Indeed, most improvised firearms of a much smaller calibre usually have a smooth bore barrel or also have to obtain one from a factory weapon. The availability of a heavy machine gun barrel is generally essential for those wishing to build a craft made anti-materiel rifle- the barrel is usually one of the most difficult components to manufacture. However, parts availability, in reality the availability of a single part, is key for local AMR development: the heavy machine gun barrel.
Their use as a long range weapon able to disable enemy vehicles, ATGM launchers, IRAMs and the like is well documented and very popular by almost every side in the War. This includes long experience with factory constructed AMRs in the field Chinese, Russian, Iranian and other designs- which are regularly captured from regime forces and employed. In my view this is down to a number of factors. These are rough weapons usually built from pre-existing machine gun receivers with only minor changes to enable the use of pistol grips, stocks, optics they are also typically very heavy, very large and inaccurate.Īs the Syrian conflict continues, however, these Concepts have been refined dramatically. This is not to say that the concept of a craft built AMR is unique to Syria- they have been recently constructed in Ukraine, the Philippines, and wider afield. For this purpose, the conversion of blank-firing weapons to fire live ammunition is increasingly common. Particularly the former firing small calibre pistol rounds, given the most likely requirements of irregular and criminal groups that lack supply lines for factory made weapons. It is much easier particularly in the criminal context to construct simple pistols or slam-fire shotguns. However, the idea of a craft made non factory-made anti-materiel rifle is much less common given the large chamber pressures, cartridge, and other rigours of use. It has seen conflict with multiple countries in various theatres- most notably the US- and even with terrorist groups such as the IRA in Northern Ireland. Since then the most iconic AMR by far has been the Barrett “50 Cal”. An anti-materiel rifle ( AMR) is a rifle that is designed for use against military equipment ( materiel ), rather than against other combatants (" anti-personnel ").
The first AMR was based on a scaled up Mauser infantry action. The Anti-Materiel rifle as a concept is not new- it dates back to WWI when German forces realised the need of these heavy weapons in order to combat the tanks of the British Army. However, the topic of ATGM use has been amply covered by multiple writers so I’ll focus on something different and almost as useful- the Anti-Materiel Rifle. This is the ATGM or the Anti-Tank Guided Missile. Over the long period of the Syrian Civil War, one particular weapons system has become the most prominent on the side of opposition and rebel forces.
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