M500 / M600 / M650 Ramo
Summary
| Country | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Category | Anti materiel sniper rifle |
| Manufacturer | Iver Johnson |
Technical specifications
| M500 / M600 / M650 Ramo | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | Single shot rounds/min. |
| Caliber | .50 BMG (12.7 x 99 mm) or 12.7 x 108 mm or 14.5 x 115 mm |
| Magazine | 7 rounds |
| Length | 1384 mm (54.5 in) |
| Weight | 10.4 kg (22.9 lb) |
| Range | 2000 m (6562 ft) |
Description
The Iver Johnson AMAC-1500/5100 evolved from the RAP Model 500, designed in 1981 by Jerry Haskins of Research Armaments Prototypes (RAP, RAI) at the request of the US Armed Forces. The AMAC is a derivative sharing similarities with the RAP Model 500, but differing in barrel shape, muzzle brake, and bipod. Daisy Weapon Systems acquired the design and later sold the manufacturing rights for the AMAC 1500/5100 to Iver Johnson Arms. Daisy continued development on larger caliber models, the M600 and M650 variants, eventually selling these designs to Redick Arms Development (R.A.D.) in 1990. The specific Iver Johnson Arms company involved with this rifle obtained the name rights in 1973 and underwent multiple ownership and location changes, eventually operating from Jacksonville, Arkansas, in 1983 after investors acquired the brand in 1982. The company experienced bankruptcy in 1986 and again in 1990, leading to assets being dispersed to various entities including Numrich Gun Parts, Redick Arms Development, Ramo Defense, and Ultimate Accuracy Arms.
This is a manually-operated single-shot rifle, weighing 36 lbs. It is equipped with a 29" barrel and a 7" two-stage muzzle brake, resulting in a combined length of 36". The barrel features a 1 in 14" twist rifling rate. The trigger pull is adjustable between 3 lbs and 8 lbs. The stock allows for adjustable length of pull from 13.75" to 15.5", and the comb is adjustable up to +1.5". The design incorporates a removable "shell holder" rotating bolt with three lugs. Operation involves removing the bolt, inserting a cartridge into a half-circular retaining ridge breech bolt face, then re-inserting and locking the bolt. There is no safety once a live round is chambered other than counter-rotating the bolt from the locked position.
The rifle lacks integral open sights, designed exclusively for telescopic sights which mount on an integral receiver dove-tail rail with cross-key for fixed ring spacing and 60 minutes of angle elevation. It does not feature a forearm and is issued with an integral folding bipod attached to the receiver, offering harmonic tuning adjustment. The rifle is designed for easy disassembly into major components for carrying.
Several variants of this design exist in larger calibers, with Daisy Weapon Systems developing the M600 and M650 variants based on the same core design.
Constructed in small numbers, estimated in the hundreds, it was implemented by the US Armed Forces in 1983 and was reportedly deployed during military operations in Beirut, Panama, Grenada, and Serbia/Bosnia. The US Armed Forces are listed as users of this rifle type.