arms under the Winchester brand until they ceased manufacturing rifles in 2006. Reproductions are being made by the Miroku company of Japan and imported into the United States by the Browning Arms company of Morgan, Utah.
The Model 1894 has been referred to as the "ultimate lever-action
design" by firearms historians such as R. L. Wilson and Hal Herring. The
 Model 1894 is the rifle credited with the name "Winchester" being used
to refer to all rifles of this type and was the first commercial
sporting rifle to sell over 7,000,000 units.

The Winchester Model 1894 was the first commercial American repeating rifle built to be used with smokeless powder. The 1894 was originally chambered to fire 2 metallic black powder cartridges, the .32-40 Winchester and .38-55 Winchester.
 In 1895 Winchester went to a different steel composition for rifle
manufacturing that could handle higher pressure rounds and offered the
rifle in .25-35 Winchester and .30-30 Winchester. The .30-30 Winchester, or .30WCF (Winchester Centerfire), is the cartridge that has become synonymous with the Model 1894.[2] Starting in 1899, the Model 1894 was also chambered in .32 Winchester Special.

The Model 94's combination of potent firepower in a compact,
lightweight, comfortable-to-carry, and quick-shooting package has made
it an extremely popular hunting rifle, particularly for white-tailed deer in the dense forests of the Eastern United States,
 where most game is killed at relatively short distances. As a result,
it was the first sporting rifle to sell over 7,000,000 units. The
millionth Model 1894 was given to President Calvin Coolidge in 1927, the 1½ millionth rifle to President Harry S. Truman on May 8, 1948 and the two millionth unit was given to President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1953.[3]

The United States government purchased 1,800 commercial Model 1894s with 50,000 .30-30 cartridges during World War I.
 These rifles in the 835800 to 852500 serial number range were marked
atop the receiver ring with a flaming bomb and "U.S." The rifles were
intended for United States Army Signal Corps
 personnel stationed in the Pacific Northwest to prevent interruption of
 spruce timber harvesting for aircraft production. The rifles were sold
as military surplus after the war.[4] To release Lee–Enfield rifles for infantry use, the Royal Navy purchased approximately 5,000 .30-30 caliber Model 94 rifles in 1914 for shipboard guard duty and mine-clearing.
 France purchased 15,100 Model 1894 carbines equipped with sling swivels
 on the left side of the buttstock and barrel band, and with metric
gradations on the No. 44A rear sight. These French carbines were issued
to motorcycle couriers, artillery troops, trench railway personnel, and some balloon units. Some of these rifles acquired Belgian proofmarks when sold as surplus through Belgium.[5]

Variants of the Model 94 over its long history included the
Winchester Model 55, produced from 1924 through 1932 in a 24-inch
(610 mm) barrel, and the Winchester Model 64, produced from 1933 through
 1957 in 20, 24, and 26-inch (660 mm) barrel lengths.[6] From 1964 through 1980, a version of the Model 94 carbine was also sold by Sears as the Ted Williams Model 100, as part of Sears' marketing arrangement with both Winchester and the retired baseball star.

In mid-1964, the manufacturing of the 94 was changed in order to make
 the firearm less expensive to produce. Generally referred to as
"pre-64" models, the earlier versions command a premium price over
post-change rifles.[7]
 The limited number of early-1964 production models produced prior to
the changeover are considered quite desirable, as they are considered by
 many to represent the ending of an era.[1]

The Winchester 1894's design allowed the cycling of longer cartridges than the Winchester 1892
 carbines could permit. When the lever is pulled down, it brings the
bottom of the receiver with it, opening up more space and allowing a
longer cartridge to feed without making the receiver longer. The
mechanism is complex but very reliable. Complete stripping of the action
 is a multistage task that must be accomplished in precise sequence.
However, it is rarely necessary to completely strip the action. The
largest cartridge that the 1894 action can accommodate is the .450 Marlin, which was chambered in some custom rifles and the short-lived Timber Carbine on a beefed-up 1894 "big bore" receiver.[8]

Decades after the Winchester 1892 was phased out, the Winchester 1894
 Models were manufactured in typical revolver calibers such as .38 Special/.357 Magnum, .44 Special/.44 Magnum, .45 Colt (or .45 Long Colt), .38-40 Winchester, and .44-40 Winchester.
 Typically, the tube magazine is able to hold 9 to 13 rounds of the
previously mentioned handgun calibers. The magazine capacity depends on
the length of the barrel, as the tube magazine (located below the
barrel) typically covers the entire length of the barrel.[9]

Handgun calibers are preferred by modern day Cowboy Action Shooters
as it allows one type of ammunition for both rifle and handgun. A
typical combination would be an 1873 Colt (Colt Peacemaker
 or clone) and a Winchester 1894 capable of shooting the same type of
ammunition. The 1894 action, designed for smokeless rifle rounds, is
much stronger than the action of the Winchesters (Models 1866, 1873,
1876) that were based on Benjamin Henry's toggle-link system, and can easily handle modern high-pressure revolver cartridges such as the .44 Magnum.

From 1984 to 1997, the Model 94 angle eject 20" barreled carbine and 24" barreled XTR rifle were offered in 7-30 Waters (an improved .30-30 case necked down to a 7mm bullet).[10] In 2003, the rifle was offered in .410 shotgun and named the Model 9410.[11]

The Winchester 1894 holds the record for best-selling high-powered rifle in U.S. history.[12]
U.S. production ceased in 2006. At the time there were 14 versions of
 the Model 94 in the Winchester catalog. In 2010 Winchester Repeating
Arms reintroduced the model 94 in two Limited Edition models to
commemorate the 200th anniversary of Oliver F. Winchester's birth in New
 England in 1810.

### Sharps 1874 rifle

**Sharps rifles** are a series of large bore single shot rifles, beginning with a design by Christian Sharps in 1848, and ceasing production in 1881. They are renowned for long-range accuracy. By 1874 the rifle was available in a variety of calibers and had been adopted by the armies of a number of nations and was one of the few successful designs to transition to metallic cartridge use.

Reproductions of the Sharps rifle are currently made by different rifle companies and the rifle has become an icon of the Old West due to its use in a number of movies and books in the Western genre.

Sharps' initial rifle was patented September 12, 1848 and manufactured by A. S. Nippes at Mill Creek, (Philadelphia) Pennsylvania, in 1850.

The second model used the Maynard tape primer, and surviving examples are marked Edward Maynard - Patentee 1845. In 1851 the second model was brought to the Robbins & Lawrence Company of Windsor, Vermont where the Model 1851 was developed for mass production. Rollin White of the R&L Co. invented the knife-edge breech block and self-cocking device for the "box-lock" Model 1851. This is referred to as the "First Contract", which was for 10,000 Model 1851 carbines - of which approximately 1,650 were produced by R&L in Windsor.

In 1851 the "Second Contract" was made for 15,000 rifles and the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company was organized as a holding company with $1,000 in capital and with John C. Palmer as president, Christian Sharps as engineer, and Richard S. Lawrence as master armorer and superintendent of manufacturing. Sharps was to be paid a royalty of $1 per firearm and the factory was built on R&L's property in Hartford, Connecticut.

The Model 1851 was replaced in production by the Model 1853. Christian Sharps left the company in 1855 to form his own manufacturing company called "C. Sharps & Company" in Philadelphia; Richard S. Lawrence continued as the chief armorer until 1872 and developed the various Sharp models and their improvements that made the rifle famous. In 1874, the company was reorganized and renamed "The Sharps Rifle Company" and it remained in Hartford until 1876, whereupon it relocated to Bridgeport, Connecticut.

The 1874-pattern Sharps was a particularly popular rifle that led to the introduction of several derivatives in quick succession. It handled a large number of .40- to .50-caliber cartridges in a variety of loadings and barrel lengths.

Hugo Borchardt designed the Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878, the last rifle made by the Sharps Rifle Co. before its closing in 1881.

Reproductions of the paper cartridge Sharps M1859 and M1863 Rifle and Carbine, the metallic cartridge 1874 Sharps Rifle, and Sharps-Borchardt Model 1878 are being manufactured today. They are used in Civil War re-enacting, hunting and target shooting.

The military **Sharps rifle** (also known as the **Berdan Sharps rifle**) was a falling block rifle used during and after the American Civil War. Along with being able to use a standard percussion cap, the Sharps had a fairly unusual pellet primer feed. This was a device which held a stack of pelleted primers and flipped one over the nipple each time the trigger was pulled and the hammer fell - making it much easier to fire a Sharps from horseback than a gun employing individually loaded percussion caps.

The Sharps Rifle was produced by the Sharps Rifle Manufacturing Company in Hartford, Connecticut. It was used in the Civil War by the U.S. Army Marksman, known popularly as "Berdan's Sharpshooters" in honor of their leader Hiram Berdan. The Sharps made a superior sniper weapon of greater accuracy than the more commonly issued muzzle-loading rifled muskets. This was due mainly to the higher rate of fire of the breech loading mechanism and superior quality of manufacture.

At this time however, many officers were distrustful of breech-loading weapons on the grounds that they would encourage men to waste ammunition. In addition, the Sharps Rifle was expensive to manufacture (three times the cost of a muzzle-loading Springfield rifle) and so only 11,000 of the Model 1859s were produced. Most were unissued or given to sharpshooters, but the 13th Pennsylvania Reserves (which still carried the old-fashioned designation of a "rifle regiment") carried them until being mustered out in 1864.

### Springfield Model 1873 Carbine rifle

    The **Model 1873 "Trapdoor" Springfield** was the first standard-issue breech-loading rifle adopted by the United States Army (although the Model 1866 trapdoor had seen limited issue to troops along the Bozeman Trail

 in 1867). The gun, in both full-length and carbine versions, was widely
 used in subsequent battles against the American Indians.

The Model 1873 was the fifth variation of the Allin trapdoor design, and was named for its hinged breechblock, which opened like a trapdoor. The infantry rifle model featured a 325⁄8-inch (829 mm) barrel, while the cavalry carbine used a 22-inch (560 mm) barrel. It was superseded by an improved model, the Springfield Model 1884, also in .45-70 caliber.

In 1872–1873 a military board, headed by Brigadier-General Alfred H. Terry, conducted an examination and trial of 99 rifles from several domestic and foreign manufacturers including those from Springfield, Sharps, Peabody, Whitney, Spencer, Remington, and Winchester
 pursuant to the selection of a breech-loading system for rifles and
carbines for the U.S. Military. The trials included tests for: accuracy,
 dependability, rate-of-fire, and ability to withstand adverse
conditions. Both single shot and magazine equipped systems were
considered but, at the time, the single shot was deemed to be more
reliable. Firing tests were held at the Springfield Armory and Governor's Island
 where the average rate of fire for the Springfield was 8 rounds per
minute for new recruits and 15 rounds per minute for experienced
soldiers. The board recommended "No. 99 Springfield" which became the *Model 1873*.

The rifle cartridge was designated as ".45-70-405",
 indicating a .45 caliber, 405-grain (26.2 g) bullet propelled by 70
grains (4.5 g) of black powder. It had a muzzle velocity of 1,350 feet
per second (410 m/s), making it a powerful and effective load for the
skirmish tactics of the era. A reduced-power load of 55 grains (3.6 g)
of powder (Carbine Load) was manufactured for use in the carbine to
lighten recoil for mounted cavalry soldiers. This cartridge had a
correspondingly reduced muzzle velocity of 1,100 feet per second
(340 m/s) and a somewhat reduced effective range.

The rifle was originally issued with a copper
 cartridge and used in the American West during the second half of the
19th century, but the soldiers soon discovered that the copper expanded
excessively in the breech upon firing. Another issue was the copper held
 in leather carriers created a green film that would basically weld the
casing into the breech of the carbine when fired. This sometimes jammed
the rifle by preventing extraction of the fired cartridge case. A jam
required manual extraction with a knife blade or similar tool, and could
 render the carbine version of the weapon, which had no ramrod to remove
 stuck cases, useless in combat except as a club.

After the annihilation of Lieutenant-Colonel George Armstrong Custer's battalion (armed with the carbine and carbine load ammunition) at the Battle of the Little Bighorn
 in June 1876, investigations first suggested that jamming of their
carbines may have played a factor, although archaeological excavations
in 1983 discovered evidence that only 3.4 percent of the cases recovered
 showed any indication of being pried from jammed weapons.[2]
 This did not account for cases removed by a ramrod or other "stick" nor
 for jammed rifles cleared away from the immediate battle area and
outside the very limited archaeological survey area. Every Custer
battalion weapon became Indian property. Captain Thomas French, M
Company Commander was kept busy on the Reno defensive position line
using the cleaning rod from his infantry rifle to clear the jammed
carbines passed to him from the cavalryman on the line. The cartridge
was subsequently redesigned with a brass
 case, since that material did not expand as much as copper. This was
shown to be a major improvement, and brass became the primary material
used in United States military cartridges from then to the present.
After the Little Big Horn disaster, troops were required to perform
target practice twice a week.

The black powder Model 1873 continued to be the main service rifle of the U.S. Military until it was gradually replaced by the Springfield Model 1892
 bolt-action rifle (based on the Norwegian Krag-Jørgensen action).
Replacement began in 1892; this would be the first US military rifle in
30 caliber, using smokeless powder in a rimmed center-fire cartridge.
The Model 1873 was still used by secondary units during the Spanish–American War in Cuba and the Philippines, although it was at a major disadvantage against the Spanish forces armed with 7 mm Spanish M93 Mauser bolt-action rifles using smokeless powder.

There was a flax line round which was used to commandeer hot air
balloons. Either from the ground with several troops climbing or from
another hot air balloon a little higher up.

### 1896 Krag-Jorgensen Carbine rifle

    The **Springfield Model 1892-99** **Krag–Jørgensen** rifle is a Norwegian-designed bolt action rifle that was adopted in 1892 as the standard United States Army military longarm, chambered in U.S. caliber .30-40 Krag. All versions and variants were manufactured under license by the Springfield Armory between 1892 and 1903. The U.S. Krag was replaced beginning in 1903 with the introduction of the M1903 Springfield rifle.

Like many other armed forces, the U.S. Army searched for a new rifle in the early 1890s to replace their old Springfield Model 1873 "trapdoor" single-shot rifles. A competition was held in 1892, comparing rifle designs from Lee, Krag–Jørgensen, Mannlicher, Mauser, Schmidt–Rubin, and about 40 other military and civilian designs. The trials were held at Governors Island, New York.
 Despite protests from domestic inventors and arms manufacturers—two
designers, Russell and Livermore, even sued the U.S. government over the
 choice—the Krag–Jørgensen design was chosen by the board of officers.

Approximately 500,000 "Krags" were produced at the Springfield Armory in Massachusetts from 1894 to 1904. It was the U.S. Army's primary rifle from 1894 to 1903 (when it was replaced by the M1903 Springfield rifle with its ballistically similar .30-03 cartridge), and found use in the Spanish–American War and the Philippine–American War. In this later war the rifle was referred to in a song popular with U.S. troops, a parody of "Tramp! Tramp! Tramp!", with a verse running:

According to contemporary, perhaps sensationalized accounts, the Krag's complex design was outclassed[1] by the Spanish Mauser during the Spanish–American War, and proved ill-suited for use in tropical locales such as Cuba and the Philippines.
 American soldiers found themselves unable to match the volume of fire
displayed by the Spanish 1893 Mauser rifle, with its box magazine that
could be fully reloaded with clips, and a high-velocity, flat-shooting 7mm
 cartridge which was quickly dubbed the "Spanish Hornet". During the
American assault on the strategic Cuban city of Santiago, a small force
of 750 Spanish troops armed with Model 1893 Mauser rifles defended
positions on San Juan and Kettle hills. The attacking force consisted of
 approximately 6,600 American soldiers, most of them regulars, armed
with the then-new smokeless-powder Krag–Jørgensen rifle and supported by
 artillery and Gatling gun fire. Though the assault was successful, the
Americans soon realized that they had suffered more than 1,400
casualties in the assault. A U.S board of investigation pinned the blame
 on the superior firepower of the Spanish Model 1893 Mauser rifles,
although modern analysis has determined that many of the casualties were
 due to superior Spanish fortifications on the high ground. With the
Krag's replacement with the Mauser-derived M1903, the rifle is tied for
the shortest service life of any standard-issue firearm in US military
history (1892–1903).

The Krag was completely phased out of service in the Regular Army by
1907, as M1903 Springfields became available, however, the Krag was
issued for many more years with the National Guard and the Army Reserve, including service in World War I with rear-echelon U.S. troops in France and as training arms at various Stateside bases. Later, many were issued to veterans' organizations such as the American Legion and the Veterans of Foreign Wars for use in military ceremonies. Still others were sold to civilians through the Civilian Marksmanship Program.

There were at least nine different models of the U.S. Krag–Jørgensen:

* M1892 Rifle – a rifle with a 30 in (762 mm) barrel and a magazine

cut off that operates in the up position. It can be identified by the
cleaning rod under the barrel.

* M1892 Carbine – presumably a prototype, as just one is known today. Looks like the M1892 Rifle, but with a 22" barrel.
* M1896 Rifle – rifle model where the magazine cut-off operates in

down position and the cleaning rod is moved to butt trap. An improved
rear sight and tighter production tolerances gave better accuracy. Stock
 altered slightly (made thicker).

* M1896 Cadet Rifle – model which was fitted with cleaning rod like

M1892 rifle. Only about 400 were made before it was discontinued.

* M1896 Carbine – model with the same modifications as the M1896 Rifle.
* M1898 Rifle – a model that generally much like M1896, but with a wide range of minor changes.
* M1898 Carbine – rifle with same minor modifications as the M1898 Rifle.
* M1899 Carbine – rifle with generally the same as the M1898 Carbine,

but with a slightly longer forearm and hand guard, and without the
swivel ring.

* M1899 Constabulary carbine – model built for use in the Philippines.

 Basically a M1899 Carbine fitted with a full length stock and a bayonet
 lug, and the muzzle stepped down to accept bayonet
The U.S. Krags were chambered for the rimmed .30-40 Krag
 round, also known as ".30 Army." From 1890 to 1893 a 230-grain steel-
or cupro-nickel-jacketed bullet was issued, for which no ballistic data
is known. From 1894 to September 1899 a 220-grain jacketed bullet
loading was issued using 40 grains of nitrocelluose powder, which
developed some 40,000 psi and a muzzle velocity of 2,000 feet per second
 (610 m/s) in the Krag rifle and 1,960 ft/s (600 m/s) in the shorter
carbine. In October 1899, after reviewing the experiences of the
Spanish–American War, a new loading was developed for the .30 Army in an
 attempt to match the ballistics of the 7×57mm Mauser
 cartridge. The new loading increased the Krag rifle's muzzle velocity
to 2,200 f/s at 45,000 psi. However, once the new loading was issued,
reports of cracked locking lugs on service Krags began to surface. In
March 1900 the remaining stocks of this ammunition, some 3.5 million
rounds, was returned to the arsenals, broken down, and reloaded back to
the original 2,000 ft/s (610 m/s) specification.

Although the .30-40 Krag was the first smokeless powder round adopted
 by the U.S. military, it retained the "caliber-charge" designation of
earlier black powder
 cartridges, thus the .30-40 Krag employs a .30 caliber (7.62 mm) bullet
 propelled by 40 grains (3 g) of smokeless powder. As with the .30-30 Winchester, the use of black powder nomenclature led to the incorrect assumption that the .30-40 Krag was once a black powder cartridge.

#### Users:

* Evan
* Omar
* The U.S. Cavalry Engines

### Springfield M1903 rifle

    The **M1903 Springfield**, formally the **United States Rifle, Caliber .30-06, Model 1903**, is an American clip-loaded, 5-round magazine fed, bolt-action service rifle used primarily during the first half of the 20th century.

It was officially adopted as a United States military bolt-action rifle on June 19, 1903, and saw service in World War I. It was officially replaced as the standard infantry rifle by the faster-firing semi-automatic 8-round M1 Garand starting in 1937. However, the M1903 Springfield remained in service as a standard issue infantry rifle during World War II, since the U.S. entered the war without sufficient M1 rifles to arm all troops. It also remained in service as a sniper rifle during World War II, the Korean War, and even in the early stages of the Vietnam War. It remains popular as a civilian firearm, historical collector's piece, and as a military drill rifle.

The 1903 adoption of the Springfield Bolt Action was preceded by
nearly 30 years of struggle and politics, using lessons learned from the
 recently adopted U.S. versions of the Krag–Jørgensen rifle and contemporary German Mauser G98 bolt-action rifles. The M1903 not only replaced the various versions of the U.S. Army's Krag, but also the Lee Model 1895 and M1885 Remington-Lee used by the United States Navy and the United States Marine Corps, as well as all remaining single shot trap-door Springfield Model 1873's. While the Krag had been issued in both a long rifle and carbine,
 the Springfield was issued only as a short 24 in. barrel rifle in
keeping with current trends in Switzerland and Great Britain to
eliminate the need for both long rifles and carbines.[1]

The two main problems usually cited with the Krag were its
slow-to-load magazine and its inability to handle higher chamber
pressures for high-velocity rounds. The United States Army attempted to
introduce a higher-velocity cartridge in 1899 for the existing Krags,
but its single locking lug on the bolt could not withstand the extra
chamber pressure. Though a stripper-clip
 or charger loading modification to the Krag was designed, it was clear
to Army authorities that a new rifle was required. After the U.S.
military's experience with the Mauser rifle in the 1898 Spanish–American War, authorities decided to adopt a stronger Mauser-derived design equipped with a charger- or stripper clip-loaded box magazine.

In 1882, the bolt action .45 Remington Lee rifle
 design of 1879, with its newly invented detachable box magazine, was
purchased in limited numbers by the U.S. Navy. Several hundred 1882 Lee
Navy Models (M1882 Remington-Lee) were also subjected to trials by the
U.S. Army during the 1880s, though the rifle was not formally adopted.
The Navy adopted the Model 1885, and later different style Lee Model
1895 (a 6mm straight pull bolt), which saw service in the Boxer Rebellion.
 In Army service, both the 1885 and 1895 6mm Lee were used in the
Spanish–American War, along with the .30 Krag and the .45-70 Model 1873
Springfield. The Lee rifle's detachable box magazine was invented by James Paris Lee,
 and would be very influential on later rifle designs. Other
advancements had made it clear that the Army needed a replacement. In
1892, the U.S. military held a series of rifle trials, resulting in the
adoption of the .30 Krag–Jørgensen rifle. The Krag officially entered U.S. service in 1894, only to be replaced nine years later by the Springfield M1903.

By the time of U.S. entry into World War I, 843,239 of these rifles had been produced at Springfield Armory and Rock Island Arsenal.
 Pre-war production utilized questionable metallurgy. Some receivers
constructed of single-heat-treated case-hardened steel were improperly
subjected to excessive temperatures during the forging process. The
carbon could be "burnt" out of the steel producing a brittle receiver.[7]
 Despite documented evidence indicating some early rifles were
improperly forged, actual cases of failure were very rare. Although
several cases of serious injury from receiver failure were documented,
the U.S. Army never reported any fatalities. Many failures were
attributed to use of incorrect cartridges, such as the 7.92×57mm Mauser.[8] Evidence also seems to suggest that improperly forged brass shell casings could have exacerbated receiver failure.[9]

Pyrometers
 were installed in December 1917 to accurately measure temperatures
during the forging process. The change was made at approximately serial
number 800,000 for rifles made at Springfield Armory and at serial
number 285,507 at Rock Island Arsenal. Lower serial numbers are known as
 "low-number" M1903 rifles. Higher serial numbers are said to be
"double-heat-treated."[8]

Towards the end of the war, Springfield turned out the Model 1903
Mark I. The Mark I has a cut on the left hand side of the receiver meant
 to act as an ejection port for the Pedersen device,
 a modified sear and cutoff to operate the Pedersen device; a
specialized insert that replaced the bolt and allowed the user to fire
.30 caliber pistol cartridges semi-automatically from a detachable
magazine. The stock was also slightly cut down on the left side to clear
 the ejection port. In all other respects, the Mark I is identical to
the 1903. Temperature control during forging was improved prior to Mark I
 production. The receiver alloy was toughened by addition of nickel
after Mark I production.

In 1926, after experiencing the effect of long-range German 7.92×57mm
 Mauser and machine gun fire during the war, the U.S. Army adopted the
heavy 174-grain boat-tail bullet for its .30-06 cartridge, standardized
as 'Cartridge, Ball, caliber 30, M1'.[10]
 M1 ammunition, intended primarily for long-range machine gun use, soon
became known by Army rifle competition teams and expert riflemen for its
 considerably greater accuracy over that of the M1906-round; the new M1
ammunition was issued to infantrymen with the Springfield rifle as well
as to machine gun teams.[11]
 However, during the late 1930s, it became apparent that, with the
development of mortars, high-angle artillery, and the .50 caliber M2 Browning
 machine gun, the need for extreme long-range, rifle-caliber machine-gun
 fire was decreasing. In 1938, the U.S. army reverted to a .30-06
cartridge with a 152-grain flat-base bullet, now termed M2 Ball, for all rifles and machine guns.[10]

The Federal Bureau of Investigation acquired some M1903 rifles configured like National Rifle Association Sporter Models in response to the 1933 Kansas City Massacre.[12]
In service, the Springfield was generally prized for its reliability
and accuracy, though some problems remained. The precision rear aperture
 sight was located too far from the eye for efficient use, and the
narrow, unprotected front sight was both difficult to see in poor light
and easily damaged. The U.S. Marine Corps issued the Springfield with a
sight hood to protect the front sight, along with a thicker front blade.
 The two-piece firing pin/striker also proved to be no improvement over
the original one-piece Mauser design, and was a cause of numerous
Ordnance repairs, along with occasional reports of jammed magazine
followers.

#### Users:

* The Trolley Fighters (snipers)
* The Royal Guards

#### Gallery

Royal Guard M1903A4 (Celestia's wing)Royal Guard M1903A4 (Luna's wing)
### Lee Enfeild No.1 Mk.III

    The **Lee–Enfield** bolt-action, magazine-fed, repeating rifle was the main firearm used by the military forces of the British Empire and Commonwealth during the first half of the 20th century. It was the British Army's standard rifle from its official adoption in 1895 until 1957.[3][4]

A redesign of the Lee–Metford (adopted by the British Army in 1888), the Lee–Enfield superseded the earlier Martini–Henry, Martini–Enfield, and Lee–Metford rifles. It featured a ten-round box magazine which was loaded with the .303 British cartridge manually from the top, either one round at a time or by means of five-round chargers.
 The Lee–Enfield was the standard issue weapon to rifle companies of the
 British Army and other Commonwealth nations in both the First and Second World Wars (these Commonwealth nations included Australia, New Zealand, Canada and South Africa, among others).[5] Although officially replaced in the UK with the L1A1 SLR in 1957, it remained in widespread British service until the early/mid-1960s and the 7.62 mm
 L42 sniper variant remained in service until the 1990s. As a
standard-issue infantry rifle, it is still found in service in the armed
 forces of some Commonwealth nations,[6] notably with the Bangladesh Police, which makes it the longest-serving military bolt-action rifle still in official service.[7] The Canadian Forces' Rangers Arctic reserve unit still used Enfield No.4 rifles as of 2012, with plans announced to replace the weapons sometime in 2014 or 2015.[8] Total production of all Lee–Enfields is estimated at over 17 million rifles.[1]
The Lee–Enfield takes its name from the designer of the rifle's bolt system—James Paris Lee—and the factory in which it was designed—the Royal Small Arms Factory in Enfield. In Australia, Canada, New Zealand, Southern Africa and India the rifle became known simply as the "**three-oh-three**"

The Lee–Enfield rifle was derived from the earlier Lee–Metford, a mechanically similar black-powder rifle, which combined James Paris Lee's rear-locking bolt system with a barrel featuring rifling designed by William Ellis Metford.
 The Lee action cocked the striker on the closing stroke of the bolt,
making the initial opening much faster and easier compared to the "cock
on opening" (i.e., the firing pin cocks upon opening the bolt) of the Mauser Gewehr 98
 design. The rear-mounted lugs place the bolt operating handle much
closer to the operator, over the trigger, making it quicker to operate
than traditional designs like the Mauser.[4]
 The rifle was also equipped with a detachable sheet-steel, 10-round,
double-column magazine, a very modern development in its day.
Originally, the concept of a detachable magazine was opposed in some British Army
 circles, as some feared that the private soldier might be likely to
lose the magazine during field campaigns. Early models of the
Lee–Metford and Lee–Enfield even used a short length of chain to secure
the magazine to the rifle.[10]
The fast-operating Lee bolt-action and 10-round magazine capacity enabled a well-trained rifleman to perform the "mad minute"
 firing 20 to 30 aimed rounds in 60 seconds, making the Lee–Enfield the
fastest military bolt-action rifle of the day. The current world record
for aimed bolt-action fire was set in 1914 by a musketry instructor in
the British Army—Sergeant Instructor Snoxall—who placed 38 rounds into a
 12-inch-wide (300 mm) target at 300 yards (270 m) in one minute.[11]
 Some straight-pull bolt-action rifles were thought faster, but lacked
the simplicity, reliability, and generous magazine capacity of the
Lee–Enfield. Several First World War accounts tell of British troops
repelling German attackers who subsequently reported that they had
encountered machine guns, when in fact it was simply a group of
well-trained riflemen armed with SMLE Mk III rifles.The Lee–Enfield was adapted to fire the .303 British service cartridge, a rimmed, high-powered rifle round. Experiments with smokeless powder in the existing Lee–Metford cartridge
 seemed at first to be a simple upgrade, but the greater heat and
pressure generated by the new smokeless powder wore away the shallow,
rounded, Metford rifling after approximately 6000 rounds.[3] Replacing this with a new square-shaped rifling system designed at the Royal Small Arms Factory (RSAF) Enfield solved the problem, and the Lee–Enfield was born.

The Lee–Enfield rifle was introduced in November 1895 as the **.303 calibre, Rifle, Magazine, Lee–Enfield**,[3] or more commonly **Magazine Lee–Enfield**, or **MLE** (sometimes spoken as "*emily*" instead of M, L, E). The next year a shorter version was introduced as the **Lee–Enfield Cavalry Carbine Mk I**, or **LEC**, with a 21.2-inch (540 mm) barrel as opposed to the 30.2-inch (770 mm) one in the "long" version.[3] Both underwent a minor upgrade series in 1899 (the omission of the cleaning / clearing rod), becoming the Mk I\*.[13] Many LECs (and LMCs in smaller numbers) were converted to special patterns, namely the **New Zealand Carbine** and the **Royal Irish Constabulary Carbine**, or NZ and RIC carbines, respectively.[14] Some of the MLEs (and MLMs) were converted to load from chargers, and designated **Charger Loading Lee–Enfield**s, or **CLLE**s.

The iconic Lee–Enfield rifle, the **SMLE Mk III**, was introduced on 26 January 1907, along with a Pattern 1907 (P'07) sword bayonet and featured a simplified rear sight arrangement and a fixed, rather than a bolt-head-mounted sliding, charger guide.[7]
 The design of the handguards and the magazine were also improved, and
the chamber was adapted to fire the new Mk VII High Velocity spitzer
 .303 ammunition. Many early model rifles, of Magazine Lee–Enfield
(MLE), Magazine Lee–Metford (MLM), and SMLE type, were upgraded to the
Mk III standard. These are designated Mk IV Cond., with various
asterisks denoting subtypes.[20]

During the First World War, the SMLE Mk III was found to be too
complicated to manufacture (an SMLE Mk III rifle cost the British
Government £3/15/-) and demand was outstripping supply, so in late 1915
the **Mk III\*** was introduced, which incorporated several changes,
the most prominent of which were the deletion of the magazine cut-off
and the long-range volley sights.[18][20][21][22]
 The windage adjustment of the rear sight was also dispensed with, and
the cocking piece was changed from a round knob to a serrated slab.[22]
 Rifles with some or all of these features present are found, as the
changes were implemented at different times in different factories and
as stocks of existing parts were used.[23] The magazine cut-off was reinstated after the First World War ended and not entirely dispensed with until 1942.[22]

The inability of the principal manufacturers (RSAF Enfield, The Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited and London Small Arms Co. Ltd)
 to meet military production demands, led to the development of the
"peddled scheme", which contracted out the production of whole rifles
and rifle components to several shell companies.[24]

The SMLE Mk III\* (renamed Rifle No.1 Mk III\* in 1926) saw extensive
service throughout the Second World War as well, especially in the North
 African, Italian, Pacific and Burmese theatres in the hands of British
and Commonwealth forces. Australia and India
 retained and manufactured the SMLE Mk III\* as their standard-issue
rifle during the conflict and the rifle remained in Australian military
service through the Korean War, until it was replaced by the L1A1 SLR in the late 1950s.[25] The Lithgow Small Arms Factory finally ceased production of the SMLE Mk III\* in 1953.[20]

The Rifle Factory
 at Ishapore, West Bengal, India produced the MkIII\* in .303 British and
 then upgraded the manufactured strength by heat treatment of the
receiver and bolt to fire 7.62×51mm NATO
 ammunition, the model 2A, which retained the 2000 yard rear sight as
the metric conversion of distance was very close to the flatter
trajectory of the new ammunition nature, then changed the rear sight to
800m with a re-designation to model 2A1. Manufactured until at least the
 1980s and continues to produce a sporting rifle based on the MkIII\*
action.

### M1 Garand

    The **M1 Garand** (officially designated as **U. S. rifle, caliber .30, M1**, later simply called **Rifle, Caliber .30, M1**, also abbreviated as **US Rifle, Cal. .30, M1**) is a semi-automatic rifle chambered for the .30-06 Springfield rifle cartridge. It was the first standard-issue semi-automatic rifle.[5] Called "the greatest battle implement ever devised" by General George S. Patton,[6] the Garand officially replaced the bolt-action M1903 Springfield as the standard service rifle of the United States Armed Forces in 1936 (although the switch was not instantaneous) and was subsequently replaced by the selective-fire M14,

 starting in 1957. During World War II, the M1 gave U.S. forces a
distinct advantage in firefights against their Axis enemies, as their
standard-issue rifles were more effective than the Axis' slower-firing
bolt-action rifles. The M1 continued to be used in large numbers until
1963 and to a lesser degree until 1976. Like its predecessor, the M1
originated from the Springfield Armory. Today, the M1 remains in use for drill purposes.

The M1 is an air-cooled, gas-operated, clip-fed, semi-automatic,
shoulder-fired weapon. This means that the air cools the barrel; that
the power to cock the rifle and chamber the succeeding round comes from
the expanding gas of the round fired previously; that it is loaded by
inserting an en-bloc
 (i.e., it goes into the rifle's action and functions as part of the
rifle) metal clip (containing eight rounds) into the receiver; and that
the rifle fires one round each time the trigger is pulled.[7] After the eight rounds have been shot, the empty clip automatically ejects with an audible "ping" noise.

The M1 was the standard-issue service rifle of the U.S. forces in World War II and the Korean War, and also saw service to a limited extent in the Vietnam War.
 Most M1 rifles were issued to U.S. forces, though many thousands were
also lent or provided as foreign aid to American allies. The Garand is
still used by drill teams
 and military honor guards. It is also widely sought by the civilian
population as a hunting rifle, target rifle, and military collectible.
Although the name "Garand" is frequently pronounced /ɡəˈrænd/, according to experts and people who knew John Garand, the weapon's designer, /ˈɡærənd/ (to rhyme with *errand*) is preferred.[8][9] It is available for American civilian ownership through the Civilian Marksmanship Program.

Though the U.S. Army became interested in self-loading rifles with the Bang and Murphy-Manning of 1911, and there were pre-production models in 1916,[10] the M1's origin properly dates to 1919, when armies around the world were realizing that standard rifle cartridges were more powerful than necessary for typical engagement ranges, leading to heavier rifles than were really required. The Army trials in the 1920s had a .256-inch minimum caliber requirement, compared to the .30-06 then standard.

French Canadian-born Garand went to work at the United States Army's Springfield Armory and began working on a .30 caliber primer-operated breech. In 1924, twenty-four rifles, identified as "M1922", were built at Springfield. At Fort Benning during 1925, they were tested against models by Berthier, Hatcher-Bang, Thompson, and Pedersen, the latter two being delayed blowback types.[10] This led to a further trial of an improved "M1924" Garand against the Thompson, ultimately producing an inconclusive report.[10] As a result, the Ordnance Board
 ordered a .30-'06 Garand variant. In March 1927, the Cavalry Board
reported trials among the Thompson, Garand, and '03 Springfield had not
led to a clear winner. This led to a gas-operated .276 model (patented
by Garand on 12 April 1930).[10]

In early 1928, both Infantry and Cavalry Boards ran trials with the .276 Pedersen T1 rifle, calling it "highly promising"[10] (despite its use of waxed ammunition,[12] shared by the Thompson).[13] On 13 August 1928, a Semiautomatic Rifle Board carried out joint Army, Navy, and Marine Corps
 trials between the .30 Thompson, both cavalry and infantry versions of
the T1 Pedersen, "M1924" Garand, and .256 Bang, and on 21 September, the
 Board reported no clear winner. The .30 Garand, however, was dropped in
 favor of the .276.[14]

Further tests by the SRB in July 1929, which included rifle designs by Browning, Colt–Browning, Garand, Holek, Pedersen, Rheinmetall, Thompson, and an incomplete one by White,[nb 1] led to a recommendation that work on the (dropped) .30 gas-operated Garand be resumed, and a T1E1 was ordered 14 November 1929.

Twenty gas-operated .276 T3E2s Garands were made and competed with T1
 Pedersen rifles in early 1931. The .276 Garand was the clear winner of
these trials. The .30 caliber Garand was also tested, in the form of a
single T1E1, but was withdrawn with a cracked bolt on 9 October 1931. A 4
 January 1932 meeting recommended adoption of the .276 caliber and
production of approximately 125 T3E2s. Meanwhile, Garand redesigned his
bolt and his improved T1E2 rifle was retested. The day after the
successful conclusion of this test, Army Chief of Staff General Douglas MacArthur personally disapproved any caliber change, in part because there were extensive existing stocks of .30 M1 ball ammunition.[11] On 25 February 1932, Adjutant General John B. Shuman,
 speaking for the Secretary of War, ordered work on the rifles and
ammunition in .276 caliber cease immediately and completely and all
resources be directed toward identification and correction of
deficiencies in the Garand .30 caliber.[13]:111

On 3 August 1933, the T1E2 became the *Semi-Automatic Rifle, Caliber 30, M1*.[10] In May 1934, 75 M1s went to field trials; 50 were to infantry, 25 to cavalry units.[13]:113
 Numerous problems were reported, forcing the rifle to be modified, yet
again, before it could be recommended for service and cleared for
procurement on 7 November 1935, then standardized 9 January 1936.[10] The first production model was successfully proof-fired, function-fired, and fired for accuracy on July 21, 1937.[15]
Production difficulties delayed deliveries to the Army until
September 1937. Machine production began at Springfield Armory that
month at a rate of ten rifles per day,[16]
 and reached an output of 100 per day within two years. Despite going
into production status, design issues were not at an end. The barrel,
gas cylinder, and front sight assembly were redesigned and entered
production in early 1940. Existing "gas-trap" rifles were recalled and
retrofitted, mirroring problems with the earlier M1903 Springfield rifle
 that also had to be recalled and reworked approximately three years
into production and foreshadowing rework of the M16 rifle at a similar point in its development. Production of the Garand increased in 1940 despite these difficulties,[17] reaching 600 a day by 10 January 1941,[10] and the Army was fully equipped by the end of 1941.

Following the outbreak of World War II in Europe, Winchester was awarded an "educational" production contract for 65,000 rifles,[10] with deliveries beginning in 1943.[10] The British Army looked at the M1 as a possible replacement for its bolt-action Lee–Enfield No.1 Mk III,
 but it was rejected when rigorous testing suggested that it was an
unreliable weapon in muddy conditions. That was one of many situations
where the British declared American hardware unacceptable before
American forces used the same equipment with great success.[18][19]

The M1's semiautomatic operation gave United States forces a
significant advantage in firepower and shot-to-shot recovery time over
individual enemy infantrymen in battle. (German, Italian, and Japanese
soldiers were usually armed with bolt-action rifles.) The semi-automatic
 operation and reduced recoil allowed soldiers to fire 8 rounds without
having to move their hands on the rifle and therefore disrupt their
firing position and point of aim.[20] General George S. Patton called it "the greatest implement of battle ever devised."[21] The impact of faster-firing infantry small arms in general soon stimulated both Allied and Axis forces to greatly augment issue of semi- and fully automatic firearms then in production, as well as to develop new types of infantry firearms.[22]

Much of the M1 inventory in the post-World War II period underwent
arsenal repair or rebuilding. While U.S. forces were still engaged in
the Korean War, the Department of Defense
 determined a need for additional production of the Garand, and two new
contracts were awarded. During 1953–56, M1s were produced by International Harvester and Harrington & Richardson.[23] A final, very small lot of M1s was produced by Springfield Armory in early 1957, using finished components already on hand. Beretta also produced Garands using Winchester tooling.

The M1 proved an excellent rifle throughout its service in World War II and the Korean War. Surplus
 M1 rifles also armed many nations allied to the United States postwar,
including West Germany, Italy, Japan, Denmark, Greece, Turkey and Iran. Following the Korean War, Garands were loaned to South Korea. Some Garands were still being used in the Vietnam War
 in 1963; despite the M14's official adoption in 1957, it was not until
1965 the changeover from the M1 Garand was completed in the active-duty
component of the Army (with the exception of the sniper
 variants, which were introduced in World War II and saw action in Korea
 and Vietnam). In other components of the armed forces, such as the Army Reserve, Army National Guard and the Navy, Garands continued to serve into the 1970s or longer.

Some military drill teams still use the M1, including the U.S. Marine Corps Silent Drill Team, the Norwegian Royal Guards Drill Team, the Greek Presidential Guard Evzones, the United States Air Force Academy Cadet Honor Guard, the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary, almost all Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) and some Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps (JROTC) teams of all branches of the U.S. military. The Greek Army Evzones (presidential) Guard still uses M1s, and it was used as a training rifle in the Greek army even in the late 1990s.

### M1 Carbine

    The **M1 carbine** (formally the **United States Carbine, Caliber .30, M1**) is a lightweight .30 caliber semi-automatic carbine that became a standard firearm for the U.S. military during World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War, and was produced in several variants. Easy-to-use,[1] it was widely used by U.S. and foreign military, paramilitary and police forces, and has also been a popular civilian firearm.

In selective-fire versions capable of fully automatic firing, the carbine is designated the **M2 carbine**. The **M3 carbine** was an M2 with an active infrared scope system. Unlike conventional carbines, which are generally shorter-barreled versions of a longer parent rifle (like the earlier .30-40 U.S. Krag rifle and carbine and the later M16 rifle and M4 carbine), the M1 carbine has only one minor part in common with the unrelated larger M1 Garand, a short buttplate screw, and fires a different cartridge.

Prior to World War II, Army Ordnance received reports from various
branches (infantry, armor, artillery, supply) that the full-size M1 rifle was unsuitable as issued for an increasing number of soldiers with specialized training (mortar
 crews, rangers, paratroopers, machine gun crews, radiomen, tankers,
artillerymen, forward observers, signals troops, engineers, headquarters
 staff etc.) who did not use the service rifle as a primary arm. During
prewar and early war field exercises, it was noticed that these troops,
when issued the rifle, often found their individual weapon too heavy and
 cumbersome. In addition to impeding the soldier's mobility, a slung
rifle would frequently catch on brush, bang the helmet, or tilt it over
the eyes. Many soldiers found the rifle slid off the shoulder unless
slung diagonally across the back, where it prevented the wearing of
standard field packs and haversacks. Alternate weapons such as the M1911 pistol and M1917 revolver, while undeniably convenient, were often insufficiently accurate or powerful, while the Thompson submachine gun, though reliable, was heavy and limited in both practical accuracy and penetration at typical combat ranges.[2]

Additionally, Germany's use of glider-borne and paratroop forces to
infiltrate and attack strategic points behind the front lines generated a
 request for a compact infantry small arm to equip support units and
line-of-communications troops who might find themselves engaged in
combat without prior warning.[2][3]
 U.S. Army Ordnance decided that a carbine would adequately fulfill all
of these requirements, but specified that the new arm should add no more
 than five pounds to the existing equipment load.[4]
 The requirement for the new firearm called for a compact, lightweight
defensive weapon with an effective range of 300 yards, with greater
range, firepower, and accuracy than the pistol, while weighing half as
much as the Thompson submachine gun or M1 rifle.
 Parachutists were added to the list of intended users after Ordnance
received a request for a lighter and more compact infantry arm for
airborne forces, and a folding-stock (M1A1) version of the carbine was
introduced in May 1942 to meet this requirement.

In 1938, the Chief of Infantry requested that the Ordnance Department
 develop a "light rifle" or carbine, though the formal requirement for
the weapon type was not approved until 1940. This led to a competition
in 1941 by major U.S. firearm companies and designers. The prototypes
for the carbine competition were chambered for a new cartridge, the .30 Carbine, a smaller and lighter .30 caliber (7.62 mm) round very different from the .30-06 in both design and performance. The .30 Carbine cartridge was intermediate in muzzle energy (*ME*) and muzzle velocity (*MV*). Essentially a rimless version of the obsolete .32 Winchester Self-Loading cartridge, the .30 Carbine had a round-nose 110 gr (7.1 g) bullet. From an 18 in (460 mm) barrel, the .30 Carbine cartridge produced a muzzle velocity of approximately 1,970 ft/s (600 m/s).

Winchester
 at first did not submit a carbine design, as it was occupied in
developing the .30-06 Winchester M2 Military Rifle. The rifle originated
 as a design by Jonathan "Ed" Browning, brother of the famous firearm
designer John Browning. A couple of months after Ed Browning's death in May 1939, Winchester hired David Marshall "Carbine" Williams who had begun work on a short-stroke gas piston
 design while serving a prison sentence at a North Carolina
minimum-security work farm. Winchester, after Williams' release, had
hired Williams on the strength of recommendations of firearms industry
leaders, and hoped Williams would be able to complete various designs
left unfinished by Ed Browning, including the Winchester .30-06 M2
rifle. Williams incorporated his short-stroke piston in the existing
design. After the Marine Corps
 semi-automatic rifle trials in 1940, Browning's rear-locking tilting
bolt design proved unreliable in sandy conditions. As a result, the
rifle was redesigned to incorporate a Garand-style rotating bolt
 and operating rod, retaining Williams' short-stroke piston. By May
1941, Williams had shaved the M2 rifle prototype from about 9.5 lb
(4.3 kg) to a mere 7.5 lb (3.4 kg).

The M1 carbine's bolt mechanism is similar to that of the M1 rifle,
though the carbine has a different gas system and trigger mechanism
design. The gas system is a lightweight tappet-and-slide gas system. Initially fed from a 15-round magazine, a 30-round magazine was introduced for the M2.

The very first carbines, those made before mid-1943, were originally
equipped with an extractor with a "V-cut" plunger for removal of the
fired cartridge case from the chamber. The "V-cut" design was found to
be flawed and unreliable. In the field "V-cut" extractor plungers were
reground to a straight configuration, which enhanced reliability, until
factory production was able to supply the better design.

The .30 Carbine cartridge was intermediate in both muzzle energy (*ME*) and muzzle velocity (*MV*). It is essentially a rimless version of the obsolete .32 Winchester Self-Loading cartridge.[48] The .30 Carbine had a round-nose 110 gr (7.1 g) bullet, in contrast to the spitzer bullet designs found in most full-power rifle cartridges of the day. From the M1 carbine's 18 in (460 mm) barrel,
 the .30 Carbine cartridge produced a muzzle velocity of approximately
1,970 ft/s (600 m/s), a velocity between that of contemporary submachine
 guns (approximately 900 to 1,600 ft/s (300–500 m/s)) and full-power rifles and light machine guns (approximately 2,400 to 2,800 ft/s (700–900 m/s)).
 At the M1 carbine's maximum effective combat range of 300 yards
(270 m), its bullet has about the same energy as pistol rounds such as
the 8mm Nambu at the muzzle. Bullet drop is significant past 200 yards (180 m).[48]

One characteristic of .30 Carbine ammunition is that from the beginning of production, non-corrosive primers
 were specified. This was the first major use of this type of primer in a
 military firearm. Because the rifle had a closed gas system, not
normally disassembled, corrosive primers would have led to a rapid
deterioration of the gas system.[49] The use of non-corrosive primers was a novelty in service ammunition at this time.[50]
 Some failures to fire were reported in early lots of .30 Carbine
ammunition, attributed to moisture ingress of the non-corrosive primer
compound.[21]

Categorizing the M1 carbine series has been the subject of much
debate. The M1 is sufficiently accurate at short ranges. At 100 yards
(91 m), it can deliver groups of between 3 and 5 minutes of angle,
sufficient for its intended purpose as a close-range defensive weapon.
Its muzzle energy and range are beyond those of any submachine gun of
the period, though its bullet is much lighter in weight and smaller in
diameter than that of .45 caliber weapons, and much less powerful than
those of other service rifles of the period. The M1 and later M2 carbines were never designed to be assault rifles, such as the later German StG44 and Russian AK-47,
 and the .30 Carbine cartridge gives up significant muzzle velocity
(roughly 350 ft/s (110 m/s)) to both. Additionally, the bullets used in
the cartridges of the AK-47 and StG44 are spitzer
 designs, and suffer less energy loss and trajectory drop at distances
beyond 100 yards (91 m). Most authorities list the effective combat
range of the M1 carbine at around 200 yards (180 m), compared to 250-300
 yards (230–270 m) for the AK-47 and StG44.

A total of over 6.5 million M1 carbines of various models was manufactured, making it the most produced small arm for the American military during World War II
 (compared with about 6 million M1 rifles and under 2 million Thompson
submachine guns). Despite being designed by Winchester, the great
majority of these were made by other companies (see list of **Military contractors** below). The largest producer was the Inland division of General Motors, but many others were made by contractors as diverse as IBM, the Underwood typewriter company, and the Rock-Ola jukebox
 company. Few contractors made all the parts for carbines bearing their
names: some makers bought parts from other major contractors or
sub-contracted minor parts to companies like Marlin Firearms or
Auto-Ordnance. Parts by all makers were required to be interchangeable.
Often one company would get ahead or behind in production and parts
would be shipped from one company to the other to help them catch up on
their quota. When receivers were shipped for this purpose the
manufacturers would often mark them for both companies. One of the
stranger combinations were the M1's made by the combined efforts of
Underwood and Quality Hardware. One has to wonder what the GI thought
when he looked at the manufacture's name of the Carbine he had been
issued to carry into battle when it was marked UN-QUALITY.[57]
 Many carbines were refurbished at several arsenals after the war, with
many parts interchanged from original maker carbines. True untouched war
 production carbines, therefore, are the most desirable for collectors.[58]

The M1 carbine was also one of the most cost effective weapons used
by the United States Military during World War II. At the beginning of
World War II the average production cost for an M1 carbine was
approximately $45, about half the cost of an M1 rifle at approximately
$85 and about a fifth of the cost of a Thompson submachine gun
 at approximately $225. The .30 Carbine ammunition was also far cheaper
to produce than the standard .30-06 ammunition; used less resources, was
 smaller, lighter, faster and easier to make. These were major factors
in the United States Military decision to adopt the M1 carbine,
especially when considering the vast numbers of weapons and ammunition
manufactured and transported by the United States during World War II.

### M14 rifle

    M14 rifle**, officially the** United States Rifle, 7.62 mm, M14**,[5] is an American selective fire automatic rifle that fires 7.62×51mm NATO (.308 Winchester) ammunition. It gradually replaced the M1 Garand**

 in U.S. Army service by 1961 and in U.S. Marine Corps service by 1965.
It was the standard issue infantry rifle for U.S. military personnel in
the contiguous United States, Europe, and South Korea from 1959 until it was replaced by the M16 rifle in 1970.[6]
 The M14 was used for U.S. Army, Navy and Marine Corps basic and
Advanced Individual Training (AIT) from the mid-1960s to the early
1970s.

The M14 was the last American "battle rifle"
 (weapons that fire full-power rifle ammunition, such as the 7.62×51 mm)
 issued in quantity to U.S. military personnel. The rifle remains in
limited service in all branches of the U.S. military as an accurized competition weapon, a ceremonial weapon by honor guards, color guards, drill teams, and ceremonial guards, and sniper rifle/designated marksman rifle. The M14 serves as the basis for the M21 and M25 sniper rifles.

After the M14's adoption, Springfield Armory began tooling a new
production line in 1958, delivering the first service rifles to the U.S. Army in July 1959. However, long production delays resulted in the 101st Airborne Division being the only unit in the Army fully equipped with the M14 by the end of 1961. The Fleet Marine Force
 finally completed the change from M1 to M14 in late 1962. Springfield
Armory records reflect that M14 manufacture ended as TRW, fulfilling its
 second contract, delivered its final production increment in Fiscal
Year 1965 (1 July '64 – 30 June '65). The Springfield archive also
indicates the 1.38 million rifles were acquired for just over $143
million, for a unit cost of about $104.[1][2]
The rifle served adequately during its brief tour of duty in Vietnam.[15]
 Though it was unwieldy in the thick brush due to its length and weight,
 the power of the 7.62 mm NATO cartridge allowed it to penetrate cover
quite well and reach out to extended range, developing 2,560 ft·lbf (3,463 J) of muzzle energy. However, there were several drawbacks to the M14. The traditional wood stock
 of the rifle had a tendency to swell and expand in the heavy moisture
of the jungle, adversely affecting accuracy. Fiberglass stocks were
produced to resolve this problem, but the rifle was discontinued before
very many could be distributed for field use. Also, because of the M14's
 powerful 7.62×51 mm cartridge, the weapon was deemed virtually
uncontrollable in fully automatic mode, so most M14s were permanently
set to semi-automatic fire only to avoid wasting ammunition in combat.

The M14 was developed as a means of taking the place of four different weapons systems—the M1 rifle, the M1 Carbine, the M3 "Grease Gun" and the M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle
 (BAR). It was thought that in this manner the M14 could simplify the
logistical requirements of the troops by limiting the types of
ammunition and parts needed to be supplied. It proved to be an
impossible task to replace all four, and the weapon was even deemed
"completely inferior" to the World War II M1 in a September 1962 report
by the comptroller of the Department of Defense.[19] The cartridge was too powerful for the submachine gun role and the weapon was simply too light to serve as a light machine gun replacement for the BAR.

In the mid-1990s, the Marine Corps chose a new rifle for Designated
Marksman (sniper) use, an M14 modified by the Precision Weapons Shop in Marine Corps Base Quantico called the Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR). It is intended for use by security teams (SRTs, FAST companies), and Marine Scout Snipers in the cases where a semi-automatic rifle would be more appropriate than the standard bolt-action M40A1/A3
 rifle. The USMC Rifle Team uses the M14 in shooting competitions.
Although the M14 was phased out as the standard-issue rifle by 1970, M14
 variants are still used by various branches of the U.S. Military as
well as other armed forces, especially as a sniper rifle and as a designated marksman rifle, due to its excellent accuracy and effectiveness at long range. Special active units such as the OPFOR units of the Joint Readiness Training Center use M14s. Few M14s were in use in the Army until the Afghanistan and Iraq Wars. Since the start of these conflicts, many M14s have been employed as designated marksman and sniper rifles. These are not M21 rifles, but original production M14s. Common modifications include scopes, fiberglass stocks, and other accessories.[24] A 2009 study conducted by the U.S. Army claimed that half of the engagements in Afghanistan occurred from beyond 300 meters (330 yd).[25] America's 5.56×45 mm NATO service rifles are ineffective at these ranges; this has prompted the reissue of thousands of M14s.

The 1st Battalion of the 3rd United States Infantry Regiment ("The Old Guard") in the Military District of Washington
 is the sole remaining regular U.S. Army combat field unit where the M14
 is still issued as the standard rifle, along with a chromed bayonet and
 an extra wooden stock with white sling for military funerals, parades, and other ceremonies. The United States Air Force Honor Guard uses a version of the M14.[27] The U.S. Navy Ceremonial Guard and Base Honor Guards also use the M14 for 3-volley salutes in military funerals. It is also the drill and parade rifle of the United States Military Academy, United States Naval Academy, United States Air Force Academy, The Citadel, Norwich University, Virginia Military Institute, and North Georgia College and State University.[28] U.S. Navy ships carry several M14s in their armories. They are issued to sailors going on watch out on deck in port, and to Backup Alert Forces.
 The M14 is also used to shoot a large rubber projectile to another ship
 when underway to start the lines over for alongside refueling and
replenishment.

Various sniper variants have been used by the United States Navy SEALs, often mistaken with M21 in the overt literature, only one of them has received a standard name in the U.S. military designations system: the M25, developed by the Special Forces. SEALs also use the Mk 14 Mod 0 Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR) for close-quarters battle and in a designated marksman role. "Delta Force" units are known to have used M14 sniper variants. According to *Black Hawk Down: A Story of Modern War*, the well-known account of the Battle of Mogadishu, Sergeant First Class Randy Shughart, used an M14 for sniping from helicopters to provide support fire to ground troops.[30]

The U.S. Army Special Forces ("Green Berets") have made some use of the M25 "spotter rifle". The M25 was developed in the late 1980s within the 10th Special Forces Group,
 which was charged to support Special Forces sniper weapons as well as
the Special Operations Target Interdiction Course (SOTIC). The M25 was
first planned as a replacement for the old M21, but after the Army
adoption of the M24 SWS as its standard sniper rifle, the M25 was intended to be used by spotters of the sniper teams, while the snipers would use the bolt-action M24.
The M14 has remained in service longer than any U.S. infantry rifle surpassing that of the Springfield M1903 rifle,
 it also holds the distinction of serving as the standard infantry rifle
 of the U.S. Army for a second shortest span of time than almost any
other service rifle, only surpassed by the short lived US Krag-Jørgensen rifles and carbines.

#### Users:

* Blackie
* The Trolley Fighters (snipers)

### Winchester Model 70 rifle

**The Winchester Model 70** is a bolt action sporting rifle.

 It has an iconic place in American sporting culture and has been held
in high regard by shooters since it was introduced in 1936, earning the
moniker "The Rifleman's Rifle".[1] The action has some design similarities to Mauser designs and it is a development of the earlier Winchester Model 54.

The Model 70 was originally manufactured by the Winchester Repeating Arms Company between 1936 and 1980. From the early 1980s until 2006, Winchester rifles were manufactured by U.S. Repeating Arms under an agreement with Olin Corporation, allowing USRA to use the Winchester name and logo.[2] Model 70s were built in New Haven, Connecticut, from 1936 to 2006, when production ceased. In the fall of 2007, the Belgian company FN Herstal announced that Model 70 production would resume. As of 2012, new Winchester Model 70 rifles were being made by FN Herstal in Columbia, South Carolina. In 2013, assembly was moved to Portugal.

n 1936, Winchester introduced the Model 70 bolt action rifle to the American market. The Model 70 was largely based on the Model 54, and is today still highly regarded by shooters and is often called "The Rifleman's Rifle". In 1999 *Shooting Times* magazine named the Model 70 the "Bolt-action Rifle of the Century".[3]

Throughout its life, the Model 70 has been offered in many grades and
 styles. Over the entire production of the Model 70, chamberings have
included: .22 Hornet, .222 Remington, .223 Remington, .22-250 Remington, .223 WSSM, .225 Winchester, .220 Swift, .243 Winchester, .243 WSSM, .250-3000 Savage, .257 Roberts, .25-06 Remington, .25 WSSM, 6.5x55mm, .264 Winchester Magnum, .270 Winchester, .270 WSM, .270 Weatherby Magnum, .280 Remington, 7mm Mauser, 7mm-08, 7 mm Remington Magnum, 7mm WSM, 7mm STW, .300 Savage, .30-06 Springfield, .308 Winchester, .300 H&H Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, .300 WSM, .300 Weatherby Magnum, .300 RUM, .325 WSM, .338 Winchester Magnum, .35 Remington, .358 Winchester, .375 H&H Magnum, .416 Remington Magnum, .416 Rigby, .458 Winchester Magnum, and .470 Capstick.

n 1992, Winchester began producing a controlled round feed Model 70
that was marketed as the "Classic" model. This version reintroduced the
CRF feature, while retaining the "anti-bind" locking lug groove bolt
guide of the 1968 push feed model. The use of modern CNC manufacturing techniques allowed Winchester to re-introduce the CRF feature at a competitive price.

Around this time, Browning, which is owned by the same parent company
 as USRAC, Giat Corp, of France, introduced the BOSS accuracy system.
The term ‘BOSS’ is an acronym for Ballistic Optimising Shooting System.
The device attaches to the muzzle end of the barrel and allows the
natural harmonics, commonly known as barrel whip, caused during the
bullet’s passage down the bore, to be refined and controlled. By
adjusting the device for optimum performance in the individual rifle,
accuracy is brought to peak level. Winchester Model 70s equipped with
the BOSS provide a significant improvement in accuracy for a production
rifle. Currently, only Browning rifles are available with the BOSS.
Later, Winchester expanded the Classic line, putting the Classic
action on all their modern stocks, giving a wide range of choice in
rifle types. This basically lets the buyer choose an action, then choose
 a stock to one's liking. Both pre- and post-'64 versions of the Model
70 actions have their strengths and weaknesses.

On March 31, 2006, U.S. Repeating Arms closed the New Haven, Conn. plant where Winchester rifles and shotguns were produced for 140 years.[1]
 This resulted in hiatus of the production of the Winchester Model 70
rifle and Winchester Model 1300 pump action shotgun and the end of the Model 94 lever action rifle. Other Winchester models however, are still produced in other regions such as Asia and Europe.

On August 15, 2006, Olin Corporation, owner of the Winchester
trademarks, announced that it had entered into a new license agreement
with Browning to make Winchester brand rifles and shotguns, though not
at the closed Winchester plant in New Haven. Browning, based in Morgan, Utah, and the former licensee, U.S. Repeating Arms Company, are both subsidiaries of FN Herstal.

In October 2007, FN Herstal announced that it would produce Controlled Round Feed Winchester Model 70 rifles at its facility in Columbia, South Carolina, where it currently manufactures the M240, M249, and M16 for the United States military, as well as its SPR and PBR lines, which are, in fact, variants of the modern Model 70 Controlled Round Feed rifles.

In 2013, FN/Browning relocated Model 70 assembly to Portugal.

As of 2015 Model 70 rifles are stamped, "Imported by BACO, Inc., Morgan, Utah - Made in Portugal by Browning Viana".

The Winchester Model 70 series rifles are marketed as sniper rifles for military forces and law enforcement agencies under the Fabrique Nationale banner as the Special Police Rifle (SPR) and the Patrol Bolt Rifle (PBR).

The FN Special Police Rifle
 has the standard Winchester Model 70 rifle action, receiver and
magazine system but the rifle is fitted with a heavier barrel and with
the McMillan series tactical rifle stocks.

The FN Patrol Bolt Rifle
 has the standard features of the original Winchester Model 70 rifle but
 the rifle is designed for use by police officers in patrol cars with
the rifle having a short and compact barrel so it would allow the rifle
to be stored in a police car. The FN Patrol Bolt Rifle is also marketed
with a compensator on the muzzle of the rifle's barrel.

The United States Marine Corps purchased 373 Model 70 rifles in May, 1942. Although the Marine Corps officially used only the M1 Garand and the M1903 Springfield
 as sniper rifles during the Second World War, "many Winchester Model
70s showed up at training camps and in actual field use during the
Pacific campaign."[10] These rifles had 24-inch sporter barrels chambered for .30-06 Springfield.
 These rifles had serial numbers in the 41000 to 50000 range and were
fitted with leaf sights and checkered stocks with steel butt plates,
one-inch sling swivels, and leather slings. It has been reported that
some of these rifles were equipped with 8X Unertl telescopic sights for limited unofficial use as sniper weapons on Guadalcanal and during the Korean War.
 Many of the surviving rifles, after reconditioning with heavier Douglas
 barrels and new stocks between 1956 and 1963 at the Marine Corps match
rebuild shop in Albany, Georgia, were fitted with 8× Unertl sights from M1903A1 sniper rifles. The reconditioned rifles were used in competitive shooting matches; and the United States Army
 purchased approximately 200 new Model 70 National Match Rifles with
medium heavy barrels for match use between 1954 and 1957. Many of the
reconditioned Marine Corps match rifles were used by Marine Corps
snipers during the early years of the Vietnam war with M72 match
ammunition loaded with 173-grain boat-tailed bullets. A smaller number
of the Army's Model 70 rifles also saw combat use by Army snipers; and
some were equipped with silencers for covert operations in Southeast
Asia. These Model 70 rifles never achieved the status of a standard
military weapon; but were used until replaced by the Remington Model 700 series bolt-action rifles which became the basis for the M40 series sniper rifle.[11]

One of the reasons the U.S. Marine Corps replaced their Winchester
Model 70s was that the post-1964 variants of the Model 70 did not meet
U.S. Marines' standards.[*citation needed*]
 Despite the introduction of the Remington Model 700 rifle, the pre '64
Winchester Model 70 was still used by the US Marine Corps' scout/sniper
teams during the Vietnam War
 alongside the Remington Model 700 rifle. The original wood stocks were
found to be warping in both rifles after a few years of service and both
 rifles were given fiberglass stocks to remedy the problem.[12]
 Existing Model 70s still in service have had their stocks replaced with
 a McMillan fiberglass stock, such as that found on the Custom Extreme
Weather variant.[*citation needed*]

One of the best known U.S. Marine Corps snipers who used the Winchester Model 70 during the Vietnam War was Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock who used a Winchester Model 70 sniper rifle chambered in .30-06. It was this rifle, equipped with a standard 8×43 Unertl scope, that Hathcock used to kill a North Vietnamese enemy sniper by shooting him in the eye, through the scope of his Mosin-Nagant rifle. Hathcock's rifle is on display at the Quantico, Virginia Marine Corps Sniper Museum.

#### Gallery

Royal Guards Winchester M70 (Celestia's wing)Royal Guards Winchester M70 rifle (Luna's wing)
### Barrett M82A1 .50 cal sniper rifle

    The **M82**, standardized by the US Military as the **M107**, is a recoil-operated, semi-automatic anti-materiel rifle developed by the American Barrett Firearms Manufacturing

 company. It is used by many units and armies around the world. Despite
its designation as an anti-materiel rifle, it is used by some armed
forces as an anti-personnel sniper rifle. It is also called the **Light Fifty** for its .50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO) chambering. The weapon is found in two variants, the original M82A1 (and A3) and the bullpup M82A2. The M82A2 is no longer manufactured, though the XM500 can be seen as its successor.

Barrett Firearms Manufacturing was founded by Ronnie Barrett for the sole purpose of building semi-automatic rifles chambered for the powerful 12.7×99mm NATO (.50 BMG) ammunition, originally developed for and used in M2 Browning
 machine guns. Barrett began his work in the early 1980s and the first
working rifles were available in 1982, hence the designation M82.
Barrett designed every single part of the weapon personally and then
went on to market the weapon and mass-produce it out of his own pocket.
He continued to develop his rifle through the 1980s, and developed the
improved M82A1 rifle by 1986.

The first conventional military success was the sale of about 100 M82A1 rifles to the Swedish Army in 1989. Major success followed in 1990, when the United States armed forces purchased significant numbers of the M82A1 during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Kuwait and Iraq. About 125 rifles were initially bought by the United States Marine Corps, and orders from the Army and Air Force
 soon followed. The M82A1 is known by the US military as the
SASR—"Special Applications Scoped Rifle", and it was and still is used
as an anti-materiel rifle and explosive ordnance disposal
 (EOD) tool. The long effective range, over 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) (1.1
 miles), along with high energy and availability of highly effective
ammunition such as API and Raufoss Mk 211, allows for effective operations against targets like radar cabins, trucks, parked aircraft and the like. The M82 can also be used to defeat human targets from standoff range or against targets behind cover.[*citation needed*]
 However, anti-personnel use is not a major application for the M82.
There is a widespread misconception that a number of treaties have
banned use of the .50 BMG against human targets. However, the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's office has issued a legal opinion that the .50 BMG and even the Raufoss Mk 211 round are legal for use against enemy personnel.

Further development led to the M82A2 bullpup
 rifle in 1987, which was a reduced-recoil design to be fired from the
shoulder. It failed to make an impression on the world firearms market,
and was soon dropped from production. However, in 2006, Barrett
completed development of the XM500, which has a bullpup configuration similar to the M82A2.

The latest derivative of the M82 family is the M82A1M rifle, adopted by U.S. Marine Corps as the M82A3 SASR and bought in large numbers. This rifle differs from M82A1 in that it has a full length Picatinny rail that allows a wide variety of scopes and sighting devices to be mounted on the rifle. Other changes are the addition of a rear monopod, slightly lightened mechanism, and detachable bipod and muzzle brake.

Another variant of the original weapon is the M82A1A Special
Application Scoped Rifle, an almost identical model but specifically
designed to fire the Raufoss Mk 211 Mod 0 round, a type of API (Armour Piercing Incendiary) ammunition.

Barrett M82 rifles were bought by various military and police forces from at least 30 countries, such as Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, the Netherlands,[2] Norway, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom,
 the United States, and others. The M82 also is widely used for civilian
 .50 caliber long range shooting competitions, being fired accurately
out to 910 metres (2,990 ft) and even farther.

The United States Coast Guard's Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron and Law Enforcement Detachments use versions of the Barrett M107 to disable the engines of go-fast boats
 carrying illegal drugs. Barrett M82 rifles have also attracted
attention from civilian law enforcement agencies; they have been adopted
 by the New York City Police Department as well as the Pittsburgh Police. If it becomes necessary to immobilize a vehicle, a .50 BMG round in the engine block
 will shut it down quickly. If it is necessary to breach barriers, a .50
 BMG round will penetrate most commercial brick walls and concrete blocks.

According to the documentary *The Brooklyn Connection*, M82s smuggled into Kosovo by sympathizers in the United States quickly became popular long range sniper rifles in the Kosovo Liberation Army.

In Northern Ireland during the 1990s, the South Armagh Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) used Barrett sniper rifles against the British Army and the Royal Ulster Constabulary.[3]
 IRA sniping activities further restricted the freedom of movement of
the British Army in South Armagh by hindering their patrols. The MoD
issued a new type of body armour, which was both too expensive (£4,000)
and too heavy (32 lbs) for use on patrol. The morale of the troops was
so low that some servicemen had to be disciplined for remaining in
shelter while under orders to check vehicles. The IRA strategy also
diverted a large amount of British security resources from routine
operations to tackle the threat. Until the 1994 ceasefire, even the SAS
was unable to prevent the attacks and counter-sniping operations failed.
 A Highway Code-style sign saying "SNIPER AT WORK" was mounted by the
IRA near Crossmaglen and became an icon of the republican cause.

The Barrett M82A1 rifle was used in 2002 as a platform for the experimental OSW (Objective Sniper Weapon)
 prototype. This weapon was fitted with a shorter barrel of 25 mm
caliber, and fired high-explosive shells developed for the 25×59 mm OCSW (Objective Crew Served Weapon) automatic grenade launcher.
 The experimental OSW showed an increased effectiveness against various
targets, but the recoil was beyond human limitations. This weapon, also
known as the Barrett "Payload Rifle", has now been designated the XM109.

The **XM107** was originally intended to be a bolt-action sniper rifle, and the rifle Barrett M95 was originally selected by the U.S. Army
 in a competition between such weapons. However, under the trials the
decision was made that the U.S. Army did not, in fact, require such a
weapon.

Then the Army decided on the Barrett M82, a semi-automatic rifle. In
summer 2002, the M82 finally emerged from its Army trial phase and was
approved for "full materiel release", meaning it was officially adopted as the **Long Range Sniper Rifle, Caliber .50, M107.** The M107 uses a Leupold 4.5–14×50 Mark 4 scope.

The Barrett M107 is a .50 caliber, shoulder fired, semi-automatic
 sniper rifle. Like its predecessors the rifle is said to have
manageable recoil for a weapon of its size owing to the barrel assembly
that itself absorbs force, moving inward toward the receiver against
large springs with every shot. Additionally the weapon's weight and
large muzzle brake
 also assist in recoil reduction. Various changes were made to the
original M82A1 to create the M107, with new features such as a
lengthened accessory rail, rear grip, and monopod socket. Barrett has
recently been tasked with developing a lightweight version of the M107
under the "Anti-Materiel Sniper Rifle Congressional Program", and has
already come up with a scheme to build important component parts such as
 the receiver frame and muzzle brake out of lighter weight materials.
The Barrett M107, like previous members of the M82 line, is also
referred to as the Barrett "Light Fifty." The designation has in many
instances supplanted earlier ones, with the M107 being voted one of
2005's Top 10 Military Inventions by the U.S. Army.

The M82 is a short recoil semi-automatic firearm.
 When the gun is fired, the barrel initially recoils for a short
distance (about 1 in or 25 mm), while being securely locked by the
rotating bolt. After the short travel, a post on the bolt engaged in the
 curved cam track in the receiver turns the bolt to unlock it from the
barrel. As soon as the bolt unlocks, the accelerator arm strikes it
back, transferring part of the recoil energy of the barrel to the bolt
to achieve reliable cycling. Then the barrel is stopped and the bolt
continues back, to extract and eject a spent case. On its return stroke,
 the bolt strips the fresh cartridge from the box magazine and feeds it
into the chamber and finally locks itself to the barrel. The striker is
also cocked on the return stroke of the bolt. The gun is fed from a
large detachable box magazine holding up to 10 rounds, although a rare
12-round magazine was developed for use during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

The receiver is made from two parts (upper and lower), stamped from
sheet steel and connected by cross-pins. The heavy barrel is fluted
 to improve heat dissipation and save weight, and fitted with a large
and effective reactive muzzle brake. On the earlier models the muzzle
brakes had a round cross-section; later M82 rifles are equipped with
two-chamber brakes of rectangular cross-section.

M82A1 rifles are fitted with scope mount and folding backup iron sights, should the glass scope break. The U.S. military M82 rifles are often equipped with Leupold Mark 4 telescopic sights. The M82A1M (USMC M82A3) rifles have long Picatinny accessory rails mounted and US Optics telescopic sights. Every M82 rifle is equipped with a folding carrying handle and a folding bipod
 (both are detachable on the M82A3). The M82A3 is also fitted with a
detachable rear monopod under the butt. The buttpad is fitted with a
soft recoil pad
 to further decrease the felt recoil. M82A1 and M82A3 rifles could be
mounted on the M3 or M122 infantry tripods (originally intended for machine guns)
 or on vehicles using the special Barrett soft-mount. The M82A1 can be
fitted with a carry sling but according to those who carried it in the
field, the M82 is too uncomfortable to be carried on a sling due to its
excessive length and weight. It is usually carried in a special carry
soft or hard case.

The M82A2 differed from M82A1 mostly in its configuration— the pistol
 grip along with trigger was placed ahead of the magazine, and the
buttpad placed below the receiver, just after the magazine. An
additional forward grip was added below the receiver, and the scope
mount moved forward.

The maximum effective range of the M107 is 1,830 metres (2,000 yd).
The maximum range of this weapon (specifically the M107 variant) is
4,000 metres (4,400 yd), as quoted in the owner's manual. Fifty caliber
(and larger) rounds have the potential to travel great distances if
fired in an artillery-like fashion, necessitating the observance of large safety margins when firing on a range.

### Karabiner 98 Kurz bolt-action rifle

    The **Karabiner 98 kurz** (often abbreviated **Kar98k**, **K98**, or **K98k**) is a bolt action rifle chambered for the 7.92×57mm Mauser cartridge that was adopted on 21 June 1935 as the standard service rifle by the German *Wehrmacht*.[2] It was one of the final developments in the long line of Mauser

 military rifles. Although supplemented by semi- and fully automatic
rifles during World War II, it remained the primary German service rifle
 until the end of the war in 1945. Millions were captured by the Soviets
 at the conclusion of World War II and were widely distributed as
military aid. The Karabiner 98k therefore continues to appear in
conflicts across the world as they are taken out of storage during times
 of strife.

In February 1934 the *Heereswaffenamt*
 (Army Weapons Agency) ordered the adoption of a new military rifle. The
 Karabiner 98k was derived from earlier rifles, namely the Mauser *Standardmodell* of 1924 and the Karabiner 98b, which in turn had both been developed from the Gewehr 98. Since the Karabiner 98k rifle was shorter than the earlier Karabiner 98b (the 98b was a carbine in name only, a version of Gewehr 98 long rifle with upgraded sights), it was given the designation *Karabiner 98 kurz*,
 meaning "Carbine 98 Short". Just like its predecessor, the rifle was
noted for its reliability, great accuracy and an effective range of up
to 500 metres (550 yd) with iron sights and 1,000 metres (1,090 yd) with
 an 8× telescopic sight.

The Karabiner 98k is a controlled-feed bolt-action rifle based on the Mauser M 98 system. Its internal magazine can be loaded with five 7.92×57mm Mauser cartridges from a stripper clip or one-by-one. The straight bolt handle found on the Gewehr 98
 bolt was replaced by a turned-down bolt handle on the Karabiner 98k.
This change made it easier to rapidly operate the bolt, reduced the
amount the handle projected beyond the receiver, and enabled mounting of
 aiming optics directly above the receiver.
 Each rifle was furnished with a short length of cleaning rod, fitted
through the bayonet stud. The joined rods from 3 rifles provided one
full-length cleaning rod.
The metal parts of the rifle were blued, a process in which steel is partially protected against rust by a layer of magnetite (Fe3O4). Such a thin black oxide
 layer provides only minimal protection against rust or corrosion,
unless also treated with a water-displacing oil to reduce wetting and galvanic corrosion. From 1944 onwards phosphating/Parkerizing was introduced as a more effective metal surface treatment.

The Karabiner 98k had the same disadvantages as all other military
rifles designed around the year 1900 in that it was comparatively bulky
and heavy, having been created during a time when military doctrine
centered around highly trained marksmen engaging at relatively long
range. The rate of fire was limited by how quickly the bolt could be operated. Its magazine had only half the capacity of Great Britain's Lee–Enfield
 series rifles, but being internal, it made the weapon more comfortable
to carry at its point of balance. An experimental trench magazine was
produced during World War II for Model 98 variants that could be
attached to the bottom of the internal magazine by removing the floor
plate, increasing capacity to 20 rounds, though it still required
loading with 5 round stripper clips. While the Americans had standardized a semi-automatic rifle in 1936 (the M1 Garand), the Germans maintained these bolt-action rifles due to their tactical doctrine of basing a squad's firepower on the general-purpose machine gun
 so that the role of the rifleman was largely to carry ammunition and
provide covering fire for the machine gunners. They did experiments with
 semi-automatic rifles throughout the war and fielded the Gewehr 43/Karabiner 43 series of which 402,713 where built, and introduced the first assault rifle in 1943 - the MP43 / MP44 / StG44
 series of which 425,977 were built. Due to the relatively limited
production of semi-automatic and assault rifles the Karabiner 98k
remained the primary service weapon until the last days of the war, and
was manufactured until the surrender in May 1945.

In close combat, however, submachine guns
 were often preferred, especially for urban combat where the rifle's
range and low rate of fire were not very useful, although the rifle's
powerful ammunition was better able to penetrate walls and other cover
found in urban areas. Towards the end of the war, it was intended to
phase out the Karabiner 98k in favour of the StG44, which fired the 7.92×33mm Kurz intermediate rifle round
 that was more powerful than the pistol cartridges of submachine guns,
but that could be used like a submachine gun in close-quarters and urban
 fighting. Production of the StG44 was never sufficient to meet demand,
being a late-war weapon.

### Gewehr 41 rifle

    The **Gewehr 41** rifles, commonly known as the **G41(W)** or **G41(M)**, were semi-automatic rifles used by Nazi Germany during World War II.

By 1940, it became apparent that some form of a semi-automatic rifle, with a higher rate of fire than existing bolt-action rifle models, was necessary to improve the infantry's combat efficiency. The Wehrmacht issued a specification to various manufacturers, and Mauser and Walther submitted prototypes that were very similar. However, some restrictions were placed upon the design:

* no holes for tapping gas for the loading mechanism were to be bored into the barrel;
* the rifles were not to have any moving parts on the surface;
* and in case the auto-loading mechanism failed, a bolt action was to be included.

Both models therefore used a mechanism known as the "Bang" system
 (after its Danish designer Søren H. Bang). In this system, propellant
gases were captured by a cone-shaped gas trap at the muzzle, which in
turn deflected them to operate a small piston which in turn pushed on a
long piston rod that opened the breech and re-loaded the gun. This is as
 opposed to the more common type of gas-actuated
 system, in which gases are tapped off from the barrel, and push back on
 a piston to open the breech to the rear. Both also included fixed
10-round magazines that were loaded using two of the stripper clips from the Karabiner 98k, utilizing the same German-standard 7.92×57mm Mauser
 rounds. This in turn made reloading relatively slow (as compared to
rifles which had magazines that could be reloaded from a single unit,
such as the M1 Garand, although it was typical for its time, being identical to the reloading procedure of the 10-round Lee–Enfield).

The Mauser design, the G41(M), failed. Only 6,673 were produced
before production was halted, and of these, 1,673 were returned as
unusable. Most metal parts on this rifle were machined steel and some
rifles, especially later examples, utilized the Bakelite
 type plastic handguards. The Walther design was more successful because
 the designers had simply ignored the last two restrictions listed
above.

These rifles, along with their G41(M) counterparts, suffered from gas
 system fouling problems. These problems seemed to stem from the overly
complex muzzle trap system becoming excessively corroded from the use of
 corrosive salts in the ammunition primers, and carbon fouling. The
muzzle assembly consisted of many small parts and was difficult to keep
clean, disassemble, and maintain in field conditions. The rifle was
redesigned in 1943 into the Gewehr 43, utilizing a gas system somewhat similar to that on the SVT-40 and a detachable magazine.

G41(W) rifles were produced at two factories, namely Walther at Zella Mehlis, and Berlin-Lübecker Maschinenfabrik.
 Walther guns bear the AC code, and WaA359 inspection proofs, while BLM
guns bear the DUV code with WaA214 inspection proofs. These rifles are
also relatively scarce, and quite valuable in collector grade. Varying
sources put production figures between 40,000 and 145,000 units. Again,
these rifles saw a high attrition rate on the Eastern front.

## Assault Rifles

### M16A1

    The **M16 rifle**, officially designated *Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16*, is a United States military adaptation of the ArmaLite AR-15 rifle.[10][11][12][n 1] The original M16 was a select-fire, 5.56×45mm rifle with a 20-round magazine.

In 1963, the M16 entered United States Military service and was deployed for jungle warfare operations during the Vietnam War.[15] In 1969, the M16A1 replaced the M14 rifle to become the U.S. military's standard service rifle.[16][17] The M16A1 improvements include a bolt-assist, chromed plated bore and a new 30-round magazine.[18] In 1983, the USMC adopted the M16A2 rifle and the U.S. Army adopted it in 1986. The M16A2 fires the improved 5.56×45mm NATO
 (M855/SS109) cartridge and has a new adjustable rear sight, case
deflector, heavy barrel, improved handguard, pistol grip and buttstock,
as well as a semi-auto and three-round burst only fire selector.[19][20]
The M16 has also been widely adopted by other militaries around the
world. Total worldwide production of M16s has been approximately 8
million, making it the most-produced firearm of its 5.56 mm caliber.[21] The U.S. Army has largely replaced the M16 in combat units with the shorter and lighter M4 carbine.

After World War II, the United States military started looking for a single automatic rifle to replace the M1 Garand, M1/M2 Carbines, M1918 Browning Automatic Rifle, M3 "Grease Gun" and Thompson submachine gun.[23][24] However, early experiments with select-fire versions of the M1 Garand proved disappointing.[25] During the Korean War, the select-fire M2 Carbine largely replaced the submachine gun in US service[26] and became the most widely used Carbine variant.[27] However, combat experience suggested that the .30 Carbine round was under-powered.[28]
 American weapons designers concluded that an intermediate round was
necessary, and recommended a small-caliber, high-velocity cartridge.[29]

However, senior American commanders having faced fanatical enemies
and experienced major logistical problems during WWII and the Korean
War,[30][31][32][33][34]
 insisted that a single powerful .30 caliber cartridge be developed,
that could not only be used by the new automatic rifle, but by the new general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) in concurrent development.[35][36] This culminated in the development of the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge and the M14 rifle[35] which was basically an improved select-fire M1 Garand with a 20-round magazine.[37][38] The U.S. also adopted the M60 GPMG.[35] Its NATO partners adopted the FN FAL and HK G3 rifles, as well as the FN MAG and Rheinmetall MG3 GPMGs.

The first confrontations between the AK-47 and the M14 came in the early part of the Vietnam War.
 Battlefield reports indicated that the M14 was uncontrollable in
full-auto and that soldiers could not carry enough ammo to maintain fire
 superiority over the AK-47.[39] And, while the M2 Carbine offered a high rate of fire, it was under-powered and ultimately outclassed by the AK-47.[40]
 A replacement was needed: A medium between the traditional preference
for high-powered rifles such as the M14, and the lightweight firepower
of the M2 Carbine.

As a result, the Army was forced to reconsider a 1957 request by
General Willard G. Wyman, commander of the U.S. Continental Army Command
 (CONARC) to develop a .223 caliber (5.56 mm) select-fire rifle weighing
 6 lb (2.7 kg) when loaded with a 20-round magazine.[23] The 5.56mm round had to penetrate a standard U.S. helmet
 at 500 yards (460 meters) and retain a velocity in excess of the speed
of sound, while matching or exceeding the wounding ability of the .30
Carbine cartridge.[41]

This request ultimately resulted in the development of a scaled-down version of the Armalite AR-10, called AR-15 rifle.[10][11][42]
 However, despite overwhelming evidence that the AR-15 could bring more
firepower to bear than the M14, the Army opposed the adoption of the new
 rifle.[10]
 In January 1963, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara concluded that
the AR-15 was the superior weapon system and ordered a halt to M14
production.[10]
 At the time, the AR-15 was the only rifle available that could fulfill
the requirement of a universal infantry weapon for issue to all
services.
After modifications (most notably, the charging handle was re-located
 from under the carrying handle like AR-10 to the rear of the receiver),[11] the new redesigned rifle was subsequently adopted as the M16 Rifle.[10][43]
 "(The M16) was much lighter compared to the M14 it replaced, ultimately
 allowing Soldiers to carry more ammunition. The air-cooled,
gas-operated, magazine-fed assault rifle was made of steel, aluminum
alloy and composite plastics, truly cutting-edge for the time. Designed
with full and semi-automatic capabilities, the weapon initially did not
respond well to wet and dirty conditions, sometimes even jamming in
combat. After a few minor modifications, the weapon gained in popularity
 among troops on the battlefield."

In July 1960, General Curtis LeMay
 was impressed by a demonstration of the ArmaLite AR-15. In the summer
of 1961, General LeMay was promoted to United States Air Force, Chief of
 Staff, and requested 80,000 AR-15s. However, General Maxwell D. Taylor, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, advised President John F. Kennedy that having *two* different calibers within the military system at the same time would be problematic and the request was rejected.[46] In October 1961, William Godel, a senior man at the Advanced Research Projects Agency, sent 10 AR-15s to South Vietnam. The reception was enthusiastic, and in 1962, another 1,000 AR-15s were sent.[47] United States Army Special Forces
 personnel filed battlefield reports lavishly praising the AR-15 and the
 stopping-power of the 5.56 mm cartridge, and pressed for its adoption.

The damage caused by the 5.56 mm bullet was originally believed to be
 caused by "tumbling" due to the slow 1 in 14-inch (360 mm) rifling
twist rate.[46]
 However, any pointed lead core bullet will "tumble" after penetration
in flesh, because the center of gravity is towards the rear of the
bullet. The large wounds observed by soldiers in Vietnam were actually
caused by bullet fragmentation, which was created by a combination of
the bullet's velocity and construction.[48] These wounds were so devastating, that the photographs remained classified into the 1980s.[49]

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara
 now had two conflicting views: the ARPA report favoring the AR-15 and
the Army's position favoring the M14. Even President Kennedy expressed
concern, so McNamara ordered Secretary of the Army Cyrus Vance
 to test the M14, the AR-15 and the AK-47. The Army reported that only
the M14 was suitable for service, but Vance wondered about the
impartiality of those conducting the tests. He ordered the Army
Inspector General to investigate the testing methods used; the Inspector
 General confirmed that the testers were biased towards the M14.

In January 1963, Secretary McNamara received reports that M14
production was insufficient to meet the needs of the armed forces and
ordered a halt to M14 production. At the time, the AR-15 was the only
rifle that could fulfill a requirement of a "universal" infantry weapon
for issue to all services. McNamara ordered its adoption, despite
receiving reports of several deficiencies, most notability the lack of a
 chrome-lined barrel.[50]

After modifications (most notably, the charging handle was re-located
 from under the carrying handle like AR-10 to the rear of the receiver),[11] the new redesigned rifle was renamed the *Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16*.[10][43]
 Inexplicably, the modification to the new M16 did not include a
chrome-lined barrel. Meanwhile, the Army relented and recommended the
adoption of the M16 for jungle warfare operations. However, the Army
insisted on the inclusion of a forward assist
 to help push the bolt into battery in the event that a cartridge failed
 to seat into the chamber. The Air Force, Colt and Eugene Stoner
believed that the addition of a forward assist was an unjustified
expense. As a result, the design was split into two variants: the Air
Force's M16 without the forward assist, and the XM16E1 with the forward assist for the other service branches.
In November 1963, McNamara approved the U.S. Army's order of 85,000 XM16E1s;[51] and to appease General LeMay, the Air Force was granted an order for another 19,000 M16s.[52][53] In 1964, the Army accepted delivery of the first batch of 2129 rifles and an additional 57,240 rifles the following year.

In 1964, the Army was informed that DuPont could not mass-produce the IMR 4475 stick powder to the specifications demanded by the M16. Therefore, Olin Mathieson Company provided a high-performance ball propellant.
 While the Olin WC 846 powder achieved the desired 3,300 ft (1,000 m)
per second muzzle velocity, it produced much more fouling, that quickly
jammed the M16s action (unless the rifle was cleaned well and often).

In March 1965, the Army began to issue the XM16E1 to infantry units.
However, the rifle was initially delivered without adequate cleaning
kits or instructions because Colt had claimed the M16 was self-cleaning.
 As a result, reports of stoppages in combat began to surface. The most
severe problem, was known as "failure to extract"—the spent cartridge
case remained lodged in the chamber after the rifle was fired.[55] Documented accounts of dead U.S. troops found next to disassembled rifles eventually led to a Congressional investigation.[56]

In February 1967, the improved XM16E1 was standardized as the M16A1.[52]
 The new rifle was given a chrome-lined barrel to eliminate corrosion
and stuck cartridges, as well as other minor modifications. New cleaning
 kits, powder solvents and lubricants were also issued. Intensive
training programs in weapons cleaning were instituted including a comic book-style operations manual.[58][59]
 As a result, reliability problems quickly diminished and the M16A1
rifle achieved widespread acceptance by U.S. troops in Vietnam.[45] However the M16 rifle continued to suffer from a reputation of unreliability for some time.[52]
In 1969, the M16A1 officially replaced the M14 rifle to become the U.S. military's standard service rifle.[16][17] In 1970, the new WC 844 powder was introduced to reduce fouling.

During the early part of its career, the M16 had a reputation for
poor reliability and a malfunction rate of two per 1000 rounds fired.[61]
 The M16 uses a unique gas powered operating system. "This gas operating
 system works by passing high pressure propellant gasses tapped from the
 barrel down a tube and into the carrier group within the upper
receiver, and is commonly but incorrectly referred to as a "direct impingement gas system"
 system. The gas expands within a donut shaped gas cylinder within the
carrier. Because the bolt is prevented from moving forward by the
barrel, the carrier is driven to the rear by the expanding gasses and
thus converts the energy of the gas to movement of the rifle’s parts.
The bolt bears a piston head and the cavity in the bolt carrier is the
piston sleeve. It is more correct to call it an “internal piston”
system."[62]
 This design is much lighter and more compact than a gas-piston design.
However, this design requires that combustion byproducts from the
discharged cartridge be blown into the receiver as well. This
accumulating carbon and vaporized metal build-up within the receiver and
 bolt-carrier negatively affects reliability and necessitates more
intensive maintenance on the part of the individual soldier. The
channeling of gasses into the bolt carrier during operation increases
the amount of heat that is deposited in the receiver while firing the
M16 and causes essential lubricant to be "burned off". This requires
frequent and generous applications of appropriate lubricant.[23] Lack of proper lubrication is the most common source of weapon stoppages or jams.[23]

The original M16 fared poorly in the jungles of Vietnam
 and was infamous for reliability problems in the harsh environment. As a
 result, it became the target of a Congressional investigation.[63] The investigation found that:[43]

When these issues were addressed and corrected by the M16A1, the reliability problems decreased greatly.[52] According to a 1968 Department of Army report, the M16A1 rifle achieved widespread acceptance by U.S. troops in Vietnam.[45]
 "Most men armed with the M16 in Vietnam rated this rifle's performance
high, however, many men entertained some misgivings about the M16's
reliability. When asked what weapon they preferred to carry in combat,
85 percent indicated that they wanted either the M16 or its submachine
gun version, the XM177E2. (The M14 was preferred by 15 percent, while less than one percent wished to carry either the Stoner rifle, the AK-47, the carbine or a pistol.)"[45]
 In March 1970, the "President’s Blue Ribbon Defense Panel" concluded
that the issuance of the M16 saved the lives of 20,000 U.S. servicemen
during the Vietnam War, who would have otherwise died had the M14
remained in service.[64] However the M16 rifle continued to suffer from a reputation of unreliability for some time.[52]

After the introduction of the M4 Carbine, it was found that the
shorter barrel length of 14.5 inches also has a negative effect on
reliability, as the gas port is located closer to the chamber than the
gas port of the standard length M16 rifle: 7.5 inches instead of
13 inches.[65]
 This affects the M4’s timing and increases the amount of stress and
heat on the critical components, thereby reducing reliability.[65]
 In a 2002 assessment the USMC found that the M4 malfunctioned three
times more often than the M16A4 (the M4 failed 186 times for 69,000
rounds fired, while the M16A4 failed 61 times).[66] Thereafter, the Army and Colt worked to make modifications to the M4s and M16A4s in order to address the problems found.[66]
 In tests conducted in 2005 and 2006 the Army found that on average, the
 new M4s and M16s fired approximately 5,000 rounds between stoppages.[66][67]

In December 2006, the Center for Naval Analyses
 released a report on U.S. small arms in combat. The CNA conducted
surveys on 2,608 troops returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan
over the past 12 months. Only troops who fired their weapons at enemy
targets were allowed to participate. 1,188 troops were armed with M16A2
or A4 rifles, making up 46 percent of the survey. 75 percent of M16
users (891 troops) reported they were satisfied with the weapon. 60
percent (713 troops) were satisfied with handling qualities such as
handguards, size, and weight. Of the 40 percent dissatisfied, most were
with its size. Only 19 percent of M16 users (226 troops) reported a
stoppage, while 80 percent of those that experienced a stoppage said it
had little impact on their ability to clear the stoppage and re-engage
their target. Half of the M16 users never experienced failures of their
magazines to feed. 83 percent (986 troops) did not need their rifles
repaired while in theater. 71 percent (843 troops) were confident in the
 M16's reliability, defined as level of soldier confidence their weapon
will fire without malfunction, and 72 percent (855 troops) were
confident in its durability, defined as level of soldier confidence
their weapon will not break or need repair. Both factors were attributed
 to high levels of soldiers performing their own maintenance. 60 percent
 of M16 users offered recommendations for improvements. Requests
included greater bullet lethality, new-built rifles instead of rebuilt,
better quality magazines, decreased weight, and a collapsible stock.
Some users recommended shorter and lighter weapons such as M4 carbine.[68] Some issues have been addressed with the issuing of the Improved STANAG magazine in March 2009,[69][70] and the M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round in June 2010.[71]
In early 2010, two journalists from the New York Times
 spent three months with soldiers and Marines in Afghanistan. While
there, they questioned around 100 infantrymen about the reliability of
their M16 rifles, as well as the M4 Carbine. Surprisingly, troops did
not report to be suffering reliability problems with their rifles. While
 only 100 troops were asked, they engaged in daily fighting in Marja, including least a dozen intense engagements in Helmand Province, where the ground is covered in fine powdered sand (called "moon dust" by troops) that can stick to firearms.[72]
 Weapons were often dusty, wet, and covered in mud. Intense firefights
lasted hours with several magazines being expended. Only one soldier
reported a jam when his M16 was covered in mud after climbing out of a
canal. The weapon was cleared and resumed firing with the next chambered
 round. Furthermore, the Marine Chief Warrant Officer responsible for
weapons training and performance of the Third Battalion, Sixth Marines,
reported that "We've had nil in the way of problems; we've had no
issues." with his battalion's 350 M16s and 700 M4s.

The U.S. Army XM16E1 was essentially the same weapon as the M16 with the addition of a forward assist and corresponding notches in the bolt carrier. The M16A1 was the finalized production model in 1967.

To address issues raised by the XM16E1's testing cycle, a closed,
bird-cage flash suppressor replaced the XM16E1's three-pronged flash
suppressor which caught on twigs and leaves. Various other changes were
made after numerous problems in the field. Cleaning kits were developed
and issued while barrels with chrome-plated chambers and later fully
lined bores were introduced.

With these and other changes, the malfunction rate slowly declined
and new soldiers were generally unfamiliar with early problems. A rib
was built into the side of the receiver on the XM16E1 to help prevent
accidentally pressing the magazine release button while closing the
ejection port cover. This rib was later extended on production M16A1s to
 help in preventing the magazine release from inadvertently being
pressed. The hole in the bolt that accepts the cam pin was crimped
inward on one side, in such a way that the cam pin may not be inserted
with the bolt installed backwards, which would cause failures to eject
until corrected. The M16A1 is no longer in service with the United
States, but is still standard issue in many world armies.

#### Users:

* Nyx (with M203 grenade launcher)
* Sweetie Belle (with M203 grenade launcher)
* Daring Do (with M203 grenade launcher)
* Hiccup (with M203 grenade launcher)
* Astrid (with M203 grenade launcher)
* Brian Griffin (with M203 grenade launcher)
* The Wonderbolts (with M203 grenade launcher)
* The Royal Guards (with M7 Bayonet)
* The Trolley Fighters

#### Gallery

Royal Guards' M16 with M7 bayonet (Celestia's wing)Royal Guards' M16 with M7 bayonet (Luna's wing)Sweetie Belle's M16A1 w M203 Grenade LancherNyx's M16A1 w M203 grenade launcherDaring Do's M16A1 w M203 grenade launcherWonderbolts' M16A1 w M203 grenade launcherBrian Griffin's M16wM203.pngBrian Griffin's M16A1 w M203 grenade launcher
### M16A2

    The **M16 rifle**, officially designated *Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16*, is a United States military adaptation of the ArmaLite AR-15 rifle.[10][11][12][n 1] The original M16 was a select-fire, 5.56×45mm rifle with a 20-round magazine.

In 1963, the M16 entered United States Military service and was deployed for jungle warfare operations during the Vietnam War.[15] In 1969, the M16A1 replaced the M14 rifle to become the U.S. military's standard service rifle.[16][17] The M16A1 improvements include a bolt-assist, chromed plated bore and a new 30-round magazine.[18] In 1983, the USMC adopted the M16A2 rifle and the U.S. Army adopted it in 1986. The M16A2 fires the improved 5.56×45mm NATO
 (M855/SS109) cartridge and has a new adjustable rear sight, case
deflector, heavy barrel, improved handguard, pistol grip and buttstock,
as well as a semi-auto and three-round burst only fire selector.[19][20]
The M16 has also been widely adopted by other militaries around the
world. Total worldwide production of M16s has been approximately 8
million, making it the most-produced firearm of its 5.56 mm caliber.[21] The U.S. Army has largely replaced the M16 in combat units with the shorter and lighter M4 carbine.

After World War
II, the United States military started looking for a single automatic
rifle to replace the M1 Garand, M1/M2 Carbines, M1918 Browning Automatic
 Rifle, M3 "Grease Gun" and Thompson submachine gun.[23][24] However, early experiments with select-fire versions of the M1 Garand proved disappointing.[25] During the Korean War, the select-fire M2 Carbine largely replaced the submachine gun in US service[26] and became the most widely used Carbine variant.[27] However, combat experience suggested that the .30 Carbine round was under-powered.[28]
 American weapons designers concluded that an intermediate round was
necessary, and recommended a small-caliber, high-velocity cartridge.[29]

However, senior American commanders having faced fanatical enemies
and experienced major logistical problems during WWII and the Korean
War,[30][31][32][33][34]
 insisted
 that a single powerful .30 caliber cartridge be developed,
that could not only be used by the new automatic rifle, but by the new
general-purpose machine gun (GPMG) in concurrent development.[35][36] This culminated in the development of the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge and the M14 rifle[35] which was basically an improved select-fire M1 Garand with a 20-round magazine.[37][38] The U.S. also adopted the M60 GPMG.[35] Its NATO partners adopted the FN FAL and HK G3 rifles, as well as the FN MAG and Rheinmetall MG3 GPMGs.

The first confrontations between the AK-47 and the M14 came in the early part of the Vietnam War.
 Battlefield reports indicated that the M14 was uncontrollable in
full-auto and that soldiers could not carry enough ammo to maintain fire
 superiority over the AK-47.[39] And, while the M2 Carbine offered a high rate of fire, it was under-powered and ultimately outclassed by the AK-47.[40]
 A replacement was needed: A medium between the traditional preference
for high-powered rifles such as the M14, and the lightweight firepower
of the M2 Carbine.

As a result, the Army was forced to reconsider a 1957 request by
General Willard G. Wyman, commander of the U.S. Continental Army Command
 (CONARC) to develop a .223 caliber (5.56 mm) select-fire rifle weighing
 6 lb (2.7 kg) when loaded with a 20-round magazine.[23] The 5.56mm round had to penetrate a standard U.S. helmet
 at 500 yards (460 meters) and retain a velocity in excess of the speed
of sound, while matching or exceeding the wounding ability of the .30
Carbine cartridge.[41]

This request ultimately resulted in the development of a scaled-down version of the Armalite AR-10, called AR-15 rifle.[10][11][42]
 However, despite overwhelming evidence that the AR-15 could bring more
firepower to bear than the M14, the Army opposed the adoption of the new
 rifle.[10]
 In January 1963, Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara concluded that
the AR-15 was the superior weapon system and ordered a halt to M14
production.[10]
 At the time, the AR-15 was the only rifle available that could fulfill
the requirement of a universal infantry weapon for issue to all
services.
After modifications (most notably, the charging handle was re-located
 from under the carrying handle like AR-10 to the rear of the receiver),[11] the new redesigned rifle was subsequently adopted as the M16 Rifle.[10][43]
 "(The M16) was much lighter compared to the M14 it replaced, ultimately
 allowing Soldiers to carry more ammunition. The air-cooled,
gas-operated, magazine-fed assault rifle was made of steel, aluminum
alloy and composite plastics, truly cutting-edge for the time. Designed
with full and semi-automatic capabilities, the weapon initially did not
respond well to wet and dirty conditions, sometimes even jamming in
combat. After a few minor modifications, the weapon gained in popularity
 among troops on the battlefield."

In July 1960, General Curtis LeMay
 was impressed by a demonstration of the ArmaLite AR-15. In the summer
of 1961, General LeMay was promoted to United States Air Force, Chief of
 Staff,
 and requested 80,000 AR-15s. However, General Maxwell D. Taylor,
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, advised President John F. Kennedy
 that having *two* different calibers within the military system at the same time would be problematic and the request was rejected.[46]
 In October 1961, William Godel, a senior man at the Advanced Research
Projects Agency, sent 10 AR-15s to South Vietnam. The reception was
enthusiastic, and in 1962, another 1,000 AR-15s were sent.[47] United States Army Special Forces
 personnel filed battlefield reports lavishly praising the AR-15 and the
 stopping-power of the 5.56 mm cartridge, and pressed for its adoption.

The damage caused by the 5.56 mm bullet was originally believed to be
 caused by "tumbling" due to the slow 1 in 14-inch (360 mm) rifling
twist rate.[46]
 However, any pointed lead core bullet will "tumble" after penetration
in flesh, because the center of gravity is towards the rear of the
bullet. The large wounds observed by soldiers in Vietnam were actually
caused by bullet fragmentation, which was created by a combination of
the bullet's velocity and construction.[48] These wounds were so devastating, that the photographs remained classified into the 1980s.[49]

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert McNamara
 now had two conflicting views: the ARPA report favoring the AR-15 and
the Army's position favoring the M14. Even President Kennedy expressed
concern, so McNamara ordered Secretary of the Army Cyrus Vance
 to test the M14, the AR-15 and the AK-47. The Army reported that only
the M14 was suitable for service, but Vance wondered about the
impartiality of those conducting the tests. He ordered the Army
Inspector General to investigate the testing methods used; the Inspector
 General confirmed that the testers were biased towards the M14.

In January 1963, Secretary McNamara received reports that M14
production was insufficient to meet the needs of the armed forces and
ordered a halt to M14 production. At the time, the AR-15 was the only
rifle that could fulfill a requirement of a "universal" infantry weapon
for issue to all services. McNamara ordered its adoption, despite
receiving reports of several deficiencies, most notability the lack of a
 chrome-lined barrel.[50]

After modifications (most notably, the charging handle was re-located
 from under the carrying handle like AR-10 to the rear of the receiver),[11] the new redesigned rifle was renamed the *Rifle, Caliber 5.56 mm, M16*.[10][43]
 Inexplicably, the modification to the new M16 did not include a
chrome-lined barrel. Meanwhile, the Army relented and recommended the
adoption of the M16 for jungle warfare operations. However, the Army
insisted on the inclusion of a forward assist
 to help push the bolt into battery in the event that a cartridge failed
 to seat into the chamber. The Air Force, Colt and Eugene Stoner
believed that the addition of a forward assist was an unjustified
expense. As a result, the design was split into two variants: the Air
Force's M16 without the forward assist, and the XM16E1 with the forward assist for the other service branches.
In November 1963, McNamara approved the U.S. Army's order of 85,000 XM16E1s;[51] and to appease General LeMay, the Air Force was granted an order for another 19,000 M16s.[52][53] In 1964, the Army accepted delivery of the first batch of 2129 rifles and an additional 57,240 rifles the following year.

In 1964, the
Army was informed that DuPont could not mass-produce the IMR 4475 stick
powder to the specifications demanded by the M16. Therefore, Olin
Mathieson Company provided a high-performance ball propellant.
 While the Olin WC 846 powder achieved the desired 3,300 ft (1,000 m)
per second muzzle velocity, it produced much more fouling, that quickly
jammed the M16s action (unless the rifle was cleaned well and often).

In March 1965, the Army began to issue the XM16E1 to infantry units.
However, the rifle was initially delivered without adequate cleaning
kits or instructions because Colt had claimed the M16 was self-cleaning.
 As a result, reports of stoppages in combat began to surface. The most
severe problem, was known as "failure to extract"—the spent cartridge
case remained lodged in the chamber after the rifle was fired.[55] Documented accounts of dead U.S. troops found next to disassembled rifles eventually led to a Congressional investigation.[56]

In February 1967, the improved XM16E1 was standardized as the M16A1.[52]
 The new rifle was given a chrome-lined barrel to eliminate corrosion
and stuck cartridges, as well as other minor modifications. New cleaning
 kits, powder solvents and lubricants were also issued. Intensive
training programs in weapons cleaning were instituted including a comic book-style operations manual.[58][59]
 As a result, reliability problems quickly diminished and the M16A1
rifle achieved widespread acceptance by U.S. troops in Vietnam.[45] However the M16 rifle continued to suffer from a reputation of unreliability for some time.[52]
In 1969, the M16A1 officially replaced the M14 rifle to become the U.S. military's standard service rifle.[16][17] In 1970, the new WC 844 powder was introduced to reduce fouling.

During the early part of its career, the M16 had a reputation for
poor reliability and a malfunction rate of two per 1000 rounds fired.[61]
 The M16 uses a unique gas powered operating system. "This gas operating
 system works by passing high pressure propellant gasses tapped from the
 barrel down a tube and into the carrier group within the upper
receiver, and is commonly but incorrectly referred to as a "direct impingement gas system"
 system. The gas expands within a donut shaped gas cylinder within the
carrier. Because the bolt is prevented from moving forward by the
barrel, the carrier is driven to the rear by the expanding gasses and
thus converts the energy of the gas to movement of the rifle’s parts.
The bolt bears a piston head and the cavity in the bolt carrier is the
piston sleeve. It is more correct to call it an “internal piston”
system."[62]
 This design is much lighter and more compact than a gas-piston design.
However, this design requires that combustion byproducts from the
discharged cartridge be blown into the receiver as well. This
accumulating carbon and vaporized metal build-up within the receiver and
 bolt-carrier negatively affects reliability and necessitates more
intensive maintenance on the part of the individual soldier. The
channeling of gasses into the bolt carrier during operation increases
the amount of heat that is deposited in the receiver while firing the
M16 and causes essential lubricant to be "burned off". This requires
frequent and generous applications of appropriate lubricant.[23] Lack of proper lubrication is the most common source of weapon stoppages or jams.[23]

The original M16 fared poorly in the jungles of Vietnam
 and was infamous for reliability problems in the harsh environment. As a
 result, it became the target of a Congressional investigation.[63] The investigation found that:[43]

When these issues were addressed and corrected by the M16A1, the reliability problems decreased greatly.[52] According to a 1968 Department of Army report, the M16A1 rifle achieved widespread acceptance by U.S. troops in Vietnam.[45]
 "Most
 men armed with the M16 in Vietnam rated this rifle's performance
high, however, many men entertained some misgivings about the M16's
reliability. When asked what weapon they preferred to carry in combat,
85 percent indicated that they wanted either the M16 or its submachine
gun version, the XM177E2. (The M14 was preferred by 15 percent, while
less than one percent wished to carry either the Stoner rifle, the
AK-47, the carbine or a pistol.)"[45]
 In March 1970, the "President’s Blue Ribbon Defense Panel" concluded
that the issuance of the M16 saved the lives of 20,000 U.S. servicemen
during the Vietnam War, who would have otherwise died had the M14
remained in service.[64] However the M16 rifle continued to suffer from a reputation of unreliability for some time.[52]

After the introduction of the M4 Carbine, it was found that the
shorter barrel length of 14.5 inches also has a negative effect on
reliability, as the gas port is located closer to the chamber than the
gas port of the standard length M16 rifle: 7.5 inches instead of
13 inches.[65]
 This affects the M4’s timing and increases the amount of stress and
heat on the critical components, thereby reducing reliability.[65]
 In a 2002 assessment the USMC found that the M4 malfunctioned three
times more often than the M16A4 (the M4 failed 186 times for 69,000
rounds fired, while the M16A4 failed 61 times).[66] Thereafter, the Army and Colt worked to make modifications to the M4s and M16A4s in order to address the problems found.[66]
 In tests conducted in 2005 and 2006 the Army found that on average, the
 new M4s and M16s fired approximately 5,000 rounds between stoppages.[66][67]

In December 2006, the Center for Naval Analyses
 released a report on U.S. small arms in combat. The CNA conducted
surveys on 2,608 troops returning from combat in Iraq and Afghanistan
over the past 12 months. Only troops who fired their weapons at enemy
targets were allowed to participate. 1,188 troops were armed with M16A2
or A4 rifles, making up 46 percent of the survey. 75 percent of M16
users (891 troops) reported they were satisfied with the weapon. 60
percent (713 troops) were satisfied with handling qualities such as
handguards, size, and weight. Of the 40 percent dissatisfied, most were
with its size. Only 19 percent of M16 users (226 troops) reported a
stoppage, while 80 percent of those that experienced a stoppage said it
had little impact on their ability to clear the stoppage and re-engage
their target. Half of the M16 users never experienced failures of their
magazines to feed. 83 percent (986 troops) did not need their rifles
repaired while in theater. 71 percent (843 troops) were confident in the
 M16's reliability, defined as level of soldier confidence their weapon
will fire without malfunction, and 72 percent (855 troops) were
confident in its durability, defined as level of soldier confidence
their weapon will not break or need repair. Both factors were attributed
 to high levels of soldiers performing their own maintenance. 60 percent
 of M16 users offered recommendations for improvements. Requests
included greater bullet lethality, new-built rifles instead of rebuilt,
better quality magazines, decreased weight, and a collapsible stock.
Some users recommended shorter and lighter weapons such as M4 carbine.[68] Some issues have been addressed with the issuing of the Improved STANAG magazine in March 2009,[69][70] and the M855A1 Enhanced Performance Round in June 2010.[71]
In early 2010, two journalists from the New York Times
 spent three months with soldiers and Marines in Afghanistan. While
there, they questioned around 100 infantrymen about the reliability of
their M16 rifles, as well as the M4 Carbine. Surprisingly, troops did
not report to be suffering reliability problems with their rifles. While
 only
 100 troops were asked, they engaged in daily fighting in Marja,
including least a dozen intense engagements in Helmand Province, where
the ground is covered in fine powdered sand (called "moon dust" by
troops) that can stick to firearms.[72]
 Weapons were often dusty, wet, and covered in mud. Intense firefights
lasted hours with several magazines being expended. Only one soldier
reported a jam when his M16 was covered in mud after climbing out of a
canal. The weapon was cleared and resumed firing with the next chambered
 round. Furthermore, the Marine Chief Warrant Officer responsible for
weapons training and performance of the Third Battalion, Sixth Marines,
reported that "We've had nil in the way of problems; we've had no
issues." with his battalion's 350 M16s and 700 M4s.

The development of the M16A2 rifle was originally requested by the United States Marine Corps
 as a result of the USMC's combat experience in Vietnam with the XM16E1
and M16A1. The Marines were the first branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to
 adopt the M16A2 in the early/mid-1980s, with the United States Army
 following suit in the late 1980s. Modifications to the M16A2 were
extensive. In addition to the new rifling, the barrel was made with a
greater thickness in front of the front sight post, to resist bending in
 the field and to allow a longer period of sustained fire without
overheating. The rest of the barrel was maintained at the original
thickness to enable the M203 grenade launcher
 to be attached. A new adjustable rear sight was added, allowing the
rear sight to be dialed in for specific range settings between 300 and
800 meters to take full advantage of the ballistic characteristics of
the new SS109 rounds and to allow windage adjustments without the need
of a tool or cartridge.[157]
 The weapon's reliability allowed it to be widely used around the United
 States Marine Corps special operations divisions as well. The flash
suppressor was again modified, this time to be closed on the bottom so
it would not kick up dirt or snow when being fired from the prone
position, and acting as a recoil compensator.[158]
 The front grip was modified from the original triangular shape to a
round one, which better fit smaller hands and could be fitted to older
models of the M16. The new handguards were also symmetrical so that
armories need not separate left and right spares. The handguard
retention ring was tapered to make it easier to install and uninstall
the handguards. A notch for the middle finger was added to the pistol
grip, as well as more texture to enhance the grip. The buttstock was
lengthened by 5⁄8 in (15.9 mm).[159]
 The new buttstock became ten times stronger than the original due to
advances in polymer technology since the early 1960s. Original M16
stocks were made from fiberglass-impregnated resin; the newer stocks
were engineered from DuPont Zytel glass-filled thermoset polymers. The
new stock included a fully textured polymer buttplate for better grip on
 the shoulder, and retained a panel for accessing a small compartment
inside the stock, often used for storing a basic cleaning kit. The
heavier bullet reduces muzzle velocity from 3,200 feet per second (980 m/s), to about 3,050 feet per second (930 m/s).[160]
 The A2 uses a faster twist rifling to allow the use of a
trajectory-matched tracer round. It has a 1:7 twist rate. A spent case
deflector was incorporated into the upper receiver immediately behind
the ejection port to prevent cases from striking left-handed users.[94]
The action was also modified, replacing the fully automatic setting with a three-round burst setting.[157]
 When using a fully automatic weapon, inexperienced troops often hold
down the trigger and "spray" when under fire. The U.S. Army concluded
that three-shot groups provide an optimum combination of ammunition
conservation, accuracy and firepower. Several Marine units utilize
modified rifles that support fully automatic fire capabilities. The USMC
 has retired the M16A2 in favor of the newer M16A4. However, many M16A2s
 remain in U.S. Army, Air Force, Navy and Coast Guard service.

#### Users:

* Princess Sharon (with Mossberg 500 shotgun attached)

#### Gallery

Sharon's M16A2 with her Mossberg 500 shotgun
### M4A1

    The **M4 carbine** is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle.

 The M4 is a 5.56x45mm NATO, air-cooled, direct impingement
gas-operated, magazine-fed carbine. It has a 14.5 in (370 mm) barrel and
 a telescoping stock. The M4 carbine is heavily used by the United States Armed Forces and is replacing the M16 rifle in most United States Army combat units.[7]
The M4 is also capable of mounting the M203 grenade launcher. The distinctive step in their barrel is for mounting the M203 with the standard hardware. The **M4** is capable of firing in semi-automatic and three-round burst (like the M16A2 and M16A4), while the **M4A1** is capable of firing in semi-auto and full automatic (like the M16A1 and M16A3)

Following the adoption of the M16 rifle, carbine variants were also adopted for close quarters operations. The CAR-15 family of weapons served through the Vietnam War.
 However, these carbines had design issues, as "the barrel length was
halved" to 10 inches which "upset the ballistics", reducing its range
and accuracy and "led to considerable muzzle flash and blast, so that a
large flash suppressor had to be fitted".[8] "Nevertheless, as a short-range weapon it is quite adequate and thus, (despite) its caliber, (the XM177 "Commando") is classed as a submachine gun."[8] In 1988, Colt began work on a new carbine design called the **XM4** combining the best features of the Colt Commando and M16A2 rifles.

The XM4 was given a longer 14.5-inch barrel with the M16A2's 1:7 inch rifle twist,
 to use the heavier 62-grain M855 rounds. The extended barrel improved
the XM4's ballistics, reduced muzzle blast and gave the XM4 the ability
to mount a bayonet and the M203 grenade launcher. The XM4 was also given the M16A2's improved rear sight and cartridge deflector, as well as other minor refinements.[*citation needed*] In 1994, the U.S. military officially accepted the XM4 into service as the M4 carbine to replace M16A2s in certain roles.[9] The M4 carbine has also replaced most submachine guns and selected handguns in U.S. military service,[9] as it fires more effective rifle ammunition that offers superior stopping power and is better able to penetrate modern body armor.
The United States Marine Corps has ordered its officers (up to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel) and staff non-commissioned officers to carry the M4 carbine instead of the M9 handgun.[10] This is in keeping with the Marine Corps doctrine, "Every Marine a rifleman." The Marine Corps, however, chose the full-sized M16A4 over the M4 as its standard infantry rifle. United States Navy corpsmen E5 and below will also be issued M4s instead of the M9.[11]
 While ordinary riflemen in the Marine Corps are armed with M16A4s, M4s
are fielded by troops in positions where a full-length rifle would be
too bulky, including vehicle operators and fireteam and squad leaders. As of 2013, the U.S. Marine Corps has 80,000 M4 carbines in their inventory.[12][13]
 However, by July 2015 major Marine Corps commands were endorsing
switching to the M4 over the M16A4 as the standard infantry rifle, just
as the Army had done. This is because of the carbine's lighter weight,
compact length, and addressing modern combat situations that mostly
happen within close quarters; if a squad needs to engage at longer
ranges, the M27 IAR can be used as a designated marksman rifle.
 Approval of the change could come in "weeks or months" and move the M16
 to support personnel, while armories already have the 17,000 M4s in the
 inventory needed to outfit all infantrymen who need one

On 1 July 2009, the U.S. Army took complete ownership of the M4 design.[15]
 This allowed companies other than Colt to compete with their own M4
designs. The Army planned on fielding the last of its M4 requirement in
2010.[15]
 On 30 October 2009, Army weapons officials proposed a series of changes
 to the M4 to Congress. Requested changes included an electronic round
counter that records the number of shots fired, a heavier barrel, and
possibly replacing the direct impingement system with a gas piston system.

The benefits of this, however, have come under scrutiny from both the military and civilian firearms community.[16][17]
 According to a PDF detailing the M4 Carbine improvement plans released
by PEO Soldier, the direct impingement system would only be replaced
after reviews were done comparing the direct impingement system to
commercial gas piston operating system to find out and use the best
available operating system in the U.S. Army's improved M4A1.[18]

In September 2010, the Army announced it would buy 12,000 M4A1s from
Colt Firearms by the end of 2010, and would order 25,000 more M4A1s by
early 2011. The service branch planned to buy 12,000 M4A1 conversion
kits in early 2011. In late 2011 the Army bought 65,000 more conversion
kits. From there the Army had to decide if it would upgrade all of
its M4s.[19]
On 21 April 2012, the U.S. Army announced to begin purchasing over
120,000 M4A1 carbines to start reequipping front line units from the
original M4 to the new M4A1 version. The first 24,000 were to be made by
 Remington Arms Company. Remington was to produce the M4A1s from mid-2013 to mid-2014.[20]
 After completion of that contract, it was to be between Colt and
Remington to produce over 100,000 more M4A1s for the U.S. Army. Because
of efforts from Colt to sue the Army to force them not to use Remington
to produce M4s, the Army reworked the original solicitation for new
M4A1s to avoid legal issues from Colt.[21] On 16 November 2012, Colt's protest of Remington receiving the M4A1 production contract was dismissed.[22]
 Instead of the contract being re-awarded to Remington, the Army awarded
 the contract for 120,000 M4A1 carbines worth $77 million to FN Herstal on 22 February 2013.[23][24] The order is expected to be completed by 2018.

The M4 product improvement program (PIP) is the effort by the U.S.
Army to modernize its fleet of M4 service rifles. Phase I consists of
converting and replacing regular M4s with the M4A1 version. This variant
 of the rifle is fully automatic and has a heavier barrel, and is given
ambidextrous fire controls. Phase II of the PIP explored developing a
new bolt carrier. 11 designs were submitted. The competition was
scheduled to conclude in summer 2013, but ended in April 2012. Over six
months of testing revealed that the current bolt carrier assembly
outperformed the competing designs, especially in the areas of
reliability, durability, and high-temp and low-temp tests. Phase II also
 includes a competition for a free-floating forward rail assembly.
 The Army may award contracts to up to three finalists in early 2013,
with the selection of a final winner in early 2014. If the Army
determines that the winning rail system should be procured, delivery of
new rail is anticipated by the summer of 2014.[26]
In March 2015, the Army launched a market survey to see what the
small-arms industry could offer to further enhance the M4A1 to an
"M4A1+" standard. Several upgrade options include an extended forward
rail that will allow for a free-floated barrel for improved accuracy
with a low-profile gas block that would do away with the traditional
triangular fixed front sight, removable front and rear flip-up back-up
iron sights, a coyote tan or "neutral color" rail for reduced visual
detection, a more effective flash suppressor/muzzle brake, an improved
charging handle, and a new single-stage trigger module.

The M4 and its variants fire 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition (and .223 Remington ammunition) and are gas-operated, magazine-fed, selective fire firearms with either a multi-position telescoping stock or a fixed A2 or LE tactical stock.[28]

The M4 is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 rifle, with 80% parts commonality.[29]
 The 20% of the parts that are not interchangeable include the buffer
spring and weight, barrel, and gas tube due to the shorter carbine
length.[*citation needed*] Original M4 models had a flat-ended telescoping stock, but newer models are now equipped with a redesigned telescoping stock that is slightly larger with curvature at the end.[30] The M4 is similar to much earlier compact M16 versions, such as the 1960s-era XM177 family. Some of those visual designs are obvious in both weapons.

As with many carbines, the M4 is handy and more convenient to carry than a full-length rifle.
 The price is slightly inferior ballistic performance compared to the
full-size M16, with its 5.5" (14 cm) longer barrel. This becomes most
apparent at ranges of 200 yards and beyond.

While the M4's maneuverability makes it a candidate for non-infantry troops (vehicle crews, clerks and staff officers), it also makes it ideal for close quarters battle (CQB). The M4, along with the M16A4, have mostly replaced the M16A2 in the Army and Marines. The U.S. Air Force,
 for example, has transitioned completely to the M4 for Security Forces
squadrons, while other armed personnel retain the M16A2. The US Navy
uses M4A1s for Special Operations and by vehicle crews.

Some features of the M4 and M4A1 compared to a full-length M16-series rifle include:

* Compact size
* Shortened barrel 14.5 in (370 mm), which includes the shorter carbine gas system.
* Telescoping buttstock

However, there have been some criticisms of the carbine, such as lower muzzle velocities
 and louder report due to the shorter barrel, additional stress on parts
 because of the shorter gas system, and a tendency to overheat faster
than the M16A2.

The *M4A1* carbine is a fully automatic variant of the basic M4 carbine intended for special operations
 use. The M4A1 has a "S-1-F" (safe/semi-automatic/fully automatic)
trigger group, while the M4 has a "S-1-3" (safe/semi-automatic/3-round
burst) trigger group. The M4A1 is used by almost all U.S special
operation units including, but not limited to, Marine Force Recon, Army Rangers, Army Special Forces, Navy SEALs, United States Air Force Pararescue and Air Force Combat Control Teams. The M4A1 is especially favored by counter-terrorist and special forces units for close quarters combat and urban warfare because of the carbine's compact firepower.[*citation needed*] It has a maximum effective range of about 500 to 600 meters (550–660 yd).[6] The fully automatic trigger gives a more consistent trigger pull, which leads to better accuracy.[31] According to Mark A. Westrom, owner of ArmaLite, Inc., automatic fire is better for clearing rooms than burst fire.[32]

In the last few years, M4A1 carbines have been refit or received
straight from factory with barrels with a thicker profile under the
handguard. This is for a variety of reasons such as heat dissipation
during full-auto, and accuracy as a byproduct of barrel weight. These
heavier barrel weapons are also fitted with a heavier buffer known as
the H2. Out of three sliding weights inside the buffer, the H2 possesses
 two tungsten weights and one steel weight, versus the standard H
buffer, which uses one tungsten weight and two steel weights. These
weapons, known by Colt as the Model 921HB (for *Heavy Barrel*), have also been designated M4A1, and as far as the government is concerned the M4A1 represents both the *921* and *921HB*.
Conversion of M4s to the M4A1 began in 2014, the start of all U.S. Army forces being equipped with the automatic variant.[33]
 Though in service with special forces, combat in Afghanistan showed the
 need for providing automatic suppression fires during fire and movement
 for regular soldiers. The 101st Airborne Division began fielding new-built M4A1s in 2012, and the U.S. 1st Infantry Division
 became the first unit to convert their M4s to M4A1-standard in May
2014. Upgrades included a heavier barrel to better dissipate heat from
sustained automatic firing, which also helps the rifles use the M855A1
EPR that has higher proof pressures and puts more strain on barrels. The
 full-auto trigger group has a more consistent trigger pull, whereas the
 burst group's pull varies on where the fire control group is set,
resulting in more predictable and better accuracy on semi-automatic
fire. Another addition is an ambidextrous selector lever for easier use
with left-handed shooters. The M4-M4A1 conversion only increases weapon
weight from 7.46 lb (3.38 kg) to 7.74 lb (3.51 kg), counting a back-up
iron sight, forward pistol grip, empty magazine, and sling. Each carbine
 upgrade costs $240 per rifle, for a total cost of $120 million for half
 a million conversions. 300 conversions can be done per day to equip a
brigade combat team per week, with all M4A1 conversions to be completed
by 2019.

#### Users:

* Rainbow Dash
* Human Rainbow Dash
* Scootaloo (with M26 MASS)
* Button Mash (with M203 grenade launcher)
* The Wonderbolts (regular, with M203 grenade launcher, or Mossberg 590 attached)
* John Connor (with M26 MASS)
* Hugs

#### Gallery

Rainbow Dash's M4A1 assault rifleHuman Rainbow's M4A1 assult rifleScootaloo's M4A1 assault rifle w M26 MASSButton Mash's M4A1 w M203 grenade launcherWonderbolts' M4A1 assult rifleWonderbolts' M4A1 assult rifle w Mossberg 590Wonderbolts' M4A1 assult rifle w M203 grenade launcher
### Stoner 63

    The **Stoner 63**, also known as the **M63**, **XM22*,* XM23**, **XM207** or the **Mk 23 Mod 0 machine gun**, is an American modular weapons system designed by Eugene Stoner in the early 1960s. Cadillac Gage

 was the primary manufacturer of the Stoner 63 during its history. The
Stoner 63 saw very limited combat use by United States forces during the
 Vietnam War, including the Navy SEALs and Marine Corps. A few were also sold to law enforcement agencies.

Soon after leaving ArmaLite, Eugene Stoner, one of the United States' most prolific modern military small arms designers, responsible for the design of the AR-15/M16 assault rifles, AR-10 battle rifle and AR-5 survival rifle, among others,[2] devised a concept for a weapons platform that would be built around a common receiver and certain interchangeable components and could be transformed into a rifle, carbine or various machine gun configurations by simply fitting the appropriate parts to the basic assembly.[3]

Stoner managed to solicit the help of Howard Carson, in charge of Cadillac Gage's West Coast plant in Costa Mesa, California
 (where Armalite was also located), in convincing the company's
president, Russell Baker, of the feasibility and commercial potential of
 his new weapons system.[3]
 Russell obliged and Cadillac Gage (a subsidiary of the Ex-Cell-O
Corporation) established a small arms development branch in Costa Mesa.[3]
 Stoner then recruited his two principal aides at Armalite: Robert
Fremont and James L. Sullivan (who would later go on to design the Ultimax 100 light machine gun for the Chartered Industries of Singapore).[3]

The first working prototype was chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO and completed in 1962.[3] It was designated the **Stoner M69W**
 (for no other reason than when turned upside down it reads the same,
symbolizing Stoner's vision of a fully invertible receiver).[3] The follow-up design, called the **Stoner 62**, also chambered in 7.62×51mm, was intended for mass production.[4] However, the design team decided to focus on the 5.56×45mm NATO
 small caliber high-velocity cartridge, as it appeared the new round was
 gaining mainstream military approval. Eugene Stoner had previously
worked with the cartridge when he designed the AR-15. The weapon system
using the smaller cartridge was known as the Stoner 63.[3] The first models were produced in February 1963.[5]
 The Costa Mesa facility produced 234 Stoner 63s, when production was
then moved in September 1964 to the Cadillac Gage plant in Warren, Michigan.[6]
 With the change in manufacturing plants, polycarbonate plastic was used
 for the stocks and grips instead of wood. The weapon is covered under U.S. Patent 3,198,076.

On March 4, 1963, the Department of Defense's Advanced Research Projects Agency made the first purchase of the Stoner 63, ordering 25 units in various configurations.[7] In August and September 1963, the Stoner 63 was sent to the Marines Corps Landing Force Development Center at Quantico for evaluation, where it made a positive impression with its light weight and high ammunition capacity;[3] the Marines favored the rifle and light machine gun configurations.[3]
 Trials were performed by the Army Material Command (responsible for
logistical support for the Marine Corps) at their own test facilities.

Many bugs affected the outcome of the Army trials of the gun: the
ammunition requirements proposed were unrealistic and the weapon was
expected to perform with an extremely wide range of port pressures,
leaving very little power reserve with some ammunition types.[3]
 For instance, the tracer ammunition used in the Stoner 63 was of such
low pressure that it even failed to function reliably in the M16.[3]
These factors severely affected the weapon's reliability. After
several months of testing, the Stoner 63 system was ultimately deemed to
 be unacceptable for service use.[3] The Army submitted recommendations for improvements to the design—these included a stainless steel
 gas cylinder, a two-position fire selector with separate safety,
ejection port dust covers and modifications to the belt feed mechanism.
The upgrades resulted in the improved **Stoner 63A**, which began production in 1966.[8][9] Only about 2,000 examples of the initial version were manufactured before the transition to the model 63A.

Even very early on in its development stage, a small number of
weapons were hurriedly pressed into service with the U.S. Navy SEALs
deployed to Southeast Asia.[8] During 1967, the Stoner 63A system was field tested by Company L (Lima Company), 3rd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. Riflemen were issued the weapon in the Rifle configuration (in both 63 and 63A variants, designated **XM22** and **XM22E1** respectively), while officers and certain other personnel received the Carbine (**XM23**).
 The Automatic Rifle configuration was deployed on a limited basis in
the squad automatic role, while Lima's weapons platoon received both the
 LMG and MMG configurations.[10]

In 1967, Dutch firm NWM (Nederlandsche Wapen-en Munitiefabriek) De Kruithoorn N.V. of 's-Hertogenbosch
 acquired licensing rights to manufacture and sell the weapon worldwide
with the exception of the United States, Canada and Mexico.[3] NWM assembled several prototypes but the company failed to secure any export customers and the weapon was withdrawn.[3]
In 1970, the U.S. Army designated the light machine gun configuration **XM207** and issued it to select Army Special Forces
 units for evaluation. However, due to its complexity and high
maintenance requirements (especially when compared to the new M16), the
design was rejected, and the project was dropped in 1971. That same
year, Cadillac Gage ceased all production of the Stoner 63.[11]
 Around 4,000 63 and 63A units were built in total. The Navy SEALs
continued to use the Stoner 63 and had officially adopted the Commando
version as the **Mark 23 Mod 0 machine gun**.[12] By the late 1980s the Stoner 63 was completely phased out in favor of the new M249 SAW, and most of the remaining guns were destroyed. Today, surviving examples number in the dozens.

The Stoner 63 series of weapons are gas-operated, air-cooled, belt or magazine-fed and in rifle and carbine configuration, fire from a closed bolt to ensure maximum accuracy, or in machine gun mode, fire from the open bolt position to prevent cook-offs and enhance cooling. The weapon has a rotary bolt locking mechanism with 7 radially symmetrical locking lugs that engage a series of recesses in the barrel
 extension, and is actuated by a conventional long-stroke piston. The
radial arrangement of locking lugs distributes the firing load evenly
around the bolt head and barrel socket, reducing stress and increasing
the longevity of these critical components. Attached to the piston
extension is the bolt carrier which is equipped with a curved cam track
that guides the bolt's cam pin (retained by the firing pin)
 and rotates the bolt 22.5° during the movement of the piston to either
lock or unlock the bolt from behind the abutments in the barrel socket.
Incorporated into the bolt carrier/piston group is an anti-bounce
device, consisting of a 4 in (101.6 mm) carbide
 rod that rides within the piston extension’s hollow interior and moves
back and forth during the recoil and counter-recoil cycles, reducing
bolt bounce and preventing the possibility of firing out of battery
during closed bolt firing (in the Rifle/Carbine models).

When fired, propellant gases from the ignited cartridge following the
 projectile down the bore are vented through a gas port into a gas
cylinder where they drive the piston and bolt carrier rearward. There is
 about 0.2 in (5.1 mm) of uninterrupted free travel calculated to permit
 the gas build-up in the bore to drop to a safe level before the
carrier's cam slot rotates the bolt counter-clockwise to unlock. The
locking lugs have no pitch therefore no primary extraction occurs during
 the unlocking sequence. A deeply seated spring-loaded claw extractor in the bolt head extracts the spent cartridge casing from the chamber and a spring-powered ejector fixed to the front feed mechanism trigger housing ejects the casing. The bolt carrier continues to the rear and compresses the recoil spring on its guide rod.

The Stoner 63 has a unique buffering system contained within the bolt carrier. In front of the carrier cap are a steel shim and a set of 27 saucer-shaped Belleville washers
 oriented in opposing sets of three, which absorb energy from the piston
 stroke by deforming into a flat plate when the bolt carrier strikes the
 receiver’s end cap. When the plates return to their original shape they
 release a pulse of strain energy
 which propels the reciprocating parts forward in counter-recoil with a
speed only slightly below that of the original recoil velocity. The
plates will function without failure for between 40,000 and 50,000
rounds (depending upon the type of ammunition used and cyclic rates
employed). This feature was designed to extend the weapon’s service
life.

The Stoner 63 was produced in several configurations, with 15
separate assemblies, which had limited parts commonality. These variants
 included a carbine, an assault rifle, and various light machine guns feeding linked ammunition
 from the left or right. The gas system was mounted in different
positions depending on the weapon's configuration. Due to the multi-role
 nature of the design the carbine and rifle versions were heavier than
comparable weapons of the same type.

* **Stoner 63/63A Rifle**: A standard assault rifle fed from below

by a 30-round box magazine. Spent cases are ejected to the right. The
cocking handle and gas system are mounted above the barrel. Unlike the
belt-fed configurations, the Rifle fires from closed bolt.
 The rifle configuration was field tested by the USMC for a short period
 during April to June 1964 by a recruit company at MCRD Parris Island,
SC and elsewhere in 1967. It was eventually fitted with a lightweight
bipod that folded beneath the handguard.

* **Stoner 63/63A Carbine**: The Carbine is similar to the Rifle

configuration, but with a shorter barrel and a folding shoulder stock.
The carbine configuration was field tested by the USMC for a short
period during 1967.

* **Stoner 63/63A Automatic Rifle**: The Automatic Rifle is an

open-bolt rifle fed from a top-mounted, 30-round magazine. The front and
 rear sights are offset to the left to compensate for the magazine's
position. The AR does not have a semi-automatic mode. The automatic
rifle configuration was field tested by the USMC for a short period
during 1967.

* **Stoner 63/63A Light Machine Gun**: The LMG configuration fires

from an open bolt and is fed from the right-hand side by linked
ammunition contained in a 75, 100, 150-round drum magazine. The receiver
 is identical to the Rifle variants, but is inverted, so that spent
cases and links are ejected to the left. The LMG has a quick-change
barrel and the gas cylinder is positioned below the barrel since the
receiver is inverted. The LMG configuration was adopted for military use
 by Navy SEAL units operating in Southeast Asia.

* **Stoner 63/63A Medium Machine Gun**: Identical to the LMG

configuration. The difference is that the MMG comes with a separate
adapter than can be used to attach the weapon to an M2 or M122 tripod.

* **Stoner 63/63A Fixed Machine Gun**: Internally identical to the

LMG configuration. Externally, the front sights, rear sights, foregrip
and pistol grip are all removed. The trigger is activated remotely by a
24V solenoid. The FMG was designed for use with the Cadillac Gage Commando APC, but was never officially adopted.

* **Stoner 63/63A Commando**: The Commando is a derivative of the

LMG configuration. It is fed from the right by a 100-round drum magazine
 clipped below the receiver. The cocking handle is mounted underneath
the foregrip for easier access. To save weight, the Commando eschews the
 quick-change barrel found on the other belt-fed configurations. This
variant was used by some United States Navy SEAL units in Vietnam.

* **Stoner 63 Survival Rifle**: The Survival Rifle was designed in 1964 to compete with the Colt Model 608 as an aircrew

 self-defense weapon. It is mechanically similar to the Rifle
configuration, but has several external modifications made to fit into United States Air Force
 size constraints. These include a cut-down pistol grip, an absent
handguard, shortened barrel and receiver, and a top-mounted cocking
handle. The Survival Rifle does not incorporate the 63A upgrades. Only
one prototype was ever produced—it survives to this day.[14]
The most recent descendant of this line is the Stoner LMG produced by Knight's Armament Company, which has significant changes from the older Stoner 63.

Robinson Armament Co. also produced the semi-automatic M96 Expeditionary Weapon System which, though technically different, was based on the Stoner 63 design, and thus has some of its features and configurations.[15][16]

### FN SCAR-L

    The **Special Operations Forces Combat Assault Rifle** (**SCAR**)[10] is a gas-operated (short-stroke gas piston)[8] self loading rifle with a rotating bolt |rate= 625 rounds/min.[9] It is constructed to be extremely modular, including barrel change to switch between calibres. The rifle was developed by FN Herstal (FNH) for the United States Special Operations Command (SOCOM) to satisfy the requirements of the SCAR competition.[11] This family of rifles consist of two main types. The SCAR-L, for "light", is chambered in the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge and the SCAR-H, for "heavy", fires 7.62×51mm NATO. Both are available in *Long Barrel* and *Close Quarters Combat* variants.

The FN SCAR systems completed low rate initial production testing in June 2007.[12] After some delays, the first rifles began being issued to operational units in April 2009, and a battalion of the US 75th Ranger Regiment was the first large unit deployed into combat with 600 of the rifles in 2009.[2]
 The US Special Operations Command has currently cancelled their
purchase of the Mark 16 (or MK 16) SCAR-L and are planning to remove the
 rifle from their inventory by 2013. However, they will purchase the Mk
17 SCAR-H version, and also plan to purchase 5.56 mm conversion kits for
 the Mk 17, supplanting the loss of the Mk 16.[13] The SCAR was one of the competing weapons in the Individual Carbine competition which aimed to find a replacement for the M4 carbine.[14]
As of early 2015, the FN SCAR is now in service in over 20 countries around the world.

The SCAR is manufactured in two main versions; **Light (SCAR-L, Mk 16 Mod 0)** and **Heavy (SCAR-H, Mk 17 Mod 0)**. The L version fires 5.56×45mm NATO using improved STANAG (M16) magazines. The H fires the more powerful 7.62×51mm NATO from a newly designed 20-round magazine. Different length barrels will be available for close quarters battle and for longer-range engagements. The initial solicitation indicated that the SCAR-H would also be chambered for the 7.62×39mm M43 Kalashnikov cartridge and 6.8×43mm Remington SPC cartridge. However, FN is not currently offering other calibers.

The Mk 16 Mod 0 was intended to replace the M4A1, the Mk 18 CQBR and the Mk 12 SPR
 currently in SOCOM service, before SOCOM decided to cancel the order
for the Mk 16 Mod 0 (see below). The Mk 17 Mod 0 will replace the M14 and Mk 11 sniper rifles. However, the weapon will only supplement other weapons while issuing remains at the operator's decision.

The Mk 20 Sniper Support Rifle is based on the 7.62mm Mk 17 rifle. It
 includes a longer receiver, a beefed up barrel extension and barrel
profile to reduce whip and improve accuracy, and an enhanced modular
trigger that can be configured for single-stage or two-stage operation
together with either a folding or a non-folding precision stock.[16]

The SCAR has two receivers: The lower is constructed of polymer, and
the upper receiver is one piece and constructed of aluminum.[17] The SCAR features an integral, uninterrupted Picatinny rail
 on the top of the aluminium receiver, two removable side rails and a
bottom one that can mount any MIL-STD-1913 compliant accessories. It has
 a polymer lower receiver with an M16
 compatible pistol grip, flared magazine well, and raised area around
magazine and bolt release buttons. The front sight flips down for
unobstructed use of optics and accessories. The rifle uses a 'tappet'
type of closed gas system much like the M1 Carbine while the bolt carrier otherwise resembles the Stoner 63 or Heckler & Koch G36.

The SCAR is built at the FN Manufacturing, LLC plant in Columbia,
South Carolina, in the United States. Since 2008, FN Herstal has been
offering semi-automatic versions of the SCAR rifles for commercial and
law enforcement use. These are dubbed the **16S** (Light) and **17S** (Heavy), and are manufactured in Herstal, Belgium and imported by FNH USA, Fredericksburg, Virginia, United States.[18][19]
 FNH USA slightly modifies the rifles (supplying a U.S. made magazine
and machining a pin in the magazine well) to be in compliance with U.S.
Code before selling them.

The SCAR was selected in 2004 out of the Special Operations Forces
(SOF) Combat Assault Rifle Program. The MK 16, MK 17, and MK 13 were
officially designated as operationally effective (OE), operationally
suitable (OS), and sustainable as a result of a 5-week Field User
Assessment conducted by operational SOCOM forces in late 2008. These
SCAR variants began fielding in April 2009.[36]
 On 4 May 2010, a press release on FNH USA's official website announced
the SCAR Acquisition Decision Memorandum was finalized on 14 April 2010,
 moving the SCAR program to the Milestone C phase. This was an approval
for the entire weapons family of the Mk 16 SCAR Light, Mk 17 SCAR Heavy,
 and the Enhanced Grenade Launcher Module.[37]
In late October 2010 SOCOM approved full-rate production of the Mk 20
 sniper variant of the SCAR, with fielding beginning in mid-May 2011.

#### Users:

* Human Rarity
* Rarity

#### Gallery

Rarity's FN SCAR-L assault rifleHuman Rarity's FN SCAR-L Assult Rilfe
### FN LAR

    The ***Fusil Automatique Léger*** ("Light Automatic Rifle") or **FAL** is a semi-automatic/selective fire battle rifle produced by the Belgian armaments manufacturer Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (FN). During the Cold War it was adopted by many North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries, with the notable exception of the United States. It is one of the most widely used rifles in history, having been used by more than 90 countries.[4]

The FAL was predominantly chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO
 round, and because of its prevalence and widespread use among the armed
 forces of many NATO countries during the Cold War it was nicknamed "The
 right arm of the Free World".[2]
A British Commonwealth derivative of the FN FAL has been produced under licence as the L1A1 Self-Loading Rifle.

n 1946, the first *FN FAL* prototype was completed. It was designed to fire the intermediate 7.92×33mm Kurz cartridge developed and used by the forces of Nazi Germany during World War II (see StG44 assault rifle). After testing this prototype in 1948, the British Army urged FN to build additional prototypes, including one in bullpup configuration, chambered for their new .280 British caliber intermediate cartridge.[5]
 After evaluating the single bullpup prototype, FN decided to return
instead to their original, conventional design for future production.[5]

In 1950, the United Kingdom presented the redesigned FN rifle and the British EM-2, both in .280 British calibre, to the United States for comparison testing against the favoured United States Army design of the time—Earle Harvey's T25.[6]
 It was hoped that a common cartridge and rifle could be standardized
for issue to the armies of all NATO member countries. After this testing
 was completed, U.S. Army officials suggested that FN should redesign
their rifle to fire the U.S. prototype ".30 Light Rifle" cartridge. FN
decided to hedge their bets with the U.S., and in 1951 even made a deal
that the U.S. could produce FALs royalty-free, given that the UK
appeared to be favouring their own EM-2.

This decision appeared to be correct when the British Army decided to
 adopt the EM-2 and .280 British cartridge in the very same month.[5] This decision was later rescinded after the Labour Party lost the 1951 General Election and Winston Churchill returned as Prime Minister. It is believed[*by whom?*] that there was a quid pro quo agreement between Churchill and U.S. President Harry Truman
 in 1952 that the British accept the .30 Light Rifle cartridge as NATO
standard in return for U.S. acceptance of the FN FAL as NATO standard.
The .30 Light Rifle cartridge was in fact later standardized as the
7.62 mm NATO; however, the U.S. insisted on continued rifle tests. The
FAL chambered for the .30 Light Rifle went up against the redesigned T25
 (now redesignated as the T47), and an M1 Garand variant, the T44.
Eventually, the T44 won out, becoming the M14. However, in the meantime, most other NATO countries were evaluating and selecting the FAL.

FN created what is possibly the classic post-war battle rifle. Formally introduced by its designers Dieudonné Saive and Ernest Vervier in 1951, and produced two years later, it has been described as the "Right Arm of the Free World."[7] The FAL battle rifle has its Warsaw Pact counterpart in the AKM, each being fielded by dozens of countries and produced in many of them. A few, such as Israel and South Africa,
 manufactured and issued both designs at various times. Unlike the
Soviet AKM assault rifle, the FAL utilized a heavier full-power rifle cartridge.

The FAL operates by means of a gas-operated action very similar to that of the Russian SVT-40. The gas system is driven by a short-stroke, spring-loaded piston housed above the barrel, and the locking mechanism is what is known as a *tilting breechblock*. To lock, it drops down into a solid shoulder of metal in the heavy receiver much like the bolts of the Russian SKS carbine and French MAS-49
 series of semi-automatic rifles. The gas system is fitted with a gas
regulator behind the front sight base, allowing adjustment of the gas
system in response to environmental conditions. The piston system can be
 bypassed completely, using the gas plug, to allow for the firing of rifle grenades and manual operation.[8] The FAL's magazine capacity ranges from five to 30 rounds, with most magazines holding 20 rounds. In fixed stock versions of the FAL, the recoil
 spring is housed in the stock, while in folding-stock versions it is
housed in the receiver cover, necessitating a slightly different
receiver cover, recoil spring, and bolt carrier, and a modified lower
receiver for the stock

FAL rifles have also been manufactured in both light and heavy-barrel
 configurations, with the heavy barrel intended for automatic fire as a
section or squad light support weapon. Most heavy barrel FALs are
equipped with bipods,
 although some light barrel models were equipped with bipods, such as
the Austrian StG58 and the German G1, and a bipod was later made
available as an accessory.

Among other 7.62×51mm NATO battle rifles at the time, the FN FAL had
relatively light recoil, due to the gas system being able to be tuned
via regulator in fore-end of the rifle, which allowed for excess gas
which would simply increase recoil to bleed off. In fully automatic
mode, however, the shooter receives considerable abuse from recoil, and
the weapon climbs off-target quickly, making automatic fire only of
marginal effectiveness. Many military forces using the FAL eventually
eliminated full-automatic firearms training in the light-barrel FAL.

The FAL has been used by over 90 countries, and over two million have been produced.[1][4] The *FAL* was originally made by Fabrique Nationale de Herstal
 (FN) in Liège, Belgium, but it has also been made under license in a
number of countries. A distinct sub-family was the Commonwealth
inch-dimensioned versions that were manufactured in the United Kingdom and Australia (as the L1A1 Self Loading Rifle or SLR), and in Canada as the C1. The standard metric-dimensioned FAL was manufactured in South Africa (where it was known as the *R1*), Brazil, Israel, Austria and Argentina. Mexico assembled FN-made components into complete rifles at its national arsenal in Mexico City. The FAL was also exported to many other countries, such as Venezuela,
 where a small-arms industry produces some basically unchanged variants,
 as well as ammunition. By modern standards, one disadvantage of the FAL
 is the amount of work which goes into machining the complex receiver,
bolt and bolt carrier. Some theorized that the movement of the tilting
bolt mechanism tends to return differently with each shot, affecting
inherent accuracy of the weapon, but this has been proven to be false.
The FAL's receiver is machined, while most other modern military rifles
use quicker stamping or casting techniques. Modern FALs have many
improvements over those produced by FN and others in the
mid-20th-century.

### SIG SG 540

    The **SG 540** is a 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle developed in the early 1970s by Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft (SIG, currently SAN Swiss Arms AG) based out of Neuhausen, Switzerland as a private venture primarily destined for export markets and as a potential replacement for the 7.5×55mm Swiss SG 510 automatic rifle known as the Stgw 57 in Swiss service.

Work on a new generation of lightweight rifle using the intermediate
5.56mm round began at SIG in the 1960s and resulted in the somewhat
unsuccessful SG 530-1 design that employed a gas-assisted roller-delayed blowback
 operating mechanism which proved too complicated and expensive to
manufacture. As a result, in 1969 SIG chose to dispense with the complex
 roller-delayed action opting instead for a design using the more robust
 and simple piston-operated rotating bolt locking mechanism (derived from the Soviet 7.62×39mm AK
 assault rifle). This combination was to be successful and the rifle
entered production as a family of weapons consisting of the base 5.56mm
SG 540, the 7.62mm **SG 542** battle rifle and the 5.56mm **SG 543** carbine, where both 5.56mm variants were designed for use with 5.56×45mm NATO M193 ammunition, while the SG 542—the full size 7.62×51mm NATO rifle cartridge.

Production began between 1973–1974, but due to Swiss federal
restrictions on firearms exportation, manufacturing had to be carried
out at the MANURHIN (*Manufacture de Machines du Haut Rhin*) facility in Mulhouse, France.

The SG 540 series has entered service with the armed forces of several countries in Africa, Asia and South America as well as numerous law enforcement and security services. In 1988, the nationally-owned Portuguese defense manufacturer INDEP
 purchased rights to license build the SG 543 carbine for its own
forces. Currently both the SG 540 and SG 542 are only manufactured in Chile, under license by FAMAE for the Chilean Armed Forces. Based on the SG 540, FAMAE developed a 9×19mm Parabellum submachine gun version of the weapon known as the **SAF**.

The SG 540 is an air-cooled, gas-operated, selective fire assault rifle that fires from a closed bolt
 position. SIG designers used a long-stroke piston-driven action (with
the recoil spring wrapped around the piston rod itself) and an
adjustable gas regulator with three settings: "0"—used to launch rifle grenades,
 "1"—used in normal operating conditions and "2"—used in extreme
environmental conditions or in the presence of heavy fouling. The
firearm is locked into battery by means of a rotating bolt which features two heavy steel
 locking lugs. The bolt head is rotated by a control cam riding in a
helical guide slot machined into the bolt carrier. When a shot is fired,
 propellant gases from the barrel are fed into the gas cylinder located
above the barrel and impart rearward pressure on the piston rod, which
drives the bolt carrier back. After a certain amount of free travel
built into the system to allow the projectile to depart the barrel,
residual gas pressures in the bore drop to a safe level, allowing the
breech to be opened. The cam slot in the bolt carrier proceeds to
actuate the camming stud in the bolt, rotating the bolt head out of
engagement with the locking abutments in the receiver. The spent
cartridge casing is extracted by a claw extractor contained in the bolt
assembly while a protrusion on one of the internal bolt carrier guide
rails in the upper receiver acts as the fixed ejector, removing the
casing through a port on the right side of the receiver housing.

The rifle is hammer-fired and has a fire control selector mechanism
that is also the safety (lever in the "S" position—indicates the gun is
safe, "1"—semi-automatic fire, "3"—3-round burst and "20"—fully
automatic fire). The SG 540 is fed from either 20 or 30-round staggered
box magazines. After the last round is fired, a hold-open tab in the
magazine engages the bolt catch that locks the bolt in its rear (open)
position. A bolt release button is located on the left side of the
receiver.

The rifled barrel is fitted with a flash suppressor, which is also used to attach rifle grenades and a bayonet. The iron sights
 consist of a hooded foresight that can be corrected in elevation and an
 adjustable (windage only), rotating rear drum that contains four
apertures with settings for firing at: 100, 300, 400 and 500 m. The
receiver top surface can be used to mount adapters enabling the use of
optics.

The SG 540 series come equipped with either a fixed buttstock or a
side-folding metal skeleton stock. Another standard feature is a folding
 bipod
which is stowed under the handguard when not in use. The fixed stock,
pistol grip and handguard are all made of high-strength polymers to
reduce overall weight. In order to minimize costs, metal stamping was
employed in the production process.

Differences between the SG 542 and the SG 540 are mainly the result
of adopting a more powerful, full-size rifle cartridge. The SG 542 also
uses normally 20/30-round box magazines (5 and 10 magazines were also
manufactured) but the sights were modified with a 600 m setting in
addition to the 100, 300 and 500 m sight drum positions.

The SG 543 carbine is a shortened variant of the SG 540 that has been
 modified with a short 300 mm (11.8 in) barrel, a shorter gas cylinder
and piston rod as well as a different handguard and sights with 100,
200, 300 and 400 m firing range positions. The SG 543 lacks the integral
 bipod of the SG 540/542 and the reduced barrel cannot be used to fire
rifle grenades. The SG 540 served as the basis for the **SG 541** prototype, which would later become the SG 550 that entered service with the Swiss Armed Forces as the Stgw 90 (*Sturmgewehr 90*).

Additionally, two semi-automatic variants were manufactured by
MANURHIN between the late 1970s and the early 1980s specifically for the
 European civilian market: called the **SIG Manurhin F.S.A.** and the **SIG Manurhin C.S.A.**. These rifles were chambered in .222 Remington and .243 Winchester
 respectively. Both were available with either 30-round or reduced
5-round magazines, and the option of a folding or fixed stock. The
unusual chambering for this type of military-style rifle was an attempt
to comply with regulations in certain European countries imposing
restrictions on the civilian ownership of "military" cartridges such as
the 5.56×45mm NATO/.223 Remington or 7.62×51mm NATO/.308 Winchester.

#### Gallery

Cadance's SIG SG 540 rifleCadance's SIG SG 540 rifle w M12 shotgun
### SIG SG 551

    The **SG 550** is an assault rifle manufactured by Swiss Arms AG (formerly Schweizerische Industrie Gesellschaft) of Neuhausen, Switzerland. "SG" is an abbreviation for *Sturmgewehr*, or "assault rifle". The rifle is based on the earlier 5.56mm SG 540 and is also known as the **Fass 90** (*Fusil d'assaut* 90/*Fucile d'assalto* 90) in French/Italian or **Stgw 90** in German (*Sturmgewehr* 90).

In 1978, the Swiss Army formulated requirements for a successor to the Stgw 57 battle rifle (known commercially as the SG 510) using the 7.5×55mm Schmidt–Rubin
 cartridge. Emphasis was placed on modularity; the weapon family was to
include several variants of the base design, including a compact carbine
 that would be issued to rear-echelon and support troops, commanding
staff, vehicle crews, special operations personnel and paratroopers.
Another aim was to reduce the overall weight of the rifle while
retaining comparable or improved accuracy out to 300 m. The solicitation
 was narrowed down to two designs: the W+F C42 (developed by the state-owned Waffenfabrik Bern, using both 6.45×48mm and 5.6×45mm cartridges) and the **SG 541** (developed by SIG). In 1981, the experimental 6.45mm GP 80 cartridge was rejected in favor of the more conventional 5.6×45mm GP 90 round (with a 4.1 g, tombac-jacketed, lead core projectile) that is the Swiss equivalent to NATO's standard 5.56×45mm cartridge.

In February 1983, the decision to adopt the SG 541 was publicly
announced (the designation of the rifle was changed in October of the
following year to SG 550, while the carbine version became known as the **SG 551**).
 Production began in 1986 and four years later the rifle was officially
accepted into service in 1990, hence the military designation Stgw 90.
Over 600,000 rifles have been delivered since then and production for
the military has now ceased.

The SG 550 is a selective-fire 5.56×45mm NATO assault rifle firing from a closed bolt. It has a gas-actuated piston-driven long-stroke operating system derived from the SIG SG 540
 series of rifles, which uses burnt powder gases vented through a port
in the barrel to power the weapon's moving parts. Once inside the gas
cylinder, propellant gases pass through an L-shaped channel machined in
the piston head and are directed forward towards the gas valve. The
pressure build-up in front of the piston head pushes the piston and bolt
 carrier rearward. As the piston is driven back, the gas port and the
L-shaped channel move out of alignment, cutting off the supply of gas to
 the cylinder. Surplus gas and powder residues are evacuated through an
exhaust port in the gas cylinder. This system ensures that only the
precise volume of gas required to overcome the mass and resistance of
the rifle's moving assembly is admitted from the barrel. The manually
adjustable gas valve has two settings, one for normal operation, and the
 second setting for use in the presence of heavy fouling or icing.

The rotary bolt locking mechanism consists of two steel locking lugs that engage locking recesses in the breech, and is identical to that used in the SG 540. A spring-loaded extractor
 is incorporated into the bolt while a fixed protrusion on one of the
receiver's internal guide rails ejects the spent cartridge casings.

The rifle is hammer-fired and has a trigger mechanism with an
ambidextrous safety and fire selector switch that has 4 settings:
"S"—safe, "1"—single fire, "3"—3-round burst and "20"—fully automatic
fire. The 3-round burst mode "3" and the fully automatic "20" position
can be disabled by a rotating safety guard to avert accidentally
activating the continuous fire mode. The trigger is enclosed in a
pivoting trigger guard which can be folded down to the left or right
side allowing for unhindered operation with winter gloves. The trigger
pull is approximately 35 N (7.9 lbf)

The firearm is fed by lightweight 20-round box magazines, 30-, 10- and 5-round magazines are also available. The magazines are molded from a translucent polymer and can be locked together using studs in order to facilitate quicker reloading; Jungle style. The empty weight of a 20-round magazine is 95 g (3.4 oz) and 110 g (3.9 oz) for a 30-round magazine.

A bolt hold-open device locks the bolt carrier assembly open after
expending the last cartridge from the magazine and is released by
lifting the bolt catch lever located on the left side of the receiver.
Alternatively, a left-handed shooter may release the bolt by pulling the
 rubber-coated charging handle to rear a short distance.

The SG 550 has a side-folding skeletonized buttstock (folds to the right side of the receiver) and a lightweight aluminium bipod
 that folds into grooves in the lower handguard. The hinged stock is
firmly locked in the folded position by a socket in the butt which clips
 into a plastic stud on the handguard; a firm pull will release the
stock which is then swung into the closed position and locked by a
button catch. A collapsible side-folding stock is also available. The
stock, pistol grip, and handguards are made of a high-strength polymer, and are produced in either green or black colour options. The steel
 receiver housing and several other components are manufactured using
stamping and welding; external steel surfaces are finished with a
ceramic-reinforced enamel coat known as Ilaflon.[1][2] The gas system's components are made of stainless steel. The barrel, bolt, bolt carrier, and firing pin are all made with steel that has been gas nitrided, hardened and tempered. The bolt and carrier, along with most other components internal to the receiver undergo a phosphating process.

The heavy, cold hammer-forged barrel is screwed into the receiver and is equipped with a slotted "bird cage" type flash suppressor that is also used to launch rifle grenades (using standard, live ammunition) or attach a knife bayonet
 (the bayonet is supported by a lug located at the base of the gas
block). The rifled barrel has 6 right-hand grooves and the Swiss Army
specification 254 mm (1:10 in) rifling twist rate is optimized for Swiss
 military GP 90 ammunition. An export-oriented barrel with a 178 mm (1:7
 in) twist rate is also available, designed to stabilize 5.56×45mm NATO
rounds with the heavier SS109 projectile.
All rifles are test fired for accuracy and function prior to leaving
the factory at the manufacturer's underground 300 m test range. Random
new rifles out of production were tested on a machine rest. In a 24
single shot string starting with a cold weapon and using GP 90
ammunition, the 50% windage and elevation dispersion of any individual
weapon must have been within an 11 cm (4.3 in) group at 300 m, the 50%
windage and elevation dispersion must have averaged 7 cm (2.8 in).

The SG 551 carbine has a short pattern 363 mm (14.3 in) barrel, gas tube
 and piston compared to the SG 550. The SG 551 series rifles have a
466 mm (18.3 in) long sight radius. The handguards were also changed and
 the bipod removed. The SG 551 cannot be used with a bayonet or fire
rifle grenades. The SG 551 comes in several specialized variants
designed for use with security and special forces. Among those variants
are the **SG 551-1P** police carbine (designed to engage point targets out to 300 m; equipped with a Hensoldt 6x42 BL telescopic sight and detachable cheek riser), the **SG 551 SWAT**
 carbine (coated with a corrosion-resistant finish and equipped with an
optical sight mount used with a wide array of sights, and can also
accept mission-critical accessories such as a bipod, laser pointer or
tactical light) and the **SG 551 LB** carbine with an extended 454 mm (17.9 in) barrel that enables the use of rifle grenades and a bayonet.

### AK-47

    The **AK-47** (also known as **Kalashnikov**, **AK**, or in Russian slang, **Kalash**) is a selective-fire (semi-automatic and automatic), gas-operated 7.62×39mm assault rifle, developed in the Soviet Union by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is officially known in the Soviet documentation as *Avtomat Kalashnikova* (Russian: Автомат Калашникова).

Design work on the AK-47 began in the last year of World War II
(1945). After the war in 1946, the AK-47 was presented for official
military trials. In 1948, the fixed-stock version was introduced into
active service with selected units of the Soviet Army. An early development of the design was the *AKS* (S—*Skladnoy* or "folding"), which was equipped with an underfolding metal shoulder stock. In 1949, the AK-47 was officially accepted by the Soviet Armed Forces[8] and used by the majority of the member states of the Warsaw Pact.
Even after six decades the model and its variants remain the most
popular and widely used assault rifles in the world because of their
substantial reliability under harsh conditions, low production costs
compared to contemporary Western weapons, availability in virtually
every geographic region and ease of use. The AK-47 has been manufactured
 in many countries and has seen service with armed forces as well as irregular forces
 worldwide, and was the basis for developing many other types of
individual and crew-served firearms. As of 2004, out of the estimated
500 million firearms worldwide, approximately 100 million belong to the
Kalashnikov family, three-quarters of which are AK-47s.

Throughout World War II, Soviet soldiers found themselves
consistently outgunned by heavily armed German troops, especially those
armed with the Sturmgewehr StG 44 assault rifles, which the Germans fielded in large numbers.[9][4][10][11][12][13][14][15] The select-fire StG 44 was chambered for a new intermediate cartridge, the 7.92×33mm Kurz, and combined the firepower of a submachine gun with the range and accuracy of a rifle.[10]

On July 15, 1943, a Sturmgewehr was demonstrated before the People's Commissariat of Arms of the USSR.[16]
 The Soviets were so impressed with the Sturmgewehr, that they
immediately set about developing an intermediate caliber automatic rifle
 of their own, to replace the badly outdated Mosin–Nagant bolt-action rifles and PPSh-41 submachine guns that armed most of the Soviet Army.[12][16][17][18][19][20]
The Soviets soon developed the 7.62×39mm M43 cartridge, the semi-automatic SKS carbine and the RPD light machine gun.[21]
 Shortly after World War II, the Soviets developed the AK-47 assault
rifle, which would quickly replace the SKS in Soviet service.[22][23] In the 1960s, the Soviets introduced the RPK light machine gun,
 itself an AK-47 type weapon with a stronger receiver, a longer heavy
barrel, and a bipod, that would eventually replace the RPD light machine
 gun.

The AK-47 is best described as a hybrid of previous rifle technology
innovations. "Kalashnikov decided to design an automatic rifle combining
 the best features of the American M1 and the German StG44."[24]
 Kalashnikov's team had access to these weapons and had no need to
"reinvent the wheel". Kalashnikov himself observed: "A lot of Russian
Army soldiers ask me how one can become a constructor, and how new
weaponry is designed. These are very difficult questions. Each designer
seems to have his own paths, his own successes and failures. But one
thing is clear: before attempting to create something new, it is vital
to have a good appreciation of everything that already exists in this
field. I myself have had many experiences confirming this to be so."[25]
There are claims about Kalashnikov copying other designs, like Bulkin's TKB-415[2] or Simonov's AVS-31.

#### Users:

* Peter Sam
* Rheneas
* Luke

### AR-15

    The **AR-15** is a lightweight, intermediate cartridge

 magazine-fed, air-cooled rifle with a rotating lock bolt, actuated by a
 piston within the bolt carrier or by conventional long/short stroke
piston operation. It has been produced in many different versions,
including numerous semi-automatic and select fire variants. It is manufactured with extensive use of aluminum alloys and synthetic materials.

The AR-15 was first built in 1959 by ArmaLite as a small arms rifle for the United States armed forces. Because of financial problems, ArmaLite sold the design to Colt. After modifications, the redesigned rifle was adopted as the M16 rifle.
 In 1963, Colt started selling the semi-automatic version of the rifle
for civilians as the Colt AR-15. Although the name "AR-15" remains a
Colt registered trademark, variants of the firearm are made, modified,
and sold under various names by multiple manufacturers.

In 1959, ArmaLite sold its rights to the AR-10 and AR-15 to Colt. After a tour by Colt of the Far East, the first sale of AR-15s was made to Malaya on September 30, 1959, with Colt's manufacture of their first 300 AR-15s in December 1959.[14]
 Colt marketed the AR-15 rifle to various military services around the
world. After modifications (most notably the relocation of the charging handle from under the carrying handle to the rear of the receiver), the redesigned rifle was adopted by the United States military as the M16 rifle.[15]

In 1963, Colt started selling the semi-automatic
 version of the M16 rifle as the Colt AR-15 for civilian use and the
term has been used to refer to semiautomatic-only versions of the rifle
since then.[16]
 Colt continued to use the AR-15 trademark for its semi-automatic
variants (AR-15, AR-15A2) which were marketed to civilian and
law-enforcement customers. The original AR-15 was a very lightweight
weapon, weighing less than 6 pounds with empty magazine. Later
heavy-barrel versions of the civilian AR-15 can weigh upwards of 8.5 lb.[17]

Today the AR-15 and its variations are manufactured by many companies
 and are popular among civilian shooters and law enforcement forces
around the world due to their accuracy and modularity (for more history
on the development and evolution of the AR-15 and derivatives see M16 rifle).[*citation needed*]

The trademark
 "AR15" or "AR-15" is registered to Colt Industries, which maintains
that the term should only be used to refer to their products. Other
AR-15 manufacturers make AR-15 clones marketed under separate
designations, although colloquially these are sometimes referred to by the term AR-15.

Some notable features of the AR-15 include:

* Aircraft grade forged 7075-T6 aluminum receiver is lightweight, highly corrosion-resistant, and machinable.
* Modular design allows the use of numerous accessories such as after market sights, vertical forward grips, lighting systems, night vision devices, laser-targeting devices, muzzle brakes/flash hiders, sound suppressors, bipods, etc., and makes repair easier
* Straight-line stock design eliminates the fulcrum created by traditional bent stocks, reducing muzzle climb.
* Small caliber, accurate, lightweight, high-velocity round (.223/5.56×45mm)
* Easily adapted to fire numerous other rounds
* Front sight adjustable for elevation
* Rear sight adjustable for windage (most models) and elevation (some models)
* Wide array of optical aiming devices available in addition to or as replacements of iron sights
* Stoner gas system (as designed), with short or long stroke gas piston, or direct blowback operating systems available
* Synthetic pistol grip and butt stock that do not swell or splinter (regulated in some states)
* Various magazine capacity, ranging from 10 to 30-round or more
* Ergonomic design that makes the charging handle, selector switch

(which also engages the safety), magazine release, and bolt catch
assembly easy to access.

* 4 MOA Accuracy as a MILSPEC standard

Semi-automatic AR-15s for sale to civilians are internally different
from the full automatic M16, although nearly identical in external
appearance. The hammer and trigger mechanisms are of a different design.
 The bolt carrier and internal lower receiver of semi-automatic versions
 are milled differently, so that the firing mechanisms are not
interchangeable. This was done to satisfy United States Bureau of
Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF)
 requirements that civilian weapons may not be easily convertible to
full-automatic. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, items such as the
"Drop In Auto Sear" or "lightning-link," conversion to full automatic
was very straightforward (sometimes requiring machining of the lower
receiver with use of a mill and M16 Bolt Carrier Group).[18][19]
 Such modifications, unless using registered and transferable parts made
 prior to May 19, 1986, are illegal. (The Firearm Owners Protection Act
in 1986 has redefined a machine gun to include individual components
where a semi-automatic firearm can be converted to full-automatic based
on a 1981 ATF ruling on machine gun parts.) Since 1993, The Bolt Carrier
 Groups used in AR-15 type rifles for civilians have employed additional
 measures to prevent modification to full auto. Colt AR-15's use a metal
 alloy wall separating the Fire Control group from the Sear, preventing
use of such items.

Automatic variants have a three-position rotating selective fire
 switch, allowing the operator to select between three modes: safe,
semi-automatic, and either automatic or three-round burst, depending on
model. Civilian Colt AR-15 models do not have three-round burst or
automatic settings; they can only be fired as a semi-automatic, and are
therefore not selective fire
 weapons. In semi-automatic-only variants, the switch only functions to
rotate between safe and fire. Some other manufacturers may mark their
rifles with three-positions for collectors and re-enactors, though the
guns will not fire in those modes. However weapons modified to full
automatic using a lightning-link are capable of full automatic fire
only—unless a special full automatic fire select mechanism and modified
selector-switch is substituted.[18]
 Also many AR-15's made before 1986 were converted to be M16's Via
gunsmiths who legally turned them into Form One rifles in the U.S.[20] Ways to Identify the converted AR's is by seeing an Auto Sear in an AR-15 marked lower receiver.[20]
Today, while the civilian manufacture, sale and possession of post
1986 select-fire AR-15 variants is prohibited it is still legal to sell
templates, tooling and manuals to complete such conversion. These items
are typically marketed as being "post-sample" materials for use by
Federal Firearm Licensees for manufacturing/distributing select-fire
variants of the AR-15 to Law Enforcement, Military and Overseas
customers.

### AKM

    The **AKM** (Russian: Автомат Калашникова Модернизированный; *Avtomat Kalashnikova Modernizirovanniy* or "Kalashnikov modernized automatic rifle") is a 7.62mm assault rifle designed by Mikhail Kalashnikov. It is a common modernized variant of the AK-47 rifle developed in the 1940s.

Introduced into service with the Soviet Army
 in 1959, the AKM is the most ubiquitous variant of the entire AK series
 of firearms and it has found widespread use with most member states of
the former Warsaw Pact and its many African and Asian
 allies as well as being widely exported and produced in many other
countries. The production of these Soviet rifles was carried out at both
 the Tula Arms Plant and Izhmash. It was officially replaced in Soviet frontline service by the AK-74 in the late 1970s, but remains in use worldwide.

The AKM is an assault rifle using the 7.62×39mm Soviet intermediate cartridge. It is gas operated with a rotating bolt.
 The AKM is capable of selective fire, firing either single shots or
automatic at a cyclic rate of 600 rounds/min. Despite being replaced in
the late 1970s by the AK-74 the AKM is still in service in some Russian Army reserve and second-line units and several east European countries.

Compared to the AK-47, the AKM features detail improvements and
enhancements that optimized the rifle for mass production; some parts
and assemblies were conceived using simplified manufacturing methods.
Notably, the AK-47's milled steel receiver was replaced by a U-shaped
steel stamping. As a result of these modifications, the AKM’s weight was
 reduced by approx. 1 kg (2.2 lb), the accuracy during automatic fire
was increased and several reliability issues were addressed. The AK-47's
 chrome-lined barrel
 was retained, a common feature of Soviet weapons which resists wear and
 corrosion, particularly under harsh field conditions and near-universal
 Eastern Bloc use of corrosively primed ammunition.

The AKM’s receiver, compared to the AK-47, is stamped from a smooth 1.0 mm (0.04 in) sheet of steel. To the U-shaped stamped sheet metal receiver housing a rear stock trunnion and forward barrel trunnion are fastened using rivets.
 The receiver housing also features a rigid tubular cross-section
support that adds structural strength. Guide rails that assist the bolt
carrier’s movement which also incorporates the ejector are installed
inside the receiver through spot welding. As a weight-saving measure, the stamped receiver cover is of thinner gauge metal than that of the AK-47. In order to maintain strength and durability it employs both longitudinal and latitudinal reinforcing ribs.

The main variant of the AKM is the **AKMS** (S – *Skladnoy* Folding[*disambiguation needed*]),
 which was equipped with an under folding metal shoulder stock in place
of the fixed wooden stock. The metal stock of the AKMS is somewhat
different from the folding stock of the previous AKS-47 model as it has a
 modified locking mechanism, which locks both support arms of the AKMS
stock instead of just one (left arm) as in the AKS-47 folding model. It
is also made of rivetted steel pressings, instead of the milled versions
 of most AKS-47s.

The AKM was produced in the following versions: AKMP, AKML and AKMLP,
 whereas the AKMS led to the following models – AKMSP, AKMSN and AKMSNP.
 It is designed especially for use by paratroopers–as the folding stock
permits more space for other equipment when jumping from a plane and
then landing.

The **AKMP** rifle uses subdued Radium-illuminated
 aiming points integrated into the front and rear sight. These sights
enable targets to be engaged in low-light conditions, e.g. when the
battlefield is illuminated with flares, fires or muzzle flashes or when
the target is visible as a shadow against an illuminated background. The
 sliding notch on the sight arm is then moved to the “S” setting (which
corresponds to the “3” setting in the AKM). The sight itself is guided
on the sliding scale and has a socket, which contains a tritium
gas-filled capsule directly beneath the day-time notch. The tritium
front post installs into the front sight base using a detent and spring.

The **AKML** comes equipped with a side-rail used to attach a night vision device.
 The mount comprises a flat plate riveted to the left wall of the
receiver housing and a support bracket fixed to the mounting base with
screws. To shield the light-sensitive photo detector plate of the night
vision sight, the weapon uses a slotted flash suppressor,
 which replaces the standard recoil compensator. The AKML can also be
deployed in the prone position with a detachable barrel-mounted bipod
 that helps stabilize the weapon and reduces operator fatigue during
prolonged periods of observation. The bipod is supplied as an accessory
and is carried in a holster attached to the duty belt.

The **AKMN** comes equipped with a side-rail used to attach a
night vision device. The model designated AKMN-1 can thus mount the
multi-model night vision scope 1PN51[16] and the AKMN2 the multi-model night vision scope 1PN58.[17]

The **AKMLP** is a version of the AKML with tritium sights (as in the AKMP).

The **AKMSP** rifle is based on the folding stock AKMS variant but fitted with tritium night sights, as in the AKMP.

The **AKMSN** model is derived from the AKMS and features an
accessory rail used to mount a night vision sensor as seen on the AKML
and additionally a flash hider and bipod. The left arm of the AKMSN’s
folding stock is bent outwards in order to avoid the sight mount bracket
 during folding and the sling loop was moved further to the rear.
Similarly to the AKMN-1, the AKMSN-1 can mount the multi-model night
vision scope 1PN51[16] and the AKMSN2 the multi-model night vision scope 1PN58.[17]

A version of the AKMSN additionally supplied with factory tritium night sights is called the **AKMSNP**.

A version of the AKM with a modified lower handguard designed to accept the 40 mm wz. 1974 Pallad grenade launcher was developed in Poland and designated the **karabinek-granatnik wz. 1974**.

### Heckler & Koch 416

    The **Heckler & Koch HK416** (HK M4, German M4 Carbine) is an assault rifle/carbine designed and manufactured by Heckler & Koch. It is based on the AR-15 platform, and was originally conceived as an improvement based on the Colt M4 carbine

 family issued to the U.S. military, with the notable inclusion of an
HK-proprietary short-stroke gas piston system derived from the Heckler & Koch G36. The HK416 was made famous as the rifle that United States Navy SEALs used to kill Osama Bin Laden.

The United States Army's Delta Force, at the request of R&D NCO Larry Vickers, collaborated with the German arms maker Heckler & Koch to develop the new carbine in the early 1990s.[*when?*] During development, Heckler & Koch capitalized on experience gained developing the *Bundeswehr's* Heckler & Koch G36 assault rifle, the U.S. Army's XM8 rifle project (canceled in 2005) and the modernization of the British Armed Forces SA80 small arms family.[*citation needed*] The project was originally called the **HK M4**, but this was changed in response to a trademark infringement suit filed by Colt Defense.

Delta Force
 replaced its M4s with the HK416 in 2004, after tests revealed that the
piston operating system significantly reduces malfunctions while
increasing the life of parts.[6] The HK416 has been tested by the United States
 military and is in use with some law enforcement agencies and special
operations units. It has also been adopted as the standard rifle of the Norwegian Armed Forces.
A modified variant underwent testing by the United States Marine Corps as the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle. After the Marine Corps Operational Test & Evaluation Activity supervised a round of testing at MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, Fort McCoy, and Camp Shelby
 (for dust, cold-weather, and hot-weather conditions, respectively). As
of March 2012, fielding of 452 IARs has been completed of 4,748 ordered.
 Five infantry battalions; 1st Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion
and 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines, out of Camp Pendleton, CA, First
Battalion, 3rd Marines, out of Marine Corps Base HI, 1st Battalion, 9th
Marines, out of Camp Lejeune, NC; and 1st Battalion, 25th Marines, out
of Fort Devens, MA have deployed the weapon.

The HK416 uses a HK-proprietary short-stroke gas system that derives from the HK G36, forgoing the direct impingement gas system standard in AR-15 rifles.[9] The HK G36 gas system was in turn partially derived from the AR-18 assault rifle designed in 1963.[10]
 The HK system uses a short-stroke piston driving an operating rod to
force the bolt carrier to the rear. This design prevents combustion
gases from entering the weapon's interior—a shortcoming with direct
impingement systems.[11]
 The reduction in heat and fouling of the bolt carrier group increases
the reliability of the weapon and extends the interval between
stoppages. During factory tests the HK416 fired 10,000 rounds in
full-auto without malfunctioning.[12]
 It also reduces operator cleaning time and stress on critical
components. According to H&K, "...experience that Heckler & Koch
 gained during its highly successful 'midlife improvement programme' for
 the British Army SA80 assault rifle, have now borne fruit in the HK416."[9]

The HK416 is equipped with a proprietary accessory rail forearm with MIL-STD-1913
 rails on all four sides. This lets most current accessories for
M4/M16-type weapons fit the HK416. The HK416 rail forearm can be
installed and removed without tools by using the bolt locking lug as the
 screwdriver. The rail forearm is "free-floating" and does not contact
the barrel, improving accuracy.

The HK416 has an adjustable multi-position telescopic butt stock,
offering six different lengths of pull. The shoulder pad can be either
convex or concave and the stock features a storage space for maintenance
 accessories, spare electrical batteries or other small kit items.

The trigger pull is 34 N (7.6 lbf). The empty weight of a HK416 box magazine is 250 g (8.8 oz).

The HK416's barrel is cold hammer-forged with a 20,000-round service life and features a 6 grooves 178 mm (7 in) right hand twist.
 The cold hammer-forging process provides a stronger barrel for greater
safety in case of an obstructed bore or for extended firing sessions.
Modifications for an over-the-beach (OTB) capability such as drainage
holes in the bolt carrier and buffer system are available to let the
HK416 fire safely after being submerged in water.

The HK416's outer appearance resembles the M4.
 It includes international symbols for safe, semi-automatic, and fully
automatic. It has a redesigned retractable stock that lets the user
rotate the butt plate, and a new pistol grip designed by H&K to more
 ergonomically fit the hand. A new single-piece hand guard attaches to
the rifle with a free floating RI
 system for mounting accessories. The most notable internal difference
is the short stroke gas piston system, which is derived from the HK G36. To compensate for increased pressure due to the new gas system, it has a thicker barrel.

Furthermore, an adjustable gas block with piston allows reliable
operation on short-barrelled models, with or without a suppressor
attached. Finally, the HK416 includes a folding front sight, and a rear
sight similar to the G3. The HK416 system is offered as an upper receiver, separate from the rest of the rifle, as a replacement to the standard issue M4 upper receiver. It can attach to existing AR-15
 family rifles, giving them the new gas system, the new hand guard, and
sights, while retaining the original lower receiver. The Heckler &
Koch 416 can also be purchased as a fully assembled, stand alone
carbine.

In July 2007, the U.S. Army announced a limited competition between the M4 carbine, FN SCAR, HK416, XCR, and the previously-shelved HK XM8.
 Ten examples of each of the four competitors were involved. Each weapon
 fired 6,000 rounds in an extreme dust environment. The shoot-off was
for assessing future needs, not to select a replacement for the M4.[13][14]
 The XM8 scored the best, with only 127 stoppages in 60,000 total
rounds, the FN SCAR Light had 226 stoppages, while the HK416 had 233
stoppages. The M4 carbine scored "significantly worse" than the rest of
the field with 882 stoppages.[6]

In December 2009, a modified version of the HK416 was selected for the final testing in the Infantry Automatic Rifle program, designed to partially replace the M249 light machine gun at the squad level for the United States Marine Corps.[15] It beat the three other finalists by FN Herstal and Colt Defense. In July 2010, the HK416 IAR was designated as the M27, and 450 were procured for additional testing.[16]

The Norwegian Army conducted an extensive evaluation before selecting the HK416 as its new primary firearm.
The Turkish company Makina ve Kimya Endustrisi Kurumu
 ("Mechanical and Chemical Industry Corporation") has considered
manufacturing a copy of the HK416 as the MKEK Mehmetçik-1 for the Turkish Armed Forces.[17]
 Instead, a new assault rifle has been developed by KALEKALIP with MKEK
as the producer, with the Mehmetçik-1 dropped from adoption into the
Turkish military.

### Armalite AR-18

The **AR-18** is a gas-operated, selective-fire rifle chambered for 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition. The AR-18 was designed at ArmaLite in California by Arthur Miller, Eugene Stoner, George Sullivan, and Charles Dorchester in 1963 as an alternative to the AR-15 design, which had just been selected by the U.S. military as the M16. While the AR-18 was never adopted as the standard service rifle of any nation, its production licence was sold to companies in Japan and the United Kingdom, and it is said to have influenced many later weapons such as the British SA80,[1][2][3] the Singaporean SAR-80 and SR-88,[4] the American Adaptive Combat Rifle, and the Heckler and Koch G36. Through the Provisional IRA, which was noted for its use of the rifle, the rifle became known as the "Widowmaker".

Soon after the adoption of the 7.62×51mm NATO M14 rifle in 1957, the U.S. Army's Continental Army Command (CONARC) began an investigation of small-caliber, high-velocity (SCHV) rifles as an offshoot of the military's existing research program, Project SALVO. ArmaLite and Winchester Arms were solicited by CONARC to provide prototype automatic rifles chambered for high-velocity centerfire .22 rounds. ArmaLite's AR-15 was a scaled-down version of the 7.62mm AR-10,
 which had appeared too late to be a serious contender against the M14
for adoption by the US Army. Its competitor was the Winchester .224
Light Rifle,[6] a 'Carbine' Williams
 prototype carbine design in a .22 high velocity round which was similar
 to, but not interchangeable with, the .223 Remington (5.56×45mm).
During the protracted U.S. military trials of the AR-15, ArmaLite's corporate owners Fairchild essentially gave up on the design, and sold the AR-15 production rights to Colt.
 Fairchild also spun off ArmaLite as an independent company, allowing
the new owners to buy all of the company's designs except for the AR-10
and AR-15. When the U.S. military ultimately selected the AR-15 as the M16, ArmaLite could no longer profit from its adoption.

The Armalite AR-16 appeared in the later 1950s. The **AR-16**, a 7.62mm NATO selective-fire rifle, was Eugene Stoner's final design for ArmaLite. The AR-16 and its predecessor, the **AR-12**
 were designed by Stoner in response to demands by the military forces
of smaller, less developed nations for a less expensive, yet
state-of-the-art selective-fire military rifle that unlike the AR-10 and
 AR-15, could be produced inexpensively of heavy-gauge sheet metal using
 automatic screw machines, lathes, and presses.[7][8]
 The AR-12 originally featured a direct-impingement (DI) gas operation
system, but this was changed to a more conventional short-stroke gas piston in the AR-16 after ArmaLite sold the production rights to the DI system to Colt Firearms.[7] The AR-16 had a short, 15-inch barrel, hinged wooden butt, and weighed 8.75 pounds empty; only three examples were built.[8] Eugene Stoner left ArmaLite in 1961, shortly before Fairchild divested itself of ownership.[9]

The U.S. military's later adoption of the AR-15 gave legitimacy to
its 5.56mm cartridge, and ArmaLite sought to develop a competing design
chambered in 5.56mm that did not infringe on the Colt licence agreement.
 With Stoner gone, it was decided to scale down the AR-16, and
ArmaLite's new chief designer, Arthur Miller, embarked on the project.
The resulting 5.56mm design appeared in 1963 and was named the **AR-18**. Miller later received U.S. Patent 3,246,567 for the rifle in 1969.

Overall, the new AR-18 rifle is much more conventional than previous
ArmaLite designs, although it uses the relatively new stamped steel
construction from its predecessor, the AR-16. Despite being pioneered by the Germans during WW2 in weapons such as the MP44, and later adopted for the Soviet AKM,
 the use of stamped and welded sheet metal components was still uncommon
 in the manufacture of military rifles in the West in the early 1960s,
which had, until then, largely retained the use of traditional machined
forgings.[10]
 Compared to the smooth lines of the AR-15, the AR-18 faced criticism
over its stamped and welded construction, which had demonstrably greater
 tolerances in parts fit.[11][12]
 However, the rifle proved to be both reliable and very accurate at all
ranges up to 460 metres (500 yards). Its simple construction promised
significantly reduced production costs, and allowed it to be
licence-produced locally on less advanced machinery, potentially
reducing dependence on foreign manufacturers.[10]
 Moreover, the gas piston operation of the AR-18 proved much more
resistant to carbon fouling than the direct gas impingement system of
the earlier AR-10 and AR-15 rifles, as it does not vent gas and carbon particles directly into the receiver.[13]

The AR-18's action is powered by a short-stroke gas piston above the
barrel. The gas piston is of 3-piece design to facilitate disassembly,
with a hollow forward section with 4 radial gas vent holes fitting
around a stainless steel gas block projecting rearwards from the
foresight housing. The gas is vented from the barrel and travelled via a
 vent through the foresight housing into the hollow front section of the
 piston, which causes it to move rearwards a short distance. The rear
end of the piston emerges through the barrel extension to contact the
forward face of the bolt carrier, causing it in turn to move rearwards.
The bolt itself is of similar configuration to the AR-15 with 7 radial
locking lugs engaging corresponding recesses in the barrel extension,
and the extractor in place of the 8th lug. The bolt is moved into and
out of the locked position via a cam pin that engaged a helical
 slot in the bolt carrier, which rides on two metal guide rods (each
with its own return spring) instead of contacting the receiver walls,
providing additional clearance for foreign matter entering the receiver.[14]
 Unlike the AR-15, the cocking handle fits directly into a recess in the
 bolt carrier and reciprocates with it during firing, allowing the firer
 to force the breech closed or open if necessary. The cocking handle
slot has a spring-loaded cover that can be closed by the user to prevent
 debris entering the receiver, and it will open automatically as the
bolt carrier moves rearwards after the first shot. The recoil springs
are housed within the receiver, differing from the AR-15 which houses
its more elaborate buffer mechanism in the buttstock. The AR-18's
compact design enables the use of a side-folding stock with a hinging
mechanism (which proved to be less than adequately rigid).[12]

The sights are of similar design and sight picture to those of the
AR-15 - a 2-position flip aperture rear sight and post foresight - but
the rear sight is made of stampings. A notable change is the use of a
more conventional lower sight line closer to the axis of the bore, in
contrast to the elevated sights of the AR-15. A dovetail is spot welded
to the receiver in front of the rear sight for a proprietary ArmaLite
quick-detachable scope mount.

Overall, the design is simple and effective with some clever touches;
 for example the bolt guide rod assembly guides the bolt in the
receiver, retains the recoil springs and the rear end of the top
handguard, as well as serving as the latch holding the upper and lower
receivers together in the closed position. Disassembly is somewhat
similar to the AR-15, with the working parts accessed by the rifle
pivoting open on a cross-pin immediately forward of the magazine well.

The AR-18 was put into limited production at ArmaLite's machine shop
and offices in Costa Mesa, California. A semi-automatic version of the
AR-18 known as the **AR-180** was later produced for the civilian
market between 1969 and 1972. ArmaLite was never equipped to build small
 arms on a production basis, and the Costa Mesa AR-18 and AR-180 rifles
frequently show evidence of hand-fitting. A production license was
granted to **Nederlandsche Wapen-en Munitiefabriek** (NWM) of Den Bosch, the Netherlands, but it is doubtful that any AR-18 rifles were actually produced there.[10] A license to produce the AR-18/180 was then sold to **Howa Machinery Co.**, of Japan,
 and the rifle was produced there from 1970 until 1974, when new
controls on export of military arms by the Japanese government forced
the company to cease all small arms production.[10] From 1975 until 1983, the **Sterling Armaments Company** of Dagenham, Essex, in the United Kingdom produced the AR-18/AR-180.[8][10]

Unlike the AR-15/M16, the AR-18 did not see substantial sales
success, and was never officially adopted by any country as their
standard service rifle. The reasons for this are unclear, but may have
had something to do with the existing sales popularity of the
AR-15/M-16, as well as the need for additional field testing and
evaluation of the Costa Mesa-produced rifles, which were still in the
advanced prototype stage. The AR-18 was purchased for evaluation trials
by various armed forces, including the United States (1964) and the
United Kingdom (1966).[1] These suffered various malfunctions during evaluation trials by various nations.[8]
 During the US trials at Aberdeen Proving Grounds in 1964, the AR-18's
functioning was found to vary from lot to lot of ammunition.[15]
 The evaluating board concluded that while the basic design of the AR-18
 was sound, it required additional minor revisions and changes to
improve safety and reliability before it could be considered for
adoption as a service rifle.[15]
 The British Ministry of Defence (MOD) tested the AR-18 in March 1966,
and found the design unsatisfactory in performance during mud and sand
trials. ArmaLite made several minor production modifications to the
design commencing in 1965, and the U.S. Army was directed to re-evaluate
 the AR-18 at the end of 1969. Testing was conducted at Aberdeen Proving
 Grounds, conducted by arsenal employees and the Infantry Board at Fort
Benning, Georgia. However, American procurement officials were not
interested in acquiring yet another 5.56 mm service rifle.[8]
 Instead, the AR-180 was sold on the civilian market, while the AR-18
sold in small quantities to police and law enforcement organizations, as
 well as armies and security forces of nations such as Botswana, Haiti, and Swaziland. Still others found their way into the hands of terrorist or paramilitary groups, such as the Provisional IRA in Northern Ireland.[16] In 1968, dissatisfied with efforts to market the AR-18, Arthur Miller left ArmaLite.

### CAR-15 Commando

    The **Colt Automatic Rifle-15 Military Weapons System** or **CAR-15** was a family of AR-15 and M16 rifle–based firearms marketed by Colt in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Due to their compact size, the short-barreled **Colt Commando** and **XM177** versions of this family continued to be issued to the U.S. military after the Vietnam War.

The CAR-15 name was an attempt to re-associate the AR-15 name with Colt, since the AR initially stood for ArmaLite
 Rifle, the original manufacturer. Colt later abandoned the CAR-15
concept, but continued to make variations, using the M16 brand for
military-oriented models and the Colt AR-15 brand for law enforcement
and civilian models. However, in present usage, CAR-15 is used as a
generic name for carbine-length M16 and AR-15 variants from before the M4.
Specifically, "Colt Commando" currently refers to the ultrashort 11.5-inch barrel assault rifle of the Model 733 series. By comparison, the M4 Carbine has a 14.5-inch barrel, while the M16 assault rifle series has a 20-inch barrel.
It is said that the People's Army of Vietnam's M-18 was designed based on the captured Colt Commando in the Vietnam War.

Following a long series of tests by the U.S. Army and U.S. Air force,
 resulted in an order for 8,500 AR-15 (redesignated M16) rifles for the
Air Force in in 1962. About the same time, the Advance Research Projects
 Agency of the Department of Defense became interested, and 1,000 rifles
 were procured for field test in Vietnam.[2] Starting in 1965, Colt attempted to market the M16 rifle as a modular weapons platform that could fulfill all of the various needs of an army, similar to the marketing plans for the AR-10, its predecessor, and the Stoner 63, its rival. In order to compete with the Stoner 63 which could be converted into a belt-fed light or medium machine gun, Colt also included the short-lived CMG-1 and CMG-2
 machine guns in the CAR-15 Military Weapons System, though the CMG-1
and CMG-2 had few parts in common with the CAR-15s. By using various
upper assemblies, buttstocks, and pistol grips, the weapon could be configured as an assault rifle, a heavy-barreled automatic rifle, a carbine, a submachine gun, or as a survival rifle.

Each variation had a Colt model number, meant for internal
identification usage. The members of the CAR-15 family, with the
exception of the Rifle and Commando, only existed as toolroom
 prototypes and never entered full-scale production. As a result, wide
variation due to experimentation exists within each model. The U.S.
military only made significant purchases of the Rifle and Commando
versions, so Colt abandoned the CAR-15 family concept. The CAR-15 Rifle
was already identified by most users as M16s or AR-15s, and the CAR-15
name was similarly associated with the short-barreled Submachine Gun and
 Commando models. Because of that, the term "CAR-15" has been used to
describe any M16-based carbine, even if the particular weapon is not
officially named thus.

The CAR-15 Commando was not initially part of the CAR-15 Military
Weapons System, but was added in 1966 in response to the US military's
desire for a shorter M16 and the Model 607 SMG's inadequacies. Colt
engineer Rob Roy designed a simpler two-position telescoping tubular
aluminum buttstock to replace the complicated extending triangular
version. The fragile and ad hoc triangular handguards were replaced by
reinforced round handguards. Each half of the round handguard was
identical, simplifying logistics by not requiring a top/bottom or
left/right pair. The *Model 609* Commando had a forward assist, while the *Model 610* Commando did not. A *Model 610B*
 with a four-position selector was available, but not used by the U.S.
military. All versions were equipped with the 4.25-inch long moderator.

The XM177 used a unique flash suppressor sometimes called a flash or
sound moderator for its 10-inch barrel. This device is 4.2 inches long
and was designed primarily as a counterbalance measure as the shorter
barrel made the weapon unwieldy.[5]
 This device reduced flash signature greatly and sound signature
slightly, making the normally louder short barreled rifle sound like a
longer barreled M16A1.[6]
 Although it has no internal baffles and does not completely reduce the
sound signature to subsonic levels, because it alters the sound level of
 the weapon, the US Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco Firearms and Explosives
has declared this muzzle device to be a sound suppressor and regulates
its civilian purchase in the United States.[6]

The Model 610 was classified as the *XM177*[7] but adopted by the Air Force as the *GAU-5/A*
 Submachine Gun (GAU = Gun, Aircraft, Unit). The Army purchased 2,815
Model 609 CAR-15 Commandos on June 28, 1966, which were officially
designated Submachine Gun, 5.56 mm, *XM177E1*.[7]
 As part of the contract, Colt was supposed to supply each XM177E1s with
 seven 30-round magazines, but Colt was unable to build a reliable
30-round curved magazine that would fit in the M16 magwell, so most
XM177E1s were shipped with 20-round magazines. The exception was 5th Special Forces Group, who received a total of four early 30-round magazines. Colt completed delivery of the purchased XM177E1s in March 1967.

In 1967, in response to field testing, Colt lengthened the Commando's
 barrel from 10 inches to 11.5 inches. The increased length reduced
noise and muzzle flash, and allowed fitting of the Colt XM148 grenade launcher. A metal boss was added to the moderator for mounting of the XM148 and rifle grenades.[8] The chambers were chrome-plated. The Commandos with the longer barrels were called the *Model 629* and *Model 649*. The Model 629 Commando had a forward assist; the Model 649 Commando did not.

In April 1967, the Army purchased 510 Colt 629 Commandos for use by troops assigned to the Military Assistance Command, Vietnam Studies and Observations Group (MACV-SOG), and designated them *XM177E2*.[7]
 Delivery was completed by the end of September 1967. The Air Force
adopted a similar model without the forward assist feature as the *GAU-5A/A*. Sources debate whether or not this was a Colt Model 630 or 649.[7] According to John Plaster
 and other sources, the lack of 30-round magazines continued to be
problematic and SOG operators resorted to pooling their personal
resources and purchasing the larger capacity magazines on the civilian
U.S. market.[9]
 Problems with range, accuracy, barrel fouling, and usage of tracer
bullets continued to plague the XM177 series, but Colt estimated that it
 would take a six-month $400,000 program to do a complete ballistic and
kinematic study. There were also recommendations for a 29-month $635,000
 research and development program. Both recommendations were declined by
 the U.S. military as American ground force involvement in the Vietnam
War was gradually winding down. Production of the CAR-15 Commando ended
in 1970.

#### Users:

* Rainbow Disaster
* Sarah Connor

### Norinco Type 56

    The **Chinese Norinco Type 56** is a variant of the Russian designed and produced AK-47 and AKM assault rifles.[3] Production started in 1956 at State Factory 66, and continued until 1973. Since then it has been produced by Norinco, who continue to produce the rifle primarily for export.

The Type 56 is a widely proliferated variant of the AK-47. While the exact production figures are unknown, it is estimated[*by whom?*] that 10 to 15 million Type 56 rifles have been produced since the 1950s.

During the Cold War period, the Type 56 was exported to many
countries and guerilla forces throughout the world. Many of these rifles
 found their way to battlefields in Africa, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East and were used alongside other Kalashnikov rifles from both the Soviet Union as well the Warsaw Pact nations of Eastern Europe.
Chinese support for the Democratic Republic of Vietnam before the mid-1960s meant that the Type 56 was frequently encountered by American soldiers in the hands of either Vietcong guerrillas or PAVN
 soldiers during the Vietnam war. The Type 56 was discovered in enemy
hands far more often than regular Russian-made AK-47s or AKMs.[4]

When relations between China and the North Vietnam crumbled in the 1970s and the Sino-Vietnamese War began, the Vietnamese government still had large numbers of Type 56 rifles in its arsenals, while the People's Liberation Army
 still used the Type 56 as its standard weapon. Thus, Chinese and
Vietnamese forces fought each other using the same Type 56 rifles.

The Type 56 was used extensively by Iranian forces during the Iran–Iraq War of the 1980s, with Iran purchasing large quantities of weapons from China for their armed forces. During the war, Iraq also purchased a small quantity, despite them being a major recipient of Soviet weapons and assistance during the war. This was done in conjunction with their purchasing of large number of AKMs from the USSR and Eastern Europe. Consequently, the Iran–Iraq War became another conflict in which both sides used the Type 56.

Since the end of the Cold War, the Type 56 has been used in many conflicts by various military forces. During the Croatian War of Independence and the Yugoslav Wars, it was used by the armed forces of Croatia. During the late 1990s, the Kosovo Liberation Army in Kosovo were also major users of the Type 56, with the vast majority of the weapons originating from People's Socialist Republic of Albania, which received Chinese support during much of the Cold War.

In the United Kingdom and the United States,
 the Type 56 and its derivatives are frequently used in the filming of
movies and television shows, standing in for Russian-made AK-47s due to
the rarity of original AK-47s, with some even being visually modified to resemble other AK-series rifles. Versions of this weapon that have the full-auto firing ability deleted (referred to as "sporter" rifles) are also available for civilian ownership in most parts of the United States.

In the mid-1980s, Sri Lanka started to replace their L1A1 Self-Loading Rifles (SLR) and HK G3s with the Type 56. Currently, they use the fixed stock, under-folding stock and side-folding stock variants.

The Type 81, Type 95 and Type 03 replaced Type 56 in PLA
 front line service, but the Type 56 remains in use with reserve and
militia service. Type 56s are still in production by Norinco for export
customers.

During the Soviet war in Afghanistan in the 1980s, many Chinese Type 56 rifles were supplied to Afghan Mujahideen guerrillas to fight Soviet forces by the China, Pakistan and the US who obtained them from third party arms dealers.[5][6]

Bangladesh navy sailor fires a Type 56-2 rifle.

Use of the Type 56 in Afghanistan also continued well into the 1990s and the early 21st century as the standard rifle of the Taliban. When Taliban forces seized control of Kabul in 1996 (a majority of the Chinese small arms used by the Taliban were provided by Pakistan).[4]

Since the overthrow of the Taliban by U.S.-led Coalition forces in
late 2001, the Chinese Type 56 assault rifle has been utilized by the Afghan National Army, with many rifles serving alongside other AK-47 and AKM variant rifles.

The Type 56 has been seen regularly in the hands of militants from the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, the armed wing of Hamas in the Palestinian territories.

The Type 56 has been used by the Janjaweed in the Darfur region of Sudan
 with pictures and news footage showing members of the Janjaweed
carrying Type 56 rifles (most of them provided by the Sudanese
government).

In 1987, Michael Ryan used a legally owned Type 56 rifle, and two other firearms, in the Hungerford massacre in the United Kingdom, in which he shot 32 people, 17 of whom died. The attack led to the passage of Firearms (Amendment) Act 1988, which bans ownership of semi-automatic centre-fire rifles and restricts the use of shotguns.[7]

In the United States, a Type 56 rifle, purchased in Oregon under a false name,[8] was used in the 1989 Stockton schoolyard shooting
 in which Patrick Purdy fired over 100 rounds to shoot one teacher and
34 children, killing five. The shooting led to the passage of
California's Roberti-Roos Assault Weapons Control Act of 1989.[9]

Originally, the Type 56 was a direct copy of the AK-47, and featured a milled receiver, but starting in the mid-1960s, the guns were manufactured with stamped receivers much like the Soviet AKM. Visually, most versions of the Type 56 are distinguished from the AK-47 and AKM by the fully enclosed hooded front sight (all other AK pattern rifles, including those made in Russia, have a partially open front sight). Many versions also feature a folding bayonet attached to the barrel just aft of the muzzle.
 There are three different types of bayonets made for Type 56 rifles.
The first type 56s were near identical copies of the Soviet milled
AK-47. It is speculated[*by whom?*]
 that the Chinese had to reverse engineer a copy of the AKM with the
stamped receiver as they were not given a licence to produce the AKM and
 RPK by the Soviets because of failing relations after the Sino-Soviet split.

* The Type 56 has a 1.5mm stamped receiver (like the RPK, although it lacks the reinforced trunnion of the RPK) versus the 1mm stamping of the AKM.
* The barrel on the Type 56 is similar to the AK-47 and heavier than that of the AKM.
* The front sights are fully enclosed, compared to the AKM and AK-47 which are partially opened.
* Has the double hook disconnector of the AK-47 rather than the single hook disconnector of the AKM.
* Has a smooth dust cover like the AK-47 and unlike the ribbed dust cover of the AKM.
* May have a folding spike bayonet (nicknamed the "pig sticker") as

opposed to the detachable knife bayonets of the AK-47 and AKM. There are
 three different types of spike bayonets made for Type 56 rifles. Type
56 assault rifles are the only AK-pattern assault rifles that use spike
bayonets.

* Military issued versions of the Type 56 lack the threaded muzzle

found on the AK-47 and AKM, this means they cannot use an AKM
compensator or blank-firing device. Commercial versions of the Type 56 may or may not have a threaded muzzle.

* Has a blued finish like the AK-47 and unlike the AKM, which has a black oxide finish or a parkerized finish.
* Has "in the white" bolt carrier, while the AKM bolt carrier is blued.
* Like the AK-47, sights will only adjust to 800 metres, whereas AKM sights adjust to 1000 metres.
* Nearly all Type 56's lack the side mount plate that was featured on many variations of the AK-47 and AKM.
* Lacks the hammer release delay device of the AKM. The lack of hammer

 retarder is perhaps due to a preference of a slightly higher rate of
fire, and simplicity. And did not have anything to do with thickness of
the receiver, as the RPK included the hammer retarder also.

* The gas relief ports are located on the gas tube like the AK-47,

unlike the AKM which had the gas relief ports relocated forward to the
gas block.

* The fixed stock of a Type 56 has a less in-line stock like the AK-47, opposed to the AKM which has a straighter stock.

#### Gallery

Starlight Glimmer's Type 56 assault rifle
## Sub-Machines guns

### Thompson

    The **Thompson submachine gun** (nicknamed the **Thompson**) is an American submachine gun, invented by John T. Thompson in 1918, that became infamous during the Prohibition era. It was a common sight in the media of the time, being used by both law enforcement officers and criminals.[7] The Thompson was also known informally as: the "**Tommy Gun**", "**Trench Broom**", "**Trench Sweeper**", "**Chicago Typewriter**", "**Chicago Piano**", "**Chicago Style**", "**Chicago Organ Grinder**", and "**The Chopper**".[8][9][10][11][12]

The Thompson was favored by soldiers, criminals, police and civilians alike for its large .45 ACP cartridge, accuracy, and high volume of automatic fire. It has since gained popularity among civilian collectors for its historical significance.

The Thompson Submachine Gun was developed by General John T. Thompson who originally envisioned an *auto rifle* (semi-automatic rifle)
 to replace the bolt action service rifles then in use. While searching
for a way to allow such a weapon to operate safely without the
complexity of a recoil or gas operated mechanism, Thompson came across a patent issued to John Bell Blish in 1915 based on adhesion of inclined metal surfaces under pressure.[13] Thompson found a financial backer, Thomas F. Ryan, and started the Auto-Ordnance Company in 1916 for the purpose of developing his *auto rifle*. It was primarily developed in Newport, Kentucky. The principal designers were Theodore H. Eickhoff, Oscar V. Payne, and George E. Goll. By late 1917, the limits of the Blish Principle were discovered: rather than working as a locked breech, it functioned as a friction-delayed blowback action. It was found that the only cartridge currently in U.S. service suitable for use with the lock was the .45 ACP round. Thompson then envisioned a "one-man, hand-held machine gun" in .45 ACP as a "trench broom" for use in the ongoing trench warfare of World War I.
 Payne designed the gun itself and its stick and drum magazines. The
project was then titled "Annihilator I" and by 1918, most of the design
issues had been resolved. However, the war ended two days before
prototypes could be shipped to Europe.[14]
At an Auto-Ordnance board meeting in 1919 to discuss the marketing of
 the "Annihilator," with the war now over, the weapon was officially
renamed the "Thompson Submachine Gun." While other weapons had been
developed shortly prior with similar objectives in mind, the Thompson
was the first weapon to be labeled and marketed as a "submachine gun."[9]
 Thompson intended the weapon as an automatic "trench-broom" to sweep
enemy troops from the trenches, filling a role for which the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) had been proven ill-suited.[15] This concept had already been developed by German troops using their own Bergmann MP18, the world's first submachine gun, in concert with *sturmtruppen* tactics.

The Thompson first entered production as the M1921. It was available
to civilians, although poor sales resulted from the expense of the
weapon: the Thompson gun, with one Type XX 20 shot "stick" magazine, was
 priced at $200.00 in 1921 (at that time, a Ford automobile sold for
$400.00). M1921 Thompsons were sold in small quantities to the United States Postal Inspection Service[17] (to protect the mail from a spate of robberies)[18]
 and to the United States Marine Corps. Federal sales were followed by
sales to several police departments in the US and minor international
sales to various armies and constabulary forces, chiefly in Central and South America.[18] The Marines used their Thompsons in the Banana Wars and in China. It was popular with the Marines as a point-defense weapon for countering ambush by Nicaraguan guerrillas, and led to the organization of four-man fire teams with as much firepower as a nine-man rifle squad.
 The major complaints against the Thompson were its weight, inaccuracy
at ranges over 50 yards (46 m), and the lack of penetrating power of the
 .45 ACP pistol cartridge.[19]

Some of the first batches of Thompsons were bought in America by agents of the Irish Republic, notably Harry Boland. The first test of a Thompson in Ireland was performed by West Cork Brigade commander Tom Barry in presence of IRA leader Michael Collins.[20]
 A total of 653 were purchased, but 495 were seized by US customs
authorities in New York in June 1921. The remainder made their way to
the Irish Republican Army by way of Liverpool and were used in the last month of the Irish War of Independence (1919–21).[21] After a truce with the British in July 1921, the IRA imported more Thompsons and they were used in the subsequent Irish Civil War
 (1922–23). They were not found to be very effective in Ireland; in only
 32% of actions where it was used did the Thompson cause serious
casualties (death or serious injury) to those attacked.[22]

The Thompson achieved most of its early notoriety in the hands of Prohibition and Depression-era gangsters, motorized bandits and the lawmen who pursued them, and in Hollywood films about their exploits, most notably in the St Valentine's Day Massacre. It has been referred to by one researcher as the "gun that made the twenties roar."[23][24]

In 1926, the Cutts Compensator (a recoil brake)
 was offered as an option for the M1921; Thompsons with the compensator
were cataloged as No. 21AC at the original price of $200.00, with the
plain M1921 designated No. 21A at a reduced price of $175.00.[25]

In 1928, Federal Laboratories took over distribution of the weapon from Thompson's Auto Ordnance Corporation.[26] The cost at this time was US$225 per weapon, with $5 per 50-round drum and $3 for 20-round magazine.[26]

Nationalist China
 acquired a quantity for use against Japanese land forces, and
eventually began producing copies of the Thompson in small quantities
for use by its armies and militias. In the 1930s, Taiyuan Arsenal produced copies of the Thompson for Yan Xishan, the warlord of Shanxi province.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation first acquired Thompsons in 1933 following the Kansas City Massacre.

In 1938, the Thompson submachine gun was adopted by the U.S. military, serving during World War II and beyond.

There were two military types of Thompson SMG.

* The M1928A1 had provisions for box and drum magazines. It had a Cutts compensator, cooling fins on the barrel, employed a delayed blowback action and its charging handle was on the top of the receiver.
* The M1 and M1A1 had a barrel without cooling fins, a simplified rear

 sight, provisions only for box magazines, employed a straight blowback
action and the charging handle was on the side of the receiver. Over 1.5
 million military Thompson submachine guns were produced during World
War II.
Military users of the M1928A1 had complaints about the "L"
fifty-round drum magazine; the British Army officially criticised "their
 excessive weight, the rattling sound they made...." and shipped
thousands back to the U.S. in exchange for box magazines. The Thompson
had to be cocked, bolt retracted ready to fire, to attach the drum. It
attached and detached by sliding sideways, which made magazine changes
slow and also created difficulty in clearing a cartridge malfunction
("jam"). Reloading an empty drum with cartridges was an involved
process.

In contrast, the "XX" twenty-round box magazine was light and
compact, it tended not to rattle, and could be inserted with the bolt
safely closed. It was quickly attached and detached, and was removed
downward, making clearing jams easier. The box tripped the bolt open
lock when empty, facilitating magazine changes. An empty box was easily
reloaded with loose rounds. However, users complained it was limited in
capacity. In the field, users frequently taped two "XX" magazines
together to speed magazine changes.[*citation needed*]

Two alternatives to the "L" drum and "XX" box magazines were tested
December 6, 1941, at Fort Knox: an extended thirty-round box magazine
and a forty-round magazine made by welding two 20-round magazines face
to face, jungle style.
 Testers considered both superior to either the "XX" box or "L" drum.
The 30-round box was approved as standard in December 1941 to replace
the "XX" and "L" magazines.[28] (The concept of welding two box magazines face-to-face was carried over with the UD 42 submachine gun.)

The staff of Savage Arms looked for ways to simplify the M1928A1,
producing a prototype in Feb 1942 which was tested at Aberdeen Proving
Ground in March 1942; Army Ordnance approved adoption as the M1 in April
 1942. M1s were made by Savage Arms and by Auto-Ordnance.
 M1s were issued with the 30-round box magazine and would accept the
earlier 20-round box, but would not accept the drum magazine.

#### Users

* Princess Luna (M1928)
* Squidward (M1928)
* Button Mash (M1928)
* Sir Handel (M1928)
* The Trolley Fighters (M1921 & M1A1)

#### Gallery

Thompson M1A1Princess Luna's ThompsonButton Mash's Thompson (drum mag)Button Mash's Thompson (box mag)
### British Sten Mk. II

    The **STEN** (or **Sten gun**) was a family of British submachine guns chambered in 9×19mm and used extensively by British and Commonwealth forces throughout World War II and the Korean War. They were notable for having a simple design and very low production cost making them effective insurgency weapons for resistance groups.

STEN is an acronym, from the names of the weapon's chief designers, Major Reginald V. **S**hepherd and Harold **T**urpin, and **EN** for Enfield.[1][2] Over 4 million Stens in various versions were made in the 1940s.

The Sten emerged while Britain was engaged in the Battle of Britain, facing invasion by Germany. The army was forced to replace weapons lost during the evacuation from Dunkirk while expanding at the same time. Prior to 1941 (and even later) the British were purchasing all the Thompson submachine guns they could from the United States,
 but these did not begin to meet demand. The American entry into the war
 at the end of 1941 placed an even bigger demand on the facilities
making Thompsons. In order to rapidly equip a sufficient fighting force
to counter the Axis threat, the Royal Small Arms Factory, Enfield, was commissioned to produce an alternative.

The credited designers were Major R. V. Shepherd, OBE, Inspector of Armaments in the Ministry of Supply Design Department at The Royal Arsenal, Woolwich, (later Assistant Chief Superintendent at the Armaments Design Department) and Mr. Harold John Turpin, Senior Draughtsman of the Design Department of the Royal Small Arms Factory (RSAF), Enfield. Shepherd had been recalled to service after having retired and spending some time at BSA.

The Sten shared design features, such as its side-mounted magazine configuration, with the Royal Navy's Lanchester submachine gun, which was a copy of the German MP28.
 In terms of manufacture, the Lanchester was entirely different, being
made of high-quality materials with pre-war fit and finish, in stark
contrast to the Sten's austere execution. The Lanchester and Sten
magazines were even interchangeable (though the Lanchester's magazine
was longer with a 50-round capacity, compared to the Sten's 32-round
capacity).

The Sten used simple stamped metal components and minor welding,
which required a minimum of machining and manufacturing. Much of the
production could be performed by small workshops, with the firearms
assembled at the Enfield site. Over the period of manufacture the Sten
design was further simplified: the most basic model, the Mark III, could
 be produced from five man-hours work. Some of the cheapest versions
were made from only 47 different parts. It was distinctive for its bare
appearance (just a pipe with a metal loop for a stock), and its
horizontal magazine. The Mark I was a more finely finished weapon with a
 wooden foregrip and handle; later versions were generally more spartan,
 although the final version, the Mark V, which was produced after the
threat of invasion had died down, was produced to a higher standard.

The Sten underwent various design improvements over the course of the
 war. For example, the Mark 4 cocking handle and corresponding hole
drilled in the receiver were created to lock the bolt in the closed
position to reduce the likelihood of accidental discharges inherent in
the design. Most changes to the production process were more subtle,
designed to give greater ease of manufacture and increased reliability.
Build quality ranged from quite good (Canadian production) to poor
(early British production.) Sten guns of late 1942 and beyond were, in
general, highly effective weapons, though complaints of accidental
discharge continued throughout the war. Such was the ease of manufacture
 that the Germans also produced a version of the Sten, the MP 3008, late in the war and the Sten was used extensively by Jewish partisans during the Israeli War of Independence.

The Sten was replaced by the Sterling submachine gun
 from 1953 and was gradually withdrawn from British service in the
1960s. The other Commonwealth nations made or adopted their own
replacements.

The Sten was a blowback-operated submachine gun firing from an open bolt
 with a fixed firing pin on the face of the bolt. This means the bolt
remains to the rear when the weapon is cocked, and on pulling the
trigger the bolt flies forward under spring pressure, stripping the
round from the magazine, chambering it and firing the weapon all in the
same movement. There is no breech locking mechanism, the rearward
movement of the bolt caused by the recoil impulse is arrested only by
the mainspring and the bolt's inertia. The basic operating principles
were similar to those of the German MP40, Russian PPSh-41, US M3 submachine gun
 and numerous other designs. These shared similar attributes and faults;
 they were simple and cheap to manufacture, and put an automatic weapon
into the hands of soldiers, greatly increasing the short-range firepower
 of the infantry, especially when the main infantry weapon was a bolt-action rifle
 capable of only around 15 rounds per minute and not suited for
short-range combat. However, the open-bolt firing and use of pistol
ammunition severely restricted accuracy, with an effective range of
around 100m.

Stoppages could occur due to a variety of problems: some as a result
of poor maintenance, while others were particular to the Sten. Carbon
buildup on the face of the breech[3] or debris in the bolt raceway could cause a failure to fire, while a dirty chamber could cause a failure to feed.[4]
 Firing the Sten by grasping the magazine with the supporting hand
tended to wear the magazine catch, altering the angle of feed and
causing a failure to feed - the correct method of holding the weapon was
 as with a rifle, the left hand cradling the fore piece, as per the
picture of Mr. Churchill firing one below.

Additional problems stemmed from the Sten's magazine, which was a
direct copy of the one used in the German MP-38, originally in order to
facilitate the use of German 9 mm magazines.[5]
 Unfortunately, this decision necessarily incorporated the Erma
magazine's faults in the process. The magazine had two columns of 9 mm
cartridges in a staggered arrangement, merging at the top to form a
single column. While other staggered magazines, such as the Thompson,
fed from both the left and right side alternately (double-column, double
 feed), the Sten magazine, like the MP38, required the cartridges to
gradually merge at the top of the magazine to form a single column
(double column, single feed). As a consequence, any dirt or foreign
matter in this taper area could cause feed malfunctions.
 Additionally, the walls of the magazine lip had to endure the full
stresses of the rounds being pushed in by the spring. This, along with
rough handling could result in deformation of the magazine lips (which
required a precise 8° feed angle to operate), resulting in misfeeding
and a failure to fire.

Modern 9 mm magazines, such as those used by the Sterling SMG,
 are curved and feed both sides to avoid this problem. If a Sten failed
to feed due to jammed cartridges in the magazine, standard practice to
clear it was as follows: remove magazine from Sten, tap the base of the
magazine against the knee, re-insert magazine in Sten, then recocking
the weapon and firing again as normal.[4]
 To facilitate easier loading when attempting to push the cartridges
down to insert the next one, a magazine filler tool was developed and
formed part of the weapon's kit.

The slot on the side of the body where the cocking knob ran was also a
 target of criticism, as the long opening could allow foreign objects to
 enter. On the other hand, a beneficial side-effect of the Sten's minimalist design was that it would fire without any lubrication.[4] This proved useful in desert environments such as the Western Desert Campaign, where oil attracted and retained dust and sand.

The open bolt design combined with cheap manufacture and rudimentary
safety devices also meant the weapon was prone to accidental discharges,
 which proved hazardous. A simple safety could be engaged while the bolt
 was in the rearwards (cocked) position. However, if a Sten with a
loaded magazine, with the bolt in the closed position, was dropped or
the butt was knocked against the ground, the bolt could move far enough
rearward to pick up a round (but not far enough to be engaged by the
trigger mechanism) and the spring pressure could be enough to chamber
and fire the round. The Mk 4 cocking handle was designed to prevent this
 by enabling the bolt to be locked in its forward position, thereby
immobilising it. Wear and manufacturing tolerances could render these
safety devices ineffective.

The Mark II was the most common variant, with two million units
produced. It was a much rougher weapon than the Mk I. The flash
eliminator and the folding handle (the grip) of the Mk I was eliminated.
 A removable barrel was now provided which projected 3 inches (76 mm)
beyond the barrel sleeve. Also, from the operator's perspective, a
special catch allowed the magazine to be slid partly out of the magazine
 housing and the housing rotated 90 degrees counter-clockwise, together
covering the ejection opening and allowing the weapon and magazine both
to lie flat on its side.

The barrel sleeve was shorter and rather than having small holes on
the top, it had three sets of three holes equally spaced on the shroud.
To allow a soldier to hold a Sten by the hot barrel sleeve with the
supporting hand, an insulating lace-on leather sleeve guard was
sometimes issued.[8]
 Sten Mk II's in German possession were designated MP.749(e). Some MkIIs
 were fitted with a wooden stock as this part was desirable and
interchangeable with the Mk V. Also, the Spz-kr assault rifle uses the receiver and components from the Sten Mk II.

Regular Mark II:

* Overall Length: 762 mm (30.0 in)
* Barrel Length: 197 mm (7.8 in)
* Weight: 3.2 kg (7.1 lb)

During World War II a version of the Sten gun was produced at the Long Branch Arsenal in Long Branch, Ontario now part of Toronto, Ontario.
 This was very similar to the regular Mark II, with a different stock
('skeleton' type instead of strut type) and improved quality of
manufacture. It was first used in combat in the Dieppe Raid in 1942.

Mark II:

* Overall Length: 896 mm (35.3 in)
* Barrel Length: 198 mm (7.8 in)
* Weight: 3.8 kg (8.4 lb)

The Sten, especially the Mark II, tended to attract affection and
loathing in equal measure. Its peculiar appearance when compared to
other firearms of the era, combined with sometimes questionable
reliability made it unpopular with some front-line troops.[17]
 It gained nicknames such as "Plumber's Nightmare", "Plumber's
Abortion", or "Stench Gun". The Sten's advantage was its ease of
mass-production manufacture in a time of shortage during a major
conflict.

Made by a variety of manufacturers, often with subcontracted parts,
some early Sten guns were made poorly and/or not made to specification,
and could malfunction in operation, sometimes in combat.[18]
 The double-column, single-feed magazine copied from the German MP28 was
 never completely satisfactory, and hasty manufacturing processes often
exacerbated misfeed problems inherent in the design. A common statement
heard from British forces at the time was that the Sten was made "by Marks and Spencer out of Woolworth."[19]
 British and Commonwealth forces in the early years of the war often
extensively test-fired their weapons in training to weed out bad
examples; a last-minute issue of newly manufactured Stens prior to going
 into action was not always welcomed.

The MK II and MK III Stens were regarded by many soldiers as very temperamental, and could accidentally discharge if dropped or even laid on the ground whilst the gun was cocked.[19] Others would fire full-automatic when placed on 'single', or fire single shots when placed on 'automatic'.[19] This was particularly true of early Stens using bronze bolts, where the sear projection underneath the bolt could wear down more easily than ones made of case-hardened steel.

Stens could jam at inopportune moments. One of the more notable instances of this was the assassination of SS-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich on 27 May 1942, when a Czechoslovak soldier – Warrant Officer Jozef Gabčík – fired his Sten point blank at Heydrich, only to have it misfire. His comrade Jan Kubiš then hastily tossed a grenade, which mortally wounded Heydrich.[18] There are other accounts of the Sten's unreliability, some of them true, some exaggerated and some which are apocryphal. France[20]
 manufactured (well-made) Sten copies postwar into the early 1950s,
evidently believing in the basic reliability and durability of the
design.

A well-maintained (and properly-functioning) Sten gun was a
devastating close-range weapon for sections previously armed only with
bolt-action rifles. In addition to regular British and Commonwealth
military service, Stens were air-dropped in quantity to resistance
 fighters and partisans throughout occupied Europe. Due to their slim
profile and ease of disassembly/reassembly, they were good for
concealment and guerrilla warfare.
 Wrapping the barrel in wet rags would also cause the Sten to sound like
 a heavier weapon, with opposing troops believing they were faced with
machine guns.[21] Guerrilla
 fighters in Europe became adept at repairing, modifying and eventually
scratch-building clones of the Sten (over 2,000 Stens and about 500 of
the similar Błyskawica SMGs were manufactured in occupied Poland).

Canadian infantry battalions in northwest Europe retained spare Sten
guns for special missions and the Canadian Army reported a surplus of
the weapons in 1944. The Sten saw use even after the economic crunch of World War II, replacing the Royal Navy's Lanchester submachine guns into the 1960s, and was used in the Korean War, including specialist versions for British Commandos. It was slowly withdrawn from British Army service in the 1960s and replaced by the Sterling SMG; Canada also phased out Sten, replacing it with the C1 SMG.

The Sten was one of the few weapons that the State of Israel could produce domestically during the 1948 Arab–Israeli War. Even before the declaration of the State of Israel, the Yishuv had been producing Stens for the Haganah; after the declaration, Israel continued making Stens for IDF use. The opposing side also used (mostly British-made) Stens, particularly the irregular and semi-regular Arab Liberation Army.[22]

In the 1950s "L numbering" came into use in the British Army for weapons—Stens were then known as L50 (Mk II), L51 (Mk III) and L52 (Mk V).

One of the last times the Sten was used in combat during British service was with the RUC during the IRA border campaign of 1956–1962. In foreign service, the Sten was used in combat at least as recently as the Indo-Pakistani War of 1971.

In 1971 various marks of Stens were used by guerilla fighters during the Bangladesh Liberation War.

A number of suppressed Stens were in limited use by the US Special Forces during the Vietnam war, including c. 1971, by the United States Army Rangers.[23]

In 1984, Indian prime minister Indira Gandhi was assassinated by two of her bodyguards, one of whom fired the entire magazine of his Sten at point-blank range.

In the Second Sino-Japanese War and the Chinese Civil War,
 both nationalists and communists used the Sten. Some Stens were
converted by the communists to 7.62×25mm by using the magazine housing
from a PPS to accept curved PPS magazines. An example of such a conversion is on display at the Imperial War Museum, London.

The Finnish Army acquired moderate numbers of Stens in the late 1950s, mainly Mk. III versions. Refurbishment at the Kuopio Arsenal included bluing of the arms. Stens in Finnish service saw limited usage by conscripts (notably combat swimmers) and were mostly stockpiled for use in a future mobilization.
During the Zapatista movement in 1994 some Zapatista soldiers were armed with Sten guns.

#### Users:

* Nightmare Moon
* King Sombra
* The Trolley Fighters

### Calico M960A

    The **Calico M960A** is an American selective fully automatic submachine gun (SMG) based on the Calico M950[*citation needed*] with the addition of an extending butt and a forward grip. It is chambered for the 9×19mm Luger which takes 50-round or 100-round helical magazine which fits on top of the rear of the receiver. The M960A was first produced in 1990, and its rate of fire is 750 rpm.

### Heckler & Koch UMP

    The **UMP** (*Universale Maschinenpistole*, German for "Universal Machine Pistol") is a submachine gun developed and manufactured by Heckler & Koch. The UMP has been adopted by various agencies such as the U.S. Customs and Border Protection.[1] Heckler & Koch developed the UMP as a lighter and cheaper successor to the MP5, though both remain in production.

The UMP is a blowback operated, magazine-fed submachine gun firing from a closed bolt.[3]

As originally designed, the UMP is chambered for larger cartridges (.45 ACP and .40 S&W) than other submachine guns like the MP5, to provide more stopping power against unarmored targets (with slightly lower effectiveness at longer range) than the MP5 (largely offered in 9×19mm, albeit with short-lived production of 10mm Auto and .40 S&W variants). A larger cartridge produces more recoil, and makes control more difficult in fully automatic firing. To mitigate this, the cyclic rate of fire
 was reduced to 650 rounds/min (600 rounds/min for the UMP45), which
makes it one of the slower firing submachine guns on the market.[3]
The UMP9 (the 9×19mm version of the UMP) is almost 0.2 kilograms (0.44 lb) lighter than its MP5 counterpart. Its predominantly polymer construction reduces both its weight and the number of parts susceptible to corrosion.[3][4]
The UMP is available in four trigger group configurations, featuring different combinations of semi-automatic, 2-round burst, fully automatic, and safe settings. It features a side-folding buttstock
 to reduce its length during transport. When the last round of the UMP
is fired, the bolt locks open, and can be released via a catch on the
left side. The standard viewing sights are composed of an aperture rear sight and a front ring with a vertical post. It can mount four Picatinny rails (one on top of the receiver, and one on the right, left, and the bottom of the handguard) for the attachment of accessories such as optical sights, flashlights, or laser sights. Vertical fore-grips can be attached to the bottom rail for increased control during burst and automatic fire.

There are three versions of the UMP: the **UMP45**, firing a .45 ACP cartridge; the **UMP40**, firing a .40 S&W cartridge; and the **UMP9**, firing a 9×19mm Parabellum
 cartridge. Apart from the different chambering, all versions feature
the same basic design, the most noticeable difference being the curved
magazine used on the UMP9 (whereas the UMP40 and UMP45 use a straight
magazine). All three versions of the weapon can be converted to any of
the available chamberings via replacement of the bolt, barrel, and magazine.

#### Users:

* Snow White (UMP45)
* Human Pinkie Pie (UMP9 [surpressed])

### Heckler & Koch MP5

    The **Heckler & Koch MP5** (from German: ***M**aschinen**p**istole 5*, "machine pistol model 5") is a 9mm submachine gun of German design, developed in the 1960s by a team of engineers from the German small arms manufacturer Heckler & Koch GmbH (H&K) of Oberndorf am Neckar. There are over 100 variants of the MP5,[3] including a semi-automatic version.

The MP5 is one of the most widely used submachine guns in the world,[4] having been adopted by 40 nations and numerous military, law enforcement, intelligence, and security organizations.[2] It is widely used by SWAT teams in North America.
In 1999, Heckler & Koch developed the Heckler & Koch UMP, the MP5's successor; both are available as of 2015.

Heckler & Koch, encouraged by the success of the G3 automatic rifle, developed a family of small arms consisting of four types of firearms all based on a common G3 design layout and operating principle. The first type was chambered for 7.62×51mm NATO, the second for the 7.62×39mm M43 round, the third for the intermediate 5.56×45mm NATO caliber, and the fourth type for the 9×19mm Parabellum pistol cartridge. The MP5 was created within the fourth group of firearms and was initially known as the **HK54**.[6]

Work on the MP5 began in 1964 and two years later it was adopted by the German Federal Police, border guard and army special forces.[6]

In 1980, the MP5 achieved iconic status as a result of its use on live television by SAS commandos in Operation Nimrod, where they stormed the Iranian Embassy in London, rescuing hostages and killing five terrorists.[7] The MP5 became a mainstay of SWAT units of law enforcement agencies in the United States since then. However, in the late 1990s, as a result of the North Hollywood shootout, police special response teams have supplanted some MP5s with AR-15-based assault rifles.[8]
The MP5 is manufactured under license in several nations including Greece (formerly at EBO – Hellenic Arms Industry, currently at EAS – Hellenic Defense Systems), Iran (Defense Industries Organization), Mexico (SEDENA), Pakistan (Pakistan Ordnance Factories), Saudi Arabia, Sudan (Military Industry Corporation), Turkey (MKEK), and the United Kingdom (initially at Royal Ordnance, later diverted to Heckler & Koch Great Britain).

The primary version of the MP5 family is the **MP5A2**, which is a lightweight, air-cooled, selective fire delayed blowback operated 9×19mm Parabellum weapon with a roller-delayed bolt. It fires from a closed bolt (bolt forward) position.[10]
The fixed, free floating, cold hammer-forged barrel has 6 right-hand grooves with a 1 in 250 mm (1:10 in) rifling twist rate and is pressed and pinned into the receiver.

The first MP5 models used a double-column straight box magazine, but since 1977, slightly curved, steel magazines are used with a 15-round capacity (weighing 0.12 kg) or a 30-round capacity (0.17 kg empty).[11]

The adjustable iron sights
 (closed type) consist of a rotating rear diopter drum and a front post
installed in a hooded ring. The rear sight is adjustable for both
windage and elevation with the use of a special tool, being adjusted at
the factory for firing at 25m with standard 124 grains FMJ 9x19mm NATO
ammunition; the drum provides four different apertures of varying width
used to adjust the light entrance in the diopter system, according to
the user's eye relief and tactical situation.[12]

The MP5 has a hammer firing mechanism. The trigger group is housed inside an interchangeable polymer
 trigger module (with an integrated pistol grip) and equipped with a
three-position fire mode selector that serves as the manual safety
toggle. The “S” or *Sicher* position in white denotes weapon safe, “E” or *Einzelfeuer* in red represents single fire, and “F” or *Feuerstoß*
 (also marked in red) designates continuous fire. The SEF symbols appear
 on both sides of the plastic trigger group. The selector lever is
actuated with the thumb of the shooting hand and is located only on the
left side of the original SEF trigger group or on both sides of the
ambidextrous trigger groups. The safety/selector is rotated into the
various firing settings or safety position by depressing the tail end of
 the lever. Tactile clicks (stops) are present at each position to
provide a positive stop and prevent inadvertent rotation. The "safe"
setting disables the trigger by blocking the hammer release with a solid
 section of the safety axle located inside the trigger housing.[11]
The non-reciprocating cocking handle
 is located above the handguard and protrudes from the cocking handle
tube at approximately a 45° angle. This rigid control is attached to a
tubular piece within the cocking lever housing called the cocking lever
support, which in turn, makes contact with the forward extension of the
bolt group. It is not however connected to the bolt carrier and
therefore cannot be used as a forward assist
 to fully seat the bolt group. The cocking handle is held in a forward
position by a spring detent located in the front end of the cocking
lever support which engages in the cocking lever housing. The lever is
locked back by pulling it fully to the rear and rotating it slightly
clockwise where it can be hooked into an indent in the cocking lever
tube.

The MP5A2 has a fixed buttstock (made of a synthetic polymer), whereas the compact *MP5A3* has a retractable metal stock. The stockless *MP5A1* has a buttcap with a sling mount for concealed carry; the MP5K series was a further development of this idea.[15]

The *MP5A4* (fixed stock) and *MP5A5* (sliding stock)
models, which were introduced in 1974, are available with four-position
trigger groups. The pistol grips are straight, lacking the contoured
grip and thumb groove of the *MP5A1*, *MP5A2*, and *MP5A3*.
 The selector lever stops are marked with bullet pictograms rather than
letters or numbers (each symbol represents the number of bullets that
will be fired when the trigger is pulled and held rearward with a full
magazine inserted in the weapon) and are fully ambidextrous (the
selector lever is present on each side of the trigger housing). The
additional setting of the fire selector, one place before the fully
automatic setting, enables a two or three-shot burst firing mode.

A variant with the last trigger group designated the **MP5-N** (N—Navy) was developed in 1986 for the United States Navy. This model has a collapsible stock, a tritium-illuminated front sight post and a 225 mm (8.9 in) threaded barrel for use with a stainless steel sound suppressor made by Knight's Armament Company
 together with quieter subsonic ammunition. It had ambidextrous
controls, a straight pistol grip, pictogram markings, and originally had
 a four-position selector (Safe, Semi-Auto, 3-Round Burst, Full Auto).
This was replaced with a similar three-position ambidextrous selector
after an improperly-reassembled trigger group spontaneously fired during
 an exercise. The "Navy"-style ambidextrous trigger group later became
standard, replacing the classic "SEF".

In 1976 a shortened version of the MP5A2 was introduced; the *MP5K* (K from the German word *Kurz*
 = "short") was designed for close quarters battle use by clandestine
operations and special services. The MP5K does not have a shoulder stock
 (the receiver end was covered with a flat end cap, featuring a buffer
on the inside and a sling loop on the outside), and the bolt and
receiver were shortened at the rear. The resultant lighter bolt led to a
 higher rate of fire than the standard MP5. The barrel, cocking handle
and its cover were shortened and a vertical foregrip was used to replace
 the standard handguard. The barrel ends at the base of the front sight,
 which prevents the use of any sort of muzzle device.[12]

The MP5K is produced (by Heckler & Koch and under license in Iran and Turkey) in four different versions: the MP5K, *MP5KA4*, *MP5KA1*, *MP5KA5*,
 where the first two variants have adjustable, open-type iron sights
(with a notched rotary drum), and the two remaining variants – fixed
open sights; however, the front sight post was changed and a notch was
cut into the receiver top cover. The MP5K retained the capability to use
 optical sights through the use of an adapter.[12]

A civilian semiautomatic derivative of the MP5K known as the **SP89** was produced that had a foregrip with a muzzle guard in place of the vertical grip.[19]
In 1991 a further variant of the MP5K was developed, designated the *MP5K-PDW*
 (PDW—Personal Defense Weapon) that retained the compact dimensions of
the MP5K but restored the fire handling characteristics of the full-size
 MP5A2. The MP5K-PDW uses a side-folding synthetic shoulder stock (made
by the U.S. company Choate Machine and Tool), a “Navy” trigger group, a
front sight post with a built-in tritium insert and a slightly
lengthened threaded, three-lug barrel (analogous to the MP5-N). The
stock can be removed and replaced with a receiver endplate; a rotary
drum with apertures from the MP5A2 can also be used.

* **HK54**: The original model that was produced in 1964. It had a

charcoal-gray phosphated finish rather than the matte-black finish used
on later models and had narrow slotted metal handguards. Its major
differences were that it had a longer and heavier bolt carrier than the
MP5 and a flip up "ladder"-style rear sight (like the early G3 rifle)
rather than the MP5's aperture sight. Its original 15- or 30-round steel
 magazines were straight rather than curved, had a plastic follower, and
 were reinforced with ribs (thus their nickname of "waffle"-type
magazines).[22]

* **MP5**: A slightly modified version of the HK54 first created in

 1966. It has a matte-black phosphated finish instead of the grayish
finish. It originally had the narrow checkered metal "Slimline"
handguards in the place of the HK54's narrow slotted metal ones. These
were later replaced by the thicker "Tropical" handguards. The
proprietary Heckler & Koch "claw mount" rails for mounting optical
and electronic scopes were added around 1973. The improved 15- and
30-round magazines were adopted in 1977; they were curved, had unribbed
sides, and had chromed-steel followers.[22]

* + **MP5A1**: No buttstock (endplate/receiver cap in place of buttstock), "SEF" trigger group.[22]
	+ **MP5A2**: Fixed buttstock, "SEF" trigger group.[22]
	+ **MP5SFA2**: Fixed buttstock, single-fire (SE) trigger group.[22]
	+ **MP5A3**: Retractable buttstock,"SEF" trigger group.[22]
	+ **MP5SFA3**: Semi-automatic carbine version of MP5A3. Retractable buttstock and single-fire (SF) trigger group.[22]
	+ **MP5A4**: Fixed buttstock, 3-round burst trigger group.[22]
	+ **MP5A5**: Retractable buttstock, 3-round burst trigger group.[22]
	+ **MP5-N**: Model developed specifically for the U.S. Navy. Ambidextrous "Navy" trigger group, 3-lug/threaded barrel for attaching a sound suppressor; rubber-padded retractable stock.[12]
	+ **MP5F**: Model developed specifically for the French military. Rubber-padded retractable stock, ambidextrous sling loops/bolts and internal modifications to handle high-pressure ammunition.[12]
* **MP5K**: Short (*Kurz*) version created in 1976. It had a

cut-down 4.5-inch barrel, shorter trigger group frame, and a vertical
foregrip rather than a handguard. There are no **MP5KA2** or **MP5KA3** models because it doesn't come with a fixed or retractable stock.[12]

* + **MP5K Prototype**: A stockless, cut-down MP5A2 with regular iron sights and an open vertical foregrip. It was created in 1976.
	+ **MP5KA1**: MP5K with smooth upper surface and small low-profile iron sights; "SEF" trigger group.[12]
	+ **MP5KA4**: MP5K with regular iron sights; four-position 3-round burst trigger group.[12]
	+ **MP5KA5**: MP5K with smooth upper surface and small low-profile iron sights; four-position 3-round burst trigger group.
	+ **MP5K-N**: MP5K with "Navy" trigger group and 3-lug/threaded barrel for mounting suppressors or other muzzle attachments.[12]
	+ **MP5K-PDW**: Personal Defense Weapon;

 MP5K-N variant introduced in 1991 for issue to special operations
aircraft or vehicle crews. It adds a Choate side-folding stock, 5-inch
3-lug barrel for mounting a quick-detachable Qual-A-Tec suppressor, and
an ambidextrous 4-position trigger group with a 3-round burst mode. A
shoulder cross-draw or thigh quick-draw holster is available.[20]

* **MP5SD**: An MP5 model with an integrated suppressor (*Schalldämpfer*) created in 1974.[23]

* + **MP5SD1**: No buttstock (endplate/receiver cap in place of buttstock), "SEF" trigger group, integrated suppressor[23]
	+ **MP5SD2**: Fixed buttstock, "SEF" trigger group, integrated suppressor.[23]
	+ **MP5SD3**: Retractable buttstock, "SEF" trigger group, integrated suppressor.[23]
	+ **MP5SD4**: No buttstock (endplate/receiver cap in place of buttstock), 3-round burst trigger group, integrated suppressor.[23]
	+ **MP5SD5**: Fixed buttstock, 3-round burst trigger group, integrated suppressor.[20]
	+ **MP5SD6**: Retractable buttstock, 3-round burst trigger group, integrated suppressor.[20]
	+ **MP5SD-N1**: Fixed buttstock, "Navy" trigger group, KAC stainless steel suppressor.[20]
	+ **MP5SD-N2**: Retractable buttstock, "Navy" trigger group, KAC stainless steel suppressor.[20]
* **MP5/10**: Chambered in 10mm Auto, available in various stock/trigger group configurations. It was produced from 1992 to 2000.[20]
* **MP5/40**: Chambered in .40 S&W, available in various stock/trigger group configurations. It was produced from 1992 to 2000.[24]

#### Users:

* Glenn Quagmire (MP5A3)
* The Wonderbolts (MP5A3)
* The Trolley Fighters (MP5A2)
* Button Mash (MP5K)
* Ruffnut and Tuffnut (MP5A2)

#### Gallery

H&K MP5A2H&K MP5A3Wonderbolts H&K MP5A3Gleen Quagmire's MP5A3Cleveland Brown's MP5K-PDWButton Mash's MP5K
### MP 18/MP 28

    The **MP 18.1** manufactured by Theodor Bergmann *Abteilung Waffenbau* was the first practical submachine gun used in combat. It was introduced into service in 1918 by the German Army during World War I as the primary weapon of the *Sturmtruppen*, assault groups specialized in trench combat.

 Although MP18 production ended in the 1920s, its design formed the
basis of most submachine guns manufactured between 1920 and 1960.[*citation needed*]
The firepower of this new class of weapons made such an impression on the Allies that the Treaty of Versailles specifically banned further study and manufacture of such light automatic firearms by Germany.

What became known as the "submachine guns" had its genesis in the
early 20th Century and developed around the concepts of infiltration and
 fire and movement, specifically for the task of clearing trenches of
enemy soldiers, an environment within which engagements were unlikely to
 occur beyond a range of a few feet.

In 1915, the German Rifle Testing Commission at Spandau decided to develop a new weapon for trench warfare. An attempt to modify existing semi-automatic pistols, specifically the Luger and C96 Mauser
 failed, as accurate aimed fire in full automatic mode was impossible
due to their light weight and high rate of fire of 1,200 rounds per
minute. The Commission determined that a completely new kind of weapon
was needed. Hugo Schmeisser, working for the *Bergmann Waffenfabrik* was part of a team composed of Theodor Bergmann and a few other technicians. They designed a new type of weapon to fulfill the requirements, which was designated the ***Maschinenpistole* 18/I**. It is not clear what the "I" designation is intended to indicate, although its successor, the MP28, was designated the ***Maschinenpistole* 28/II**.

Full-scale production did not begin until early 1918.[2] Though technically not the world's first submachine gun, being beaten by the double-barreled Italian Villar-Perosa of 1915, in modern usage of the term the MP 18 is considered the world's first submachine gun since the Villar Perosa had been designed to be used as a light machine gun on aircraft before it was adapted to infantry use as a single-barreled shoulder-fired weapon in late 1918.

The MP 18 primarily served in final stages of World War I in 1918, especially in the so-called *Kaiserschlacht*
 offensive. At least 5,000 MP 18.1s were built and used during World War
 I, based upon observed serial number ranges of captured weapons;
however, it is possible that up to 10,000 were built for the war. Though
 production was outlawed by the Treaty of Versailles,
 manufacture continued in secret into the early 1920s, as the final
production total (again, based upon observed serial numbers) ended at
around 35,000.

The MP 18 proved to be an excellent weapon. Its concept was
well-proven in trench fighting. The basic design directly influenced
later submachine gun designs and showed its superiority over the regular
 infantry rifle in urban, mobile, and guerrilla warfare. The MP 18
served with German police and paramilitary forces after the end of the war. It was widely used in combat by the *Freikorps Von Epp* against the Spartacus League in Bavaria and by other *Freikorps*
 in Berlin, where its efficiency in urban combat was demonstrated. Since
 the Treaty of Versailles prohibited the use and manufacture of pistols
with a barrel over four inches (102 mm) and/or a magazine capacity over
eight rounds, all Trommel Magazines TM 08 were destroyed.

All the limited conflicts between 1920 and 1940 saw an increasing use
 of this new class of weapons, first in South America during the Chaco War, then in Europe during the Spanish Civil War, and in China during the Japanese invasion, where its use by well-trained Chinese troops was costly for the invaders as in the Battle of Shanghai, where fierce street fights prefigured World War II urban combat of Stalingrad, Warsaw, Vienna and Berlin.

Since the treaty allowed the Weimar Republic
 to keep a small quantity of submachine guns for police use, a few
hundred MP 18.1s were modified to accept Schmeisser's original 20-round
magazine design. This modification, conducted by Haenel Waffenfabrik,
required removal of the existing magazine well collar, and replacement
with a different one. These weapons were overstamped with the date
"1920" on the receiver and magazine well to show they were legitimate
weapons owned by the Weimar Republic and not war bringbacks or
clandestine weapons.

Bergmann sold the license of the MP 18. 1 to SIG Switzerland; the Swiss made model was known as SIG Bergmann 1920. It existed in .30 Luger, 9mm Parabellum and 7.63 mm Mauser.
 The Bergmann MP 18.1 represents a milestone both in terms of armament
technology and warfare tactics. It opened the way for a whole new class
of weapons and triggered the research for lighter automatic firearms to
be used by mobile troops. Its first direct competitors did not see
service in World War I, but most of them saw use in all the limited
conflicts taking place in the inter-war period.

The Chinese produced a modified MP 18 in Tsing Tao with the assistance of Heinrich Vollmer.
 The French, despite being moderately interested by this class of
armament because they had designed and introduced in service many
semi-automatic and automatic weapons, immediately launched studies based
 on captured MP 18s. The design of the STA 1922 was adopted and the MAS 1924[3] entered service and was used in colonial war. The French MAS 35 and MAS 38 derived from one of the many prototypes of the immediate post war.

The **MP 28** was produced by Haenel under the supervision of Hugo Schmeisser, it was copied by the Second Spanish Republic under the codename *Naranjero*. The *Naranjero* was chambered in 9mm Largo.[4]

The Austrian Steyr MP 34 was created by a team of technicians led by Louis Stange who designed a submachine gun for Rheinmetall in 1919 and used Bergmann's MG 15 to design the MG 30. The SIG Bergmann 1920 was used by Finland and Estonia, it was the inspiration for the Estonian Tallinn 1923 and the Finnish Suomi model 31, which in turn inspired Degtyarev for his PPD 34.

Emil Bergmann, Theodor Bergmann's son designed the MP 32 that evolved into the MP34 as adopted by Denmark before to receive the MP35 name when adopted by nascent *Wehrmacht* in 1935. This submachine gun is often mistaken with the *Mitraillette*
 34, a MP28 made in Belgium by Pieper Bayard, former Bergmann licensed
manufacturer or with the MP34 made by Steyr. It is easy to identify the
Bergmann MP 32/34/35 or its final version 35/1 since the cocking lever
works exactly like a rifle bolt.

In 1940, with a pressing need for individual automatic weapons, the British copied the MP 28 and developed the Lanchester submachine gun for the Royal Navy. Solidly built with the use of brass
 for the magazine well, and a bayonet mount, it entered service in 1940.
 The magazine and the bolt of the MP 28 could be used in the Lanchester.

The OVP 1918, an offspring of Revelli's Villar Perosa 1915, inspired[*citation needed*] Heinrich Vollmer for his telescopic bolt used in the VPM 1930, EMP, MP 38, MP 40 and MP 41. The MP 18 remained in limited service with the German armed forces during the Second World War, specifically with the Sicherheitsdienst, later eastern foreign divisions of the Waffen SS and also with Kriegsmarine coastal artillery units.

A soundly engineered piece of equipment with near commercial grade
fittings and finish, the MP 18 was a heavy weapon, weighing over 5 kg
(11.0 lb) when fully loaded. The receiver tube was very thick (~3 mm), compared with later World War II submachine guns with half that thickness or less, such as the Sten gun or MP 40.

Though Schmeisser designed a conventional 20-round-capacity "box" magazine
 for the weapon, the Testing Commission, for practical reasons, insisted
 that the MP 18 be adapted to use the 32-round TM 08 Luger "snail" drum
magazine that was widely used with the long-barreled version of the P 08
 pistol known as the Artillery model.

Like many other open-bolt designs, the MP 18 was prone to accidental
discharge. If the buttstock of a loaded gun was given a hard knock while
 the bolt was fully forward, the gun could accidentally fire because of
the bolt overcoming the action spring resistance and moving rearward
enough to pick up a round, chamber it and fire. Soldiers liked to leave
the bolt of their firearm in this closed or forward position, so dirt
and debris would not enter the barrel and chamber. This 'Bolt-closure'
practice acted as a dust cover for the weapon's chamber, preventing a malfunction from occurring because of the presence of foreign debris, but making accidental discharge more likely.

The German police asked for an external safety on their MP 18s, and a
 universal bolt-locking safety was added on all the submachine guns used
 by the police. Later submachine gun designs like the Sten and the MP 40
 were modified to allow the cocking handle to be pushed inwards to lock
the closed bolt to the tubular receiver casing. This design change
prevented accidental discharges when the bolt was left forward and a
loaded magazine was inserted.

### MP 35

    The **MP35** (*Maschinenpistole 35*, literally "Machine Pistol 35") was a submachine gun (SMG) used by the Wehrmacht, Waffen-SS and German police both before and during World War II. It was developed in the early 1930s by Emil Bergmann (son of Theodor Bergmann) and manufactured at the Bergmann company in Suhl (that also built the one of the first submachine guns, the MP 18).

The forerunner of the MP35 was the MP32 that Danish company Schultz & Larsen
 produced (under licence from the Bergmann company) and which was
chambered for 9×23mm Bergmann ammunition. The BMP32 design was later
updated by the Bergmann factory and in 1934, the Bergmann MP34
submachine gun appeared (not to be confused with different Steyr MP34). The limited manufacturing capabilities at the Bergmann plant required production to be shifted to Carl Walther's *Zella-Mehlis* plant. This German company produced some 2,000 BMP34s for export and domestic sales.

Several variants of the BMP34 were manufactured with a 200mm standard
 or 320mm barrel. During 1935, a simplified version of the BMP34
designated as Bergmann MP35/I appeared. Initial production orders for
MP35 were also placed at Walther, which made about 5,000 SMGs between
1936 and 1940.

With the outbreak of World War II,
 production once again shifted from Walter to Junker & Ruh
(manufacture code 'ajf') to manufacture the MP35 weapon (which it did
through to 1944). During the war, about 40,000 Bergmann submachine guns
were produced by Junker, and almost all were supplied to the Waffen-SS.

The MP35 was a blowback operated, selective fire SMG which fired from
 an open bolt. The weapon featured a non-reciprocating cocking handle
placed at the rear of the receiver, which was operated in a similar
fashion to bolt-action on a Mauser
 rifle. This involved the weapon carrier to manually pull the handle up,
 pull backwards, push forwards and lock back down. When the gun was then
 fired the cocking handle remained stationary.

On the BMP32 the weapon featured a safety at the rear of the bolt
(again in a similar location to the Mauser rifle). On both BMP34 and
MP35 the safety was relocated to the left side of the receiver. The
shooter could select the mode of firing by applying different pressure
to the trigger – a short pull fired single shots; a long pull resulted
in full automatic fire. Feed was from right side of the gun, with
ejection to the left.

In contrast to many other SMGs of the time the MP35's magazine was
inserted from the right-hand side of the weapon. Early versions used
proprietary magazines, the BMP35 used Schmeisser
 MP28-compatible magazines. The barrel was enclosed into tubular jacket
with cooling slots and muzzle brake/compensator at the front.

It was first known as the MP32 when adopted as such by the Danish
Army in caliber 9×23mm Bergmann then as the MP34 (this not the same as
the MP34 made by Steyr) when it was adopted by the Belgian Army as the Mitraillette 34.

It was adopted officially as MP35 by the Wehrmacht. It saw action predominantly with SS troops.

The MP35 was exported to Bolivia, Ethiopia, Spain and Sweden (where it was designated the number M39).

### MP 40

    The **MP 40** was a submachine gun chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge. It was developed in Nazi Germany and used extensively by the Axis powers during World War II.

Designed in 1938 by Heinrich Vollmer with inspiration from its predecessor the MP 38, it was heavily used by infantrymen, paratroopers, platoon and squad leaders on the Eastern and Western Front.
 Its advanced and modern features made it a favorite among soldiers and
popular in countries from various parts of the world after the war. It
was often erroneously called "Schmeisser" by the Allies, despite Hugo Schmeisser's non-involvement in the weapon's design and production. From 1940 to 1945, an estimated 1.1 million were produced by Erma Werke.

The *Maschinenpistole 40* ("Machine pistol 40") descended from
its predecessor the MP 38, which was in turn based on the MP 36, a
prototype made of machined steel.[5] The MP 36 was developed independently by Erma Werke's Berthold Geipel with funding from the German Army. It took design elements from Heinrich Vollmer's VPM 1930 and EMP. Vollmer then worked on Berthold Geipel's MP 36 and in 1938 submitted a prototype to answer a request from the *Heereswaffenamt*
 (Army Weapons Office) for a new submachine gun, which was adopted as MP
 38. The MP 38 was a simplification of the MP 36, and the MP 40 was a
further simplification of the MP 38, with certain cost-saving
alterations, most notably in the more extensive use of stamped steel
rather than machined parts.[5]

The MP 40 was often called the "Schmeisser" by the Allies, after the weapon designer Hugo Schmeisser. Schmeisser had designed the MP 18,
 which was the first mass-produced submachine gun in the world, and
carried some resemblance to the MP 40. He did not, however, have
anything to do with the design or development of the MP 40, although he
held a patent on the magazine.[6]

The MP 40 profoundly influenced the British Sten and the US M3
“grease gun” as well as postwar weapons such as the Spanish Star Modelo
Z-45 and the Yugoslav M56.

The MP 40 submachine guns are open-bolt, blowback-operated automatic
 arms. Fully automatic fire was the only setting, but the relatively low
 rate of fire allowed for single shots with controlled trigger pulls.[7] The bolt features a telescoping return spring guide which serves as a pneumatic recoil buffer.[7]
 The cocking handle was permanently attached to the bolt on early MP
38s, but on late production MP 38s and MP 40s, the bolt handle was made
as a separate part.[8]
 It also served as a safety by pushing the head of handle into one of
two separate notches above the main opening; this action locked the bolt
 either in the cocked (rear) or uncocked (forward) position.[8]
 The absence of this feature on early MP 38s resulted in field
expedients such as leather harnesses with a small loop, used to hold the
 bolt in forward position.[9]
The MP 38 receiver was made of machined steel, but this was a time-consuming and expensive process.[10]
 To save time and materials, and thus increase production, construction
of the MP 40 receiver was simplified by using stamped steel and
electro-spot welding as much as possible. [10]
 The MP 38 also features longitudinal grooving on the receiver and bolt,
 as well as a circular opening on the magazine housing. These features
were eliminated on the MP 40.

#### Users:

* Diamond Tiara
* The Black Diesels
* Ernie the giant chicken

### Škorpion vz. 61

    The **Škorpion vz. 61** is a Czechoslovak 7.65 mm submachine gun developed in 1959 by Miroslav Rybář (1924–1970) and produced under the official designation *Samopal vzor 61* ("submachine gun model 1961") by the Česká zbrojovka arms factory in Uherský Brod from 1961 to 1979.

Although it was developed for use with security forces and special forces, the weapon was also accepted into service with the Czechoslovak Army, as a personal sidearm for lower-ranking army staff, vehicle drivers, armoured vehicle personnel and special forces. Currently the weapon is in use with the armed forces of several countries as a sidearm. The Škorpion was also licence-built in Yugoslavia, designated **M84**. It features a synthetic pistol grip compared to the original version. A civilian, semi-automatic version was also produced, known as the **M84A**, also available in .380 ACP (9×17mm Short).

The Škorpion was developed in the late 1950s by Miroslav Rybář with the working name "model 59". The design was finalized in 1961 and named "Samopal Vz. 61". It was subsequently adopted by the Czech army and security forces, and later exported to various countries. Yugoslavia produced a version under license. It was also used by armed groups, including the Irish Republican Army and the Italian Red Brigades. The latter used the Škorpion in the 1978 kidnapping of Aldo Moro and was used to kill Moro. In the 1990s the Gang de Roubaix used the Škorpion in a series of attacks in France.

The Škorpion is a select-fire, straight blowback-operated weapon that fires from the closed bolt position. The cartridge used produces a very low recoil impulse and this enables simple unlocked blowback operation to be employed; there is no delay mechanism and the cartridge is supported only by the inertia of the bolt and the strength of the return springs. When fired, gas pressure drives the case back in the chamber against the resistance provided by the weight of the bolt and its two recoil springs. The bolt travels back, extracting the empty case which is then ejected straight upwards through a port in the receiver housing top cover.

The Škorpion’s compact dimensions were achieved by using a telescopic bolt assembly that wraps around a considerable portion of the barrel. The weapon features a spring-loaded casing extractor, installed inside the bolt head and a fixed, double ejector, which is a protrusion in the weapon’s frame.

As the bolt is relatively light, an inertial rate reducer device housed inside the wooden pistol grip lowers the weapon's rate of fire from 1,000 rounds/min to a more manageable 850 rounds/min. The rate reducer operates as follows: when the bolt reaches the end of its rearward stroke it strikes and is caught by a spring-powered hook mounted on the back plate. At the same time it drives a lightweight, spring-loaded plunger down into the pistol grip. The plunger is easily accelerated and passes through a heavy weight which is left behind because of its inertia. The plunger, having compressed its spring, is driven up again and then meets the descending inertia buffer. This slows down the rising plunger which, when it reaches the top of its travel, rotates the hook, releasing the bolt which is driven forward by the compressed recoil springs.

In the 1960s, three other variants of the vz. 61 were developed in Czechoslovakia: the **vz. 64** (chambered for the .380 ACP (9×17mm Short) pistol cartridge), the **vz. 65**—designed for use with the 9×18mm Makarov cartridge, and the **vz. 68** (in 9×19mm Parabellum); however, production of these variants was never undertaken. In the 1990s Česká zbrojovka offered the following submachine guns: the **vz. 61 E** (.32 ACP version with a plastic pistol grip), the **vz. 82** (chambered in 9×18mm Makarov and featuring an extended 113 mm barrel) and the **vz. 83** (for the .380 ACP cartridge). A semi-automatic only variant known as the **CZ-91S** was developed for the civilian market, available in the aforementioned calibers. The vz. 82, vz. 83 and CZ-91S pistols chambered in 9 mm use straight box magazines.

### PPSh-41

    The **PPSh-41** (*pistolet-pulemyot Shpagina*; Russian: Пистолет-пулемёт Шпагина; "Shpagin machine pistol"); is a Soviet submachine gun designed by Georgi Shpagin as a cheap, simplified alternative to the PPD-40. Common nicknames are "*pe-pe-sha*" from its three-letter prefix and "*papasha*" (Russian: папаша), meaning "daddy".

The PPSh is a magazine-fed selective fire submachine gun using an open-bolt, blowback action. Made largely of stamped steel, it can be loaded with either a box or drum magazine, and fires the 7.62×25mm Tokarev pistol round.
The PPSh saw extensive combat use during World War II and the Korean War. It was one of the major infantry weapons of the Soviet Armed Forces
 during World War II. Around six million PPSh-41s were manufactured. In
the form of the Chinese Type 50 (a licensed copy), it was still being
used by Vietnamese Viet Cong as late as 1970. According to the 2002 edition of the *Encyclopedia of Weapons of World War II* the PPSh was still in use with irregular military forces.

The impetus for the development of the PPSh came partly from the Winter War against Finland, where the Finnish Army employed the Suomi KP/-31 submachine gun as a highly effective tool for close-quarter fighting in forests and built-up urban areas.

Although the PPD-40
 was rushed into mass production in 1940, it was expensive to
manufacture, both in terms of materials and labor, because it used
numerous milled metal parts, particularly its receiver. Shpagin's main idea for cost reduction was to use metal stamping
 for the production of most parts; that concept was revolutionary in the
 Soviet Union at the time. Shpagin created a prototype in September
1940, which also featured a simple gas compensator designed to prevent
the muzzle from rising during bursts; this improved shot grouping by about 70% relative to the PPD.[8]

The new weapon was produced in a network of factories in Moscow, with high-level local party
 members made directly responsible for meeting production targets. A few
 hundred weapons were produced in November 1941 and another 155,000 were
 made during the next five months. By spring 1942, the PPSh factories
were producing roughly 3,000 units a day.[9] Soviet production figures for 1942 indicate that almost 1.5 million units were produced.[8] The PPSh-41 is a classic example of a design adapted for mass production (other examples of such wartime design are the M3 submachine gun, MP40, PPS, and the Sten).
 Its parts (excluding the barrel) could be produced by a relatively
unskilled workforce with simple equipment available in an auto repair
garage or tin shop, freeing more skilled workers for other tasks. The
PPSh-41 uses 87 components compared to 95 for the PPD-40
 and the PPSh could be manufactured with an estimated 5.6 machining
hours (later revised to 7.3 hours) compared with 13.7 hours for the PPD.[10][11] Barrel production was often simplified by using barrels for the 7.62mm M1891 Mosin–Nagant rifle: the rifle barrel was cut in half and two PPSh barrels were made from it after machining the chamber for the 7.62mm Soviet submachine gun cartridge.[12]
After the German Army captured large numbers of the PPSh-41 during
World War II, a program was instituted to convert the weapon to the
standard German submachine gun cartridge – 9mm parabellum. The *Wehrmacht* officially adopted the converted PPSh-41 as the "MP41(r)"; unconverted PPSh-41s were designated "MP717(r)" and supplied with 7.63×25mm Mauser
 ammunition (which is dimensionally identical to 7.62×25mm, but slightly
 less powerful). German-language manuals for the use of captured PPShs
were printed and distributed in the *Wehrmacht*.

The PPSh-41 suffered from problems with its unreliable drum magazine.
 Initially made of stamped metal only 0.5 mm thick it was prone to
deformation leading to jams. It was also relatively expensive to produce
 and fairly slow to fill. It was mostly superseded by a simpler box-type
 magazine holding only 35 rounds, although an improved drum magazine
made from 1 mm thick steel was also introduced in 1944.[8]

The PPS,
 an even simpler submachine gun, was later introduced in Soviet service
in 1943, although it did not replace the PPSh-41 during the war.

The Soviet Union also experimented with the PPSh-41 in a close air support anti-personnel role, mounting dozens of the submachine guns in forward fuselage racks on the Tu-2sh variant of the Tupolev Tu-2 bomber.[14]

More than five million PPSh submachine guns were produced by the end
of the war. The Soviets would often equip platoons and sometimes entire
companies with the weapon, giving them excellent short-range firepower.[15]
 Thousands more were dropped behind enemy lines in order to equip
partisan formations to disrupt German supply lines and communications.

The PPSh-41 fires the standard Soviet pistol and submachine gun
cartridge, the 7.62×25mm (Tokarev). Weighing approximately 12 pounds
(5.45 kg) with a loaded 71-round drum and 9.5 pounds (4.32 kg) with a
loaded 35-round box magazine, the PPSh is capable of a rate of about
1000 rounds per minute, a very high rate of fire
 in comparison to most other military submachine guns of World War II.
It is a durable, low-maintenance weapon made of low-cost, easily
obtained components, primarily stamped sheet metal and wood. The final
production PPShs have top ejection and an *L* type rear sight that can be adjusted for ranges of 100 and 200 meters. A crude compensator is built into the barrel jacket, intended to reduce muzzle climb during automatic fire. The compensator was moderately successful in this respect, but it greatly increased the muzzle flash
 and report of the weapon. The PPSh also has a hinged receiver to
facilitate field-stripping and cleaning the weapon. A chrome-lined bore
enables the PPSh to withstand both corrosive ammunition and long
intervals between cleaning. No forward grip or forearm was provided, and
 the operator generally has to grasp the weapon behind the drum magazine
 with the supporting hand, or else hold the lower edge of the drum
magazine. Though 35-round curved box magazines were available from 1942, the average Soviet infantryman in World War II carried the PPSh with the original 71-round drum magazine.[18]

The PPSh drum magazine holds 71 rounds. In practice, misfeeding is likely to occur with more than about 65.[19]
 In addition to feed issues, the drum magazine is slower and more
complicated to load with ammunition than the later 35-round box magazine
 that increasingly supplemented the drum after 1942. While holding fewer
 rounds, the box magazine does have the advantage of providing a
superior hold for the supporting hand. Although the PPSh is equipped
with a sliding bolt safety, the weapon's open-bolt design still presents
 a risk of accidental discharge if the gun is dropped on a hard surface.

### American-180

    The **American-180** is a submachine gun developed in the 1960s which fires .22 LR cartridges from a pan magazine. The concept began with the Casull Model 290 that used a flat pan magazine similar to designs widely used prior to World War II. Only 80 Casull M290s were built and the weapon was expensive to produce. The American-180 is an improved version.

A semi-automatic only variant called the American SAR 180/275 is still produced on a custom basis by E&L Manufacturing of Riddle, Oregon.
The weapon operates through a conventional blowback mechanism. It uses an open bolt with a flat pan magazine. It fires at a relatively high rate of fire of around 1,200 RPM. The American-180 was purchased mostly by private parties prior to the American ban on production of machine guns for the US civilian market. The A180 was adopted by the Utah Department of Corrections to arm prison guards.[2][3]

Despite the relatively low power of the .22 LR round, testing
demonstrated that automatic fire could penetrate even concrete and bulletproof vests
 from cumulative damage. However, the target would have to remain still
for an improbable amount of time to allow the cumulative damage to amass
 in the same area to achieve this.

## Machine Pistols

### Auto 9

    The Beretta 93R "Auto 9" is a heavily modified Beretta 93R that was originally built for the titular protagonist of the 1987 film *RoboCop*. This pistol is fitted with an extended casket-shaped barrel.

The **Beretta 93R** is a selective fire machine pistol, designed and manufactured by Italian firearms manufacturer Beretta in the 1970s for police and military use, that is derived from their semi-automatic Beretta 92. The "R" stands for *Raffica*, which is Italian for "volley", "flurry", or "burst".

The Beretta 93R was designed to be used by the Italian counter-terrorism forces of Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza and Gruppo di Intervento Speciale but was also adopted by other police and military forces who required a concealable weapon with rapid fire capabilities. The pistol is a development of the Beretta 92 design.

The Beretta 93R is mechanically similar to the Beretta 92. It can be selected to fire either a three round burst or single fire. A selector switch enables the operator to alternate between the two firing modes. The pistol is fitted with a vertical foregrip at the front end of the trigger guard to provide better stability when firing. A folding steel buttstock can be attached at the heel of the grip. The 93R is considered difficult to control when being repeatedly fired in burst mode because of the 1,100-round-per-minute firing rate.

### Beretta 93R

    The **Beretta 93R** is a selective fire machine pistol, designed and manufactured by Italian firearms manufacturer Beretta in the 1970s for police and military use, that is derived from their semi-automatic Beretta 92. The "R" stands for *Raffica*, which is Italian for "volley", "flurry", or "burst".

The Beretta 93R was designed to be used by the Italian counter-terrorism forces of Nucleo Operativo Centrale di Sicurezza and Gruppo di Intervento Speciale but was also adopted by other police and military forces who required a concealable weapon with rapid fire capabilities. The pistol is a development of the Beretta 92 design.

The Beretta 93R is mechanically similar to the Beretta 92. It can be selected to fire either a three round burst or single fire. A selector switch enables the operator to alternate between the two firing modes. The pistol is fitted with a vertical foregrip at the front end of the trigger guard to provide better stability when firing. A folding steel buttstock can be attached at the heel of the grip. The 93R is considered difficult to control when being repeatedly fired in burst mode because of the 1,100-round-per-minute firing rate.

#### Gallery

Button Mash's Beretta 93R pistol (with an MP5K handgrip, flashlight, extended mag, and muzzle brake)
### Uzi

    The **Uzi** (Hebrew: עוזי‎, officially cased as **UZI**) pronunciation: /ˈuːzi/ is a family of Israeli open-bolt, blowback-operated submachine guns. Smaller variants are considered to be machine pistols. The Uzi was one of the first weapons to use a telescoping bolt design which allows the magazine to be housed in the pistol grip for a shorter weapon.

The first Uzi submachine gun was designed by Major Uziel Gal in the late 1940s. The prototype was finished in 1950. First introduced to IDF special forces in 1954, the weapon was placed into general issue two years later. The Uzi has found use as a personal defense weapon by rear-echelon troops, officers, artillery troops and tankers, as well as a frontline weapon by elite light infantry assault forces.

The Uzi has been exported to over 90 countries. Over its service lifetime, it has been manufactured by Israel Military Industries, FN Herstal, and other manufacturers. From the 1960s through the 1980s, more Uzi submachine guns were sold to more military, law enforcement and security markets than any other submachine gun ever made.

The Uzi uses an open-bolt, blowback-operated design quite similar to the Jaroslav Holeček-designed Czech ZK 476 (prototype only) and the production Sa 23, Sa 24, Sa 25, and Sa 26 series of submachineguns, by which it was inspired. The open bolt design exposes the breech end of the barrel, and improves cooling during periods of continuous fire. However, it means that since the bolt is held to the rear when cocked, the receiver is more susceptible to contamination from sand and dirt. It uses a telescoping bolt design, in which the bolt wraps around the breech end of the barrel. This allows the barrel to be moved far back into the receiver and the magazine to be housed in the pistol grip, allowing for a heavier, slower-firing bolt in a shorter, better-balanced weapon.

The weapon is constructed primarily from stamped sheet metal, making it less expensive per unit to manufacture than an equivalent design machined from forgings. With relatively few moving parts, the Uzi is easy to strip for maintenance or repair. The magazine is housed within the pistol grip, allowing for intuitive and easy reloading in dark or difficult conditions, under the principle of "hand finds hand". The pistol grip is fitted with a grip safety, making it difficult to fire accidentally. However, the protruding vertical magazine makes the gun awkward to fire when prone. The Uzi features a bayonet lug.

The non-reciprocating charging handle on the top of the receiver cover is used to retract the bolt. Variants have a ratchet safety mechanism which will catch the bolt and lock its movement if it is retracted past the magazine, but not far enough to engage the sear. When the handle is fully retracted to the rear, the bolt will cock (catch) on the sear mechanism and the handle and cover are released to spring fully forward under power of a small spring. The cover will remain forward during firing since it does not reciprocate with the bolt. The military and police versions will fire immediately upon chambering a cartridge as the Uzi is an open bolt weapon.

There are two external safety mechanisms on the Uzi. The first is the three-position selector lever located at the top of the grip and behind the trigger group. The rear position is "S", or "safe", which locks the sear and prevents movement of the bolt.

The second external safety mechanism is the grip safety, located at the rear of the grip. It is meant to help prevent accidental discharge if the weapon is dropped or the user loses a firm grip on the weapon during firing.

The trigger mechanism is a conventional firearm trigger, but functions only to control the release mechanism for either the bolt (submachine gun) or firing pin holding mechanism (semi-auto) since the UZI does not incorporate an internal cocking or hammer mechanism. While the open-bolt system is mechanically simpler than a closed-bolt design (e.g. Heckler & Koch MP5), it creates a noticeable delay between when the trigger is pulled and when the gun fires.

The magazine release button or lever is located on the lower portion of the pistol grip and is intended to be manipulated by the non-firing hand. The paddle-like button lies flush with the pistol grip in order to help prevent accidental release of the magazine during rigorous or careless handling.

When the gun is de-cocked the ejector port closes, preventing entry of dust and dirt. Though the Uzi's stamped-metal receiver is equipped with pressed reinforcement slots to accept accumulated dirt and sand, the weapon can still jam with heavy accumulations of sand in desert combat conditions when not cleaned regularly. The magazine must be removed prior to de-cocking the weapon.

The Uzi submachine gun was designed by Captain (later Major) Uziel Gal of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) following the 1948 Arab-Israeli War. The weapon was submitted to the Israeli Army for evaluation and won out over more conventional designs due to its simplicity and economy of manufacture. Gal did not want the weapon to be named after him, but his request was ignored. The Uzi was officially adopted in 1951. First introduced to IDF special forces in 1954, the weapon was placed into general issue two years later. The first Uzis were equipped with a short, fixed wooden buttstock, and this is the version that initially saw combat during the 1956 Suez Campaign. Later models would be equipped with a folding metal stock.

The Uzi was used as a personal defense weapon by rear-echelon troops, officers, artillery troops and tankers, as well as a frontline weapon by elite light infantry assault forces. The Uzi's compact size and firepower proved instrumental in clearing Syrian bunkers and Jordanian defensive positions during the 1967 Six-Day War. Though the weapon was phased out of frontline IDF service in the 1980s, some Uzis and Uzi variants were still used by a few IDF units until December 2003, when the IDF announced that it was retiring the Uzi from all IDF forces. It was subsequently replaced by the fully automatic Micro Tavor.

In general, the Uzi was a reliable weapon in military service. However, even the Uzi fell victim to extreme conditions of sand and dust. During the Sinai Campaign of the Yom Kippur War, IDF Army units reaching the Suez Canal reported that of all their small arms, only the 7.62 mm FN MAG machine gun was still in operation.

The Uzi proved especially useful for mechanized infantry needing a compact weapon, and for infantry units clearing bunkers and other confined spaces. However, its limited range and accuracy in automatic fire (approximately 50m) could be disconcerting when encountering enemy forces armed with longer-range small arms, and heavier support weapons could not always substitute for a longer-ranged individual weapon. These failings eventually caused the phasing out of the Uzi from IDF front-line assault units .

The Uzi has been used in various conflicts outside Israel and the Middle East during the 1960s and 1970s. Quantities of 9 mm Uzi submachine guns were used by Portuguese cavalry, police, and security forces during the Portuguese Colonial Wars in Africa.

The **Uzi Submachine Gun** is a standard Uzi with a 10-inch (250 mm) barrel. It has a rate of automatic fire of 600 rounds per minute (rpm) when chambered in 9mm Parabellum; the .45 ACP model's rate of fire is slower at 500 rpm.

The **Mini-Uzi** is a smaller version of the regular Uzi, first introduced in 1980. The Mini-Uzi is 600 mm (23.62 inches) long or 360 mm (14.17 inches) long with the stock folded. Its barrel length is 197 mm (7.76 inches), its muzzle velocity is 375 m/s (1230 f/s) and its effective range is 100 m. It has a greater automatic rate of fire of 950 rounds per minute due to the shorter bolt. Its weight is approximately six pounds (2.7kg).

Basic characteristics:

* Magazine capacity – 20, 25 . or 32 Rds.
* Blowback operation.
* Integrated jump compensator (on barrel).
* Two modes of operation: Semi-Automatic or automatic.
* Folded butt.
* Cocking handle located on the breech block.
* Integral picatinny rail mount on the receiver cover.
* Additional rail for mounting electro optic devices under the barrel.
* Safety Features:
	1. Manual Safety.
	2. Grip Safety (must be fully depressed before the gun is cocked or fired).
	3. Firing Pin Blocker (close bolt version).
	4. Cocking with Ratchet mechanism (open bolt version) to prevent accidental. discharge in case of knob slipping during cocking.

This version was used in an August 2014 accidental shooting of a range instructor by a nine-year-old girl in Arizona. The **Micro-Uzi** is an even further scaled down version of the Uzi, introduced in 1986. The Micro-Uzi is 486 mm (19.13 in) long, reduced to 282 mm (11.10 in) with the stock folded and its barrel length is 117 mm. Its muzzle velocity is 350 m/s (1148 f/s) and its cyclic rate of fire is 1,200 rpm. it weighs a bit over 3 pounds (1.5kg).

The **Uzi-Pro**, an improved variant of the Micro-Uzi, was launched in the year 2010 by Israel Weapon Industries Ltd. (I.W.I.), formerly the *magen* ("small arms") division of Israel Military Industries. The Uzi-Pro is a blowback-operated, select-fire, closed-bolt submachine gun with a large lower portion, comprising grip and handguard, entirely made of polymer to reduce weight; the grip section was redesigned to allow two-handed operation and facilitate control in full-automatic fire with such a small-sized firearm. The Uzi-Pro features three Picatinny rails, two at the sides of the barrel and one on the top for optics, the cocking handle having been moved on the left side. The new weapon weighs 2.32 kg and has a length of 529 mm with an extended stock, and 30 cm while collapsed. It has been purchased by the IDF in limited numbers for evaluation and it is yet to be decided whether or not to order additional units for all of its special forces.

#### Users:

* Vanellope von Schweetz
* Human Fluttershy (surpressed)
* Armor Bride (Micro Uzi)
* Sweetie Heart (MIcro Uzi)

#### Gallery

Eqg fluttershy uzi by stu artmcmoy17-d8h42vp.pngHuman Fluttershy's UziArmor Bride's Micro UziSweetie Heart's Micro Uzi
### MAC-10

    The **MAC-10** (Military Armament Corporation Model 10, officially the **M-10**) is a compact, blowback operated machine pistol developed by Gordon B. Ingram in 1964. It is chambered in either .45 ACP

 or 9mm. A two-stage suppressor by Sionics was designed for the MAC-10,
which not only abated the noise created, but made it easier to control
on full automatic.

The M-10 was built predominantly from steel stampings. A notched cocking handle protrudes from the top of the receiver, and by turning the handle 90° would lock the bolt, and act as an indicator that the weapon is unable to fire. The M-10 has a telescoping bolt,
 which wraps around the barrel. This allows a more compact weapon, and
balances the weight of the weapon over the pistol grip where the
magazine is located. The M-10 fires from an open bolt,
 and the light weight of the bolt results in a rapid rate of fire. In
addition, this design incorporates a built in feed ramp as part of the
trigger guard (a new concept at the time) and to save on cost the
magazine was recycled from the M3 Grease Gun. The barrel is threaded to accept a suppressor, which worked by reducing the discharge's sound, without attempting to reduce the velocity of the bullet. At the suggestion of the United States Army,
 it also acted as a foregrip to inhibit muzzle rise when fired. Ingram
added a small bracket with a small strap beneath the muzzle to aid in
controlling recoil during fully automatic
 fire. The original rate of fire for the M-10 in .45 is approximately
1090 rounds per minute. That of the M11/nine 9mm is approximately 1250
rounds per minute, and that of the M11 .380 is 1380 rounds per minute.

The primary reason for the original M-10 finding recognition was its revolutionary sound suppressor designed by Mitchell Werbell III of Sionics.
 This suppressor had a two-stage design, with the first stage being
larger than the second. This uniquely shaped suppressor gave the MAC-10 a
 very distinctive look. It was also very quiet, to the point that the
bolt could be heard cycling, along with the suppressed report of the
weapon's discharge; however, only if subsonic rounds were used. The
suppressor when used with a Nomex cover created a place to hold the
firearm with the secondary hand, making it easier to control. During the
 1970s the United States placed restrictions on the exportation of
suppressors, and a number of countries canceled their orders of M-10s as
 the effectiveness of the MAC-10's suppressor was one of its main
selling points. This was one factor that led to the bankruptcy of
Military Armament Corporation, another being the company's failure to
recognize the private market. The original Sionics suppressor is
11.44 inches in length, 2.13 inches in overall diameter, and weighs 1.20
 pounds.

While the original M-10 was available chambered for either .45 ACP or 9mm, the M-10 is part of a series of machine pistols, the others being: the MAC-11 / M-11A1 semi, which is a scaled down version of the M-10 chambered in .380 ACP;
 and the M-11/9, which is a modified version of the M-11 with a longer
receiver chambered in 9mm, later made by SWD (Sylvia and Wayne Daniel), Leinad and Vulcan Armament.

In the United States, machine guns are National Firearms Act
 items. As Military Armament Corporation was in bankruptcy large number
of incomplete sheet metal frame flats were given serial numbers then
bought by a new company, RPB industries. Some of the previously
completed guns (already stamped MAC), were stamped on the other side
RPB, making a "double stamp" gun.

RPB Industries made many open-bolt semi-automatic and sub-machine
guns before the Bureau of Alcohol Tobacco and Firearms (abbreviated ATF)
 seized roughly 200 open bolt semi autos during the drug wars of 1981.
ATF insisted that all future semiautomatic versions were to be
manufactured with a closed-bolt design as the open-bolt semiautomatics
were considered too easy to illegally convert to full automatic
operation.[5]

Wayne Daniel, a former RPB machine operator, purchased much of their
remaining inventory and formed SWD, designing a new weapon which was
more balanced, available either fully or semi-automatic with his new ATF
 approved closed bolt design.[6]

There are several carbine versions of the M-11/9 and Cobray and SWD
manufactured a smaller version chambered in .380 ACP as a semiautomatic
pistol called the M-12.[7]
Today, while the civilian manufacture, sale and possession of post
1986 select-fire MAC-10 and variants is prohibited it is still legal to
sell templates, tooling and manuals to complete such conversion. These
items are typically marketed as being "post-sample" materials for use by
 Federal Firearm Licensees for manufacturing/distributing select-fire
variants of the MAC-10 to Law Enforcement, Military and Overseas
customers.

#### Users:

* Charlie (modified)
* T.C.
* Scander

## Light machine guns

### Lewis machine gun

The **Lewis gun** (or **Lewis automatic machine gun** or **Lewis automatic rifle**) is a World War I-era light machine gun of American design that was perfected and widely used by the British Empire. It was first used in combat in World War I, and continued in service with a number of armed forces through to the end of the Korean War. It is visually distinctive because of its wide tubular cooling shroud around the barrel and its top-mounted drum-pan magazine. It was commonly used as an aircraft machine gun, almost always with the cooling shroud removed, during both world wars.

The Lewis gun was invented by US Army Colonel Isaac Newton Lewis in 1911, based on initial work by Samuel Maclean.[1]
 Despite its origins, the Lewis gun was not initially adopted by the
American military—most likely because of political differences between
Lewis and General William Crozier, the Chief of the Ordnance Department.[2]
 Lewis became frustrated with trying to persuade the US Army to adopt
his design and so ("slapped by rejections from ignorant hacks", as he
said),[3] retired from the army. He left the United States in 1913 and headed to Belgium, where he established the *Armes Automatique Lewis* company in Liège to facilitate commercial production of the gun.[4] Lewis had been working closely with British arms manufacturer The Birmingham Small Arms Company Limited (BSA) in an effort to overcome some of the production difficulties of the weapon.[1] The Belgians bought a small number of Lewises in 1913, using the .303 British
 round, and in 1914, BSA purchased a licence to manufacture the Lewis
machine gun in England, which resulted in Col. Lewis receiving
significant royalty payments and becoming very wealthy.[3]
 Lewis and his factory moved to England before 1914, away from possible
seizure in the event of a German invasion. The Belgian Army acquired
only a handful of his guns, probably only just in double figures. They
were not on general issue in the Belgian Army. They were used only in a
few forays by motor vehicles, south of Antwerp, against the flank of the
 invading German Army.
The onset of World War I increased demand for the Lewis gun, and BSA began production (under the designation *Model 1914*). The design was officially approved for service on 15 October 1915 under the designation "Gun, Lewis, .303-cal."[5] No Lewis guns were produced in Belgium during World War I;[6] all manufacture was carried out by BSA in England and the Savage Arms Company in the US.

The Lewis was produced by BSA and Savage Arms during World War I, and
 although the two versions were largely similar, there were enough
differences to stop them being completely interchangeable, although this
 was rectified during World War II.[8]
The major difference between the two designs was that the BSA weapons
 were chambered for .303 British ammunition, and the Savage guns were
chambered for .30-06 cartridges, which necessitated some difference in
the magazine along with the feed mechanism, bolt, barrel, extractors,
and gas operation system.[7]
 Savage did make Lewis Guns in .303 British calibre; the Model 1916 and
Model 1917 were exported to Canada and the United Kingdom and a few were
 also supplied to the US military, particularly the navy.[7] The Savage Model 1917 was generally produced in .30-06 caliber. A number of these guns were supplied to the UK under lend-lease during World War II.

The first use of the Lewis in the War was by Belgium, in August and
September 1914, when the small number available were fitted to a handful
 of touring and armoured cars and used in a few sorties against German
patrols and troop columns. It is stated that as a consequence the
Germans nicknamed the Lewis "The Belgian Rattlesnake".,[18] but contemporary German references have not been found. The Lewis was not in service with the regular Belgian Army.

Great Britain officially adopted the Lewis gun in .303 calibre for land and aircraft use in October 1915,[19] with the weapon beginning to be generally issued to the British Army's infantry battalions on the Western Front in early 1916 as a replacement for the heavier and less mobile Vickers machine gun, the Vickers then being withdrawn from the infantry for use by specialist machine-gun companies. The US Navy and Marine Corps followed in early 1917, adopting the M1917 Lewis gun (produced by the Savage Arms Co.), in .30-06 caliber.

The US Army never officially adopted the weapon for infantry use[13] and even went so far as to take Lewis guns away from US Marines arriving in France and replace them with the cheap, shoddy, and extremely unsatisfactory Chauchat LMG[20]—a practice believed to be related to General Crozier's dislike of Lewis and his gun.[21] The US Army eventually adopted the Browning Automatic Rifle in 1917 (although it was September 1918 before any of the new guns reached the front).[22] The US Navy and Marine Corps continued to use the .30-06 caliber Lewis until the early part of World War II.[23]

The Russian Empire
 purchased 10,000 Lewis guns in 1917 from the British government, and
ordered another 10,000 weapons from Savage Arms in the US. The US
government was unwilling to supply the Tsarist Russian government with
the guns and there is some doubt as to whether they were actually
delivered, although records indicate that 5,982 Savage weapons were
delivered to Russia by 31 March 1917. The Lewis guns supplied by Britain
 were dispatched to Russia in May 1917, but it is not known for certain
whether these were the Savage-made weapons being trans-shipped through
the UK, or a separate batch of UK-produced units.[24]

British Mark IV tanks used the Lewis, replacing the Vickers and Hotchkiss
 used in earlier tanks. The Lewis was chosen for its relatively compact
magazines, but as soon as an improved magazine belt for the Hotchkiss
was developed, the Lewis was replaced by them in later tank models.[25]

The Germans also used captured Lewis guns in both World Wars, and
included instruction in its operation and care as part of their
machine-gun crew training.[18][26]
Despite costing more than a Vickers gun to manufacture (the cost of a Lewis gun in 1915 was £165,[5] the Vickers cost about £100),[22]
 Lewis machine guns were in high demand with the British military during
 World War I. The Lewis also had the advantage of being about 80% faster
 to build than the Vickers, and was a lot more portable;[27] Accordingly, the British government placed orders for 3,052 guns between August 1914 and June 1915.[5]
 By the end of World War I over 50,000 Lewis guns had been produced in
the US and UK and they were nearly ubiquitous on the Western Front,
outnumbering the Vickers by a ratio of about 3:1.

The Lewis gun has the distinction of being the first machine gun fired from an aeroplane; on 7 June 1912 Captain Charles Chandler of the US Army fired a prototype Lewis gun from the foot-bar of a Wright Model B Flyer.[18]

he Lewis gun was extensively used on British and French aircraft
during World War I, as either an observer's or gunner's weapon or as an
additional weapon to the more common Vickers. The Lewis's popularity as
an aircraft machine gun was partly due to its low weight, the fact that
it was air-cooled and that it used self-contained 97-round drum
magazines. Because of this, the Lewis was first mounted on the Vickers F.B.5 "Gunbus", probably the world's first purpose-built combat aircraft, when it entered service in August 1914, replacing the Vickers machine gun used on earlier experimental versions.[28] It was also fitted on two early production examples of the Bristol Scout C aircraft by Lanoe Hawker in the summer of 1915, mounted on the port side and firing forwards and outwards at a 30° angle to avoid the propeller arc.
The need for forward-aimed aircraft mounts for the Lewis gun to avoid
 firing through the propeller arc on single-engined fighters resulted
from the open bolt firing cycle of the Lewis, which prevented it from being synchronized to fire directly forward through the propeller arc of such aircraft; only the British F.B.5, Airco D.H.2 and Royal Aircraft Factory F.E.8 pusher
 fighters could readily use the Lewis as direct forward-firing armament
early in World War I. British single-engined fighters could use the Foster mounting to elevate a Lewis gun above the propeller arc for unsynchronized firing, as was used on production S.E.5a fighters and on field-modified examples of the Avro 504. For the use of observers or rear gunners, the Lewis was mounted on a Scarff ring, which allowed the gun to be rotated and elevated whilst supporting the gun's weight.[29]
 Lewis guns were often employed for balloon-busting, loaded with
incendiary ammunition designed to ignite the hydrogen inside the gasbags
 of German Zeppelins, other airships and *Drache* barrage balloons.

Later, on the French Nieuport 11 and Nieuport 17 and the British S.E.5a and some versions of the Sopwith Camel and Bristol F2b fighter aircraft, the Lewis was fitted above the top wing on a Foster mount, which allowed firing directly forward outside the propeller
 arc. The Foster mount usually incorporated an arc-shaped I-beam rail as
 its rearmost structural member, that a Lewis gun could be slid
backwards and downwards along the rail towards the cockpit, to allow the
 ammunition drum to be changed in flight — but fighter ace Albert Ball V.C. also understood that the Lewis gun in such a mount also retained its original trigger, and could thus be fired upwards.
 He used the upward firing Lewis to attack solitary German two-seater
aircraft from below and behind, where the observer could not see him or
fire back. It was his use of the weapon in this way, in a Nieuport, that
 led to its later introduction on the S.E.5/S.E.5a. Ball had acted in a
consultant capacity on the development of this aeroplane. The later Sopwith Dolphin, already armed with twin synchronized Vickers guns just forward of the pilot and just above its V-8 engine, also could use one or two Lewis guns mounted on the forward crossbar of its cabane structure, between the top wing panels as an anti-Zeppelin measure.
Lewis guns were also carried as defensive guns on British airships. The SS class blimps carried one gun. The larger NS class blimps
 carried two or three guns in the control car and some were fitted with
an additional gun and a gunner's position at the top of the gasbag.

By World War II, the British Army had replaced the Lewis gun with the Bren gun for most infantry use. As an airborne weapon the Lewis was largely supplanted by the Vickers K, a weapon that could achieve over twice the rate of fire of the Lewis.
In the crisis following the Fall of France, where a large part of the
 British Army's equipment had been lost, stocks of Lewis guns in both
.303 and .30-06 were hurriedly pressed into service, primarily for
arming Home Guard units and purposes such as defending airfields and anti-aircraft use.[31] 58,983 Lewis guns were taken from stores, repaired, refitted and issued by the British during the course of World War II.[32]
 In addition to their reserve weapon role in the UK, they also saw
front-line use with British, Australian, and New Zealand forces in the
early years of the Pacific campaign against the Japanese.[33]
 The Lewis gun saw continued service as an anti-aircraft weapon during
World War II; in this role it was credited by the British for bringing
down more low-flying enemy aircraft than any other AA weapon.

At the start of World War II, the Lewis was the Royal Navy's standard close-range air defence weapon. It could be found on major warships, armed trawlers and defensively equipped merchant ships. It was often used in twin mountings and a quadruple mount was developed for motor torpedo boats. British submarines generally carried two guns on single mounts. Although it was gradually replaced by the Oerlikon 20 mm cannon, new corvettes were still being fitted with twin Lewises as late as 1942. Lewis guns were also carried by the Royal Air Force's air-sea rescue launches.

American forces used the Lewis gun (in .30-06 caliber) throughout World War II. The US Navy
 used the weapon on armed merchant cruisers, small auxiliary ships,
landing craft and submarines. The US Coast Guard also used the Lewis on
their vessels.[34] It was never officially adopted by the US Army for anything other than aircraft use.[13]

The Germans used captured British Lewis guns during World War II under the designation **MG 137(e)**,[36] whilst the Japanese copied the Lewis design and employed it extensively during World War II;[34] it was designated the **Type 92** and chambered for a 7.7 mm rimmed cartridge that was interchangeable with the .303 British round.[37][38]

The Lewis was officially withdrawn from British service in 1946,[22] but continued to be used by forces operating against the United Nations in the Korean War. It was also used against French and US forces in the First Indochina War and the subsequent Vietnam War.[26]
Total production of the Lewis gun during World War II by BSA was over 145,000 units,[13] a total of 3,550 guns were produced by the Savage Arms Co. for US service—2,500 in .30-06 and 1,050 in .303 British calibre.

#### Users:

* The Trolley Fighters
* Sharky (aircraft)
* James (aircraft)

### B.A.R. (Browning Automatic Rifle)

The **Browning Automatic Rifle** (**BAR**) is a family of United States automatic rifles (or machine rifles) and light machine guns used by the United States and numerous other countries during the 20th century. The primary variant of the BAR series was the **M1918**, chambered for the .30-06 Springfield rifle cartridge and designed by John Browning in 1917 for the U.S. Expeditionary Corps in Europe as a replacement for the French-made Chauchat and M1909 Benet-Mercie machine guns.

The BAR was designed to be carried by advancing infantrymen, slung over the shoulder or fired from the hip, a concept called "walking fire" — thought to be necessary for the individual soldier during trench warfare.[1] However, in practice, it was most often used as a light machine gun and fired from a bipod (introduced in later models).[2] A variant of the original M1918 BAR, the ***Colt Monitor Machine Rifle***,
 remains the lightest production automatic gun to fire the .30-06
Springfield cartridge, though the limited capacity of its standard
20-round magazine tended to hamper its utility in that role.[2]
Although the weapon did see some action in World War I, the BAR did not become standard issue in the U.S. Army until 1938, when it was issued to squads as a portable light machine gun. The BAR saw extensive service in both World War II and the Korean War and saw some service early in the Vietnam War.
 The U.S. Army began phasing out the BAR in the late 1950s and was
without a portable light machine gun until the introduction of the M60 machine gun in 1957 and later M249 Squad Automatic Weapon in the mid-1980s.

The U.S. entered World War I with an inadequately small and obsolete
assortment of various domestic and foreign machine gun designs, due
primarily to bureaucratic indecision and the lack of an established
military doctrine for their employment. When the declaration of war on Imperial Germany
 was announced on 6 April 1917, the military high command was made aware
 that to fight this trench war, dominated by machine-guns, they had on
hand a mere 670 M1909 Benet-Mercies, 282 M1904 Maxims and 158 Colts, M1895.[4]
 After much debate, it was finally agreed that a rapid rearmament with
domestic weapons would be required, but until that time, U.S. troops
would be issued whatever the French and British had to offer. The arms
donated by the French were often second-rate or surplus and chambered in
 8mm Lebel, further complicating logistics as machine gunners and infantrymen were issued different types of ammunition.

The M1918 is a selective fire, air-cooled automatic rifle using a gas-operated
 long-stroke piston rod actuated by propellant gases bled through a vent
 in the barrel. The bolt is locked by a rising bolt lock. The gun fires
from an open bolt.
 The spring-powered cartridge casing extractor is contained in the bolt
and a fixed ejector is installed in the trigger group. The BAR is
striker fired (the bolt carrier serves as the striker) and uses a
trigger mechanism with a fire selector lever that enables operating in
either semi-automatic or fully automatic firing modes. The selector
lever is located on the left side of the receiver
 and is simultaneously the manual safety (selector lever in the "S"
position – weapon is "safe", "F" – "Fire", "A" – "Automatic" fire). The
"safe" setting blocks the trigger.

The weapon's barrel is screwed into the receiver and is not quickly
detachable. The M1918 feeds using double-column 20-round box magazines,
 although 40-round magazines were also used in an anti-aircraft role;
these were withdrawn from use in 1927. The M1918 has a cylindrical flash suppressor fitted to the muzzle end. The original BAR was equipped with a fixed wooden buttstock and closed-type adjustable iron sights, consisting of a forward post and a rear leaf sight with 100 to 1,500 yard range graduations.
As a heavy automatic rifle designed for support fire, the M1918 was not fitted with a bayonet mount and no bayonet was ever issued.[9] Only one experimental bayonet fitting was ever made for the BAR by Winchester.[9] This was a standard, M1917 bayonet
 fitted at the Winchester factory with a special muzzle ring. The
bayonet was attached to a standard M1918 BAR by means of a special
experimental flash hider assembly.[9] This prototype bayonet/flash hider assembly came from the Winchester in-house factory museum in New Haven, Connecticut with a tag printed on one side *Winchester Repeating Arms Co./New Haven Conn.*, and handwitten on the other side: *Combined Flash Hider, Front Sight and Bayonet Mount for Browing Automatic Rifle Model 1918 with Bayonet and Scabbard* and the date - September 7, 1918.[9] There is no evidence whatsoever of military adoption nor a military stock number, name, or classification.

#### Users:

* Mr. Great White
* The Trolley Fighters

### Bren light machine gun

The **Bren Gun**, usually called simply the **Bren**, was a series of light machine guns adopted by Britain in the 1930s and used in various roles until 1992. While best known for its role as the British and Commonwealth forces' primary infantry light machine gun (LMG) in World War II, it was also used in the Korean War and saw service throughout the latter half of the 20th century, including the 1982 Falklands War. Although fitted with a bipod, it could also be mounted on a tripod or vehicle-mounted.

The Bren was a modified version of Czechoslovak-designed light machine guns, the ZB vz. 26 and its descendants, which British Army
 officials had tested during a firearms service competition in the
1930s. The later Bren featured a distinctive top-mounted curved box
magazine, conical flash hider and quick change barrel. The name *Bren* was derived from Brno, Moravia, the Czechoslovak city where the Zb vz. 26 was originally designed (in the Zbrojovka Brno Factory), and Enfield, site of the British Royal Small Arms Factory. The original and main designer was Václav Holek, a gun inventor and design engineer.
In the 1950s many Brens were rebarrelled to accept the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge and modified to feed from the magazine for the L1 (Commonwealth version of the FN FAL) rifle as the L4 light machine gun. It was replaced in the British Army as the section LMG by the L7 general-purpose machine gun (GPMG), a heavier belt-fed weapon. This was in turn supplemented in the 1980s by the L86 Light Support Weapon firing the 5.56×45mm NATO round, leaving the Bren in use only as a pintle mount on some vehicles.
The Bren is still manufactured by Indian Ordnance Factories as the "Gun, Machine 7.62mm 1B".

At the close of the First World War in 1918, the British Army was equipped with two main automatic weapons; the Vickers Medium Machine Gun (MMG) and the Lewis Light Machine Gun
 (LMG). The Vickers was heavy and required a supply of water to keep it
in operation, which tended to relegate it to static defence and indirect
 fire support. The Lewis, although lighter, was still heavy and was
prone to frequent stoppages; the barrel could not be changed in the
field, which meant that sustained firing resulted in overheating until
it stopped altogether. In 1922, the Small Arms Committee of the British
Army ran competitive trials to find replacement for the Lewis, between
the Madsen, the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR), the Hotchkiss, the Beardmore-Farquhar
 and the Lewis itself. Although the BAR was recommended, the sheer
number of Lewis guns available and the difficult financial conditions
meant that nothing was done. Various new models of light machinegun were
 tested as they became available, and in 1930, a further set of
extensive trials commenced. This time the weapons tested included the SIG Neuhausen KE7 the Vickers-Berthier and the Czechoslovak ZB vz.27. The Vickers-Berthier was later adopted by the Indian Army
 because it could be manufactured at once, rather than wait for the
British Bren production run to finish; it too saw extensive service in
World War II.[2]

Following these trials, the British Army adopted the Czechoslovak ZB vz.26 light machine gun manufactured in Brno
 in 1935, although a slightly modified model, the ZB vz. 27, rather than
 the ZB vz. 26 which had been submitted for the trials. A licence to
manufacture was sought, and the Czech design was modified to British
requirements. The major changes were in the magazine and barrel and the
lower pistol grip assembly which went from a swiveling grip frame
pivoted on the front of the trigger guard to a s sliding grip frame
which included the forward tripod mount and sliding ejection port cover.
 The magazine was curved in order to feed the rimmed .303 British cartridge, a change from the various rimless Mauser-design cartridges such as the 8mm Mauser
 round previously used by Czech designs. These modifications were
categorised in various numbered designations, ZB vz. 27, ZB vz. 30, ZB
vz. 32, and finally the ZGB 33, which became the Bren.

The Bren was a gas-operated weapon, which used the same .303 ammunition as the standard British bolt-action rifle, the Lee–Enfield,
 firing at a rate of between 480 and 540 rounds per minute (rpm),
depending on the model. Propellant gases vented from a port towards the
muzzle end of the barrel through a regulator (visible in the photo, just
 in front of the bipod) with four quick-adjustment apertures of
different sizes, intended to tailor the gas volume to different ambient
temperatures (smallest flow at high temperature, e.g. summer desert,
largest at low temperature, e.g. winter Arctic). The vented gas drove a
piston which in turn actuated the breech block. Each gun came with a
spare barrel that could be quickly changed when the barrel became hot
during sustained fire, though later guns featured a chrome-lined
 barrel which reduced the need for a spare. To change barrels, the
release catch in front of the magazine was rotated to unlock the barrel.
 The carrying handle above the barrel was used to grip and remove the
hot barrel without burning the hands.
The Bren was magazine-fed, which slowed its rate of fire and required
 more frequent reloading than British belt-fed machine guns such as the
larger .303 Vickers machine gun.
 the slower rate of fire prevented more rapid overheating of the Bren's
air-cooled barrel, and the Bren was much lighter than belt-fed machine
guns which typically had cooling jackets, often liquid filled. The
magazines also prevented the ammunition from getting dirty, which was
more of a problem with the Vickers with its 250-round canvas belts. The sights
 were offset to the left, to avoid the magazine on the top of the
weapon. The position of the sights meant that the Bren could be fired
only from the right shoulder.

### Type 99 LMG

The **Type 99 light machine gun** (九九式軽機関銃 *Kyūkyū-shiki Kei-kikanjū*?) was a light machine gun used by the Imperial Japanese Army in World War II.

The Type 96 light machine gun, an improvement over the previous Type 11 light machine gun was introduced into combat service in 1936, and quickly proved to be a versatile weapon to provide covering fire for advancing infantry.[2] Both the Type 11 and Type 96 used the same 6.5x50mm Arisaka cartridges as the Type 38 rifle infantry rifle.[3]
 The system had the advantage that any squad member could supply
ammunition for the light machine gun; however, as the Japanese army was
switching from the Type 38 rifle to the Type 99 Rifle which used a 7.7 mm cartridge, it was necessary to develop a new version of the Type 96 light machine gun that would also be able to use this larger caliber. The gun was produced at Kokura, Nagoya Arsenal and Mukden with total production about 53,000.

The Type 99 was basically the same design as the Type 96 light
machine gun, and had a number of parts in common. However, it dispensed
with the oiler and had better primary extraction, increasing reliability
 over its predecessors. Early models had a mono-pod at the stock and a flash suppressor on the muzzle, which was screwed onto a threaded portion of the gun barrel.[3] A top-mounted curved detachable box magazine held 30 rounds, and the finned gun barrel could be rapidly changed to avoid overheating.
The Type 99 had a blade front sight and a leaf rear sight, with
graduations from 200 to 1,500 meters, with a wind adjustment. A 2.5X telescopic sight with a 10 degree field of view could be attached at the right side of the gun.[3] These were often issued to the best marksmen of the unit and occasionally employed like a sniper rifle. A standard infantry bayonet
 could be attached to the gas block below the barrel, but on the
battlefield this feature proved inconsequential due to the weight of the
 gun and the fact that the blade was largely obstructed by the flash
hider when it was fixed on the muzzle.

The Type 99 came into active service in 1939, and was used side-by-side
with the older Type 11 and Type 96, as these models had been produced in
 large quantities and many front line troops continued to use the Type
38 rifles with their 6.5 mm ammunition. All three weapons remained in
service until the end of the war.

### Valmet M78

The **RK 62 76**, also known as the **Valmet M76** is a gas operated assault rifle of Finnish origin, which was also made in semi-automatic version for civilian market. It is a modified AK-47 based on the Rk 62 *(Rynnäkkökivääri 62, Assault rifle 62)*
 design. The gun was in production from 1976 to 1986. Its receiver is
made from stamped and riveted sheet metal, instead of Rk 62's milled
receiver.

There are eight types of M76, four of which use 7.62×39mm M43 ammunition, while the other four use 5.56×45mm NATO rounds. They use 15-, 20-, or 30-round magazines. Finland used the 7.62 mm version, while Qatar and Indonesia use the 5.56 mm version.

The Valmet M62/76 series of rifles are updates of the AK-47 design.
Beginning with a licensed version of the AK-47 receiver, Valmet set
about upgrading the design at every point. Tolerances are much tighter
than the Soviet bloc AKs while still being generous enough to assure
outstanding reliability in all climates. The gas piston included small
“fingers” near the piston to ensure smoother functioning inside the gas
tube, which helped to increase the inherent accuracy of the rifle.
Another move toward increased accuracy was the upgraded sights.

The front sight is mounted on the gas block which makes for one less
attachment to the barrel, adding to the mechanical accuracy. The front
sight is fully adjustable in the field by the soldier. There is also a
flip up tritium night sight that covers the front post for low light shooting.

The rear sight is an aperture on a sliding tangent affair adjustable
to 600 meters and a “battle sight” setting of 150 meters. The rear sight
 is located toward the rear of the top cover. The rear sight also has
tritium inserts for night shooting by flipping the sight all the way
forward (upside down). Once in this position, there is a square notch
arrangement with two tritium dots on either side. In this position, the
rear sight is adjustable for elevation via a set screw under the sight
arm.

Another feature of the Valmet M62/76 series rifles is the flash suppressor. It resembles an enlarged version of the suppressor on the original M16. Directly under the flash suppressor is a bayonet lug to accommodate the knife-style bayonet manufactured by Fiskars
 and Hackman. The flash suppressor has some sharp edges along its
longitudinal cuts for wire cutting. A soldier slides the barbed wire
into the flash suppressor and simply rotates his rifle around until it
snaps the small gauge wire. For thicker wire, the soldier inserts the
wire, gives a half turn and fires the rifle, which will snap the wire.
On the M16 the prong type flash suppressor was abandoned for the bird
cage type because the prongs tended to snag on vegetation in the field.
While this is still a problem with the M62/76, the sharper edges help to
 cut through some of the vegetation.

There are both solid and folding stock versions. Folding stock
designs may become troublesome in that eventually they tend to become
loose. This is not a problem with the M62/76 series of rifles as the
hinge and lock design are very robust. Both feature a trap door in the
butt to store a cleaning kit. So as not to freeze a soldier’s face in
the often frigid temperatures of Finland, there is a thin plastic sleeve
 over the tube section of the stock that typically contacts the
shooter's face.

All variants of the M76 are finished with an industrial grade Parkerizing throughout.

The muzzle velocity depends on the ammunition used; the NATO round being 900 m/s while the Kalashnikov round is 719 m/s.

The **Valmet M78** is a heavy-barreled light support variant of the Valmet M76 assault rifle. In addition to firing the 7.62×39mm cartridge, variants firing 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×51mm NATO were also produced. It is a similar weapon to the RPK light machine gun and serves in the same tactical role.

#### Users:

* The Trolley Fighters
* Shining Armor (seen in Shining Armor, Commando)

### M249 SAW [Squad Automatic Weapon]

The **M249 light machine gun** (**LMG**), formerly designated the **M249 Squad Automatic Weapon** (**SAW**), and formally written as **Light Machine Gun, 5.56 mm, M249**, is the American adaptation of the Belgian FN Minimi, a light machine gun manufactured by the Belgian company FN Herstal (FN). The M249 is manufactured in the United States by the local subsidiary FN Manufacturing LLC in South Carolina and is widely used in the U.S. Armed Forces
 (it's the US Army's default machine gun). The weapon was introduced in
1984 after being judged the most effective of a number of candidate
weapons to address the lack of automatic firepower in small units. The M249 provides infantry squads with the heavy volume of fire of a machine gun combined with accuracy and portability approaching that of a rifle.

The M249 is gas operated and air-cooled. It has a quick-change barrel, allowing the gunner to rapidly replace an overheated or jammed barrel. A folding bipod is attached near the front of the gun, though an M192 LGM tripod is available. It can be fed from both linked ammunition and STANAG magazines, like those used in the M16 and M4. This allows the SAW
 gunner to use rifleman's magazines as an emergency source of ammunition
 in the event that he runs out of linked rounds. However, this will
often cause malfunctions where the magazine spring has difficulty
feeding rounds quickly enough to match the SAW's high cyclic rate.

M249s have seen action in every major conflict involving the United States since the U.S. invasion of Panama
 in 1989. Soldiers are generally satisfied with the weapon's
performance, though there have been reports of clogging with dirt and
sand. Due to the weight and age of the weapon, the United States Marine Corps is fielding the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle with plans to partially replace the M249 in Marine Corps service.[3]
The M249 is sometimes incorrectly referred to as a "Squad Assault Weapon"

In 1965, the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps' primary machine guns were the M2 Browning and M60. The M2 was a large-caliber heavy machine gun, usually mounted on vehicles or in fixed emplacements.[6] The M60 was a more mobile medium machine gun intended to be carried with the troops to provide heavy automatic fire.[7] Both were very heavy weapons and usually required a crew of at least two to operate efficiently.[8] The Browning automatic rifle,
 the army's main individual machine gun since its introduction in World
War I, was phased out in 1957 with the introduction of the M14 rifle, which had a fully automatic mode.[9]
 "Designated riflemen" in every squad were ordered to use their weapons
on the fully automatic setting, while other troops were required to use
their rifle's semi-automatic mode on most occasions to increase accuracy
 and conserve ammunition.[10] Because the M14 and M16 rifles had not been designed with sustained automatic fire in mind, they often overheated or jammed.[10]
 The 20-round and 30-round magazines of these weapons limited their
sustained automatic effectiveness when compared to belt-fed weapons.[6]

The Army decided that an individual machine gun, lighter than the
M60, but with more firepower than the M16, would be advantageous; troops
 would no longer have to rely on rifles for automatic fire.[11] Through the 1960s, the introduction of a machine gun into the infantry squad was examined in various studies.[12] While there was a brief flirtation with the concept of a flechette- or dart-firing Universal Machine Gun during one study, most light machine gun experiments concentrated on the Stoner 63 light machine gun, a modular weapon which could be easily modified for different purposes.[13][14] The Stoner 63 LMG saw combat for a brief period in Vietnam with the USMC, and later on a wider scale with the U.S. Navy SEALs.[14]

In 1968, the Army Small Arms Program developed plans for a new
5.56 mm caliber LMG, though no funds were allocated (5.56 mm ammunition
was viewed as underpowered by many in the armed forces). Studies of
improved 5.56 mm ammunition, with better performance characteristics,
began.[15] The earliest reference to studies of other caliber cartridges for the LMG did not appear until 1969.[16]
 In July 1970, the U.S. Army finally approved development of an LMG,
with no specified caliber. At this time, the nomenclature "Squad
Automatic Weapon" (SAW) was introduced.[12] Actual design of alternative cartridges for the LMG did not begin until July 1971. A month later, Frankford Arsenal decided upon two cartridge designs for the new LMG: a 6 mm cartridge and a new 5.56 mm cartridge with a much larger case.[17] Neither design was finalized by March 1972, when the Army published the specifications document for the planned SAW.[18] The 6 mm cartridge design was eventually approved in May that year.[19] Prior to July 1972, SAW development contracts were awarded to Maremont, Philco Ford, and the Rodman Laboratory at Rock Island Arsenal.
 These companies produced designs with Army designations XM233, XM234
and XM235 respectively—X denoting "experimental". Designs were required
to have a weight of less than 9.07 kg (20 lb) including 200 rounds of
ammunition, and a range of at least 800 meters (2,600 ft).[20][21]

When the time came for developmental and operational testing of the
SAW candidates, three 5.56 mm candidate weapons were included with the
6 mm candidates: the M16 HBAR, a heavy-barrel variant of the M16 designed for prolonged firing; the Fabrique Nationale de Herstal (FN) Minimi; and the HK 23A1. The initial round of tests ended in December 1974.[20]
 In February 1976, the Minimi and Rodman XM235 SAW were selected for
further development. At this time, opinions of the 6 mm cartridge were
beginning to sour due to the logistical implications of providing yet
another ammunition type to the infantry.[22]
 In June, it was requested that the SAW specifications document be
revised to emphasize standard 5.56 mm ammunition. In October, the
requested revisions were approved, and bids were solicited for the
conversion of the Rodman XM235 to 5.56 mm. Production of the converted
XM235 was awarded to Ford Aerospace, and its designation was changed to XM248.[23] A new M16 HBAR variant, the XM106, was developed in 1978, and soon after, Heckler & Koch lobbied to include a 5.56 mm conversion of its HK 21A1
 (instead of the standard 7.62 mm NATO ammunition it was built for) in
future SAW testing. The latter model was designated the XM262. At this
time, the Minimi received the designation XM249.[24] Testing of the four candidates resumed in April 1979.[25]

In May 1980, the FN XM249 was selected as the best choice for future
development on the grounds of performance and cost, while the HK XM262
reportedly came a close second.[25] In September, FN was awarded a "maturity phase" contract for further development of the XM249,[26] and testing of the new weapon began in June 1981.[27] The official adoption took place on February 1, 1982.

The new gun entered U.S. Army service as the M249 squad automatic
weapon in 1984, and was adopted by the U.S. Marine Corps a year later.
The U.S. production model has a different butt from that of the regular
Minimi.[28] It is manufactured in the FN factory in Columbia, South Carolina.[29]
Although found to be reliable and accurate, the M249 was considered
to present unacceptable hazards in the form of an exposed hot barrel and
 sharp edges. There were complaints that the front sight required
special adjustment tools. On August 23, 1985, then-U.S. Under Secretary of the Army James R. Ambrose suspended M249 production pending the development of the product improvement program (PIP) intended to fix these problems.[30]
 Congress deleted funds for the M249 from the Fiscal Year 1986 defense
budget, then retroactively set aside the program's prior year's funds
from the M249 program for other purposes, including retirement and pay
raises. Over 1,100 M249s already issued were to remain in use, but be
retrofitted with the PIP kit when it became available. Over 7,000
remaining M249s were to stay in storage at depots until corrective
changes could be made. The PIP kit was eventually developed and
implemented, and production of the M249 resumed.[28] In 1994 the M249 squad automatic weapon was re-designated the M249 light machine gun.

## Medium machine guns

### Browning M1919 A4 machine gun

The **M1919 Browning** is a .30 caliber medium machine gun widely used during the 20th century, especially during World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War. An air-cooled development of the standard US machine gun of World War I, the John M. Browning-designed M1917, the M1919 saw service as a light infantry, coaxial, mounted, aircraft, and anti-aircraft machine gun by the U.S. and many other countries. Although it began to be superseded by newer designs, such as the M60, in the later half of the century, it remained in use in many North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries and elsewhere for much longer.

The M1919 is very similar in design to the larger Browning-designed .50 caliber (12.7mm) M2 Machine Gun, especially in its "heavy-barrel" or HB version, still in NATO service. Many M1919s were rechambered for the new 7.62×51mm NATO round and served into the 1990s, as well as up to the present day in some countries. The United States Navy
 also converted many to 7.62mm NATO, and designated them Mk 21 Mod 0;
they were commonly used on river craft in the 1960s and 1970s in
Vietnam.

The M1919 originally fired the .30 cal M1906 (30-06) ball cartridge, and
 later the .30 caliber M2 ball cartridge, contained in a woven cloth belt, feeding from left to right. A metal M1 link was later adopted, forming a "disintegrating" belt.

Loading was accomplished by inserting the pull tab on the ammunition
belt from the left side of the gun - either metal links or metal tab on
cloth belts - until the belt-holding pawl at the entrance of the feed
way grabbed the belt and held it in place. The cocking handle was then
pulled back with the palm of the hand facing up, and then released. This
 advanced the first round of the belt in front of the bolt for the
extractor/ejector on the bolt to grab the first cartridge. The cocking
handle was pulled and released a second time. This removed the first
cartridge from the belt, advanced the next round into position to be
grabbed and moved the first round down into the chamber of the barrel
ready for firing.

As the bolt went into battery, the extractor grabbed the next round
on the belt that was advanced and was resting in the feedway waiting to
be loaded. Every time the gun fired a single shot, the gun performed the
 sequence of extracting and ejecting the spent round as the bolt came
rearward, loading the next round to be fired into the barrel, advancing
the belt, grabbing the next round in preparation for loading, then
chambering it as the bolt came forward again under tension from the
spring. If the trigger was held down, the gun would continue to fire in
full automatic, repeating the sequence over and over until stopped.

The gun's original design was as a water-cooled machine gun (see the M1917 Browning machine gun).
 When it was decided to try to lighten the gun and make it air-cooled,
its design as a gun that fires from the closed bolt created a
potentially dangerous situation. If the gun was very hot from prolonged
firing, the cartridge ready to be fired could be resting in a red hot
barrel, causing the propellant in the cartridge to heat up to the point
that it would ignite on its own without warning. With each further shot
heating the barrel even more as this happened, the gun would continue to
 fire and become uncontrollable until the ammunition ran out, since the
trigger was not what was causing the gun to fire in this situation. This
 is known as a cook-off, and was the reason gunners were taught to cock
the gun with the palm facing up, so that in the event of a cook-off,
their thumb wouldn't be dislocated by the reciprocating charge handle.
Gunners were trained to manage the barrel heat by firing in controlled
bursts of three to five rounds, with a delay between bursts to delay its
 heating. Most other machine gun designs would be fired in the same way,
 even though most feature quick change barrels and fire from an open
bolt, two features that make air-cooled machine guns capable of
sustained fire, and features that the M1919 design lacked.

As a company or battalion
 support weapon, the M1919 required at least a two-man machine gun team.
 But, in practice, four men were normally involved: the gunner (who
fired the gun and when advancing carried the tripod and box of ammo),
the assistant gunner (who helped feed the gun and carried the gun, and
box of spare parts and tools), and two ammunition carriers.[1]
 The original idea was to allow the gun to be more easily packed for
transport, and featured a light barrel and bipod when first introduced
as the M1919A1. Unfortunately, it quickly became clear that the gun was
too heavy to be easily moved, while at the same time too light for
sustained fire. This led to the M1919A2, which included a heavier barrel
 and tripod, and could be continuously fired for longer durations.
The M1919A4 weighed about 31 pounds (14 kg), and was ordinarily mounted on a lightweight, low-slung tripod for infantry use. Fixed vehicle mounts were also employed. It saw wide use in World War II mounted on jeeps, armored personnel carriers, tanks,
 and amphibious vehicles. The M1919A4 played a key role in the firepower
 of the World War II US Army. Each infantry company normally had a
weapons platoon in addition to its other organic units. The presence of
M1919A4 weapons in the weapons platoon gave company commanders
additional automatic fire support at the company level, whether in the
assault or on defense.

The A5 was an adaptation of the A4 with a forward mounting point to allow it to be mounted in tanks and armored cars. This, along with the M37 and the Browning M2 machine gun, was the most common secondary armament during World War II for the Allies.

Another version of the M1919A4, the M1919A6, was an attempt to make
the weapon into a light machine gun by attaching a buttstock and lighter
 barrel—4 lb (1.8 kg) instead of 7 lb (3.2 kg). The A6 version was in
fact heavier than the A4 without its tripod, at 32 lb (15 kg), though
its bipod made for faster deployment and enabled the machine gun team to
 dispense with one man (the tripod bearer).[3]
 The A6 version saw increasing service in the latter days of World War
II and was used extensively in Korea. The A6 variant had a folding bipod
 mounted on the front of the gun, a sheet-metal buttstock, carrying
handle, and a tapered barrel. While the modifications were intended to
make the weapon more useful as a squad light machine gun, it was a stopgap solution, as the M1919A6 was heavier than the old Lewis gun of World War I, let alone the contemporary light machine guns of other nations.

The M1919A6 was an attempt to combine the portability and low profile of the M1918 BAR
 with the sustained firing capability of the M1919A4. The M1919A4 was
given a lighter barrel, buttstock, pistol grip, carrying handle, flash
suppressor, and bipod to achieve the conversion. Even though it was
reliable, it proved impractical for combat. While the 31 lb (14 kg)
M1919A4 had a crew of two or more to carry the gun and the 14 lb
(6.4 kg) tripod, one M1919A6 gunner was expected to carry and deploy the
 32.5 lb (14.7 kg) gun by himself.[4]

During the Second World War, two additional variants of the M1919 were adopted by the US military. One version was the coaxial
 M37 variant, with the ability to feed from either the left or the right
 of the weapon. The M37 also featured an extended charging handle
similar to those on the M1919A4E1 and A5. A trial variant fitted with
special sighting equipment was designated M37F.

In the late 1950s, a M1919 designed for remote firing via a solenoid trigger was developed for use in the XM1/E1
 armament subsystem was designated M37C. The US Navy later converted a
number of M1919A4s to 7.62 mm NATO chambering and designated them Mk 21
Mod 0; some of these weapons were employed in Vietnam in riverine
warfare patrols.

From the 1960s until the 1990s, the Israel Defense Forces
 (IDF) used ground tripod and vehicle-mounted M1919A4 guns converted to
7.62 mm NATO on many of their armored vehicles and M3 personnel
carriers. Israel developed a modified link for these guns due to feeding
 problems with the original US M1 link design. The improved Israeli link
 worked with .30 caliber, 7.62mm NATO and 8×57mm cartridges.

With assistance from firearms engineers at Fabrique Nationale de Herstal,[5] Belgium, the Model 1919 was completely re-engineered into the .30 caliber M2 AN (Army-Navy) aircraft machine gun (see #AN/M2).
 The .30 in M2 AN Browning was widely adopted as both a fixed
(offensive) and flexible (defensive) weapon on aircraft. Aircraft
machine guns required light weight, firepower, and reliability, and
achieving all three goals proved a difficult challenge, with the mandate
 for a closed bolt firing cycle to enable the gun to be safely and
properly synchronized for fixed-mount, forward-aimed guns firing through a spinning propeller, a necessity on many single-engined fighter aircraft
 designs through to nearly the end of World War II. The receiver walls
and operating components of the M2 were made thinner and lighter, and
with air cooling provided by the speed of the aircraft, designers were
able to reduce the barrel's weight and profile. As a result, the M2
weighed two-thirds that of the 1919A4, and the lightened mechanism gave
it a rate of fire approaching 1,200 rpm (some variants could achieve
1,500 rpm),[5]
 a necessity for engaging fast-moving aircraft. The M2's feed mechanism
had to lift its own loaded belt out of the ammunition box and feed it
into the gun, equivalent to a weight of 11 lb (5 kg).[6]
 In Ordnance circles, the .30 M2 AN Browning had the reputation of being
 the most difficult-to-repair weapon in the entire US small arms
inventory.[6]
The M2 also appeared in a twin-mount version which paired two M2 guns
 with opposing feed chutes in one unit for operation by a single gunner,
 with a combined rate of fire of 2,400 rpm. All of the various M2 models
 saw service in the early stages of World War II, but were phased out
beginning in 1943, as hand-trained defensive machine guns became
obsolete for air warfare (the .50 in/12.7 mm M2 Browning and 20 mm
automatic cannon had replaced the .30 in as offensive air armament as
well). The .30 in M2 aircraft gun was widely distributed to other US
allies during and after World War II, and in British and Commonwealth
service saw limited use as a vehicle-mounted anti-aircraft or
anti-personnel machine gun.

The same basic weapon was also chambered for the British .303 round, and was used as a basic fighter aircraft gun in fighters such as the Supermarine Spitfire until the widespread introduction of the larger caliber Hispano-Suiza HS.404
 cannon, and throughout the war in bombers — British night fighters like
 the Mosquito and Beaufighter used quartets of .303 Brownings in the
nose, with four 20mm Hispano cannon in ventral fuselage mounts.

Similar versions for a variety of European calibers were delivered by the Belgian gun maker FN (Fabrique Nationale), notably German-standard 8×57mm Mauser which was widely used in Eastern Europe; and by Swedish gun maker Carl Gustaf SGF in 6.5×55mm and 8×63mm calibers.

Argentina used Colt-manufactured guns chambered for the standard Argentine 7.65×53mm cartridge.

US-manufactured M1919s were converted to the 7.62×54mmR
 cartridge by both the People's Republic of China and North Vietnam in
order to use captured guns with their standard machine gun ammunition.
The standard links and belts for the M1919 were retained. Similar
conversions are available on the US commercial market for recreational
shooters to take advantage of cheap surplus 7.62×54mmR ammunition.

#### Users:

* Dusty Crophopper (AN/M2 .30-06)
* Blitzer (hand-held)
* The Wonderbolts (aircraft Browning .303 Mk. II)
* The Trolley Fighters
* Sunshine (AN/M2 .30-06)