View source for FB Beryl

{{short description|Polish assault rifle}}
{{more citations needed|date=May 2012}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = Beryl
| image              = Beryl wz96C.png
| image_size         = 300
| caption            = The rifle cal. 5.56 wz. 96 Beryl.
| origin             = [[Poland]]
| type               = [[Assault rifle]]
<!-- Type selection -->| is_ranged          = Yes
<!-- Service history -->| service            = 1997–present
| used_by            = See ''[[#Users|Users]]''
| wars               = * [[War in Afghanistan (2001–present)|War in Afghanistan]]
* [[Kosovo Conflict]]
* [[Iraq War]]
* [[EUFOR Tchad/RCA]]
* [[Boko Haram insurgency]]
<!-- Production history -->| designer           = 
| design_date        = 1995–1996
| manufacturer       = [[FB "Łucznik" Radom|FB Radom]]<br>[[Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria]]
| unit_cost          = $1,570
| production_date    = 1997–present<ref>https://fabrykabroni.pl/oferta/produkty-na-rynek-wojskowy/karabinki/beryl-m762</ref><ref>https://fabrykabroni.pl/oferta/produkty-na-rynek-wojskowy/karabinki/wz-96-beryl</ref>
| number             = 
| variants           = * [[FB Mini-Beryl]]
* Kbk wz. 2003
* Beryl IPSC
* Beryl Commando
* Beryl M762
* Beryl M545
<!-- General specifications -->| spec_label         = 
| weight             = {{convert|3.35|kg|lb|2|abbr=on}}<br />(without magazine)
| length             = {{plainlist|
* {{convert|943|mm|in|abbr=on}}<br />(stock extended)
* {{convert|742|mm|in|abbr=on}}<br />(stock folded)}}
| part_length        = {{convert|457|mm|in|abbr=on}}
| width              = 
| height             = <!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| cartridge          = * [[5.56×45mm NATO]]
* [[7.62×39mm]] - Beryl M762
* [[5.45×39mm]] - Beryl M545
| action             = [[Gas-operated reloading|Gas-operated]], [[rotating bolt]]
| rate               = 700 rounds/min
| velocity           = {{convert|920|m/s|0|abbr=on}}
| range              = 
| max_range          = 600 m
| feed               = *20-, or 30-round detachable [[box magazine]]
*[[AK-47]] magazines (Beryl M762)
*[[AK-74]] magazines (Beryl M545)
| sights             = Rear sight notch on a sliding tangent, front post
}}

The '''karabinek szturmowy wzór&nbsp;96 "Beryl"''' (English: ''assault rifle pattern 1996 "Beryllium"'', abbreviated '''kbs wz.&nbsp;96''') is a Polish 5.56mm [[assault rifle]], designed and produced by the [[FB "Łucznik" Radom|Fabryka Broni Radom]]. The rifle replaced the [[5.45×39mm]] [[FB Tantal]] and [[7.62×39mm]] [[AKM]] rifles as the standard-issue service rifle of the Polish Armed Forces.

==Development==
[[Image:Tantal REMOV noBG.png|thumb|left|[[FB Tantal|wz. 88 Tantal]] - progenitor of wz. 96 Beryl]]

Development work on a new [[service rifle]] (both a standard and [[carbine]] variant) adapted to use the intermediate [[5.56×45mm NATO]] cartridge had been undertaken in 1995, however a functioning 5.56&nbsp;mm rifle and carbine variant had already been available in Radom since 1991, known as the wz. 1991 (a rechambered [[FB Tantal|wz. 88 Tantal rifle]]). The new weapon's specifications were approved in February 1995 and in December the same year, a prototype production batch consisting of 11 Beryl rifles was produced. In 1997 the weapon had been successfully evaluated and adopted into service as the ''5,56&nbsp;mm karabinek szturmowy wz. 1996'' ("assault carbine pattern 1996").

The Beryl subsequently became the standard Polish rifle. In 2011, there were more than 45,000 in the inventory, accounting for about half of the assault rifles in the Polish Army.<ref>Michał Sitarski, ''MSBS-5,56'' in: Nowa Technika Wojskowa 7/2011, p.32 (in Polish)</ref> On May 25, 2016, FB "Łucznik" Radom announced an order from the Polish Army for 26,000 Beryls and Mini-Beryls, though did not break it down by system.<ref>[https://www.facebook.com/Fabryka-Broni-Łucznik-Radom-146617785399294/ FB "Łuchnik" Radom, Facebook page.]</ref>

Apart from Poland, 80 wz. 96A Beryls and 10 wz. 96A Mini Beryls are used by Lithuania (donated in May 2000 by Poland, including 10 rifles with [[Pallad grenade launcher]] and 10 rifles with CWL-1 scope with integrated laser rangefinder). Until 2002/2003 they were equipment of a special forces unit [[Lithuanian Special Operations Force|SOJ Aitvaras]], operating in Afghanistan.<ref>Remigiusz Wilk (REMOV), ''G36K/KV dla Litwy'' in: Raport WTO Nr.12/2007, p. 62 {{in lang|pl}}</ref>

==Design==
[[File:150826-A-HH521-003 (20869878210).jpg|thumb|left|[[6th Airborne Brigade (Poland)|6th Airborne Brigade]] paratrooper equipped with the Beryl rifle, [[NATO]] exercise Swift Response, 26 Aug 2015]]

The Beryl's design layout and system of operation are similar to those of the Tantal rifle, and the principal differences, resulting primarily from using a different cartridge, include the following components: the barrel, receiver housing, buttstock, foregrip, muzzle device, sight system and magazine. With an adapter, it can use the M-16 NATO standard magazine.

The 457&nbsp;mm-long barrel, has six right-hand grooves and a 228&nbsp;mm (1:9 in) twist rate. The barrel's external profile (from the breech to the front sight base) is identical to the Tantal's barrel, but the length from the foresight base has a visible tapered contour with a decreasing diameter towards the muzzle end, used to mount a [[flash suppressor]].

The flash hider can be used to mount and launch [[rifle grenade]]s. The flash hider has a slight taper at the front that supports a bayonet and a little further to the rear – six side ports arranged in pairs. These ports are placed asymmetrically around the circumference of the flash hider and stabilize the weapon during continuous fire. Internally the flash suppressor features threading at the muzzle used to screw-in a blank firing attachment. Located mid-length on the flash hider is a cut-out with a ring retainer spring that secures a rifle grenade to the barrel.

The receiver housing contains several modifications over the receiver of the wz. 1988 rifle. It uses a reinforced rear stock trunnion, adapted for the new shoulder stock and a top-mounted [[Picatinny rail]] for mounting [[optical sight]]s.

[[File:DA-SD-07-21159.jpg|thumb|[[Polish Special Forces]] soldier holding a Beryl rifle at the high ready position, Operation Night Wolf, [[Ad Diwaniyah]], [[Iraq]], 11 Nov 2005]]

The side-folding tubular metal [[Stock (firearm)|stock]] is coated with a thermal polymer shrink film. It has a metal shoulder stop covered with a rubber recoil pad.  More recent models come with a collapsible stock (see picture of wz. 2004 model on right side of page).

The standard lower handguard features an angled rib pattern designed to enhance gripping by the support hand. The rear of the handguard features two molded notches that enable the [[40 mm]] [[Pallad grenade launcher|wz. 1974]] [[grenade launcher]] to be mounted under the barrel (early versions of the wz. 1996 lacked these notches, fitted instead with handguards with lateral grooves). Some Beryl handguards are equipped with short Picatinny rails and an integral vertical foregrip.

The Beryl's sighting system is very similar to the setup used on the Tantal, it does however differ with the addition of twin cuts made into the sides of rear sight base that are used to fasten a bracket for mounting the following optical sights: the passive PCS-6 night sight, a CK-3 reflex optical collimator ([[red dot sight]]), LKA-4 telescopic sight and CWL-1 scope with integrated laser rangefinder. However, the most used additional sight for Beryl is [[EOTech]] 552 [[holographic weapon sight]] and PCS-5M passive night sight. PCS-6 and CWL-1 are introduced in small number.

The weapon's unique magazine is molded from plastic and is not interchangeable with magazines from the kbk wz. 1988 Tantal.

The Beryl has a long, trapezoid-shaped safety switch, similar to those found on the [[AK-47]] or almost all of the AK series, but unlike the archetype, it does not act as a fire selector (its function is performed by a separate switch on the other side of the receiver).

The Beryl fires [[5.56×45mm NATO|5.56×45mm]] ammunition with a steel-core standard round, a tracer cartridge and a training slug, which are produced by Zakłady Metalowe Mesko in the town of [[Skarżysko-Kamienna]].

Standard equipment shipped with the rifle includes: three spare magazines, four 15-round stripper clips, a stripper clip guide, [[bayonet]], cleaning kit, lubricant bottle, cleaning rod (two-piece, stored in the cleaning kit pouch), sling, a magazine pouch and [[bipod]]. The rifle can also be fitted with a mounting system for optical sights and a [[blank-firing adaptor]].

The Beryl was used to create a [[carbine]] variant known as the [[Kbk wz. 1996 Mini-Beryl|Mini-Beryl]].

==Variants==
[[File:02014 Kbs wz 1996 Beryl noBG(2).jpg|thumb|right|kbs wz. 96A Beryl]]
[[File:Beryl wz96C.png|thumb|right|kbs wz. 96C Beryl]]
[[File:Beryl M762.png|thumb|right|Beryl M762 variant chambered in [[7.62×39mm]] ammunition]]
* '''kbs wz. 96A Beryl''' (1996): standard version of Beryl, the most produced version for Polish Forces, some examples were equipped with POPC I rail, where Polish sights (CWL-1, CK-3, LKA-4, PCS-6) could be mounted, but most mounted rail is POPC III. In Iraq, some Beryls were modified in the field and received wooden foregrip from [[Pistol Mitralieră model 1963/1965|PM md. 63]]
* '''kbs wz. 96B Beryl''' (2004): same as standard version, but with fixed foregrip and rails on it. Also, "B" version gets new rail, POPC II (short) and POPC III (long) which subtended the Picatinny standard (however, some "B" Beryls get POPC I rail).
* '''kbs wz. 96C Beryl''' (2009): version with new buttstock (which is fixed and telescopic), new rails (POPC IV), new handguard, magazines and new foregrip.
* '''kbs wz. 96D Beryl''': an option available by the manufacturer, which allows to freely complete the rifle from elements of versions A, B and C<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wojsko-polskie.pl/u/c2/b7/c2b76f37-2e69-47b7-b88d-2ea0e3c1f489/fb_instrukcja_kbs_beryl_17_11_2009_ver2.pdf|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512155116/https://www.wojsko-polskie.pl/u/c2/b7/c2b76f37-2e69-47b7-b88d-2ea0e3c1f489/fb_instrukcja_kbs_beryl_17_11_2009_ver2.pdf|archive-date=May 12, 2023|title=5.56 mm KARABIN SZTURMOWY wz. 96 "BERYL"}}</ref>
*'''Beryl M545''' (2011): proposed [[5.45×39mm]] export variant<ref name=rap>Wilk, Remigiusz: ''Broń strzelecka w Kielcach'', "RAPORT Wojsko Technika Obronność" Nr. 11/2013, p. 37 (in Polish)</ref>
*'''Beryl M762''' (2013): "C" export variant chambered to fire [[7.62×39mm]] ammunition. Bought by Nigeria.

==Users==
[[File:FB Beryl Users (official).png|thumb|Map with FB Beryl users in blue]]
* {{flagcountry|Lithuania}}: 90 units of which 80 are wz. 96A in use by special forces and recon units (10 with [[Pallad grenade launcher|wz. 74 Pallad]] grenade launcher and 10 with CWL-1 telescopic sight with laser pointer)<ref>{{cite web |title=G36 dla Litwy - Altair Agencja Lotnicza |url=http://www.altair.com.pl/news/view?news_id=389 |work=altair.com.pl}}</ref> and 10 are wz. 96 Mini-Beryl variant. Until 2003 used by SOJ Aitvaras elite special forces unit in Afghanistan.
* {{flag|Nigeria}}: 3,200 M762 rifles<ref>{{cite web |title=Beryle M762 dla Nigerii |url=http://www.milmag.pl/news/view?news_id=23 |work=milmag.pl | date=11 April 2017 |language=pl}}</ref> (in March 2018, the Defence Industries Corporation of Nigeria signed a letter of intent to manufacture the rifles in Nigeria)<ref>{{cite news |last1=Martin |first1=Guy |date=29 March 2018 |title=Nigeria to manufacture Beryl assault rifles |publisher=www.defenceweb.co.za |url=http://www.defenceweb.co.za/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51216:nigeria-to-manufacture-beryl-assault-rifles&catid=50:Land&Itemid=105 |access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref>
* {{flagcountry|Poland}}: Current standard-issue rifle of the [[Polish Land Forces]], with around 86,000 units in service.<ref>Michał Sitarski, ''MSBS-5,56'' in: Nowa Technika Wojskowa 7/2011, p.32 (in Polish)</ref><ref>[https://www.facebook.com/Fabryka-Broni-Łucznik-Radom-146617785399294/ FB "Łuchnik" Radom, Facebook page.]</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Polska broń hitem! Wykupili wszystkie w kilka minut|url=https://menway.interia.pl/militaria/news-beryl-hitem-w-usa-sprzedal-sie-w-kilka-minut,nId,5114521|access-date=2021-04-26|website=menway.interia.pl|language=pl}}</ref>

==See also==
* [[FB Mini-Beryl]]
* [[FB MSBS]]
* [[FB Tantal]]
* [[Kbkg wz. 1960]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Commons}}
* [http://www.fabrykabroni.pl/ Fabryka Broni "Łucznik" Radom home page] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070312171410/http://www.fabrykabroni.pl/ |date=2007-03-12 }}

{{FB firearms}}
{{AK47 derivatives}}

[[Category:5.45×39mm assault rifles]]
[[Category:5.56×45mm NATO assault rifles]]
[[Category:7.62×39mm assault rifles]]
[[Category:Assault rifles of Poland]]
[[Category:Kalashnikov derivatives]]
[[Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1997]]