PGM Hécate II

The Hécate II is the standard heavy sniper rifle and anti-materiel rifle of the French Army, sometimes known as the FR-12.7 (French: Fusil à Répétition de calibre 12.7 mm or "12.7 mm calibre repeating rifle"). It is manufactured by PGM Précision of France. This is the largest weapon manufactured by PGM, chambered for the .50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO) cartridge. The name of the rifle is derived from the ancient Greek goddess Hecate.

Hécate II
The PGM Hécate II
Type	Anti-materiel rifle
Place of origin	France
Service history
In service	1993–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	War in Afghanistan[1] Northern Mali Conflict Operation Serval
Production history
Designer	Gilles Payen
Manufacturer	PGM Précision
Specifications
Mass	13.8 kg (30.42 lb) with no sight
Length	1,380 mm (54.3 in) 1,140 mm (44.9 in) with stock removed
Barrel length	700 mm (27.6 in)
Cartridge	.50 BMG (12.7×99mm NATO)
Action	Bolt-action
Muzzle velocity	825 m/s (2,707 ft/s)
Effective firing range	1,800 m
Maximum firing range	Over 2,000 m
Feed system	7-round detachable box magazine
Sights	Telescopic sights

Design

Its design is the same metallic-skeleton as used in other similar rifles in the PGM family, only scaled up. The barrel of the Hécate is manufactured by FN Herstal and is lined with Stellite alloy which is also used for large calibre machine guns. This increases the barrel's longevity.^[2] It is fitted with a high-efficiency muzzle brake which reduces the felt recoil to about the level expected of a 7.62×51mm NATO-chambered rifle.^[3] The rifle is equipped with both an adjustable front bipod and a rear monopod for maximum accuracy. The stock is also adjustable. The Hecate II was a heavy firearm and weighs up to 16.00 kg (35.27 lb) at most.

The standard-issue sight used with the Hécate II is the SCROME LTE J10 F1 10× telescope.^{[citation needed]}

Users

Map with PGM Hécate II users in blue

•  Brazil
  • Marine Corps Special Operations Battalion^[4]
•  Bulgaria - SOBT and SKSO
•  Egypt – Used By Rapid Deployment Forces and Black Cobra
•  Estonia^[5]
•  France^[6]
•  Indonesia^[7]
•  Israel^[8]
•  Latvia^[9]
•  Lithuania^{[citation needed]}
•  Poland^[4]
•  Saudi Arabia^{[citation needed]}
•  Slovenia^[10]
•   Switzerland^[4]

Gallery

• 
  Snipers of the 2nd Foreign Parachute Regiment section de tireurs d'élite (Sniper) France deploying a PGM Hécate II and FR F2 in Afghanistan
• 
  The distinctive muzzle brake on the PGM Hécate II
• 
  A PGM Hécate II with its standard issue scope in the French military, the Scrome LTE J10 F1

See also

• FR F2
• PGM 338
• PGM Ultima Ratio