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AMELI: Spain's Not-Mini-MG42 in 5.56mm (ad-free)
🕑 Added 2023-08-26 12:00:02 +0000 UTCThe AMELI (which is a contraction of "ametralladora ligera", or light machine gun) was introduced by CETME in 1981, and adopted by the Spanish military as the MG82. It was a counterpart LMG to the new CETME-L 5.56mm rifles, and is a mechanically fascinating design.
The AMELI is a roller-delayed blowback system. Although it takes a lot of visual cues form the MG42, it's not simply a copy of that classic. What makes the AMELI so intriguing is it combination of excellent mechanical simplicity, light weight (6.7kg/14.7 lb), and handiness. It is a belt-fed gun, with a rate of fire around 900rpm - fast, but not too fast.
Unfortunately the AMELI suffered a reputation for fragility, and never saw widespread adoption or real commercial success. It was adopted by Spain, Mexico, and Malaysia in limited numbers, but was replaced by the H&K MG4 in Spain in 2008. Production ended in 2003, with only 3000-4000 apparently being made.
Big thanks to DSA for giving me the opportunity to disassemble and film this one for you!
Comments
Stuart Morrow
So is it actually MG45-derived? More general: what ever happened to delayed-blowback machine guns? The 18mm aerial autocannon in the MG45 timeline apparently implies delayed blowback is fine in such a role (after all, API straight blowback even is), which makes me wonder if it's not the perfect role for gas-delay (you get cooling for free up there).
Lance Thundercock
Aluminum FAL mags would be cool.
z c
Tell DSA to start making metallic FAL mags again
A question if a country wanted to start a firearms family what type of locking method would be easier to produce from both a lower cost of production and ease of manufacturing? Such as roller delay, flapper, tilting bolt. rotating bolt? Also what operating system ie short stroke long stroke,?
Guido Schriewer
don't you think this as too bad or is that just me? I mean that low weight in a kind of sort of mg42/3 kind of design.... if that combo doesn't make it such a high potential to be outstanding then I don't know. should be THE 556 lmg to have. ok the ultimax maybe negev but still. hell... a 6Kg LMG.
Paul Beck
I second that motion!!! 🤠👍
Ryan Sponauer
Will we get blessed with a shooting video tomorrow?
Thomas Batha
What a great MG! I am concerned with the number of spring loaded ancillary components--seem very liable to fail. Also seems to have too many small parts for a military firearm. I would be interested in a US Ordnance test and evaluation. I think it could be re-engineered to simplify and strengthen. A lot of potential passed by.
Aaron Black
So with the slight change in op systems...I wonder how much of a safety factor increase there was over the mg42? Obviously stepping down from full power 8mm is a huge deal but still curious.
