ArmadonRK

Well, I just had to add a vote for Other because I'm for the Sako TRG-42. The only reason I chose it over the AW series (L96) is because Sakos look so muich better.
I'd think the incapacititation power of the Lapua Mag pretty much equals the follow-up effectiveness of a semi-auto 7.62 ( like the PSG), and the Lapua Mag's piercing/penetration power is a significant advantage ove rthe 7.62. Just my two cents.
*I've never fired a gun in my life, I'm just a big enthusiast, don't shoot me if I'm wrong*

Simullacrum

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How I would love to play with this new toy....!!!!
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The Navy SEALs just got a new weapon for the war on terror: a .50 caliber rifle light enough to carry, and easy enough to disassemble in three minutes. Check out the fruits of NSWC Crane and Accuracy International's labors.

Looks like the U.S. Navy SEALs just got a brand new tool for the War on Terror. The boys at NSWC Crane (Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana) have apparently been busy little beavers -- one of the projects they've been working on is a little .50 BMG (12.7x99mm) bad boy, the AS50 Semi-Automatic Rifle, and it's the result of NSWC Crane's teaming with Accuracy International (AI).

The objective in building this rifle was simple: with the increasing number of missions U.S. SEALs are facing that require rapid engagement of multiple targets with explosive or incendiary ammunition at extended range, an ergonomically sound, light, durable, easily transportable semi-auto anti-materiel rifle was needed. And, oh yes, accurate as well, with a Minute of Angle (MOA) of at least 1.5 (which translates to being accurate within 1.5 inches per every 100 yards of distance).

So here comes the AS50 semi-auto. How well does it fulfill the requirements listed above? Let's check it out.

Fast Assembly, Accurate Shooting
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DefenseReview recently had the chance to handle (and lift) this weapon at its SHOT Show 2005 debut, and was surprised at how light it felt, for a semi-auto .50 caliber rifle. At approximately 27 pounds empty/dry weight (according to the AI representative at their booth), the AI AS50 is relatively lightweight. One of the photos DefRev caught at SHOT shows...

AI AS50: Targets at 100m Distance

... three targets, each shot at 100 meters (see photo below). On all three targets, all the rounds are touching.

The Accuracy International (AI) AS50 Semi-Auto Rifle was designed specifically for U.S. military Special Operations (SPECOPS) personnel/snipers. More specifically, it was designed for the U.S. Navy SEALs to provide them with anti-materiel/long-range interdiction capability, combined with fast follow-up shot capability, in a combat-rugged, lightweight weapons package that can be assembled and broken down quickly and easily, and maintained easily. Although the AS50 rifle was designed specifically for Naval SPECWAR end-users, DefenseReview has no doubt that other elements of SOCOM (USSOCOM) will be taking a good look at AI's latest .50 caliber creation. We wouldn't be surprised if U.S. NSWDG (U.S. Navy DevGroup) and certain U.S. Army Special Forces units out of Ft. Bragg, NC and Ft. Campbell, KY were already field testing the AS50 on enemy insurgents, in the Sandbox.


The following is from the AI AS50 Semi-Automatic Rifle brochure:
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"For deployment and storage, the stock can be detached (and refitted) in seconds ... The entire system can be separated into its major components in under 3 minutes! All parts are fully interchangeable and the rifle can be field-serviced without so much as a screwdriver."

Sounds pretty good. As if that's not enough, the AI rep at the SHOT Show booth told us that the AS50 semi-auto .50 BMG rifle creates less felt recoil than their AW50 bolt-action .50 BMG rifle. Back in July 2003, DefenseReview wrote a quick blurb on the AI AW50 (33-35 lbs empty, depending on reports) and AW50FT (a reported 28 lbs, approx.) .50 BMG bolt-action rifles.

Some more details on the AS50 semi-auto .50 Cal.:
Rear grip: The rear grip is easily deployed, and also serves as a rear support leg. It also locks in folded position for transport or different shooting techniques.

Cocking Lever: To reduce the risk of snagging, the AS50 features an easily replaceable low-profile cocking lever.

Safety Lever: Easily accessible from the shooting position, the two-stage safety mechanism physically blocks the trigger.

Safety interlock: This feature prevents the rifle from being disassembled with the safety lever in the "locked" position.

Receiver: Machine from alloy steel, the rigid receiver body has an integral MIL-STD 1913 rail for mounting ancillary fire control devices.

Magazine capacity: 5 rounds for the AS50. The magazine is the detachable box type.

Bipod: The height-adjustable bipod rotates around the centerline of the barrel, allowing for a stable shooting position at all times.

Forward grip: Machined from high-grade aluminum, the grip protects the user from extreme heat, and features three integral MIL-STD 1913 rails - one on each side for accessories, and a sight rail extension for night sights and thermal imagining systems.

Muzzle brake: The muzzle brake has a low flash signature and is designed to minimize ground disturbance and felt recoil to allow rapid follow-up shots.

AI's focus is to combine match-grade accuracy with military-application reliability and ruggedness, and it looks like it just might have succeeded with the AS50.

Terrorists, beware -- you may soon be facing the wrong end of this weapon (Accuracy International AS50 Semi-Automatic Rifle).

Attached Images

	SoldierTech_AS50-1.jpg (25.7 KB, 683 views)
	SoldierTech_AS50-2.jpg (18.9 KB, 678 views)
	SoldierTech_AS50-4.jpg (58.3 KB, 669 views)
	SoldierTech_AS50-3.jpg (6.4 KB, 671 views)

Anon

It's basically just another companies version of the Barret M-82/M-107.

Simullacrum

LOl..yeah..wouldnt of known that, if you had not told me

Yeah a better and improved verion

Doug97

I voted "other"; the AMP Technical Services DSR-1



And it comes in Lapua Magnum calibre too!

Anon

I prefer the M-107 actually.

Semi-auto 10 shooter .50BMG.........nice.

Too bad they all weigh as much as a Honda.

leib10

That's the problem with .50 BMG rifles. You cannot make them lightweight or the recoil will become unmanageable. They must have a bit of mass to absorb some of the recoil.

__________________
"The right man in the wrong place can make all the difference in the world. So wake up, Mr. Freeman. Wake up and smell the ashes." G-Man

sappersgt

Has anyone ever had the chance to fire a BOYS? They had one in the armory but every time I tried to check it out I was told to quit screwing around. My thought was to put a scope on it and use it instead of the scoped FAL we were issued. Would it fire the same round as the M2? - Unfulfilled

Gunny762

No... Not at all. it's a 20 lb semi auto that fires 7.62 with a max effective range of 800m. An M-21 is far more accurate than this weapon, and I'm an HK-o-phile. Even then, we are talking about long range snipers right? Count Semi-Autos out. If you are going for a truely field portable weapon, the greatest accuracy and greatest range, a good rifle like a SAKO TRG-42 chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum can't be beat. .50 calibers should start coming into their own at the top when match grade ammunition begins making an appearance on the battlefield, but weight dashes the whole field-portable idea.

Gunny762

Oh yeah, it's SVD, not SDV, and the Romanian PSL shoots tighter groups than it does

TopHatter

The WW2 Boys? Wow, there's a weapon you don't hear discussed very much

Too bad they wouldn't let you check it out. Probably somewhat difficult to keep it supplied with rounds?

sappersgt

Yeah that's the one. Bolt action .55 cal. I thought it might make an effective sniper weapon with the addition of a scope. There was ammo for it just not very much. I could have (hopefully) just reloaded the empties, primers and bullets wouldn't be too much of a problem. Maybe size down some M2 (.50 ) cal brass. I got the idea from listening to my company Sgt ( a former Gunnery Sgt) talk about using the M2 as a sniper weapon in Vietnam.

I was always scrounging around the armory. Armies just don't seem to throw away ordnance. They had all kinds of neat stuff in storage. We replaced our company 2" mortars with a single captured 82 mm mortar I found in the armory . We cut down the base plate and supports bringing the weight down to about 75lbs. That way we could use 81mm and 82mm ammo. Having three times the throw weight over the lighter weapon was a real advantage especially when using chemical rounds. It was also cheaper, (Yugo 82 ammo cost about a third less) always a plus from the quartermaster's view.

Anon

Hathcock made the longest shot of the Vietnam war with a tri-pod/T&E mechanism equipped/Unertl 10X scoped M-2 HMG.

Supposedly he intentionally shot a bicyclie frame in half at something like 1800 meters with that setup. LOL.(TH- you just recently read Marine Sniper right? That story is chronicled in that book, so if you recall the exact quoted range of that engagement feel free to correct me, lol).

leib10

IIRC the range was about 2500 yards.

The current record for the longest shot is held by a Canadian team who scored a 2700 yard kill in Afghanistan using a .50 Macmillan SR.

Anon

I havnt read that book in probably 5 years, but i remember that it was friggin' FAR. 2500 meters is only oh....TWICE AS FAR as the farthest shot i ever made on a range.

LOL...