Gepard M1

Single-Shot Bolt-Action Anti-Material Rifle (AMR)

Hungary | 1990

"The Hungarian Gepard M1 Anti-Material Rifle appeared during the early 1990s as a single-shot, bolt-action heavy rifle."

Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 09/27/2016 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Gepard M1 was a Hungarian-originated heavy rifle intended for use against light-armored vehicles or targets behind fortified walls. Its design was centered around the 12.7x107mm Soviet heavy machine gun cartridge - its role akin to the American 12.7x99mm (.50 BMG) cartridge. The weapon entered service in 1990 at the close of communist rule in Hungary and became one of the most powerful Anti-Material Rifles (AMRs) available in Europe. The original went on to spawn a line of similar weapons from the Gepard M2 to the Gepard M6 - the latter the last in this fine line of rifles. Performance-wise, the Gepard series is comparable to the American Barrett M82 (detailed elsewhere on this site).

The 12.7x107mm (also written as 12.7x108mm) differs some from its American .50 BMG counterpart in being a longer, thicker, and heavier cartridge though both cartridges are proven against light armor and fortifications at range and thusly are featured as standard ammunition in anti-aircraft and anti-armor vehicle weapons. The Gepard M1 (and several of its family members) can be converted to fire the NATO-standard .50 BMG cartridge as well.

Outwardly, the Gepard M1 showcased a rather utilitarian appearance with its cylindrical shape constituting most of the weapon's design lines. A padded shoulder stock was set at the rear of the tubular receiver with a large muzzle brake seated over the business end of the barrel. No iron sights were fitted so reliance on an optics fit was wholly necessary. The pistol grip was set under the receiver with the trigger unit ahead - the grip doubling as the actual bolt-handle of the weapon. The action was manually-operated by the user and the weapon fired only a single cartridge as no detachable magazine box support was built into the design. A folding bipod was added ahead f the receiver with a monopod used to brace the weapon at the middle-rear.

Loading of the rifle was accomplished by twisting the pistol grip upwards which, in turn, unlocked the breechblock. A cartridge was then manually loaded into the awaiting chamber and the breech was closed / locked by reversing the open action. The hammer was manually cocked which made the Gepard M1 ready-to-fire, requiring just a pull of the trigger. A simple and effective instrument, the M1 could penetrate up to 15mm of armor thickness at range - enough to cut through an engine block or disable a particularly sensitive component on an armored vehicle.

The M1A1 emerged as the M1's only variant and this weapon was more or less the same rifle now mounted on a metal rack (back pack frame) for stationary fire on soft ground or snow. The frame added considerable weight to the weapon but offered improved performance for special environment operations.

The Gepard M1 line was inevitably continued through introduction of a series of related weapons stemming from the same basic approach. This included the semi-automatic-minded M2 (with 5-round box magazine) and the follow-up M3 (chambered for 14.5x114mm Soviet), M4 (semi-automatic, five-round box magazine) and M5 (bolt-action) models. The M6 represented the last of the family line and remains in active service with some of the leading global armies.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Gepard M1. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

6,560 ft
1,999.5 m | 2,186.7 yds
Max.Eff.Range

2,820 ft/sec
860 m/sec
Muzzle Velocity

Physical
The physical qualities of the Gepard M1. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

1,570 mm
61.81 in
O/A Length

1,100 mm
43.31 in
Barrel Length

41.89 lb
19.00 kg
Weight

Single-Shot; Manually-Operated; Bolt-Action
Action

12.7x107mm Soviet; 12.7x99mm NATO (50 BMG)
Caliber(s)

Single-Shot
Feed

Optics Only
Sights

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Gepard M1 Single-Shot Bolt-Action Anti-Material Rifle (AMR) family line.

Gepard M1 - Base Series Designation

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Gepard M1. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): Technika / Hydrotechnic State Company - Hungary

[ Hungary ]

1 / 1

Image copyright www.MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Going Further...
The Gepard M1 Single-Shot Bolt-Action Anti-Material Rifle (AMR) appears in the following collections:

Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.

©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)