Misplaced Pages

#680319

52-737: In 1964, General Charles Ailleret requested the creation of a precision rifle to the General Staff of the Army. Development was entrusted to the Saint-Étienne arms factory, which took input from sports shooters in both the military and the civilian French Shooting Federation. After several prototypes named the FR-P series, the new weapon was ready in 1966 and adopted as the FR F1. Around 6000 rifles were produced by 1980. The original intention of

104-405: A 17-inch spike bayonet , reversed in a tube below the barrel. To use the bayonet, a spring plunger was pressed to release the bayonet. It was then free to be pulled out, turned around, and fitted back into its receptacle. The initial implementation of this bayonet design has a distinct (although, uncommonly encountered) disadvantage: with a bayonet stored in one rifle and the other empty, the top of

156-412: A Lebel-type cruciform bayonet inserted into a guard tube under the barrel (taken out by the stopper and turned by snap-fastening the stopper in the tube to fix), the bolt body, the bolt rear cap, the firing pin and the spring of the firing pin. The metal parts of the rifle were black baked in an oven. The MAS-36 bolt handle was bent forward in an "awkward fashion" to bring it into a convenient position for

208-409: A Model 53 bis. Adjustment of the graduated elevation turret visibly changes the height of the reticle in the objective. This sight was attached via a unique three-point mount operated by a side-mounted lever. The optic was detachable, but the mounts did not feature a repeatable zero, so optics were not typically removed under any circumstance. The free-floating barrels are 554mm (~21.8in) long and have

260-438: A conventional lands and grooves bore profile with a twist rate of 1 turn in 279.4 mm (11.00 in). They are designed to function reliably with bullet weights ranging from 9.3 to 11.34 g (144 to 175 gr) and are threaded for a flash hider or sound suppressor . Optional accurized barrels with a different chrome treatment can provide up to 0.3 mil (1 moa ) accuracy (with match grade ammunition). After using

312-708: A more effective metal surface treatment against rust. The "second model" is the most produced version with its derivative, the MAS 36/51. The MAS-36 was extensively used by French Army and colonial defense forces during France's postwar counter-insurgency operations in the First Indochina War and the Algerian War , as well as in the Suez Crisis . During the Suez Crisis, French paratroop marksmen of

364-453: A rear tangent-type aperture sight element that was calibrated for 7.5×54mm French mle1929 C ammunition for 100–1,200 m (109–1,312 yd) in 100 metres (109 yd) increments. The original front sighting element was milled and consisted of a front post that was protected by two open 'ears'. There were 25 rear aperture elements available for the sight line to optimize it horizontally and laterally in 2.32 MOA increments during assembly at

416-720: A reformation of the Comoros Army in 1990, the MAS-36 was replaced with newer firearms such as the AK-47 . In 1941, Britain and Free France occupied Syria, bringing thousands of MAS-36 rifles with them. When French forces departed from Syria in 1946, the rifles were given to the Syrian Armed Forces in order to arm their own army and militias, as the Syrian government at the time was perceived as pro-western. The MAS-36

468-417: A right-hand twist with four grooves following a pitch of 300. In order to reduce weight, a relatively light barrel profile was chosen, which made the rifle more prone to point-of-impact shift from the heat buildup of extended firing sessions. This was deemed an acceptable consequence, as a lightweight rifle was prioritized. The standard muzzle device is a two-piece adjustable four-slot flash hider, fitted with

520-429: A side-mounted cam track and button to dial and lock the selected firing range on the rear sight element. The hooded front sight element reduced glare under unfavorable light conditions and added extra protection for the post. The bolt of post World War II produced rifles can not be closed on an empty chamber, indicating the rifle needs to be reloaded. Later post war batches feature phosphating / Parkerizing introduced as

572-507: A simpler SIG TANGO6 1-6×24 telescopic sight to make quick adjustments between 0–600 m (0–656 yd) and features a red horseshoe dot for fast aiming and an illuminated Extended Range Bullet Drop Compensation (BDC) illuminated front focal plane reticle. It will also be fielded with a suppressor to lessen its sound signature. Roughly 6,000 are planned to be fielded with one per squad in infantry, engineer and scout formations. Early testing began with several U.S. Army combat units receiving

SECTION 10

#1732783426681

624-413: A sleeve on the barrel. For further accuracy tuning, the barrel has long threading to be used with a locking nut on the muzzle device in order to modify its position along the barrel, and hence influence the harmonic resonance behavior of the barrel. Best accuracy was found when the slots of the flash hider were aligned with the grooves of the rifling, and a specific tool for this was made. Overall accuracy of

676-472: A version of the G28E-110 would be issued to infantry squads as the service's standard SDMR. While undergoing evaluation by PEO Soldier, it was designated as M110E1. Issuing a 7.62×51mm NATO SDMR is meant to increase individual squads' ability to engage distant threats and defeat enemy body armor that standard 5.56×45mm NATO rounds cannot penetrate. The M14 EBR was previously issued for this role, but because it

728-495: Is adorned with a padded cheek rest and features a buttplate spacer system to adjust length of pull. A built-in bipod with adjustable spring-loaded telescopic legs is positioned mid-way along the length of the rifle, close to the center of gravity, to allow for long cycles of observation in firing positions without excessive fatigue of the user's arms. Although the legs telescope, this bipod is not considered fully adjustable as it does not allow for tilt or pan. The manual safety mechanism

780-555: Is chambered for the modern rimless 7.5×54mm French cartridge; a shortened version of the 7.5×57mm MAS mod. 1924 cartridge that had been introduced in 1924 (then modified in 1929), for France's FM 24/29 light machine gun . The rifle was developed based on French experience in World War I and combines various features of other rifles like the two rear locking lugs of the British SMLE rifle (easy to clean and resistant to dirt),

832-428: The 2ème RPC ( Régiment de Parachutistes Coloniaux ), employed telescope-sighted MAS-36 rifles to eliminate enemy snipers. The MAS-36 remained in service into the early 1960s as an infantry rifle, often serving with indigenous colonial units. It was officially a substitute-standard rifle after France adopted the semi-automatic MAS-49 rifle series in 1949, though its bolt design lives on in a dedicated sniper version of

884-656: The Fusil à répétition 7 mm 5 M. 36 ) is a military bolt-action rifle . First adopted in 1936 by France and intended to replace the Berthier and Lebel series of service rifles , it saw service long past the World War II period. It was manufactured from late 1937 onward by Manufacture d'Armes de Saint-Étienne (MAS), one of several government-owned arms factories in France. Only 250,000 MAS-36 rifles were available to equip

936-648: The Heckler & Koch G3 rifle family, which did not feature a bolt hold-open device. Later prototypes, however, switched to a polymer magazine with bolt hold-open. The magazine resembles an enlarged version of the G36 's transparent magazine, except without the pins for holding more than one magazine together . Purchasers of the HK417 have typically intended it to complement lighter assault rifles chambered for less powerful intermediate cartridges (often 5.56×45mm NATO ), for

988-675: The Lebel Model 1886 and Berthier rifles as well as Berthier carbines , budget constraints limited MAS-36 production and it was used with the former rifles in many French army and colonial units. During World War II, the MAS-36 was used alongside the Lebel 1886 and Berthiers during the Battle of France. After the Battle of France , the Germans took over a large number of MAS-36s, which were given

1040-625: The United States Army , Russian Spetsnaz forces such as FSB Alpha Group , and others. The HK417 is similar in internal design to the HK416 , although the receiver and working parts are enlarged to suit the larger 7.62×51mm cartridge. The bolt is a seven-lug rotating type , which sits in a bolt carrier and operates in a forged alloy receiver resembling those of the Stoner-designed AR-10 , AR-15 and M16 rifles . Like

1092-418: The designated marksman role. The HK417's greater accuracy, effective range, and penetration offset its greater expense, its lower rate of fire, and its smaller ammunition capacity both in magazine and carriage. The HK417 models chambered for 7.62×51mm NATO available to the military and law enforcement market are: The HK417A2 is an improved version. The design of the receiver, barrel interface, gas port and

SECTION 20

#1732783426681

1144-730: The dog leg shaped bolt handle of the British P14 /U.S. M1917 Enfield rifle that places the bolt knob at a favorable ergonomic position in relation to the trigger and peep sight , bolt disassembly similar to the Japanese Arisaka Type 38 , and the five-round box magazine (claw extractor) of the German Gewehr 98 which stored 5 rounds in a staggered column and fed by 5-round stripper clips ), to produce an "ugly, roughly made, but immensely strong and reliable" service rifle. There are just five user removable parts:

1196-510: The Army has shown small scale testing and use of the M110A2, an upgraded version of Knight's Armament Company's M110 SASS. The Navy and Marine Corps have also designated funding for a M110 SASS Product Improvement Program (PIP). The M110A1 SDMR is a Squad Designated Marksman Rifle (SDMR) being issued to US Army infantry squads to replace the M14 EBR . In March 2018, the Army announced that

1248-472: The FR F1 lacks cutouts for stripper clips and has a smaller ejection port than the MAS 36. The basic rear-locking helical-lug bolt design was taken from the Japanese Arisaka Type 38 rifle and extensively modified and strengthened to reduce accuracy-inhibiting flex. On operation, the lugs cam the bolt forward during closure to obtain optimal cartridge seating. The wooden pistol grip stock

1300-429: The FR F1 was the creation of an accurized MAS-36 , using as many parts from the older rifle as possible. As such, the FR F1 was originally designed around the 7.5×54mm MAS cartridge and it maintains partial parts compatibility with the MAS 36. The receiver of the FR F1 is fundamentally the same as the MAS 36 but designed to be stronger and thicker in order to increase accuracy, and are not interchangeable. The receiver of

1352-467: The FR-F series rifles, FR-G rifles do not have iron sights and have a STANAG-style rail along the top of the receiver for optics. In military service, these rifles were replaced by the Heckler & Koch HK417 . There was to be an FR-G3 chambered in 7mm-08 Remington for commercial sale to the civilian market, however this never came to fruition. MAS-36 rifle The MAS Modèle 36 (also known as

1404-484: The French infantry during the Battle of France in 1940. Mass production finally caught up after World War II and MAS-36 rifles became widely used in service during the First Indochina War , the Algerian War , and the Suez Crisis . Altogether, about 1.1 million MAS-36 rifles had been manufactured when production ceased in 1952. The MAS-36 is a short carbine-style rifle with a two-piece stock and slab-sided receiver. It

1456-840: The G28 as the HK241, though G28 remains its Bundeswehr designation. The M110A1 CSASS is the U.S. Army's type designation for the Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System . In April 2016, Heckler & Koch confirmed that a lighter version of the G28 had won the United States Army 's CSASS contract to replace the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System . The M110A1 uses an aluminum upper receiver instead of steel to meet weight requirements, weighing 8.4 lb (3.8 kg) unloaded and reaching some 15 lb (6.8 kg) loaded and with accessories;

1508-575: The HK416, the HK417 is gas-operated with a short-stroke piston design similar to that of the Heckler & Koch G36 . The short-stroke piston may be more reliable than the original direct impingement operation of the AR-15 design because, unlike these weapons, it does not vent propellant gases directly into the receiver , which deposits carbon fouling onto the bolt mechanism as well as heating it up. The early HK417 prototype used 20-round magazines from

1560-775: The HK417 as a stopgap designated marksman rifle under the G27 designation, the civilian MR308 was used to develop the G28, a designated marksman rifle for the German Bundeswehr ( Federal Army ) deployment to the War in Afghanistan . The semi-automatic G28 is chambered for 7.62×51mm NATO and has a factory warrantied accuracy of 45 mm dispersion at 100 meters (0.45 mil or 1.5 moa) when fired with 10 rounds using OTM/HPBT/Sierra Match King ammunition. The G28 features STANAG 4694 NATO Accessory Rails that are backwards-compatible with

1612-460: The Lebel model 1886 rifle, the MAS-36 featured a stacking hook offset to the right side of the barrel for standing a number of the rifles (usually a trio) upright. The MAS-36 was intended as an economical, simple bolt-action rifle to serve with rear-echelon, colonial and reserve troops and meant to share machining and pave the way for a new standard semi-automatic rifle before the next big conflict. The first French semi-automatic rifle evolved from

FR F1 - Misplaced Pages Continue

1664-617: The M110A1 features a Geissele M-LOK rail handguard, Schmidt & Bender 3–20×50 PM II Ultra Short telescopic sight , Geissele optic mount, OSS SRM6 suppressor, 6-9 Harris bipod and mount, and a collapsible stock with adjustable comb. In May 2018, the U.S. Marine Corps will begin receiving the CSASS, also to replace the M110. There has been some small-scale testing of the CSASS since then but no news of widespread fielding or adoption. However,

1716-523: The NATO round and also had an SKS type trigger safety fitted to them. In Comoros , the French had a decent amount of MAS-36 rifles in storage during WWII and the Post-war era. When Comoros became in independent nation in 1975, the rifles were given to the new Comoros Army . The MAS-36 was widely used during many of the coups and attempted coups that took place on the island nation from 1975 to 1989. After

1768-615: The STANAG 2324/MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rails . The upper receiver is made from steel instead of HK's aluminium alloy . Approximately 75% of the parts are interchangeable with the HK417. There are two different versions of the G28: G28 E2 (Standard) with a Schmidt & Bender 3–20×50 PM II (modified to Bundeswehr requirements) and the G28 E3 (Patrol) with Schmidt & Bender 1–8×24 PM II. By October 2017, Heckler & Koch had renamed

1820-404: The appropriate screw drivers to remove the front stock. If removed the front stock will probably face quite a bit of trial and error in getting the screws set back to their exact positions again. It was normally carried with a loaded magazine and empty chamber until the soldier was engaged in combat, though the rifle's firing mechanism could be blocked by raising the bolt handle. The MAS-36 carried

1872-455: The arsenal. These arsenal mounted rear aperture elements shifted to point of aim 13.5 or 27 cm (5.3 or 10.6 in) left or right or up or down at a range of 200 metres (219 yd). It is worth noting that the front stock fittings are a major component of setting the sights on a MAS-36. To discourage disassembling the front stock non-standard screws with a spanner head were used on the barrel band and nose caps. Only armorers were issued with

1924-541: The bore axis alignment of the rifle have been further optimised to increase its accuracy and reliability. The German Army uses the HK417 A2 - 13″ with the designation G27 . As of 2013, the HK417A2 models chambered for 7.62×51mm NATO available to the military and law enforcement market are: A barrel can be changed in under two minutes with simple tools. All HK417 barrels are cold hammer forged and chrome-lined and use

1976-474: The designation Gewehr 242(f) and put into service with their own garrison units based in occupied France and later the Volkssturm . Post World War II produced rifles feature production simplifications like stamped nose caps with a hooded front sight element, stamped magazine floor plates, a stamped front sling attachment featuring a ring, a protective measure to prevent dirt ingress in the trigger area and

2028-616: The first M110A1 SDMRs in fall 2018. Fielding to all close combat squads is expected to be completed in late 2023. The MR308 is a civilian variant of the HK417, introduced in 2007 alongside the MR223, a civilian HK416. It is a semi-automatic rifle with several "sporterized" features. At the 2009 SHOT Show , the two rifles were introduced to the American civilian market as the MR762 and MR556, respectively. Since then, both were replaced by

2080-507: The gunsmith Jean Fournier. These half-stocked rifles were chambered for the 7×54mm Fournier (common, 7.5x54mm necked down to 7mm), 7×57mm Mauser (very rare), 8×60mm S (less common), and 10.75×68mm (rare). Hunting rifles in the two latter calibers had integral muzzle brakes. Also imported into the United States were a few military surplus MAS-36 rifles, converted to 7.62×51mm NATO from 7.5×54mm. These rifles were modified to chamber

2132-478: The penetrative power, stopping power , and range of the 5.56×45mm NATO HK416 would otherwise be insufficient. The HK417 is gas-operated , has a rotating bolt and is capable of selective fire . The HK417 has been adopted for service by a number of armed forces , special forces , and police organizations throughout the world, including the Bundeswehr , United States Joint Special Operations Command ,

FR F1 - Misplaced Pages Continue

2184-470: The prototype MAS-38/39. A limited number of MAS-40 semi-automatic rifles entered trial service in March 1940. The Battle of France and following German occupation of France prevented large scale introduction of semi-automatic service rifles amongst French front line troops. During the 1950s the French military adopted the semi-automatic MAS-49 rifle as their standard service rifle. Though intended to replace

2236-668: The rifle, the FR F1 (now chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO ) and its successor the FR F2 sniper rifle . Gabon and Côte d'Ivoire continued to use the MAS-36 post independence; In 1968 and 1969 they supplied Biafra with MAS-36 rifles during the Nigerian Civil War . Haiti presented Biafra with 300 rifles as a gift late in the conflict. After the Second World War, civilian hunting rifle versions were made by MAS and by

2288-424: The soldier's hand. Some have since been found bent backwards into a facing-downwards position like that of many other bolt-action rifles. The MAS-36 had a relatively short barrel and was fitted with large aperture (rear) and post (front) sights designed for typical combat ranges. Typical for French rifles of the period, the MAS-36 had no manual safety . The rifle was designed with an iron sight line consisting of

2340-416: The stored bayonet could be locked into the empty bayonet tube of the second rifle. This obscures the release button on the bayonet and results in permanently (at least up to destructive disassembly) mated rifles. In post-war use the French updated the bayonet storage design by drilling a hole in the bayonet, which allowed the locking catch to be depressed through an already-drilled hole in the bayonet cap. Like

2392-538: The stored rifles. With nearly all of the rifles being still operational, the Free Syrian Army widely used the MAS-36 from 2011 to 2015. From 2015 onward, the Free Syrian Army is decreasing the use of the MAS-36 due to scarcity of the rifle's needed 7.5mm ammunition. The French FR F1 and FR F2 sniper rifles utilize the same basic bolt design as the MAS-36 infantry rifle. The MAS-36 bolt action

2444-654: The weapon is very good, with some of the best shooters achieving sub- MOA accuracy at 200m. Standard steel 10-round detachable box magazines had a rubber base pads which allowed the weapon to be placed hastily with less noise and risk of damage. A leather carrying strap completed the weapon system. During its long service, the FR-F1 was equipped with various other optics such as 1.5-6x and 2.5-10x German scopes from Schmidt & Bender and Carl Zeiss AG , French Scrome optics, as well as Sopelem OB 50 night-vision devices for nighttime shooting. By 1976, every rifle in use with GIGN

2496-464: Was based on an operational needs statement they had to be turned in by units at the end of a combat deployment. Unlike the sniper configuration, the SDMR model will be equipped with a different buttstock and barrel twist than the CSASS model. The SDMR model will also fire M80A1 Enhanced Performance Rounds or XM1158 Advanced Armor Piercing Rounds rather than sniper rounds. The marksman version is fitted with

2548-626: Was copied from the Russian SVT-40 , and the FR F1 is the first French-designed rifle to have a manual safety. The standard FR F1 was equipped with the 3.85 power APX L806 telescopic sight designed for the MAS-49 rifle, for economical reasons. These scopes were manufactured with a center point reticle crossed by an interrupted center line, and an external bullet drop compensation calibrated for 7.5×54mm ammunition and adjustable from 100m to 800m in 100m increments; French army standard issue being

2600-470: Was equipped with a Zeiss scope. Three variants underwent development at MAS with two produced: The FR-G1 and FR-G2 versions in 7.62×51mm NATO using original MAS 36 receivers were developed on the initiative of Nexter Systems , formerly known as GIAT Industries , at the request of the French Air Force . Development began in 1991 and production in 1994, with around 200 of each produced. Unlike

2652-406: Was however extensively modified and strengthened to reduce accuracy inhibiting flex in these sniper rifles. Heckler %26 Koch HK417 The Heckler & Koch HK417 is a battle rifle designed and manufactured by Heckler & Koch . Being the larger caliber version of the Heckler & Koch HK416 , and chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO rifle cartridge , it is intended for use where

SECTION 50

#1732783426681

2704-640: Was widely used by Syrian forces in the 1948 Arab–Israeli War . The Israeli victory and later, a coup in Syria led to Syria's loyalty shifting towards the Soviet Union instead of western countries. After purchasing large quantities of Soviet weapons in the 1950s and 1960s, the MAS-36 became obsolete with thousands of units being sent into government storage facilities. In 2011 during the Syrian Civil War , Syrian opposition forces captured thousands of

#680319