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94-488: Stand-alone variants of the M203 exist, as do versions designed specifically for many other rifles. The device attaches under the barrel , the launcher trigger being in the rear of the launcher, just forward of the rifle magazine . The rifle magazine functions as a hand grip when firing the M203. A separate, right-handed only, sighting system is added to rifles fitted with the M203, as the rifle's standard sights are not matched to

188-489: A "non-sporting" firearm with a bore greater than one-half inch in diameter. M203s are on the civilian NFA market but are limited as most manufacturers have quit selling to the civilian markets. New M203 launchers sell for approximately $ 2,000 plus a $ 200 transfer tax, and new manufacture 40 mm training ammunition is available for $ 5 to $ 10 per cartridge, as of March 2011. High explosive 40 mm grenades are available for $ 400 to $ 500 per cartridge; however, they are exceedingly rare on

282-583: A "title 1 firearm", and are not classified as "destructive devices" under the NFA. These launchers can be sold the same as regular firearms on an ATF Form 4473. In the United States, M203 grenade launcher attachments fitted with the standard rifled 40 mm barrels are classified as "destructive devices" under the National Firearms Act (NFA) part 26 U.S.C. 5845, 27 CFR 479.11, because they are

376-461: A 1.5× telescopic sight that is integrated with the receiver casting and is made by Swarovski Optik . It contains a simple black ring reticle . The sight cannot be set to a specific range but can be adjusted for windage and elevation for an initial zero and is designed to be calibrated for 300 m. It also has a backup iron sight with a rear notch and front blade, cast into the top of the aluminium optical sight housing, in case of failure or damage to

470-420: A 37 mm civilian version became available on the market that is not considered an NFA weapon. As the 37 mm version is not classified as a "destructive device", it can be sold to the general public on the same ATF Form 4473 as most other firearms. The 37 mm launcher can use 37 mm flare rounds already available on the market. This civilian version sells for around $ 2,000 and accessories such as quick detach mounts and

564-573: A 5.56 mm NATO carbine. As of April 2020, Bharat Forge is Thales' partner to manufacture the F90. BF will market it to Indian military and law enforcement, and for potential export sales. In 2016, The Firearm Blog reported that a semi-automatic variant of the F90 the Atrax would be available to the US civilian market. In 2018, The Firearm Blog reported that Dasan USA had commenced producing components for

658-536: A Firepoint red dot sight was attached. The bayonet lug and forward vertical grip were removed to fit the Inter-bar. The Advanced Individual Combat Weapon (AICW) developed by the Defence Science and Technology Organisation , Tenix Defence Systems, ADI, NICO and Metal Storm was an experimental F88 Austeyr that incorporated a top barrel for Metal Storm 30 mm rounds. The EF88 (Enhanced F88)

752-518: A carbine with a 16 in (406 mm) barrel. In July 2020, a second order was placed for an additional 8,500 rifles. Internally and externally the EF88 is still similar to the Steyr AUG, although it has received many distinctive upgrades and changes. The colour that was chosen was a black-finish compared to the two-tone colour with a "dark khaki undercarriage and a light brown upper" finish of

846-468: A conventional gas-piston-operated action that fires from a closed bolt . It is designed as a Modular Weapon System that could be quickly configured as an assault rifle , a carbine , a submachine gun and even an open-bolt light machine gun . The AUG is chambered for the 5.56×45mm NATO cartridge and has the standard 1:9 rifling twist that will stabilise both SS109/M855 and M193 rounds. Some nations including Australia, Ireland and New Zealand use

940-529: A fixed, post front-sight used on the rifle version with aperture iron sights . A 621 mm (24.4 in) heavy barrel with an integrated lightweight folding bipod with a closed-type ported muzzle device (combination of flash suppressor and compensator) is also available, primarily used on the AUG HBAR. The Steyr AUG can also be fitted with either an M203 or AG-C grenade launcher . The Steyr AUG HBAR (Heavy Barrelled Automatic Rifle), also known as

1034-433: A flying projectile . Chambering a gun is the process of loading a cartridge into the gun's chamber, either manually as in single loading , or via operating the weapon's own action as in pump action , lever action , bolt action or self-loading actions. In the case of an air gun , a pellet (or slug) itself has no casing to be retained and will be entirely inserted into the chamber (often called "seating" or "loading"

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1128-434: A large dot, indicates fouled conditions. The third, "GR" closed position is used to launch rifle grenades (of the non-bullet trap type). The AUG is hammer-fired and the firing mechanism is contained in the rear of the stock, near the butt, covered by a synthetic rubber shoulder plate. The hammer group is made entirely of plastics except for the springs and pins and is contained in an open-topped plastic box which lies between

1222-399: A particular caliber or model of cartridge. The bore is the hollow internal lumen of the barrel, and takes up a vast majority portion of the barrel length. It is the part of the barrel where the projectile (bullet, shot, or slug) is located prior to firing and where it gains speed and kinetic energy during the firing process. The projectile's status of motion while travelling down

1316-703: A quadrant sight are also available. The following technical data for the M203/M203A1 grenade launcher comes directly from the U.S. Army Field Manual FM 3-22.31 40-MM Grenade Launcher, M203. Note: some data differs for versions that attach to the M4 carbine. The 40 mm grenades used in the M203 (40 × 46 mm) are not the same as those used by the Mk 19 grenade launcher (40 × 53 mm), which are fired at higher velocities) Other under-barrel grenade launchers Related Barrel (firearms) A gun barrel

1410-404: A steel insert inside the receiver through a system of eight lugs arranged around the chamber end and is equipped with a folding vertical grip that helps to pivot and withdraw the barrel during barrel changes. The most compact of the barrels has a fixed vertical grip. The receiver housing is a steel-reinforced aluminium extrusion finished with a baked enamel coating. It holds the steel bearings for

1504-461: A tapered constriction called choke to shape the scatter pattern for better range and accuracy. Chokes are implemented as either interchangeable screw-in chokes for particular applications, or as fixed permanent chokes integral to the barrel. During firing, a bright flash of light known as a muzzle flash is often seen at the muzzle. This flash is produced by both superheated propellant gases radiating energy during expansion (primary flash), and

1598-428: A thumbhole stock, and leaving its barrel unthreaded to prevent attachment of a flash hider or suppressor . The Federal Assault Weapons Ban , passed in 1994, further prohibited the manufacture of additional Steyr AUGs or their copies. The ban expired in 2004, and in 2008, Steyr Arms worked with Sabre Defence to produce parts legally in the U.S. The Steyr AUG is a selective-fire , bullpup assault rifle with

1692-487: A version with a 1:7 twist optimised for the SS109 NATO round. The submachine gun variants are chambered in either 9×19mm Parabellum or .40 S&W . The AUG consists of six interchangeable assemblies: the barrel , receiver with integrated telescopic sight or Picatinny rail , bolt carrier assembly , trigger mechanism , stock and magazine . The AUG employs a very high level of advanced firearms technology and

1786-400: Is a crucial part of gun -type weapons such as small firearms , artillery pieces , and air guns . It is the straight shooting tube, usually made of rigid high-strength metal , through which a contained rapid expansion of high-pressure gas(es) is used to propel a projectile out of the front end ( muzzle ) at a high velocity. The hollow interior of the barrel is called the bore , and

1880-448: Is also available. The AUG's firing mechanism can also be changed at will, into a variety of configurations, including semi-auto and full-auto, semi-auto and three-round-burst, semi-auto-only, or any other combination that the user desires. It can also be converted into an open-bolt full-auto-only mode of fire, which allows for improved cooling and eliminates cook off problems when the AUG

1974-482: Is attached to a pin which pushes in across the butt and secures the plate. There is a cavity under the buttplate that holds a cleaning kit. The AUG's receiver can be changed from the standard model with a carrying handle and built-in 1.5× optical sight to the 'Special Receiver' which has a STANAG scope mount to allow for the use of a variety of scopes and sights. In later models (A2 and A3), it has several different types of receivers with Picatinny rails. The AUG has

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2068-414: Is called a freebore , and is usually cylindrical. The portion of the unrifled bore immediately front of the freebore, called the leade , starts to taper slightly and guides the bullet towards the area where the riflingless bore transitions into fully rifled bore. Together they form the throat region, where the riflings impactfully "bite" into the moving bullet during shooting. The throat is subjected to

2162-429: Is guided by two guide rods brazed to it and these rods run inside steel bearings in the receiver. The guide rods are hollow and contain the return springs. The bolt also contains a claw extractor that forms the eighth locking lug and a spring-loaded "bump"-type casing ejector. The gas cylinder is offset to the right side of the barrel and works with one of the two guide rods. The AUG uses a short-stroke piston system where

2256-440: Is made with the extensive use of polymers and aluminium components. The AUG comes with a muzzle cap, spare bolt for left-handed shooters, blank-firing adaptor, cleaning kit, sling and either an American M7 or German KCB-77 M1 bayonet. The AUG has a rotating bolt that features 7 radial locking lugs and is unlocked through a pin on the bolt body and a recessed camming guide machined into the bolt carrier. The bolt carrier itself

2350-409: Is used as a light machine gun. The AUG features a progressive trigger (pulling the trigger halfway produces semi-automatic fire , pulling the trigger all the way to the rear produces fully automatic fire ), and a safety mechanism (cross-bolt, button type) located immediately above the hand grip. In its "safe" position (white dot), the trigger is mechanically disabled; pressing the safety button to

2444-1034: The Austrian Armed Forces when they adopted the Steyr AUG in 1977. The Australian Defence Force (ADF) adopted a modified Steyr AUG designated as the F88 Austeyr. From the late 1980s, the F88 became the ADF's standard individual weapon replacing the L1A1 SLR and M16A1 in the Australian Army . From the mid 2010s, the Enhanced F88 (EF88) Austeyr replaced the F88. In 1985, the ADF ordered 67,000 F88 Austeyrs that were manufactured by Australian Defence Industries (now Thales Australia) at their Lithgow Small Arms Factory under licence from Steyr Mannlicher AG. F88 Austeyrs that were fitted with

2538-589: The Austrian Army in 1977 as the StG 77 ( Sturmgewehr 77 ), where it replaced the 7.62×51mm NATO StG 58 automatic rifle . In production since 1977, it is the standard small arm of the Bundesheer and various Austrian federal police units and its variants have also been adopted by the armed forces of dozens of countries, with some using it as a standard-issue service rifle . Steyr AUG importation into

2632-633: The M203 grenade launcher from the M16A1 had a barrel length of 620 mm (24.4 in). In 2001, the Grenade Launcher Attachment (GLA) replaced the M203 from the M16A1 and also the M79 grenade launcher . The ADF ordered 3167 GLAs. The GLA featured an Inter-bar (armourer attached) interface, a RM Equipment M203PI grenade launcher, and a Knight's Armament quadrant sight assembly to which

2726-498: The M79 grenade launcher and the conceptually similar Colt XM148 design. However, while the M79 was a stand-alone weapon (and usually the primary weapon of troops who carried it), the M203 was designed as an under-barrel device attached to an existing rifle. Because the size and weight of 40 mm ammunition limits the quantities that can be carried, and because a grenade is often not an appropriate weapon for all engagements (such as when

2820-483: The U.S. Army Field Manual FM 3-22.31 40-MM Grenade Launcher, M203 , there are eight different rounds for the M203: The M203 grenade launcher system comes with a variety of components, usually including the launcher, adapters for attachment to assault rifles, and leaf sights (which can be used with the rifle's front sight post). M203s can also come with quadrant sights, mounting to an MIL-STD 1913 Rail , or to

2914-586: The United States began in the 1980s as the AUG/SA (SA denoting semi-automatic). The AUG was banned from importation in 1989 under President George H. W. Bush 's executive order restricting the import of foreign-made semiautomatic rifles deemed not to have "a legitimate sporting use." Six years into the ban, AUG buyers gained a reprieve as cosmetic changes to the carbine's design allowed importation once again. Changes included redesigning its pistol grip into

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3008-483: The diameter of the bore is called its caliber , usually measured in inches or millimetres . The first firearms were made at a time when metallurgy was not advanced enough to cast tubes capable of withstanding the explosive forces of early cannons , so the pipe (often built from staves of metal) needed to be braced periodically along its length for structural reinforcement, producing an appearance somewhat reminiscent of storage barrels being stacked together, hence

3102-407: The propellant is ignited and deflagrates , generating high-pressure gas expansion within the cartridge case. However, the chamber (closed from behind by the bolt) restrains the cartridge case (or shell for shotguns) from moving, allowing the bullet (or shot / slug in shotguns) to separate cleanly from the casing and be propelled forward along the barrel to exit out of the front (muzzle) end as

3196-589: The structural strength and rigidity and increase the overall specific strength . Fluting will also increase the surface-to-volume ratio and make the barrel more efficient to cool after firing, though the reduced material mass also means the barrel will heat up easily during firing. A composite barrel is a firearm barrel that has been shaved down to be thinner and an exterior sleeve slipped over and fused to it that improves rigidity, weight and cooling. Most common form of composite barrel are those with carbon fiber sleeves, but there are proprietary examples such as

3290-474: The ALO can be pushed up to permit automatic fire. The AUG features quick detachable barrels and are available in different lengths; including a 382 mm (15 in) compact length, 417 mm (16.4 in) carbine length and 508 mm (20 in) standard rifle-length. The muzzle device primarily used for these barrel lengths is a three-pronged, open-type flash suppressor. The flash suppressors are screwed to

3384-533: The AUG LMG ( light machine gun ), is essentially an automatic rifle variant of the AUG. It features a heavier and longer 621 mm (24.4 in) barrel with an integrated bipod, and the standard AUG receiver with 1.5× magnification scope. It fires from an open bolt to be more suitable for sustained fire, mitigating accidental cook offs. To accomplish this, it uses a modified bolt carrier, striker and trigger mechanism with sear. The Steyr AUG 9mm , also known as

3478-464: The AUG Para, is a submachine gun variant of the AUG chambered for the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge and has been produced since 1988. It differs from the rifle variants by having a unique 420 mm (16.5 in) barrel with six right-hand grooves at a 250 mm (1:9.8 in) rifling twist rate, with a recoil compensator, a slightly different charging handle, and a magazine well adapter enabling

3572-674: The Atrax. In 2019, The Firearm Blog reported that Thales had cancelled the rifle for "ethical reasons." In March 2018, Thales Australia introduced the F90MBR (Modular Bullpup Rifle). It is a successor to the F90, which features STANAG magazine compatibility. The Steyr AUG 1 entered service with the Irish Defence Forces in 1988. In 2014, the Irish Army began a modernisation programme to upgrade their Steyr AUG A1s, which

3666-726: The EF88 when compared against variants of the AR-15 platform such as the M4 carbine and SIG MCX . In November 2021, Defence Technology Review reported that Thales Australia, in collaboration with the Australian Army, were developing a next-generation individual weapon in bullpup configuration chambered for the 6.8 mm calibre. In June 2012, Thales debuted the F90 at the Eurosatory military exhibition in Paris. Lithgow Arms offers

3760-484: The English name. Gun barrels are usually made of some type of metal or metal alloy . However, during the late Tang dynasty , Chinese inventors discovered gunpowder , and used bamboo , which has a strong, naturally tubular stalk and is cheaper to obtain and process, as the first barrels in gunpowder projectile weapons such as fire lances . The Chinese were also the first to master cast-iron cannon barrels, and used

3854-722: The F88A2s. Upgrades include the following: Thales tested two grenade launchers for the EF88 the Madritsch ML40AUS designed specifically for the EF88 and the Steyr SL40 . In January 2014, Thales selected the Steyr SL40 for the EF88 reportedly the ML40AUS had "significant" engineering concerns. The ADF ordered 2,277 SL40s. The SL40 is mounted on the rifle's bottom accessory rail and its trigger protrudes inside

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3948-462: The F90 in three different barrel lengths: 360 mm (14.2 in), 407 mm (16 in), and 508 mm (20 in). The barrels are fixed cold hammer forged, chrome lined and fluted. The rifle has heat-vent cut outs for better heat ventilation. The rifle can also be fitted with the SL40 grenade launcher. Its nominal cyclic rate of fire is 740 rounds per minute. In 2017, Dasan Manufacturing

4042-616: The Lewis Machine and Tool Mars-L 5.56mm rifle to replace the IW Steyr and began transitioning to the new rifle in 2017. The variants of the New Zealand IW Steyr were equipped with a single-stage trigger and a two-position safety. The sight added a crosshair to the circle reticule. New Zealand issued both factory and locally modified carbines alongside the full-length rifle variant. The Steyr AUG has been used in

4136-638: The M16A2 rifle as the modular weapon system (MWS). Using standard 12 in (30 cm) barrels, the grenade launcher is intended for use in concert with the Knight's Armament Company M5 RAS. The M5 MWS rail system became authorized in December 2008 for the M16A2 Rifle. An advantage of this system is the use of range-finding optics to make precise targeting easier. The M203PI system is used for attachment of

4230-552: The M203 to other rifles, including, but not limited to, the Steyr AUG , Heckler & Koch G3 , and the MP5 sub-machine gun . Most of these other companies have since devised 40 mm grenade launchers custom integrated with the weapon. The M203 DAX has a double-action trigger and longer breech opening to accommodate less-lethal rounds. The M203 and M203A1 are currently manufactured by AIRTRONIC USA, Inc. of Elk Grove Village, Illinois for

4324-655: The M320 in June 2017. The M320 features an advanced day/night sight, a double-action firing mechanism (as opposed to the M203's single-action ) as well as other benefits, such as an unobstructed side-loading breech. The M203 grenade launcher is intended to be used as close fire support against point and area targets. The round is designed to be effective at breaking through windows and exploding inside, blowing up doors, producing multiple casualties, destroying bunkers or emplacements, and damaging or disabling soft-skinned vehicles . In

4418-525: The M4 carbine series. The U.S. M203A1 has a barrel of 12 inches, while the SOPMOD M203A1 has a 9 in (23 cm) barrel. The M203A1 is intended for use with the M4 and M4A1 carbines, and uses a special bracket mount consisting of three screws and lacing wire. Only M203A2s consist of a quick release bracket. The Canadian M203A1 by Diemaco (now Colt Canada) is a similar design with a different mounting system that does not require mounting points of

4512-488: The Picatinny rail swapped out with, an A3SF 60mm height x3 optic with optional riser and additional crosshair within the "donut" black ring. This specific optic can be piggybacked with other optics on top, as is the norm with Austrian special forces, due to the Picatinny rail included on top of the optic. While the AUG is not fully ambidextrous, it can be configured to be used by left- or right-handed operators by changing

4606-528: The Teludyne Tech Straitjacket. They are seldom used outside sports and competition shooting . A barrel can be fixed to the receiver using action threads or rivets. Depending on construction different gun barrels can be used: The chamber is the cavity at the back end of a breech-loading gun 's barrel where the cartridge is inserted in position ready to be fired. In most firearms ( rifles , shotguns , machine guns and pistols ),

4700-439: The U.S. Department of Defense under contract numbers W52H09-06-D-0200 and W52H09-06-D-0225. Each contract is for up to 12,000 units. Each unit is shipped with hand guard, leaf sight and quadrant range sight. The contracts unit prices vary from $ 840 to $ 1,050 each. The production rate is 1,500 units per month. The M203PI is manufactured for both the U.S. Department of Defense and for commercial sales to law enforcement agencies both in

4794-474: The United States and abroad, and for foreign military sales by RM-Equipment Inc. of Miami , Florida. The Turkish MKEK made T-40 grenade launcher is based on the M203. The M203 37 mm version became available on the U.S. market in 2017. It is available in a 9 in (23 cm) and a 12 in (30 cm) barrel version. They are scroll marked: "Launcher, Grenade M203 40mm", even though they are actually 37 mm devices. These 37 mm versions are considered

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4888-480: The Vietnam War, U.S. Navy and Coast Guard personnel on boats would lob 40 mm grenades into the water (using the M79 grenade launcher ), to preemptively attack Viet Cong swimmers ("sappers") attempting to plant explosives on anchored or moored U.S. watercraft. Its primary purpose is to engage enemies in dead space that cannot be reached by direct fire . A well-trained M203 gunner can use their weapon to suppress

4982-505: The barrel (i.e. the external ballistics ). Any gun without riflings in the bore is called a smoothbore gun. When a firearm cartridge is chambered, its casing occupies the chamber but its bullet actually protrudes beyond the chamber into the posterior end of the bore. Even in a rifled bore, this short rear section is without rifling, and allows the bullet an initial "run-up" to build up momentum before encountering riflings during shooting. The most posterior part of this unrifled section

5076-424: The barrel lugs and the guide rods. The non-reciprocating plastic cocking handle works in a slot on the left side of the receiver and is connected to the bolt carrier's left guide rod. The cocking handle has a forward assist feature—alternatively called a "silent cocking device"—allowing the user to fully push the bolt home without racking the charging handle. A bolt hold-open device locks the bolt carrier back after

5170-454: The barrel too weak to withstand the pressures of firing, causing it to fail and fragment explosively. A gun barrel must be able to hold in the expanding gas produced by the propellants to ensure that optimum muzzle velocity is attained by the projectile as it is being pushed out. If the barrel material cannot cope with the pressure within the bore, the barrel itself might suffer catastrophic failure and explode, which will not only destroy

5264-412: The blast noise intensity felt by nearby personnel. Steyr AUG The Steyr AUG ( German : Armee-Universal-Gewehr , lit.   'army universal rifle') is an Austrian bullpup assault rifle chambered for the 5.56×45mm NATO intermediate cartridge , designed in the 1960s by Steyr-Daimler-Puch , and now manufactured by Steyr Arms GmbH & Co KG. It was adopted by

5358-432: The bolt to one that has the extractor and ejector on the appropriate side and moving the blanking plate to cover the ejection port not in use. However, there exists also a right-hand-only stock that allows for the use of STANAG magazines . The AUG is fed from a detachable proprietary translucent-polymer double-column box magazine with either a 30- or 42-round capacity. Optional NATO stock for STANAG magazine compatibility

5452-455: The bore is referred to as its internal ballistics . Most modern firearms (except muskets , shotguns, most tank guns , and some artillery pieces ) and air guns (except some BB guns ) have helical grooves called riflings machined into the bore wall. When shooting, a rifled bore imparts spin to the projectile about its longitudinal axis, which gyroscopically stabilizes the projectile's flight attitude and trajectory after its exit from

5546-518: The carrying handle of an M16 rifle. There are numerous variants of the M203 manufactured in the U.S., and throughout the world, for various applications. These vary chiefly in the length of the barrel, attachment type, and quick detach (QD) capability. The standard M203 is intended for permanent attachment to the M16A1 , M16A2 and M16A3 rifles, and utilizes a 12 in (30 cm) rifled barrel. The M203 unmodified to an A1/A2 series will not fit on

5640-459: The cartridge. Flash suppressors or muzzle shrouds can be attached to the muzzle of the weapon to either diminish or conceal the flash. The rapid expansion of propellant gases at the muzzle during firing also produce a powerful shockwave known as a muzzle blast . The audible component of this blast, also known as a muzzle report , is the loud "bang" sound of gunfire that can easily exceed 140 decibels and cause permanent hearing loss to

5734-413: The chamber consists of the body , shoulder and neck , the contour of which closely correspond to the casing shape of the cartridge it is designed to hold. The rear opening of the chamber is the breech of the whole barrel, which is sealed tight from behind by the bolt , making the front direction the path of least resistance during firing. When the cartridge's primer is struck by the firing pin ,

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5828-419: The chamber is an integral part of the barrel, often made by simply reaming the rear bore of a barrel blank, with a single chamber within a single barrel. In revolvers , the chamber is a component of the gun's cylinder and completely separate from the barrel, with a single cylinder having multiple chambers that are rotated in turns into alignment with the barrel in anticipation of being fired. Structurally,

5922-416: The civilian market, as each grenade constitutes a destructive device on its own, and must be registered with the federal government, requiring payment of a $ 200 tax and compliance with storage regulations for high explosives. There are also sub-caliber adapters available for the 40 mm M203 (and M79) grenade launchers, which will allow the use of standard 12-gauge shotgun shells and .22 rimfire ammo. In 2017,

6016-422: The combustion of gunpowder or salt water when used on naval vessels. Early firearms were muzzleloaders , with the gunpowder and then the shot loaded from the front end (muzzle) of the barrel, and were capable of only a low rate of fire due to the cumbersome loading process. The later-invented breech-loading designs provided a higher rate of fire, but early breechloaders lacked an effective way of sealing

6110-518: The enemy, based on movement and sight. In addition, the M203 can be used as a crowd control weapon when equipped with the M651 tactical CS ( tear gas ) grenade. While classified primarily as an anti-personnel weapon, the shaped charge featured in the HEDP round gives it the capability to penetrate lightly armored vehicles. The M203 is able to fire a variety of different rounds for many purposes. According to

6204-480: The escaping gases that leaked from the back end (breech) of the barrel, reducing the available muzzle velocity . During the 19th century, effective breechblocks were invented that sealed a breechloader against the escape of propellant gases. Early cannon barrels were very thick for their caliber . This was because manufacturing defects such as air bubbles trapped in the metal were common at that time, and played key factors in many gun explosions; these defects made

6298-399: The forward end is the pistol grip with an enlarged forward trigger guard completely enclosing the firing hand that allows the rifle to be operated with winter gloves. The trigger is hung permanently on the pistol grip, together with its two operating rods which run in guides past the magazine housing. Behind that is the locking catch for the stock group. Pressing this to the right will separate

6392-417: The gas system are chrome-plated (currently nitride on US market rifles). The standard rifle-length barrel features 6 right-hand grooves and a rifling twist rate of 228 mm (1:9 in). An external sleeve is shrunk on to the barrel and carries the gas port and cylinder, gas valve and forward grip hinge jaw. There is a short cylinder which contains a piston and its associated return spring. The barrel locks into

6486-412: The greatest thermomechanical stress and therefore suffers wear the fastest. Throat erosion is often the main determining factor of a gun's barrel life. The muzzle is the front end of a barrel from which the projectile will exit. Precise machining of the muzzle is crucial to accuracy, because it is the last point of contact between the barrel and the projectile. If inconsistent gaps exist between

6580-403: The gun but also present a life-threatening danger to people nearby. Modern small arms barrels are made of carbon steel or stainless steel materials known and tested to withstand the pressures involved. Artillery pieces are made by various techniques providing reliably sufficient strength. Fluting is the removal of material from a cylindrical surface, usually creating rounded grooves, for

6674-424: The incompletely combusted propellant residues reacting vigorously with the fresh supply of ambient air upon escaping the barrel (secondary flash). The size of the flash depends on factors such as barrel length (shorter barrels have less time for complete combustion, hence more unburnt powder), the type (fast- vs. slow-burning) and amount of propellant (higher total amount means likely more unburnt residues) loaded in

6768-448: The last round has been fired. The newer AUG A3s feature a bolt release button; prior to this development, all AUGs and the USR required the user to rack the charging handle to disengage the bolt hold-open after inserting a fresh magazine. Older versions of the AUG can be upgraded to use the newer A3 stock and hammer pack. The rifle's stock is made from fibreglass-reinforced polyamide 66 . At

6862-538: The launcher. The version fitted to the Canadian C7 has a sight attached to the side of the launcher, either on the left or right depending on the user's needs. The M203 was the only part of the United States Army 's Special Purpose Individual Weapon (SPIW) project to go into production. The M203 has been in service since 1969 and was introduced to US military forces during the early 1970s, replacing

6956-485: The left exposes a red dot and indicates the weapon is ready to fire. Some versions have an ALO or "automatic lockout", a small projection at the base of the trigger. This was first included on the Irish Defence Forces variant of the rifle, and soon after, the Australian Defence Forces variant. In the exposed position, the ALO stops the trigger being squeezed past the semi-automatic position. If needed,

7050-486: The magazine and the buttplate. During firing the recoiling bolt group travels over the top of it, resetting the hammer. Since the trigger is located some distance away, it transmits its energy through a sear lever which passes by the side of the magazine. The firing pin is operated by a plastic hammer under pressure from a coil spring. The quick-change barrel used in the AUG is cold hammer-forged for increased precision and durability, its bore, chamber and certain components of

7144-553: The muzzle and internally threaded to take a blank-firing attachment . AUGs equipped with the 508 mm (20 in) pattern barrels produced for military purposes are also equipped with bayonet lugs. The 417 mm (16.4 in) and 508 mm (20 in) barrels are capable of launching NATO STANAG type 22 mm rifle grenades from their integral flash hiders without the use of an adapter. AUG barrels can also mount 40 mm M203 or AG36 grenade launchers . Steyr also offers 508 mm (20 in) barrel configurations fitted with

7238-412: The muzzle and the projectile, escaping propellant gases may spread unevenly and deflect the projectile from its intended path (see transitional ballistics ). The muzzle can also be threaded on the outside to allow the attachment of different accessory devices. In rifled barrels, the contour of a muzzle is designed to keep the rifling safe from damage by intruding foreign objects, so the front ends of

7332-416: The pellet, rather than "chambering" it) before a mechanically pressurized gas is released behind the pellet and propels it forward, meaning that an air gun's chamber is functionally equivalent to the freebore portion of a firearm barrel. In the context of firearms design, manufacturing and modification, the word "chambering" has a different meaning, and refers to fitting a weapon's chamber specifically to fire

7426-411: The primary optical sight. The sight is also equipped with a set of three illuminated dots (one on the front blade and two at the rear) for use in low-level lighting conditions. In order to mount a wide range of optics and accessories, a receiver with a NATO -standard Picatinny rail and detachable carrying handle was also developed and introduced in December 1997. Modern AUGs are equipped with, or can have

7520-481: The purpose of reducing weight. This is most often done to the exterior surface of a rifle barrel, though it may also be applied to the cylinder of a revolver or the bolt of a bolt-action rifle . Most flutings on rifle barrels and revolver cylinders are straight, though helical flutings can be seen on rifle bolts and occasionally also rifle barrels. While the main purpose of fluting is just to reduce weight and improve portability, when adequately done it can retain

7614-417: The receiver and stock. The magazine catch is behind the housing, on the underside of the stock. Above the housing are the two ejector openings, one of which is always covered by a removable strip of plastic. The rear of the stock forms the actual shoulder rest which contains the hammer unit and the end of the bolt path. The butt is closed by an endplate which is held in place by the rear sling swivel. This swivel

7708-550: The rifle's trigger guard, and uses a Trijicon holographic sight for its sighting system. The SL40 is a derivative of the Steyr GL40 grenade launcher and weighs 1.025 kg (2.26 lb) and has a 180 mm (7.1 in) long barrel. The SL40 does not require a tool to attach it or remove it from the rifle. Within the Australian Defence Force, there has been some discussion about the suitability of

7802-411: The rifling grooves are commonly protected behind a recessed crown , which also serves to modulate the even expansion of the propellant gases. The crown itself is often recessed from the outside rim of the muzzle to avoid accidental damage from collision with the surrounding environment. In smooth bore barrels firing multiple sub-projectiles (such as shotgun shot), the bore at the muzzle end might have

7896-443: The right guide rod serves as the action rod, transmitting the rearward motion of the gas-driven piston to the bolt carrier. The left-hand rod provides retracting handle pressure when connected by the forward assist and can also be utilised as a reamer to remove fouling in the gas cylinder. The firearm uses a 3-position gas valve. The first setting, marked with a small dot, is used for normal operation. The second setting, illustrated with

7990-443: The same profile as the M16A1 rifle's. The weapon's 9 in (23 cm) barrel slides further forward than the standard American models, which allows longer rounds to be loaded. This model is identifiable by the increased distance between the grenade launcher's barrel axis and the rifle's. This weapon may no longer be in production, but is still in use. The M203A2 is intended for use with the M4 series/M16A4 and now also authorized on

8084-423: The shooter and bystanders. The non-audible component of the blast is an infrasonic overpressure wave that can cause damage to nearby fragile objects. Accessory devices such as muzzle brakes and muzzle boosters can be used to redirect muzzle blast in order to counter the recoil -induced muzzle rise or to assist the gas operation of the gun, and suppressors (and even muzzle shrouds) can be used to reduce

8178-582: The target is at close range or near friendly troops), an under-barrel system has the advantage of allowing its user to also carry a rifle, and to easily switch between the two. A new grenade launcher, the M320 , will eventually replace the M203 in the United States Army. The United States Marine Corps, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Navy continued to use the older M203, although the Marines began issuing

8272-403: The technology to make the earliest infantry firearms — the hand cannons . Early European guns were made of wrought iron , usually with several strengthening bands of the metal wrapped around circular wrought iron rings and then welded into a hollow cylinder. Bronze and brass were favoured by gunsmiths , largely because of their ease of casting and their resistance to the corrosive effects of

8366-418: The use of Steyr MPi 69 25- and 32-round box magazines. It is blowback -operated and fires from a closed bolt, omitting the original rifle's gas system. A conversion kit used to transform any assault rifle configuration into the submachine gun configuration is also available. The conversion kit consists of a barrel, bolt, adapter insert, and magazine. The StG 77 (Sturmgewehr 77) is the designation given by

8460-461: Was awarded a low rate initial production contract after achieving provisional design acceptance. In June 2015, EF88s from the low rate initial production were issued to the Army infantry battalion 1 RAR to trial before the anticipated rollout of the EF88 in 2016. In July 2015, the ADF placed an initial order of 30,000 rifles in two versions a standard rifle with a 20 in (508 mm) barrel and

8554-476: Was developed by Thales Australia for the Australian Defence Force under Project LAND 125 Phase 3C to replace the F88 Austeyr. Thales Australia offers an export version of the EF88 the F90 . The EF88 is produced at Thales Australia's Lithgow Arms factory. The contract to develop an improved lighter version of the F88 Austeyr was signed with Thales Australia in December 2011. In September 2014, Thales Australia

8648-774: Was granted the rights to manufacture the F90, in an effort to bid them to the South Korean military for future replacements of the Daewoo K2 . It is marketed by Dasan as the DSR-90. At the Defexpo 2018 convention, MKU gained Indian licensing rights to manufacture the F90 for Indian contracts. In April 2019, the F90CQB variant was planned to be submitted in conjunction with the Kalyani Group for Indian Army requirements on

8742-465: Was possible due to the modularity of the AUG. The result was the Steyr AUG Mod 14 , and on the same year the army began issuing the rifle to its operational units. They replaced the original A1 housing/receiver group (with 1.5× optical sight) with an A3 housing/receiver group (with a Picatinny rail on top and right side) allowing a modern optical sight to be fitted. The Trijicon ACOG 4× sight

8836-651: Was selected as the new optical sight of the rifle. The rifle features the ALO "automatic lockout" trigger, which can also be found in the Australian and New Zealand variants. The New Zealand Defence Force had adopted the F88 Austeyr ordering 15,000 designated the IW Steyr (Individual Weapon Steyr) that were manufactured in Australia. The IW Steyr entered service in 1988. In 2013, Stuff reported that New Zealand had 13,000 IW Steyrs. In 2015, New Zealand selected

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