Update on Caseless Ammo/Rifles
teald...@wcsub.ctstateu.edu
Caseless ammo/guns have been tried by the German H&K company as the G11 rifle.
After about 15 prototypes the rifle, which looks like a rectangular box with a
1.5x sight attached to a top handle, wasready to enter service into the German
armed forces. A few samples were given to the German special forces but after
the German unification the funds were no longer there and the project was
frozen. This rifle was also sent to compete in the US future rifle competition
which was later determined that no rifle met the desired requirements.
I also know of one other caseless rifle. Made by the US company AAI it is a
spin-off of the rifle which they entered for the US army's advanced rifle
competition. The rifle is more traditional looking than the G11. It has an
advanced optical sight as part of the package.
The G11 uses a 4.92mm round while the AII's rifle uses a 5.56mm round. The
great advantage provided by both rifles is that due to their extremely fsat
rate of fire (both at 2000 rds/min) when firing in three-round burst, the
recoil of the first round is not felt until after the 3rd round has exited.
This allows for extremely controlled bursts tremendously enhancing the hit
probability.
With the US's new "Objective Individual Combat Weapon" competition, caseless
ammo might still have its use.
JT
Jeff BD
Subject:
Re: Cartridge-fre ammo ?
Date:
Sat, 27 Jul 1996 19:59:23 +1100
From:
Jeff BD <jbd...@extro.ucc.su.oz.au>
Organization:
tzemizce coven of sydney
To:
Harald Hoggen <hho...@sn.no>
References:
1
Harald Hoggen wrote:
#
# Does anybody know anything about weapons which uses cartridgefree ammo ?
#
# I think I have seen something about it a few years ago in a magazine but
# can't remember who constructed it and so on.
#
# If anyone can help me I would be pleased if I could get some info about
# it.
#
# --
# :-) Thanks
# Harald Hoggen
#
# mailto:hho...@sn.no
# http://www.sn.no/~hhoggen/
By cartridge free, I assume that you mean "caseless" ammunition?
I just happened to be flicking through old copies of Guns & Ammo when I cam across an
article in the Nov 1991 issue, titled "21st century assault rifles". Paraphrased, the
info in the article was:
4.93x33 caseless ammo has been designed by Dynamit-Nobel that is used in the G11 rifle
made by Hechler und Koch as a replacement for the H&K G11 that is current issue for the
German army.
Steyr produces the ACR, which fires "5.56x54 SCF". SCF stands for "Synthetic Cased
Flechete". This has a saboted flechete and a combustable plastic case.
The ACR is similar in appearance to the AUG, in being a bull-pup design. The round is
pushed from the magazine into the chamber, which then moved up into line with the
barrel, firing the round by slaming it against the firing pin.
The H&K G11 looks a bit like a 2 by 4 with a pistol grip. The magazine sits horizontally
above the barrel, with the rounds standing up. A round is pushed from the mag, down into
the chamber which then rotates 90 degrees and a firing pin then fires the round.
The ACR round has the priming compound in ring around the base of the round inside the
combustible case. The H&K round has the primer in its base like a conventional round.
I hope that this has answered at least part of your question.
--
'We preach peace, forgiveness, tolerance and love. We practice vengeance, persecution,
hatred and domination. My personal beliefs are supported and validated by my
convictions.
Oh, and never forget .... my religion is truth, yours is a lie.'
--religion paraphrased--