Specifications

With the onset of World War II, the Swiss Army saw a need for a light tank. They purchased some Panzer 38(t) tanks from Czechoslovakia that were armed with 20mm cannons. The Swiss decided that the armament was not powerful enough, so they chose a cannon that fired the 24x138mm round–the Tb 41. Swiss company Waffenfabrik Bern built the cannon, and its design was overseen by Colonel Adolf Furrer, former director of the arms factory at Bern. Furrer had designed the Leichtes Maschinengewehr Modell 1925 (Lmg 25), a toggle-lock action light machine gun, in the 1920s, and he patterned the Tb 41 after that weapon. The action was sometimes referred to as a “Luger” or “Maxim” action; however, it was quite a bit different. His action consists of three arms, as opposed to the Luger’s two. These arms were interconnected by rotating pivots. Recoil would drive the bolt backwards, folding the arms against the recoil spring. The spring would drive the arms forward, moving the bolt into the breech.

It was later decided that the Tb 41 could be used against light armor and lightly protected trucks, so it was modified for use by the infantry. The infantry weapon was fed by a six-round magazine that inserted on the right side, with ejection on the left. When the sixth round was chambered, the magazine was automatically ejected. When the last round fired, the bolt locked open so that a fresh magazine could be immediately inserted. Some Tb 41 guns were installed on tanks, and the gun was rotated 90 degrees so it could be fed from the top. Some were mounted on a tripod and used in fortified positions.

The Tb 41 was designed as a semiautomatic to enable it to put a lot of rounds downrange in a short time. The thinking was that an enemy tank could be disabled if it were hit enough times by the 24mm bullets. As the War progressed, and heavier, better armed tanks were developed, the Tb 41 was relegated to use against light vehicle and armored cars.

It took seven men to operate the Tb 41. Ammo loadout was normally 160 rounds of which 40 were explosive, and the rest were armor-piercing. When used in the field, the gun was transported on a single-axle, wheeled cart by anything from a bicycle to a car. It could even be moved by two soldiers if the need arose. The wheeled cart could be turned into a mount by removing the wheels and rotating the axles into an upright position.

It was possible to remove the gun from its mount and fire it simply by laying it on the ground. This author imagines recoil was somewhat interesting. It did have a rather sophisticated muzzle brake that consisted of eight rings held in a sleeve. Five of the rings had grooves to direct the combustion gas out to the side and rear. The remaining three rings had no gas grooves. By changing the rings, recoil and weapon function could be altered.

Sights were either iron sights similar to the ones found on a Schmidt–Rubin rifle or a 2.2x periscope-shaped optic. The range was said to be up to 1500 yards, but 300 yards is much more likely. Two types of ammunition were available: the armor-piercing Pz-G.V. and the explosive St-G.

The Tankbüchse 41 was the Swiss Army’s first mass anti-tank weapon; although the Tb 41 was never used in combat. Technically, the Tankbüchse 41 was an intermediate anti-tank weapon, but it was not an actual full-on, anti-tank cannon.

24x138mm, Ammunition

The armor-piercing 24mm Pz-G.V. and explosive St-G were created for the new anti-tank rifle. Both of these shells weighed 225g (3,500 grains); the full rounds weighed 460g and were 210mm long. The first shell was painted gray, and the second shell was painted yellow. The explosive shell was equipped with an impact fuse. There was also a training 24mm U-G shell, which weighed 225g and had a delayed fuse and a smaller load of explosives. The training shell was painted black. The velocity was 2,900 fps, and the shell could penetrate 30mm of armor plate at 200m and a 30-degree impact angle.

Specifications

Maxim Defense Industries, an information tech company based in St. Cloud, MI, recently introduced their PDX short-barreled rifle at the 2019 SHOT Show in Las Vegas.

About Maxim Defense

Maxim Defense is an information and development company whose goal is to provide to the military, law enforcement and first responders the next generation of tools and equipment to succeed in today’s most extreme environments. The company primarily engages in small arms manufacturing focusing R&D on producing better, lighter and more reliable weapons and accessories. Maxim seeks to improve and enhance existing weapons platforms alongside developing cutting-edge technologies.

SOCOM Requirements

U.S. special operators are in the market for a new small assault rifle. On March 9, 2017, US Special Operations Command (SOCOM) posted a request for information regarding a new personal defense weapon (PDW) on FedBizOpps, the federal government’s main contracting website. All interested companies would have to provide information on a kit that uses the standard M4A1 lower receiver as the core of the gun.

The request went on to specify that the weapon could not be more than 26 inches in length with the stock extended, be no more than 7.5 inches high and come in at 5.5 pounds or less. With the stock folded, SOCOM required that the overall length dropped to 17 inches. The preferred length would be 15 inches. This weapon would be ideal for troops engaged in close-quarter battle, especially in confined spaces, as well as be easily deployable when carried by either vehicle or helicopter crews.

The Maxim Defense PDX™ is an answer to the SOCOM request. It’s a weapon that is based around the Maxim SCW stock system that has a total overall length of 4 inches when closed but extends instantly to a solid, shoulder-mount weapon. It has no buttons to operate and can be instantly deployed to a preset length controlled by five detents in the operating rods.

In this configuration, for an individual the weapon will have to be transferred with a $200 tax stamp and an ATF form as a Short Barreled Rifle. However, Maxim Defense has said that the PDW will be available with their proprietary pistol brace which removes the requirement for a stamp.

Barrel length is a short 5.5 inches. Seeing as how it’s chambered for either 5.56 NATO, or 7.62x39mm, recoil or short-cycling could be a problem. This is where Maxim’s patented HATEBRAKE comes into play. More than a muzzle brake, the HATEBRAKE muzzle booster is designed to regulate exhaust gasses to aid in cycling the weapon. Side benefits include a redirection of the sound signature, decreased muzzle flash and improved accuracy. The HATEBRAKE installs with a 3/8 drive socket from the front. This enables it to be installed without removing the handguard. The HATEBRAKE uses tapered threads to lock in place on the barrel. Its design allows it to be used with M-Slot-compatible handguards.

A note on accuracy: Part of the requirements for the PDW is an accuracy at 300 yards of 8-inch groups. The possibility that this firearm will be used at such a distance is slight. Its mission is more in line with the old World War II M1 or full-auto M2 carbines. At 100 yards, the PDW can deliver groups between 3 to 5 inches, sufficient for its intended purpose as a close-range defense weapon.

HATEBRAKE Specifications

Vortex Flash Eliminator

Report Says Flash Hider Passes All the Tests

By Tom Murphy

A flash suppressor, also known as a flash eliminator, is a device attached to the muzzle of a firearm that reduces or eliminates the muzzle flash by cooling or dispersing the burning gases generated when firing the gun. The flash suppressor both reduces the possibility that a shooter would be blinded by the flash and lessens the chance that the shooter will be visible to the enemy. A flash suppressor differs from a muzzle brake in that the muzzle brake is designed to reduce felt recoil and provides little, if any, flash suppression.

Prior to World War I, rifles tended to have longer barrels than modern military arms. The long barrel insured that all the gunpowder in the cartridge would be burned before the bullet left the barrel. A side effect of the longer barrel was that with all the propellant being consumed within the barrel, only a cloud of smoke appeared from the muzzle.

When barrel lengths decreased with the introduction of shorter-barreled carbines like the M4 Carbine and SIG SAUER 552 Commando, flash suppression became a serious problem. Limiting the amount of powder to what can be burned in a short barrel is one solution. However, a reduced powder load produces a lower projectile velocity and so do fast-burning powders that begin to cool before they leave the barrel, so neither of these is a viable solution to reducing muzzle flash.

Smith Enterprises’ Report

The Vortex Flash Eliminator is a design developed in 1984, with a patent secured in 1995. It is somewhat similar to the original three-pronged flash hider installed on the Vietnam-era M-16. The Vortex is more robust and uses four solid tines that are evenly spaced and angled six degrees from the centerline, with the slots of the body forming a 5-, 10- and 15-degree twisted helix design, which eliminates almost all visible light from the muzzle flash by having the flash break up at multiple locations and different angles.

In 2018, Smith Enterprises, manufacturer of Vortex Flash Eliminators, issued a report in the form of a letter to the U.S. Army, with the subject “Existing compensator does not meet the standard–recommend new flash hider for the M4 Carbine, M249, M14, M2 and other weapons systems.”

Smith Enterprises stated that the existing compensator does a horrible job of blocking much of the flash at night and gets brighter as more rounds are fired through the weapon’s system as the barrel heats up. They went on to say that our troops are sitting ducks at night because the bright flash gives away their position.

The report went on to state that the Aberdeen Proving Ground–a U.S. Army weapons testing facility near Aberdeen, Maryland–had tested the M4 Carbine compensator and found it to be substandard and did not block the flash at night. It specifically said that the bird cage GI compensator to be the worst out of all flash hiders tested.

The Smith Enterprises Vortex Flash Hider was identified as the best hider tested. Aberdeen stated, “The best flash hider that shows minimum to no flashes has helical twisting prongs that help prevent the mixing of the escaping gasses by allowing the temperature and velocity of the gasses to reduce before mixing with the atmosphere.”

In a different test, the .50 caliber Vortex Flash Hider was tested by the Crane Naval Surface Warfare Division and was selected to be the flash hider for the .50 cal. machine gun. These tests included corrosion control, thermal mitigation, drop test, low temperature test, high temperature test, humidity, salt fog, dust and sand, vibration, icing and several others. As expected, the Vortex Flash Eliminator passed all the tests and is now in service with Special Operations Command.

It is to be noted that Vortex has a quick-disconnect flash eliminator for the .50 cal. that will not loosen under sustained fire. It can be retrofitted to older weapons and actually improves accuracy.

Smith Enterprises manufactures the Vortex Flash Eliminator for 5.56mm, 6.8/6.5mm, 7.62/.30 cal. and .50 BMG firearms. They also have a heavy M249 NATO flash eliminator for the M249 weapons family. Their quick-detachable Wind Talker series of sound suppressors can be mounted on all their flash eliminators.

One definition of a sniper rifle is “a precision rifle used to insure more accurate placement of bullets at longer ranges than other small arms.” The word “sniper” is derived from the snipe bird which was very hard to shoot as its flight path was highly erratic. The military sniper came into being back at the turn of the 18th century.

The first true sniper rifle is generally thought to be the British Whitworth rifle invented in 1854 by Sir Joseph Whitworth, under commission from the British War Department. It was a single-shot muzzle-loaded 45 caliber percussion-fired rifle with an accurate range out to 2,000 yards. Around 13,000 of them were built between 1857 and 1865. The Confederate States of America used some of them during the American Civil War.

What made the Whitworth stand out and have such excellent accuracy was the design of its rifling – which it didn’t really have. The bore of the barrel was hexagonal with a 1 in 20 inch twist. The bullets were long for the caliber and they were hexagonal instead of round. They fit very tightly in the bore and had much less friction than round bullets fired through standard rifling.

Sniper rifles advanced in design through the Franco-Prussian War of 1870, when the first bolt-action breech loading rifles became available. The French had the Chassepot 11mm bolt action rifle; the Prussians the Dreyse 15.4mm needle gun.

The first skirmish of the First World War took place August 3, 1914 at a small village named Joncherey in France. This was the initial battle on what was to become the Western Front. By the end of 1914, armies on both sides had stalled their advance. Trenches were dug with what came to be known as “No Man’s Land” between opposing forces. So began a war of attrition. During this period snipers were utilized by both sides to pick off any soldier who exposed any part of his body for a period of three seconds, or less. The War to End All Wars (named in error, as was proven a few years later), saw Germany and Great Britain make great strides in snipers and sniper rifles up to the end of the war in 1918.

Twenty Years Later – 1938

As the 1930s closed, it became obvious that the old animosities were leading up to another global conflict – this time much greater that the last one. Germany was re-arming at a rapid rate. Japan was in the process of creating its “Greater East Asian Co-Prosperity Sphere” which was announced June 29, 1940. Russia stated that by 1938 six million troops had qualified for the “Voroshiloff rifle badge, and that the soviet munitions factories had built over 53,000 Mosin-Nagant sniper rifles. Great Britain still had stocks of its P1914 Mk1 (T) sniper rifle left over from the first conflict. Japan had a number of different sniper rifles, including the 6.5 mm Type 97 and the 7.7 mm Type 99. The United States had dropped most of its sniper programs between the two wars. There was only a small training school at Camp Perry, Ohio. However, the Marine Corps had always prided itself on its marksmen and encouraged target practice on an individual basis. This changed when a sniper program was initiated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina at the end of 1942.

All the world’s major powers were ready to go to war, and they were bringing their snipers in a big way.

The Weapons

Germany

This German K98k 7.92mm Mauser Sniper rifle mounts the tiny Z41 1.5x power scope. The eye relief was extremely long and made for a narrow field of view. Around 87,400 Z41s were manufactured.

Mauser K98k

Service Dates: 1898 – 1945
Used by : 11 countries including Germany
Wars Since World War I: 1918 German Revolution, Finnish Civil War, Russian Civil War, Turkish War of Independence, Spanish Civil War, World War II, Second Sino-Japanese War, Chinese Civil War
Designed by: Peter Paul Mauser
Patented: Sept 9, 1895
Manufactured by: Mauser, Deutsch Wafer und Munitionsfabriken, Heal, Sauer & Sonn, Waffenwerke Oberspree, V. CHR. Schilling Co., Simson, Imperial Arsenals of Amber, Danzig, Efurt, Leipzig, and Spandau
Number Built: 16,000,000+ all types
Variants: K98a, K98b, K98k,
Weight: 9.0 lb
Length: 49.2 inch
Barrel Length: 29 inch
Cartridge: 7.92×57 mm Mauser
Action: Bolt
Muzzle Velocity: 2881 fps
Effective Range: 550 yards, 800+ yards with scope
Capacity: Internal 5-round magazine
Sights: Iron
Sights Sniper: 1.5x, 4x, 6x scopes

Germany in World War I had relied on the Mauser Gewehr 98 (G98) service rifles with scopes. This is the best known of all Mauser rifles. It’s chambered in 7.92 mm (8 mm Mauser), bolt action with a five round magazine. In the early months of 1915, the decision was made to produce 18,000 G98 Rifles with scope sights as sniper rifles. The rifle wasn’t designed to be used with a scope, so the bolt had to be turned down and a recess carved into the stock so that it could be cycled with the scope on the rifle. The mount had to be high enough for the soldier to be able to load the magazine, run the bolt back and forth and flip the safety catch.

This rifle carried into World War II in its sniper role. Germany then modified the G98 by changing the rear sight to a flat tangent, removed the stacking hook, cutting a slot in the butt stock for a sling, and bending the bolt handle down. This became the K98k.

They used the basic K98k platform in different varieties. By the end of World War II five such types had been employed.

1. First type – short rail system
2. Second Type – uses the ZF 41 and ZF41/1 scopes
3. Type Three is the turret mount system both high and low
4. Type Four is a long rail mount
5. Type Five is a claw mount

Imagine trying to sight through this Z4 scope mounted on top of the rear sight of the Mauser K98k. At 1.5x power, it wouldn’t be very useful.

The various systems were used at different times and sometimes employed concurrently. Various optics companies supplied the scopes; Schneider & Co., Zeiss, Hensoldtwerk, Ajak, and others. Magnification ran from 1.5x to 6x. The 4x and 6x were the most used as the 1.5 didn’t have enough magnification for combat duties.

The short rail system was attached to the left side of the rifle’s receiver by three screws. This mount was used during the 1930s by German police. In 1941 the High Command ordered it into general combat. The most common scopes are 4x.

The Second type began using the Zielfernrohr 41 (ZF41/ZF41/1) low magnification scope in 1941. Originally intended for sharpshooters, this scope was unpopular with the snipers as its 1.5 power wasn’t adequate for the task at hand. Approximately 100,000 were manufactured by the end of the war in 1945.

The Low Turret/ High Turret Type Three used different scopes. The High Turret has a 6.35 mm greater recess depth in the front scope base cone than the Low Turret. Other than that, they’re the same rifle.

Type Four – Long Rail Mount – uses a longer mounting base for better rigidity. This required a larger receiver flat be milled to take the base. This base used three screws and three tapered pins to control flex or movement. This system came in use in 1944.

The Claw Mount only was in use from late 1943 to 1944. Less than 10,000 K98ks were fitted with them. The most common scope was the Hensoldt Metzler.

Other German rifles were converted to sniper duty with different amounts of success. Mauser built a semi-automatic 10-round rifle called the G 41. It wasn’t a good design and not many were built. Then Carl Walther modified the rifle and produced it in 1943, calling it the Model G 43. As all G 43 rifles were built with flat side receivers set up for mounting a scope. Making a sniper rifle consisted of adding a ZF 4 4x scope. No other brand of scope was used during World War II. German snipers still preferred the K98k over the G 43.

Walther of Germany manufactured the K43, an improved version of the G41. The scope is a Zeiss GW ZF4 4x power. The scopes have serial numbers, but a great many of them don’t match the rifle.

Walther G 43

Service dates: 1943-1945
Used by Nazi Germany, German Democratic Republic
Wars: World War II
Designer: Walther
Manufactured: by Walther
Number built: 400,000+ (all types)
Variants: G 43, K 43
Weight: 9.7 lb (w/o scope)
Length: 44.5 inch
Barrel length: 21.5 inch
Cartridge: 7.92×57
Action: Gas-operated (can be bolt operated)
Muzzle velocity: 2,448 fps
Effective range: 875 yards (scope)
Capacity: 10-round detachable magazine
Sights: Zf 4 scope

Great Britain

Great Britain used the Enfield for just about everything. This No. 4 Mk1(T) is equipped with a No.32MkII scope, and a raised cheekpad. The scope resembles a Lyman Alaskan, but it is not the same internally. The Canadians manufactured the same scope, and mounted it on their version of the Enfield, the Long Branch.

Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE)

Service dates: 1907-present
Used by: Britain, Australia, Canada
Wars since WWII: Minimum 16
Designer: James P. Lee, Enfield Arsenal
Manufacture by: Enfield Arsenal- Great Britain, Long Branch- Canada, Savage- USA
Numbers built (all types): 17,000,000+
Variants (sniper): SMLE Sniper (telescopic sights), No.1 Mark III H.T. (Australian), Rifle No. 4 Mark I (T) and Mark I* (T)
Weight: 8.8 lb. (w/o scope)
Length: 44 inch
Barrel length: 25.2 inch
Cartridge: .303 Mk VII ball
Action: Bolt
Muzzle velocity: 2,441 fps
Effective range (optics): 750 yards
Capacity: 10-round magazine
Sights (sniper): Various scopes made by Periscope, Aldis, Winchester, R.E.I., Enfield No. 32

The “Smelley” rears its head. The Short Magazine Lee Enfield (SMLE), was first developed during World War I from the original Lee-Metford series. It was designed as a replacement for both the long barreled rifle and the carbine with its shorter barrel.

The first sniper rifle constructed was built on the Mark III and Mark III* rifles and designated SMLE Sniper (optical). They were fitted with front and rear optics that when looked through gave a 2-3 power magnification. Slightly more than 13,000 SMLEs were converted in 1915. These were occasionally seen during World War II, but very rarely.

Similar to the optical SMLE was the SMLE Sniper (Telescopic Sights). This rifle had conventional telescopic sights made by Periscope, Aldis, Winchester, and others. Around 9,700 of these rifles were converted during World War I and were used into World War II.

The No. 32 scope mount attaches to the receiver of the Enfield with two hand screws. This scope is stamped with a 1944 date. On the right you can see how the cheekpiece rolls over the top of the buttstock, aiding the shooter’s eye in looking through the scope.

As an aside, Britain still used the World War I P1914 Mk I (T) sniper rifle up until 1942 when the Enfield No 4 Mk 1 (T) and No 4 Mk 1* (T) entered the conflict. The main difference between the MkI and the Mk I* is that the Mk I* was built in the United States mostly by Savage-Stevens. The bolt head catch was altered for ease of production.

Canada also had the SMLE sniper rifle known as the Long Branch. Some of the Canadian rifles mounted the Lyman Alaskan scope, although less than 100 were fitted. These Canadian Long Branch sniper rifles mainly used the scope built in Canada by R.E.I. It was very similar to the Enfield No. 32. R.E.I. also designed and built the No. 67 Scope, however less than 100 were mounted on the SMLE.

The No I Mk III H.T. (Australian) came into being towards the end of the war. It used rebuilt actions that dated between 1915 and 1918 with a heavy barrel installed. The scopes were Australian Pattern 1918 (Aus). Both high and low mounts were used. The iron sights remained and the rifle could be operated using iron sights without removing the scope.

Most of the scopes used during World War Two were built by Enfield and identified as the No. 32 (Mk 1-3). The scope had originally been designed to fit on a BREN machine gun, so robustness wasn’t a problem. It was capable of hits out to about 800 yards, but 600 yards was a more realistic number.

Japan

The Japanese 6.5 mm Type 97 sniper rifle was fitted with either a 2.5x or 4x power scope. The 2.5x had a 10 degree field of view. The scopes have no provision for windage or elevation adjustment.

Arisaka Type 97 & Type 99

Arisaka Type 97 (38)
Service dates: 1937-1945
Used by: Japan
Wars since WWII: Chinese Civil War, Indonesian National Revolution, Korean War, First Indochina War, Vietnam
Manufactured by: Koishikawa Arsenal, Choker Arsenal, Nagoya Arsenal
Number built: 22,500 (Type 97), 14,000 (Type 99)
Variants: Type 97, Type 99
Weight: 8.7 lb (Type 97), 8.1 lb (Type (99)
Length: 50.4 inch (Type 97)
Barrel length: 31.5 inch (Type 97), 25.5 inch (Type 99)
Caliber: 6.5x50mm (Type 97), 7.7x58mm (Type 99)
Action: Bolt
Muzzle Velocity: 2,510 (Type 97), 2,394 (Type 99)
Capacity: Five round magazine (both)
Sights sniper: 2.5 power scope with serial number matched to the rifle. (Weight approximately 2.3 lb with mount)

The Arisaka Type 97 “Sniper’s Rifle” was based on the Type 38 rifle that was first introduced in 1905. The Type 97 first saw service in 1937. Caliber was 6.5x50mm. Recoil was very light and muzzle blast was low. These qualities made for a good sniper rifle platform, and counter-sniping against the Arisaka was difficult. Having a barrel 31 inches long also allowed all the powder inside the mild cartridge to be completely burned so there was little flash or smoke.

It had a 2.5 power scope mounted on the left side of the receiver and offset to the left to allow loading with stripper clips. It was factory mounted and stamped with the rifle’s serial number. The scopes were manufactured by Tokyo Dai-lch Rikugun Zoheisho factory and others. They weren’t adjustable. Each scope was zeroed to its rifle by adjustment at the mount.

Looking down on the top of a Japanese Type 97 sniper rifle, you can see how the 2.5 power scope is offset to the left. The scope was factory fitted and numbered to the rifle. The “Mum” stamped on the top of the receiver behind the barrel has been ground off. This was done when the war ended.

The only other changes from the Type 38 was the use of a slightly lighter stock with a wire monopod that swiveled at the front sling mount.

With the advent of the 7.7x58mm Type 99 rifle in 1939, it was only a matter of time before it was adapted to sniping duties. The heavier 7.7 caliber bullet punched through the air with better ballistics than the Type 97’s 6.5 mm projectile. However, this came at the cost of higher recoil and visible smoke from the shorter 26 inch barrel.

Two different scopes were issued with the rifle. The first was the Type 97’s 2.5 power, and the second was a non-adjustable Type 99 4-power. Towards the end of the war some 2,000, give or take, were built with range adjustment. The scopes could easily be detached and carried in a pouch when the sniper
changed positions.

There was one variant of the Type 99 that had a bent bolt and the scope fitted above the receiver which effectively turned it into a single shot.

Russia

If you looked hard, you could probably find some country that still had a few Mosin-Nagant 91/30 sniper rifles in its armory. This one is fitted with a 3.5x PU scope. The bolt handle had to be turned down to clear the scope mount. The iron sights are still mounted and the bayonet is with the rifle. If you ran out of ammo, or the scope broke, you became an infantryman. This sniper rifle gained popularity when featured in the 2001 movie Enemy at the Gates, with Jude Law playing Soviet sniper Vasily Zaitsev.

Mosin-Nagant M91/30

Service dates: 1931-1945
Used by: Just about everybody
Designer: Sergi Mosin & Leon Nagant
Manufactured by: Izhevsk Arsenal, Tula Arsenal
Number built: 54,000+
Variants: PE or PEM, PU
Weight: 8.8 lb w/o scope
Length: 48.5 inch
Barrel length: 29 inch
Cartridge: 7.62x54R
Action: Bolt
Muzzle velocity: 2838 fps
Capacity: 5 rounds
Effective range: 730 yards (scope)
Sights: PE & PEM scope, PU scope

Mosin-Nagant 91/30 sniper rifle production began in 1942 and continued through 1944. Two Arsenals did the conversion on accurate infantry 91/30 rifles – Tula and Izhevsk. The Izhevsk Arsenal produced 53,195 sniper rifles in 1942. A total of 275,250 were completed when manufacturing ended in 1958. Numbers for the Tula Arsenal, which only built sniper rifles in 1943 and 1944, are not available, but certainly were much smaller than Izhevsk. The Tula rifles are identified by a five-point star with an arrow stamped onto the top of the chamber. The Izhevsk symbol was a hammer and sickle within a wreath in the same place.

There were two variants of the rifle – PE or PEM, and the PU, determined by which type of scope was mounted. (“PE” = unified model. “PEM” = unified model modern) Early PE scopes could be focused, later PEM could not. The first snipers were fitted with a 4 power PE or PEM scope that Russia reversed engineered from a Zeiss Zf-4. Later, a simpler 3.5 power scope, PU, was fitted. This scope has no means of focusing, so the sniper had to have perfect, or slightly better, eyesight. Its lower magnification made operation a bit easier, but what you saw is what you got.

To fit the scope, the bolt handle had to be turned down and lengthened. The scope mount attached to the left side of the receiver by a rail. The PE scope was used from 1931 to around 1939 (some sources say longer). The PEM was manufactured from 1937 to 1942. The lower power PU was built from 1942 to 1944.

This Russian Tokarev SVT 40 semi-automatic sniper rifle chambered the 7.62x54R mm cartridge. Manufacturing costs, maintenance, repair, and lack of training for the conscripted troops limited its utility. Poor quality of Soviet war-time ammunition limited accuracy and operation. The gas feed system could only be adjusted with a armorer’s special tool.

Tokarev M1940 SVT

Service dates: 1940-1950
Used by: Russia
Designer: Fyedo Tokarev
Number built: 51,710
Variants: SVT-38, AVT-40
Weight: 8.5 lb unloaded
Length: 48.3 inch
Barrel length: 24.6 inch
Cartridge: 7.62x54R
Action: Gas-operated semi-automatic
Muzzle velocity: 2720 fps
Effective range: 1,100 yards (scope)
Capacity: 10-round detachable magazine
Sights: Iron, 3.5 power PU scope

Feed Vasilievich Tokarev was a Russian weapons designer and deputy of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR. Among his many accomplishments was the M1940 SVT (Samozaryadnaya Vintovka Tokareva, Obrazets 1940 Goad – Tokarev Self-loading Rifle, Model of 1940.), built from 1940 through the end of the war.

Before the M1940, he designed the M1938 SVT. This rifle was the precursor to the M1940, but had a fair amount of problems. It was not able to stand up to combat as was learned in the Winter War of 1939 when Russia and Finland opened hostilities. However, more than 150,000 of the M1938 rifles were manufactured from 1938 to 1940.

The M1940 was the second most prolific semi-auto next to the M1 Garand of World War II. It was gas operated and the untrained Soviet conscript didn’t have the knowledge or ability to service he rifle. It had a complicated gas-operated short-stroke piston operating a tilting bolt that required special tools and depot-level training to service.

All M1940s had two grooves on top of the rear of the receiver, parallel to the bore where a scope mount could be clamped. The infamous PU scope was used. This, along with a precision bore, was all that set the sniper rifle apart from the service rifle. Due to the poor quality of Soviet wartime ammunition, and a very large muzzle blast from the 24.6 inch barrel, 4.4 inches shorter than the Mosin-Nagant’s barrel, the Mosin was preferred, and was the most prolific bolt action sniper rifle used in World War II.

United States

Springfield M1903 A4

Service dates: Army – 1943-end of war, US Marine Corps – entire war
Used by: US Army, US Marine Corps (M1941 Sniper Rifle)
Designer: Springfield Armory
Wars: World War I & II, Korean War, Vietnam War
Weight: 9.38 lb
Length: 43.21 inch
Barrel length: 24inch
Cartridge: 30-06 Springfield
Action: Bolt, 5-round magazine
Muzzle velocity: 2,800 fps
Effective range: 600 yards
Sights-Army: Weaver M73B1 2.2X power
Sights-USMC: Lyman 5A 5X power, Unertl 8X power

The M 1903 rifle was originally designed by the Springfield Armory in 1901. That version wasn’t accepted by the US Army. It was re-designed and the 1903 version was accepted. Selected rifles were fitted with telescopic sights from 1907 to after the First World War. Prior to the Second World War US Army interest in sniping was almost non-existent. When fighting in the Pacific Theater, the need for a long distance sniping rifle became evident. On January 18, 1943 Remington Arms received a contract to take 20,000 M1903A3 Springfield rifles from the production line and convert them to the M1903A4. The first was delivered February 1943.

The M1903A3 was modified by turning down the bolt handle for scope clearance, removing all iron sights, fitting permanent scope blocks, and installing a 2.2x power Weaver scope designated M73B1. As the war progressed, improved models of Weaver 2x scopes, the M81, M82, and M84, were implemented as they became available. The scope fit directly over the magazine negating the use of stripper clips when reloading. Rounds had to be inserted one at a time. With the scope mounted directly over the barrel, the “Model 03-A3” markings could not be read, so they were moved to the left side. These markings added some confusion when seen on an M1903A4, as no rifles were marked A4. Two types of stocks can be found on the M1903A4, A1 straight stocks and C stocks with a pistol grip.

The Marine Corps had their own sniper rifle based on the 1903 Springfield. They designated their 03A4 sniper rifle as “M1941 Sniper Rifle”. They used 03A1 National Match actions and star gauged or very accurate stock barrels. Stock was a Type C pistol grip and the upper handguard was modified to allow the front scope mount to attach to the barrel. The Marines had used similar rifles between the wars, but this new model didn’t see action until November 1943.

The telescopic sight was quite different from the Army’s Weaver scopes. Based on the military version of Unertl’s 8 power target scope, it was much more accurate. Hits could be made out to 1,000 yards when the rifle was in the proper hands of a well-trained Marine.

United States Army’s semi-auto sniper rifle was based on the Garand M1. Two versions were built, M1C and M1D. This M1D has the M84 scope mount held on to the receiver with a large thumbscrew. The M1C uses a five-hole bracket on the left side of the receiver; two holes for taper pins, and three screws. All the M1Cs were Springfield Armory, and only 7,900 produced. M1s from all manufacturers were used to make the M1D.

Springfield M1C Garand

Type: Semiautomatic
Service dates: July 1944 -end of war
Used by: US service rifle
Wars: World War II
Designer: John C. Garand
Manufactured by: Springfield Armory
Effective range: 500 yards
Numbers built: 7,900 approx.
Weight: 11lb
Length: 43.5 inch
Barrel length: 24 inch
Cartridge: 30-06 Springfield
Sights: Lyman Alaskan – M73, M81, M82, 2.2 power

When the US Army entered into World War II in 1941, it did not have a dedicated sniper rifle. The Springfield M1903A4 was pressed into service while the Army Ordnance department evaluated different designs to convert a M1 Garand into an accurate semi-automatic sniper rifle. One of the major problems in the conversion was just how to mount the scope. As the magazine had to be fed from eight-round en-bloc clip from the top, mounting a scope on the rifle’s centerline was out of the question. Many different solutions were tried, and finally a mount that attached to the left side of the receiver and mounted an offset scope was ordered from Griffin and Howe. Five holes had to be drilled in the receiver to secure the mount. Two were used for tapered pins to align and steady the mount. Three were threaded for screws. To be able to see through the scope, a leather cheek pad had to be attached to the buttstock to position the solder’s eye properly.

A concern about muzzle flash led to a cone-shaped flash hider being adopted in January 1945. This proved to be of little use and could affect accuracy, so a lot of them were removed. The Lyman M73 2.2 power scope was originally fitted to the M1C, but as the war progressed the M81, and then the M82 became standard.

Problems with the scope and its mounts, and accuracy delayed M1C production woefully. It was not until the final months of the war in the Pacific in 1945 that the M1C entered combat. Less than 8,000 saw war service.

M1D Garand

The M1D Garand differed from the M1C in scope and mount only. The scope base was permanently attached to the rear of the barrel and drilled and tapped to take a scope mount. A knurled screw allowed the mount with the scope to be easily removed. The scope was designated M84. The cone-shaped flash hider on the M1C was replaced by a slender barrel extension. Almost no M1Ds were manufactured or distributed to combat zones during World War II. In the early 1950s, they were converted from existing service rifles for use
in the Korean War.

Zastava Arms is currently located in the city of Kragujevac in Serbia. Prior to 1851 it had been in Belgrade, but by moving to its present location it was able to provide the Principality of Serbia with its own arms and equipment manufacturing facility. Before World War Two the factory employed over 12,000 workers and 10,000 machines. After the war, production was shifted to sporting arms like the M48 rifle.

Today the factory produces artillery weapons, anti-aircraft guns, assault rifles, machine guns, grenade launchers and sporting arms for civilian use. We know the company mostly for its Mauser-based M70/85 series of rifles and its
CZ 99 pistols.

Zastava also manufacturers the M93 Black Arrow anti-material rifle. Chambered in 12.7x108mm (Warsaw Pact) or .50 caliber BMG (NATO), it is based on the Mauser 98 rifle that’s been around since 1898, but in a much larger size. It is a bolt action with a five-round magazine. Operation is controlled-round feed. The square receiver stretches 14 inches long, three inches high and two inches wide. The bolt weighs three pounds and has a one inch diameter. Bolt handle length is 3.5 inches, sufficient to cam open the action with ease. It’s been said, though, that a soft rubber hammer must occasionally be employed as a persuader to lift the bolt. The safety is in the trigger guard, behind the trigger and locks the trigger.

Zastava designed the M93 action after the Mauser, which has proven itself over 100 years of combat. Like most large caliber sniper/anti-material rifles, its main purpose is the interdiction of material targets at long range. It proved its worth in Serbia and Macedonia during their recent unpleasantness. What’s somewhat unusual, though, is that the buttstock is not adjustable – you must adjust to the rifle.

Because of the powerful recoil of the DShK cartridge, the stock is fitted with two spring buffers and the heavy, free-floating barrel is capped by a large muzzle brake. The carrying handle mounts on a bracket above the barrel that also mounts the bipod that can be used to raise the barrel to clear obstacles. The nine inch legs extend to an overall length of thirteen inches. Both feet have flat plates welded on the bottom to prevent sinking into sand or loose soil. Weight, including scope and wooden carry box is in the neighborhood of 70 lbs.

Because the rifle is intended for long range operation only, it’s not fitted with iron sights. The standard scope is a Zrak 8 power, which is a little light for work out at 1,800 meters, as stated by the factory. It would do much better with a scope of at least 12-14.5 power, and the mount will accept Leupold, Nightforce, and others. In actual operation, the Zrak scope showed parallax, the elevation and windage knobs had a coarse action and each click produced slightly under 3 MOA movement. A Nightforce NXS is much better suited.

The M93 is not currently imported due to some manufacturer’s export license issues. However, a few rifles have been sold in the USA and sometimes are available through the usual outlets.

Steyr Mannlicher is located in the town of Steyr in Austria.  Josef Werndl founded the “Josef und Franz Werndl & Comp Waffenfabrik und Sagemuhle in Oberletten” and subsequently the Steyr Werke AG of which Steyr Mannlicher was a division.  In 1885 the Austrian Hungarian army accepted a new bolt action rifle designed by Ferdinand Ritter von Mannlicher from whence came the Mannlicher name.

From this partnership came such rifles as the Model 1885, Model 1888/1890 (first smokeless cartridge), and, in present times, Model SSG-P1 sniper rifle.  Then, in 2004, Steyr entered into the anti-material rifle field with introduction of the HS .50 chambered for the .50 caliber BMG (Browning Machine Gun) cartridge.

The HS .50 is a single shot, bolt action rifle meant to be fired off an integral bipod.  The two-stage trigger is set to 4.5 lb, but can be adjusted up or down.  As in other rifles, the buttstock is fully adjustable, and the heavy, cold-forged fluted barrel has a muzzle brake, but no iron sights.  Rifling is 1 in 15 with eight grooves.  Effective range is 1,500 meters (1,640 yards).  The .50 BMG with a Hornady 750 gr. bullet has a muzzle velocity of 2,820 feet per second with 13,241 ft-lb of muzzle energy.

Customer demand caused Steyr to build the M1 version of the HS .50.  It holds a five-round magazine inserted from the left hand side of the rifle.  The top Picatinny rail is extended; there are additional rails on the side, an adjustable cheekpiece, new bipod and a monopod at the buttstock.

The HS .50 M1 can be disassembled in less than one minute.  The scope remains on the barrel, so there’s no need to re-zero the rifle when reassembled.  The carrying case is cut out to hold the barrel with the scope mounted.

The M1 is an updated HS .50 with a five-round magazine feeding through the left side of the receiver. The rail system now consists of three rails; the cheek piece is adjustable along with the bipod and monopod on the buttstock.

HS .460
Steyr originally built the rifle only in .50 BMG.  Then when ownership of .50 cal. by private citizens was prohibited in Australia and California, they produced the HS .460.  The .460 shoots a 600-gr. bullet at 2,985 fps and 11,987 ft-lb of muzzle energy.  It’s a necked down .50 BMG with a slender spire point bullet similar to the old CETME cartridges, looking something like a .408 CheyTac.

Original loads were made by necking down the .50 BMG.  Igman Zaqod in Serbia first manufactured cases.  The .460 cases are fairly rare in the United States and primed brass runs $262 for 50 cases ($5.24 per cartridge case).  Loaded ammo is right around $110 per 10 rounds ($11 per round) as of April, 2013.

Steyr .50 HS

Manufacturer: Steyr-Mannlicher
Caliber: .50 BMG and .460
Service date: 2004
Weight: 28.5 pounds
Length: 54 inches
Barrel length: 33 inches
Action: Bolt, single shot
Effective range: 1,800 yards
Optics: Customer
Stock: Polymer

Steyr HS .50 M1
Trigger: two-stage, set at 4 lbs
Stock: Adjustable cheekpiece and bipod
Magazine: 5 rounds
Barrel length: 35.43” w/ muzzle brake
Overall Length: 59 inches
Weight: 28.5 pounds