FM FAP
Dirección General de Fabricaciones Militares · Battle Rifle · In Service · 1960
Also known as: Fusil Automatico Pesado, FALO, FAL 50.41
Overview
The FM FAP (Fusil Automatico Pesado, 'Heavy Automatic Rifle') is the heavy-barrel squad automatic variant of the FN FAL license-produced in Argentina by Direccion General de Fabricaciones Militares. Chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO, it is a gas-operated, select-fire battle rifle with a thickened barrel and folding bipod intended for sustained automatic fire in the light support role, analogous to the FN FALO (FAL 50.41) and Brazilian IMBEL FAP.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 6000 g (211.6 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1150 mm (45.28") |
| Barrel Length | 533 mm (20.98") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Short Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 20 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 840 m/s (2756 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 3360 J (2478 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 600 m (656 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 2000 m (2187 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 675 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 305 mm (12.01") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Wood |
| Finish | Phosphate |
Calibers
- 7.62x51mm NATO · primary · 7.62mm NATO — also known as .308 Winchester, 7.62x51mm, .308 Win
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Fire Selector
- Features: Heavy Barrel, Folding Bipod, Adjustable Gas Regulator, Carrying Handle, Select Fire
Service history
Operators
- Argentine Army · adopted 1960 · as FAP
Conflicts
- Falklands War (1982)
Production
Production years: 1960-1990s
License-produced by Fabricaciones Militares as part of Argentine FAL family production; heavy-barrel automatic-rifle variant
Origin
Country of origin: Argentina
Designer: Dieudonne Saive
Notes
Argentine heavy-barrel FAL used as a squad automatic weapon alongside the standard FM FAL rifle. Full-automatic controllability with the full-power 7.62x51mm cartridge is limited, a shortcoming shared by all heavy-barrel FAL derivatives.
Background
Argentina's Fabricaciones Militares built the entire FAL family under FN license, and the heavy-barrel FAP served as the infantry squad's automatic support weapon during the 1982 Falklands War before the role passed to belt-fed machine guns.