Armalayt AR 10 rifle, mm caliber 7,62
After World War II, the American firm Armalite Inc., Costa Mesa, California, produced hunting, sporting and military rifles that were marked with a special AR badge. This model designation was retained later, after the company was joined to the large enterprise Armalite Division of Fairchild Engine & Airplane.
To produced in a small amount arms This includes, for example, the AR 11947 multiply-charged sniper rifle of the year with a Mauser bolt and an AR 5 collapsible pistol-carbine with a unscrewing barrel and fiberglass butt. In larger quantities produced model AR 7, similar in design to the pistol-carbine. This weapon weighs 1,3 kg, its total length - 820 mm, when disassembled - 400 mm.
In 1954, the development of a new weapon was started, which later became a regular rifle of the American army. When the AR 1956 automatic rifle, developed by a group of designers, including Richard S. Buttel, Charles G. Dorchester, Eugene M. Stoner and Sullivan, was introduced in 10, hardly anyone expected such a success. The US military did not show any interest in such weapons under the NATO patron 7,62x51.
The new development was a system, when changing units and parts of which it was possible to produce automatic rifles, self-loading sniper rifles, as well as automatic rifles. A special supply of ammunition from ribbons was developed, which made it possible to create a light machine gun. Before launching the system into mass production, tests of prototypes with various components were carried out. The main role in this work was played by Stoner, who later became the chief designer of the company.
Tested rifles, equipped with standard cartridges At that time, 7.62x63 Springfield M2, prototypes with an aluminum barrel, reinforced titanium, and a plastic shop shaft; models with a new recharge device using the energy of powder gases; samples with different flame arresters. adapted for firing rifle grenades. Later a special version was released, which was loaded with .308 cartridges. Winchester 7,62x63. under the name AR 10 model. It had a larger head diameter, a more powerful cartridge ejector, the store shaft was located at a different angle.
As already mentioned, the military showed no interest in the new weapon. Some models have been tested, to which the American firm Colt's Patent Firearms Mfg. Co., Hartford, Connecticut, also manufactured a small number of AR 10 rifles, but did not achieve much success. In the end, the Californian company sold the license to the Dutch company Artillerie Inrichtingen. There from 1957 to 1960 year produced 5000 automatic rifles of this type and sold them to the armed forces of Burma, Nicaragua, Portugal and Sudan.
The action of the Armalight AR10 automatic rifle is based on the use of the energy of powder gases. The bolt is swivel, the barrel is locked with eight trunnions. The weapon is not equipped with either a gas piston or a gas cylinder. Through a tube of small diameter, the powder gases are sent directly to the rotary cylindrical gate.
Ammunition is fed from a direct long magazine on 20 cartridges. Shooting can be carried out by single shots and bursts. The optimal firing range is 400 m. The shop is made of aluminum and reinforced with steel plates on the sides. The rate of fire ranges from 40 to 60 shots / min. Sighting line length - 527 mm, pitch length of rifling barrel - 254 mm, length of the weapon with a bayonet - 1169 mm. Rifle grenades can be fired without special tools.
Butt, pistol grip, transfer handle and barrel cover are made of plastic, so that the weapon does not sink in water. A diopter sight is located in the carrying handle above the body, which can be adjusted using the clamping screw. Fly fixed on the casing. The barrel, unlike some prototypes of weapons, is not made of aluminum alloy, but of steel.
Features: Armalight AR 10 automatic rifle
Caliber mm ............................................... ....................... 7,62
starting speed
bullets (v0), m / s .......................................... ........................ 845
Weapon length, mm .............................................. ............ 1029 *
Rate of fire,
shots / min .............................................. ......................... 700
Ammunition supply ....................... straight long magazine
on xnumx ammo
Weight without magazine, kg ............................................. ...... 3,25
Cartridge................................................. ..................... 7,62x51
Barrel length, mm .............................................. ............... 559
Rifling / direction ............................................... ........ 4 / n
Sighting range, m .............................................. ..915
Range of effective action, m .............................. 460
* With mounted bayonet - 1169 mm.
Information