Accuracy International AS50 .50 BMG Rifle for USN SEALs

[-Max2-]

From Defensereview.com


Accuracy International AS50 Semi-Auto .50 BMG Rifle for U.S. Navy SEALs

Posted on Saturday, February 05 @ 02:39:36 PST by davidc

by David Crane
david@defensereview.com
Looks like the U.S. Navy SEALs just got a brand new tool for the War on Terror. The boys at NSWC Crane (Crane Division, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Crane, Indiana) have apparently been busy little beavers over there. One of the projects they've been working on is this little .50 BMG badboy. It's called the AS50 Semi-Automatic Rifle, and it's the result of NSWC Crane's teaming with Accuracy International (AI).

At approx. 27 pounds empty/dry weight (according to the AI representative at their booth), the AI AS50 is relatively lightweight. DefenseReview got a chance to handle it (and lift it) at its SHOT Show 2005 debut, and was surprised by how light it felt, for a semi-auto .50 caliber rifle. One of the pictures DefRev shot at SHOT (which we will be releasing soon) shows...

three targets, each shot at 100 meters. On all three targets, all the rounds are touching.

The Accuracy International (AI) AS50 Semi-Auto Rifle (.50 BMG) was designed specifically for U.S. military Special Operations (SPECOPS) personnel/snipers. More specifically, it was designed for the U.S. Navy SEALs to provide them with anti-materiel/long-range interdiction capability, combined with fast follow-up shot capability, in a combat-rugged, lightweight weapons package that can be assembled and broken down quickly and easily, and maintained easily. However, although the AS50 rifle was designed specifically for Naval SPECWAR end-users, DefenseReview has no doubt that other elements of SOCOM (USSOCOM) will be taking a good look at AI's latest .50 caliber creation. And, we wouldn't be surprised if U.S. NSWDG (U.S. Navy DevGroup) and certain U.S. Army Special Forces units out of Ft. Bragg, NC and Ft. Campbell, KY were already field testing the AS50 on enemy insurgents, in the Sandbox.

The following is from the AI AS50 Semi-Automatic Rifle brochure:

"For deployment and storage, the stock can be detached (and refitted) in seconds. It's the ultimate semi-auto .50 Cal. to go!" AI goes on to write: "The entire system can be separated into its major components in under 3 minutes! All parts are fully interchangeable and the rifle can be field-serviced without so much as a screwdriver."

Sounds pretty good. Back in July, 2003, DefenseReview wrote a quick blurb on the AI AW50 (33-35 lbs empty, depending on reports) and AW50FT (a reported 28 lbs, approx.) .50 BMG bolt-action rifles.

Magazine capacity is 5 rounds for the AS50. The magazine is detachable box type.

AI's whole focus is to combine match-grade accuracy with military-application reliability and ruggedness, and it looks like it just might have succeeded with the AS50.

http://www.defensereview.com/1_31_2004/Accuracy%20International%20AS50%20.50%20BMG%20Semi-Auto%20Rifle_1.jpg
http://www.defensereview.com/1_31_2004/Accuracy%20International%20AS50%20.50%20BMG%20Semi-Auto%20Rifle_2.jpg

http://www.defensereview.com/1_31_2004/Accuracy%20International%20AS50%20.50%20BMG%20Semi-Auto%20Rifle_3.jpg
http://www.defensereview.com/1_31_2004/Accuracy%20International%20AS50%20.50%20BMG%20Semi-Auto%20Rifle_4.jpg
http://www.defensereview.com/1_31_2004/Accuracy%20International%20AS50%20.50%20BMG%20Semi-Auto%20Rifle_5.jpg
http://www.defensereview.com/1_31_2004/Accuracy%20International%20AS50%20.50%20BMG%20Semi-Auto%20Rifle_6.jpg

[b33f]

looking good woot

thanks for posting.

[moughoun]

dribble.......I'll take 10

[Initiative]

Awesome!

[Frens]

what are the pros and cons compared to the Barret .50?

[SMGLee]

That is a beauty....

The bolt action AI50 already cost an arm and a leg, i bet this thing is going to cost a couple of arms and legs......

[Initiative]

That is a beauty....

The bolt action AI50 already cost an arm and a leg, i bet this thing is going to cost a couple of arms and legs......

It will cost quite a few people their heads...

[Durandal]

Wow, I see they are going for new look.

This thing has to be at least 13 to 15 thousand USD....

*sigh*

[MEGR]

Does AI have offices in the US? If not, they should. I would love one of those AI rifles.

As for this new version... It looks like an AI hawked up on Steroids and Creatine.

[Initiative]

Does AI have offices in the US? If not, they should. I would love one of those AI rifles.

As for this new version... It looks like an AI hawked up on Steroids and Creatine.

They do.

[MEGR]

Does AI have offices in the US? If not, they should. I would love one of those AI rifles.

As for this new version... It looks like an AI hawked up on Steroids and Creatine.

They do.

Sweeeeet. Gotta save up though :|

[Durandal]

Sweeeeet. Gotta save up though :|

10K bare minimum...

[Aerosoul]

Oh my! What a lovely rifle!

*Harcore Voice* LET'S KILLS SOME TERR'ISTS!

[martinexsquaddie]

unfortunatly they don't have a factory discount shop(':(')
my brother live in portsmouth and asked (':lol:')
diffrence between that and a barret.
barret was orginally built for engineers to blow up bombs at less than 500metres. AI was founded by an olypmic gold medalist who decided to build target rifles that were squaddy proof.

[DeltaWhisky58]

Hmmmmm..............knowing the quality and accuracy of AI rifles, I reckon the bok has just been re-written on long-range sniper weapons.

[fantassin]

http://users.belgacom.net/jm.armes/PGM-50/fte50-4.jpg


The PGM Hecate II is not to be forgotten.

[REMOV]

The PGM Hecate II is not to be forgotten.But it is bolt-action, and the AS50 is not ;)

[fantassin]

True, but that was in reply of Martinexsquaddie's post...


Anyway,as a Pole, you know about the quality and accuracy of the Hécate II, don't you ?

;)

[-Max2-]

More pics here :

http://www.defensereview.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=693

[oldsoak]

The competition is that good nowadays, you would have a hard time finding a "bad" sniper rifle from any reputable manufacturer.

[REMOV]

Anyway,as a Pole, you know about the quality and accuracy of the Hécate II, don't you ?You know, fantassin, a few Hecate's II rifles are in use, here in Poland, so... you could be wide of the mark ;)

http://www.militech.sownet.gliwice.pl/inne/_HecateII_Poland04.jpg
12,7 mm Hecate II (yellow cammo, closer) and 12,7 mm WKW Wilk (black one, behind)

[HooyahCQB]

I hope that rifle shoots better than 1.5 moa...

[Michael RVR]

I'll take 8! ;)

Nice rifle to be sure, but am i the only one questioning them testing 50cal rifles at 100m ?

Unless of course its a typo and they meant to say 1000m. :|

[VaLiancY]

Happiness in .50 BMG form. :]

[Durandal]

I'll take 8! ;)

Nice rifle to be sure, but am i the only one questioning them testing 50cal rifles at 100m ?

Unless of course its a typo and they meant to say 1000m. :|

Who cares. As long as the your shooting a safe target at 100M...

I've shot a RAI 50 at 180M...you can see the damage rather than needing a scope. An interesting experience.

[seventy6er]

Is that the same AI .50-rifle KSK are using??

[Little J]

Found this link on defence review's site
http://www3.mb.sympatico.ca/~jhipwell/awm50.htm
ONLY $17,480 RRP !!!!

[Durandal]

Man, a that price I can by a refurnished and repainted Duece and a half, several GP smalls, an air droppable MULE, a trailer to haul them in.

[Catch22]

You know, fantassin, a few Hecate's II rifles are in use, here in Poland, so... you could be wide of the mark ;)


I guess he knows, and that was exactly his point. Hecates II were used as a comparative .50 rifles for field testing of "Wilk".

[REMOV]

Hecates II were used as a comparative .50 rifles for field testing of "Wilk".It isn't a primary role 12.7mm Hecate II sniper rifle in Poland, is it? ;)

[fantassin]

http://media.militaryphotos.net/photos/albums/album70/agt.jpg

One of the over 150 Hécate II currently in service in the French infantry.

[Catch22]

Hecates II were used as a comparative .50 rifles for field testing of "Wilk".It isn't a primary role 12.7mm Hecate II sniper rifle in Poland, is it? ;)

Lately... ;)