– CQB Receiver –
M4A1 Carbine with
10-Inch Upper Receiver
Presented by Jeff Johnson
Weapons Department
Ordnance Engineering Directorate
Naval Surface Warfare Center – Crane, Indiana
1
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
CQB Receiver
• M4A1 carbine with 10 inch barrel
– Why a 10” barrel carbine?
– What is the weapon configuration?
– How was it tested?
– How does it perform?
– Questions?
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Why a 10” barrel carbine?
• Minimize length and weight of
primary weapon
• Retain reliability and performance of
standard weapon
• Maintain interoperability of SOPMOD
equipment
• Maximize current logistics chain
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
What is the configuration?
• National stock system parts
• No changes to lower receiver
• Gas port expanded from 0.062 to
0.070 inches
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
What are the differences?
•Barrel shortened to 10.3 inches
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
What are the differences?
•Standard 4-coil extractor spring replaced
with 5-coil COTS spring IAW Navy
engineering bulletin
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
What are the differences?
•Standard flash hider replaced with M4QD
flash hider for suppressor compatibility
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
What are the differences?
•Replacement gas rings
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
How was it tested?
• 40,000 round test using 4 upper receivers
fired 10,000 rounds each
• M855 ball ammunition
• 300 round firing cycle
– 2-4 round short bursts
– 4-6 round medium bursts
– Barrel temperature kept below 1000 degrees F
– Weapons cooled after each 300 round cycle
• Weapons cleaned/gaged every 600 rounds
• 10% suppressed
• Original gas rings replaced with COTS 1-
piece rings at 5,000 rounds
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
How does it perform?
• Parts breakage and replacement
Wpn Part Round count
A none -
B extractor spring 6300
gas tube 6400
extractor 6500
C gas tube 7200
D gas tube 9100
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
How does it perform?
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
How does it perform?
•Gas port erosion
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
How does it perform?
•Barrel Temperature (°F)
713°F = max measured temp
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
How does it perform?
• Headspace (inches)
Wpn Initial @ 10,000 rd
A 1.466 1.468
B 1.465 1.466
C 1.465 1.466
D 1.466 1.468
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
How does it perform?
• Reliability (mean rounds between
stoppage)
WpnRounds Stoppages MRBS
A 10,245 6 1708
B 10,365 29 357
C 10,350 11 941
D 10,380 10 1038
Cum. 41,340 56 738
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
How does it perform?
• Accuracy (5 round group extreme
spread in inches at 200 yd)
Wpn @ 5,000 rd @ 10,000 rd
A 8.2 16.1
B 10.2 9.7
C 4.9 11.3
D 9.1 14.4
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
How does it perform?
• Rate of Fire (rounds per minute)
– unsuppressed
Wpn Avg – clean Avg – dirty
A 762 659
B 707 647
C 723 636
D 757 659
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
How does it perform?
• Rate of Fire (rounds per minute)
– suppressed
Wpn Avg – clean Avg – dirty
A 1001 980
B 976 957
C 970 971
D 992 986
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
How does it perform?
• Velocity (feet per second)
– unsuppressed
– clean weapon
Wpn Initial @ 10,000 change
A 2667 2438 229
B 2643 2516 127
C 2704 2488 216
D 2689 2557 132
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
How does it perform?
• Velocity (feet per second)
– unsuppressed
– dirty weapon
Wpn Initial @ 10,000 change
A 2637 2548 89
B 2678 2595 83
C 2654 2570 84
D 2682 2561 121
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
Questions???
DISTRIBUTION STATEMENT A: Approved for public release; distribution is unlimited.
