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Bushmaster Arm Pistol

1977 COLD WAR

History of the Bushmaster Arm Pistol

The Bushmaster "Armpistol" (or "Arm Pistol") originated in the United States Air Force (USAF) Experimental Program (PDW) to find "Personal Defense Weapons" shot down in theaters Pilots seek standard questions. At this point in American history, the Vietnam War (1955-1975) was raging in Southeast Asia, so there was a concerted effort to arm these men in case their planes were shot down behind enemy lines. The program produced prototypes - these were designated "IMP-221" (IMP = "Personal Multi-Purpose Weapon") and in the USAF's inventory as "GUU-4/P" - but ultimately neither went further Development is also not adopted.

The gun was eventually brought to the civilian market by Gwinn Firearms/Bushmaster until the end of the late 1980s.

Original USAF specs in the late 1960s called for weapons to be no more than 13 inches in overall length, weigh no more than 1.5 lbs, and be capable of reaching 100 yd targets - essentially a very portable sidearm with more capabilities than standard A service pistol, but not as bulky and complicated as a battle rifle/assault rifle. The design is placed in a "bull-fight" fashion, which means the internal action and feed mechanism is placed behind the trigger/pistol grip section.

This arrangement enables gun manufacturers to design infantry-grade solutions with a shorter overall length than typical long guns, where the feed and action are set in front of the trigger/pistol grip. For the IMP-221, this proved necessary to stay within the limits required by the USAF. The barrel assembly is 11 inches long and the overall length of the finished product is 20.6 inches.

The weight reaches 6.25 lbs.

In addition to its relatively compact size, the weapon is completely ambidextrous from the start, the rear of the receiver is designed to "pivot" or swivel left or right with the front. This feature allows the shooter to "park" the weapon on either forearm, as this short-barreled weapon cannot fit a traditional stock/stock assembly. Guns are for. 221 "Fireball" (5.56x36mm "Wildcat"), with a slightly shorter cartridge compared to the NATO standard 5.56x45mm product.

Working internally is a rotating bolt action system (as featured in the AR-15/Colt M16) and a pneumatic long stroke system (similar to the famous Soviet/Russian Kalashnikov line of infantry assault weapons - the Ak - 47). Some AR-15 parts, including swivel bolts, were used in the construction of the IMP-221.

In the end, the IMP-221 was not a complete success for the USAF, as the prototype was being tested at the USAF Weapons Laboratory (Elgin AFB). The weapon does not represent a major improvement over currently available service market solutions, and reveals inherent problems with the overall layout and function of the weapon - particularly the rear-view mirror combined with the pivoting action and the weapon's short length.

The nature of the bullpup also brings hot action and ejection closer to the face - a common problem even with modern bullpup designs.

Former SPECOPS player Mack Gwinn, Jr. later acquired rights to the firearm and reintroduced it to the consumer market as "Arm Pistol" under the Gwinn Firearms (Bangor, ME) brand label, this version is now 5. 56x45mm fired from M16 detachable magazine. This form eventually fell into the hands of the Bushmaster Firearms, and the civilian market model had limited sales between 1977 and 1988.

A version of the Bushmaster weapons pistol is on display in the weapons section of the U.S. Air Force Armament Museum in Florida.

Specification

BASICS

Years in Service

1977

Origins

United States

Categories

Bullpup Personal Defense Weapon (PDW)

Manufacturer

Gwinn Firearms (Bangor, Maine) - USA / Bushmaster Firearms - USA

Operators

United States

Roll

Pistol/Pistol

Compact design for close work or general self-defense.

Special weapons for specific characters on the battlefield.

Asymmetric War

Design is highly variable/cheap depending on battlefield requirements and available materials; common use is in urban environments against organized enemies to inflict mass casualties.

Distinctive features

Compact nature

The compact nature allows for relatively easy confusion.

Portable

Despite its size/weight, the product can be transported on foot.

BULLPUP configuration

The design sets the post-feed action, allowing for a more compact design while retaining the full-length or near-full-length barrel assembly.

Automatic fire

Internal action allows multiple rounds to be triggered in quick succession with a single trigger pull.

Repeated Shots

The system has built-in automatic or pseudo-automatic function, which can achieve repeated triggering.

Iron Mask

Support for "iron sights" for inherent accuracy within a range.

Customizable

Design allows users to customize certain components for customization.

Guerrilla War

The ease of use coupled with the relative simplicity of combining components makes this entry a cost-effective solution to unconventional elements/forces.