Heckler & Koch PSG1

The PSG1 (Präzisionsschützengewehr, German for "precision shooting rifle") is a semi-automatic designated marksman rifle designed and produced by the German company Heckler & Koch of Oberndorf am Neckar.

Heckler & Koch PSG1
PSG1
Type	Designated marksman rifle
Place of origin	West Germany
Service history
In service	1972–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Iraqi Civil War (2014–2017) Yemeni Civil War (2015–present) Saudi Arabian-led intervention in Yemen
Production history
Designer	Heckler & Koch GmbH
Designed	1968
Manufacturer	Heckler & Koch GmbH SEDENA (licensed)
Produced	1972–present
Variants	PSG1A1 MSG90 MSG90A1
Specifications
Mass	7.2 kg (15.87 lb)
Length	1,230 mm (48.4 in)
Barrel length	650 mm (25.6 in)
Width	59 mm (2.3 in)
Height	258 mm (10.2 in) with telescopic sight
Cartridge	7.62×51mm NATO
Action	Roller-delayed blowback
Muzzle velocity	868 m/s (2,848 ft/s) (Bullet velocities are highly variable as this metric is dependent on bullet weight and both the powder used and the weight of the powder charge. The velocity shown above is only a representative sample measurement.)
Effective firing range	1,000 m (3,281 ft)
Feed system	5, 10 or 20-round detachable box magazine. 50 round drum also compatible.
Sights	Hensoldt ZF 6×42 PSG1 telescopic sight with illuminated reticle

Development

This rifle is said to have been developed in response to the Munich massacre at the 1972 Summer Olympics. The West German police units at the time lacked the precision shooting capability to effectively neutralize the terrorists to prevent the hostages being killed. H&K was then commissioned to create a high-accuracy, large-magazine capacity, semi-automatic rifle for law enforcement and military use.[1]

In addition, the rifle has been licensed for local production in Pakistan by Pakistan Ordnance Factories (POF) as the PSR-90 and Mexico by DGIM as the Fusil Morelos Bicentenario, a heavily redesigned variant featuring an AR-15 style forward assist and an adjustable gas system for recoil optimization.

Design details

The PSG1 is mechanically based on the G3 rifle and features a low-noise bolt closing device (similar to the forward assist on many M16 rifles). Its shot-to-shot variation is expected to be better than 1 minute of angle (MOA) with match ammunition. This level of accuracy is only average compared to most modern bolt action sniper rifles, but is still exceptional for a semi-automatic rifle and at one time was claimed to be "one of the most accurate semi-automatic sniper rifles in the world."[2]

PSG1s are not supplied with iron sights but come equipped with the Hensoldt ZF 6×42 PSG1 scope with an illuminated reticle. The scope has a built-in bullet drop compensation range adjustment feature which can be adjusted from 100 to 600 m.

It has a heavy free-floating barrel with polygonal rifling and an adjustable stock. The stock is of high impact matte black plastic and has a high degree of adjustment. It is adjustable for length, and includes a pivoting butt cap and a vertically-adjustable cheekpiece. The forend is fitted with a T-way rail for sling swivel or tripod.

The rifle also features a removable and adjustable trigger unit, for further individual fitting of the rifle. The trigger pull can be modified and the whole assembly is removable from the pistol grip. The pistol grip is of a target-style with an adjustable palm shelf.

The PSG1's official suppressor is from Brügger & Thomet (B and T).[3]

PSG1A1

The PSG1A1 variant was introduced by Heckler & Koch in 2006, and features two major improvements. First, the cocking handle was relocated a couple of degrees counter-clockwise. This was due to the fact that when locked rearward, it could physically interfere with the long scopes often used on the rifles. The second modification involved the replacement of the outdated Hensoldt scope. Non-police users often found the scope's 600 m range limitation and simple crosshairs inadequate for their needs. In addition, the rechargeable batteries are difficult to recharge and to find replacements. A final fault is that Hensoldt does not service the scope in the United States. For these reasons, the PSG1A1 has been outfitted with a Schmidt & Bender 3–12×50 Police Marksman II scope, mounted on 34 mm (1.3 in) rings. To remedy brass ejection a brass catcher must be installed.

MSG90

Heckler & Koch MSG90
Type	Sniper rifle
Place of origin	Germany
Service history
In service	1990–present
Used by	See Users
Production history
Designer	Heckler & Koch
Designed	1987
Manufacturer	Heckler & Koch
Produced	1990–present
Variants	MSG90A1 MSG90A2
Specifications
Mass	6.3 kg (13.89 lb)
Length	1,230 mm (48.4 in)
Barrel length	600 mm (23.6 in)
Width	59 mm (2.3 in)
Height	258 mm (10.2 in) with telescopic sight
Cartridge	7.62×51mm NATO
Action	Roller-delayed blowback
Muzzle velocity	868 m/s (2,848 ft/s) (Bullet velocities are highly variable as this metric is dependent on bullet weight and both the powder used and the weight of the powder charge. The velocity shown above is only a representative sample measurement.)
Effective firing range	1,000 m (3,281 ft)
Feed system	5 or 20-round magazine
Sights	Hensoldt ZF 6×42 PSG1 telescopic sight with illuminated reticle

The MSG90 is a militarized variant of the PSG1 that is both strengthened and lightened while less expensive.[4] Compared to the PSG1 which is regarded as a pure sniper rifle, the MSG90 can fill the role of a designated marksman rifle.[5][6]

The PSG1 and MSG90 have different trigger packs. The MSG90 uses a modified version of the push pin trigger packs of H&K roller locked select-fire assault rifles. The composite shoulder stock of the MSG90 is adjustable for height (cheek), length of pull (shoulder), and is smaller and lighter than that of the PSG1. MSG90s have a slightly shorter contoured barrel to help with harmonic stabilization and consistent whip instead of the PSG1's heavy barrel, but remain free-floating. As a result, these particular MSG90 A1s have a threaded barrel capable of attaching a suppressor, which is an advantage over the PSG1.

The sighting system uses the multipurpose Weaver rail mount rather than the Picatinny rail for affixing sighting systems which can be purchased separately. This same rail mounting system is used on the HK21E, HK23E, and G41 (discontinued) series.

The barrel is weighted at the muzzle to aid harmonic stabilization of barrel whip to enhance accuracy. The addition of a flash suppressor adds to the overall length.

MSG90A1

MSG90A2

The MSG90 A2 is the militarized version of the PSG1 A1 sniper rifle. It has many of the same features as the PSG1 A1, but has been tailored to the special requirements of military users. Various modifications have been made to reduce the weight of the MSG90 A2 by approximately 1 kg compared to the PSG1 A1.

MSG90 A2 | Technical Data MSG90 A2 – CAL. 7.62 MM X 51 NATO General Calibre 7.62 mm x 51 Operating principle Delayed roller locked bolt Magazine capacity 5/20 rounds Modes of fire 0-1 Sights O Buttstock ASB Dimensions Length min./max. approx. 1179/1218 mm Width approx. 59.0 mm Height approx. 265.0 mm Barrel length approx. 600 mm Weight Weapon approx. 6,300 g Magazine approx. 190/280 g

Users

Country	Organization	Model	Quantity	Date	Reference
Albania	Special forces	–	–	_	[7]
Bangladesh	Bangladesh Army	MSG90	_	_
Brazil	Special Forces of Brazilian Army, Air Force, Marines, many law enforcement units	PSG-1	_	_
Bulgaria	Military Police, Special Forces and infantry of Bulgarian Army	PSG-1A1	_	_
Croatia	Special police Croatia and Special Operations Battalion Special Operations Battalion (Croatia)	PSG-1	_	_
Denmark	Danish special forces have in a few public events in the 1990s been photographed with MSG90 versions but they are now obsolete.	MSG90	_	_
Finland	Karhu Team (Special Operations Unit of the Helsinki police department)	PSG-1	_	_	[8]
France	1st Marine Infantry Parachute Regiment of the French Army	MSG90	_	_	[9]
Hong Kong	Special Duties Unit	_	_	_	_
India	National Security Guard MARCOS Indian Army OCTOPUS Greyhounds	–	_	_	[10][11]
Indonesia	Komando Pasukan Katak (Kopaska) tactical diver group of the Indonesian Navy	MSG90	_	_	[12]
	Komando Pasukan Khusus (Kopassus) special forces group of the Indonesian Army	MSG90	_	_	[12]
Iraq	Iraqi Armed Forces	MSG90A1	_	_	[13]
Japan	Special Assault Team	PSG-1	_	_	[14]
Lithuania	Lithuanian Armed Forces	MSG90A1	_	_	[13]
Luxembourg	Unité Spéciale de la Police intervention unit of the Grand Ducal Police	PSG1	_	_	[15][16][17]
Macau	Grupo de Operações Especiais (Macau)	_	_	_
Malaysia	11th Grup Gerak Khas (GGK) Special Operation Unit of the Malaysian Army	MSG90A1	_	_	[18]
	Pasukan Khas Laut (PASKAL) Special Operation Unit of the Royal Malaysian Navy		_	_	[19]
	Pasukan Khas Udara (PASKAU) Special Operation Unit of the Royal Malaysian Air Force	PSG1A1	_	_	[20]
	Pasukan Gerakan Khas Tactical Counter-Terrorism Unit of the Royal Malaysia Police		_	_
Mexico	Standard marksman rifle of the Mexican Army Also used by the Policía Federal	MSG90SDN	_	_	[21]
Netherlands	Dienst Speciale Interventies (DSI) Unit Expertise & Operationele Ondersteuning police snipers of the Korps landelijke politiediensten Special Intervention Service.	PSG1	_	_	[22]
Nepal	Nepalese Army	MSG90	100	_	[23]
Norway	Hærens Jegerkommando (HJK), Army Special Forces Command and Marinejegerkommandoen (MJK), Navy Special Forces Command.	MSG90	_	_	[24]
Pakistan	Used by the Pakistan Army. Produced under license by Pakistan Ordnance Factories	PSR 90	_	_	[25][26]
Philippines	Philippine Army Special Operations Command Presidential Security Group Philippine National Police Special Action Force	MSG90 PSG1	_	_	[27]
Saudi Arabia	Special Security Forces	MSG90	_	_	[28]
South Africa	South African Special Forces Brigade	PSG1	_	_	[29]
Turkey	Turkish Special Forces have been photographed with PSG1. Version and adoption status is unclear.	MSG90	_	_	[30]
Korea	Republic of Korea Naval Special Warfare Brigade	MSG90 PSG1	_	_	[27]
Spain	Grupo Especial de Operaciones of the Spanish police Grup Especial d'Intervenció (GEI) of the Mossos d'Esquadra	_	_	_	[31]
Taiwan	_	_	_	_	[32]
Thailand	Underwater Demolition Assault Unit, Royal Thai Air Force Security Force Regiment, Royal Thai Police	MSG90 PSG1	_	_
United Arab Emirates	United Arab Emirates Army	_	_	_	_
United Kingdom	Used as a precision (sniper) rifle by specialist firearms officers in the British police	PSG1	–	_	[33]
United States	Hostage Rescue Team of the Federal Bureau of Investigation	MSG90	_	_	[34]
	Delta Force – 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta (1st SFOD-D)		_	_	[35]
Uruguay	Uruguayan Army Special Forces	MSG90	–	_	[36]
Vietnam	Mobile Police Force (Canh Sat Co Dong)	PSR-90	_	_	[37]

See also

• Walther WA 2000, contemporary and direct competitor
• DSR-50
• FD-200 sniper rifle
• SVD

References

1. Alex C (2013-11-07). "Shooting the H&K MSG90". The Firearms Blog. Archived from the original on 2016-02-21. Retrieved 2015-10-29.
2. "2008 Heckler & Koch Military and LE brochure" (PDF). Photos.imageevent.com. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2015-11-05. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
3. "MSG90 and PSG1 suppressor". B and T. Archived from the original on 2016-03-04. Retrieved 2015-10-29.
4. https://modernfirearms.net/en/sniper-rifles/standart-caliber-rifles/germany-standart-caliber-rifles/hk-msg-90-eng/. Archived from the original on 2018-10-14. Retrieved 2019-02-13. Missing or empty |title= (help)
5. "Shooting the H&K MSG90 –". 7 November 2013. Archived from the original on 2019-02-13. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
6. "H&K MSG90 Sniper Rifle Overview –". 4 February 2016. Archived from the original on 2019-02-13. Retrieved 2019-02-13.
7. "Special operations and counterterrorist forces". Archived from the original on 2013-08-22. Retrieved 2015-10-29.
8. "Kolmoismurhaaja Mika Murasen ehdonalaishakemus hyväksyttiin". MTV. Archived from the original on 2013-09-28. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
9. "HK MSG90" (in French). French Army. 2009. Archived from the original on 2010-04-03. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
10. Bharat Rakshak (2008). "NATIONAL SECURITY GUARDS". Bharat-rakshak.com. Archived from the original on 2012-10-06. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
11. "Weapons division may trigger row". The Times of India. 2014. Archived from the original on 2017-04-25. Retrieved 2017-04-24.
12. "Kopassus & Kopaska – Specijalne Postrojbe Republike Indonezije" (in Croatian). Hrvatski Vojnik Magazine. Archived from the original on 2010-08-22. Retrieved 2010-06-12.
13. "Lietuvos kariuomenė :: Ginkluotė ir karinė technika » Snaiperiniai šautuvai » Snaiperinis šautuvas H&K MSG-90A1". Kam.lt. Archived from the original on 2015-05-16. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
14. "日本の特殊部隊 – (in Japanese)". 2012-11-16. Archived from the original on 2013-11-04. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
15. "Unofficial Pistols Page, Equipment". USP.lu – Unofficial Website of Unité Spéciale, Officially Endorsed. Archived from the original on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2009-10-06.
16. "L'Unite d'Intervention de la Police Luxembourgeoise" (PDF) (in French). RAIDS Magazine. March 2006. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
17. Lasterra, Juan Pablo (2004). "UPS Unidad Especial de la Policia Luxembourguesa" (PDF) (in Spanish). ARMAS Magazine. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2011-07-22. Retrieved 2009-09-23.
18. "Grup Gerak Khas – Malaysian Special Operations". Shadowspear.com. Archived from the original on 2010-05-02. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
19. "Pasukan Khas Laut – Malaysian Special Operations". Shadowspear.com. Archived from the original on 2009-08-02. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
20. Thompson, Leroy (December 2008). "Malaysian Special Forces". Special Weapons. Archived from the original on 2012-04-02. Retrieved 2009-11-29.
21. "Mexico Mexican army land ground forces military equipment armoured vehicle pictures information desc – Mexico Mexican army land ground forces UK – Central America army land forces UK". Armyrecognition.com. Archived from the original on 2015-06-14. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
22. "Scherpschutters BBE Politie". Arrestatieteam.nl. Archived from the original on 2010-10-20. Retrieved 2010-06-18.
23. "Legacies of War in the Company of Peace: Firearms in Nepal" (PDF). Nepal Issue Brief. Small Arms Survey (2): 5. May 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on 2014-07-08. Retrieved 2019-01-08.
24. "Norwegian Armed forced". Mil.no. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
25. "Pakistan Army". Defence.pk. Archived from the original on 2013-10-12. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
26. "POF – Semi Automatic Precision Sniper Rifle PSR 90". Pof.gov.pk. Archived from the original on 2014-12-09. Retrieved 2015-05-31.
27. Special Weapons, February 2010 issue. Page 67-68.
28. "Members of Saudi Arabia's Special Forces practice with their H&K MSG90 sniper rifle".
29. "military issued sniper rifles". Archived from the original on 2016-11-29. Retrieved 2016-12-12.
30. https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/intermediary/f/071fe022-a698-4fc1-8c1f-e0e0def3e571/dbgdxfy-87f98f1b-e34c-4923-9224-0de70898da68.jpg/v1/fill/w_822,h_973,q_70,strp/omer_halisdemir___hero_by_paramara99_dbgdxfy-pre.jpg. Archived from the original on 2019-01-21. Retrieved 2019-01-21. Missing or empty |title= (help)
31. "Grupo Especial de Operaciones – Fusiles de precisión". Policia.es (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 2009-12-12. Retrieved 2009-12-10.
32. Jones, Richard (2009). Jane's Infantry Weapons 2009–2010. Jane's Information Group. p. 903. ISBN 978-0-7106-2869-5.
33. Collins, Steve (1998). The Good Guys Wear Black. England: Arrow. p. 226. ISBN 0-09-918682-9.
34. Sumner, Dominique; Runyon, Doug (2006). "Anything, anytime, anywhere: The unofficial history of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Hostage Rescue Team". Swat Digest. Archived from the original on 2006-05-21. Retrieved 2015-10-29.
35. Fred Pushies, Weapons of Delta Force (New York and London: Zenith Press, 2010), p. 48.
36. "Francotiradores: "hombres pasto"". Retrieved 2015-05-31 – via Facebook.
37. http://baodatviet.vn/quoc-phong/binh-luan-quan-su/trung-quoc-choang-cscd-viet-nam-dung-sung-be-goc-israel-3237837/. Archived from the original on 2018-08-29. Retrieved 2018-08-29. Missing or empty |title= (help)

External links

• Heckler & Koch—official page
• PSG1 on Mel's SniperCentral
• HKPro
• 2008 Heckler & Koch Military and LE brochure
• Video of operation on YouTube (in Japanese)
• Hk MSG90 Video