This US Special Forces Sniper Rifle Can Hit Targets a Mile Away

Alongside his weapon, the sharpshooter has become one of the most feared and effective assets during wartime. The U.S began using snipers as early as the American Revolution, during which expert hunters took their skill to the battleground. By the Civil War, both Union and Confederate armies had formed dedicated roles for snipers. During World War II, several shooting techniques were developed, many of which are still used by modern-day snipers. 

Today, fewer than 1% of U.S. Army active-duty personnel are qualified snipers. These expert marksmen are an integral part of any military force, having gone through intense training to enhance their capabilities. In terms of weapons, sniper rifles have grown more technologically advanced and accurate over the years.

A sniper’s primary function is to engage high-value targets across significant distances from concealed positions. They must be able to quickly weigh variables like gravity, temperature, humidity, wind, altitude, and Earth’s rotation before firing.

Achieving precision over distance demands extensive training and a precision rifle. The modern sniper rifle is capable of hitting targets anywhere from 700 meters to over a mile (1,600 meters). Some sniper rifles are so powerful that they can penetrate brick and concrete walls and even the engine blocks of some armored vehicles. 

24/7 Wall St. identified the 16 sniper rifles used by the American military using data from a range of sources, including military handbooks, government press releases, and firearms publications. Some rifle models that have been recently replaced or are being replaced were also considered.

Why We Are Mentioning This

With multiple wars waging across the globe, mass shootings continuing to abound, and the recent assassination attempt of a former president, guns are in the forefront of American minds. A wide range of guns exist, from the hunting rifles our granddad’s wielded, to machine guns so feared for their destructive power. Though guns can and are used for wrongdoing on a daily basis, the sniper rifles on this list are used to defend American interests.

Here are the 16 sniper rifles the US military uses:

16. M110A1 Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System (CSASS)

• Action type: Semi-automatic
• Range: 800 meters
• Weight: 9.3 pounds
• Length: 42.7 inches
• Chambered for: 7.62x51mm

15. M107 Long Range Sniper Rifle (LRSR)

• Action type: Semi-automatic
• Range: 1,500 meters for personnel, 2,000 meters for material
• Weight: 35 pounds (loaded, with suppressor)
• Length: 57 inches (with suppressor)
• Chambered for: .50 BMG ammunition

14. Barrett M82

Barrett...M82A1... (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Zachi Evenor

• Action type: Semi-automatic
• Range: 1,850 meters
• Weight: 30.9 pounds
• Length: 48 inches
• Chambered for: .50 BMG

13. M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle (EMR)

• Action type: Semi-automatic
• Range: 800 meters
• Weight: 16.5 pounds (with sight and bipod)
• Length: 44.2 inches
• Chambered for: 7.62x51mm

12. M91A2 Sniper Rifle

• Action type: Bolt-action
• Range: 1,000 meters
• Weight: 14 pounds
• Length: 43 inches
• Chambered for: .300 Win Mag

11. M40A6

• Action type: Bolt-action
• Range: 800 meters
• Weight: 16.5 pounds
• Length: 49.8 inches (with suppressor)
• Chambered for: 7.62×51 millimeter NATO

10. Mk20 Sniper Support Rifle (SSR)

• Action type: Semi-automatic
• Range: 910 meters
• Weight: 10.7 pounds
• Length: 42.5 inches (with suppressor)
• Chambered for: 7.62x51mm ammunition

9. M24

• Action type: Bolt-action
• Range: 800 meters
• Weight: 15 pounds (loaded)
• Length: 43 inches
• Chambered for: 7.62x51mm ammunition

8. M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle (ESR)

Tac50white1 (CC BY-SA 3.0) by MathKnight

• Action type: Bolt-action
• Range: 1,200 meters
• Weight: 18.7 pounds (loaded, with suppressor)
• Length: 52.2 inches (with suppressor)
• Chambered for: .300 Win Mag ammunition

7. Mk13 Mod7

• Action type: Bolt-action
• Range: 1,300 meters
• Weight: 9 pounds
• Length: 48.4 inches
• Chambered for: .300 Win Mag

6. Mk11 MOD 0

• Action type: Semi-automatic
• Range: 1,370 meters
• Weight: 15.3 pounds
• Length: 45.5 inches
• Chambered for: 7.62x51mm

5. McMillan TAC-338

• Action type: Bolt-action
• Range: 1,600 meters
• Weight: 11 pounds
• Length: 48 inches
• Chambered for: .338 Lapua Magnum

4. MK22 Multi-Role Adaptive Design Rifle (MRAD)

Barrett...MRAD... (CC BY-SA 4.0) by Barrett Firearms Company / MathKnight

• Action type: Bolt-action
• Range: 1,500 meters
• Weight: 19 pounds (loaded, with suppressor)
• Length: 50 inches (with suppressor)
• Chambered for: 7.62 x 51mm, .300 Norma Magnum, .338 Norma Magnum ammunition

3. Mk15 Special Applications Sniper Rifle (SASR)

• Action type: Bolt-action
• Range: 1,600 meters
• Weight: 26.9 pounds
• Length: 57 inches
• Chambered for: .50 BMG

2. M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (SASS)

• Action type: Semi-automatic
• Range: 800 meters
• Weight: 17.3 pounds (loaded, with suppressor)
• Length: 46.5 inches (with suppressor)
• Chambered for: 7.62x51mm ammunition

1. Mk12 Special Purpose Rifle (SPR)

• Action type: Semi-automatic
• Range: 700 meters
• Weight: 10 pounds (with optics and 30-round magazine)
• Length: 37.5 inches
• Chambered for: 5.56x45mm ammunition