Weapon Name- K-22 - Type 92 Howa Rifle
Round Type- 5.56mm
Over-all length- 36.1 inches, 40 inches
Barrel length- 16.1 inches, 20 inches
Weight- 7.8 lb
Rate of Fire- 600 RPM
Feed Mechanism- Detachable top-fed magazine
Round Capacity- 30, 60, 100
Effective Range- 300 meters
Range- 600 meters
Accuracy- 1 MOA
Accessories- Picatinny rails
Quick switch firing mechanism-
Scope/Sights- Long stroke gas piston
Muzzle Velocity- 940 m/s, 850 m/s, 760 m/s - 970 m/s, 910 m/s, 850 m/s
Firing System- G11 Rotating Chamber
Miscellaneous/electronic information- The weapon's firing mechanism is based on the Type 89 Howa Assault rifle, designed instead to serve as a long stroke instead of short stroke gas piston.
Basic Information
The weapon's firing mechanism is based on the Type 89 Howa Assault rifle, designed instead to serve as a long stroke instead of short stroke gas piston. When Japan retired the venerable Type 89 assault rifle, based on the AR-18 firearm of Eugine stoner (which is the predecessor of many other famous guns, including the SA80, G36, and others), it began work on a refurbishing process to re-purpose the previous Type 89 firearms for general purpose use in training, and developing nations. While the Type 89 was reliable and accurate, over time the parts of the gun would wear out, reducing it's reliability and accuracy somewhat, and with less skilled shooters not used to the maintenance of the rifle, would decrease it's reliability in harsh environments in comparison to the Ak-47. In order to allow for the weapon to continue serving in countries used to the Ak-47's low maintenance, the refurbished Type 89 assault rifles were transitioned to long stroke gas pistons, given a dual spring recoil buffer and muzzle break, and generally had the new piston coated in a titanium nitride finish, which would make the action smoother and more resistant to corrosion. This new firearm was designated the K-22, type classed as the Type 92 in the Japanese military, and mostly used the same receiver parts and others within the rifle. As the AR-18 design induced little wear on the receiver, this part of the rifle was kept, and only the spring, part of the upper piston, gas tube and trigger was replaced. The barrel was replaced on some models, which have markedly better accuracy; accuracy levels are at a minimum of 3.1 MOA for most rifles, with some being much higher or lower than the average of 2.25 MOA depending on the wear on the barrels.
While largely considered an inferior, older rifle, the weapon's remarkable handling characteristics for a long-stroke gas piston weapon like the Ak-47 has made is extremely popular, even among Japanese troops. It's good ergonomics and low recoil has made it a popular alternative to the Ak-47, and thus the weapon is highly sought after in the secondary market for firearms. The more ergonomic back-heavy design, incorporating a folding stock, more ergonomic safety and pistol grip, among other features has made is rather well liked over the ak-47, in addition to it's smaller NATO caliber, making it ideal for developing countries. While the accuracy varies wildly depending on the age of the previous refurbished model, the weapon remains competitive to the Ak-47, and is considered to be sufficient for close quarters combat under 300 meters in the hands of a skilled user. While originally intended as a way to keep the older rifles more useful, it has become such a popular design that orders for new rifles using the design have been made. These weapons often have slight improvements over the previous design, most notably a new barrel, which gives 1.5 MOA with standard 5.56mm ammunition, 1.3 MOA with M855A1 rounds, and 1 MOA with Mk. 262 sniper ammunition. These weapons are also typically nitrided over the entire weapon, and not just the gas piston.
The K-22's main design change was a nitrided long stroke gas piston, a muzzle break, dual spring recoil buffer, and on some newer models higher strength polymer for the handguard and a new barrel. The nitrided gas piston produces far less friction and is smoother, keeping the weapon's wear down (an important feature for many worn down rifles), reducing the felt recoil by making the action smoother, and reduces the heat by reducing the friction of the rifle. The dual recoil spring reduces the felt recoil by making the action even smoother, and the addition of an HK style recoil buffer significantly reduces it further. The muzzle break reduces muzzle climb and recoil by approximately 40%, while also serving as a flash suppressor (eliminating the noise and brightness issue of the muzzle break), and combined with the other recoil reducing mechanisms, makes the weapon have 70% less felt recoil than normal, reducing it down to tolerable levels for most shooters. The long stroke gas piston is similar to the galil in that it uses a small gas cushion and smoother parts to reduce felt recoil, but is designed to fit in an AR-18 pattern receiver. This is designed merely be lengthening the gas rod until it is touching the gas port of the gas tube, which is a very simply design change; K-22 pistons can be fitted in to virtually any Type 92 rifle with no major modifications, although typically a change in the spring is required as well. As a result of it's smoothness and light recoil, it's handling characteristics are on par with an AR-15 or AR-18, and yet it is more reliable. This makes it extremely popular in harsh operating conditions over the AR-15, in addition to it's low, after market cost. Civilian versions exist, which incorporate more design changes, such as picatinny rails an upgraded folding stock. Typically the weapon has a folding stock, thumb safety, and fixed sights, however this can be modified with after market accessories. The hammer forged barrels have an exceptionally long life compared to most rifles at roughly 20,000 to 30,000 rounds, and the design of the weapon has been to reduce the friction on as many moving parts as possible. As a result it is a weapon that is very easy to maintain over time, only needing a few parts replaced before it's operational again. This makes it very good for maintenance purposes, and an ideal candidate for refurbishing, like was done with the K-22 program.
