USSOCOM is seeking sources within the national technology and industrial base for a Commecial Off The Shelf convertible caliber rifle which will serve as the replacement for the Precision Sniper Rifle system.
They are interested in:
-complete system to include all 3 caliber conversion kits
-any tools needed to complete the conversion
-a light/sound suppressor that can be attached to the system when needed
ASR System specifics: The system must be adaptable to fire the 7.62mm NATO, .300NM, and .338NM cartridges. The system must have total system weight, less suppressor and with unloaded magazine, not to exceed 17lbs (T), 13lbs (O). Length with stock extended, less suppressor, not to exceed 50″(T), 40″(O), length for transport, by means of folding or collapsing shall be 40″ (T), 36″ (O). Accuracy shall be:
Configuration Precision
7.62 mm 1.0 MOA (ES) at 328 yards (300 meters) (T) 0.5 MOA at 328 yards (300 meters) (O)
.300 NM 1.0 MOA (ES) at 328 yards (300 meters) (T) 0.5 MOA at 328 yards (300 meters) (O)
.338 NM 2.5 MOA (ES) at 328 yards (300 meters) (T) 1.5 MOA at 328 yards (300 meters) (O)
For thise of you unfamiliar, T means Threshold or the miminum acceptable performance, while O means Objective which is where they’d really like to be. As they haven’t specified a specific cartridge, the accuracy specifications at this point are much more subjective. They desire full systems, including suppressor, but SOCOM is simply looking for potential solutions for this emerging requirement at this stage in the game. Eventually, they’ll either specify cartridges they plan to use or open it up the various offers as part of the solicitation. However, the caliber choices are very interesting. Not only are the Norma Magnum cartridges not standard military fare, consider a single chassis that will accept 7.62 NATO along with .300 NM and .338NM.
Offerers have until 24 April, 2017 to provide information to USSOCOM, which isn’t much time at all.
Visit www.fbo.gov for more information.
By the time it’s ready we’ll be using lasers to shoot each other.
So that means the Remington $79.7 million psr contract is done ? Guess that’s why the public can buy them for 20k.
Correct. They terminated Remington’s contract.
2.5 MOA at 300m?
Is that a typo?
Was wondering about that too.Seems strange that a lesser accuracy standard would be acceptable, unless they are tying it to ,say, MACHINEGUN AMMO? Or maybe looking at it as a light anti-material round.
I’ll go with your theory until something else comes along that makes more sense.
Since it’s .300 and .338 Norma instead of .300 WinMag and .338 Lapua, I think you may be on to something.
I am way out of my lane on this one(more so than usual anyway) but my guess would be that .300 norma might be what is sought as an anti personnel solution at extended distance while the .338 might be looked at for anti material with an eye toward a possible MG being fielded in the caliber as well.
Interesting coincidence. Maybe a companion weapon to this little project…
https://ssdaily.tempurl.host/2017/03/20/gd/
Makes the most sense if not a typo, one would think that just like M80 ball there would be an accurized version built for precision fire developed in time.
That is what I had in mind. Having carried a 50Cal on too many marches I have been following the development of that one as best as I can.
I don’t get it either….if an “advanced sniper rifle” can produce no better than do 2.5 MOA at 300 meters (9″ groups) then it doesn’t seem very advanced and surely ain’t much of a “sniper” rifle. Geesh…a decent rifleman can get 9″ groups or better with iron sights at that distance.
Makes no sense at all, unless I’m totally missing something or my math is completely out of wack here.
What were the shortcomings of the PSR that this ASR is looking to overcome?
Accuracy
Looks like this is custom built requirements for the Desert Tech SRS. (Which is UBER POPULAR with more than a couple HIGH SPEED units. It’s the best rifle I own……and the modularity is equal to that of the AR platform.
Finally, those “requirements” must be a typo….2.5MOA….sounds like a middle of the road AK?
.25 MOA maybe?
To anyone who’s very confused, see SSD’s links here from this time last year where USSOCOM first released requirements for the ASR (after the PSR didn’t pan out; SSD and other said accuracy), then selected the .300 Norma Mag.
https://ssdaily.tempurl.host/2016/04/21/the-follow-on-to-psr-is-asr/
https://ssdaily.tempurl.host/2016/06/01/ussocom-selects-300-norma-mag-for-asr/
It looks like these specs match the Barrett Mrad perfectly if they are looking for a modular bolt action in a conventional rifle layout.
MRAD
Caliber and Barrel Length:
.338 Norma
24” (61 cm)
.300 Norma
24” (61 cm)
.308 Winchester
17” (43 cm)
22” (56 cm)
Maximum Length:
26” Barrel – 49.4” (125.5 cm)
Weight:
Min 11.7 lbs (5.3 kg)
Max 13.10 lbs (5.94 kg)
Barrel Twist Rate:
.338 Norma – 1 in 9.4” (23 cm)
.300 Norma – 1 in 10” (25 cm)
.338 LM – 1 in 9.35” (24 cm)
.308 Win – 1 in 10” (25 cm)
It’s not a typo. The (T) designates the “threshold”. Meaning at a minimum, it needs to shoot 2.5 moa at 328 yards. (O) designates the “desired objective”, which is 1.5 moa at 328 yards. Every part of the rifle is graded with T’s and O’s. Another example would be a 5-round mag (T), and a 10-round mag (O).
But that comment makes it more confusing. Why would you want a rifle that purports to be an “advanced sniper rifle” capable of no better than a 9″ group at 328 yards? That’s nuts. Still strikes me as bizarre.
How does that comment mean “capable of no better”? Here’s what they’re saying to each rifle manufacturer: If your rifle doesnt shoot 2.5 moa or better at 328 yards(T), you automatically fail the solicitation. We would prefer that it shoots at least 1.5 moa at 328 yards (O). If it shoots better than that, it will be noted and you get bonus points so to speak. Accuracy is just one single component of the overall grade. There are a TON of factors that are graded.
There are a bunch of factors but this isn’t a modern little league team and there are no mulligans. Not everyone gets a trophy. If an offer or fails any of the Key Performance Parameters, they are out. Fill out the paperwork wrong? Out.
I see four COTS rifles that can meet these requirements:
DTA SRS or Covert, AI AXMC, Sako M10 and the Barrett MRAD. I think its safe to say that with Remington laying off a number of people and how the PSR turned out that they are likely out of the running.
I had heard rumor that Remington had switched from a bartlein barrel to something in house and SOCOM dinged them on accuracy when initial samples were received.
Any of the above rifles would work I just hope they select the best for the warfighter.