BR-55 Assault Rifle
| BR-055 Assault Rifle | |
|---|---|
| File:R85 rifle drawn.png Top to bottom: BR-055 Rifle BR-055C Carbine BR-055LSW LSW BR-055CS Ultrashort | |
| Place of origin |  Belfras |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1985 - present |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1984 |
| Manufacturer | Royal Arsenal |
| Produced | 1985-present |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3.3kg (BR-055), 3.1 kg (BR-055C), 3.8 kg (BR-055M), 4.2 kg (BR-055LSW), 2.8 kg (BR-055CS) |
| Cartridge | 5.56 x 45 6.5 Grendel 6.8 SPC 5.45x39 9 x 19 Para 6.5 x 25 CBJ .300AAC Blackout .50 Beowulf 7.72x54 Tarsan |
| Barrels | 29.2 cm (11.5' in) 36.8 cm (14.5' in) 40.6 cm (16.0' in) 45.7 cm (18' in) 50.8 cm (20' in) |
| Action | Direct impingement gas operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 700-950 RPM |
| Effective firing range | 400-800m |
| Feed system | 30 rounds box magazine, 60 rounds casket magazine, 100 rounds dual-drums magazine |
| Sights | Iron Sights, optics compatible with picatinny rail |
The BR-055 family was designed and placed into service to replace the Estovnian Ag 3, or BR-025D, as the Army's primary service weapon.
Development
Realising that the heavy and cumbersome Ag 3 was fundamentally unsuitable for mechanised infantry, the Ministry of Defence began to look for a replacement in the 1980s. The BR-055 entry was, in essence, it was a localised version of the Emmerian AR-15, albeit featuring improvements such as cold hammer forged barrel, ambidextrous trigger group and magazine release and, most importantly, the replacement of the fixed carry handle with a detachable substitute attached with a strip of Weaver Rail, which can also be used for optics. Emmerian aluminium magazines were rejected for being overly flimsy in the variety of conditions the Army operated at the time and replaced with a locally-manufactured steel magazine. The magazine catch and feeding mechanisms were also reinforced to improve reliability, with the side-effect of allowing the troops to routinely tape their 30-rounds steel magazines together for rapid reloading without adversely affecting feed reliability.
The 2003 upgrade
By 2003, the old rifle’s deficiencies were becoming increasingly apparent. The Royal Arsenal created an updated design featuring the following improvements:
- The rifle can now be converted to use the 5.45x39, 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC and other popular rounds on the international market. New bolt group and recoil springs were issued to handle the more powerful new cartridges.
- A new integrated upper receiver rail(IUR) for more flexibility when installing accessories
- Two new magazines types: a heavy stamped steel version and a polymer version with a transparent window, both with strengthened springs for more reliable feeding in adverse maintenance conditions.
- The introduction of a more ergonomic pistol grip, covered with a slip-proof coating of rubber.
- In place of the original's chrome-lining, the barrel, piston and chamber of the rifle are now treated with ferritic nitrocarburizing. This is a superior process which prolongs their service life even further.
- The Arthuristan K4 Bayonet replaced the old M7 style blade. Compared to its predecessor, it is heavier, more substantial and optimised for piercing modern body armour in close combat.
- The replacement of the old C79 optical sight, which had issues retaining zero due to its use of external adjustment mechanisms, with a combination of the Aimpoint CompM4 red dot sight and a flip-mounted 3x magnifier.
Other optional extras include the AN/PEQ-15 laser pointer, night sight and underbarrel grenade launcher. Any other picatinny-compatible accessory may be mounted.
Variants
Aside from the basic rifle, the R85 family also features the following variants:
The BR-055LSW has a 50.8cm heavy barrel, full length handguard and can be fed from 100-rounds drum magazines or standard box magazines. Its barrel can be changed out in three seconds by a skilled operator. It fires from a closed-bolt in semi-automatic mode, or in the first round of a burst, and open bolt in full automatic mode.
The BR-055M variant is fitted with a 50.8cm match-grade heavy barrel and trigger, full length handguard and 6 x optics with secondary red dot sight
The BR-055C has a 40cm barrel and shortened handguard. It is widely issued to both front and rear personnel as a substitute service long arm when the longer barrel of the Standard is deemed inconvenient.
The BR-055CS, fitted with a 29.2cm barrel, is commonly issued to vehicle crews, as well as select commando and police tactical units.
The BR-055S is a submachine gun variant with a 29.2cm barrel, currently chambered in 9 x 19, 6.5 x 25 CBJ and .40 S&W. A 10mm auto version will be introduced in the near future.
Belfrasian 5.56x45 catridges
- Mark 6A: Standard issue armour-piercing ball round. Features a sharpened core of hardened (60HRC) steel fronted by a lead plug seated behind an air cavity.
- Mark 6B: Enhanced AP round with a tungsten carbide core fronted by a lead plug and air cavity
- Mark 6C: High explosive incendiary armour piercing (HEIAP)
- Mark 6D: Jacketed hollow point (not for general issue in conventional warfare scenarios)
- Mark 6E: Tracer (green)
- Mark 6F: Tracer (red)
- Mark 6G: Match-grade round for marksman rifles, hardened steel core AP round
- Mark 6H: Match-grade round, tungsten carbide core
- Mark 6I: Subsonic round, lead core
- Mark 6J: Subsonic round, tungsten carbide core