Firearms / Sniper rifles / Heckler & Koch MSG90
Heckler & Koch MSG90
General Facts
- TYPE
Sniper rifle - ORIGIN
Germany - NICKNAMES
MSG90SDN (Mexicoan production)
PSR90 (Pakistani production) - DESIGNED
Mid 1980's - DESIGNER
Heckler & Koch - PRODUCTION
1987 - present - PRODUCERS Germany - Heckler & Koch
Licensed production:
Mexico - SEDENA'
Pakistan - Pakistan Ordnance Factories - QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
Unknown - CHARACTERISTICS
Accurate
Rugged and reliable
Limited weight
Difficult to mount other optics and accessories
Introduction
The MSG90 is a sniper rifle of German origin. It was developed by Heckler & Koch in the mid 1980's as a lighter, cheaper and more rugged alternative to the PSG-1. This makes the MSG90 better suited as for military use while retaining most of the qualities of the PSG-1.
Design
The MSG90 uses the same roller locked delayed blowback mechanism as used in many Heckler & Koch firearms. The same trigger unit as on the PSG-1 is used. Compared to the PSG-1 the MSG90 has a simpler adjustable stock and pistol grip. The barrel is free floating and features a barrel weight. The MSG90 is normally fitted with a Hensoldt 10x scope and the improved A1 model features iron sights.
Firepower
The MSG90 fires the 7.62x51mm NATO round from 5 or 20 round magazines. As a semi-automatic rifle it allows for fast follow up shots. The maximum effective range of the MSG90 is 1.000 meters. With proper ammunition sub MOA accuracy can be achieved. The MSG90A1 can be fitted with a silencer.
Users
The MSG90 is used by various special forces and law enforcement units around the world, mainly in Europe, Asia and South America.
MSG90
The MSG90 is a semi-automatic sniper rifle that fires the 7.62x51mm round from a 20 round magazine. The improved MSG90A1 has replaced the MSG90 in production. The MSG90A1 resulted from the MSG90 DMR project and is fitted with iron sights and a threaded barrel to allow a flash hider or silencer to be fitted.
| Type | Sniper rifle |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 7.62x51mm NATO |
| Magazine | 5, 20 rounds |
| Operation | Roller locked delayed blowback |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Barrel length | 600 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 341 mm polygonal right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 820 m/s |
| Stock | Fixed, adjustable |
| Length | 1.128 mm |
| Width | 59 mm |
| Height | 265 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 6.1 kg empty |
| Sights | Hensoldt 10x optical sight |
| Remarks | Bipod |
| Type | Sniper rifle |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 7.62x51mm NATO |
| Magazine | 5, 20 rounds |
| Operation | Roller locked delayed blowback |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Barrel length | 600 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 6 grooves, 341 mm polygonal right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | 820 m/s |
| Stock | Fixed, adjustable |
| Length | 1.185 mm |
| Width | 59 mm |
| Height | 265 mm |
|---|---|
| Weight | 6.8 kg empty |
| Sights | Iron sights, hooded post front and drum rear, 100 to 1.200 m gradations, Hensoldt 10x optical sight |
| Remarks | Bipod, optional silencer |
7.62x51mm NATO
The MSG90 fires the 7.62x51mm NATO round from 5 or 20 round box magazines.