Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/642978
In 2014 the Bundeswehr has decided to launch a tender for medium-range .338 sniper rifle for spe- cial forces under the G29 designation. C.G. Haenel RS9 based rifle and Unique Alpine TPG-3A5 were shortlisted and in February 2015 the final decision was made – RS9 was chosen as the G29. Similar state-of-the-art systems, some of which have al- ready been fielded, are being offered by a great number of other renowned manufacturers, among them are Accuracy International AX338, Armalite AR-30, Ashbury ASW338, IWI DAN338, McMillan Tac-338, Orsis T-5000, Steyr-Mannlicher SSG08 and Voere. The US Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) pursued a different approach with its Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR) program. The requirement was that the new modular sniper bolt-action rifle should be convertible to the .308 Winchester, .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum ca- libers. Underlying this requirement were both op- erational and budgetary reasons. First, the opera- tor should be enabled to convert his weapon from a long-range precision rifle into a more compact variant for short-range engagements. Second, the modularity of the weapon should allow using the cheap .308 ammunition for training while the snip- ers on real-life mission would fire the larger and more expensive rounds – even if they then need- ed, of course, different ballistic calculation tables. Remington eventually win the race for the PSR and in September 2013 the company was awarded the contract for its Modular Sniper Rifle System which is now supplied as Mk21 Precision Sniper Rifle with the Schmidt&Bender 5-25x56 PM II PSR scopes Australian sniper with a .338 Lapua Magnum Blaser Tactical 2, Schmidt&Bender riflescope and Vectronix Vector binocular laser rangefinder. Magazine capacity: 4 rounds; barrel length: 627 mm; overall length: 1230 mm; weight: 9.140 g (operational); effective range: 1.500 metres. (Photo: MoD Australia) Sniper data books are available from many sources. (Photo: Jan-P. Weisswange) ANALYTICS