Kbk wz. 88 Tantal
Fabryka Broni Lucznik-Radom · Assault Rifle · Discontinued · 1989
Also known as: karabinek wzor 1988, Tantal, wz. 1988
Overview
The Kbk wz. 88 Tantal is a Polish 5.45x39mm assault rifle developed at OBR Radom and produced by the Lucznik arms factory in Radom in the late 1980s. A gas-operated, rotating-bolt design derived from the Soviet AK-74, it adds a separate three-position fire selector permitting a three-round burst, a redesigned safety, and a long muzzle device for launching rifle grenades. It served briefly with the Polish Armed Forces before being superseded by the 5.56mm wz. 96 Beryl family.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 3690 g (130.2 oz) |
| Overall Length | 943 mm (37.13") |
| Folded Length | 748 mm (29.45") |
| Barrel Length | 423 mm (16.65") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 30 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 920 m/s (3018 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 1450 J (1069 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 500 m (547 yd) |
| Rate of Fire | 700 rpm |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 200 mm (7.87") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Steel |
| Stock Material | Steel |
| Finish | Phosphate |
Calibers
- 5.45x39mm · primary — also known as 5.45 Soviet, 5.45x39
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic, Burst 3, Full Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Fire Selector
- Features: Rotating Bolt, Long Stroke Gas Piston, Side Folding Wire Stock, Three Round Burst, Rifle Grenade Launcher, Muzzle Brake
Variants
- Kbk wz. 90 — Carbine
Service history
Operators
- Polish Armed Forces · adopted 1991 · as kbk wz. 88 Tantal
Production
Production years: 1989-1994
Relatively few rifles were produced before the Polish military transitioned to 5.56x45mm NATO and the wz. 96 Beryl.
Origin
Country of origin: Poland
Designer: B. Szpaderski (OBR Radom)
Discontinued: 1994
Notes
Tantal is Polish for 'Tantalum'. Relatively few were produced before Poland switched to the NATO-standard 5.56x45mm cartridge, after which the design was reworked into the wz. 96 Beryl.
Background
Development began in 1981 but was delayed by Poland's political turmoil before resuming in 1985, with rifles ready by 1988. The chambering in Soviet 5.45x39mm was quickly outdated once Poland joined the move toward NATO standardization, giving the Tantal one of the shortest service lives of any Cold War-era Kalashnikov derivative.