M40 orphan is home

ArmyPilot12 · Feb 15, 2025

Bought from CMP, not as sexy a history as @USMCSGT0331 's but it's mine. We already talked on another board and it was probably a USAF rifle originally.
Real 7 digit M40 with original barrel. FOIA says it was turned in to Robbins AFB in 1978, was issued to a couple ARNG/USAR units, and then sent to the AMU in 1985.
When there it acquired an HS Precision stock and bottom metal (gen 1, ugh), Harris bipod, and Leupy MK4. Scope is an N suffix, so built in 2005.
What a long strange trip this rifle has had.

Link to CMP photos.
Remington Model 700 with Leupold 3.5-10x Scope

Gunny89 · Sunday at 9:50 AM

That’s a really neat rifle you’ve got there. The history alone gives it such a unique character. It’s cool how you’ve been able to trace its journey.

sinister · Sunday at 12:38 PM

This is an on-line archive photo of the first year they were shot at the Army Long Range Championships at Fort Benning in Spring 2004.

The USAMU had turned in all M14s and drew the M40s from Anniston (there were not enough M24s to draw from storage). The M40s were converted by the Custom Shop to issue as loaners but we couldn't source enough scopes on short notice. I contacted Marty at Badger Ordnance (we bought his rails and rings) and discovered he had enough scopes from a canceled Foreign Military Sale contract we could buy.

The bottom metal (with detachable magazine) and short action stocks with built-in cheek riser were available for immediate purchase without lead time (vice forward-leaning), so the improvement delta was a fortunate side benefit.

soldiers-shoot-at-targets-800-yards-away-during-the-long-range-portion-EJF46R.jpg

ArmyPilot12 · Sunday at 1:30 PM

sinister said:
This is an on-line archive photo of the first year they were shot at the Army Long Range Championships at Fort Benning in Spring 2004.

The USAMU had turned in all M14s and drew the M40s from Anniston (there were not enough M24s to draw from storage). The M40s were converted by the Custom Shop to issue as loaners but we couldn't source enough scopes on short notice. I contacted Marty at Badger Ordnance (we bought his rails and rings) and discovered he had enough scopes from a canceled Foreign Military Sale contract we could buy.

The bottom metal (with detachable magazine) and short action stocks with built-in cheek riser were available for immediate purchase without lead time (vice forward-leaning), so the improvement delta was a fortunate side benefit.

Awesome!!! I've searched every where of a photo of these rifles in use. Thanks for posting that.

sinister · Sunday at 1:57 PM

Standard M24s are long action. You can visually recognize the USAMU short action M40 - M24-ish rifles by the slightly narrower-lighter barrels, 10-shot single stack magazine, and Leupold illumination knob.

If the original Remington air force barrels were excessively worn they were swapped out with a standard M24 barrel.

Gunsmith Glenn S took a try with a re-build on a target at 1,000 yards, standing. He hit the X with his first shot. He immediately put the rifle down and said "I can't beat that. I'm quitting while I'm ahead." True story.

VJJPunisher · Sunday at 4:05 PM

sinister said:
This is an on-line archive photo of the first year they were shot at the Army Long Range Championships at Fort Benning in Spring 2004.

The USAMU had turned in all M14s and drew the M40s from Anniston (there were not enough M24s to draw from storage). The M40s were converted by the Custom Shop to issue as loaners but we couldn't source enough scopes on short notice. I contacted Marty at Badger Ordnance (we bought his rails and rings) and discovered he had enough scopes from a canceled Foreign Military Sale contract we could buy.

The bottom metal (with detachable magazine) and short action stocks with built-in cheek riser were available for immediate purchase without lead time (vice forward-leaning), so the improvement delta was a fortunate side benefit.

Incorrect, well not the information cause that seems to be accurate, what’s incorrect is the date of this photo, I am in this picture, and that was 2009

roostercogburn98 · Sunday at 5:58 PM

VJJPunisher said:
Incorrect, well not the information cause that seems to be accurate, what’s incorrect is the date of this photo, I am in this picture, and that was 2009

It thought the one guy looked gay. That’s the year Josh was there too right?

VJJPunisher · Sunday at 9:13 PM

roostercogburn98 said:
It bought the one guy looked gay. That’s the year Josh was there too right?

No, he was there in 2008, that was the year he won the long range portion

ArmyPilot12 · Sunday at 9:31 PM

VJJPunisher said:
Incorrect, well not the information cause that seems to be accurate, what’s incorrect is the date of this photo, I am in this picture, and that was 2009

Thanks, that makes more sense since the scope has a 2005 build date.

ArmyPilot12 · Monday at 3:38 PM

Since HS Precision gen 1 SA mags are near non-existent, I ordered some Kwik Klip mags because someone somewhere said they would work.
They're the same exact design. Only difference is where the mag catch latches.
Yes, I have a dremel.

Left is a KK mag out of the package, right is after cutting the rib to the proper length and drilling out the 4 spot welds.

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