MA5 Series AR

[Durant, M.]

MA5B Individual Combat Weapon System

Weapon Overview:

Range: Short to Medium [600 meters]
Accuracy: Moderate
Power: Moderate [7.62mm Full Metal Jacket]
Rate of Fire: High [15 Rounds Per Second]
Ammunition: High [60 Rounds]

Description:

The MA5B Assault Rifle is an air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed weapon designed for automatic fire. The MA5 series rifle is the workhorse of the UNSC Marine Corps and has been in service for more than fifty years. The MA5B has an attached electronics suite that provides information on rounds remaining in magazine, compass heading, as well as several other "housekeeping" functions. The rifle performs well in a variety of environments especially given the perceived delicacy of the attached electronics suite. The MA5B Assault Rifle is easily one of the most versatile weapons in the UNSC’s arsenal. Due to this versatility, the MA5B is complimented by many of the UNSC's other weapons as either the primary means to a kill or in a secondary role as the fallback weapon.

The MA5B rifle is a bullpup rifle and is made of Titanium Alloy and Polymer - the rifle is a gas-operated weapon with a rotating-bolt and therefore must be cocked before the first shot can be fired. The charging handle used to chamber the round is situated on the left side of the rifle and moves during operation. Once the first round is fired, the gases from that round and those to follow impinge upon a gas piston, which pushes back the bolt carrier, rotating the bolt inside and continuing to chamber rounds until the magazine is empty. Once the magazine is empty, the charging handle must both be pulled back and locked or, must be fully cycled after a fresh magazine is inserted to load the next round. The magazine itself is located at the butt of the rifle and the magazine release button is located above the magazine housing and has an arrow pointing down toward the housing. The electronics suite is integrated along the top rail guard of the weapon. The MA5B is designed for the toughest of situations, able to be subjected to elements that would otherwise jam and render a weapon inoperable.

Additional Information:

The MA5B is the UNSC's workhorse assault rifle. It's tough, it's reliable, and it shreds baddies. As the default weapon of a Rifleman, however, it's worth noting that it's not as accurate as the MA5C, and has a tendency to jam once in a while due to the spring strength of the 60-round magazines being worn down.

[Durant, M.]

MA5C Individual Combat Weapon System

Weapon Overview:

Range: Short to Medium [600 meters]
Accuracy: Moderate
Power: Moderate [7.62x51mm Full Metal Jacket rounds]
Rate of Fire: Moderate [10 Rounds Per Second.]
Ammunition: Moderate - High [32 Rounds/60 Rounds]

Description:

The MA5C Assault Rifle is an air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine fed weapon designed for automatic fire. The MA5C is the third rifle in the MA5 Series, the workhorse of the UNSC Marine Corps that has been in service for more then 50 years. The MA5C has an attached electronics suite that provides information on rounds remaining in magazine, compass heading, as well as several other "housekeeping" functions. The rifle performs well in a variety of environments especially given the perceived delicacy of the attached electronics suite.

The MA5C Assault Rifle is easily one of the most versatile weapons in the UNSC’s arsenal. Due to this versatility, the MA5C is complimented by many of the UNSC’s other weapons as either the primary means to a kill or in a secondary role as the fallback weapon. The MA5C Rifle has received technical, as well as physical improvements over the MA5B Assault Rifle that include: a heavier barrel with a 1 in 7 twist; a redesigned cowling to house the electronics suite that reduces weight and increases portability of weapon; and a redesigned handguard which is sturdier and provides a more positive grip. The magazine has been reduced to the 32 rounds from the original 60, (Though it can still accept 60-round MA5B mags) and the rifle’s range and accuracy has been substantially improved over its predecessor, making it a more formidable Assault Rifle.

Additional Information:

The MA5C is essentially the same as the MA5B. However, using the 32-round mags makes it less susceptible to jamming. The elongated barrel also makes it more accurate than the MA5B. As such, it is a small but worthwhile upgrade. This weapon is generally issued to Fire Team Leaders and above.