best sniper rifle

[ThunderBolt]

What do you guys think is the worlds best sniper rifle.
These are the most widely used sniper rifles.

M40A3
Caliber7.62x51mm NATO (.308 Win)Length44.25" (1124mm)Weight16.5 lbs (7.5 kg)BarrelSchneider Match Grade SS #7Barrel Length24 inches (610mm)Trigger Weight3 to 5 poundsMagazine Capacity5 roundsSightUnertl 10x with Mil-Dots and BDCStockMcMillan Tactical A4Max Effective Range1000 yards (915 meters)




M82
Caliber:



.50 BMG
Magazine:10-shot detachable box magazineBarrel:29"Weight:32.5 lbsLength:57" overallStock:Composite with Sorbothane recoil pad.Sights:Scope with ironsights.Max Effective Range1830 metersFeatures:Semi-automatic
Recoil operated
Recoiling barrel to reduce felt recoil
Highly effective Muzzle Brake
Three-lug locking bolt
Self leveling bi-pod
Barrett claims 1 MOA with match ammunition

PSG-1

Caliber:



7.62 x 51mm NATO (.308 Win)

Magazine:5 or 20 round detachable boxBarrel:25.59" (650mm), Heavy, 4 grooves, right hand twist.System of Operation:Roller locked, delayed blowback.Overall length:47.56" (120.8 cm)Total Weight:17.81 lbs (8.10kg)Scope:Hendsoldt 6x42, with reticle illumination. 6 settings
from 100 to 600 metersStock:Matte black high impact plastic,
adjustable for length, pivoting butt cap,
vertically-adjustable cheekpiece; target-type
pistol grip with adustable palm shelf.Trigger:Adjustable for pull, removable from pistol grip.Features:Uses HK-91 action with low-noise bolt closing device;
special forend with T-way rail for sling swivel or tripod.

 

[aaaditya]

i support the psg1(it is great looking ,almost as light as m40a3 though short in range it has a heavier magazine capacity):coffee

 

[gf0012-aust]

You can't have a comparison of 7.62's againt .50 cals. The role and tactical use is very different.

If you want to take out a target at long range (2mk+) then it's a .50 cal. If you want an anti-materiele weapon, it's the .50 cal, if you want to blow someones arms or legs off - then it's the .50 cal. etc etc....

7.62's are not in the same league.

 

[knightrider4]

If you want to lug a 8kg PSG-1 around good luck to you. I think its a tad to complex for the battlefield. Probably better suited for use as a SWAT type weapon for use in nice clean suburban enviroments.

 

[ThunderBolt]

agreed, i think most anti terrorist units use PSG-1 in don't know the reasons, perhaps its better at close ranges, i have never seen a us sniper with a m82 in iraq, they mostly use m40A1, A3 is just a newer version, not much diff. Do you guys know anything about the new turkish sniper rifle, it looks very much like m82??

 

[AlexSWE]

Depends on where it will be used, if Sweden then defenetly the British L96A1 AW (AW stands for Arctic Warfare, the L96A1 is also used by Special Air Service) as it was designed for our climate. For disarming unexploded ordencese then the M82

picture below of the L96A1 AW

Uses a Hensoldt Zeiss 10 X scope

And here is a one without the duch tape on it http://www.soldf.com/images/s_psg90_2.jpg

 

[Bordo-Bereli]

the best sniper rifle is intervenion m200 military.No rifle has range as long as it.

 

[gf0012-aust]

the best sniper rifle is intervenion m200 military.No rifle has range as long as it.

welcome to the forums. it might be a good idea to post some links or specs about why you think it is longer ranged than any other sniper rifle.

eg a .50cal barret can effect a kill at 2.5km. whereas a 7.62 is considerably less than that. so you can see why we need to see data to debate the subject.

 

[Bordo-Bereli]

can you write 50.cal barrett's specialities.I don't think that its specilaties are better than m200.

 

[gf0012-aust]

can you write 50.cal barrett's specialities.I don't think that its specilaties are better than m200.

matey, thats not the way it works in here . When you make a claim about a piece of equipment you need to provide supporting evidence.

The barret was used as an example of a sniper weapon "in extremis". another words, it is at the high end of the absolute sniping requirement. The US uses it for anti-materiele as well as anti-personnel.

Conventional sniper weapons are usually 7.62mm or even 5.56 in a number of militaries. another words they are obviously anti-personnel and clearly the calibre is unsuitable for anti-materiele.

I was hinting (quite heavily) that you need to attribute the weapon to its mission type. eg for Alpine patrols you probably wouldn't see someone lugging a Barret around, as they need to have efficient carry loads as they are usually not near immediate support units, OTOH, a Barret or other .50 cal such as made by Accuracy International is the preferred sniper weapon in places like Afghanistan as they can self spot out to 3km at mountain targets and be comfortable hitting it. A 7.62 such as the M401A1, L96A1 or even a Sako TRG might struggle to get to 2/3rds of that range and not suffer from a falling shot.

So, you appear to have not picked up on that.

Telling us that you like a weapon without supporting evidence or data means nothing. - hence, provide the links and data and then indicate the role.

btw, in some instances the preferred calibre for sniping has been as low as .177 - a calibre typically used by professional trappers, shooters in countries such as Australia and Finland.

So, set the parameters of your argument. The M200 btw, was based on the Windrunner - so apart from reduced calibre from the original .50cal, what is it that makes it superior?

 

[Supe]

Given that the ADF uses the.50 cal Accuracy International for anti-materiel use... it begs the question. Which rifle is employed for sniping duties?

Does anyone know if the Australian's trialled the Barrett?

Defence.gov.au page describes the AI's use thusly:

The rifle’s primary role is anti-materiel – light vehicles, radar installations, ammunition dumps – anything that can be engaged from long distances. It is a stand-off weapon system.

Edit: pics of the AI rifle? link

 

[gf0012-aust]

Given that the ADF uses the.50 cal Accuracy International for anti-materiel use... it begs the question. Which rifle is employed for sniping duties?

Does anyone know if the Australian's trialled the Barrett?

Defence.gov.au page describes the AI's use thusly:

Yep, the Barret failed to meet the requirements. I used it in the prev argument as it's a signature weapon (ie everyone knows of it by name, just like Ak-47, M16 etc...)

If I was going .50cal I wouldn't get a Barret either. But thats personal opinion.

 

[Supe]

I used it in the prev argument as it's a signature weapon (ie everyone knows of it by name, just like Ak-47, M16 etc...).

Ah yes, you are quite correct. Through a forum like this, comes enlightenment. The Barrett has been Hollywoodised and has become synonymous as a snipers rifle. (I think the Barrett was featured in Sniper / Navy Seals)

Are you privvy as to why the ADF chose the AI over the Barrett?

 

[gf0012-aust]

Are you privvy as to why the ADF chose the AI over the Barrett?

No, I only got scuttlebut stuff when it got dropped. It also got dropped very early in the eval (Rnd 1), so that indicates that it wasn't even close in the runoff against the AI.

In fact IIRC all the vendors were unsuccessful in the first evaluation. Either the selection criteria was tough, or they were sub-standard to spec.

I'll ask around and see if any others know. Aussie-Digger might have an inside run on "how and why".

 

[Bordo-Bereli]

m 200 is used by bordo-berelis and there are only 11 m200 in the world if I don't remember wrong.Its effective range is 2.4 km and it's loaded such as:
Night Force 5.5-22 X 56 NXS binocular
PVS-14 III.generation night vision glass
Target determination with bluetooth
Kestrel 4000 mini meteorology computer
Advanced Ballistic Computer (ABC)
OPSINC silencer system
I think the specialities are so good.Which sniper rifle is used by U.S. Special Forces usually?Which is the best rifle in U.S. Army?

 

[gf0012-aust]

m 200 is used by bordo-berelis and there are only 11 m200 in the world if I don't remember wrong.Its effective range is 2.4 km and it's loaded such as:
Night Force 5.5-22 X 56 NXS binocular
PVS-14 III.generation night vision glass
Target determination with bluetooth
Kestrel 4000 mini meteorology computer
Advanced Ballistic Computer (ABC)
OPSINC silencer system
I think the specialities are so good.Which sniper rifle is used by U.S. Special Forces usually?Which is the best rifle in U.S. Army?

You'll have to get an answer from the Americans on the forum re their weapons.

The concerns I have with ranking the weapon highly are as follows:

non standard cartridge. - it uses a .408 which means that

• you have an immediate logistics burden
• you have an interchangeability issue with other weapons in the unit (especially if you're supporting infantry in sieze and hold missions) - and that is one of the primary tasks of snipers in places like Iraq. The snipers deploy to support ground troops engaged in sieze and hold, FIBUA etc..
• esoteric rounds means that there are complications in support from unit armourers - it's not a familiar weapon - so an armourer would not keep a ready supply of typical components. In a combat environment thats far too risky
• short magazine. typically it carries 5 rounds, that is less than half of a normal A-M magazine. Short magazines means more changeouts. In a "hot" environment, the last thing you want to do is get busy changing over, add in non standard calibres and you can't even borrow rounds from the heavier support units.
• the weapon is an orphan due to being esoteric

all my opinion of course, but in a complex contested environment, they're the things that are important and need heavy weighting when considering suitability.

IMV, its better for a police sniper team, assuming that this is the calibre that they want. I really don't see it as useful for a military theatre.

btw, the effective range is: 2500 yards (2270 meters). Not 2.4km, and thats using its typical standard 419 grain (27.15 gram) bullet.

 

[Aussie Digger]

Both rifles (AI and Barrett along with others) were tested extensively at the School of Infantry at Singleton by instructors and operational snipers (both "Green" Army and specwarries). None of the rifles matched what the ADF was looking for.

The AI was subsequently modified (not 100% certain of the mods conducted, but I believe it was to do with the sight and rail assembly and stock of the weapon) and the rifle was re-assessed. The rifle was subsequently approved for service and acquired for the Australian Army, RAAF, RAN and Special Operations Command.

The AMR-50 is used as an "anti-materiel" rifle, meaning that the rifle is primarily employed to destroy equipment rather than personnel. The SR-98 (7.62mm AI Sniper Rifle) is used in the anti-personnel role and has been fired operationally in East Timor and reportedly Iraq, (though that has not officially been announced)...

The AMR-50 is no doubt capable of anti-personnel use where appropriate, but Australian Army doctrine is such that the rifle is meant to be employed in the direct fire role to destroy light equipment, rather than the "killing people" role.

There's actually a rather interesting debate with the Royal Australian Army Infantry Corps at the moment as to exactly who should employ this rifle. It is currently employed within the Sniper Sections, embedded within an Infantry Battalions "Recon" platoon, however due to it's AMR role some are pushing for it to be employed by the Direct Fire Support Weapons platoons (DFSW) and advocate leaving the Sniping to the Snipers...

Others are advocating that an independant Sniper platoon should be established with Infantry battalions due to their inherent use and capability. A well trained sniper, is an extraordinary source of intell, besides being an excellent combat capability. It's an argument that I happen to agree with, that this somewhat scarce resource be enhanced. (Given that there's currently only around 80-100 snipers in the whole Australian Army)...

 

[Bordo-Bereli]

I'm writing from Turkey and I wanna learn something .Did I make a fault ,because I gave the rifle's specialities.I wanna learn only it,please.

 

[gf0012-aust]

I'm writing from Turkey and I wanna learn something .Did I make a fault ,because I gave the rifle's specialities.I wanna learn only it,please.

matey, you might have misunderstood the reason for my answer. It wasn't to criticise your choice, but to give you another perspective. It's not a criticism of you.

 

[gf0012-aust]

Others are advocating that an independant Sniper platoon should be established with Infantry battalions due to their inherent use and capability. A well trained sniper, is an extraordinary source of intell, besides being an excellent combat capability. It's an argument that I happen to agree with, that this somewhat scarce resource be enhanced. (Given that there's currently only around 80-100 snipers in the whole Australian Army)...

I'd have to say that I'm sitting in this camp as well. Snipers are typically misunderstood by unit commanders and have been used inappropriately (IMO) in the past.

Given the mindset and psychology of your typical sniper team, it makes sense to use them properly outside of the mainstream

there's a subtle difference between a marksman and a sniper. I think in the past they've been called up to act as markemen rather than be used in a supplementary ISR capable role.

my 2c worth