| M40 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Sniper rifle |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 1966–present |
| Used by | United States |
| Wars | Vietnam War Multinational Force in Lebanon Invasion of Grenada Gulf War War in Afghanistan Iraq War[1] |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | United States Marine Corps Remington U.S. Ordnance |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | M40A1: 6.57 kg (14.48 lb) M40A3: 7.5 kg (16.5 lb) |
| Length | M40A1: 1,117 mm (43.97 in) M40A3: 1,124 mm (44.25 in) |
| Barrel length | 610 mm (24 in) (1:12 right hand twist) M40A1: Hart (6 lands and grooves) M40A3: Schneider Match Grade SS #7 (6 lands and grooves) |
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| Cartridge | 7.62×51mm NATO |
| Action | Bolt action |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,550 ft/s (777 m/s) (w/175 gr. M118LR) |
| Effective range | 1000 yd |
| Feed system | 5-round integral box magazine |
| Sights | Scout Sniper Day Scope (SSDS)—a modified version of the Schmidt & Bender 3–12×50 Police Marksman LP II scope. |
The M40 is a bolt-action sniper rifle used by the United States Marine Corps.[2] It has had four variants—the M40, M40A1, M40A3, and M40A5.[3] The M40 was introduced in 1966. The changeover to the A1 model was completed in the 1970s, the A3 in the 2000s (decade), and the A5 in 2009.[4]
Each M40 is built from a Remington 700 bolt-action rifle, and is modified by USMC armorers at Marine Corps Base Quantico, using components from a number of suppliers.[2] New M40A5s are being built, and A1s are upgraded to A3s and A5s as they rotate into the armory for service and repair. The rifles have had many sub-variations in telescopic sights, and smaller user modifications. The M40A5 incorporates a detachable magazine and a threaded barrel to allow for the use of a sound suppressor or other muzzle device.
The original M40 was a military type-classified version of the Remington 700; it was factory-made, and had a one-piece wooden stock.[2] The M40A1 and A3 switched to fiberglass stocks made by McMillan, with new scopes.[2][5] The trigger pull on both models (M40A1/A3) is 3–5 lb (1.4–2.3 kg).[2]
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During the Vietnam War, the Marine Corps decided they needed a standard sniper rifle.[2] After testing several possibilities, they ordered 700 Remington Model 40x rifles (target/varmint version of the Model 700 bolt-action rifle), and gave them the M40 designation.[2] Most had a Redfield 3–9 power Accurange variable scope mounted. With time, certain weaknesses, primarily warping of the all-wood stock, became apparent.[2] Sometime in the early 1970s, the USMC armorers at MCB Quantico began rebuilding the original M40s into M40A1s.[2] The process involved, among other improvements, replacing the original wood stocks with McMillan A1 fiberglass stocks, as well as replacing the original Redfield scopes with Unertl scopes.[2] The M40 was originally designed by Jack Cuddy and Neill Goddard.[2] The stock featured Wichita sling swivels and a Pachmayr buttpad.[2]
The Corps began looking at a replacement for the M40 series in 2004, but didn't draft requirements until 2009. The Sniper Rifle 21st century is paused while the Corps waits for the results of SOCOM's Precision Sniper Rifle program.[6]
Development of the M40A3 began in 1996, and the final product was revealed in 2001.[5] Since then, numerous minor changes have occurred to the platform. Listed here is the configuration and components used in the M40A3. It shares a number of parts and features of the newer M40A5 rifle, introduced in 2009.[7] The A5 has threading for accepting a sound suppressor, and it uses a detachable box magazine.[8]
Action: The M40 has always been based on the proven Remington 700 Short Action with .308 bolt face and this is no different in the M40A3.[9] These actions are house tuned by Marine armorers; the trigger guard assembly is manufactured by the DD Ross Company, though several M40A3s use Badger Ordnance trigger guards.[5] In 2007, the Marine Corps began replacing the DD Ross trigger guard assemblies with the M5 detachable magazine trigger guard manufactured by Badger Ordnance.[9]
Barrel: The barrel is a Schneider 610; 24-inch, 6-groove, 1:12" match-grade heavy barrel.[9][10]
Stock: All service M40A3s are based upon the A4 Tactical Riflestock, a high-quality benchrest-style fiberglass riflestock made by McMillan Fiberglass Stocks and cast molded in an OD Green color.[5][10] The action is glass bedded into the stock with aluminum pillars, while the barrel is allowed to "float" (it is attached only to the action), ensuring maximum accuracy. The stock has adjustable length-of-pull (through a buttstock spacer system) and a Marine manufactured adjustable saddle-type cheekpiece.[10] The stock also has six mount flush cups, two on each side front and back and one each on the front and rear underside.[5] One bipod stud is located on the underside of the forearm.[10]
Sling: The Model 1907 sling that has been historically used on M40A3s has been replaced with the Quick Cuff Model Two sling manufactured by Tactical Intervention Specialists.
Bipod: The M40A3s use a 6–9" Harris notched swivel type bipod with a KMW podlock.[10] The QD bipod attaching screw is replaced with a screw made by Jon Tank of Tanks Rifle Shop.
Dayscope: A modified Schmidt & Bender 3–12× 50 Police Marksman II LP rifle scope with illuminated reticle has replaced the Unertl MST-100 10× fixed day scope, previously used on both the M40A1 and M40A3.[10] This dayscope is mounted with Badger Ordnance USMC M40A3 34mm scope rings, which use a standard ring in the rear and a wider MAX-50 ring in front.[5] The standard front ring cap is replaced with a SPA-Defense B634 34mm Male Dovetail, as a mounting platform for the Simrad KN200 Night Vision Weapon Sight. The scope and rings are mounted on a DD Ross 30 minute-of-angle lugged Picatinny rail.[5][9]
| Differences | ||
| M40A1 | M40A3 | |
| Weight | 6.57 kg (14.45 lb) | 7.5 kg (16.56 lb) |
| Overall Length | 1.117 m (44.0 in) | 1.124 m (44.25 in) |
| Barrel | Hart | Schneider Match Grade SS #7 |
| Lands and Grooves | 6 | 6 |
| Stock | McMillan HTG | McMillan Tactical A4 |
The U.S. Army also uses the Remington 700/40x action as the basis for its M24 Sniper Weapon System.[2] The primary difference between the Army and the USMC rifles is that while the USMC M40/A1/A3 uses the short action version of the Remington 700/40x (designed for shorter cartridges, such as .308 Winchester/7.62mm NATO, 7 mm/08 Remington, .243 Winchester), the Army M24 uses the long action version of the same rifle.[2] The long-action of the M24 can use the .308 Winchester (7.62×51 NATO) but is mainly designed for full-length cartridges, such as the .30-06 Springfield, and magnum cartridges, such as the 7 mm Remington Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua.[2] The U.S. Army's use of the long action was the result of an original intention to chamber the M24 for .30-06;[11] despite the change to .308, retaining the longer action allows them to reconfigure the rifle in the larger, longer-range calibers if necessary. Additionally the Army's version allowed mounting of a night vision scope, whereas the older USMC versions were tied to the daylight Unertl 10× limiting sniping operations with the M40 and M40A1 from dawn to dusk.[2] The Marine M40A3 has a 115 meter farther maximum range with the 7.62×51 NATO cartridge.
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