Knight's Armament Company LMG
Knight's Armament Company Stoner 99 LMG | |
---|---|
Type | Light machine gun |
Place of origin | United States |
Service history | |
Used by | See users |
Production history | |
Designer | Eugene Stoner |
Designed | 1986 |
Manufacturer | Knight's Armament Company |
Variants | See variants |
Specifications | |
Weight | 4.54kg |
Length | 895mm |
| |
Cartridge | 5.56×45mm NATO |
Action | Gas |
Rate of fire | 600-1000RPM |
Feed system | Belt |
Sights | Iron |
The Knight's Armament Company LMG is a light machine gun system developed by Eugene Stoner and manufactured by Knight's Armament Company (KAC). It is also known as the KAC Stoner 99 LMG to differentiate it from the earlier ArmaLite Stoner 63 LMG and ARES Stoner 86 LMG it is derived from.[1]
Development
Stoner designed the weapon as a replacement for the Stoner 63. Neither weapons system gained much popularity as the FN Minimi would become the LMG adopted by the United States military, which dubbed the FN weapon the M249. Currently, the weapon has seen only limited production which makes the Stoner LMG commonly used by private military contractors (PMC's) because of its compact size and comparatively light weight.
Variants
Model 86
First variant, came with a magazine feed device and fixed tube stock.
Model 96
Simplified derivative lacking the magazine feed device. Has shorter barrel and M4 carbine type retractable stock for CQB and picatinny rails for sights/grips/bipods etc.
ChainSAW
The Chain SAW was originally developed as a technical exercise to test new ergonomic designs for light machine guns. The Chain SAW was designed to only be fired from the hip, with a handle along the top to hold the firearm (which is mounted instead of a stock) meaning the user would wield the Chain SAW as if they were using an actual chainsaw. As the Chain SAW is intended to be hip-fired, various targeting aids were developed alongside it to aid the aiming and accuracy, although KAC admits that more work on targeting aids will have to be made before the Chain SAW could be produced and used effectively.
Overview
The Knights Armament Company LMG is listed as the lightest and most simple, rugged 5.56x45mm NATO machine gun. The Stoner LMG is an open bolt, belt-fed, gas operated, air-cooled, and fully automatic, firing at a rate of 550 rounds per minute. The belt feed has an unusual exposed lever hinged at the side of the receiver. The top cover above the feed tray is very short which allows quicker reloading and allowing the use of sights etc. Although it lacks a bipod, a grip pod is intended to be installed on the modular handguard. The KAC LMG lacks a bolt buffer as there is no impact on the bolt making the weapon controllable in full auto. The KAC LMG is extremely accurate due to the secure mounting of the “quick change” hammer forged chrome lined barrel.
Users
- Denmark
- Various PMCs
References
External links
- The Stoner LMG on KAC's Official Site
- Stoner 86 patent
- Stoner Model 86
- Modern Firearms: ARES Stoner 86 and Stoner 96 / Knights LMG
- KAC LMG