Snipers are getting better range and accuracy with the Army’s XM 2010. There are now 250 in Afghanistan and more on are on the way. The Army Times reports:
While the XM2010 is technically an upgraded M24 sniper rifle, the upgrades are so significant that the weapon warranted a new designator. Notably, the XM2010 transitioned from the 7.62mm NATO caliber (.308 Winchester) to a .300 Winchester Magnum. This increased a sniper’s effective range from 800 to 1,200 meters.
Improvements to lethality and standoff distance were in response to feedback from Afghanistan, where snipers needed long-range capabilities. The .50-caliber M107 has a range beyond 2,000 meters, but its 2.5 minutes of angle means the round will impact anywhere within a 25-inch area at 1,000 meters. That is acceptable for a material target, but the average human torso is 22 inches.
Snipers wanted a weapon with the accuracy of the M24, which has one minute of angle, but with greater range. The XM2010 was the Army’s answer.
In addition to greater reach, the rifle comes with the Advanced Armament Corp. Titan-QD Fast-Attach suppressor. The 10-inch suppressor eliminates 98 percent of muzzle flash and 60 percent of recoil and reduces sound by 32 decibels, according to AAC, which recently was acquired by Remington.
Rails are built into the M1925 chassis. This, and a free-floating barrel, gives it tight accuracy.
Its improved 6.5-20×50 variable-power Leupold scope has an enhanced reticle within the first focal plane. That means the reticle power will scale with the zoom up to 20 power. Snipers will have to make fewer calculations as target distances change.
The full report is here.