[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Trying Out the Special Forces Rifle Personally

STC-16... Adjustable Stock, Dot Sight, 3x Scope and Other Versatile Options
Stable Fit and Comfort with 5th Bullet Hitting a Soda Can 100m Ahead

[Asia Economy Military Specialist Yang Nak-gyu] Former President Park Chung-hee established an arsenal (造兵廠) to produce domestically made weapons. The arsenal was located on the current site of SNT Motive’s Busan factory, surrounded by Cheolmasan and Gongdeoksan mountains, providing safety even from fighter jet bombings. Later, privatization took place (acquired by Daewoo Group in 1982), passing through Daewoo Precision and continuing to today’s SNT Motive. SNT Motive has produced premium firearms such as the K1A (submachine gun), K2 (rifle), K3 (squad automatic weapon), K4 (high-speed grenade launcher), K5 (pistol), and K7 (silenced submachine gun). To witness the evolution of domestic firearms, I visited SNT Motive’s Busan factory on the 12th.

Upon entering the company’s main gate, steel barricades lined the entrance like a military base. Barbed wire surrounding the factory site bore signs stating “Defense industry facility, no entry allowed,” adding to the strict atmosphere. Inside the headquarters building stood a large stone engraved with former President Park Chung-hee’s calligraphy “Precision Arsenal (精密造兵),” indicating that SNT Motive originally started as a military factory established by President Park.

Passing the 23,000㎡ (7,000 pyeong) second factory and walking 10 minutes along a mountain path, an outdoor shooting range came into view. It resembled the shooting ranges seen during military service. Among four rifles placed on the waiting room table, one immediately caught my eye: the next-generation special operations submachine gun “STC-16,” developed for the Army Special Forces Command. The STC-16 has a caliber of 5.56mm, weighs 3.3kg (including the scope), and measures 870mm in length. It uses a gas piston system with a maximum firing rate of 700?900 rounds per minute and an effective range of about 400 meters.

The STC-16 exuded an extraordinary presence at first glance. It resembled the rifles used by special forces in war movies depicting the Afghanistan war. After receiving safety training and putting on a ballistic helmet and vest, sweat began to trickle down my back. Unlike conventional rifles, the stock could be adjusted to fit the user’s body size, which made aiming through the scope comfortable. The scope had also changed. Looking through the dot sight scope, a red laser pointed at the target. The 3x magnifier installed between the dot sight and the eye made the target appear larger and clearer. Confidently, I pulled the trigger, and the fifth bullet hit a beverage can placed 100 meters ahead.

An SNT Motive official said, “The STC-16 is designed so that both left- and right-handed users can operate the bolt and change magazines. The magazine is made of plastic instead of aluminum to prevent deformation, enhancing user convenience.”

STC16 - Designed for ambidextrous use including bolt operation and magazine changes
STSM 21 - Reduced ammunition pressure and increased accuracy for counter-terrorism operations
K12 - Developed for aircraft mounting but detachable for infantry use after aircraft landing... the world’s first

The official then handed me magazines loaded with 30 and 15 rounds, encouraging me to try rapid fire. I tensed my shoulder, fearing an accident due to recoil. However, when I pulled the trigger, my worries proved unfounded. The recoil transmitted to my shoulder was not severe. Both three-round burst and 30-round continuous fire hit the forward target without difficulty.

The next weapon was the 9mm submachine gun “STSM-21,” used for special operations such as counter-terrorism. It was developed to replace the German-made MP5 currently used by the military. The charging handle can be switched left or right to accommodate left-handed users. The STSM-21 shares many parts with the existing K2 rifle, allowing for field repairs due to high parts compatibility. When firing, the reduced ammunition pressure noticeably lessened the impact. The STSM-21 is designed for counter-terrorism, prioritizing capturing suspects alive or rescuing hostages over destructive power.

Next, I faced the K-12 machine gun with its bullets loaded horizontally. Its hefty frame suggested formidable firepower at a glance. The K-12 was developed for mounting on the Korean-made utility helicopter “Surion.” After the aircraft lands, the machine gun can be detached from the aircraft mount and used by infantry. This is a world-unique technology. Another advantage is that the barrel can be replaced simply by rotating the handle. Unlike the existing M60, which lacks a handle, soldiers previously had to touch the hot barrel directly.

I pulled the trigger of the K-12 loaded with 50 live rounds, bracing my whole body to control the barrel’s movement. Contrary to my expectation that it would take a long time due to the large number of rounds, all bullets were fired within 5 seconds. It was a rifle boasting a firing rate of 850 rounds per minute. Intimidated by the K-12’s power, the official then showed me the K-15 light machine gun. The K-15 is the successor to the K3 light machine gun, mass-produced since 1989 and currently in use by the military. The K-15 appeared shorter and lighter than the K-12. It was loaded with 50 live rounds and began firing at a brick wall ahead. The bricks shattered instantly. The echo of gunfire reverberated through the mountains, but I felt no strong vibration at my fingertips.

After firing over 300 live rounds, I was exhausted within two hours. Unfamiliarity with shooting caused tension in my arms, leaving me no strength to remove the ballistic vest. However, when I met the eyes of the developers who designed these rifles to suit our military’s missions, I could not show a tired expression. Compared to the difficulties they must have faced in domestic production and development, this was nothing.