Arsenal AR-M1
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Barrel
- 415 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.65 kg
- Introduced
- 1998
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Arsenal AR-M1 is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, produced by Arsenal JSCo. since 1998. This Bulgarian-manufactured firearm reflects the engineering traditions and quality standards of its country of origin, designed to meet the demands of both civilian and professional users in a competitive global marketplace. Featuring a 30-round magazine capacity, this assault rifle offers generous firepower for duty use and home defense. The 16.3-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 3650g (128.7 oz), this is a substantial firearm whose weight contributes to reduced felt recoil and enhanced stability during precision shooting. The steel frame provides a solid, premium feel with the durability to withstand decades of regular use and thousands of rounds. This firearm represents its manufacturer's commitment to delivering a well-engineered, reliable product that serves the needs of discerning shooters seeking quality, accuracy, and dependable performance from a proven platform.
The Arsenal AR-M1 became a geopolitical tool when the US purchased tens of thousands of Bulgarian AK-pattern rifles in NATO caliber to arm Iraqi and Afghan security forces -- an ironic twist where American taxpayers funded Kalashnikov-pattern weapons for American allies.
Arsenal JSCo. (formerly VMZ Sopot) is one of the world's premier AK manufacturers, with production experience dating back to licensed AK-47 manufacture in 1958. Bulgarian AKs are renowned for good quality at competitive prices. The AR-M1 competes directly with the Russian AK-101 and Polish Beryl for NATO-caliber AK market share. Available in both 5.56mm NATO and 7.62x39mm configurations. The AR-M9 modernized variant adds Picatinny rails and improved ergonomics. Arsenal's US-based subsidiary (Arsenal Inc.) imports semi-automatic civilian variants that are among the most popular premium AK rifles on the American market. The AR-M1's deployment to Afghanistan and Iraq represented one of the largest NATO-caliber AK procurement programs in history.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Arsenal Inc.
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1998
- Variant of
- Export
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 415 mm
- Overall length
- 940 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.65 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 4.00 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated long stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Hammer fired
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 30
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Steel
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Matte black
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 920 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 1700 J
- Effective range
- 500 m
- Maximum range
- 1000 m
- Rate of fire
- 600 rpm
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Chrome lined barrel
Cold hammer forged barrel
Rotating bolt
Select fire
Side folding stock
Flash suppressor
Illuminated iron sights
Nato standard ammunition
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 158 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 3.65 kg | 3.60 kg | Heavier than about 60% |
| Overall lengthAmong 156 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 940 mm | 920 mm | Longer than about 60% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 157 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 415 mm | 449 mm | Shorter than about 60% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 158 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 30 | 30 | Near the median |
Answers
Questions about the Arsenal AR-M1
How much does the Arsenal AR-M1 weigh?
The Arsenal AR-M1 weighs 3.65 kg (8.05 lb) empty and 4.00 kg (8.82 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Arsenal AR-M1?
The Arsenal AR-M1 is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.
How many rounds does the Arsenal AR-M1 hold?
The Arsenal AR-M1 holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Arsenal AR-M1?
The Arsenal AR-M1 is 940 mm (37.0 in) long overall, with a 415 mm (16.3 in) barrel.
Who makes the Arsenal AR-M1?
The Arsenal AR-M1 is made by Arsenal Inc. (United States).
When was the Arsenal AR-M1 introduced?
The Arsenal AR-M1 was introduced in 1998.
How does the Arsenal AR-M1 operate?
The Arsenal AR-M1 uses a gas operated long stroke action, and its firing mechanism is hammer fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- Bulgarian Armed Forces
- 1998
- Afghan National Army
- 2003
- Iraqi Security Forces
- 2004
Provenance
Confidence in this record
83%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/arsenal-ar-m1' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "arsenal-ar-m1", "name": "Arsenal AR-M1", "manufacturer": { "id": "arsenal", "name": "Arsenal Inc.", "countryCode": "US", "foundedYear": 1998, "website": "https://www.arsenalinc.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": "US-based manufacturer in Las Vegas, Nevada, founded in 1998. Licensed manufacturer of semi-automatic AK-pattern rifles and pistols. Works with Arsenal JSCo. in Bulgaria to import and finish firearms. Note: A separate Bulgarian company, Arsenal JSCo., has existed since 1878 and is an independent manufacturer of small arms and ammunition.", "status": "active", "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": true, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:42", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:43:40", "version": "ff4b64236f551d58ef74434713e6cd3856b2456ff842c99fa0213f0845ccf643" }, "category": { "id": "assault-rifle", "name": "Assault Rifle", "description": "Selective-fire rifles chambered in intermediate cartridges" }, "country_of_origin": "BG", "year_introduced": 1998, "barrel_length_mm": 415, "weight_empty_g": 3650, "action_type": "gas_operated_long_stroke"}