Infantry Weapons

M24 sniper rifle

The M24 sniper rifle is the U.S. Army's Remington Model 700-based Sniper Weapon System, a 7.62x51mm NATO bolt-action rifle package built around a long-action receiver, day optic, bipod, and support accessories. In Afghanistan, Afghan National Army training records show M24 rifles being fired during 2017 operational-readiness sniper training at Camp Shorabak to support reconnaissance and long-range squad overwatch.

War in AfghanistanUnited States and Afghan government forces

Conflict side: United States and Afghan government forces
Built by: Remington Arms
Built in: United States

M24 sniper rifle, Bolt-action sniper rifle, Infantry Weapons

Image source: PEO M24 SWS Image

Profile

Type: Bolt-action sniper rifle
Conflict side: United States and Afghan government forces
Origin: United States
Service note: Adopted by the U.S. Army in 1988 and still present in Afghan security-force training during the later War in Afghanistan

NATO portable sniper riflebolt-actionprecision fires

Service History

In service: 1988-present in U.S. and partner-force service; many U.S. Army rifles were later converted into M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifles
Used by: United States Army, United States Air Force, Afghan National Army
Wars: War in Afghanistan

Production History

Designer: Remington Arms
Designed: 1980s; approved by the U.S. Army in 1988
Built by: Remington Arms
Built in: United States
Unit cost: Varies by contract and accessory package
Produced: 1988-mid 2010s
Number built: Not listed in the cited sources for the original M24 production run
Variants: M24, M24A2, M24A3, M24E1 / M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle conversion
Developed from: Remington Model 700
Developed into: M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle

Specifications

Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO in the common M24 configuration
Action: Bolt-action Remington 700 long-action receiver
Barrel length: 24 in / 610 mm
Effective range: 800 m officially documented for the 7.62mm NATO version
Feed system: 5-round internal magazine
Weight: About 16 lb with attachments; about 15 lb scoped and loaded in one evaluated configuration
Optic: Leupold fixed-power day optic in the original rifle package

Conflict Usage

War in Afghanistan: Side: United States and Afghan government forcesRole: Sniper overwatch and long-range precision fireprecision fires reconnaissance
Afghan National Army soldiers with 6th Kandak, 1st Brigade, 215th Corps fired M24 rifles during battle-sight-zero sniper training at Camp Shorabak in November 2017, with the training described as building intelligence-gathering and long-range firing capability for future combat missions in Helmand province.

M24 sniper rifle Images

M24 sniper rifle, Bolt-action sniper rifle, Infantry Weapons - view 1 — Source: PEO M24 SWS Image

M24 sniper rifle, Bolt-action sniper rifle, Infantry Weapons - view 2 — Source: PEO M24 SWS Image

M24 sniper rifle, Bolt-action sniper rifle, Infantry Weapons - view 3 — Source: Afghan National Army M24 Live-Fire Image

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Sources

The M24 Sniper Weapon SystemPublisher: Minot Air Force Base | Note: Supports M24 background and specifications, including Remington 700 lineage, 7.62x51mm NATO chambering, 24-inch barrel, approximate weight, 800-meter effective range, and M2010 conversion context. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 The Remington M24 Sniper Weapon SystemPublisher: American Rifleman | Note: Supports Remington Arms manufacturer background, U.S. Army adoption history, M24 package details, magazine capacity, barrel construction, stock features, and optic context. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 Afghan National Army Soldier Fires M24 at Camp ShorabakPublisher: PICRYL / Defense Visual Information Distribution Service | Note: Supports War in Afghanistan direct use: an M24 sniper rifle was fired by an Afghan National Army soldier during November 2017 sniper training at Camp Shorabak to support intelligence gathering and long-range firing capability for future combat missions in Helmand province. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 Afghans Learn Marksmanship from Scout SnipersPublisher: 1st Marine Division | Note: Supports broader Afghan National Army M24 training background in the War in Afghanistan, including overwatch use, squad support, and the 800-meter maximum effective range described by Marine instructors. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 PEO M24 SWS ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a public-domain U.S. Army PEO Soldier image of an M24 Sniper Weapon System. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 M24 SWS ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a public-domain U.S. Army image of the M24 Sniper Weapon System. | Accessed: 2026-06-22 Afghan National Army M24 Live-Fire ImagePublisher: Wikimedia Commons | Note: Supports image provenance for a public-domain U.S. Marine Corps image showing an Afghan National Army soldier sighting an M24 rifle during a live-fire range in Afghanistan. | Accessed: 2026-06-22