Since the start of the 2024 presidential race, two assassination attempts have been made on former president Donald Trump’s life. A recent report found that a law enforcement sniper may have saved Trump during the first assassination attempt. After would-be assassin Thomas Crooks shot at Trump, a SWAT operator fired at Crooks from nearly 100 yards (300 feet) away. The SWAT operator hit Crooks’ gun, and Crooks was later killed by a sharpshooter. This incident demonstrates how skilled snipers can play a crucial part in providing protection and defusing dangerous situations from a distance. But sniper rifles aren’t just for use in local, protective situations. Snipers and sniper rifles represent an important part of military power. Military snipers can hit targets over a mile away, allowing military forces to provide long-range support to ground troops without exposing them to serious danger. (This high-tech sniper rifle costs $27,500.)
Different sniper rifles are suited to different missions and usage, so the military must choose which rifles fit each specific scenario. As the nature of warfare continues to change, the U.S. military is also starting to look at higher-tech, next-gen rifles that can shoot even longer distances. No rifles can yet shoot 2,500 meters — though some on this list have gotten close. However, in the future, rifle development may focus on longer-range options. Here, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 16 sniper rifles used by the American military. We sourced 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 You Should Know About Sniper Rifles
With multiple wars waging across the globe and mass shootings abounding, guns are at the forefront of American minds. A wide range of guns exist, from the hunting rifles our granddads 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
- 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)
- 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)
- 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
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