Arctic Warfare Magnum

The Arctic Warfare Magnum (AWM) is a high-precision sniper rifle specifically designed for operability in Arctic temperatures. UK firm Accuracy International built many variants of the Arctic Warfare sniper rifle, including the AWM and the AW50.

The AWM’s unique feature is its Magnum cartridges, which are larger and more powerful than found on traditional rounds. The AWM exists in both .300 Winchester and the .338 Lapua variants held in a five-round detachable box magazine. The latter is designated as a super long-range sniper rifle and has a long effective firing range of 1,500m-1,700m.

For super-long range firing, the AWM Lapua can incorporate a detachable aperture-type iron sight and day and night thermal optics for low light conditions.

British Army Sniper Corporal of House Craig Harrison achieved the record for the longest sniper kill in November 2009, unleashing a critical shot from a range of 2,475m from an L115A3, the British Armed Forces’ designation for the AWM. This record would be beaten in 2017 by another sniper rifle on this list – the McMillan TAC-50.

The McMillan TAC-50, US military designation Mk15, is a long-range anti-materiel and anti-personnel sniper rifle used by US Navy SEALS and has been the standard sniper rifle of the Canadian Army since 2000.

A bolt-action sniper rifle, the TAC-50 includes a heavy 73.7cm match-grade barrel, which is fluted allowing for quick heat dissipation and an effective muzzle break to minimise recoil. Despite the heavy barrel, its stock is made from fibreglass and in all the rifle only weighs 11.8kg. While it has no permanent open site, the TAC-50 can support a range of telescopic and night sites.