Accuracy International Arctic Warfare

Type Sniper rifle

Place of origin United Kingdom
Service history
In service 1982 (L96A1), 1988 (AW), 1990–
present
Used by See Users
Wars Iraq War
Afghanistan War
Insurgency in the North Caucasus
[1]

Syrian Civil War [2]

Production history
Designed 1982 (PM), 1983 (AW)
Manufacturer Accuracy International
Produced 1982–present
Specifications
Mass 6.5 kg (14.3 lb)
Length 1,180 mm (46.5 in)
Barrel length 660 mm (26.0 in)

Cartridge 7.62×51mm NATO (.308 Winchester)

.300 Winchester Magnum
.338 Lapua Magnum
Action Bolt-action
Muzzle velocity 850 m/s (2,790 ft/s)
Effective firing range 800 m (870 yd)
Maximum firing range 3,943 m (4,312 yd) [3]

Feed system 10-round detachable box

magazine (.308) 5-round detachable box
magazine(.300, .338)
Sights detachable aperture type iron sights
day or night optics

The Accuracy International Arctic Warfare rifle is a bolt-action sniper rifle designed and
manufactured by the British company Accuracy International. It has proved popular as a
civilian, police, and military rifle since its introduction in the 1980s. The rifles have some
features that improve performance in very cold conditions (which gave the rifle its name),
without impairing operation in less extreme conditions.
Arctic Warfare rifles are generally fitted with a Schmidt & Bender PM II telescopic sight with
fixed or variable magnification. Variable telescopic sights can be used if the operator wants more
flexibility to shoot at varying ranges, or when a wide field of view is required. Accuracy
International actively promotes fitting the German-made Schmidt & Bender MILITARY MK II
product line as sighting components on their rifles, which is rare for a rifle manufacturer. The
German and Russian forces preferred a telescopic sight made by Zeiss over Accuracy[4]

International's recommendation.

History
Original design
The Accuracy International PM (Precision Marksman) rifle was entered into a British
competition in the early 1980s as a replacement for the Lee–Enfield derived sniper rifles then in
use by the British Army (e.g. L42A1). The Accuracy International rifle was selected over
the Parker Hale M85. The British Army adopted the Accuracy International PM in 1982 into
service as the L96A1 and outfitted the rifle with Schmidt & Bender 6×42 telescopic sights. In
this configuration the rifle is capable of first shot hits with a cold, warm or fouled barrel. Tests
with 10.89 g (168 gr) ammunition provided sub 0.5 MOA ten-shot groups at 91 m (100 yd) and
the rifle was supplied with a telescopic sight, bipod, five magazines, sling, cleaning kit and tool
roll, encased in a fitted transport case. [5]

Design evolution

The Swedish Prickskyttegevär 90 variant introduced cold weather upgrades

Some years later, the Swedish military also wanted a new rifle, and in the early 1990s Accuracy
International entered an upgraded version of the PM, now known as the AW(Arctic Warfare).
This was the start of the Arctic Warfare name, which became the primary name of the rifle
family despite its earlier names.

Special de-icing features allow it to be used effectively at temperatures as low as −40 °C

(−40 °F). The AW rifle featured a modified bolt with milled slots in the bolt body end to prevent
bolt binding problems caused by penetrating water/ice, dirt or similar disturbances. Further, the
stockhole, bolt handle, magazine release and trigger guard on the AW were enlarged and the
magazine floorplates got protruding grasping tabs to allow use with heavy Arctic mittens. The
resin stock side panels were replaced with sturdier polymer panels. The safety was revised to a 3-
position safety allowing the bolt to be cycled with a locked trigger. This version was accepted
into use by the Swedish Army in 1991 as the Prickskyttegevär 90(Psg 90) fitted with a 10×42
Hensoldt telescopic sight.
The modifications to the original PM or L96A1 made the British Army decide to adopt the
"improved" AW version as well, designated L118A1(fixed stock variant) and L118A2 (folding
stock variant) . The rifles were fitted with Schmidt & Bender MILITARY MK II 3-12×50
telescopic sights offering the operator more flexibility to shoot at varying ranges, or in situations
when a wide field of view is required. The stocks were fitted with a butt spike. This rifle has seen
service in conflicts such as Operation Granby and Operation Telic.
In 2011 some Swedisch Psg 90 rifles were modernized to the Prickskyttegevär 90B (Psg 90B)
standard fitting Schmidt & Bender MILITARY MK II 3-12×50 telescopic sights and folding
stocks.

Rifle system family

The Accuracy International Arctic Warfare model has since spawned an entire family of sniper
rifles using the Arctic Warfare name, and has been adopted by a number of other countries,
including Australia, Belgium, Germany, Indonesia, Ireland, Latvia, Malaysia, Norway, the
Netherlands, New Zealand, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. Other
AI rifles descended from the L96A1 include the AI AE, and the AI AS50(see variants below).

Most Arctic Warfare rifles are chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge, but Accuracy
International also made variants of the sniper rifle, the AWM (Arctic Warfare Magnum)
chambered either for the .300 Winchester Magnum and the .338 Lapua Magnum and the AW50
(Arctic Warfare .50 caliber) chambered for the .50 BMG(12.7×99mm NATO). The sniper rifles
are mounted with a muzzle brake in order to help reduce the recoil, muzzle raise and muzzle
flash of the weapon.
Each country's rifles differ slightly. The Swedish Psg 90 for example, uses a Hensoldt (Zeiss)
scope and can also use sabot rounds. In 1998, the German Bundeswehr adopted the first folding-
stock Arctic Warfare Magnum (AWM-F) chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum (7.62×67mm)
and with optics made by the German company Zeiss, and designated as
the Scharfschützengewehr 22 (G22).
The AW's complete parts interchange ability and reliability in adverse weather conditions have
made it a popular, if expensive, weapon. The rifle offers good accuracy (a capable marksman can
expect ≤ 0.5 MOA consistent accuracy with appropriate ammunition), and its maximum effective
range with a Schmidt & Bender 6×42 PM II scope is around 800 metres (870 yd).
The Arctic Warfare family's main competitor in production of high-end factory sniper rifles is
the Sako TRGproduct line, with similar capability but lower price than the Arctic Warfare
system.
RBP

Design details
The AW system is almost unique in being a purpose-designed military sniper rifle, rather than
an accurisedversion of an existing general-purpose rifle.
The modular design of the AW system allows for flexibility, serviceability and repairability
under field and combat conditions. Major components, such as the barrel and the bolt, can be
switched between rifles, or replaced in the field by their operator with the help of some tools.
The chambering can also be switched by the operator as long as the barrels, bolts and feeding
mechanism can handle the shape and size of the cartridges. [6]

Features

Sniper of the Peruvian Armed Forcesequipped with an Arctic Warfare rifle

Rather than a traditional wooden or polymer rifle stock, the AW is based on an aluminium
chassis which extends the entire length of the stock. This chassis system is marketed as the
Accuracy International Chassis System (AICS) and can be used for all Accuracy International
rifles. All other components, including the receiver, are bolted directly to this chassis. Two
hollow polymer "half thumb-hole stock panels", usually coloured green, dark earth or black, are
in turn bolted to each other through the chassis, creating a rugged, yet for its sturdiness
comparatively light, weapon.

The Accuracy International receiver is bolted with four screws and permanently bonded with
epoxy material to the aluminium chassis, and was designed for ruggedness, simplicity and ease
of operation. To this end, the heavy-walled, flat-bottomed, flat-sided receiver is a stressed part,
machined in-house by AI from a solid piece of forged carbon steel. AW rifles are supplied in two
action lengths—standard AW (short) and long SM (magnum). The six bolt lugs, arranged in two
rows of three, engage a heat-treated steel locking ring insert pinned inside the front bridge of the
action. The ring can be removed and replaced to refresh headspace control on older actions. The
AW system cast steel bolt has a 0.75-inch (19.05 mm) diameter combined with gas relief holes in
a 0.785 in (19.9 mm) diameter bolt body and front action bridge allowing high-pressure gases a
channel of escape in the event of a cartridge-case head failure. Against penetrating water or dirt
the bolt has milled slots, which also prevent freezing or similar disturbances. Unlike
conventional bolt-action rifles, the bolt handle is bent to the rear, which eases the repeating
procedure for the operator and reduces the contour of the weapon. The action cocks on opening
with a short, 60 degree bolt throw and has a non-rotating (fixed) external extractor and an
internal ejector. Firing pin travel is 0.26 in (6.6 mm) to keep lock times to a minimum. Finally,
an 11 mm (0.43 in) integral dovetail rail located above the receiver is designed to accommodate
different types of optical or electro-optical sights. As an option, a MIL-STD-1913 rail (Picatinny
rail) can be permanently pinned, bonded and bolted to the action, providing a standard interface
for many optical systems.
Ammunition feeding
Cartridges are fed through the bottom of the receiver using a detachable, double-column,
steel box magazine. Rifles chambered for .300 Winchester Magnum or larger use a single row
magazine. Alternatively cartridges can be loaded singly directly into the chamber.

Barrel
The free-floating, heavy, stainless steel barrels (stainless steel resists throat erosion better than
normal barrels) for the available cartridge chamberings all have a different length, groove cutting
and rifling twist rate optimized for their chambering and intended ammunition. For .243
Winchester, the twist rate is 254 mm (1 in 10 in), and for .308 Winchester/7.62×51mm
NATO variants it is 305 mm (1 in 12 in), except for the suppressed-barrel variant. If the
consistent accuracy requirement of an operator is no longer met, the barrel can fairly easily be
renewed. This is normal practice for active high-performance precision rifle operators, who
regard barrels as replaceable. The barrels are provided by Australian company Maddco Rifle
Barrels (button rifled), and Scottish company Border Barrels, who cut-rifles them on Pratt &
Whitney rifling benches. Twists are one turn in 10,11,12,13 and 14 inches for 7.62 MM
depending on RFP.

Safety
A three-position, firing pin blocking safety lever on the bolt shroud allows the bolt to be
manipulated with the safety on. If the weapon is cocked, the firing pin can be felt at the end of
the bolt action, making it possible in poor visibility to feel whether the weapon is ready to fire.
The safety-catch of the weapon is also positioned at the rear, showing white if the safety is on,
red if not.

Trigger
The two-stage trigger mechanism has an adjustable trigger pull weight of 10 to 20 N (2.2 to
4.4 lbf). The trigger assembly can be easily removed for cleaning by undoing two socket-head
cap screws.

Accessories
The AW is usually equipped with an integrated bipod and it also has a monopod mounted on the
buttstock.
Accuracy International accessories for the Arctic Warfare system include a selection of PM II
[7]

series telescopic sights made by Schmidt & Bender with laser filters for the military scopes,
aluminium one-piece telescopic sight mounting sets, MIL-STD-1913 rails (Picatinny rails), lens
hoods, various optical and kill flash filters and lens covers for telescopic sights, auxiliary iron
sights for emergency use, cleaning kits, muzzle brakes/flash-hiders and suppressors, butt plates
and spacers to regulate the length of pull and butt angle to the requirements of the individual
shooter, buttspikes, bipod (adapters), handstops, mirage bands, soft and heavy-duty transit cases
and various maintenance tools. [8]

RBP