U.S. Army Soldiers assigned to the 1-503rd Infantry Battalion, 173rd Airborne Brigade Combat Team, provide overwatch as a convoy passes through a valley, April 29, in Southern Wardak, Afghanistan. A Route Clearance Patrol Team leads the convoy through the valley ensuring a safe journey to Combat Outpost Jaghato.

Love that M14.

A Brit with an L115A3 by Accuracy Arms International (.338 Lapua) made an incredible shot and then followed up with an encore. See Hot Finger! over at Murdoc Online for more.

More lethal sniper rifle eyed by Corps

Marine officials are weighing options for a new, powerful sniper rifle that could kill enemies 1,500 meters away, and are closely watching a contract competition launched by U.S. Special Operations Command last month for a similar weapon, a top Marine acquisitions official said.

The Marine Corps’ SR21 — short for Sniper Rifle-21st Century — would allow Marine snipers to engage targets nearly a mile away, substantially farther than the 800-meter range of the bolt-action, 7.62mm M40 sniper rifle currently in use. The Corps has worked extensively with SOCom to develop specifications for a precision sniper rifle, but it hasn’t finalized what it will do, said Col. Andrew Bianca, head of infantry weapons acquisitions at Marine Corps Systems Command.

They won’t be doing it with a 7.62.

Happened to notice this image:

A SOWT checks wind readings during a sandstorm during a Special Forces mission in Afghanistan. Air Force Special Operations Weathermen are the only career field in the Department of Defense that provides Special Forces with meteorological data in support of SOF missions.

Get a load of what he’s using to check the wind:

That’s an NV series Kestrel Pocket Weather Meter from Nielsen-Kellerman. I wrote up the Kestrel for Shooting Illustrated a while back.

Mattis pushed for 6.8mm ammo

Before Marines in Afghanistan received enhanced 5.56mm rounds last month, an influential four-star general advocated behind the scenes for an option that packs even more punch: 6.8mm ammunition…

The Corps first considered fielding 6.8mm ammo in 2007, after rank-and-file members of Special Operations Command designed it with their command’s approval to address deficiencies with the standard 5.56mm round, Eby said. Neither SOCom nor the Corps fielded it, in part due to the cost and logistics it would have required to make the change.

For now the Marines are going with the SOST 5.56.

I’ve also heard that at one point the Marines were looking at the SCAR and had some 6.8 versions put together for testing.

UPDATE: Comment:

I keep hearing that it’s simply too difficult for the mightiest armed force on earth to field a new rifle round, even if it’s demonstrably superior. So there’s no point trying.

I’m sorry but that’s indistinguishable from what comes out of the rear end of a male cow-type beast.

U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Nekolas Portella, a member of the Wasit Provincial Reconstruction Team, inspects construction at a school outside Badra, Iraq, Jan. 8, 2010. The inspection is being conducting to ensure the school's maintenance following the completion of its construction a year ago. (DoD photo by Staff Sgt. Brien Vorhees

Staff Sgt. Portella apparently likes Magpul PMAGs. I’ve been seeing more and more of them in US military photos lately.

I love how they demonstrate use of the integrated carrying handle and call the forward assist a “special feature.”

Part 2 below:
(more…)

Pics as the Firearm Blog.

Also: British adopting AR-10 style sharpshooter rifle by Lewis Machine & Tool.

ATLANTIC OCEAN (Dec. 14, 2009) The Honor Platoon aboard the Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) practices for a burial at sea. Carl Vinson is conducting carrier qualifications. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist Seaman Megan L. Catellier/Released)

Love those M14s.

When I first spotted the picture, I thought it was a staged photo op shot because, well, they’ve got no mags. But they’re practicing.

CHARLESTON, S.C. (Oct. 27, 2009) Army Sgt. Brad Paxton and Sgt. Tim Brooder, assigned to Superior Training for Superior Response (STSR) and Goose Creek Police Department, provide instruction on how to utilize the high/low technique to maximize spread of fire toward aggressors to students assigned to Naval Weapons Station Charleston. (U.S. Navy photo by Machinist's Mate 3rd Class Juan Pinalez/Released)

Get a load of the rifles they’re using.

Story here: NWS Charleston New Police Officers Complete Tactical Training