The SVU project (Snaiperskaya Vintovka Ukorochennaya – shortened sniper rifle) traces its roots back to 1970s, when it was decided to develop a compact sniper rifle for Soviet airborne (VDV) troops. Such rifle was designed using standard Dragunov SVD action converted to bullpup layout. Back then this project never went past development stage, but in around 1991 it was resurrected in Tula and offered to Russian Internal Affairs Ministry (MVD) as a possible weapon for urban operations. At that time MVD accepted the offer, but requested the rifle to be converted from semi-automatic to selective fired version (probably inspired by German HK G8 “police automatic rifle”). Such conversion was developed by TSKIB SOO (Central Sporting and Hunting Arms Design Bureau in Tula). It was initially known as OTs-03 in semi-automatic version and as OTs-03A and OTs-03AS in selective fired versions (SVU, SVU-A and SVU-AS respectively). Since mid-nineties this rifle was produced in Tula and issued in limited numbers to various law enforcement organizations across the Russia.
There are no firm data on accuracy of SVU rifle, but on short- to medium ranges it is believed to be on par with standard Dragunov SVD rifles.

The basic action of the SVU-AS rifle is inherited from Dragunov SVD sniper rifle – it is a gas operated, rotating bolt design with short-stroke gas piston. The trigger unit is modified with long connect bar, which links forward-mounted trigger with sear back in receiver. In SVU-AS, trigger unit is further modified with introduction of the full-automatic mode of fire. Selection of the mode of fire is done by the pull on the trigger – short pull produces single shots, and long, deliberate pull produces automatic (burst) fire. For semi-automatic fire only rifle is equipped with selector, which, when engaged, limits rearward travel of the trigger so only single shots can be squeezed out of the gun. This selector is located within trigge guard, above the trigger, and moves laterally. Because of bullpup layout, buttplate is attached directly to the receiver, and pistol grip and scope mount are moved forward. Barrel is shortened and equipped with combination flash hider / muzzle brake device. Integral folding bipod is attached to special rod, which runs forward from receiver. This is done to relieve the barrel from stresses generated by bipod. Early versions of SVU and SVU-A vere produced without bipod, and actually the “S” letter in SVU-AS designation stands for “soschka” (bipod in Russian). Standard sighting equipment includes open sights installed on folding bases, with rear being of diopter type and adjustable for range between 100 and 1300 meters. There’s also a standard side rail, which will accept variety f telescope or night sights, the 4X PSO-1 being most typical. SVU-AS rifles use standard SVD magazines with 10-round capacity. Apparently, bigger capacity magazines were also designed for SVU-A, but it seems that none were produced in quantity.
The automatic fire feature of SVU-A and SVU-AS seems to be of any value only in emergency close combat or self-defense actions, as the limited magazine capacity and light barrel greatly limits automatic fire capabilities of this weapon.

Basic SVU (OTs-03) rifle without telescope and with open sights raised to working position

SVU-AS (OTs-03AS) rifle with 4X PSO-1 telescope sight and camo paint; bipod is folded

SVU-AS rifle with bipod extended

Caliber: Russian 7.62×54mm Rimmed
Operation: gas-operated, rotating bolt, semi-automatic (SVU) or select-fire (SVU-AS)
Capacity: 10 round detachable box magazine
Weight: 4,4 (SVU) kg with empty magazine and telescope sight; 5,5 kg (SVU-AS with empty magazine, telescope sight and bipod)
Length: 900 mm
Barrel Length: 520 mm
Rate of Fire: 650 rounds per minute (for SVU-AS only)

Brugger & Thomet (B+T) APR 308 sniper rifle was born in 2003 as a further evolution of the French PGM rifle. Brugger & Thomet company was a long-time distributor of PGM rifles, and in 2003 competed in a tender to sell the French Made but Swiss modified rifle to Singaporean army, which at the time sought a new 7.62×51 precision weapon. After some confusing communication over who had the rights to sell the rifle, Brugger & Thomet company decided to improve and to produce the rifle in fully Switzerland. The Brugger & Thomet (B+T) APR 308 sniper rifle was first presented to the public at 2005 MILIPOL exhibition, and is now adopted as a standard sniper rifle by the Army of Singapore..

Brugger & Thomet (B+T) APR 308 sniper rifle is a modular weapon, built upon a metallic lower receiver (main frame or chassis), which houses upper receiver with bolt group and barrel, as well as fire control group, folding buttstock and other furniture. Gun action utilizes traditional manually operated rotary bolt with three radial locking lugs at the front. Opening and closing rotation of the bolt requires only 60o of radial movement of bolt handle. Free-floating precision-made barrel is equipped with special muzzle brake which also serves as a mounting point for quick-detachable silencer and hosts folding front sight. Trigger group, manual safety and pistol grip are assembled into single detachable module. Trigger is of two-stage type and fully adjustable (trigger adjustments do not require disassembly of the unit).Ambidextrous manual safety is conveniently located above the pistol grip. Ammunition is fed from a detachable 10-round box magazine, which provides last round bolt hold-open feature.

Brugger & Thomet (B+T) APR 308 sniper rifle is equipped with side-folding buttstock which is adjustable for length of pull, with adjustable cheek-piece. Polymer forend is attached to the lower receiver, and a folding bipod of adjustable height is provided for firing from prone position. Additional folding monopod (also of adjustable height) is attached to the rear of the buttstock. By default each Brugger & Thomet (B+T) APR 308 sniper rifle is equipped with Picatinny rail at the top of receiver, with three more optional rails available on special forend. Standard sighting equipment include folding iron sight (with aperture-type rear; not available on integrally silenced models), and a proprietary Brugger & Thomet TRS (Tactical Rifle Scope) telescope sight. B+T TRS telescope is manufactured exclusively for Brugger & Thomet by Schmidt & Bender, and it provided variable 3-12X magnification and proprietary aiming reticle with range-finding scale. With recommended ammunition, accuracy of Brugger & Thomet (B+T) APR 308 sniper rifle is less than 1 MOA at any practical range. As per specification, rifle provides 99% or better first hit probability against head-sized target at 400 meters and against body-sized target at 800 meters. Maximum effective range with proper ammunition (7.62×51 Norma Diamond Line 190 grs Sierra Matchking HPBT) is 1,000 meters. Being well-known for high-quality and high-efficiency firearm sound moderators (silencers), B+T provides standard APR 308 rifles with quick-detachable silencers, and also offers and integrally silenced version of the same rifle, optimized for subsonic ammunition.

Brugger & Thomet (B+T) APR 308 sniper rifle in standard configuration, with B+T scope and mirage band above the barrel


Brugger & Thomet (B+T) APR 308 sniper rifle with optional front Picatinny rail block, image-intensifying add-on night sight and detachable silencer


Brugger & Thomet (B+T) APR 308 sniper rifle in integrally silenced configuration, with silencer removed for maintenance or transportation

Caliber(s): 7.62×51mm NATO (.308Win)
Operation: manually operated rotary bolt action
Length: 1139 mm (906mm with buttstock folded)
Barrel: 610 mm
Weight: 7.01 kg (less telescope sight and other accessories)
Feed Mechanism: 10 rounds detachable box mag.

The AS50 fifty caliber (12.7mm) sniper / antimateriel rifle is the latest development of the famous British company Accuracy International Ltd. First displayed in January 2005 in USA at the ShotShow-2005, this rifle reportedly has been developed especially for US SOCOM users, and is now being tested by the US NAVY Special Operations center. The AS50 is to provide combat operators with highly accurate and rapid aimed fire at extended ranges. To achieve such goal, the AS50 is built around gas operated, semiautomatic action, with “single rear locking” (most probably, this mean a tilting bolt). The two-part receiver is machined from high grade steel, the barrel is free-floated and fitted with effective muzzle brake. Easily detachable buttstock is fitted with recoil-reducing buttpad, as well as with folding rear grip, which also serves as a rear support leg. The folding quick-detachable bipod with adjustable legs is fitted as a standard. Top of the receiver is equipped with full length Picatinny type rail which can accept any compatible scope mount; two additional rails are mounted on either side of the short handguard / barrel jacket. Rifle is fitted with four sling mounts, and can be brought down to basic sub-assemblies within three minutes for maintenance or compact transportation or storage. Rifle is fed using single stack detachable box magazines, which holt five rounds of ammunition.

Accuracy International AS50 sniper rifle

Caliber: 12.7×99mm / .50BMG
Operation: gas operated, semiautomatic
Barrel: 692 mm
Weight: 14.1 kg empty
Length: 1369 mm
Feed Mechanism: 5 rounds detachable box magazine

The RT-20 was developed in the Croatia in the mid-1990s as a pure anti-materiel and anti-armor rifle. The RT-20 name means “Rucni Top, 20mm”, that is “Hand Canon, 20mm”. It is one of the most powerful anti-materiel rifles fielded by any army in the world today – the only others design roughly comparable to this monster in the terms of the caliber and effectiveness are the South-African NTW-20 rifle and the Finnish Helenius APH-20 (will be posted at this site later). The RT-20 had been successfully deployed during the war in the former Yugoslavia in the second half of the 1990s. It is manufacture by the Croatian company RH-Alan and is officially adopted by Croatian army.

The RT-20 is built around the very powerful 20mm ammunition, originally developed for Hispano Suiza HS404 anti-aircraft round of WW2 vintage. This ammunition is still used in anti-aircraft guns in some countries for AA guns and generally available in HE (explosive) and AP (anti-armor) loadings, both suitable for anti-material roles. The AP loading also can be successfully used against infantry fighting vehicles and armored personnel carriers. The 20×110mm round fires the 130 gram (2000 grains) projectile at muzzle velocities about 850 meters per second. This results in high terminal effectiveness but also imposes a serious problem of excessive recoil forces. The 20mm Hispano round generates about 4 times more recoil when fired from 20 kg rifle, compared to .50BMG (12.7×99mm) round, fired from 10kg rifle (such as Barrett M95). To make the recoil more or less bearable by the average shooter, the Croatian designers developed a quite interesting counter-recoil system, that uses a reactive principle. The system consist of the large reactive tube, located above the barrel. The forward end of this tube is connected to the barrel at about its middle point. The rear part of the tube forms the reactive nozzle.When gun is fired, some hot powder gases are fed from the barrel to the reactive tube and back, forming a back-blast with reactive force that cats again the recoil forces. The large muzzle brake further helps to decrease the recoil. This reactive system, once popular in large caliber (about 80 – 100 mm and bigger) recoilless rifles, almost never had been used in such relatively small weapons. This system, while effective in counter-recoil, has some disadvantages, First, it requires some special firing techniques for shooter to avoid damage from backblast. Second, due to the same reason, it hardly can be fired in confined spaces like the small building rooms, and the RT-20 cannot be fired with structures, such as walls, in close proximity to the rear.. Third, the backblast can create additional spots for enemy, giving away the position of the rifle.

The rest of the system is relatively simple. The rotating bolt locks the barrel by three massive lugs. RT-20 is a single-shot rifle and thus have no magazine. The shoulder rest and the pistol handle with trigger are located under the barrel, so rifle is obviously a bullpup. The RT-20 has no open sights, instead it had an telescope optical sight, mounted on the barrel and offset to the left.

RT-20 antimateriel rifle. Note the reactive counter-recoil tube above the barrel.

RT-20 in firing position. Anyone can wonder if the backblast from the reactive counter-recoil tube (above the barrel) won’t tear off the shooters’ backpack at the moment of fire…

Cartridge size comparision: .50 BMG (top) and the 20×110mm Hispano

Caliber: 20×110mm Hispano
Operation: manual operated, bolt action
Barrel: 920 mm
Weight: 19.2 kg with scope and bipod
Length: 1330 mm
Feed Mechanism: single shot, manual loading
Maximum effective range: about 1800 meters

The development of this interesting weapon began in mid-1980s, when Austrian company Steyr-Mannlicher AG decided to develop a long-range anti-materiel rifle (AMR) – a modern equivalent of the WW2-era antitank rifles. Main targets for AMR are light armoured vehicles, helicopters, installations such as radar cabins, missile launchers, fuel tanks etc. To achieve desired effective range of at least 1000 meters, Steyr engineers first decided to use APDS (armour piercing, discarding sabot), or sub-caliber, ammunition. Development started from 12.7mm cartridges, and later Steyr developed a 14.5mm APFSDS (Arnour percing, fin stabilised, discarding sabot) ammunition in 14.5mm caliber and built few prototypes with smooth bores and semi-automatic actions, called Steyr AMR 5075. Further development led to even bigger caliber of 15.2mm fith same ultra-high velocity APFSDS projectiles. This system is called Steyr IWS 2000 (Infantry Weapon System 2000) and currently is probably in Adsvanced Development status or ready for adoption. IWS 2000 is wery formidable weapon. It fires 20 gramm (308 grains) tungsten dart (fleschette) with muzzle velocity of 1450 meters per second (4750 fps). At 1000 meters this projectile will penetrate a 40 mm of RHA (rollded homogenous steel armour) and will result in serious secondary fragmentation effect behind the armour. That said, it will penetrate two walls of any modern APC at one kilometer range. The trajectory is very flat and does not rise higher than 800 mm above the line of sight when fired to 1000 meters. The cartridge is of somewhat original design, and has plastic case with steel head and base. The projectile is concealed within a plastic sabot.

The rifle itself also is very interesting. Firs, it uses rare long-recoil system, when barrel recoils along with the bolt for significant lenght. At the end of the recoil, bolt unlocks from the barrel by rotating and held back, and barrel returns into forward position, ejecting a spent case. Bolt stays at the rearmost position while barrel moves, and then also moves forward, chambering a new round from the side-mounted magazine and finally locking rigidly to the barrel. This design allows for better recoil disttibution over a longer period of time. Huge muzzle brake also contributes to recoil control, so felt recoil of the IWS 2000 is descibed as a similar to the large-caliber sporting rifle. Five round detachable box magazine is located at the right side of the receiver and inclined down for about 45 degrees. The smooth-bore barrel can be easily detached, so rifle can be carried disassembled into two man-portable packs. Plastics are used where possible to reduce the weight of the gun. IWS 2000 is equipped with bipod and a rear leg under the buttstock. It is also equipped with 10X telescope as a standard.

This is probably the most powerful modern anti-materiel rifle, and while it is not a true “sniper” rifle, it is well worth mentioning. The future of this design is also unclear, sice it requires ammunition of a brand new type.

Steyr AMR 5075 prototype

Steyr IWS 2000 prototype

Steyr 15.2mm cartridge compared to 7.62mm NATO (.308 Wichester) cartridge

Steyr 15.2mm cartridge schematic

Caliber(s): 15.2mm Steyr APFSDS
Operation: long recoil, semi-automatic
Barrel: 1200 mm
Weight: 18 kg
Length: 1800 mm
Feed Mechanism: 5 rounds detachable box mag.

Dragunov SVD was designed not as a “standard” sniper rifle in its Western meaning of the term. In fact, main role of the SVD in Soviet / Russian Army is to extend effective range of fire of every infantry squad up to about 600 meters and to provide special fire support. SVD is a lightweight and quite accurate (for it’s class) rifle, cabable of semi-auto fire. First request for new sniper rifle was issued in 1958. In 1963 SVD (Snaiperskaya Vintovka Dragunova, or Dragunov Sniper Rifle) was accepted by Soviet Military. SVD can use any kind of standard 7.62×54R ammo, but primary round is specially developed for SVD sniper-grade cartridge with steel-core bullet. Every infantry squad in the Russian (Soviet) army had one man with SVD.
SVD rifle is extremely reliable in all conditions, and designed for heavy use. It has backup adjustable iron sights as a standard option, as well as a bayonet mount (standard AK-47 bayonet type).
Latest modernization incorporate rugged polymer stock. Also, for mounted and airborne troops a special variant was developed with folding buttsock and shortened barrel (590 mm). New flash hider/muzzle brake also installed.It must be noted that several countries produced SVD copies or look-alikes. Of those, the “true” clones (rifles that have similar internal design) are Iraqui Al Kadesih rifle and Chinese Type 85 (in 7,62×54R) and NDM-86 (in 7,62×51 NATO). Others, such as Romanian Romak FPK or Yugoslavian Zastava M76, are only look-alikes as their internal design is different and usually based on Kalsshnikov AK assault rifle. Russia also produces a civilan version of the SVD, known as “Tigr” (Tiger), in 7,62×54R and 7,62×51 (.308 Win). This usually has shorter barrel, although it is available in several different versions. Older hunting version of the SVD, the “Medved” (Bear) is no longer produced and is quite scarce.

Dragunov SVD is gas-operated, semi-automatic rifle. It uses short-stroke gas piston, and gas chamber has a two-position manual gas regulator. Barrel is locked by rotating bolt with three lugs. Receiver is machined from steel block. The safety is somewhat reminiscent in its appearance to that of Kalashnikov AK assault rifle, although internal design of the trigger unit is different, and there’s no provisions for full automatic fire. Trigger unit is assembled on a separate removable base that also incorporates a trigger guard. The second, smaller lever, located on the right side of receiver behind the safety, is a receiver cover catch, and is sued to disassemble the gun. Standard furniture includes a skeletonized wooden butt and a removable wooden handguard. Late production models may feature polymer handguards and, sometimes, polymer skeletonized butt. The short SVD-S rifle is fitted with separate pistol grip, made of plastic, and a side-folding metallic butt. All SVD rifles are fitted with adjustable open sights, as well as proprietary side rail mount, which will accept telescopic or IR sights on quick-detachable mounts. Standard telescope sight is the 4X fixed magnification PSO-1 with range-finding reticle. SVD rifles also are issued with carrying sling, cleaning kit and other accessories. A standard AK-type bayonet can be installed on the barrel.

Original SVD rifle with wooden furniture, right side

Original SVD rifle with wooden furniture, left side

SVD rifle, major parts and assemblies


SVD-S rifle with folding butt and polymer furniture

Russian-made hunting version of the SVD, the 7,62×54R Tigr (Tiger) rifle with new-style plastic SVD furniture. Note that there’s no bayonet lug on the barrel

Foreign SVD clones and look-alikes: top to bottom Al Kadesih rifle (Iraq), Type 85 rifle (China) and FPK rifle (Romania). Note that only two former rifles are true clones of SVD; the latter one, FPK in fact is a modified Kalashnikov AK rifle restyled to look like SVD and chambered for 7,62×54R.

Caliber: 7.62×54R
Operation: gas operated, short stroke, rotating bolt; semi-automatic
Weight: 4.31kg empty with telescope
Length: 1225 mm
Barrel Length: 620 mm
Capacity: 10 round detachable box magazine

The M76 sniper rifle has been developed by late 1970s at the Crvena Zastava Arms factory, in former Yugoslavia. It is still offered by the successor of Crvena Zastava, the Zastava Arms factory in Serbia. The M76 is based on famous Kalashnikov AK action, stretched and strengthened to accept much longer and powerful rifle ammunition. The trigger also has been limited to semiautomatic fire only. All controls and layout of the rifle are similar to AK, and it is fitted with typical side-rail on the left wall of the receiver, which can accept mounts fro day and night scopes. Standard sight is the 4X daylight telescope, and the M76 is fitted with adjustable open sights as a back-up measure.Long barrel if fitted with flash hider. While M76 is said to be effective up to 800 meters, it is more in line with so called “designated marksmen rifles” like Dragunov SVD, than with most of the western sniper rifles.

The M76 is a gas operated, semiautomatic weapon. Receiver of M76 is made from machined steel. The long stroke gas piston operates the rotating bolt with two lugs, which locks into the receiver. The Kalashnikov-type safety is located at the right side of the receiver. Furniture is made from wood.

Zastava M76 sniper rifle with night vision scope

Zastava M76 sniper rifle with standard telescope sight

Calibers: 7.92×57 Mauser; also 7.62×51mm NATO and 7.62×54R
Operation: semiautomatic, gas operated, rotating bolt
Barrel: 550 mm
Weight: 4.2 kg
Length: 1135 mm
Feed Mechanism: 10 rounds detachable box magazine

]]> http://fire-arms.info/archives/zastava-m76-sniper-rifle/feed 0 http://fire-arms.info/archives/m99b-m06-anti-materiel-sniper-rifle http://fire-arms.info/archives/m99b-m06-anti-materiel-sniper-rifle#comments Fri, 17 Jul 2009 18:24:39 +0000 Megan http://fire-arms.info/?p=21

This rifle first appeared in Chinese press as 12,7mm M99B, but it also was recently publicized as M06. It must be noted, however, that in official advertising literature, distributed by Poly Technologies Ltd, an export sales organization of the PLA, this rifle is designated as M99B. It appears that M06 rifle, which is slightly longer than M99B and is listed only with one caliber (12,7×108) is a “domestic use” version for PLA or PAP, while shorter and bi-caliber M99B is an export proposition.
This rifle is offered as anti-materiel / anti-sniper weapon, and is available for export in two calibers – 12,7×108 (M99B-I) and 12,7×99 / .50BMG (M99B-II). No firm facts are available on accuracy of this weapon, but it is believed that it shoots about 2 MOA with Chinese standard issue ammunition (available information suggests R50 accuracy as less than 200mm at 600m). This is way below Western “sniping” standards but more or less enough for anti-materiel work or short-range enemy snipers suppression.
The basic design of this rifle appears to be a bull-pup variation of the M99 rifle. Not much information is available on internals of this rifle, although it is believed that it uses gas operated action with tipping bolt locking. Feed is from detachable drum magazines (which is rather unusual for this class of weapons), holding five rounds of ammunition. Ejection is to the right side. Rifle is fitted with adjustable bipod, adjustable rear monopod, and buffered buttstock. Left side of receiver is fitted with Picatinny style rail which will accept a variety of sighting equipment on appropriate mounts. Typical sighting set-up includes 10X fixed power telescope or 4X electronic night sights.

M99B anti-materiel / sniper rifle with daylight telescope sight

M06 anti-materiel / sniper rifle with electronic night sight

Caliber(s): 12,7×108 (M99B-I and M06) or 12,7×99 / .50BMG (M99B-II)
Operation: gas operated semi-automatic
Barrel: mm
Weight: ~12 kg (unloaded, less telescope sight)
Length: 1250 mm (M99B) or 1360 mm (M06)
Feed Mechanism: 5-round detachable drum magazine