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Monday, January 09, 2017

Rifle Factory Ishapore's Sniper Rifle Getting Ready For Launch Customer

A Rifle whose "time may be bad".
The Ordnance Factory Board [OFB] of India is getting ready to supply its all-new new Sniper Rifle to an undisclosed customer. It, recently, floated a couple of tenders seeking accessories for the rifle. One is a '3-12x50 Grade Telescope with Eye Relief & Mil Dot'. The other, a '9-13" Tilt Adjustment Smooth Leg Bipod'. It has expressed a requirement of 85 of each. Some time back, it had floated a related tender for suitable Rifle casing solution, possibly, for storage & transportation of the firearm. The OFB's Rifle Factory Ishapore is the lead organisation in the project.
Called the Ishapore Sniper Rifle, the Bolt-action solution, weighing 6.7 kilograms, can fire 7.62 mm bullets to a range of 600 m. Possessing an all-wood body, with an adjustable trigger mechanism, OFB is said to be working on improving its range to 1000 metres. AFAIK, it's the first such modern Sniper-specific rifle developed in the country.
Ishapore Sniper Rifle [India]
pic, courtesy: trishul-trident.blogspot.com
Some points. The requirement of 85 rifles. Given recent developments, it's unlikely to be an Indian Army order. A paramilitary force may've made the selection. As stated in the linked article, the Indian Army is currently looking globally to acquire 5000 new Sniper Rifles, capable of firing the bigger, more powerful 8.6 mm round, to a range of 1200 metres. No indigenous solutions meeting requirement. A consolidated order, therefore, including the Armed Forces & paramilitary forces, could see such a rifle being licensed manufactured in the country itself.
The OFB built this, 7.62 mm bullet firing rifle, in response to a 2012 Indian Army-issued GSQR. It strikes a disconsonant note, when viewed alongside IA's recent requirement of a Sniper rifle firing more powerful 8.6 mm bullets. A flip-flop approach towards acquisition, helping no one.
No doubt about the knowledge-capital accrued during the rifle's development. Don't see this rifle gaining much traction, though, amongst Indian users. Could end up as one of the many ventures that reach nowhere. Would love to be proved wrong, though.
Godspeed