Omark sniper rifle

[trooper554877]

This one is mainly for Son and Lithy but feel free to chime in.
When was the Omark trialled?
What year?
Thanks
Ned

Information

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[muffett.2008]

70-71?

[trooper554877]

yeah OK muff,
Why that year?
I thought it was later as didn't we have the HT's up until mid to late 70"s?
then the trials happened and we ended up with the parker-hale.
I know trials and evaluations take a long time, like years and sniping was supposed to be a bit fragmented and low on the list of priorities but how long is to long.
Cheers and thanks
Ned

[Son]

I don't think the omark was trialed officially... the snipers played with a few basically and had Lithgow set scopes on a couple... as far as I have found. Don't recall being told a year, but would have been later in the seventies I would say.... Lithy might find a dated mark on his, best bet.

[muffett.2008]

I'm back. Working between two forums here Ned, so you will need to keep up with the two you posted on.
I found the pic of lithy's rifle again. It is a DE s/n. doing the rough maths at a 1000 rifle run per year from '68 until change to 3 digit s/n. in 78/79 with the DL/SDL, it puts DE in 1971.
The question is, were these rifles new or second hand? Lithy's DE rifle is a model B, being the firstmodel in the new series, identified by the flat on the top of the receiver in the pic.
There are other identifiers but as he only showed a couple of photo's it is hard to be accurate.
My few copies of EMEI'S I kept show the first listing of the Model 82 PH as Nov.70. but the main series is from Mar 78 to Dec 84.
I assume this rifle would have commenced trails in the early 70's along with the M44 TR.

[newcastle]

Intrigued... Can anyone post a pic of one of these?

[trooper554877]

I don't think the omark was trialed officially... the snipers played with a few basically and had Lithgow set scopes on a couple... as far as I have found. Don't recall being told a year, but would have been later in the seventies I would say.... Lithy might find a dated mark on his, best bet.

It wasn't just the regular battalions etc that might have trialled these. The fellas here in the west definitely trialled and used them and had at least another stock design that was trialled.
It is definitely one of those grey areas and probably will never be definitively resolved but that makes it all the more interesting I think.
Thanks everyone, I know which way to go.
Cheers
Ned

[Son]

Most units had a few in their armouries. Most units had operators that competed in civvy matches with them. So... who is going to define "trial"... Just like a bunch of blokes entering a team in the local Rugby competition. It is sanctioned by the "Boss" as good PR and good exercise and healthy competition for the troops.
I'd like to see something on official paper before I'd agree to anything more being done than fiddling... they got to the stage where they asked Omark to produce a few with magazines in them for trial and Omark said no! So... as far as I am concerned... no trial. But people will call it what they will for their own purpose.... I for one will only deal in facts.... my opinion only....

[Peter Laidler]

Sounds to me something like an L39. There for use by the shooting teams, accurate but not for 'service' use but obtained by the QM as needed. In the UK, it'd be called 'PRI issue' (or in Aust UPF issue - Unit Private Fund issue) Incidentally, the Parker Hale rifle was the most accurate in the UK trials to replace the L42, beating the L96 of course (hands down so I've been told by the trials team boss.........) It's downfall was the complicated stocking-up system and keeping it accurate whereas the L96 was a simple chassis design. The PH supplied telescope was 'dire' but easily replaced if need be and the UK military were not keen on the mounting blocks system and wanted a side mounted telescope that could be easily removed and replaced AND retain its zero. But the basic rifle swept the board in the accuracy stakes. Sorry if I've gone off at a tangent. It's an age thing..........

[Bindi2]

Sounds to me something like an L39. There for use by the shooting teams, accurate but not for 'service' use but obtained by the QM as needed. In the UK, it'd be called 'PRI issue' (or in Aust UPF issue - Unit Private Fund issue) Incidentally, the Parker Hale rifle was the most accurate in the UK trials to replace the L42, beating the L96 of course (hands down so I've been told by the trials team boss.........) It's downfall was the complicated stocking-up system and keeping it accurate whereas the L96 was a simple chassis design. The PH supplied telescope was 'dire' but easily replaced if need be and the UK military were not keen on the mounting blocks system and wanted a side mounted telescope that could be easily removed and replaced AND retain its zero. But the basic rifle swept the board in the accuracy stakes. Sorry if I've gone off at a tangent. It's an age thing..........

I wont notice if you dont
Still looking for one of those omarks