| FAMAE SAF | |
|---|---|
 A left-side view of the FAMAE SAF | |
| Type | Submachine gun |
| Place of origin | Chile |
| Service history | |
| Used by | SeeUsers |
| Production history | |
| Designer | FAMAE |
| Designed | 1993 |
| Manufacturer | FAMAE |
| Produced | 1993–present |
| Variants | Mini-SAF |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 2.7 kg (5.95 lb) |
| Length | 640 mm (25.2 in) stock extended / 410 mm (16.1 in) stock folded |
| Barrel length | 198 mm (7.8 in) |
| Cartridge | 9×19mm Parabellum .40 S&W |
| Action | Blowback,closed bolt |
| Rate of fire | 1,120–1,280 rounds/min |
| Effective firing range | 150 m |
| Feed system | 20- or 30-round detachablebox magazine |
| Sights | Iron sights |
TheFAMAE SAF is asubmachine gun produced and manufactured byFAMAE (Fábricas y Maestranzas del Ejército) since 1993.[1]
Since 1999, Taurus have produced the SAF under license in .40 S&W for Brazilian law enforcement.[2]
Semi-automatic-only variants manufactured by FAMAE are mostly marketed for sale in Canada.[3]
The SAF is a blowback-operatedselect-fire submachine gun, firing from aclosed bolt. It is based on the SwissSIG SG 540assault rifle which was produced under license in Chile in the 1980s.[4][1] The design is a shortened version of the SIG 540 rifle, but the rifle'srotating bolt has been replaced with a simpleblowback bolt. The SAF also has a bolt hold-open catch that engages after the final shot. Otherwise, the receiver, stock, fore-end, trigger/hammer assembly and floating firing pin design are from the SIG 540. (It also retains the folding trigger guard for winter glove use.)
The upper and lower receiver as well as the trigger guard are steel, and the pistol-grip and handguards are all made from polymer. The ambidextrous safety/fire selector switch, as well as the interchangeability with SIG 552/553 handguards are a feature found on the latest versions. Older versions used their own handguards.
The 9mm magazines use a transparent plastic made from polymer,[4] allowing the number of available rounds to be determined visually. The magazine is fitted with protruding lugs on one side and corresponding slots on the other, allowing two or three magazines to be clipped together for a quicker magazine change.[4] The .40 S&W magazines are made of steel and hold 30 rounds.
The selector has four settings: safe, single shot, 3-round burst andfully automatic.[4] Some models were made in a semi-auto only configuration for law enforcement and civilian customers.[1]
The SAF is manufactured in four different variants: standard configuration with a fixed polymer buttstock,[1] standard configuration with a left-side-folding tubular metal buttstock,SAF SD, which used an integralsuppressor and folding buttstock,[1] and the Mini-SAF.[4]
TheSAF SD is a suppressed variant with a slightly longer barrel length of 220 millimetres (8.7 in). It has a lowered fire rate of 980 rpm and a muzzle velocity of 300m/s.[5]
TheMini-SAF is a more compact variant, at only 12 inches (300 mm) long.[6] It has a short 4.5-inch (110 mm) barrel, no shoulder stock (although the left-side-folding tubular metal buttstock of the standard SAF can be attached), and a vertical foregrip. The Mini-SAF can use the standard 30-round magazines, but comes with special 20-round magazines for a smaller profile.[1] All versions have post-front-sights with adjustable elevation, and aperture-rear-sights, adjustable for windage.
TheSAF-200 is a modernised variant, which is being tested by FAMAE and theChilean Army.[1][when?] It includes a new retractable and foldable stock, a new handguard andPicatinny rails provided for modern optics and lateral attachments. The rails are optional for the other SAF variants, but is standard on the SAF-200.[7]
Argentina: In serviceAirport Security Police and Mendoza Provincial Police.[8]
Brazil: In serviceFederal Highway Police andMilitary Police of São Paulo State.[citation needed]
Chile: In service with theChilean Armed Forces and police.[9][page needed][10]
El Salvador: Service in The National Civilian Police.[11]
Portugal: Was used by theNational Republican Guard.[12]