Army approves full fielding of M-107 sniper rifle

Army News Service ^ | April 2005 | Kathy Roa

[balrog666]

PICATINNY ARSENAL, N.J. (Army News Service, March 31, 2005) -- The Army has approved its new long-range .50-caliber sniper rifle, the M-107, for full materiel release to Soldiers in the field.

The M-107 program is managed at Picatinny Arsenal, N.J., by the Project Manager Soldier Weapons with engineering support provided by Picatinny’s Armament Research, Development and Engineering Center.

The term “full materiel release” signifies that the Army has rigorously tested and evaluated the item and determined that it is completely safe, operationally suitable and logistically supportable for use by Soldiers, officials said.

Product Manager for Crew Served Weapons Lt. Col. Kevin P. Stoddard said that PMSW previously equipped combat units in Afghanistan and Iraq, as well as other units supporting the Global War on Terrorism, with the M-107 under an urgent materiel release.

The Army expects to complete fielding of the M-107 in 2008, Stoddard said.

The M107 was funded as a Soldier Enhancement Program to type classify a semi-automatic .50 caliber rifle for the Army and other military services. It underwent standard type classification in August 2003.

A production contract was awarded to Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Inc., Murfreesboro, Tenn., the following month.

Compared to the M24 7.62mm sniper rifle, Stoddard said, the M107 has more powerful optics and fires a variety of .50 caliber munitions.

“This provides sniper teams greater capability to identify and defeat multiple targets at increased ranges,” he said.

The M-107 is based on the Marine Corps special application scoped rifle, the M82A3.

The M-107 enables Army snipers to accurately engage personnel and material targets out to a distance of 1,500 to 2,000 meters respectively, he said.

The weapon is designed to effectively engage and defeat materiel targets at extended ranges including parked aircraft, computers, intelligence sites, radar sites, ammunition, petroleum, oil and lubricant sites, various lightly armored targets and command, control and communications.

In a counter-sniper role, the system offers longer stand-off ranges and increased terminal effects against snipers using smaller-caliber weapons.

The complete system includes the rifle itself, a detachable 10-round magazine, a variable-power day-optic sight, a transport case, a tactical soft case, cleaning and maintenance equipment, a detachable sling, an adjustable bipod and manuals.

The Army plans to modify the M107 in the future by adding a suppressor to greatly reduce flash, noise and blast signatures.

[section9]

Oh my gosh! That thing could have stopped the Caterpillar from running over Rachel Corrie.

Naaaaaaaaahh........

Seriously, what a sweet rifle. Wonder what the retail will be?

Be Seeing You,

Chris

[ctdonath2]

The .50BMG is presumably used at very long ranges, where it's relatively easy to hump one into position, awfully hard to see from that far away, targets are often bigger, and out of range of dang near anything firing back.

The .308 will presumably continue to see use for closer ranges (10-1000m) where light weight is vital for long-haul on-foot (or belly), and needs lower signature.

.308 ain't going away anytime soon.

[ctdonath2]

HAH! Good catch.

[ctdonath2]

Retail is around $8000.

[Bald Eagle777]

Good strategy, using leverage to take out an air field.

Park an M1 tank in the middle and have it take out as much as it can (plus prevent block planes from taking off) and also have the airfield surrounded with snipers w/50cals, # 1 to keep personnel away from the tank and # 2 to take out aircraft. I see this as giving our guys more leverage in taking out enemy C3 and airbases.

[wallcrawlr]

that thing is beautiful...its long enough to make my wife jealous

[c-five]

The Canadians are an example we'll likely remember. They did impressive work in Afghanistan with three man sniper teams.

1. Primary sniper with McMillan .50 cal Long Range Sniper Weapon.
2. Commander-spotter with C3A1 7.62 (much upgraded M82 type).
3. Team security with C7 5.56 (M16A2 type).

Details at http://www.stormpages.com/swellal/sof.html

[Oberon]

You'd have to be a pretty good shot to bring down an airplane in flight with one of these

Yes, but helicopters might be considerably easier.

[68skylark]

Yeah, you may be right.

[Tolkien]

"One shot, several kills" hehehehehe

[Sam Cree]

This would make a seriesly cool boat gun, mounted differently and without the scope.
:-)

[coloradan]

Click.........(No magazine)

Boom! Still one up the hole. A semi lacking a mag is NOT unloaded.

[Snickersnee]

Kewl! I was in an M107 unit in Vietnam! C Battery, 2/32 FA. It was a little bigger than this puppy, tho.

[stuartcr]

Danny Vermin?

[MarkL]

This brings a whole new meaning to the phrase, "reach out and touch someone!"

Mark

[cweese]

Nice vid. of a .50 cal versus a lawnmower :

http://www.strategypage.com/gallery/articles/military_photos_200532915.asp

[need_a_screen_name]

	Liberty Belles Ring Out for .50s

The .50 caliber rifle is the largest firearm that civilians may legally possess. Averaging 34-50 inches in overall length and 25-35 pounds in overall weight, this firearm serves only one civilian purpose - sport. Bench rest, competition marksmanship to be exact. And if you've never tried it, you don't know what you're missing. Fifty-caliber marksmanship is a very precise, specialized sport. Fifty-caliber shooters take every aspect of the firearm and ammunition into consideration in order to maximize their marksmanship skills. Shooters are very technical and have a thorough understanding of every aspect of the firearm.

Deb receives instruction on how to properly fire a .50 caliber rifle. Special thanks to John Burtt for his patience and consideration in introducing us to the sport of .50 caliber shooting.

The .50 caliber rifle averages 34-50" in overall length and weighs approximately 25-35 pounds.

Jennille keeps the butt of the rifle tucked in tight to her shoulder.

Because of the highly specialized, technical nature of .50 caliber shooting, participation in the sport is expensive. Therefore, .50 caliber shooters tend to be very serious about their sport. Participants in the sport tend to be an average age of forty-five, with several competition shooters in their seventies. Several competitors are women, and they have distinguished themselves as excellent markspersons having set world records on more than one occasion. They tend to be college educated, salaried professionals or business owners and have annual incomes exceeding $50,000.

Members of the Liberty Belles had the good fortune of being introduced to .50 caliber firearms at the annual shoot hosted by the .50 Caliber Shooters Association and ARM USA at the Angeles Ranges. This was a particularly joyous occasion as the California legislature attempted, unsuccessfully, to ban .50 calibers earlier this year. The bill, AB2222, was introduced by the usual gaggle of gun-grabbers in Sacramento. Specifically, Assembly members Paul Kortez, Judy Chu, Jackie Goldberg, Fred Keeley, Christine Kehoe, Alan Lowenthal, Kevin Shelley, Juan Vargas and Senator Don Perata.

Anna is a natural markswoman.

Jennille, Paula (Manager of the Angeles Ranges), and Deb.
Special thanks to everyone at the Angeles Ranges for their friendliness and hospitality.

 

Anna looks downrange after firing a shot.

By employing their standard tactics of mislabeling and demonizing a particular type of firearm, the gun-grabbers hoped to ban the .50 caliber rifles. They labeled the .50 caliber "sniper weapons" which therefore must be banned. Californians weren't buying it, however. They organized and, under the direction of the .50 Caliber Shooters Policy Institute, were able to defeat the bill in the "Safety Committee."

The battle is not over, however, as a federal bill to ban .50 caliber rifles nationwide has been introduced by Representatives Rod Blagojevich (IL) and Henry Waxman (CA). Again, using the same mislabeling and demonizing tactics, gun-grabbers hope to add another one to the growing list of banned firearms. The bill is H.R. 3182 and can be read here. Anyone interested in preserving liberty and the American way is encouraged to get involved in defeating H.R. 3182. Please call and send a postcard to your legislator to voice your opposition to this despicable bill. Anyone interested in becoming more involved is encouraged to contact the Liberty Belles or the .50 Caliber Shooters Policy Institute.

Jennille lines up her target.

[AFPhys]

I've been looking for an article to bring up with a friend of mine who I've had a falling out with (re: Schiavo- we're both on the same general side there, but it is so emotional a subject we're at odds even so - lol). This is just the article. He loves new firepower, especially when it is for the ground pounders...

[SeeRushToldU_So]

The current record for longest range sniper kill is 2,430 metres (7,972 ft), reportedly accomplished by a Canadian sniper in 2002, during the invasion of Afghanistan, using a .50 BMG McMillan bolt-action rifle.

2400 meter = 1.4912909 mile, unreal!

[balrog666]

Great post!