Omark sniper rifle

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Originally Posted by Peter Laidler

Is that it, the fabled Omark 'sniper'.............? In my humble opinion, the rifle might be very good in all it does - as is the telescope, but the mounting system wouldn't last 20 minutes on a good day. I'll take the pics to the ITDU and sniper div later in the day for a second opinion.

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you do have to remember they where only evaluated at this stage of the inquisition.
I am sure it would be fixed if adopted.
And what are you comparing it to peter?
Of course there are better systems now, or did you expect to see the No4 set up/?
the envoy with the Parker-Hale mounts where better but not perfect and the adopted rifle M82 wasn't in todays league either.
I am aware they need to be tested under all conditions and be able to be para dropped, seaborne, rattle around in the back of a truck for years etc, but hey we are not here to be-little something, we are here to ascertain whether it was formally evaluated and or trialled.
I bet sniper cell won't like it either but after all they are snipers!!
Cheers
Ned

Fair points Trooper but I said the same about the PH sniper. Good rifle, good scope but not well thought out interface. I said the same about the Enforcer too. You MUST be able to remove and replace without affecting accuracy. It's not an age or era thing because substantial brackets and ideas about these things were available then as now

Its all about what those who submit these examples for the trials expect. Even today, these designers cannot accept the words 'soldier proof' or what we call here '.....driving down the bumpy road effect'. Sometimes it's clear that they have not even the slightest concept of the effects of dust....... We tell them to look at what we have, and improve on that. As I have already said, the L96 wasn't the best rifle for the job, but it was the best combination

I agree,
I have come across similar examples of other bits of kit.
the boffins never supply what the end user requires, i suppose thats the nature of the beast.
as an old friend often says to me "you can't save the world!"
Thanks for your experienced input peter.
Cheers
Ned

A bit of an update and some clues on where to look for an example or six.

The rifles were issued to Inf. Centre, 6RAR and OCS. The Inf Centre examples can be identified by chequering on the bolt knobs.

When the PH was accepted, the Omarks were made over to the Aust. Army Rifle Association and subsequently donated to the Qld. Rifle Association.

Anyone care to have a look in the QRA Belmont armoury?

Had the Curator of the Inf Centre Museum in my office yesterday. The Omarks were not part of the trials, they would not qualify for the contract as they did not meet the design brief. End of story. They played with them while they were waiting for a decision on the rifles trialled. These were listed in "The British Sniper" as follows...
"Early in 1978, user trials were commenced to evaluate various 7.62mm rifles with a view to introduction of a standard sniper rifle. The contenders were the Austrian SSG69, Mauser 66, Heckler & Koch G3, FN Mauser and the Parker Hale"

interestingly, the paragraph before says... "The process of developing the sniper concept and equipment more suitable to Australian conditions than jungle fighting in South East Asia , The .303 No1 Mk3/1 HT was brought back into service, mainly as a temporary measure. During this period, 1973 to 1978 other rifles were also used to develop the new sniper concept, such as some 7.62mm Omark M44 single shot target rifles, set up with Leopold and Redfield sights. Fitted with aperture sights they were also used for "recreational purposes," mainly competition shooting."

Will get a picture to post in the next day or two...but in the mean time, here's a couple of others relevant to the discussion....

Attachment 31950

Attachment 31951

Attachment 31952

Attachment 31953

Hmmm... a Tikka in 22-250... now there is a rifle that was a sniper rifle

but where they evaluated ?
they where definately "used" though!
So they will be included.
post 75, S2 class.
so you won't have to play against em Son mate.
the tikka was definately used, do you know what model and where it was used?

cheers
Ned

Son

Is it possible to get better picture of the card describing the Tikka in 22-250?

It appears to say that .... The M55 was introduced to the Special Air Service Regiment circa 1980 and used as a Urban Counter Terrorist Rifle within Australia and withdrawn from service in the late 1990's.


Paul

Just found a listing regarding the use of the M55 by the SASR on the Australian War Memorial. Here is the link REL/16601.001 - Tikka M55 Sniper Rifle : Australian Special Air Service Regiment, Australian Army | Australian War Memorial

Another variation of mounting the Leupold 3-9x to the Omark. Inf Centre disposed of their Omarks around late 80's?

Attachment 32147

Interesting looking mounts.... are they marked at all?

Welcome to milsurps by the way... what part of NSW are you in?

Hey all,

Been reading this thread and found it interesting as the Omark is my favorite shooter..

I have a question and hope its ok to tack it here rather than make a new thread.

Does anyone know or preferably have documents of scopes issed with the trial Omarks.??

I did have some paperwork showing 3-9x and 4-12x scopes were issued, after the paperwork mysteriously migrated to beside the rubbish twice it dissapeared altogether and my wonderful wife claims she has never touched it.. :rolleyes:

I have since been told the highest mag scope issued was 3-10x, I already have a 4-12x attached..

Would anyone here have any info on this, I have been looking around lots of internet site on and off for months..

Cheers,

David..