Accuracy International

Accuracy International is a specialist British firearms manufacturer based in Portsmouth, Hampshire, England, and best known for producing the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare series of precision sniper rifles. The company was established in 1978 by British Olympic shooting Gold medallist Malcolm Cooper (1947-2001), and its high-accuracy sniper rifles are in use with many military units and police departments around the world.

The Accuracy International rifle has gained success due, in part, to the design considerations put into the overall rifle.

First, the rifle stock design is designed with ergonomics at the top of the design-list. The comfort in holding the rifle combined with the reduction in recoil has aided in the accuracy of those using the rifle.

Second, the barrel is interchangeable with other calibres and can be done in the field in about 15 minutes. With a clamping of the barrel in a barrel vice, the removal of the barrel from the action, the new barrel just screws into the action and a torque wrench tightens it in place; this interchangeability allows for a mission-specific deployment of calibres.

Finally, the inherent accuracy of the rifle is due to the action being bolted with 4 screws and permanently bonded with epoxy material to an aluminium frame to which all major rifle components are attached. As it keeps the action from moving away from zero, the accuracy of the rifle is very high. Adding a folding stock handle, this sniper rifle can be used for both HALO insertions as well as walking deployments of sniper forces.

Accuracy International went into liquidation in 2005, and was bought by a British consortium which has resulted in the original design team now being back in control of the company.

Accuracy International unveiled their new AS50 .50BMG calibre semi-automatic rifle at the 2005 Las Vegas Shot Show.

The UK government announced the award of an £11 million contract to produce rifles for the British Army in March 2008. [http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/UK-News/British-Army-To-Give-Snipers-The-New-Accuracy-International-L96-Rifle/Article/20080311308381?lpos=UK%2BNews_4&lid=ARTICLE_1308381_British%2BArmy%2BTo%2BGive%2BSnipers%2BThe%2BNew%2BAccuracy%2BInternational%2BL96%2BRifle]

External links

* [http://www.accuracyinternational.com/ Accuracy International online]
* [http://world.guns.ru/sniper/sn67-e.htm The AS50]