KAC PDW
Knight's Armament Company · Assault Rifle · In Production · 2006
Also known as: Knight's PDW, KAC 6x35mm PDW
Overview
The KAC PDW is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 6x35mm KAC, produced by Knight's Armament Company since 2006.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 2040 g (72.0 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 2520 g (88.9 oz) |
| Overall Length | 711 mm (27.99") |
| Folded Length | 495 mm (19.49") |
| Barrel Length | 254 mm (10.00") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Short Stroke Piston |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 739 m/s (2425 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1150 J (848 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 300 m (328 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 2000 m (2187 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 700 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 178 mm (7.01") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Aluminum Alloy |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Metal |
| Finish | Matte Black |
Calibers
- 6x35mm KAC · primary — also known as 6x35mm TSWG, 6x35mm KAC/TSWG
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Selector Lever Safety, Firing Pin Safety
- Features: Telescoping Wire Stock, Dual Piston System, Proprietary 6x35mm Cartridge, Picatinny Rails, Kac Flip Up Sights, Custom Flash Suppressor, Stoner 63 Derived Flash Hider, Sub 2 Moa Accuracy, 50 Percent Less Recoil Than 556, Ambidextrous Magazine Release, Compact Pdw Form Factor
Variants
- KAC PDW 8-inch — Compact
- KAC SR-635 — Standard Rifle
Service history
Operators
- U.S. Special Operations Command · as PDW
Production
Production years: 2006-present
Limited production primarily for military evaluation and special operations procurement; exact numbers classified
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Reed Knight Jr.
Notes
The 6x35mm KAC cartridge, also designated 6x35mm TSWG (Technical Support Working Group), was derived from the .221 Remington Fireball case and designed explicitly for barrels of 10 inches or shorter. The standard 65-grain (4.21g) bullet achieves 2,450 fps from the 10-inch barrel and 848 ft-lbs of muzzle energy, outperforming 5.56mm NATO from similar barrel lengths while generating significantly less recoil. The PDW's dual-piston operating system is similar in concept to AK-pattern rifles, and the flash suppressor design traces its lineage to Eugene Stoner's Stoner 63 weapon system. An 8-inch barrel variant is also available, reducing overall length to just 660mm (26 inches) with stock extended and 445mm (17.5 inches) collapsed. The curved 30-round magazines are proprietary to the system. Hornady produced ammunition for the platform. A more conventional AR-15 type rifle called the SR-635 was also chambered for the 6x35mm round. Sub-2 MOA accuracy is claimed by KAC.
Background
The KAC PDW represents Reed Knight Jr.'s vision of an entirely new weapon category - not just a shortened rifle, but a purpose-built system where the weapon and cartridge were engineered together from the ground up. By designing the 6x35mm cartridge specifically for short barrels rather than accepting the severe ballistic penalties of firing 5.56mm from a 10-inch tube, Knight's Armament achieved what many considered impossible: genuine rifle-class performance in a package barely larger than a submachine gun. The weapon was presented at the 2006 NDIA Small Arms Symposium and generated immediate interest from special operations communities.