The United States Marine Corps has achieved full operational capability with its new sniper rifle, the Mk22 Mod 0 Advanced Sniper Rifle, a year earlier than anticipated. This announcement was made by the Marine Corps Systems Command in Quantico, Virginia, on November 19, 2023.
The Mk22 Mod 0, manufactured by Barrett Firearms, is designed as a changeable, multi-barrel rifle that will replace two existing long rifles. The rifle provides three caliber options: standard 7.62mm, .300 Norma Magnum, and .338 Norma Magnum, allowing shooters to select specific munitions based on mission requirements. The rifle is equipped with a 10-round magazine.
As of the announcement, all Marine infantry and reconnaissance units, along with associated training schools, have received the new rifle and the necessary equipment training. Marine Sgt. Jacob Wright from the 15th Marine Expeditionary Unit highlighted international training efforts with the Mk22.
The Mk22 is a bolt-action precision rifle that incorporates a bipod and a sound and muzzle flash suppressor. It also features a caliber-agnostic 7×35 Precision Day Optic. Kevin Marion, a logistics management specialist with Marine Corps Systems Command, noted that the system’s design allows for better operational efficiency and reduced burdens on logistics.
Brian Nelson, the Mk22 project officer, emphasized that unlike previous systems, the Mk22 allows for barrel replacements without rendering the entire weapon unusable, which will improve mission readiness. The Mk22 is replacing both the Mk13 Mod 7 and M40A6 sniper rifles, and the Marine Corps noted the intent to purchase 250 units as part of budget planning.
In 2021, the Army announced plans to replace its M107 and M2010 sniper rifles with the Mk22, aiming to acquire 2,800 rifles by 2026. The M40A6 has been in use since 2016 and the Mk13 Mod 7 was selected in 2018.
The origins of the Mk22 trace back to a SOCOM initiative intended to enhance sniper rifle capabilities. The contract for the Mk22 was awarded in 2019, stemming from a request made by SOCOM officials in late 2009.
The Mk22 weighs 15.2 pounds, while its predecessors, the Mk13 Mod 7 and M40A6, weigh 11.4 pounds and 16.5 pounds, respectively. Both legacy rifles utilize a five-round magazine. The effective firing range of the Mk22 is impressive at 1,500 meters, compared to the 800 meters of the M40A6 and 1,300 meters of the Mk13 Mod 7.
All three legacy rifles are of bolt-action design.
Todd South, a veteran and journalist, has covered a range of topics related to crime, military, and government since 2004 and was a Pulitzer finalist in 2014 for work on witness intimidation.
