Precision Sniper Rifle

The Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR) was a program by United States Special Operations Command to replace all current bolt-action sniper rifles in use by U.S. special operations snipers with a single bolt-action rifle chambered for a large caliber Magnum chambering like .300 Win Mag, and .338 Lapua Magnum. The solicitation was placed on January 15, 2009. The contract was awarded to Remington Arms for their Modular Sniper Rifle.[1]

History

A 2008 United States military market survey for a Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR) called for 1 MOA (0.3 mrad) extreme vertical spread for all shots in a 5-round group fired at targets at 300, 600, 900, 1,200 and 1,500 meters.[2][3]

In 2009 a United States Special Operations Command market survey called for 1 MOA (0.3 mrad) extreme vertical spread for all shots in a 10-round group fired at targets at 300, 600, 900, 1,200 and 1,500 meters.[4][5] The 2009 Precision Sniper Rifle requirements stated that the PSR when fired without suppressor shall provide a confidence factor of 80% that the weapon and ammunition combination is capable of holding 1 MOA extreme vertical spread. This shall be calculated from 150 ten (10) round groups that were fired unsuppressed. No individual group shall exceed 1.5 MOA (0.5 mrad) extreme vertical spread. All accuracy will be taken at the 1,500 meter point.[6][7] Other requirements were that the rifle weigh less than 18 pounds loaded, have Picatinny rails, and have an easily changeable barrel.

Project manager for Soldier weapons Colonel Douglas Tamilio said in April 2011 he expected the Army to select and start fielding a new Precision Sniper Rifle in the next three to four years.[8] The contract was expected to be awarded by March 2013.[9]

They are opening another solicitation in 2016 for the PSR due to issues with the original program.

Selection

On March 8, 2013, Remington announced that the Modular Sniper Rifle won the contract, beating out the Sako TRG M10. The contract is worth $79.7 million for 5,150 rifles including suppressors, and 4,696,800 rounds of ammunition over the next ten years.[1]

Tender Criteria

Sniper Rifle requirements included:[10]

  1. The system shall be chambered to safely fire factory produced "non-wildcat" Small Arms Ammunition Manufacturing Institute (SAAMI) or Commercial European standard (CIP) ammunition.
  2. The action can be either manually or gas operated and available in left and right hand versions.
  3. With primary day optic and ammunition the system shall provide 1.0 MOA from 300 to 1500 meters (in 300 meter increments) when fired from the shoulder or an accuracy fixture in nominal conditions.
    This is further defined as 1 MOA Extreme Vertical Spread for all shots in a 10 round group at the stated distances.
  4. Mean Rounds Between Failures (MRBF) shall be 1000 rounds.
  5. The system shall have an overall length no greater than 52" in full configuration / extended excluding suppressor with a single component no greater in length than 40".
  6. The system shall weigh no more than 18 lbs with a 12:00 MilStd 1913 rail and a loaded magazine with 5 rounds.
  7. The system shall be capable of operator breakdown into major components in less than two minutes.
  8. The system will assemble from the major component breakdown in less than two minutes by the operator.
  9. The system will assemble from breakdown with no change in weapon zero.
  10. The system will have an integral MilStd 1913 rail at the 12:00 position, the rail will be capable of maintaining bore sight alignment and weapon zero while conducting routine firing combined with combat movement and operational training drills.

PSR contenders

Contenders for the contract included:

See also

References

  1. 1 2 Curtis, Rob (7 March 2013). "SOCOM PSR contract awarded to Remington Defense MSR". Gearscout blog. Military Times. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  2. ↑ US Special Operations Considers A ".338" Sniper Rifle
  3. ↑ Precession Sniper Rifle - Solicitation Number: H92222-09-PSR
  4. ↑ Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR) - Solicitation Number: H92222-09-PSR2
  5. ↑ SOCOM PSR Contenders
  6. ↑ Precision Sniper Rifles Systems (PSR) Draft Go/No-Go Requirements
  7. ↑ Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR) Vendor Questionnaire
  8. ↑ Lance M. Bacon (30 April 2011). "Improved carbines headed your way". Gannett Government Media Corporation. Retrieved 30 April 2011.
  9. ↑ Gun makers aim at US sniper rifle contract - Janes.com, January 29, 2013
  10. ↑ "Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR)". Federal Business Opportunities. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  11. ↑ "Introducing the Barrett MRAD". Shooting Illustrated.
  12. ↑ Bacon, Lance. "FNH unveils its Ballista Precision Sniper Rifle". Military Times. Retrieved 19 December 2012.
  13. ↑ Crane, David. "Remington Modular Sniper Rifle (MSR) Competes for SOCOM Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR) Contract". Defense Review. Retrieved 19 December 2012.

External links

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