Accuracy International AS50 (.50 BMG)
Kim du Toit
March 3, 2005
1:00 AM CDT
Ladies and Gentlemen,
Allow me to introduce to you the latest addition to the arsenal of the U.S. Navy SEALS, the semi-automatic Accuracy International AS50 sniper rifle in the ultra-manly caliber of .50BMG:
Oh yes, oh yes. I want one too. The blurb about it reads, in part:
“...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.”
Looks like “mission accomplished”, to me.
It’s a little heavy for this Old Fart to hump around (27lbs unloaded), but it’s still lighter by nearly 8lbs than its bolt-action counterpart, the AW50. Its portability is helped by the fact that it can be broken down easily into three parts, and reassembled in a few seconds.
The AS50 looks like just the thing for those occasions when you really want to reach out and touch something, or someone.
Apparently, the rifle is also being “field-tested” out in the Sandbox by the Army.
If I could, I’d buy one and send it out to the boys in Deuce Four. As it is, we’ll just hope they get one or two of these babies soon.
A full write-up of this magnificent piece of death machinery can be found here.
(Thanks to Reader Mat for the link.)
Update: Reader Ry sends me this link. Maybe the AS50 is replacing the old AW50 for a good reason…
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