#Chile

For today’s Photo Of The Day, we have pictures of the Chilean FAMAE SG 543-1M rifle. The pictures are from  Tactical Imports Corporation‘s website which has just started importing these rifles to Canada. Designed by SIG Sauer AG (formerly SIG Arms AG and SAN Swiss Arms AG) and produced by FAMAE (Fábricas y Maestranzas del Ejército de Chile), the SG 543-1M is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO and is gas operated with a long-stroke piston, rotating bolt lockup and adjustable gas block.  The price of the FAMAE SG 543-1M rifle in Canada starts at 3,599 CAD.

FAMAE, Chile’s state-owned firearms manufacturer, currently offers a range of 9x19mm SAF submachine guns, an updated clone of the SIG SG 540 and a Galil ACE clone – which is set to become Chile’s service rifle. For a number of years, their portfolio has been lacking a pistol. The company has identified a military and law enforcement need for new 9x19mm pistols and feel the new Vulcano will fill this gap.

FAMAE, Chilean maker of SIG 540 derivatives, has announced their intention to import their products to the USA, through importer AD&R Imports. Many of the products will have to be imported as pistols, but FAMAE has also offered to import the shorter weapons with stocks for buyers with completed Form 1 paperwork. Aftermath Gun Club has covered some of the guns likely to be imported:

Earlier this year we reported that  Chile had officially announced the adoption of the IWI GALIL ACE, the 5.56×45 mm version, as the standard service rifle of the Chilean Army. Local defense manufacturer FAMAE will be manufacturing the ACE under license from IWI. Infodefensa.com reports that last week the first FAMAE produced GALIL’s were presented to General Humberto Oviedo, Chief of the Chilean Army.

Last year we reported that the  Chilean Army agreement with Colt to purchase 2,000 M4 Carbines fell through and they were going to purchase FN SCAR-L and SCAR-H rifles instead. Apparently Chile have recieved thier SCAR-L rifles from FN Herstal. This photo (above) sent in by my good friend Lionel, shows a Chilean soldier with a FN SCAL-L. Maybe this young man is hiding a low-profile optic under his glove, but it looks suspiciously like he is holding the rifle at the ready but with his iron-sights collapsed.

The FAMAE Firearms Family is a product of the Chilean state-owned manufacturing company Fábricas y Maestranzas del Ejército and the Swiss Arms company, formerly Sig Sauer. The Chileans have licensed the original Sig540 design to outfit their armed forces.

Canadians can now purchase the SIG SG540 series manufactured by FAMAE of Chile. Tactical Imports announced the SG540, SG542, and SG543 [image above] have finally been classified for importation approval. The former two are assigned a non-restrictive classification while the SG543 is considered restricted, due to the barrel length being shorter than the required 470mm (18.5 in).

Chilean company FAMAE manufactures SIG firearms under license. One of their more interesting guns is the FAMAE SAF , a SIG SG540 rifle scaled down to a 9mm submachine gun. The latest model features a full length picatinny rail and a nifty angled foregrip build into the handguard.

The photo was taken by Daniel Garcia in Talcahunao, Chile on March 1, 2010. Those shipping containers are scattered amongst peoples homes! The high resolution version of this photo can be see at the Big Picture Blog.