Principality Arms G88 Assault Rifle
| Gépkarabély 88 G88 | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin |  Ruvelka |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1988 - Present |
| Used by | Ruvelka |
| Wars | Imerti Conflict Zemplen War |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1986 - 1988 |
| Manufacturer | Principality Arms |
| Produced | 1988 - Present |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 3.7 kg |
| Length | 935 mm (Stock extended) 675 mm (Stock folded) |
| Barrel length | 420 mm |
| Cartridge | 7.62×39mm PARR |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 750 RPM (Rounds per minute) |
| Muzzle velocity | 715 m/s |
| Effective firing range | 500 m |
| Feed system | 30-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Flip-up dual rear aperture and front post with tritium inserts. |
The Principality Arms G88 (Ruvelkan: Gépkarabély 88; “Assault Rifle 88”) is a 7.62×39mm Ruvelkan assault rifle designed and manufactured by Principality Arms. It is one of the primary assault rifles in use with the Imperial Armed Forces of Ruvelka and has proven to be a rugged and reliable firearm. Unlike its predecessors, the G88 possesses a muzzle device that enables the usage of rifle grenades, suppressors, and a bayonet.
History
Development
In the early 1980s, the Ruvelkan Military submitted a request to modernize the G66 assault rifle to designers and manufacturers at the Principality Arms facility in Székesfehérvár. Principality Arms was quick to develop the P86 prototype that included a new cocking handle design that was placed at an upward angle to assist in left-handed reloading and a sight assembly that could be quickly adjusted for 150 m and 300 m ranges. A special multifunction muzzle device was also developed for use on the new P86. After undergoing further tests, the rifle began limited production in early 1988 and was introduced into service with the Imperial Fusiliers as the G88 AR.
Design Details
Features
The G88 is a selective fire, gas-operated assault rifle with a long stroke piston rod coupled to the weapon’s bolt carrier. The weapon’s spring extractor is built into the bolt head with an ejector that is in a fixed position to that of the internal bolt carrier guide rail. A hammer-type firing mechanism allows the rifle to fire in semi-automatic and fully automatic firing modes. The firing selector switch can occupy one of three modes: top being safety, middle as semi, and the bottom setting activates a connector that allows for continuous fire.
It comes standard with a tubular metal skeleton stock that folds to the right and features and internal compartment used to store a cleaning rod. Both the pistol grip and factory-standard gas block handguard are made up of a lightweight polymer. For maintenance, the weapon is field stripped into seven main parts: the receiver and barrel assembly, bolt carrier, bolt, return mechanism, gas tube, receiver cover and magazine.
The G88 is chambered for the intermediate 7.62×39mm PARR cartridge. The rifle feeds from curved 30-round, double-stacked box magazines made of impact-resistant polymer. The magazines are interchangeable with those of other G-series rifles.
Sights and Accessories
The rifle comes standard with adjustable iron sights, consisting of a forward post and a dual-aperture rear flip sight with settings for firing at ranges of 150 m and 300 m. For low-level lighting, the G88 comes equipped with tritium gas vials installed in a separate folding aperture at the base of the front sight and must be deployed manually. In the rear sight, it is fixed in a rotating gear system positioned 180° around the pivot axis. Additionally, the rifle can be adapted to be equipped with various optical sights via a receiver-mounted side-rail. The skeleton stock of the rifle can also be equipped with a detachable cheek riser which is often employed in tandem when using the rail-attached optics.
The G88 can be also be equipped with a barrel-mounted bipod as well as a 40mm under-slung grenade launcher attachment. A railed gas block attachment was also developed for use on the rifle and can mount any number of various tactical accessories. Equipped with a quick-detach component on its muzzle, the G88 is capable of utilizing rifle grenades, suppressors, and a bayonet.
Users
- The G88 is exclusively used by the Imperial Army and Imperial Fusilier branches of the Ruvelkan military.