Firearms / Sniper rifles / RPA Rangemaster
RPA Rangemaster
General Facts
- TYPE
Sniper rifle - ORIGIN
United Kingdom - NICKNAMES
- - DESIGNED
Late 1999's - mid 2000's - DESIGNER
RPA International - PRODUCTION
2001 - present (7.62mm models)
2004 - present (.338 model)
2005 - present (.50 model) - PRODUCERS United Kingdom - RPA International
- QUANTITY
Unknown - UNIT COST
GBP 6.000 for 7.62mm in 2010
GBP 6.750 for .338 in 2010
GBP 7.400 for .50 in 2010 - CHARACTERISTICS
Good accuracy
Good range
Heavy and cumbersome
Expensive
Introduction
The Rangemaster is a series of sniper rifles of UK origin. They have been developed in the late 1990's by RPA International for military and law enforcement use. The Rangemaster is the first tactical rifle developed by RPA, which is better known for its high quality hunting rifles.
Design
The Rangemaster is a bolt action sniper rifle. It uses a 4 lug bolt design, called Quadlock, which is unique to RPA rifles. Free floating heavy barrels are used which are longer than usual. The long barrels result in good accuracy and range, but also increase weight and make the weapon longer than competing models. The receiver is made of metal and a bipod is fitted as standard. The foldable adjustable stock has a monopod and is made of plastic on the smaller calibers and of metal on the 12.7mm model. All models feature a threaded barrel and are usually fitted with a large multi-slotted muzzle brake. It is possible to mount a sound supressor on all models.
Firepower
The Rangemaster comes in various calibers. The 7.62x51mm NATO models use 10 round magazines, the .338 and .50 use 5 round magazines. The accuracy is unknown but expected to be sub MOA with proper ammunition. The effective range is 500 m for the Standby model, 1 km for the Tactical model, 1.5 km for the .338 model and 2 km for the 12.7mm model.
Users
The Rangemaster series of sniper rifles is offered since 2001 and has been seen in use with various users around the world, although details are hardly available.
Rangemaster Standby
The Rangemaster Standby is the smallest rifle in the Rangemaster lineup. It is also known as the Rangemaster Tactical STBY. The Standby is similar to the Tactical model and fires the 7.62x51mm round. What sets the Standby apart is its much shorter barrel, greatly reducing size and weight. This makes it more useful for urban operations, such as law enforcement and counter terrorist use. When fitted with silencer and using subsonic ammunition the maximum effective range is 200 meters.
- Specifications:
- Rangemaster Standby
| Type | Sniper rifle |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 7.62x51mm NATO |
| Magazine | 10 rounds |
| Operation | Bolt action, 4 lugs |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Bolt action |
| Barrel length | 406 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 304 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | 940 mm / 710 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 6.6 kg incl bipod and scope |
| Sights | No iron sights, Picatinny rail for mounting optics |
| Remarks | Bipod |
Rangemaster Tactical
The Rangemaster Tactical was the first Rangemaster model to be developed and produced. It is also known as the Rangemaster 7.62 and uses the 7.62x51mm round. Unlike the Standby model it features a full size barrel.
- Specifications:
- Rangemaster Tactical
| Type | Sniper rifle |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 7.62x51mm NATO |
| Magazine | 10 rounds |
| Operation | Bolt action, 4 lugs |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Bolt action |
| Barrel length | 660 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 304 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | 1.230 mm / 960 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 7.35 kg incl bipod and scope |
| Sights | No iron sights, Picatinny rail for mounting optics |
| Remarks | Bipod |
Rangemaster 338
The Rangemaster 338 is similar to the Rangemaster Tactical, but is chambered for the .338 Lapua round. This requires a longer and heavier barrel. Otherwise the Rangemaster 338 is completely similar to the Rangemaster Tactical.
- Specifications:
- Rangemaster 338
| Type | Sniper rifle |
|---|---|
| Caliber | .338 Lapua |
| Magazine | 5 rounds |
| Operation | Bolt action, 4 lugs |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Bolt action |
| Barrel length | 711 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 254 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | 1.310 mm / 1.050 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 8.6 kg incl bipod and scope |
| Sights | No iron sights, Picatinny rail for mounting optics |
| Remarks | Bipod |
Rangemaster 50
The Rangemaster 50 is the latest and largest model in the Rangemaster lineup. It is an enlarged Rangemaster design that fires the powerful 12.7x99mm round. Unlike the other models the Rangemaster 50 is mainly meant as an anti-material rifle. Compared to other 12.7mm rifles it features a much longer barrel, making it one of the longest and heaviest 12.7mm rifles in existence. In order to cope with the weight of the rifle the receiver has been strengthened and the folding stock is made out of metal due to the increased recoil forces.
- Specifications:
- Rangemaster 50
| Type | Anti-materiel rifle |
|---|---|
| Caliber | 12.7x99mm NATO |
| Magazine | 5 rounds |
| Operation | Bolt action, 4 lugs |
| Fire selector | 0-1 |
| Rate of fire | Bolt action |
| Barrel length | 812 mm |
|---|---|
| Rifling | 381 mm right hand twist |
| Muzzle velocity | ? |
| Stock | Foldable |
| Length | 1.520 mm / 1.230 mm |
| Width | ? |
| Height | ? |
|---|---|
| Weight | 16.95 kg incl bipod and scope |
| Sights | No iron sights, Picatinny rail for mounting optics |
| Remarks | Bipod |
Arctic Warfare
The Rangemaster is a competitor to the successful Arctic Warfare series.
7.62x51mm NATO
The Rangemaster Standby and Tactical models fire the 7.62x51mm NATO round.