Parker Hale M85
Encyclopedia
The Parker Hale M85 is a British .308
sniper rifle
, with an effective range around 900 metres. It fires from a 10-round detachable magazine, and weighs 12 pounds, telescopic sight
included. The rifle was created after the Falklands War
by Parker Hale Ltd
in response to shortcomings in the contemporary Lee Enfield L42A1. Although the Parker Hale M85 manufacturing licence was sold to Gibbs Rifle Co., it has not yet resumed production.
trial to see if it could be used as a potential sniper rifle, along with the AI
, H&K PSG 1
, SIG SSG 2000
, and Remington 700
. The rifle lost by a slight margin to the AI (adopted by the British Army as the L96).
s. The standard scope is a 6x42mm Schmidt & Bender
with a BDC from 200 - 900 meters. Emergency iron sight
s are also fitted. The rifle is outfitted with a bipod
as standard. The fiberglass
stock is made by McMillan.
7.62×51mm NATO
The 7.62×51mm NATO is a rifle cartridge developed in the 1950s as a standard for small arms among NATO countries...
sniper rifle
Sniper rifle
In military and law enforcement terminology, a sniper rifle is a precision-rifle used to ensure more accurate placement of bullets at longer ranges than other small arms. A typical sniper rifle is built for optimal levels of accuracy, fitted with a telescopic sight and chambered for a military...
, with an effective range around 900 metres. It fires from a 10-round detachable magazine, and weighs 12 pounds, telescopic sight
Telescopic sight
A telescopic sight, commonly called a scope, is a sighting device that is based on an optical refracting telescope. They are equipped with some form of graphic image pattern mounted in an optically appropriate position in their optical system to give an accurate aiming point...
included. The rifle was created after the Falklands War
Falklands War
The Falklands War , also called the Falklands Conflict or Falklands Crisis, was fought in 1982 between Argentina and the United Kingdom over the disputed Falkland Islands and South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands...
by Parker Hale Ltd
Parker Hale
Parker Hale Ltd. was a United Kingdom firearms, air rifle and firearms accessory manufacturer, located in the Gun Quarter of the city of Birmingham, England. It was originally founded by Alfred Gray Parker and Arthur Hale. Parker-Hale Limited began manufacturing high quality precision shooting...
in response to shortcomings in the contemporary Lee Enfield L42A1. Although the Parker Hale M85 manufacturing licence was sold to Gibbs Rifle Co., it has not yet resumed production.
History
The M85 took part in a British ArmyBritish Army
The British Army is the land warfare branch of Her Majesty's Armed Forces in the United Kingdom. It came into being with the unification of the Kingdom of England and Scotland into the Kingdom of Great Britain in 1707. The new British Army incorporated Regiments that had already existed in England...
trial to see if it could be used as a potential sniper rifle, along with the AI
Accuracy International Arctic Warfare
The Accuracy International Arctic Warfare rifle is a family of bolt-action sniper rifles designed and manufactured by the British company Accuracy International...
, H&K PSG 1
Heckler & Koch PSG1
The PSG1 is a semi-automatic rifle designed by the German company Heckler & Koch of Oberndorf am Neckar.-Development:...
, SIG SSG 2000
SIG-Sauer SSG 2000
-Service use:The SSG-2000 sniper rifle is a joint effort by Swiss company SIG Arms and German company J.P.Sauer & Sohn. Production of the SSG-2000 started in 1989 and it is still in production.-Description:...
, and Remington 700
Remington 700
The Model 700 series of firearms are bolt-action rifles manufactured by Remington Arms since 1962. All are based on the same centerfire bolt action. They often come with a 3, 4 or 5-round internal magazine depending on caliber, some of which have a floor-plate for quick-unloading, and some of which...
. The rifle lost by a slight margin to the AI (adopted by the British Army as the L96).
Design
The M85's range is about 600 metres and has a 85% first round hit capabilities from 600 - 900 metres. The weapon also has a silent safety catch, a threaded muzzle for a flash suppressor, and an integral dovetail mount that accepts a variety of sightSight (device)
A sight is a device used to assist aligning or aim weapons, surveying instruments, or other items by eye. Sights can be a simple set or system of markers that have to be aligned together as well as aligned with the target...
s. The standard scope is a 6x42mm Schmidt & Bender
Schmidt & Bender
Schmidt & Bender is a German company specialized in producing high end telescopic sights for hunting, sports, law enforcement and military arms....
with a BDC from 200 - 900 meters. Emergency iron sight
Iron sight
Iron sights are a system of shaped alignment markers used as a sighting device to assist in the aiming of a device such as a firearm, crossbow, or telescope, and exclude the use of optics as in telescopic sights or reflector sights...
s are also fitted. The rifle is outfitted with a bipod
Bipod
A bipod is a support device that is similar to a tripod or monopod, but with two legs. It provides significant stability along two axes of motion .-Firearms:...
as standard. The fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
stock is made by McMillan.