Sniper Rifle System 45

== Sniper Rifle System 45 ==
"The 45 ain't a bad rifle. It's great in fact. Accurate, and fast firing, but not too fast. And compared to the 99, its lighter, quieter, and kicks less. While it can mow down innies in full armor, grunts, and jackals all day, it takes a couple of shots to down an elite with their shields up, and I don't think brutes even notice a hit by the damn thing. Then again, brute don't notice anything but anti material fire." -UNSC E5 serviceman
=== Overview ===
The Sniper Rifle System 45 Magnum/Anti-Personnel, is an anti personnel sniper rifle in service with the UNSC since adoption by all UNSC branches in early 2421 replacing several different sniper rifle models in use at the time, and is considered the predecessor to the SRS-99 AM. The SRS 45 M/AP was designed, produced, and is continuously updated by Misriah Armory. It has seen service with UNSC forces through the insurrection, the Human Covenant war, and continues to see service in the post war era alongside its larger counterpart, the SRS-99. While its role in the UNSC has been diminished, it still remains a popular weapon where found.
It was based off of the UNSC Marines sniper rifle, the SRS-38, which was in service from 2297 up to its replacement in 2421.
=== Inception and Development ===
In 2399, Misriah Armory began development on a highly durable, high performance sniper rifle for the UNSC. By 2421, the result was the Sniper Rifle System 45, and it was adopted by all UNSC branches, and was favored by UNSC marine snipers. 
Originally chambered in an Armor Piercing .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge, Misriah Armory was dissatisfied with the projectiles performance against modern body armor. Hence, from the project, also came Misriah Armory's proprietary ammunition for the rifle. The 8.6 x 86 mm Full Metal Jacket - Armor Piercing High Velocity Eldritch Magnum, which under the UNSC arsenal, is labeled as the M158 Magnum Sniper Catridge.
In coming with the change of caliber, several issues arose with jamming with shell extraction and some parts unable to handle the higher force from the new cartridge. To fix this, Misriah set the extractor and ejection port slightly behind the magazine well; allowing the receiver to travel slightly farther back which dissipated more recoil force (though slowed fire rate from 240 rpm to 180 rpm). This extra room also allowed the engineers of Misriah to implement a fully ambidextrous extractor system capable of being switched from right handed to left handed in seconds without the need of opening the weapon. 
Its silhouette is mostly boxy as its barrel is housed in a sturdy, rectangular shroud to protect the barrel from the elements and debris. In side the shroud, are several systems and components meant to stabilize the barrel from recoil during firing which increases accuracy. These systems can be adjusted by an operator in the field if needed to compensate for air pressure and temperature, but the default settings will work well in all environments. All models after and including the SRS 45-A2 make use of an automated system to make these adjustments automatically, but can still be adjusted manually if needed or preferred by the operator. Its rectangular muzzle is an Misriah Armory proprietary M63-SR45 integrated flash suppressor, which also helps dampen the sound of firing, though not to the same degree as a traditional silencer. The flash created by an SRS-45 is very brief and dim, making it harder for hostiles to spot an operator while firing. Silencers can be attached to the end of the integrated flash suppressor via hard points; when a silencer is attached to the rifle, the operator becomes nearly impossible to detect via muzzle flash and noise from firing. The sound of firing is noted to be a brief dull thud, rather than a sharp crack or thunderous boom. 
The weapon also uses a hydraulic, spring loaded recoil dampener which greatly increases a shooters ability to fire rounds rapidly, and accurately on a target. More recoil dampening systems are included in the weapons adjustable stock, which include an adjustable cheek rest. 
Other feature include UNSC smart targeting and HUD linked targeting systems, and a slew of magnetic hard points for attachments and scopes. The standard scope is an M-116A Smart Scope with thermal and night vision modes with full HUD integration. After 2460, the M-116A scope came with an integrated laser range finder standard.
Due to the weapons making use of multiple proprietary systems, parts, and ammunition, and several other reasons created by the advent of the Covenant (such as the need for an insanely powerful sniper cartridge, similar in power to anti-material rounds, to down Sangheili in a single shot), production for the SRS-45 slowed greatly during the Human Covenant war for the far more powerful, simpler, and more quickly produced SRS-99.
The weapon has several different iterations and variants, with the current version in use by the UNSC armed forces being the SRS-45A7-B. As of 2575, Misriah Armory is in development of a replacement for the SRS-45 Anti-Personnel with the SRS-49 project, which will still use the M158 MS Cartridge.
== Service ==
The SRS 45 has performed admirably over its years with the UNSC. During the insurrection, it proved capable of killing both armored and unarmored infantry targets with a single shot. It proved durable and reliable in all environments, making it a fast favorite among snipers. Its relatively low degree of detection only furthered this favorability. Its larger magazine and faster fire rate made it well fit for the anti-infantry role it was designed for. While ineffective against heavy armor, the weapon does show some success against lightly armored vehicles. Several specialty types of ammunition only increase this effectiveness, allowing it to act as a substitute anti material weapon in the absence of a proper one. These include explosive armor piercing rounds (inspired by ammunition used by the M-6 Magnum), penetrating flechette ammunition (arguably the most notorious of exotic ammunition's for the SRS 45), and targeting beacons for artillery.
It is also noted, somewhat morbidly, that the SRS 45 and the M158 MSC are highly effective against UNSC BDU's and body armor. Captured units of the SRS 45 used by human rebels have proved capable of easily downing Marines and Army troopers in full BDU from 2000 meters away with single shots.
The SRS 45 was common place during the insurrection, being the standard anti personnel sniper rifle of the UNSC. However when the covenant invaded, the SRS 45 began to struggle against the energy shields of the elites combat harness with standard M158 MSC. In 2527, the UNSC sidelined the SRS 45 in favor of the more devastating SRS 99. The SRS 45 and the M158 are more than capable against jackals and grunts, however requires at least two shots center mass, one to deplete energy shielding and one to kill, against elite minors; it is noted that a shot to the head is capable of instantly killing an elite minor with full shields. More ammunition must be spent to kill higher ranking elites. It has also proven almost useless as a sniper rifle against brutes, requiring at least half a magazine fired center of mass to kill, as has most weaponry lesser than anti-material weapons. It is still proven to have some limited effectiveness on light covenant vehicles, although incapable of destroying most, is capable of disabling critical systems such as power, weapons, and propulsion if exotic ammunition is used by a skilled marksman.
While no longer the main star of the UNSC marksman, the SRS 45 still saw extensive use in the war due to its ability to tear through grunts, jackals, and other cannon fodder easily with out wasting ammunition of more powerful weapons needed for more potent foes. However, as the war went on and production of the SRS 45 waned, due to favoring of the SRS 99 by the UNSC and destruction of weapons production facilities, the SRS 45 became less and less of a common sight, though was never a rare thing to see. It saw action from Harvest in 2525, across all fronts and all colonies, all the way to Earth in 2552 at the wars end. It even saw limited usage by marines on the ark during the battle of installation 00.
In the post war era, the SRS 45 is beginning to see more widespread use again as human rebels begin to resurface and fight once more against the UNSC and UEG. Though it is still overshadowed by its far more powerful cousin the heroic SRS 99, which is widely considered the sniper rifle that helped save humanity. 
With its lower recoil, detectability, and more forgiving nature for missing shots than the SRS 99, the SRS 45 is popular among UNSC army, marine, ODST, navy, and air force personnel and usually is the more favorable sniper rifle among most non-Spartans in conventional combat scenarios. However, among Spartan personnel, the SRS 99 is the more favored weapon as Spartan augmentations allow them to have less issue with recoil, rapid relocation, and missing targets, and as the nature of their missions generally require more power. 
== Ammunition ==
=== [ M158 FMJ-AP-HV-Magnum Sniper Cartridge ] ===
The M158 FMJ-AP-HV is a proprietary bullet created by Misriah Armory specifically for the SRS 45. The cartridge is the 8.6 x 86 mm high velocity full metal jacket armor piercing Eldritch Magnum round. It is highly effective against infantry and body armor and capable of piercing up to 172.72 mm (6.8 in) of titanium, and shows limited effectiveness against light armor. This penetration increases with a subvariant of the M-158 (M-158B) that utilizes a depleted uranium sheath around the tungsten core.
=== [ M158-Anti-Vehicular L-APHE-Magnum Sniper Cartridge ] ===
The M158 L-APHE MSC Anti-Vehicular is a light anti material version of the standard M158 allowing the weapon to act as a stand in for an anti material weapon in case a unit lacks one. While nowhere near as effective as a proper anti material weapon, it is still moderately capable against light armor. The bullet has a timed delay explosive charge and is capable of piercing 38.1 mm (1.5 in) of titanium before detonating. When used by UNSC forces against insurrectionist armored vehicles (namely captured M-12 FAV warthogs), it was capable of disabling the vehicles without too much difficulty. It was seen blowing off chunks of light armor, the suspension, wheels, and when fired at the engine compartment, was capable of detonating inside the captured M-12's engine disabling or destroying the vehicles. The round also proved capable at killing and incapacitating the vehicles crew.
It is noted that this cartridge is extremely effective against larger covenant targets such as elites, brutes, and hunters (capable of killing most sangheili units, including zealots, in one or two shots center mass). However, due to cost of production for the cartridge, it did not save the SRS 45 from being usurped by the SRS 99 in the need for a more powerful rifle.
After the introduction of the M158 H-APHE in 2553, the original M-158 Anti-vehicular was retroactively re-designated as a light anti-material round.
=== [ M160 Locator Beacon-Magnum Sniper Cartridge ] ===
The M160 Locator beacon is a specialized round, fitted into M158 MSC, used by the SRS 45 to pinpoint, track, and locate targets for UNSC infantry, air forces, and artillery. It contains a small, but powerful solid state beacon contained inside the bullet. The round is designed to move slightly slower than other rounds used by the SRS 45 to increase survival chances of the beacon. The cartridge can broadcast its position for 2 hours and 45 minutes and is capable of penetrating up to 20.32 mm (.8 in) of titanium allowing the locator to dig into the plating of and track moving armored vehicles containing high priority targets. The M160A1 variant of this round has an even lower powder load resulting in penetraion of 12.7 mm (.5 in).
=== [ M159 Semi-Armor Piercing Flechette Magnum Sniper Cartridge ] ===
"Goes in like a pin needle, comes out like a shot gun." -UNSC E4 Serviceman
The M159 Semi-Armor piercing flechette cartridge, fit into M158 MSC, is the most infamous exotic ammunition type of the SRS 45. It is capable of penetrating armor and flesh alike, but in the process, breaks apart into flechette like a shredder round used by the MA5 series of assault rifles. It is noted that the bullets construction and materials allow it to break apart more easily in flesh than in metal. It can pentrate up to 30.48 mm (1.2 in) of titanium before significantly breaking apart, but will break apart after only penetrating 17.78 mm (0.7 in) of flesh and at a much higher rate. As to how they achieved this, Misriah Armory will not tell. However, from what the UNSC does know, this is a highly devastating, and demoralizing cartridge when used against infantry targets with limited effectiveness against light armor, and that it makes use of predetermined fragmentation lines with depleted uranium. When used against a light armored vehicle, the flechette can further weaken armor plating and cut through and damage cables, wires, and other components, allowing it to damage and disable light armor. It has been seen to disable ghosts with several well placed shots. 
However, it was designed for use primarily against infantry with the use of body armor in mind. Against infantry, it will go in as a single projectile, penetrating body armor if present, then split apart in side the body or as it exits the body armor, and come bursting out of the targets back with multiple projectiles like a shot gun, creating a dangerous area of effect for those in the area behind the target. This makes the M159 suitable against large hordes of closely packed enemies, such as a charge en mass by grunts. The sight of a person being split open, with buckshot like projectiles flying out of him is a truly terrifying sight for those on the targeting end of the cartridge and can quickly demoralize hostiles into submission, as in the case during an operation by the UNSC against rebels during open hostilities on Lieva IV in 2486. It was also this operation that gave the M159 Flechette round its infamous and terrifying reputation.
=== [M-158-Anti-Vehicular H-APHE Magnum Sniper Cartridge] ===
The M-158 H-APHE is an upgraded version of the original explosive rounds. It was introduced in 2553 shortly after the war ended. The H-APHE designating it the heavy version while the original is designated as the Light version (L-APHE). The H-APHE version has a higher armor penetration and higher explosive charge. To achieve this the bullet now has a newly developed explosive charge made of a more reactive solid state explosive. In addition, to increase effectiveness against armor, time detonation has been slowed allowing for penetration of up to 81.28 mm (3.2 in) of titanium armor before detonation. This allows the SRS-45 to be more effective against medium armor and allows operators to harass heavy armor. It should be noted, that aside from blasting off small bits of armor plating, scratching paint, and possibly destroying or damaging propulsion, only skilled shooters are able to make discernable damage to heavy armor with extensive expenditure of ammunition. Noted to be less effective against certain target types than the Light version. Also more prone to causing collateral damage. Both Light and Heavy variants of the M-158-APHE are still in service.
=== [M-158XNO MSC-V1] ===
Ammunition is a modified covenant carbine round for chambering in M-158 MSC. Includes toxin effect. Further details classified.
=== [M-158XNO MSC-V2] ===
Ammunition Modified for purposes of ballistic/plasma hybrid operation. Further details classified.
== Variants ==
The SRS-45 has seen several variants and skunk works modifications through its service and will continue to see more until its eventual replacement.
=== SRS-45 ===
The SRS-45 is the main line military version of the SRS-45 system. Its generational iterations are: 
* SRS-45 
* SRS-45 A1 
* SRS-45 A2
* SRS-45 A3
* SRS-45 A4
* SRS-45 A5 
* SRS-45 A6, SRS-45 A6A
* SRS-45 A7, SRS-45 A7A, SRS-45 A7B (current model in service as of 2558)
It should be noted that there are few minor differences between each generation of the weapon and that most functional parts and all magazines are cross compatible.
=== SRS-45 CIV ===
The SRS-45 Civilian is a civilian version of the SRS 45 for the public market. Major differences between the SRS-45 and 45 CIV are that the 45 CIV uses a smaller round, is bolt action only, and has its integrated flash suppressor removed. The CIV also lacks the automatic environmental adjustment system present on the A2 model and after.
=== SRS-45X1 MIAP ===
The SRS-45X1 MIAP (Magnetic Induction Assisted Propulsion) includes a magnetic coil system to assist in the acceleration of the conventional M-158 MSC fired by the SRS-45. The bullet is fired normally, with the use of chemical propellant, but uses magnetic coils in the barrel shroud to further accelerate the projectile to extremely high speeds. It is a skunk works project developed by ONI section 3. The major difference is that a portion of the recoil stabilizers in the shroud have been removed and replaced by the magnetic coils, and that the adjustable stock on the SRS-45 has been replaced with a fixed stock containing a M-6669A/bx4 high power battery unit. The fire rate for the SRS-45X1 MIAP is reduced from 180 rpm, to 120 rpm. It is, however, a highly devastating and extremely accurate weapon capable of accurately hitting point targets over 4.5 km away. Like a MAC gun, its power setting can be adjusted by an operator, at the cost of fire rate. On a higher power setting, it is capable of being used as a potent anti tank and anti material weapon, though will fire at only 30 rpm.
This unit sees limited production and is in active service with ONI controlled special forces only. It is popular among black operations teams to be used in assassinations of high priority targets, including on elites.
=== SRS-45XNO [1,2,3,4] ===
The SRS-45XNO is a series of modified SRS-45 lines that make use of different munition types and technologies developed jointly with the Swords of Sangheilios and the UNSC, or using integrated technologies reverse engineered from covenant technology. These weapons are mainly skunkworks projects used in small numbers by special forces and ONI operatives.
* (SRS-45XNO1) The SRS-45XNO1 uses modified covenant carbine rounds that have been resized and molded to fit M-158 MSC cartridges. Includes a MK-3 V13 Short-Propulsion Projectile Enhancement Light Gauss system to enhance projectile velocity. Toxin effect present in ammunition, and enhanced by ONI.
* (SRS-45XNO2) The SRS-45XNO2 uses a modified plasma induction system based on the one used by the type 25 plasma rifle. Inside the barrel is a electro-fusion unit to turn a large portion of gas into plasma. Magnetic rails introduced into the design shape and contain the plasma around the bullet and enhance projectile velocity, which in turn creates a center point for the plasma to form around at high velocity. This is a hybrid plasma/ballistic weapon. Little else is known of the rifle, but it is known that this technology is proposed by ONI to create a future generation of weaponry using this ballistic/plasma system once it is perfected. Weapon is still gas operated by leftover gas that does not vaporize to plasma.
* (SRS-45XNO3) The SRS-45XNO3 fire projectiles enhanced by hardlight similar to modified versions of the MA5.
* (SRS-45XNO4) The SRS-45XNO4 is a rifle with modified systems and ergonomics for sangheili users.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
SRS-45 A6 Schematic
-
-
-
-
SRS-45 A7B Schematic