View source for Valmet M82

{{For|the sniper rifle|Barrett M82}}
{{refimprove|date=January 2013}}
{{Infobox weapon
| name               = Valmet M82
| image              = ValmetM82.jpg
| caption            = A Valmet M82
| origin             = [[Finland]]
| type               = [[Bullpup]] [[assault rifle]]
<!-- Type selection -->| is_ranged          = Yes
<!-- Service history -->| service            = 
| used_by            = 
| wars               = <!-- Production history -->
| designer           = [[Valmet]]
| design_date        = 
| manufacturer       = Valmet
| production_date    = 1978–1986
| number             = Approx. 2000
| variants           = <!-- General specifications -->
| weight             = 3.3 kg
| length             = 710 mm
| part_length        = 415 mm
| width              = 
| height             = 
| diameter           = <!-- Ranged weapon specifications -->
| cartridge          = [[5.56×45mm NATO]]<br/>[[7.62×39mm]]
| caliber            = 
| action             = [[Gas-operated reloading|Gas-operated]], [[rotating bolt]]
| rate               = 750 rounds/min
| velocity           = 
| range              = 
| max_range          = 
| feed               = 30-round detachable [[box magazine]]
| sights             = [[Iron sight]]s
}}

The '''Valmet M82''' is a [[bullpup]] [[assault rifle]] with a [[Valmet]] [[RK 62 76]] internal design created by Finnish company [[Valmet]].

==History==
The M82 was introduced in Finland in 1978 and discontinued production in 1986. Only around 2,000 were manufactured, mostly as semi-automatic versions in [[5.56×45mm NATO|5.56&nbsp;mm]] NATO caliber for ODIN International Ltd. of Alexandria, Virginia. A few samples were issued to [[Finnish Army]] paratroopers, but the rifle was found to be unsuitable as a service weapon.{{Citation needed|date=April 2018}} One issue that cropped up during its short service life was that the rear sight of an uncased rifle had a tendency to hit the lower face, nose and cheekbones of the paratrooper during landing. The rifle was also poorly balanced, as nearly all the weight was in the rear.{{Opinion|date=January 2021}}

==Technical data==
It is chambered for [[5.56×45mm NATO]] caliber as model 255 470 and for [[7.62×39mm]] caliber as model 255 490. It has a [[Valmet]] [[RK 62 76]] receiver, which is made from stamped and riveted sheet metal, constructed inside [[Polyurethane|urethane]] stock.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://pookieweb.dyndns.org:61129/Groza/grozapics/Valmet_Model_82_Disassembled.jpg |title=Archived copy |access-date=2006-02-26 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717180716/http://pookieweb.dyndns.org:61129/Groza/grozapics/Valmet_Model_82_Disassembled.jpg |archive-date=2011-07-17 }}</ref> The trigger of the weapon is polymer to prevent heat of the barrel conducting to it, as the trigger is mounted to the barrel of the gun.

==Features==
The M82 features an unusual sight arrangement. The front and rear sights, similar to a [[Bren light machine gun]] or some other belt fed machineguns, are offset to the left. The sights are aligned normally with the right eye, but are offset from the barrel about 3.175 cm. This results in the rifles windage being accurate for the zeroed range only. Shots taken at closer ranges to zero will hit to the right of the target and shots taken at longer ranges will hit to the left of the target. With the sight offset from the barrel by approximately 3.175 cm, if the rifles windage were zeroed at 50 meters, at 100 meters' distance the windage error would be about 3.175 cm and at 200 meters' distance the windage error would be 9.575 cm. This results in a margin of error making shots over 300 meters difficult. Since the fixed sights do not allow for any elevation adjustment, it is clear that this weapon is meant for combat accuracy (15.24 cm at 100 meters) at short/urban ranges only and not meant to be a precision sniping tool.

The offset sight arrangement and right side ejection mean that this weapon is very difficult to use for left-handed users. Modern bullpups have eliminated this drawback by using centrally-aligned optics and either forward, downward or rearward ejection to allow ambidextrous use in combat situations.{{Citation needed|date=January 2021}}

==See also==
*[[List of assault rifles]]
*[[List of bullpup firearms]]

==Notes==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://world.guns.ru/assault/fi/valmet-m2-e.html Modern Firearms]
*[http://www.valmet.org/valmet82.htm Valmet.Org] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200801204657/http://www.valmet.org/valmet82.htm |date=2020-08-01 }}

{{AK47 derivatives|state=collapsed}}
{{ValmetFirearmsNav}}
{{Bullpup firearms|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Valmet|M82]]
[[Category:Weapons and ammunition introduced in 1978]]
[[Category:5.56×45mm NATO assault rifles]]
[[Category:7.62×39mm assault rifles]]
[[Category:Cold War rifles of Finland]]
[[Category:Kalashnikov derivatives]]
[[Category:Assault rifles of Finland]]
[[Category:Bullpup rifles]]