M24 Sniper Weapon System

Rifle, 7.62 mm, Sniper Weapon System, M24
The M24 rifle
Type	Sniper Rifle
Land of Origin	United States
Specifications
Length	1,092 mm (43 in) (M24A1, M24A2); (46.5 in) (M24A3)
Barrel length	660.4 mm (24 in)(M24A1, M24A2); (29 in) (M24A3)
Weight	5.4 kg (11.88 lbs) empty, w/. sling, without scope (M24) 7.3 kg (16 lbs) max weight with day optical sight, sling swivels, carrying strap, fully loaded magazine 5.6 kg (12.32 lbs) empty, w/. sling, without scope (M24A3).
Cartridge	7.62x51mm NATO (M24A1), .300 Winchester Magnum (M24A2), .338 Lapua Magnum (M24A3)
Action	Bolt-action
Rifling/Twist	5 radial, 1/11.5"
Rate of Fire	up to 20 RPM
Muzzle velocity	2,580 ft/s (790 m/s) w/M118LR Sniper load (175 gr.)
Effective Range	800 metres (875 yd) (7.62×51mm) 1,500 metres (1,640 yd) (.338 Lapua Magnum)
Feed	5-round internal magazine (M24A1), 10-round detachable box magazine (M24A2), 5-round detachable box magazine (M24A3)
Sights	Telescopic; detachable backup iron sights
Service History
In service	1988–present
Used by	See Users
Wars	Desert Storm, Afghanistan, Second Iraq War
Production History
Designer	Remington / US Army
Design Date	1988
Manufacturer	Remington Arms
Produced	1988 - c.2010
No. Built	15,000
Variants	M24A2, M24A3, M24E1

The M24 Sniper Weapon System (SWS) is the military and police version of the Remington 700 rifle, M24 being the model name assigned by the United States Army after adoption as their standard sniper rifle in 1988. The M24 is referred to as a "weapons system" because it consists of not only a rifle, but also a detachable telescopic sight and other accessories.

The M24 SWS had the "long-action" bolt version of the Remington 700 receiver because it originally was to use the .30-06 Springfield M72 Match cartridge. Unfortunately it turned out there was an insufficient amount of these rounds in a single lot of manufacture, so the operational requirement changed to use the dimensionally smaller 7.62×51mm NATO M118 Match Grade cartridge.

The M24 originally came tapped for the Leupold Ultra M3A 10×42mm fixed-power scope, which came with a circle-shaped mil-dot glass-etched reticle. This was later replaced in 1998 by the cheaper Leupold Mk 4 LR/T M3 10×40mm first focal plane fixed-power scope with an elongated-shaped mil-dot wire reticle.

The first number is the scope's magnification (10) and the second number in millimeters (40mm) is the diameter of the objective lens. A fixed power scope has only one magnification (e.g., 10×) and a variable power scope can be adjusted to focus between a range of magnifications (e.g., 3–9× is adjustable from a minimum power of 3× to a maximum power of 9×). The rifle itself comes with a detachable Harris 6-9" BRM-S swivel bipod unit.

The M24 SWS was to be replaced with the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System, a contract awarded to Knight's Armament Company. However, the Army still continued to acquire M24s from Remington until February 2010 and the M24 is being upgraded to the A2 and M24E1 standard in many cases, and continues to serve. The Army is likely to upgrade its 2,500 M24s to XM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle standard.

Specifications

U.S. Army sniper team with the M24 SWS.

Sights: Leupold Ultra M3A 10×42mm fixed power, or Leupold Mk 4 LR/T M3 10×40mm fixed power scope. Detachable emergency Redfield-Palma International back-up iron sights, fitted with tabs that fit into slots machined into the front and back of the barrel.

Barrel: Made of 416R Stainless Steel. The bore twist is 1-turn-in-11.25 inches [1:285.75 mm] and the rifling is five radial lands and grooves (5-R) with a right-hand (RH) twist. Because of the odd number of lands, none of the lands are 180° apart, i.e. in direct opposition. This results in less bullet deformation, which (at least in theory) produces more consistent point of impact. In 5-R rifling, the "side" of the land is cut at a 65° angle, rather than 90° in conventional rifling. This results in less barrel fouling, and more consistent point of impact, compared to conventional rifling when relatively high numbers of rounds are fired between cleaning, as might be expected in military applications.

Stock: H-S Precision PST-11 stock. The stock secures the action via an aluminum bedding block to keep it rigid. The barrel is free floating. A twin-strut extension that pulls out of the butt allows a 2-inch [50.8mm] adjustment to length-of-pull. This is effected by a thick wheel on a central grooved pillar for adjusting the length and a thin locking ring behind it locks the thick wheel in place. The latter is notorious for failing, causing the extension to slide back and forth. Also a styrofoam core designed to reduce the stock's weight would absorb water if it was carried in the rain or soaked in a stream or river, making the weapon heavy and unbalanced.

Accuracy: According to MIL-R-71126(AR), the M24 shall achieve the accuracy results stated below when using M118 Special Ball and fired from a Government approved machine rest. The average mean radius shall be less than or equal to the following values:

• 200 yards (182.9 m): 1.3 inches
• 200 metres (218.7 yd): 1.4 inches
• 300 yards (274.3 m): 1.9 inches

Maximum effective range is given as 875 yards (800 meters), but record shots have been made with the M24 at over 1,000 meters (1,094 yd). Meanwhile, the standard optical sight has a maximum elevation adjustment of 1,000 meters (1,094 yd).

Match-Grade Ammunition

M24 sniper rifle, equipped with an AN/PVS-10 Sniper Night Sight (SNS).

• 7.62 × 51mm M118 Match Grade: A 173-grain round.
• 7.62 × 51mm M118LR Long Range: A 175-grain round using Sierra MatchKing Hollow Point Boat Tail projectiles.
  • 7.62mm M118 Long Range Performance Data:
  • Muzzle velocity (nominal): 2,580 f/s (786 m/s)
  • Chamber pressure (typical): 52,000 psi (358.6 MPa)
  • Action time (max): 4 ms
  • Average horizontal spread at 1,000 meters: 10.3 in (0.984 MOA)
  • Average vertical spread at 1,000 meters: 14 in (1.337 MOA)

According to JBM Ballistics, using the G7 ballistic coefficient provided by Bryan Litz, the 7.62mm M118 Long Range 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge, when fired at its nominal muzzle velocity of 786 m/s (2,580 ft/s), should have approximately 878 m (960 yd) supersonic range under International Standard Atmosphere conditions at sea level (air density ρ = 1.225 kg/m³).

• 7.62 × 51mm MK 316 MOD 0 Special Ball, Long Range: A 175-grain round consisting of Sierra MatchKing Hollow Point Boat Tail projectiles, Federal Cartridge Company match cartridge cases and Gold Medal Match primers and an undisclosed modified extruded propellant. The 7.62 × 51mm MK 316 MOD 0 Special Ball, Long Range cartridges have an accuracy requirement based around 10-round shotgroups. The Propellant has been verified as IMR 4064 (per NSN 1305-01-567-6944 and Federal Cartridge Company Contract/Order Number N0016408DJN28 and has a charge weight per the specs of 41.745 grains).
  • The average extreme spread for 10-round shotgroups shall be less than or equal to the following values:
  • 600 yd: 7.0 in (first Production Lot). This equates to a ≤ 1.1 MOA requirement at 548.6 m.
  • 300 yd: 3.5 in (after first Production Lot). This equates to a ≤ 1.1 MOA requirement at 274.3 m.

The maximum muzzle velocity standard deviation is set at 15 ft/s (4.57 m/s). Information published on acceptance tests regarding five MK 316 MOD 0 cartridge production lots indicated a sub 2.4 in at 300 yd performance. This equates to a sub 0.8 MOA performance at 274.3 m for the listed ammunition lots.

M24 SWS system components (U.S. Army photo).

M24 Variants

XM24A1

An experimental variant re-chambered for the .300 Winchester Magnum (7.62×67mm) round. It was not adopted by the US Army due to concerns that operatives in the field would not be able to acquire the special ammo. Also, the available .300 Winchester Magnum ammo that was procured sometimes misfired due to incompletely-burned propellant in the longer cartridge.

M24A2

Remington has developed an improved version of the M24 rifle, known as the M24A2. The A2 model features a detachable 10-round magazine, top-mounted and adjustable side-mounted Picatinny rails (advertised by Remington as "MARS", or Modular Accessory Rail System), barrel modifications designed to accommodate a sound suppressor, and an improved H-S Precision PST-25 stock with adjustable cheek height and length of pull. Existing M24s can also be converted into M24A2s, which replaces the stock and adds the new detachable magazine feed. The conversion requires a re-barreling of the weapon so it can take the OPS silencer.

M24A3

Remington has also developed the M24A3 SWS, a variant of the M24 chambered for the .338 Lapua Magnum round (8.58×70mm) and feeding from a 5-round detachable box magazine. It comes tapped for the Leupold Mk 4 M1LR/T 8.5–25×50mm Variable Power day scope. It can also use detachable front and rear Back-Up Iron Sights in an emergency (BUIS units are standard accessories that can be fitted to the Picatinny Rail that runs on the top of the receiver and along the barrel).

U.S. Army 2009 solicitation for a M24 reconfiguration

The U.S. Army has put out a solicitation in May 2009 for reconfiguring M24 Sniper Weapon Systems currently available in Army inventory consisting of a:

• Rebarreling/rechambering the SWS's barrel optimized to accommodate Mk 248 (DODIC A191) .300 Winchester Magnum ammunition.
• Replacement of existing weaver rails with a MIL-STD-1913 rail capable of accommodating both a day optic and in-line forward mounted, AN/PVS-26 (NSN 5855-01-538-8121) image intensified (I2) night vision device.
• Reconfiguring the stock with a stock that incorporates a detachable box magazine, adjustable comb and length of pull.
• Addition of a detachable sound suppressor as well as any necessary barrel modifications required for a sound suppressor interface.
• Replacement of the existing day optic sight (DOS) and rings with an Army specified variable power day optic and compatible rings.

The US government purchased MK 248 MOD 1 .300 Winchester Magnum match-grade ammunition in 2009 for use in .300 Winchester Magnum sniper rifles like the U.S. Navy Mk.13 MOD 5 rifle or reconfigured M24 SWSs. This ammunition was developed as a .300 Winchester Magnum Match Product Improvement (PIP) and uses the 14.26 g (220 gr) Sierra MatchKing Hollow Point Boat Tail (HPBT) very-low-drag bullet fired at a nominal muzzle velocity of 869 m/s (2,850 ft/s) ± 15.2 m/s (50 ft/s). According to the U.S. Navy this ammunition should increase the maximum effective range of .300 Winchester Magnum sniper rifle systems to 1,370 m (1,500 yd), decrease wind defection on bullets in flight and use a reduced muzzle flash propellant that remains temperature stable across an operational temperature range of -32 °C tot 74 °C (-25 °F to 165 °F). According to JBM Ballistics, using the G7 ballistic coefficient provided by Bryan Litz, the Mk 248 MOD 1 .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge, when fired at its nominal muzzle velocity of 869 m/s (2,850 ft/s), should have approximately 1,286 m (1,406 yd) supersonic range under International Standard Atmosphere conditions at sea level (air density ρ = 1.225 kg/m³).

2010 M24E1 Enhanced Sniper Rifle reconfiguration competition

M24E1/XM2010 reconfigured Sniper Weapon System chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum.

Main article: XM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle

In September 2010 the United States Army’s Joint Munitions and Lethality Contracting Center awarded Remington a Firm Fixed Price Indefinite Delivery/Indefinite Quantity contract (W15QKN-10-R-0403) for the upgrade of up to 3,600 M24 Sniper Weapon Systems currently fielded to the Army pending type classification as the M24E1 Enhanced Sniper Rifle (ESR). Later the Enhanced Sniper Rifle was classified as the XM2010. The major configuration change for this system is the conversion from 7.62×51mm NATO to .300 Winchester Magnum ammunition exploiting the M24’s magnum length bolt action to provide additional precision engagement capability, and range.

The M24E1/XM2010 is considered a "total conversion upgrade", by which the barrel, stock, magazines, muzzlebrake, suppressor, and even the optics will be changed. Besides the rechambering and rebarreling with a 610 mm (24 in) long, 254 mm (1 in 10 inch) twist rate (5R) hammer-forged barrel the main reconfiguration changes compared to 7.62×51mm NATO chambered M24 rifles are:

• Fitting a new chassis (stock) assembly, which maximizes the amount of physical adjustments for the sniper to provide a better user customized fit. The chassis has a folding buttstock that shortens the system for easier transport and better concealment during movement and accommodates the mounting of accessories via removable Mil Std 1913 Picatinny Rails.
• Fitting a 5-round detachable box magazine.
• Fitting a quick-attachable/detachable Advanced Armament Corp. sound suppressor with muzzle brake.
• Fitting a Leupold Mark 4 6.5–20×50mm ER/T M5 Front Focal variable power telescopic sight featuring a 30 mm tube diameter, first focal plane Horus Vision H-37 grid system range estimation reticle and Bullet Drop Compensation.
• Applying advanced corrosion resistant coatings throughout the system.

According to Remington Arms each rifle is tested to meet (and typically exceeds) the requirement to fire ≤ 1 MOA (less than a 2-inch shot group at 200 yards) before being released for fielding.

Users

IDF M-24 sniper rifle.

• Afghanistan: Afghan National Army
• Brazil: Used by Brazilian Special Operations Brigade
• Hungary: Bercsény László Különleges Műveleti Zászlóalj.
• Israel: Israel Defense Forces.
• Georgia
• Japan: Used by paratroopers of the 1st Airborne Brigade.
• Lebanon
• United States: Used by the US Army. Also used by various police SWAT teams.

Resources

Gun Owners' Resource has the following relevant documents available for free download for the M24 Sniper Weapon System and/or its variants:

• OPERATOR’S MANUAL 7.62MM M24 SNIPER WEAPON SYSTEM (SWS) document TM 9-1005-306-10 (Army) and TO 11W3-5-4-10-1 (Air Force) June, 1989

The following diagrams are also available for reference:

• 

  Parts view of the Remington 700, which the M24 is built from.

See also

• List of sniper rifles

External links

• Remington Law Enforcement M24 SWS page
• Modern Firearms