TrackingPoint XS1
TrackingPoint · Sniper Rifle · Discontinued · 2013
Also known as: TrackingPoint PGF, Precision Guided Firearm, Smart Rifle, XactSystem
Overview
The TrackingPoint XS1 is the world's first Precision Guided Firearm (PGF), a revolutionary smart rifle that integrates a computerized Networked Tracking Scope with a guided trigger system to enable first-round hits at extreme distances by shooters of any skill level. Chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum with a 686mm (27-inch) barrel, the XS1 uses a tag-track-exact (TTX) shooting process: the shooter tags the desired point of impact on the target through the digital scope, the onboard computer calculates a complete ballistic solution accounting for range, wind, temperature, humidity, barometric pressure, incline, cant, and Coriolis effect, then the guided trigger only releases when the rifle is perfectly aligned with the computed firing solution. The scope's integrated sensor array includes a laser rangefinder, barometer, thermometer, compass, gyroscope, and accelerometer. The system streams real-time video via WiFi to tablets and smartphones, allowing remote observation and shot recording. The XS1 represented a paradigm shift in precision shooting, turning complex long-range marksmanship into a point-and-click operation.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 9200 g (324.5 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 9800 g (345.7 oz) |
| Overall Length | 1250 mm (49.21") |
| Barrel Length | 686 mm (27.01") |
| Action Type | Bolt Action |
| Firing Mechanism | Striker Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Stage |
| Magazine Capacity | 5 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 860 m/s (2822 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 7189 J (5302 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 1200 m (1312 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 5000 m (5468 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 254 mm (10.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 6 |
| Frame Material | Stainless Steel |
| Barrel Material | Stainless Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer Composite |
| Finish | Flat Dark Earth |
Calibers
- .338 Lapua Magnum · primary — also known as 8.6x70mm, 8.58x70mm, .338 Lapua Mag
Features
- Firing modes: Manual
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Firing Pin Safety, Guided Trigger Lock
- Features: Computerized Tracking Scope, Precision Guided Firearm, Laser Rangefinder, Ballistic Computer, Target Lock System, Wifi Streaming, Heads Up Display, Environmental Sensor Array, Match Grade Barrel, Muzzle Brake, Free Floating Barrel
Variants
- TrackingPoint XS2 — 300 Win Mag
- TrackingPoint XS3 — 308 Winchester
- TrackingPoint XS4 — 338 Lapua Extended
Production
Estimated total produced: 500 · Production years: 2013-2015
Extremely limited production before TrackingPoint's initial bankruptcy. The Surgeon Rifles XL bolt action served as the base rifle platform.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: John McHale
Discontinued: 2015
Notes
TrackingPoint was founded by John McHale, a former Silicon Valley executive, after a safari trip where he struggled to make long-range shots. The XS1 originally retailed for approximately $27,500. The company filed for bankruptcy in 2015 but was later revived under new ownership. In 2015, security researchers demonstrated that the rifle's WiFi connection could be hacked to alter the ballistic calculations, potentially redirecting shots. Despite the accuracy technology, the rifle still requires the shooter to properly tag the target and maintain stable aim. The guided trigger system works by physically preventing the trigger from releasing until the barrel alignment matches the computed solution. The 6-35x zoom scope provides both conventional viewing and the digital HUD overlay. TrackingPoint claimed that in testing, novice shooters achieved a 70% first-shot hit rate at 1,000 yards, compared to roughly 5% for experienced shooters with conventional equipment.
Background
The TrackingPoint XS1 was the world's first 'smart rifle,' a weapon that could essentially aim itself. When DARPA saw the technology, it inspired their own EXACTO program for guided .50 caliber bullets. The rifle's tag-track-exact system turned long-range shooting into something closer to a video game -- the shooter tagged a target like placing a waypoint, and the computer did the rest. In demonstrations, first-time shooters consistently hit targets at 1,000 yards that would challenge expert marksmen with conventional equipment. The technology was simultaneously celebrated as a revolution in precision engagement and condemned as making killing too easy.