Colt Advanced Piston Carbine

The Colt Advanced Piston Carbine or Colt APC is a lightweight modular 5.56mm caliber piston-operated, magazine fed carbine with a one-piece upper receiver which is capable of firing in automatic and semi-automatic modes. The design incorporates an articulating link piston that reduces the stresses in the piston stroke by allowing for deflection and thermal expansion.

5.56mm, Advanced Piston Carbine
TypeAssault rifle
Carbine
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service2010s–present
Used bySee Users
Production history
ManufacturerColt's Manufacturing Company
Specifications
Mass7 lb (3.2 kg) empty
7.5 lb (3.4 kg) with 30 rounds
Length33 in (840 mm) (stock extended)
29.8 in (760 mm) (stock retracted)
Barrel length14.5 in (370 mm)
Cartridge5.56×45mm NATO
(.223 Remington)
Caliber5.56 mm (.223 in)
Barrels1
ActionGas-operated, rotating bolt, ALP(articulating link piston)
Rate of fire700-1000 round/min cyclic
Muzzle velocity2,900 ft/s (880 m/s)
Effective firing range600 m (660 yd)
Feed system30-round box magazine or other STANAG magazines. Magazines with different capacities also available.
SightsIron sights or various optics

Design

The weapon has a suppression-ready fluted barrel, which is lighter and cools better than previous M4 barrels. It is claimed to have "markedly better" accuracy. To improve reliability, Colt used an articulating link piston (ALP) which "reduces the inherent stress in the piston stroke by allowing for deflection and thermal expansion".[1] In traditional gas piston operating systems, the force of the piston striking the bolt carrier can push the bolt carrier downwards and into the wall of the buffer tube, leading to accelerated wear and even chipped metal. This is known as carrier tilt. The ALP (articulating link piston) allows the operating rod to wiggle to correct for the downward pressure on the bolt and transfers the force straight backwards in line with the bore and buffer assembly, eliminating the carrier tilt. This relieves stress on parts and helps to increase accuracy.[2]

Users
  • Malaysian Special Operations Force units, the UTK and the VAT69[3]

References
  1. Enhanced M4 – Defense Review, November 29, 2011
  2. Articulating Link Piston – Guns.com
  3. "Colt APC to replace Bushmaster M4s". Malaysian Defence. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2016.


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