| IMBEL MD-2 | |
|---|---|
 IMBEL MD-2 rifle |
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| Type | Assault rifle |
| Place of origin |  Brazil |
| Service history | |
| Used by | Brazilian Army, Brazilian Military Police, BOPE and National Force (Brazil) |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1983 |
| Manufacturer | IMBEL |
| Produced | 1985— |
| Variants | MD-1, MD-2, MD-3 and MD-4 |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 4.40 kg (9 lb 10 oz) |
| Length | 1,010 mm (39.8 in) (stock extended); 764 mm (30.1 in), stock folded |
| Barrel length | 453 mm (17.8 in) |
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| Cartridge | 5.56x45mm NATO (STANAG 4172) |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | 700 rounds/min |
| Effective range | 300 m (~328 yd) |
| Feed system | Various STANAG Magazines. |
| Sights | Aperture rear sight, hooded post front sight |
The IMBEL MD series (MD-1, MD-2, MD-3 and the recent MD-4) of assault rifles are the standard-issue rifles of the Brazilian Army.
Contents |
These rifles are manufactured by IMBEL (Indústria de Material Bélico do Brasil) and are based on the 7.62mm NATO FN FAL, which was previously manufactured by IMBEL for many years under licence as the Brazilian Army's standard service rifle. In following the trend to adopt the 5.56x45mm NATO round, IMBEL started experimenting with 5.56mm versions of the FN FAL in the early 1980s. The first prototype, the MD-1, appeared in around 1983. Further development resulted in the MD-2 and MD-3 series, which still closely resemble their FAL parent. In 1985, the MD-2 was presented and adopted by the Brazilian armed forces and Military police.
The MD-2 is the Brazilian army's standard service rifle.
The MD-2 and MD-3 rifles are the result of redesigning the 7.62mm NATO FN FAL to use the 5.56x45mm NATO round in place of the FAL's 7.62mm NATO chambering. The MD-2/MD-3 series externally resembles a short-barrelled FAL, but with a M16 magazine. Early MD-1 prototypes retained the FAL-type tilting bolt with a locking shoulder immediately behind the magazine well. This was not found to work well with the 5.56mm round, so subsequent prototypes and the final design incorporated an M16-type 7-lug rotating bolt into the design. Feeding is from a STANAG 4179 M16-compatible magazines. The versions differ in that the MD-2 uses the side-folding buttstock from the FN FAL 'para' variant, while the MD-3 uses the fixed polymer stock of the standard FAL.
   | IMBEL MD-2 and MD-3 at Modern Firearms - Modern Firearms - Assault Rifles - IMBEL MD-2 MD-3 |
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