Arsenal AR-M9
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Barrel
- 415 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.85 kg
- Introduced
- 2003
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Arsenal AR-M9 is a Bulgarian gas-operated, select-fire assault rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO and built on the Kalashnikov pattern with a forged and milled steel receiver. A heavier counterpart to the AR-M1, it features a fixed polymer buttstock, a four-port muzzle brake (the so-called 'eggbeater'), and a side rail for mounting optics. Manufactured by Arsenal JSCo. of Kazanlak, it is produced alongside the folding-stock AR-M9F and a 7.62x39mm version.
The AR-M series continued Arsenal's long line of Bulgarian Kalashnikov derivatives. The four-port muzzle brake fitted to the AR-M9 family earned the nickname 'eggbeater' among users for its distinctive appearance.
The AR-M9 and folding-stock AR-M9F are heavier-barrel variants of the AR-M1/AR-M1F. Bulgarian AR-M9 and AR-M9F rifles have been documented in service after being supplied by the United Arab Emirates to allied forces in the Middle East.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Arsenal Inc.
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Country
- Bulgaria
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2003
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 415 mm
- Overall length
- 985 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.85 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
- 870 m/s
- 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.
Milled receiver
Four port muzzle brake
Fixed polymer buttstock
Side rail optic mount
Chrome lined bore
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 | 3.85 kg | 3.60 kg | Heavier than about 80% |
| Overall lengthAmong 156 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 985 mm | 920 mm | Longer than about 80% |
| 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-M9
How much does the Arsenal AR-M9 weigh?
The Arsenal AR-M9 weighs 3.85 kg (8.49 lb) empty.
What caliber is the Arsenal AR-M9?
The Arsenal AR-M9 is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.
How many rounds does the Arsenal AR-M9 hold?
The Arsenal AR-M9 holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Arsenal AR-M9?
The Arsenal AR-M9 is 985 mm (38.8 in) long overall, with a 415 mm (16.3 in) barrel.
Who makes the Arsenal AR-M9?
The Arsenal AR-M9 is made by Arsenal Inc. (United States). It was designed by Arsenal JSCo..
When was the Arsenal AR-M9 introduced?
The Arsenal AR-M9 was introduced in 2003.
How does the Arsenal AR-M9 operate?
The Arsenal AR-M9 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
- Bulgaria
- Afghan National Army
- Afghanistan
Provenance
Confidence in this record
78%
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-m9' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "arsenal-ar-m9", "name": "Arsenal AR-M9", "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": 2003, "barrel_length_mm": 415, "weight_empty_g": 3850, "action_type": "gas_operated_long_stroke"}