McMillan TAC-50

The McMillan TAC-50 is a long-range anti-materiel rifle. The TAC-50 is based on previous designs from the same company, which first appeared during the late 1980s. As of 2023 it holds the record for the longest confirmed sniper kill. McMillan makes several .50 caliber rifles, based on the same proprietary action, for military, law enforcement and civilian use. It is produced in Phoenix, Arizona, in the United States by McMillan Firearms Manufacturing.

McMillan Firearms Manufacturing TAC-50
Canadian Army McMillan TAC-50 (C15) long-range sniper weapon (LRSW)
TypeAnti-materiel rifle
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service2000–present
Used bySee Users
WarsBosnian War
Afghanistan War
War in Iraq
Production history
Designed1980s
ManufacturerMcMillan Firearms div. of
Strategic Armory Corps
Produced1980s–present
VariantsTAC-50 A1, TAC-50 A1-R2
Specifications
Mass26.0 lb (11.8 kg)
Length57.0 in (1,448 mm)
Barrel length29.0 in (737 mm)
Cartridge.50 BMG (12.7 x 99 mm)
ActionBolt action
Muzzle velocity823 m/s (2,700 ft/s) (750 gr A-MAX load)
Effective firing range1,800 m (1,970 yd)
Maximum firing rangeEstimated 7,700 m (8,420 yd) (750 gr A-MAX load). Confirmed 3,540 meters (3,870 yd; 2.20 mi)
Feed system5 round detachable box magazine
SightsCustomizable; 5-25x telescopic sight standard in Canadian Forces

The TAC-50 is a military and law enforcement weapon, which, designated as the C15, has been the standard long-range sniper weapon (LRSW) of the Canadian Army since 2000. Rifles of the TAC-50 family are guaranteed to provide 0.5 minute of angle (MOA) groups with match-grade ammunition under ideal conditions.[1]

Design details

The McMillan TAC-50 is a manually operated, rotary bolt-action rifle. The large bolt has dual front locking lugs, and its body has spiral flutes to reduce weight. The heavy match-grade barrel, made by Lilja barrels, is also fluted to dissipate heat quickly and reduce overall weight, and fitted with an effective muzzle brake to reduce recoil. The rifle is fed from detachable box magazines, holding 5 rounds each. The stock is made from fiberglass by McMillan Stocks, and is designed to be used from a bipod only. The buttstock is adjustable for length of pull with rubber spacers, and can be removed for compact storage. The rifle has no open sights; it can be used with a variety of telescopic or night sights.

In Canadian service, the standard telescopic sight was the McMillan endorsed Leupold Mark 4 16x40mm LR/T M1 Riflescope optical sight that has since been replaced by the Schmidt & Bender 5-25×56 PMII telescopic sight. McMillan also endorses the Nightforce NXS 8-32x56 Mil-dot telescopic sight for the TAC-50.

Variants
McMillan TAC-50 .50 BMG cartridge

TAC-50 A1

In 2012 the TAC-50 A1 variant was introduced. The TAC-50 A1 has a new take-down fiberglass stock with a forend that is 5 in (127 mm) longer than the TAC-50 stock. This moves the balance point for the bipod forward. The stock includes an integral cheekpiece and a monopod on the buttstock with an option for vertical adjustment. The stock incorporates a smaller pistol grip to fit a wider range of hand shapes, with and without gloves. The magazine release lever was repositioned ahead of the trigger bow to make the system easier to operate with gloved hands. For the A1 variant a new lighter bipod with legs that adjust vertically, as well as forward and rearward, to fine-tune the rifle for elevation was also developed.[2]

TAC-50 A1-R2

The TAC-50 A1-R2 variant was introduced in 2012 alongside the TAC-50 A1 variant. The A1-R2 variant is basically a TAC-50 A1 rifle system with a hydraulic recoil mitigation system (a proprietary hydraulic piston in the buttstock) added to reduce the considerable amount of free recoil the .50 BMG chambering generates, and hence increase user comfort.[3]

World record

An unnamed Canadian Joint Task Force 2 sniper made the longest recorded sniper kill with this weapon in Iraq, hitting an ISIS fighter at a range of 3,540 meters (3,870 yd; 2.20 mi) in the 30-day period leading up to 22 June 2017.[4] The previous record of 2,475 meters (2,707 yd; 1.538 mi) was set by British sniper Craig Harrison in 2009 in Afghanistan, using a .338 Lapua Magnum chambered L115A3 Long Range Rifle sniper rifle.[4]

Two of the top five longest recorded sniper kills were made with the McMillan TAC-50 rifle, both by Canadian soldiers.

Users
Special Warfare Operator 1st Class Thompson explains details of an Mk 15 sniper rifle to major league baseball players Albert Pujols and Ryan Franklin during a tour of Naval Special Warfare facilities.

See also

References
  1. "Data Summary McMillan Tactical TAC-50" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 May 2008. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  2. "Retail Store - McMillan Fiberglass Stocks". www.mcmfamily.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  3. "Retail Store - McMillan Fiberglass Stocks". www.mcmfamily.com. Archived from the original on 14 February 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  4. "Canadian elite special forces sniper makes record-breaking kill shot in Iraq". Globe and Mail. June 21, 2017. Archived from the original on June 22, 2017. Retrieved June 22, 2017.
  5. "Canadian Small Arms – Sniper Rifles – A Visual Guide". Canadian American Strategic Review. Archived from the original on 2011-07-06. Retrieved 2010-04-19.
  6. Monange, Julien (September 2018). "Le tireur d'élite français à Sarajevo". Soldats de France (in French). No. 9. pp. 11–12.
  7. "Opération Thalatine : L'affaire du Ponant". Archived from the original on 12 June 2011. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  8. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 2018-01-26. Retrieved 2017-06-23.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. "Israeli Special Forces Weapons Guide". Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 14 October 2017.
  10. "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2012-05-18. Retrieved 2013-03-10.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  11. "Taakmag". Archived from the original on 16 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  12. "SLAHLAR". Archived from the original on 14 December 2014. Retrieved 25 December 2014.
  13. Tactical Weapons March 2010 Issue, Page 28.
  14. "Canada will supply Ukraine sniper rifle". weaponews.com. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
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