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Accuracy International AWM

"AWSM" redirects here. For the organisation supporting women sports writers, see Association for Women in Sports Media.
Not to be confused with Accuracy International Arctic Warfare.

Accuracy International AWM
Accuracy International AWM sniper rifle with several mounting interface kits
TypeBolt action sniper rifle
Place of originUnited Kingdom
Service history
In service1996–present
Used bySee Users
WarsWar in Afghanistan
Iraq War
Operation Inherent Resolve
Russian invasion of Ukraine
Production history
ManufacturerAccuracy International
Produced1996–2013
VariantsAWM-F, L115A2, and L115A3 (British Army)
Specifications
Mass6.9 kg (15 lb 3 oz)
Length1,270 mm (4 ft 2 in)
Barrel length686 mm (27.0 in)
Cartridge.300 Winchester Magnum
.338 Lapua Magnum
Muzzle velocity936 m/s (3,070 ft/s)
Effective firing range1,100 m (1,200 yd) (.300 Winchester Magnum)
1,500 m (1,600 yd) (.338 Lapua Magnum)
Feed system5-round detachable box magazine
SightsDetachable aperture type iron sights
Day or night optics

The Accuracy International AWM (Arctic Warfare Magnum or AI-Arctic Warfare Magnum) is a bolt-action sniper rifle manufactured by Accuracy International designed for magnum rifle cartridges. The Accuracy International AWM is also unofficially known as the AWSM (Arctic Warfare Super Magnum), which typically denotes AWM rifles chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum.

On 9 September 2012, Accuracy International announced that the .338 Lapua Magnum AWM rifle was phased out and replaced by the Accuracy International AXMC sniper rifle.[1] The bolt action of the AXMC was designed to be significantly stronger and more capable of handling higher chamber pressures and temperatures and thus higher bolt thrust safely compared to the AWM and hence is longer and wider. The AXMC magazine was also appropriately enlarged to function with .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges loaded to the Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives (C.I.P.) maximum allowed overall length of 93.50 mm (3.681 in).

Arctic Warfare Magnum System

Main article: Accuracy International Arctic Warfare § Design details

The Accuracy International AWM sniper rifle is a variant of the British Accuracy International Arctic Warfare (AW) rifle that was the basis of a family of sniper rifles using the Arctic Warfare name. As such the design details of the AWM variant are similar to the ones found in the basic AW rifle system. Compared to the AW, the AWM has a longer bolt to accommodate larger magnum-length cartridges such as the .300 Winchester Magnum and the .338 Lapua Magnum. The bolt head, locking ring, and extractor and magazines were also revised to work with the increased size and operating pressures of magnum rifle cartridges.

The AWM features a detachable single stack removable box magazine which holds five rounds. The normal cartridges for this rifle, and the ones which have been accepted by NATO for use in AWM rifles, are .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum.

Muzzle brakes are fitted to reduce recoil, jump and flash and act as a base for optional iron sights and suppressors.

Standard configurations include a Schmidt & Bender PM II 5-25×56FFP MK II telescopic sight with P4F graticule but variants with variable magnification of either 3–12×50 or 4–16×50 are also available. Accuracy International actively promotes fitting the German made Schmidt & Bender PM II/MILITARY MK II product line as sighting components on their rifles, which is rare for a rifle manufacturer. The German and Russian Army prefer a telescopic sight made by Zeiss.[2]

The AWM rifle is normally supplied in a metal transit case together with a telescopic sight, mount, butt spacers, bipod, spare magazines, sling, cleaning and tool kits.

Magnum chamberings

.300 Winchester Magnum

The .300 Winchester Magnum (7.62×67mm) cartridge was designed as a magnum hunting cartridge and offers a flatter trajectory and a significant increase in muzzle velocity, wind resistance and supersonic range over the smaller 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. The ability of the .300 Winchester Magnum chambering to obtain fairly high muzzle velocities, combined with relatively heavy and long very-low-drag bullets, significantly enhance the hit probability at longer ranges and hence the effective range compared to the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. The AWM chambered for the .300 is fitted with a fluted, stainless steel barrel that is 660 mm (26 in) long and features a non-traditional 279.4 mm (1:11 in) right-hand twist rate.

.338 Lapua Magnum

A Dutch ISAF sniper team with an Accuracy International AWM .338 Lapua Magnum rifle.
A British sniper (centre) carrying his L115A3 Long Range Rifle with attached suppressor, on a joint training mission with French snipers.

The AWM in the .338 Lapua Magnum (8.6×70mm) calibre was designed as a dedicated long range sniper rifle. The rifle is fitted with a stainless steel, fluted, 686 mm (27.0 in) barrel, which research has found to be the best compromise between muzzle velocity, weight, and length. The barrel has an unconventional 279 mm (1:11 in) right-hand twist rate, optimized for firing .338-calibre very-low-drag bullets up to 16.85 g (260 gr). When the AWM .338 Lapua Magnum was developed military issue cartridges were loaded with 16.2 g (250 gr) very-low-drag bullets. Longer, heavier very-low-drag bullets like the Sierra HPBT MatchKing .338-calibre 19.44 g (300 gr) and the 21st century 19.44 gram (300 grain) .338-calibre HPBT Scenar can be used, but require a 254 mm (1:10 in) twist rate to stabilize them under high air density conditions as found on arctic coasts.[3]

A limitation of AWM rifles is that .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges loaded to the Commission Internationale Permanente pour l'Epreuve des Armes à Feu Portatives (C.I.P.) maximum allowed overall length of 93.50 mm (3.681 in) do not fit in the magazine due to a lack of internal magazine length. This is because the AWM bolt action was initially developed for smaller cartridges, and then modified for the .338 Lapua Magnum chambering.[4] Ammunition manufacturers produce .338 Lapua Magnum military issue cartridges loaded with 16.2 g (250 gr) very-low-drag bullets (overall length ≤ 91.44 mm (3.600 in)) that fit in the 91.5 mm (3.60 in) long AWM magazines. As long as .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges that fit in the magazines are used, the AWM rifles can be used as repeating rifles instead of single shot rifles.

To address .338 Lapua Magnum ammunition length limitations of the AWM, Accuracy International has since developed the AX338 long range rifle as the AWM successor model. The bolt action of the AX338 is longer and wider than the AWM, and the internal magazine is lengthened, allowing the unimpaired use of .338 Lapua Magnum cartridges loaded to the C.I.P. (Permanent International Commission for the Proof of Firearms Portable) maximum allowed overall length of 93.5 mm (3.68 in). Furthermore, the AX338 has a 238 mm (1:9.375 in) twist rate to adequately stabilize longer, heavier .338 caliber very-low-drag projectile designs that became more common in the 21st century.[5][6]

Ammunition types available for the .338 Lapua Magnum are FMJ, hollow point, armour piercing (AP) and armour piercing incendiary (API).[citation needed]

Extreme range confirmed sniper kill

Main article: Craig Harrison (British Army soldier) § Record details
File:S&B P4 reticle at 5x zoom.png
Schmidt & Bender 5-25×56 PM II LP telescopic sight, similar to the sight used by Harrison, and its adjustment controls

In November 2009, British Army sniper Corporal of Horse (CoH) Craig Harrison, a member of the Household Cavalry, set the record for longest recorded sniper kill, at the time, by killing two Taliban machine gunners consecutively south of Musa Qala in Helmand Province in Afghanistan at a range of 2,475 m (2,707 yd) taking 10 shots to hit the target, using a L115A3 Long Range Rifle.[7]

Military adoption

British Armed Forces

Royal Marines with L115A1 rifles.

The British Armed Forces adopted the AWM rifle chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum as the L115A1 Long Range Rifle. The British L115A1 rifles are outfitted with Schmidt & Bender 3-12×50 mm PM II/MILITARY MK II 3-12×50 mm 0.1 mil telescopic sights. The L115A1 is in service with the Royal Marines, British Army and RAF Regiment in Afghanistan and Iraq.

The L115A3 Long Range Rifle.

In November 2007 the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) announced that their snipers in the Army, Royal Marines and RAF Regiment were to get a new rifle. Accuracy International would supply 580 L115A3 Long Range Rifles with daytime telescopic sights. The L115A3 is being supplied as part of a broader Sniper System Improvement Programme (SSIP) which also includes night sights, spotting scopes, laser rangefinders and tripods.[8] The L115A3 rifle was first deployed to Afghanistan in May 2008.[9] Some features of the improved L115A3 include:

  • Schmidt & Bender 5-25×56 mm PM II LP/MILITARY MK II 5-25×56 0.1 mil parallax, illumination, double turn telescopic sights
  • Suppressors to reduce the flash and noise signature;
  • Folding stocks for better carrying in a backpack;
  • Adjustable cheek pieces for more comfort and better eye alignment with the telescopic sight
  • Butt spikes (monopods) to aid stability during firing
  • Adjustable bipods, which differ from the original Accuracy International bipod
  • 5-round box magazines.

The MOD claims a muzzle velocity of 936 m/s (3,071 ft/s) for the L115A3 (another folding stock variant next to the AWM-F).[10]

When the L115A3 Long Range Rifle was only 6 years into its life cycle the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) recognized the improved capabilities of the AX series rifles in regard to special forces use. The AX series new chassis system provided more flexibility to utilize (future) low light and day light aiming optics, laser designators, and other accessories without the need for custom made mounting interface kits. The right folding AX series chassis system was also more compact in the folded configuration making it more portable and concealable, and featured a pistol grip. On request of the MOD Accuracy International explored the possibility of updating the L115A3 Long Range Rifle to the AX series chassis system, to produce a rifle that is a hybrid of AWM and AX features. The AX enhancements were well received by the MOD and British snipers, and an update programme was launched thus producing the L115A4. The L115A4 can easily be mistaken for a new AX series rifle. The Schmidt & Bender 5-25×56 mm PM II LP/MILITARY MKII 5-25×56 as well as the suppressor, bipod and several other accessories from the L115A3 were reused in the L115A4 resulting in significant cost savings. Along with the rifle updates, the L115A4 includes a new deployment case, maintenance kit, and other accessories.

Dutch Armed Forces

The AWM-F commonly referred to as Geweer Lange Afstand (GLA) (Long Range Rifle) chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum has been introduced from 1996 by the Dutch Army’s Korps Commandotroepen snipers and the AWM is used by all Schutter Lange Afstand (SLA) (Long Range Marksmen) of the 11 Luchtmobiele Brigade (airborne infantry), 13th Light Brigade (motorised infantry), 43rd Mechanized Brigade (mechanized infantry). In 2007 the snipers of the Netherlands Marine Corps also received this sniper rifle. The Dutch AWM-F rifles are outfitted with Schmidt & Bender 10×42 PM II and 3-12×50 PM II telescopic sights. The rifles are designated as Accuracy, antipersoneel scherpschuttersgeweer.338 (Accuracy anti personnel sniper rifle .338) and the Military of the Netherlands claim a maximum effective range of 1,100 m (1,203 yd) for their AWM-F rifles and have used these rifles in Afghanistan with great success.[11][12]

German Armed Forces

AWM-F or G22 in Bundeswehr nomenclature with attached suppressor.

Since 1998 the Bundeswehr fields an AWM-F chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum (7.62 × 67 mm in Bundeswehr nomenclature), with a 3–12×56 SSG telescopic sight made by the German company Zeiss, under the designation of G22 (for Gewehr 22) or Scharfschützengewehr 22 (sniper rifle 22). The German G22 rifles have folding stocks and emergency iron sights. For their G22 rifles, the Bundeswehr claims an effective range of 1,100 m (1,203 yd) and muzzle velocity of 885 m/s (2,904 ft/s).[13][14]

Zeiss 3–12×56 SSG reticle.

The German ammunition manufacturer Metallwerk Elisenhütte Nassau (MEN) has specially developed 7.62 × 67 mm ammunition for the G22.[15]

The Carl Zeiss Optronics (previously branded as Hensoldt) telescopic sight has a mil-dot reticle and a scale that enables the operator to see the dialled in elevation setting through the rifle scope's ocular. The Bundeswehr 3–12×56 SSG telescopic sight differs somewhat from the further developed 3–12×56 SSG-P telescopic sight. The Bundeswehr telescopic sight has no parallax setting option and the range scale has a setting range from 0 to 10 instead of 0 to 11 symbolizing the 11.2 milliradian elevation adjustment range shown in the current Carl Zeiss Optronics 3–12×56 SSG-P telescopic sight brochure.[16]

The G22A1 has a Schmidt & Bender 3-12×50 telescopic sight and Harris Engineering bipod and is in use with German special forces.[17]

The G22A2 is an upgraded variant featuring an AX series chassis stock, a new monopod and bipod, a new double chamber muzzle brake and a Steiner-Optik GmbH M5Xi 5-25×56 MTC LT LPF – TreMoR3s telescopic sight.[18] The accessory pack besides spare and maintenance parts includes a Kestrel 5700 Elite Weather Meter with an integrated ballistic calculator.[19] In 2019 Accuracy International was awarded a contract to refurbish and upgrade all G22 and G22A1 rifles to the G22A2 standard.[20]

Royal Malaysia Police

The Unit Tindakhas (UTK) of the Pasukan Gerakan Khas (PGK) snipers from the Royal Malaysia Police use the AWM chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum alongside the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare chambered in 7.62mm.[21]

Norwegian Special Forces

The snipers of Marinejegerkommandoen and Forsvarets Spesialkommando are known to have used the AWM, chambered in either .300 Winchester Magnum or .338 Lapua Magnum,[22][23]

Russian Alpha Group

The snipers of the Russian Alpha Group counter-terrorism unit are using the AWM-F chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum with Zeiss 3–12×56 SSG series telescopic sights.[24][25]

South Korean Special Forces

The 707th Special Mission BN from the Republic of Korea Army and the Republic of Korea Naval Special Warfare Flotilla from the ROK Navy use AWM series sniper rifles chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum outfitted with Schmidt & Bender 3-12×50 PM II telescopic sights. It has had some telescopic sight attachment problems.[26]

Users

Map with AWM users in blue

References

  1. ^ "News". Accuracy International. 5 March 2016. Archived from the original on 5 March 2016.
  2. ^ "Telescopic sights for handheld weapons". Zeiss. Archived from the original on 26 December 2007. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  3. ^ "Lapua 19.44 g (300 gr) HPBT Scenar Bullet brochure" (PDF). Nammo Lapua Oy. Archived from the original (PDF) on 5 December 2010.
  4. ^ "News". Accuracy International. Archived from the original on 16 October 2012. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  5. ^ "AX338 .338 long range rifle". Accuracy International. Archived from the original on 11 March 2012. Retrieved 23 December 2012.
  6. ^ "How it works magazine article AX338 PSR sniper rifle" (PDF). Accuracy International. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2012.
  7. ^ Smith, Michael (2 May 2010). "Hotshot sniper in one-and-a-half mile double kill". The Sunday Times. Archived from the original on 28 May 2010. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  8. ^ "Snipers to get new longer range rifles". Ministry of Defence. 14 November 2007. Archived from the original on 15 November 2007.
  9. ^ a b "L115A3 Long Range Rifle". British Army. Archived from the original on 6 January 2013.
  10. ^ a b "L96 Sniper Rifle and L115A3 Long Range Rifle". Ministry of Defence. Archived from the original on 7 June 2011.
  11. ^ a b "Special Forces – Wapens". Netherlands Legermuseum: Collectie Informatie Centrum (in Dutch). Archived from the original on 27 February 2009. Retrieved 17 October 2009.
  12. ^ "Accuracy-scherpschuttersgeweer (antipersoneel)". Ministerie van Defensie (in Dutch). 4 November 2013.
  13. ^ a b "Gewehr G22". Bundeswehr (in German). Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  14. ^ a b "Das Gewehr G22". Bundeswehr (in German). Archived from the original on 2 February 2020. Retrieved 22 October 2020.
  15. ^ "MEN - Progress through innovation". Metallwerk Elisenhütte Nassau. Retrieved 26 October 2014.
  16. ^ "3-12x56 SSG-P telescopic sight brochure" (PDF). Carl Zeiss Optronics. Archived from the original (PDF) on 14 June 2007.
  17. ^ Schulze, Carl (17 April 2019). "New Scharfschützengewehr G22A2 Sniper Rifle". Joint-forces.com.
  18. ^ "German Army Modernizing their AI Sniper Rifles – G22 becomes G22A2". The Firearm Blog. 7 February 2019.
  19. ^ Bundeswehr (26 October 2020). "The New Bundeswehr Sniper Rifle: the G22A2". YouTube.
  20. ^ "Accuracy International Ltd. awarded contract to upgrade German Army's G22 Sniper Rifles". European Defense Review. 17 January 2019.
  21. ^ a b "PGK Malaysian Special Police Force Weapons". Military Factory. 7 March 2016. Archived from the original on 18 January 2017. Retrieved 11 March 2016.
  22. ^ a b c Bakkeli, Tom (2008). Norges Hemmelige Krigere: Kommandosoldater i kamp mot terror [Norway's Secret Warriors: Commandos in the fight against terrorism] (in Norwegian Bokmål). Oslo: Kagge Forlag. ISBN 978-8-24890-839-5.
  23. ^ a b c "Photo of Norwegian FSK snipers in Kabul in 2012". Vegard Breie Photography. Retrieved 12 April 2019.
  24. ^ a b "«Мой враг — всего лишь мишень. Только живая» — интервью со снайпером «Альфы»" ["My enemy is just a target. Only alive" - an interview with an "Alpha" sniper]. Cripo.com.ua (in Russian). 29 March 2010.
  25. ^ a b "VIII Международные соревнования снайперов на Кубани" [VIII International competition of snipers in Kuban]. Slavs.org.ua (in Russian). 17 February 2010. Archived from the original on 4 July 2017.
  26. ^ a b Jang Il-hyun (25 January 2012). "특전사 대테러부대 장거리 저격총 엉망" [Special forces counter-terrorism unit long-range sniper rifle messed up]. Daum (in Korean).
  27. ^ DefenceReview.gr: Οδοιπορικό στην Εθνική Φρουρά - Αφιέρωμα στη Διοίκηση Καταδρομών, retrieved 8 January 2023
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  30. ^ Lavery, Don (6 November 2011). "Snipers equipped with record-breaking rifle". Sunday Independent. Retrieved 18 November 2016.
  31. ^ "Fucili di Precisione: Accuracy AWP 0.338". 9° Rgt "Col Moschin" (in Italian). Archived from the original on 8 September 2009.
  32. ^ "Sniper Rifle". afm.gov.mt. Retrieved 17 March 2023.
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  34. ^ "Accuracy AX-precisiegeweer". Netherlands Ministry of Defence (in Dutch). 4 November 2013. Retrieved 20 April 2021.
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  37. ^ "Em Lamego Com As Operações Especiais do Exército". Operacional (in European Portuguese). Retrieved 10 July 2020.
  38. ^ "YouTube". YouTube.com.[dead YouTube link]
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  40. ^ Mitzer, Stijn; Oliemans, Joost (28 September 2015). "Syrian Special Forces spotted with British Accuracy International AWM sniper rifles". Oryx Blog.
  41. ^ Eastwood, Brent M. (24 March 2022). "We Think We Know Why Russia's Generals Keep Getting Killed in Ukraine". 19FortyFive. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
  42. ^ "Ukraine to receive ex-Dutch sniper rifles | Shephard". www.shephardmedia.com. Retrieved 9 July 2022.
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Accuracy International AWM.
Records
Preceded by Longest confirmed combat sniper-shot kill
2009-2017
2,475 m (2,707 yd / 1.538 mi)
using 16.2 g (250 gr) Lapua LockBase B408 bullets by Craig Harrison 		Succeeded by
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