Walther WA 2000
Carl Walther GmbH Sportwaffen · Sniper Rifle · Out Of Production · 1982
Also known as: WA 2000, WA2000, WA-2000, Walther 2000, Walther Scharfschutzengewehr
Overview
The Walther WA 2000 is an exceptionally rare semi-automatic bullpup precision rifle produced by Carl Walther GmbH between 1982 and 1988, designed in response to the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre which exposed critical shortcomings in West German law enforcement's long-range precision capability. Chambered primarily in the powerful .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge - with additional variants offered in .308 Winchester (7.62x51mm NATO) and 7.5x55mm Swiss - the WA 2000 represents one of the most mechanically sophisticated sniper rifles ever built. Its bullpup layout places the action behind the trigger, yielding a remarkably compact 905mm overall length despite a 650mm barrel, while the rifle's defining feature is a fluted hexagonal heavy barrel that is fully supported by clamps along its entire length rather than being merely threaded at the receiver - an engineering approach that virtually eliminates barrel harmonic vibration and delivers match-grade accuracy from a semi-automatic platform. The gas-operated short-stroke action feeds from a six-round detachable box magazine, cycling a hammer-fired mechanism with a crisp two-stage match trigger. Adjustable cheek piece, adjustable buttpad, integral folding bipod, and an integrated scope rail reflect Walther's obsessive commitment to marksman ergonomics. Despite its technical brilliance, the WA 2000's astronomical unit cost of $9,000-$12,000 in 1980s dollars made it commercially unviable, and only 176 rifles were ever produced before the program was cancelled in 1988.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 6950 g (245.2 oz) |
| Weight (loaded) | 7400 g (261.0 oz) |
| Overall Length | 905 mm (35.63") |
| Barrel Length | 650 mm (25.59") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated Short Stroke |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Two Stage |
| Trigger Pull | 14 N (3.1 lbf) |
| Magazine Capacity | 6 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 880 m/s (2887 fps) |
| Muzzle Energy | 4530 J (3341 ft·lbf) |
| Effective Range | 800 m (875 yd) |
| Maximum Range | 1000 m (1094 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 254 mm (10.00") |
| Number of Grooves | 4 |
| Frame Material | Steel |
| Barrel Material | Fluted Hexagonal Heavy Steel |
| Stock Material | Aluminum With Wood Laminate Panels |
| Finish | Matte Black |
Calibers
- .300 Winchester Magnum · primary — also known as .300 Win Mag, 7.62x67mm, .300 WM
- .308 Winchester · 7.62x51mm NATO — also known as 7.62 NATO, 7.62x51mm, 7.62x51mm NATO
- 7.5x55mm Swiss — also known as 7.5mm Schmidt-Rubin, GP 11, 7.5x55 Swiss, 7.5mm Swiss
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety, Firing Pin Safety, Trigger Safety
- Features: Bullpup Configuration, Fluted Hexagonal Barrel, Barrel Fully Clamped Throughout Length, Free Floating Action, Integral Bipod, Adjustable Cheek Piece, Adjustable Buttpad, Integrated Scope Rail, Match Grade Trigger, Adjustable Trigger, Ambidextrous Ejection, Precision Machined Receiver, Quick Detach Scope Mount
Variants
- WA 2000 (.300 Winchester Magnum) — Primary Chambering
- WA 2000 (.308 Winchester / 7.62 NATO) — Alternate Chambering
- WA 2000 (7.5x55mm Swiss) — Swiss Market Chambering
Service history
Operators
- Grenzschutzgruppe 9 (GSG 9) · adopted 1982 · as WA 2000
- Bundeskriminalamt (BKA) · as WA 2000
- Civilian Collectors · adopted 1982
Conflicts
- West German Counter-Terror Operations (1982-1990)
- Cold War Era Counter-Terrorism (1982-1991)
Production
Estimated total produced: 176 · Production years: 1982-1988
Exactly 176 units manufactured across three production series before program cancellation. Series I (1982-1983): approximately 11 units in 7.62 NATO. Series II (1984-1985): approximately 65 units, primarily in .300 Win Mag. Series III (1986-1988): approximately 100 units across all three chamberings. Production ceased due to prohibitively high unit cost ($9,000-$12,000 in 1980s dollars, roughly equivalent to $25,000-$35,000 today) making the rifle commercially unviable despite its technical excellence.
Origin
Country of origin: Germany
Designer: Walther engineering team
Discontinued: 1988
Notes
Exactly 176 Walther WA 2000 rifles were manufactured across three production series between 1982 and 1988, making it one of the rarest production sniper rifles ever built. GSG 9 eventually retired their WA 2000 rifles in favor of the significantly cheaper Heckler & Koch PSG1, which could accomplish the same operational mission at a fraction of the cost. Surviving examples today command $80,000-$120,000+ at auction, with exceptional examples exceeding $150,000. The rifle gained worldwide cult status after appearing in the 1987 James Bond film 'The Living Daylights,' wielded by the assassin Necros, and has since featured prominently in video games such as the Hitman series.
Background
Designed in direct response to the 1972 Munich Olympics massacre - where West German police marksmen failed to neutralize Black September terrorists at distance - the WA 2000 was Walther's attempt to build the mechanically perfect sniper rifle with no compromises. Its fluted hexagonal barrel is clamped to the frame along its entire length rather than attached only at the receiver, eliminating barrel whip and producing match-grade accuracy from a semi-auto bullpup action. The rifle achieved cult status after appearing in the 1987 James Bond film 'The Living Daylights,' wielded by the assassin Necros, and today ranks among the most valuable production firearms ever made - with GSG 9 eventually retiring theirs because the far cheaper PSG1 could accomplish the same mission at a fraction of the cost.