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compact carbines / subcarbines / too short carbines / compact assault rifles
( note: the specifications are in the data table ! )
These weapons do all use assault/battle rifle cartridges (5.56 x 45 mm, 5.45 x 39 mm or 7.62 x 51 mm) and have less than 300 mm barrel length. Such a barrel length is clearly suboptimal for these cartridges - it’s too short for the good combustion of the propellant powder. The muzzle velocities of these weapons are significantly lower than those of their longer cousins and their muzzle flash is stronger. The external combustion of some propellant results in a much louder shooting for their user.
Still, the advantage of reduced length (and weight) seems to be too tempting for the designers and users so that the overall count of models is simply astonishing.
*** The Kalashnikov family subcarbines ***
IMI Galil MAR / Micro Galil
This is an attempt of IMI to create a subcarbine from its AK-based Galil assault rifle. The handguard is said to overheat quickly and all other subcarbine problems care also to be found, so it didn’t become a success.
www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/small_arms/galil/GALIL.html
www.isayeret.com/weapons/small_arms/galil/marguide.htm
kalashnikov.guns.ru/models/ka293.html
remtek.com/arms/imi/galil/223/micro/index.htm
www.schiessen-erzgebirge.de/Blueprints/MicroGalil.gif (explosion drawing)
Kalashnikov AKS-74U / (AKSU)
The classic Warsaw Pact subcarbine - a variant of the AK-74. It became very popular all over the world and is a kind of prestige weapon among Arabs.
kalashnikov.guns.ru/models/ka114.html
Mini-Beryl / Wz.96/04
The 5.56 x 45 mm variant of the Onyx (see below).
kalashnikov.guns.ru/models/ka286.html
Onyx / Wz.89 / Wz.2004
Polish modified copy of the AKS-74U.
kalashnikov.guns.ru/model/ka283.html
PP-3 Experimental Small-Size Assault Rifle
A lightweight assault rifle experiment of the Russians - based on the AKM with the new calibre and obviously not chosen for production. It can be considered as a forerunner of the AKS-74U
www.milparade.com/kalashnikov/chapter4/04_41.shtml
kalashnikov.guns.ru/models/ka112.html (link seems broken, I hope they repair their page)
Vektor R6
The South African assault rifle R5 is a modified IMI Galil, which in turn is based on the AK. The R6 is a shortened R5.
*** The AR-15 family subcarbines ***
Arms Tech Compak 16
This subcarbine has reduced rate of fire in comparison to the AR-15 series and its designer tried to take care about the muzzle flash/blast problem.
www.defensereview.com/352003/Compak-16_Brochure_Front.jpg
www.defensereview.com/352003/Compak-16_Brochure_Back.jpg
www.defensereview.com/video/file5.mpg (video)
Colt subcarbines; XM-177, XM177E1, XM177E2, M4A1 CQB
The classic U.S. subcarbine - Colt produced several models called “Commando” and this name became almost standard for western subcarbines. there were so many Colt subcarbines over the years that it’s an own story. The most recent production model seems to be the Colt M4A1 CQB.
world.guns.ru/assault/as50-e.htm
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/colt_commando
This is a recent subcarbine available from Diemaco. It’s surprising that they have both this and the weapon below as recent developments.
Diemaco PDW
This “PDW” attempt has 90% part commonality with the Canadian standard carbine, the C8. Barrel length seems to be 5.7”.
nightoperations.com/C-7_A2.htm
HK 416 (10”)
Heckler & Koch’s apparently successful attempt to fix the problems of the AR15 series with their HK416 resulted also in this new carbine. It’s already prepared with rails for accessoires.
LaFrance M16K
This weapon too was modified to have a low rate of fire. Jane’s Infantry Weapons claims excellent performance of its flash hider, but I strongly doubt that it “eliminates” the muzzle flash as claimed.
Troy CQB-SPC Commando
Just one of those it-needs-a-rail-and-1000-extras-everywhere subcarbines with a too short barrel. There are members with longer barrel in the family, though.
Z-M LR300
This is an early attempt to tune the AR-15 system for SWAT teams.
AR-15 system “pistols”
It doesn’t seem to make sense to have a AR-15 with pistol-like barrel length, no fore grip and no shoulder stock. But that’s nothing that would deter the Americans to create such a thing. And they did it in parallel, not just one company. Here’s a link collection.
www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/0000/97.htm
www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/0200/262.htm
securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/0500/589.htm
securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/2400/2421.htm
securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/2400/2476.htm
www.gunsmokeenterprises.net/gse%20pistol.htm
http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/Carbon15/
*** 7.62 x 51 mm subcarbines ***
DSA SA58 OSW
This is based on a FN FAL - a weapon rather known for its length than for compactness. With a 11” barrel and lots of accessoires, it was turned into a police assault rifle. It cannot be considered as PDW at all, but fits into the subcarbine category due to barrel length and calibre.
www.dsarms.com/prodinfo.asp?number=SA58OSW
FR Ordnance MC 51
This G3-based subcarbine was apparently not successful. Muzzle flash and trouble with the mechanism seem to have been serious.
216.22.2.75/20010315/galleryfiles/1700/1750.htm
*** other subcarbines ***
AAI SPIW project spin-off carbines
During the finally unsuccessful SPIW program of the U.S. Army (an attempt to find a wonder assault rifl in the 1960’s) did the AAI Corporation develop spin-off carbine variants (this was not part fo the contract). The SPIW went through several generations and that’s why I can show you two different weapons here. I’m actually not sure about their barrel length. The lower photo of a 1967 weapon shows likely a weapon with a too long barrel for this category, but the first one of 1964 does most likely fit into it. The upperdesign of 1964 fired the 5.6x53mm XM110 cartidge. Muzzle velocity and burst rate fo fire were extremely high, but overall performance of the flechette projectile was poor even when fired from the rifle version. Magazine capacity was likely 60 rounds.
The lower design is of 1967 (second SPIW generation), fires caliber 5.6x57mm XM645 sabot cartridges with flechette - 60 rounds per magazine. Some flechette/sabot problems were solved by then (primarily the previous lack of accuracy) and the bullpup layout did apparently permit a longer barrel. As mentioned above, its barrel is most likely longer than 300mm. That doesn’t matter much anyway because the external and terminal (wound) ballistics of the flechettes were fundamentally different to the ballistics of small calibre bullets anyway. But the appearance of a smaller carbine brother next to the intended new assault rifle shows that even in the 60’s, small arms development didn’t ignore the needs of non-combat personnel for more compact and lighter weapons than an assault rifle.
The Stoner 63 system of small arms was popular with the USMC at that time - the SPIW project at AAI had the character of a system of small arms, too. That was probably because the Army had to decide on the USMC’s small arms and was under pressure to present something more than equal to the Stoner system (which the USMC wanted so much). The similarity in intended small arms specializations and lack of success to the XM8 project is obvious.
info: book ”The SPIW - The deadliest weapon that never was” by R. Blake Stevens and Edward. C. Ezell
AK5D / CGA5 C2
The Swedish army uses the FN FNC assault rifle as AK5Â - and this is the new carbine - no, subcarbine variant.
Bushmaster Armpistol
A very weird weapon. You need to twist the grip 40° either to the right or the left (to the left for right-handers) and lay the weapon on your forearm. Now this is a really weird firing stance! You cannot see it, but it has the AK gas system.
www.biggerhammer.net/armpistol/variants.html
Cermák KRASA
This is a Czech prototype development from the late 1970’s in 7.62 x 39 and later 5.45 x 39 mm.The barrel isn’t only where we guess it is. It’s longer because the magazine is actually below the barrel. A two-stage feeding system trnsports the cartridge backwards and then into the chamber. This allows a much shorter weapon for the same barrel length. Others employ the bullpup approach for the same effect and the two-stage system was never used in production weapons, so it’s probably not such a good idea.
info: book ”Assault Rifle” by Maxim Popenker and Anthony G. Williams
CZ 2000 Assault Rifle Short / CZ 805
This Czech subcarbine is in several aspects quite similar to the Kalashnikov family. A version with rails everywhere to add accessoires was developed and is called CZ805. The specs should be the same as those of the CZ2000 short version except the weight.
www.stratmag.com/issueAug-1/page02.htm#a03
i62.photobucket.com/albums/h90/REMOV/MSPO2006/_CZ805Lada_05.jpg CZ805
Daewoo K1A
The South Korean subcarbine, nothing special here.
Dragunov MA
A Dragunov design from 1977 with unusual plastic frame. I’m experienced with some more exotic plastic compounds and this one looks not like a PA-GF as the links tells. It’s more like reinforced with some poor quality flax/hemp or even wood fibres - although this would not make any sense due to the poor impact properties of these compounds. Anyway, it doesn’t look like fiberglass at all.
securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/2500/2531.htm
Floro 5.56mm PDW
Judging by its outer appearance, this seems to be an attempt to create a low-cost carbine. But both producer and JIW tell the people that it shall replace all existing 9mm pistols and submachineguns (of the Phillippinean Army).
www.securityarms.com/20010315/galleryfiles/2400/2435.htm
HK 53
Heckler & Koch developed 5.56 x 45 mm HK 33 assault rifles on basis of their G3 battle rifle. This is an even shorter weapon of the same calibre, popular with U.S. SWAT teams for some years. Basically they advertised that this weapon has 5.56mm power in a weapon that’s almost indistinguishable from a MP5.
remtek.com/arms/hk/mil/53/53.htm
www.waffenhq.de/infanterie/hk53.html (in German)
HK G36C
The G36 is the new German standard assault rifle - the “K”-version was introduced aftrwards and featured a shorter barrel. The even shorter barrelled “C”-version qualifies for the subcarbine category and is the successor for the HK 53. It’s in use with the KSK (German Commando regiment) and some police units.
www.hkdefense.us/pages/military-le/rifles-carbines/g36c.html
world.guns.ru/assault/as14-e.htm
www.heckler-koch.de page on G36C
HK XM8 (PDW / ultra-compact carbine / compact carbine)
When the XM29 (20mm grenade launcher + 5.56mm carbine + thermal sight + computer) program collapsed in favour of the XM25 program, there was a contract for HK but no 5.56mm component in the XM25 anymore. So the U.S.Army took the opportunity to develop a family of weapons around the G36 but with new plastic frame and some other modifications, most notably “Star Trek” look and a new unitary sight. In this family, there’s also a 9” barrelled “PDW” variant. this is sometimes shown wiht a buttcap instead of a shoulder stock and sometimes with the normal shoulder stock, but the barrel remains to be too short IMHO. As far as I know, the XM8 project was cancelled.
world.guns.ru/assault/as61-e.htm
Imbel Model LC
This is a Brazilian weapon - the (sub)carbine variant of an assault rifle. Handguard, folding fore grip, reflex sight, translucent magazine, folding shoulder stock... this subcarbine at least looks promising.
IMI Micro Tavor /MTAR-21
The Mini Tavor is an Israeli bullpup that was AFAIK the first bullpup (let’s ignore this armpistol stuff from above) that had less than 300mm barrel length. It’s a shortened Tavor assault rifle.
www.isayeret.com/weapons/assault/tavor/guide.htm
www.israeli-weapons.com/weapons/small_arms/tavor/Tavor.html
users.belgacom.net/jm.armes/Tavor/tavor-mi.htm (in French)
IMI Tavor 2
Strange thing - the Israelis are supposed to have plenty opportunities to test their small arms, yet they insisted on a new bullpup with really short barrel.
world.guns.ru/assault/as30-e.htm
Kel-Tec SU-16D9 and SU-16D12
This foldable carbine is already fitted with rails and offered as PDW with 9 or 12” barrel lengths. The extremely low weight is a strong argument.
http://www.kel-tec.com/su16d.html
Marshal Arms Assault Rifle / Future MilitaryFirearms System (F.M.F.S.)
This is an assault rifle project with top 50 round magazine for 5.56x45 mm cartridges. It’s a kind of slightly larger FN P90 with normal grip in my opinion. I got the data from its developer Walt Balsavage. Also have a look at the technically similar Marshal Arms pistol - the links I posted here lead towards explanations on the ammo feed and so on.
www.marshalarmsinc.com/Products.html
Pindad SS1-V5
This is a (sub)carbine variant of the new Indonesian assault rifle, the SS-1.
This is the carbine version of an assault rifle offered by Ruger. The assault rifle design is in turn a militarized version of the civilian Ruger Mini 14 series. That’s a rather unique background in the subcarbine category. Some sources tell about a barrel length of 330mm, but according to Jane’s Infantry Weapons 1989/90 it’s 292 mm and 330 mm only with some “flash suppressor”. Mini 14 carbines have the reputation of being a bit inaccurate, but that can apparently be improved by tuning.
world.guns.ru/assault/as37-e.htm
www.smallarmsreview.com/pdf/AC556.pdf
SIG SG 552 Commando
This is a very expensive and high-quality production subcarbine, member of the same family as SG 550 and SG 551.
world.guns.ru/assault/as25-e.htm
Sterling-Armalite AR-18S
The AR-18 is a kind of advanced but simpler AR-15. And this is its subcarbine variant.
Tkachev AO-46
Again a very weird design. This weapon is both weird and remarkable because its 5.45 x 39 mm magazine acts as hand grip. Certainly not advantageous from a ergonomy point of view. Or robust. But the design means that in unloaded state, this weapon is extremely compact and no hindrance. Maybe this layout is better used for a survival rifle than for a PDW. It lost to AKS-74U.
www.personaldefenceweapons.com
contact me by e-mail for additions, corrections, questions!