Designated marksman rifle

A designated marksman rifle (DMR) is the weapon used by soldiers in the designated marksman role. The DM role fills the gap between a regular infantryman and a sniper and DMRs have been developed with this middle ground in mind.

These rifles have to be effective, in terms of accuracy and terminal ballistics, at ranges exceeding those of ordinary assault rifles (typically up to 500 metres / 550 yards) but do not require the extended range of a dedicated sniper rifle (typically up to 1,000 metres / 1,100 yards).

DMRs, however, often share some basic characteristics with sniper rifles in difference to the weapons carried by others in the DMs unit. DMRs may have an attached telescopic sight, quickly deployed stabilizing bipod to allow accuracy in temporarily fixed situations or an adjustable stock.

They will, though, generally retain semi-automatic firing capability (more rapid than bolt-action sniper rifles) and a larger magazine capacity of 10, 20, or 30 rounds depending on the firearm in question.

Designated marksman rifles compared to sniper rifles, battle rifles, and assault rifles

Soldiers of the U.S. Army 3rd Infantry Division in Iraq. The soldier on the right is armed with an M4 carbine. The soldier on the left is armed with an SDM-R.

Most designated marksman rifles are based on an assault rifle that is currently issued by a nation's military, or on a battle rifle that was formerly issued. A battle rifle is a semi-automatic or full-automatic rifle that fires 7.62mm NATO or similar full-power rounds. Classic examples include the M14, FN FAL, AR-10 and Heckler & Koch G3. These rifles were largely replaced by assault rifles firing the 5.56mm NATO cartridge during the 1970s and 1980s.

Some nations have also built rifles that were designed for the designated marksman from the ground up.

Sights

All designated marksman rifles will have some type of optical sight with a higher magnification level than the standard issue rifle. For example, the SDM-R issued to the United States Army is fitted with a Trijicon 4x ACOG, while the standard-issue M4 carbine is equipped with an unmagnified Aimpoint CompM2 or CompM4. Sometimes, the sighting system will be the only difference between the standard rifle and the designated marksman rifle, as is the case with the F88S DMR issued to the Australian Army.

Sniper rifles often have even greater magnification than designated marksman rifles, for example, the M110 SASS used by the United States Army, is equipped with a Leupold 3.5-10x variable-power scope. However, some designated marksman rifles, such as the Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle or the USMC Squad Advanced Marksman Rifle are fitted with scopes with similar magnification.

Barrels

In some cases, the designated marksman rifle will have a longer barrel than the standard issued rifle. However, this is not universally true. In fact, the M16A4 rifle is still standard issue to the United States Marine Corps. The barrel on the Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle, the current rifle used by the squad designated marksman in the USMC, is only 18 inches long - two inches shorter than the barrel on the standard rifle. Also, some rifles, such as the F88S Austeyr, have a barrel that is the same length as the standard service rifle. The FD-200 has an accurised barrel, also found on designated marksman rifles.

Most sniper rifles, such as the Accuracy International Arctic Warfare have a barrel with a length of 24 inches or greater. Only the SVD and similar designated marksman rifles have a barrel of this length. The designated marksman rifles based on the M14 have barrels 18-22 inches long.

Ammunition

In most cases, a designated marksman rifle will share the ammunition used by standard issue rifles. In the U.S. military, designated marksman rifles chambered for 5.56mm NATO have available the 77 grain match-grade Mk 262 Mod 0/1 cartridge that enhances range to roughly 700 meters.

DM rifles using battle rifle cartridges such as 7.62mm NATO or 7.62x54mmR, may issued with standard ball ammunition, or special match-grade loads, such as 7.62mm NATO 'M118LR' sniper round in the U.S. military.

Action

All designated marksman rifles in use today use a semi-automatic action, with some also being able to fire in full-automatic mode.

Some sniper rifles are semi-automatic, though the vast majority are bolt-action.

Designated marksman rifles by nation

•  Australia
  • F88S Austeyr 5.56 NATO standard issue rifle, fitted with an enhanced optic is issued to one rifleman in each fireteam in the Australian Army.^[1]
  • AR-15 based
    • SR-25; 7.62mm NATO sniper rifle is often used to provide fire support.^[2][3]
    • HK417; 7.62mm NATO gas-piston battle rifle is in limited service.^[4]
  • Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle; 7.62mm NATO rifle is in limited service.^[5]
•  Austria: The Steyr AUG HBAR-T, is a longer heavier-barreled version of the Steyr AUG designed for use as a designated marksman rifle that can be fitted with a variety of optical sights.
•  Canada: The Canadian Forces issue the C7CT and C8CT designated marksman rifles, which are based on the C7 and C8 rifle.^[6]
•  Chile: The FD-200 is a variant of the SIG 542 with an accurised barrel, sniper stock and bipod.
•  France: The FAMAS G2 Sniper is a designated marksman rifle fielded by the French Army. It is based on the FAMAS G2.^[7]
•  Germany
  • The German Army uses the G3SG/1, a modified version of the Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifle, as a designated marksman rifle.
  • The Heckler & Koch HK417 is chambered for 7.62mm NATO and has been adopted by several nations for use as a designated marksman rifle.^[8][9][10]
•  Great Britain
  • L129A1; a 7.62 NATO, 16" barrel variant of the Stoner rifle developed by Lewis Machine and Tool Company has been procured for use in Afghanistan. A 6x power ACOG is the standard issue sight.
  • The L86A2 LSW is chambered for 5.56mm NATO was originally fielded as a section LMG, but was later re-purposed as a designated marksman rifle.
•  Iraq: The Tabuk is an adaptation of the RPK machine gun used as a designated marksman rifle by the Iraqi Army. It is chambered for 7.62x39mm
•  Israel
  • The Israel Defense Forces formerly used the Galatz as a designated marksman rifle. The Galatz is a variant of the Galil assault rifle chambered for 7.62mm NATO.
  • The M16A2E3, also known as M16A3, is used as a marksman rifle, equipped with telescopic sights.
  • The STAR-21 Tavor is a variant of the Tavor assault rifle chambered used as a designated marksman rifle by the Israeli Defense Forces. It is fitted with a picatinny rail that allows for the attachment of various optical sights and a bipod.^[11]
•  People's Republic of China: The QBU-88 is a designated marksman rifle intended for aimed semi-automatic fire at ranges beyond the capabilities of standard infantry assault rifles.
•  Philippines: The Philippine Marine Scout Snipers developed and currently use the Marine Scout Sniper Rifle. It is a derivative of the M16 rifle.
•  Romania: The PSL (rifle) is a purpose-built designated marksman rifle chambered for 7.62x54mmR based on a modified Kalashnikov action. It is similar in appearance to the SVD, though the two rifles share little in common.
•  Soviet Union
  • The SVD was the first rifle designed from the outset as what is now known as a designated marksman rifle.
  • The Dragunov SVU is a bullpup variant of the SVD rifle
•  United States
  • The M14 rifle has formed the basis of several designated marksman rifles used by the United States Military:
    • Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle: Used by the United States Army and Navy SEALs ^[12]
    • M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle: Used by the United States Marine Corps, replacing the United States Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle ^[13]
    • M14 Designated Marksman Rifle: Used by the United States Marine Corps, being replaced by the M39 EMR
  • The M16 rifle has formed the basis of several designated marksman rifles used by the United States Military:
    • SDM-R: Used by the United States Army in limited numbers
    • SAM-R: Used by the United States Marine Corps. Replaced by the Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle
    • Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle: Used by the United States Navy SEALs, Rangers. Replacing the SAM-R in United States Marine Corps service.^[14][15]
    • SR-25: Used by the United States Marine Corps, United States Navy SEALs, and the United States Army.
    • Colt Model 655 and 656: Never standardized. Predecessor to other M16-based designated marksman rifles.
•  Yugoslavia: The Zastava M76 is a designated marksman rifle based on a modified Kalashnikov action. It is chambered for 7.92 x 57 IS (8mm Mauser). It has also been chambered in 7.62×51 NATO and 7.62 × 54R.
•  Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: The Zastava M91 is a purpose-built designated marksman rifle based on a modified Kalashnikov action and chambered for 7.62x54mmR.

• 

  French FAMAS rifle with optic

• 

  HK G3 rifle, marksman variant used by Germany in Afghanistan.

• 

  PSL (left) and SVD (right) rifles in Iraqi service.

• 

  Marksman variant of the Israeli TAR-21 Tavor rifle in service with the Guatemalan Navy.

• 

  U.S. Marine firing the M14 DMR

• 

  Mk 12 Mod 1 Special Purpose Rifle.

References

1. ^ Muir, Tom (01 Feb 2010). "Land Force: Army's broad fire capabilities key to mission success | ADM Feb 2010". Australian Defence Magazine. http://www.australiandefence.com.au/archive/land-force-army-s-broad-fire-capabilities-key-to-mission-success-adm-feb-2010. Retrieved 9 June 2011. 
2. ^ Wellfare, John (14/04/2011). "Shooting for modern combat". Army News (Australia). http://digital.realviewtechnologies.com/?xml=defencenews_army.xml&iid=47215. Retrieved 9 June 2011. 
3. ^ Pratt, Anthony. "COMBAT SHOOTING,   A NEW PERSPECTIVE". Australian Army Journal. 
4. ^ "Contract Notice View - CN352591". AusTender. Australian Government. December 14, 2010. https://www.tenders.gov.au/?event=public.cn.view&CNUUID=E1B9BB57-E979-C225-B2FB849A9AE9904A. Retrieved 2011-01-30. 
5. ^ Hetherington, Andrew (03/02/2011). "Extreme Peril". Army News (Australia). http://digital.realviewtechnologies.com/?xml=defencenews_army.xml&iid=44943. Retrieved 9 June 2011. 
6. ^ http://coltcanada.com/ct-page.htm
7. ^ http://www.pmulcahy.com/assault_rifles/french_assault_rifles.htm
8. ^ http://www.operacional.pt/hk-417-calibre-762x51mm-nato/
9. ^ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pomD16sAV5s
10. ^ http://www.mil.no/hv/start/article.jhtml?articleID=140199K
11. ^ http://www.israel-weapon.com/?catid={5BFF4796-19A2-422C-8C88-ADDC0BEA8DFA}
12. ^ https://peosoldier.army.mil/newpeo/Equipment/Temp.asp?id=IW_M14
13. ^ http://www.americanspecialops.com/special-ops-weapons/m39-emr.php
14. ^ http://www.fbodaily.com/archive/2008/08-August/03-Aug-2008/FBO-01629550.htm
15. ^ Bryant and Bryant, Weapons of the US Army Rangers. Copyright 2005, Zenith Press.

See also

• Assault rifle
• Battle rifle
• Sniper rifle