The Calico M-100 Carbine
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Calico M-100 Carbine | ||||
| Caliber | Dimensions | Barrel | Weight | Magazine | Action Type |
| .22 Long Rifle | 29.8" / 35.8" | 16.25" | 5.7 pounds | 100 round Helical | Semi-Auto |
This particular model is a pre-ban version, with a folding stock. The magazines
are completely interchangeable between carbine and pistol, as is the case
with the 9mm models. The folding stock breaks in the middle, and then goes
up under the gun in the manner of the old Uzi folding stocks. As this is
a pre-ban gun, the stock is not pinned to prevent folding. The photo below
shows the stock extended. The stock itself is of an interesting design. It extends by telescoping, and then unfolding. It stores quite neatly under the receiver, as can be seen in the photo. The odd looking bend in the middle would seem to be a cumbersome accident, but after firing the weapon, I discovered that the bend gives an excellent cheek weld. The straight rail extending stock on my 9mm
Calico does not have this bend, and has an awkward feel to it. To telescope
the stock, you simply pull it straight back. To continue extending it, you
must unfold it by pressing a catch located at the "elbow" of the stock.
The shoulder rest may then be adjusted. Collapsing the stock is best done
by first depressing the lock located under the magazine, and then pushing
the stock all the way in. You then need to depress the catch at the elbow
of the stock, before folding it in half and securing it under the receiver.
I have compared the 9mm Calicos to the Uzi, Thompson, and other guns of the same class, but the little .22 Calico truly has no peer. There is no comparable military model, and no practical military application for this weapon. This is strictly a fun gun,
or plinker. The weapon disassembles in the same manner as the pistol with
the exception of the barrel, which may be removed from the receiver. In
accordance with the M-16 inspired design of the gun, the upper and lower
receivers are both aluminum castings, and the furniture is glass filled polymer.
This makes the gun fairly resilient against neglect, and there should be
little worry about rust, or warping. The flash suppresser is actually a part
of the barrel, and is machined from the same billet, as is the front sight
mount. The weapon is equipped with sling swivels, and what looks like a bipod
mount under the barrel, by the front sight. The handling qualities of the gun are pretty good, with the stock folded for shooting from the hip, or extended for more deliberate fire. The recoil of the little .22 in this carbine is negligible, and the accuracy is more than good enough, with most shots hitting within a 2" circle at 100 feet or so. I have had no problems with the gun so far; it is dependable, and fun to shoot.
I have feed everything from Stingers, through bargain loads, to .22 shot
shells, with no complaint or malfunction. This is the first semi-auto I have
ever been able to cycle a shot load through without having a jam, or needing
to manually load the next round. The carbine field strips in the same manner as the pistol, except for the carbine option of removing the barrel. The barrel is taken off by pulling the handguard towards the front sight, and then unscrewing the barrel nut where it screws into the receiver. I am unaware of the manner in which the folding stock removes, and it seems as if there would be little need to do this during normal cleaning and maintenance. I am hearing rumors that this gun is about to be discontinued, and even that it has already been discontinued. After the ban of 1994, there was no longer a folding stock version, but a thumbhole stock, and later, a fairly nice looking walnut stock version were offered. There was also production of a version with a telescoping buttstock, which was pinned to prevent it from being retracted.