The 16 Sniper Rifles Used by the US Military

Though withdrawn from service in 2017, the Mk12 was used throughout the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan by Navy SEALs, Army Rangers, Army Special Forces, and designated marksmen in the U.S. Marine Corps. The compact sniper rifle is based on the M16 platform and is highly customizable to suit varying mission demands. With a semi-automatic action and a 20-30 round box magazine, the Mk12 allows for rapid follow-up shots at ranges out to 700 meters.

Adopted by the American military in 2005, the M110 is a semi-automatic sniper rifle manufactured by the Knight’s Armament Company. After extensive operational testing, it was first used in combat in Afghanistan by the U.S. Army’s Task Force Fury. The M110s semi-automatic action allows the shooter to shoot at multiple targets and fire rapid follow-up shots.

The rifle is based on the Mk 11 Mod 0 used by the Marine Corps and Navy SEALs. Unlike the Mk 11, however, the M110 has a modular rail system, a one-piece scope mount, and an adjustable stock. The M110 was used by Delta Force troops in the Afghanistan mountains as early as 2001.

The M110A1 CSASS is a Squad Designated Marksman Rifle made by Heckler & Koch Defense Inc. The U.S. Army ordered 5,180 M110A1 rifles to the tune of $46.2 million in a 2019 contract, and the Marine Corps is also reportedly considering adopting the rifle. With a range of about 800 meters, the semi-automatic CSASS is intended to be used in rapid engagement scenarios by sharpshooters in combat teams.

The M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle is a long-range variant of the M14 rifle that was carried by designated marksmen in Marine squads beginning in 2008, though many have been replaced with variants of the M110 rifle.

The M39 comes standard with a folding bipod, a variable length stock, a pistol grip, and is fed with a 20-round detachable box magazine. It has an effective range of about 800 meters.

The M24 is a bolt-action sniper rifle that is effectively a modified version of the popular civilian Remington 700 hunting rifle. The M24 was the primary sniper rifle of the U.S. Army from 1988 until the 2010s, but has been replaced by the M2010 and M110, faster firing semi-automatic sniper rifles with greater range.

While similar to the M40 sniper rifle used by the Marine Corps, the U.S. Army’s M24 features a longer action, allowing for longer rifle cartridges, and it has a 24 inch barrel, 1 inch shorter than the barrel used by the Marines.

Like the M24 used by the U.S. Army, which is also based on the Remington 700 hunting rifle, the Marine Corps M40 is a bolt-action sniper rifle chambered for 7.62×51 millimeter NATO ammunition. However, the Marine’s M40 has a 1 inch longer barrel than the Army’s rifle and also a shorter action, meaning it cannot accept some of the longer cartridges that can be loaded in the M24.

Also like the M24, the M40 is being phased out. Initially losing favor to the Mk13 Mod 7 sniper rifle, the new Mk22 will now be replacing both rifles. The M40 first entered service during the Vietnam War, and the latest iteration, the M40A6, was introduced in 2016 and features a folding stock.

The Mk20 Sniper Support Rifle was designed as a sniper version of the Mk17 assault rifle. Designed for use by U.S. Special Operations command, and first fielded in 2011, it comes equipped with rails for mounting sights and can maintain accuracy out to 1,000 yards. The rifle is semi-automatic with a 20 round detachable box magazine and is used by spotters in two man sniper/spotter teams as well as by designated marksmen.

Like the M24 used by the Army and the M40 used by the Marine Corps, the M91A1 is based on the Remington 700 hunting rifle. Developed specifically for the U.S. Navy, the M91A2 is a bolt-action sniper rifle chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum. The stock of the rifle is made from Kevlar and fiberglass and is typically fitted with 10x magnification scopes. The rifle uses a four round internal magazine and is effective out to 1,000 meters.

Made by Remington Arms, the M2010 is an updated version of the M24 sniper rifle. Like the M24, it is based on the Remington Model 700 hunting rifle and has a five round capacity. But, chambered for .300 Winchester Magnum ammunition, it has an effective range of 1,200 meters – 400 meters more than the M24. The M2010 ESR was first fielded by the U.S. Army and Special Forces in Afghanistan in early 2011.

The Mk13 is a bolt action sniper rifle that recently replaced the Marine Corps’ M40 sniper rifle. Adopted in 2020, the Mk13 is now used by scout snipers and Recon Marines as well as Navy SEALs and other SOCOM units. The newer rifle, chambered for .300 Winchester Magnum ammunition, adds 300 meters to its effective range over its predecessor and is issued to snipers with a suppressor to reduce muzzle flash and the acoustic signature

Adopted by the Navy SEALs in the 1990s, and later by the Marine Corps, the Mk11 Mod 0 is a semi-automatic sniper rifle based on the SR 25 assault rifle. The rifle features a detachable suppressor, a bi-pod, and a five, 10, or 20-round box magazine. Though replaced by the Mk20 in 2017, the Mk11 was used by Navy SEALs who rescued Capt. Richard Phillips who had been taken hostage by pirates in 2009.

Though similar to the Army’s M110, unlike the Army variation, the Mk11 has a folding front sight and a modular rail system.

The MK22 Multi-Role Adaptive Design Rifle made by Barrett Firearms won a $50 million contract after USSOCOM announced it was looking for a multi-caliber modular sniper rifle. The new bolt-action rifle is expected to replace several existing sniper rifle systems in both the Army and Marine Corps, including the M40A6 and Mk13 Mod 7 rifles. The gun is relatively lightweight and highly adjustable and is fed with a 10-round box magazine.

The TAC-338 sniper rifle is a precision anti-personnel rifle chambered for .338 Lapua Magnum ammunition. Used by the U.S. Navy SEALs, the TAC-338 has a 1,600 meter range, though there are reports of some marksmen hitting targets from over 2,000 meters out. The rifle is bolt-action and fed with a five-round detachable box magazine.

The Mk15 is a special application sniper rifle used by the Navy SEALs primarily as an anti-material weapon. The military version of the civilian McMillan TAC-50, the Mk15 fires .50 caliber bullets, fed through a five-round detachable box magazine, powerful enough to penetrate brick and concrete, though it can also be used against armored vehicles and personnel. The Mk15 has an effective range of 1,600 meters, though a Canadian marksman is credited with a kill using a version of this rifle at a range of over 3,200 meters, the longest ever recorded for any sniper.

Barrett M82 is a long-range sniper rifle, powerful enough to penetrate armored vehicles, body armor, and brick walls at a distance. Used by the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, the M82 is similar to the Army’s M107 in that they both shoot .50 caliber ammunition, fed from a 10-round detachable box magazine. However, the M82 is shorter than its Army counterpart and a couple pounds heavier. It also has greater recoil and a different bipod.

The Barrett M107 is a semi-automatic .50 caliber sniper rifle. While most sniper rifles used by the U.S. military are primarily anti-personnel weapons, the M107 can also target lightly-armored vehicles at ranges up to 2,000 meters. With a 10-round box magazine, the M107 can deliver rapid follow-up shots.

While similar to the Barrett M82 used by the Navy, the M107 LRSR is not identical. For example, the M82 uses a bipod with smooth feet, but the bipod on the M107 has spiked feet. Additionally, the M107 comes ready to be equipped with a suppressor, is slightly lighter, has a longer range, and features a system that reduces recoil by 50%.