Guns, Weapons & FireArms

This is the preferred sniper rifle for the U.S. Marine Corps. The M40A1 sniper rifle is based on the Remington model 700. It is a heavy barrel, bolt action, magazine fed 7.62mm rifle that is optimized for accuracy with Match Grade ammunition. The rifle is equipped with a special 10 power Unertl sniper scope. With scope, the rifle weighs approximately 14.5 pounds. It is equipped with a built-in five round magazine.

The unique characteristics of the M40A1 Sniper Rifle are: commercial competition-grade heavy barrel, McMillan fiberglass stock and butt pad, modified Winchester Model 70 floor plate and trigger guard, and modified and lightened trigger. In addition, each stock is epoxy bedded for accuracy and all weapons must shoot less than one minute of angle (MOA).

The M40A1 was put into service in the 1970s to meet the need of a long range sniper rifle. Each rifle is hand built by specially trained and qualified personnel at the Marine Corps Marksmanship Training Unit (MTU) at Quantico, Virginia.

Length: 44 inches (111.76 centimeters)

Barrel length: 24 inches (61 centimeters)

Weight: 14.5 pounds (6.58 kilograms)

Bore diameter: 7.62mm (.308 inches)

Maximum effective range: 1000 yards (914 meters)

Muzzle velocity: 2550 feet (777 meters) per second

Chamber pressure: 50,000 psi

The M16A2 is the standard issue rifle. It's carried by pretty much every soldier in a combat zone. Most people simply call it the M-16. The M-16 has been around in one version or another since the Vietnam war (the first version, the M16A1 entered Army service in 1964). It's longevity is creditable to its usefulness as a general assault weapon. It's quite simply one of the finest military rifles ever made (although advocates of the M-4 Carbine may argue with me). The rifle is lightweight, simple to operate, and puts out a lot of lead.

The M16A2 5.56mm rifle is a lightweight, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed, shoulder or hip-fired weapon designed for either automatic fire (3-round bursts) or semiautomatic fire (single shot) through the use of a selector lever. The weapon has a fully adjustable rear sight. The bottom of the trigger guard opens to provide access to the trigger while wearing winter mittens. The upper receiver/barrel assembly has a fully adjustable rear sight and a compensator which helps keep the muzzle down during firing. The steel bolt group and barrel extension are designed with locking lugs which lock the bolt group to the barrel extension allowing the rifle to have a lightweight aluminum receiver.

Primary function: Infantry weapon

Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing and Fabrique Nationale Manufacturing Inc.

Length: 39.63 inches (100.66 centimeters)

Weight, with 30 round magazine: 8.79 pounds (3.99 kilograms)

Bore diameter: 5.56mm (.233 inches)

Area target: 2,624.8 feet (800 meters)

Point target: 1,804.5 feet (550 meters)

Muzzle velocity: 2,800 feet (853 meters) per second

Cyclic: 800 rounds per minute

Sustained: 12-15 rounds per minute

Semiautomatic: 45 rounds per minute

Burst: 90 rounds per minute

Magazine capacity: 30 rounds

Unit Replacement Cost: $586

The MP5-N fires from a closed and locked bolt in either the automatic or semiautomatic modes. This gun is recoil operated and has a unique delayed roller locked bolt system, a retractable butt stock, a removable suppressor, and illuminating flashlight integral to the forward hand guard. The flashlight is operated by a pressure switch custom fitted to the pistol grip. This is the same basic weapon used by the FBI's Hostage Rescue Team and other world-class counter-terrorist organizations.