SR10 .338 Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 10:47 am
The SR10 .338 in an urban paint scheme with an ICO-L 4-12x Long Range Scope
Designer: Arsenal Karonin IECpl (IFAM, Arsenal Deimos)
Designed: 2010
Manufacturer : IFAM, Arsenal Karonin, Arsenal Deimos
Unit cost: 2200 NSD (including parts for all configurations)
Produced: 2010~
Number built: ~100,000
Common Variants: SR10 .338
Weight: 6.1 kg unloaded, 6.4 kg loaded.
Length: 1083mm
Barrel length: 798 mm (31.42 in)
Cartridge: .338 Lapua Magnum
Action: Gas-operated (short-stroke gas piston), rotating bolt
Rate of fire: Semi-automatic
Muzzle velocity: 1011 m/s (3,317 ft/s)
Effective range: 1,400 m (4,593 ft)
Feed system: 10-round detachable box magazine
Sights: Dual-mode accessory diopter sight and front post, flip up, Deimos interface system for optics (ICO-L 4-12x Long Range Scope as standard issue)
Background
Soon after the distribution of the IFAM AR9 to Fleet Security units within the Imperial Fleet of Anemos Major, feedback began to come back from the soldiers remarking that a semi-automatic sniper rifle built on the ergonomic frame of the AR9 was potentially a highly effective base for the indigenous sniper system the Holy Office of War had issued a brief for in 2006. Intrigued by the concept, Arsenal Karonin quickly put together preliminary designs concerning the creation of such a sniper system based around the sniper issue .338 Lapua Magnum round in service, going so far as to borrow some elements of the AR9's internals as well before producing a preliminary design in late 2009, the YSR338. Submitting this to IFAM and Arsenal Deimos for feedback on the concept, the other two arsenals quickly added their own design concepts to the YS338; namely, an ambidextrous design by IFAM and the Deimos Interface System by Arsenal Deimos. The final concept, finalised in January 2010, was brought to the Holy Office of War and quickly approved as a replacement for any .338 bolt action sniper rifles in service; entering production very soon afterwards thanks to IFAM's conversion of some AR9 production lines for the purpose of doing so. During its short term in service in areas like Asakura, the SR10 has demonstrated its ability as a first class sniper rifle; thanks to its high quality polymer construction and bullpup layout, the weapon is compact, light and easy to handle, while the long barrel and powerful round demonstrate far more than adequate killing power in its target range. Of note is its service with the Parachute Dragoons, who currently carry it as their signature weapon in their famed two man sniper/spotter infiltration teams.
Role and Design
Intended to fill the gap between DMRs (such as the AR8R5 DMR, the AR9 SSW and the AR3R1/mod sF2) and larger anti-material rifles (the M82, for example), the SR10 is a sniper rifle chambered in the powerful .338 Magnum round utilised as a long-range anti-personnel rifle. It is utilised in the sniping and countersniping roles by the Anemonian Crown Army in a conventional sense, while many unconventional formations have adopted it as their sniper rifle of choice due to the perfect mix of power, precision and portability that is found in the SR10's powerful round, careful construction and polymer frame.
Ergonomically, the SR10 is directly derived from the IFAM AR9. The pistol grip has been given a more vertical shape more suited to accurate fire from various positions, and the rifle butt has been made adjustable through loosening with the button on the bottom edge of the rifle frame, on either side of the rifle. The rifle is produced and issued with a built in bipod. The materials used in the outer frame itself are those polymers used in the construction of the AR9 in order to decrease the overall weight of the rifle and thus increase the mobility and range of its user.
In terms of internals, the AR10 is also derived from the AR9 in its usage of a short-stroke gas piston system and rotating bolt. The utilisation of the short-stroke system was decided upon due to the advantages of the system; the decreased recoil when compared to systems such as long-stroke, and the decreased maintenance burden of the short-stroke gas piston system meant that its utilisation would create a stable, controllable and lasting sniper weapons system, thus not only making it capable of highly accurate fire but of long periods of operation, making it ideal for special operations and usage in harsh climates (in the case of the Fleet Security personnel for whom this weapon was built, for example, sea spray). Furthermore, the match-target barrel has been optimised for multiple purpose, high performance sniping as well; it has been fluted internally to reduce weight (externally, the barrel has an outer layer to protect it from the elements), and the barrel assembly itself is free floating, making it highly accurate. The barrel's rifling has a right-hand twist rate of 254 mm; this is to permit the firing of heavier, 300 grain .338 rounds whose additional stopping power has been found to be useful in not only neutralising individual targets but causing morale damage to surrounding enemies.
The rifle has been made fully ambidextrous due to a simple internal mechanism that allows the cartridge ejection's direction (i.e. through the left or right ejection ports) to be changed at will, thus making it fully ambidextrous alongside the dual side charging handle, ejection button and selector switch already found on the stock AR9. An attachable, adjustable cheek rest is provided with the weapon; this is to provide the shooter with an adjustable cheek rest that will both not affect the production of the weapon's frame itself by introducing unnecessarily complicated parts, and accommodate for the ambidextrous design of the SR10. The rifle is fed from a slightly rectangular, double stacked 10 round magazine, which is released with an magazine eject placed in front of the trigger. The trigger itself is a two-stage trigger like the AR9, and the pull weight can be adjusted as desired by a trained armourer.
Distributed with the ICO-L 4-12x Long Range Scope and Back-Up Ironsights as standard issue, the SR10 .338 SASR is a highly capable and versatile weapon utilised by all branches of the Anemonian Armed Forces due to its successful adherence to three basic design principles; power, portability and precision.