Firearms / Sniper rifles / Mauser SP66
Mauser SP66
General Facts
- TYPE
Sniper rifle - ORIGIN
Germany - NICKNAMES
- - DESIGNED
1976 - DESIGNER
Mauser - PRODUCTION
1976 - 1985 - PRODUCERS Germany - Mauser
- QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Good accuracy
Short bolt action
Good ergonomics
Limited magazine size
Limited zoom optics
No iron sights
Rather heavy
Introduction
The SP66 is a late Cold War era sniper rifle of German origin. It was developed by Mauser in the mid-1970s from a conventional hunting rifle design. The SP66 was developed for both military and law enforcement use. The SP66 was replaced in production with the Mauser 86SR.
Design
The SP66 is based on the civilian Model 66 Super Match hunting rifle. The SP66 differs in having a fully redesigned chassis and has a multi-slotted muzzle brake. The chassis includes a highly adjustable thumbhole stock. Normally the Zeiss Diavari ZA 1.5-6z scope is fitted. A bipod is optional.
Firepower
The SP66 fires the 7.62x51mm NATO round from an internal 3 round magazine. The short bolt action results in relatively fast follow up shots. Accuracy reportedly is very good and the effective range is about 800 meters.
Users
The SP66 was sold to various law enforcement agencies around the world, most of them in Europe. Nowadays the SP66 has been replaced by newer models with most users, small quantities remain in use.
Mauser 66
SP66: The Mauser SP66 was produced only in a single variant which can be easily identified by the combination of the unusual thumbhole stock and multi-slotted flash hider.
- Specifications:
- SP66
| Type | Sniper rifle |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 7.62x51mm NATO |
| Magazine | Integral magazine, 3 rounds |
| Operation | Bolt action |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Bolt action |
| Barrel length | 730 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | ? |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Fixed, adjustable |
| Length | 1.120 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 6.12 kg with scope and without bipod |
| Sights | Optical sight, no backup iron sighs |
| Remarks | Optional bipod |
Media
Mauser SR86
The Mauser SR86 is based on the design of the older Mauser SP66 but was improved in various areas.
