| Manufacturer: | Cadillac Gage |
| Model: | Stoner 63 |
| Prototype: | 1961 |
| Production: | 1963 |
| Country of origin: | United States of America |
| Caliber: | 5.56x45mm NATO |
| Fire modes: | Fully automatic |
| Rate of fire: | 700-1,000 rounds/min |
| Range: | 1000m |
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The Stoner 63, also known as the XM22/E1, is designed by Eugene Stoner and was taken into production in 1963, hence the name. By simply changing out some of the key components, this modular weapons system made it easy to transform the Stoner 63 into a rifle, carbine or a light machine gun. It was used in very limited numbers in Vietnam by members of the United States Navy SEALs and served only a short life of 9 years of being in production.
The first working prototype was chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO and completed in 1962. It was designated the Stoner M69W (for no other reason than when turned upside down it reads the same, symbolizing Stoner's vision of a fully invertible receiver). A second prototype called the Stoner 62 was fabricated before the team decided to focus on the promising new 5.56x45mm small caliber high-velocity cartridge, as it appeared the new round was gaining mainstream military approval. At that time the weapon became known as the Stoner 63.