vakiokiväärille

Vakiokivääri, literally “standard rifle” in Finnish, is a legal and technical classification used in Finland to describe firearms that meet specific design criteria for use in sport shooting, marksmanship training and certain military applications. The term is not used to denote a single weapon model but rather a set of performance and safety characteristics that a rifle must possess to be classified in this category.

According to the Finnish Firearms Act, a vakiokivääri must be designed for use with typical rifle calibers such as 5.56 × 45 mm NATO or .223 R, have a fixed or removable barrel, and incorporate a safety mechanism that prevents accidental discharge. The classification is particularly relevant for rifles used in national competitions governed by the Finnish Shooting Sport Federation, where competition rifles are required to have a trigger pull weight of at least 2.5 kg and a standardised bolt or slide design.

Military organisations, especially the Finnish Defence Forces, refer to vakiokivääri when issuing standard issue rifles that are not designated as combat weapons. For example, the M1A model, chambered in 5.56 mm, is commonly cited as a vakiokivääri because it fulfils the specification of a reliable, well-balanced rifle suitable for basic training.

The vakiokivääri classification also benefits civilian shooters by simplifying the licensing process; owners of a vakiokivääri do not require additional permits beyond the standard rifle ownership licence.

In summary, vakiokivääri denotes a group of rifles that adhere to Finnish legal and technical standards for sporting and training use, ensuring safety, reliability and suitability for competitions and basic firearms instruction.