L96

L96 is a designation most commonly associated with the Accuracy International L96A1 Arctic Warfare sniper rifle, a bolt-action precision weapon developed in the United Kingdom in the 1990s as part of the Arctic Warfare family. The L96A1 was designed for long-range engagement and reliability across varied environments, and it has been adopted by military and law enforcement units in several countries.

Design and features: The rifle utilizes a bolt-action mechanism, a heavy free-floating barrel, and an adjustable stock with cheek rest and length-of-pull to suit individual shooters. It is typically equipped with a scope mounting system and a rifle-integrated bipod or a detachable bipod accessory. The Arctic Warfare lineage emphasizes modularity, allowing some configurations to be adapted with different barrels, stocks, and optics. Caliber options have varied by model and country, with configurations including 7.62×51mm NATO, .300 Winchester Magnum, and .338 Lapua Magnum in different iterations.

Operational use: The L96A1 and related Arctic Warfare rifles have seen service with the British Armed Forces and multiple international customers, including police and special forces units. They have been deployed in various operational theaters and are known for long-range precision, robustness, and adaptability to harsh conditions.

Variants and successors: The L96 designation encompasses several variants within the Arctic Warfare family. Over time, the platform influenced later precision rifles developed by Accuracy International, and its reputation remains tied to the long-range, high-precision role it was designed to fulfill.

See also: Accuracy International, Arctic Warfare, L115/L115A3 (related precision rifles).