M107 .

50 Caliber Long Range Sniper

Rifle (LRSR)
Gary's U.S. Infantry Weapons Reference
Guide

TECHNICAL DATA
M107
Semi-Automatic Long Range Sniper Rifle, Semi-Automatic Anti-
Alternative
Material Rifle, USMC Special Applications Scoped Rifle (SASR),
Designations
Heavy Sniper Rifle (HSR)
Country of Origin USA
Date Of
2002
Introduction
Caliber 0.50 in (12.7 mm)
Cartridge .50 Browning Machine Gun (12.7 x 99 mm)
System of Operation Short recoil
 Weight, Gun and
28.5 lb (12.9 kg)
Scope, Unloaded
Assembled: 57 in (1,448 mm)
Length
Takedown Mode: 38 in (965 mm)
Barrel Length 29 in (737 mm)
Barrel Rifling R.H., eight lands and grooves, pitch 1 in 15 inches (381 mm)
Safety Features Manual thumb-lever
Trigger Pull ?
10 rounds.
Magazine Capacity
The preferred load is 8 to 9 rounds.
10 rounds: 4.12 lb (1.87 kg)
Weight Magazine
8 rounds: 3.62 lb (1.64 kg)
Performance (with standard 660 grain bullet)
Muzzle Velocity 2,800 fps (853 mps)
Muzzle Energy 11,500 foot-pounds (15,582 J)
Maximum Range 7,450 yd (6,812 m)
Maximum Effective
2,000 yd (1,829 m)
Range
Sights
Front Sight Flip-up 0.075 in. (1.91 mm) post with a protective, anti-glare ring
Rear Sight Flip-up peep, adjustable for windage and elevation
Daylight Scope
Type Leupold 4.5x14 Vary X
Length 12.63 in (320.80 mm)
Reticle Mil dot
Lens 1.97 in (50 mm)
Elevation 1 click equals 1/4 MOA (Minutes of Angle) at 328 ft (100 meters)
Windage 1 click equals 1/4 MOA at 328 ft (100 meters)
Eye Relief 3 to 6 in (76 to 152 mm)
DESCRIPTION
The M107 Long Range Sniper Rifle (LRSR) is a .50 caliber rifle with attached
optics/electro-optics that supports all weather, day/night tactical dominance via rapid-fire
direct fire engagements with armor penetrating, incendiary, dual-purpose ammunition.
The M107 is based on the Marine Corps M82A3 Special Application Scoped Rifle.

Click for larger 1652x1048, 328K image.

The M107 provides a man-portable, materiel destruction capability to the sniper team
and/or supported force and complements the anti-personnel precision fire capability of
the M24 Sniper Weapon System (SWS). The M107, with a family of ammunition,
enables sniper teams to employ greater destructive force at greater ranges and at a higher
rate of fire that exceed the terminal effect capability of the M24 (7.62mm, bolt action)
SWS.

The primary mission of this rifle is to engage and defeat materiel targets at extended
ranges to include parked aircraft; command, control, communications, computers, and
intelligence (C4I) sites; radar sites; ammunition; petroleum, oil and lubricants; and
various other thin skinned (lightly armored) materiel targets out to 2000 meters.
The M107 will also be used in a counter sniper role taking advantage of the longer stand
off range and increased terminal effect when opposing snipers armed with smaller caliber
weapons out to 1000 meters.

The M107 is a semi-automatic, air-cooled, box magazine-fed rifle chambered for .50
caliber ammunition. This rifle operates by means of the short recoil principle, rather than
gas.

The basic M107 rifle is equipped with bipod, muzzle brake, carrying handle, and 10-
round removable magazine. The M107 system is composed of the rifle and a sniper
scope, plus six spare magazines. The rifle is also supplied with a fitted dirt-tight and
watertight carrying case, the requisite cleaning kit drag bag, cleaning equipment, and the
telescope adjustment tools.

The M107 will replace existing non-standard, M82A1, caliber .50 rifles in Explosive
Ordnance Detachments as detonation tools.
Daylight Scope
There are seven basic parts to the daylight scope: the object lens (front lens), the
elevation adjustment turret, the windage adjustment turret, the power selector ring, the
eyepiece lock ring, the eyepiece lens, and the parallax adjustment turret (left side).

Unless there is something wrong with the telescope, it will not be removed for normal
field stripping.

Iron Sights
The front and rear iron sights are primarily to be used for emergency back-up when the
optical sights are not available. They flip up for use if the telescope is not mounted.

Aiming is accomplished by aligning the target with the aperture of the rear sight and the
post of the front sight. The front sight post is protected from damage by the anti-glare
ring.

The rear sight aperture is raised and lowered to the desired elevation position using the
elevation knob. The windage knob is used to adjust for proper windage. A rear sight
elevation scale has been established that corresponds to the ballistics of the cartridge and
is adjustable to accommodate variations in environmental conditions that affect elevation.

Setting the position of the rear sight elevation scale is best done at a range of 500 meters
to give the optimum position for both ball and high explosive ammunition.

HISTORY
Contractor: Barrett Firearms Mfg.
Type Classification Date: TC STD 4Q FY 2002.

Prior to Type Classification, permission to procure the M107 Sniper Rifle was based on
Urgent Materiel Release approval for overseas operations.

M107 Procurement. FY 2005 Budget Estimate.

 FY 2001 FY 2002 FY 2003 FY 2004 FY 2005
Quantity 48 150 600 600 600
Gross Cost $500,000 $2,100,000 $9,000,000 $8,700,000 $8,900,000
Unit Cost $10,417 $14,000 $15,000 $14,500 $14,833

In support of Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) and Operation Enduring Freedom (OEF),
additional items are being procured as part of the Rapid Fielding Initiative (RFI). The
RFI provides new equipment (Laser Filter Units, Spotter Scopes and ancillary items) to
units deployed.

Approved for full materiel release to soldiers in the field in 2005.

OPERATION
The cycle of operation for the M107 Rifle is broken down into eight basic steps (more
than one step may occur at the same time).

1. Feeding: The force of the mainspring pushes the bolt forward toward the barrel
extension, stripping a cartridge from the magazine and loading it into the chamber
(by hand when first loading, by semiautomatic action afterwards).

2. Chambering: The bolt forces the round fully into the firing chamber, and the
extractor snaps over the case rim. Blockages (dirt or debris) can prevent full
chambering, as can dirty, bent, dented, or otherwise faulty ammunition.

3. Locking: During chambering the bolt enters the barrel extension, and the bolt
latch engages the bolt latch trip (inside top of the upper receiver, just behind
barrel extension). The bolt latch is then depressed, allowing the bolt to retract into
the bolt carrier. The bolt, in turn, rotates due to the cam slot and is locked when its
three locking lugs rotate into place in the barrel extension, closing the firing
chamber.

4. Firing: Pulling the trigger pivots it on the trigger housing pin and presses on the
transfer bar, causing the bar to rise. The transfer bar engages the sear (housed in
the bolt carrier), forcing it upward and out of engagement with the firing pin
extension. The firing pin extension, under spring power, forces the firing pin
forward to strike the primer of the cartridge.

5. Unlocking: When the cartridge is fired, gas pressure exerts a thrust on the bolt
face via the case head. The bolt carrier carries the bolt and barrel extension to the
rear until the accelerator, protruding beneath the bolt carrier, contacts a shoulder
in the trigger housing area. The accelerator is then pivoted up, causing the
 accelerator rod to be pushed out of the bolt carrier. As it protrudes from the front
of the bolt carrier, it separates the bolt carrier from the barrel extension. Because
of the cam slot in the side of the bolt, the bolt rotates as it is pulled and unlocks
from the barrel extension.

6. Cocking: As the bolt recoils to the rear, the cocking lever "rides" the transfer bar
back and down, causing it to disconnect from the trigger. The transfer bar is then
held down in this position by the disconnector and is not released until pressure is
released from the trigger. After disconnection, the cocking lever swings on its pin
and overrides the transfer bar. The other end of the cocking lever protrudes into
the bolt carrier and into the firing pin extension. As the cocking lever pivots, it
withdraws the firing pin and compresses the firing pin extension spring. The
firing pin extension then catches the sear.

7. Extraction: As the bolt locking lugs rotate away from the barrel extension, the
bolt withdraws from the barrel and the bolt latch locks the bolt in its extended
position. The extractor, located on the bolt face and hooked over the rim of the
fired case, pulls the case from the firing chamber.

8. Ejection: As soon as the fired case has been extracted and has cleared the rear of
the barrel extension, it is expelled from the rifle by the spring-powered ejector.

WARNING: The bolt does NOT automatically remain to the rear when the rifle or
magazine is empty.

VARIANTS
XM107
M107 (NSN 1005-01-469-2133)
2002. Standard production model. See data above.

AMMUNITION
The magazine has a ten round capacity. The preferred load is 8 to 9 rounds. Load no
more than 9 rounds or damage will occur.
 • MK211 Mod 0, Caliber .50 API Cartridge
• M33, Caliber .50 Ball Cartridge
• M17, Caliber .50 Tracer Cartridge
• M8, Caliber .50 API Cartridge
• M20, Caliber .50 APIT Cartridge
• M1A1, Caliber .50 Blank Cartridge

Click here for more information on .50 caliber ammunition.

Use of unauthorized ammunition in the M107 Sniper Rifle can cause personal injury or
damage to rifle.

The .50 caliber saboted light armor penetrator (SLAP) round is specifically prohibited
from being fired in the M107. Forcing it to chamber and fire may cause serious injury to
personnel and damage to the rifle.

Ammunition that predates 1965 should not be fired through this weapon.

FIRING
This weapon generates harmful levels of noise when firing! Hearing protection must be
worn when firing this weapon.

If the scope is mounted too far to the rear, the eyepiece can injure the shooter's brow.
Shooting at an uphill angle also increases this hazard.

With the M107 rifle, there is some danger in standing to the side of the muzzle due to
blow-by of hot, expanding gasses from the muzzle brake.

This rifle must not be fired without the muzzle brake firmly in place on the barrel because
the action can thus be overstressed, and critical parts breakage can occur.

Because the rifle is recoil-operated, the shooter must be positioned squarely behind the
weapon, with the recoil pad firmly against the shoulder. Anything less may result in
injury, discomfort, or failure of the action to cycle correctly.

The rifle will fire one round for each squeeze of the trigger until the magazine and
chamber are empty. Remember that the bolt does NOT automatically remain to the rear
when the rifle or magazine is empty.

The rear and front iron sights are primarily to be used for emergency back-up when the
optical sights are not available. They flip up for use if the telescope is not mounted.

More M107 Art - Click on image sample to see full size

image.

1024x509, 29K, GIF

1024x455, 26K, GIF

1024x1000, 41K, GIF

M107 Photos - Click on image sample to see full size

image.

M107
U.S. Army PEO Soldier Photo
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M107
U.S. Army PEO Soldier Photo
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M107
U.S. Army PEO Soldier Photo
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M107 with AN/PAS-13 Thermal Weapon Sight (TWS)

U.S. Army PEO Soldier Photo
1024x681, 254K, JPEG

M107 with AN/PVS-10 Sniper Night Sight (SNS)

U.S. Army PEO Soldier Photo
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M107 with AN/PVS-10 SNS

U.S. Army PEO Soldier Photo
1024x500, 78K, JPEG

M107 with AN/PVS-10 SNS

U.S. Army PEO Soldier Photo
1024x400, 55K, JPEG

Last updated: 10-MAY-2006: Added M107 photos.

Copyright ©2004-2008 Gary W. Cooke
To the best of my knowledge all military data and images presented in these pages are
UNCLASSIFIED, NON-SENSITIVE, and approved for public release.
Sources:
FM 7-10 The Infantry Rifle Company.
TM 9-1005-239-10 M107 Operator's Manual.
TM 9-1005-239-23&P M107 Technical Manual.
FY 2005 Army WEAPONS AND TRACKED COMBAT VEHICLES Budget Estimate.
PS Magazine: April 2006.
U.S. Army PEO Soldier website.