SR10 .338 Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle

[Anemos Major]

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.

[Anemos Major]

The SR10 .50 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: 2400 NSD
Produced: 2011~
Number built: ~10,000
Common Variants: SR10 .50

Weight: 11.3 kg unloaded, 11.5 kg loaded.
Length: 1301mm
Barrel length: 798 mm (31.42 in)
Cartridge: 12.7x99mm
Action: Gas-operated (short-stroke gas piston), rotating bolt
Rate of fire: Semi-automatic
Muzzle velocity: 974 m/s (3,196 ft/s)
Effective range: 1,800 m (5,906 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

The SR10 .338's performance in its intended role soon after its introduction was more than satisfactory; its combination of portability with the power of the .338 Lapua Magnum made it a highly popular weapon within the Anemonian Armed Forces, due to its remarkable performance in the long range combat encountered in the Asakuran counter-insurgency. Despite the introduction of a new sniper rifle, however, one gaping hole remained in the long range small arms capabilities of the Anemonian Armed Forces; the antiquity of its anti-materiel weapons. The Barrett M82 was, despite its age, still utilised by the Anemonian Armed Forces, and though an effort was mounted in 2005 to replace it with the indigenously produced AMR50, the high productions costs of its weapon, together with the realisation that these were not justified by the marginal increase in performance and capabilities offered by the new weapon, led to its cancellation and the continued use of the Barrett M82. Despite the operational restrictions posed by its lack of portability and sheer size, the M82 was retained in the Anemonian Armed Forces, with a lack of requests from the front line convincing high level staff officers that the M82 was a satisfactory weapon.

It was, once again, a request from the Imperial Fleet's Fleet Security contingent that resulted in the production of a new weapon. Receiving their examples of the SR10, a further request was quickly put forwards to Arsenal Karonin concerning the feasibility of creating a .50 calibre modification of the SR10 .338; anti-materiel sniping was part of the duties of Fleet Security on the high seas, and the necessity of introducing a lighter platform for the .50 round was a greater priority for Fleet Security, who were more used to operating at speed in cramped environments. Arsenal Karonin quickly produced a new design, finalising it in late 2010, and the first examples of the weapon went into production in early January 2011 for Fleet Security, ending in February after the replacement of the M82 stockpile in that group. The incredible praised mounted upon the weapon by its new users drew the attention of other, bigger customers, and production was restarted in March, this time for a large group of interested buyers spearheaded by the Crown Army, whose objective was to replace the M82 in all areas of its formations. The result was a highly popular weapon, especially amongst those unfortunate enough to have had to retain the M82; its parts commonality (in terms of the frame) with the SR10 .338 meant that logistics issues were simplified by the introduction of the SR10 .50, while the compactness of the rifle in comparison to that which it replaced meant that it was a highly effective replacement for the M82, one that retained its advantages by doing its best to compensate for or remedy its failings.

Role and Design

A modified version of the SR10 .338 Sniper Rifle, the SR10 .50 is an anti-materiel, anti-personnel and anti-vehicle rifle utilised as a multipurpose sniper rifle. It was designed in order to take the power and accuracy of the M82 platform into consideration and put it into a smaller package so as to increase the weapon's flexibility in different combat situations by decreasing its weight and size, thus making it easier to utilise in more difficult environments.

As a result, those changes made to the SR10 .50 are all designed to accomodate the new .50 cartridge; due to the bullpup layout of the SR10, the barrel length of the original SR10 .338 was considered acceptable in its existing state. However, the increased size of the .50 calibre cartridge meant that a significant increase in recoil presented a considerable obstacle to the creation of an effective .50 calibre modification of the SR10 platform. In order to combat this recoil, Arsenal Karonin adopted a two measure solution to the issue. The ifrst was the introduction of a strengthened hydraulic recoil buffer to the buttstock. Although this concept was once already utilised within the original SR10 platform, it was decided to increase the strength and size of this buffer. This served a twofold effect; not only did it increase the effectiveness of the existing buffer assembly to withstand and compensate for the increased recoil of the .50 calibre round, it also increased the weight of the assembly, transferring the weapon's balance further down towards the buttstock. The other measure taken was the replacement of the flash suppressor mount with a unique 'blast compensator'; this forward venting device moderates both the muzzle blast and recoil of the .50 calibre round, making it not only more controllable as a sniper weapon, but more efficient on the battlefield by compensating to some degree for the decrease in covert operability caused by the increase muzzle blast of the .50 round. Like the SR10 .338, the SR10 .50 retains most aspects of the original design, including its free-floating barrel, its adjutable buttstock and its inbuilt bipod.

Distributed with the ICO-L 4-12x Long Range Scope and Back-Up Ironsights as standard issue, the SR10 .50 is a powerful upscaled variant of the original SR10 .338, a weapon that adopts all the advantages of a larger, .50 calibre round while compensating through innovative design for its shortcomings.

[Anemos Major]

The SR10R1 .338 with an IFAM ICO-L 6-12-18x Variable Zoom Scope and Arsenal Deimos Mlyr. 10 Bipod Stabilisation Unit

The SR10R1 .50 with an IFAM ICO-L 6-12-18x Variable Zoom Scope and Arsenal Deimos Mlyr. 10 Bipod Stabilisation Unit

Designer: Arsenal Karonin IECpl (IFAM, Arsenal Deimos)
Designed: 2011
Manufacturer : IFAM, Arsenal Karonin, Arsenal Deimos
Unit cost: 2250/2450 NSD
Produced: 2011~
Common Variants: SR10R1 .338, SR10R1 .50

Statistics are listed (respectively) for both the .338 and .50.
Weight: 5.9kg/10 kg unloaded, 7kg/11.2 kg loaded.
Length: 1083mm/1321mm
Barrel length: 798 mm (31.42 in)/798 mm (31.42 in)
Cartridge: .338 Lapua Magnum/12.7x99mm
Action: Gas-operated (short-stroke gas piston), rotating bolt
Rate of fire: Semi-automatic
Muzzle velocity: 1011 m/s (3,317 ft/s)/974 m/s (3,196 ft/s)
Effective range: 1,400 m (4,593 ft)/1,800 m (5,906 ft)
Feed system: 10-round detachable box magazine
Sights: Dual-mode accessory diopter sight and front post, flip up, Deimos interface system for optics (IFAM ICO-L 6-12-18x Variable Zoom Scope as standard issue)

Background

In 2011, responding to the few failings of the AR9 highlighted by its field use over the preceding two years, the Imperial Foundries of Anemos Major were instructed by the Holy Office of War to produce a variant of the modular weapons system that would rectify these design flaws before March 2011. As a variety of weapons systems were based off the AR9, the major example amongst these being the SR10 Semi-Automatic Sniper System, the decision was made to incorporate similar changes across the board, within all derived weapons systems of the AR9, and to put these into production simultaneously so as to allow familiarisation with these new weapon systems in one clean sweep rather than through a complicated process of graduated weapons replacement.

However, interestingly, the designers of the weapon also chose to make entirely unrelated additions to the SR10 system so as to improve its performance in its specific role, highlighting the importance of the SR10 as an independent weapons system. Pushing the SR10 ever further from the AR9R1 as a result, it was a testament to the ingenuity of its designers in that they were able to take an already successful weapons system and make it noticeably better than its predecessor. The improvements were such that the Holy Office of War quickly issued the same contract as that handed to the AR9R1 in March 2011; not only was Arsenal Karonin contracted to commence the production of the new weapon, they were also directed to replace all existing stocks of the SR10 with the new variant, tentatively named the SR10R1. Entering service alongside the AR9R1 in the same month, the SR10R1 received its baptism of fire on the battlefields of Asakura and has since proven to be a worthy successor to the initially highly successful SR10R1, ever so slightly tweaking an effective weapons system to make the most of its potential as a weapon of precision and accuracy.

Role and Design

The SR10R1 is a series of precision rifles chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum and 12.7x99mm, designed to achieve maximal accuracy, effectiveness and usability on the field of battle through a combination of a basic design inherited from the SR10 rifle and a series of additional features incorporated to adjust various aspects of this basic design; as a precision rifle, it was widely understood that the smallest of modifications would have a significant effect upon the performance and usability of the weapon, and it was with this in mind that Arsenal Karonin was to incorporate a mixture of design aspects utilised in the AR9R1 program alongside in-house improvements in a comprehensive reboot of the SR10 system.

One of the major points of departure from the AR9R1 design ethos found in the SR10 was, in fact, the buttstock. That added to the AR9R1, incorporating clear indentations, was designed with two main objectives in mind; grip and recoil negation. Though these were design aspects that had to be considered equally important in the design of the SR10, one additional necessity was of such importance that the designers were forced to consider it so as to maximise the SR10R1's effectiveness as a sniper rifle; comfort. Unlike the AR9R1, the SR10 was designed to be accurate at long ranges, and this required a degree of stability and comfort, especially in light of the SR10's unique position as a bullpup rifle in its class, that would permit it to be used as such by marksmen. In order to accomplish this, the designers at Arsenal Karonin departed from the AR9R1's stock design. The contact between the stock and the shoulder was constructed to be far more form-fitting and precise than that of the AR9R1; minutely textured in order to increase grip, and constructed to match the curve of the shoulder, the buttstock also incorporates the same adjustability introduced by the AR9R1, via an ambidextrous button layout allowing the user to 'unlock' the stock assembly by pressing a button at the bottom of the stock. Depression of the left button unlocks the bottom portion of the adjustable buttstock, while the right does so for the top. In terms of recoil mitigation measures, alongside the hydraulic system already employed by the SR10, the SR10R1 also features a series of plasticised 'soft' rubber bands within the buttstock that help to absorb and counteract recoil.

Like the AR9R1, the handguard removal process was also made easier, but for different reasons. Unlike the MWS, the SR10 utilised a standard layout ejection mechanism, removing the need to access the ejection tube in the battlefield. Furthermore, unlike the AR9R1, the SR10 was not designed to be part of a modular weapons family, and thus did not require the same handguard replacement speed required on the AR9R1. However, unlike the MWS, the SR10 was designed for independent operation in the battlefield. By increasing the facility of handguard removal by making it a two-part process, the SR10R1 greatly increased its effectiveness in the hands of small one or two man teams in combat by allowing them to access the SR10's internals without much trouble. This therefore allowed individual marksmen to access and configure the SR10's working mechanisms and free-floating barrel, thus making it less of a mass produced rifle and more of a precision instrument in the hands of trained snipers.

Another change made to the weapon was the replacement and modification of various parts of the SR10's 'interface'. The shape of the charging handle was changed to facilitate its operation from a firing stance by ribbing the front to increase grip during pulling, and changing its overall shape to allow it to be gripped easily. The selector switch was also moved back to facilitate operation with the thumb. The muzzle brake used on the SR10R1 .338 variant of the weapon was also modified and replaced. This was to maximise the effectiveness of gas redirection, thus negating recoil as much as possible. Finally, the attachment interface system was greatly modified. The replacement of the Deimos Interface System with a Picatinny pattern Rail Interface System was a decision made in order to increase the interoperability of the SR10 and its components with those of foreign, allied armed forces; though the DIS exhibited clear advantages over the standard RIS, these advantages were not considered great enough to negate the disadvantages brought about by the utilisation of a proprietary and highly uncommon interface system that required different adaptors to those used by other armed forces. The two major accessories utilised by the SR line of rifles were also replaced by superior performance models; IFAM was to redesign the ICO-L 6-12-18x Variable Zoom Scope, while the integrated bipod utilised on the original SR10 line was replaced in favour of the Arsenal Deimos Mlyr. 10 Bipod Stabilisation Unit, which had been designed for the sole purpose of providing the Anemonian Armed Forces with a RIS compatible bipod designed along modern lines. These upgrades largely followed up on those made to the AR9R1 by IFAM, reflecting the original purpose of the SR10R1 upgrade program.

In terms of performance, two major changes were made with the SR10R1; the decrease of the handguard length, and the incorporation of a fluted barrel. In both cases, these highlighted the fact that the SR10 weapons system was still one that harboured unexplored potential. In both cases, these seemingly minor changes decreased the overall weight of the weapon by reducing the amount of material used in the construction of the rifle, especially in the case of the SR10R1 .50's heavy barrel, and increased heat dissipation by increasing the barrel surface area exposed to the air.

Overall, the SR10R1 marks a leap forward in the effectiveness of Anemos Major's premier precision rifle. Still utilising the innovative bullpup semi-automatic design and combination of power, portability and precision that made its predecessor a resounding success, both the SR10R1 .338 and .50 explore the potential of this highly effective basic design, turning the SR10 from an interesting design into a carefully honed, refined and well defined precision weapon, grounding the SR family as the discerning combat sharpshooter's weapon of choice for many years to come.