Infantry: February 17, 2002

Archives

US Navy SEALS have received the first of 300 new Mark-11 Model O sniper rifles. This is a .308-caliber rifle based on the Stoner system. The Mark-11 Model O is in fact simply a match-grade version of the Stoner SR-25. The SR-25 has that designation because the design is based on the AR-10 and AR-15. The Mark-11 is 46 inches long with a 20 inch barrel with five grooves, a right-hand twist, and one turn in 28cm. The Mark- 11/SR-25 has 60% of the same parts as the M-16, a feature that the SEALS wanted so that commandoes who found themselves in an extended mission could cannibalize parts from standard rifles to keep the sniper rifle operating.) The SEAL version of the SR-25 includes a detachable sound suppressor, a 3.5-10x Leupold scope, backup iron sights good to 600 meters, a Harris bipod, and 20-round magazines.--Stephen V Cole