[SkyPilot]

Go Marines.

[JessieHelmsJr]

hell yeah! one shot! one kill!

[Stoat]

Sergeant Memo M. Sandoval, a platoon sergeant with Scout Sniper Platoon, Headquarters and Service Company, 3rd Battalion, 5th Marine Regiment, stopped insurgents from launching further mortar attacks against his fellow Marines recently. The native of El Paso, Texas, made the shots from a distance of 950 yards. Photo by: Lance Cpl. Miguel A. Carrasco Jr.

The M-40A3 is the new precision fire weapon used by Marine snipers. Photo by: Gunnery Sgt Matt Hevezi

Marine Corps News Deadeyes cozying to new sniper rifle

Deadeyes cozying to new sniper rifle
Submitted by: MCB Camp Pendleton
Story Identification #: 2003925151348
Story by Pfc. Khang T Tran



MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. (September 25, 2003) -- Marine snipers have found a new best friend.

The Marine Corps has upgraded the old sniper rifle, the M-40A1, replacing it with a new and improved rifle.

The M-40A3 will fully replace the M-40A1 by October 2004, said Staff Sgt. Jesse L. Bier, the project and field officer with 1st Marine Division.

"Because of the fact only 30 rifles are produced every month, and with a limited amount of scopes, it'll take a while to fully replace the old rifle," Bier said.

Each rifle is hand-built by precision weapons repairmen at Weapons Training Battalion in Quantico, Va., according to the according to Staff Sgt. James Knight, a sniper section repairman at Weapons Training Battalion, Quantico, Va. Beir added the old rifles are being sent back to Quantico for disassembly.

The M-40A3 was tested in 1996 and was finally issued as an official Marine Corps weapon in 2000, Bier added. During the rifle testing, surveys showed shooters enjoyed greater accuracy and increased comfort.

As with the M-40A1, the M-40A3 is a bolt-action, manually operated, magazine-fed, air-cooled, shoulder-fired weapon with an optical scope.

However, the M-40A3 has an adjustable cheek piece and recoil pad on the butt stock, giving the shooter the chance to position the weapon more comfortably.

It's designed to shoot beyond 1,000 yards, according to Lance Cpl. Gunther Johnston, an armorer with 1st Recon Bn. It uses special rounds - the M118LR, chambered in 7.62mm. The M-40A3 uses the rail system, allowing snipers to change out a fixed 10-power scope for an ANPVS-10 night scope.

"Unlike the M-40A1, the M-40A3 has a mount rail like the M-4, which allows you to attach different units to it," said Sgt. Steven D. Lovell, team leader with 1st Recon Battalion's B Company. "It's great for patrolling urban areas as well."

The day scope allows a sniper to see up to 800 meters; the night scope allows 600 meters.

The rifle is built on a fiberglass stock with a stainless- steel barrel, a steel floor plate and trigger-guard assembly. The magazine box holds five rounds. Additional enhancements include six quick-detach sling swivel mounts and a removable, swivel bipod.

"The M-40A1 has helped out the Marine Corps for a long time, but I'm glad we finally improved it," Johnston said.

Still, the new rifle comes with some drawbacks. For one, it's heavier. The new rifle outweighs the old by 2 pounds.

Some shooters still like the old rifle.

"I'd rather shoot the M-40A1," said Sgt. Andrew C. Giermann, a reconnaissance and surveillance instructor with I Marine Expeditionary Force. "It's lighter than the M-40A3, making it much easier to maneuver."

"The M-40A3 is more of a defense weapon," said Staff Sgt. Van Seelay, chief reconnaissance and surveillance instructor with I MEF. "It's basically a bench-rest weapon, and the M-40A1 is an offensive weapon because it's a lot easier to employ."

The increased weight, though, hasn't hampered the rifle's performance. Johnston said most snipers prefer the M-40A3 because of the upgraded comfort.

"The new stock is very easy on the shoulder when firing, and the adjustable cheek piece is good too," Seelay added.

Giermann, too, said there are things to like about the rifle. Despite loving the rifle with which he learned his trade, he's warming up to the new weapon.

"I like the fact that the M-40A3 has a bipod," Giermann said. "It's much more stable while firing."

[tom h]

"A U.S. Marine sniper waited patiently inside a one-story house deep within the city ... he scanned the area through his scope before he finally found the three insurgents responsible for two previous mortar attacks ... [He] cleared his thoughts and slowed his breathing as he gently squeezed the trigger of his M-40A3 sniper rifle. The 7.62 mm round covered the 950 yards in a flash, slamming into the chest of the first insurgent. "

SNIFF!! I always cry when I read good news first thing in the morning.

[freeangel]

I can hardly wait for the outcry of the MSM that these shootings were inhumane and against the geneva convention because we didn't try taking them alive and put them up at the Hilton.

[Bandaneira]

Can we shatter denial from the same distance ?

[blaze]

Thank You BUMP!

[tkathy]

Maybe they could create a new Olympic sport for these guys with live Islamofascists running around in the distance.

[shezza]

Excellent work, SGT Sandoval. May the Lord bless and protect our fine young (and not-so-young) troops!

[MEG33]

"The battalion (executive officer) ordered me to 'make the mortars stop,'" said Sandoval, a native of El Paso, Texas. "I took it personally and went out specifically to stop the insurgents."

"Texas proud" of this Marine!

[7.62 x 51mm]

Reach out and touch someone, up close and very personal! Semper Fi, Marine!

[alloysteel]

Divine Retribution befell these twisted and confused men who were so full of hubris they believed themselves beyond range. Struck down while beside the instrument of death they meant to direct at others.

May their Allah be just. That is not at all the same thing as merciful.

[Beckwith]

You know, with all the muslim whackjobs running around the country, I think it is a very bad idea to identify these Marines by their full name and home address.

How difficult would it be to find the family of 1st Lt. Samuel Rosales of San Clemente, California?

[Recon Dad]

"You can run but you'll just die tired" Get one for Carlos!

[DustyMoment]

Well Done, Marine!!

Take two Bronze Stars and the rest of the day off!!

[azhenfud]

"...hopes to represent the United States in the Olympics in competition shooting."

JMO, but that Marine's shooting has already won him more significance than would an Olympic medal.

[stevem]

Very impressive. One criticism. I think the military ought to teach military people to call them terrorists.

[Born Conservative]

bttt

[LowCountryJoe]

Teufelhunden bump

[4everontheRight]

Only thing missing...video! I love to see our service men and women in action!