US special operations forces are searching for a new extreme long-range rifle

You have to create an account to read the article and it is against my religion to do that.

I have read a few books from former snipers. Most engagements were usually 300 yards and less, especially in urban settings. Rarely getting to 500 yards. About the only time they could stretch to 1,000 yards was in training between deployments. Usually with either the rifle they were carrying, or another just like it.

Some groups, for example, were going to use one of the versions of the Barrett MRAD that came with barrels and parts for .308 Win, .300 Norma Mag, and .338 Norma Mag. The .308 round being for practice and also because the ammo is so cheap.

Another version, I believe, has .308 Win, .300 Win Mag, and .338 Lapua Mag. But with the same intentions. What about Chris Kyle's Hathcock shot depicted in the movie? I have not read the book but people believed it and tell me that he did that at quite some distance.

What are they defining as extreme long distance?
 
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You have to create an account to read the article and it is against my religion to do that.

I have read a few books from former snipers. Most engagements were usually 300 yards and less, especially in urban settings. Rarely getting to 500 yards. About the only time they could stretch to 1,000 yards was in training between deployments. Usually with either the rifle they were carrying, or another just like it.

Some groups, for example, were going to use one of the versions of the Barrett MRAD that came with barrels and parts for .308 Win, .300 Norma Mag, and .338 Norma Mag. The .308 round being for practice and also because the ammo is so cheap.

Another version, I believe, has .308 Win, .300 Win Mag, and .338 Lapua Mag. But with the same intentions. What about Chris Kyle's Hathcock shot depicted in the movie? I have not read the book but people believed it and tell me that he did that at quite some distance.

What are they defining as extreme long distance?
Special Operations Command is looking for a precision weapon that can hit targets up to 2,500 meters (1.5 miles) away. As for its durability, SOCOM wants the new sniper rifle to have a barrel life of between 1,200 and 1,500 rounds.
 
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You have to create an account to read the article and it is against my religion to do that.

I have read a few books from former snipers. Most engagements were usually 300 yards and less, especially in urban settings. Rarely getting to 500 yards. About the only time they could stretch to 1,000 yards was in training between deployments. Usually with either the rifle they were carrying, or another just like it.

Some groups, for example, were going to use one of the versions of the Barrett MRAD that came with barrels and parts for .308 Win, .300 Norma Mag, and .338 Norma Mag. The .308 round being for practice and also because the ammo is so cheap.

Another version, I believe, has .308 Win, .300 Win Mag, and .338 Lapua Mag. But with the same intentions. What about Chris Kyle's Hathcock shot depicted in the movie? I have not read the book but people believed it and tell me that he did that at quite some distance.

What are they defining as extreme long distance?
From what I've seen a 375 Cheytac or Barrett 416(?) should fill the bill.
 
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Or a drone.

Watching a video of a drone chasing a Russian around a tank before it finally hit him and blew up convinced me that we will see a lot more of that in the future. Maybe not a paradigm shift (yet), but definitely a method that needs addressed. We used to have the Chameleon counter-IED vehicle jamming system (Don't ask me what the actual nomenclature was...that was years ago and I'm old). I wonder if those would work against drones? Sorry went OT with that a bit. Old guys have a hard time focusing.
 
I always blamed afghanistan for the interest in 2000m+ rifles. Mostly because of remote outposts like restrepo that were constantly harassed from opposing mountainsides by taliban fighters. It's one scenario where I think a big, heavy, elr rifle would be nice to have but, then again... artillery, air support, etc. I wonder how much of this is the military looking for a rifle vs. someone trying to $ell one. I guess it wouldn't hurt if there's an actual need. It's not like they need to get 50,000 of them.
 
ELR rifle barrel life is always an issue for service rifle , competition folk literaly have multiple dope for changes to a bore after 20+rds

So larger bores will likely work better

Here is the list of cartridges / bullets used during the last Ko2M finale

375 Chey-Tac with 400 gr Lazer,
416 Barrett with 500 gr Lazer,
37 XC with 400 gr Lazer,
375 Chey-Tac with 400 gr Lazer,
no data,
375 Chey-Tac with 400 gr Lazer,
416 Hellfire with 500 gr Lazer,
416 Hellfire with 550 gr Lazer,
416 Hellfire with 550 gr Lazer,
416 Hellfire with 525 gr Lazer,
416 Barrett with 500 gr Lazer,
416 Barrett with 550 gr Lazer,
416 Barrett with 500 gr Lazer,
375 Chey-Tac with 400 gr Lazer.
*The .416" Hellfire is based on an elongated Chey-Tac case, necked up to .416".


A post from FB on 400MODBB in 33XC
This is a reconstruction of a post I put up last year, about my experience with my Bartlein 400MODBB 33XC barrel.

There are claims out there giving 400MODBB 1.5x to 2x longer life when compared with 416 SS.
My Bartlein 400MODBB was .338 Cal 1 5/8" Ø, 34" 1:7.5, given the full TacomHQ Structured treatment, including cryogenic.
The expected life was 850-1000.

I had set my mind on using the Warner Flat Line 285gr with Tubb Nosering®, G1 0.968, G7 0.484
The barrel was initially chambered with Manson Precision Reamers to 33XC Tubb 4 6/25/2020 print, which gives a 0.225" freebore.
In what follows, Mz were 2900-3150fps, and in the UK using Vit 570. I did try 24N41.

When I visited David July 2022, the barrel already had 67 shots.
We were shooting the Warners for the firest time and David advised seating on the lands.
We loaded and shot 72, but the seating CBTO was not changed from the initial measurement.
After zeroing at 200 yds, we went to 1,500 and 2,000 yds, and hitting plates.

Back in the UK, after 208 shots, the CBTO had moved out 0.186" and there was not enough bullet in the case without a > 0.100+ jump.
Through Manson Reamers, I found a earlier Tubb print for Cutting Edge Lazers with 0.100" freebore, but it noted for Warner Flat Line, use a 0.050" freebore.
My barrel had enough material to re-chamber, so Manson supplied a 0.050" freebore reamer and I re-chambered.

I was concerned about what had happened, so kept records of CBTO measurements for different bullets, but still just shooting the 285gr Warner Flat Lines.
I recorded CBTOs for Berger 300gr OTM, DTAC 299, Cutting Edge LZR 265gr, Badlands 265gr & 285gr, and Warner Flat Line 265gr.
If you can see the graph, after 61shots, the lands had moved 0.106" and interestingly after 3 TMS shots, a further 0.047".

By 211 shots, the Warner CBTO had moved 0.209" but after 167 shots I had stopped using them, because the results were tanking, no better than 1.5MOA @ 200 yds.
I had changed to Cutting Edge LZR 300gr, which gave sub 0.4MOA at 200 yds for the next 99 shots and achieved sub 1MOA at 1760 yds in difficult wind.

This restored my faith in the 33XC, despite the barrel rapidly approaching End of Life.
My take away on my experience with this 400MODBB barrel is twofold.
The first, the sleek profile of Warner Flat Lines (in .338 which is all I have used) are so incredibly sensitive to wear on lands, that if you had a 25 shot competition, the jump for the last shot will have increased by at least 0.015"

For a Cutting Edge LZR 265gr, it would only have increased by 0.007"
By 61 shots, Warner increased by 0.106" but the LZR, only 0.019" and the same for the DTAC299.
I leave it up to you to decide if that wear is acceptable.

The second take away, with a competitive BC bullet, the wear on 400MODBB lands mean that if you prepare for a competition, you need to know what an increase jump of 0.015" - 0.020" does to your last few 2 mile shots.

Then, when you go home, you will be starting again working up a new load, but you’ll be chasing a runaway CBTO.

I am led to believe the following:

1. Despite people complaining to Bartlein, they blame the shooter.
2. There might be less effect with smaller calibers, but there may be some relationship between the ratio of bullet diameter and the land wear / change in CBTO.
3. There may have been a batch of Bartlein 400MODBB barrels that were poorly heat treated or other there were other material problems. This might explain differing experiences.
If you look at my website (still WIP), you will see that I have 2 x 37XC barrels and 3x 416 Barrett projects in the build, all Bartlein 400MODBB
I will be keeping records of CBTOs after every trip to the range.
My new K&S Arms 33XC barrel is 416 SS, but I will be chambering it with a 0.050" freebore and use Cutting Edge LZR 300gr Single Feed.
The original Bartlein 33XC will be wire EDM’d in half to examine the bore and carry out hardness tests.

421830366_7132681276769660_7623086203924925059_n.jpg
 
Wouldn't a guided 60 or 80mm mortar be a better option for extreme ranges? Pair with a drone with designating capabilities, idenfity the target, designate the target, and a mortar crew can send in a mortar that can be dropped right on the target, higher hit probability, nearly 6km range. At extreme ranges the hit probability goes down, and if you have a target that needs elimination, some form of small guided munition would be superior IMO. The tech exists, and you can't tell me it can't be scaled down into a 60 or 80mm mortar. Sure, the MIC is going to charge an arm and a leg for each one, but they're going to spend out money anyway.

Branden
 
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Option 1: A $20,000+ ELR rifle system that took millions of dollars to bid, test, and procure, shot by highly trained specialists that take years of training and hundreds of thousands of dollars to maintain and support

Versus

Option 2: A hand grenade duct taped to a $500 off-the-shelf drone, flown by a 18 y/o gamer in Fort Bragg.

And the retards in charge are going to pick option 1.
 
You have to create an account to read the article and it is against my religion to do that.

I have read a few books from former snipers. Most engagements were usually 300 yards and less, especially in urban settings. Rarely getting to 500 yards. About the only time they could stretch to 1,000 yards was in training between deployments. Usually with either the rifle they were carrying, or another just like it.

Some groups, for example, were going to use one of the versions of the Barrett MRAD that came with barrels and parts for .308 Win, .300 Norma Mag, and .338 Norma Mag. The .308 round being for practice and also because the ammo is so cheap.

Another version, I believe, has .308 Win, .300 Win Mag, and .338 Lapua Mag. But with the same intentions. What about Chris Kyle's Hathcock shot depicted in the movie? I have not read the book but people believed it and tell me that he did that at quite some distance.

What are they defining as extreme long distance?
Install. uBlock. Origin.
 
ELR rifle barrel life is always an issue for service rifle , competition folk literaly have multiple dope for changes to a bore after 20+rds

So larger bores will likely work better

Here is the list of cartridges / bullets used during the last Ko2M finale

375 Chey-Tac with 400 gr Lazer,
416 Barrett with 500 gr Lazer,
37 XC with 400 gr Lazer,
375 Chey-Tac with 400 gr Lazer,
no data,
375 Chey-Tac with 400 gr Lazer,
416 Hellfire with 500 gr Lazer,
416 Hellfire with 550 gr Lazer,
416 Hellfire with 550 gr Lazer,
416 Hellfire with 525 gr Lazer,
416 Barrett with 500 gr Lazer,
416 Barrett with 550 gr Lazer,
416 Barrett with 500 gr Lazer,
375 Chey-Tac with 400 gr Lazer.
*The .416" Hellfire is based on an elongated Chey-Tac case, necked up to .416".


A post from FB on 400MODBB in 33XC
This is a reconstruction of a post I put up last year, about my experience with my Bartlein 400MODBB 33XC barrel.

There are claims out there giving 400MODBB 1.5x to 2x longer life when compared with 416 SS.
My Bartlein 400MODBB was .338 Cal 1 5/8" Ø, 34" 1:7.5, given the full TacomHQ Structured treatment, including cryogenic.
The expected life was 850-1000.

I had set my mind on using the Warner Flat Line 285gr with Tubb Nosering®, G1 0.968, G7 0.484
The barrel was initially chambered with Manson Precision Reamers to 33XC Tubb 4 6/25/2020 print, which gives a 0.225" freebore.
In what follows, Mz were 2900-3150fps, and in the UK using Vit 570. I did try 24N41.

When I visited David July 2022, the barrel already had 67 shots.
We were shooting the Warners for the firest time and David advised seating on the lands.
We loaded and shot 72, but the seating CBTO was not changed from the initial measurement.
After zeroing at 200 yds, we went to 1,500 and 2,000 yds, and hitting plates.

Back in the UK, after 208 shots, the CBTO had moved out 0.186" and there was not enough bullet in the case without a > 0.100+ jump.
Through Manson Reamers, I found a earlier Tubb print for Cutting Edge Lazers with 0.100" freebore, but it noted for Warner Flat Line, use a 0.050" freebore.
My barrel had enough material to re-chamber, so Manson supplied a 0.050" freebore reamer and I re-chambered.

I was concerned about what had happened, so kept records of CBTO measurements for different bullets, but still just shooting the 285gr Warner Flat Lines.
I recorded CBTOs for Berger 300gr OTM, DTAC 299, Cutting Edge LZR 265gr, Badlands 265gr & 285gr, and Warner Flat Line 265gr.
If you can see the graph, after 61shots, the lands had moved 0.106" and interestingly after 3 TMS shots, a further 0.047".

By 211 shots, the Warner CBTO had moved 0.209" but after 167 shots I had stopped using them, because the results were tanking, no better than 1.5MOA @ 200 yds.
I had changed to Cutting Edge LZR 300gr, which gave sub 0.4MOA at 200 yds for the next 99 shots and achieved sub 1MOA at 1760 yds in difficult wind.

This restored my faith in the 33XC, despite the barrel rapidly approaching End of Life.
My take away on my experience with this 400MODBB barrel is twofold.
The first, the sleek profile of Warner Flat Lines (in .338 which is all I have used) are so incredibly sensitive to wear on lands, that if you had a 25 shot competition, the jump for the last shot will have increased by at least 0.015"

For a Cutting Edge LZR 265gr, it would only have increased by 0.007"
By 61 shots, Warner increased by 0.106" but the LZR, only 0.019" and the same for the DTAC299.
I leave it up to you to decide if that wear is acceptable.

The second take away, with a competitive BC bullet, the wear on 400MODBB lands mean that if you prepare for a competition, you need to know what an increase jump of 0.015" - 0.020" does to your last few 2 mile shots.

Then, when you go home, you will be starting again working up a new load, but you’ll be chasing a runaway CBTO.

I am led to believe the following:

1. Despite people complaining to Bartlein, they blame the shooter.
2. There might be less effect with smaller calibers, but there may be some relationship between the ratio of bullet diameter and the land wear / change in CBTO.
3. There may have been a batch of Bartlein 400MODBB barrels that were poorly heat treated or other there were other material problems. This might explain differing experiences.
If you look at my website (still WIP), you will see that I have 2 x 37XC barrels and 3x 416 Barrett projects in the build, all Bartlein 400MODBB
I will be keeping records of CBTOs after every trip to the range.
My new K&S Arms 33XC barrel is 416 SS, but I will be chambering it with a 0.050" freebore and use Cutting Edge LZR 300gr Single Feed.
The original Bartlein 33XC will be wire EDM’d in half to examine the bore and carry out hardness tests.

View attachment 8335728
Very good info.... THANK YOU...