M25 Sniper Rifle
Encyclopedia
The M25 Sniper Weapon System is a joint venture sniper rifle
built for the U.S. Army Special Forces and the U.S. Navy SEALs
. It was originally developed by the 10th Special Forces Group, based at Fort Devens, Mass.
, to fulfill a challenge for a sniper rifle based on a match grade
M14
that satisfied the requirements of the Army Special Forces and the Navy SEALs. SOCOM
called the rifle the "Light Sniper Rifle", and it is also known as the "Sniper Security System" and "Product Improved M21". The commercial version has been named "White Feather" in honor of Carlos Hathcock
, the U.S. Marine Corps
sniper who became famous during the Vietnam War
. (The enemy called him "White Feather", because he wore a white feather on his hat, and offered a large bounty for his death or capture.)
The M25 is similar to the M21 in many regards; it has a National Match M14 glass bedded
barrel in a McMillan fiberglass
stock
, uses a special gas piston
, a National Match spring guide and a Brookfield Precision Tool Advanced Scope Mounting System. Most rifles use the Bausch & Lomb
10× Tactical scope; some use scopes made by Leupold & Stevens
, including the Ultra Mark 4 M1, Ultra Mark 4 M3, and Vari X-III LR M3. Suppressor
s for use with this rifle are manufactured by OPS.
The M25 is not a replacement rifle for the M24 Sniper Weapon System; it was designed to fill a specific need and has been used from the Gulf War
onwards.
Sniper rifle
In military and law enforcement terminology, a sniper rifle is a precision-rifle used to ensure more accurate placement of bullets at longer ranges than other small arms. A typical sniper rifle is built for optimal levels of accuracy, fitted with a telescopic sight and chambered for a military...
built for the U.S. Army Special Forces and the U.S. Navy SEALs
United States Navy SEALs
The United States Navy's Sea, Air and Land Teams, commonly known as Navy SEALs, are the U.S. Navy's principal special operations force and a part of the Naval Special Warfare Command as well as the maritime component of the United States Special Operations Command.The acronym is derived from their...
. It was originally developed by the 10th Special Forces Group, based at Fort Devens, Mass.
Fort Devens, Massachusetts
Devens, Massachusetts is an unincorporated village and census-designated place in the towns of Ayer and Shirley, in Middlesex County and Harvard in Worcester County in the U.S. state of Massachusetts. It is the successor to Fort Devens, a military post that operated from 1917 to 1996. The area...
, to fulfill a challenge for a sniper rifle based on a match grade
Match grade
Match grade frequently refers to firearm parts and ammunition that are suitable for a competitive match. Sometimes, it also refers to other devices and parts that are made with high precision in mind....
M14
M14 rifle
The M14 rifle, formally the United States Rifle, 7.62 mm, M14, is an American selective fire automatic rifle firing 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition. It was the standard issue U.S. rifle from 1959 to 1970. The M14 was used for U.S...
that satisfied the requirements of the Army Special Forces and the Navy SEALs. SOCOM
United States Special Operations Command
The United States Special Operations Command is the Unified Combatant Command charged with overseeing the various Special Operations Commands of the Army, Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps of the United States Armed Forces. The command is part of the Department of Defense...
called the rifle the "Light Sniper Rifle", and it is also known as the "Sniper Security System" and "Product Improved M21". The commercial version has been named "White Feather" in honor of Carlos Hathcock
Carlos Hathcock
Carlos Hathcock was a United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant sniper with a service record of 93 confirmed kills. Hathcock's record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the Marine Corps...
, the U.S. Marine Corps
United States Marine Corps
The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to deliver combined-arms task forces rapidly. It is one of seven uniformed services of the United States...
sniper who became famous during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. (The enemy called him "White Feather", because he wore a white feather on his hat, and offered a large bounty for his death or capture.)
The M25 is similar to the M21 in many regards; it has a National Match M14 glass bedded
Rifle bedding
Rifle bedding is the process of filling gaps between the action and the stock of a rifle with an epoxy based material. The bedding creates a stable and precise fit for the contact surfaces...
barrel in a McMillan fiberglass
Fiberglass
Glass fiber is a material consisting of numerous extremely fine fibers of glass.Glassmakers throughout history have experimented with glass fibers, but mass manufacture of glass fiber was only made possible with the invention of finer machine tooling...
stock
Stock (firearm)
A stock, also known as a buttstock or shoulder stock, is a part of a rifle or other firearm, to which the barrel and firing mechanism are attached, that is held against one's shoulder when firing the gun. Stocks are also found on crossbows though a crossbow stock is more properly referred to as a...
, uses a special gas piston
Gas-operated reloading
Gas-operation is a system of operation used to provide energy to operate autoloading firearms. In gas-operation, a portion of high pressure gas from the cartridge being fired is used to power a mechanism to extract the spent case and chamber a new cartridge. Energy from the gas is harnessed...
, a National Match spring guide and a Brookfield Precision Tool Advanced Scope Mounting System. Most rifles use the Bausch & Lomb
Bausch & Lomb
Bausch & Lomb, an American company based in Rochester, New York, is one of the world's leading suppliers of eye health products, such as contact lenses and lens care products today. In addition to this main activity, in recent years the area of medical technology has been developed...
10× Tactical scope; some use scopes made by Leupold & Stevens
Leupold & Stevens
Leupold & Stevens, Inc. is a manufacturer of telescopic sights, red dot sights, spotting scopes, and binoculars located in Beaverton, Oregon, United States...
, including the Ultra Mark 4 M1, Ultra Mark 4 M3, and Vari X-III LR M3. Suppressor
Suppressor
A suppressor, sound suppressor, sound moderator, or silencer, is a device attached to or part of the barrel of a firearm which reduces the amount of noise and flash generated by firing the weapon....
s for use with this rifle are manufactured by OPS.
The M25 is not a replacement rifle for the M24 Sniper Weapon System; it was designed to fill a specific need and has been used from the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
onwards.