Brazil’s sniper rifles

[Zarvan]

Weapons in use by the world’s leading military and LE forces are usually well known to the general public due to their being frequently shown in the mainstream media as a result of their respective countries’ public relations efforts and/or some publicity generated by the manufacturers involved. TFB, incidentally, recently had a look at what Western (http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/11/10/rifles-european-best-sniper-squad-competition-2016/) and ComBloc (http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/12/01/international-army-games-combloc-sniper-frontier/) sniper teams use, but for lower-profile nations like Brazil, however, very little usually comes to light. Then, the following pictures and concise info may be of interest. They follow no specific sequence, and are just here for your general appreciation. Nope, this is not a comprehensive list.

7.62x51mm Imbel AGLC

magazine) fitted with a cold-forged heavy, free-floating, 610mm barrel, which gives it an overall length of 1200mm. Empty weight is 4.7kg, and the optics fitted is generally a Bushnell 10x40mm Elite 3200.

Snipers of various State Police agencies training with AGLCs in a range. The bipods are the ubiquitous Harris.

A Brazilian Army trainee learns how to use his spotter’s butt in place of the AGLC bipod. The gun’s stock is all-wood, and can receive butt spacers to adjust length.

Members of PRF – Polícia Rodoviária Federal (Federal Highway Police) in a firing position with their AGLCs during an actual operation in Rio de Janeiro in August, 2016.

Author giving the Imbel rifle a chance to consistently demonstrate its basic 1 MOA-ability at 100 meters: it did.

7.62x51mm CZ 750 S1 M1

The Czech-built (Česká Zbrojovka Uherský Brod) bolt-action rifle with a 10-round, double-stack, detachable magazine features a fiberglass synthetic stock as a base for its 660mm hammer-forged barrel. Overall length is 1219mm, and empty weight is 5.8kg, the basic scope being a Leopold Mark 4 (8.5-25x50mm). Its only known user in Brazil is Rio de Janeiro Military Police’s BOPE – Batalhão de Operações Policiais Especiais (Special Police Operations Battalion).

This BOPE sniper is part of the outfit’s GRR – Grupo de Retomada e Regate, which has hostage rescue as one of its primary missions. Helo in the background is a Bell Huey II of Rio de Janeiro Military Police’s GAM – Grupamento Aeromóvel (Airmobile Group).

7.62x51mm Armalite AR-10 SuperSASS

 

[Zarvan]

The semi-auto Armalite AR-10 SuperSASS (Semi-Automatic Sniper System) is in use both by PMERJ – Polícia Militar do Estado do Rio de Janeiro (Rio de Janeiro State Military Police) and the State’s Polícia Civil (Civil Police). It is a gas-operated (direct impingement) weapon with an empty weight of just under 5.9kg and a 508mm barrel fitted with a flash hider. Usual scope is a Leupold Vari-X III 3.5-10×40 unit, but the gun also features flip-up iron sights, for any “just in case” employment. With both users, the rifle accompanies ground troops, maintains security and may give precision-fire support, if needed.

Seen here in the hands of BOPE snipers, the AR-10 SuperSASS usually accompanies standard Battalion troops armed with AR-10A4 rifles, ready to provide precision fire at longer distances.

This Rio Civil Police sniper with an AR-10 SuperSASS is a member of the force’s CORE – Coordenadoria de Recursos Especiais (Special Resourses Coordination), the SpecOps outfit.

Author giving the SuperSASS a tryout in the field. For short, a “thumbs up” experience.

5.56X45mm Colt CAR- A3 Sporter HBAR Elite

Although not exactly a sniper rifle, the Colt CAR-A3 Sporter H-Bar has had a small batch acquired for use by the Rio de Janeiro State Military Police’s BOPE, and is still to be found in some actions. In 5.56x45mm caliber and accurate enough for shorter ranges engagements, it features a 600mm fully-floating heavy barrel with a 1:9 twist to optimize heavy bullets performance for longer distances. It’s on the heavier side for a 5.56x45mm gun, with an empty weight of about 4kg.

A BOPE sniper, Ghillie-suited for a possible action in a rural area of Rio de Janeiro State, takes aim with the sleek-looking Colt rifle. The cylindrical aluminum handguard is noteworthy, so is the barrel wrapped in rubber bands.

7.62x51mm Hecker & Kock PSG/1

Heckler & Koch’s hefty (8kg+) HK PSG/1 rifle has been around in Brazil since the 1980s (Army Special Forces), and is still seen in LE hands from time to time. It’s a kind of G3 development, being of semi-auto operation employing the German firm’s traditional roller-delayed blowback system. The free-floating barrel is 650mm long, overall length being 1208mm. The usual scope is a Hendsoldt 6x42mm.

BOPE again!? Yup, but this time from the Bahia State Military Police, which also has a SpecOps Battalion. This sniper with an HK PSG/1 training in a soccer stadium in Salvador, the capital city, belongs to that unit.

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/12/22/brazils-sniper-rifle-part-1/

 

[Zarvan]

Weapons in use by the world’s leading military and LE forces are usually well known to the general public due to their being frequently shown in the mainstream media as a result of their respective countries’ public relations efforts and/or some publicity generated by the manufacturers involved. TFB, incidentally, recently had a look at what Western (http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/11/10/rifles-european-best-sniper-squad-competition-2016/) and ComBloc (http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/12/01/international-army-games-combloc-sniper-frontier/) sniper teams use, but for lower-profile nations like Brazil, however, very little usually comes to light. Then, the following pictures and concise info may be of interest. They follow no specific sequence, and are just here for your general appreciation. Nope, this is not a comprehensive list.

.50 BMG (12.7x99mm) PGM Hécate II

rifle is used by Brazil’s Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais (Marine Corps) in the inventory of its Batalhão Tonelero (Tonelero Battalion), the SpecOps unit. This ugly, but deadly, beast is fitted with a 700mm long floating barrel with a conical profile, overall length being 1400 mm. Empty weight is 15.8 kg. Scope fitted is a Schmidt & Bender 3-12x50mm.

The Hécate II in a firing position in the hands of a low-profile Brazilian Marine sniper of Batalhão Tonelero. Just watch that muzzle brake, which cuts about 50% of the gun’s recoil, but adds considerable side blast.

By removing (two hex screws) the muzzle brake, you can quickly add a 3.9kg, 470mm long sound suppressor which attenuates the sound level in about 30dB… but adds recoil. So configured, the gun becomes 1800mm long and weighs 19.5kg.

Author firing a suppressed Hécate II, when some rocks at 350m or so (the available range) were consistently blown to pieces. Oh, yes, he managed to get a light scope bite in the process, adequately taken care of by a helpful Marine doc (inset photo).

7.62x51mm PGM Ultima Ratio

Also manufactured by the French PGM company, the Ultima Ratio is a bolt-action rifle (10-round detachable box magazines) fitted with a fully-floating 550mm barrel, which gives the gun an overall length of 1055-1108mm (butt adjustment). Weight with a fully-loaded magazine and the Schmidt & Bender 3-12x50mm scope is 7.4kg. The quick removal of the barrel (four hex screws) allows its replacement with another one incorporating an integral sound suppressor, which will not take more than one minute. As the zero is maintained, no further scope adjustments are needed.

A Brazilian Marine of the Tonelero Battalion takes aim with the PGM Ultima Ratio rifle. A Zeiss Optronics NSV600 night vision device can be attached directly ahead of the scope.

The spotter of this Brazilian Marines sniper team has a scoped (Tasco 9x40mm) Colt M16A2 by his side, both for eventual security use or even for closer-range, semi-auto anti-personnel fire.

7.62x51mm Parker-Hale M85

A long-time veteran in Brazilian Navy service (Marines and Navy Combat Divers Group, the GRUMEC) is the British-made Parker-Hale M85, a 7.62x51mm bolt-action gun with a 623mm free-floating barrel and overall length of 1150mm. Weight with a Schmidt & Bender 6x42mm or Leopold Mark 4 scope is about 5.7kg.

 

[Zarvan]

While the more modern PGM rifles are concentrated in the Rio de Janeiro-based SpecOps Battalion (Batalhão Tonelero), the still reliable M85 is found in other Marine units in Brazil. This example is in the hands of a sniper of Grupamento de Fuzileiros Navais (Marines Group), in Ladário, Mato Grosso do Sul State, mainly focused on riverine and swamp operations.

A line-up of rifles in Brazil’s Corpo de Fuzileiros Navais (Marine Corps) inventory, left to right: suppressed PGM Hécate II, standard PGM Hécate II, PGM Ultima Ratio, Parker-Hale M85, Colt M16A2.

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/12/23/brazils-sniper-guns-part-2/

 

[Zarvan]

Weapons in use by the world’s leading military and LE forces are usually well known to the general public due to their being frequently shown in the mainstream media as a result of their respective countries’ public relations efforts and/or some publicity generated by the manufacturers involved. TFB, incidentally, recently had a look at what Western (http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/11/10/rifles-european-best-sniper-squad-competition-2016/) and ComBloc (http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/12/01/international-army-games-combloc-sniper-frontier/) sniper teams use, but for lower-profile nations like Brazil, however, very little usually comes to light. Then, the following pictures and concise info may be of interest. They follow no specific sequence, and are just here for your general appreciation. Nope, this is not a comprehensive list.

7.62x51mm/.338 Lapua Magnum Blaser Tactical 2

sniper rifle is used by Brazil’s DPF – Departamento de Polícia Federal (Federal Police Department). Of easy take-down and assembly procedures, each one taking no more than 30 seconds, it also features interchangeable bolt/barrel units which allow the operator to use either 7.62x51mm (627mm barrel) or .338 Lapua (685mm barrel) rounds fed from detachable 5-round (4 rounds, for .338 Lapua) magazines , adding versatility to the weapon in varied operational situations. The whole thing weighs about 6 kg empty (no scope), while overall lengths are 1130mm and 1190mm, for the respective calibers.

A Blaser Tactical 2 in range training use by a member of the Federal Police COT – Comando de Operações Táticas (Tactical Operations Command). The rifle’s barrel shows the longitudinal cooling fins machined on its surface, the substantial muzzle brake being also evident.

7.62x51mm Heckler & Koch HK 417

This German-made rifle is fitted with a 419mm barrel and is used in the Brazilian Federal Police as a sort of DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle) in special sub-units as the COT- Comando de Operações Táticas (Tactical Operations Command), GPI- Grupos de Pronta Intervenção (Quick Intervention Groups), the CAOP – Coordenação de Aviação Operacional (Operational Aviation Group) and NEPOM – Núcleos Especiais de Polícia Marítima, Special Maritime Police Groups). Empty weight is under 5kg.

An HK 417 in the hands of a member of a Federal Police NEPOM, a sub-unit in charge of maritime patrol (sea, rivers, lakes). It can be noticed that the weapon is also employed in a non-sniping role, as indicated by the EOTech holographic sight attached.

Brazilian feds firing their rifles in a range: two Blaser Tactical 2s in the foreground, one HK 417, and one HK PSG/1 in the background, this one now in a retirement process after years of good service.

7.62x51mm Remington Model 700

It’s not really surprising that the popular U.S.-made Remington Model 700 bolt-action rifle has also found its way to Brazil. The example shown here belongs to Grupo TIGRE, the SWAT-type outfit of the Paraná State Civil Police, the weapon being also in the inventory of COE – Comando e Operações Especiais (Commando and Special Operations), a sub unit of that State’s BOPE. Yes, most Military Police forces in Brazil have a SpecOps Battalion so named.

The 700’s brother-in-uniform, the M24 rifle, is also found in the Brazilian Army inventory, more specifically, used by the Brigada de Operações Especiais (Special Operations Brigade), with headquarters in Goiania, Goiás State.

 

[Zarvan]

7.62x51mm Sig Sauer SSG3000

The Sig Sauer SSG3000 bolt-action rifle is a somewhat rare bird in Brazil’s LE community. It serves PMDF – Polícia Militar do Distrito Federal (Federal District Military Police) in its BOPE unit, in Brasília, the nation’s capital.

A closer view of a SSG3000 in use by PMDF shows the general configuration, the adjustable cheekpiece, grainy fore end, bolt handle format, etc. The detachable magazine is a single stack five round-unit, and on top of the action is an integral zero MOA rail for mounting a scope. Gun length, 600mm; overall length, 1180mm; empty weight, 5.5kg.

This highly modified FAL rifle is part of the PMDF BOPE armory. Can you ID the add-ons?

7.62x51mm Remington MSR (Modular Sniper Rifle)

A somewhat new addition to Brazilian Army’s Brigada de Operações Especiais (Special Operations Brigade), with headquarters in Goiânia, Goiás State, is the U.S.-made Remington Modular Sniper Rifle. Three of these guns, suppressor-equipped, are seen here in use in a training range. The guys’ black caps and side badges indicate they are Commandoes.

http://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/12/24/brazils-sniper-rifles-part-3/

 

[Beny Karachun]

ALGC:

M-24:

Looks similar