Arctic Warfare Magnum: Accuracy International L115A3
1,304,728
Published 2019-03-29
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In 2007, the British Army placed an order for 582 AI Arctic Warfare Super Magnum rifles chambered for the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge, formally adopting the model as the L115A3 sniper rifle. This followed special forces use of the .338 Accuracy International rifles in Afghanistan, where the A1 (fixed stock) and A2 (folding stock) models had both been given designations.With the adoption of the L115, the British retired all of their remaining L96A1 rifles, and moved to the .338 cartridge for all of their sniping equipment. At this same time, the SSIP (Sniper System Improvement Program) was improving and updating all the ancillary gear used with the guns - scopes, bipods, ballistic calculators and training programs, spotting scopes, and more. These remain the current British sniper weapon today, and they are quite formidable kit in properly trained hands.
Thanks to Steve Houghton for providing me access to this rifle! If you are interested in learning more, I highly recommend checking out Steve's newly released book, "The British Sniper: A Century of Evolution". It can be found at:
www.swiftandboldpublishing.co.uk/the-book/
Contact:
Forgotten Weapons
PO Box 87647
Tucson, AZ 85754
All Comments (21)
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"... adjusted to infinite..." "... which is about half the effective range of this gun."
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Come on Ian we all know the proper way to use one of these is to jump off a high place wile spinning around and shooting from the hip
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You neglected to mention its lengthy and distinguished service on the internet.
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Fun fact: switching to your sidearm right after shooting can operate the bolt
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When your "backup" weapon is a 7.62 NATO.
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The reason for AI not offering fluted barrels in their regular catalog is because they did a big lengthy study into barrel harmonics and temperatures effecting accuracy and consistency and found that all fluting does is slightly decrease the weight for a larger profile, but has big issues with uneven heating/cooling of the barrel (much the same as why tanks main guns have thermal sleeves/shrouds) and that the top and bottom of the barrel would heat/cool unevenly which would shift the shape of the barrel and effect its point of impact consistency, whereas a non-fluted barrel does not exhibit this anywhere near as strongly.
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The less greeny but doubly meany
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All this started with two clever blokes in a shed Love it
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"We might have accuracy issues with this"... rifle becomes placeholder in the record book for the longest distance sniper rifle kill.
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How could you miss it! the green meanie became the tan-terror.
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It looks magnificent, the rifle and Ian's facial hair.
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You know you really have a "long range rifle" when your focus goes up to infinity.
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Now that is a suppressor...... or beer can. Now I know why people call them cans.
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Such a sexy rifle. To think before this level of tactical capability and 2000m reach there was WW1 Lee-Enfields with 600m for 60 years. I applaud the AI and British Military for its development and integration.
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British military: our sniper rifle scopes focus goes to infinity Me: well mine goes to 11...
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My fave rifle for de_dust.
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Sgt Craig Harrison 2009 2475m with a L115a3 .338 lapua magnum on a taliban hmg team 1 for the guner and 1 for the loader. The distance being confirmed by laser range finder on a WAH64. You should read his book the Longest Kill it's brilliant
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imagine getting shot from 2km+ away you probably wouldn't even hear the shot, if I even survived the initial hit i'd be so goddamn mad before I would probably die.
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"All yer heads look bloody 12 feet tall!" "You've got a forehead on ya like a coffee table!" "You bloody fruitshop owners!" "Nnyaaaaagh!"
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The size of the cartridge was so much bigger than I had thought! That is going to leave a mark.
