Steyr HS .50

Infobox Weapon
name= Steyr HS .50


caption=
origin= flagcountry|Austria
type= Sniper rifle
is_ranged=yes
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=
is_vehicle=
is_missile=
is_UK=
service=
used_by=
wars=
designer=
design_date=
manufacturer=Steyr Mannlicher
unit_cost=$4,831.20
production_date=
number=
variants= HS .460
spec_label=HS .50
weight= 12.9 kg (28.5 lb)
length=
part_length= 833 mm (33 in)
width=
height=
diameter=
crew=
cartridge= .50 BMG, .460 Steyr
caliber=
barrels=
action= Bolt action
rate= Bolt action
velocity=
range= About 1,500 m (1 mi) [cite web |url=http://www.steyrarms.com/index.php?id=29 |title=STEYR ARMS INC.: Steyr HS .50 |accessdate=2007-12-29]
max_range=
feed=
sights= Telescopic sightThe Steyr HS .50 is a .50 BMG single-shot sniper rifle manufactured by Steyr Mannlicher. The weapon is also available in the proprietary .460 Steyr round, developed for markets where ownership of the .50 BMG by private citizens is banned, such as California and Australia. This version is known as the HS .460.

The rifle made headlines when Steyr sold up to 800 rifles to Iran in 2005. There was a large amount of concern in the United States, United Kingdom, and, to a lesser extent, other European countries that the rifles would find their way into Iraq and be used against the Iraqi Army or Coalition forces. Nevertheless, the sale was approved by the Austrian government in November 2004.

In February 2007, "The Daily Telegraph" reported that American sources claimed to have recovered more than 100 of the rifles from insurgents in Iraq. The first American soldier killed with one occurred within 45 days of the shipment. [http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2007/02/13/wiran13.xml Iraqi insurgents using Austrian rifles from Iran] , "The Daily Telegraph", February 13 2007] However, according to Steyr CEO Franz Holzschuh, nobody has contacted the manufacturer to compare serial numbers and verify if the weapons found in Iraq really were part of the Iranian shipment. [http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/0,1518,466024,00.html US-Soldaten finden österreichische Waffen] , "Spiegel online", February 13 2007] According to Steyr, patents for the HS .50 ran out years ago, and fraudulent copies are produced in several countries of the world. [http://www.spiegel.de/international/0,1518,466284,00.html A Smoking Gun from the Alps] , "Spiegel online", February 14 2007] "The Daily Telegraph" admitted on April 2007 that it was not able to verify the story.fact|date=December 2007

References

External links

* [http://www.steyr-arms.at/index.php?id=82&L=1 Official page]

See also

* Steyr Scout rifle
* Steyr SSG 69 sniper rifle
* Steyr AMR 5075 prototype long range sniper rifle