New Marine Corps sniper rifle is officially operational

The Marine Corps has formally hit full operational functionality on its new sniper rifle a 12 months forward of schedule.

The Corps selected the Mk22 Mod 0 Superior Sniper Rifle, manufactured by Barrett Firearms, an organization extensively recognized for his or her groundbreaking work in growing the .50 caliber sniper rifle, as a changeable, multi-barrel rifle to exchange two present lengthy rifles and provides shooters three caliber choices inside their primary capturing platform.

These caliber choices embody the usual 7.62mm, the .300 Norma Magnum and .338 Norma Magnum. The caliber variety permits shooters to pick out a munition for particular missions that may require extra distance or extra penetrating energy. The rifle makes use of a 10-round journal.

Marine Corps Methods Command in Quantico, Virginia, introduced the milestone on Nov. 19, in line with a launch. The designation signifies that all Marine infantry and reconnaissance models, in addition to related colleges, have been outfitted with the brand new rifle and obtained new gear coaching on the system, officers stated.

The bolt-action precision rifle, in the meantime, is one a part of a system that features a bipod, sound and muzzle flash suppressor, in addition to a caliber agnostic 7×35 Precision Day Optic.

“Marines like the flexibility to conduct caliber conversions at their stage, and the truth that they solely have one rifle as an alternative of the 2 it changed,” stated Kevin Marion, a logistics administration specialist with Marine Corps Methods Command. “This shift improves operational effectivity, reduces the logistical burden on models and lightens the person Marine’s load.”

The extra barrels and design of the rifle additionally permit for much less upkeep time spent on weapons repairs, specialists stated within the launch.

“[Replacing a barrel] was inconceivable with earlier methods, the place a condemned barrel would render the weapon unusable, immediately affecting mission readiness,” stated Brian Nelson, Mk22 undertaking officer, Marine Corps Methods Command. “Now, the Mk22 ensures that even when a barrel fails, Marines are nonetheless mission prepared.”

The rifle replaces each the Mk13 Mod 7 and the M40A6 sniper rifles presently in use. The Marine Corps famous in price range request paperwork on the inception of this system that they meant to buy 250 Mk22 Mod 0 rifles.

The Military introduced in 2021 that it might additionally exchange its M107 sniper rifle and M2010 enhanced sniper rifle with the Mk22 Mod 0. On the time, the Military sought to buy 2,800 Mk22 Mod 0 rifles by 2026.

The M40A6 is a closely modified model of the unique M40, which fires a 7.62mm spherical and was first fielded throughout the Vietnam Struggle. The A6 mannequin started fielding in 2016.

The Corps chosen the legacy, Accuracy Worldwide/Remington Arms-manufactured Mk13 Mod 7 in 2018, chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum. U.S. Particular Operations Command fielded an earlier variant.

The Mk22 traces its origins to a SOCOM program geared toward enhancing sniper rifle choices for particular person shooters. SOCOM officers first reported searching for a brand new precision sniper rifle in a late-2009 announcement. The command awarded the contract for the Mk22 Mod 0 in 2019.

The Mk22 weighs 15.2 kilos, in line with the corporate web site. The Mk13 Mod 7 and M40A6 weigh 11.4 kilos and 16.5 kilos, respectively. Each use a five-round journal.

The Mk22′s efficient firing vary is 1,500 meters, whereas the efficient firing ranges of the M40A6 and Mk13 Mod 7 are 800 meters and 1,300 meters, respectively.

All three legacy rifles are bolt-action.