Zokesian Automatic Rifle, Model 3

Overview

Zokesian Automatic Rifle, Model 3
Select-fire assault rifle
National Origin		{{{origin}}}
Production History
Service History
Used By		{{{operators}}}
Specifications
Mass		4.24 kg kg empty
Cartridge		7.62x57mm
Action		gas-operated direct impigement, rotating bolt
Effective Firing Range		Effective: 800m
Feed System		20 round detachable magazine

The ZAR 3 is a gas operated select fire battle rifle developed on Zokesia by Sun Arms in Ward Zokesia. It is set to replace the ZAR-2 as the battle rifle of the Zokesian Republic.

Operation

The rifle is direct-impingement, gas operated and select fire. The rifle was built on the principle that a battle rifle needed to be reliable, sturdy, and accurate, in that order. The rifle as a result weighs in at nearly nine and a half pounds, but is able to continue operating at high temperatures, long firing rates, and poor conditions. The rifle features a machine-gun grade gas system with adjustable gas levels to allow maximum reliability.

The rifle fires from a 20 round steel box magazine and features a dual lined handguard, which reduces heat by sinking it into an aluminum liner inside of the steel handguard. The heat remains trapped here and does not transfer to the external handguard, instead venting out the holes. The top handguard is made out of wood with a steel liner underneath to sink heat. This can be replaced by a similar guard as the lower piece to further increase heat ablation.

The front sight is fixed to prevent movement and the barrel is chrome-lined to increase performance. Barrel replacement is simpler thanks to the front sight being attached via a threaded section of the barrel. The muzzle break allows the operator to get multiple on-target follow up shots by directing muzzle blast up and backward.

The rear sight is the same model as on ZAR-2s, with combined holographic and iron sight. The model is clamp mounted and can be replaced in the event of a failure.

Rounds enter the rifle from the bottom and eject out the top of the rifle. The recoil of the rifle pushes the gas rod back and throws the bolt and bolt carrier backwards and down into the receiver. This helps reduce recoil by offseting the kick of the rifle when it reaches its rearward position.

Performance

The ZAR-3 shows improvement in every category over the ZAR-2. Better heat mitigation means more rounds fired before critical failure, and the failure rate has halved.

Performance on target range was found to be overall accuracy of .9 MOA at 100m, 1.1 MOA at 200m, and 1.5 MOA at 300m. Effective range was found to be at least 800 meters. The rifle could "Hit a matchbox at 300m" said one test official.

Combat weight meant the rifle was uncomfortable to hold a sector with for an extended length of time, however the weight made it more accurate when taking shots prone and supported verses the ZAR-2.

Variants

ZAR-3P

• 

  A ZAR-3P conversion
  Conversion for use in enforcing the Prorok system. Major changes include addition of electronic components and modification of the magazine to use a twin stack feed system.