FAMAG: Difference between revisions

The FAMAG was designed by [[MAG]] between 1959-1961 with a general layout and gas system based on the [[Corumm|Corummese]] {{wpl|Type 56 assault rifle}}. The FAMAG is a select fire weapon with the fire selector mounted on the right side, traversing vertically between safe, fully automatic and semi automatic. The FAMAG fires the intermediate [[7.5×42mm Yonderian]] cartridge, a shortened version of the [[7.5x62mm Yonderian]] used by previous Yonderian rifles. The [[7.5×42mm Yonderian|7.5x42mm]] is very similar to the {{wpl|7.62×39mm}} used by the Corummese type 56 but delivers a slightly higher muzzle velocity. The FAMAG feeds from 30 or 40 round magazines curved to account for the taper of the cartridge casings. The FAMAG was designed with an open three pronged flash supressor that doubles as a wire cutter which works by twisting the muzzle onto a strand of wire and firing a round.

[[File:Valmet M58.jpg|thumb|left|Pre-adoption trials prototype named FA-X59 still chambered for [[Corumm|Corummese]] ammunition and using [[Corumm|Corummese]] slab-sided magazine]]

Designers at [[MAG]] received six [[Corumm|Corummese]] {{wpl|Type 56 assault rifle|Type 56 assault rifles}} in late 1958 and soon set about the process of reverse engineering the weapon. Exactly how MAG acquired the Corummese rifles is unknown, but it has been suggested by anonymous sources within [[MAG]] that [[Kiravia|Kiravian]] gun runners acted as middle men in the acquisition. The very first prototype, FA-X59, was chambered for the {{wpl|7.62×39mm}} caliber used by the Corummese type 56 and was still fed from Corummese magazines. Temporary production of the Corummese cartridge was set up at [[MAG]] while the company's ballisticians developed the intermediate [[7.5×42mm Yonderian]] cartridge. The new caliber would allow the recycling of much of the fabrication materiel already used for [[7.5x62mm Yonderian]]. The new intermediate cartridge also had better ballistic properties than the Corummese caliber, owing to higher muzzle velocity and tighter tolerances in production.

In 1960, the [[Yonderian Defence Force]] announced a project to supplement the [[FdC-43]] battle rifle by replacing it in the assault role with a new, lighter weapon. Foreign battle rifle designs like the [[Urcea|Urcean]] [[SARM-1|SAR-40]] and [[Burgundie|Burgoignesc]] {{wpl|FN FAL|FAL}} were initially considered because of their lighter nature and shorter overall length than that of the [[FdC-43]], and a single written source from [[Army Procurement Command (Yonderre)|Army Procurement Command]] even suggested looking into acquiring the production rights to or wholesale importing of the [[Corumm|Corummese]] {{wpl|Type 56 assault rifle}}. Yonderian designs submitted included the FS-58 by [[FS]] (an intermediate design using the unsuccesful 6.5x39mm cartridge) and FdC-57 by [[AMS]]. [[MAG]] submitted their prototype for what would eventually become the FAMAG, known then as FA-X60. The [[MAG]] bid was selected by [[Army Procurement Command (Yonderre)|Army Procurement Command]] for further funding and development continued until 1962 when it was accepted for service as the FAMAG, short for ''Fusil d'Assaut de la Manufacture d'Armes de Gabion'', literally "Assault Rifle of [[MAG]]".

* '''FA-X59''' - Earliest prototype, still chambered for [[Corumm|Corummese]] {{wpl|7.62x39mm}} ammunition and using [[Corumm|Corummese]] slab-sided magazine