Designated Marksman Rifle - Designated Marksman Rifles in Service By Nation

Designated Marksman Rifles in Service By Nation

• Australia
  • F88S Austeyr 5.56 NATO standard issue rifle, fitted with an enhanced optic is issued to one rifleman in each fireteam in the Australian Army.
  • AR-15 based
    • SR-25; 7.62mm NATO sniper rifle is often used to provide fire support.
    • HK417; 7.62mm NATO gas-piston battle rifle is in limited service.
  • Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle; 7.62mm NATO rifle is in limited service.
• Austria: The Steyr AUG HBAR-T, is a longer heavier-barreled version of the Steyr AUG designed for use as a designated marksman rifle that can be fitted with a variety of optical sights.
• Canada: The Canadian Forces issue the C7CT and C8CT designated marksman rifles, which are based on the C7 and C8 rifle.
• Chile: The FD-200 is a variant of the SIG 542 with an accurised barrel, sniper stock and bipod.
• France: The FAMAS G2 Sniper is a designated marksman rifle fielded by the French Army. It is based on the FAMAS G2.
• Germany
  • The German Army uses the G3A3ZF-DMR, a modified version of the Heckler & Koch G3 battle rifle, as a designated marksman rifle.
  • The Heckler & Koch HK417 is chambered for 7.62mm NATO and has been adopted by several nations for use as a designated marksman rifle.
• India
  • The SVD is the designated DMR for the Indian Army. Different variants of the INSAS family of weapons modified with scopes and other tactical upgrades are used as DMR's as well.
  • The IMI Tavor TAR-21 and the IMI Galil chambered for the 7.62 NATO round are issued to units of the Special Forces of India as a Designated Marksman Rifle.
• Iraq: The Tabuk is an adaptation of the RPK machine gun used as a designated marksman rifle by the Iraqi Army. It is chambered for 7.62x39mm
• Israel
  • The Israel Defense Forces formerly used the Galatz as a designated marksman rifle. The Galatz is a variant of the Galil assault rifle chambered for 7.62mm NATO.
  • The M4A1 is used as a marksman rifle, equipped with Harris bipod and Trijicon ACOG telescopic sights.
  • The STAR-21 Tavor is a variant of the Tavor assault rifle chambered used as a designated marksman rifle by the Israeli Defense Forces. It is fitted with a picatinny rail that allows for the attachment of various optical sights and a bipod.
• People's Republic of China: The QBU-88 is a designated marksman rifle intended for aimed semi-automatic fire at ranges beyond the capabilities of standard infantry assault rifles.
• Philippines: The Philippine Marine Scout Snipers developed and currently use the Marine Scout Sniper Rifle. It is a derivative of the M16 rifle.
• Portugal: The Portuguese Army uses the Heckler & Koch G3 as a marksman rifle.
• Romania: The PSL (rifle) is a purpose-built designated marksman rifle chambered for 7.62x54mmR based on a modified Kalashnikov action. It is similar in appearance to the SVD, though the two rifles share little in common.
• Soviet Union
  • The SVD was the first rifle designed from the outset as what is now known as a designated marksman rifle.
  • The Dragunov SVU is a bullpup variant of the SVD rifle
• United Kingdom
  • L129A1; a 7.62 NATO, 16" barrel variant of the Stoner rifle developed by Lewis Machine and Tool Company has been procured for use in Afghanistan. A 6x power ACOG is the standard issue sight.
  • The L86A2 LSW is chambered for 5.56mm NATO was originally fielded as a section LMG, but was later re-purposed as a designated marksman rifle.
• United States
  • The M14 rifle has formed the basis of several designated marksman rifles used by the United States Military:
    • Mk 14 Enhanced Battle Rifle: Used by the United States Army and Navy SEALs
    • M39 Enhanced Marksman Rifle: Used by the United States Marine Corps, replacing the United States Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle
    • M14 Designated Marksman Rifle: Used by the United States Marine Corps, being replaced by the M39 EMR
  • The M16 rifle has formed the basis of several designated marksman rifles used by the United States Military:
    • SDM-R: Used by the United States Army in limited numbers
    • SAM-R: Used by the United States Marine Corps. Replaced by the Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle
    • Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle: Used by the United States Navy SEALs, Rangers. Replacing the SAM-R in United States Marine Corps service.
    • SR-25: Used by the United States Marine Corps, United States Navy SEALs, and the United States Army.
    • Colt Model 655 and 656: Never standardized. Predecessor to other M16-based designated marksman rifles.
• Yugoslavia: The Zastava M76 is a designated marksman rifle based on a modified Kalashnikov action. It is chambered for 7.92 x 57 IS (8mm Mauser). It has also been chambered in 7.62×51 NATO and 7.62 × 54R.
• Federal Republic of Yugoslavia: The Zastava M91 is a purpose-built designated marksman rifle based on a modified Kalashnikov action and chambered for 7.62x54mmR.

• PSL (left) and SVD (right) rifles in Iraqi service.

• Marksman variant of the Israeli TAR-21 Tavor rifle in service with the Guatemalan Navy.

• U.S. Marine firing the M14 DMR

• Mk 12 Mod 1 Special Purpose Rifle.