The Remington M24 Sniper Weapon System (SWS), which entered service with the US Army in 1988, recently received an initial review on rifleshooter.com, offering a seasoned shooter's perspective on this iconic rifle. Unlike the Marine Corps M40 series, which are hand-built, the M24 was mass-produced by Remington, establishing itself as a foundational precision platform.
Built around a Remington 700 long action, the M24 was chambered in 7.62 NATO (effectively .308 Winchester). This choice of a long action, despite the short action cartridge, was a forward-thinking design decision, allowing for future upgrades to larger cartridges like the .300 Winchester Magnum. The rifle features a 24-inch stainless steel barrel with a 1:11.25-inch twist, sharing an identical profile with the M40A3/A5/A6, though the M40 series utilized 25-inch barrels.
Initially, the M24 was issued with a fixed 10X Leupold scope and a unique backup iron sight system. These sights, now considered collector's items, were mounted via blind screw holes on the barrel's muzzle end and receiver. Feeding from an internal box magazine with a hinged floor plate, the M24 barreled action is bedded into a Kevlar/Fiberglass HS Precision stock. This stock, which incorporates an aluminum bedding block and an adjustable butt plate, was noted as being similar to many varmint stocks available at the time of its design. While later McMillan A2/3/5 series stocks became widely regarded as superior ergonomically, the M24's issued stock was deemed "good enough for most shooters in most applications."
The author, after years of admiring the platform, acquired a used M24 described as "a little rough," with an unknown round count and multiple prior paint jobs, suggesting a history akin to a service rifle. Taking the M24 to the range on a cold, wet autumn day, the reviewer noted the rifle's "elegance of simplicity." A heavy, "a little over five pounds," trigger pull was observed during dry firing.
During the range session, using factory Federal Gold Medal 175-grain ammunition, the M24 produced a five-round group measuring .725 MOA at 100 yards. The rifle's zero was found to be consistent with the previous owner's data. Notably, a "cold bore" shot registered low, though the author typically doesn't credit cold bore impact shifts; punching the barrel prior to shooting was considered a possible contributing factor. The remaining four rounds clustered impressively under .5 MOA.
Reflecting on the shooting experience, the author highlighted the significant perceived recoil for a .308, attributing it to the thin rubber butt plate and underscoring the advancements in modern firearms design. The M24 provided a stark contrast between late-80s precision rifle technology—with its fixed 10X optic, internal magazine, and straightforward stock—and today's sophisticated chassis systems, higher magnification scopes, and night vision integration. The review concluded with an appreciation for the M24's legacy and its pivotal role in the evolution of precision shooting.
Upgrading the M24 can present challenges due to its long action requiring specialized parts, unlike the more common short-action Remington 700 components. However, the deep pockets of military users, including the US Army and foreign forces, have historically driven innovation, leading to various modernization programs, such as the IDF's upgrade utilizing an MDT Chassis, which the author intends to explore in future posts. The author expressed an overall liking for the M24.
