Colt 9mm SMG
Colt M635
Overview
Colt R911
Left side view of Colt 9mm SMG with flat top receiver.
Source: www.colt.com -
© Copyright lies with original owner
Description
Introduction
The M635 is a late Cold War era sub machine gun of US origin. The name M635 refers to the most common variant of this sub machine gun. At a later stage this range of sub machine guns was marketed as the "Colt 9mm SMG". Development started in 1982 to compete with the MP5 as a sub machine gun for the American law enforcement market. The upside of the M635 is that manual of arms is fairly similar to the AR-15 platform, even though it uses a different operating mechanism. This comes at the drawback of shoehorning a rather basic blowback operating mechanism in place of the
Design
The M635 is a simple blowback operated weapon, unlike the other weapons in the AR-15 family of rifles. Externally it looks similar to the Colt Commando in having a retractable stock, a lower receiver with regular size magazine well, and a short handguard with short barrel. Early production models have the distinctive carry handle with integrated rear sight and triangular front sight post. Modern variants feature a flattop upper receiver with Picatinny sight rail.
Firepower
The M635 fires the 9x19mm Parabellum round from 20 or 32 round magazines. Cyclic rate of fire is very high at about 1.000 rpm. A hydraulic buffer exists that lowers rate of fire to 650 to 850 rpm. Law enforcement and civilian carbines are semi-automatic only. Since the M635 fires from a closed bolt it is easier to fire accurate shots than with an open bolt sub machine gun. Effective range is about 100 meters.
Users
The M635 was acquired by various local and national law enforcement agencies in the USA. It was also exported and is most popular in South America. Many versions have been produced and even within a designation over time various small features have changed. It is still marketed today as the Colt 9mm SMG.
Variants
Colt R635
R635 = 0-1-F, retractable, 10.5 inch
R639 = 0-1-3, retractable, 10.5 inch
HB suffix = hydraulic buffer for lower 650 to 850 rpm cyclic rate
Colt R991
The R991 is an updated variant of the R635. It has a flattop receiver fitted with a Picatinny rail for mounting optical sights. It has a 0-1-F trigger group and a 10.5 inch barrel. A quad rail handguard is optional. The R992 is similar but features a 0-1-3 trigger group.
Colt R633 "briefcase model"
The R633 is the most compact variant in the 9mm SMG family. Reportedly it was developed of the US Department of Energy. It is also known as the briefcase model. A short 7 inch barrel is fitted and a hand stop doubles as front sight post. There is no muzzle device.
Colt "DEA model"
The so-called DEA model is a R635 or R639 rebuilt with an integral suppressor by Knight's Armament Company. More than one type of suppressor configuration exists.
Colt R6430
R6430 = civilian semi-auto carbine with fixed stock and 16 inch barrel, Colt Sporter Lightweight model
R6450 = civilian semi-auto carbine with retractable stock and 16 inch barrel
MT6430 = Match Target Lightweight, 16 inch, fixed handle sights
Colt AR6460
AR6460 = law enforcement semi-auto carbine with retractable stock and 16 inch long barrel and bayonet lug
AR6951 = law enforcement flattop semi-auto carbine with retractable stock and 16 inch long barrel and bayonet lug
Details
Related articles
Heckler & Koch MP5
The Colt 9mm SMG was developed to compete with the MP5 in the American law enforcement market.
Colt Commando
The Colt 9mm SMG looks very similar to the Colt Commando, especially when no magazine is fitted.