Original M-24 SWS Spec?

[MAT4-82]

In the ELR thread on MK 248 MOD 1 ammo I made a statement refuting that the long action on the 24 was for utilization of the M72 .30cal Match cartridge. I did so sincerely as over many years in the military marksmanship community I had not heard this statement. Not at AMU, Bragg, or anywhere else. Today I read a post on another board supposedly quoting one of the officers involved with the project stating otherwise. Hard for me to believe because this should have happened around 1983 and Lake City quit making M72 around 1966 I believe. If anyone has a link to a copy of the ORIGINAL spec or something verifiable I'd appreciate it.
While it doesn't make sense to me I guess it is a possibility and I'd like to correct a long held belief if that is the case.
Thanks

 

[sinister]

Re: Original M-24 SWS Spec?

The M24 was initially to be a 7.62 with a .300 Winchester Magnum retrofit capability per the input from the Special Operations Target Interdiction Course (SOTIC, now Special Forces Sniper Course), US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.

The SF requirement was to defeat a certain type of target material. Infantry did NOT want a long action.

Major John Stanley was the Commander, and Master Sergeant (retired) Rick Boucher was one of the SF Instructor Cadre.

The SF Course was getting started in 1985. The Infantry School didn't have a course going until 1987 <span style="color: #FF0000"><span style="text-decoration: line-through">or 88</span></span>.

30-06 was a long dead memory in the standard Army ammo system.

 

[MAT4-82]

Re: Original M-24 SWS Spec?

Thanks that was my understanding but I was not directly involved with the project and was giving the benefit of the doubt. I am not doubting your input at all but if anyone has a link to an official document I would still like to have it for my records.

 

[sinister]

Re: Original M-24 SWS Spec?

http://snipercountry.com/Articles/A191a.asp

See page 5, para 2 documenting the Army JAG's (unclassified) 23 NOV 93 .300 Win Mag ruling on the DODIC A-191 (190-grain SMK bullet) cartridge itself (Navy concurred).

General Wayne Downing approved the Army Special Operations Command M24 Win Mag upgrade as the USSOCOM Commander.

Newest 300 Win Mag Match versions are Mark 248 (Mods 0 and 1, 220-grain SMKs). Note the regular "Leg" "General Purpose Forces" Army use SOCOM loadings -- there are no Army-specified .300 Win Mag cartridges.

The 1994 Army Small Caliber Ammunition Data Sheets http://www.kmike.com/Ammo/tm%2043-0001-27.pdf , page 5-21 show standard data for the M72 and lists it as "to be fired only in weapons designated as competition rifles."

 

[MAT4-82]

Re: Original M-24 SWS Spec?

Thanks Sinister,
Very much appreciated!