INTRO TO SNIPER WEAPON SYSTEM

Sniper Sustainment
Task: Conduct Sniper Sustainment Condition: In a class/range environment with all required equipment, i.e.. M24SWS, proper uniform, spotting scope, binos, ammunition and writing material. Standard: Apply sniper TTPs in order to successfully engage known and unknown distance targets to a maximum range of 600 meters.

M24 SWS CONSISTS OF:

Soft Case System hard case M 1907 sling Iron sight/Day sight optic case TM 9-1005-306-10 The Deployment Kit The M24 Sniper Rifle *** Optional Harris Bipod ***

M24 SWS CONT.

TM 9-1005-306-10
The TM is provided to give the sniper written information concerning characteristics, operation and maintenance of the M24 SWS.

The Deployment Kit

Since the M24 SWS is repairable by the sniper, the kit contains everything the sniper needs to repair and maintain the weapon system. The Deployment Kit consists of 42 items, the major tools are: a. 65 inch pound torque wrench b. 1/2 x 3/8 drive socket c. Hex head socket 3/8 drive d. T-handle screw driver e. 1/2 open end/box end wrench f. 7 assorted hex-head wrenches

The M24 Sniper Rifle

The M24 Sniper Rifle is a 5 shot, bolt action repeating rifle capable of engaging targets out to 800 meters, shooter dependent. It fires a 7.62 mm NATO or .308 Winchester round. The muzzle velocity is 2600 fps shooting M118 Special Ball. The length of the weapon is 43 inches and the weight with 5 rounds, sling, and the day sight optics is 14.25 pounds. It has a user adjustable butt stock to adjust the length of pull.

SPECIFICATIONS
Ammunition- 7.62mm x 51mm, M118 Special Ball/Long Range Barrel Rifling- 5 radials with 1 turn in 11.2 inches Muzzle Velocity- Approx. 2600 FPS(Special Ball), 2750 FPS (Long Range) Max. Effective Range- 800 meters (1000 meters shooter dependent) Overall Length- (butt to muzzle)- 43 inches (Butt stock fully collapsed) Magazine Capacity- 5 rounds Rifle Weight With Sling- 12.1 lbs. Sniper Weapon System- * Total Weight- 64 lbs.*

SPECIFICATIONS CONT.
Day Optic Sight Magnification- 10 power with adjustable focus
AN/PVS-10 Magnification- 8.5 power with adjustable focus Combat Weight- (rifle, sling, day optic sight, and full magazine)- 14.25 lbs. (17 lbs. With the AN/PVS-10)

Deployment Kit With Case- 3.5 lbs.

Bipod Weight- .7 lbs.

SIGHT COMPONENT GROUPS

DAY OPTIC SIGHT Leupold M3A Ultra 10x fixed MIL dot reticule Fully coated lenses Focus from 50 ft. to infinity (adjustment knob is located on the left side of the scope) Parallax free from the factory M118 Special Ball BDC 1 MOA elevation adjustments (adjustment knob is located on the top of the scope) 1/2 MOA windage adjustments (adjustment knob is located on the right side of the scope)

AN/PVS-10 DAY/NIGHT SCOPE SPECIFICATIONS

WEIGHT- 4.5 LBS.
MAGNIFICATION- 8.5 POWER FIXED EYE RELIEF- 3 INCHES MINIMUM RANGE- 25 METERS EFFECTIVE RANGE DAY- 800 METERS EFFECTIVE RANGE NIGHT- 600 METERS

DISASSEMBLE THE M24 SWS

CLEAR WEAPON: - pull bolt to rear - visually and physically inspect the chamber - slide the bolt forward - when clearedsqueeze trigger

*NOTE: The following procedures are authorized at user level*

HOW TO OPERATE

THE M24 SWS

*Before loading, ensure that the weapon is clear* With the bolt to the rear, place the first round on the magazine follower and press down. Since the weapon has a long action, slide the round all the way to the back of the magazine. Repeat this procedure with the remaining rounds. Slide the bolt forward and lock it down, this cambers your first round.

IF THE WEAPONS FAILS TO FIRE, THERE ARE SEVERAL REASONS FOR WHAT COULD HAVE HAPPENED:

ACTIONS TO TAKE FOR A MISFIRE

*You squeeze the trigger and the hammer falls, but nothing happens. Check and correct: Did you push the rounds all the way back in the magazine? Did you pull the bolt all the way to the rear?

Is the primer indented adequately? If not, this is a sign of a worn firing pin spring. If the primer is indented to normal depth, this is a sign of a bad round of ammunition.

ACTIONS TO TAKE FOR A MISFIRE

*Difficulty chambering or extracting? You cant lock the bolt forward. Two things could cause this. First your chamber could be dirty. Clean it! Second, your chamber could be defective. If this is the case report it to your supervisor so that it can be turned in for maintenance.

ACTIONS TO TAKE FOR A MISFIRE

If you can unlock but not pull the bolt to the rear easily, your chamber is probably dirty. Keep the weapon pointed in a safe direction and have your observer hold the weapon down on your support. You should be able to pull the bolt to the rear now. *MOST DIFFICULTIES CHAMBERING OR EXTRACTING CAN BE PREVENTED BY KEEPING YOUR AMMO AND WEAPON CLEAN!!!!

AMMUNITION FOR THE M24 SWS

Snipers should use 7.62x51mm NATO M118 Special Ball, M118 Long Range, or M852 National Match ammunition with the M24 SWS. Snipers should always attempt to use match-grade ammunition because of the greater accuracy potential and lower sensitivity to environmental conditions. You must reconfirm zero every time the type or lot # is changed. The lot # is printed on the wooden crate, metal can, and each cardboard box.

CLEANING PROCEDURES FOR THE M24

CLEANING THE M24- You clean the weapon by removing the bolt and opening the floor plate of the magazine. Attach a bore brush to the cleaning rod, then apply cleaning solvent. Never use carbon-cleaning compounds on any component of the system. Insert the bore guide. Lay the weapon on a table or weapon cradle with ejection port down and the barrel lower than the receiver. Push the brush through the chamber end of the rifle into the bore. Ensure you push the brush all the way down the bore, then remove the brush before pulling the rod back. Repeat this process 6-8 times. Remove brush and attach the jag with clean patch. Push the rod through the bore until patches come out clean. Clean the bolt face with small brush and cleaning solvent. Wipe bolt clean and dry. Apply a light coat of grease to the locking lugs, replace bolt in receiver and close it. Place weapon on fire and squeeze the trigger.

BALLISTICS
IS CLASSIFIED INTO THREE CATAGORIES:
INTERNAL BALLISTICS: The study of the effect the round has on the internal operation of the weapon. Includes everything that happens from the time you squeeze the trigger until the projectile exits the muzzle of the weapon

EXTERNAL BALLISTICS: The study of the flight of the projectile from the time it leaves the muzzle (or crown) until target impact.

TERMINAL BALLISTICS: The study of the projectiles effect on the target and what happens after, including everything that happens from the time the projectile impacts with target until it stops.

INTERNAL BALLISTICS

CARTRIDGE COMPONENTS

HEAD POWDER

SHOULDER

NECK
PRIMER CASE

BULLET

HOLLOW TIP, BOAT TAILED BULLET M852 MATCH AND M118 LONG RANGE
LEAD CORE HOLLOW TIP

BOAT TAIL

COPPER JACKET

BALLISTIC INFORMATION
M118 Special Ball M118 Long Range M852 National Match M80 Ball HPBT: FMJBT: FMJFB: 173 gr. FMJBT 175 gr. HPBT 168 gr. HPBT 147 gr. FMJFB

Hollow Point, Boat Tail Full Metal Jacket, Boat Tail Full Metal Jacket, Flat Base

BALLISTIC COEFFICIENT
A perfect bullet, or the Standard Bullet, would have a coefficient number of 1 M118SB has a coefficient of .446 M118LR has a coefficient of .505 MK211 MOD 0 has a coefficient of .647

BARREL HARMONICS
The vibrations of the barrel caused by the bullet being propelled down the lands and grooves of the bore and out the muzzle. Causes an undulating motion of the barrel within the stock or barrel whip. Free floated, thicker barrels are more consistent as long as nothing touches the barrel when fired.

VELOCITY DATA FOR 7.62MM (SB or LR)

RANGE (METERS) RETAINED VELOCITY (FEET PER SECOND) MIDRANGE TRAJECTORY (INCHES) 0.7 3 7.3 14 24 37.6 56.2 80.6 112.5 153.5 BULLET DROP IN 100METER INCREMENTS (MINUTES) NA 1.5 3 3.5 4 4.5 5 5 6 7 TIME OF FLIGHT (SECONDS)

100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1,000

2,407 2,233 2,066 1,904 1,750 1,603 1,466 1,339 1,222 1,118

0.1 0.2 0.4 0.5 0.7 0.9 1 1.3 1.5 1.8

EXTERNAL BALLISTICS

BALLISTICS TERMINOLOGY
Page 3-25 & 3-26, para 3-9

Line of Sight - an imaginary straight line between the eye, through the sights to the point at which you are aiming. Line of Departure - an imaginary straight line that represents the path the projectile would take from the muzzle if the velocity remained the same and there was no gravity present.

Trajectory - the actual path a projectile takes as it slows and gravity pulls it down.
Midrange Trajectory or Trajectory Apex - the most elevated point a projectile achieves in its trajectory. Bullet Drop - the distance a projectile drops below its line of departure at a given point. The distance can be computed fairly accurately, given all the variables involved.

BALLISTICS TERMINOLOGY
Page 3-25 & 3-26, para 3-9

Line of Sight / Point of Aim

BALLISTICS TERMINOLOGY
Page 3-25 & 3-26, para 3-9

BALLISTICS TERMINOLOGY
Page 3-25 & 3-26, para 3-9

Midrange Trajectory or Trajectory Apex

BALLISTICS TERMINOLOGY
Page 3-25 & 3-26, para 3-9

FACTORS THAT EFFECT TRAJECTORY

GRAVITY
DRAG TEMPERATURE HUMIDITY ALTITUDE WIND

GRAVITY
Page 3-26, para 3-10a

Applies a constant, downward pulling force on the projectile, eventually pulling it to the ground.
Since this factor is constant, it can be compensated for fairly accurately through the use of a Bullet Drop Compensator (BDC).

DRAG
Page 3-26, para 3-10b

Defined as: The atmospheric resistance to a projectile moving through the air. Changes with temperature, humidity, altitude and barometric pressure effect the density of the air. Thus creating varying amounts of drag on the projectile.

TEMPERATURE
Page 3-36, para 3-16

Changes the amount of drag on the projectile by changing the density of the air. Affects the elevation setting required to hit the center of the target. One MOA adjustment for every 20 degree Fahrenheit change.

HUMIDITY
Page 3-36, para 3-17

Changes the amount of drag on the projectile by changing the density of the air. Only adjusted for when there is over 70% change and at altitudes over 2500ft. High humidity air full of Hydrogen molecules Low humidity air full of Nitrogen molecules

Nitrogen molecules are more dense then

DRAG FACTORS
Temperature: Increase 20 degrees = Drop elevation 1 MOA Decrease 20 degrees = Raise elevation 1 MOA
Altitude: (Pg 3-26, Para 3-10a.(2) & Table 3-1) Increase in altitude = Drop elevation setting Decrease in altitude = Raise elevation setting For every 2500 ft change in altitude

WIND
Page 3-29, para 3-12

Wind is the atmospheric condition which has the greatest effect on ballistic trajectories. The amount of effect depends on: Time of Flight Wind Direction Wind Velocity Length of Wind Channel Will normally have the most effect on the projectile from the midrange point to the target.

WIND ESTIMATION
Page 3-32, para 3-13

0-3 mph - Felt lightly on the face 3-5 mph - Causes smoke to drift 5-8 mph - Keeps leaves in constant movement 8-12 mph - Raises dust and loose paper 12-15 mph - Causes small trees to sway

MIRAGE
Page 3-32, para 3-13d

The preferred method of wind estimation is the use of optics to observe mirage. Mirage is the reflection of light through layers of air that have different temperatures. These layers are blown by the wind and can be monitored to detect direction and speed.

MIRAGE
Focus optics on an object from 1/2 to 2/3 the distance to the target, then look back at the target, or

Focus optics on the target, then turn the focus knob counterclockwise until target appears a little fuzzy, but mirage should be clear
This will also aid the sniper in observing bullet trace

Wind from left to right

Wind from right to left

Wind - boiling

BULLET TRACE
Page 3-14, Note

Defined as: the visible wake of a supersonic projectile as it flies through the air. It is caused by a high pressure front of compressed air in front of the bullet and turbulence around the sides. It is very similar to and looks much like the wake of a boat. However, it is only visible for as long as it takes the bullet to reach the target and can only be seen with an optical devise with a high degree of magnification. The ability to see bullet trace is important because if impact is not seen, trace is what the observer will use as a basis for corrections to subsequent rounds.

MINUTE OF ANGLE
Page 3-33, para 3-14

Defined as: a proportional unit of measure equal to 1/60th of a degree. 1 minute of angle (MOA) is equal to approximately 1 inch for every 100 yards of range.

M3A and the PVS10 is graduated in 1 MOA increments for elevation and 1/2 MOA increments for windage.

TERMINAL BALLISTICS
The study of the actions of a projectile from the time it strikes the target until it comes to rest.
Useful in shot placement.

Know your target!

ELEVATION/WINDAGE Hold-off

What is hold-off?
Shifting the point-of-aim ( POA ) to achieve a desired point-of-impact ( POI ).
or Kentucky Windage

When to use hold-off?

Multiple targets at various ranges Rapidly changing winds Limited exposure of targets

MIL hold

MIL hold
1 MIL @ 100 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 = Inches 3 7 11 14 18 21 24 28 31 35

1 MIL = 3 MOA

MIL hold
Inches @Range 3 100 7 200 11 300 14 400 18 500 21 600 24 700 28 800 31 900 35 1000 MILs Trajecto ry - 3.5 + 12 -3 + 21 - 2.1 - 1.1 + 22.5 + 16 0 0 + 1.25 - 27 + 2.8 - 66 + 4.1 - 116 + 5.9 - 186 + 7.9 - 275

Windage hold-off
Reasons to use
aiming into varying winds wind estimation moving target leads rapid re-engagement

Windage hold-off contd.

Techniques used MIL hold most precise vertical line hold great for squared targets
line-of-white
lead/trail edge inside edge

point of reference hold fastest, usually

used when ranges are closer and during rapid re-engagement

Windage estimation
The sniper observes the point of impact and notes the lateral distance of his error and refires, holding off that distance in the opposite direction.

RANGE ESTIMATION
The process of determining the distance
between two points. In most situations, one of these points will be the observers position, while the other may be the target or a prominent feature. The ability to accurately determine range is the key skill needed by the sniper to accomplish his mission.

RANGE ESTIMATION METHODS

Map Estimation (paper strip) 100 Meter unit-of-measure Appearance-of-objects Bracketing Range Card Laser Range Finder Combination Method Mil-Relation formula

MAP ESTIMATION
Used by placing an edge of a strip of paper
adjacent to both points, then pencil in a tick

mark at both locations, and measure the

distance between them on the maps bar

scale.

100 METER UNIT-OF-MEASURE

Must visualize 100 Meters on the ground Accurate to 500 meters

Past 500 meters, use halving method

Requires constant practice

APPEARANCE OF OBJECTS
Determine range by the size and
characteristics of an object

Depends on visibility
Requires constant practice

APPEARANCE-OF-OBJECTS METHOD
200m--Clear in all detail, i.e. color of skin equipment, etc. 300m--Clear body outline, face color good, remaining detail blurred. 400m--Body outline clear, remaining detailed blurred. 500m--Body tapers, head becomes indistinct. 600m--Body now a wedge shape, no head apparent. 700m--Solid wedge shape of outline of body.

BRACKETING METHOD
Used when the sniper assumes the target is no less than X meters away, but no more than Y meters away. Then the sniper uses the averages of the two distances as the estimated range.

RANGE CARD METHOD

The sniper team can also use a range card to quickly determine ranges throughout the target area. Once the target is seen, the team determines where it is located on the range card, and then reads the proper range to the target.

LASER RANGE FINDERS

LRFs provide an extremely accurate and fast method of range estimating a target.
Requires extra equipment (i.e., extra batteries, tripod, etc.) You must not rely on this only.

LASER RANGE FINDER

AN-PVS 6 (MELIOS) Mini Eye-safe Laser Infrared Observation Set. MAGNIFICATION - 7x FIELD OF VIEW - 7 (degrees) WEIGHT - 6.5 lbs. ACCURACY - + or - 5 meters (from 50M9995M)

COMBINATION METHOD
Perfect conditions rarely exist in combat. Therefore, only one method of range estimation may not be enough. Terrain with a lot of dead space limits the accuracy of the 100-M method. Poor Visibility limits the appearance of object method. But by combining 2 or more methods a team can arrive at a range estimation that is close to the actual range. Do not limit yourself!!

MIL-RELATION FORMULA
Requires you to know the size of the target (in inches) (in x .0254 x 1000) = Constant or size in inches x 25.4 = constant Divide constant by Number of mils read Round answer to the nearest meter

Mil-Relation Formula
SIZE OF OBJECT IN INCHES X 25.4=CONST. EXAMPLE 67 inches X 25.4=1701.8 rounded=1702 (const) SIZE OF OBJ. IN INCHES X 25.4 SIZE OF OBJ. IN MILS =RANGE TO TARGET CONST 1702 divided by 2.5 Mils= 681M

M3A/PSV10 RETICLE
2.1 m 2.0 m
1.9 m 2.0 m 2.1 m 1.9 m 1.0 m 1.1 m .9 m 1.1 m

1.0 m
.9 m

M3A/PVS10 RETICLE

M22 BINO RETICLE

3

2
10 Mils

{
3 2 1

STEADY POSITION
While using the mil-relation formula, the key element is a steady position. Your position must be as steady as when you fire at a long-range target. If you are not steady, you cannot get an accurate mil reading.

RANGE ESTIMATION
Range can be determined by measuring or by estimating. Below are the three main factors that affect the appearance of objects when determining range by eye. Nature of the target Nature of the terrain Light conditions

NATURE OF THE TARGET

A target will appear closer if:
The object has a regular outline

An object contrasts with its background

NATURE OF THE TARGET

A target will appear more distant if:

The object has an irregular outline

An object blends with its background

The object is only partially exposed

NATURE OF THE TERRAIN

A target will appear closer:
When observing over smooth terrain When observing across a depression, when most of which is hidden from view When looking uphill When looking down a straight, open road, or along railroad tracks

NATURE OF THE TERRAIN

A target will appear farther:
If the observers eye follows the contours of the terrain When observing across a depression, all of which is visible When looking downhill.

When field of vision is narrowly confined

LIGHT CONDITIONS
The target will appear closer:
When a target can be clearly seen When a target is viewed in full sunlight When the sun is behind the viewer

LIGHT CONDITIONS
The target will appear farther:

When a target is viewed during limited visibility

When the sun is behind the target

SNIPER DATA BOOK (cheat sheet)

The sniper team should keep a sniper data book complete with measurements.
1) Vehicles: A) Height of road wheels B) Vehicle dimensions C) Length of main gun tubes on tanks D) Lengths/sizes of different weapon systems

Cheat Sheet (cont.)

2) Average height of human targets in A.O.

3) Urban Environment: A) Average size of doorways B) Average size of windows C) Average width of streets and lanes (avg.. width of a paved road in the U.S. is 10 feet) D) Height of soda machines

RANGE ESTIMATION
The majority of misses are due to an incorrect range estimation. To rectify this, constant practice and applications will ensure that you are proficient and give you the best chance to achieve One Shot, One Kill