Tikka M55 Sniper Rifle : Australian Special Air Service Regiment, Australian Army

The Tikka M55 sniper rifle is a bolt action repeater made from a one piece machined receiver. The action features a solid bridge, grooved, drilled and tapped for scope mounts. The bolt is one piece and has dual opposed front locking lugs with a bolt handle that serves as a safety lug. The magazine is a detachable, single column three round box type. The single stage trigger is adjustable for weight of pull. Receiver marked TIKKA M55 and the serial number. The barrel is stamped Cal. .22-250 REM, Oy Tikkakoski Ab, Made in Finland and there are British and Finnish proof marks. A Kahles ZF69 6X42 telescopic sight, serial number 198982, is fitted to this rifle. The biathlon style adjustable stock has been made for a left handed marksman and there is coarse stippling to the fore-end and pistol grip. Adjustable aluminium sling swivel rails are inset into the underside and right side of the fore-end.

This rifle was used by the Australian Special Air Service Regiment when they had the responsibility for urban counter terrorist operations in the 1980s. Marksmen of the regiment were issued with two of these rifles, one like this one for day use and another fitted with a night telescope. A number of these rifles were obtained from the British SAS Regiment who used them for the same purpose as the Australian unit. The choice of the high velocity .22-250 smallbore cartridge was to reduce excessive penetration and eliminate ricochets.