This Gun Can Strike Four Times Past Normal Combat Range

Long-range sniper rifles fundamentally change how military forces approach combat scenarios. Since many of these weapons can strike from half a mile to over one mile away, troops with long-range rifles force their enemies to get more creative. These guns are also extremely precise, which make them valuable. The U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) was in the process of designing what they called the Extreme Long Range Sniper Rifle. This gun, which could shoot up to 2,500 meters (approximately 1.5 miles), would have replaced existing rifles in U.S. miitary arsenals — the Barrett M82 and McMillan Mk 15. The Extreme Long Range Sniper Rifle’s benefits included its significantly lighter weight and milder recoil. However, in October 2024, SOCOM announced that they would no longer be pursuing this design at the time.

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, especially now that the Extreme Long Range Sniper Rifle plan is on hold — though some on this list have gotten close, hitting up to 2,000 miles. Here, 24/7 Wall St. identified the 16 long-range sniper rifles currently used by the U.S. military. To do so, 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. (Imagine you’re fighting in World War II: which of these rifles would you choose?)

Why We’re Covering This

When we look at the news, it seems like our world is facing more conflict than ever before. Multiple wars are raging across the globe, and mass shootings abound in the United States. It’s no wonder guns are on our minds — and at the forefront of our conversations. Some people choose their guns for hunting, others for protection. But the sniper rifles on this list are used to defend American interests.

Here are the 16 long-range sniper rifles used by the U.S. military:

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