M24 Sniper Rifle – The Long-Range Legend

The M24 sniper rifle is derived from the Remington 700. It measures 43 inches in length and has a 24-inch stainless-steel barrel. The rifle is rifled with a 1:11.25 twist (.308 Win.). It features 5R rifling. It can hold 5 rounds. In the pre-dawn sunlight, they’re clearly visible. A cloud of dust resulting from the sudden stop of the vehicle floats high on morning thermals. This is the first mirage in the day’s half-value crosswind. An Army sniper is watching, as is his spotter. “Range me. “The IED needed to be placed quickly. But he wasn’t going to be fast enough. “Send it. “Send it. The distant shot is heard 900 yards away. It echoes through the mountainous valley like a whip crack. The Army sniper fires another shot but the mission is over. Photo: WikipediaThe above account, though fictional, is based upon documented U.S. Military Operations in Afghanistan. The U.S. Army is there, and there is hell to pay for them. The M24 sniper weapon is a terrible contraption that is pure death from afar. The sniper rifle was the result of four centuries of honed tactics and tools used by the sharpscutzen or sharpshooter–or “sniper,” in the latter days. The rifle was capable of firing precision fire at enemy targets at 800m and beyond. It was easily adjustable to fit any soldier and was built on a field-proven, reliable action. For those who would love it in battle, it was built like a Sherman tank. The design was perfected between 1962, when Remington Model 700 was introduced, and 1988 when the U.S. Army decided to introduce a new rifle for its sniper program. It was the M24. In fact, rifles purchased by the U.S. Military from the 1960s reflect a renewed focus in marksmanship training. There were also other players in this field. The mold for the Marine Corps M40 rifle, which was made in Remington Custom from 40X Target Rifles, was completed by 1966. However, it would take nearly two decades for the Army to settle on its requirements. Although the Army launched its first sniper training school in 1955, the U.S. Army Special Warfare Center at Fort Bragg established the Special Forces Sniper School, also known as the Special Operations Target Interdiction Course or SOTIC. The Army needed a rifle to start its new school. Prior to that, snipers in the Army had used a variety of weapons, including the M21, M40, Winchester Model 70, Parker Hale 1200TX and French FR-1. Planners needed standardization and a central point of their new training curriculum. The proposal of Remington was approved by the Armament Research Development and Engineering Center in New Jersey. This was surely because they were looking back at the success story of the M40. The arms manufacturer invested heavily in materials, testing and workmanship. This allowed the Army to have a rifle that not only met its requirements but also achieved levels of performance that were unmatched in sniper rifles. “The M24’s accuracy has not diminished after 10,000 rounds due to improvements in steel manufacturing and barrel construction,” Martin Pegler reports in Out of Nowhere. A History of the Military Sniper. This is a significant improvement over the 500-round expected life of the British SMLE of the First World War. The system was officially commissioned on July 15, 1998. Remington Arms received a $12,087.430 defense contract. The entire order was completed by February 27, 2010. The M24 project was unique in that Remington had never attempted a production sniping rifle. The guns were delivered in batches of 20 on December 20, 1988. They cost $4,995 each. However, “Big Green” was able drop the price to $3,900 per gun. The Remington 700 long-action Remington M24 was used. It was originally intended to chamber it in.30–06, but Special Forces influence allowed it to be re-chamberable for.300 Win. Mag. Mag. This, along with the need for standardization, meant that most M24s were chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO. The barrel bore itself is interesting, because it is machined with a five-land/five-groove design (5-R). The barrel bore is unique in that it is machined with a 5-land/five-groove design (5-R). This means that no two lands are directly opposite one another. The lands are also cut at 65 degrees instead of the conventional 90 degrees. This design was created to reduce fouling and prolong barrel life. It is desirable in military’s many operational environments. The stock’s pull length can be adjusted by more than 2 inches. The stock’s length of pull can be adjusted by a distinctive knob that is knurled, lockable, and which sits between the butt stock and recoil pad. A fixed 10x optic with Mil-Dot Reticle and 42mm objective lens proves to be a reliable optic for the M24. Photo by Worth Point. The whole package is ready for deployment. The Army would later call it the M24 SWS or Sniper Weapons System. It consists of a Hardigg case, a Leupold M3 10x scope, cleaning tools, M1903 leather strap, Harris bipod, and Redfield Palma Match (or OK Weber) aperture-style sights. It is easily identifiable by its distinctive front sight post and rear sight post. Leupold was first approached by the SOTIC Committee to create a scope to replace the Redfields. The M3 Ultra, now known as the Leupold Mark 4 M3, was created. It was a fixed 10x optic with Mil-Dot Reticle and 42mm objective lens. However, the M24 had a rather rocky start. Planners had previously worked with McMillan who had given them a rifle that had a bulky, heavy, and prone stock. This was because the developers were looking for a tool to teach prone shooting rather than a complete sniper rifle outfit in the early days. There were bedding problems in the early McMillans and an H-S Precision-stocked weapon, which was then brought in for testing in 1985. Military Adoption of The Sniper rifleThe ultimate fate of the M24 rested on a 1,000-yard shot. According to Sniper magazine Brig. In 1985, Gen. James Guest was at a test firing near Fort Bragg and decided to shoot for himself. After firing a few sub-par groups from the M-21, he climbed down behind the M24 prototype and shot his first shot. He then stood up and said, “Buy it!” The same General later testified before Congress regarding the problems with M-21s and it was he that secured official funding for the program. The outcome of this fascinating firearm’s history could have been different if the General’s first shot had missed the mark. The.300 Winchester Magnum’s long action made it a top contender for making the M24 a 1,000-yard gun. However, other ideas were discussed, including the.338-416 or the early incarnation.338 Lapua Magnum. Photo: Wikipedia. The refinements to the M24 continued throughout 1986 and 1987. At that point, the Army became fully involved in the program. The 7.62 NATO or.300 win was the final version of the cartridge chambering debate. Mag. The big.338s were not on the table because shooters expressed concerns about excessive recoil. Although the Army settled on the 7.62, those closest to the program made certain to keep the long action for future rechambering to.300 Win. Mag., where logistics over ammunition could be worked through. Mag. It is not known how many M24s are chambered with.300 Win. Mag. Both were excellent examples of the platform. However, the Steyr’s cold-hammer-forged barrel began to shift point at impact as the temperature rose. The stock also began to warp. The Remington shot well, so it was easy to make the decision. The Army had its sniper rifle by 1988 and SOTIC had a gun to train their instructors. Through February 2010, Remington would continue to supply Big Army the M24s, and Knight’s Armament Company was awarded an Army contract to replace M24 with the M110, a semiautomatic weapons system. Special Forces snipers who have been operating in the Middle East since 2001 had influenced this change. Soldiers quickly embraced the advantages of the semi-auto long-range option and in 2008, the first Army unit entered combat in Afghanistan armed with M110s. The fate of M24 was not all bad. However, the military did not abandon the Remington 700 long action on which it was built, and the superb.300 Win. Mag. cartridge. This thinking was also influenced in part by Middle East operations. Mag. Mag. The rifle is now used by the Afghan military, as well as seven other countries (including Brazil, Georgia, Japan, and Georgia). The United States has adopted the gun, which was once used only by military personnel for domestic law enforcement. Remington still has the original 1988 design available and it is used by the military in its current configuration. There have been variations to the M24A1, M24A2, M24E1/XM2010 sniper rifles. The A1 is a 7.62 NATO gun and the A2 is a.300 Win. Mag. Mag. It is completely different from the M24 that was designed by the SOTIC at Fort Bragg in late ’80s. It is chambered for.300 Win. It can be used for.300 Win. Mag., making it a weapon capable of reaching 1,000 yards or more. The suppressor measures 10 inches in length and reduces muzzle flash by 98 percent, sound by 32 percent, and recoil by 60%. The Remington Arms Chassis Systems (RACS), a space-age looking stock, is the ultimate adjustable folding stock. It has a detachable mag, but its optics make it more robust. The gun is equipped with the Leupold variable-power first focal plane scope (6.5-20x50mm). There were 3,600 elite XM2010s made from M24s upgraded or new production. This rifle, which is space age in appearance, is built on the M24’s original Model 700 long-action but is chambered for 0.300 Win. Mag. It includes a fully adjustable, folding stock known as Remington Arms Chassis System. (RACS), suppressor and magazine. The optics have been upgraded to the Leupold Variable Power First Focal Plan Scope (6.5-20x50mm) The rifle was developed by the Army’s top marksmen. From the trigger, stock and scope, to the lands within the barrel, every aspect of the rifle was designed and refined with clockwork precision. This ensured durability and ease of use for sniper school students on the battlefield and in the classroom. The M24’s deadly accuracy was what the enemy would fear. Target grids and bullseye sizes can be downloaded in MOA. Perfect for long-range shooting! Get free targets