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.”
They could do a lot worse than choosing a 6.5x55 Swedish Mauser selected for accuracy which would not be difficult since they were just about all very much so.
29 inch barrel with the bolt bent and safety altered. It already has a very fast twist to handle the original 156 grain bullets.
Put a nice scope on it and it would be deadly.
Did You know back in the day , there were re-loaders back in the states that did our rounds , we’d sight in for differences on each lot that came in .
The match ammo HP’s are not designed to expand like hunting HP’s. The hunting HP jackets are thin near the point and have scores in the jacket meant to tear and allow expansion. The match HP bullets have a thick jacket all over. Now, a long bullet near the minimum spin rate for stability may tumble on impact. Many military rifles/ammo are designed to do this.
Just to put this into perspective... you are discussing stationary paper targets... The Mk13 is about killing the enemy combatants usually at night, maybe on a small boat, sea spray..or dusty, goat shit near by , less than optimal lighting, high angle up or down shooting, dinner sucked and no beers in the previous month... .300 Win Mag with AB43 load in thr Mk13 has a proven record of saving Americans...that is what matters to me to be honest.
Have several of those.. personal favorite
I was stunned at the price.... But, now that you say like that.... You have a good point..
Accuracy International.
SAS has been using them for decades.
Wish I had one!
The rifle alone is around 5k.
The stock is supplied by AI, everything else is from Merica
You know your stuff.
Impressive.
I still have around 20-30 boxes of 6.5x55 Lapua Match.
It is marked: Luoti 9,3 g kokovaippa
V 25
E 25
My guess is 145 grains fmj.
Velocity maybe 2300 fps.
Energy Maybe 2000 ft. lbs.
It really does shoot well.
Also maybe 10 boxes of various Norma loads.
2 boxes of Privi Parisan.
I did not know that, interesting. To get the best accuracy you size the brass for the exact head space for the rifle you are reloading for. If reloading for just general use you have to size the brass small for the cartridge spec. When you size for the exact rifle it is usually from brass fired in that gun that has expanded to exactly fit the chamber. That means there is no movement of the round on firing and the bullet does not slam the barrel from being misaligned.
Thanks ,, shooting people and paper are different ,most sniper shots are around 100-300 yds. ,the records are a alot of luck when ya calculate wind age ,humidity ,and temp into the cal. heat waves can throw you off by feet and inches .
Though I imagine the $12K apiece includes spare barrels, etc. It had still better be a fantastic piece of equipment for that price.
Thanks. Just happens to be a lane I was once familiar with at one point in my life
I didn’t know. How about free kittens or puppies?
I didn’t know. How about free kittens or puppies?
I’ve been reloading my self for over 30-years . Every thing from a 5.7x28mm to a 30-378 wby.
143.5 gr
Yep.. very accurate
I just found another box of Lapua Match.
The box is identical but the end flap has more info.
Luoti B 343 9.3 g Kokovaippa
Kula 144 grs helmantel
Bullet full jacket
V25= 770 m/s
E25= 2760 J
I am not sure how to convert Joules to Ft. Lbs. but that velocity must be 2526 feet per second. Not really that bad.
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