The Latest from Cactus Tactical: Weapons of the War in Afghanistan: Sniper & DMR Part I

Weapons of the War in Afghanistan

Resupply helicopter ("Jingle Air") that was hit by an RPG on the LZ,
September 2008 Firebase Vegas, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.
(Photo: Shawn G)

In the world of war, weapons and technology are ever changing, each war is characterized by the weapons and tactics used to fight it. As new environments and enemies are encountered, the parties to those wars develop new - more effective tactics, technologies, and weapons to counter and defeat their adversaries. The ingenuity seen in war has existed since (and most certainly before) the first wars of recorded history and continue to this very day.

Keeping with that theory, let’s take a look at the weapons that have characterised the wars and conflicts that the United States has been a party to over the course of it’s history. During the course of this series, I aim to breakdown the weapons used in each conflict by their classification, and to which party they were employed by. Having served in combat operations in Afghanistan’s Korengal Valley, I would like to start our series with the War in Afghanistan.

For our second installment, let’s take a look at the most commonly encountered Sniper & DMR (Designated Marksman Rifle) rifles from the War in Afghanistan. Sniper and DMR rifles are those weapons with the capability to reach out further than the rifles/carbines of the common rifleman. These weapons are used mainly for medium to long range engagements, and are utilized in anti-material, anti-personnel, reconnaissance, counter-sniper, and supporting fires roles. Sniper and DMR rifles come in many varieties, and maybe bolt-action or semi-auto in function and design.

At the extended ranges that a large amount of engagements with the enemy in Afghanistan take place at, sniper & DMR rifles are a must.

Soldiers of 3rd Platoon Viper Co. 1-26 INF in abandonded structure scouting areas for ambush of Anti-Coalition Forces moving into the Korengal Valley via the Abbas Ghar ridgeline/Sawtalo Sar. (Photo: Shawn G 2008)

Part I: The United States

M107

Known as the "Light Fifty," the Barrett M107 is the largest caliber sniper system currently employed by the US military in Afghanistan. This big stick allows you to reach out and hit combatants 1.14 miles away.

The M107 is a long-range sniper weapon system which utilizes standard .50 caliber ammunition. The M107 is a man-portable, direct line-of-sight system capable of providing precision fire on targets at distances up to 1000 meters. The M107 is a semi-automatic, air-cooled, box magazine-fed rifle chambered for .50 caliber ammunition. This rifle operates by means of the short recoil principle, rather than gas. The basic M107 rifle is equipped with bipod, muzzle brake, carrying handle, 10-round removable magazine, and Leupold 4.5–14×50 Mark 4 scope.

Cartridge: .50 BMG (12.7x99mm NATO)
Effective Range: Max effective range 1,829 m; Maximum range 6,812 m
Weight: 28.5 lbs / 12.9 kg (Unloaded)
Rate of Fire: N/A
Capacity: 10 round detachable box magazine

Abbas Ghar ridgeline/Sawtalo Sar location of Operation Red Wings/Red Wings II (Photo: Shawn G)

M24

In use by the US Army since 1988, the M24 found itself at home in the extended ranges of combat found in Afghanistan.

The M24 Sniper Weapon System is a 7.62mm, bolt-action, 6-shot repeating rifle (one round in the chamber and 5 rounds in the magazine). It is used with either the M3A telescope (day optic sight, usually called the M3A scope, a 10x fixed Leupold M3 Ultra telescope) or the metallic iron sight. Various night vision optics can also be fitted, such as the AN/PVS-10 Sniper Night Sight. The stock is made of a Kevlar, graphite, and fiberglass composite bound together with epoxy resins, and features an aluminum bedding block and adjustable butt plate. A bipod can be attached to the stock's fore end.

Cartridge: 7.62x51mm NATO
Effective Range: 800 meters, but it can fire a round up to about 1,200 meters away, and hit the target depending on the skill of the shooter.
Weight: 14.3 lbs / 6.5 kg
Rate of Fire: 20 rounds per minute
Capacity: 5 round internal magazine

View of Korengal Valley towards the west from abandoned structure on Sawtalo Sar. (Photo: Shawn G)

Bipods & Accessories

M2010 ESR

Demanding a farther effective range and more powerful cartridge at the extended ranges of engagement in Afghanistan, the US Army set out to upgrade it's current stock of M24s. What resulted was the M2010 ESR, chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum.

The M2010 is a bolt action, magazine-fed, air-cooled, shoulder-fired weapon system which utilizes Mk248-Mod0 (A191) .300 WinMag ammunition. The rifle is a Soldier-portable, direct line-of-sight weapon system. It is capable of providing precision fire on targets out to 1,200 meters using match grade ammunition. The XM2010 has Military Standard (MIL-STD) 1913 accessory rails that mount a Leupold 6.5-20x50mm variable power day optic scope with advanced scalable H-58 ranging and targeting reticle. The shooter interface can accommodate a wide range of shooter preferences. Its folding stock provides flexibility in transporting the weapon during operations. Associated support equipment includes the AN/PVS-30 Clip-On Sniper Night Sight. The weapon also incorporates advanced corrosion resistant coatings to ensure longevity and increase barrel life.

Cartridge: .300 Winchester Magnum
Effective Range: 1,200 m
Weight: 12.1 lbs / 5.5 kg
Rate of Fire: N/A
Capacity: 5 round detachable box magazine

View from the Korengal valley overlooking north to the Village of Omar at the mouth of the Korengal Valley where it meets the Pech River Valley. (Photo: Shawn G)

M40

Fielded by the USMC since 1966, the M40 is similar to the Army's M24, differing in that both are built on the Remington 700/40x action, but the M40 is based on the short-action while the M24 is based on the long-action.

The M40A3/A5 Sniper Rifle is a bolt action, manually operated, magazine fed, air cooled, shoulder fired weapon with an optical sight. The closed bolt design of the weapon offers a high degree of accuracy and control while providing a greater degree of safety. The M40A5 is also equipped with a barrel muzzle break and quickly attachable/detachable sound suppressor.

Cartridge: 7.62x51mm NATO
Effective Range: Maximum effective range 915 m
Weight: 18.3 lbs / 8.3 kg
Rate of Fire: 6 Rounds per minute
Capacity: 5 round integral mag / 10 round detachable mag (M40A5)

View of Korengal Valley to the southwest from Sawtalo Sar (Photo: Shawn G)

Drop-in Trigger Upgrades

Mk 11 MOD 0/1

With the mix of close quarters battle and combat at extended ranges in Afghanistan, semi-auto sniper & DMR rifles allow the marksman to perform well in both scenarios. Close quarters battle is often fast, changing, and chaotic, it takes skill and quick reflexes to come out on top. As a marksman going out on mission where villages or buildings may need cleared along the way, or the possibility of close ambush with the threat of engagement from extended distances being likely, a semi-auto system is usually your best bet.

The Mk 11 MOD 0/1 is a precision 7.62mm NATO, direct-gas operated, semi-automatic, air cooled rifle equipped with a 20 and 10-round magazines. Once loaded, it will continue to fire at each pull of the trigger as long as ammunition remains in magazine.

Cartridge: 7.62x51mm NATO
Effective Range: Can fire a round up to about 1,000 meters away, and hit the target depending on the skill of the shooter.
Weight: 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg
Rate of Fire: N/A
Capacity: 10 and 20 round magazines

View of Korengal Valley to the southwest from Sawtalo Sar (Photo: Shawn G)

M110

The M110 is basically an upgraded version of the Mk11 MOD 0. Changes were made based on suggestions from operators in the field. These changes include a new buttstock and rail system design, as well as the addition of a flash hider.

The M110 is a precision 7.62mm NATO, direct-gas operated, semi-automatic, air cooled rifle equipped with a 20 and 10-round magazines. Once loaded, it will continue to fire at each pull of the trigger as long as ammunition remains in magazine.

Cartridge: 7.62x51mm NATO
Effective Range: Can fire a round up to about 1,000 meters away, and hit the target depending on the skill of the shooter.
Weight: 13.7 lbs / 6.2 kg
Rate of Fire: N/A
Capacity: 10 and 20 round magazines

Photo of Kandalay Village, Korengal Valley, Afghanistan.

Muzzle Devices

Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle (EBR)

The Mk 14 EBR rifles are a selective fire military designated marksman rifle chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. It is a variant of the M14 battle rifle and was originally built for use with units of the United States Special Operations Command, such as the United States Navy SEALs, Delta Force, and task specific ODA units. The EBRs are made with the intention of carrying out both designated marksman and CQB roles in combat. Since 2010, the U.S. Army has made available at least two M14 EBR-RI rifles per infantry platoon for units deploying to Afghanistan. The M14 EBR-RI has a standard weight 22.0" barrel and lugged GI flash hider; it is not to be confused with the Mk 14 Mod 0 or Mod 1.

Cartridge: 7.62x51mm NATO
Effective Range: 500 m w/Iron Sights; 800 m+ w/Optics
Weight: 11.2 lbs
Rate of Fire: Shooter dependent / Full Auto 725 rounds per minute.
Capacity: 10 and 20 round magazines