The FAMAE SAF is a submachine gun produced and manufactured by FAMAE (Fábricas y Maestranzas del Ejército) since 1993.[1]
| FAMAE SAF | |
|---|---|
 A left-side view of the FAMAE SAF | |
| Type | Submachine gun |
| Place of origin | Chile |
| Service history | |
| Used by | See Users |
| Production history | |
| Designer | FAMAE |
| Designed | 1993 |
| Manufacturer | FAMAE |
| Produced | 1993–present |
| Variants | Mini-SAF |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 2.7 kg (5.95 lb) |
| Length | 640 mm (25.2 in) stock extended / 410 mm (16.1 in) stock folded |
| Barrel length | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Cartridge | 9×19mm Parabellum .40 S&W |
| Action | Blowback, closed bolt |
| Rate of fire | 1,120–1,280 rounds/min |
| Effective firing range | 150 m |
| Feed system | 20- or 30-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Iron sights |
Since 1999, Taurus have produced the SAF under license in .40 S&W for Brazilian law enforcement.[2]
Semi-automatic-only variants manufactured by FAMAE are mostly marketed for sale in Canada.[3]
Design
editThe SAF is a blowback-operated select-fire submachine gun, firing from a closed bolt. It is based on the Swiss SIG SG 540 assault rifle which was produced under license in Chile in the 1980s.[4][1] The design is a shortened version of the SIG 540 rifle, but the rifle's rotating bolt has been replaced with a simple blowback bolt. The SAF also has a bolt hold-open catch that engages after the final shot. Otherwise, the receiver, stock, fore-end, trigger/hammer assembly and floating firing pin design are from the SIG 540. (It also retains the folding trigger guard for winter glove use.)
The upper and lower receiver as well as the trigger guard are steel, and the pistol-grip and handguards are all made from polymer. The ambidextrous safety/fire selector switch, as well as the interchangeability with SIG 552/553 handguards are a feature found on the latest versions. Older versions used their own handguards.
The 9mm magazines use a transparent plastic made from polymer,[4] allowing the number of available rounds to be determined visually. The magazine is fitted with protruding lugs on one side and corresponding slots on the other, allowing two or three magazines to be clipped together for a quicker magazine change.[4] The .40 S&W magazines are made of steel and hold 30 rounds.
The selector has four settings: safe, single shot, 3-round burst and fully automatic.[4] Some models were made in a semi-auto only configuration for law enforcement and civilian customers.[1]
Variants
edit
The SAF is manufactured in four different variants: standard configuration with a fixed polymer buttstock,[1] standard configuration with a left-side-folding tubular metal buttstock, SAF SD, which used an integral suppressor and folding buttstock,[1] and the Mini-SAF.[4]
The SAF SD is a suppressed variant, it has a slightly longer barrel length of 220 millimetres (8.7 in). It has a lowered fire rate of 980 rpm and a muzzle velocity of 300m/s[5]
The Mini-SAF is a more compact variant, at only 12 inches (300 mm) long.[6] It has a short 4.5-inch (110 mm) barrel, no shoulder stock (although the left-side-folding tubular metal buttstock of the standard SAF can be attached), and a vertical foregrip. The Mini-SAF can use the standard 30-round magazines, but comes with special 20-round magazines for a smaller profile.[1] All versions have post-front-sights with adjustable elevation, and aperture-rear-sights, adjustable for windage.
The SAF-200 is a modernised variant, which is being tested by FAMAE and the Chilean Army.[1][when?] It includes a new retractable and foldable stock, a new handguard and Picatinny rails provided for modern optics and lateral attachments. The rails are optional for the other SAF variants, but is standard on the SAF-200.[7]
Users
edit
Argentina: In service Airport Security Police and Mendoza Provincial Police.[8]
Brazil: In service Federal Highway Police and Military Police of São Paulo State.[citation needed]
Chile: In service with the Chilean Armed Forces and police.[9][page needed][10]
El Salvador: Service in The National Civilian Police.[11]
Portugal: Was used by the National Republican Guard.[12]
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f g "FAMAE SAF Submachine Gun". www.military-today.com. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
- ^ "Taurus SMGs and carbines: the FAMAE heritage". The Firearm Blog. 2017-11-22. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
- ^ "FAMAE Firearms: From SAF Mini to SG 542". The Firearm Blog. 2013-10-09. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
- ^ a b c d e "FAMAE S.A.F." Modern Firearms. 2010-10-27. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
- ^ "FAMAE SAF". Weaponsystems.net. Retrieved 2022-05-14.
- ^ "FAMAE SAF: A shortened version of Swiss SIG 540 assault rifle". 21 October 2019.
- ^ "SAF SUBAMETRALLADORAS". FAMAE (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2011-12-27. Retrieved 2013-06-18.
- ^ "wiw_sa_argentina - worldinventory". 2016-11-24. Archived from the original on 2016-11-24. Retrieved 2023-03-07.
- ^ Miller, David (2001). The Illustrated Directory of 20th Century Guns. Salamander Books Ltd. ISBN 1-84065-245-4.
- ^ Jones, Richard (2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009-2010. Jane's Information Group. p. 893. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
- ^ Montes, Julio A. (12 January 2012). "El Salvador: Standing Talls". Small Arms Defense Journal. Vol. 3, no. 4.
- ^ "Chilean FAMAE SAF from Hellenic Police trials". Armament Research Services. 7 May 2019. Retrieved 2021-04-29.
