Posted on 10/13/2008 2:36:46 PM PDT by Dawnsblood
Yet another heavy sniper rifle is generating a lot of buzz. This one is the CheyTac LRRS (Long Range Rifle System). It looks like a .50 caliber (12.7mm) rifle, but is actually .408 (10.3mm). The .408 round resembles a scaled down .50 caliber, and this bullet is mainly for anti-personnel use (rather than the oft-quoted, but little used, "anti-material" use of the .50 caliber sniper rifles.) The .408 was developed in 2001, and is actually based on the older . 505 Gibbs and the .400 Taylor Magnum elephant guns.
The .408 bullet is a new streamlined design that leaves it with more energy (at ranges beyond 700 meters) than a .50 caliber bullet. The .408 is accurate to 2200 meters, about the same as the .50 caliber. The CheyTac rifle weighs 24 pounds, is 55 inches long has a 30 inch barrel and a five round magazine. The equivalent 12.7mm rifles weigh about 30 pounds.
The CheyTac is competing with the new 8.6mm (.338 Lapua Magnum) round, which is fired from a 15 pound rifle out to about 1500 meters. Both the CheyTac and Lapua Magnum are marketed mainly to police departments. But British Army has adopted the Lapua Magnum as its main sniper rifle. Current users of the CheyTac include special operations forces in Poland, Turkey and the Czech Republic.
CheyTac also recently introduced a tactical computer (commercial PDA with CheyTac ballistic software), that works with the Kestrel 4000 wind/temperature/atmospheric pressure sensors, linked to the PDA. This system provides that extra bit of data needed to hit man sized targets at 2,000 meters or more. The CheyTac works with most electronic and non-electronic scopes.
OK, what does an elephant need a gun for, and how can it hide ephectively enough to be a sniper?
I prefer the .338 Lapua for extreme long distance. It’s lighter and 2500 yards is possible with the right load and if I do my job... if I need to go further, I’ll break out the .50
Mike
I had an acquaintance who said that they were taught not to shoot at personnel with the fifties. They were supposed to shoot at their canteens or other hardware on their belts.
These weapons are needed when you have to shoot through a concrete wall to hit the enemy or needed when shooting enemy in armored vehicle! I want one!
I watched Mack on “Weaponology” test this rifle and it was amazingly accurate and long ranges. I think the power of these sniper brutes really enlarges the kill zone.
I’ll have to stick with my old and common .300 Win mag.
wonder what the barrel life is for a Cheytac hurler..?
I don’t imagine it’s too terribly long.
Oh yes, Daddy likey!
The only current use I’d have for it would be to replace my long range varmint gun. I could find a hill and extend my range considerably, even though it might be a little overkill.
As seen in the movie “Shooter” where they framed a guy for assassination.
What’s the recoil of a Lapua like without a brake on the snout of the darned thing? Let’s say we were talking of a rifle with 26 to 28” bbl, 15lbs... how much recoil do you think it would have without a brake?
Featured on future weapons over a year ago...
Indeed. Heavy machine guns are not humane against personnel. They are only intended to be used against material.
So always aim at the belt buckle, buttons, helmet, etc.
Weaponology on the Military Channel has a good show on this, showed hits at over a mile. Used a PDA and windmeter to dope the thing for a first shot hit. Impressive.
I saw that one; it was a good show.
Urban legend based upon the myth that the Geneva Convention bans .50 cals for anti-personnel.
Hell, ole Paulson said he would send me a case of his bazooka’s and he said they were new, never used as they were too small of a caliber. He needed to use the big stuff.
ooo, gun porn, and it's only Monday...
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