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October 4, 2003
For the last few years, the U.S. Marine Corps has been gradually replacing it's M-40A1 sniper rifles with the new, and improved, M-40A3 rifle. The M-40 type rifle has been used by the marines since the 1960s. The rifle is actually a militarized Remington 700 bolt action rifle. The 7.62mm M-40s are modified by Marine Corps technicians. The new A3 model is more comfortable to use, which is important if you are spending hours watching an area waiting for an opportunity to shoot. The A3 also has the new "rail system" that allows easy attachment of night and thermal imaging sights available for military rifles. But the A3, at 16.5 pounds, is two pounds heavier than the A1 model it replaces. For many marines, that two pounds matters, especially since most Marine snipers are known as "scout/snipers" and are expected to be on the move most of the time. For infantry, every pound counts. The M-40 is meant for long range shots; out to 800 meters during the day and 600 meters in the dark. But recent urban battles in Iraq and Chechnya have shown that most sniping took place at much shorter ranges, and that lighter, general purpose rifles with better sights (especially night sights that see in the dark) were more often used for sniping. Weapons like the M-40 are now being seen as one of several specialist weapons a sniper might use. Indeed, some snipers are calling the M-40A3 a "defensive sniping" (a sniper spending most of his time hidden and waiting for a shot). weapon, but calling for use of lighter weapons for "offensive sniping" (snipers moving more than staying in one place waiting for a shot).
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