Science and Engineering of Small Arms

This book explains manufacturing, operation and malfunctions of the small firearms. It covers evolution, development process, underlying physics and mechanics. Different types of ammunition, design requirement, propellant and ballistics are explained including anatomy, manufacturing, surface treatment, failures and technical specifications.

Prasanta Kumar Das, M-Tech (Mech) was a former General Manager Rifle Factory Ishapore, Ordnance Factory Board (OFB), Ministry of Defence, Govt. of India. He has worked in the field of small arms for more than 28 years and led important small arms projects including design, manufacturing, quality control, and testing of handguns, sporting rifles, assault rifles, LMGs, MMGs, and HMGs, implemented in several Indian ordnance factories. He has been awarded the Best Engineer's Award by the Ordnance Factory Board for his outstanding contribution to the successful implementation of an assault rifle project. He has also worked as General Manager of India Govt. Mint, Noida for 5 years, and served as an Asst. Professor in Mechanical Engineering for 7 years in an Indian engineering college. He has been awarded an Invention Award by the National Research Development Corporation(NRDC), Ministry of Science and Technology, Govt. of India for his invention in the small arms. Lalit Pratim Das, M-Tech (Elec) has 10 years of experience in the design of small arms kinematics and synthesis. He is a guest faculty member for imparting, training to the maintenance crew of the users of firearms and designers in a training institute of repute. He is also a specialist in electrical power system design. Dev Pratim Das, BSc-Film Technology is a serious enthusiast in exploring several types of firearms, and expert in analyzing and synthesizing the kinematics of small arms mechanisms, and the design of energy flow paths in the weapon system. He has also in-depth knowledge and experience of 5 years on the details of the actions of the weapon, and an excellent analyzer of weapon ergonomics, and architecture including the muzzle devices of various designs for control of muzzle blast, flash, and recoil. He is a guest faculty member for imparting, training to the maintenance crew of the users of firearms and designers in a training institute of repute. He is a Bachelor in Science in Film Technology, and has specialized in animation and computer graphics design. The credits of the computer modelling and graphics of the small arms weapons that are displayed in the book has been created by him. He is a prolific graphic designer and experienced teacher of all types of firearms.

1. A story of the Evolution of Small Arms 2. Introduction to Small Arms 3. Theory of Ammunitions 4. Anatomy of Small Arms 5. Basic Design Concepts 6. Special Processes in Small Arms Manufacturing 7. Quality of Design 8. Surface Treatment of Weapon Parts 9. Common Defects 10. Catastrophic Failures 11. Proof Parameters 12. Interpreting the Technical Specification.