DELTA-308 Georgian sniper rifle
History STC "Delta" began in the 1960s. In its current form, this scientific and technical center has existed only since 2010, but has already become the main producer of a wide variety of weapons in Georgia. STC combines 6 research institutes, as well as Tbilisi aviation plant. This center is state owned and is under the control of the Georgian Ministry of Defense. Today, a wide range of weapons is being developed and produced here: from small arms weapons to armored vehicles - Didgori armored vehicles, which are even exported.
Along with this, equipping all sniper units with the best weapon systems from foreign manufacturers, such as McMillan or Barrett, is problematic due to the very high cost of such sniper rifles. The financial possibilities of Georgia, even despite the help from the Western allies, are very limited and allow to equip with such rifles only a few dozen, at best, a hundred trained and highly skilled snipers. That is why Delta SEC has initiated work on the development of high-precision Georgian-made rifles, which would be a cheap alternative to foreign models. Currently, the DELTA center has already created and ready for production large-sized sniper rifles PDShP-1 and PDShP-2 chambered for 12,7х108 mm, store modular rifles Satevari (in five different calibers from .308 WIN to .50 BMG), as well as a self-loading rifle DELTA -308.
The sniper rifle was designed by the designer of the STC DELTA Georgy Sukhiashvili (he is also the creator of the SMG-9 submachine gun currently undergoing tests). Rifle DELTA-308 built on a modular principle. In addition to tactical use, the rifle can be used for sporting purposes. DELTA-308 (also known as “Delta Tactical”), like the vast majority of “Marxman” rifles, was built on the basis of an assault rifle, using in its design the ideology of AR-10 / AR-15 assault rifles designed by Eugene Stoner.
Automation sniper rifle gas type, it is similar to that used in the famous American carbine M4. At the same time, the reloading handle of the weapon is also located, like on the Stoner assault rifles, in the rear upper part of the receiver, which makes it possible to retract the bolt back not only with the right, but with the left hand. Despite this, such a solution in this particular case cannot be called too successful, since the eyepiece of an installed optical system under stress can become an obstacle for the shooter and prevent the rifle from reloading quickly.
The DELTA-308 sniper rifle is powered from plastic box magazines designed for 10 or 20 rounds. The rifle is equipped with adjustable folding bipod. The stock also has an adjustable butt pad and cheek, and an additional folding leg-handle is attached to it from below, which allows the shooter to put the weapon on three supports at once. A feature of this Georgian sniper rifle is the "sport" semi-orthopedic pistol grip, which is similar to the German-made Heckler & Koch PSG 1 sniper rifle grip.
According to customer requirements, the rifle can be made according to its individual wishes or with a different barrel length. The total length of the sniper rifle - 995 mm, weight - 5,6 kg. The declared cost of weapons currently amounts to 2800 dollars, which is significantly less than that of the IMI Galatz sniper rifles that were removed from the IDF and acquired by the Georgian army. According to some reports, these rifles were purchased from Israel after the August 2008 war of the year at a price of around 7 thousand dollars apiece. It is reported that in the case of the organization of mass production of DELTA-308 sniper rifles and the wholesale purchase of all necessary components, the cost of the weapon can be further reduced.
DELTA-308 performance characteristics:
Caliber - 7,62 mm.
Chuck - 7,62x51 mm (.308 WIN)
Length - 995 mm.
Barrel length - 508 mm.
Weight - 5,6 kg.
Power system - box magazines on 10 or 20 cartridges.
Information sources:
https://www.all4shooters.com/ru/strelba/ruzhya/NTTS-DELTA-DELTA-308-snayperskaya-vintovka
http://delta.gov.ge/en/product/308
http://www.apsny.ge/2016/mil/1473308813.php
Information