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Steyr ACR
- Not to be confused with the Bushmaster ACR.
The Steyr ACR is an Austrian prototype assault rifle submitted to the US Army's Advanced Combat Rifle program of 1989-1990.
Somewhat resembling the much more well-known and prolific Steyr AUG, the ACR utilized a unique form of gas operation in which the entire chamber moves upon the act of firing, rather than just a bolt. When firing, the chamber is moved downward and a round is fed into it, and the escaping gases moves the chamber upwards, where the round strikes a uniquely positioned vertical firing pin. The ammunition itself is also unique- a transparent plastic casing houses a 5.56mm fin-stabilized, saboted flechette. The steel flechette is surrounded by propellant and discards the sabot once it leaves the barrel. During testing, it was noted that that the discarded sabot travels so fast it could pose a hazard to nearby friendlies or the shooter themselves if it came in their direction. The polymer ammunition weighs half that of a standard 5.56x45mm brass cased cartridge and travelled much faster.
The main problem found during testing was inconsistent muzzle velocities due to occasional defects in the plastic cases, although it was proposed that this issue would likely be remedied by better materials and quality control standards during production. The Steyr ACR was found to perform the best of all rifle designs submitted to the program, but could not achieve the required 100% improvement in hit probability over the M16A2, the stated goal of the whole program. The ACR program concluded in 1990 with no design selected. Two Steyr ACRs were built for testing. One is currently displayed at the National Infantry Museum located in Fort Benning, Georgia, United States while the other is kept at the Steyr factory in Austria.
Specifications
(1987 - 1988)
- Type: Assault Rifle
- Caliber: 5.56x45mm SCF (synthetic case flechette)
- Weight: 7.12 lbs (3.2 kg)
- Length: 30.7 in (78 cm)
- Barrel length: 21.3 in (54 cm)
- Capacity: 24
- Fire Modes: Semi-auto/3-round burst
The Steyr ACR and variants can be seen in the following films, television series, video games, and anime used by the following actors:
Anime
| Title | Character | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| Burn Up! | various characters | No scope attached | 1991 |
| Neon Genesis Evangelion | various characters | Scaled-up for Evangelion use, no scope attached. Supposedly are railguns firing depeleted uranium shells according to concept art | 1995 |
Video games
| Title | Appears as | Mods | Note | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Syphon Filter: The Omega Strain | "ACR" | 2004 | ||
| Syphon Filter: Logan's Shadow | 2007 | |||
| Cruelty Squad | "Stern M17" | Without scope | 2021 |
See Also
- Steyr Mannlicher - A list of all firearms manufactured by Steyr Mannlicher.