CmdrSlander
Member
Introduction:
More and more, military and law enforcement agencies are arming themselves with submachine guns and carbines. This, of course, makes sense, as house to house fighting becomes more common and a focus on urban combat and CQB grows. However, if a insurgent or criminal does choose to attempt to attack from range, which is fully possible, then a force armed with close range oriented weapons is placed at a serious disadvantage. How then, do we equip our forces for a rapidly changing combat environment where combat is likely to occur at close range, but thanks to the many places where a shooter could seek cover in an urban environment may also occur at longer ranges (those outside the practical range of an automatic carbine or SMG)? Enter:
The SWAT Rifle is a weapon which complements but does not replace weapons such as the P90, MP7, MP9, and M4 CQBR. Built on any number of proven, simple and (important for government agencies) inexpensive bolt actions, The SWAT Rifle provides accurate fire at ranges up to 500 yards (depending on caliber) in a compact, soft shooting, and very light package. A package which can be carried comfortably alongside a close quarters weapon or inside a vehicle etc. and deployed quickly with minimal setup.
Basic Specifications:
Caliber: Intermediate, no larger than .30 caliber, short action a must, preferably shared with force's service rifle.
OAL: Does not exceed 35" excluding muzzle devices.
Barrel: Lightweight profile. No longer than 16" with accommodations for muzzle devices (sound and flash suppressors). Free floating.
Weight: No heavier than 5.5 pounds. (base rifle, excludes optics and attachments)
Stock: Lightweight, synthetic, preferably folding with adjustable comb and length of pull. MIL-STD-1913 Rails for bipod and or foregrip.
Sights/Optics/Mounts: MIL-STD-1913 Rails running the length of the receiver for the user's/forces choice of optics. BUIS in case the optic fails.
Req'd Accuracy: 3/4 MOA at 150 yards.
Magazine: Detachable, 10 rounds minimum capacity.
My SWAT Rifle Build:
Base: Savage 10 Precision Carbine
Caliber: 7.62x35mm BLK
Barrel: Factory Profile stainless 16" with AAC SCAR type Flash supp.
Stock: Choate Ultimate Folder
Magazines/Feeding: Modded AICS Mags (with Sharpshooter Supply kit for Savage bottom metal)
Mounts/Optics: Badger Ordnance Savage 10 Short Action One Piece Picatinny Rail Scope Mount, Leupold Mark 4 4.5-14x50mm LR/T M1 Illum. Reticle
Answers to questions I know people will ask:
Q: Why not the Scout Rifle?
A: The Scout Rifle is designed to be general purpose and fires a heftier caliber than the SWAT rifle. The SWAT Rifle is intended for Military/Law Enforcement and thus is not not designed to put meat on the table like the Scout Rifle. Also, higher magnification optics with traditional eye relief are spec'd for the SWAT Rifle. The Scout Rifle is a great idea and the SWAT Rifle is not meant to compete with it.
Q: The AR-15 platform meets the weight and length requirements nicely why not step up to an autoloader?
A: Don't get me wrong, I like the AR-15/M16, however, and there are numerous AR's capable of my accuracy requirements. However, relative inexpensiveness is part of SWAT rifle concept (so that Law Enforcement Agencies find it easier to adopt, money is always an issue when the government is involved, even when lives are on the line) and there are many highly accurate bolt action platforms that are much cheaper.
Q: What about existing military sniper rifles such as the M24 and M40A3/A5?
A: Both of those rifles have recently been redesigned to respond to the longer ranges faced in the hills and valleys of Afghanistan. (moving up to larger calibers, heavyweight barrels, etc.) The SWAT Rifle is not a "hills of Afghanistan" rifle, it is a "rooftops of Kabul" rifle. It is a tool for a specific situation, not a be all and end all, and it is certainly not a primary weapon.
What are your thoughts on The SWAT Rifle?
Veterans and Active Servicemen: Can you recall any situations where you would have found the SWAT Rifle useful?
More and more, military and law enforcement agencies are arming themselves with submachine guns and carbines. This, of course, makes sense, as house to house fighting becomes more common and a focus on urban combat and CQB grows. However, if a insurgent or criminal does choose to attempt to attack from range, which is fully possible, then a force armed with close range oriented weapons is placed at a serious disadvantage. How then, do we equip our forces for a rapidly changing combat environment where combat is likely to occur at close range, but thanks to the many places where a shooter could seek cover in an urban environment may also occur at longer ranges (those outside the practical range of an automatic carbine or SMG)? Enter:
The SWAT Rifle is a weapon which complements but does not replace weapons such as the P90, MP7, MP9, and M4 CQBR. Built on any number of proven, simple and (important for government agencies) inexpensive bolt actions, The SWAT Rifle provides accurate fire at ranges up to 500 yards (depending on caliber) in a compact, soft shooting, and very light package. A package which can be carried comfortably alongside a close quarters weapon or inside a vehicle etc. and deployed quickly with minimal setup.
Basic Specifications:
Caliber: Intermediate, no larger than .30 caliber, short action a must, preferably shared with force's service rifle.
OAL: Does not exceed 35" excluding muzzle devices.
Barrel: Lightweight profile. No longer than 16" with accommodations for muzzle devices (sound and flash suppressors). Free floating.
Weight: No heavier than 5.5 pounds. (base rifle, excludes optics and attachments)
Stock: Lightweight, synthetic, preferably folding with adjustable comb and length of pull. MIL-STD-1913 Rails for bipod and or foregrip.
Sights/Optics/Mounts: MIL-STD-1913 Rails running the length of the receiver for the user's/forces choice of optics. BUIS in case the optic fails.
Req'd Accuracy: 3/4 MOA at 150 yards.
Magazine: Detachable, 10 rounds minimum capacity.
My SWAT Rifle Build:
Base: Savage 10 Precision Carbine
Caliber: 7.62x35mm BLK
Barrel: Factory Profile stainless 16" with AAC SCAR type Flash supp.
Stock: Choate Ultimate Folder
Magazines/Feeding: Modded AICS Mags (with Sharpshooter Supply kit for Savage bottom metal)
Mounts/Optics: Badger Ordnance Savage 10 Short Action One Piece Picatinny Rail Scope Mount, Leupold Mark 4 4.5-14x50mm LR/T M1 Illum. Reticle
Answers to questions I know people will ask:
Q: Why not the Scout Rifle?
A: The Scout Rifle is designed to be general purpose and fires a heftier caliber than the SWAT rifle. The SWAT Rifle is intended for Military/Law Enforcement and thus is not not designed to put meat on the table like the Scout Rifle. Also, higher magnification optics with traditional eye relief are spec'd for the SWAT Rifle. The Scout Rifle is a great idea and the SWAT Rifle is not meant to compete with it.
Q: The AR-15 platform meets the weight and length requirements nicely why not step up to an autoloader?
A: Don't get me wrong, I like the AR-15/M16, however, and there are numerous AR's capable of my accuracy requirements. However, relative inexpensiveness is part of SWAT rifle concept (so that Law Enforcement Agencies find it easier to adopt, money is always an issue when the government is involved, even when lives are on the line) and there are many highly accurate bolt action platforms that are much cheaper.
Q: What about existing military sniper rifles such as the M24 and M40A3/A5?
A: Both of those rifles have recently been redesigned to respond to the longer ranges faced in the hills and valleys of Afghanistan. (moving up to larger calibers, heavyweight barrels, etc.) The SWAT Rifle is not a "hills of Afghanistan" rifle, it is a "rooftops of Kabul" rifle. It is a tool for a specific situation, not a be all and end all, and it is certainly not a primary weapon.
What are your thoughts on The SWAT Rifle?
Veterans and Active Servicemen: Can you recall any situations where you would have found the SWAT Rifle useful?
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