IMBEL MD97
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Barrel
- 437 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.60 kg
- Introduced
- 1997
About
What it is, and why it matters
The IMBEL MD97 is a select-fire assault rifle chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, produced by Industria de Material Belico do Brasil since 1997. This Brazilian-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 17.2-inch barrel maximizes accuracy potential and ballistic performance, making this an excellent choice for target shooting, competition, or field use. At 3600g (127.0 oz), this is a substantial firearm whose weight contributes to reduced felt recoil and enhanced stability during precision shooting. The aluminum alloy frame achieves a notable weight reduction compared to all-steel construction while maintaining the structural rigidity required for safe, reliable operation. 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 MD97's extremely high cyclic rate of 850-950 RPM - among the fastest of any 5.56mm assault rifle - was both a feature and a liability. While it provided devastating close-range firepower, Brazilian operators found it difficult to control in sustained automatic fire, contributing to the eventual development of the more moderate IA2 with its 750 RPM rate.
The MD97 represented a major step forward from the MD-2, replacing the heavy steel FAL-type receiver with a lightweight alloy construction and introducing a true rotating bolt with radial lugs locking directly to a barrel extension. This achieved a weight savings of nearly 1kg compared to the MD-2. The rifle fires both M193 (55gr) and SS109 (62gr) ammunition, with muzzle velocities of 840 m/s and 920 m/s respectively from the full-length 437mm barrel. The MD97LC carbine variant has a 330mm barrel and is offered in semi-automatic only configuration. The very high cyclic rate of 850-950 RPM, while providing impressive firepower, can make the rifle harder to control in full-automatic fire. The MD97A2 sub-variant features updated polymer furniture and additional rail mounting options. Barrel life testing showed durability exceeding 5,000 rounds, with some prototypes reaching 8,500 rounds. The rifle uses 1:10 inch (254mm) twist rifling optimized for SS109 ammunition.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Industria de Material Belico do Brasil
- Category
- Assault Rifle
- Country
- Brazil
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1997
- Variant of
- Modernized
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 437 mm
- Overall length
- 1010 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.60 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 4.10 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated short 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
- Aluminum alloy
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Matte black
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 920 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 1693 J
- Effective range
- 400 m
- Maximum range
- 3800 m
- Rate of fire
- 900 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.
Select fire
Three round burst
Folding stock
Picatinny rail top
Stanag magazine compatible
Rotating bolt
Polymer furniture
Chrome lined barrel
Bayonet mount
Flash hider
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 | 3.60 kg | 3.60 kg | Near the median |
| Overall lengthAmong 156 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 1010 mm | 920 mm | Longer than about 90% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 157 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 437 mm | 449 mm | Near the median |
| Magazine capacityAmong 158 5.56x45mm NATO assault rifles | 30 | 30 | Near the median |
Answers
Questions about the IMBEL MD97
How much does the IMBEL MD97 weigh?
The IMBEL MD97 weighs 3.60 kg (7.94 lb) empty and 4.10 kg (9.04 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the IMBEL MD97?
The IMBEL MD97 is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.
How many rounds does the IMBEL MD97 hold?
The IMBEL MD97 holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the IMBEL MD97?
The IMBEL MD97 is 1010 mm (39.8 in) long overall, with a 437 mm (17.2 in) barrel.
Who makes the IMBEL MD97?
The IMBEL MD97 is made by Industria de Material Belico do Brasil (Brazil).
When was the IMBEL MD97 introduced?
The IMBEL MD97 was introduced in 1997.
How does the IMBEL MD97 operate?
The IMBEL MD97 uses a gas operated short 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
- Brazilian Army Special Forces
- 2004
- Brazilian Federal Police
- Brazil
- Sao Paulo Military Police (PMESP)
- Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro Military Police (PMERJ)
- Brazil
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/imbel-md97' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "imbel-md97", "name": "IMBEL MD97", "manufacturer": { "id": "imbel", "name": "Industria de Material Belico do Brasil", "countryCode": "BR", "foundedYear": 1811, "website": "https://www.imbel.gov.br", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:45", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:45", "version": "abd830829db0a0869f83782ce7bd8fbb8e86959a21412dd0f411dd4237334163" }, "category": { "id": "assault-rifle", "name": "Assault Rifle", "description": "Selective-fire rifles chambered in intermediate cartridges" }, "country_of_origin": "BR", "year_introduced": 1997, "barrel_length_mm": 437, "weight_empty_g": 3600, "action_type": "gas_operated_short_stroke"}