{{infobox weapon , name = Robinson Armament M96 Expeditionary , image = , caption = M96 Expeditionary Rifle , origin = United States , type =

semi-automatic rifle A semi-automatic rifle is a type of rifle that fires a single round each time the Trigger (firearms), trigger is pulled while automatically loading the next Cartridge (firearms), cartridge. These rifles were developed Pre-World War II, and w ...

, is_ranged = yes , service = , used_by = , wars = , designer = , design_date = , manufacturer =

Robinson Armament Co. Robinson Armament Co. is a firearms manufacturer based in North Salt Lake, Utah, United States.Tom WhartonAt sprawling Vegas gun show, firearms and fiery talk mix ''Salt Lake Tribune'' (January 18, 2013). As of 2009, it employed 15 people.Brandon ...

, unit_cost = , production_date = 1999-2011 , number = , variants = Expeditionary Rifle
carbine
Recon Carbine
top-feed carbine ("Bren" configuration). , spec_label = , weight = , length = , part_length = 20" "Expeditionary Rifle"
17.5" carbine
16" "Recon Carbine"
17.5" barreled top-feed carbine ("Bren" configuration) , cartridge = 5.56 x 45mm NATO , cartridge_weight = , caliber = .223 , barrels = , action = gas operated, rotating bolt, long stroke piston , rate = , velocity = 3,150 ft/s (960 m/s) (M855A1 round) , range = 500 meters , max_range = , feed =

STANAG magazine A STANAG magazine or NATO magazine is a type of detachable firearm magazine proposed by NATO in October 1980. Shortly after NATO's acceptance of the 5.56×45mm NATO rifle cartridge, Draft Standardization Agreement ( STANAG) 4179 was proposed i ...

, sights = adjustable rear aperture and front protected post The Robinson M96 is a 5.56 x 45mm NATO,

based on the Stoner 63 Modular Weapon System. Made by the

, the M96 can be arranged in a variety configurations from a standard rifle with a 20' barrel, to a carbine with a 16" barrel or even a top-fed carbine with a 17.5" barrel.

Description

The Robinson M96 is based on the

Stoner 63 The Stoner 63 is a 5.56×45mm NATO modular weapon system. Using a variety of modular components, it can be configured as an assault rifle, carbine, top-fed light machine gun, belt-fed squad automatic weapon, or as a vehicle mounted weapon. A ...

modular weapon system. It's chambered for the .223 Remington/ 5.56 mm NATO cartridge, and uses

STANAG 4179 In NATO, a standardization agreement (STANAG, redundantly: STANAG agreement) defines processes, procedures, terms, and conditions for common military or technical procedures or equipment between the member countries of the alliance. Each NATO st ...

AR-15 magazines. Barrels have 1-in-9 twist ratio as is common for .223 Remington semiautomatic rifles. The M96 is

gas operated Gas-operation is a system of operation used to provide energy to operate locked breech, autoloading firearms. In gas-operation, a portion of high-pressure gas from the cartridge being fired is used to power a mechanism to dispose of the spent ...

, with a fixed gas cylinder and moving piston connected to the operating rod and bolt carrier. All variants are equipped with a gas regulator, which allows fine-tuning for low or high powered cartridges, outside temperature, etc. and is probably unique for a civilian rifle in this caliber. The bolt carrier has been specially designed for strength and slow cyclic rate for improved reliability. The M96 bolt is a six-lug design somewhat similar to an AR-15 bolt but with larger, stronger lugs. The M96 receiver is stamped stainless steel with a special blackening treatment. The barrel is

parkerized Phosphate conversion coating is a chemical treatment applied to steel parts that creates a thin adhering layer of iron, zinc, or manganese phosphates to improve corrosion resistance or lubrication or as a foundation for subsequent coatings or pai ...

chromoly 41xx steel is a family of SAE steel grades, as specified by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE). Alloying elements include chromium and molybdenum, and as a result these materials are often informally referred to as chromoly steel (common v ...

steel and the stocks are molded plastic. Incidentally, the buttstock is the one part of the M96 that is interchangeable with the Stoner 63. The M96 has adjustable military-type sights (rear aperture and front protected post) and does not have a standard

scope mount Scope mounts are rigid implements used to attach (typically) a telescopic sight or other types of optical sights onto a firearm. The mount can be made integral to the scope body (such as the Zeiss rail) or, more commonly, an external fitting t ...

Picatinny rail The 1913 rail (MIL-STD-1913 rail) is an American rail integration system designed by Richard Swan that provides a mounting platform for firearm accessories. It forms part of the NATO standard STANAG 2324 rail. It was originally used for mount ...

Variants

The M96 has been offered in a 20" barrel rifle version (the "Expeditionary Rifle"), a 17.5" barreled

carbine A carbine ( or ) is a long gun that has a barrel shortened from its original length. Most modern carbines are rifles that are compact versions of a longer rifle or are rifles chambered for less powerful cartridges. The smaller size and ligh ...

(no special name), a 16" barreled carbine (the "Recon Carbine"), and a 17.5" barreled top-feed carbine ("

Bren The Bren gun (Brno-Enfield) was a series of light machine guns (LMG) made by the United Kingdom in the 1930s and used in various roles until 1992. While best known for its role as the British and Commonwealth forces' primary infantry LMG in Wor ...

" configuration). The M96 is nearly identical in external appearance to the

rifle/light machine gun, and was designed to be modular and configurable like the Stoner. However, the M96 has a somewhat different internal mechanism and is semi-auto only. No internal parts exchange between the M96 and the Stoner 63. In the mid-1990s a US-based Class-III manufacturer (Arms-Tech Ltd. located in

Phoenix, Arizona Phoenix ( ) is the List of capitals in the United States, capital and List of cities and towns in Arizona#List of cities and towns, most populous city of the U.S. state of Arizona. With over 1.6 million residents at the 2020 census, it is the ...

) offered the "Revere" M96-A1 weapon system on the Law Enforcement market. It was basically a selective-fire conversion system that turned the standard M96 rifle in either a "Commando" 16" barreled

-fed carbine or a 20" barreled belt-fed

Squad Automatic Weapon A squad automatic weapon (SAW), also known as a section automatic weapon or light support weapon (LSW), is a man-portable automatic firearm attached to infantry squads or sections as a source of rapid direct firepower. Weapons fulfilling th ...

. It was never put into regular production because the Robinson M96 was discontinued. The M96 has a relatively small following, probably due in large part to its high price and new manufacturer. There do not appear to have been any military or law enforcement sales of the M96, probably for the same reasons. As of 2012, the rifle is no longer in production and spare parts are very difficult to find.

External links

Modern Firearms Page

M96 scope mounts, handguard rails and stock adapters

Robinson Armament official website
5.56×45mm NATO semi-automatic rifles Semi-automatic rifles of the United States Trial and research firearms of the United States Long stroke piston firearms

Description

Variants

See also

External links