It’s been a long time in the making, but the U.S. Marines are finally getting a new sniper rifle.
For nearly a half century, the Marines have used the Remington bolt-action M40 sniper rifle. It was introduced during the Vietnam War, and since then it has served as the default sniper rifle used by the Marines. Granted, the Marines have introduced variations of the M40 sniper rifle, some of which feature carbon stocks, enhanced scopes and other upgrades. But even with these variants, the Marines haven’t changed the fundamental design of the sniper rifle for more than 50 years. It appears the era of the M40 is coming to and end, however, as the U.S. Marine Corps recently announced plans to use a different sniper rifle.
According to various reports, the U.S. Marine Corps will replace its decades-old M40 sniper rifle with the Mark 13 Mod 7 sniper rifle. Technically, the Mark 13 Mod 7 isn’t a new sniper rifle. It’s actually been around for a while. In fact, the Navy SEALs have used the Mark 13 Mod 7 sniper rifle in operations for more than a decade. This is the first time, however, that the Marines have changed its default sniper rifle from the M40 to the Mark 13 Mod 7.
When speaking about the upgrade, the Marine Corps explained that the new Mark 13 Mod 7 sniper rifle, also known as the Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System (CSASS), is lighter and will allow Marines to quickly engage multiple targets more effectively.
“The Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System (CSASS) will replace the M110 with enhanced shooter ergonomics and increased operational availability time. The lighter, more capable rifle will improve the sniper’s ability to rapidly engage multiple, moving targets,” wrote the Marine Corps when announcing the new sniper rifle.
So, what is the Mark 13 Mod 7 sniper rifle exactly? It uses a long-action bolt of the Remington 700/M24 receiver, and it has a precision barrel that’s capable of firing accurate shots at longer distances than its M40 predecessor. Some reports suggest it has a maximum range of 1,000 meters to 1,300 meters.
One of the reasons the Mark 13 Mod 7 sniper rifle is capable of shooting such long distances is because of its bullet. The M40 sniper rifle uses .308 rounds, whereas the new Mark 13 Mod 7 uses the larger .300 Winchester Magnum rounds. Furthermore, the Mark 13 Mod 7 only needs 246 inches of vertical correction and 40 inches of horizontal correction in 5-mile-per-hour winds. This makes it a formidable weapon that’s sure to have a positive impact on the U.S. Marine Corps and their operations.
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