Posted on 05/16/2018 4:39:59 PM PDT by Simon Green
Moving away from the classic M40-series, Marine Scout Snipers have a new and improved precision rifle platform that is making it out to the Fleet.
The Mk13 Mod 7 rifle is based on the Accuracy International AICS long action system. Whereas the legacy Remington 700-based M40, used and extensively upgraded since the 1960s by the Marines, is chambered in NATO-standard 7.62x51mm, the new rifle brings .300 Win Mag to the Marines’ lexicon. Army snipers have long since upgraded to chamberings that offered more room to reach out and touch someone.
“The .300 Winchester Magnum round will perform better than the current 7.62 NATO ammo in flight, increasing the Marine Sniper’s first-round probability of hit,” said CW3 Tony Palzkill, the Battalion Gunner for the Marine’s Infantry Training Battalion. “This upgrade is an incredible win and will allow snipers to engage targets at greater distances.”
First fielded with the Navy in older Mod 5 models, the Marine Special Operations units and the snipers of the 3rd Battalion, 5th Marines have been using the weapons for some time, with the feedback and lessons learned contributing to the more widespread adoption of the rifle.
Geissele last year was awarded a bid to provide triggers and engineering services for the rifles, a contract managed by Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Crane Division. Overall, the Marine Corps has budgeted $4.3 million to purchase 356 Mk 13 systems with a unit price of $12,042 a piece. Optics shown in recent imagery released by the Pentagon are by NightForce.
The M40A6, the most advanced version, will continue to be used in training while the semi-auto M110 and M107 platforms “will also remain as additional weapons within the scout sniper equipment set.”
That aint your daddy’s Model 700!
The rifle marks them as a sniper too. No need for an orange helmet with sniper printed on it.
100 percent of operational systems will be painted to match the scenery...
Folding stock, carry sling/pouch for concealment...duh
I don’t know what an AB43 round is but I assume it uses the previously mentioned 220 grain Sierra. It certainly sounds like a great combo.
I have never even seen a .338 Lapua but from reading about it, I doubt there is a better round for sniping unless recoil is an issue.
AB43 is a proprietary load developed for the Navy some time ago by Blackhills. It is a very functional and reliable round.
338LM does have a few advantages with rounds types available to possibly solve problems , but for straight up sniper trade craft the Mk13 is the heat hands down
I imagine the first thing they’ll do out in the field is wrap some camo cloth around the barrel.
Thanks.
In the hands of the typical USMC trained HOG, it will be as good as it gets. This was a good move by the USMC in my limited opinion.
You are welcome
So is that a 10 round magazine? Should be good for civilian use.
The sectional density and bullet shape determine Ballistic Coefficient. Here is a paper on 30 cal bullets:
http://www.appliedballisticsllc.com/Articles/ABDOC110_WhatWrong30Cal.pdf
They conclude that the Sierra Matchking 220gr and 240gr are the best of the 30 cal bullets for long range so my guess is that they are using the Sierra 220gr Matchking. The heavy for caliber 6mm bullets have a better ballistic coefficient so they are often used in long range matches. I think a 6mm would have been a better choice, but the 300 Win Mag is better than 7.62X51.
The 220 gr matchking is a boattail hollow point. The hollowpoint is not intended to expand so it probably meets Hague Convention regulations. These bullets are cup and core construction meaning that the copper cup is open at one end and closed on the other end. The open end can be either an open base or a hollow point after the lead is inserted and the bullet is formed. The open lead base type is deformed under heat and pressure of firing so match type bullets are formed the other way around with a copper base and the open end becoming a hollow point. It is more accurate so given the caliber this would seem to be a good bullet choice.
Also a consideration is rifling twist rate. Longer bullets need a faster twist rate to stabilize. But longer bullets and faster twist rates cause more rapid copper fouling of the barrel. The Sierra 240 grain bullets are known to foul a barrel faster.
I reload for long range shooting and have been doing this for about 25 years.
You need to rethink your objection. The price is not for just a rifle much like the publicized cost of an aircraft isn’t just for the airframe.
Right that the US-Army was using The 300-win ,270 ,30-378 wby and the 308 all back in '68 , so what new ?
1/10 twist rate
Thanks for the info, ...6.5 mm has its place in the world too
Who has time to clean a bore? Just kidding sort of..
As to the hollow point issue... urban legend.. that is all can say , bullets can expand, not fragment by design.
The top US long range target shooters are about evenly split between 6mm and 6.5mm with only a few using 7.. like the 7mm Rem Mag or the 284. No one uses a 30 cal because the bullet Ballistic Coefficient is not as low so the bullet slows down more quickly from drag. in 6mm many top long range shooters use the 243 Win or the 6X47 Lapua. The problem with accuracy happens from wind drift and from a bullet crossing the sound barrier and the sonic crack throwing the bullet in unpredictable directions. A heavy for caliber and resulting low BC helps with both reducing wind drift and retained velocity at long range. a 6mm or a 6.5mm would have been the best choices, but the 300 Win Mag is not too bad.
To the point as always lol.
Scope is likely 1/3+ of the cost of the system, considering the price of military grade optics.
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