The use of 20 mm caliber ammunition for high-precision shooting dates back to the Soviet-Finnish war of 1939-1940. The Finns during this war used Lahti M39 anti-tank rifles in combat to fight Soviet tanks. But, in addition to the main purpose, these guns were used to fight snipers.
Lahti M39
Kawamura Type 97
The Imperial Japanese Army also adopted the 20mm Kawamura Type 97 anti-tank rifle, which was developed from the airgun. The mass of this gun without cartridges was 50 kg, and in the equipped version with a removable armor shield and a magazine for 7 rounds - 68 kg. To service this heavyweight, a calculation of four people was required. High-explosive fragmentation ammunition was used to destroy manpower.
Due to the peculiarities of the conduct of hostilities at this time, high-precision shooting from a large caliber was not widely used. However, today, when well-trained and equipped armies mainly have to conduct anti-terrorist and anti-guerrilla operations, large-caliber weapons have become in demand. An example of successful operations using a large-caliber rifle is the destruction of a Taliban machine-gun crew in Afghanistan by Canadian sniper Rob Furlong from a distance of more than 2 thousand meters.
Mike Remo spent 16 years working on weapons in .50BMG (12.7x99 mm) caliber, reducing recoil and improving their accuracy. Various public and private structures quite willingly acquired Remo rifles in .50BMG caliber. The cost of a large-caliber rifle created at Anzio Ironworks was $ 5,000 per unit, and the accuracy of shooting provided 1 MOA or more.
Mike Remo, encouraged by the success, decided that the time had come for Anzio Ironworks to create a weapon for high-precision shooting at distances of 2-3 thousand meters. The American company Anzio Ironworks is engaged in the production of a series of heavy sniper rifles chambered for the M61 Vulcan airgun 20 x 102 mm. The initial velocity of the projectile is up to 1030 m/s. With a mass of 101 grams, the muzzle energy is 57.53 kJ. Under this cartridge, the company produces several models.
Single-shot sniper rifle Anzio 20 MM Take-Down Rifle. Barrel length - 1270 mm. Effective firing range - 2730 m. Total weight - 17.2 kg.
Anzio 20MM Take-Down Rifle
Heavy magazine-fed sniper rifle - Anzio Mag-Fed 20 MM Rifle. The magazine capacity of this rifle is 3 rounds. Barrel length - 1244 mm. The Anzio Mag -Fed rifle, in addition to 20x102 ammunition, can be adapted to the Soviet cartridge 14.5x114 mm. Reloading is carried out manually. With the help of modern optics, Mag-Fed 20 mm allows you to destroy protected targets and snipers at ranges that were inaccessible to weapons with a caliber .50BMG. According to the creators, the Mag-Fed 20-mm large-caliber rifle has the maximum similarity with the AR15 in terms of fire control and optics location. According to the creators, this will make mastering this large-caliber monster as easy as possible. The cost of the rifle is $11,900.
The total length of the Anzio 20-50 Rifle single-shot sniper rifle is 1853 mm. This rifle can use barrels with a length of 1143, 1016 and 914 mm. A sniper rifle allows you to destroy a target on the horizon. The declared firing range is 5 thousand yards, that is, 4.572 km for 20 mm (and 3.5 thousand for 20/50 \u003d 3.2 km), which is further than the distance to the horizon (at an eye level height of 1.7 m, the distance to horizon is approximately 4.7 km; naturally, lying down, this distance will decrease, and a person located on the 9-10th floor sees the horizon at 20 km).
For the new 20mm rifles from Anzio Ironworks, not only the powerful VULCAN 20x102mm ammunition can be used. These models of weapons complement the AMR family with new ammunition designed for a wide range of tasks, although the guns need percussion firing tubes.
Rheinmetall, Nexter, GDOTS and ATK offer 20x102mm ammunition. For example, the FAP (Frangible Armor Piercing) armor-piercing projectile developed by Rheinmetall and GDOTS, designed for air-to-air and air-to-ground missions, offers significant lethality against unarmored and armored targets in one projectile without the use of explosives. GDOTS reports that a breaking tungsten core pierces the outer skin of the target when it meets the target, and when passing through the rest of the structure, high-energy fragments are formed.
Another 20x102 mm ammunition with a competitive PELE (penetration with increased armor effect) action principle was jointly developed by Rheinmetall and ATK. PELE projectiles, like the FAP ammunition, do not use explosives and fuses. The PELE projectile has a hollow tungsten core that penetrates armor, but its low density polymer core cannot do this and shrinks very quickly. This creates extremely high pressure, breaking the tungsten core as it moves inside the target. With regard to the lethality of this projectile, its penetration, fragmentation parameters and response sensitivity are superior to traditional ammunition.
Is such a weapon necessary? According to the creators, heavy large-caliber rifles are necessary, since the forces opposing the American army can get large-caliber rifles at their disposal, and then weapons of caliber 20 millimeters will dominate the battlefields.
Prepared from:
http://www.anzioironworks.com
http://www.guns.yfa1.ru
http://raigap.livejournal.com
http://alternathistory.org.ua
http://www.army-guide.com
Large-caliber sniper rifles are a special type of sniper rifles in calibers from 9 mm to 20 mm inclusive. As a rule, such samples are significantly superior to ordinary sniper rifles in terms of effective firing range, bullet energy, dimensions, weight and recoil, which leaves an imprint on their use. At present, a sufficient number of interesting solutions have been created in Russia in this area, which are represented by both state and private manufacturers of small arms.
The main area of application of large-caliber sniper rifles is to disable unarmored and lightly armored enemy vehicles, including low-flying or standing on the ground helicopters and aircraft; protected firing points (firing at embrasures and pillbox observation devices); means of control, communications and reconnaissance (antennas for satellite communications, radar, etc.); destruction of unexploded bombs and mines. Also, such rifles are quite an effective means of conducting anti-sniper combat.
The modern development of large-caliber sniper rifles originates from the appearance in the USA of the M500 sniper rifle, which was created in 1981 by RAP. It was the M-500 rifle that was the first to be put into service with the American army and was intended to solve the problems of combating enemy lightly armored vehicles, fortifications and other rather complex tasks. At the same time, real success for the new weapon came after the appearance of the M82 rifle, developed by weapons designer Ronnie Barrett. The rifle he created under the NATO cartridge 12.7x99 mm effectively solved all sniper tasks at a firing range above 1500 meters. In the army, this rifle was nicknamed "Light Fifty" ("Light Fifty"). It was after the appearance of the M82 rifle in the United States that a real boom began for such weapons. Currently, more than fifty companies across the ocean have created solutions for the 12.7x99 mm cartridge, as well as special ammunition.308, .338 Lapua Magnum, and later the most interesting and promising ammunition 408 Cheyenne Tactical, or CheyTac for short.
Russia did not stand aside from the development of such weapons systems. At the same time, Russian large-caliber sniper rifles are quite a competitive product. To create such rifles, both in our country and in the USA, cartridges were used that were borrowed from heavy machine guns: 12.7x99 mm (USA and NATO) and 12.7x108 mm (Russia). This decision is rational and has a rather impressive basis: the power of such a cartridge would be enough to break through any regular army protection and reservation equipment throughout the entire flight path of the bullet. But such rifles also have disadvantages. Due to the high energy and large mass, the potential of large-caliber sniper rifles cannot be realized within the framework of maneuvering combat. They can be used from specially equipped sniper positions or for anti-sniper activities as part of special forces groups.
OSV-96 "Cracker"
Large-caliber sniper rifles today are a special pride of Russian gunsmiths. One of the brightest representatives of this class of weapons is the OSV-96 rifle with the sonorous nickname "Cracker", which was nicknamed so for its unique characteristics. It is considered the first Russian model of a large-caliber sniper rifle, which is able to hit not only manpower, but also various enemy equipment at long distances. The rifle was created in Tula at the Instrument Design Bureau (KBP) in the mid-1990s (designer Shipunov Arkady Georgievich). OSV-96 "Cracker" was put into service in March 2000.
The OSV-96 rifle is designed to destroy unarmored and lightly armored targets at distances up to 1800 meters, as well as enemy personnel behind shelters and in personal protective equipment at a distance of up to 1000 meters. When firing with sniper cartridges in series of 4-5 shots at a distance of 100 meters, the dispersion diameter does not exceed 50 mm. One of the main disadvantages of the rifle is a very loud sound when fired. Because of this, it is recommended to fire from the OSV-96 large-caliber sniper rifle while wearing headphones.
OSV-96 is a self-loading large-caliber sniper rifle that works on the principle of using powder gases. The issue of large dimensions, which is typical for weapons of this class, was resolved due to the design features. In the stowed position, the rifle can be folded: the barrel, together with the gas exhaust system, leans back to the right and is pressed against the receiver, while the receiver and the breech section of the barrel are closed from possible clogging with the help of a cover. In the folded position, the Burglar does not go beyond the dimensions of a conventional SVD rifle, which allows the shooter to easily fit in vehicles and armored vehicles. The transfer of the rifle from the folded position to the combat position and back is carried out in a matter of seconds.
Of the features of the weapon, self-loading work and an effective muzzle device are distinguished, which reduces the sniper's fatigue and allows him to fire at a high rate of fire. A height-adjustable bipod allows you to take the most convenient position for shooting. Also, the rifle has a daily use due to the use of different types of sights, including night vision. And a long range of effective fire, which allows the sniper to be out of range of aimed fire from small arms of conventional calibers. At the same time, a 12.7 mm sniper bullet has three times less drift than a 7.62 mm caliber bullet.
TTX OSV-96 "Cracker":
Cartridge type: 12.7x108 mm (sniper SPTs-12.7) or 12.7x108 mm cartridges from heavy machine guns.
Sighting range - up to 1800 m.
Weight without magazine and optical sight - 12.9 kg.
Dimensions: in combat position - 1746x431x425 mm, in the stowed position - 1154x132x190 mm.
Shooting mode - single.
VKS / VSSK "Exhaust"
For cases that require a special approach from shooters, a rather effective system was found in the arsenal of Russian gunsmiths - VKS / VSSK "Vykhlop". Of course, the effective range of fire from such a rifle is lower than that of its counterparts. Sighting range - 600 meters. But the 12.7x55 mm caliber STs-130 ammunition used in the rifle, weighing 76 grams, allows you to hit almost any target almost silently, as far as the caliber of this ammunition allows. At the same time, another competitive advantage of the sniper rifle was its mass, which is almost 3 times less than the mass of its more “loud” counterparts in caliber.
This sniper rifle was created by designer Vladimir Zlobin between 1999 and 2004. The rifle was created under a special order, which came from the Special Purpose Center of the FSB of Russia. This sniper rifle is produced at the Central Design and Research Bureau of Sports and Hunting Weapons (TsKIB SOO) in the city of Tula. The STs-130 cartridges used in this rifle make it possible to penetrate a 15-mm steel plate at a distance of 200 meters or a bulletproof vest of the 5th protection class at a distance of 100 meters.
The main task that the Vykhlop sniper rifle must solve is to defeat protected targets, including those using personal armor protection equipment (NIB) of class 4-6, targets located behind shelters, obstacles, as well as enemy vehicles, unarmored and lightly armored vehicles at a distance of up to 600 meters with a flameless and silent shot due to the use of a silencer of the original design and special powerful ammunition with a subsonic bullet speed. Structurally, this rifle is a non-automatic weapon with manual reloading with the layout of its mechanisms and parts according to the bullpup scheme. The rifle is equipped with an integrated silencer that can be removed for cleaning and when transporting the weapon.
TTX VKS / VSSK "Exhaust":
Cartridge type: 12.7x55 mm (SPTs-130).
Sighting range - up to 600 m.
The mass of the rifle with an empty magazine, without an optical sight - 6.5 kg.
Dimensions without optical sight: 1125x220x220 mm.
Magazine capacity - 5 rounds.
Shooting mode - single.
Sniper complex 6S8
Currently, the "royal crown" among all Russian large-caliber rifles belongs to the 6S8 sniper rifle, created at the plant named after. Degtyarev. This rifle was created already back in 1997, but for various reasons it was not accepted into service for a long time and was not mass-produced. Having collected all the developments for 10 years and having worked on the bugs, the Degtyarevites managed to achieve the adoption of their weapons for service. It happened in June 2013. The ASVK rifle (large-caliber army sniper rifle) was adopted by the RF Armed Forces under the designation 12.7-mm sniper complex 6S8.
The 12.7-mm 6S8 sniper rifle is designed to solve special fire missions to defeat unarmored and lightly armored enemy vehicles, as well as openly located manpower, including in personal armor protection, group targets and other technical means at a distance of up to 1500 meters. A specially designed 7N34 sniper cartridge and the entire range of conventional 12.7x108 mm caliber cartridges can be used with the rifle.
Structurally, this large-caliber sniper rifle was made according to the bullpup scheme. When using this scheme, as you know, the trigger is in front of the trigger mechanism (USM), which allows you to reduce the size and weight of the weapon, resulting in increased maneuverability and compactness. In general, this sniper rifle turned out to be quite simple and reliable, which is very important for army weapons. And reviews of its combat operation are mostly positive.
Cartridge type: 12.7x108 mm (sniper 7N34).
Sighting range - 1500 m.
The weight of the rifle with an empty magazine, without an optical sight is 12.5 kg.
Rifle length - 1420 mm, barrel length - 1000 mm.
Magazine capacity - 5 rounds.
Shooting mode - single.
SVLK-14S
But what to do when it comes to hitting targets beyond 1500 or even 2000 meters? On this score, Russian gunsmiths will also have an answer. We are talking about sniper rifles, which are created by Vladislav Lobaev. His Tsar Cannon companies, Design Bureau of Integrated Systems and his own brand Lobaev Arms are the first in our country to start developing and producing high-precision and long-range weapons, from the barrel to the butt. If earlier Lobaev sniper rifles were produced for a single client (most of the Lobaev Arms rifles are a commercial product intended for sale to individuals), now the company presents a whole series of sniper rifles, brought to mind and monstrously powerful, designed for different calibers . The leader among them is one of the best sniper ammunition for today - .408 CheyTac.
According to Lobaev, the main tasks of Lobaev Arms production are distributed almost equally - this is a commercial component and work with Russian law enforcement agencies. If we talk about the second point, then, for example, the FSO is well acquainted with the rifles designed by Lobaev. Employees of the Federal Security Service have repeatedly won victories in various sniper shooting competitions with his rifles. Currently, in terms of range (one of the most important indicators), the rifles of the Russian company Lobaev Arms are among the first in the world.
One of the most powerful solutions in terms of effective firing range from Lobaev Arms is the SVLK-14S rifle. It is worth noting that further than two kilometers is already an exorbitant distance for sniper fire. Cases where snipers hit real targets at such a range are known, but they had more luck than the real capabilities of modern weapons. At the same time, the SVL rifle was originally designed to break through this barrier, turning an accurate hit on a target at a distance of more than 2000 meters into a guaranteed result. The rifle completed its task successfully, but Lobaev Arms decided not to stop there and presented an improved version of the rifle under the designation SVLK-14S.
The latest world record for the longest effective sniper shot is 2475 meters. But in reality, the vast majority of snipers work at much shorter ranges. It is worth noting that effective shooting at a range of more than a mile requires not only the high personal skill of the shooter, but also specialized shooting weapons systems of the highest level of accuracy, which are simply inaccessible to the overwhelming number of shooters of special services or army units. At the same time, SVLK-14S is just such an ultra-precise sniper system.
As you can easily guess, the index "14" in the name of the ultra-long-range rifle indicates the year of its development. SVL stands for "Lobaev sniper rifle", and the letter "K" in the index indicates the use of the King v.3 bolt group. This action group consists of a receiver in an aluminum case, in which a hardened steel insert is fixed. The index "C" at the end of the name of the rifle is a reference to the English word Single. The basic model of the SVLK-14S large-caliber sniper rifle was and remains single-shot. This approach provides sufficient rigidity of the bolt box due to the presence of a minimum number of grooves in it and, as a result, a very high level of accuracy when firing. The SVLK-14S rifle allows the shooter to confidently hit targets at ranges up to 2300 meters.
TTX SVLK-14S:
Cartridge type: .408 Cheytac/.338LM/.300WM.
Technical accuracy: 0.3 MOA / 9 mm between centers (5 shots at 100 meters).
Maximum effective range: 2300 m.
Rifle weight: 9.6 kg.
Dimensions: 1430x96x175 mm.
Shop - no.
Shooting mode - single.
Sources of information:
http://tvzvezda.ru/news/forces/content/201501200818-lu9j.htm
http://www.kbptula.ru
http://lobaevarms.ru
http://www.zid.ru
http://sniper-weapon.ru/rossiya
https://en.wikipedia.org
Large-caliber sniper rifles are a special type of sniper rifles in calibers from 9 mm to 20 mm inclusive. As a rule, such samples are significantly superior to ordinary sniper rifles in terms of effective firing range, bullet energy, dimensions, weight and recoil, which leaves an imprint on their use. At present, a sufficient number of interesting solutions have been created in Russia in this area, which are represented by both state and private manufacturers of small arms.
The main area of application of large-caliber sniper rifles is to disable unarmored and lightly armored enemy vehicles, including low-flying or standing on the ground helicopters and aircraft; protected firing points (firing at embrasures and pillbox observation devices); means of control, communications and reconnaissance (antennas for satellite communications, radar, etc.); destruction of unexploded bombs and mines. Also, such rifles are quite an effective means of conducting anti-sniper combat.
The modern development of large-caliber sniper rifles originates from the appearance in the USA of the M500 sniper rifle, which was created in 1981 by RAP. It was the M-500 rifle that was the first to be put into service with the American army and was intended to solve the problems of combating enemy lightly armored vehicles, fortifications and other rather complex tasks. At the same time, real success for the new weapon came after the appearance of the M82 rifle, developed by weapons designer Ronnie Barrett. The rifle he created under the NATO cartridge 12.7x99 mm effectively solved all sniper tasks at a firing range above 1500 meters. In the army, this rifle was nicknamed "Light Fifty" ("Light Fifty"). It was after the appearance of the M82 rifle in the United States that a real boom began for such weapons. Currently, more than fifty companies across the ocean have created solutions for the 12.7x99 mm cartridge, as well as special ammunition.308, .338 Lapua Magnum, and later the most interesting and promising ammunition 408 Cheyenne Tactical, or CheyTac for short.
Russia did not stand aside from the development of such weapons systems. At the same time, Russian large-caliber sniper rifles are quite a competitive product. To create such rifles, both in our country and in the USA, cartridges were used that were borrowed from heavy machine guns: 12.7x99 mm (USA and NATO) and 12.7x108 mm (Russia). This decision is rational and has a rather impressive basis: the power of such a cartridge would be enough to break through any regular army protection and reservation equipment throughout the entire flight path of the bullet. But such rifles also have disadvantages. Due to the high energy and large mass, the potential of large-caliber sniper rifles cannot be realized within the framework of maneuvering combat. They can be used from specially equipped sniper positions or for anti-sniper activities as part of special forces groups.
OSV-96 "Cracker"
Large-caliber sniper rifles today are a special pride of Russian gunsmiths. One of the brightest representatives of this class of weapons is the OSV-96 rifle with the sonorous nickname "Cracker", which was nicknamed so for its unique characteristics. It is considered the first Russian model of a large-caliber sniper rifle, which is able to hit not only manpower, but also various enemy equipment at long distances. The rifle was created in Tula at the Instrument Design Bureau (KBP) in the mid-1990s (designer Shipunov Arkady Georgievich). OSV-96 "Cracker" was put into service in March 2000.
The OSV-96 rifle is designed to destroy unarmored and lightly armored targets at distances up to 1800 meters, as well as enemy personnel behind shelters and in personal protective equipment at a distance of up to 1000 meters. When firing with sniper cartridges in series of 4-5 shots at a distance of 100 meters, the dispersion diameter does not exceed 50 mm. One of the main disadvantages of the rifle is a very loud sound when fired. Because of this, it is recommended to fire from the OSV-96 large-caliber sniper rifle while wearing headphones.
OSV-96 is a self-loading large-caliber sniper rifle that works on the principle of using powder gases. The issue of large dimensions, which is typical for weapons of this class, was resolved due to the design features. In the stowed position, the rifle can be folded: the barrel, together with the gas exhaust system, leans back to the right and is pressed against the receiver, while the receiver and the breech section of the barrel are closed from possible clogging with the help of a cover. In the folded position, the Burglar does not go beyond the dimensions of a conventional SVD rifle, which allows the shooter to easily fit in vehicles and armored vehicles. The transfer of the rifle from the folded position to the combat position and back is carried out in a matter of seconds.
Of the features of the weapon, self-loading work and an effective muzzle device are distinguished, which reduces the sniper's fatigue and allows him to fire at a high rate of fire. A height-adjustable bipod allows you to take the most convenient position for shooting. Also, the rifle has a daily use due to the use of different types of sights, including night vision. And a long range of effective fire, which allows the sniper to be out of range of aimed fire from small arms of conventional calibers. At the same time, a 12.7 mm sniper bullet has three times less drift than a 7.62 mm caliber bullet.
TTX OSV-96 "Cracker":
Cartridge type: 12.7x108 mm (sniper SPTs-12.7) or 12.7x108 mm cartridges from heavy machine guns.
Sighting range - up to 1800 m.
Weight without magazine and optical sight - 12.9 kg.
Dimensions: in combat position - 1746x431x425 mm, in the stowed position - 1154x132x190 mm.
Shooting mode - single.
VKS / VSSK "Exhaust"
For cases that require a special approach from shooters, a rather effective system was found in the arsenal of Russian gunsmiths - VKS / VSSK "Vykhlop". Of course, the effective range of fire from such a rifle is lower than that of its counterparts. Sighting range - 600 meters. But the 12.7x55 mm caliber STs-130 ammunition used in the rifle, weighing 76 grams, allows you to hit almost any target almost silently, as far as the caliber of this ammunition allows. At the same time, another competitive advantage of the sniper rifle was its mass, which is almost 3 times less than the mass of its more “loud” counterparts in caliber.
This sniper rifle was created by designer Vladimir Zlobin between 1999 and 2004. The rifle was created under a special order, which came from the Special Purpose Center of the FSB of Russia. This sniper rifle is produced at the Central Design and Research Bureau of Sports and Hunting Weapons (TsKIB SOO) in the city of Tula. The STs-130 cartridges used in this rifle make it possible to penetrate a 15-mm steel plate at a distance of 200 meters or a bulletproof vest of the 5th protection class at a distance of 100 meters.
The main task that the Vykhlop sniper rifle must solve is to defeat protected targets, including those using personal armor protection equipment (NIB) of class 4-6, targets located behind shelters, obstacles, as well as enemy vehicles, unarmored and lightly armored vehicles at a distance of up to 600 meters with a flameless and silent shot due to the use of a silencer of the original design and special powerful ammunition with a subsonic bullet speed. Structurally, this rifle is a non-automatic weapon with manual reloading with the layout of its mechanisms and parts according to the bullpup scheme. The rifle is equipped with an integrated silencer that can be removed for cleaning and when transporting the weapon.
TTX VKS / VSSK "Exhaust":
Cartridge type: 12.7x55 mm (SPTs-130).
Sighting range - up to 600 m.
The mass of the rifle with an empty magazine, without an optical sight - 6.5 kg.
Dimensions without optical sight: 1125x220x220 mm.
Magazine capacity - 5 rounds.
Shooting mode - single.
Sniper complex 6S8
Currently, the "royal crown" among all Russian large-caliber rifles belongs to the 6S8 sniper rifle, created at the plant named after. Degtyarev. This rifle was created already back in 1997, but for various reasons it was not accepted into service for a long time and was not mass-produced. Having collected all the developments for 10 years and having worked on the bugs, the Degtyarevites managed to achieve the adoption of their weapons for service. It happened in June 2013. The ASVK rifle (large-caliber army sniper rifle) was adopted by the RF Armed Forces under the designation 12.7-mm sniper complex 6S8.
The 12.7-mm 6S8 sniper rifle is designed to solve special fire missions to defeat unarmored and lightly armored enemy vehicles, as well as openly located manpower, including in personal armor protection, group targets and other technical means at a distance of up to 1500 meters. A specially designed 7N34 sniper cartridge and the entire range of conventional 12.7x108 mm caliber cartridges can be used with the rifle.
Structurally, this large-caliber sniper rifle was made according to the bullpup scheme. When using this scheme, as you know, the trigger is in front of the trigger mechanism (USM), which allows you to reduce the size and weight of the weapon, resulting in increased maneuverability and compactness. In general, this sniper rifle turned out to be quite simple and reliable, which is very important for army weapons. And reviews of its combat operation are mostly positive.
Cartridge type: 12.7x108 mm (sniper 7N34).
Sighting range - 1500 m.
The weight of the rifle with an empty magazine, without an optical sight is 12.5 kg.
Rifle length - 1420 mm, barrel length - 1000 mm.
Magazine capacity - 5 rounds.
Shooting mode - single.
SVLK-14S
But what to do when it comes to hitting targets beyond 1500 or even 2000 meters? On this score, Russian gunsmiths will also have an answer. We are talking about sniper rifles, which are created by Vladislav Lobaev. His Tsar Cannon companies, Design Bureau of Integrated Systems and his own brand Lobaev Arms are the first in our country to start developing and producing high-precision and long-range weapons, from the barrel to the butt. If earlier Lobaev sniper rifles were produced for a single client (most of the Lobaev Arms rifles are a commercial product intended for sale to individuals), now the company presents a whole series of sniper rifles, brought to mind and monstrously powerful, designed for different calibers . The leader among them is one of the best sniper ammunition for today - .408 CheyTac.
According to Lobaev, the main tasks of Lobaev Arms production are distributed almost equally - this is a commercial component and work with Russian law enforcement agencies. If we talk about the second point, then, for example, the FSO is well acquainted with the rifles designed by Lobaev. Employees of the Federal Security Service have repeatedly won victories in various sniper shooting competitions with his rifles. Currently, in terms of range (one of the most important indicators), the rifles of the Russian company Lobaev Arms are among the first in the world.
One of the most powerful solutions in terms of effective firing range from Lobaev Arms is the SVLK-14S rifle. It is worth noting that further than two kilometers is already an exorbitant distance for sniper fire. Cases where snipers hit real targets at such a range are known, but they had more luck than the real capabilities of modern weapons. At the same time, the SVL rifle was originally designed to break through this barrier, turning an accurate hit on a target at a distance of more than 2000 meters into a guaranteed result. The rifle completed its task successfully, but Lobaev Arms decided not to stop there and presented an improved version of the rifle under the designation SVLK-14S.
The latest world record for the longest effective sniper shot is 2475 meters. But in reality, the vast majority of snipers work at much shorter ranges. It is worth noting that effective shooting at a range of more than a mile requires not only the high personal skill of the shooter, but also specialized shooting weapons systems of the highest level of accuracy, which are simply inaccessible to the overwhelming number of shooters of special services or army units. At the same time, SVLK-14S is just such an ultra-precise sniper system.
As you can easily guess, the index "14" in the name of the ultra-long-range rifle indicates the year of its development. SVL stands for "Lobaev sniper rifle", and the letter "K" in the index indicates the use of the King v.3 bolt group. This action group consists of a receiver in an aluminum case, in which a hardened steel insert is fixed. The index "C" at the end of the name of the rifle is a reference to the English word Single. The basic model of the SVLK-14S large-caliber sniper rifle was and remains single-shot. This approach provides sufficient rigidity of the bolt box due to the presence of a minimum number of grooves in it and, as a result, a very high level of accuracy when firing. The SVLK-14S rifle allows the shooter to confidently hit targets at ranges up to 2300 meters.
TTX SVLK-14S:
Cartridge type: .408 Cheytac/.338LM/.300WM.
Technical accuracy: 0.3 MOA / 9 mm between centers (5 shots at 100 meters).
Maximum effective range: 2300 m.
Rifle weight: 9.6 kg.
Dimensions: 1430x96x175 mm.
Shop - no.
Shooting mode - single.
Sources of information:
http://tvzvezda.ru/news/forces/content/201501200818-lu9j.htm
http://www.kbptula.ru
http://lobaevarms.ru
http://www.zid.ru
http://sniper-weapon.ru/rossiya
https://en.wikipedia.org
The calibers of modern sniper rifles have long crossed the limit of heavy machine guns - 12.7-14.5 mm and came close to guns - 20 mm.
The 25 mm Barrett XM109 rifle grenade penetrates 40 mm armor from a distance of half a kilometer. Photo: sciencedebate2008.com
And some prototypes, such as the 25 mm experimental American XM-109 rifle or the 30 mm Maadi Griffin rifle assembled in 1994 by Bob Stewart, using shells from the GAU-8 / A automatic aircraft gun of the US Air Force A-10 attack aircraft " Warthog", and completely went beyond the definition of small arms or common sense.
the site has selected five of the most powerful sniper rifles capable of destroying a helicopter or an armored personnel carrier and even knocking out a tank.
5. Experienced rifle SHARAC-99
Due to lack of funding, several samples of this sniper rifle were made. Sharac-99 fires 20mm shells from the M55 anti-aircraft gun.
SHARAC-99. Photo: dogswar.ru The weapon is equipped with a five-shot magazine, which is located vertically under the barrel. The fire is carried out by tracer and armor-piercing incendiary projectiles, the initial speed of which is about 800 m/s. Projectile weight - 136 grams.
The rifle itself weighs 23 kg, but if you add a special machine to it, then the total weight of the structure reaches 45 kg. As a regular, an optical sight with a magnification of 9 × 42 is used. The total length of the rifle is 1850 mm. At the request of the customer, the weapon can be equipped with night vision devices.
4. Iranian anti-helicopter rifle
Not much is known about the Iranian Arash large-caliber rifle: it fires 20x102 projectiles from the American M61 Vulcan cannon. The muzzle energy of the rifle is 50 kJ, and the muzzle velocity of the projectile is more than 1000 m/s.
The Iranian rifle is designed to destroy large targets such as helicopters, bunkers, and lightly armored vehicles.
Rifle shooting, which is unusual, is carried out standing, using huge bipods. Which seems very strange - after all, there can be no question of any disguise of the shooter.
The weight of the rifle is about 20 kilograms, the effective firing range is 2000-2200 m, but it is possible to fire accurately at a distance of up to 1400 m.
3. Anti-materiel rifle from Anzio
The American company Anzio Ironworks produces heavy Take-Down Rifle sniper rifles chambered for the M61 Vulcan 20 × 102 mm aircraft gun. The initial velocity of a projectile weighing 101 grams is 1030 m/s, and the muzzle energy is 57.53 kJ.
20 mm Take-Down Rifle. Photo: anzioironworks.com The rifle is single-shot, weighs about 17.2 kg, and the effective firing range is 2730 m. The barrel length is 1270 mm.
Also, the company's specialists have developed another version of the rifle - Anzio Mag -Fed 20 MM Rifle with magazine feed. The reloading of weapons is carried out manually, the magazine capacity is 3 rounds.
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Several special ammunition has been developed for the rifle, for example, the FAP (Frangible Armor Piercing) armor-piercing projectile developed by Rheinmetall and GDOTS, designed to destroy both air and ground targets.
Externally, a solid core, when passing through almost any obstacle (armor or "cardboard" skin of a helicopter, for example), breaks into pieces, which in turn break further, while passing through subsequent obstacles.
2. Large caliber from Afrikaners
Before certain events in the country, the industry of South Africa was at a high level, which made it possible to create their own promising tanks, modernize helicopters, and create high-precision weapons. A lot of attention was also paid to small arms, for example, designer Tony Neophytou created the Mechem NTW-20 large-caliber rifle.
Mechem NTW-20. Photo: militaryfactory.com The novelty turned out to be very effective, thanks to a wide range of ammunition and the ability to choose the required caliber - 14.5 mm or 20 mm - by changing the barrel.
We are, of course, interested in the latter - standard ammunition (20 × 82) from the German MG 151 aircraft gun.
Tony Neophytou and his invention. Photo: orugee.blogspot.com The ammunition of the rifle includes high-explosive fragmentation, cumulative, armor-piercing and even shells with irritating substances.
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The NTW-20 is equipped with magazines for three rounds, but if necessary, you can use the rifle as a single-shot rifle, laying the cartridges through the cartridge case ejection window.
The recoil when firing from the NTW-20 is relatively small, as if the shooter was firing from a 12.7 mm rifle. This is achieved thanks to an effective recoil mechanism, which includes a hydraulic damper and a pneumatic knurler similar to artillery systems.
Indian copy of Vidhwansak. Photo: reddit.com And also due to the presence of a powerful muzzle brake and shock-absorbing cushion on the butt plate.
By the way, this rifle was copied by the Indians, practically without changing anything. They called their version Vidhwansak, which means "destroyer".
1. RT-20 hand gun
The rifle designed by Ratko Jankovic has been in service with the Croatian army since 1994 and has been actively used in combat operations on the territory of the former Yugoslavia.
Such a powerful weapon - the rifle used 20 × 110 mm Hispano ammunition - was created for a very specific purpose: breaking through the armor protection of infrared sights mounted on the turrets of Serbian M-84 tanks (a modernized version of the Soviet T-72M tank).
RT-20. Photo: aalan.hr The recoil when fired from the RT-20 is four times greater than from a large-caliber 12.7 mm rifle. In order not to injure the shooter, an interesting recoil damping scheme was used: a number of holes were made almost in the center of the RT-20 barrel, through which, when fired, part of the powder gases break through, which then enters the pipe above the rifle barrel.
When exiting the tube, they create jet thrust, pushing the weapon forward, thereby compensating for recoil.
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It is quite inconvenient to shoot from the RT-20 alone - the rifle weighs as much as 19.2 kg, charging is done by one cartridge. And the process itself goes like this: after a shot, the sniper first needs to get out from under the heavy weapon, then take the bolt away with an unusual movement “away from you”, throw out the spent cartridge case, insert the cartridge and send it into the chamber, lock the bolt. Then again climb under a heavy rifle and look for a target.
With this algorithm of actions, the second calculation number will not hurt. Theoretically, thanks to powerful ammunition, the rifle is capable of hitting a target at a distance of up to 2,000 m. But to achieve such results, very high-quality cartridges, the highest training of the shooter and perfect aiming devices are needed. Therefore, the practical firing range for the Croatian rifle leaves 1500-1700 meters.
A sniper is a military or law enforcement officer who is fluent in the art of marksmanship. Snipers must be excellent at camouflage, keep an eye on the enemy, have self-control and composure. The sniper is the real elite of the ground forces.
The main target of a sniper on the battlefield are enemy officers, machine gunners, grenade launchers, operators of anti-tank systems, signalmen. Sniper fire not only destroys the most dangerous opponents, but also undermines the morale of the enemy, sowing panic among his fighters. The task of the sniper is to destroy his target with the first shot. The best sniper weapons can hit the enemy at distances up to four kilometers.
To perform his functions, the sniper uses a special weapon - a sniper rifle, as well as other devices necessary to ensure an accurate shot. A sniper rifle is usually equipped with an optical sight and is characterized by high accuracy and accuracy of fire compared to conventional small arms. Modern sniper rifles are the embodiment of the latest technologies and innovative design solutions. Therefore, the best sniper rifles can cost several tens of thousands of dollars. According to modern requirements for sniper weapons, dispersion should not exceed 1 minute of arc (MOA).
A sniper rifle requires special handling - this weapon needs to be cleaned, lubricated and maintained regularly, because even a minor defect can seriously affect the accuracy of shooting.
Sniper rifles can be non-automatic (bolt-action) and self-loading. As a rule, non-automatic rifles are more accurate, since vibrations from the operation of automation reduce the accuracy of the weapon. However, sometimes the ability to quickly make a second shot is more important than the accuracy of fire.
For a sniper, not only a rifle is important, he also needs special cartridges. In addition, for an accurate shot (especially at long distances), additional equipment is used: rangefinders, ballistic computers, sensors for determining the speed and direction of wind, humidity, and air temperature.
There is often a fierce debate on the Internet about which sniper rifles in the world are the best. This question is very complicated - it is very difficult to choose from a large number of outstanding examples of sniper weapons. We have prepared the top 10, which includes the best rifles from different countries and historical periods.
10. KORD (ASVK)
This is a Russian powerful large-caliber rifle, work on the creation of which began in the Soviet Union. In 2004, it was launched into mass production, and since then these sniper rifles have been used by the Russian armed forces.
9. M2010
In ninth place in the top 10 is a sniper rifle specially designed for the US military. It is a deep modernization of the M24 rifle, which has been used by the American army for many years.
The modernization was carried out taking into account the experience gained by the Americans in Afghanistan and Iraq. The M2010 uses a more powerful cartridge. 300 Winchester Magnum, weapon ergonomics are significantly improved, a muzzle brake with a silencer is installed.
The disadvantages of the M2010 (compared to the M24) include a brighter flash of the shot and strong recoil due to the use of more powerful ammunition.
8. SVD
In eighth place in the top 10 is the legendary Soviet self-loading sniper rifle SVD, adopted by the Soviet army in 1963. Although this weapon is not the most powerful, accurate and convenient, but because of its cheapness and reliability, the SVD is the most massive sniper weapon in the world.
The automatic rifle works by removing powder gases from the bore, the magazine has a capacity of ten rounds.
The aiming range of the SVD is 1.3 thousand meters, but at such a distance the accuracy of the shot will not be high.
Currently, SVD-type sniper rifles are called "Marksman" in the West. This term refers to the weapon of an infantry sniper operating as part of his unit. Its main task is to defeat the enemy at short and medium distances. Such rifles occupy a middle position between conventional small arms and high-precision bolt-action sniper systems.
7.PSG1
In seventh place in the top 10 is the German PSG1 self-loading rifle, manufactured by the famous weapons company Heckler & Koch. This weapon was developed after the tragic events at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Then the German law enforcement officers failed to save the hostages due to the inability to quickly neutralize the terrorists. Gunsmiths Heckler & Koch were tasked with creating a new sniper rifle for police special forces.
The PSG1 uses the 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge, has magazines with a capacity of 5 or 20 rounds and an effective range of 600 meters. This rifle is considered one of the most accurate self-loading sniper systems.
6. "Vintorez"
This is a silent sniper rifle developed in the late 80s in the USSR for the needs of special units of the armed forces, state security and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
5 CheyTac M200 Intervention
In fifth place in the top 10 is the CheyTac M200 Intervention large-caliber sniper rifle, developed in the USA at the beginning of this century. Almost all the achievements of technologists and weapon designers are embodied in this rifle.
The CheyTac M200 Intervention sniper complex uses .408 CheyTac and .375 CheyTac ammunition, has manual reloading and a number of additional options: a computer to which you can connect a set of various sensors (wind, temperature, humidity sensors). All this allows an experienced shooter to hit targets at distances up to 2 km. However, the CheyTac M200 Intervention costs a lot: the price can reach 50 thousand dollars. The weight of the rifle is 12 kg.
4. "Orsis" T-5000
In fourth place in the top 10 is the latest Russian sniper rifle, developed by the private company Promtekhnologii at the beginning of this decade. "Orsis" T-5000 is considered one of the most accurate sniper systems in the world, its accuracy level is 0.2 MOA. This is a very good result for serial weapons.
The rifle is manufactured in two calibers: 8.6 mm and 7.62 mm; it weighs only 6.5 kg, which distinguishes the weapon from many domestic and foreign counterparts. During the test, the rifle was exposed to low and high temperatures, moisture, and pollution. However, these factors could not reduce the accuracy of the weapon.
In 2012, thanks to this rifle, the Russian team won gold at the prestigious international sniper shooting competitions.
3. Barrett M82
In third place in the top 10 is the legendary American large-caliber rifle Barrett M82. It was invented and embodied in metal by the American Ronnie Barrett (before that he served in law enforcement agencies) in 1982. For a long time, Barret could not find customers who would be interested in his weapons. Only after the start of Operation Desert Storm did the US military department pay attention to the new sniper complex. Since then, Barrett has developed several models of large-caliber rifles that are popular with both the military and law enforcement officers.
This is a self-loading rifle that uses the most powerful 12.7 × 99 mm NATO cartridge (it is used in the Browning M2 heavy machine gun). Automation works due to the short stroke of the barrel, which is equipped with a muzzle brake of the original design. The weight of the rifle (for different modifications it is somewhat different) can reach 15 kg. The accuracy of the Barrett M82 is 1.5-2 MOA, which is quite good for a self-loading rifle of this caliber.
Rifles of the Barrett family are often referred to as "anti-materiel". The fact is that they were developed not so much to defeat infantry on the battlefield, but to destroy enemy material objects. A 12-gauge bullet can hit lightly armored vehicles, destroy enemy radar, or detonate an unexploded ordnance or mine. For these purposes, the accuracy of this sniper complex is quite sufficient.
Barrett rifles are very loved by Hollywood directors and can be easily understood: this weapon is really beautiful, it literally radiates power and deadly force.
2. Accuracy International AW50
In second place in the top 10 is another large-caliber rifle - Accuracy International AW50. This weapon is made in Britain, the rifle uses 12.7×99mm NATO cartridges (like the Barret) and is equipped with a bolt-action bolt action. Magazine capacity - five rounds.
The maximum firing range of this weapon is 2 thousand meters. Currently, the Accuracy International AW50 rifle is in service with the UK, Germany, Australia, Portugal, South Korea and several other countries.
1. Accuracy International L96A1
The first place in the top 10 is occupied by another development of the British company Accuracy International - the L96A1 rifle. It can be called a real symbol of sniper weapons. The L96A1 was developed in 1982 and has been in service with the British Army ever since. It was from this weapon that the farthest successful shot from a sniper rifle was fired - 2475 meters.
The L96A1 has a bolt action, it can change caliber and use 6.2, 7.62 and 8.6mm cartridges. The effective firing range of the L96A1 is one and a half thousand meters. The cost of the rifle is 10-12 thousand dollars, which can be called quite a reasonable price for a weapon of this class.
In addition to Great Britain, the L96A1 is in service with another two dozen armies of the world.
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