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Brügger & Thomet APC

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B&T APC
TypeSubmachine gun
Assault rifle (APC556)
Place of originSwitzerland
Service history
In service2011–present
Production history
DesignerB&T
Designed2010
ManufacturerB&T
Produced2011—present
Specifications
Mass2.5 kg (5.5 lb) with empty 30-round box magazine and red dot sight
Length597 mm (23.5 in) (Stock unfolded)
385 mm (15.2 in) (Stock folded)
Barrel length175 mm (6.9 in)
Caliber9x19mm Parabellum
.40 S&W
10mm Auto
.45 ACP
5.56×45mm NATO
ActionStraight blowback, closed bolt
APC556: Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire1,080 rounds/min
Effective firing range100 m (110 yd)
Feed system15-, 20-, 25-, and 30-round B&T MP9 detachable box magazine, 50-round drum magazine
APC556: STANAG magazine
SightsIron sights and Picatinny rail for various optical sights

The B&T APC (Advanced Police Carbine) is a submachine gun produced and manufactured by B&T (formerly known as Brügger & Thomet) of Switzerland. Announced in 2011, the standard series uses standard 9×19mm (APC9), .40 S&W (APC40), 10mm Auto (APC10), and .45 ACP (APC45) ammunition.[1]

History and overview

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The APC series was designed in the 2000s, as a modern submachine gun that would be cheaper to produce than the intermediate cartridge assault carbines that were seeing an increase in military usage during this period. Before this point, B&T sold the MP9 and had experience in the manufacture of submachine guns, as well as years of feedback from customers on possible enhancements.[2] The first B&T APCs were produced in 2011.

In March 2019, B&T released its APC9 PRO series, an improvement with a non-reciprocating charging handle and a replaceable pistol grip, compatible with grips for the AR-15 style rifle family of firearms. The APC9 PRO features an optional lower receiver capable of using Glock magazines.[3]

On March 29, 2019, B&T was awarded a contract in the U.S. Army's Sub Compact Weapon Production-Other Transaction Agreement (P-OTA) competition for its APC9K submachine gun. The $2.6 million contract included an initial 350 subcompact weapons (SCW) with an option for additional quantities of up to 1,000 SCWs, with slings, manuals, accessories, and spare parts.[4]

Design

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The APC uses a straight blowback gas system. The addition of a proprietary hydraulic buffer system in the receiver back plate helps control recoil.[5] More than 50% of the APC's parts are interchangeable between the different platforms.[1]

The APC's upper receiver is made from aerospace-grade alloy, and the lower receiver, pistol grips, magazine, and butt stock are made from polymer.[6] The APC uses the same magazines as the MP9.

The APC's mechanical sight is composed of an adjustable ghost ring type rear sight and a cylindrical sight. Sights can be folded in the base when not in use, and will pop out quickly when in use. The APC has an H&K MP5 style locked lugs-style barrel and can be equipped with a quick-release suppressor or flash hider. The APC45's barrel comes with a flash hider by default.

The APC shares a side-folding polymer stock with the B&T GL-06 grenade launcher. The trigger assembly is effectively the same as the AR-15/M16 rifle, and accepts many after-market replacement parts. The entire weapon, including the charging handle, are ambidextrous, and can be adjusted based on the operator's handedness.[6]

Variants

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Lithuanian ORKA operators armed with intermediate-caliber APC556

The APC submachine gun is offered in several variants.[7] The standard submachine gun has a barrel length of 175 mm (6.9 in) and the carbine variant has a 406-millimetre (16.0 in) barrel for the civilian market.[8] All variants are available in 9×19mm (APC9) and .45 ACP (APC45) calibres. The APC PRO series has the capability to have different calibre options, stocks, suppressors, accessories, training versions and the ability to accept either Glock or SIG P320 magazines, giving the platform vast modularity for its operators.[9][clarification needed]

  • APC9 – The basic model, which adopts a polymer receiver, magazine, and folding stock. It is select fire, and may be loaded either with 15-, 20-, 25-, or 30-round magazines.[10]
  • APC9 G – An APC9 with a lower receiver that is compatible with Glock pistol magazines.
  • APC9 K – Shortened barrel variant of the APC9.
  • APC9-SD – Variant of the APC9 with an integrated suppressor.
  • APC9 K-SD2 – Variant of the APC9 K with an integrated suppressor.
  • APC9 Carbine – Civilian version of the APC9, can only be fired in semi-auto.[10]
  • APC9-P Carbine – Police version of the APC9 carbine. Comes with longer handguards and longer barrel.
  • APC9 Sports Carbine – Sporting version of the APC9 carbine. Comes with longer handguards and longer barrel.
  • APC40 – .40 S&W version of the APC9.
  • APC10 – 10mm Auto version of the APC9.
  • APC45 – .45 ACP version of the APC9.
  • APC45-SD – Integrally suppressed variant of the APC45.
  • APC556 - An assault rifle variant. Typically chambered in 30-round 5.56×45mm magazines.
  • APC556 PDW - Shortened barrel and shortened stock variant of the APC556.

Users

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Country Organization name Model Quantity Date Reference
 Argentina Argentine Army

Agrupacion de Fuerzas de Operaciones Especiales

APC9K, APC9SD, APC9 PRO G 263 2020-2021 [11][12]
 Brazil Military Police of São Paulo State APC40 PRO 1000 Dec 2020 [13]
Civil Police (Brazil) APC9 700 2023 [14]
 Slovakia Slovak Police Force

Prison and Court Guard Service

APC9 26+ 2019 [15]
 Ukraine Kraken Regiment APC45 - 2023 [16][17]
 South Korea 707th Special Mission Group APC9K Pro - 2023 [citation needed]
 United States United States Army Personal Security Detachments APC9K 350 2019 [18][19]
United States Air Force Personal Security Detachments APC9K 65 2020 [20][21]
Westchester County Police APC9SD - 2019 [22]
Miami Beach Police Department APC9K Pro - 2020 [23][24]
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Issued to School resource officer's APC9K Pro - 2022 [25]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ a b S, T. "APC". B&T AG. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  2. ^ "Brugger & Thomet". Archived from the original on 2010-08-15.
  3. ^ "A first sneak peek of the upcoming B&T APC9 Pro -". The Firearm Blog. 2018-08-09. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  4. ^ "Sub Compact Weapon Production-Other Transaction Agreement". Federal Business Opportunities. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  5. ^ Harrison, Iain (2018-01-17). "Brügger & Thomet–Some Nice Apologies for the Cuckoo Clock". Recoil Web. Archived from the original on 2018-02-02. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  6. ^ a b "B&T APC". Modern Firearms. 13 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2017-11-12.
  7. ^ "Modern Firearms - B&T Advanced Police Carbine / APC submachine gun (Switzerland)". World.guns.ru. 13 January 2012. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  8. ^ "B&T AG". Archived from the original on 2019-10-19. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  9. ^ "APC PRO – ADVANCED POLICE CARBINE" (PDF).
  10. ^ a b "B&T APC9 Submachine Gun -". The Firearm Blog. 2011-10-25. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  11. ^ Redacción (2020-12-02). "Presentación en Arsenales del nuevo material para el Ejército Argentino". Zona Militar (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  12. ^ Moss, Matthew (12 February 2021). "New Glock Pistols and B&T Submachine Guns for Argentina's Special Forces". The Firearm Blog. Archived from the original on 2021-02-12.
  13. ^ Stochero, Tahiane (2020-12-14). "The PMSP buys 1,000 units of submachine gun used by the U.S. Army". G1 Globo.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-12-14.
  14. ^ "São Paulo Civilian Police Procures Submachine Guns".
  15. ^ "GR ZVJS-182/32-2019 | Centrálny register zmlúv". www.crz.gov.sk. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  16. ^ Українська правда (2023-03-05). Еволюція KRAKEN. Огляд стрілецької зброї спецпідрозділу ГУР МО | УП. Репортаж. Retrieved 2024-10-17 – via YouTube.
  17. ^ "Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine". Militarnyi. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  18. ^ Mizokami, Kyle (2019-04-02). "The U.S. Army Just Chose Its First New Submachine Gun Since WWII". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  19. ^ "Sub Compact Weapon Production-Other Transaction Agreement". Federal Business Opportunities. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  20. ^ Mizokami, Kyle (2020-11-19). "The Air Force is picking up a handful of feisty new submachine guns". Task and Purpose. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  21. ^ Mizokami, Kyle (2020-11-25). "U.S. Air Force Buys The B&T APC9K Sub Compact Weapon". The Firearm Blog. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
  22. ^ "Westchester, NY Police Department Adopt Integrally Suppressed B&T APC9-SD -". The Firearm Blog. 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  23. ^ "Miami Beach Police Pick B&T APC9K PRO Models". Guns.com. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  24. ^ C, Luke (13 April 2020). "Miami Beach Police Department to be Equipped with APC9K PRO SMG's from B&T". Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  25. ^ "Florida Sheriff's Office Purchases B&T USA APC9 Pro Platforms". shootingillustrated.com. 2022-08-23. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
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