Two New Sniper Rifles-One You Ain't Goin' To Believe

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RugersGR8

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http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2010/09/remington-wins-m24e1-army-sniper-rifle-contract/


September 21st, 2010
Remington Wins M24E1 Army Sniper Rifle Contract

Major change will be from the 7.62mm NATO (.308 Winchester) cartridge to .300 Winchester Magnum


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Just announced--you aren't gonna believe this one:

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2009/06/new-remington-space-gun-modular-sniper-rifle/


June 22nd, 2009
New Remington "Space-Gun" Modular Sniper Rifle
 

Jon3830

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The Army has been toying with .300 win mag for years now it surprises me that they have taken this long to make a dedicated decision. I like the .308 just fine but if I am not buying the ammo I would rather shoot the .300 win mag and I am sure the guy on the receiving end is the only one that will be unhappy about the change.
 

ldp4570

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The US Army AMU(Army Marksmanship Unit) has been shooting the .300WM for several years now for their long range competitions. I imagine that had something to do with the upgrade based on the AMU's track record of wins with that cartridge.
 
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Really kind of a shame that they would not choose a better chambering & caliber, as long as they're doing a major upgrade like that:

1. .300 Win Mag, w/ 208 Hornady A-Max (.635 BC): 1,000 yard total drop: 315.7". 1,000 yard drift in 10 mph x-wind: 60.56" (based on 2850 MV).

2. 6.5mm-'06 A-square, w/ 140 Berger VLD (.640 BC): 1,000 yard total drop: 278.2" (12% better than .300 winmag). 1,000 yard drift in 10 mph x-wind: 53.86" (11% better than .300 winmag) (based on 3000 MV).

And, with (a) a lot less recoil/blast, and (b) a lot less powder, brass, and bullet cost. Not to mention - no PITA belt.

Also, with the likely bullets chosen in these respective calibers for military use, the discrepancy will likely be even larger, as the 208 A-Max is more of a BC anamoly in .300 than the 140 Berger is an anamoly in BC terms in 6.5 bullets (each relative to weight & thus vel, mind you).


Now the .300 winmag/208 will have 1229 ft-lbs of retained energy, which is 27% better than the 968 ft-lbs of retained energy of the 6.5-'06/140 at 1,000 yards, but how much more energy than 968 ft-lbs do you need to do the job? Since killing a person through SBA requires ____ ft lbs, roughly? (I don't know; I'm asking). Less than 500?

The .300 win mag will also have slightly more penetrative abilities through intermediate hard barriers than the 6.5m-'06, due to roughly the same SD, but with higher mass (though at bit less velocity), so maybe that's a factor...

968 ft-lbs on target trumps 1229 ft.-lbs of miss. Anyway, I'm sure they have their reasons. I just hope its more about wanting that energy & penetration (e.g. contemplation of anti-materiel or HBA-busting use), than it is organizational inertia and/or ignorance of facts.
 

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