Designated marksman rifle

Adesignated marksman rifle(DMR) is a modernscopedhigh-precision rifleused byinfantryin thedesignated marksman(DM) role. It generally fills the engagementrangegap between aservice rifleand a dedicatedsniper rifle,at around 300–600 metres (330–660 yd).

DMRs are distinguished from sniper rifles in that they aresemi-automaticto provide higherrates of fire(with some also havingselective fireto switch toburstorautomatic) and have largermagazinecapacities (10, 20, or 30 rounds depending on the firearm and operational requirements) to allow rapid engagement of multiple targets.

DMRs have to be effective, in terms ofhit ratesandterminal ballistics,at application ranges exceeding those of ordinaryassault riflesandbattle rifles,but do not require the extended-range performance of a dedicated sniper rifle. DMRs need to function as part ofsquad(and possibly at close quarters) and often share some basic characteristics with sniper rifles when compared to other weapons carried in the DM'splatoon.They typically havetelescopic sightsfor more detailed observation and aiming, often also quick-deployedbipodforoptimized accuracy,reducedrecoiland better stability, and anadjustable stockfor betterergonomics.

Comparison to sniper rifles, battle rifles, and carbines

Most designated marksman rifles are based on modified designs of anassault riflecurrently issued by a nation's military, or on abattle riflethat was formerly issued. The ammunitions used are often of the samecaliberas that of themachine gunswithin the samecombat unit,typically afully powered cartridgesuch as the7.62 mm NATO.For example, battle rifles such as theM14,FN FAL,AR-10andHeckler & Koch G3were largely replaced during the 1980s and 1990s by modernassault riflesfiring the5.56 mm NATO intermediate cartridgefor standard riflemen, but many wereaccurizedand retained as DMRs.

Conversely, some nations have also built rifles that were designed for the designated marksman from the ground up. Examples include the SovietSVDand ChineseQBU-88.

Sights

Some designated marksman rifles will have some type of optical sight with a higher magnification level than the standard-issue rifle. For example, theSquad Designated Marksman Rifleissued to U.S. Army marksmen is frequently fitted with a Trijicon 4×ACOG,while the standard-issue M4 carbine is often equipped with an unmagnifiedAimpoint CompM2orCompM4.Commonly, the sighting system will be the only difference between the standard rifle and the designated marksman rifle, as is the case with the F88S DMR issued to the Australian Army.

Sniper riflestend to have even greater magnification than designated marksman rifles, fitting their increased effective range in comparison, as is the case with theM110 SASSused by the U.S. Army, equipped with a Leupold 3.5-10× variable-power scope. However, some designated marksman rifles, such as theMk 12 Special Purpose Rifleor theSquad Advanced Marksman Rifleare fitted with scopes with similar magnification.

Barrels

In some cases, the designated marksman rifle will have a longer barrel than the standard issued rifle. For example, until October 2015, when theM4 carbinewas approved as the new standard-issue rifle, theM16A4rifle was still standard issue throughout the United States Marine Corps. The barrel on theMk 12 Special Purpose Rifle,the current rifle used by the squad designated marksman in the USMC, is only 500 mm (18 in) long - 50 mm (2 in) shorter than the barrel on the standard rifle. This is no longer the case, however, as the M4 carbine has a barrel length of only 370 mm (14.5 in). Also, some rifles, such as theF88S Austeyr,have a barrel that is the same length as the standard service rifle. The FD-200 has an accurized barrel, also found on designated marksman rifles.

Most sniper rifles, such as theAccuracy International Arctic Warfare,have a barrel with a length of 610 mm (24 in) or greater. Only theDragunov sniper rifle(SVD) and similar designated marksman rifles have a barrel of this length. The designated marksman rifles based on theM14have barrels 460–560 mm (18–22 in) long.

Ammunition

A Kale Kalip KMR762, a Turkish DMR chambered in7.62×51mm NATO

In most cases, a designated marksman rifle will share the caliber and possibly even the ammunition type used by standard-issue rifles. DM rifles may be issued with standardball ammunition,or specialmatch gradeloads, such as7.62 mmNATO 'M118LR' sniper round. Sniper rifles are (almost exclusively) deployed with match grade ammunition in order to take advantage of their full effective range and accuracy potential; in addition, some sniper rifles are chambered for specialized ammunition, such as.338 Lapua Magnumor.338 Norma Magnum,^[1]^[2]^[3]that they do not share with common weapons.

In the U.S. military, designated marksman rifles chambered for 5.56 mm NATO have available the 5 g (77 grain) match gradeMk 262 Mod 0/1^{[note 1]}cartridge that enhances the effective range to roughly 600–800 m (2,000–2,600 ft).

The effective range of semi-automatic rifles chambered in.338 Lapua Magnumor.338 Norma Magnumcan exceed 1,400 m (4,600 ft).^[2]^[3]

Action

All designated marksman rifles in use today aresemi-automatic,some with select fire. Sniper rifles are generallybolt-actionrifles, but can also be semi-automatic.

Designated marksman rifles in service by nation

Argentina:FAMTD is a variant of theFN FALwith an accurised barrel, sniper stock and bipod.
Australia
- F88S Austeyr;5.56 NATO standard-issue rifle, fitted with an enhanced optic is issued to one rifleman in each fire team in theAustralian Army.^[4]
- SR-25;7.62mm NATO sniper rifle is often used to provide fire support.^[5]^[6]
- HK417;7.62mm NATO battle rifle,^[7]interim F88S replacement for Afghanistan deployments.
- Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle;7.62mm NATO rifle is in limited service.^[8]
Austria:TheSteyr AUG HBAR-T,is a longer heavier-barreled version of the Steyr AUG designed for use as a designated marksman rifle that can be fitted with a variety of optical sights.
Bangladesh
- TheType 85is the most seen weapon used as designated marksman rifle by theBangladesh Army.
- Different variants of theHeckler & Koch G37.62mm NATO rifles modified with scopes and other tactical upgrades are used as designated marksman rifle as well.
Canada:TheCanadian Forcesare phasing out theC7CT and C8CTdesignated marksman rifles,^[9]as well as theAR-10T.^{[citation needed]}with theColt Canada C20 DMR^[10]
Chile:The FD-200 is a variant of the SIG 542 with an accurised barrel, sniper stock and bipod.
China:
- TheQBU-88is a designated marksman rifle deployed by thePeople's Liberation ArmyandPeople's Armed Police,intended for aimed semi-automatic fire at ranges beyond the capabilities of standard infantry assault rifles.
- TheQBU-191is designated marksman rifle with an 800 m (870 yd)effective range,fitted with anaccurizedlong, heavyfree-floating barrel,extendedhandguard,30-round box magazine and a QMK-191 variable-magnification (4-15×) telescopic sight. Selective fire with the full-auto mode is retained on the marksman rifle, improving its fire suppression capability.^[11]^[12]
- TheSVDis the designated marksman rifle in Cold War era and still remain usage in reserve forces.
Czech Republic:CZ BREN 2 PPS
Denmark:The Heckler & Koch HK417 was the main DMR in use, by theRoyal Danish Army,but is pr 2021 transitioning toColt Canada C20.
France:TheFN SCARis a designated marksman rifle fielded by theFrench Army,alongside theHK 417,retiring theFR F2 sniper rifle.
Germany
- TheGerman Armyuses theG3A3ZF-DMR,a modified version of theHeckler & Koch G3 battle rifle,as a designated marksman rifle and recently introduced theG28.
- TheHeckler & Koch HK417is chambered for 7.62mm NATO and has been adopted by several nations for use as a designated marksman rifle.^[13]^[14]^[15]
Georgia
- Galatzis standard-issue marksman rifle ofGeorgian Armed Forces,thought some reserve and second line units still useSVD.
- Some Georgian Special Army and Police units useVSS Vintorez,TAR-21,AR-10andM4A1configured as marksman rifles
Hungary
- TheSVDis the main designated marksman rifle for theHungarian Armed Forces.^[16]
- Hungarymanufactures thebull-pupdesignedSzép sniper riflechambered for 7.62×51mm NATO.
- Hungarian Special Forces uses also theM24 Sniper Weapon System.^[17]
- Hungarian Armed Forcesdesigned the anti-material sniper weapons family calledGepárd.
India
- TheSVDis the DMR for theIndian Army.Different variants of theINSASfamily of weapons modified with scopes and other tactical upgrades are used as DMRs as well.
- TheIMI Tavor TAR-21and theIMI Galilchambered for the 7.62 NATO round are issued to units of theSpecial Forces of Indiaas a DMR.
- TheSIG SauerSIG716i chambered for the 7.62 NATO Round are issued for the frontline units of theIndian Armyas a battle rifle/DMR.
Indonesia:
- ThePindad SS2-V4is a designated marksman rifle said to be used byKopassus.It is based on the Pindad SS2, with a lengthened barrel and a telescopic scopemountedon aPicatinny rail.
- Pindad SPM-1
Iran:The locally produced G3A6 fitted with Hadaf 3 telescopic sight is used as a designated marksman rifle byIran Army special forcesandIranian Police Special Unit.^[18]
Iraq:TheTabukis an adaptation of theZastava M70assault rifle used as a designated marksman rifle by theIraqi Army.It is chambered for 7.62×39mm
Israel
- TheIsrael Defense Forcesformerly used theGalatzas a designated marksman rifle. The Galatz is a variant of the Galil assault rifle chambered for 7.62mm NATO.
- TheM4A1is used as a marksman rifle, equipped with Harris bipod andTrijiconACOG telescopic sights. The M4A1 replaced the M16A2, which is still used by some infantry reserve units.
- TheSTAR-21 Tavoris a variant of the Tavor assault rifle used as a designated marksman rifle by the Israeli Defense Forces. It is fitted with a picatinny rail that allows for the attachment of various optical sights (typically an ACOG scope) and a bipod.^[19]
- TheIWI Tavor X95-L, a variant of the Tavor with a longer 38 cm barrel, is used as a DMR.
- TheBarrett REC10is used as a DMR by special forces.
Italy:TheBeretta ARX200is used as a designated marksman rifle.
Japan:TheHowa Type 64is used as a marksman rifle.
Myanmar:BA100,MAS-1 MK-IandMAS-1 MK-IIare locally made designated marksman rifle that are used extensively in the country'scounter-insurgencycampaign
New Zealand:LMT LM308MWS;7.62mm NATO rifle used by theNew Zealand Armyunder the designation DMW.^[20]
Norway:HK417;7.62mm NATO gas-piston battle rifle.^[21]
Philippines:
- ThePhilippine Marine Scout Snipersdeveloped and use theMarine Scout Sniper Rifle,a derivative of the M16 rifle.
- ThePhilippine Armyuses theM14as a marksman rifle, while some units also use theSR-25in limited numbers. Newer M16-derived marksman rifles such the Squad Designated Marksman Rifle (SDMR) and the Special Purpose Rifle (SPR) in 5.56mm NATO have been introduced to replace the M14 and have been in service with the Army's1st Scout Ranger Regimentsince 2015. More recently the SIG 716 DMR has been adopted by the Philippine Army as its new standard designated marksman rifle in 7.62 NATO, with 829 units having been delivered as of early 2020.^[22]
Portugal:ThePortuguese Armyuses theHeckler & Koch G28EandFN SCAR H PRas a marksman rifle.^[23]^[24]
Romania:ThePSL (rifle)is a purpose-built designated marksman rifle chambered for7.62×54mmRbased on a modifiedKalashnikovaction. It is similar in appearance to the SVD, though the two rifles share little in common.
Russia
- TheSVDwas the first rifle designed from the outset as what is now known as a designated marksman rifle.
- TheDragunov SVUis abullpupvariant of the SVD rifle
- TheChukavin SVChis starting (2024) to replace the SVD in the Army of Russian Federation.
South Africa
- Accurised former standard serviceSouth African Defence Force R1 riflesare used by theSouth African Armyas designated marksman rifles. Being phased out in favour of the new R4 DMR modified rifle being introduced at section level.^[25]
- Scoped and accurisedVektor R4 riflesare used as designated marksman rifles by soldiers of theSouth African Army.^[26]
Switzerland
- TheSwiss Armed Forcesuse the standard issueSIG SG 550with a Kern 4×24telescopic sightas a marksman rifle.^[27]
- SIG716 DMR Gen2 replacing SG 550.^{[citation needed]}
United Kingdom
- L129A1;a 7.62 NATO, 16 in (410 mm) barrel variant of theSR-25developed byLewis Machine and Tool Companyhas been procured for use in Afghanistan. A 6× power ACOG is the standard-issue sight.
United States
- TheM14 riflehas formed the basis of several designated marksman rifles used by theUnited States Military:
  - Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle:Used by theUnited States ArmyandNavy SEALs^[28]
  - M14SE Crazy Horse:Used by the101st Airborne Divisionand the2nd Infantry Divisionof the US Army.^[29]
  - M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle:Used by theUnited States Marine Corps,replacing theUnited States Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle^[30]
- TheM16 riflehas formed the basis of several designated marksman rifles used by theUnited States Military:
  - Colt Model 655 and 656:Never standardized. Predecessor to other M16-based designated marksman rifles.
  - SDM-R:Used by the United States Army in limited numbers
  - SAM-R:Used by the United States Marine Corps. Replaced by theMk 12 Special Purpose Rifle
  - Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle:Used by the United States Navy SEALs,Rangers.Replacing theSAM-RinUnited States Marine Corpsservice.^[31]^[32]
  - M38 SDMR (Squad Designated Marksman Rifle):5.56×45mmUSMCDesignated Marksman Rifle, replacing Mk 12 SPR
- TheAR-10 riflehas formed the basis of several designated marksman rifles used by theUnited States Military:
  - SR-25 Mk 11:Used by the United States Marine Corps, United States Navy SEALs, and the United States Army. Replaced by the SSR Mk 20.
  - M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper Systemused by theUnited States ArmyandUnited States Marine Corpsreplacing someM39and allSR-25 Mk 11.
- TheHeckler & Koch HK417in variant Sniper has been adopted byDelta Forceof theUnited States ArmyandSEAL Team Sixof theUnited States Navyfor use as a designated marksman rifle.
  - M110E1:A version of G28E-110 which is a derivative of a civilian variant of HK417 has been adopted by the Army to replace theM14 EBR,SDM-R, and other older DMRs.^[33]
- TheFN SCARin variant Sniper Support Rifle (SSR) Mk 20 Mod 0 has been adopted by all branches ofUSSOCOM(e.g. SEALs, Rangers, Army Special Forces, MARSOC, AFSOC) replacing the SR-25 Mk 11.
Serbia
- TheZastava M76is a designated marksman rifle based on a modifiedKalashnikovaction. It is chambered for7.92×57mm Mauser.It has also been chambered in7.62×51mm NATOand7.62×54mmR.
- TheZastava M91is a purpose-built designated marksman rifle based on a modifiedKalashnikovaction and chambered for 7.62×54mmR.