Accuracy International AWS
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Barrel
- 406 mm
- Weight, empty
- 6.80 kg
- Introduced
- 1996
About
What it is, and why it matters
The Accuracy International AWS (Arctic Warfare Suppressed) is a bolt-action sniper rifle derived from the AW series and chambered in .308 Winchester, purpose-built around an integral suppressor for covert precision shooting. Its special 406mm barrel is fitted with a removable aluminium-alloy integral suppressor that surrounds the barrel; the barrel and suppressor together measure 711mm, keeping the rifle's overall length within the normal envelope of a standard AW. Optimised for subsonic ammunition, the AWS produces a report comparable to a .22 LR match round while delivering an effective range of roughly 300 metres. Like the rest of the Arctic Warfare family, it uses an aluminium chassis stock with a folding stock, integrated adjustable bipod, adjustable butt pad, cheek pad, rear monopod and a 10-round detachable box magazine. The barrel/suppressor unit can be removed and swapped for a standard AW or AWP barrel in about three minutes, making the rifle readily reconfigurable in the field.
The AWS answered a specialist requirement for a suppressed precision rifle that could take a shot without betraying the shooter's position. By integrating the suppressor into the barrel assembly and tuning it for subsonic ammunition, Accuracy International produced a rifle whose muzzle signature is no louder than a rimfire match round, ideal for close-quarter counter-sniper and covert reconnaissance work.
The integral suppressor is fitted over a shortened match barrel rather than screwed onto the muzzle, allowing subsonic .308 loads to run quietly without a sonic crack. The AWS retains the 60-degree bolt throw, aluminium chassis and cold-weather reliability of the AW series. The special barrel uses a 1-in-9-inch (229mm) twist to stabilise heavier subsonic projectiles.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- Accuracy International
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Country
- United Kingdom
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 1996
- Variant of
- Suppressed
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 406 mm
- Overall length
- 1150 mm
- Weight, empty
- 6.80 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 7.20 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Bolt action
- Firing mechanism
- Striker fired
- Trigger
- Two stage
- Trigger pull
- 15.0 N
- Capacity
- 10
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Aluminum alloy
- Barrel
- Stainless steel
- Stock
- Aluminum chassis polymer furniture
- Finish
- Matte black
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 320 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 498 J
- Effective range
- 300 m
Trajectory
What the round does downrange
Solved from the muzzle figures and the bullet. The dashed rule is the effective range on the record, and the crosses are the steps the solver returned.
Features
What it has
What the record lists as fitted, drawn from the catalogue.
Integral suppressor
Free floating barrel
Folding stock
Adjustable cheek piece
Adjustable butt pad
Integrated adjustable bipod
Rear monopod
Quick change barrel- Subsonic optimized
- Cold weather operation
Standing
How it compares
Each figure against the firearms of the same type and cartridge that record it, or of the same type where that cartridge has too few. Positions are read to the nearest tenth.
| Measurement | This firearm | Median | Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| Empty weightAmong 95 .308 Winchester sniper rifles | 6.80 kg | 5.20 kg | Heavier than about 90% |
| Overall lengthAmong 95 .308 Winchester sniper rifles | 1150 mm | 1130 mm | Longer than about 60% |
| Barrel lengthAmong 95 .308 Winchester sniper rifles | 406 mm | 610 mm | Shorter than about 90% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 95 .308 Winchester sniper rifles | 10 | 7 | Holds more rounds than about 80% |
Answers
Questions about the Accuracy International AWS
How much does the Accuracy International AWS weigh?
The Accuracy International AWS weighs 6.80 kg (14.99 lb) empty and 7.20 kg (15.87 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the Accuracy International AWS?
The Accuracy International AWS is chambered in .308 Winchester.
How many rounds does the Accuracy International AWS hold?
The Accuracy International AWS holds 10 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the Accuracy International AWS?
The Accuracy International AWS is 1150 mm (45.3 in) long overall, with a 406 mm (16.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the Accuracy International AWS?
The Accuracy International AWS is made by Accuracy International (United Kingdom). It was designed by Dave Walls.
When was the Accuracy International AWS introduced?
The Accuracy International AWS was introduced in 1996.
How does the Accuracy International AWS operate?
The Accuracy International AWS uses a bolt action, and its firing mechanism is striker fired.
Compatibility
Which parts fit this firearm
Studio
Every part that mounts on this, resolved
Not a list the maker typed out: the answer comes from the mounts this firearm exposes and the interface each part needs, so it stays right when either one changes.
- Every part that mounts on any firearm in the catalogue
- Interface standards, platforms and fit overrides
- The same answers through the API and the MCP server
Requires a signed-in GunSpec account on the Studio plan. The answer is computed per part, so it is not part of the public record.
Provenance
What the record holds
Every figure above was taken from one of these pages. The confidence reflects how much of the record came from a page a claim can be checked against.
In service
- British Armed Forces
- United Kingdom
- German Special Forces
- Germany
Provenance
Confidence in this record
72%
Stockists
Where to buy
Offers link straight to the shop. GunSpec never takes the order.
No shop has listed this firearm yet
Stock and prices come from the shops themselves. If you sell this firearm, you can list it and it appears here.
List a firearmMCP
Ask an assistant about it
The same record, reached the way a person asks for it rather than the way a program does.
Ask GunSpec
Works with
Point an MCP client at GunSpec and it answers from the catalogue rather than from memory. A free key covers the read tools.
API
The call that returns this record
The same fields, in the same units, from the same endpoint the page reads.
curl --request GET \ --url 'https://api.gunspec.io/v1/firearms/accuracy-international-aws' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "accuracy-international-aws", "name": "Accuracy International AWS", "manufacturer": { "id": "accuracy-international", "name": "Accuracy International", "countryCode": "GB", "foundedYear": 1978, "website": "https://www.accuracyinternational.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": null, "status": null, "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": null, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-11 23:44:38", "updatedAt": "2026-02-18 03:43:34", "version": "866df02489fa366bae9eb49362c9e929d73f7a1c5456d99b5727d9c049063c47" }, "category": { "id": "sniper-rifle", "name": "Sniper Rifle", "description": "Precision rifles optimized for long-range accuracy" }, "country_of_origin": "GB", "year_introduced": 1996, "barrel_length_mm": 406, "weight_empty_g": 6800, "action_type": "bolt_action"}