Defence & Space

ICEYE to deliver space-based ISR capability to the Royal Netherlands Air Force

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE has entered into cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Air Force to provide sovereign satellite-based reconnaissance, surveillance and…

2025-06-23 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Mildat to Deliver 20mm Ammunition for Poland’s FA-50 Aircraft

The Polish Armament Agency has published the results of a tender procedure for the supply of a batch of 20×102 mm ammunition…

2025-06-20 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

SIPRI: Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report entitled SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which, among other things, discusses the issue of…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Polish 35 mm SA-35 Self-Propelled Anti-Aircraft Gun with PIT-Radwar

During the recent MSPO trade fair in Kielce, the company PIT-Radwar presented its proposal for a 35 mm self-propelled anti-aircraft gun…

2025-06-13 | Przemysław Gurgurewicz | 13 minutes

Mildat to Deliver 20mm Ammunition for Poland’s FA-50 Aircraft

The Polish Armament Agency has published the results of a tender procedure for the supply of a batch of 20×102 mm ammunition…

2025-06-20 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

Poland: Bergepanzer 2 ARVs Set for Overhaul

Poland’s Armed Forces 2nd Regional Logistics Base has launched a tender for the repair and potential F3/F4-level maintenance of Bergepanzer 2 armored…

2025-06-18 | Rafał Muczyński | 4 minutes

SKW Cryptographic Security Certificate for Polish Comp@n Radio Set from the WB Group

The WB Group announced that the Comp@n system radio set, developed by its subsidiary Radmor, along with the Cryptographic Document Management…

2025-06-14 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Advancing multi-domain EW operations: Rohde & Schwarz unveils latest innovations at AOC Europe

Rohde & Schwarz demonstrates the next generation of SIGINT/EW systems, sensor fusion and signal analysis solutions, designed to meet the evolving…

2025-05-12 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

IFRE 2025: Communication Systems From INVISIO at the Megmar Booth

At the 5th International Fire Protection & Rescue Exhibition KIELCE IFRE-EXPO, Megmar presented the offerings of the Danish company INVISIO.…

2025-06-18 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

IFRE 2025: Maskpol Showcases Protective Suits and Gas Masks

Maskpol, a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), presented part of its product range—protective suits and gas masks—at the 5th…

2025-06-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Saab GlobalEye

At the 55th International Paris Air and Space Show, one of the most noteworthy elements of the static display was…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Bayraktar TB3 Debuts

The 55th edition of the International Paris Air and Space Show, held in the French capital, provided an opportunity for…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

Poland: Buffer zone on the border with Belarus extended for another 90 days

The Minister of the Interior and Administration has signed a regulation introducing a temporary ban on presence in a designated area within the…

2025-06-11 | Redakcja | 4 minutes

Galvion awarded FBI contract for their Hellbender FE helmet

Galvion announces the successful award of a Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) contract for their Galvion Hellbender Federal Edition (FE) helmet…

2025-06-09 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

ICEYE to deliver space-based ISR capability to the Royal Netherlands Air Force

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE has entered into cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Air Force to provide sovereign satellite-based reconnaissance, surveillance and…

2025-06-23 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

Mildat to Deliver 20mm Ammunition for Poland’s FA-50 Aircraft

The Polish Armament Agency has published the results of a tender procedure for the supply of a batch of 20×102 mm ammunition…

2025-06-20 | Rafał Muczyński | 3 minutes

SIPRI: Nuclear risks grow as new arms race looms

The Stockholm International Peace Research Institute published a report entitled SIPRI Yearbook 2025, which, among other things, discusses the issue of…

2025-06-16 | Redakcja | 10 minutes

Visit of Polish President Andrzej Duda to the Singaporean company ST Engineering

One of the stops during the visit of Polish President Andrzej Duda to Singapore was the local company ST Engineering, which…

2025-06-14 | Rafał Muczyński | 5 minutes

ICEYE to deliver space-based ISR capability to the Royal Netherlands Air Force

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE has entered into cooperation with the Royal Netherlands Air Force to provide sovereign satellite-based reconnaissance, surveillance and…

2025-06-23 | Redakcja | 3 minutes

ICEYE signs agreement to deliver SAR satellite capabilities to the Portuguese Air Force

The Polish-Finnish company ICEYE and the Portuguese Air Force (Força Aérea Portuguesa, FAP) announced the signing of an order for…

2025-06-13 | Redakcja | 4 minutes
Shooting

Paris Air Show 2025: Bayraktar TB3 Debuts

The 55th edition of the International Paris Air and Space Show, held in the French capital, provided an opportunity for…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

IFRE 2025: Maskpol Showcases Protective Suits and Gas Masks

Maskpol, a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), presented part of its product range—protective suits and gas masks—at the 5th…

2025-06-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X – a Bayonet of Light for Your Weapon

The devil’s not so scary once you shine a light on him—and he’s certainly easier to neutralize in the spotlight. A weapon-mounted flashlight…

2025-06-09 | Anna Mielczarek | 6 minutes

Mactronic M-Fire Guardian – A New Flashlight for Professionals

Mactronic is introducing a new angle flashlight, the M-Fire Guardian. According to the manufacturer, it is the first angle flashlight with red…

2025-06-04 | Michał Ihnatów | 6 minutes

IFRE 2025: Maskpol Showcases Protective Suits and Gas Masks

Maskpol, a company within the Polish Armaments Group (PGZ), presented part of its product range—protective suits and gas masks—at the 5th…

2025-06-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

UF PRO Introduces Waist/Flex Belts to Its Product Line

UF PRO, a Slovenian manufacturer of professional apparel and part of the Mehler Systems group, is adding a new accessory to its lineup…

2025-06-06 | Michał Ihnatów | 2 minutes

Enforce Tac 2025 starts on February 24th

Enforce Tac is an international trade fair aimed at law enforcement officers, experts from government agencies, and representatives of the…

2025-01-30 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

POLSECURE: Holsters HPE Poland offer for uniformed services

At the 3rd International Police and Public Security Fair POLSECURE 2024 in Kielce, Holsters HPE Poland presented its offer for…

2024-05-01 | Redakcja | 2 minutes

MSBS GROT BULLPUP conversion now available

Fabryka Broni “Łucznik” Radom is introducing long-awaited conversion kits for the MSBS GROT S16 FB-M1 and S10 FB-M1 semi-automatic rifles,…

2025-06-02 | Michał Ihnatów | 3 minutes

IDET 2025: Grand Power Showcases M4M1 Carbines for the Slovak Armed Forces

At the International Defence and Security Technologies Fair IDET 2023 in the Czech Republic, Grand Power — a Slovak firearms manufacturer — showcased…

2025-05-28 | Michał Ihnatów | 4 minutes

Paris Air Show 2025: Bayraktar TB3 Debuts

The 55th edition of the International Paris Air and Space Show, held in the French capital, provided an opportunity for…

2025-06-19 | Radosław Niesobski | 3 minutes

Setting Up a Shooting Belt: An Example with Clawgear

To assist with shooting training and beyond, various belts and gear configurations have been developed and customized to suit individual needs. It’s…

2024-11-28 | Łukasz Kołodziejski | 14 minutes

Over 100% increase in gun permits in Poland in 2024

The Polish Police have released statistical data on firearm permits issued in 2024. An increasing number of Poles now hold…

2025-02-20 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

Firearms In Poland 2023: Number of permits continues to grow

The National Police Headquarters has released statistics regarding the number of firearm permits and firearms themselves in the hands of…

2024-02-17 | Michał Ihnatów | 5 minutes

5 Best Value ATN Rifle Scopes Under €1500

ATN is a leading manufacturer of daytime optics, smart night vision, and thermal vision technology. The innovative features and ergonomic designs…

2022-11-11 | Redakcja | 8 minutes

MILMAG Visits Grand Power

Grand Power is a Slovak manufacturer of the acknowledged good quality firearms. Take part in our guided tour with English subtitles.

2022-05-23 | Redakcja | 1 minutes

Streamlight TLR-7 HL-X – a Bayonet of Light for Your Weapon

The devil’s not so scary once you shine a light on him—and he’s certainly easier to neutralize in the spotlight. A weapon-mounted flashlight…

2025-06-09 | Anna Mielczarek | 6 minutes

Protective Rescuer Vest – BC Arms Archangel

The Archangel Rescuer Vest is the result of a collaboration between Polish companies Currahee and BC Arms. It was created in…

2025-05-16 | Mariusz Rams | 6 minutes

EOTECH Holographic Sight – History, Technology, Practice

The holographic sight is a device known for nearly 30 years and used by professionals around the world. A favorite sight of many…

2024-09-02 | Michał Gaweł | 12 minutes

Sabatti Urban Sniper –Minimalist Yet Versatile

There comes a moment in a shooter’s life when the temptation to start shooting at long range becomes irresistible. The natural consequence of reaching that point is to search for the right equipment that will be a reasonable introductory set for the beginning of a beautiful adventure with accurate shooting over long distances.

The choice of the first precision rifle and accompanying optics is usually the resultant of previous experience, the type of shooting discipline your want to practice, and… the thickness of the wallet. Thanks to the courtesy of Malik & Malik, Sabatti, Delta Optical, and MILDAT, we managed to assemble an unobvious but quite interesting starter kit.

While the following text contains product placement, it is primarily a reflection of the author’s subjective feelings.

Long distance shooting — my (difficult) beginnings

Preparing to choose the equipment, I had to take into account a few factors. First of all, although I had the opportunity to shoot at longer distances a few times, I never owned a repeating precision rifle. Secondly, I wanted to complete a set that was a solid and trustworthy starter pack so that I wouldn’t have to change it to something better as soon as I mastered the basics. The rifle itself was supposed to be compact and handy, and additionally it was supposed to look combative, which was mainly a whim of the author.


When choosing a precision rifle, I was looking for something with a degree of military flair

Knowing my limitations, I wanted to start my adventure at medium distances, with a gun in a caliber used by both uniformed and sports shooters–I assumed it would be easier to buy ammo and (in the future) accessories at an affordable price. That made my choice fall on a weapon adapted to fire the popular .308 Win ammunition, very closely related to military 7.62 mm × 51 NATO cartridges. However, this decision had a number of consequences. The most important of them was choosing the right sight. As you know, the scope is as important as the rifle. As it was supposed to be a “start plus” set, I wanted to start with good optics that would allow me to shoot at distances from 100 to 600 m, potentially in difficult lighting conditions.

My Starter Kit — The Rifle

When choosing a rifle, I focused on models produced by the Italian company Sabatti. Their weapons managed to gain a good reputation in Poland among distinguished long-distance shooters. Italian rifles in the competent hands allowed their users to win places on the podium in quite prestigious competitions. In addition, their affordable price was part of my criterions for a solid starter kit.


I picked Sabatti Urban Sniper in .308 caliber

All that remained was choosing a model. Knowing that I would be shooting .308 Win ammunition over medium distances and aiming for more of a military style than competitive, I decided to choose the Sabatti Urban Sniper rifle. There were several arguments for this. First of all, it is a mature design, which, according to the manufacturer, is suitable for both very precise sport shooting and as a rifle for “tactical applications in urban areas”. In addition, many solutions used in this rifle are similar to those used in the top-of-the-line Sabatti STR Sport, a high-performance model.

At first glance, Italian weapons are characterized by their simplicity, which, however, is not caused by cost cuts, but by the desire to create a handy and reliable tool that will work well outside of the laboratory conditions of sports shooting ranges.

The Sabatti Urban Sniper is distinguished by a heavy, matte black barrel with a powerful muzzle brake. A polymer handguard ends with a thumbhole stock with an adjustable cheek pad. Two universal rails are mounted on the weapon. The first one, above the receiver, is used to install optics, while the second one, under the front part of the handguard, is used to attach a bipod.

Optics Suitable For Every Circumstances

Looking for an optical sight, I wanted to choose one that would make a harmonious couple with the weapon. I assumed that it should be characterized by very good optical parameters, a compact design, and a magnification range that allows you to shoot up to 600 meters. In addition, taking into account the characteristics of my rifle, I wanted it to be a scope that would work well in field conditions. It should have an illuminated reticle in the optical foreground, tall turrets, and be calibrated in milliradians. What’s more, as befitting a starter kit, its price should not be three times the value of the rifle itself…

Paradoxically, finding the right model turned out to be quite simple. My choice fell on the Delta Optical Stryker HD 4.5-30×56 FFP sight with the illuminated LRD-1P reticle. Like the rifle itself, this optic is designed for both precision shooting over long distances and target acquisition in the field. In addition, despite the use of very decent glasses with high image resolution (ED) and good coatings, it was within the assumed budget.


Delta Optical Stryker HD 4,5-30×56 FFP with Deftar assembly fits Sabatti Urban Sniper well

The last, key component of my set was proper assembly. Here I took the advice of more experienced colleagues and used a one-piece assembly from the Polish manufacturer Deftar. Made of anodized 7075-T6 aluminum, the rings securely attached the scope to the rifle. The assembly itself was made with a factory 20 MOA microscope, which facilitates subsequent zeroing of the sight at long distances. In the set, the manufacturer also provided leveling tools for perfect positioning of the scope in relation to the rifle.

Sabatti Urban Sniper From Close

The weapon makes a very good impression in close contact. Its compact structure gives the impression of a lurking predator, ready to jump. The first thing I tested was a lineup with the sight mounted in various shooting positions. The balancing of the weapons was a very nice experience. The center of gravity lies right in front of an empty magazine. What’s interesting, attaching the bipod doesn’t change the balance.

My fears that the stock would be too short turned out to be baseless. After actually shooting the Urban Sniper, I have not yet decided to add a spacer under the buttplate. However, after a few more training sessions, I will most likely install it. The stock itself is adapted to the needs of right-handed shooters. On the left side, the manufacturer placed two massive screws to adjust the height of the cheek pad. After a moment of adjustment, I could freely position my eye in the optical axis of the sights.


Stock With Regulated Cheek Rest

When you hold the Sabatti Urban Sniper, you can feel its sniper pedigree. The handguard made of fiberglass-reinforced nylon lies securely in the hands thanks to the knurling of the pistol grip and the front part. This allows for precise aiming even when holding the rifle in gloves when it is cold or raining. The stock extends in the rear part providing additional support in the lying position. With the bipod in front and the stock resting on the fist of the left hand, you can aim steadily at objects below the shooter.

However, the heart of the weapon is the barrel with the receiver, trigger, and bolt. The thick-walled barrel, 510 mm (20 inches) long, was made by cold hammer forging, Sabatti’s specialty. In the middle part of the barrel, the manufacturer added spiral furrows that help dissipate heat. The weapon is sold with a replaceable, three-compartment muzzle brake, identical to the brake installed in the STR Sport model.

Sabatti’s patented Multi-Radial Rifling (MMR) threading system is responsible for focusing on the target. According to the Italian manufacturer, this type of solution reduces barrel wear while increasing the muzzle velocity of the projectiles. The method used is also supposed to guarantee very good groupings on the target, with the accuracy at the level of less than one minute of arc per 100 meters when using factory ammunition.


Thick-Walled Barrel Ends With Muzzle Brake

The weapon is offered in calibers 6.5×47 Lapua (8” MRR twist). 6.5 Creedmoor (8″ MRR twist) and .308 Winchester (11.5″ MRR twist). From mid-2023, the Urban Sniper will also be available in .223 Remington caliber.

The Sabatti Urban Sniper’s bolt action operates on the rotating bolt principle. The bolt and three lugs are made of chrome-plated steel with milled relief grooves. Together with the opening angle of 60 degrees, this makes the reloading process faster and smoother. The knob itself at the end of the handle is screwed on and can be easily replaced with another.


Removed Bolt

I had some objections over the length of the rail for mounting the optical sight. It was placed above the receiver, which determines the length available. When I created my setup to fight zombies or other mushroom people, I picked a powerful sniper mount. Admittedly, it fit within the contact area, but I would be calmer if the MIL-STD 1913 rail used was at least one groove longer.

At The Shooting Range And In The Field

The most pleasant stage of my adventure with Urban Sniper was testing the whole set up in practice. Of course, initially it was a tedious process of fine tuning the barrel. A shot and then tedious cleaning… However, this did not prevent me from trying to see if the Sabatti Urban Sniper would meet my expectations.

The first, very pleasant surprise was the accuracy of the weapon. Regardless of whether I was sitting at the shooting position with the weapon placed on a bipod, or whether I was shooting more dynamically, standing, lying, kneeling or sitting, my eye easily aligned with the optical axis of the sight, observing the target at maximum magnification of the scope.

The balance of the weapon allows for trouble-free replacement of the 7-round magazine without losing the field of view in a standing position without support. Such an operation is made possible by the release lever being located on the trigger guard.

Precise shooting is facilitated by a match trigger with the pull weight of 1.1 kg. The curved trigger allowed me to pull it precisely in every shooting position I tested. The manual safety located on the right side is operated with the thumb. This solution suggests the correct placement of the thumb during the shot – it should rest along the axis of the weapon, and not around the pistol grip.

Despite the rifle caliber, the muzzle device works well to reduce the recoil. It felt like I was shooting a vicious, short-barreled .223 Remington rifle. However, in actual tactical applications, that type of muzzle brake can give away the shooter’s position by kicking up a dust cloud with a sideways blast from the muzzle. The Urban Sniper also seems quite loud.

Sabatti Urban Sniper really shows its teeth when we leave the comfortable quarters of the covered shooting table. A solid and slightly flexible handguard ensures a secure grip during falling rain or several degrees of frost alike. The design of the stock allows for a reliable aim even in difficult terrain. Highly durable coating protects the metal parts of the weapon from scratches and corrosion. However, the matte black finish means that the treacherous sun can’t betray the shooter’s position by reflecting in the polished metal. An additional advantage is the use of the AICS magazines. When covering a colleague armed with an Accuracy International rifle, you can exchange ammo.

The weapon with a muzzle brake is just over 1 m long and weighs 4.6 kg without the sight. This makes it a very handy precision rifle that is easy to assemble and fire effectively in tight, urban spaces. Its dimensions also help with the transport. Although the weapon is equipped with belt loops, I would personally recommend carrying it in a special container protecting the rifle and sight.

To sum up, Sabatti Urban Sniper has the potential to prove itself both at the shooting range and while defending your hometown against a zombie attack!

Author would like to thank the Museum Of Polish Aviation in Kraków for providing the location for the photos.

The material contains product placement: Sabatti Urban Sniper rifle with Delta Optical Stryker HD 4.5-30×56 FFP scope.

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