Ares Shrike 5.56

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Shrike 5.56
Type
Place of origin
Specifications
Weight 3.4 kg (7.5 lb)
Length 711 - 1016 mm (28 - 40 in)

Depends on barrel option

Barrel length 330 - 508 mm (13 - 20 in)

406 mm (16 in) standard


Cartridge 5.56 x 45 mm NATO
Action Gas-operated, short-stroke tappet
Rate of fire 625 - 1000 rounds/min
Effective range
Feed system M27 (M249) ammunition belt

STANAG 4172 (M16) magazines
100-round Beta C-Mag

The Shrike 5.56 is a machine gun upper conversion kit manufactured by Ares Defense Systems.

[edit] Overview

The Shrike 5.56 is not a complete weapon. It is an upper receiver that, when combined with a M16/M4 lower receiver, becomes a belt-fed or magazine-fed light machine gun similar to the FN M249. Like the M249, the Shrike 5.56 features a quick-change barrel designed to prevent overheating. It is therefore capable of the sustained rates of fire of existing LMGs, but is as light and compact as an assault rifle. Ares claims the Shrike is the lightest belt-fed machine gun in the world.

The kit requires no permanent modifications to the M16 receiver. The assembled weapon can take either M16 magazines through the receiver's magazine well, or linked ammunition through the top-mounted feed tray, but it cannot use both ammo sources at once.

The Shrike can be preordered through licensed dealers. However, while orders have been taken for a few years with down payments, only ten of the actual production models have been delivered. The Shrike remains an elusive firearm, and many who have reserved them in pre-production are now requesting refunds on their deposits. A vocal group of buyers is accusing Ares of selling vaporware.

Image:03A-uppers.jpg
The Shrike must be installed on an M16/M4 receiver.

[edit] Variants

The Shrike production model has recently emerged from development. There exist some notable differences between the current model and the older prototypes.

EXP-1 - the initial proof-of-concept prototype. It features a modified M249 handguard, a unique firing mechanism and a quick-detach barrel latch derived from the Stoner 63.

EXP-2 - this improved prototype featured a new Picatinny rail handguard, an improved firing mechanism using some M16 components, and a new barrel latch similar to that of the M60 machine gun.

03A - the production model. It has a compact side-mounted gas system different from the previous prototypes, and its firing mechanism is also significantly modified. It has a circular handguard. The barrel latch and some other components are similar to the EXP-1.

ARES-16SPW receiver - this receiver was designed by Ares specifically for the Shrike system. It is identical to the mil-spec M16 receiver, except its magazine well is cut away to save space. Shrikes mounted on this receiver can only use M249 box magazines with linked ammo, but they have a smaller vertical profile.

This production variant can be fitted with multiple Picatinny rails. These enable it to mount various commercial scopes, flashlights, lasers, and even secondary underbarrel weapons such as grenade launchers and shotguns.

[edit] See also

AR-15-related firearm articles:

AR-10, AR-15
M16/A1/A2/A3/A4
M4/A1 Carbine
Diemaco C7, C8
Colt Commando, XM177, CAR-15
M231 FPW
SDM-R, SAM-R
Mark 11 'SWS'
Mark 12 'SPR'
SEAL Recon Rifle
Mark 18 'CQBR'
Ares Shrike
La France M16K
KAC SR-25

[edit] External links

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