Your Privacy Choices
Weapons in use by the world’s leading military and LE forces are usually well known to the general public due to their being frequently shown in the mainstream media as a result of their respective countries’ public relations efforts and/or some publicity generated by the manufacturers involved. TFB, incidentally, recently had a look at what Western (https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/11/10/rifles-european-best-sniper-squad-competition-2016/) and ComBloc (https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/12/01/international-army-games-combloc-sniper-frontier/) sniper teams use, but for lower-profile nations like Brazil, however, very little usually comes to light. Then, the following pictures and concise info may be of interest. They follow no specific sequence, and are just here for your general appreciation. Nope, this is not a comprehensive list.
7.62x51mm/.338 Lapua Magnum Blaser Tactical 2
The German-made Blaser Tactical 2 is a purpose-built straight-pull bolt-action sniper rifle is used by Brazil’s DPF – Departamento de Polícia Federal (Federal Police Department). Of easy take-down and assembly procedures, each one taking no more than 30 seconds, it also features interchangeable bolt/barrel units which allow the operator to use either 7.62x51mm (627mm barrel) or .338 Lapua (685mm barrel) rounds fed from detachable 5-round (4 rounds, for .338 Lapua) magazines , adding versatility to the weapon in varied operational situations. The whole thing weighs about 6 kg empty (no scope), while overall lengths are 1130mm and 1190mm, for the respective calibers.
A Blaser Tactical 2 in range training use by a member of the Federal Police COT – Comando de Operações Táticas (Tactical Operations Command). The rifle’s barrel shows the longitudinal cooling fins machined on its surface, the substantial muzzle brake being also evident.
7.62x51mm Heckler & Koch HK 417
This German-made rifle is fitted with a 419mm barrel and is used in the Brazilian Federal Police as a sort of DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle) in special sub-units as the COT- Comando de Operações Táticas (Tactical Operations Command), GPI- Grupos de Pronta Intervenção (Quick Intervention Groups), the CAOP – Coordenação de Aviação Operacional (Operational Aviation Group) and NEPOM – Núcleos Especiais de Polícia Marítima, Special Maritime Police Groups). Empty weight is under 5kg.
An HK 417 in the hands of a member of a Federal Police NEPOM, a sub-unit in charge of maritime patrol (sea, rivers, lakes). It can be noticed that the weapon is also employed in a non-sniping role, as indicated by the EOTech holographic sight attached.
Brazilian feds firing their rifles in a range: two Blaser Tactical 2s in the foreground, one HK 417, and one HK PSG/1 in the background, this one now in a retirement process after years of good service.
7.62x51mm Remington Model 700
It’s not really surprising that the popular U.S.-made Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle has also found its way to Brazil. The example shown here belongs to Grupo TIGRE, the SWAT-type outfit of the Paraná State Civil Police, the weapon being also in the inventory of COE – Comando e Operações Especiais (Commando and Special Operations), a sub unit of that State’s BOPE. Yes, most Military Police forces in Brazil have a SpecOps Battalion so named.
The 700’s brother-in-uniform, the M24 rifle, is also found in the Brazilian Army inventory, more specifically, used by the Brigada de Operações Especiais (Special Operations Brigade), with headquarters in Goiania, Goiás State.
7.62x51mm Sig Sauer SSG3000
The Sig Sauer SSG3000 bolt-action rifle is a somewhat rare bird in Brazil’s LE community. It serves PMDF – Polícia Militar do Distrito Federal (Federal District Military Police) in its BOPE unit, in Brasília, the nation’s capital.
A closer view of a SSG3000 in use by PMDF shows the general configuration, the adjustable cheekpiece, grainy fore end, bolt handle format, etc. The detachable magazine is a single stack five round-unit, and on top of the action is an integral zero MOA rail for mounting a scope. Gun length, 600mm; overall length, 1180mm; empty weight, 5.5kg.
This highly modified FAL rifle is part of the PMDF BOPE armory. Can you ID the add-ons?
7.62x51mm Remington MSR (Modular Sniper Rifle)
A somewhat new addition to Brazilian Army’s Brigada de Operações Especiais (Special Operations Brigade), with headquarters in Goiânia, Goiás State, is the U.S.-made Remington Modular Sniper Rifle. Three of these guns, suppressor-equipped, are seen here in use in a training range. The guys’ black caps and side badges indicate they are Commandoes.
An animation with details of Remington’s gun can be seen here (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ApjYHcih0f8)
