Biathlon rifle
Specialist biathlon rifles are ultra lightweight, and usually equipped with straight-pull actions, integrated magazine carriers, and ergonomic stock designs suitable for both prone and standing positions.
[citation needed] The current weight limit was established around the 1986 season after Glen Eberle had showed the world a new and lighter stock design.
Eberle set out to make a stronger and lighter design, and received a research grant from the United States Olympic Committee.
He consulted engineers, biomechanical experts and NASA scientists, and the work resulted in a design which combined wood of Sitka spruce and carbon fiber composite materials.
After some initial resistance, the world biathlon governing body accepted the new low weight design, and used it as a standard for the current 3.5 kg limit.
[10] It is not uncommon for athletes to add extra weights to the front of the barrel (i.e. 100 grams), thereby making for more steady aiming by moving the balance point of the rifle forward.
During skiing, the bolt is normally kept closed to prevent snow from entering the action either due to precipitation or in case the athlete falls.
Temperatures below 0 °C (32 °F) can have a significant effect on the reliability and accuracy of most rimfire firearms and ammunition, and some manufacturers therefore certify their production rifles by recording group sizes at for example −20 and 20 °C (−4 and 68 °F).
[15] After long use of .22 LR rifles, lead deposits can have a tendency to build up in the receiver, which can require more thorough cleaning once in a while to ensure continued precision and smooth operation without jams.
However, with the Fortner straight pull action, the shooter closes the bolt using their thumb, allowing the index finger to get on the trigger blade faster.
In 1977, when international biathlon standardized the .22 LR caliber, Izhmash released Bi-6 bolt action rimfire rifle.
[30] Soviet athletes went to the Biathlon event at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid using Bi 7-2 straight pull rifles, and won most medals.
Bi 7-4 serial production rifles have been steadily refined across the years, with major upgrades in parts like the barrel, stock and sights.
After interest from the Norwegian Biathlon Association, the Bi 7-3 Cadet rifle has been developed to suit the needs of beginner biathletes.
The rifle had a one piece hardwood stock with a UIT rail and came with a handstop, and came with peep sights having 1/4 moa (0.073 mrad) click adjustments.
The predecessor of biathlon, military patrol, was fired with fullbore rifles, and was part of the 1924 Olympics, as well as a demonstration event in 1928, 1936 and 1948.
From the start of the modern biathlon in 1958 until 1965, international competitions were held exclusively using high power centerfire cartridges (such as the .30-06 and 7.62 NATO).
Visiting shooters at the 1958 World Championships in Moscow had the opportunity to borrow Ross rifles converted to the 7.62x54R Soviet cartridge.
[60] In 1975, before the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, the West German team contacted Anschütz with the aim to develop a more competitive rifle.
There was never any large scale serial production of dedicated fullbore biathlon rifles in Norway, but a common recipe for a custom build was to start with a Mauser mechanism with a 19 mm barrel profile, and add diopter sights such as either Kongsberg Elit, Söderin or Redfield.
[citation needed] For example, Sako Vixen rifles in .223 Rem were used by some Norwegian competitions, equipped with an ergonomic stock and a modern biathlon carrying harness.
At the 1960 Winter Olympics 20 km individual, Soviet biathlete Alexander Privalov won the bronze medal using the Bi-59 rifle.
[31] Bi-6,5 and BiL-6,5 ( [ru]) in rifles (the latter based on a hunting carbine) were later Soviet fullbore biathlon developments in 6.5 mm caliber aimed at reducing recoil and weight.
The rifle had its world debut at the 1976 Winter Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, with the impressive results of Nikolay Kruglov taking the individual gold medal as well as the Soviet team winning the relay.
Biathlon in Sweden was long governed by the Swedish Multisport Association (Svenska Mångkampsförbundet, formerly Sveriges militära idrottsförbund), as opposed to the FSR.
Therefore, there were some Swedish biathlon rifles which were not approved for other types of competitions within the FSR, like for example the Carl Gustaf CG-67 (Skidskyttegevär CG-67).
The WF Bern Precision Carbine (Präzisionskarabiner) Model 74B was built in 1974 according to international biathlon competition rules, and chambered for the 7.5×55mm cartridge.
It is based on a K31 action, with the main differences being diopter sights, a heavy barrel, anatomic stock with a rubber buttpad and an adjustable two stage trigger.
[71][72] Other special K31 variants are the Präzisionskarabiner Modell 65[73] and 70B, which differed from more common civilian K31 versions having more modifications as permitted by UIPMB (biathlon) and UIT (free rifle) competition rules.
This compared to more common civilian K31 versions used in Swiss shooting matches, which are similar to those issued by the military except for aftermarket diopter sights.
