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.”
180 grain Nosler Protected point Partition bullet has been dropping Elk, Deer, Mule Deer for over 2 decades for me with my .300 Win. Mag.
Alot of bullet retention with great expansion.
“A proper hollow point would be much better. The people we fight do not deserve any mercy.”
I understand the data and the fact that properly constructed hollow points have superior long range accuracy. My preferred bullet is the Match King in .30 caliber. But that’s for accuracy. I’m crazy enough to weigh my brass and check even those for concentricity. LOL.
But for general issue in 5.56 I wish we’d dump that stupid green tip bullet and switch to a quality soft point in the 62 to 65 grain range. Terminal performance on bad guys would be vastly improved IMO.
Tell the bed wetting JAG types to go clutch their pearls and give our guys a projectile that stops fights.
L
DOD money going into the pockets of a guy who believes Americans should lose 2nd amendment rights.
Too bad. American companies could have built a better product, and not undermined our freedom while supposedly defending it.
Yes, in the sandbox a proper SR or HP would be nice. Those green tips are only good for body armor or vehicle penetration.
It was just a joke.
In general, we field regular troops with general purpose tools. Ammunition is no different. Sure, we can snipe at the issues with M855 or M193 556 ball, but have you used it on real targets? I can tell you, within the envelope of performance, they work well.
When you rocket scientists can deliver us a round that differentiates between armored/unarmored/hard/soft targets, let me know. Until then, i need a round that works within the tactical envelope for the common engagement for the average trooper or Marine. The M855 family does that well enough in my 24 years of experience, seven of them in combat. Sure, I’d like a magic bullet for my amazingly effective lightweight perfectly ergonomic multi functional weapon, but hey, I started with an M16A1 in 1983 and ended with an M16A4/M4 MWS. Where were you guys with all the answers???
Anyway, we need to give our boys the best most useful tools we can, and the issue as I see it is an ever-changing environment and a dead on its azzz procurement system.....
Yep, bigger holes kill better. KE is cool, but penetration and tissue damage kills, that said, the 556 kills very well for its size.....
a 220 30 cal Round nose game kng and a 220 Match king have the same SD (.330) but the Game king has a G1 BC of .300, while the 220 MK has a G1 of .670. the game king 220 is just over an inch long, the Match king is 1.65 inches, The former will shoot well from a 1-12 inch bbl , the latter needs a 1-8....
What I do is I have different magazines with different rounds. The different rounds have different purposes so I could change for whatever I need.
I have never fired on a real human target, but I have almost pulled the trigger on a home invader, but he turned and ran.
I have shot wild game like hogs and I know I would not want to be 10 ft away shooting with m885 or anything in 5.56.
I think the 5.56 is OK for regular field troops, but if it was me I would rather have a 30 cal. The snipers need something better than a 7,62X51 although if I was a field troop I would want one.
2760 J= 2040 f/lb
(My handy energy app) ;-)
One of the founders of AI was Malcolm Cooper. An amazing champion, builder of great guns, and a fine gentleman. It was an honor to compete with him and he is greatly missed.
When this place was run by the Navy, my father was stationed there twice. We lived there in the early '60s and again in the late '60s. This place is in southern Indiana. It is in the middle of nowhere. They made naval munitions, including rockets and missiles. I can still remember the 16 inch projectiles on display in front of a building. There were allot of large bunkers for storing munitions. I thought they were cool looking. There was a big lake. And the whole area was really nice.
Heh. I don’t adhere to them at all.
Mark
This may be the case. The only picture in the article was a close-up, so I used a different picture.
A friend of mine and I split a box of 5,000 bulk packed 55 grain soft points a while back. I bit the bullet so to speak and laid in 10 pounds of Varget. He just happens to have about the same of surplus Winchester military powder.
Many happy hours have been spent giving his Dillon progressive a workout. The floorboards are beginning to complain. LOL
BTW those Nubs are outstanding. I just returned from said friends house where we enjoyed one in the backyard while sipping a marvelous 15 year old Irish whiskey.
I am in your debt, old friend.
Best,
L
AI only supplies the Chassis/stock, which may be mfg’d in TN, the rest is from American suppliers
Bump for later
KE has a significant role for terminal ballistics, as is projectile design.
So true about a round performing like a leatherman tool... just have to make it work
I thought bit about your post.
Several mags with different ammo sounds like a fun drill. Let me tell you while I would like long loaded 80s for anything past 400, and 40s for anything unarmored out to 100, and 77/75s for mid range ( 200-400m) and maybe even 60ish partitions/bonded for well, maybe anything from 0-300, plus some 100 grn frangible for, well, special occasions and even a mag or two of AP, reality comes at a price. Even super well trained tier 1 type folks would never think of switching mags just to select up a different round of ammo while in contact. Bad things happen when you are empty or reloading, so we don’t except when we must or there is a lull or tactical pause.
So, what’s in my wallet? I like Nosler Bonded 64s for home/farm defense in the ARs, 190s in the 30s for extended reach, and heavy HSTs in the 40 and 45 cal handguns.
I expect any threat to be armored, so I won’t shoot center mass but rather lower center or top of clavicle center, from any angle. Nor would I try the MOZ drill and hope the third shot is a CNS hit.
I would never think of dropping a mag and reaching for a different round type for the same platform just because of some circumstance. Run with one that works well across the spectrum of expectation, never look back. Shoot lots of them in field/scenario type situations from every conceivable position and range, know your zeros and wind. Wear out a barrel or two and replace as needed.
I switch rounds at times. I live in the Colorado Rockies and have black bear, mountain lion and to a lesser degree, human risks with bears being a problem almost every year.
In my HD shotgun I keep slugs loaded in Spring-Fall and 00 buck in winter because the bears are hibernating.
In my pocket carry 40 cal I carry 189 gr Gold Dots in town or working in the yard in winter because mountain lions are easy ti kill with that round. In summer I always keep a 180 gr Gold Dot chambered, but put in a mag of Gold Dots when going into the Denver area, but put in a mag of Double Tap 200 gr Lead Hard Cast Wide Flat Nose Gas Check rounds which have been clocked at 1,000 fps out of my short barrel pistol. These would probably shoot through about 3 ft of bear. The first round would be a JHP, but the rest would be the hard cast.
In my 1911 45 ACP I only carry in winter and with cover jacket when going into town so I only carry JHPs in that.
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