PGM Ultima Ratio

The PGM Ultima Ratio is a French-designed and manufactured sniper rifle. It uses the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge but depending on the barrel variant can also be chambered for several other cartridges. The PGM Ultima Ratio is intended to fulfill an anti-personnel role and is produced by PGM Précision of France. Its main commercial competitors/equivalents on the high-end factory sniper rifle market are the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare and Sako TRG product lines. All of these rifles are similar in performance.

PGM Ultima Ratio
PGM Ultima Ratio Commando of the Slovenian Army
TypeSniper rifle
Place of origin France
Service history
In service2000-present[1]
Used bySee Users
Production history
ManufacturerPGM Précision
Variants
  • Intervention
  • Commando I
  • Commando II
  • Integral Silencieux
Specifications
Mass
  • 7.39 kg (16.29 lb) (Intervention)
  • 6.26 kg (13.8 lb) (Commando I)
  • 6.12 kg (13.5 lb) (Commando II)
  • 7.08 kg (15.6 lb) (Integral Silencieux)
Length
  • 1,158 mm (45.6 in) (Intervention, extended stock)
  • 873 mm (34.4 in) (Intervention, stock folded)
Barrel length
  • 600 mm (23.6 in) (Intervention)
  • 550 mm (21.7 in) (Commando I)
  • 470 mm (18.5 in) (Commando II)
  • 400 mm (15.7 in) (Integral Silencieux)
Cartridge
ActionBolt-action
Effective firing range800 m (875 yd) (7.62×51mm NATO)
Feed system5 or 10-round detachable box magazine
SightsOptical sights
Backup iron sights (accessory)

The name "Ultima Ratio" derives from the Latin expression ultima ratio regum ("the final argument of kings"), which Louis XIV had engraved on his cannons.[2][3]

Design details

The Ultima Ratio system is almost unique in being a purpose-designed sniper rifle, rather than an accurised version of an existing, general-purpose rifle.

Like its larger brothers – the PGM Hécate II (chambered in .50 BMG) and PGM 338 (chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum) – the PGM Ultima Ratio is structured around a central rigid metal girder chassis, giving it a skeletal "barebones" appearance to minimize weight and simplify maintenance.

The receiver is made from a high quality 7075 aircraft-grade aluminum alloy, while the steel bolt has three lugs that lock into a barrel extension. It also has overpressure vent holes allowing high-pressure gases a channel of escape in the rare event of a cartridge case head failure. The match grade barrel is mounted fully floated and can be easily exchanged in the field with the help of a 5 mm hex key.

There are several barrel configurations available. The Intervention barrel sports heating dispersion ribs along its length and an integrated glued on muzzle brake to reduce recoil, jump and flash. The Commando I and Commando II barrels are fluted and can have integrated or detachable muzzle brakes. If the barrels are threaded for a detachable muzzle brake they can also be fitted with a detachable suppressor. The Integral Silencieux barrel has an integrated suppressor.

The 7.62×51mm NATO and .300 Savage barrels feature a 305 mm (1:12 in) right-hand twist rate. The twist rate for the other standard chamberings are; 7mm-08 Remington 241 mm (9.5 in), .260 Remington 229 mm (9 in), and 6.5×47mm Lapua 203 mm (8 in). The Intervention barrels are available in all the chamberings mentioned above. The Commando I and II barrels are available in 7.62×51mm NATO and 7mm-08 Remington, whilst the Integral Silencieux barrels are available in 7.62×51mm NATO and .300 Savage.

The furniture (pistol grip and forearm) is made from a polymer material and is mounted to the frame. The buttstock is made from metal and has an adjustable shoulder pad for comfortable aiming and minimizing the effects of recoil on the operator. It is also adjustable for the length of pull and height, and in case of the folding stock variant can be folded to the left side of the receiver to reduce the overall dimensions of the rifle and make it more portable. An adjustable rear folding ground spike under the stock helps to keep the rifle in a stable position for extended periods of time and is most effective when coupled with the folding bipod support under the rifle barrel. A pistol grip is used for comfortable wielding of the weapon, especially during prolonged periods of time during which the operator must be immediately ready to open fire.

The Ultima Ratio has a fully adjustable two-stage trigger featuring an adjustable trigger pull weight of 10 N (2.2 lbf) to 16 N (3.6 lbf) that can be adjusted by an armourer and a fast lock time.

The PGM Ultima Ratio is fitted with a Picatinny rail so that it may be equipped with a wide range of commercial and NATO-standard optical sights, lights, night vision equipment and other tactical accessories. It also has an optional set of emergency iron sights to be used in case of the failure of the primary sight.

In order to preserve an optimal shooting comfort, the factory advises to avoid firing without the muzzle brake or silencer attached.[4]

The PGM Ultima Ratio can consistently achieve an accuracy of about 0.5 MOA with match-grade ammunition when employed by a qualified marksman. The rifle can be used with a single row 5-round or double row 10-round box magazine.

Factory accessories are: PGM sound-suppressor, ergonomic wooden grip, wooden furniture, kit consisting of a long Picatinny rail and side Picatinny rails, PGM telescopic sight mounts, PGM back-up iron sights, transport case with formed foam and a carrying sling.

Users

See also

References
  1. "PGM Ultima Ratio". Military Factory. MilitaryFactory.com. Retrieved 16 June 2022.
  2. "Definition of ULTIMA RATIO". www.merriam-webster.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-20. Retrieved 2009-05-19.
  3. "Definition of ULTIMA RATIO REGUM". www.merriam-webster.com. Archived from the original on 2017-08-19. Retrieved 2018-04-09.
  4. User Manual PGM Ultima Ratio Archived 2011-07-15 at the Wayback Machine
  5. "1º Batalhão de Forças Especiais | PDF | Comandos (soldados) | Forças especiais". Scribd (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2023-05-04.
  6. "Armement de la bri bac". Armement de la BRI-BAC.
  7. "Armement". le.raid.free.fr. Retrieved 22 October 2021..
  8. "Les fusils de précision". gign.org..
  9. Israeli Special Forces Weapons Guide Archived 2012-09-04 at archive.today
  10. "Mirtinas snaiperio šūvis iš arti: kaip akimirksniu nukauti teroristą". delfi.lt. Archived from the original on 2015-12-20. Retrieved 2015-12-20.
  11. "Infantry weapons". wordpress.com. 2 September 2014. Archived from the original on 5 July 2015. Retrieved 29 June 2015.
  12. "7.62 mm Ultima Ratio Commando Sniper Rifle". www.slovenskavojska.si. Archived from the original on 2012-03-08. Retrieved 2010-10-02.
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