SAR 21 Sharpshooter
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Barrel
- 508 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.82 kg
- Introduced
- 2003
About
What it is, and why it matters
The SAR 21 Sharpshooter is the designated marksman variant of Singapore's standard-issue SAR 21 (Singapore Assault Rifle - 21st Century) bullpup assault rifle. Developed by ST Kinetics and adopted by the Singapore Armed Forces, the Sharpshooter variant features an integrated 3.0x optical sight with luminous reticle paint as standard equipment, enabling enhanced target identification and precision engagement at extended ranges. The rifle retains the SAR 21's bullpup configuration, which places the action behind the trigger group, resulting in a compact 805mm overall length despite having a full 508mm (20-inch) barrel. The gas-operated short-stroke piston system with a rotating bolt provides reliable cycling, while the 30-round STANAG-compatible magazine ensures sustained engagement capability. Weighing 3.82 kg empty, the Sharpshooter is exceptionally lightweight for a DMR platform, reflecting the bullpup design's inherent compactness advantage. The rifle is intended to provide squad-level precision fire support at ranges up to 500 meters.
Singapore's approach to the designated marksman problem is characteristically pragmatic: rather than adopting a completely different weapon system, the city-state simply enhanced its existing bullpup assault rifle with a higher-magnification optic and selected the most accurate examples from production for the Sharpshooter role. In Singapore's dense urban and jungle terrain, the compact bullpup format provides a significant handling advantage over conventional DMR platforms.
The SAR 21 Sharpshooter is assigned to designated marksmen within Singapore Armed Forces infantry sections, providing an organic precision capability without requiring a separate weapon system or caliber. While the 5.56 NATO cartridge limits its effective range compared to 7.62mm DMR platforms, the commonality of ammunition and magazines with the standard SAR 21 simplifies logistics significantly. The Sharpshooter's integrated 3x optic is fixed and cannot be easily swapped, which limits modularity but ensures the sight is always properly zeroed and protected within the rifle's housing. Singapore has since developed the NG SAR (Next Generation SAR) as an eventual replacement for the entire SAR 21 family.
Specification
Everything measured
IdentityWhat it is, who built it and when.
- Manufacturer
- ST Engineering Land Systems
- Category
- Sniper Rifle
- Country
- Singapore
- Status
- In production
- Produced
- 2003
- Variant of
- Designated marksman
DimensionsAs issued, without a magazine or an optic.
- Barrel
- 508 mm
- Overall length
- 805 mm
- Weight, empty
- 3.82 kg
- Weight, loaded
- 4.20 kg
ActionHow it cycles, what trips it, and what feeds it.
- Action
- Gas operated short stroke
- Firing mechanism
- Rotating bolt
- Trigger
- Single stage
- Capacity
- 30
- Magazine
- Detachable box
MaterialsEach swatch is the material itself, not a colour chosen to stand for it.
- Frame
- Polymer
- Barrel
- Steel
- Stock
- Polymer
- Finish
- Matte black
BallisticsFrom the service cartridge, not a handload.
- Muzzle velocity
- 940 m/s
- Muzzle energy
- 1776 J
- Effective range
- 500 m
- Maximum range
- 2600 m
- Rate of fire
- 450 rpm
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.
Bullpup configuration
Integrated 3x optical sight
Laser aiming device- M203 compatible
Stanag magazine compatible
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 430 sniper rifles | 3.82 kg | 5.40 kg | Lighter than about 90% |
| Overall lengthAmong 429 sniper rifles | 805 mm | 1150 mm | Among the shortest tenth |
| Barrel lengthAmong 434 sniper rifles | 508 mm | 620 mm | Shorter than about 80% |
| Magazine capacityAmong 434 sniper rifles | 30 | 6 | Among the largest capacities |
Its place in the rankings
Answers
Questions about the SAR 21 Sharpshooter
How much does the SAR 21 Sharpshooter weigh?
The SAR 21 Sharpshooter weighs 3.82 kg (8.42 lb) empty and 4.20 kg (9.26 lb) loaded.
What caliber is the SAR 21 Sharpshooter?
The SAR 21 Sharpshooter is chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO.
How many rounds does the SAR 21 Sharpshooter hold?
The SAR 21 Sharpshooter holds 30 rounds, fed from a detachable box magazine.
How long is the SAR 21 Sharpshooter?
The SAR 21 Sharpshooter is 805 mm (31.7 in) long overall, with a 508 mm (20.0 in) barrel.
Who makes the SAR 21 Sharpshooter?
The SAR 21 Sharpshooter is made by ST Engineering Land Systems (Singapore).
When was the SAR 21 Sharpshooter introduced?
The SAR 21 Sharpshooter was introduced in 2003.
How does the SAR 21 Sharpshooter operate?
The SAR 21 Sharpshooter uses a gas operated short stroke action, and its firing mechanism is rotating bolt.
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
- Singapore Armed Forces
- 2003
Provenance
Confidence in this record
65%
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/sar-21-sharpshooter' \ --header 'X-API-Key: your_key'{ "id": "sar-21-sharpshooter", "name": "SAR 21 Sharpshooter", "manufacturer": { "id": "st-kinetics", "name": "ST Engineering Land Systems", "countryCode": "SG", "foundedYear": 1967, "website": "https://www.stengg.com", "logoUrl": null, "description": "Singapore defense contractor specializing in armored vehicles and ground combat systems. Historically produced small arms including the Ultimax 100 light machine gun and SAR 21 bullpup rifle.", "status": "active", "defunctYear": null, "stateOwned": null, "makesFirearms": true, "parentId": null, "predecessorId": null, "createdAt": "2026-02-18 03:40:48", "updatedAt": "2026-09-15 07:19:19", "version": "60b09a84aaed1bb6ff46e4d8f29b675171e7f36c2772f1aafc8dcf4bf0262e2e" }, "category": { "id": "sniper-rifle", "name": "Sniper Rifle", "description": "Precision rifles optimized for long-range accuracy" }, "country_of_origin": "SG", "year_introduced": 2003, "barrel_length_mm": 508, "weight_empty_g": 3820, "action_type": "gas_operated_short_stroke"}