IMBEL FAL M964
Industria de Material Belico do Brasil · Battle Rifle · In Service · 1964
Also known as: Fuzil M964, Brazilian FAL, IMBEL M964 FAL
Overview
The IMBEL FAL M964 is a Brazilian license-built battle rifle derived from the Belgian FN FAL, chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO. Adopted by the Brazilian Armed Forces in 1964 and produced at IMBEL's Itajuba plant, it is a metric-pattern, gas-operated, selective-fire rifle with a tilting breechblock and an adjustable gas regulator. The M964 served as Brazil's standard-issue infantry rifle for decades and large quantities of semi-automatic parts kits and rifles were later exported, particularly to the United States.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4300 g (151.7 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4700 g (165.8 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1090 mm (42.91") |
| Barrel Length | 533 mm (20.98") |
| Sight Radius | 549 mm (21.61") |
| 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 | 3346 J (2468 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 600 m (656 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 3800 m (4156 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 700 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 | Parkerized |
Calibers
- 7.62x51mm NATO · primary · 7.62x51mm NATO — also known as .308 Winchester, 7.62 NATO, .308 Win
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety Selector, Firing Pin Safety
- Features: Tilting Breechblock, Left Side Charging Handle, Adjustable Gas Regulator, Metric Pattern, Bayonet Lug, Wood Furniture
Variants
- IMBEL ParaFAL — Folding Stock Paratrooper
Base model
Service history
Operators
- Brazilian Army · adopted 1964 · as Fuzil 7,62mm M964
- Brazilian Marine Corps · adopted 1964
Production
Estimated total produced: 200,000 · Production years: 1964-1990s
By the late 1980s to early 1990s IMBEL had manufactured roughly 200,000 M964 rifles.
Origin
Country of origin: Brazil
Designer: Dieudonne Saive
Notes
The metric-pattern M964 should not be confused with the inch-pattern L1A1-style rifles; IMBEL also produced the L1A1 sporter for export. Many surplus M964 receivers and parts kits were used to assemble semi-automatic FAL rifles in the United States.
Background
Brazil adopted the FN FAL as the M964 in 1964 and began licensed production at IMBEL, making the rifle the backbone of the Brazilian Army for a generation before the modernized 5.56mm MD series and later the IA2 began to replace it.