Best Long-Range Rifles

OUR TOP CHOICES

IF I COULD choose only one long-range rifle my top pick would be Accuracy International’s AT (Accuracy Tactical) standard model. It was designed as a sniper rifle for law enforcement and military purposes with the emphasis on reliability and accuracy.

1 Accuracy International AT

Accuracy International (AI) has an enviable reputation when it comes to building sniper rifles. Their first, the Precision Marksman (PM), was based on their successful target shooting rifles. By soliciting input from snipers, AI was able to incorporate into the design the required ruggedness, reliability and ease of maintenance needed for this application. The first customer for the PM was the UK Special Boat Service, which, after evaluating it in 1984, acquired 8 rifles in 1985. They were closely followed by the UK Special Air Service, which purchased 32 rifles later that same year. Feedback from these two important customers was instrumental in AI further refining the design for the military sniper. As a result of the green colour of the rifle, and its ability to deliver first round hits, the British users of the PM nicknamed it “The Green Meanie”.

AI was awarded another contract for the L96A1 and production of this system as part of a defence contract continued until 1992. In response to a request from the Swedish armed forces, the L96 was modified to operate reliably in cold environments and was given the designation AW (Arctic Warfare). A key to the success