HAMAS Rifle Production Video: Sign of Capabilities or Limitations?

HAMAS military wing Al-Qassam Brigades published on 20 December a detailed video showcasing the “local” production of sniper rifles. The footage, released under the provocative slogan “We will continue Killing your Soldiers by our Locally Manufactured Snipers,” asserts their alleged capability to produce and assemble weapons. This marks the first instance when a video has provided such comprehensive insights into their rifle production facility.

The initial segment of the video reveals an underground workshop, partitioned into two distinct areas. One section houses three lathes, each serving a different purpose, while the other is equipped with ammunition manufacturing machinery.

In the subsequent scene, set at a firing range, HAMAS operatives are seen test-firing what is believed to be their self-produced rifles. Media analyses offer varying interpretations: some suggest the weapon could be a reverse-engineered version of the Austrian Steyr HS .50 rifle, possibly acquired from the black market. This model is notably prevalent across the Middle East. Another possibility is the “AM-50 Sayyad,” an Iranian replica of the Steyr rifle, which is also popular in the region. Alternatively, there is speculation that HAMAS might be manufacturing their own variant, named “Ghoul,” which bears visual and structural similarities to the Steyr HS .50.

Moreover, the rifle shown is longer in its dimensions than Steyr HS .50. A comparison shows the sizes of the scope used and the rifle dimensions.

The identified scope used by HAMAS is Schmidt and Bender 5-25×56 PM II.

The scope is 416 mm, according to the official information on the website, making it possible to measure the rifle shown.

The measurements indicate that the dimensions of the sniper rifle more closely align with the Iranian Sayyad sniper rifle than the original Steyr model. Sayyad is believed to be of 1,470-1,480 mm length, according to the different sources.

Equipment Analysis

Alongside with the sniper rifles, HAMAS also showed the equipment used to manufacture the rifles and several details about the facility.

The lathe is identified as model SN 320*750, manufactured by “Uzina de Strunguri Arad” in Romania, likely in 1968 or 1969. This model is a universal lathe, with a rotation diameter over spindles of 320 mm, a distance between tops of 750 mm, and a maximum main axis speed of 1600 rpm. It operates on a voltage of 220/380 V and a frequency of 50 Hz.

Technical and manufacture characteristics of the SN 320*750 lathe used by HAMAS

It seems that this machine is used for manufacturing of the sniper rifle’s barrel. The dimensions of the machine helped to measure the height of the production room, approximately 2.20 m.

HAMAS also showed the parts manufactured at this facility. Most of them seem to be used for barrel assembly.

In the video released by HAMAS, they present their facility and the production process, proudly proclaiming that all rifles are made locally. Yet, the footage primarily showcases the manufacturing of barrels and scopes mounts, suggesting limitations in their capabilities. The equipment visible in the video likely doesn’t support the full-scale production of more complex rifle systems. This leads to the inference that while HAMAS might be capable of grinding barrels using the lathes, other essential components of the rifles are likely sourced externally. The video also displays various optics from different brands, indicating a mix of locally produced and externally sourced parts in the final assembly of these weapons.

The evidence suggests that while HAMAS has some local manufacturing capabilities, particularly in the production of certain rifle parts like barrels, they rely on external sources for the more intricate components necessary for complete rifle assembly. This reliance indicates a partial, rather than comprehensive, local production process for their sniper rifles.

The dimensions and specific details of the rifle featured in the video suggest that it is not an authentic Steyr HS .50, but rather a different variant. This discrepancy points toward the possibility of either a modified version or an entirely distinct model resembling the original.

Thus, while the rifle bears resemblance to the Steyr HS .50, the variations in size and design indicate HAMAS’s use of an alternative, possibly customized, sniper rifle model. Although the exact dimensions of the “Ghoul” rifle remain unclear, it is possible that the sniper rifle shown represents an Iranian variant of the Sayyad, aligning in size with the rifle depicted in the footage. However, this theory requires further investigation and verification to be substantiated.