Redhawk Firearms M-5 Precision Rifle
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| Redhawk Firearms M-5 Precision Rifle | |
|---|---|
 A marksman with the 29th Independent Regiment "Blackjack" equipped with a Redhawk Firearms M-5 Precision Rifle | |
| Type | Designated marksman rifle |
| Place of origin |  Shenandoah |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2018 – present |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 2009 - 2014 |
| Manufacturer | Redhawk Firearms |
| Produced | 2016 – Present |
| Variants | See Varaints |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 10.4 lb (4.7 kg) |
| Length | 1,082 mm (42.6 in) stock extended |
| Barrel length | 20 in (510 mm) |
| Cartridge | .244 Blackrock |
| Action | Gas-operated short-stroke piston, rotating bolt |
| Feed system | 10- or 20-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Iron or optical sights |
The Redhawk Firearms M-5 Precision Rifle is a semiautomatic designated marksman rifle designed by Johnathon Jenkins and Redhawk Firearms for the Shenandoahan Army National Guard as a replacement for the venerable Redhawk Firearms M-3 Precision Rifle, which had first been accepted into service in 1970.
The M-5 Precision Rifle is closely related in design to the Redhawk Firearms M-4 Carbine and Redhawk Firearms M-2 Automatic Rifle, and utilizes the same gas-operated short-stroke piston, rotating bolt design as the aforementioned weapons. It is chambered for the larger .244 Blackrock round. As stated, this rifle is intended to replace the M-3 Precision Rifle and supplement the Redhawk Firearms M-4A1 Precision Rifle in service with the Shenandoahan National Guard.
History
Design
The M-5 Precision Rifle is similar in internal design to the Redhawk Firearms M-4 Carbine, although the receiver and working parts are enlarged to suit the larger .244 Blackrock cartridge. The bolt is a seven-lug rotating type, which sits in a bolt carrier and operates in a forged alloy receiver resembling those of the previous Redhawk rifle family designs, including that of the original Redhawk Firearms M-2 Rifle. As stated, the M-5 Precision Rifle is gas-operated with a short-stroke piston design. The short-stroke piston may be more reliable than the original direct impingement operation of the Redhawk Firearms M-3 Rifle design because, unlike these weapons, it does not vent propellant gases directly into the receiver, which deposits carbon fouling onto the bolt mechanism as well as heating it up.
The M-5 Precision Rifle is equipped with a 20 in (510 mm) barrell but other, shorter, barrel options exist. Barrels of the M-5 series can can be changed in under two minutes with simple tools. All versions of the M-5 barrels Precision Rifle's barrels are cold hammer forged and chrome-lined and use a conventional lands and grooves bore profile with a twist rate of 1 turn in 279.4 mm (11.00 in). They are designed to function reliably with bullet weights ranging from 9.3 to 11.34 g (144 to 175 gr) and are threaded for a flash hider or sound suppressor. Optional accurized barrels with a different chrome treatment can provide up to 0.3 mil (1 moa) accuracy.
Variants
- M-5D1: A shortened version of the M-5 Precision Rifle intended for close-quarters combat and urban warfare applications. The M-5/16 was requested by the Shenandoahan Army National Guard in 2016 as an alterative to the M-4A1 Precision Rifle for use in confined spaces where the long range accuracy of the M-5 Precision Rifle's 20 in (510 mm) barrell was not required and seen as a detriment to the operator. The M-5A1 features a 16 in (406 mm) barrell.
- M-5D2: Similar to the M-5D1, the M-5D2 features a 13 in (330 mm) barrell.
- M-5A1: Improved model entered into production in 2020, features improvement base don feedback from deployed units. The design of the receiver, barrel interface, gas port and the bore axis alignment of the rifle have been further optimised to increase its accuracy and reliability. These updates applied to previous versions as tbe M-5A1D1 and M-5A1D2 respectively.