NAME (NATIVE) – Colt Automatic Rifle Model 07 (Model 607)
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN – USA
DATE OF MANUFACTURE – 1965
CALIBER – 5.56x45mm (.223)
OVERALL LENGTH – 66 cm (26 in) Stock forward, 72.9 cm (28.7 in) Stock open
BARREL LENGTH – 25.4 cm (10 in)
RIFLING (TYPE & TWIST) – 6 Grooves, Right-hand twist, 1 turn in 30.5 cm (12 in)
LOAD – M193 Ball Spitzer-pointed full metal jacket
BULLET DIAMETER – 5.70 mm (0.224 in)
BULLET WEIGHT – 3.56 g (55 grains)
MUZZLE VELOCITY – 838 m/s (2750 fps)
MUZZLE ENERGY – 1252 j (924 ft/lb)
WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 2.40 kg (5 lb 5 oz)
WEIGHT (LOADED) – 2.72 kg (6 lb) loaded with 20 rounds M193 Ball
SIGHTS – Open, iron, adjustable, Front sight – Round post, adjustable for zero range, Rear sight – Leaf-type with apertures for 0-300 m (0-328 yards) and 300-500 m (328 to 547 yards)
EFFECTIVE RANGE – 400 m (437 yards)
OPERATION – Gas impingement
TYPE OF FIRE – Selective, Semi and Full automatic
RATE OF FIRE – 45-65 rpm Semi, 150-200 rpm Full automatic, 12-15 rpm sustained rpm
FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (EMPTY) – 20 rd – 0.080 kg (2.83 oz), 30-rd – 0.10 kg (3.5 oz)
FEED DEVICE WEIGHT (LOADED) – 20 rd – 0.32 kg (11 oz) loaded with 20 rds M193 Ball, 30-rd – 0.45 kg (1 lb) loaded with 30 rds M193 Ball
BASIC AMMUNITION LOAD – Six 20-round magazines (120 rounds)
LOAD WEIGHT – 1.92 kg (4 lb 4 oz)
MANUFACTURER – Colt Patent Fire Arms, Hartford, Connecticut
STATUS – Out of production
SERVICE – Limited use by Special Operations forces, evaluation
The CAR-15 was a “submachinegun” version of the AR-15 family being shorter and lighter than any of the other rifles. It could be loaded with 30-round magazines, but the original 30-round magazines were referred to as the “Full Curve” versions, necessary to feed the tall column of tapered 5.56x45mm ammunition. The curve of the magazines prevented them from universally fitting all of the AR-15 family magazine wells and they were rarely issued until the new 30-round magazines were perfected and issued in 1970.
