MSSR rifle

Infobox Weapon
name=MSSR


caption=Marine Scout Sniper Rifle, 3rd Generation. Has manufactured scope railings on receiver, different barrel, foregrip and mounted bipod with a green camouflage finish.
origin= flagicon|Philippines Philippines
type=Sniper rifle
is_ranged=yes
service= 1996–present
used_by= Philippine Marines, Philippine Navy Naval Special Warfare Group (NSWG)
wars= Anti-guerrilla operations in Visayas and Mindanao
designer= Colonel Jonathan C. Martir, Philippine Marine Corps
design_date= 1996
manufacturer= Philippine Marine Corps
production_date= 1996
number=
variants= Night Fighting Weapon System (NFWS)
weight= 10 lbs (4.55 kg)
length= 42.25 in. (1073 mm)
part_length= 24 in. (610 mm)
crew= 1
cartridge= 5.56 x 45 mm NATO, .223 Remington
caliber= 5.56 mm (.223 in)
action= Gas-operated (direct impingement), rotating bolt
rate=
velocity= 900 to 950 m/s
range= 800 m
max_range=
feed= Various STANAG Magazines.
sights= Telescopic (MSSR)
Any Picatinny-compatible scope/sights (NFWS)The Marine Scout Sniper Rifle or MSSR is a semi-automatic sniper rifle developed from the Colt M16A1 rifle by the Philippine Marine Corps Scout Snipers due to the lack of a dedicated sniper rifle and budget problems, [http://www.snipercentral.com/mssr.htm "Philippine MSSR - Marine Scout Sniper Rifle" - Sniper Central.com] Retrieved on October 4, 2008.] waybackdate|site=http://www.navy.mil.ph/digest.html|date=20070928225314] which was used since the Armed Forces of the Philippines has been plagued with the issue of having the necessary funds needed to maintain their weapons and equipment. [http://www.snipercentral.com/mssr.htm "Philippine MSSR - Marine Scout Sniper Rifle" - Sniper Central.com] Retrieved on October 4, 2008.]

Overview

The design brief for the rifle was to develop a sniper system that could effectively use 5.56 × 45 mm NATO ammunition (most other sniper rifles use the larger 7.62×51 NATO cartridge). This was done mainly for cost-saving and availability reasons since the Armed Forces of the Philippines are actively engaged in counter-insurgency and internal security operations, especially against Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF) rebels and Abu Sayyaf Group terrorists.

The shorter effective range of the 5.56 mm cartridge compared to the 7.62 mm is less of a factor due to the shorter ranges encountered in jungle combat, where the rifle is primarily used.

Design History

The system was developed in-house under the direction of Col. Jonathan Martir, PN (M) (GSC), N-6. [http://www.snipercentral.com/mssr.htm "Philippine MSSR - Marine Scout Sniper Rifle" - Sniper Central.com] Retrieved on October 4, 2008.]

The first generation MSSR was deployed in 1996 as an M16A1 with a Tasco variable 3-9 x 40 mm rubber-coated scope [ [http://www.sunstar.com.ph/static/ceb/2003/11/10/sports/rama.dancing.with.tigercat.html Rama: Dancing with TigerCat.] Retrieved on October 4, 2008.] on a DPMS Tri-mount atop the carry handle. This required a Delta HBAR cheek piece on the stock to align the operator's eye with the elevated scope position. The standard handguards were replaced with a free-floating aluminum forearm, and a Harris folding bipod was attached to the underside of the forearm. The standard M16A1 barrel was replaced with a free-floated 24" (68 cm) DPMS Heavy Stainless Steel Ultra Match barrel with a 1 in 8.5" right-hand twist, with an M16A1 front sight base. A J&P match trigger was installed.

The second generation MSSR was created by removing the forward portion of the carry handle and attaching the Tri-mount directly to the top of the upper receiver. The Tasco scope and scope rings were attached to the Tri-mount, which provided a lower scope-to-bore height. The Delta HBAR cheek piece was no longer required and was removed. The M16A1 front sight base was removed and replaced with a DPMS gas block. The barrel was changed to a DPMS Ultra Match barrel with a 1 in 8" RH twist, and the M16A1 stock and pistol grip were replaced with A2 versions.

The current third generation rifle retained the second generation features, but replaced the Tasco scope with a Bushnell variable 3-9 x 40mm scope with a Mil-dot reticle, mounted with three scope rings on the receiver-mounted Tri-mount. For the Philippine Marine Corps, barrel length remained the same at 24" with the 1 in 8" DPMS Ultra Match Barrel.waybackdate|site=http://www.navy.mil.ph/digest.html|date=20070928225314] A version with a 20" barrel was made available for the Philippine Navy Naval Special Warfare Group (NSWG).waybackdate|site=http://www.navy.mil.ph/digest.html|date=20070928225314]

Variants

Created in late 2004, the Night Fighting Weapon System (NFWS) was made for the purpose of fighting in forested areas in low-light conditions. Night vision and regular daytime scopes can be mounted on the rifle via a Picatinny rail on top of the upper receiver. The rifle is equipped with an integral sound suppressor.waybackdate|site=http://www.navy.mil.ph/digest.html|date=20070928225314]

Ammunition

The first-generation MSSR used either factory 5.56mm NATO 62-grain SS109 ball ammunition or 69-grain Federal Match Gold Medal boattail hollowpoint (BTHP) cartridges. The second-generation rifle may use these rounds as well as the HSM 69-grain BTHP cartridge. The third-generation MSSR uses 5.56mm 69-grain Hornady BTHP Match or 75-grain Hornady TAP BTHP Match ammunition handloaded at the Marine Scout Sniper School.

Deployment

The MSSR is the main weapon of choice for the Philippine Marine Scout Snipers alongside the newer Remington 700P Intermediate Range Day-Night Scout Sniper Rifle and the Barrett M95 Heavy Sniper/Anti-Matériel Rifle.waybackdate|site=http://www.navy.mil.ph/digest.html|date=20070928225314] Sniper teams usually work in pairs with the operator accompanied by a spotter, usually equipped with an M16A2 rifle with an M203 grenade launcher. [ [http://www.geocities.com/pmcmssr/mar5.html Unofficial Scout Snipers Page.] Retrieved on October 5, 2008.] Continued development of the rifle ensures its use with the Philippine Marines well into the 21st century.

If funding permits, the MSSR rifles will be eventually replaced in Scout Sniper service by 7.62 mm bolt-action sniper rifles. The existing 5.56 MSSRs will then be issued to designated marksmen in line Marine units. [ [http://www.timawa.net/pmc.htm "Philippine Marine Corps" - Opus224's Unofficial Philippine Defense Page.] Retrieved on October 4, 2008.]

Users

*PHL
**Philippine Marines
**Naval Special Warfare Group

Notes & References

External links

* [http://www.snipercentral.com/mssr.htm "Philippine MSSR - Marine Scout Sniper Rifle" - SniperCentral.com]
* [http://www.geocities.com/pmcmssr/mar5.html Philippine Marine Corps Scout Sniper Unofficial Site]