M40 rifle

The M40 rifle 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, 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 to 5 lb (1.4–2.3 kg).^[2]

History

The M40A3

During the Vietnam War, the Marine Corps decided they needed a standard sniper rifle.^[2] After testing several possibilities, they ordered seven hundred 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 3–9× Redfield variable-power scopes with 10× Unertl fixed-power 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 did not 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]

M40A3

Development of the M40A3 began in 1996 and concluded in 2001,^[5] when it was placed into service during Operation Enduring Freedom. It served in Operation Iraqi Freedom and other subsequent conflicts. Though its designation would remain M40A3 until 2009, its exact configuration varied with time. Listed here is a description of the components used in the M40A3.

Action: The M40 has always been based on the Remington 700 Short Action with .308 bolt face, and this is no different in the M40A3.^[7] These actions are 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.^[7]

Barrel: The barrel is a Schneider 610; 24-inch, 6-groove, 1:12" match-grade heavy barrel.^[7][8]

Stock: All service M40A3s are based upon the A4 Tactical Riflestock, a benchrest-style fiberglass riflestock made by McMillan Fiberglass Stocks and cast molded in an OD Green color.^[5][8] 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 it is stress free during operation. The stock has adjustable length-of-pull (through a buttstock spacer system) and a Marine manufactured adjustable saddle-type cheekpiece.^[8] The stock also has six flush mount sling swivel 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 forend.^[8]

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.

Snipers utilize a M40A5 with tripod and suppressor while training at the Mountain Warfare Training Center

Bipod: The M40A3s use a 6–9" Harris notched swivel type bipod with a KMW podlock.^[8]

Dayscope: The M8541 Scout Sniper Day Scope is a Schmidt and Bender Police Marksman II LP 3–12×50 modified by Premier Reticles.^[9] Starting in 2007, this model replaced the Unertl MST-100 10× fixed day scope.^[8] 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][7]

M40A5

The M40A5 designation superseded the M40A3 in 2009, though the evolution between the two systems occurred gradually over a longer period.^[10] The primary difference between the M40A5 and the M40A3 is the barrel: The A3's target crown has been replaced with a threaded muzzle and straight tapered barrel to allow the installation of a Surefire muzzle brake and sound suppressor. All M40A5s are fitted with a Badger Ordnance detachable magazine system and a forward rail mount for the AN/PVS-22 night vision optic.^[11]

Comparison

M40A6

On 25 July 2013, the Marine Corps released a solicitation for the M40 Modular Stock Program. Upgraded features are to include a folding stock to make the rifle more compact for transportation inside confined spaces like vehicles and a full-length rail to accommodate optics and accessories. The resulting weapon from the program was originally to be re-designated the M40A6. The M40A5 has only a few inches of rail space beyond the scope for a night vision optic; extending the rail length would allow more accessories to be attached, enabling snipers to put rounds on target under any conditions. The stock must be compatible with current M40 actions and barrels. A contract was expected to be awarded between September 2014 and February 2015 with deliveries beginning three months after being awarded. 1,100 stocks will be purchased to upgrade the entire M40A5 inventory.^[12] Remington was awarded the contract in November 2014.^[13] The final product will be designated the M40A7 and is planned to be fielded by 2017.^[14]

Marine scout snipers had pressed for the acquisition of a longer-range sniper rifle to extend engagement capability. While the M40A5 can hit targets out to 1,000 meters, they considered the Mk 21 Precision Sniper Rifle chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum used by US SOCOM that has an effective range of 1,600 meters. Although the Mk 21 has greater range, Marine officials are continuing with upgrading the M40A-series and keeping the 7.62 NATO round, primarily due to the higher cost of larger rounds and scout sniper training that can achieve kills beyond the weapon's effective range.^[15]

Differences between M40 and M24

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 variants use the short-action version of the Remington 700/40x (which is designed for shorter cartridges such as the .222 and .223 Remington, and the .243 and .308 Winchester), the Army M24 uses the Remington 700 Long Action.^[2] The long action of the M24 is designed for full-length cartridges, such as the .30-06 Springfield, and magnum cartridges such as the 7 mm Remington Magnum and .300 Winchester Magnum, but shorter cartridges such as the 7.62×51mm NATO (the military version of the .308 Winchester) can also be used.^[2] The U.S. Army's use of the long action was the result of an original intention to chamber the M24 for .300 Winchester Magnum.^[16] Despite the fact that the M24 comes fitted with a 7.62×51mm NATO barrel upon issue, retaining the longer action allows them to reconfigure the rifle in the larger—longer-range—calibers if necessary (which has been the case during the longer engagement distances during Operation Enduring Freedom). The barrels not currently fitted to the M24 rifles are usually stored with the unit armorers. The USMC M40A3 uses a Schneider barrel cut to 25" and the U.S. Army M24 uses a Rock Creek 5R barrel at 24".

See also

• List of weapons of the U.S. Marine Corps
• List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to M40 rifle, M40 (rifle).

• M40A1 Sniper Rifle on About.com
• M40 Magazine reviews
• M40A5
• M40A5 build