USMC Scout Snipers Finally Getting Upgrade

[blueman]

USMC Scout Snipers will finally be getting a rifle upgrade. The Navy Seals MK13 Mod 7 in 300 WM will be replacing the Remington M40A6 in 308/7.62. The M40 series has been in service with the Corps since Vietnam and has served admirably. However, like their Army counterparts discovered, due to the tactics employed by the enemy and the terrain of Afghanistan; Jihadis would often set up 800-1000 meters away and harass US forces with PKM, Dragunov, PSL, and Lee Enfield rifles, knowing that most troops armed with M4's couldn't engage them effectively. This also put them at about the end of the effective range of M24 and M40 sniper rifle fire as well.

The Army upgraded their long action M24's with chassis systems and new barrels (M2010) and employed 300 WM MK248 Mod 0 and Mod 1 ammo, increasing their effective range to between 1200 and 1500 meters. This put Army snipers closer to 338 Lapua territory, which other NATO allies had already begun deploying. The Marines retained the M40 (short action) and the 308/7.62 with an effective range of about 1000 meters.

In addition, the M110A1 CSASS (H&K G28/MR762) will also be employed by both Army and Marine snipers for Urban/CQB missions and in the DMR role as well for regular Army infantry. This combo should give snipers from both services an adaptable platform to employ based upon mission requirements.

[200Apples]

https://www.huntinggearguy.com/tips/308-vs-300-winchester-magnum/

[elSquid]

This put Army snipers closer to 338 Lapua territory, which other NATO allies had already begun deploying.

I'm curious as to why the new rifle isn't a 338. Is the increased capability of the 338 not needed at this time? ( Rifle too heavy, ammo too heavy, increased costs over 300WM the dominant factors? )

-- Michael

[blueman]

The main reasons are that the M24 that the Army was using was in a long action form, even though they were using 308. This was because the Army had originally planned to employ it in 300 WM back in the 80's, but stuck with 308. Probably for cost reasons. Up until the Global War on Terror, DOD was focused on missile, computer, drone, aircraft, tank, and ship advancement. Small arms upgrades took a backseat. The increased distances in Afghanistan gave the Army the opportunity to finally upgrade their long action M24's to 300 WM in the form of the M2010. The 220 grain MK248 Mod 1 ammo produced about a 1500 meter effective range which the Army felt was close enough to the 1600 meter range that the 338 Lapua 250 grain load was rated for that NATO allies we're already using. This loading was also considerably cheaper than 338 Lapua ammo.

On the Navy side, while the Army envisioned eventually employing 300 WM when they created the M24, the Seals actually employed it in the MK13. They used the older A191/MK 248 Mod 0 ammo (Federal GMM 190 grain) with great results. This was the primary setup employed by Chris Kyle. This setup is generally rated effective to about 1200 meters. Since the Marine Corps is part of the Navy, this setup was already available to them.

The 338 provides increased range and the MK21 is starting to be employed by SOCOM. But as we all know, 338 is not cost effective to shoot. I've seen Federal GMM 300 WM 190 grain for as little as $29 and Barnes Precision 220 OTM 300 WM for $49. Try getting factor 338 Lapua match for those prices. In both the Army and Marine Corps case, some mods or supply procurements of current inventoried rifles was all that was required to upgrade. Rather than having to initiate a test/procurement process for an entirely new rifle.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[sigstroker]

Assuming you mean Lapua rather than Winchester, yeah .338 is a whole different world. Everything is bigger, heavier, and harsher.

[blueman]

Indeed. 338 Lapua rifles require not just a long action, but a magnum length action, are even heavier than our already heavy 308 and 300 WM rifles, have even more recoil, muzzle blast/flash, and the cost per round is ridiculous. The average Marine or Army infantry battalion probably doesn't want the cost and training burden of this, at least not at this time. Plus, both still train and employ the M107/82 50 BMG when they really need to blow the crud out of someone or something at long range.

[elSquid]

The main reasons...

Interesting. Thanks for the explanation.

-- Michael

[hambam105]

I have handled the identical 300WM rifle of Chris Kyles' time.

Long before anyone knew of Chris Kyle I got to tag along with a few men who were into buying & shooting & evaluating long range rifles. And this I can tell you;

That is one big 300WM rifle. I am in total amazement that any one man can take that size rifle afield along with the rest of the equipment. Now I can handle the extra weight of the rifle and the equipment just as long as I don't have to demonstrate same from anywhere other than from behind this here keyboard.

The extra distance of the 300WM over the .308 is great, it's more than great. But it isn't enough. Not if you want those Marines to be fast and be stealthy.

I have it on Good Word that the Six-Five Creedmore out classes the 300WM by a good 200 yards. Same guy claims that the 6.5 can do at 1,500 what the .308 175 grainers are doing at 1,000. My sources that are making these claims were participants with more than a few others attending long range shooting classes at one of the Midwest schools that were holding classes and shooting long range matches of some sort. And you will have to rattle their cage, not mine, for validation for I haven't personally seen it, yet.

In short, if the Marines want to get another 500 yards out of their rifles they have to make a caliber switch and because both choices are non standard then might has well go for the one that covers the most real estate.

[blueman]

I've heard a lot of people talk of adopting the 6.5 Creedmoor for military applications and I believe there is definitely merit to this, especially if replacing weapon systems in the 308/7.62 category. Yes, the Creedmoor has exceptional ballistic qualities as far as long range precision shooting is concerned. However, I don't believe it should be a substitute for a 300 WM or 338 Lapua Mag when it comes to knock down or stopping power capabilities beyond 1000 meters. The purpose of these two calibers is to provide heavy hitting capability when it reaches that 1500 meter human target. A 120 to 140 grain 6.5 may be really accurate and have a high ballistic coefficient, but it's not going to hit with the same authority as a 190 grain-220 grain 30 caliber or 250 grain-300 grain 338 caliber at the same distance. I'm all for using the Creedmoor to substitute or replace what the 7.62 or 5.56 were designed to do though, but not what the 300 or 338 were designed to do. Just my opinion.

[sigstroker]

I'm a big fan of the 6.5 CM but those claims of "better than 300 Winmag" are stretching things a bit. As mentioned, it's not delivering huge amounts of energy way out there. Maybe all the military wants is a good wound, but if that's all they're after maybe they should consider...

wait for it...

.224 Valkyrie!

[hambam105]

Payload or Delivery System

Anything a 6.5 Creedmore hits a 300WM is going to hit harder.

Should the Mission of the Marine Corps Scout / Sniper Program stay as it is today, then the 300WM that I think is being discussed is too large a rifle to take afield for a 200 or 300 yard advantage over the .308.

I bet a 6.5 pill at a distance of one-five double zero will punch the ticket just as efficiently as a 5.56 does at 500 if not better.

If there is one thing the British and Marine Corps learned the hard way in desert warfare is the importance of speed. Combine the need for 'Speed and Stealth' in an urban setting, such as Ramadi or Fallujah, a 300 yard advantage isn't as important as staying undetected.

I hope the Army & Navy get a lot of 300WMs because the Marines need the opportunity to re-appropriate discarded battlefield equipment.

I am no spokesman for the Marines, anymore. I'd be a poor representative of one even on television right now. So you don't want to take the above as gospel, until later.

[Michael777]

Why 338 when you can go 50 Bmg?

[elSquid]

Why 338 when you can go 50 Bmg?

Why 50BMG when you can use a Javelin?

NSFW!



Start at 2 : 54 : 10 , if the video doesn't autostart there.



-- Michael

[Sutcliffe]

Sectional density and ballistic coefficient are everything

You can take that to extremes, but a very good rule of thumb.

If you are engaging enemy personnel then any hit is likely enough to render the target dead or combat ineffective.

You can increase range over the .308 by dropping down a caliber or two without increasing the size and weight of your rifle.

[tomrkba]

RE: Urban

The 300 WM/308 Win/6.5 debate is kinda pointless. The guys did just fine with 308 out to 1000-1200 max with a good spotter. The spotter is key; the trigger puller is almost a button the spotter presses. All of it is contextual. I can see 300WM being used for the extreme case, but the answer truly comes down to the mission at hand.

The guys I know who were in Fallujah said most of their shots were taken at 200-400 yards. They used standard issue M4’s with ACOGs and had their long range guns with them. They would use those guns too depending upon the situation. That makes sense...it was an urban environment and they spent lots of time on roofs and in taller buildings. They did perform overwatch missions for troops going door to door. The long range stuff shined when they were tasked with watching the comings and goings outside the city. They would snipe a driver that wouldn’t slow down, snipers harassing troops and civilians and so forth. Their primary mission was intel gathering but they certainly took shots when needed.

Their expanation for the two guns was: It was a war zone! Combat at any distance could happen at any time and they did not want to be stuck with a bolt action rifle and a pistol. One guy had a KAC SR25 and he just used that...but there were very few in theater and it did lose some MOA. He still sniped an officer at 1,100 or so with it. He hit only because he knew the gun and load so well by that time.

His spotter still carried an M4 and the rest of the team was armed for security. The Iraqi insurgents loved to catch teams after they deployed. It was impossible to be stealthy in Fallujah because of the stray dogs. They would always bark and give them away. Shooting them with a suppressed subgun or pistol made it worse since the pack would go nuts. More than one team was discovered because of this and several were killed before they started going out with more guys.

Personally, I use what they taught me all the time. A standard AR-15 with a decent tube on it will cover most of my self defense needs. I know how to make a 1,000 yard shot with a bolt action rifle, but I also know how to make a 300 yard shot with irons. I don’t run out and buy gear just because some unit chose it. Do what makes sense for you.