Colt Advanced Piston Carbine

The Colt Advanced Piston Carbine or Colt APC (internal product number P0923) is a lightweight modular 5.56mm caliber piston-operated, magazine fed carbine with a one-piece upper receiver which is capable of firing in automatic and semi-automatic modes. The design incorporates an articulating link piston that reduces the stresses in the piston stroke by allowing for deflection and thermal expansion.

5.56mm, Advanced Piston Carbine
TypeAssault rifle
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service2010s–present
Used bySee Users
Production history
ManufacturerColt's Manufacturing Company
Specifications
Mass7 lb (3.2 kg) empty
7.5 lb (3.4 kg) with 30 rounds
Length33 in (840 mm) (stock extended)
29.8 in (760 mm) (stock retracted)
 length14.5 in (370 mm)

Colt submitted the APC as the “Enhanced M4” for the U.S. Army’s Individual Carbine competition to replace the M4 carbine in 2012. However, the competition was canceled in 2013 before a winning weapon was chosen. The APC was adopted in limited quantities by several military and law enforcement agencies.

Design

The weapon has a suppression-ready fluted barrel, which is lighter and cools better than previous M4 barrels. It is claimed to have "markedly better" accuracy. To improve reliability, Colt used an articulating link piston (ALP) which "reduces the inherent stress in the piston stroke by allowing for deflection and thermal expansion".[1] In traditional gas piston operating systems, the force of the piston striking the bolt carrier can push the bolt carrier downwards and into the wall of the buffer tube, leading to accelerated wear and even chipped metal. This is known as carrier tilt. The ALP (articulating link piston) allows the operating rod to wiggle to correct for the downward pressure on the bolt and transfers the force straight backwards in line with the bore and buffer assembly, eliminating the carrier tilt. This relieves stress on parts and helps to increase accuracy.[2]

Users

References
  1. Enhanced M4 – Defense Review, November 29, 2011
  2. Articulating Link Piston – Guns.com
  3. "Colt APC to replace Bushmaster M4s". Malaysian Defence. 22 October 2015. Retrieved 14 May 2016.


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