IMBEL SAR-48
Industria de Material Belico do Brasil · Battle Rifle · Discontinued · 1985
Also known as: Springfield Armory SAR-48, SAR-48, SAR-4800
Overview
The IMBEL SAR-48 is a semi-automatic, metric-pattern FN FAL battle rifle chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO, manufactured by Brazil's IMBEL and imported into the United States by Springfield Armory, Inc. from the mid-1980s. It uses the FAL's gas-operated short-stroke piston system with a tilting breechblock and an adjustable gas regulator, feeding from 20-round detachable box magazines. Praised for the quality of its IMBEL-made receivers, the SAR-48 was offered in standard 21-inch rifle, Bush (18-inch), Paratrooper (folding stock), and heavy-barrel configurations before being succeeded by the SAR-4800.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4310 g (152.0 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 4700 g (165.8 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1100 mm (43.31") |
| 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) |
| 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
- 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, Chrome Lined Barrel, Bayonet Lug, Semi Automatic Only
Variants
- IMBEL SAR-4800 - Post 1989 Thumbhole Stock
- IMBEL SAR-48 Bush Rifle - Short Barrel 18in
- IMBEL SAR-48 Paratrooper - Folding Stock
- IMBEL SAR-48 Heavy Barrel - Heavy Barrel Squad Automatic
Base model
Service history
Operators
- United States civilian market · adopted 1985 · as SAR-48
Production
Production years: 1985-1990
Imported into the US by Springfield Armory, Inc. from the mid-1980s until circa 1990, when it was replaced by the SAR-4800.
Origin
Country of origin: Brazil
Designer: Dieudonne Saive
Discontinued: 1990
Notes
Marketed by Springfield Armory, Inc. but manufactured by IMBEL in Brazil. After the Gun Control legislation changes of 1989, the rifle was reworked into the thumbhole-stocked SAR-4800 with certain military features removed. IMBEL receivers from these rifles remained in high demand among American gunsmiths building FALs from parts kits.
Background
Although sold in the US under the Springfield Armory name, the SAR-48 was actually built in Brazil by IMBEL, and its receivers were considered good enough that surplus IMBEL FAL parts became the backbone of the American semi-auto FAL homebuilding scene.