In airsoft we know a lot about the L96 as it is one of the favourite replicas used by airsoft snipers from around the world. But much less is known about the British company that made the famous rifle, as compared to some rifle makers in the United States which we see on the telly or read in arms magazines and news sites. For CounterStrike players, the AWP is their sniper rifle of choice; for airsoft, it's something worth spending a lot of money upgrading.

Wired.com's Danger Room provides an in-depth story about Accuracy International, the company behind the L96, which has now evolved into the AX338, or  as the L115A3 in the British Armed Forces , how they make their rifles, and how they have become the sniper rifle manufacturer of choice by some of the world's elite forces, especially the SAS, SBS, and the US Navy SEALs. The L115A3 is an improved version of the L96, and carries the .338 Lapua Magnum, rather than the NATO 7.62mm.

The L115A3 was made as based on the inputs by snipers operating out of Afghanistan. Whilst the L96 is a very capable sniper rifle, the ranges that firefights that happen in Afghanistan were now beyond its ability, and the L115A3 with the .338 Lapua Magnum can achieve such ranges.  The L115A3 made the record of taking out a machine crew in Helmand Province when British Army Sniper, Craig Harrison, shot two Taliban fighters armed with an RPK at 2,475 metres in 2009. This beats the world record made by Canadian Rob Furlong in Afghanistan's Shah-i-Kot Valley in 2002, firing an LRSW at a range of 2,439 metres. According to the Wired .com story, another Accuracy International rifle, the L96, was used by British Christopher Reynolds to kill a Taliban commander a 1,853 metres, the most extreme range that can be reached by the L96.

The story describes how Accuracy International started, from a garage in Worthing in West Sussex, to where it is now in Portsmouth in Hampshire. It also details the process of how the rifles are made, with a lot of inputs from those who depend their lives on the sniper rifles, ensuring that new designs meet the requirements of the battlefield. The L115A3 extends beyond the range of the L96, making it the most effective weapon in Afghanistan. The Accuracy International rifles are very effective with an instance of two kills made with a single shot (which is all too familiar with CounterStrike players using the AWP).

Furthermore in the story, the author was allowed to take some shots with the AX338 which uses a different chassis as compared to the L115A3 which at first glance still looks like the L96, stating that the rifle puts the shooter in the optimal position, almost weightless, and has the perfect pistol grip. With some quick instructions for the instructor, he was able to place his shots accurately with first time use.

Who among the airsoft manufacturers would be able to allow us to feel the improvements of the L96 with the AX338/L115A3? Whilst it may not be the same as the real deal, the mere thought that you're holding a working airsoft replica of a sniper rifle that has broken world records in the battlefield, would something that would make the experience even more special.

Read the full story at Wired's Danger Room, highly recommended reading for those who seriously want to know the stories behind the airsoft replicas they're using.

Photo Source: UK Ministry of Defence