Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1115818
The history of SKW rifles (Samopowtrzalny Kar- abin Wyborowy, the Semi-automatic Sniper Rifle or Semi-Automatic Designated Marksman Rifle) starts somewhere around 2010-2011, when the OBR SM company (in 2012 merged with ZM Tarnów) launched a development program for bull-pup .338 Lapua Magnum semi-automatic sniper rifle. The functional model of weapon was displayed during the MSPO 2012 (see the photos). It was kind of big news then, mostly because its futuristic design and color, like First Order stormtroopers guns. The idea of bull-pup and semi-automatic sniper rifle in this caliber was raising discussions. It should be not- ed, that bull-pup design was distinctive for the ZM Tarnów (or ZMT in short) sniper rifles of that time, such as Tor and Bor sniper rifles adopted by Polish Armed Forces. The bull-pup rifle didn't last for long as it wasn't displayed ever again. The company de- cided to launch new program, now in more classic design, based on AR-10 layout. Engineers responsible for "new" .338 SKW are Roman Uznanski and Rafal Szela. The rifle is the own project of the company, but in meantime the Polish Army launch the analytical program to find replacement for old and worn-out Dragunov SVD rifles chambered in antique 7.62x54R caliber. The decision to develop scaled-down SKW in 7.62x51 NATO caliber (.308 Win) was made. The .308 variant quickly became priority one. It appeared that new rifle can be easily scaled down and then converted to other calibers, leaving open possibilities for future different caliber versions. The outcome of the works were the rifles unveiled during the MSPO 2018. The ZMT announced that in 2019 they will reach the fi- nal phase. www.fragoutmag.com