Iran's "Shaher" Anti-Material Rifle
Iran’s Ministry of Defense has been making a big deal about a new .50 BMG rifle thier defense industry has produced. Just a few months ago I wrote that if Iran had not done it already, they were bound to clone the Steyr HS-50. The new Iranian rifle resembles a clone of the HS-50 designed primarily with manufacturing cost in mind.
The lower portion of the gun looks to be identical to the version of the Steyr HS-50 which was sold to Iran. The butt stock looks a lot cheaper (just a rubber pad screw on to the end) and the upper receiver and handguard are simple heavy tubular affairs able to be made cheaply in a machine shop using lathes.
I am not usually this critical about a new gun, but it really says something about the state of Iran’s firearm industry when a terrorist organisation hiding in the mountains managed to produce a better looking, lighter and more ergonomic DIY anti-material rifle than they did.
Iran clones all the defense technology they purchase. Any company that sells Iran arms is just asking for their technology to be cloned. Eventually Iran is going to find that nobody will be willing to sell them modern defense technology.
UPDATE: Kit Up is reporting that the rifle is chambered in the larger 14.5mm round. I still stand by my assertion that it is a clone of the HS-50, albeit a scaled up clone.
[ Many thanks to Siyah & Nugroho for the tip. ]
I founded TFB in 2007 and over 10 years worked tirelessly, with the help of my team, to build it up into the largest gun blog online. I retired as Editor in Chief in 2017. During my decade at TFB I was fortunate to work with the most amazing talented writers and genuinely good people!
More by Steve Johnson
![[IPAS 2017] Iranian Grenade Launchers and Anti-Material Rifles](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2024/05/16/14223985/ipas-2017-iranian-grenade-launchers-and-anti-material-rifles.jpg?size=350x220)
![[SHOT 2026] Winchester Supreme Long Range Keeps Accuracy In-House](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2026/01/21/22391/post.jpg?size=350x220)
![[SHOT 2026] Murdoch & Co. Launch American-Made SA80s!](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2026/01/25/09102/post.jpg?size=350x220)
Comments
Join the conversation
calling this a hs 50 clone is like calling a vz58 a kalashnikov clone. look at the hs 50, its lower reciever is used in the same sence as a chassis stock. it supports the reciever, utilizes a forward extension as a forearm and if im not mistaken also serves as the majority of the rear butt of the gun. the reciever is also of a "dust cover" type rather then bridged or cylindrical.
the iranian rifle utilizes a massive cylindrical reciever which also serves as the forearm. the lower reciever section really only serves as a grip and possibly a housing for the trigger if the trigger isnt attached directly to the reciever like most "sporting" rifles. it may also pe possible that the barrel is pressure fit like a barret m95 because chucking up a reciever this large in a lathe and reaching what seems to be 12 inches or more and cleanly cutting threads and squaring off the reciever would be a challenge even for the best gunmaker. unless of course that nut on the front end of the reciever retains the barrel but i dont think even the iranians are dumb enough to do that.
as i first said, calling this a hs 50 is no different then calling a vz an ak clone
A limited number of 14.5mm Shaher have been delivered to Iranian Army operational units in Aug 2014, according to Army officials its production in large number will begin soon.
It seems to have better quality than the prototypes shown in 2012.
A new 23mm anti material rifle will also be unveiled in 5 months.
http://newsmedia.tasnimnews...
http://newsmedia.tasnimnews...