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Sniper Rifles

NOPES! With a .38 special, the average grouping is 4" at 25 yards, and that too comes with years of experience with $hitty double action trigger, there is no way that guy would have been ever be able to shoot the extra thin tyres that Indian bikes have in the dark at any range beyond, 10-15 yards and if he misses at 10-15 yards by shooting the pillion rider, then that dude must not be allowed to posses a firearm for the rest of his life, cuz thats a really lousy shot!

Thanks bhai that was really helpful. The details are still to come in. But most of us who have experienced Delhi Police know what must have actually happened.
 
FN SCAR MK 20
ss10_338.jpg
 
@sandy_3126 what's the difference between a M24 and a Ruger American or a Remington 700(that can fire .308)...Any rifle that can fire a .308 can also fire a 7.62 Nato..right??If so why does the M24 have a price tag of 3000$ where as the other are around 500-700.They are all bolt action...same cartridge...almost the same range...so why is M24 considered a sniper and others are considered as hunting rifle??
 
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@sandy_3126 what's the difference between a M24 and a Ruger American or a Remington 700(that can fire .308)...Any rifle that can fire a .308 can also fire a 7.62 Nato..right??If so why does the M24 have a price tag of 3000$ where as the other are around 500-700.They are all bolt action...same cartridge...almost the same range...so why is M24 considered a sniper and others are considered as hunting rifle??


M24 is based on the remington 700 bolt action rifle, the M24 system however consists of the leopold 10x 42 fixed power scope which itself will cost around 1200 bucks. Apart from that the barrel on the M24 is more advanced, the groves cut on the system causes lesser bullet deformation, there are other things like the rifling is cut at 65 degrees compared to 90 degrees on a std rifleing, the barrel material is stronger and heavier. If you have ever been hunting in US you will know the time the rifle spends on your back, a heavy rifle makes the process of wandering in a forest nightmarish hence most hunting barrels are light weight barrels which make for less accurate systems on consistent use due to barrel deformation due to heat. Also thee action of the M24 differs from the remington 700, due to a different reason as the earlier deign was supposed to use a 30.06 cartridge, but nevertheless, M24 is a long action bolt. Then there is the free floating of the barrel and precision stock used on the m24 which adds to the cost.
In short barrel material, barrel configuration, rifling geometry, scope, action, and the stock, are all upgraded in the M24 to give additional accuracy, thus the bump in the price.
 
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RiasatKhan:

The new XM2010/M24E1

XM2010_November_2010.jpg

The magazine is a really good idea...also the cheek weld....folding stock.....design looks lighter than the classic M24....god knows how much this one's gonna cost!
 
The M82 is a recoil-operated, semi-automatic anti-materiel rifle developed by the American Barrett Firearms Manufacturing company. A heavy SASR (Special Application Scoped Rifle), it is used by many units and armies around the world. It is also called the "Light Fifty" for its .50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO) chambering. The weapon is found in two variants, the original M82A1 (and A3) and the bullpup M82A2. The M82A2 is no longer manufactured, though the XM500 can be seen as its successor.
Contents

1 Overview
2 M82 to M107
2.1 Barrett M107CQ
2.2 Barrett M107A1
3 Technical description
4 Users
5 U.S. designation summary
6 Specifications
6.1 M82A1
6.2 M82A2
6.3 M107
6.4 XM500
7 See also
8 References
9 External links

Overview
The original Barrett M82

Barrett Firearms Manufacturing was founded by Ronnie Barrett for the sole purpose of building semi-automatic rifles chambered for the powerful 12.7×99mm NATO (.50 BMG) ammunition, originally developed for and used in M2 Browning machine guns. Barrett began his work in the early 1980s and the first working rifles were available in 1982, hence the designation M82. Barrett designed every single part of the weapon personally and then went on to market the weapon and mass-produce it out of his own pocket. He continued to develop his rifle through the 1980s, and developed the improved M82A1 rifle by 1986.
M82A1 used by the 60th Ordnance Detachment during Operation Desert Shield.

The first conventional military success was the sale of about 100 M82A1 rifles to the Swedish Army in 1989. Major success followed in 1990, when the United States armed forces purchased significant numbers of the M82A1 during operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm in Kuwait and Iraq. About 125 rifles were initially bought by the United States Marine Corps, and orders from the Army and Air Force soon followed. The M82A1 is known by the US military as the SASR—"Special Applications Scoped Rifle", and it was and still is used as an anti-materiel rifle and explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) tool. The long effective range, over 1,800 metres (5,900 ft) (1.1 miles), along with high energy and availability of highly effective ammunition such as API and Raufoss Mk 211, allows for effective operations against targets like radar cabins, trucks, parked aircraft and the like. The M82 can also be used to defeat human targets from standoff range or against targets behind cover.[citation needed] However, anti-personnel use is not a major application for the M82 (or any other .50 BMG rifle, for that matter[citation needed]). There is a widespread misconception that a number of treaties have banned use of the .50 BMG against human targets. However, the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General's office has issued a legal opinion that the .50 BMG and even the Raufoss Mk 211 round are legal for use against enemy personnel.[citation needed]
M82A2 Rifle with a Leupold Mark 4 Scope

Further development led to the M82A2 bullpup rifle in 1987, which was a reduced-recoil design to be fired from the shoulder. It failed to make an impression on the world firearms market, and was soon dropped from production. However, in 2006, Barrett completed development of the XM500, which has a bullpup configuration similar to the M82A2.

The latest derivative of the M82 family is the M82A1M rifle, adopted by U.S. Marine Corps as the M82A3 SASR and bought in large numbers. This rifle differs from M82A1 in that it has a full length Picatinny rail that allows a wide variety of scopes and sighting devices to be mounted on the rifle. Other changes are the addition of a rear monopod, slightly lightened mechanism, and detachable bipod and muzzle brake.

Another variant of the original weapon is the M82A1A Special Application Scoped Rifle, an almost identical model but specifically designed to fire the Raufoss Mk 211 Mod 0 round, a type of API (Armour Piercing Incendiary) ammunition.

Barrett M82 rifles were bought by various military and police forces from at least 30 countries, such as Belgium, Chile, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Jamaica, Mexico, the Netherlands,[2] Norway, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Spain, Sweden, Turkey, the United Kingdom, the United States, and others. The M82 also is widely used for civilian .50 caliber long range shooting competitions, being fired accurately out to 3,000 feet (910 m) and even farther.

The United States Coast Guard's Helicopter Interdiction Tactical Squadron and Law Enforcement Detachments use versions of the Barrett M107 to disable the engines of go-fast boats carrying illegal drugs. Barrett M82 rifles have also attracted attention from civilian law enforcement agencies; they have been adopted by the New York City Police Department as well as the Pittsburgh Police. If it becomes necessary to immobilize a vehicle, a .50 BMG round in the engine block will shut it down quickly. If it is necessary to breach barriers, a .50 BMG round will penetrate most commercial brick walls and concrete blocks.

According to the documentary The Brooklyn Connection, M82s smuggled into Kosovo by sympathizers in the United States quickly became popular long range sniper rifles in the Kosovo Liberation Army. In Northern Ireland during the 1990s, the South Armagh Brigade of the Provisional Irish Republican Army (IRA) used Barrett rifles against the British Army and the Royal Ulster Constabulary police.[3]

The Barrett M82A1 rifle was used in 2002 as a platform for the experimental OSW (Objective Sniper Weapon) prototype. This weapon was fitted with a shorter barrel of 25 mm caliber, and fired high-explosive shells developed for the 25×59 mm OCSW (Objective Crew Served Weapon) automatic grenade launcher. The experimental OSW showed an increased effectiveness against various targets, but the recoil was beyond human limitations. This weapon, also known as the Barrett "Payload Rifle", has now been designated the XM109.
M82 to M107
M107, almost identical to the M82A1M/A3.
A U.S. Navy EOD Commander fires an M107 in Afghanistan.

The XM107 was originally intended to be a bolt-action sniper rifle, and it was selected by the U.S. Army in a competition between such weapons. However, the decision was made that the U.S. Army did not, in fact, require such a weapon. The rifle originally selected under the trials to be the XM107 was the Barrett M95.

Then the Army decided on the Barrett M82, a semi-automatic rifle. In summer 2002, the M82 finally emerged from its Army trial phase and was approved for "full materiel release", meaning it was officially adopted as the Long Range Sniper Rifle, Caliber .50, M107. The M107 uses a Leupold 4.5–14×50 Mark 4 scope.
Sgt. Jeremy Rutledge provides over watch during a high level meeting. (Baghdad, Iraq)

The Barrett M107 is a .50 caliber, shoulder fired, semi-automatic sniper rifle. Like its predecessors the rifle is said to have manageable recoil for a weapon of its size owing to the barrel assembly that itself absorbs force, moving inward toward the receiver against large springs with every shot. Additionally the weapon's weight and large muzzle brake also assist in recoil reduction. Various changes were made to the original M82A1 to create the M107, with new features such as a lengthened accessory rail, rear grip, and monopod socket. Barrett has recently been tasked with developing a lightweight version of the M107 under the "Anti-Materiel Sniper Rifle Congressional Program", and has already come up with a scheme to build important component parts such as the receiver frame and muzzle brake out of lighter weight materials.

The Barrett M107, like previous members of the M82 line, is also referred to as the Barrett "Light Fifty." The designation has in many instances supplanted earlier ones, with the M107 being voted one of 2005's Top 10 Military Inventions by the U.S. Army.[4]
Barrett M107CQ

A commercial development of the "new" M107, the M107CQ is specifically designed where the firepower of a .50 caliber rifle is required, but the bulk of the M82/M107 series prevents the weapon from being used. The M107CQ is 9" shorter in overall length (all in the barrel) and 5 pounds lighter than the M107. According to the manufacturer, the M107CQ is suitable for use in helicopters, force protection watercraft, tactical scout land vehicles, and as an urban soldier's combat multiplier for close quarter battles.[5]
Barrett M107A1

In October 2010, Barrett unofficially reported production of the M107 had ceased; and in January 2011 the company announced that its successor, the M107A1 was available for commercial release. Significant enhancements include a reduction in weight of 5 pounds, a new cylindrical titanium muzzle brake and titanium barrel key/recoil buffer system which allows the weapon to operate with a Barrett-designed suppressor, and other functional modifications that increase durability and operator utility.[6]
Technical description
A U.S. Army sniper using an M107.
Demonstration of an M82 during a training course at Hurlburt Field, Florida.
A USMC Scout Sniper with an M82A3.
A U.S. Coast Guard TACLET marksman uses an M107 for airborne use of force.

The M82 is a short recoil semi-automatic firearm. When the gun is fired, the barrel initially recoils for a short distance (about 1 in or 25 mm), being securely locked by the rotating bolt. After the short travel, a post on the bolt engaged in the curved cam track in the receiver turns the bolt to unlock it from the barrel. As soon as the bolt unlocks, the accelerator arm strikes it back, transferring part of the recoil energy of the barrel to the bolt to achieve reliable cycling. Then the barrel is stopped and the bolt continues back, to extract and eject a spent case. On its return stroke, the bolt strips the fresh cartridge from the box magazine and feeds it into the chamber and finally locks itself to the barrel. The striker is also cocked on the return stroke of the bolt. The gun is fed from a large detachable box magazine holding up to 10 rounds, although a rare 12 round magazine was developed for use during Operation Desert Storm in 1991.

The receiver is made from two parts (upper and lower), stamped from sheet steel and connected by cross-pins. The heavy barrel is fluted to improve heat dissipation and save weight, and fitted with a large and effective reactive muzzle brake. On the earlier models the muzzle brakes had a round cross-section; later M82 rifles are equipped with two-chamber brakes of rectangular cross-section.

M82A1 rifles are fitted with scope mount and folding backup iron sights, should the glass scope break. The U.S. military M82 rifles are often equipped with Leupold Mark 4 telescopic sights. The M82A1M (USMC M82A3) rifles have long Picatinny accessory rails mounted and US Optics telescopic sights. Every M82 rifle is equipped with a folding carrying handle and a folding bipod (both are detachable on the M82A3). The M82A3 is also fitted with a detachable rear monopod under the butt. The buttpad is fitted with a soft recoil pad to further decrease the felt recoil. M82A1 and M82A3 rifles could be mounted on the M3 or M122 infantry tripods (originally intended for machine guns) or on vehicles using the special Barrett soft-mount. The M82A1 can be fitted with a carry sling but according to those who carried it in the field, the M82 is too uncomfortable to be carried on a sling due to its excessive length and heavy weight. It is usually carried in a special carry soft or hard case.

The M82A2 differed from M82A1 mostly in its configuration—that the pistol grip along with trigger had been placed ahead of the magazine, and the buttpad has been placed below the receiver, just after the magazine. An additional forward grip was added below the receiver, and the scope mount has been moved forward too.

The maximum effective range of the M107 is 2,000 yards (1,829m). The maximum range of this weapon (specifically the M107 variant) is 7,450 yards (4,000m), which is the distance quoted in the owner's manual that should be allowed downrange for bullet travel. Fifty caliber (and larger) rounds have the potential to travel great distances if fired in an artillery-like fashion, necessitating the observance of large safety margins when firing on a range.
Users
German Army M107 (designated G82) with Zeiss 6–24×72 scope.[7]
An M82A1 of the Israel Defense Forces.
Mexican Army Special Forces with the Barrett M82.

Australia: Special Operations Command in Afghanistan.[8]
Austria: Used by Austrian Army SF Jagdkommando.[9]
Bahrain[10]
Belgium[10]
Bhutan[10]
Botswana[10]
Brazil[10]
Chile[10]
Czech Republic[10][11]
Denmark[10]
Finland[10]
France[10]
Georgia: Used by Georgian Armed Forces and Georgian special forces.[12][13]
Germany: The M107 is used and designated G82 in the German Army.[14]
Greece[10]
India: The M107 is used by Mumbai Police Force One Commandos.[15]
Ireland: Used by the Provisional IRA during 'The Troubles'.[16]
Israel: Used by the IDF Combat Engineering Corps.[17]
Italy[10]
Jordan[10][18]
Kuwait[10]
Lebanon[19]
Lithuania: Lithuanian Armed Forces.[20]
Malaysia: Used by the Malaysian Special Operations Force.[21]
Mexico[10]
Netherlands[10]

Norwegian M82 (foreground) in a long range fire fight in Afghanistan.

Norway[10]
Oman[10]
Philippines[10]
Poland: Used by the GROM special forces.[22]
Portugal[10]
Qatar[10]
Saudi Arabia[10]
Serbia: Used by PTJ special police unit.[citation needed]
Singapore[10]
Spain[10]
Sweden: Used as Ag 90 C.[10]
Thailand: Used by Royal Thai Navy SEALs.[citation needed]
Tunisia: Used by Unité Spéciale Garde Nationale (USGN) and Groupe des Forces Spéciales (GFS).[citation needed]
Turkey[10]
Pakistan: Used by the Pakistan Army.[23]
Republic of China[citation needed]
United Arab Emirates[10]
United Kingdom[10]
United States[10]

U.S. designation summary

M82: 12.7×99mm Barrett M82 semi-automatic rifle.
M82A1: 12.7×99mm Barrett M82A1 semi-automatic rifle. Improved variant including redesigned muzzle brake.
M82A1A: 12.7×99mm Barrett M82A1 semi-automatic rifle variant. Optimized for use with the Mk 211 Mod 0 .50 caliber round.
M82A1M: 12.7×99mm Barrett M82A1 semi-automatic rifle variant. Improved variant including lengthened accessory rail. Includes rear grip and monopod socket.
M82A2: 12.7×99mm Barrett M82A2 semi-automatic rifle. Shoulder-mounted.
M82A3: 12.7×99mm Barrett M82A3 semi-automatic rifle. New production rifles built to M82A1M specifications, featuring lengthened accessory rail which is usually, but not always, raised higher up than the M82A1M/M107. Unlike the M82A1M/M107, it does not include rear grip and monopod socket.
XM107/M107: Initially used to designate 12.7×99mm Barrett M95 bolt-action rifle. Designation changed to apply to a product improved M82A1M variant. Includes lengthened accessory rail, rear grip, and monopod socket.
M107A1: 12.7×99mm Barrett M107A1 semi-automatic rifle. Improved variant of M107/M82. Features stronger construction with a 4 lb reduction in overall weight. Includes a retractable monopod, redesigned stock, thermal-guard cheek-piece, and a four-port muzzle brake designed for use with a sound/flash suppressor.

Specifications
M82A1

Caliber: .50 BMG (12.7×99mm) and .416 Barrett (10.6×83mm)[24]
Operation: short recoil, semi-automatic
Overall length: 57 inches (145 cm) w/ 29 inch (73.7 cm) barrel or 48 inches (122 cm) w/ 20 inch (50.8 cm) barrel
Barrel length: 508 millimetres (20.0 in) or 737 mm (29.0 in)
Feed device: 10-round detachable box magazine
Sights: Flip up, optics vary by user preference
Weight: 30.9 lb (14.0 kg) w/ 29 inch (73.7 cm) barrel or 29.7 lb (13.5 kg) w/ 20 inch (50.8 cm) barrel
Muzzle velocity with 660 grain, 42.8 g projectile: 853 m/s (2,800 ft/s) with 400 grain, 26.0 g solid brass projectile: 990 m/s (3,200 ft/s)
Effective range: 1,800 m (5,900 ft)
Maximum Range: 6,812 m (7,450 yd)[25]
Expected accuracy: Sub-MOA with match ammo
Unit replacement cost: $8,900 US

M82A2

Caliber: .50 BMG (12.7×99mm)
Length: 1,409 mm (55.5 in)
Barrel length: 737 mm (29.0 in)
Weight (unloaded): 14.75 kg (32.5 lb)
Effective range on equipment-sized targets: 2,000 m (6,600 ft)
Muzzle velocity: 900 m/s (3,000 ft/s)
Magazine capacity: 10 rounds
Unit replacement cost: $6,000
Status: Prototype seeing combat in Iraq

M107

Caliber: .50 BMG (12.7x99 mm)
Length: 1,448 mm (57.0 in)
Barrel length: 737 mm (29.0 in)
Weight (unloaded w/ scope): 12.9 kg (28.4 lb)
Magazine capacity: 10 rounds
Weight of magazine: 1.87 kg (4.1 lb)
Accuracy: 3 Minutes of Arc (MOA)
Muzzle velocity: 853 m/s (2,800 ft/s)
Effective Range: 1,829 m (2,000 yd)[25]
Maximum Range: 6,812 m (7,450 yd)[25]

XM500
Main article: Barrett XM500

Caliber: .50 BMG (12.7×99mm)
Length: 1,168 millimetres (46.0 in)
Operation: gas operated, semi-automatic
Barrel: 447 millimetres (17.6 in)
Weight: 11.8 kg (26.0 lb)
Feed device: 10-round detachable box magazine

An anti-materiel rifle (AM) (sometimes called anti-material rifle) is a rifle that is designed for use against military equipment (materiel), rather than against other combatants ("anti-personnel").

The offensive use of anti-materiel rifles or Special Application Sniper Rifles (SASR) is termed Hard Target Interdiction (HTI) by the United States military.[1]

Anti-materiel rifles are similar in form and appearance to modern sniper rifles and can often serve in that role, though they are usually chambered for cartridges more powerful than are normally required for killing a human and can operate at a greater range. In general, anti-materiel rifles are chambered for 12.7×99mm NATO (.50 BMG), 12.7×108mm Russian, 14.5×114mm Russian, and 20mm cartridges. The large cartridges are required to be able to fire projectiles containing usable payloads, such as explosives, armor-piercing cores, incendiaries, or combinations of these, as found in the Raufoss Mk 211 projectile.

Due to the considerable size and weight of anti-materiel rifles and other support equipment, sniper cells operating in 2- or 3-man or larger teams have become a necessity. The recoil produced by the employed cartridges dictates that these rifles are designed to be fired from the prone position. Bipods and monopods and muzzle brakes are used as accessories to employ these rifles as comfortably and accurately as possible. Firing several 12.7×99mm NATO, 12.7×108mm Russian, or larger calibers from the (unsupported) standing position or in a kneeling position would be very uncomfortable for the operator.

The origins of the anti-materiel rifle go back to the First World War, during which the first anti-tank rifles appeared. While modern tanks and most other armored vehicles are too well protected to be affected by anti-materiel rifles, the guns are still effective for attacking unarmored or lightly armored vehicles. They can also be used against stationed enemy aircraft, small watercraft, communications equipment, radar equipment, crew served weapons and similar targets. Their value is in being able to precisely target and disable enemy assets from long range for a relatively low cost.

Anti-materiel rifles can also be used in non-offensive roles for safely destroying unexploded ordnance.

The Steyr HS .50 is a .50 BMG single-shot anti-materiel sniper rifle manufactured by Steyr Mannlicher.
Contents

1 Design and features
2 Variants
2.1 HS .460
2.2 HS .50 M1
3 Controversy
4 Users
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

Design and features

The Steyr HS .50 is a single-shot bolt action rifle. It has a built-in magazine (on the right side of the gun) so each round has to be loaded directly into the ejection port and is pushed into the chamber by the bolt. The fluted barrel is cold hammer forged and provides excellent accuracy at an effective range up to 1500 m. It has an adjustable bi-pod, a highly efficient muzzle brake which reduces recoil substantially to increase shooting comfort and a Picatinny rail for installation of various optics.

However due to customer demand, a recent change to the HS .50 has included a 5 round detachable magazine that can be inserted on the left hand side of the rifle much similar to the Denel NTW-20
Variants
HS .460

The rifle is also available in the proprietary .460 Steyr round, developed for markets where ownership of the .50 BMG by private citizens is banned, but .46 rounds are not, such as California. The .460 caliber version is known as the HS .460.
HS .50 M1

The HS .50 M1 is an evolution of the HS .50. The biggest differences are it is magazine fed from a 5 round magazine feeding horizontally left from the receiver, has a longer top Picatinny rail with more Picatinny rails on the side, an adjustable cheekpiece, a newly designed fixable bipod and a monopod at the buttstock.
Controversy

The rifle made headlines when Steyr sold up to 800 rifles to Iran in 2005. There was a large amount of concern in the United States, United Kingdom, and to a lesser extent, other European countries that the rifles would find their way into Iraq and be used against the Iraqi Army or Coalition forces. Nevertheless, the sale was approved by the Austrian government in November 2004, citing Iran's declared intention to deploy the weapon with anti-terror and counter-drug units.

In February 2007, The Daily Telegraph reported that American sources claimed to have recovered more than 100 of the rifles from Iraqi insurgents. Within 45 days of the delivery of the rifles to Iran, an American soldier was allegedly killed by one of the weapons.[1]

However, according to Steyr CEO Franz Holzschuh, Steyr has not been contacted to compare serial numbers and verify if the weapons in question really were part of the Iranian shipment.[2] According to Steyr, patents for the HS .50 ran out years ago, and fraudulent copies are produced in several countries.[3] The Daily Telegraph admitted in April 2007 that it was not able to verify the story.

U.S. Central Command later announced that no Austrian rifle had been found in Iraq, as reported by the Austrian newspaper Wiener Zeitung (Eng: Vienna Times)[4][dead link] on March 29 2007.

The McMillan Tac-50 sniper rifle is produced in Phoenix, Arizona in the United States by the McMillan Brothers Rifle Company. This long-range anti-materiel/anti-personnel weapon is based on previous designs from the same company, which first appeared during the late 1980s. McMillan makes several versions of .50 caliber rifles, based on the same proprietary action, for military, law enforcement and civilian use.

The Tac-50 is a military and law enforcement weapon, which, designated as the C15, is the standard Long Range Sniper Weapon (LRSW) of the Canadian Forces since 2000. Rifles of the Tac-50 family are capable of outstanding accuracy and guaranteed to provide 0.5 MOA groups with match grade ammunition.[2]
Contents

1 Design details
2 Variants
2.1 Tac-50 A1
2.2 Tac-50 A1-R2
3 Deployment
4 Users
5 See also
6 References
7 External links

Design details

The McMillan Tac-50 is a manually operated, rotary bolt action rifle. The large bolt has dual front locking lugs, and its body has spiral flutes to reduce weight. The heavy match-grade barrel, made by Lilja barrels, is also fluted to dissipate heat quickly and reduce overall weight and fitted with an effective muzzle brake to reduce recoil. The rifle is fed from detachable box magazines, holding 5 rounds each. The stock is made from fiberglass by McMillan Stocks, and is designed to be used from a bipod only. The buttstock is adjustable for length of pull with rubber spacers, and can be removed for compact storage. The rifle has no open sights and can be used with a variety of telescopic or night sights.

In Canadian service, the standard telescopic sight was the McMillan endorsed Leupold Mark 4-16x40mm LR/T M1 Riflescope optical sight that has now been replaced by the Schmidt & Bender 5-25x56 PMII telescopic sight[citation needed]. McMillan also endorses the Nightforce NXS 8–32x56 Mil-*** telescopic sight for the Tac-50.
Variants
Tac-50 A1

In 2012 the Tac-50 A1 variant was introduced. The TAC-50 A1 features a new take-down fiberglass stock with a forend that is 5 in (127 mm) longer compared to the Tac-50 stock. This moves the balance point for the bipod forward. The stock includes an integral cheekpiece and a monopod on the buttstock with an option for vertical adjustment. The stock incorporates a smaller pistol grip to fit a wider range of hand shapes, with and without gloves. The magazine release lever was repositioned ahead of the trigger bow to make the system easier to operate with gloved hands. For the A1 variant a new lighter bipod with legs that adjust vertically, as well as forward and rearward to fine tune the rifle for elevation was also developed. [3]
Tac-50 A1-R2

The Tac-50 A1-R2 variant was introduced in 2012 alongside the Tac-50 A1 variant. The A1-R2 variant is basically a Tac-50 A1 rifle system with a hydraulic recoil mitigation system (a proprietary hydraulic piston in the buttstock) added to reduce the considerable amount of free recoil the .50 BMG chambering generates and hence increase user comfort.[4]
Deployment

Two Canadian snipers of the same Princess Patricia's Canadian Light Infantry (PPCLI) regiment sniper team made at the time the longest recorded sniper kills in history with this weapon in Afghanistan, during Operation Anaconda, in the Shah-i-Kot Valley. On a March afternoon in 2002, Master Corporal Arron Perry killed an enemy combatant from 2,310 meters (2,526 yd/1.435 miles) and Corporal Rob Furlong killed an enemy combatant from 2,430 meters (2,657 yd/1.509 miles) with 750 grain Hornady A-MAX very-low-drag bullets.[5][6] These were the longest recorded kills by snipers in combat, surpassing the mark of 2,286 meters (2,500 yd/1.420 miles) set by U.S. Marine Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock during the Vietnam War.[1][7][8] The five-man Canadian sniper team — MCpl Graham Ragsdale (Team Commander), MCpl Tim McMeekin, MCpl Arron Perry, Cpl Dennis Eason, and Cpl Rob Furlong — killed over 20 enemy combatants, and each of the five was nominated for the United States Armed Forces Bronze Star Medal.

These records were later broken in November 2009 by British Army Corporal of Horse Craig Harrison from the Household Cavalry. Harrison struck two Taliban machine gunners in a consecutive double kill south of Musa Qala in Helmand Province in Afghanistan, at a range of 2,475 m (2,707 yd/1.538 mi), using a .338 Lapua Magnum chambered British-made L115A3 Long Range Rifle.
 

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