| Parker Hale M82 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Sniper rifle |
| Place of origin | United Kingdom |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1972-2003 |
| Used by | See Use |
| Wars | War in Afghanistan (2001–present) |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1960s |
| Manufacturer | Parker Hale |
| Variants | See Variants |
| Specifications (C3A1) | |
| Weight | 7.2 kg (15.9 lbs) |
| Length | 116.2cm-121.3cm |
| Barrel length | 600mm (23.75 inches) |
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| Cartridge | 7.62x51mm NATO |
| Action | Bolt action |
| Muzzle velocity | 840 m/s (2750 ft/s) C21 NATO ball |
| Effective range | 800m |
| Feed system | 5 round detachable box magazine |
The Parker-Hale Model 82 (M82) is the military version of the Parker-Hale 1200TX target rifle; it was accepted for service by several nations for both military and police use. In appearance and design terms the Model 82 is an entirely conventional sniping weapon. It uses a manual bolt action similar to the classic Mauser 98 rifle, allied to a heavy free-floating barrel chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO round. The barrel weighs 1.98 kg and is manufactured from chrome molybdenum steel. The Model 82 has an integral four round magazine and an entirely self contained trigger unit which can be adjusted as required.
Contents |
The M82 was available in a number of forms to suit any customer requirements. Thus an adjustable cheek pad may have been provided if wanted, and the butt lengths can be altered by adding or taking away butt pads of various thicknesses. The sights were subject to several variations, but the Model 82 was normally supplied with ‘iron’ match-type sights. If an optical sight is fitted the rear-sights have to be removed to allow the same block to be used. Two mounting blocks were machined to the receiver for the purpose of the fitting of optical sight mounts; a one piece mount is encountered on the Model 82 on rifles that were in service in the Australian and New Zealand armies which are also fitted with a Kahles Wien ZF69 6X42 telescopic sight.
The barrel for the C3A1 is a heavy, fully free floating barrel chambered for the 7.62x51 NATO round. It has a weight of 2.04 kg/4.5 lbs and a length of 60 cm. Rifling follows a 1:12 turn ratio with 4 right hand twists.[1] The action is a Mauser-style rotating bolt type. It has 3 stainless steel locking lugs at the front and rear of the bolt. The safety is a thumb activated lever above the magazine which locks the trigger, bolt and sear giving ultimate protection against an accidental discharge.
The standard sight on the revamped model C3A1 is an Unertl 10x zoom scope which can only be used for daytime engagements as its lacks any night vision capabilities. It has a duplex crosshair with a mil dot style scale in increments of 200m up to 1000m. It can also be used with the default iron sights. The stock for the C3A1 is one piece walnut or fibreglass stock with an internal bedding of either Devlon, Aluminum or Steel putty. The fibreglass version is called the Mcmillan A2 stock and can be painted in any camouflage scheme depending on environment.[2].
The Parker Hale L81A1 is a shorter version of the Parker Hale M82 rifle 7.62x51 mm (.308) rifle, adopted a cadet training rifle by the British Army and some other Commonwealth countries. The rifle is used as a sniper with a magazine and fed with a single action bolt. It is accurate up to ranges of 600 yd (550 m) in the field and 1,000 yd (910 m) on a range with windage flags.
The Parker Hale L81A2 is a shorter version of the Parker Hale M82 rifle 7.62x51 mm (.308) rifle, adopted as cadet training rifle. It can trace its lineage back through both the M82 sniper rifle and the Parker-Hale 1200TX target rifle. It is used by cadets in the Combined Cadet Force, Sea Cadet Corps, Army Cadet Force and Air Training Corps. It has a non-removable loading tray in place of the L81A1's magazine. The rifle is issued with dioptre target rifle sights and is used in competitions such as The Schools Meeting and the Inter Service Cadet Rifle Meeting (I.S.C.R.M) held at Bisley Ranges. This rifle is accurate to 1000 yards but more commonly used at 300, 500, and 600 yards. The L81A2 replaced the L81A1 in cadet use after the L81A1 was withdrawn by the cadet organisations following reports of technical safety issues, including bulges in the barrel. Nicknamed the "Elephant Gun" by some units upon re-issue, it uses the same 7.62mm ammunition but is not magazine fed, the magazine is replaced in cadet use by a non-removable loading tray. The rifle is issued with a variable dioptre target rifle sight and is used in competitions such as The Ashburton staged annually in July by the NRA. Also the Inter Service Cadet Rifle Meeting ISCRM.[3]
The C3 was adopted by the Canadians in 1972 and was based on the Parker Hale M82. Its stock was made of wood with a font beavertail and an accessories rail. It had a Kahles Helios ZF69 6x42 scope. After a couple of years, it was upgraded to the C3A1 with a few modifications.
The C3 was updated to the C3A1 and a number of modifications were made including the addition of an 10x Unertl scope currently in use by the United States Marine Corps.[2] A fiberglass McMillan A2 stock was fitted along with a Harris made bipod for more stability and support while aiming in the prone position. During Operation APOLLO Canadian sniper Master Corporal Graham Ragsdale recorded 20 confirmed kills with the C3A1.[2]. It has also been used as a competition rifle[1]. The C3A1 has been withdrawn from the Canadian Army and has been replaced by the C14 Timberwolf rifle Medium Range Sniper Weapon System. Instead it is used for the training of snipers due to its similarities with the C14 Timberwolf rifle. Its decline was due to a lack of parts due to the ending of production of firearms by Parker Hale in 2000 and the cesstion of C3A1 production in 1984.[4].
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