at operator level, including complete
strip down as well as barrel removal
and replacement. Spare barrels can be
maintained at unit level and replacements
can be made in the field, allowing for
mission-specific and special barrel designs.
The .408 CheyTac’s light recoil is attributed
to the McArthur PGRS-1 muzzle brake
that was designed to strip gases from
the projectile before leaving the muzzle
brake itself. There is also a muzzle brake
suppressor, designed by Ops Inc.
Currently two daysights are available.
The primary sight is the Nightforce NXS
5.5-22x56 variable magnification telescopic
sight, and the alternative is the US Optics
SN-9. The chosen nightvision system is
the AN/PVS-14 gen3 Pinnacle monocular.
The PVS 14 is attached to the day optic
sight using a Monoloc device. Where there
is insufficient ambient light or where the
infrared laser is needed for further target
illumination, an AN/PEQ-2 IR laser is used
for system support.
The CheyTac cartridge was developed to
fill the gap between .338 and .50. The .408
and .375 cartridges were designed (and are
manufactured by CheyTac) to outperform
the best .50cal projectiles downrange. The
projectiles are CNC lathe turned and made
of a copper/nickel alloy. It is available in
419gn, which has a supersonic range of
2,200yd or more at standard air conditions,
and in a 305gn variant designed for highvelocity, near-range applications.
The ABC came about after early testing
of the Intervention, when it became
THE ARMOURY
apparent that the field accuracy level was
less than acceptable. A tactical computer
was developed to integrate radar data with
a handheld computer. The computer, using
input from a Kestrel 4000 or 4500(NV)
meteorological and environment sensor
package and Vector IV Laser Range Finder,
calculates and provides the operator with
elevation and windage settings. Options
include using a Dell or Windows capable
mobile phone as a platform for the ABC.
On the Discovery Channel in April 2007,
during the TV show Future Weapons
episode ‘Massive Attack’, the host Richard
Machowicz (a former US Navy Seal) hit a
human-sized target at a distance of 2,530yd
(2,313m) with three out of six shots – pretty
damn impressive! The CheyTac M-200
Intervention was also voted the number
one sniper rifle on the Military Channel’s
Ultimate Weapons.
Former US Marine Scout Sniper Patrick
Garrity trained Mark Wahlberg, lead in The
Shooter, to shoot both left- and righthanded as the actor is left-handed. As the
film’s military technical advisor Garrity also
taught Mark different shooting postures,
how to adjust the scope, how to judge
effects of wind to a shot, carry out rapid bolt
manipulation and develop special breathing
skills. His training also included extreme
distance shooting (up to 1,100yd) and the
use of ghillie suits.
“First impressions are good: this thing looks the
dog’s danglies! If you turn up on site with one of
these you are going to be your team’s best friend –
and on the other team’s most wanted list!”
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