Rapid change in the caliber of the field, installation of additional modules, reliability and versatility - Russian arms will be engaged tightly multikalibernym firearms. The patent for the invention of a few days ago received near Moscow Central Research Institute of Precision Engineering.
However, this is not the first time the development of domestic designers - modular weapon firmly holds its place in the ranks of not only rifles, but machines. Why the military and hunters such rifles?
the global trend
In a world of growing demand for weapons, in which you can change elements depending on the tasks. And it's not just hunting rifles, but also combat rifles and machine guns.
As explained TsNYYtochmash, The new design allows the institute to use different calibers by replacing the barrel, larvae shutter and store. Besides, fastening unification can be installed on any type of weapon and triggers lodges.
This ensures reliable fixing of the modules, and the assembly and manufacture of components for simplified to the maximum. Modular weapon consists of separate functional elements, ie replace one barrel to another is possible without the use of tools.
No other details about the design yet, but, apparently, modular weapon from TSNIITOCHMASH is primarily intended for hunters. It provides solid benefits for users: instead of settling for a few firearms issued one - on a modular pattern. And going on a hunt, It can be changed depending on the trunks of, counts on a Trophy arrow.
The closest analogue of the new weapons developer calls the German Mauser carbine M03. This rifle with the sliding bolt went on sale in 2003. Its designed Sergey Popikov - engineer, for a long time worked at the Tula arms factory, and in the 1990s, who had emigrated to Germany. The Mauser M03 is possible to change the barrel, larvae shutter and shop. Carbine shooting of several calibres: 222-the «Remington» to-458 the «Lot».
However, from the German model has serious flaws: carbine is an integral box, and the frame is heavy and difficult to manufacture. Besides, Mauser implemented Classic in store layout and trigger, that does not allow to make it shorter.
"The Storm" urban combat
One of the clearest examples of the domestic unit of military weapons - machine gun Kalashnikov RPK-16. This is an advanced and deeply modernized RPK-74. Now the gun handy pistol grip with recesses podpaltsevymi. It integrated case with accessories for cleaning weapons. Translator fire mode is equipped with a strap under the index finger, which greatly simplifies switching. Folding telescopic buttstock allows you to adjust the gun under the hand of any body. In its place, and Picatinny strips, without which it is now can not do any pattern of small arms. RPK-16 is equipped with is not open ended, a drum magazine.
But, probably, the most significant change - the possibility of changing the barrel. After adopting a cartridge with a bullet increased the breakdown of the trunk of the PKK-74 suffered high wear. Therefore, after the exhaustion of the resource guns barrel, usually, written off. The RPK-16 solved this problem. For combat in urban areas can now choose the assault barrel length 410 millimeters, for combined arms operations - 550 millimeters. In this case, the barrel change procedure requires no additional tools. This not only extends the application range RPK-16, but also greatly increases the life and reliability of the machine gun.
Another example of a modular weapon - Assault Shooting grenade launcher OTs-14 "Groza". Tula gunsmiths, developed the "Storm" in the early 1990s, We created a whole combat system. In the constructors successfully turned to cross AKS-74U and barrel-attached grenade launcher GP-25. For even greater compactness chosen scheme "Bullpup" - shop is located behind the handle. "Haze" depending on the modification shoots caliber ammunition or 7.62 × 39 9 × 39. Last caliber is widespread because of the greater stopping power at close range.
The basic version of the "Storm" - small arms and grenade launcher, equipped with a grenade launcher. However, there are several design modifications to the machine. Assault embodiment is equipped with a front handle in place of the grenade launcher, a device for noiseless and flameless firing. Top riflescope can be adjusted.
"Storm" are mostly Army Special Forces soldiers and special forces of the FSB. machine modularity allows us to solve the same problems most weapons. The weapon received its baptism of fire in the first Chechen campaign, User security forces, well-behaved proved in special operations, storm the building, Elimination of separate objects.
Universal Soldier
Western gunsmiths are not lagging behind in the production of modular weapon. In 2004, the Belgians won a competition to create a combat weapon system for the US Special Operations Forces (Ushsocon), suggesting an assault rifle FN-SCAR. This modular rifle range is available in two basic versions - Mk.16 SCAR-L (light) и Mk.17 SCAR-H (heavy), shooting bullets of various calibers. The first is chambered 5,56 × 45, second - under 7,62 × 51. Both versions have three version: standard, shortened for close combat and sniper.
In the "hard" version of SCAR can choose caliber. When the shutter replacing, trunk and the bottom of the receiver machine can "digest" cartridges, including the Kalashnikov caliber 7.62 × 39. Change does not require special skills and is carried by the shooter, using a minimum of tools. All items of different versions are interchangeable rifles, and high modularity ensures that every task - from the city to the melee sniping.
Good results in the development of modular firearms show and Turkish designers. Recently, in March of 2019, Turks introduced a sniper rifle with a longitudinally sliding bolt with interchangeable barrels ATA Arms ASR Multi-Caliber Sniper Rifle. It is just below the three calibers - .308 Win, .300 WM и .338 LM. Trunks change very easily: to go to a different caliber only hexagon. Replacing the shutter does not require a tool.
Nikolay Protopopov
