Rocky C
04-28-10, 02:13 PM
By Dan Lamothe (dlamothe@atpco.com?subject=Question from MarineCorpsTimes.com reader) - Staff writer
Posted : Tuesday Apr 27, 2010 11:05:09 EDT
Marine officials are weighing options for a new, powerful sniper rifle that could kill enemies 1,500 meters away, and are closely watching a contract competition launched by U.S. Special Operations Command last month for a similar weapon, a top Marine acquisitions official said.
The Marine Corps’ SR21 — short for Sniper Rifle-21st Century — would allow Marine snipers to engage targets nearly a mile away, substantially farther than the 800-meter range of the bolt-action, 7.62mm M40 sniper rifle currently in use. The Corps has worked extensively with SOCom to develop specifications for a precision sniper rifle, but it hasn’t finalized what it will do, said Col. Andrew Bianca, head of infantry weapons acquisitions at Marine Corps Systems Command.
Speaking during an April 6 conference in Baltimore, he told defense contractors that “probably the greatest opportunity you have in building weapons” for the Corps is “in the precision world,” citing the SR21 as an example.
“We haven’t actually nailed down a requirement, but if you’ve been paying attention to SOCom’s PSR requirement that recently hit the street, we have a similar effort underway,” Bianca said. “We have worked very closely with SOCom in terms of developing a precision sniper rifle. We just haven’t finally decided on whether it’s something we want to develop in the short term.”
SOCom issued a formal request for proposals March 26 but declined to release specifications, including caliber requirements, saying details will be issued only to companies registered with the federal government as a trusted small-arms manufacturer.
However, in months leading up to the request, SOCom officials said they were interested in testing a replacement for three bolt-action sniper rifles used by elite special operations teams: the M40, the M24 and the MK13. All are based on the commercial Remington 700 and have a range of less than 800 meters.
SOCom officials also said the PSR should be effective out to 1,500 meters, no longer than 52 inches in full configuration and have no single component longer than 40 inches. It must weigh no more than 18 pounds when loaded with a five-round magazine and a standard rail system, fire factory-produced ammunition and be capable of breaking down into its major components for transportation within two minutes.
The Corps’ need to engage targets out to 1,500 meters dates back to a 2007 assessment of the sniper community. But Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jeffrey Eby, the Corps’ senior gunner, told Marine Corps Times late last year that while the new rifle would offer the service a “significant capability,” it should not be adopted until training processes are improved for using the M40.
Leaders in the sniper community countered that Marine snipers meet training requirements set by the Corps, and that 7.62mm rounds are insufficient to engage targets past 800 meters. They also noted that a two-man Marine team using the M40 finished first in two joint sniper marksmanship competitions held last year, beating several Special Forces teams.
Several popular gun makers already advertise sniper rifles that can engage out to 1,500 meters. Remington, for example, began selling a new modular sniper rifle last year, saying it could be chambered for rounds ranging from the .300 Winchester Magnum to standard 7.62mm NATO to the .338 Lapua Magnum, the latter of which is considered among the likely choices at long ranges. Desert Tactical Arms unveiled its Stealth Recon Scout rifle in 2008, that rifle can be chambered for rounds as large as the .338 Lapua Magnum.
Twelve companies have expressed interest formally in the SOCom competition. They include FN Herstal USA, Barrett Firearms USA and Desert Tactical Arms.
Posted : Tuesday Apr 27, 2010 11:05:09 EDT
Marine officials are weighing options for a new, powerful sniper rifle that could kill enemies 1,500 meters away, and are closely watching a contract competition launched by U.S. Special Operations Command last month for a similar weapon, a top Marine acquisitions official said.
The Marine Corps’ SR21 — short for Sniper Rifle-21st Century — would allow Marine snipers to engage targets nearly a mile away, substantially farther than the 800-meter range of the bolt-action, 7.62mm M40 sniper rifle currently in use. The Corps has worked extensively with SOCom to develop specifications for a precision sniper rifle, but it hasn’t finalized what it will do, said Col. Andrew Bianca, head of infantry weapons acquisitions at Marine Corps Systems Command.
Speaking during an April 6 conference in Baltimore, he told defense contractors that “probably the greatest opportunity you have in building weapons” for the Corps is “in the precision world,” citing the SR21 as an example.
“We haven’t actually nailed down a requirement, but if you’ve been paying attention to SOCom’s PSR requirement that recently hit the street, we have a similar effort underway,” Bianca said. “We have worked very closely with SOCom in terms of developing a precision sniper rifle. We just haven’t finally decided on whether it’s something we want to develop in the short term.”
SOCom issued a formal request for proposals March 26 but declined to release specifications, including caliber requirements, saying details will be issued only to companies registered with the federal government as a trusted small-arms manufacturer.
However, in months leading up to the request, SOCom officials said they were interested in testing a replacement for three bolt-action sniper rifles used by elite special operations teams: the M40, the M24 and the MK13. All are based on the commercial Remington 700 and have a range of less than 800 meters.
SOCom officials also said the PSR should be effective out to 1,500 meters, no longer than 52 inches in full configuration and have no single component longer than 40 inches. It must weigh no more than 18 pounds when loaded with a five-round magazine and a standard rail system, fire factory-produced ammunition and be capable of breaking down into its major components for transportation within two minutes.
The Corps’ need to engage targets out to 1,500 meters dates back to a 2007 assessment of the sniper community. But Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jeffrey Eby, the Corps’ senior gunner, told Marine Corps Times late last year that while the new rifle would offer the service a “significant capability,” it should not be adopted until training processes are improved for using the M40.
Leaders in the sniper community countered that Marine snipers meet training requirements set by the Corps, and that 7.62mm rounds are insufficient to engage targets past 800 meters. They also noted that a two-man Marine team using the M40 finished first in two joint sniper marksmanship competitions held last year, beating several Special Forces teams.
Several popular gun makers already advertise sniper rifles that can engage out to 1,500 meters. Remington, for example, began selling a new modular sniper rifle last year, saying it could be chambered for rounds ranging from the .300 Winchester Magnum to standard 7.62mm NATO to the .338 Lapua Magnum, the latter of which is considered among the likely choices at long ranges. Desert Tactical Arms unveiled its Stealth Recon Scout rifle in 2008, that rifle can be chambered for rounds as large as the .338 Lapua Magnum.
Twelve companies have expressed interest formally in the SOCom competition. They include FN Herstal USA, Barrett Firearms USA and Desert Tactical Arms.