Increasingly, partisan detachments are appearing in various local conflicts, trying to turn the tide of hostilities in their favor with targeted strikes, for which the ideal weapon is a sniper rifle. This type of weapon also does not leave the arsenal of the world's leading armies, and remains an indispensable tool for solving problems by special forces. Although progress has a significant impact on the defense industry, most of the contenders for the Top 10 best sniper rifles in the world have been in service for about fifty years, but still they have to give way to new, more ergonomic and accurate options.
10.L42 Enfield (UK)
This model of sniper rifle appeared at the end of the nineteenth century, quickly proving the convenience and reliability guaranteed by the use of a magazine, which is why the L42 became an indispensable tool both in the Boer War and in the two largest battles of mankind. Despite the fact that the rifle is over a hundred years old, snipers from the British Commonwealth countries still prefer it, because the target range is a full kilometer, and the maximum range is almost two.
Vintorez
0
This silent sniper rifle was developed in the same 1980s as the ASVK. It was intended for special units. Later, after the collapse of the USSR, the screw cutter was actively used during the First and Second Chechen Wars, as well as during the Georgian-Ossetian conflict. The length of the rifle does not reach 90 centimeters, and the weight is less than three kilograms.
9.SR-25 (USA)
The semi-automatic rifle, which entered service with the United States Army a quarter of a century ago, ranks ninth in the ranking of the 10 best sniper rifles in the world. Despite the fact that the destruction range is only 800 meters, the SR-25 has proven its effectiveness in all hot spots: Iraq, Afghanistan, East Timor. A 10-round magazine gives the shooter an advantage and allows him to single-handedly repel an attack from several enemy units, even if they are attacking from different flanks. However, it is unlikely to be able to penetrate even armored glass if the target range exceeds the norm by a couple of meters.
6S8 "Kord"
Just a few years ago, a new 6S8 Kord sniper complex appeared in service with the Russian army. The 12.7 mm sniper rifle is designed to defeat both enemy personnel and lightly armored vehicles.
The firing range of the 6S8 Kord is slightly lower than that of the first two large-caliber rifles on this list: 1 kilometer for vehicles, and 1.5 kilometers for enemy infantry. It is worth noting that this rifle has several modifications, including a night complex.
8.AS50 (UK)
It was produced by order of the United Kingdom Defense Department, so it immediately became popular among various specialized units. The main highlight is five shots in one and a half seconds, without the need to jerk the shutter, which makes it possible to deal with terrorists or criminals who are moving at high speed, sometimes even hiding behind hostages, because amazing accuracy will allow you to avoid civilian casualties. There is also the possibility of using incendiary supplies, and the targeting accuracy is about two kilometers.
FN F2000
The rating of assault rifles opens with the FN F2000 , the development of which began in the 1990s. Belgian designers were faced with the task of creating a universal weapon that would be effective in all situations. Because of this, the choice of layout fell on the then popular “bullpup”. Moreover, the Belgians managed to patent a frontal extraction system for spent cartridges (the spent cartridges fall out at the muzzle), which made it possible for left-handed people to use this rifle.
The FN F2000 can be equipped with various types of sights, as well as a laser rangefinder and a 40 mm grenade launcher. Now this assault rifle is in service with special units of Belgium, Pakistan, Poland, Chile and Peru. Also, batches of these machines were sent to Saudi Arabia and Slovenia.
7.M21 (USA)
The weapon, ranked seventh in the list of the best sniper rifles in the world, was used by the Americans during the Vietnam War, moreover, it was specially developed for it. The M21 rifle entered service in 1969. You may have noticed the similarity with the M14 assault rifle, and it is not accidental, it was this that served as the prototype. It is still in service with the army, because the magazine holds 20 rounds of ammunition, standardized for NATO troops, which allows you to avoid shortages of ammunition or quickly replenish them. The effective firing range is nine hundred meters.
CheyTac M200
Another of the best American sniper rifles is the CheyTac M200, which was released at the beginning of this century. It represents all the advanced and weapons design achievements of the United States at that time.
It has manual reloading, which is a little strange for a weapon of this level, because this modification can be equipped with a computer to which it is possible to connect various sensors: reading wind direction and speed, humidity level, temperature readings.
The firing range of the CheyTac M200 is 2 kilometers, the weight of the weapon is 12 kilograms. Also, this rifle has a fairly high cost, which can reach 50,000 US dollars.
6.HK PSG1 (Germany)
Germany, bled dry after the Second World War, did not have its own means for the production of military ammunition for a long time, until 1972, when, after the terrorist attack at the Olympic Games in Munich, the government issued an order for the production of semi-automatic and sniper rifles, choosing one of the manufacturers from the times of the German Empire as a contractor. And now, for 45 years, the PSG1 remains an indispensable tool for special operations, because its 20-round magazine and effective range of 800 meters are ideal for freeing hostages and preventing terrorist attacks.
AMP Technical Services DSR-1
0
The German DSR-1 rifle can be called the most accurate, however, only when shooting under ideal conditions - using specialized cartridges and the absence of wind. It belongs to the police or anti-terrorist weapons and is used by European formations such as GSG-9. Professional military personnel are not very fond of the DSR-1 - it is susceptible to dirt and sand, and in real combat operations, for example, when there is an explosion nearby, it misfires.
5. Dragunov rifle (USSR)
Definitely the most advanced of domestic military inventions, it ranks fifth in the top ten best sniper rifles in the world. Having entered service in 1963, it has still not been able to find high-quality analogues, all thanks to the wide base for modernization provided by the ease of assembly. Unlike more modern analogues, it is much less demanding in terms of maintenance; there have been cases when a shot was fired from a weapon covered with ice. Effective aiming is possible at a distance of about one and a half kilometers. Most often, the Dragunov rifle is found under the name SVD. This weapon has become widely used in computer games about the Cold War and modern shooters.
Sniper rifles of the world
Home | Weapons | Sniper rifles
This section contains tactical and technical characteristics and photographs of sniper rifles. Here you will find materials on the topics: sniper rifles of the world; sniper weapons; precision rifles; large caliber rifles.
- Austria
- Belgium
- Brazil
- Great Britain
- Hungary
- Germany
- Israel
- Canada
- China
- Poland
- Russia/USSR
- Serbia
- USA
- Türkiye
- Ukraine
- Uruguay
- Finland
- France
- Croatia
- Czech
- Switzerland
- South Africa
- South Korea
- Japan
A sniper rifle is a combat rifle, the design of which provides increased shooting accuracy. When shooting at night, night sights are used or the reticles of optical sights are illuminated. Sniper rifles can be non-automatic (with a longitudinally sliding rotary bolt), magazine-fed (Austrian 7.62 mm SSG-69, American 7.62 mm M24) and self-loading (Soviet SVD, Russian VSS Vintorez, German 7.62 -mm G3A2F). As a rule, precision sniper rifles should not be self-loading (semi-automatic): vibration from reloading during a shot reduces shooting accuracy. Very rarely do developers manage to make a semi-automatic rifle with accuracy that meets the requirements. However, there are successful semi-automatics, such as the HK PSG1 from Heckler & Koch with a semi-blowback roller action. Modern sniper rifles have a requirement for accuracy - dispersion of no more than 1 minute of arc (MOA).
Special cartridges are usually used for shooting from a sniper rifle. The main and practically the only parameter characterizing the quality of a sniper rifle is the accuracy of fire from the machine.
A sniper rifle is a very delicate weapon that requires strict adherence to routine cleaning, lubrication and maintenance procedures. Even a seemingly insignificant defect or invisible to the naked eye can greatly reduce shooting accuracy. The possibility of conducting automatic fire from it is usually not even considered by designers, although there is a variant of the SVD capable of firing bursts (SVU-A/SVU-AS), however, it should be noted that this firing mode is used, as a rule, only in emergency situations.
The sniper rifle went through several historical stages in its development. At first, rifles for precision shooting using an optical sight were selected from a batch of conventional rifles, choosing the ones that gave the most accurate combat. Later, sniper rifles began to be manufactured on the basis of serial army models, making minor changes to the design in order to increase shooting accuracy. A modern sniper rifle is a “weapon-cartridge-sight” complex. Firing accuracy is enhanced by optical sights specially designed for sniper rifles. One of the first such sniper weapon systems is the Soviet SVD rifle, which fires a sniper version of the standard 7.62x54R rifle cartridge and is equipped with a PSO-1 optical sight.
One of the main tasks of the 7.62-mm army sniper rifle is to defeat small targets at ranges of up to 600 m and large ones - up to 800 m. The most important targets for a sniper are command staff, messengers, snipers, observers, surveillance and communications equipment, heavy crews weapons, enemy tank crews. In addition, at a distance of 1000-1200 m, a sniper can conduct harassing fire, limiting the enemy’s movements, preventing mine clearance work, etc. There are two types of military precision small arms to perform the above tasks - high-precision sniper rifles for professional snipers and rifles for the best shooters - the so-called “ersatz sniper”, also called improved combat rifles, which are inferior in shooting accuracy to sniper rifles.
Modern requirements for a sniper rifle suggest a hit deflection of no more than one arc minute, which is for different firing ranges: at 1000 m - 29 cm, at 500 m - 14.5 cm, at 300 m - 8.7 cm, at 100 m - 2.9 cm. In the 1950-1960s. created sniper rifles that, in addition to the ability to conduct accurate fire over long distances, also had qualities common to army small arms - a fairly high rate of fire, the ability to be used in close combat up to hand-to-hand combat, maneuverability, and reliability in difficult operating conditions. Such weapons were self-loading rifles chambered for 7.62 mm caliber with an optical sight - the American M21 rifle and the Soviet SVD. However, these samples are inferior in shooting accuracy to rifles with a longitudinally sliding rotary bolt. In addition, automation complicates and makes the weapon heavier, increases its size, operation noise and shock loads.
Later, more highly specialized rifles for accurate shooting over long distances began to be adopted by armies. They were the same shooting rifles with a longitudinally sliding rotary bolt - the American M40, the Finnish Sako TRG-21, the Austrian SSG-69, the British L96A1. Examples of army self-loading sniper rifles are the American M21 and the Soviet SVD, which, however, no longer meet modern standards for shooting accuracy. Examples of a modern self-loading sniper rifle are the American Knights SR-M110 SASS and Remington R11 RSASS, and the Belgian FN Ballista. In most modern sniper rifles, stocks have adjustable cheeks and are adjustable in length, since people have differences in height, shoulder width, neck and arm length, and hand size. Special cartridges are usually used for shooting from a sniper rifle. The main and practically the only parameter characterizing the quality of a sniper rifle is the accuracy of fire from the machine. Maintaining a sniper rifle in proper condition requires strict adherence to routine cleaning, lubrication and maintenance procedures, since this is a very delicate weapon, defects in one of the components of which can significantly reduce its shooting accuracy.
In relation to army conditions for the use of 7.62 mm sniper rifles chambered for 7.62x51 NATO and domestic 7.62x54R cartridges, the firing range for these weapons is about 800 meters. Large-caliber sniper rifles chambered for the 12.7x99 (.50 BMG) cartridge, created for the Browning heavy machine gun, are becoming increasingly popular. Such rifles fire at distances of about 1800 meters or more, as a result of which they are used with sights having variable magnification of 1.5-9x, 3-10x, etc. For shooting at short distances for them - up to 300-400 meters, optical sights with a fixed magnification of 4x and 6x can be used.
The main tasks of large-caliber sniper rifles are: fighting enemy snipers, since a powerful cartridge allows you to fire at extremely high distances and penetrate a wall or other light cover; fighting against fortified enemy firing points, such as pillboxes and machine gun nests; destruction of lightly armored or unarmored vehicles such as trucks, armored personnel carriers and cars. Shooting from a large-caliber rifle at extremely high distances is carried out only with special sniper cartridges, since cartridges for large-caliber machine guns are not applicable due to their low accuracy. An example of the use of large-caliber rifles for shooting at the enemy at extremely high distances is a shot from a McMillan Tac-50 rifle chambered for .50 BMG by Canadian Army Corporal Rob Furlong, who in Afghanistan in 2002 destroyed a Taliban fighter from a distance of 2430 meters.
The niche between sniper rifles of 7.62 mm caliber and large-caliber 12.7 mm rifles is occupied by sniper rifles of 8.6×70 caliber, chambered for a special sniper cartridge for high-precision shooting .338 Lapua Magnum, designed for shooting at a distance of 1000-1800 meters. In relation to police operations to eliminate terrorists in urban environments, the firing range of sniper rifles is about 300-400 meters, or even less. Typical police sniper rifles are the Steyr-Mannlicher SSG 69 and the Remington model 700 Police. In Russia, the most popular sniper rifle, used both in the armed forces and in anti-terrorist special forces, is the SVD self-loading rifle. However, it does not meet modern requirements for the accuracy of sniper weapons and in Western countries is considered an ersatz sniper, that is, an improved combat rifle.
Currently, sniper rifles are in service in most armies of the world, and are also used by special forces units of the police and anti-terrorist units. Modern sniper rifles are very expensive weapons. The average cost of such a rifle ranges from 1500-3000 to 9000 USD, for example, the German self-loading 7.62 mm sniper rifle Heckler und Koch PSG-1.
The newest sniper system is the Precision Guided Firearms family of rifles, which translates as “high-precision guided weapons,” which were developed in the United States by the private company Tracking Point. The Precision Guided Firearms system consists of two basic components - a computerized sighting system and a specially modified rifle. AR-15-based rifles and hand-loading weapons are available. A special feature of these rifles is the “smart” trigger mechanism. A shot can be fired not only directly when the trigger is pressed, but also by a signal from the computer of the sighting system, which analyzes the position of the tracked target and weapon in real time. Pressing the trigger in this case only serves as a permissive signal to fire; the shot itself is fired by the computer exactly at the moment when the shooter aligns the computer-calculated point of impact of the bullet with the tracked aiming point.
For rifles of .308 Winchester caliber, the manufacturer’s stated ability to hit targets at ranges of up to 800 meters at speeds of up to 24 km/h, for rifles chambered for .338 Lapua, these characteristics reach 1200 meters and 40 km/h. When shooting with conventional weapons, such conditions require extremely high shooter skill and a fair amount of luck; Using the Tracking Point system, such shots become available to average shooters. However, currently this system is in the initial stage of development and has a high cost - from 15 thousand dollars. In addition, the system is tied to a specific type of cartridge for each rifle, and the battery life is relatively short. However, these shortcomings will be eliminated by the manufacturer in the near future, and the system itself will be improved.
In 2022, manufacturers continued to introduce new models of sniper rifles, which are a continuation or reincarnation of their successful predecessors. An example is the tactical modular sniper rifle from Steyr Mannlicher - SSG M1 with manual reloading and rotary locking.
Sniper rifles
- Austria
- Hungary
- Brazil
- Czech
- South Africa
- France
- USA
- Russia/USSR
- Finland
- Uruguay
- Israel
- Germany
- Türkiye
- Switzerland
- South Korea
- Japan
- Belgium
- Poland
- Ukraine
- Croatia
- Serbia
- China
- Canada
- Great Britain
4.Mosin rifle (Russia)
Created for the needs of the Russian Imperial Army, this rifle survived the First World War, performing well in swampy areas and in constant pollution, because for effective shooting it was enough just to clean the barrel and wipe the sight. It was in service until 1961, when it was replaced by the SVD. The Mosinka is perhaps the best Russian sniper rifle . This weapon is the object of a huge number of jokes, because its amazing survivability and effectiveness at medium distances can be demonstrated today, museum exhibits just need to be charged and they are ready for battle, and Siberian hunters claim that the best gun for use in severe frost conditions is simply can not found.
"Orsis" T-5000
Russian development. It is considered a true favorite of modern precision weapons. Released in 2011. The model is produced in 2 calibers: 7.62 and 8.6 mm. Its weight is only 6.5 kg.
The initial flight speed can reach up to 925 m/sec. It was thanks to this weapon model that the Russian sniper team managed to win in 2012. We are talking about international army sniper competitions, where the team managed to take gold.
3.L115A3 AWM (UK)
Among the top three best sniper rifles in the world is the best British product in this segment. The model was created specifically for firing large-caliber ammunition, capable of hitting even weakly armored enemy vehicles. For the convenience of the shooter, two options for optics were installed, for different times of day, and a magazine for 5 rounds, since a larger number of shells of a similar caliber would have a negative impact on the recoil. The rifle has proven its effectiveness during special operations in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
Calico M951S
0
After domestic samples, it’s time to move to the USA, where in 1990 the Calico M951S rifle was developed, which perfectly hits targets at medium distances. Its features include a high rate of fire and an extremely capacious magazine that can hold up to 100 rounds. Which, however, is not surprising, since the model was created on the basis of the Calico M960 submachine gun.
2.CheyTac LRRS M-200 Intervention (USA)
Stunning ergonomics, the presence of a buttstock with a recoil compensator, as well as phenomenal accuracy made the M-200 rifle a favorite weapon of assassins. Of particular note is the firing range, which ensures that you hit the bull's eye from a distance of two kilometers, thereby ensuring that you will not be detected by either enemy troops or law enforcement agencies. The main disadvantage is its outstanding weight; when fully equipped, the CheyTac LRRS M-200 weighs about 13 kilograms, which makes the fighter using this rifle an extremely immobile combat unit.
Steyr AUG a3
In eighth place is Steyr AUG a3 . Development of the Austrian assault rifle began in the late 1960s. According to the reform of the Austrian armed forces, the infantry required the most universal weapons possible. The Steyr company, which was responsible for the development, managed to solve the problem in a rather original way.
Steyr AUG is a whole set of interchangeable modules, as a result of which the weapon can be adjusted to the owner or a specific combat situation. The Steyr AUG a3 modification, created in 2005, is an even more versatile option. The owner can install various types of sights, for example, red dot sights, night sights, and it is also possible to attach an under-barrel shotgun. In addition to Austria, the Steyr AUG a3 is in service with many countries, such as Saudi Arabia, New Zealand and others.
1.Barrett 50 Caliber (USA)
M62, which is the official name of this model, takes first place in the ranking. For 2016, the Barrett 50 Cal is the best sniper rifle in the world . It has been in service with many armies of the Atlantic Alliance for about thirty years, and has never received negative reviews, and the main source of praise was the heavy-duty cartridges used in hunting revolvers. A shot from the Barrett 50 Cal can penetrate a brick wall at a distance of more than two kilometers, but the aiming accuracy is only one and a half thousand meters. Combined with a 10-round magazine, it will not leave the enemy vanguard and scouts any chance, without giving away the shooter’s position.
Accuracy International AS50
0
AS50 was first demonstrated to the general public in January 2005 at the ShotShow 2005 exhibition in the USA. The 1369mm equipment weighs 14.1 kilograms without optics and ammunition and is intended mainly for special operations. A sniper can quickly fold or unfold it and put it into combat readiness. High accuracy of shooting over long distances, a device for mounting various optics, including night optics, make the AS50 one of the best modern examples of sniper rifles.
FN SCAR
The FN SCAR assault rifle was developed by the Belgian branch of the American company FN Herstal in 2004. These rifles are mainly used by the Texas Rangers, but they are also supplied to the regular army.
The FN SCAR is a simple and reliable weapon for which dust getting into the internal elements is not critical (the main problem for the M16 family of rifles). The FN SCAR has good ergonomics, good accuracy and accuracy of fire, both in automatic and single mode. This is offset by excess weight - the FN SCAR is about half a kilogram heavier than the M16.
Bushmaster Acr 3
Bushmaster Acr 3 is an attempt to improve the appearance of the M16 from the American company Bushmaster Firearms International. During the development process, the designers decided to use some elements from the XM8 and FN SCAR in the new machine gun. Thanks to the modular system, the owner has the opportunity to quickly replace individual components of the weapon, thereby changing its characteristics to suit a given combat mission. And although the rifle turned out to be quite versatile, the main obstacle was the cost of $2,700 per unit in the basic configuration.
