M24

The M24 Sniper Weapon System entered U.S. Army service as a purpose-built bolt-action sniper rifle rather than a modified service rifle. The operator's manual identifies it as a 7.62 mm bolt-action repeating rifle with an integrated optic, iron sights, bipod, and support equipment. Its adoption in 1988 marked a shift away from the semi-automatic M21 as the Army's standard sniper platform.

The M24's role was deliberate precision fire. Its bolt action, optical sighting equipment, and 7.62x51 mm NATO chambering made it suitable for trained marksmen engaging point targets at extended ranges. The platform sacrificed the faster follow-up shots of M14-derived rifles, but it gave sniper teams a more stable, purpose-configured system with consistent maintenance and training documentation.

The M24 served through the Gulf War era and later deployments, where precision rifles became increasingly important for overwatch and counter-sniper tasks. Its long action also made future caliber conversion concepts possible, even though issued rifles were chambered in 7.62 mm NATO. On the site, it should be read as a complete weapon system rather than just a rifle action.