[DavidE]

A .300 Winchester Magnum rifle is coming to the inventory of the U.S. Marines.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-marines-are-getting-a-new-sniper-rifle/ar-AAvvO07?li=BBnb4R7

<https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/us/us-marines-are-getting-a-new-sniper-rifle/ar-AAvvO07?li=BBnb4R7>

 

[GunGeek]

They're also getting a .308 semi-auto sniper rifle that will retire the M40.

 

[Skeptic49]

I don't know why they didn't just go to .338 Lapua.
Geoff
Who is not current on Sniper Tech...so much internet so little time.

 

[CaptainGyro]

...and they're getting 346 of the new rifles for $4.3 million.

Hmm...that's about $12,500 a piece for off-the-shelf rifle components and a top-of-the-line Nigthforce scope.

Assuming they're just going to Midway USA and paying retail for the scope and rings, that's about $4000. A Remington 700 long action should be about $500, and a hefty barrel, say about $2000. Throw in another couple of thou for a chassis, and you're up to about $8500. And these prices are about what the man on the street would pay, buying a la carte with no volume discount and no bidding by vendors.

Wish they'd contacted me. I'd have built these for, oh, say a mere $3.5 million. :wink:

 

[GunGeek]

...and they're getting 346 of the new rifles for $4.3 million.

Hmm...that's about $12,500 a piece for off-the-shelf rifle components and a top-of-the-line Nigthforce scope.

Assuming they're just going to Midway USA and paying retail for the scope and rings, that's about $4000. A Remington 700 long action should be about $500, and a hefty barrel, say about $2000. Throw in another couple of thou for a chassis, and you're up to about $8500. And these prices are about what the man on the street would pay, buying a la carte with no volume discount and no bidding by vendors.

Wish they'd contacted me. I'd have built these for, oh, say a mere $3.5 million. :wink:

Military purchases of small arms usually includes parts for the full life span of the firearm. So if they expect the rifle to last 30k rounds, then the factor in likely parts needed for that round count (or number of years in service), and those parts are included. Acquisition also includes armorers tools, training, manuals (both armorer & user), cases, magazine pouches, etc.

These days it's the full kit for the lifespan of the weapon. They bundle the entire system and buy that from one vendor. The reason they do this is to make managing suppliers much more streamlined. Why have a staff of a dozen people managing every detail associated with that weapon (for decades) when you can just have the supplier manage it for you.

Purchasing organizations have found buying the "full kit" is about the same cost (item per item), but FAR better for managing the full program. There's only one throat to choke when things go wrong. When you do it piece meal, then when things go wrong, you get into a never ending circle of suppliers pointing fingers at other suppliers. If you buy the full kit from one supplier, then it's their problem, not yours. Problems get solved about 90% sooner, because that one supplier is on the hook for non-performance.

So in that price tag, I'm sure there is a LOT of stuff that is not mentioned in the article that's focused primarily on the weapon.

With the M17 they took it even further, and Sig is even supplying the ammunition for potentially the full duration of the M17's service.

 

[William R. Moore]

They went with the .300 WM due to the increased cost (upfront), weight, recoil and expenses (M&R plus stores) associated with .338 Laupa/8.6 mm Super MAG.

There was an article in American Rifleman sometime back about Black Hills developing a non-SAAMI load for the .300 that meets or beats the .338 out to 1500 meters or so. It's been accepted and issued a classification label so it's in the supply chain.

The number of rifles is kind of a puzzle. I've no clue how many 8541's there are in the Corps, but that number seems low. Unless it's going to be a mission specific issue item. Even given all the widgets that go with the rifle, the price is still outrageous.

 

[M118LR]

https://www.americanrifleman.org/articles/2017/5/24/unsung-hero-the-mk-248-mod-1/

SOCOM has moved on to the 300 Norma Mag.
https://www.longrangeshootinghandbook.com/socom-chooses-300-norma-mag-asr/

But the MK-248 Mod 1 .300 Win Mag ammo used by the services isn't going to be available for civilians due to it's OAL & Excessive Pressure.

The MK-13 Mod 7 probably won't be the do-all/end-all for the USMC, but SOCOM's 1500 Meter supersonic minimum is having an across the board effect on all the Branches. Conditions afield have dictated that the USMC upgrade from the M40, now the folks at the front have a little more reach out touch someone distance.

The effects of age, 8541 changed to 0317. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Marine_Corps_Scout_Sniper

 

[WaltGraham]

"There's only one throat to choke when things go wrong."

Hah !

Consider that stolen.

 

[William R. Moore]

I'll admit I haven't paid a lot of attention to Norma products, but to the best of my sources, there never was a .338 Norma. There is/was a .358 Norma Magnum. Meant .338 Laupa?

While we have a slew of new powders, I'm kinda curious about what the barrel life is going to be on the .300 Norma Magnum. I wouldn't be surprised if somewhere along the line, there are second thoughts about it. The guys out in Buttkrakistan aren't going to have the same access to M&R as the folks here. OTOH, the cubical warriors don't seem to be bothered by those minor details.

 

[M118LR]

Perhaps the 300 Norma is an opportunity to dissuade the civilian population to attempt to load the over pressure over length 300 Win Mag in current use? But yet it may offer even more potential when when taken to it's extremes?