A Comparison Test of United Kingdom and United States Lightweight Rifles
Abstract
The object of these tests was to obtain information on the characteristics and performance of 3 models of lightweight rifles, two models of which (EM2 and FN) were furnished by the UK and one (T25) by the US. Two rifles of each model were subjected to a light rifle test. Of the 3 models tested, the EM2 gave the best performance in dust, mud, cold, dry and automatic accuracy tests but gave the poorest performance in the disassembly, sea water immersion, salt spray, rain, elevation and grenade tests and gave the greatest number of parts breakages in the endurance test. The FN rifle gave the best performance in the disassembly, endurance, salt spray and flash (with flash hider) tests but gave the poorest in the semi-automatic accuracy and cold tests. The T25 rifle gave the best performance in rain, elevation, semi-automatic accuracy, sea water immersion and grenade tests and was the only rifle to complete the cook-off test but gave the poorest performance in the mud, dust and dry tests. It is concluded that, since the T25 rifle was chambered for a cartridge giving 40% more muzzle energy than the one used in the EM2 and FN weapons, a true comparison of many features cannot be made. However, an evaluation can be drawn on weapon characteristics not affected by muzzle energy. None of the rifles gave performance indicative of final development.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 05, 1950
- Accession Number
- AD0896858