The Walther WA 2000 is a semi-automatic bullpup sniper rifle produced by the Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen company from 1978[1] to 1988. The WA2000 was introduced to the markets in 1981[2][3] and was produced in three different calibers.[4] Production of the rifle was limited and it was shortly stopped because it was too expensive to achieve widespread sales and not robust enough for military use as a sniper rifle.[5][6] Only 176 were built due to its high manufacturing cost, making it one of the rarest and most sought-after production firearms ever made.
| Walther WA 2000 | |
|---|---|
 First-Generation Walther WA 2000 production model with wooden frames & stock (top) and also first generation production model with black polymer frame & stock (bottom). | |
| Type | Semi automatic bullpup sniper rifle |
| Place of origin | West Germany |
| Service history | |
| Used by | German police units |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1970s–1980s[citation needed] |
| Manufacturer | Walther |
| Produced | 1978[1]–1988; introduced to markets in 1981[2][3] |
| No. built | 176 |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | |
| Length | 995 mm (39.2 in)[4] |
| Barrel length | 650 mm (26 in)[4] |
| Cartridge | |
| Action | Gas-operated,[4] rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic[4] |
| Effective firing range | 700 m (770 yd) |
| Feed system | 6-round detachable box magazine.[4] A 5-round box magazine for .300 Winchester Magnum |
| Sights | Schmidt & Bender 2.5–10× telescopic sight |
Design
editThe WA 2000 was designed in the late 1970s and early 1980s[citation needed], in response to the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics.[7][additional citation(s) needed]
The barrel is clamped at the front and rear so that it does not twist on firing, while the rest of the barrel is free from any contact with the furniture to prevent further distortions or movement disturbing the gun's aim. Furthermore, the barrel is fluted to dampen vibrations and aid cooling. The barrel is set in line with user's shoulder to reduce recoil and the bolt mechanism sits behind the handgrip in a 'bullpup' arrangement. All stock furniture is fully adjustable, and when firing the .300 Winchester Magnum and using the standard Schmidt and Bender x2.5 to x10 sight, the rifle's accuracy is considerable.
— Chris McNab[8]
The bullpup design was chosen because it would allow a standard length barrel to be used whilst the overall length would be shorter than a conventional rifle. The WA 2000 had a quick-detachable scope mount with a weight of 0.96 kg (2.1 lb).[4] The rifle did not have iron sights. The most commonly used optical sight was a Schmidt & Bender 2.5–10× telescopic sight.[citation needed] Without scope the rifle has an unloaded weight of 6.95 kg (15.3 lb) and a loaded weight of 7.35 kg (16.2 lb).[4]
The .300 Winchester Magnum round was chosen as the primary caliber because of its long range accuracy and its precision at all ranges. The entire rifle is designed around the barrel. The WA 2000 fires from a closed bolt and uses a bolt with seven locking lugs. It has either a single-stage trigger[9] or a two-stage trigger[10] with a trigger pull of 1.2 to 1.4 kg (2.65 to 3.1 lb).[4] The rifle uses single stack box magazines with a 6-round capacity, which weigh 0.4 kg (0.88 lb) when loaded.[4]
Variants
edit
The WA 2000 is chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum, 7.62×51mm NATO, and 7.5×55mm Swiss.[citation needed]
Only 176 total rifles were produced, and in two different variants. The two variants can be differentiated by the type of flash suppressor used: the first, the older model, uses a "can" type flash suppressor; whereas the second generation and newer model uses the more conventional "flash-hider/compensator" design. The second generation incorporated several changes improving the rifle's accuracy, making it more suited to its intended job.[11]
Production
editThe rifle was produced from 1982 until November 1988.[11][better source needed] The rifle was used by some German police units, but production was stopped because it was too expensive to achieve widespread sales.[citation needed] It was never adopted by a military unit due to its cost and not being robust enough for field service.[5] The final retail cost for a base rifle in the 1980s was in the range of $9,000 to $12,500, and the rifle's current value ranges from $40,000 for the first generation to $75,000 for the second generation.[11]
See also
editReferences
edit- McNab, Chris (2005). Twentieth-Century Small Arms : Over 270 of the World's Greatest Small Arms. Grange Books. p. 257. ISBN 9781840133813.
- ^ a b Royal Armouries (April 2008). Weapon. Dorling Kindersley Limited. p. 320. ISBN 9781405334730.
- ^ a b The Directory of the World's Weapons. Barnes & Noble. 1996. p. 87. ISBN 9780760702642.
WA 2000 The Walther WA 2000 was introduced in 1981 and immediately made an impact with its futuristic design
- ^ a b Craig Cabell; Richard Brown (2006). Snipers: Profiles of the World's Deadliest Killers. John Blake. p. 215. ISBN 9781844542932.
Walther WA2000 ( Germany ) [...] and on its introduction in 1981[...]
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o "WA 2000 Owner's Manual" (PDF). Walther USA. 2004. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 June 2004. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ a b Dougherty, Martin J. (16 October 2012). SAS and Elite Forces Guide Sniper: Sniping Skills from the World's Elite Forces. Amber Books Limited. p. 92. ISBN 978-0-7627-8876-7. Retrieved 18 March 2013.
Using an unusual bullpup configuration, the WA2000 is one of the most accurate rifles ever produced, but it is also extremely expensive. It is intended for the law-enforcement market rather than military sniping, for which it is insufficiently robust.
- ^ Ian V. Hogg; John S. Weeks (2000). Military Small Arms of the 20th Century. Krause Publications. p. 253. ISBN 9780873418249.
- ^ "Walther Sniper Rifle". Walther USA. 2004. Archived from the original on 4 February 2005. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
- ^ McNab, 2005
- ^ Archived at Ghostarchive and the Wayback Machine: "Ostfront 1987: Walther WA-2000 vs SVD Dragunov". YouTube. 8 March 2017.
- ^ "Walther Sniper Rifle".
- ^ a b c Walther WA 2000 at Sniper Central
External links
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