Type Target Rifle Designed 1968 Produced 1968- | Place of origin Australia Manufacturer Sportco, Omark, MAB | |
Variants Target Rifle,
Silhouette Rifle
Pistol | ||
The Omark Model 44 is a bolt action single shot target rifle made in Australia. First released in 1968 as the Sportco Model 44 produced in Sportco's Adelaide factory, production was taken over by Omark in the 1970s, then by MAB Engineering in Brisbane in 1984.
The rifle was the mainstay of Australian full bore target shooting for many years replacing the .303in. Lee–Enfield. Being a purpose-built target rifle it soon showed its superiority against rebarrelled surplus rifles.
The Omark Model 44 was tested as a sniper rifle by the Australian Defence Force but not adopted, possibly because of its single shot action.
Originally just produced in 7.62×51mm it was later available in 5.56×45mm and others. MAB Engineering also produced a pistol version.