A sniper is a soldier or law enforcement officer who is fluent in the art of shooting marks. Snipers should be able to perfectly disguise themselves, observe the enemy, have endurance and composure. The sniper is the real elite of the ground forces.
The main purpose of a sniper on the battlefield are the officers of the enemy, machine gunners, grenade throwers, operators of anti-tank complexes, communications men. Sniper fire not only destroys the most dangerous opponents, but also undermines the morale of the enemy, sows panic among its fighters. The sniper's task is to destroy his target from the first shot. The best sniper weapons can hit the enemy at distances of up to four kilometers.
To perform its functions, the sniper uses a special weapon - a sniper rifle, as well as other devices necessary to ensure an accurate shot. The sniper rifle is usually equipped with a telescopic sight and is distinguished by high accuracy and accuracy of fire compared to conventional small arms. Modern sniper rifles - the embodiment of the latest technologies and innovative design solutions. Therefore, the best sniper rifles can cost tens of thousands of dollars. According to modern requirements for sniper weapons, dispersion should not exceed 1 arc minute (MOA).
Sniper rifle requires special treatment - this weapon must be regularly cleaned, lubricated and maintained, because even a minor defect can seriously affect the accuracy of shooting.
Sniper rifles can be manual (with a longitudinal slide) and self-loading. As a rule, non-automatic rifles are more accurate, since oscillations from the operation of automation reduce the accuracy of the weapon. However, sometimes the ability to quickly make a second shot is more important than accuracy.
For the sniper, not only the rifle is important, he also needs special ammunition. In addition, for an accurate shot (especially at long distances), additional equipment is used: range finders, ballistic calculators, sensors for determining wind speed and direction, humidity, and air temperature.
On the Internet there are frequent violent disputes about which sniper rifles of the world are the best. This question is very complicated - it is very difficult to choose from a large number of outstanding samples of sniper weapons. We have prepared the top 10, which includes the best rifles from different countries and historical periods.
10. CORD (KAFP)
This is a powerful Russian large-caliber rifle, the work on the creation of which began in the Soviet Union. In 2004, she was put into mass production, and since then, these sniper rifles are used by Russian armed forces.
The caliber of ASVK is 12.7 mm, the rifle uses cartridges of 12.7 × 108 mm, it has a bullpup layout. Without ammunition and an optical sight, the weight of the FMSA is 12.5 kg, the target range of the rifle is 1.5 thousand meters. The closure of KVAK is longitudinally sliding, the capacity of the magazine is five rounds.
9. M2010
At the ninth place of the top 10 is a sniper rifle, specially designed for the US armed forces. It is a deep modernization of the M24 rifle, which for many years was used by the American army.
The modernization was carried out taking into account the experience gained by the Americans in Afghanistan and Iraq. M2010 uses a more powerful cartridge .300 Winchester Magnum, significantly improved weapon ergonomics, a muzzle brake with a silencer is installed.
The disadvantages of the M2010 (compared to the M24) include a brighter flash of a shot and a strong return due to the use of more powerful ammunition.
8. SVD
At the eighth place of the top 10 is the legendary Soviet self-loading sniper rifle SVD, adopted by the Soviet army in 1963. Let this weapon is not the most powerful, accurate and convenient, but because of its low cost and reliability, the SVD is the most massive sniper weapon in the world.
Automatic rifle works by removing the powder gases from the barrel, the magazine has a capacity of ten rounds.
The target range of the SVD is 1.3 thousand meters, but at this distance the accuracy of the shot will not be high.
At present, SVD type sniper rifles in the West are called "Marxman". This term refers to the weapon of an infantry sniper operating in the composition of its unit. Its main task is to defeat the enemy at small and medium distances. Such rifles occupy a middle position between conventional small arms and high-precision sniper complexes with longitudinal-sliding bolts.
7. PSG1
At the seventh place of the top 10 is the German PSG1 self-loading rifle, made by the famous weapon company Heckler & Koch. This weapon was developed after the tragic events at the 1972 Munich Olympics. Then the German law enforcement agencies failed to save the hostages due to the inability to quickly neutralize the terrorists. Heckler & Koch's gunsmiths were tasked with creating a new sniper rifle for police special forces.
PSG1 uses a NATO 7.62 × 51 mm cartridge, has stores with a capacity of 5 or 20 rounds and an effective range of 600 meters. This rifle is considered one of the most accurate self-loading sniper complexes.
6. "Vintorez"
This is a silent sniper rifle, developed in the late 80s in the USSR for the needs of special units of the armed forces, state security and the Ministry of Internal Affairs.
"Vintorez" uses special 9x39 mm ammunition, weighs only 2.6 kg (without a magazine and a sight) and combines the advantages of assault and sniper weapons. The rifle is equipped with a powerful silencer, which significantly reduces the sound of a shot. True, the target range "Vintorez" is only 400-500 meters.
This rifle was actively used during both Chechen campaigns and during the war with Georgia in 2008.
5. CheyTac M200 Intervention
In fifth place, the top 10 is a large-caliber sniper rifle CheyTac M200 Intervention, developed in the United States at the beginning of this century. In this rifle embodied almost all the achievements of technologists and designers, gunsmiths.
The CheyTac M200 Intervention sniper complex uses .408 CheyTac and .375 CheyTac ammunition, has a manual reload and a number of additional options: a computer to which you can connect a variety of different sensors (wind sensors, temperature, humidity). All this allows an experienced shooter to hit targets at distances of up to 2 km. However, the CheyTac M200 Intervention is worth a lot: the price can reach 50 thousand dollars. The rifle's weight is 12 kg.
4. Orsis T-5000
In fourth place, the top 10 is the latest Russian sniper rifle, developed by a private company Promtechnologii at the beginning of this decade. Orsis T-5000 is considered one of the most accurate sniper systems in the world, its accuracy level is 0.2 MOA. This is a very good result for serial weapons.
The rifle is made in two calibers: 8.6 mm and 7.62 mm, it has a weight of only 6.5 kg, which distinguishes the weapon from many domestic and foreign analogues. During the test, the rifle was affected by low and high temperatures, moisture, and polluted. However, these factors could not reduce the accuracy of the weapon.
In 2012, thanks to this rifle, the Russian team won gold at prestigious international sniper shooting competitions.
3. Barrett M82
In third place in the top 10 is the legendary American large-caliber rifle Barrett M82. It was invented and embodied in metal by American Ronnie Barrett (he had served in law enforcement agencies before) in 1982. For a long time, Barrett could not find customers who would be interested in his weapon. Only after the start of Operation Storm in the Desert, did the US military pay attention to a new sniper complex. Since then, Barrett has developed several models of large-caliber rifles, which are popular with both the military and law enforcement officers.
This is a self-loading rifle, which uses the most powerful cartridge of 12.7 × 99 mm NATO (it is used in the M2 Browning heavy machine gun). Automation works due to the short stroke of the barrel, which is equipped with a muzzle brake of the original design. The weight of the rifle (it differs somewhat from different versions) can reach 15 kg. The accuracy of the Barrett M82 is 1.5-2 MOA, which is quite good for a self-loading rifle of this caliber.
Barrett family rifles are often called "anti-material". The fact is that they were developed not so much for the defeat of infantry on the battlefield, as for the destruction of the enemy’s material objects. A 12 gauge bullet can strike lightly armored vehicles, destroy enemy radar, and explode an unexploded ordnance or mine. For these purposes, the accuracy of this sniper complex is quite sufficient.
Rifles Barrett are very fond of Hollywood directors and they can be easily understood: this weapon is really beautiful, it literally radiates power and deadly power.
2. Accuracy International AW50
In second place is the top 10 is another large-caliber rifle - Accuracy International AW50. This weapon was created in Britain, the rifle uses NATO 12.7 × 99 mm cartridges (like Barret) and is equipped with a sliding bolt. Magazine capacity - five rounds.
The maximum firing range of this weapon is 2 thousand meters. Currently Accuracy International AW50 rifle is in service with the United Kingdom, Germany, Australia, Portugal, South Korea and several other countries.
1. Accuracy International L96A1
First place in the top 10 is another development of the British company Accuracy International - rifle L96A1. It can be called a real symbol of sniper weapons. L96A1 was developed in 1982 and has since been in service with the British army. It was from this weapon that the farthest successful shot from a sniper rifle was made - 2,475 meters.
L96A1 has a longitudinal slide gate, it can change the caliber and use cartridges of 6.2, 7.62 and 8.6 mm. The effective range of L96A1 - one and a half thousand meters. The cost of a rifle is 10-12 thousand dollars, which can be called a completely affordable price for weapons of this class.
In addition to Britain, the L96A1 is in service with another two dozen armies in the world.
