What is the most common military caliber used for sniper rifles?

http://www.snipercentral.com/rifles.htm

7.52 Nato or the 308

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Bob from Idaho

The 7.52mm sounds like a great cartridge. It might be as good as a 7.62mm. Take care...
Oberndorf

Am thinking there is a whole lot of Chinese and X-soviets and they aren't real good about giving out the exact number.

Yup, I sure muffed that one. It's one of those military wildcats.

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Bob from Idaho

We use .223, .308, 300 Win Mag, .338 Lapua Mag, and .50 BMG as well.

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Buy American, it may be your own job you are saving.
UTU, TY&E Service, BNSF

In the big green latrine it was the 7.62x54, but I did see a few 30-06's.
I can't speak from experience about what is the most common today, but it is my understanding the 7.62x54 is still the most common.

By which Army?

Good point!

Western Nations and most of the free world its the 7.62x51 NATO. Soviets/, communist and former Warsaw pact countries used the 7.62x54R cartridge. Other cartridges used are the 7.92x57 Mauser, 7.65 Mauser, .303 British, 30-06, .300 Win Mag, .338 Laupa, .50 BMG, and 5.56 NATO.

As a Cat 2 sniper on my detachment I've been issued the NM14, XM21, M24 and SR-25(now the M110) all in 7.62 NATO. Other cartridges/guns I've used down are the Rem 700 in .300 Win Mag and Barretts M82 (now M107) in .50 BMG.

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De Oppresso Liber
Iraq: 91',03',04',05',06',08' & 09'
Afghanistan: 09',10' & 11'

Here's my NM14

My Barrett (being used by Jesse James film crew)

Issued .300 Win Mag


Stone Cold Steve Austin firing a SPR in Dec 03

Steve Austin sighting down an Iraq 7.62x54R AK (SVD variant)

Captured Soviet SVD


CD

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De Oppresso Liber
Iraq: 91',03',04',05',06',08' & 09'
Afghanistan: 09',10' & 11'

I have the same exact gun as your .300 win mag. Basically I talked to a Marine Armorer (I was in the Marines) asked him what the Marine sniper rifle was made with, and built the same rifle but in .300 win mag instead of 308. Love the gun. Do you have the load data on the ammo you use off hand?

I would have said the most common was the 7.62 NATO but I got to thinking there are an awful lot of communist supplied 7.62X54R rifles out there and the 5.56 NATO is getting used more and more for designated marksman rifles.

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Sion ap Rhys

Joe0121,

The ammo used was issued 180/190 gr (don't remember if it was BTHP or FJM). The 180 was Federal and the 190 loaded by Crane NWS. I always shot it within 1 minute but there was another shooter with us that keep all three rounds (190 load) touching at 300m.

CD

CD

__________________
De Oppresso Liber
Iraq: 91',03',04',05',06',08' & 09'
Afghanistan: 09',10' & 11'

I have noticed that the heavy bullets seem to settle down at long ranges and Often shot 1/2 inch at 100 yards and 3/4 at 300. After about 5 rounds the heat of the barrel create a mirage effect and the 1/2 inch pasty jumps around a bit especially at long ranges and high magnifications. But we are talking about going from 3/4 inch groups to 1 inch at 11 yards.

My Experience in the Marines was with the m16 and while I shot high expert without exception, it doesn't take much to grow beyond the abilities of the m16, and really have had a learning experience shooting a bolt gun, and if I use match ammo I really don't see why I couldn't see 1/2 to 1/3 groups with A LOT of practice.

It has been my experience that any bullet regardless of weight or caliber will be more accurate if the velocity is lower.
IE: 5.56 55gr standard velocity of 3200 fps when driving at 2800fps tends to pattern better.
Even my 22 caliber pellet gun when given 10 pumps is less accurate then 8.

Don't forget all M40s Are McMillan stocks an Remington 700 Recievers and actions. all other parts are made by 2112s in Virginia. So unless there is a 2112 on the forum we don't know for sure what the barrel specs are.
M40-7.62 Nato also known as 308

Talked to my son last week, and he's shooting M107(SR25) and M24 in 7.62mm Nato, a .338 Lapua and the .50 Barrett M110/M82. He should be gradulating SOTIC (Special Operations Target Interdiction Course, 2 month long sniper school) this Friday.

CD

__________________
De Oppresso Liber
Iraq: 91',03',04',05',06',08' & 09'
Afghanistan: 09',10' & 11'

Guess the .22 magnum is out of the running? LOL! I'm a firm believer in the .338 Lapua and the .308. Great calibers when you want to reach out and ruin someone's day!

DeJa