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 lightweight.

Variants

Model 86

The 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

  • Various PMCs

References

  1. ↑ http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/6619/smallarms56019.jpg


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