New Sniper Rifles for the US Army and Marines
The old M-40 and M-24 Rifles are soon to be replaced
Dec 29, 2008
US Army and Marine Sniper Weapons Before 2001
At the end of the cold war both US Army and Marine snipers were issued modified versions of the bolt action 17-pound Remington 700 precision rifle. The Marine version, the short action 7.62x51mm M-40 was adopted in 1966 and modified in three different versions using either the Unertl 10xpower scope or, after 2000 the Schmidt & Bender variable 3-12x50mm. All of the Marine rifles were chambered in 7.62x51 NATO only. The Army version, the long action M-24 was adopted in 1988. It was produced in three different models chambered for 7.62x51 as well as .300 Winchester and .338 Lapua (in M-24A3 variants). All of the M-24 models carried a Leupold scope typically a 10x40mm. These tried and true designs were sent to combat again after Sept 11, 2001 in the Global War on Terror.
New Marine Corps Sniper and Marksman Weapons
In the Marine Corps a large number of marines were set up to be designated marksmen. These personnel were not traditional ‘snipers’ who hide and stalk their targets, but were rather regular riflemen who protected their unit or base from an over watch position. These men needed a precision rifle and they needed it fast. In 2002 the solution was the DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle). They took a stock 1960s' vintage M-14 rifle out of storage and rebuilt it to make it more accurate and more modern. All DMRs were built at the USMC Precision Weapons Shop at Quantico, Virginia. The Marine weapons were given a 22-inch match barrel, a McMillan fiberglass stock replaced the old wooden one and also added a cheek rest and to allow proper alignment with optics and a pistol grip. Optics used included the traditional Unertl 10xpower scope which has been used by the Marines for some 25 years used on the their sniper’s rifle as well as a number of commercial off the shelf scope designs by Leupold and others. A Harris bipod rounded out the weapon. With 40+ year old rifles and scopes nearly as old the Corps ran into reliability and supportability problems and soon began to look for a replacement.
The marine M-14 DMRs used by designated marksmen as well as the M-40’s of the marine scout sniper teams are being replaced by the $4000 M39, a custom built-from scratch M-14 that weighs in at some 14 pounds without optics. The M-39 is matched with the $3000 Schmidt & Bender variable 3-12x50mm PM II/LP USMC M8541 Scout Sniper Day Scope. All up with bipod, optics, mounts and loaded magazine the M39 weapons system comes in at nearly 20 pounds and close to $10,000. While some scout sniper teams will be using the M-39 immediately, it is unforeseen that they will replace all of the Marine’s M-40s. Squad level designated marksmen use the 5.56mm Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle (SAM-R), currently designated the Mk12.
The Corps, long a believer in bolt action sniper weapons is unlikely to cast them totally by the wayside. In the Korean conflict, when most Army snipers were using the semi-auto M-1 as a sniper weapon, the most popular Marine weapon was the WWI vintage bolt action 1903 Springfield and remained as such until the early days of the Vietnam conflict.
New US Army Sniper Weapons
In 2004 the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism) field tested the Knight SR-25, a 7.62x51mm model of the AR-15HB for use as the new Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle (SAM-R). While not approved for the SAM-R the SR-25, dubbed the Mk 11 Mod 0 Sniper Weapon System was chosen to replace the venerable M-40 bolt action weapon used by traditional Marine scout-snipers in the II Marine Expeditionary Force and 180 were ordered in 2005. The US Navy also adopted the weapon for its SEAL teams to replace the M-40 with them. The US Army followed suit in late 2005 and bought 4400 of the weapon which they designate as the M110. The M110 is to replace its M-24 bolt-action sniper weapons for its dedicated snipers by 2010 as well as the even older M-21 sniper systems still in service. However many of the sniper tribal elders are lamenting the decision. In a recent Army Times article it was noted that the 25th ID is working on converting their M-24A3s to the larger 300/338 caliber and retaining them alongside the new weapon. There is also some question of the M110 being an adequate replacement. “Many snipers see the upgrade to .300 Win Mag as a way to hold on to the M24, a weapon they say they believe is more reliable and accurate than the M110”
Sources
Halberstadt, Hans, Trigger Men: Shadow Team, Spider-Man, the Magnificent Bastards, and the American Combat Sniper McMillian 2008
Fox, Sharon E CPL USMC Anti-Terrorism unit evaluates rifle DOD news release Story Identification #: 20044810498
DiGirolamo Joseph Cpl. Designated Marksman on Target Every Time
Marine Corps News July 31, 2006
Bartocci, Black Rifle II: The M16 into the 21st Century. Collector Grade Publications 2004
Bryant and Bryant, Weapons of the US Army Rangers. Zenith Press 2005
Cox, Matthew Army, Corps Seek Longer Range Sniper Rifle Army Times August 6, 2008
Cox, Matthew Marksmen Add Semi Auto Rifle, May Keep Bolt Action Favorite Army Times March 6, 2006
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