Type rifle Designer Knight Armament Co. | Place of origin United States Weight 7.7 lbs (3.52 kg) | |
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In service 6 were bought from KAC to be used with U.S Navy SEALS for a trial. Length 28½–32½ inch (724–826 mm/telescoping stock) | ||
The SR-47 is a modern rifle based on the AR-15 family of rifles created by Knight's Armament Company for USSOCOM. Unlike the majority of ArmaLite-type guns, the SR-47 is essentially an AR-15 that fires the Soviet 7.62×39mm round from AK-47 magazines, which explains the "47" in the gun's name. The rifle was created after soldiers on long missions in Operation Enduring Freedom complained of running out of 5.56×45mm NATO ammunition for their M4 carbines but having plenty of captured AK-47 magazines. The SR-47 is basically an M4 that will accept standard AK-47 magazines rather than NATO STANAG M16/M4 mags, along with other minor modifications common to KAC's designs.
Development
The SR-47 is an outgrowth of the Colt M4 Carbine's SOPMOD system. Originally it was going to be a drop-in series of parts to convert an M4 or M16 in the field to fire 7.62×39mm ammunition. This requirement was later changed to require the weapon to accept and feed from Kalashnikov magazines. The complexity of this task made the planners rethink this approach and the idea of a complete weapon that could still use standard SOPMOD accessories was born.
After the September 11, 2001 attacks, SOCOM placed an open call for a 7.62×39mm rifle of basic M16 style design. This was known as the SPR-V. Three companies submitted samples: Lewis Machine & Tool (LMT), Robinson Armament, and KAC. After a series of trials, the pack was narrowed down to the RAV-02 Robinson carbine and the KAC SR-47.
The SR-47 is based on the Knight Stoner Rifle (or SR) series. Many aspects of the rifle resemble an M16, but almost all parts are upsized slightly to handle the larger 7.62×39mm cartridge. It uses standard AK magazines and the magazine well is modified to accept standard box magazines.
Only seven rifles are known to exist. Six went to USSOCOM and one was retained in the Knight Co. museum. Regarding this fact, it has been acknowledged the use of the SR-47 rifle by the Bulgarian elite counter terrorism force the SOBT (СОБТ, in Bulgarian).
The rifle uses a custom barrel manufactured by Obermeyer Barrel Co. of Wisconsin. It is machined to accept a custom Knight manufactured suppressor.
In 2012 Rock River Arms began marketing a civilian rifle very similar to the SR-47 called the LAR-47.