Weapon Name- Steyr Aug 6mm SAW
Round Type- 6.2mm x 45mm Aluminum SAW
Over-all length- 34 inches, 30 inches, 23.5 inches
Barrel length- 24 inches, 20 inches, 13.5 inches
Weight- 7.1 lb, 8.6 lb
Rate of Fire- 600 RPM
Feed Mechanism- Detachable box magazine
Round Capacity- 32 rounds, 42 rounds, 60 rounds with drum
Effective Range- 600 meters
Range- 1200 meters
Accuracy- 1.8 MOA, 2.2 MOA
Accessories- Picatinny Rails
Quick switch firing mechanism- N/A
Scope/Sights- Picatinny Rails
Muzzle Velocity- 750 m/s, 810 m/s, 850 m/s (7.15 grams) - 2000 joules, 2350 joules, 2600 joules,
Firing System- Long stroke gas piston
Miscellaneous/electronic information- The firearm is based on the Steyr aug with a few modifications, and is chambered in the 6mm SAW.
Basic Information
The firearm is based on the Steyr aug with a few modifications, and is chambered in the 6mm SAW, a lightweight aluminum cased cartridge that is designed to be both accurate and have a long range. The original 6mm SAW cartridge had trouble with heat build up, however this was solved by using a more heat resistant propellant and coating the aluminum case in polymer, which helps prevent galling with the internal mechanism of the gun and slows down heat transfer. The cartridge is slightly more powerful, using more powerful gunpowder, and has a G1 BC of .6, giving it roughly the same range as the 7.62mm x 51mm NATO cartridge even though it has less energy at the muzzle. The cartridge is substantially more powerful than the 5.56mm and has better barrier penetration, while also being more aerodynamic giving it a much longer range. The effective range of the cartridge is over 1000 meters, with it's supersonic range being 1400 yards, while it still has as much energy as a .357 magnum at 650 yards from a 20 inch barrel. The cartridge is a mere 11.5 grams, with a 2 gram aluminum case, 2.2 gram of propellant, and a 7.15 gram bullet, making it lighter than the 5.56mm at 12.5 grams, or half the weight of a 7.62mm NATO cartridge at 25.5 grams. Two standard configurations exist, the lightweight assault rifle configuration, and the heavy light machine gun or IAR configuration, which uses a heavier barrel to help absorb and dissipate heat. Despite the cartridge's innately high accuracy, the quick-change removable barrel of the Steyr Aug reduces the accuracy of the gun, but allows for greater sustained fire, as the barrels are easily replaced when the firearm overheats, a useful feature on a light machine gun. A marksmen variant with a 24 inch barrel and carbine length firearm with a 13.5 inch barrel also exists, with heavy or light barrel configurations. Given the quickly removable barrel, it is possible for soldiers in the field to switch to shorter barrels when needed, allowing the same gun to serve in many roles simply by changing out the barrel.
Traditionally, soldiers who use the gun have two load-outs, one as the machine gun load-out with 22 magazines (7 magazine pouches across the chest, with 3 magazine in each pouch, and 1 in the gun) carrying between 660 and 924 rounds of ammunition with 30 and 42 round magazines (at 22 and 31 pounds, respectively), and one as the grenadier load-out with a 1.5 pound grenade launcher loaded with a single round, and 354 rounds of ammunition (10, 32 round magazines, and 1 in the gun), and 20-30 40mm grenades. Given the higher weight and lower reliability of drum magazines they are rarely used, and with proper training the average soldier can fire their firearm in shorter, controlled bursts, with higher accuracy, as well as perform rapid reloads in only a few seconds, allowing for roughly the same sustained fire capabilities. The higher accuracy also necessitates less bullets being required to incapacitate or stun the target, with close misses or hits more effectively suppressing the enemy than simple area fire. This follows suit with the same approach as the M27 IAR, which is a heat resistant carbine designed for a similiar role of rapid sustained fire without being belt fed. As soldiers are rarely expected to fire more than 40-100 rounds a minute with most squad automatic weapons, 100+ round belts are usually an unnecessary feature; belt fed variants do exist of the weapon in small numbers, however. With a quick change barrel, the sustained rates of fire are easily possible, as the barrel and gas piston are the two parts of the gun which overheat the fastest, while the rest of the gun stays comparatively cool. The barrel on the LMG variant is approximately 2.5 pounds, vs. 1 pound for the standard 20 inch assault rifle configuration. However, with the 1.3 pound grenade launcher, the weapons are both approximately the same weight when loaded (between 9.5 and 10.5 pounds), and typically soldiers carry either the grenadier load-out or light machine gun load-out. The guns are also configured to fire rifle grenades, such as the Super ENERGA rocket assisted rifle grenade, which is 1.7 pounds and has a range of 550 meters, with an armor penetration of 10.8 inches and a lethal range of up to 25 meters.
The 6.2mm SAW cartridge has a G1 BC of .617, with a 110 grain (7.15 gram) bullet, giving it superior range to the typical .223 which has a BC of .2, or 7.62mm NATO which has a BC of .35. The round remains supersonic until 1400 yards, possessing the energy of a .357 magnum at 675 yards, and the energy of a handgun round at 1250 rounds. This is in comparison to the 7.62mm NATO which is only supersonic at 850 yards and having 1000 joules at 575 yards, and the energy of a handgun at 925 yards, in comparison to the 5.56mm having 1000 joules at 175 yards, and 500 joules at 375 yards, while being supersonic at 550 yards. Despite having less muzzle energy than the 7.62mm NATO, it has a longer super sonic range out to 1400 yards, and has a far longer range than the 5.56mm, giving it a flatter trajectory, better armor penetration, a faster time to target and higher power. This allows the round with a lower energy level to still compete with the 7.62mm NATO in terms of range, giving it sufficient stopping power, suppression and long range capabilities to serve as a long range suppressive fire weapon, as well as a sniper rifle.
Like the FR-F1, the weapon has muzzle break that not only helps to dampen barrel vibrations, but that's muzzle ports matches the grooves the rifling in the barrel which helps limit distortion to the projectile as it's leaving the barrel, which reduces the recoil of the weapon 30-40%, acts as a flash hider, and improves accuracy. The weapon also has a dual recoil spring, which reduces the felt recoil, and is coated in a low friction coating which reduces the heat build up and recoil, making the action smoother and easier to control. The barrel is free floating to help diminish any outside vibrations, and as well the weapon has a mechanism which allows it to automatically switch from a closed bolt to an open bolt based on the firearm's temperature. The weapon typically fires from a closed bolt, which improves the accuracy as the expense of increasing the temperature of the weapon substantially as it is unable to vent it through the open chamber. However, the the thermal sleave and fluted barrel allows it to more easily dissipate and absorb the heat generated by the weapon, and the weapon automatically switches to an open bolt when it reaches a critical temperature to prevent overheating, similar to the FN HAMR. With all of this combined, the weapon achieves an incredibly high level of accuracy for a machine gun, while still maintaining good heat resistance to help maintain a high rate of fire when needed, allowing it to fulfill multiple roles. In this way the weapon can serve as either a sniper rifle or machine gun, and has an incredibly long range, providing substantially better utility and functionality to the squad.
The weapon uses a quick detachable polygonal hammerforged stainless steel melonited 3 groove 1:7 inch (1 complete turn in 7inches / 178mm) right hand turn barrel; the barrel is made of an alloy that contains more than 50 percent cobalt. The barrel itself, combined with polygonal rifling, is extremely durable, and has a minimum 20,000 round life, with even greater life expectancy given it's other features. The polygonal rifling in particular not only enhances the accuracy of the weapon, but also dramatically increases it's life. The meloniting treatment reduces friction, which increases wear and corrosion resistance, as well as heat resistance. The barrel comes in three lengths, 13.5 inches, 20 inches, and 24 inches. The weapon is compatible with a number of accessories, such as the AICW metal storm grenade launcher which is a overbarrel, semiautomatic 40mm grenade launcher with 3 rounds and air bursting capabilities, possessing 25% higher velocity than normal 40mm grenades, however the weapon is 17 pounds fully loaded. Various accessories such as scopes, thermal vision scopes, forward grips, an infrared laser range finder, and an underbarrel XL-200 grenade launcher which is a mere 1.3 pounds.
