Omark Model 44
Encyclopedia
The Omark Model 44 is a bolt action single shot target rifle
made in Australia
. First released in 1968 as the Sportco Model 44 produced in Sportco
's Adelaide
factory, production was taken over by Omark in the 1970s, then by MAB Engineering in Brisbane
in 1984.
The rifle was the mainstay of Australian full bore target shooting for many years replacing the .303in.
Lee Enfield. Being a purpose-built target rifle it soon showed its superiority against rebarrelled surplus rifles.
The Omark Model 44 was tested as a sniper rifle
by the Australian Defence Force
but not adopted possibly because of its single shot action.
Originally just produced in 7.62mm calibre it was later available in 5.56mm and others. MAB Engineering also produced a pistol version.
Rifle
A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls. The raised areas of the rifling are called "lands," which make contact with the projectile , imparting spin around an axis corresponding to the...
made in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. First released in 1968 as the Sportco Model 44 produced in Sportco
Sportco
Sportco was an Australian manufacturer of rifles and shotguns in Adelaide, South Australia, from 1947 until the early 1980s. Founded by Jack Warne, also known by its full name Sporting Arms Limited, began by manufacturing single shot 22LR rifles...
's Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
factory, production was taken over by Omark in the 1970s, then by MAB Engineering in Brisbane
Brisbane
Brisbane is the capital and most populous city in the Australian state of Queensland and the third most populous city in Australia. Brisbane's metropolitan area has a population of over 2 million, and the South East Queensland urban conurbation, centred around Brisbane, encompasses a population of...
in 1984.
The rifle was the mainstay of Australian full bore target shooting for many years replacing the .303in.
.303 British
.303 British, or 7.7x56mmR, is a .311 inch calibre rifle and machine gun cartridge first developed in Britain as a blackpowder round put into service in December 1888 for the Lee-Metford rifle, later adapted to use smokeless powders...
Lee Enfield. Being a purpose-built target rifle it soon showed its superiority against rebarrelled surplus rifles.
The Omark Model 44 was tested as a sniper rifle
Sniper rifle
In military and law enforcement terminology, a sniper rifle is a precision-rifle used to ensure more accurate placement of bullets at longer ranges than other small arms. A typical sniper rifle is built for optimal levels of accuracy, fitted with a telescopic sight and chambered for a military...
by the Australian Defence Force
Australian Defence Force
The Australian Defence Force is the military organisation responsible for the defence of Australia. It consists of the Royal Australian Navy , Australian Army, Royal Australian Air Force and a number of 'tri-service' units...
but not adopted possibly because of its single shot action.
Originally just produced in 7.62mm calibre it was later available in 5.56mm and others. MAB Engineering also produced a pistol version.