The Omark Model 44 is a

bolt-action Bolt action is a type of manual Action (firearms), firearm action that is operated by ''directly'' manipulating the bolt (firearms), turn-bolt via a cocking handle, bolt handle, most commonly placed on the right-hand side of the firearm (a ...

single-shot

target Target may refer to: Warfare and shooting * Shooting target, used in marksmanship training and various shooting sports ** Bullseye (target), the goal one for which one aims in many of these sports ** Aiming point, in field artille ...

rifle A rifle is a long gun, long-barreled firearm designed for accurate shooting and higher stopping power, with a gun barrel, barrel that has a helical or spiralling pattern of grooves (rifling) cut into the bore wall. In keeping with their focus o ...

made in Australia. First released in 1968 as the Sportco Model 44 produced in

Sportco Sportco was an Australian manufacturer of rifles and shotguns in Adelaide, South Australia, from 1947 until the early 1980s. Founded by Jack Warne, also known by its full name Sporting Arms Limited, began by manufacturing single shot 22LR rifles. ...

Adelaide Adelaide ( , ; ) is the list of Australian capital cities, capital and most populous city of South Australia, as well as the list of cities in Australia by population, fifth-most populous city in Australia. The name "Adelaide" may refer to ei ...

factory, production was taken over by Omark in the 1970s, then by MAB Engineering in

Brisbane Brisbane ( ; ) is the List of Australian capital cities, capital and largest city of the States and territories of Australia, state of Queensland and the list of cities in Australia by population, third-most populous city in Australia, with a ...

in 1984. The rifle was the mainstay of Australian full bore

target shooting Shooting sports is a group of competitive and recreational sporting activities involving proficiency tests of accuracy, precision and speed in shooting — the art of using ranged weapons, mainly small arms (firearms and airguns, in forms such ...

for many years replacing the .303in.

Lee–Enfield The Lee–Enfield is a bolt-action, magazine-fed repeating rifle that served as the main firearm of the military forces of the British Empire and Commonwealth during the first half of the 20th century, and was the standard service rifle of th ...

. Being a purpose-built target rifle it soon showed its superiority against rebarrelled surplus rifles. It was also popular in Canadian competitions. Omark Model 44 rifles have also been used as a hunting arm. In this capacity however, they must be treated with special care — like any precision rifle, the fine mechanism is vulnerable to jamming when exposed to mud or dirt. The Omark Model 44 was tested as a

sniper rifle A sniper rifle is a high-precision, long range shooting, long-range rifle. Requirements include high accuracy, reliability, mobility, concealment, and optics, for anti-personnel weapon, anti-personnel, anti-materiel rifle, anti-materiel and sur ...

by the

Australian Defence Force The Australian Defence Force (ADF) is the Armed forces, military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia and its national interests. It consists of three branches: the Royal Australian Navy (RAN), Australian Army and the Royal Aus ...

but not adopted, as it is single shot only and the design could not easily be changed to a repeater. Originally just produced in 7.62×51mm it was later available in 5.56×45mm and others. MAB Engineering also produced a pistol version.{{Cite web , url=http://www.mab.com.au/products/firearms/pistol.htm , title=MAB , access-date=2008-06-01 , archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080719161813/http://www.mab.com.au/products/firearms/pistol.htm , archive-date=2008-07-19 , url-status=dead

References

External links

sportco.org.au

MAB Engineering
5.56 mm firearms 7.62×51mm NATO rifles Single-shot bolt-action rifles Hunting rifles Rifles of Australia

See also

References

External links