Accuracy International L96-A1 (7.62x51mm NATO)
Kim du Toit
April 7, 2003
11:00 PM CDT
I love reading stories like this one (from the British Sun newspaper):
A Royal Marines sniper told yesterday how he felled an Iraqi gunman in a strong wind from more than half a mile with an astonishing shot in a million.
Crackshot Corporal Matt Hughes, 28, was ordered to take out the Iraqi, who was firing at his pals and holding up an attack.
Matt pulled off the incredible feat of marksmanship by perfectly gauging the wind speed to bend the bullet to its target.
And amazingly a second sniper alongside him hit a second Iraqi at the same moment with another wonder shot.
The 7.62 calibre round from Matt’s L96 sniper rifle was aimed 56ft* to the left to allow for the wind, and 35ft* high to allow for the distance.
Yet it flew straight to the target, hitting the Iraqi in the chest. He probably died instantly.
*
Probably inches, not feet, assuming a standard 300-yard battlefield zero for these rifles and scopes. Brit journalists have no idea about guns.
Only someone who has tried to do stuff like this can truly appreciate how incredibly difficult it is. An 800-yard killing shot on a human-sized target in gusting desert winds? Wonderful shooting. Two 800-yard killing shots on human-sized targets in gusting desert winds? Unbelievable shooting. Here’s the rifle which did it:
The original Acc. Int. L96 replaced the old Lee-Enfield L42 (a modified No. 4 Mk.1 ), beating out the venerable Parker-Hale company’s M85 in the competition.
The improved L96, called the L96-A1 or “AW” (Arctic Warfare) version, is probably what the Royal Marines used in the story above. It weighs about 14lbs without scope (and the scope, a Hensoldt 10x42, weighs close to 3lbs itself). The L96-A1 is used by the armies of many other countries like Australia, New Zealand and Canada.
It’s also available in .338 Lapua Magnum, .300 Win Mag, 7mm Rem Mag. and .50 BMG, and can be ordered with a silenced barrel, collapsible stock and all those cool goodies that armies and the police can have, but not we citizens. 
The civilian model (7.62mm NATO) of the A.I. L96 costs about $2,000 (without scope). There’s one at Richard The Gunsmith’s store, but I will not be tempted.
The AW50 in .50 BMG will set you back about $11,000—its price and easy portability (see below) making it the choice of drug dealers, ganbangers and terrorists everywhere, of course.
Incidentally, it’s too bad that once this kid from the Royal Marines leaves the service, there’s a good chance that he’ll never shoot a rifle again—he’s a Brit, after all, and his government thinks he’s not to be trusted with a personal firearm. Maybe we should offer him political asylum. I’d sponsor him.
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