m-16a2





Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
Capacity: 30-round detachable box magazine
Length: 39.63 inches
Weight (with 30-round magazine): 8.79 pounds
Maximum effective range:
Area target: 800 meters
Point target: 550 meters
Muzzle velocity: 853 meters per second
Rate of fire:
Cyclic: 800 rounds per minute
Sustained: 12-15 rounds per minute
Semiautomatic: 45 rounds per minute
Burst: 90 rounds per minute

General dissatisfaction with the M14 and numerous studies led the Army to the development of a light weight weapon capable of firing a burst of small caliber bullets with a controlled dispersion pattern. Although opposed by the Ordnance Corp, the Armalite AR-15 was adopted by the Secretary of Defense as the 5.56mm M16 rifle. The M16 was selectable for automatic and semiautomatic fire. The M16 was to have had the same effective range as the M14 rifle it replaced, but it was most effective at a range of 215 yards (200m) or less. The M16 used a 5.56x45mm (.223 caliber, 55-grain bullet) cartridge in 20- or 30-round detachable box magazines. There were a number of problems encountered during initial fielding, but better training, preventive maintenance, and several design changes resulted in the weapon that became the standard combat rifle of the US Army, with some 3,690,000 having been manufactured.



The M16A2 rifle is the standard by which all military rifles of the future will be judged. This variant of the M16 fires a three-round burst or single shots in semiautomatic operation. The system incorporates an adjustable rear sight which corrects for both windage and elevation, a heavier barrel with 1-in-7” twist rifling, and a compensator to prevent muzzle climb during burst operation. The M16A2 is capable of firing all NATO standard 5.56x45mm (62-grain bullet) ammunition and can fire 40mm grenades when equipped with the M203 Grenade Launcher.



m-4



Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
Capacity: 30-round detachable box magazine
Length: 29.8 inches (stock collapsed) to 33 inches (stock extended)
Weight (with 30-round magazine): 8.79 pounds
Maximum effective range:
Area target: 800 meters
Point target: 550 meters
Muzzle velocity: 853 meters per second
Rate of fire:
Cyclic: 800 rounds per minute
Sustained: 12-15 rounds per minute
Semiautomatic: 45 rounds per minute
Burst: 90 rounds per minute

In 1966 the US Army found a need for a shortened version of the M16 for use by the Special Forces, who needed a smaller weapon for Long-Range Reconnaissance Patrols (LRRPs). Colt's modified M16 was originally called the XM177. The ten inch barrel included a long flash suppressor that contained expansion chambers to reduce the muzzle blast and noise from the extremely loud short barrel. Colt's modified version also included a telescoping stock and round handguards. Further modification led to the production of the XM177E1. This version added the forward assist and was followed by the XM177E2 with 11.5" barrel (enabling it to launch rifle grenades). Although stamped "Commando", all versions came to be known as the "CAR-15". The US Army soon abandoned the project, due to various problems the weapon experienced.



Like the M16A2, the M4 started life in 1983 as a request from the US Marine Corps. The new M4 includes a 'cut-out' in the barrel a little less than an inch in front of the front sight. This allows for the mounting of the M203 Grenade Launcher. Based on the new M16A2 lower receiver, the M4 includes a fully adjustable rear sight, case deflector, compensator, and three-round burst mechanism.

m-4a1 

Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
Capacity: 30-round detachable box magazine
Length: 29.8 inches (stock collapsed) to 33 inches (stock extended)
Weight (with 30-round magazine): 8.79 pounds
Maximum effective range:
Area target: 800 meters
Point target: 550 meters
Muzzle velocity: 853 meters per second
Rate of fire:
Cyclic: 800 rounds per minute
Sustained: 12-15 rounds per minute
Semiautomatic: 45 rounds per minute
Automatic: 120 rounds per minute

The US Army Special Forces, displeased with the 3-round burst feature on the standard M4, adopted another variant, the M4A1. The only difference between the two versions are the M4A1's ability to fire fully automatic. Numerous accessories are available for the Special Operations M4A1 (SOPMOD). The M4A1 mounts a Trijicon ACOG reflex sight for improved accuracy.

m-203



Caliber: 40x46mmSR
Capacity: 1 grenade
Weight of rifle and grenade launcher (with both weapons fully loaded): 11.0 pounds
Muzzle velocity: 76 meters per second
Rate of fire: 5 to 7 rounds per minute
Maximum effective range:
Fire-team sized area target: 350 meters
Vehicle or weapon point target: 150 meters
Minimum safe firing range (HE):
Training: 165 meters
Combat: 31 meters
Minimum arming range: 14 to 38 meters (approximately)

The M203 was developed in the 1970’s from the older plunger-type XM148 grenade launcher to replace the supply of M79 grenade launchers in the inventory. The M79 grenadier was issued only a pistol as an alternative to his shoulder-fired grenade launcher, and the XM148 was seen as a solution to this problem, as it allowed him to carry a standard M16 instead of a pistol. The M203 was a great improvement over the XM148, and is still in use today. Although fitted with blade-type leaf sights (which use the M16 front sight post), the quadrant sights are much more accurate for long-range and precision shooting. A special short-barrel model of the M203 is available for use with the M4 series of carbines. Because the grenades only activate mid-flight, the M203 is most effective at engaging medium to long-range targets. A wide variety of 40x46mmSR ammunition is available for this weapon, including high-explosive (standard), high-explosive dual-purpose (for use against vehicles), high-explosive airburst, multiple projectile (buckshot), signal smoke, and signal flare.



m-249 saw



Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO
Capacity: 200-round belt or 30-round detachable box magazine
Length: 40.9 inches
Weight: 15.07 pounds; spare barrel, 3.74 pounds
200-round box magazine: 6.92 pounds
30-round magazine: 1.07 pounds
Maximum effective range: 1000 meters for an area target
Muzzle velocity: 915 meters per second
Rates of fire:
Cyclic: 750 to 1000 rounds per minute
Sustained: 85 rounds per minute

The M249 was developed through an initially Army-led research and development effort and eventually a Joint NDO program in the late 1970's and early 1980's to restore sustained and accurate automatic weapons fire to the fire team and squad. When actually fielded in the mid-1980's, the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW) was issued as a one-for-one replacement for the designated automatic rifleman (then issued the M16A1) in the Fire Team. In this regard, the SAW filled the void created by the retirement of the Browning Automatic Rifle (BAR) during the 1950's because interim automatic weapons (e.g., M-14E2/M16A1) had failed as viable "base of fire" weapons. Early in the M249's fielding, the Army identified the need for a Product Improvement Program (PIP) to enhance the weapon. This effort resulted in a "PIP kit" which modifies the barrel, handguard, stock, pistol grip, buffer, and sights. The nomenclature of the M249 was changed from SAW to Automatic Rifle (AR) in 1994. The M249 Automatic Rifle forms the basis of firepower for the fire team and is the weapon of choice for the Automatic Rifleman. The M249 is an accurate and durable battlefield weapon.



m-24sws



Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO
Capacity: 5-round internal magazine
Length: 43 inches
Weight: 12.1 lb empty, without scope
Maximum effective range: 800 meters
Optics: 10x42mm Leupold Ultra M3A telescope sight (Mil-Dot reticle)

The M24 is a bolt-action rifle firing 7.62x51mm rounds. It is a lightweight, reliable, and extremely accurate rifle based on the commercial Remington M700 BDL long action. Simple in design, it is thought by many to be the best advanced marksmanship rifle in the world. the M24 utilizes a custom-built fiberglass stock (H-S Precision® M24 Pro-SeriesTM) with an adjustable cheek pad as well as an adjustable pad on the butt stock to set length of pull. It is adaptable to the use of night vision devices and other weapon scopes. The Army may ultimately want to adopt a more powerful .30 caliber cartridge (such as the .300 Winchester Magnum) and the action of this rifle is easily modified to support this.



barrett m-82a1 samr







Caliber: .50 BMG (12.7x99mm Browning)
Capacity: 10-round detachable box magazine
Length: 57 inches
Weight: 32.5 pounds
Maximum effective range:
1500 meters for man-sized targets
2000 meters for vehicular targets

Produced by Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, the M82A1 Semiautomatic Anti-Materiel Rifle is an air-cooled, semi-automatic rifle equipped with a 10x Unertl scope (mounted on a milspec sight rail) and a 10-round detachable box magazine. Firing M2 .50 Browning Machine Gun cartridges, the M82A1 is capable of engaging man-sized targets out to 1500m, vehicular targets out to 2000m and is capable of penetrating up to 30mm of steel plate.



To keep the felt recoil to a minimum, the M82A1 utilizes the short recoil principle developed by John Browning, which diffuses the recoil energy over a longer period of time. To further reduce recoil, the rifle barrel is equipped with a double-chambered muzzle brake, which redirects expended cartridge gases to the sides and rear of the muzzle.



Though the primary round for the M82A1 is the Raufoss Grade A match-grade multi-purpose cartridge, the M82A1 can fire all types of .50 BMG ammunition, with the exception of the M903 SLAP (Saboted Light Armor Penetrator) and the M962 SLAPT (Saboted Light Armor Penetrator - Tracer).





Opposing Force Weapons





ak-47





Caliber: 7.62x39mmS
Capacity: 30-round detachable box magazine
Length: 34.2 inches
Weight: 9.46 pounds
Effective range: 300 meters
Muzzle velocity: 710 meters per second
Rate of fire:
Cyclic: 600-640 rounds per minute
Automatic: 100 rounds per minute
Semiautomatic: 40 rounds per minute

The Avtomat Kalashnikova model 1947 (AK or AK-47) is a gas-operated, selective-fire weapon. Like all 7.62mm Kalashnikov assault rifles, it fires the Soviet 7.62x39mm M1943 round and uses a standard 30-round curved box magazine. The AK comes in two versions: one with a fixed wooden stock, and another, the AKS, with a folding metal stock issued primarily to parachutist and armor troops. Except for the differences in the stock and the lack of a tool kit with the AKS, the two version were identical. The early AKs had no bayonet, but the version with the fixed wooden stock later mounted a detachable knife bayonet.



The improved model, known as the AKM, is easier to produce and operate. It weighs about one kilogram less than the AK-47. The reduced weight results from using thinner, stamped sheet-metal parts rather than machined, forged steel; laminated wood rather than solid wood in the handguard, forearm, pistol grip, and buttstock; and new lightweight aluminum and plastic magazines. Other improvements include a straighter stock for better control, an improved gas cylinder, a rate-of-fire control alongside the trigger, a rear sight graduated to 1,000 meters rather than 800 meters, and a greatly improved, detachable bayonet.



The AKM also has a folding-stock version, designated AKMS, intended for use by riflemen in armored infantry combat vehicles such as the BMP. Except for its T-shaped, stamped-metal, folding buttstock, the AKMS is identical to the AKM. The folding-stock model can reduce its length from 34.2 inches to 27.5 inches.



All 7.62-mm Kalashnikov assault rifles fire in either semiautomatic or automatic mode and have an effective range of about 300 meters. Both the AK and AKM can mount a grenade launcher (BG-15, GP-25, or GP-30). Both can have passive image intensifier night sights. Both can function normally after total immersion in mud and water. The fully-chromed barrel ensures effective operation even at very low temperatures. The muzzle of either weapon fits into the swiveling firing points of the BMP. Thus, the infantryman can fire the weapon while the vehicle is moving.



The most serious drawback to the AK and AKM is the low muzzle velocity (710 meters per second) of the relatively heavy 7.62mm round. This results in a looping trajectory that requires a clumsy adjustment for accuracy at ranges beyond 300 meters. The barrel overheats quickly when the weapon fires for extended periods, making the weapon hard to handle and occasionally causing a round to explode prematurely in the chamber. Also, the exposed gas cylinder is easily dented, sometimes causing the weapon to malfunction.



aks-74u





Caliber: 5.45x39mmS
Capacity: 30-round detachable box magazine
Length: 37.12 inches (AK74)
Weight: 7.25 pounds unloaded; 8.6 pounds loaded (AK74)
Effective range: 500 meters
Muzzle velocity: 900 meters per second
Rate of fire:
Cyclic: 650 rounds per minute
Automatic: 100 rounds per minute
Semiautomatic: 40 rounds per minute

The AK-74 is basically an AKM rechambered and rebored to fire a 5.45mm cartridge, and the AKS-74U is a shortened version of that rifle. Externally, the AK-74 has the same general appearance as the AKM, with two noticeable differences. It has a distinctive, two-port muzzle brake, giving it a slightly greater overall length than the AKM. It also has a smooth plastic magazine which is slightly shorter and is curved to a lesser extent than the grooved metal AKM magazine. It uses the same type of bayonet as the AK-series weapons. The AKS-74 is the folding stock version, with a Y-shaped tubular stock. The stock has an extremely narrow buttplate, as opposed to the T-shaped, stamped-metal buttstock of the AKMS. The AKS-74U is the AKS-74 with a shorter barrel and gas tube and a smaller compensator.



The AK-74 fires 5.45x39mm ball, ball-tracer, and incendiary-tracer rounds. The 5.45mm round of the AK-74 has a considerably higher muzzle velocity than the 7.62mm round of the AKM; this eliminates the range-limiting drawback of it predecessor. Like the AKM, the AK-74 has a maximum sight setting of 1,000 meters, but the effective range is 500 meters (versus 300 meters for the AKM).



The gas cylinder, like the cylinders on the AK and AKM, is in a vulnerable position; if dented, it may cause weapon malfunction. The reddish-brown or orange color of the plastic magazine also does not lend itself to camouflage.



gp-30





Caliber: 40mm
Capacity: 1 grenade
Length: 10.8 inches
Weight: 2.64 pounds
Muzzle velocity: 76 meters per second
Maximum effective range:
Fire-team sized area target: 300 meters
Vehicle or weapon point target: 100 meters

The OPFOR equivalent to the M203, the GP30 is a muzzle-loaded, single-shot grenade launcher that can be mounted underneath any AK-series assault rifle. The stamped GP30 was developed in 1985 to replace the heavier and more expensive milled GP25. The caseless 40mm rounds are muzzle-loaded into the rifled barrel and launched by pulling the double-action trigger. The GP30 is similar in tactical effect to the US Army’s M203. It is mounted beneath the AK-74 assault rifle, which is described under the AKS74-U.



rpk





Caliber: 7.62x39mmS
Capacity: 30- or 40-round detachable box magazine or 75-round drum
Length: 40.75 inches
Weight: 11 pounds (empty)
Muzzle velocity: 732 meters per second
Effective range: 800 meters
Rate of fire:
Cyclic: 660 rounds per minute
Automatic: 150 rounds per minute
Semiautomatic: 50 rounds per minute
Sustained: 80 rounds per minute

The RPK is a variant of the AKM assault rifle. It has a longer, heavier barrel, a stamped metal bipod, and a heavier type of fixed, wooden buttstock. The modified receiver of the RPK can accommodate its larger-diameter barrel. The RPK normally feeds ammunition from either a 40-round curved box magazine or a 75-round spring-loaded drum magazine; however, it can also use the 30-round curved box magazine of the AKM. It has a chrome-plated barrel, chamber, and gas piston. It also has a cyclic rate reducer built into the trigger mechanism. Luminous night sights are usually installed on the front and rear sights. Some RPKs can mount an infrared night-sighting device.



The folding stock version, the RPKS, is issued to airborne troops. With stock folded, it is only 32.28 inches long (versus the RPK, which is 40.75 inches long).



In offensive operations, the machine gunner normally attaches the 75-round drum magazine beneath the weapon at the beginning of an attack. He subsequently replaces it with a 40- or 30-round magazine during the assault or in the early stages of defense. Almost all of the moving parts of the RPK and interchangeable with those of the AK or AKM assault rifles.



Because the RPK fires from a closed bolt, it tends to "cook off" its cartridges due to extreme heat after prolonged firing. Since the barrel cannot be changed, the sustained rate of fire must not exceed about 80 round per minute. The lack of a gas regulator causes rough action and vigorous ejection to the right rear when the gun is clean. It also causes the rate or fire to slow down gradually as residue and dirt accumulate in the gas port.



dragunov svd





Caliber: 7.62x54mmR
Capacity: 10-round detachable box magazine
Length: 48 inches
Weight: 9.46 pounds with scope
Muzzle velocity: 830 meters per second
Effective range: 1300 meters

The Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova (SVD) is a gas-operated, semiautomatic weapon. It fires the Soviet 7.62x54mmR cartridge and uses a detachable 10-round box magazine. Its bolt mechanism and gas recovery system are similar to those of the AK and AKM, but, because of the difference in cartridges used, parts are not interchangeable with the assault rifles. The most interesting features of the SVD are the open buttstock, which has a cheek pad for ease of sighting, and the telescopic sight mounted over the receiver. It has a combination flash suppressor/compensator. It may mount the standard AKM bayonet. It is issued with four magazines, a cleaning kit, and an extra battery and lamp for the telescopic sight.



The SVD fires approximately 30 rounds per minute in the semiautomatic mode. It has a maximum effective range of 1,300 meters with the 4-power telescope or 800 meters without it. The PSO-1 4x optical sight has a 6-degree field of view. It contains an integral, passive infrared detection aid and an illuminated rangefinder reticle. This makes the SVD effective in daylight against point targets or at night against active infrared emitters, such as night driving aids and weapon sights. It can fire light ball, heavy ball, steel core, tracer and armor-piercing incendiary ammunition.



The SVD can fire only light and heavy ball-type ammunition with accuracy. Even though it is equipped with a bayonet, the SVD is not an ideal weapon for close combat because it can fire only in the semiautomatic mode. Its weight and length also limit its maneuverability. The rimmed 7.62x54mmR cartridge of the SVD is not interchangeable with the rimless 7.62x39mmS round of the AKM and RPK, however, it is used in the PK series of medium machineguns



mosin-nagant





Caliber: 7.62x54mmR
Capacity: 5-round internal magazine
Weight: 3.89kg (unloaded and without optical sight)
Length: 1218 mm
Muzzle Velocity: 860 meters per second
Range: 800m

Between 1887 and 1889, working with the type of rimmed cartridge coming into general use among European armies, Sergei Mosin developed a 5-shot, straight-line magazine rifle prototype in 7.62x54mm. By the antiquated Russian measurements of the era it was designated “3-line” caliber. The “line” is equal to 1/10th of an inch or 2.54mm, making 3 lines equal to 7.62mm or .30 caliber. Manufacture of the optical-sighted model ceased in 1958, making the Mosin-Nagant one of the longest-produced rifles in the world.



Although older than the SVD, the Mosin-Nagant ‘scoped model is an accurate rifle, deadly in the hands of a trained marksman. It uses both a PU 3.5x optical sight and iron sights. These rifles were chosen for accuracy from the production lines, had the bolt turned down, and were fitted with a telescopic sights. Apart from these differences, they were the standard 1891/30 (1930 improved model) rifle. Three types of optical sights were used, the early 4x PE scope, the later PEM and the compact 3.5x PU scope. The latter is the most common.

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