1.The AS50 Sniper



Caliber : 12.7x99mm / .50BMG

Operation: gas operated, semiautomatic

Barrel: 692 mm

Weight: 14.1 kg empty

Length: 1369 mm

Feed Mechanism: 5 rounds detachable box magazine

The AS50 fifty caliber (12.7mm) sniper / antimateriel rifle is the latest development of the famous British company Accuracy International Ltd. First displayed in January 2005 in USA at the ShotShow-2005, this rifle reportedly has been developed especially for US SOCOM users, and is now being tested by the USNAVY Special Operations center. The AS50 is to provide combat operators with highly accurate and rapid aimed fire at extended ranges. To achieve such goal,the AS50 is built around gas operated, semiautomatic action, with "singlerear locking" (most probably, this mean a tilting bolt). The two-part receiver is machined from high grade steel, the barrel is free-floated andfitted with effective muzzle brake. Easily detachable buttstock is fitted with recoil-reducing buttpad, as well as with folding rear grip, which also serves asa rear support leg. The folding quick-detachable bipod with adjustable legs is fitted as a standard. Top of the receiver is equipped with full length Picatinnytype rail which can accept any compatible scope mount; two additional rails are mounted on either side of the short handguard / barrel jacket. Rifle is fitted with four sling mounts, and can be brought down to basic sub-assemblies within three minutes for maintenance or compact transportation or storage. Rifle is fed using single stack detachable box magazines, which holt five rounds of ammunition.

2. The SA80A2 rifle



The SA80 series of rifles entered service with the British Army in 1985. The SA80 family underwent a major mid-life update in 2002, during which the SA80 A1 rifles were upgraded to the SA80 A2 standard.

The British Army’s SA80 A2 is being phased out to pave the way for SA80 A3. The upgraded version minimises its visual and infra-red spectrums. It is more resistant to abrasion, and comes with a new handguard that supports the upper receiver while improving the precision and accuracy of the weapon system.

SA80 A2 L85 assualt rifle design and features

The selective fire gas-operated design of SA80 A2 incorporates a bullpup layout with magazine and firing mechanism behind the trigger group. The rifle’s automation is provided by combusted powder gases. The gas is fed into a short-stroke gas piston system on the barrel through a three-position adjustable gas regulator.

SA80 A2 has an overall length of 785mm and barrel length of 518mm. The weight of the rifle with loaded magazine and optical sight is 4.98kg. The muzzle velocity of the rifle is 940m/s. It has a cyclic rate of fire of 610 to 775 rounds per minute. The SA80 A2 can effectively engage targets within a 400m range.

The rifle features a revolving cylindrical bolt integrating locking splines, an extractor and casing ejector. The rotation of the bolt is ensured by a cam pin. The fire-control lever allows the operator to select semi-automatic fire or fully automatic fire. The flash suppressor on the barrel acts as a base for mounting grenades and a blank-firing adaptor or a bayonet.

SA80 A2 is fitted with a heavier and longer barrel for achieving greater muzzle velocity than the SA80 base model. The SA80 A2 can also be mounted with AG-36 40mm Underslung Grenade Launcher (UGL) and EO Tech Holographic sight. The under-barrel grenade launcher weighs about 1.49kg. The UGL will allow the forces to fire effective fragmenting munitions up to a range of 350m.

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