Jump to content

Brügger & Thomet APC

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
(Redirected from B&T APC)
B&T APC
TypeSubmachine gun
Assault rifle (APC556)
Battle rifle (APC308)
Place of originSwitzerland
Service history
In service2011–present
WarsRusso-Ukrainian War
Production history
DesignerB&T
Designed2010
ManufacturerB&T
Produced2011—present
Specifications
Mass2.5 kg (5.5 lb) with empty 30-round box magazine and red dot sight
Length597 mm (23.5 in) (Stock unfolded)
385 mm (15.2 in) (Stock folded)
Barrel length175 mm (6.9 in)
Caliber9x19mm Parabellum
.40 S&W
10mm Auto
.45 ACP
5.56×45mm NATO
7.62×51mm NATO[1]
ActionStraight blowback, closed bolt
APC556 and APC308: Gas-operated, rotating bolt
Rate of fire1,080 rounds/min
Effective firing range100 m (110 yd)
Feed system15-, 20-, 25-, and 30-round B&T MP9 detachable box magazine, 50-round drum magazine
APC556: STANAG magazine
APC308: SR-25 pattern magazine
SightsIron sights and Picatinny rail for various optical sights

The B&T APC (Advanced Police Carbine) is a family of rifles and submachine guns produced and manufactured by B&T (formerly known as Brügger & Thomet) of Switzerland.

History

[edit]

The APC series was designed in the 2000s as a modern submachine gun that would be cheaper to produce than the intermediate cartridge assault carbines, which saw an increase in military usage during this period.

Before this point, B&T sold the MP9 and had experience in the manufacture of submachine guns, as well as years of feedback from customers on possible enhancements.[2] The first B&T APCs were produced in 2011.

Design

[edit]

The APC uses a straight blowback gas system. The addition of a proprietary hydraulic buffer system in the receiver back plate helps control recoil.[3] More than 50% of the APC's parts are interchangeable between the different platforms.[4]

The APC's upper receiver is made from aerospace-grade alloy, and the lower receiver, pistol grips, magazine, and butt stock are made from polymer.[5] The APC uses the same magazines as the MP9.

The APC's mechanical sight is composed of an adjustable ghost ring type rear sight and a cylindrical sight. Sights can be folded in the base when not in use, and will pop out quickly when in use. The APC has an H&K MP5 style locked lugs-style barrel and can be equipped with a quick-release suppressor or flash hider. The APC45's barrel comes with a flash hider by default.

The APC shares a side-folding polymer stock with the B&T GL-06 grenade launcher. The trigger assembly is effectively the same as the AR-15/M16 rifle, and accepts many after-market replacement parts. The entire weapon, including the charging handle, are ambidextrous, and can be adjusted based on the operator's handedness.[5]

The standard submachine gun has a barreAnnounced in 2011, the standard series uses standard 9×19mm (APC9), .40 S&W (APC40), 10mm Auto (APC10), and .45 ACP (APC45) ammunition.[4]

l length of 175 mm (6.9 in) and the carbine variant has a 406-millimetre (16.0 in) barrel for the civilian market.[6] All variants are available in 9×19mm (APC9) and .45 ACP (APC45) calibres.

PRO series

[edit]

In March 2019, B&T released its APC9 PRO series, an improvement with a non-reciprocating charging handle and a replaceable pistol grip, compatible with grips for the AR-15 style rifle family of firearms.

The APC9 PRO features an optional lower receiver capable of using Glock or SIG P320 magazines.[7][8]

The APC PRO series has the capability to have different calibre options, stocks, suppressors, accessories, training versions, giving the platform vast modularity for its operators.

Variants

[edit]
Lithuanian ORKA operators armed with intermediate-caliber APC556

The APC submachine gun is offered in several variants.[9]

APC9

[edit]

The basic model, which adopts a polymer receiver, magazine, and folding stock. It is select fire, and may be loaded either with 15-, 20-, 25-, or 30-round magazines.[10]

APC9 G

[edit]

APC9 with a lower receiver that is compatible with Glock pistol magazines.

APC9 K

[edit]

Shortened barrel variant of the APC9.

APC9-SD

[edit]

APC9 with an integrated suppressor.

APC9 K-SD2

[edit]

Variant of the APC9 K with an integrated suppressor.

APC9 Carbine

[edit]

Civilian version of the APC9, can only be fired in semi-auto.[10]

APC9-P Carbine

[edit]

Police version of the APC9 carbine. Comes with longer handguards and longer barrel.

APC9 Sports Carbine

[edit]

Sporting version of the APC9 carbine. Comes with longer handguards and longer barrel.

APC9 for RWS ACTION SE Gen. II SXF

[edit]

Prototype with a heavier bolt to accommodate the RWS ACTION SE Gen. II SXF round with higher pressures meant to penetrate Level 3A Body armor. Presented at IWA 2025[11]

APC40

[edit]

.40 S&W version of the APC9.

APC10

[edit]

10mm Auto version of the APC9.

APC45

[edit]

.45 ACP version of the APC9.

APC45-SD

[edit]

Integrally suppressed variant of the APC45.

APC556

[edit]

Assault rifle variant. Typically chambered in 30-round 5.56×45mm magazines.

APC556 PDW

[edit]

Shortened barrel and shortened stock variant of the APC556.

APC308

[edit]

7.62×51mm NATO battle rifle variant.

Adoption

[edit]

On March 29, 2019, B&T was awarded a contract in the U.S. Army's Sub Compact Weapon Production-Other Transaction Agreement (P-OTA) competition for its APC9K submachine gun.

The $2.6 million contract included an initial 350 subcompact weapons (SCW) with an option for additional quantities of up to 1,000 SCWs, with slings, manuals, accessories, and spare parts.[12]

Users

[edit]
Country Organization name Model Quantity Date Reference
 Argentina Argentine Army

Agrupacion de Fuerzas de Operaciones Especiales

APC9K, APC9SD, APC9 PRO G 263 2020-2021 [13][14]
 Belgium Belgian Customs/Border patrol APC9 PRO - ? [15]
 Brazil Military Police of São Paulo State APC40 PRO 1000 Dec 2020 [16]
Civil Police (Brazil) APC9 700 2023 [17]
 Slovakia Slovak Police Force

Prison and Court Guard Service

APC9 26+ 2019 [18]
 Ukraine Kraken Regiment APC45 - 2023 [19][20]
 South Korea 707th Special Mission Group APC9K Pro - 2023 [citation needed]
 United States United States Army Personal Security Detachments APC9K 350 2019 [21][22]
United States Air Force Personal Security Detachments APC9K 65 2020 [23][24]
Westchester County Police APC9SD - 2019 [25]
Miami Beach Police Department APC9K Pro - 2020 [26][27]
Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office Issued to School resource officer's APC9K Pro - 2022 [28]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ It's finally here! The B&T APC308 Carbine and DMR
  2. ^ "Brugger & Thomet". Archived from the original on 2010-08-15.
  3. ^ Harrison, Iain (2018-01-17). "Brügger & Thomet–Some Nice Apologies for the Cuckoo Clock". Recoil Web. Archived from the original on 2018-02-02. Retrieved 2020-08-19.
  4. ^ a b S, T. "APC". B&T AG. Retrieved 2021-02-18.
  5. ^ a b "B&T APC". Modern Firearms. 13 January 2012. Archived from the original on 2017-11-12.
  6. ^ "B&T AG". Archived from the original on 2019-10-19. Retrieved 2019-04-09.
  7. ^ "A first sneak peek of the upcoming B&T APC9 Pro -". The Firearm Blog. 2018-08-09. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  8. ^ "APC PRO – ADVANCED POLICE CARBINE" (PDF).
  9. ^ "Modern Firearms - B&T Advanced Police Carbine / APC submachine gun (Switzerland)". World.guns.ru. 13 January 2012. Retrieved 2016-01-20.
  10. ^ a b "B&T APC9 Submachine Gun -". The Firearm Blog. 2011-10-25. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  11. ^ "Prototype B&T APC9: 9mm That Defeats Body Armor at 75m | EnforceTac 2025 - YouTube". web.archive.org. 2025-04-02. Retrieved 2025-04-02.
  12. ^ "Sub Compact Weapon Production-Other Transaction Agreement". Federal Business Opportunities. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  13. ^ Redacción (2020-12-02). "Presentación en Arsenales del nuevo material para el Ejército Argentino". Zona Militar (in Spanish). Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  14. ^ Moss, Matthew (12 February 2021). "New Glock Pistols and B&T Submachine Guns for Argentina's Special Forces". The Firearm Blog. Archived from the original on 2021-02-12.
  15. ^ Meyvis, Bart. "Douane wapent zich tegen steeds driestere drugscriminelen". Flows. Retrieved 4 June 2025.
  16. ^ Stochero, Tahiane (2020-12-14). "The PMSP buys 1,000 units of submachine gun used by the U.S. Army". G1 Globo.com (in Brazilian Portuguese). Retrieved 2020-12-14.
  17. ^ "São Paulo Civilian Police Procures Submachine Guns".
  18. ^ "GR ZVJS-182/32-2019 | Centrálny register zmlúv". www.crz.gov.sk. Retrieved 2020-07-25.
  19. ^ Українська правда (2023-03-05). Еволюція KRAKEN. Огляд стрілецької зброї спецпідрозділу ГУР МО | УП. Репортаж. Retrieved 2024-10-17 – via YouTube.
  20. ^ "Defence Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine". Militarnyi. Retrieved 2024-10-17.
  21. ^ Mizokami, Kyle (2019-04-02). "The U.S. Army Just Chose Its First New Submachine Gun Since WWII". Popular Mechanics. Retrieved 2019-04-04.
  22. ^ "Sub Compact Weapon Production-Other Transaction Agreement". Federal Business Opportunities. 1 April 2019. Retrieved 7 April 2019.
  23. ^ Mizokami, Kyle (2020-11-19). "The Air Force is picking up a handful of feisty new submachine guns". Task and Purpose. Retrieved 2019-11-19.
  24. ^ Mizokami, Kyle (2020-11-25). "U.S. Air Force Buys The B&T APC9K Sub Compact Weapon". The Firearm Blog. Retrieved 2019-11-25.
  25. ^ "Westchester, NY Police Department Adopt Integrally Suppressed B&T APC9-SD -". The Firearm Blog. 2018-11-29. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  26. ^ "Miami Beach Police Pick B&T APC9K PRO Models". Guns.com. Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  27. ^ C, Luke (13 April 2020). "Miami Beach Police Department to be Equipped with APC9K PRO SMG's from B&T". Retrieved 2021-02-12.
  28. ^ "Florida Sheriff's Office Purchases B&T USA APC9 Pro Platforms". shootingillustrated.com. 2022-08-23. Retrieved 2023-11-25.
[edit]
Wikimedia Commons has media related to B&T APC.
Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Brügger_%26_Thomet_APC&oldid=1293899124"