Ares Light Machine Gun,A.K.A. the “Stoner 86”








"ARES Model 86 light machine gun is a gas operated weapon, firing from open bolt and featuring quick-detachable barrel. It has long stroke gas piston, located below the barrel, and a conventional rotary bolt locking. Feeding is achieved by using standard disintegrating steel belt with M27 links. Standard belt-feed unit, whish is located at the top of the receiver, can be replaced with optional top cover with magazine housing, which accept standard M16-type magazines, inserted from the top. To clear centrally located open sights, magazine housing is canted to the left. Gun is equipped with fixed tubular shoulder stock, and folding bipod under the gas tube."

"Information from Janes Infantry Weapons (1995-1996 Edition). Eugene Stoner is remembered by many SEAL's to this today for his Model 63 Series of weapons, the light machinegun was a beloved addition to the Viet Nam era SEAL's arsenal. Not one to rest on his laurels Eugene pitched a new design to Ares in the mid-1980's, titled simply the Model 86. The Model 86 still retains the modular accessories, the weapon is capable of short or long barrels, top feeding (ala Bren Guns) or from belts of ammunition. The components of the weapon are made from a corrosion resistant material. The design makes use of components from the original Stoner 63, the M-16 Assault Rifle as well as the M-60 and M249 machineguns. The weapon is even provided with an ultra short paratrooper barrel and removable stock for use amongst commando groups needing lightweight firepower, doubtless to say it is a quick change barrel. The weapon is capable of being fed from a belt or magazine, it uses a long bolt stroke which helps keep the recoil of the weapon low and as such this weapon is not equipped with any sort of buffer or gas regulator system. The design was intended for military sales but never found it's intended market, only limited production took place. By the beginning of the 1990's the Model 86 was being phased from production to make room for a newer model. Caliber: 5.56x45mm NATO Ammunition: Standard Issue M-16 Magazines & 200 Round Belts Operation Method: Gas with rotating bolt Fire Modes: Full Automatic Barrel Lengths: 550mm (Standard) 400mm (Assault Gun) Weight: 8.51 Kg (200 Rounds w Standard Barrel) 7.02 Kg (200 Rounds w Assault Barrel) Overall Length: 810mm (Standard) 670mm (Assault Gun) Rate of Fire: 600 Rounds Per Minute Muzzle Velocity: 945 Meters Per Second (SS109)"

http://www.securityarms.com/firearm/2974

Is there a manual or brochure for it?

Thank you.

Stoner 63 manual.  http://home.comcast.net/~sfischer397/stoner/stoner63a-lmg-manual.pdf

Knight's Armament Company now markets it as the Stoner LMG.  As a matter of fact, the earliest photos of the KAC LMG showed an Ares-marked LMG with the addition of a rail forearm.

http://www.knightarmco.com/portfolio/stoner-lmg/?cate_cm=military&term=stoner-lmg&features=stoner-lmg

What the relation to the new ARES who makes the Shrike?

Does it use a M1Garant type safty in front of the trigger,does it operate only in automatic or is it selective fire?

Interesting. In the first picture in the OP, the lower, buttstock and fire control  looks like FAL. The top cover looks similar to an MG42/M60.

Is that WOLF ammo ?

You'd think snooty Knight's would have some brassed cased goodness for the photo shoot LOL

Lower weapon in the first pic is a Stoner 63

If Hughes went away I wonder how much a brand spankin' new one in that configuration would cost.

Stoner 86 aka Ares LMG-1 patent.

"Convertible, belt/clip-fed automatic gun with positive shell casing ejection.
Eugene M. Stoner"

"An automatic gun comprises a barrel, a receiver connected to the barrel and a bolt and bolt carrier mounted in the receiver for recoil and counterrecoil movement between the barrel breech and a recoil position rearwardly of a shell pick up position and a casing ejection port. The bolt carrier has a cam track formed along it and the bolt has a pivotally mounted casing extractor and an ejection recess in an opposite region. The forward end of a cam follower is pivotally mounted to the receiver forwardly of the pick up position. The follower has a pair of belt feeding pawls mounted centrally, an inwardly-directed ejection tip at the rearward end and a cam track follower in engagement with the bolt carrier cam track. A belt feeding adaptor is detachably connected to the receiver above the cam follower for receiving an ammunition belt. In response to forward bolt carrier movement, the cam follower is pivoted outwardly, moving the feed pawls into engagement with a belted shell outboard of..."

http://www.google.com/patents/about?id=6jUcAAAAEBAJ

http://www.google.com/patents/US4942802?printsec=drawing&hl=pt-BR#v=onepage&q&f=false