Poland Announces New Tender For 150 Multi-Caliber Sniper Rifles

Nathaniel F
by Nathaniel F

Poland is seeking to adopt a new sniper rifle as part of its modernization program. The new rifle, the tender for which was released earlier this week, will fire .338 Lapua Magnum and, with a conversion kit, 7.6x51mm NATO. Jane’s reports:

Poland has begun a tender for 150 bolt-action sniper rifles chambered in 8.6×70 mm (.338 Lapua Magnum).

The weapon will be the first .338 Lapua Magnum rifle in Polish service and is to feature an exchangeable barrel, bolt head and magazine so it can use the cheaper 7.62×51 mm NATO round for training.

Bidders are to respond by 5 November, with the Accuracy International AXMC, Barrett MRAD, SAKO TRG M10, and Voere LBW-M2 rifles expected to compete. None of Poland’s small arms manufacturers offer such a rifle. The tender also includes 50,000 ball-type 8.6×70 mm rounds, and day/night weapon scopes.

The new Polish rifles will follow the trend of powerful large-caliber sniper rifles that has been developing since the release of the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge in 1989. The caliber offers substantially better accuracy and ballistics than either the smaller .308 Winchester round, or the larger .50 BMG round, while still being accommodated by a reasonably-sized bolt action rifle.

Nathaniel F
Nathaniel F

Nathaniel is a history enthusiast and firearms hobbyist whose primary interest lies in military small arms technological developments beginning with the smokeless powder era. He can be reached via email at nathaniel.f@staff.thefirearmblog.com.

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  • Darkpr0 Darkpr0 on Oct 15, 2015

    I wonder if Russia will offer their ORSIS system. We have a few floating around in Canada that were imported. I have heard nothing but good things from those that can afford them, but of course Poland may not be so interested in something coming from Russia.

    • Toms Toms on Oct 15, 2015

      @Darkpr0 No Poland would definitely not be interested in that overly expensive Rifle even if it did shoot better than the other venders (they don't). Russia is pretty much banned from NATO military sales.

  • Bungameng Bungameng on Oct 15, 2015

    Interesting choice of the two calibers considering that Czech Army just bought .50BMG/.338 Lapua rifles from Accuracy International.

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