As we mentioned last year, the US Army has been in the market for a new submachine gun (read Nick Leghorn’s review of the gun here). The guns in the running included:
Beretta USA’s PMX subcompact weapon
Colt modular CM9MM-9H-M5A 9mm
CMMG’s PDW subcompact
CZ-USA for Scorpion EVO 3 A1
Lewis Machine & Tool Company MARS-L9
PTR Industries PTR 9CS subcompact
Quarter Circle 10 5.5 CLT and 5.5 QV5 subcompacts
SIG SAUER’s MPX
Trident Rifles’ B&T MP9 machine gun
Zenith Firearms for Z-5RS, Z-5P and Z-5K subcompacts
In the end, the Army went with the Swiss B&T APC9K. As Popular Mechanics reports . . .
The U.S. Army has officially selected the Brugger and Thomet APC9K to outfit its Personal Security Details.
The APC9K is the first new submachine gun for the U.S. Army since the M3 “Greasegun” of World War II. The service will buy 350 of the compact automatic weapons for $2.5 million, with an option to buy 1,000 more. The B&T APC9K beat out guns from more than ten other companies, including Colt and Heckler and Koch, as well as guns based on the M-16 and MP-5 weapons platforms.
Here are the specs for the little 9mm bullet hose:
Calibre: 9 x 19 mm
System: Close bolt blow back system
Operation: Full auto
Rate of fire: 1080 rpm
Length min./max.: 385 mm / 597 mm
Width: 67 mm (incl. chargin handle)
Height: 293 mm (incl. 30 round magazine and Aimpoint)
Barrel Length: 175 mm
Twist Rate 250 mm / 10″
Weight: 2.7 kg (incl. 30 round magazine, Aimpoint, front grip)
Stock Pull: 340 mm
Primary Sighting System: Aimpoint Micro TL
Secondary Sighting System: Flip up emergency sight
Sight length: 261 mm
Suppressor connector: 3-Lug
NAR Rails: 1 + 3
Charging handle: Interchangeable
Magazines: 15, 20, 25 and 30 rounds, translucent Polymer magazines
Handling: Ambidextrous
Shoulder stock: Foldable
Training System: Simunition, Manipulation
Also included: One 15 round magazine, two 30 round magazines, QD front grip, cleaning kit, sling, case, manual