M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle

The M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle (ESR), formerly known as the XM2010 and M24 Reconfigured Sniper Weapon System, is a sniper rifle developed by PEO Soldier for the United States Army.^[3] It is derived from the M24 Sniper Weapon System and replaced the existing M24s. After winning a competitive bidding process, Remington was awarded the production contract for up to 3,600 weapons. The Army had anticipated fielding upgraded weapons to deployed U.S. Army Snipers near the end of December 2010,^[4][5] but later expected fielding would happen in January 2011.^[2]

The M2010 system differs from the prior M24 Sniper Weapon System in that it fires .300 Winchester Magnum ammunition to provide approximately 50 percent additional effective range relative to the M24's 7.62×51mm NATO. This chambering to dimensionally larger cartridges is possible because the M24 Sniper Weapon System was designed to use the "long action" bolt version of the Remington 700 receiver for cartridges up to 3.34 inches (84.84 mm) in overall length.

The U.S. Army developed the system so that the additional effective range would help snipers in engagements in mountainous and desert terrain in which the War in Afghanistan was being fought.^[6] The general penalties for using bigger, more powerful magnum rifle ammunition compared to smaller, standard rifle cartridges are increases in recoil, jump, flash, weight, and barrel wear.

Design

AN/PVS-29 Clip-on Sniper Night Sight

The M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle differs from 7.62×51mm NATO chambered M24 Sniper Weapon System in that M2010 sniper weapons are:^[7][8]

• Chambered to .300 Winchester Magnum.
• Barreled to a 24 in (610 mm) long, 1 in 10 inch (254 mm) twist rate (using Obermeyer 5-R rifling) hammer-forged free floating barrel.
• Fitted with a new chassis (stock) assembly that maximizes the amount of physical adjustments for the sniper to provide a better user customized fit. The chassis has a right folding buttstock that shortens the system for easier transport and better concealment during movement and accommodates the mounting of accessories via removable Mil Std 1913 Picatinny Rails and accessory cables via routing channels.
• Fitted with a five-round detachable box magazine.
• Fitted with a quick-attachable/detachable Advanced Armament Corporation sound suppressor with muzzle brake to reduce recoil and jump and audible and visible signature with an available thermal sleeve that reduces mirage effect on heated suppressors.^[9] The 10 in (254 mm) Titan-QD Fast-Attach suppressor eliminates 98 percent of muzzle flash, 60 percent of recoil, and reduces sound by 32 decibels.^[10]
• Fitted with a Leupold Mark 4 6.5–20×50mm ER/T M5A2 Front Focal variable power telescopic sight featuring a 34 mm tube diameter, first focal plane Horus Vision H-58 grid system range estimation reticle and Bullet Drop Compensation,^[11][12] fielded with the AN/PVS-29 or AN/PVS-30 Clip-on Sniper Night Sight.^[13][14]
• The application of advanced corrosion resistant coatings throughout the system.

According to Remington Arms each rifle is tested to meet (and typically exceeds) the requirement to fire ≤ 1 MOA/0.28 mrad (less than a 2-inch shot group at 200 yards) before being released for fielding.^[15]

Ammunition

U.S. Army project manager for new weapons Colonel Douglas Tamilio with XM2010 in 2010

In 2009 the U.S. government purchased MK 248 MOD 1 .300 Winchester Magnum match-grade ammunition for use in .300 Winchester Magnum sniper rifles like the U.S. Navy Mk13 SWS or reconfigured M24 SWSs. This ammunition was developed as a .300 Winchester Magnum Match Product Improvement (PIP) and uses the 14.26 g (220 gr) Sierra MatchKing Hollow Point Boat Tail (HPBT) very-low-drag bullet fired at a nominal muzzle velocity of 869 m/s (2,850 ft/s) ± 15.2 m/s (50 ft/s). According to the U.S. Navy this ammunition should increase the maximum effective range of .300 Winchester Magnum sniper rifle systems to 1,370 m (1,500 yd), decrease wind deflection on bullets in flight and use a reduced muzzle flash propellant that remains temperature stable across an operational temperature range of -32 °C to 74 °C (-25 °F to 165 °F).^[16][17][18] According to JBM Ballistics,^[19] using the G7 ballistic coefficient provided by Bryan Litz, and a Weapon Employment Zone (WEZ) analysis of the XM2010 rifle with various .300 Winchester Magnum ammunition types by Bryan Litz, the MK 248 MOD 1 .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge, when fired at its nominal muzzle velocity of 869 m/s (2,850 ft/s), should have 1,286 to 1,289 m (1,406 to 1,410 yd) supersonic range under International Standard Atmosphere conditions at sea level (air density ρ = 1.225 kg/m³).^[20]

In January 2014, the U.S. Department of Defense annual testing report found that the older A191 or MK 248 Mod 0 .300 Winchester Magnum service round loaded with aerodynamically less efficient 190 gr (12.32 g) Sierra MatchKing Hollow Point Boat Tail (HPBT) bullets fired from the XM2010 demonstrated adequate performance and lethality. Live fire tests were conducted in March 2013 against ballistics gelatin, light material barriers, and other targets to determine the projectile’s ability to perforate targets. This was the first time the Pentagon’s Director, Operational Test and Evaluation (DOT&E) tested the round, which can hit targets out to 1,200 m (1,312 yd).^[21]

History

The U.S. Army issued three XM2010s to snipers at the United States Army Sniper School on 18 January 2011^[22] and began using the rifle in combat in Afghanistan in March 2011.^[6][8] The XM2010's .300 Win Mag round extends the engagement range over the M24 from 800 meters to 1,200 meters, enhancing lethality and standoff. The Barrett M107 .50 caliber rifle can hit targets past 2,000 meters, but it is accurate to 2.5 MOA, meaning it would hit within a 25 in (640 mm) area at 1,000 meters. This was acceptable for material targets, but not individual personnel. The XM2010 addressed the problem and gave increased range over the M24 but maintained 1 MOA accuracy. Remington had been awarded a $28 million on 20 September 2010 to rebuild 3,600 M24 rifles, but only 250 had been ordered to be changed by the time the first XM2010s were fielded. Due to the success of the XM2010, Army officials considered a "pure fleet," meaning all 2,500 Army M24s would be upgraded to XM2010 standard.^[10][23] Snipers in the field learned how to transition to the XM2010 and learn its use, maintenance, and capabilities during a three-day course. After the course, snipers had no difficulty hitting targets out to 1,000 meters from "ridgetop to ridgetop." In addition to the more powerful cartridge, the new optic enhances the rifle's ability to sight a target quickly without needing to do calculations of range estimation. All 250 XM2010 rifles were to be fielded in 8 Brigade Combat Teams by mid-May 2011.^[24]

Based on the results and feedback from troops, the U.S. Army decided in May 2011 to replace its entire fleet of M24s, ordering a total of 2,558 M2010 rifles. By September 2012, the Army had fielded more than 1,400 systems as part of an urgent material release. The M2010 achieved Type Classification-Standard in July 2013 and Full Materiel Release in September 2013, supporting procurement for the balance of the Army requirement. On 25 April 2014, the 2,558th M2010 rifle was completed.^[8][25][26]

Precision guided firearm testing

In March 2014, the company TrackingPoint revealed their smart scope was being integrated onto the M2010 sniper rifle. The Army purchased six systems in January 2014 for testing and the networked scope and guided trigger had been added to the platform. The TrackingPoint system includes a computerized scope that marks a selected target, gathers and compensates for external factors, and uses a special trigger that does not pull until the system is sure the bullet will land where intended. TrackingPoint costs between $22,000 and $27,000 to be installed on a bolt-action rifle to achieve hits out to 1,250 yd (1,143 m), though it is not intended to replace sniping skills but be used by soldiers who need to take shots at longer sniping ranges.^[27]

Civilian usage

In March 2015 Remington Defense announced that they will start offering some of their products for sale on the civilian market. One of those products is the M2010 sniper rifle.^[28]

Users

•  United States: United States Army.^[4]

Gallery

• 
  Right view of the M2010.
• 
  Left view of the M2010.
• 
  Right front view of the M2010.
• 
  Right back view of the M2010.
• 
  Rifle with case and maintenance kit.
• 
  In US Army service in Afghanistan, February 2012.

See also

• Modular Sniper Rifle - Remington

References

1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Remington XM2010". Remington Defense. Retrieved 25 December 2012. 
2. 1 2 Upgrade kits for M4 come in 2011 - Army.mil, 15 October 2010
3. ↑ "XM2010". Retrieved 10 December 2010. 
4. 1 2 PEO Soldier (1 October 2010). "Army awards contract for upgraded sniper weapon system". Retrieved 3 October 2010. 
5. ↑ Fuller, BG Peter N.; COL Douglas A. Tamilio (18 May 2010). "Project Manager Soldier Weapons Briefing for NDIA" (PDF). PEO Soldier. United States Army. Retrieved 28 October 2010.  Cite uses deprecated parameter |coauthors= (help)
6. 1 2 "New rifles give Army snipers in Afghanistan needed range - USATODAY.com". Retrieved 25 December 2014. 
7. ↑ "Remington Wins M24E1 Army Sniper Rifle Contract « Daily Bulletin". Retrieved 25 December 2014. 
8. 1 2 3 Sniper's Spring XM2010s Unleashed in Afghanistan by PEO Soldier, “Infantry Bugler” magazine, September 2011
9. ↑ Advanced Armament Corp. 240-SD Fast-Attach 7.62mm Silencer
10. 1 2 Army's XM2010 sniper rifle gets full fielding - Armytimes.com, 25 April 2011
11. ↑ "New 34mm-tube Mark 4 Scope with Horus Reticle for M24E1 « Daily Bulletin". Retrieved 25 December 2014. 
12. ↑ "Leupold Optics Mark 4 ER/T 6.5-20×50mm (30mm) M5 Front Focal -". Leupold Optics. Retrieved 25 December 2014. 
13. ↑ "Clip-on Sniper Night Sight (Clip-on SNS), AN/PVS-29". PEO SOLDIER LIVE. Retrieved 25 December 2014. 
14. ↑ "Equipment Piece of the Week: Clip-on Sniper Night Sight (Clip-on SNS), AN/PVS-30". PEO SOLDIER LIVE. Retrieved 25 December 2014. 
15. ↑ XM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle / M2010 ESR (USA)
16. ↑ Detail Specification Cartridge, .300 Winchester Magnum Match, MK 248 MOD 1 DODIC AB43, NSN 1305-01-568-7504 Revision A 17 March 2009.
17. ↑ U.S. Navy Small Arms Ammunition Advancements.
18. ↑ $49.9M US Contract for 300 Winchester Magnum Ammo.
19. ↑ JBM Ballistics freeware online ballistic calculator.
20. ↑ Weapon Employment Zone (WEZ) Analysis of the XM-2010 Rifle With Various Ammunition Types by Bryan Litz, Applied Ballistics LLC
21. ↑ Pentagon’s Top Tester Gives Sniper Round Passing Grade - Kitup.Military.com, 31 January 2014
22. ↑ Dan Lamothe (17 January 2011). "Corps fielding new semi-automatic sniper rifle". Retrieved 23 March 2011. 
23. ↑ Army Leaning Toward XM2010 for All - Kitup.Military.com, 15 April 2011
24. ↑ XM2010 ‘Nailing Fellows’ in Afghanistan - Kitup.Military.com, 28 April 2011
25. ↑ Remington Completes Its M2010 Contract - tactical-life.com, 14 May 2014
26. ↑ Snipers Put Finishing Touches on the Last Sniper Rifle - peosoldier.armylive.dodlive.mil, 9 May 2014
27. ↑ Army Testing Smart Scope on .300 Win Mag Sniper Rifle - Kitup.Military.com, 14 March 2014]
28. ↑ News Remington Defense Offers Products to Civilians by Mel Ewing, 21 March 2015.

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to XM2010.

• M24E1 is Now the XM2010
• For Immediate Release: Army Awards Contract for Upgraded M24 Sniper Weapon System
• M24E1 Enhanced Sniper Rifle (ESR)
• Equipment Piece of the Week: XM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle (ESR)

Remington Firearms and Cartridges
Rifles	Bolt-action JuniorTarget 521TL Remington-Keene rifle M1903 Springfield rifle Pattern 1914 Enfield M1917 Enfield Model 5 Model 6 Model 7 Model 30 Model 34 M40 Model 341 Model 504 Model 511 Model 512 Model 513 Model 521 Model 580 Model 581 Model 582 Model 600 Model 660 Model 673 Model 700 Model 710 Model 720 Model 721 Model 722 Model 725 Model 770 Model 788 Model 798 Model 799 M24 Sniper Weapon System M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle Modular Sniper Rifle Pump-action Model Six Model 14 Model 121 Model 141 Model 572 Model 572 Fieldmaster Model 760 Model 7600 Model 7615 Semi-automatic Nylon 66 Model Four Model 8 Model 24 Model 241 Model 522 Model 552 Model 597 Model 740 Model 742 Model 7400 Model 750 R5 Remington Gas System Model R-15 Model R-25 RSASS Automatic Adaptive Combat Rifle Single shot Rolling Block
Shotguns	Pump-action Model 10 and 29 Model 17 Model 31 Model 870 Model 887 Semi-automatic Model 11 Model 11-48 Model 58 Model 878 Model 1100 Model 11-87 Model SP-10 SPR 453 Break-action SPR 100 SPR 310
Handguns	Semi-automatic 1911 R1 Model 51 R51 RM380 Revolver Model 1858 Model 1875 Model 1890 Derringer Model 95 Rider Single Shot Pistol Zig-Zag Derringer Other XP-100
Cartridges	.17 Remington Fireball .17 Remington 5mm Remington Magnum Rimfire .22 BR .22 Remington Jet .221 Remington Fireball .222 Remington .222 Remington Magnum .223 Remington .22-250 Remington 6mm BR 6mm Remington .25 Remington .257 Roberts .25-06 Remington .260 Remington 6.5mm Remington Magnum 7mm BR Remington 7mm-08 Remington .280 Remington 7mm Remington Magnum 7mm Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum .30 Remington .30 Remington AR .300 Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum .300 Remington Ultra Magnum .32 Remington 8mm Remington Magnum .338 Remington Ultra Magnum 7 mm Remington Ultra Magnum .35 Remington .35 Whelen .350 Remington Magnum .375 Remington Ultra Magnum .416 Remington Magnum .44 Remington Magnum