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FAMAE SAF Reflex Suppressor

famgraaf.GIF (26127 bytes)

190299

Suppressor for FAMAE SAF. User's Manual.

Reflex suppressor R12FA of 9x19 mm FAMAE SAF SMG is designed primarily for harsh military use. This steel-constructed device is a long-lasting and almost maintenance-free muffler of muzzle blast, efficient flash hider and recoil compensator. Suppressor also helps to protect the shooter from hearing loss.

Standard model R12FA extends just 140 mm forwards from muzzle. Suppressor is designed to withstand full-auto shooting of full power 9x19 mm Para cartridges. With 320 m/s cartridges, R12FA drops shooting noise typically by 20 dB(A) Peak, as measured at 10 m distance to the right of the muzzle. Beside shooter's ear, noise level is reduced down to USA and European maximum peak noise level of 140 dB(A) or less. To temporarily achieve even quieter operation, about spoonful of ordinary grease may be applied into the suppressor, being careful not to let it get into the flight path of bullet. Grease absorbs part of the energy of muzzle blast, and as a side effect helps to protect the suppressor from corrosion. See also literature for "wet suppressors" techniques.

Reduction of shooting noise is considerable, but mechanical noise of firing cycle and bullet's flight noise (ballistic "crack") are impossible to eliminate by any suppressor. Flight noise of supersonic bullet is found to be useful in actual battle: Cracking sound of bypassing bullets tend to bluff hostile individuals, and so hide position of shooter, when muzzle blasts, muzzle flashes and other shooting signatures are eliminated with a suppressor. Shooting noise with suppressor and full-power 9x19 mm cartridges is about as loud as report of a .22 rifle with Super Speed cartridges. For protecting shooter's hearing, a suppressor is about as effective as wearing regular hearing protection.

For special operations it may be necessary to secure cartridges with reduced powder charge; so called subsonic loads with bullet velocity preferably less than 300 m/s. If commercial subsonic loadings are unavailable, any experienced handloader may develop and reload them. If bullet weight is 8 g or less, these loads are unable to complete feeding cycle reliably. However, mechanical noise - other than snap of the hammer - shall be absent, and suppressed muzzle blast is not much more audible. Manual ejection and feed are quick and easy to accomplish. If bullet weight is 9 g or more, it is possible to get reliable automatic feed along with silent flight of the bullet. Mechanical noise is, however, always present. Silenced shooting with self-loading or full-auto firearms is possible just with limitations.

Mounting the Suppressor: Standard model FAMAE SAF submachine gun has no factory option for mounting a suppressor. By a specially designed BR mounting piece, mounting of R12FA is, however, done easily and readily without special skill or tooling or any modification to the weapon. If a regular muzzle thread mounting suppressor is favored, the SAF can be mounted with the KRS Kalashnikov Reflex Suppressor. For KRS, see mounting instructions in drawing above and separate aligning instructions.

First loosen and disconnect the mounting nut from threaded sleeve integrated in the rear-end of the suppressor. Next, slip the nut onto muzzle from down to up, central aperture or slot upwards, threaded end forwards and locking lugs engaging behind the front sight base. Now, slip the suppressor inside the nut and around the barrel, and tighten it into it's thread just by one hand avoiding unnecessary force - using excess force tends to wear the mounting surfaces.

When mounting the suppressor for first time, check the aligning of the suppressor and the barrel by looking through the bore, with suppressor attached. If it appears to be for some reason off center, mounting should be checked by a gunsmith qualified for suppressor mounting. Do not shoot with the suppressor loose or with the nut unlocked, as this may cause harm or even damage the suppressor.

Maintenance: Reflex Suppressor is practically maintenance-free device. Its standard finish is military grade Parkerizing. Normal fouling of powder and primers cannot take effect on functioning of Reflex Suppressors. Loose solid impurities, like powder kernels and carbon chips, are easy to remove by brisk shaking, while keeping the suppressor vertically, rear-end downwards. After shooting session it is advisable to remove the silencer. This helps water condensed from powder gas to evaporate away. Regular gun oil can be used for storage.

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SAF Reflex Suppressor


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