THE ORIGIN OF THE M96 EXPEDITIONARY(tm) RIFLE
In developing the M96 Expeditionary(tm) Rifle, the goal was to design a fully modular firearm which could be assembled in a variety of configurations. As as a starting point, we began with the Stoner 63 Weapons System which was designed by Eugene Stoner and used by the Navy Seals in Vietnam. For more information on the Stoner 63 Weapons system consult Small Arms of the World by Ezell.
The Stoner 63 Weapons system used a single receiver which, using a variety of parts, could be built up as a rifle, a carbine, a light automatic rifle fed from a box magazine from the top (BREN Gun Style), or as a squad automatic weapon which fed from the top of the firearm from a disintegrating link belt.
The Stoner 63, like the M16 designed by Stoner, utilized a rotating multi-lugged bolt. Unlike that of the M16, the Stoner's bolt carrier is cycled by the gases impinging upon a piston which is directly connected to the bolt carrier. This is similar to the gas system of the AK47.
In rifle configuration, the Stoner 63 fired from a closed bolt, feeding from the bottom of the rifle, and could fire in either the semi-automatic or fully-automatic mode. When configured as an automatic rifle or squad automatic weapon, it fired from an open bolt, and fed from the top of the receiver.
Though we borrowed many concepts from the Stoner 63 and other rifles, the M96 is truly a unique rifle. The only part from the Stoner 63 that may be used on the M96 is the buttstock. The M96 had to be designed to fire from a closed bolt in all configurations to meet legal requirements for ownership by civilians.
The designers of the M96 wanted to go beyond where Stoner left off. The Stoner 63 was designed to fire the .223 Rem. (5.56x45mm) round from its own magazine. We wanted to design the M96 to utilize the most common high capacity magazines. Though the AR15/M16 magazine is not the most reliable magazine around, it is one of the most ubiquitous magazines in the world. Naturally, we designed the M96 to accept the M16 magazine.
The M96, like the Stoner, can be configured to fire from the top of the firearm. Testing with the magazine on the top of the firearm has been completed successfully. We have designed the M96 so that it might be able to accept a belt feeding mechanism. However we have not yet designed that mechanism.
The M96's operating system is different than that of any other system. The operating rod and recoil spring of the M96 is somewhat similar to that of the SIG 550 or Beretta AR70 (i.e., the recoil spring is wrapped around the operating rod.) The bolt, though multi-lug type of the Stoner/Johnson variety, has been completely redesigned for greater strength.
Unlike the Stoner 63, the bolt carrier can be completely and easily stripped without tools. The M96 will be available in April 1999.
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