The KAL1 general purpose infantry rifle (KAL1 GPIR) was an Australian bullpup rifle designed in the 1970s for jungle warfare following complaints about the weight and length of the L1A1 SLR rifles then in service with the Australian Army.[1] The design never entered service, with the bullpup configured, optically sighted 5.56 mm F-88 Austeyr selected instead in 1989.[2]
| KAL1 general purpose infantry rifle | |
|---|---|
| Type | Bullpup battle rifle |
| Place of origin | Australia |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Kevin Loughrey Andrew Witt |
| Designed | 1970–1973 |
| Manufacturer | Small Arms Factory Lithgow |
| No. built | 1 (working 'mockup') 1 (unfinished prototype) |
| Variants | KAL1(A) KAL1(B) |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 3.98 kg |
| Length | 856 mm |
| Barrel length | Same as L1A1 SLR |
| Cartridge | 7.62×51mm NATO |
| Caliber | 7.62mm |
| Action | Gas-operated, tilting breechblock |
| Feed system | 20-round detachable box magazine |
| Sights | Iron sights |
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ General Purpose Infantry Rifle Non Volatile Technologies Pty Ltd
- ^ Dennis et al 2008, p. 502.
References
edit- Dennis, Peter; et al. (2008). The Oxford Companion to Australian Military History (Second ed.). Melbourne: Oxford University Press Australia & New Zealand. ISBN 978-0-19-551784-2.