FMK-3
Summary
| Country | 🇦🇷 Argentina |
| Category | Submachine gun |
| Manufacturer | Small Arms Factory of Domingo Matheu |
Technical specifications
| FMK-3 | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | 650 rounds/min. |
| Caliber | 9 x 19 mm Parabellum |
| Magazine | 32 - 40 rounds |
| Length | 693 mm (27.3 in) |
| Weight | 3.4 kg (7.5 lb) |
| Range | 100 m (328 ft) |
Description
The FMK-3 is a selective fire, blowback-operated submachine gun developed in Argentina by Fabricaciones Militares in 1974. By 1991, around 30,000 units had been produced for the Argentinian military. The design evolved from earlier Argentinian versions of the US M3A1 submachine gun, the PAM 1 and PAM 2, produced by FMAP DM chambered in 9×19mm. In the early 1970s, FMAP DM adopted the concept of a telescoping bolt to reduce overall weapon size and facilitate placing the magazine within the pistol grip, leading to the design initially known as the PA-3 DM, which became the FMK-3.
The FMK-3 fires the 9×19mm Parabellum cartridge from magazines inserted into the pistol grip. It features a rate of fire of 650 rounds per minute and utilizes a telescoping bolt design.
Key features include:
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A fire selector and grip safety located on the rear of the pistol grip.
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A manual safety and selector mechanism located ahead of the trigger with positions for "S" (safe), "R" (repeat), and "A" (automatic fire).
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A hooded front post sight and an L-shaped flip rear sight adjustable for windage with 50 and 100-meter positions.
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A charging handle located on the left side of the upper receiver with a sliding dust cover.
Magazine capacities include 20, 32, and 40 rounds. Stock options included fixed plastic, fixed wood, and a retractable wire stock. An ejection window is located on the right side of the upper receiver.
The primary version produced is the FMK-3, characterized by a retractable wire stock, though fixed stocks can be fitted. Some FMK-3s have been adapted with Picatinny rails. The FMK-4 is a variant featuring a fixed stock, similar in style to the stock found on the H&K G3. The FMK-5 is a semi-automatic-only version of the FMK-3 produced for the civilian market.
More than 600 FMK-3s were received by El Salvador during the 1980s and used during the Salvadoran Civil War.
The FMK-3 is used by Argentina (Law enforcement, Argentine Army), Bolivia (Bolivian Army), Croatia, Guatemala (military), El Salvador (military use during the Salvadoran Civil War, later stored and used by private security guards in the 2010s), and Uruguay (Uruguayan Armed Forces, National Police of Uruguay).