The M40, United States Marine Corps standard-issue sniper rifle.

The Accuracy International Arctic Warfare series of sniper rifles is standard issue in the armies of many countries, including those of Britain and Germany (picture shows a rifle of the German Army).

Alex - the new Polish bolt-action sniper rifle.

In military and law enforcement use, the term sniper rifle is frequently applied to rifles used to ensure accurate placement of shots at greater ranges than other small arms. A typical sniper rifle is built for optimal levels of accuracy, fitted with a telescopic sight and chambered for a military centrefire cartridge. The term is often used in the media to describe any type of accurised firearm fitted with a telescopic sight that is employed against human targets. Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1097x491, 574 KB) en: PhotoID: 2003925151633 Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton Operation/Exercise/Event: sniper Caption: The M-40A3 is the new precision fire weapon used by Marine snipers. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1097x491, 574 KB) en: PhotoID: 2003925151633 Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton Operation/Exercise/Event: sniper Caption: The M-40A3 is the new precision fire weapon used by Marine snipers. ... Caliber: 7. ... The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing force projection from the sea,[1] using the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces and is one of seven uniformed services. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1280x960, 1212 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Accuracy International Arctic Warfare Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1280x960, 1212 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Accuracy International Arctic Warfare Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or scanner... Accuracy International is a specialist British firearms manufacturer based in Portsmouth, Hampshire, United Kingdom, and best known for producing the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare series of precision sniper rifles. ... Arctic warfare is a term used to describe conflict that takes place in an exceptionally cold climate. ... The German Army (German: [1], [IPA: heɐ]  ) is the land component of the Bundeswehr (Federal Defence Forces) of the Federal Republic of Germany. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 321 pixelsFull resolution (872 × 350 pixel, file size: 92 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Author: MichaÅ‚ Konieczny Photo made on 12th International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO in September 2005 in Kielce File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 800 × 321 pixelsFull resolution (872 × 350 pixel, file size: 92 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Author: MichaÅ‚ Konieczny Photo made on 12th International Defence Industry Exhibition MSPO in September 2005 in Kielce File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file... Alex is the new Polish bolt-action sniper rifle. ... Polish Army (Polish Wojsko Polskie) is the name applied to the military forces of Poland. ... For other uses, see Rifle (disambiguation). ... Small arms captured in Fallujah, Iraq by the US Marine Corps in 2004 The term small arms generally describes any number of smaller infantry weapons, such as firearms that an individual soldier can carry. ... Ruger 10/22 carbines, before accurizing (top) and after (below). ... View through a 4x rifle scope A telescopic sight, commonly referred to as a scope, is a device used to give an accurate point of aim for a firearm. ... A centerfire cartridge is a cartridge in which the primer is located in the center of the cartridge case head. ... This article does not adequately cite its references or sources. ... Ruger 10/22 carbines, before accurizing (top) and after (below). ...

The military role of sniper (a term derived from the snipe, a bird which was difficult to hunt and shoot) dates back to the turn of the 18th century, but the sniper rifle itself is a much more recent development. Advances in technology, specifically that of telescopic sights and more accurate manufacturing, allowed armies to equip specially-trained soldiers with rifles that would enable them to deliver precise shots over greater distances than regular infantry weapons. The rifle itself could be a standard rifle (at first, a bolt-action rifle); however, when fitted with a telescopic sight, it would become a sniper rifle. For other uses, see Sniper (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Snipe (disambiguation). ... View through a 4x rifle scope A telescopic sight, commonly referred to as a scope, is a device used to give an accurate point of aim for a firearm. ... Infantry of the Royal Irish Rifles during the Battle of the Somme in World War I Infantry or footmen are very highly disciplined and trained soldiers who fight primarily with small arms(rifles), but are trained to use everything from their bare hands to missle systems in order to neutralize... Half opened bolt on a Winchester Model 70. ...

History

During World War II, the Mosin-Nagant rifle mounted with a telescopic sight was commonly used as a sniper rifle by Russian snipers.

In the American Civil War, Confederate troops equipped with barrel-length three power scopes mounted on the then-premium British Whitworth rifle had been known to kill Union officers at ranges bordering 800 yards, an unheard-of distance at that time.^{[citation needed]} Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1514x293, 56 KB) Source:http://www. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1514x293, 56 KB) Source:http://www. ... Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000... The Mosin-Nagant (Мосин-Наган) is a military rifle of Russia and later the Soviet Union, in service in various forms from 1891 until the 1960s, when it was finally replaced in its final function as a sniper rifle by the SVD rifle (Снайперская винтовка Драгунова - Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova - Dragunov... Combatants United States of America (Union) Confederate States of America (Confederacy) Commanders Abraham Lincoln, Ulysses S. Grant Jefferson Davis, Robert E. Lee Strength 2,200,000 1,064,000 Casualties 110,000 killed in action, 360,000 total dead, 275,200 wounded 93,000 killed in action, 258,000 total... Sir Joseph Whitworth Sir Joseph Whitworth, Baronet (December 21, 1803 – January 22, 1887) was an English engineer and entrepreneur. ...

The earliest sniper rifles were little more than conventional military or target rifles with long-range "peep sights" designed for use on the target range. Only from the beginning of World War I did specially adapted sniper rifles come to the fore, with one of the first scoped military sniper rifles being the SMLE Mk III* (HT). “The Great War ” redirects here. ... Lee-Enfield No4 Mk1 with bayonet, scabbard attached The Lee-Enfield was the British armys standard bolt action, magazine-fed, repeating rifle from 1895 until 1956. ...

Typical World War II-era sniper rifles were generally standard issue rifles, hand-picked for accuracy, with a 2.5x telescopic sight and cheek-rest fitted, with the bolt turned down if necessary to allow operation with the scope affixed. By the end of the war, forces on all sides had specially trained soldiers equipped with sniper rifles, and they have played an increasingly important role in military operations ever since. Combatants Allied powers: China France Great Britain Soviet Union United States and others Axis powers: Germany Italy Japan and others Commanders Chiang Kai-shek Charles de Gaulle Winston Churchill Joseph Stalin Franklin Roosevelt Adolf Hitler Benito Mussolini Hideki Tōjō Casualties Military dead: 17,000,000 Civilian dead: 33,000...

Classification

Modern sniper rifles can be generally divided into two basic classes: military and law enforcement. For other uses, see Police (disambiguation). ...

Military

U.S. Marine Corps sniper team with a M24 sniper rifle (note front sight attachment rail on top of barrel not present on the M40), during sniper training.

Sniper rifles aimed at military service often deliberately sacrifice a small degree of accuracy to obtain a very high degree of durability, reliability, sturdiness, serviceability and reparability under adverse environment and combat conditions. Military snipers and sharpshooters might also be required to carry their rifles, along with other equipment, for long distances, and as such weight considerations are very important. Military organizations often operate under strict budget constraints, which influences the type and quality of sniper rifles they acquire. The United States Marine Corps (USMC) is a branch of the United States military responsible for providing force projection from the sea,[1] using the mobility of the U.S. Navy to rapidly deliver combined-arms task forces and is one of seven uniformed services. ... Sniper teams are used in military doctrines of the United States, Canada and United Kingdom in sniper warfare, as well as in the police forces. ... The M24 SWS (Sniper Weapon System) is the military and police version of the Remington 700 rifle, M24 being the model name assigned by the United States Army after adoption as their standard sniper rifle in 1988. ...

Some military snipers will carry larger caliber weapons, like the .50 BMG, to eliminate vehicle engines. A .50 BMG round can penetrate through an engine block with little to no effort at all. The .416 Barrett round is accurate to over 1.5 Miles with enough energy to kill a human being.

Law enforcement

This section may require cleanup to meet Wikipedia's quality standards. Please improve this article if you can (March 2008).

Law enforcement (and, more recently, counter-terrorism) scenarios require the sniper to hit a particular part of the aggressor's body, usually the head. For this reason, sniper rifles used by police forces are generally required to have greater accuracy over military rifles, but at shorter ranges, often less than 100 meters. Image File history File links Broom_icon. ... For the band, see The Police. ... Counter-terrorism refers to the practices, tactics, and strategies that governments, militaries, and other groups adopt in order to fight terrorism. ...

Some of the first examples of sniper rifles designed specifically to meet police requirements were those required by West German police corps after the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics. The Heckler & Koch PSG1 is one of the rifles designed to meet these criteria, and is often referred to as an ideal example of this type of sniper rifle. The FN Special Police Rifle is another example of a rifle aimed at law enforcement rather than military agencies. West Germany was the informal but almost universally used name for the Federal Republic of Germany from 1949 until 1990, during which years the Federal Republic did not yet include East Germany. ... The Munich massacre occurred during the 1972 Summer Olympics in Munich, West Germany, when members of the Israeli Olympic team were taken hostage by the Palestinian terrorist group Black September, a group with ties to Yasser Arafat’s Fatah organization. ... The 1972 Summer Olympics, officially known as the Games of the XX Olympiad, were held in Munich, West Germany, from 26 August to 11 September 1972. ... The PSG-1 (Präzisions-Scharfschützen-Gewehr, German for precision sharpshooter rifle) is a semi-automatic sniper rifle designed by the German company Heckler & Koch. ... The FN Special Police Rifle (FN SPR) is an bolt-action sniper rifle marketed by FNH USA, a subsidiary of the Belgian company Fabrique Nationale de Herstal. ...

Compared to military rifles, police sniper rifles are heavier, and have a shorter overall length for increased manoeuvrability in urban areas. Police rifles have superior accuracy and tighter tolerances in construction, and cost more, since budgetary restrictions on police departments often allow more expensive rifles to be acquired.

Distinguishing characteristics

Looking through a telescopic sight

Sniper rifle features can vary widely depending on the specific tasks it is intended to perform. Features that may distinguish a sniper rifle from other weapons are the presence of a telescopic sight, unusually long overall weapon length^[1] a stock designed for firing from a prone position, and the presence of a bipod and other accessories. Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1777x1201, 1154 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Sniper Sniper rifle M40 (rifle) Telescopic sight Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (1777x1201, 1154 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Sniper Sniper rifle M40 (rifle) Telescopic sight Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital... View through a 4x rifle scope A telescopic sight, commonly referred to as a scope, is a device used to give an accurate point of aim for a firearm. ... In Prone position in competitive shooting the shooter lies face down on the ground. ... A bipod is a support device that is similar to a tripod or monopod, but with only two legs. ...

Telescopic sight

The single most important characteristic that sets a sniper rifle apart of other military or police small arms is the mounting of a telescopic sight, which is relatively easily distinguishable from smaller optical aiming devices found on some modern assault rifles and submachine guns. View through a 4x rifle scope A telescopic sight, commonly referred to as a scope, is a device used to give an accurate point of aim for a firearm. ... The AK-47 is the worlds most common assault rifle. ... The MP5 is a third-generation submachine gun that is widely used by law enforcement tactical teams and military forces. ...

A telescopic sight allows a person to see targets more precisely by virtue of the magnified image it offers, and therefore aim the rifle more accurately. The telescopic sights used on sniper rifles differ from other optical aiming devices in that they offer much greater magnification (more than 4x and up to 40x) and much larger objective lens (40 mm in diameter), resulting in a brighter image. Most telescopic lenses employed in military or police roles have special reticles to aid the shot with the judgement of distance, which is an important factor in accurate shot placement due to the curved trajectory of a bullet. Magnification is the process of enlarging something only in appearance, not physical size. ... This article is about the optical device. ... A drawing of different reticles used in telescopic sights. ...

Action

A Marine manually extracts and chambers a new round in his bolt-action M40A3 sniper rifle. The bolt handle is held in the shooter's hand and is not visible in this photo

The choice between bolt-action and semi-automatic (more commonly recoil or gas operation) is usually determined by specific requirements of the sniper's role as envisioned in a particular organisation, with each design having advantages and disadvantages. For a given cartridge, a bolt-action rifle is cheaper to build and maintain, more reliable and accurate, and lighter; this is due to fewer moving parts in the mechanism. In addition, the lack of an external magazine allows for more versatile fire-positioning and manual case ejection allows for greater discretion. Semi-automatic weapons can serve a cross-purpose use as both a battle rifle and a sniper rifle, and allow for a greater rate (and hence volume) of fire. As such rifles may be modified service rifles, an additional benefit can be commonality of operation with the issued infantry rifle. A bolt-action is the most commonly used in both military and police roles due to its higher accuracy and ease of maintenance. Anti-materiel applications such as mine clearing and special forces operations tend to see a higher usage of semi-automatics. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3008x1960, 1434 KB)PhotoID: 20041110221919 Submitted by: MCB Hawaii Operation/Exercise/Event: Training Caption: Cpl. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (3008x1960, 1434 KB)PhotoID: 20041110221919 Submitted by: MCB Hawaii Operation/Exercise/Event: Training Caption: Cpl. ... This article is about the M40 rifle. ... Half opened bolt on a Winchester Model 70. ... Walther P99, a semi-automatic pistol from the late 1990s A semi-automatic firearm is a gun that requires only a trigger pull for each round that is fired, unlike a single-action revolver, a pump-action firearm, a bolt-action firearm, or a lever-action firearm, which require the... Recoil operation is a type of locked-breech firearm actions used in automatic firearms. ... The gas-operated system for implementing automatic reloading of a firearm is one of five such systems, the others being recoil-operated, gatling, chain, and blowback. ... A 30-round STANAG magazine. ... The FN FAL battle rifle The term battle rifle can have different meanings. ... For other uses, see Special forces (disambiguation). ...

A designated marksman rifle (DMR) is less specialised than a typical military sniper rifle, often only intended to extend the range of a group of soldiers. Therefore, when a semi-automatic action is used it is due to its ability to cross over into roles similar to the roles of standard issue weapons. There may also be additional logistical advantages if the DMR uses the same ammunition as the more common standard issue weapons. These rifles enable a higher volume of fire, but sacrifice some long range accuracy. They are frequently built from existing selective fire battle rifles or assault rifles. The Designated Marksman (DM) is a military role in a U.S. infantry squad. ... Look up Logistics in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A selective fire weapon can be fired in either of at least two modes, depending on the position of the selector switch. ... The FN FAL battle rifle The term battle rifle can have different meanings. ...

A police semi-automatic sniper rifle may be used in situations that require a single sniper to engage multiple targets in quick succession.

Cartridge

In a military setting, logistical concerns are the primary determinant of the cartridge used, so sniper rifles are usually limited to rifle cartridges commonly used by the military force employing the rifle. Since large national militaries generally change slowly, military rifle ammunition is frequently battle-tested and well-studied by ammunition and firearms experts. Consequently, police forces tend to follow military practices in choosing a sniper rifle cartridge instead of trying to break new ground with less-perfected (but possibly better) ammunition.

Before the introduction of the 7.62×51mm cartridge in the 1950s, standard military cartridges utilised were the .30-06 Springfield (United States), .303 British (United Kingdom) and 7.92×57mm (Germany). The .30-06 Springfield continued in service with U.S. Marine Corps snipers during the Vietnam War in the 1970s, well after general adoption of the 7.62×51mm. At the present time, in both the Western world and within NATO, 7.62×51mm is currently the primary cartridge of choice for military and police sniper rifles. .30-06 Springfield cartridge specifications. ... The 7. ... Combatants Republic of Vietnam United States Republic of Korea Thailand Australia New Zealand The Philippines National Front for the Liberation of South Vietnam Democratic Republic of Vietnam People’s Republic of China Democratic Peoples Republic of Korea Strength US 1,000,000 South Korea 300,000 Australia 48,000... Occident redirects here. ... This article is about the military alliance. ... NATO 7. ...

Worldwide, the trend is similar. The preferred sniper cartridge in Russia is another .30 calibre military cartridge, the 7.62x54mm R, which has similar performance to the 7.62×51mm. This cartridge was introduced in 1891, and both Russian sniper rifles of the modern era, the Mosin-Nagant and the Dragunov sniper rifle, are chambered for it. The 7. ... The Mosin-Nagant (Мосин-Наган) is a military rifle of Russia and later the Soviet Union, in service in various forms from 1891 until the 1960s, when it was finally replaced in its final function as a sniper rifle by the SVD rifle (Снайперская винтовка Драгунова - Snayperskaya Vintovka Dragunova - Dragunov... The Dragunov Sniper Rifle (Russian: , abbreviated SVD, GRAU index 6V1), is a semi-automatic rifle designed by Evgeniy Fedorovich Dragunov in the Soviet Union between 1958 and 1963. ...

Certain commercial cartridges designed without the logistical constraints of most armies with only performance in mind have also gained popularity in the 1990s. These include the .300 Winchester Magnum and the first and only cartridge designed specifically for sniping, the .338 Lapua Magnum. These cartridges offer better ballistic performance and greater effective range than the 7.62×51mm. Though they are not as powerful as .50 calibre cartridges, they also do not suffer any weight penalty as is the case for rifles chambered for .50 calibre ammunition, and offer a significant improvement over rifles chambered for 7.62×51mm. .300 Winchester Magnum (known as . ... The . ...

M82A1 SASR (Special Applications Scoped Rifle), a high-powered .50 caliber sniper rifle used as a military anti-materiel rifle

Snipers may also employ anti-materiel rifles in sniping roles against targets such as vehicles, equipment and structures, or for the long-range destruction of explosive devices. Although designed and employed primarily as anti-materiel rifles, they may also be used against personnel. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2000x1303, 562 KB) Summary A soldier, with the 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, test fires a . ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2000x1303, 562 KB) Summary A soldier, with the 506th Expeditionary Civil Engineer Squadron, test fires a . ... For the assault rifle, see Valmet M82. ... An anti-materiel rifle is a rifle that is designed for use against military equipment (Matériel) rather than against other combatants (anti-personnel). Generally speaking, they are large-caliber rifles chambered for a powerful cartridge. ... An anti-materiel rifle is a rifle that is designed for use against military equipment (Matériel) rather than against other combatants (anti-personnel). Generally speaking, they are large-caliber rifles chambered for a powerful cartridge. ...

Anti-materiel rifles tend to be semi-automatic, and of a larger calibre than anti-personnel rifles, using .50 (12.7mm) calibre, such as the .50 BMG, 12.7x108mm Russian or even 14.5x114mm Russian and 20mm cartridges. These large cartridges are required to be able to fire projectiles containing usable payloads like explosives, armour piercing cores, incendiaries or combinations of that like found in the Raufoss Mk211 projectile. Due to the considerable size and weight of anti-materiel rifles, snipers operating in 2- or 3-man teams become a necessity. .50 BMG rounds and 20MM Vulcan round, with a golf ball and a stick of RAM posed to provide scale. ... The 20mm caliber is a specific size of cannon or autocannon ammunition, commonly the smallest caliber which is unambiguously a cannon (or more commonly today, autocannon) and not a heavy machine gun. ... The Raufoss Mk211 round The Raufoss Mk211 is a . ...

Barrel

Barrels are normally of precise manufacture and of a heavier cross section than more traditional barrels in order to reduce the change in impact points between a first shot from a cold barrel and a follow-up shot from a warm barrel. Unlike many battle rifles and assault rifles the bores are usually not chromed to avoid potential inaccuracy due to an uneven treatment. This article does not cite its references or sources. ...

When installed, barrels are often free-floated or installed so the barrel only contacts the rest of the rifle at the receiver to minimise the effects of pressure on the fore-end by slings, bipods, or the sniper's hands. The end of the barrel is usually crowned or machined to form a rebated area around the muzzle proper to avoid asymmetry or damage and therefore inaccuracy. Alternately, some rifles like the Dragunov or Walther WA2000 provide structures at the fore-end to provide tension on the barrel in order to counteract barrel droop and other alterations in barrel shape.

Another trait sometimes seen with sniper barrels are external longitudinal fluting that contributes to heat dissipation by increasing surface area while simultaneously decreasing the weight of the barrel.

Sniper rifle barrels may also utilise a threaded muzzle or combination device (muzzle brake or flash suppressor and attachment mount) to allow the fitting of a sound suppressor. These suppressors often have means of adjusting the point of impact while fitted.

Military sniper rifles tend to have longer barrels of around 23.5 inches (600 mm) to allow cartridge propellant to fully burn and attain the optimum combination of accuracy and bullet velocity. This reduces muzzle flash, helping to keep the sniper concealed. Police sniper rifles may use shorter barrels to improve handling characteristics. The shorter barrels' velocity loss is less important at closer ranges where projectile energy remains well in excess of that needed to reliably perform.

Stock

USMC DMR showing adjustable cheek piece.

The most common special feature of a sniper rifle stock is the adjustable cheek piece, where the shooter's cheek meets the rear of the stock. For most rifles equipped with a telescopic sight, this area is raised slightly, because the telescope is positioned higher than the iron sights. A cheek piece is simply a section of the stock that can be adjusted up or down to suit the individual shooter. To further aid this individual fitting, the stock can sometimes also be adjusted for length, often by varying the number of inserts at the rear of the stock where it meets the shooter's shoulder. Sniper stocks are typically designed to avoid making contact with the barrel of the weapon. USMC photo of DMR. not copyrightable. ... USMC photo of DMR. not copyrightable. ... The United States Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR, NSN 1005-01-458-6235; more formally the United States Rifle, 7. ... Folding stock of a SIG 550 rifle A stock or buttstock or shoulder stock is present in many firearms and some crossbows, and performs three functions - to facilitate easy and steady holding and aiming of the weapon prior to and during firing (which may be further assisted by a sling... Looking down the iron sight of an M15A4 Carbine (a civilian copy of the M4 carbine) The term iron sights refers to the open, unmagnified aiming system used to assist the aiming of a variety of devices, usually those intended to launch projectiles, such as firearms, airguns, and crossbows; they...

Accessories

An adjustable sling on the rifle is often employed. It is used by the sniper to achieve better stability when standing, kneeling, or sitting. The sniper uses the sling to "lock-in" by wrapping their non-firing arm into the sling forcing their arm to be still. This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ...

Sniper rifles usually are fitted with a bipod. These bipods act as a stand to stabilize the rifle during firing. Bipods are generally carried by the spotter or are mounted on the gun. Sniper rifles often have specialised accessories, such as variable length gas-strut bipods. A bipod is a support device that is similar to a tripod or monopod, but with only two legs. ...

Capabilities

Accuracy

Comparison of 0.5, 1, and 3 MOA accuracy levels against a human torso at 800 m (left) and a human head at 100 m (right)

Contrary to popular belief, sniper rifles are not necessarily characterised by exceptional accuracy, especially when compared to civilian sporting rifles, though they nearly always match or exceed the capabilities of other rifles in the military and police categories. A military-issue battle rifle or assault rifle is usually capable of between 3 and 6 minute of arc (MOA) accuracy. A standard-issue military sniper rifle is typically capable of 0.5 to 2 MOA accuracy, with a police sniper rifle capable of 0.25 to 1.5 MOA accuracy. For comparison, a competition target rifle may be capable of accuracy levels up to 0.1 MOA.^{[citation needed]} Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1741x1136, 415 KB) [edit] Summary Other versions moa. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1741x1136, 415 KB) [edit] Summary Other versions moa. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... This article is about the unit of length. ... The FN FAL battle rifle The term battle rifle can have different meanings. ... The AK-47 is the worlds most common assault rifle. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

The United States military standards call for 1 MOA accuracy from a standard issue sniper rifle^{[citation needed]} since accuracy is sacrificed in favor of low cost and reliability in harsh environments, as well as ease of operation and maintenance. This level of accuracy roughly translates into a variance in the bullet's point of impact of 8 inches at 800 yards, which is considered sufficient to ensure a high probability of hitting a human shape at that distance. The United States Armed Forces are the military services of the United States. ...

Although accuracy standards for police rifles do not widely exist, they are frequently seen with accuracy levels from 1.5 MOA to as high as 0.5 MOA^[2] — and occasionally as high as .25 MOA in the most expensive models.

For typical policing situations an accuracy level of 1 MOA is usually all that is required. This is because police typically employ their rifles at very short ranges.^[3] At 100 yards or less, a rifle with a relatively low accuracy of only 1 MOA should be able to repeatedly hit a 1 inch target. One inch is approximately the size of a man's thumb, which is smaller than the brain stem which is targeted by police snipers for its quick killing effect.^[4] The brain stem is the lower part of the brain, adjoining and structurally continuous with the spinal cord. ...

Maximum effective range

Unlike police sniper rifles, military sniper rifles tend to be employed at the greatest possible distances so that range advantages like the increased difficulty to spot and engage the sniper can be exploited. However, machine guns, battle rifles, counter-sniper rifles and designated marksman rifles can reach or even exceed the range of a sniper rifle. U.S. Military 5. ... NATO 7. ... .50 BMG rounds and 20MM Vulcan round, with a golf ball and a stick of RAM posed to provide scale. ... A machine gun is a fully-automatic firearm that is capable of firing bullets in rapid succession. ... This article needs to be cleaned up to conform to a higher standard of quality. ... The Designated Marksman (DM) is a military role in a U.S. infantry squad. ...

The most popular military sniper rifles (in terms of numbers in service) are chambered for .308 calibre ammunition, such as 7.62×51 and 7.62×54R. Since sniper rifles of this class must compete with several other types of military weapons with similar range, snipers invariably must employ skilled field craft to conceal their position. NATO 7. ... Chinese copper-washed, steel-cased, corrosive-primer 7. ... Field craft is a term used especially in British military circles to describe the basic military skills required to operate stealthily at day or night regardless of weather or terrain. ...

The recent trend in specialised military sniper rifles is towards larger calibres that have greater range, such as the anti-personnel .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge and anti-materiel cartridges like the .50 BMG and the 14.5 x 114 mm. This allows snipers to take fewer risks, and spend less time finding concealment when facing enemies that are not equipped with similar weapons.
.50 BMG rounds and 20MM Vulcan round, with a golf ball and a stick of RAM posed to provide scale. ... The 14. ...

See also

• List of sniper rifles

Regular sniper rifles. ...

Notes

The Ultimate Sniper: An Advanced Training Manual for Military and Police Snipers is a book written by Maj. ... F.B.I. and FBI redirect here. ... This article is about Special Weapons And Tactics. ... The International Standard Atmosphere (ISA) is a model of the standard variation of pressure, temperature, density, and viscosity with altitude in the Earths atmosphere. ... Terminal ballistics, a sub-field of ballistics, is the study of the behavior of a projectile when it hits its target. ... For the concept in nuclear physics, see stopping power (particle radiation). ...

References

External links

• Modern Firearms List of Sniper Rifles
• Mel's SniperCentral List of Sniper Rifles
• Mcmillan Tactical Stocks — Images of tactical stocks from the world's leading supplier manufacturer
• Tack Driving Tactical Rifle from Tac Ops — Detailed overview of the accurization process for a .25 MOA rifle
• Detailed accuracy articles, by famous barrel maker Dan Lilja
• Detail of Russian snipers and sniper rifles of World War Two by Chris Eger, military Historian
• demigodllc.com: PRACTICAL LONG-RANGE RIFLE SHOOTING