United States Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle
| United States Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle | |
|---|---|
 7.62×51mm NATO Designated marksman rifle | |
| Type | Designated marksman rifle |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2001–2014 |
| Wars | War in Afghanistan (2001–2021) War in Iraq |
| Specifications | |
| Mass | 4.5–5.0 kg (9.9–11.0 lb) |
| Length | 1,118 mm (44.0 in) |
| Barrel length | 559 mm (22.0 in) |
| Cartridge | 7.62×51mm NATO |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Rate of fire | Semi-automatic |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,580 ft/s (790 m/s) with M118LR 175 grain ammunition[1] 2,750 ft/s (840 m/s) with M80 147 grain ammunition[2] |
| Effective firing range | 600–800 m (660–870 yd) |
| Feed system | 10 or 20-round detachable box magazine |
The United States Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR, NSN 1005-01-458-6235; more formally the United States Rifle, Caliber 7.62 mm, M14, DMR) is a semi-automatic, gas-operated rifle chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge. It is a modified version of the M14 rifle formerly used by the United States Marine Corps. The USMC Precision Weapons Section at Marine Corps Base Quantico built all DMRs.[3]
The Marine Corps replaced the DMR with the M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle on a one-for-one basis.[4]
History
[edit]In 1989, the USMC began a program to upgrade M14s not decommissioned into DMRs by designing them with fiberglass stocks and new barrels.[5] This was done by the Precision Weapons Section.
Design
[edit]The DMR was issued with match-grade M118LR 175-grain Long Range ammunition.[6] It can have various scopes attached on the upper receiver, including the AN/PVS-4 Starlight scope,[7] via picatinny rail.[8]
The DMR can fire precisely up to 1,000 yards if M118LR special ball ammo is used.[8]
The "basic" DMR (i.e., without secondary sight, magazine, sling, basic issue items, cleaning gear, suppressor and bipod) weighs 11 pounds (5.0 kg) or less.[9]
The DMR design facilitates repairing or replacing of the sight mount, barrel, bolt, and other key assemblies at the third echelon maintenance level.
Specifications
[edit]There are several notable differences between the basic M14 and the DMR.
- Barrel: A 22 inches (560 mm) stainless steel, match-grade barrel by Krieger Barrels, Inc.
- Stock: McMillan Tactical M2A fiberglass stock. This particular stock features a pistol grip and a buttstock with adjustable saddle cheekpiece.[10]
- Optics: An over-action MIL-STD-1913 Picatinny rail allows for the use of any optic compatible with the rail; this includes a rather large variety of military scopes and imaging devices.[11]
- Muzzle device: Most DMRs utilize the traditional M14 muzzle device, although since deployment in 2001, some DMRs are now equipped with the OPS, Inc. 2-port muzzle brake, which is threaded and collared to accept an OPS-Inc. 12th Model sound suppressor.
- Bipod: A Harris S-L bipod is used on the USMC DMR.
Combat use
[edit]
The DMR was previously used by Marine Corps FAST Companies[12] and by the 4th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (Anti-Terrorism). Explosive Ordnance Disposal Teams use them to safely shoot at mines or other types of explosives that cannot be disarmed from a safe distance.[10]
The DMR was previously used by USMC Scout Sniper Teams.[13]
See also
[edit]- The M21 and M25 Sniper Weapons Systems, also based on the M14
- M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System
References
[edit]- ^ Small Caliber Ammunition, ATK, Accessed 6/6/2010, p. 8, http://www.atk.com/ammo_PDFs/smallcaliber.pdf Archived March 31, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Small Caliber Ammunition, ATK, Accessed 6/6/2010, p. 5, http://www.atk.com/ammo_PDFs/smallcaliber.pdf Archived March 31, 2010, at the Wayback Machine
- ^ Green 2004, p. 13
- ^ "M14 DMR | Designated Marksman Rifle | US Special Operations | Weapons".
- ^ Green 2004, p. 13
- ^ Increasing Small Arms Lethality in Afghanistan: Taking Back the Infantry Half-Kilometer, Major Thomas P. Ehrhart, United States Army School of Advanced Military Studies, United States Army Command and General Staff College (2009) p. 48
- ^ "Marine Corps Sets Sights on More Precise Shooting".
- ^ a b "M-14 Rifle".
- ^ Pushies 2011, p. 115
- ^ a b "Usmc DMR-M14 ——〖枪炮世界〗".
- ^ Pushies 2011, p. 115
- ^ "8 Weapons of FAST Company Marines". 20 May 2014.
- ^ Pushies 2011, p. 115
Bibliography
[edit]- Green, Michael (2004). Weapons of the Modern Marines. ISBN 978-0760316979.
- Pushies, Fred (2011). MARSOC: U.S. Marine Corps Special Operations Command. ISBN 978-0760340745.
