Is the AWP a real gun?

The AWP is absolutely modeled after a real-life sniper rifle – the Arctic Warfare Magnum manufactured by elite British firearms company Accuracy International. Let‘s dive deeper into this exceptional weapon platform and why it was chosen as the inspiration for Counter-Strike‘s iconic one shot kill machine.

Technical Specifications

The Arctic Warfare Magnum (AWM) is a high precision bolt action sniper rifle renowned for its accuracy and extreme reach in specialized applications. Here are the key specs:

Caliber: .338 Lapua Magnum
Weight: 6.5 kg unloaded
Barrel Length: 27 inches
Muzzle Velocity: 936 m/s (3,070 ft/s)
Effective Range: over 1,100 yards (~1,000 meters)
Magazine Capacity: 5 rounds

Firing the mammoth .338 Lapua rifle cartridge with its exceptional ballistics, the AWM delivers superior terminal performance out to distances exceeding a kilometer against individual targets. Its manufacturer claims sub 0.5 MOA accuracy supporting this outstanding reach.

Development History

Accuracy International designed the AWM in the early 1990s based on earlier Arctic Warfare models it had introduced in the 1980s. Founder Dave Walls originally created it as a sniping tool optimized for law enforcement use with the designation ‘Police‘ model.

The variant later evolved into a military configuration with additions like folding stocks and mounted optics. Accuracy International eventually branched out both models under the collective Arctic Warfare Magnum branding.

Since its introduction, Accuracy International has continuously refined and improved the AWM rifle family. Enhancements like improved triggers and stocks have maintained its pole position as an extreme distance anti-personnel weapon.

Key Design Features

The Arctic Warfare Magnum impresses with a host of functionality boosting features:

• Floating, cold hammer forged barrel for outstanding accuracy
• Rugged machined steel action to cope with the .338 Lapua pressures
• Smooth bolt cycling thanks to polished surfaces and proper lubrication points
• 60° bolt lift for rapid operation even with a telescopic sight installed
• Spacious magazine well readily accepts a 5 round detachable box magazine
• Versatile mounting options for night vision, bipods, tripods and so forth

Together, these attributes enable the AWM to achieve remarkable feats in specialized applications where 0 failures and absolute precision over great distances are demanded.

.338 Lapua Magnum Cartridge

Harnessing the firepower of the magnificent .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge is what gives the Arctic Warfare Magnum its reach. This rifle round is like a miniaturized tank shell, prioritizing tremendous speed, energy transfer and penetration at distance instead of stopping power at close ranges.

With nearly 3,000 ft-lbs of muzzle energy and low drag projectiles, the .338 Lapua shoots remarkably flat for its weight. It bucks wind to connect beyond a kilometer away. Yet the hardened military FMJ and expanding projectiles still hit with authority thanks to their momentum and construction.

This blend of exterior ballistics and terminal efficiency makes the .338 Lapua arguably the ultimate extreme sniping cartridge.