M40A1 Sniper Rifle By: Kristian Edwards

By the mid 1970's weaknesses of the original M40 became refurbished and improve the M40. The M40 is now the M40A1. The rifle incorporated a fiberglass stock, which not only made the rifle lighter and more durable but almost made the rifle far less risky such as temperature and humidity. U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. C.J. Quinland, 3rd Battalion, 2nd Marines, firing an M40A3 sniper rifle. Photographed on the flight deck of the USS Kearsarge, 17 June 2003 as the Kearsarge returned home from a deployment in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

In 1966 the M40 sniper rifle was the starting point to all modern American military sniper weapons. The M40 sniper rifle was successful dating as far back as the First World War. It was developed during the Vietnam War and ordered by the Marine Corps. The jungle warfare of Vietnam was so intense at times, that conventional warfare was not considered an option. Resorting to guerrilla tactics, involving the deployment of highly trained snipers, was a valuable asset for the troops on the ground. The M40 sniper rifle was designed as a standard weapon for all snipers to use. A Marine sniper and spotter zero the M-40A1 sniper rifle during Operation Cobra Gold 2000, Ban Chan Khrem, Thailand, 19 May Marines are assigned to 1st Battalion, 7th Marines, 3rd Marine Division.

The M40A1 was put in the service in the 1970's to meet the needs of a long rang sniper rifle. In addition, the rifle's original scope was replaced by one custom built for USMC sniping applications. Each rifle is built by specially trained and qualified personnel at the Marine Corps marks-men-ship Training Unit at Quantico, Virginia.

In order to accepted, each weapon had to shoot less than one minute of angle (MOA). This is the preferred sniper rifle for the Marin Corps.

The M40A1 sniper rifle is a heavy Barrel, Bolt action, and fed 7.62mm. The M40A1 sniper rifle was used during Operation Cobra Gold The length of the m40 is 44 inches and it weighs 14.5 pounds, and the maximum firing rang is 1000 yards that gave the Military the right chance to have the grates advantage that they needed so they could shoot from a distance.