SAKO M23

Modular Weapon System (MWS)

Finland | 2022

"The SAKO M23 is the newest addition to the arsenal of the Finnish Warfighter, the modular weapon system having been adopted in 2022."

Image from the Finnish Ministry of Defense; Public Release.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/18/2022 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The Finnish Army has moved to modernize its Warfighter small arms capabilities with the adoption of the new SAKO M23 Modular Weapon System (MWS). The firearm is a joint-Finnish-Swede design intended to succeed a collection of Soviet-era long guns still in Finnish service, covering such diverse battlefield roles as Battle Rifle, Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR), and dedicated Sniper Rifle. Design work was had from 2020 to 2021 and service adoption took place in 2022.

The prototype was known under the designator of "K22" (E22) and influenced by the original American AR-series of automatic rifles though this time relying on a short-stroke gas piston arrangement in its internal system of operation. The in-service designs with the Finnish Army are to be identified under the designations of "7.62 KIV 23" (covering the DMR variant), and "7.62 TKIV 23" (covering the sniper rifle variant) and both are expected to enter formal service sometime in 2023, hence their designations.

On the whole, the M23 showcases the typical AR-style appearance and sports a perforated forend, over- and under-receiver sections of Picatinny rail (for mounting tactical devices), and a telescoping / adjustable shoulder stock. Chambered in ubiquitous 7.62x51mm NATO full-powered rifle cartridge, the base rifle design has a barrel assembly length of 16 inches and can be capped by a suppressor for clandestine work. Effective firing range is out to 656 yards for the DMR version and 875 yards for the sniper model. All of the guns support various optics sights and can retain iron sights as backup. Feeding is by way of a 20-round detachable box magazine which are inserted ahead of the pistol grip / trigger unit in the usual way.

The modern Finnish Army small arms inventory showcases the Soviet-era Dragunov 7.62mm semi-automatic sniper rifle as well as the Valmet 7.62 TKIV 85 bolt-action sniper solution of 1984 (both rifles detailed elsewhere on this site).

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the SAKO M23. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

2,625 ft
800.1 m | 875.0 yds
Max.Eff.Range

20
Rounds-Per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire

Physical
The physical qualities of the SAKO M23. Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.

406 mm
15.98 in
Barrel Length

Gas-Operated; Rotating-Bolt; Semi-Automatic Fire.
Action

7.62x51mm NATO
Caliber(s)

20-round detachable box magazine.
Feed

Over-Receiver Optics; Back-up Iron Front and Rear.
Sights

Variants
Notable series variants as part of the SAKO M23 Modular Weapon System (MWS) family line.

M23 - Base Series Designation.

K22 - Prototype model designation.

7.62 KIV 23 - Finnish Army designation for Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) form.

7.62 TKIV 23 - Finnish Army designation for dedicated Sniper Rifle form.

Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the SAKO M23. Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): SAKO, Limited - Finland

[ Finland ]

1 / 1

Image from the Finnish Ministry of Defense; Public Release.

Going Further...
The SAKO M23 Modular Weapon System (MWS) 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)