Kbk wz. 1996 Mini-Beryl
Encyclopedia
The karabinek wz. 1996 Mini-Beryl is a Polish
5.56 mm compact assault rifle
(carbine
) derived from the kbs wz. 1996 Beryl service rifle
. It was developed in parallel with the wz. 1996 Beryl by the "Łucznik" Arms Factory in Radom
and introduced into service with the Polish Armed Forces
in 1997 as the 5,56 mm karabinek krotki wz. 1996 ("short carbine model 1996").
carbine and the wz. 1996 Beryl rifle; the principal components that were modified include the barrel, barrel trunnion, upper and lower handguards, muzzle device and magazine. The weapon’s method of operation, the rotary bolt locking mechanism and ammunition are identical to those of the wz. 1996 Beryl standard rifle.
The 235 mm (9.3 in) barrel has 6 right-hand grooves and a rifling twist rate of 1 in 228 mm (1:9 in) capable of firing both SS109 and M193 types of 5.56 mm ammunition with optimum performance from both. The barrel’s profile is nearly identical to the barrel of the wz. 89 Onyks carbine, it is however slightly longer to accommodate the modified gas block.
The muzzle device, externally similar to the muzzle attachment of the wz. 89 Onyks in appearance, has deeper-seated threading used to screw the flash suppressor
into the gas block (it has a lower volume decompression compartment). The compensator has two symmetrical ports at the muzzle end of the device placed at a 90° angle in relation to each other. The muzzle attachment can also be used to fire rifle grenade
s to ranges up to 150 meters.
The magazine developed for the Mini-Beryl is shorter compared to the standard magazine of the Beryl and has a smaller capacity (20 rounds). Standard magazines from the Beryl can also be used. New magazines are molded from a translucent polymer
allowing the shooter to visually monitor the level of ammunition.
The base of the rear sight – unlike in the Onyks – has cut-outs on its top surface running alongside it and used to mount a variety of optical sights or a Picatinny-type rail adapter. A variant of the Mini-Beryl is also offered with a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail
instead of the standard rear sight; a simple auxiliary rear sight is built into the rail. The standard rear sight and front post are provided with luminescent dots to assist aiming in poor light conditions.
The weapon’s gas block is longer than that of the Onyks and it features internal threading that is used to secure the muzzle device in place.
The Mini-Beryl has a twin-strut stock folding to the right-hand side of the receiver; the butt-plate is rubber. All furniture is high-impact black plastic. The handguards were developed specifically for the carbine.
The carbine’s bolt carrier and piston rod, gas cylinder, upper handguard and sighting system are identical to those used in the wz. 1989 Onyks, similarly, the receiver housing, dust cover trigger group and high-capacity magazine are the same as those in the wz. 1996 Beryl.
Standard equipment supplied with carbine includes three spare magazines (including one 20-round short magazine), four 15-round stripper clips, a stripper clip magazine guide, maintenance kit, cleaning rod (carried in the accessory pouch), sling, magazine and accessory pouch and oil bottle. The carbine can also be fitted with two side rails secured to the lower handguard (used to attach tactical accessories and illumination devices), a vertical forward grip and a blank-firing muzzle attachment.
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
5.56 mm compact assault rifle
Assault rifle
An assault rifle is a selective fire rifle that uses an intermediate cartridge and a detachable magazine. Assault rifles are the standard infantry weapons in most modern armies...
(carbine
Carbine
A carbine , from French carabine, is a longarm similar to but shorter than a rifle or musket. Many carbines are shortened versions of full rifles, firing the same ammunition at a lower velocity due to a shorter barrel length....
) derived from the kbs wz. 1996 Beryl service rifle
Service rifle
The service rifle of a given army or armed force is that which it issues as standard to its soldiers. In modern forces, this is typically a highly versatile and rugged assault rifle suitable for use in nearly all theatres and environments...
. It was developed in parallel with the wz. 1996 Beryl by the "Łucznik" Arms Factory in Radom
Radom
Radom is a city in central Poland with 223,397 inhabitants . It is located on the Mleczna River in the Masovian Voivodeship , having previously been the capital of Radom Voivodeship ; 100 km south of Poland's capital, Warsaw.It is home to the biennial Radom Air Show, the largest and...
and introduced into service with the Polish Armed Forces
Polish Armed Forces
Siły Zbrojne Rzeczypospolitej Polskiej are the national defense forces of Poland...
in 1997 as the 5,56 mm karabinek krotki wz. 1996 ("short carbine model 1996").
Design details
The Mini-Beryl’s design combines features from both the wz. 1989 OnyksSkbk wz. 1989 Onyks
The 5.45 mm subkarabinek wz. 1989 Onyks is a lightweight Polish carbine variant of the 5.45 mm wz. 1988 Tantal assault rifle, also based on the AK-74U Work on the weapon began in 1989 at the Ośrodek Badawczo-Rozwojowy state research institute in the city of Radom. The weapon’s technical...
carbine and the wz. 1996 Beryl rifle; the principal components that were modified include the barrel, barrel trunnion, upper and lower handguards, muzzle device and magazine. The weapon’s method of operation, the rotary bolt locking mechanism and ammunition are identical to those of the wz. 1996 Beryl standard rifle.
The 235 mm (9.3 in) barrel has 6 right-hand grooves and a rifling twist rate of 1 in 228 mm (1:9 in) capable of firing both SS109 and M193 types of 5.56 mm ammunition with optimum performance from both. The barrel’s profile is nearly identical to the barrel of the wz. 89 Onyks carbine, it is however slightly longer to accommodate the modified gas block.
The muzzle device, externally similar to the muzzle attachment of the wz. 89 Onyks in appearance, has deeper-seated threading used to screw the flash suppressor
Flash suppressor
A flash suppressor, also known as a flash guard, flash eliminator, flash hider, or flash cone, is a device attached to the muzzle of a rifle or other gun that reduces the visible signature of the burning gases that exit the muzzle. This reduces the chances that the shooter will be blinded in dark...
into the gas block (it has a lower volume decompression compartment). The compensator has two symmetrical ports at the muzzle end of the device placed at a 90° angle in relation to each other. The muzzle attachment can also be used to fire rifle grenade
Rifle grenade
A rifle grenade is a grenade that uses a rifle-based launcher to permit a longer effective range than would be possible if the grenade was thrown by hand...
s to ranges up to 150 meters.
The magazine developed for the Mini-Beryl is shorter compared to the standard magazine of the Beryl and has a smaller capacity (20 rounds). Standard magazines from the Beryl can also be used. New magazines are molded from a translucent polymer
Polymer
A polymer is a large molecule composed of repeating structural units. These subunits are typically connected by covalent chemical bonds...
allowing the shooter to visually monitor the level of ammunition.
The base of the rear sight – unlike in the Onyks – has cut-outs on its top surface running alongside it and used to mount a variety of optical sights or a Picatinny-type rail adapter. A variant of the Mini-Beryl is also offered with a MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail
Picatinny rail
The Picatinny rail or MIL-STD-1913 rail or STANAG 2324 rail or a "Tactical Rail" is a bracket used on some firearms in order to provide a standardized mounting platform. A similar system is the Weaver rail mount.-Description:...
instead of the standard rear sight; a simple auxiliary rear sight is built into the rail. The standard rear sight and front post are provided with luminescent dots to assist aiming in poor light conditions.
The weapon’s gas block is longer than that of the Onyks and it features internal threading that is used to secure the muzzle device in place.
The Mini-Beryl has a twin-strut stock folding to the right-hand side of the receiver; the butt-plate is rubber. All furniture is high-impact black plastic. The handguards were developed specifically for the carbine.
The carbine’s bolt carrier and piston rod, gas cylinder, upper handguard and sighting system are identical to those used in the wz. 1989 Onyks, similarly, the receiver housing, dust cover trigger group and high-capacity magazine are the same as those in the wz. 1996 Beryl.
Standard equipment supplied with carbine includes three spare magazines (including one 20-round short magazine), four 15-round stripper clips, a stripper clip magazine guide, maintenance kit, cleaning rod (carried in the accessory pouch), sling, magazine and accessory pouch and oil bottle. The carbine can also be fitted with two side rails secured to the lower handguard (used to attach tactical accessories and illumination devices), a vertical forward grip and a blank-firing muzzle attachment.