RATMIL Sporting Sniping Rifle (SSR)
Notes: This
rifle is a military adaptation of a commercial sporting weapon, typically
equipped with a civilian scope, though the PSO-1 sight of the SVD Dragunov may
be employed. This weapon also has
backup iron sights. The stock and
cheekpiece are adjustable. The
weapon is referred to in company literature as the “Sporting Sniping Rifle;” the
military designation of the weapon is still unknown.
An unusual feature is the magazine; though it is entirely inside the
weapon when inserted, the magazine is nonetheless slightly curved, for feed
reliability. There are some rumors
that the SSR is either a later version of the PL, or the PL is a later version
of the SSR.
Twilight 2000
Notes: This weapon was issued, almost en-masse, to Romanian resistance and to
former Yugoslavia resistance snipers.
Romanian military snipers seemed to prefer the SVD and PL.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
RATMIL SSR |
7.62mm Nagant |
4.9 kg |
5 |
$2384 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
RATMIL SSR |
BA |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
7 |
3 |
Nil |
99 |
RATMIL SSR (Bipod) |
BA |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
7 |
1 |
Nil |
128 |
Romarm FPK
Notes: One might
think that the FPK (also known as the PSL, a mistake in the West, as “PSL” is
actually the designation of the FPK’s standard scope) is merely a version of the
Russian SVD sniper rifle – at first glance.
However, the FPK, designed in the late 1970s, actually uses the RPK
automatic rifle as a base, and therefore has an operation virtually identical to
the Kalashnikov AK/RPK series rather than the Dragunov (suitably modified for
the larger cartridge, and of better-quality construction).
The trigger pack is that of an AK and the receiver is based on the RPK.
The operation of the FPK is also semiautomatic-only, with no automatic fire
capability. The skeletonized wooden
stock may have been inspired by that of the SVD, but it is of a different shape
and has a thick rubber recoil pad on the butt (though early production models
used a steel buttplate resting on springs as a recoil buffer).
The barrel is 25.6 inches long; it is of better quality than your average
RPK, but not generally up to the quality of a Western-built sniper rifle of the
period. The muzzle is equipped with
an actual muzzle brake instead of the flash suppressor of the SVD, and there is
also a bayonet lug. The base RPK’s
iron sights have been modified into sights which are appropriate for the FPK,
but are otherwise similar to those of the RPK; however, the FPK’s rear sight is
more finely adjustable than that of the RPK or SVD, and features a bullet drop
compensator. The FPK has a sight
rail attached to the left side of the receiver; originally, the Romanians used a
modification of the standard PSO-1 with a magnification of 4x24 exclusively on
the FPK (and their other sniper rifles, for that manner; as noted above, this
scope is designated the PSL), but recently Romanian-made scopes of 6x42 and 8x42
have been seen on the FPK (and other Romanian sniper rifles). Versions of the
PSL with higher magnification and greater eye relief are also made, and are
gradually replacing the PSL in Romanian service.
The aiming reticle of the PSL is identical to that of the PSO-1 mounted
on the SVD, though it not illuminated. A version of the PSL with an illuminated
reticle is also available, and used by many Romanian snipers. The stock and
fore-end of the FPK are of dense beech, while the external metalwork is blued
with a black finish. The butt has a rubber recoil pad; the stock is similar in
design to that of the SVD, but still very different in shape, including a cheek
swell and a dropped portion of the stock behind that. The length of pull is a
little short at 12.5 inches (31.75 centimeters). The magazines of the FPK are
proprietary, and will not fit in any SVD or SVD clone.
However, an SVD’s magazines will
fit into an FPK and can be used without any problems.
(Of course, this has led to a problem in today’s market – the Romanian
magazines are much less expensive in real life terms, look very similar to SVD
magazines at first glance, and advertisers don’t always make it clear that FPK
magazines are not SVD magazines…
If other civilian loadings or standard 7.62mm Nagant rounds are used,
accuracy will suffer (-1 to hit at short range and medium range, and -2 at long
and extreme range with standard or most civilian 7.62mm Nagant ammunition).
Western or Eastern match-quality can be substituted for the sniper 7.62mm rounds
with no ill effect. The gas piston on the bolt tends to work itself loose and
needs periodic tightening, or accuracy will seriously degrade. The barrel heats
fast with firing; many experts say that the FPK should not fire more than as
little as rounds before it be set aside for cooling for about 30 seconds to
prevent damage to the barrel. It should be noted that the Romanians, like the
Russians, a different philosophy than in the West (though increasingly, shooters
that we would call a sniper in the West are being trained and deployed).
Their “snipers” are deployed at squad level and are trained to provide
“aimed” fire as opposed to what in the West would be termed “precision”, and
their engagements normally take place at no more than 400 meters.
The Romak 3 is
specially designed for the 7N1 and 7N14 sniper versions of the FPK. The only
real difference between the Romak 3 and the FPK, other than the possible lack of
a muzzle brake, is the deletion of the FPK’s bayonet lug.
After the fall
of the Iron Curtain, the Romanians began manufacturing the FPK in a civilian
version known as the Romak 3 (also called the SSG-69).
This version comes in several alternate calibers and has no bayonet lug,
but is otherwise identical to the FPK.
However. The standard scope sold with the Romak 3 is the PSL. The Romak 3
has quickly found buyers around the globe, particularly in the US.
Romak 3s are often found with modified scope mounts allowing them to
mount Western-type optics (particularly civilian scopes).
In addition, in anticipation of Romania’s entry into NATO, they started
re-chambering their military FPKs to fire the 7.62mm NATO cartridge rather soon
after the fall of the Iron Curtain, and these rifles have also been exported.
Magazines for these chamberings are also proprietary.
It should be
noted that while the Romanians call the FPK a “sniper rifle,” even they do not
use it as such; in Romanian service, the FPK is used in a role Western forces
would term a “Designated Marksman Rifle.”
For game purposes, the Romak 3 is identical to the FPK, except that the
Romak 3 is often sold without a muzzle brake. (Romak 3s without a muzzle brake
cost $50 less.)
Twilight 2000
Notes: The alternate caliber FPKs do not exist in the Twilight 2000 timeline,
nor does the Romak 3.
Merc 2000 Notes:
8mm Mauser and .30-06 Springfield FPKs do not exist.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
FPK |
7.62mm Nagant |
4.94 kg |
10 |
$1453 |
FPK |
7.62mm NATO |
4.72 kg |
10 |
$1403 |
FPK |
8mm Mauser |
5.52 kg |
10 |
$1582 |
FPK |
.30-06 Springfield |
5.56 kg |
10 |
$1590 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
FPK
(7.62mm Nagant) |
SA |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
3 |
Nil |
96 |
FPK
(7.62mm NATO) |
SA |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
3 |
Nil |
93 |
FPK
(8mm) |
SA |
5 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
3 |
Nil |
97 |
FPK
(.30-06) |
SA |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
3 |
Nil |
84 |
Romarm PL
Notes: The PL
began life as a military adaptation of a civilian hunting rifle, but the changes
produced during that adaptation were so profound that the resulting rifle, the
PL, was definitely a military weapon.
The wooden stock has been weatherproofed and laminated, and the stock has
been given a cheekpiece adjustable for height and a buttplate adjustable for
length and height, as well as a thick rubber recoil pad.
The stock has also been somewhat skeletonized to make a semi-pistol grip.
The fore-end has a folding bipod attached which is adjustable for height.
The quality of the 24.6-inch barrel, already good, was improved further
and a muzzle brake was added. The
magazine well was altered, allowing the use of the same magazines as used by the
FPK. The PL has a mount which is
much more flexible than most other Eastern European sniper rifles, and is able
to mount a wide variety of telescopic sights or night vision devices.
The PL was in
fact advertised on the Romarm (then known as RATMIL) website for a little over a
year in the early 2000s, then quietly disappeared; why it was withdrawn is still
unknown. Regardless, it reappeared,
and has been on sale for about 3 years now.
Twilight 2000
Notes: The PL was rare until well after the Twilight War.
Weapon |
Ammunition |
Weight |
Magazines |
Price |
PL |
7.62mm Nagant |
4.49 kg |
10 |
$2459 |
Weapon |
ROF |
Damage |
Pen |
Bulk |
SS |
Burst |
Range |
PL |
BA |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
3 |
Nil |
100 |
PL (Bipod) |
BA |
4 |
2-3-Nil |
8 |
1 |
Nil |
130 |