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A good sniper is terrifying.
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Hidden death that lurks in a hillside: unseen and able to precisely quench targets with
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a single bullet.
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If you're lucky, such a threat will only send a chill down your spine:
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and if you're not - well, you might never hear the shot.
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The Arctic Warfare series of rifles are purpose-built for precision.
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It has found fame through its confirmed kill distance records: and in its depiction in
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games, most notably as Counter-Strike's AWP.
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So what place do precision weapons have in games?
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What makes sniper rifles such a desirable choice for some players?
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And what is it about bolt-actions that makes 'em deal more damage?
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The Arctic Warfare's story starts in England, in 1978.
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At this time, the British Army were reliant on the 19th-century Lee Enfield rifles for
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their marksman roles, designated the L42A1.
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While there's nothing wrong with a classic bolt-action, there was definitely room for
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a more modern, specialised long-range weapon.
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Accuracy International was founded by a group of skilled competitive shooters, looking to
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design and build a new tactical rifle.
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Their first design was the Precision Marksman, or the PM, in 1982.
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It was designed in response to the British Army's search for a new sniper rifle, and
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would emerge triumphant in competition, earning the L96A1 designation.
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Built for precision from the ground up, the platform is bedded on a solid aluminium chassis,
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surrounded by a distinctive drab green hollow polymer stock.
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Not content with a single contract, AI shot for the Swedish military, who were in a similar
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position to the Brits - seeking to replace their World War 2-era rifles.
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The Precision Marksman design was modified to cope with extremely cold temperatures - with
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a milled bolt that minimised the surface area able to freeze together, and a larger trigger
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guard to allow the use of heavy gloves.
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These changes gave the updated rifle a new name: the Arctic Warfare.
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It was accepted into service by the Swedes in 1991, as the PSG 90 - and the British Army
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adopted the improved version as the L118A1.
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Later variants of the Arctic Warfare include the AWF with folding stock - and the AWP,
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intended for law enforcement use with plain black furniture.
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The AWS is a suppressed version, with an integral suppressor, and similar is the AW Covert - which
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comes with a shortened barrel and folding stock.
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The AW Magnum expanded the calibre offerings to a higher power band: with chamberings in
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.300 Win Mag and .338 Lapua Magnum.
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These rounds deliver more kinetic energy on target, extending the rifle's reach and flattening
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the bullet's trajectory.
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This makes the Magnum offerings particularly suitable for extreme ranges - and the AWM
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was adopted by the British Armed Forces under the L115 designation.
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It was this variant that would cataput the Arctic Warfare into the record books - as
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the AWM is responsible for the longest ever confirmed sniper kill, at two thousand, four
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hundred and seventy five metres.
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The shot took place in 2009, during the War in Afghanistan - fired by British sniper Craig
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Harrison, Corporal of Horse in the Blues and Royals Royal Horse Guards.
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An incredible feat that placed the platform amongst the finest long-range rifles: no doubt,
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the Arctic Warfare is every inch a marksman's weapon.
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It was never meant to be cheap, nor intended for mass-production: these rifles are specialist
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weapons for a specialised role.
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Perhaps it's this 'boutique appeal' that has led to the familiar green thumbhole stock
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cropping up in a number of video games.
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Such weapons have always had a tough transition into interactive entertainment: truly realistic
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sniping is a test of patience and precision, engaging unseen and far from the fray.
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Games normally take some liberties for the sake of balance - and so virtual sniping usually
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takes place at closer ranges and at a faster pace than reality.
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Some titles do pride themselves on wide open maps - the Battlefield franchise, for instance
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- but most FPS insist on cramming you and your rifle into a small arena surrounded by
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automatic weapons.
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They are still top of the tree when it comes to ranged damage and precision - so while
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you might not have a spotter at your side, you can still vex the opposition from across
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the map.
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There's a curious trait shared by all bolt-action weapons in games: they all seem to do more
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damage than their semi-automatic counterparts, even if they're of the same calibre.
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Counter-Strike's AWP is top dog in terms of damage, and is the only weapon to kill an
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opponent in a single hit at any distance, anywhere above the legs - armoured or not.
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It's this depiction that cemented the Arctic Warfare's iconic status: the Counter-Strike
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AWP is a legendary weapon, and certainly amongst the most recognisable weapons of first-person
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shooters.
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This popularity in Counter-Strike has led to its appearance in other titles - but no
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matter the game, the rifle is always amongst the most deadly on offer.
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This is certainly true within the Call of Duty series, with the Arctic Warfare rifles
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appearing as the L96 in Black Ops, the L118A in Modern Warfare 3, and the L115 in Call
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of Duty: Ghosts.
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So, why is the rifle always so powerful?
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It's not for the sake of realism - but instead a question of balance.
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While you can empty a semi-automatic weapon's magazine within a couple of seconds, a bolt-action
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weapon must be manually cycled for every shot - which means a drastically slower rate of
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fire.
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The high damage of such weapons is necessary to keep them relevant, then - and as a side
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effect, this places a much stronger emphasis on first shot precision.
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Luckily, you'll most often find the Arctic Warfare supplied with a scope by default.
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A highly magnified view proves a double-edged sword, however - and can help to further reinforce
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the intended long-range role of the weapon.
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Often, your peripheral vision will be blocked out entirely while aiming - and while some
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games, such as Call of Duty: Ghosts, offer a dual-rendered view - you will still suffer
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in the reactivity stakes.
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A closer view helps when tackling distant targets, but a narrower field of vision can
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blind you to closer threats - and readjusting your sights to an unexpected angle can take
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critical time.
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This tunnel vision, paired with an intrinsically slow rate of fire, generally makes the weapon
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ill-suited for close quarters battle: but of course, there are still some who'll try.
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The Arctic Warfare series might be known by many names: but there's no mistaking its uncompromised
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performance.
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It demands first-shot precision, and severely punishes wayward shots: but if you want to
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freeze out the opposition...
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...this rifle is ice cold.
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A refined weapon of precision that is deadly in every incarnation.
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Its power compels a cult-like following: those who live for the thrill of a one-shot kill.
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It's seldom the easy option: its potency reigned in with slow output and exacting function.
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The Arctic Warfare:
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Record holder.
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Purpose-built.
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Powerhouse.
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Thank you very much for watching, and until next time - farewell.