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MARS
Type	Assault rifle
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designer	Colt
Designed	1990s
Manufacturer	Colt
Specifications
Cartridge	5.56x30mm MARS
Action	Gas-actuated, rotating bolt
Muzzle velocity	790 m/s (2,592 ft/s)

The MARS (Mini Assault Rifle System) was an experimental, scaled-down variant of the M16 rifle tested by Colt as a personal defense weapon (PDW) in the 1990s. It was chambered for the experimental 5.56x30mm MARS cartridge. The 5.56x30mm cartridge fired a 55 grain projectile at 790 m/s (2,591.9 ft/s). The rifle was patented in 1998 (US patent no. 5,827,992).

The proprietary cartridge provided performance more akin to a Colt Commando instead of a personal defense weapon, like the P90 or MP7.

External links

• Pictures & Patent Info
• personaldefenceweapons.com