Steyr-Mannlicher SSG 08 sniper rifle (Austria)

Steyr-Mannlicher SSG 08 (ScharfSchützen-Gewehr 08 - precision-shooting rifle, model of [20]08) sniper rifle is a further evolution of the SSG 04 sniper rifle, produced by same famous Austrian company, Steyr-Mannlicher AG. Introduced in 2008, the SSG 08 rifle was developed to combat modern terrorism and organized crime; It is believed that elite COBRA unit of the Austrian police had its hand in development of this weapon. The SSG 08 shares same SBS action, cold hammer-forged barrels, trigger units and magazines as its parent, SSG 04 sniper rifle, but features aluminum alloy stock with side-folding fully adjustable butt and additional Picatinny rails on the forend. The SSG 08 is advertised as capable of sub-MOA accuracy with proper ammunition.

Steyr-Mannlicher SSG 08 sniper rifles are based on Steyr SBS rotary bolt action with four frontal locking lugs, arranged in pairs. Cold hammer-forged barrels are available in standard or compact lengths (compact only in 7.62 NATO), in either case fitted with screw-on muzzle brake which can be replaced with optional silencer (sound suppressor). Feed is from detachable box magazines, holding eight .300WM or ten 7.62mm NATO rounds. Single-stage triggers are factory set for optimum performance, but can be adjusted by operator if desired. Stock is made from aluminum alloy, with fully adjustable side-folding butt. Rifle is normally fitted with folding bipod and an integral rear monopod in the buttstock, adjustable for height. Steyr SSG 08 rifles are offered without any iron sights; telescope or night sights can be easily installed using standard Picatinny-type rail, attached to the receiver.

MP 3008 submachine gun (Germany)

MP 3008 submachine gun, version with skeletonized butt

Caliber	9x19mm Luger / Parabellum
Weight	2.95 kg empty
Length (stock closed/open)	794 mm
Barrel length	200 mm
Rate of fire	500 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	32 rounds

MP 3008 submachine gun was developed and manufactured in Germany during final stages of the World War 2. It is also known as "Volks Machinenpistole" (People's submachine gun), as it was produced as a last-ditch weapon to arm German Volkssturm units. Several German factories produced about 10 000 of MP 3008 submachine guns in several minor variations, with different stocks. All modifications were internally similar, being based on the British Sten Mk.II submachine gun.

The MP 3008 submachine gun is a simple blowback operated weapon that fires from open bolt. It was capable of semi-automatic and full-automatic fire, thanks to the Sten-type cross-bolt button type fire mode selector. The safety was made in the form of the L-shaped cut at the rear of the cocking handle slot, which was used to lock the bolt in rearward position. Unlike the prototype (Sten Mk.II) the magazine housing on the MP 3008 was welded below the tubular receiver. Ammunition was fed from 32-round box magazines, compatible with German MP40 submachine guns. The sights consisted of the front post and rear aperture, with fixed setting for 100 meters range. The MP 3008 submachine guns were manufactured withs several types of buttstocks, including metallic skeletonized or tubular butts, or simple wooden butts.

SKORPION EVO III

Caliber	9x19mm Luger / Parabellum
Weight	2.1 kg empty
Length (stock closed/open)	400 / 650 mm
Barrel length	196 mm
Rate of fire	1100 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	20 or 30 rounds

SKORPION EVO III submachine gun is a most recent product of the famous Czech small arms manufacturer Česka Zbrojevka Uherski Brod (CZ-UB). This weapon began its life in Slovakia in around 2002, as the Laugo submachine gun / personal defense weapon. Once the design became mature, it was sold to CZ-UB, which brought it to public attention in 2009 as SKORPION EVO III submachine gun. It seems that this weapon is targeted for police market, but it also can found some use by certain military units. An export version of the SKORPION EVO III submachine gun is also proposed, chambered for .40SW ammunition which is very popular as a police round in USA and certain South American countries.

SKORPION EVO III submachine gun is a simple blowback operated, selective fired weapon that fires from closed bolt. It has a separate hammer unit, with ambidextrous safety / fire mode selector, that offers single shots, 3-round bursts and full automatic fire modes. The charging handle is located on the left side of the gun, above the forend. The receiver, pistol grip / trigger unit and the forend all are made from polymer. The side-folding shoulder stock is also made from polymer, and can be adjusted for length of pull due to telescopic design. Iron sights are installed on removable bases, using integral Picatinny type rail on the top of receiver. Additional sighting equipment can be added using this same rail; three more accessory rails are installed at the sides and bottom of the forend. Feed is from detachable box magazines, made of semi-translucent plastic, that hold 20 or 30 rounds of ammunition.

Hovea M1949 submachine gun (Denmark)

Hovea M1949 submachine gun, with Suomi-type 50-round magazine

Caliber	9x19mm Luger / Parabellum
Weight	3.35 kg empty
Length (stock closed/open)	548 / 808 mm
Barrel length	216 mm
Rate of fire	600 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity	50 or 36 rounds

Hovea submachine gun was initially developed in Sweden by Husqvarna Wapenfabrik ams factory for Swedish Army trials. This design competed with the Carl Gustaf submachine gun, which eventually won the trials. During late 1940s Danish Army began the search for the new, modern submachine gun, and in 1949 selected the Husqvarna submachine gun for adoption as Hovea M/49. Manufacturing license was purchased and production set up at state arsenal in Copenhagen.

Hovea submachine gun is a simple blowback weapon which fires from open bolt, in full automatic mode only. The safety was made in the form of the L-shaped cut at the rear of the cocking handle slot, which was used to lock the bolt in rearward position. Feed was from detachable box magazines. Initially, Suomi-type 50-round 4-stack magazines were used, but later on these were changed to more reliable and less expensive 36-round double-stack magazines, designed for Swedish M/45 Carl Gustaf submachine gun. The Hovea submachine gun was equipped with perforated barrel jacket and a side-folding buttstock, made from thin steel tube. The sights consisted of the protected front blade and L-shaped flip-up rear sight, marked for 100 and 200 meters range.

Spectre M4 (Italy)

Caliber: 9x19mm Luger/Para
Weight: 2,9 kg
Lenght (stock closed/open): 350 / 580 mm
Barrel lenght: 130 mm
Rate of fire: 850 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 30 or 50 rounds
Effective range: 50 meters

The Spectre SMG was developed by Italian company SITES in the mid-1980s. Spectre was designed primarily for close combat, anti-terror or police operations that require compact size, instant firepower at the short ranges and safety of operations.

Spectre is a recoil operated, automatic firearm. It fires from the closed bolt, an is a hammer-fired. The trigger group is more similar to handguns, than to SMG - it is Double Action without manual safety but with decocker. So, Spectre could be carried with loaded chamber and hammer down and then fired immediately simply by pressing the trigger. The receiver of the Spectre is made from stamped steel. The bolt is so designed that it acts as an air pump to push air through barrel shroud and provide aditional cooling for the barrel and action (very useful when firing long bursts). Spectre has top-folding stock and polymer forward handle. It uses high-capacity, four column magazines for increased firepower.

Ares FMG (Folding Machine Gun)

The basic blowback firing action is said to be acceptable for a system this size and the weapon was chambered for a variety of 9mm rounds. A rate of 650 rounds per minute is reported, with an effective range between 250 and 400 feet. A 20 or 32-round box magazine system could be fed into the weapon. The pistol grip is hollow and is where the box magazine is fed through.

The Ares folding submachine gun is folded by pushing a lock button and bringing the rear part of the gun system forward and down over the pistol grip, then folding both parts in under the barrel section. To unfold the system, the user pushes two unlocking buttons on the front part of the weapon (making up the barrel) and pull the weapon casing backwards then up. No fixed sights are afforded the shooter. The system folds down to 10.3 inches in length (262mm). The system can be made ready to fire in 3-5 seconds.

Though never put into production, at least five working versions were produced and tested. No variants are known is exist beyond these and none have ever been reported to be used in actual combat. Though the concept might be sound, it obviously did not generate enough interest in the open market to be developed any further.

The Dave Boatman-produced M-21 folding submachine gun and the Russian PP-90 all follow the same type of design philosophy though the Stoner-designed FMG is the most recognizable of the three.

FAMAS Assault Rifle

FAMAS stands for Fusil d'Assaut de la Manufacture d'Armes de St-Etienne (Assault Rifle by St-Etienne Arms Factory - a member of the French govt. owned GIAT Industries concern). Development of this rifle began in 1967, under the leadership of the Paul Tellie, a French arms designer. This new rifle was intended to replace in service the MAS Mle.49/56 semi-automatic rifles, MAT-49 submachine guns and some MAC Mle.1929 light machine guns. First FAMAS prototype had been built in 1971. French military began to test this rifle in 1972-73, but, in the meantime, France adopted a Swiss-designed SIG SG-540 5.56mm assault rifle as an intermediate solution. FAMAS rifle was adopted by the French in 1978 and since then became a standard French Army shoulder fired small arm, known among the French soldiers as "Le Clairon" (the bulge). According to the Janes Infantry Weapons 2000, the total number of FAMAS F1 rifles built is estimated at 400 000, and the production of the F1 variant is now completed. It is still used by the French army, and was exported in small numbers to some countries like the Senegal or United Arab Emirates. Since then, the GIAT Industries developed an improved version of the F1, known as the G1. This rifle featured an enlarged trigger guard, that covered a whole hand, and a slightly improved plastic handguards. G1 was an intermediate design, and was consequently replaced by the latest production model, the FAMAS G2, which appeared circa 1994. This rifle has the G1-style enlarged trigger guard but can accept only STANAG type (M16-compatible) magazines. It was adopted and purchased by the French Navy in the 1995, with the French Army soon following the suit, and also offered for export. At the present time the slightly upgraded FAMAS G2 rifle is used as a platform for the future FELIN system (a French counterpart to the US "Land Warrior" programme), which incorporates a various electronic sights and sensors, connected to the soldier carried equipment, like the helmet mounted displays, ballistic and tactical computers etc. GIAT also now offers some variations of the basic FAMAS G2 rifle, such as "Submachine gun" with shortened receiver and barrel of 320 mm long, "Commando" with the standard receiver and the 405 mm barrel, and the "Sniper", with longer and heavier 620 mm barrel and an integral scope mount instead of the carrying handle.