First-Generation Walther WA 2000 production model with wooden frames & stock (top) and also first generation production model with black polymer frame & stock (bottom).
The Walther WA 2000 is a semi-automaticbullpupsniper rifle produced by the Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen company from 1978[1] to 1988. The WA2000 was introduced to the markets in 1981[2][3] and was produced in three different calibers.[4] Production of the rifle was limited and it was shortly stopped because it was too expensive to achieve widespread sales and not robust enough for military use as a sniper rifle.[5][6] Only 176 were built due to its high manufacturing cost, making it one of the rarest and most sought production firearms ever made. The Bundeswehr Museum of German Defense Technology in Koblenz has one of this specimen in its collection.[citation needed]
The barrel is clamped at the front and rear so that it does not twist on firing, while the rest of the barrel is free from any contact with the furniture to prevent further distortions or movement disturbing the gun's aim. Furthermore, the barrel is fluted to dampen vibrations and aid cooling. The barrel is set in line with user's shoulder to reduce recoil and the bolt mechanism sits behind the handgrip in a 'bullpup' arrangement. All stock furniture is fully adjustable, and when firing the .300 Winchester Magnum and using the standard Schmidt and Bender x2.5 to x10 sight, the rifle's accuracy is considerable.
The bullpup design was chosen because it would allow a standard length barrel to be used whilst the overall length would be shorter than a conventional rifle. The WA 2000 had a quick-detachable scope mount with a weight of 0.96 kg (2.1 lb).[4] The rifle did not have iron sights. The most commonly used optical sight was a Schmidt & Bender 2.5–10× telescopic sight.[citation needed] Without scope the rifle has an unloaded weight of 6.95 kg (15.3 lb) and a loaded weight of 7.35 kg (16.2 lb).[4]
The .300 Winchester Magnum round was chosen as the primary caliber because of its long range accuracy and its precision at all ranges. The entire rifle is designed around the barrel. The WA 2000 fires from a closed bolt and uses a bolt with seven locking lugs. It has either a single-stage trigger[9] or a two-stage trigger[10] with a trigger pull of 1.2 to 1.4 kg (2.65 to 3.1 lb).[4] The rifle uses single stack box magazines with a 6-round capacity, which weigh 0.4 kg (0.88 lb) when loaded.[4]
Only 176 total rifles were produced, and in two different variants. The two variants can be differentiated by the type of flash suppressor used: the first, the older model, uses a "can" type flash suppressor; whereas the second generation and newer model uses the more conventional "flash-hider/compensator" design. The second generation incorporated several changes improving the rifle's accuracy, making it more suited to its intended job.[11]
Production
The rifle was produced from 1982 until November 1988.[11][better source needed] The rifle was used by some German police units, but production was stopped because it was too expensive to achieve widespread sales.[citation needed] It was never adopted by a military unit due to its cost and not being robust enough for field service.[5] The final retail cost for a base rifle in the 1980s was in the range of $9,000 to $12,500, and the rifle's current value ranges from $40,000 for the first generation to $75,000 for the second generation.[11]
^ abDougherty, Martin J. (16 October 2012). SAS and Elite Forces Guide Sniper: Sniping Skills from the World's Elite Forces. Amber Books Limited. p. 92. ISBN978-0-7627-8876-7. Retrieved 18 March 2013. Using an unusual bullpup configuration, the WA2000 is one of the most accurate rifles ever produced, but it is also extremely expensive. It is intended for the law-enforcement market rather than military sniping, for which it is insufficiently robust.