Olympic Arms OA-93

The OA-93 is an AR-15 derivative pistol manufactured by Olympic Arms. The weapon is similar to the Colt M5 concept that uses a gas piston instead of a direct-impingement tube.^[1]

Olympic Arms OA-93
Type	Carbine AR-15-style pistol
Place of origin	United States
Production history
Designed	1992
Produced	1993
Specifications
Mass	4.46 lbs
Length	17 inches
Caliber	5.56×45mm NATO or 7.62x39mm
Barrels	6.5", button rifled, 416 stainless steel
Action	Gas Operated Semi-automatic Action
Feed system	30 round STANAG magazine (OA-93 and OA-98) Permanent 30 round magazine (OA-96)
Sights	Iron

Design

Lacking a buttstock or buffer tube, the OA-93 disperses recoil through a specially designed flat top upper receiver similar to the Armalite AR-18.^[2][3][4] However, the passage of the 1994 Crime Bill required Olympic Arms to perform modifications to the basic design to continue selling them.

Variants

The first revision to the OA-93 was the OA-96 in which a 30-round ammunition well is pinned and welded in place so that it cannot be detached.

In addition, the OA-96 has a button in the rear which opens the upper receiver and can then be loaded via stripper clips.^[5]

The second revision followed two years later. OA-98 used a detachable magazine but the body was skeletonized to reduce the weight below the 50 ounce restriction to allow the OA-98 to have one more feature to be compliant with the 1994 Crime Bill.^[5]

A piston driven carbine based on the pistol was made in 1993 and after the expiration of the Federal Assault Weapons Ban from 2004 to 2007.^[4]

See also

• List of carbines
• List of clip-fed firearms