EM-4 rifle
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{{infobox weapon
| name = EM-4 rifle
| image =
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| origin = United Kingdom
| type = Semi-automatic rifle
| is_ranged = YES
|is_UK=yes
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| wars =
| designer = Dennis Burney
| design_date = 1944
| manufacturer = Broadway Trust Company
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| cartridge = .27 Broadway Trust
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| caliber = {{convert|0.27|in|mm|abbr=on}}
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The EM-4 rifle (Burney rifle) was an experimental bullpup rifle of British origin designed by Sir Dennis Burney of the Broadway Trust Company.{{Cite web|url=http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/gustav.htm|title=Transitional Anti-Tank Rifle: The Carl Gustav M/42}}Artillery: An Illustrated History of Its Impact By JEFF KINARD. Page 290.Williams, Anthony G. and Popenker, Maxim, Assault Rifle, 2004
Overview
The principle of the Burney was an enlarged chamber that the gases expanded into and were then exhausted through the barrel using a type of high–low system. The Burney 7mm rifle, usually referred to as the Broadway Trust Rifle, may have been referred to as the Experimental Model EM-4.
The rifle was under trial in 1946-1947 but failed to show sufficient promise and was abandoned in March 1948.Edwards, Tony, The Cartridge Researcher, No.554, June 2011, and IAA issue 477, January/February 2011
Design
The action is short recoil, and is as follows:{{Cite web|url=https://neillgilhooley.com/engineering/military|title = Military|date = 20 January 2020}}
1. When loaded the barrel is held to the rear by the trigger sear, against the force of the barrel spring, with the round chambered and bolt locked.
File:Broadway Trust Rifle .27 (1945) designed by Dennis Burney.gif
2. When the trigger is pulled the sear is dropped and the barrel, bolt and magazine all run forward due to the barrel spring. Before reaching the fully forward position, the pivoted hammer hits a fixed cam and strikes the firing pin.
3. The forward momentum of the barrel and bolt group must first be arrested by the recoil, before they are accelerated to the rear. As the group recoils, a cam forces the bolt handle up, rotating the splined bolt head out of lock, which continues to the rear. A claw extractor and spring ejector remove the spent cartridge.
4. The bolt spring runs the bolt forward and chambers a round. The bolt head is relocked by a torsion spring between the bolt halves.
References
{{reflist}}
Bibliography
- {{cite book |last1=Ferguson |first1=Jonathan S. |title=Thorneycroft to SA80: British Bullpup Firearms 1901–2020 |date=2021 |publisher=Headstamp Publishing |location=Nashville, Tennessee |isbn=978-1-7334246-2-2}}
External links
- [http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o191/aoe276/Fig9Patent645741_zps5acc539d.png Burney rifle]
- [http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o191/aoe276/Fig10270Bullets_zpsd2afeee3.png Burney ammunition]
- [http://i120.photobucket.com/albums/o191/aoe276/Fig12BTCbothtypes_zps1fd67269.png Burney ammunition]
{{Bullpup Firearms}}
Category:Assault rifles of the United Kingdom