M25 Sniper Rifle

Infobox Weapon
name= M25 Sniper Rifle


caption= The M25 Sniper Rifle
origin=flagcountry|United States
type= Sniper Rifle
is_ranged= yes
is_bladed=
is_explosive=
is_artillery=
is_vehicle=
is_missile=
is_UK=
service=
used_by= United States
wars= Gulf War
designer= 10th Special Forces Group
design_date= Late 1980s
manufacturer=Springfield Armory
unit_cost=
production_date=
number=
variants= M21 Sniper Weapon System, M14 Rifle
weight= 4.9 kg (10.8 lb)
length= 112.5 cm (44.3 in)
part_length= 56 cm (22 in)
width=
height=
diameter=
crew=
cartridge= 7.62x51mm NATO (.308 Winchester)
caliber=
action= Rotating bolt, Gas operated, Air cooled
rate= Semi-Automatic
velocity=
range=
max_range= 900 m (983yd)
feed= Box Magazine
sights= Bausch & Lomb Tactical 10×40

The M25 is a joint venture sniper rifle, built for both the US Army Special Forces and the US Navy SEALs. It was originally developed by the 10th Special Forces Group, based at Fort Devens, Mass., to fulfill a challenge for a sniper rifle based on a match grade M14 that satisfied the requirements of the Army Special Forces and the Navy SEALs. SOCOM called the rifle the 'Light Sniper Rifle', and it is also known as the 'Sniper Security System' and 'Product Improved M21'". [ [http://www.snipercentral.com/m25.htm "U.S. Army & U.S. Navy M25 & XM25 Sniper Weapon System"] , snipercentral.com] It has been named "White Feather" in honor of Carlos Hathcock, a legendary U.S. Marine Corps sniper.

The M25 is similar to the M21 in many regards; it's a National Match M14 glass bedded in a McMillan fiberglass stock, uses a special gas piston, a National Match spring guide and a Brookfield Precision Tool Advanced Scope Mounting System. Most rifles use the Bausch & Lomb 10x Tactical scope; some use scopes made by Leupold & Stevens, including the Ultra Mark 4 M1, Ultra Mark 4 M3, and Vari X-III LR M3. Suppressors for use with this rifle are manufactured by OPS INC.

The M25 is not a replacement rifle for the M24 Sniper Weapon System; it was requested by the USSOCOM to fill a specific need, and it served extremely well in the Persian Gulf war.

The rifle was once called the XM25, but now it is simply the "M25". The "X" in the designation is used to refer to an prototype or unofficially adopted weapons system.

References

External links

* [http://www.springfield-armory.com/armory.php?model=17 Official page of the Springfield Armory M25 White Feather]
* [http://www.snipersparadise.com/articles/M25dev.htm M25/XM25 at SniperParadise.com]
* [http://www.snipercentral.com/m25.htm M25/XM25 at SniperCentral]