I've looked at a couple of times posting at leangth about the question of Semi-Auto Precision Rifles. It's very hard to define and one of the lessions I learned in 2006 from the XM-110's Operational Test was it's realy a very differant capablity than a Precision Bolt Gun. The latter development of the M-14EBD, M-39 and the use of USMC units of the MK-12 has further opened up what a Precision Semi-Auto does/is.
First for those looking into Precision Semi-Autos read a few of these threads and than ask yourselves what role are you attempting to fill:
Battle for light precision supremacy: The Recce Rifle Vs. The SPR
Designated Marksman discussion thread
ACOG Chart
M14 to MK 14 Evolution of a Battle Rifle
And optics links:
Nightforce NXS 2.5-10 x 32 Compact
Leupold Mark 4 2.5-8x36mm MR/T M2
Trijicon ACOG
I have seveal other files which I will post once I recover them from a crashed hard drive and validate some of them are releasable.
My intent for this thread is to discuss the evolution of the Precision Semi-Auto Rifle as a System. My background and biase in this topic comes from the my basic Infantryman's perspective.
I'm going to post the first major comment from the perspective of developing a Designated Marksman Program. I'd also like to see comments from a Police Sniper which use similure systems ILO a bolt gun and also from Military Snipers using the M-110/MK-11 along side their bolt guns.
How does using a semi change your employment and for most cases is it better than a bolt gun, or just differant?
Let the sharp shooting beginAs early as the 1958 the Army had a written requirement for Squad Desiganted Marksmen and even had a detailed set of training and material requirements outlined in the field manual:
FM 23-5 U. S. RIFLE CALIBER .30, M1, SEPTEMBER 1958. Outlined in Chapther 7 ADVANCED MARKSMANSHIP-SNIPING and described as the following:
"The sniper is first of all a rifleman in the squad. In a great many tactical situations, his firepower is integrated with the squad or team application of fire. In some tactical situations or as time permits, the squad leader or a higher commander will be able to use the sniper's ability to deliver accurate fire at slightly longer ranges by employing him as a mobile sniper or as a member of a sniper team.
As a guide, the standard of shooting demanded of a sniper enables him to hit, with regularity, a man's head at ranges up to 200 yards and a man's trunk at ranges up to 400 yards."
Some geek with a Noveske VIS SPR with Knight Handstop, PWS 556, and a Nightforce 2.5x10x32 Velocity Optic in a Bobro Precision Optic Mount. (Since someone was going to ask)
Bookmarks