What Sniper Rifles Does the US Military Use?

The sniper rifles the US military uses today fall into three broad groups: bolt-action precision rifles for long-range shots, semi-automatic systems for faster follow-up fire at medium ranges, and .50-caliber anti-materiel rifles for destroying equipment. The biggest change in the current inventory is the Mk 22 Advanced Sniper Rifle, a modular bolt-action platform now replacing several legacy rifles in the Army and Marine Corps.

The Mk 22 Advanced Sniper Rifle

The Mk 22 Mod 0 is built on the Barrett MRAD platform and is the most significant sniper procurement in a generation. The Marine Corps reached full operational capability with the rifle a year ahead of schedule.¹

What sets the Mk 22 apart is its interchangeable barrel system. A sniper can swap barrels in the field to fire three calibers from the same rifle: .338 Norma Magnum for long-range work, .300 Norma Magnum for a balance of range and recoil, and 7.62x51mm NATO for shorter-distance precision.² A two-person sniper team no longer has to haul separate rifles for different mission profiles.

In the Army, the Mk 22 replaces the M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle and pushes effective precision fire from about 1,200 meters out to roughly 1,500 meters.³ In the Marine Corps, it replaces both the M40A6 and the Mk 13 Mod 7, cutting the Marine sniper rifle inventory from four systems to three.² The Mk 22 originated as a SOCOM program before transitioning to the conventional force.¹

Army Sniper Rifles

M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle

The M2010 is a bolt-action rifle chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum, reconfigured from the older M24 Sniper Weapon System that served as the Army’s standard sniper rifle from 1988 onward. It extended precision engagement out to around 1,200 meters.³ The Mk 22 is now taking its place, though M2010s remain in service through the transition.

M110 and M110A1

The M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System gave Army snipers a 7.62x51mm NATO option with faster follow-up shots than a bolt action, effective out to roughly 800 to 1,000 meters. It has been especially useful in urban settings where quick target engagement outweighs extreme range.

The M110A1 Squad Designated Marksman Rifle, based on the Heckler & Koch G28, followed. It is smaller and lighter than the original M110, optimized for M80A1 ammunition, and mounts a 1-6x low-power variable optic with a bullet-drop compensating reticle. That trades some fine precision for faster target acquisition at closer ranges, matching its role inside an infantry squad.

M107A1 Anti-Materiel Rifle

The M107A1 is the Army’s primary .50 BMG anti-materiel rifle, a semi-automatic system effective out to 2,000 meters.⁴ Its job is destroying or disabling equipment, vehicles, communications gear, and light structures rather than engaging individual combatants at ordinary sniper distances. The upgraded M107A1 is four pounds lighter than the original M107 and carries a suppressor-ready muzzle brake that accepts the Barrett QDL suppressor.⁵

Marine Corps Sniper Rifles

M40A6

The M40 series, built on the Remington 700 action, has been the backbone of Marine sniping for decades. The most recent variant, the M40A6, began fielding in 2016 and is chambered in 7.62x51mm NATO. Marine armorers at Quantico hand-build each rifle, and the platform has a reputation for accuracy and reliability in harsh conditions. The Mk 22 is now replacing it.²

Mk 13 Mod 7

The Mk 13 Mod 7 is a bolt-action .300 Winchester Magnum rifle that gave Marine snipers more range and terminal energy than the 7.62mm M40 series, filling the gap between standard-caliber rifles and the .50 BMG. Like the M40A6, it is being retired in favor of the Mk 22, whose .338 and .300 Norma Magnum barrels cover the same role.²

Marines also use the M107A1 for anti-materiel missions, the same Barrett .50 BMG platform the Army fields.

Special Operations Sniper Rifles

U.S. Special Operations Command and Navy special warfare units field a separate family of precision rifles under the “Mk” designation. SOCOM has historically driven sniper procurement and often adopts platforms before the broader military does. Current systems include:

Mk 13 Mod 7, the bolt-action .300 Winchester Magnum rifle used for long-range precision, now being supplemented or replaced by the Mk 22 in many units.
Mk 20 Sniper Support Rifle, a semi-automatic 7.62x51mm NATO platform used for precision fire support so a spotter or secondary shooter can engage quickly without cycling a bolt.
Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle, a semi-automatic 7.62x51mm NATO rifle that bridges a standard infantry rifle and a dedicated sniper system, used by designated marksmen.
Mk 15, a bolt-action .50 BMG anti-materiel rifle for extreme long-range shots against equipment and hardened targets.

Older platforms like the Mk 11 Mod 0, a semi-automatic 7.62mm rifle, and the Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle, a 5.56mm designated marksman rifle, have largely been phased out of frontline service, though some remain in specialized use.

Calibers and What They Do

The reason the military keeps multiple rifles instead of standardizing on one comes down to caliber. Each round fills a different tactical role.

7.62x51mm NATO is the workhorse for medium-range precision, generally effective out to 800 meters. It is widely available, relatively light, and works in both bolt-action and semi-automatic platforms. Most designated marksman and semi-automatic sniper rifles use it.
.300 Winchester Magnum is a step up in range and energy, effective to roughly 1,200 meters. The M2010 and Mk 13 Mod 7 use it. It hits harder than 7.62mm at distance but produces more recoil and needs a heavier rifle.
.300 Norma Magnum and .338 Norma Magnum are the Mk 22’s primary long-range calibers. The .338 Norma Magnum pushes effective precision fire to 1,500 meters and bridges the gap between magnum rifle cartridges and the .50 BMG. Both offer strong ballistic coefficients, so they resist wind drift and hold velocity at extreme range.
.50 BMG is the heaviest round in the sniper inventory and is used almost exclusively for anti-materiel work. It can penetrate light armor, concrete walls, and engine blocks at distances beyond a mile. The M107A1 fires it semi-automatically; the Mk 15 uses a bolt action for maximum accuracy at extreme range.

Match-grade ammunition like the 7.62mm M118 Long Range round improves accuracy further by using projectiles with tightly controlled weight and dimensions, reducing the shot-to-shot variation that degrades precision at distance.

Optics and Accessories

A sniper rifle is only as good as what sits on top of it. Modern military sniper optics are high-powered variable scopes, typically around 5-25x for dedicated sniper use, paired with mil-dot or similar reticles that let shooters hold over for distance and wind without turning the turrets.

Thermal and night-vision clip-on devices mount in front of the day optic, converting a standard scope into a thermal or image-intensified sight without shifting zero. These matter in low light and when targets are hidden by foliage or smoke. Laser rangefinders, either integrated into the optic or mounted separately, feed precise distance readings into ballistic calculations.

Suppressors have become close to standard on sniper platforms. They cut muzzle flash and soften the sound signature enough to make locating the shooter harder. The M107A1 was specifically redesigned to run suppressed.⁵ Bipods, rear bags, and other stabilization gear complete the kit and give the shooter the stable platform long-range precision requires.

1
Barrett Firearms. Barrett Celebrates Marine Corps Full Operational Capability for MK 22 Advanced Sniper Rifle a Year Ahead of Schedule
2
Marine Corps Systems Command. Marine Corps Snipers Test New Rifle
3
Infantry Magazine (Fort Benning). MK22 – The Army Sniper’s Solution to a 21st Century Threat
4
Military.com. M107 .50 Caliber Sniper Rifle – LRSR
5
Barrett Firearms. M107A1