Rifle with the functions of a machine gun. FN HAMR
At the beginning of this century, the command of the US Marine Corps preoccupied itself with increasing the mobility of fighters and units by rearming them. Hitherto, the marines used M249 SAW as a light machine gun, a variant of the Belgian FN Minimi, modified to meet American requirements and manufactured in the United States under license. "Saw" and was supposed to be replaced by a new, more convenient weapon. In general, KPM was the first to hit upon the problem of firepower and mobility of units in this way: they ordered a kind of hybrid of a light machine gun and an assault rifle. Although sometimes there is an opinion that the marines simply wanted to get new infantry weapons without special economic and political problems - so they decided to replace the old M249, and not the new M4 rifles. The competition for the development of the replacement "Pila" was called very "original": IAR (Infantry Automatic Rifle - Infantry Automatic Rifle).
FN, Heckler-Koch and Colt submitted their applications for the competition. In the first company, or rather in its American department (FN USA), they decided to base on the already existing “in iron” rifle FN SCAR. After a number of improvements, designed to adapt the automatic mechanism to the features of the machine gun, the FN IAR project was “budding” from FN SCAR. As you can see, the company also decided not to philosophize about the name. Later, the weapon will be renamed, and it will be called FN HAMR (Heat Adaptive Modular Rifle - Modular rifle with thermal adaptation). Probably, now the rifle should have attracted a potential customer already at the title stage. Moreover, representatives of FN have not been tired of repeating every year that this very system of thermal adaptation is a revolutionary innovation, which in the future will become the standard for all weapons, and everyone will remember their company with a kind word.
What is an adaptation system? By default, the FN HAMR fires with the shutter closed. This is achieved shooting performance, acceptable for an assault rifle. You can shoot with both bursts and single shots. If a unit needs a machine gun, the fighter with the FN HAMR starts using his weapon in an appropriate way. Moreover, the rifle ammunition in the “machine-gun” mode can be carried out both from a regular box magazine on 30 cartridges, and from other designs that are compatible with the corresponding STANAG standard. So, for example, for the FN HAMR as a machine gun, the use of Beta C-Mag shops (two-drum for a hundred rounds) is most appropriate. However, in this case, the rifle, which has become a machine gun, will experience completely different temperature loads, which may have a very bad effect on the firing rates. In this case, FN USA came up with an interesting mechanism that regulates the operation of automation depending on the temperature of the rifle internals. Naturally, FN does not share its know-how, but the most likely and logical way to operate thermoregulation is as follows: a bimetallic plate contacts the rifle chamber, which, when a certain temperature is exceeded, “locks” the bolt in the rear position through the system. Shooting is now conducted, respectively, with an open shutter. Due to this, the air circulation in the receiver improves, and the temperature of the structure gradually decreases. Upon reaching the recommended mechanism releases the shutter and then the FN HAMR shoots “in an automatic way” from the closed shutter. The designers note that all these switchings occur fully automatically, without human intervention. So now the shooter does not need to monitor the number of shot rounds and replace the barrel in time.
With the exception of the temperature adaptation mechanism and the FN HAMR barrel, it is similar to the basic SCAR rifle in the light version. This weapon was created under the patron 5,56x45 mm of NATO. Automatics HAMR venting with a short stroke. The barrel is locked with the help of a pivotal larva on seven lugs. From the ancestor rifle, the HAMR has a double-block arrangement of the receiver. In the upper part, made of aluminum, the barrel and the mechanics of the bolt are fixed, and in the lower part of the polymer - the trigger mechanism, the pistol grip and the receiver of the stores. The rifle barrel with temperature adaptation, like the SCAR, is removable, but has a large wall thickness - again, in order to withstand the increased temperature loads. The trigger mechanism FN HAMR allows you to fire single shots and bursts, adjusting the length of the last designers have not provided. The three-position flag of the translator of fire (blocking USM, single, automatic), as on a large number of modern types of weapons, is located on both sides above the pistol grip, which allows you to switch it with both hands. Also, for the convenience of left-handed shooters, the possibility of quick and easy rearrangement of the loading handle on the left side (initially located on the right) is provided. To do this, on both sides of the receiver there are slots, and on the gate - holes for the handle. In addition, the store latch has buttons on both sides. In order that the left-handed shooter did not injure the face of the departing sleeve, there is a reflector detail in the rear part of the ejection window.
At the factory, the FN HAMR rifle is completed with folding aiming devices consisting of a diopter rear sight and an open front sight. The first has an adjustment of the firing range. Butt, like SCAR, folding (right) and can be adjusted in length. The modularity of the name on the HAMR is provided by three Picatinny strips: at the top of the receiver, under the forend and on its left side. In addition to the "tactical body kit," they can be mounted with a grenade launcher FN EGLM, designed specifically for the SCAR line. According to unconfirmed reports, the factory-equipped FN HAMR has an additional front handle that folds into a two-legged bipod for using the weapon in machine gun mode.
In 2009, according to the results of comparative tests, the United States Marine Corps Competition Commission recommended the adoption of the Heckler-Koch M27 assault rifle. In a number of sources there is information that prior to 2014, the Commission will receive 6-7 thousands of copies of Heckler-Koch. At the same time, it is impossible to exclude the possibility that the marines will decide to purchase Belgian-American rifles, because the IAR competition was, first of all, an experiment on changing the structure of units. If the experiment is considered successful, then it is quite possible to purchase the FN HAMR, especially since by that time the rifle will have time to finally bring it to mind.
Information