Authors: Col. Michael Lee Lanning

Inside the Crosshairs (35 page)

BOOK: Inside the Crosshairs

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Comments:
After testing in Vietnam, the U.S. Army approved the M14 National Match Accurized rifle and designated it the XM21, renaming it the M21 in 1972. It was the primary army sniper rifle of the war.

M24 Sniper Rifle

Cartridge	7.62 × 51 mm NATO (M118 match)
Operation	Bolt action
Weight	12.8 pounds
Length	43 inches
Feeding Device	5-round integral magazine
Effective Range	1,000 meters
Muzzle Velocity	2,805 fps
Scope	Leupold M3 Ultra 10X

Comments:
The M24 replaced the M21 as the army’s primary sniper rifle in 1988. It uses the Remington 700 receiver group with a Kevlar-graphite synthetic stock, an aluminum bedding block, and an adjustable butt plate.

Mosin-Nagant M1891/30 Rifle (K44)

Cartridge	7.62 × 54 rimmed
Operation	Bolt action
Weight	11.1 pounds
Length	49.3 inches
Feeding Device	5-round integral box magazine
Effective Range	800 meters
Muzzle Velocity	2,660 fps
Scope	3.5X PU or 4X PE

Comments:
The K44 served as the principal sniper rifle of the Vietcong and the North Vietnamese regulars for the entire Vietnam conflict. Originally designed in 1891 and modified in 1930, the K44 was simple, durable, and reasonably accurate.

Dragunov SVD Sniper Rifle

Cartridge	7.62 × 54 mm rimmed
Operation	Gas, semiautomatic
Weight	9.64 pounds
Length	48.2 inches
Feeding Device	10-round magazine
Effective Range	800 meters
Muzzle Velocity	2,723 fps
Scope	PSO 4X

Comments:
The Soviet Union began manufacture of the Dragunov SVD in the 1950s to replace the Mosin-Nagant. They provided the North Vietnamese with only a few of these rifles prior to the departure of American ground units from the war zone.

RAI Model 500

Cartridge	12.7 × 99 mm (.50-cal. Browning)
Operation	Bolt action
Weight	29.98 pounds
Length, Barrel	33.6 inches
Feeding Device	Single shot, no magazine
Effective Range	1,500 meters
Muzzle Velocity	2,913 fps
Scope	Ranging base provides mount for most modern scopes

Comments:
Manufactured by Research Armament Industries in Rogers, Arkansas, the Model 500 is currently used by Marine and navy SEAL snipers.

Barrett Model 82

Cartridge	12.7 × 99 mm (.50-cal. Browning)
Operation	Recoil, semiautomatic
Weight	33 pounds
Length, Barrel	37.36 inches
Feeding Device	11-round detachable box magazine
Effective Range	1,500 meters
Muzzle Velocity	2,849 fps
Scope	Mount accepts any scope with one-inch rings

Comments:
Manufactured by the Barrett Manufacturing Company of Murfreesboro, Tennessee, the Model 82 is the only semiautomatic .50-caliber sniper rifle.

McMillan M87R

Cartridge	12.7 × 99 mm (.50-cal Browning)
Operation	Bolt action
Weight	21 pounds
Length, Barrel	29.46 inches
Feeding Device	5-round box magazine
Effective Range	1,500 meters
Muzzle Velocity	2,840 fps
Scope	Any modern 10X or 16X

Comments:
The M87R, manufactured by the McMillan Gun Works in Phoenix, Arizona, is the lightest of the .50 calibers.

APPENDIX B

Syllabus, Sniper Training (From USMC FMFM 1–3B, “Sniping,” dated August 5, 1969)
1. PURPOSE

The purpose of this syllabus is to provide uniform guidance in the conduct of sniper training in Marine Corps units.

2. OBJECTIVE

The objective of this syllabus is to instill in the individual sniper the military knowledge necessary for service with a Fleet Marine Force unit in the field.

3. GENERAL TRAINING NOTES

This syllabus is a guide for preparing training schedules. Training problems peculiar to a given unit or installation may necessitate modification or improvisation of some to the training outlined herein.

a.
The practical exercises should include a situation with several requirements involving individual and/or team actions covering the fundamentals of the subject being taught.

b.
When feasible, opposing forces’ concept should be used for realism in training. Example: Train one or more sniper squads in defense while training others in offense.

c.
Separate exercises may be combined into a continuous tactical exercise where logical training situations can be portrayed. For example, combine night reconnaissance patrol with a dawn attack on an enemy outpost with long-range sniper fire.

d.
A critique should be held after each phase or requirement of the problem to discuss good and bad points. A general critique to emphasize the principles involved should be held at the conclusion of each problem.

e.
Hours of instruction allotted in this syllabus for each subject are maximum, the total hours may be reduced by concurrent training; however, THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS IN MARKSMANSHIP TRAINING. Therefore, when additional training hours are available, emphasis should be on the marksmanship phase of sniper training.

4. SYLLABUS OF INSTRUCTION

Subject	Code ^*	Hours

Introduction to Sniper Training
General	L	.25
Sniper Organization	L	.50
Selection of Personnel	L	.25
Total Hours		1.00

Sniper Equipment
Rifles	L, D	.50
Telescopes	L, D	.50
Rifle and Telescope Assemblies	L, D	.25
Ammunition	L, D	.25
Special Equipment	L, D	.25
Total Hours		1.75

Care and Cleaning of Equipment
Rifles	L, D	1.00
Optical	L, D	.25
Special Equipment	L, D	.25
Total Hours		1.50

Marksmanship Training
Sighting and Aiming	L, D	.50
Sling Adjustments and Positions	L, D, A	2.00
Trigger Control	L	.50
Sight Adjustments	L, D, A	2.00
Effects of the Weather	L	1.00
Zeroing	L	.50
Position Exercise	A	8.00
Range Practice Firing	A	40.00
Range Record Firing	A	8.00
Total Hours		62.50

Target Detection
	L, D	2.00
	L, A	8.00
Total Hours		10.00

Range Estimation
	L, D	1.00
	L, A	7.00
Total Hours		8.00

Holds and Leads
	L, D	1.00
	L, A	7.00
Total Hours		8.00

Intelligence Collecting and Reporting
	L	1.00
	L, A	2.00
Total Hours		3.00

Camouflage and Concealment
	L, D	4.00
	L, A	4.00
Total Hours		8.00

Individual Movement
	L, D	2.00
	L, A	6.00
Total Hours		8.00

Survival, Evasion, and Escape
	L, D	1.00
	L, A	7.00
Total Hours		8.00

Sniper Employment
Introduction of Employment	L	1.00
Offensive Operations	L, A	6.00
Defensive Operations	L, A	4.00
Special and Auxiliary Operations	L, A	2.00
Field Exercises	A	72.00
Total Hours		85.00

Recapitulation

Subject	Total Hours

Introduction to Sniper Training	1.00
Sniper Equipment	1.75
Care and Cleaning of Equipment	1.50
Marksmanship Training	62.50
Target Detection	10.00
Range Estimation	8.00
Holds and Leads	8.00
Intelligence Collection and Reporting	3.00
Camouflage and Concealment	8.00
Individual Movement	8.00
Survival, Evasion, and Escape	8.00
Sniper Employment	85.00
Total Hours	204.75