Help the Marine Corps decide on a new caliber for their sniper rifles

[M40A1]

308 nots going anywhere. As in any war there will be specialty weapons for long range ie 50, 338, 300 mags. It don't see a total replacement SWS happening any time soon. As far as the weight of the M40s and M-24 I agree that it's to GD heavy.

My 2 cents

 

[bwaites]

We've been talking about these a little in another thread.

8.9 pounds with scope, sling, etc.? Can it really be that light?

Add a couple pounds for a a Tripod, and you still are under 12 pounds carry weight loaded!

Anyone shot a .338 Lapua that was this light?

Seems like a sore shoulder waiting to happen!

Bill

 

[BHP9]

We've been talking about these a little in another thread.

8.9 pounds with scope, sling, etc.? Can it really be that light?

Add a couple pounds for a a Tripod, and you still are under 12 pounds carry weight loaded!

Anyone shot a .338 Lapua that was this light?

Seems like a sore shoulder waiting to happen!

Bill

Possible with a well designed brake on it.

My 16.5lb'er has a recoil about of a little less than an FN SLR.

 

[bwaites]

No brake on that gun, although a suppressor is an option.

Without the suppressor it is 8.2 pounds!!

OUCH!

 

[BHP9]

No brake on that gun, although a suppressor is an option.

Without the suppressor it is 8.2 pounds!!

OUCH!

Actually it does. It's an OPS Inc, 12th model.

M24A3 SWS CHARACTERISTICS​

CharacteristicM24A3 AICSM24A3 H&S

Length-Base rifle 1263.65mm (49.75")1257.3mm (49.50") Length-Ops Inc equipped 1566.85mm (57.75") 1460.5mm (57.50") Barrel 416R Stainless Steel 416R Stainless Steel Barrel Twist 1/254mm (1/10")
Rifling 5 radial land groves 1/254mm (1/10")
Rifling 5 radial land groves Barrel length 736.6mm (29") 736.6mm (29") Barrel Finish Black Powder Coat Black Powder Coat Trigger M24 M24 Trigger Pull 1.58Kg (3.5lbs) to 2.26Kg (5lbs)1.58Kg (3.5lbs) to 2.26Kg (5lbs) Butt plate adjustment 50.8mm (2") 50.8mm (2") Cheek piece adjustment 50.8mm (2") 50.8mm (2") Stock AICS, Aluminum bedding block, plastic side panels H&S PST 26, Synthetic Aramid Fiber Stock Color Green Black Weight with Sling and Scope-Unloaded 3.49Kg (7.7lbs) 3.17Kg (7lbs) Weight with Sling and Scope-Loaded 3.71Kg (8.2lbs) 3.26Kg (7.2lbs) Weight with Sling, Scope, Suppressor-Unloaded 3.81Kg (8.4lbs) 3.62Kg (8lbs) Weight with Sling, Scope, Suppressor-Loaded 4.03Kg (8.9lbs) 3.71Kg (8.2lbs) Caliber .338 Lapua Magnum .338 Lapua Magnum Operation Bolt Action Bolt Action Muzzle Brake Ops Inc 12th Model Ops Inc 12th Model Suppressor Ops Inc 12th Model Ops Inc 12th Model Suppressor length 317.5mm (12.5") 317.5mm (12.5") Suppressor weight 0.36Kg (0.8lb) 0.39Kg (0.8lb) Suppressor shift in point of impact Not to exceed 38.1mm (1.5) MOA Not to exceed 38.1mm (1.5) MOA Magazine Capacity 5rd Detachable box magazine 5rd Detachable box magazine Magazines provided 2ea 2ea Effective Range - Day Scope 1500 Meters 1500 Meters Effective Range - Night Scope
(Weather & Night Vision dependant)500+ Meters500+ Meters

 

[JDJHNTR]

My vote goes to the 338LM aswell. Looks like Remington may have them in mind or atleast partly with their new 700P chmabered in the LM. Should meet the weight limit you mentioned and without going full custom, hard to beat the 700 action!

 

[RMulhern]

New Sniper Rifle?

Hmmmm....that question is almost a 'no-brainer'! I've worked with two of these rifles this past year quite extensively....all the way back to 1500 yards and each would plant a round in your 'cover' from that range without too much of a problem! Caliber is .338 Lapua Mag and for an 'out of the box' rifle....they're the best I've ever had the occasion to put to my shoulder! With the experience I have shooting the .308 Winchester round in Palma competition for many years.....I have doubts that the .308 is the problem; rather the training of young 'ground-pounders'!!

 

[jwp475]

We've been talking about these a little in another thread.

8.9 pounds with scope, sling, etc.? Can it really be that light?

Add a couple pounds for a a Tripod, and you still are under 12 pounds carry weight loaded!

Anyone shot a .338 Lapua that was this light?

Seems like a sore shoulder waiting to happen!

Bill

My 338 Laupa that Shawn Built, complete with DBM for a 3.9" COAL with a 30" barrel is 11.6 pounds including 5.5X22 X50 NXS scope

The 338 Laupa is already in use with the Brits and Canadians and makes the most sense for the Military.. The Ammo can be loaded anywhere and Black Hills is loading 338 Laupa ammo as is HSM here in the States now

 

[Wild_Bill]

? what mag system

Hi what mag system did Shawn fit to your rifle.

Cheers Bill
Australia

My 338 Laupa that Shawn Built, complete with DBM for a 3.9" COAL with a 30" barrel is 11.6 pounds including 5.5X22 X50 NXS scope

The 338 Laupa is already in use with the Brits and Canadians and makes the most sense for the Military.. The Ammo can be loaded anywhere and Black Hills is loading 338 Laupa ammo as is HSM here in the States now

 

[diderr]

300 wsm hands down. The .300 Winchester Short Magnum launches the same weight bullet as the .308, a full 10 ½ feet flatter in it's 1000yd trajectory than the .308, yet gives up none of the inherent accuracy of the .308. This is especially important when considering the typically extended range engagements of our snipers in the field in Afganistan and Iraq. 300WSM allows us to use a short action length, yet provide long action magnum performance.
this allows the USMC a money saving option, all they have to do is re-chamber the 308 m40a3 barrels and put in a bolt with a magnum face.

 

[Supermag]

I'll have to add another vote for the 338 Lapua. It has been a proven sniper round for other countries and would be effective for the US troops as well.

I completely understand the reasoning for people suggesting the 338 Edge, but one thing no one ever mentioned was pressure. I know that the Ultra mag family is infamous for pressure signs, can the Edge be effectively loaded for operation in all the temperatures and altitudes that our troops can see in any potential battlefield on earth?

 

[280AIman]

I can tell you first hand the .308(7.62) is worthless in Iraq, yes Canada and others use the 338Lapua, and yes the U.S. military would be well served with it, and i for one am still pushing to be allowed to take mine when i go back with no success that is. the military has a history of shafting the guy on the ground. as for fed agency using the 7mm rem mag, i've never seen it, i've seen the 300win and even a 243 or two but never the 7mm rem mag. as for the short mags they could be useful but if you start loading the 172gr MK or even the 190gr MK you start to intrude on powder space and defeat the purpose, give us a long action with the 338LM and let us do our jobs, lets face it the 308 win was showing the signs of dissapointment in Bosnia.

 

[M40A1]

The secret service used custom 7 mags until they replaced with with the 300WM a few yers ago.

 

[rdc]

Is the XM3 not working out??