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Zen Armaments Assault Rifle vz. 1

The Zen Armaments Assault Rifle vz. 1, also known as the AR-1, is a general-purpose, intermediate-caliber, gas-operated, selective-fire carbine developed in part with fabrication technology from the defunct Paragon Initiative.

About the AR-1

The acquisition of the small arms division of the Paragon Initiative gave Zen Armaments not only new technology, but increased production capacity, to maintain the line of weapons the defunct company produced. Personnel also came, including a Nepleslian designer, Elena Romanova ("Nene" for short).

Romanova had a concept for a weapon before Paragon dissolved. It was a traditional-format assault rifle, using a moderate caliber and engineered with looser tolerances than Paragon's Infantry Assault Weapon. The heavier weapon also would be less expensive.

The weapon was born out of Romanova's experiences on Kennewes, where swampy conditions caused some difficulty with some versions of the venerable GP-1 Assault Rifle, as well as many other more modern weapons. Romanova wanted a firearm that could operate in any kind of condition or terrain with as few stoppages as possible, even if accuracy was sacrificed. That sacrifice, to Romanova, was acceptable because of the average combat ranges on Kennewes — sometimes as little as 75 meters, with typical maximums of just 300 meters.

Romanova's design for the AR-1 was favored by the suits at Zen Arms who wanted a solid, reliable weapon they could sell that could crack into a rifle market dominated by third-party manufacturers keeping the GP-1 alive.

Weapon Specifications

Nomenclature Information

Designer Elena B. Romanova
Manufacturer Zen Armaments
Name Zen Armaments Assault Rifle vz. 1 (Ze-ZAR-01a)
Type Assault Rifle
Role Close-quarters to mid-range combat
Length 34 inches / 870 mm (Stock Folded: 24.9 inches / 640 mm)
Barrel Length 16.5 inches / 420 mm
Weight 11 pounds / 5 kg loaded
Capacity 35 rounds
Rate of Fire 1,000 rounds per minute (burst)

Discharge Information

Projection/ammo type 7.5 x 40 mm Zen AR (B, AP, PE)
Effective Range Up to 300 meters
Maximum Range 750 meters
Muzzle Velocity From ~2,300 to ~2,700 fps (700 to 825 m/s)
Muzzle Blast Two-sided flash because of the flash-hider, yellow-white
Firing Mode Single, 3-round burst
Recoil Low

Firing Mechanism

Gas-operated, short-stroke piston.

In gas-operation, a portion of high-pressure gas from the cartridge being fired is used to power a mechanism to extract the spent case and chamber a new cartridge. Energy from the gas is harnessed through either a port in the barrel or trap at the muzzle. This high-pressure gas impinges on a surface such as a piston head to provide motion for unlocking of the action, extraction of the spent case, ejection, cocking of the hammer or striker, chambering of a fresh cartridge, and locking of the action. Several automatic weapons utilize this method of operation.

Other Mechanisms

Safety: A sliding lever on the right side of the weapon, above and slightly forward of the trigger. Bolt Release: A small latch on the side of the bolt to assist with bolt operation. Pull it back to lock the bolt in the rear position; pull again on a loaded magazine to release it into battery. Fire Mode Selector: Safe, Single, 3-round burst. Weapon Sight: Steel rear dovetail sight, adjustable for windage; steel front post sight, adjustable for elevation. Attachment Hard Points: Two rails are provided; one on top of the foregrip for optics, the other on the bottom of the foregrip for accessories, commonly a vertical foregrip. Magazine Release: A lever dipping below the trigger guard; press forward while gripping an empty magazine to release said mag. Stock: Rear stock folds forward to save length.

Construction

The AR-1 is built with a mix of stamped steel parts and polymers. The use of steel and polymer keeps the cost low while maintaining a hefty weight to absorb recoil.

Other

Field Maintenance Procedure: Routine cleaning and oiling is preferred, but is not recommended until after 2,000 rounds in mild conditions. Barrel lined with chrome.

Pricing: 450 DA.

Replaceable Parts and Components
Additional Ammo
Accessories
Products & Items Database
Product Categoriesweapons: rifles
Product NameAssault Rifle vz. 1
NomenclatureZe-ZAR-01a
ManufacturerZen Armaments
Price (KS)225.00 KS