Walther WA2000

Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle [ 1982 ]

The Walther WA2000 was billed as an ultimate sniping tool though only ever taken on by select West German police units.

Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 05/15/2019 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site.

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Following the 1972 Munich Olympic games which ended in the deaths of eleven Israeli participants and a German police officer at the hands of Black September Arab extremists, the Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen concern set to work on a new precision sniper rifle aimed at the special police unit market. The effort eventually produced the WA2000 model sniper rifle which, for its time, was billed as one of the most accurate (if not THE most accurate) sniper rifles anywhere in the world. Indeed it was nicknamed the "Cadillac of Sniper Rifles" during its heyday. The Walther gun was well-crafted and engineered to a high standard which, in turn, made it extremely expensive to produce, maintain and procure in number. It was never truly a military-minded weapon at its core and ended up seeing very limited exposure. In the end, only German police units ever took on the type and production totaled just 176 units from production spanning 1982 to 1988.

The key component to the WA2000 was its finely-tuned barrel to which the rest of the weapon was designed around. A bullpup configuration was chosen which set the action aft of the (adjustable) trigger group and allowed a full-length, rifled barrel to be used across a more compact overall length. The bullpup arrangement also aided in recoil as the forces were directed rearwards into the firer's shoulder along a more singular, concentrated line. As such, muzzle climb was minimized and accuracy maintained with a successive shot if needed. The barrel only touched the body of the weapon at the front and rear and lay exposed across most of its length in the design - termed a "free-floating" barrel which also aided accuracy and precision. The weapon fired through a gas-operated system utilizing a rotating bolt function which allowed for a semi-automatic action to be achieved. In this way, the WA2000 was more akin to a modern-day Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) than "true" sniper weapon which generally makes use of a manual bolt-action facility - though the WA2000 was hardly a direct-assault weapon as a DMR can become.

The WA2000 also featured a thumbhole pistol grip (of which the entire component could be released for cleaning), an adjustable rubber buttstock for customization (as well as adjustable cheekpiece), and stabilized feed system which prevented movement of the ammunition when the gun was fired. Various scopes could be fitted to the receiver though a standard Schmidt & bender series 2.5-10x56mm telescopic sight was more than sufficient for the ranges involved. There were no backup iron sights which is typical with a precision weapon. A flash suppressor, designed specifically for the fired cartridge (.300 Winchester Magnum), was used on the muzzle and a collapsible bipod was integrated into the forward portion of the frame. Beyond the standard .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge, other calibers were eventually supported: 7.62x51mm NATO and 7.5x55mm Swiss. Feeding was by way of a detachable box magazine which contained six rounds of ammunition. The magazine was inserted into a well just aft of the pistol grip base.

No world military ever took on the WA2000 into inventory which severely hurt its long-term availability. Additionally, many budget-minded police forces took on less expensive sniper offerings, bringing about a quiet end for such an exceptional rifle system.©MilitaryFactory.com

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Specifications

Carl Walther Sportwaffenfabrik - Germany
Manufacturer(s)

Germany; United States
Operators

1982
Service Year

Germany
National Origin

AUTOMATIC FUNCTION
Features a mechanical function to automate the firing action.

ACCURACY / PRECISION
Long-range accuracy / precision capable; suitable for sniping, particularly when equipped with sighting aids.

905 mm
(35.63 inches)
Overall Length

650 mm
(25.59 inches)
Barrel Length

15.32 lb
(6.95 kg)
Empty Weight

Gas-Operated Piston with Rotating Bolt; Semi-Automatic Fire
Action

SEMI-AUTOMATIC
One shot per trigger pull; self-loading or auto-loading action aided by internal mechanism; trigger management (and initial cocking) typically required by the operator; subsequent shots are aided by the unlocked / moving bolt.

ROTATING BOLT
System utilizes internal mechanism to lock the breech or rear barrel assembly prior to firing.

GAS-OPERATED
Gas-operated system is featured, typically involving a gas cylinder and rear-driven piston directing energy to the bolt component.

.300 Winchester Magnum; 7.62x51mm NATO; 7.5x55mm Swiss
Caliber(s)
May not represent an exhuastive list; Calibers may be model-specific dependent; Always consult official manufacturer sources.

6-Round Box
Rounds

Optics as Standard; No Iron.
Sights

Material presented above is for historical and entertainment value and should not be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation - always consult official manufacturer sources for such information.

2,297 feet
(700 meters | 766 yards)
Max Effective Range

WA2000 - Base Series Designation; ultimately available in three distinct chamberings.

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