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Austria   MPi69



About
The Steyr MPi69 was developed in the late 1960's and adopted by the Austrian military in 1969. Production slowed after the introduction of the sub-caliber AUG SMG and eventually discontinued entirely in 1990 with the introduction of the Steyr TMP.

The MPi69 is a straight blowback operated weapon which fires from an open-bolt.

The receiver is made from light-gauge stamped steel which is welded into a box shape with an extra opening forward (76 mm) of the ejection port for an insert. This insert secures the barrel seating, retaining (ca)p nut, and retaining nut locking assembly. The barrel can be removed by hand pressing in the locking assembly button and spinning the cap nut off, followed by the barrel.

The Steyr is shaped much like other telescoping bolt SMG's including the Uzi. The handguard area is horizontally extended for more real estate. The markings are on top of the receiver with the serial number also pressed into the polymer frame.



The receiver cover (frame) and pistol grip are made from nylon, which partially covers the right side, left side, and bottom of the steel receiver. The bolt is of a sleeving or overhung type and contains a fixed firing pin. This type of bolt puts a lot of mass forward of the breech on firing. This improves the handling in full-auto, the balance, as well as shortening the overall length. Further shortening is accomplished with a telescopic stock made from steel wire.

The ten inch barrel is cold hammer forged on a rifling mandrel which provides improved grooves over button rifling. Both the inner and outer skins of the barrel are work-hardened.



The cocking slide is located at the left and also used as a front swivel. In order to pull the charging handle back, the sling must be pulled at a right angle to disengage the cocking slide catch from the front sight. the sling can now be pulled rearward to charge the weapon. For some ethos, while some disliked this peculiar sling-charger, Ian Hogg described the SMG as excellent.



The magazine release is in the heel of the pistol-grip, it has a vertical pistol grip which contains the magazine well. The steel magazines come in 25 and round capacities and were designed specifically for this weapon.

The safety has three positions in the form of a cross bar located above and behind the trigger. The cross-bolt safety is marked S in white on the right. When pushed left to the middle position the firearm is in semi-auto mode. When pushed all the way left (marked with a red F) the firearm will still fire only one round when pressing the trigger slightly back and will fire full-auto when pulled all the way rearward in this position. Those familiar with the AUG series of rifles will be familiar with this safety.

Internally there are also three sear positions for additional safety. If the main sear fails to engage, this design prevents the bolt from going forward and firing a shot. This prevents slam fire in case the cocking piece is released before locking to the rear open-bolt position. This design would also prevent low powered rounds, which fail to cycle the bolt to the necessary rearward position, from continuing to fire in full auto (which would be a surprise if the trigger were already released).



A silencer conversion was made which required swapping the barrel and replacing the barrel retaining nut with a proprietary suppressor that performs the dual role of securing the barrel.

Pre-1968 registered NFA firearms do exist but are not common. Dealer samples have been seen for sale each time I've looked (2006-2014).

Variants
Steyr - MPi69 (9x19mm)
The original model charging handle was charged by pulling on the sling attached directly to it. (shown on this page)

Steyr - MPi81 (9x19mm)
The more modern version has a conventional cocking handle and a few minor improvements, including an increasted rate of fire of 700 rpm.

Steyr - MPi81 Loop-Hole (9x19mm)
Port firing model with extended barrel and AUG type scope.


 click image to enlarge


References

Bishop, Chris (1996). The Vital Guide to Combat Guns and Infantry Weapons: Personal and Support Weapons of the Modern Infantryman (Reprinted 1999). Airlife Publishing & Aerospace Publishing, P.27. | ISBN 1853105392 | Amazon

Ezell, Edward Clinton, et al (1993). Small Arms of the World: A Basic Manual of Small Arms (12th Revised Edition). Barnes & Noble / Stockpole Books, P.234-237. | ISBN 0-88029-601-1

Gander, Terry J. (1997). Jane's Infantry Weapons: 1997-98 (Twenty-third Edition). Jane's Information Group, P.78-79. | ISBN 978-0-7106-1548-0

Hogg, Ian V. (1978). Complete Illustrated Encyclopedia of the World's Firearms: Military and Civil Firearms from the Begining to the Present Day... An A-Z Directory of Makes and Makers from 1830 (First Edition). A & W Publishers, Inc., P.290-291. | ISBN 9780894790317 | ISSN 78-56305

Hogg, Ian V., et al (1996). Jane's Guns Recognition Guide: Pistols, Rifles and Machine Guns (First Edition). Jane's Information Group, Harper Collins, P.284. | ISBN 0-0-4709799

Hogg, Ian V. (1988). Jane's Infantry Weapons: 1988-89 (Fourteenth Edition). Jane's Information Group, P.70-71. | ISBN 0-7106-0857-8

Hogg, Ian V., et al (1991). Military Small Arms of the 20th Century: A Comprehensive Illustrated Encyclopedia of the World's Small Caliber Firearms (Fully Revised 6th Edition). DBI Books, Inc, P.194-195. | ISBN 0-87349-120-3 | ISSN 73-83466

Marchington, James (2004). The Encyclopedia of Handheld Weapons (Borders Press Edition). Chrysalis Books, P.129. | ISBN 1-85753-388-7 | Amazon

Miller, David (2000). The Illustrated Book of Guns: An Illustrated Directory of Over 1,000 Military, Sporting, and Antique Firearms (2004 Reprint). Salamander Books, P.235. | ISBN 1840651725 | Amazon

Peterson, Phillip (2007). Standard Catalog of Military Firearms: The Collector's Guide and Reference Guide (4th Edition). Gun Digest Books, P.26. | ISBN 9780896894778 | ISSN 2007923820 | Amazon

Steyr-Diamler-Puch AG Arms Division. Steyr-Submachine Gun: Operating Instructions (HD 5353 16.000 2-81).

Walther, John (1996). Guns of the Elite Forces (2005 Revised Edition). The Military Book Club, P.203-204,206-207. | ISBN 073945207x | Amazon


^ Steyr MPi69 Exploded View & Parts List
These images are from the operation manual. © Steyr


^ Steyr MPi69 Magazines
First and second generation MPi69 magazines. © Aftermath Gun Club


^ Steyr MPi69 Parts Kit
A parts kit that was unfortunately assembled into a non firing prop gun by a movie prop company. A receiver blank can be seen in the last photo. © Aftermath Gun Club











Submachine Gun
Select Fire
Out Of Production

9x19mm


Designed: 1969
Country: Austria

Markings: STEYR-DAIMLER-PUCH AG MADE IN AUSTRIA

Technical Specifications:
Barrel: Cold hammer forged, 6 RH 1:254 mm (1:10)
Barrel Length: 260 mm (10.24 in)
Overall Length: 670 mm (26.38 in)
Length Collapsed: 465 mm (18.31 in)
Height: 180 mm (7.09 in)
Weight Unloaded: 3.13 kg (6.9 lb)
Function: Blowback operated
Gas System: Direct blowback
Bolt Type: Open-bolt, sleeving, fixed firing pin
Rate Of Fire: 550 rpm
Muzzle Velocity: 381 m/s (1250 ft/s)
Effective Range: 100 m
Feed System: MPi69
Factory Sights: Open sights, front blade, rear flip aperture graduated from 100 to 200 m
Sight Radius: 337 mm (13.27 in)

All measurements are automatically converted from metric and then rounded to two decimal points.