Intent of article
Inform, educate, and give confidence to the reader that a DMR is a much simpler, easy, and attainable weapon than they think. A lot of folks have a lot of misconceptions, ideas, and expectations compared to the DMR. This article is meant to dispel those and inform the reading what a DMR & DDMR is and isn’t.
What is the DMR mission and role?
The Designated Marksman Rifle or Designated Defensive Marksman Rifle is a multi-purpose rifle, to be applied across the entire battle space and reach ballistic superiority over the enemy and or attacker. My opinion: Every soldier should be trained with it, have it and use it, these should be a common infantry type weapon…not special! It is used in executive protection in certain circumstances, and areas to control areas and space around a static, and or temporary location where a client is occupying. Many have misimpressions of the rifle and its uses. Some believe the DMR rifle is used for precision accuracy and engagement of point targets at long distances. This is incorrect, and disingenuous on the part of some. Others think this is a battle rifle, used at short to medium distances, that is more correct but not fully descriptive of the platform. The current DMR / DDMR theory is that an “Omni rifle”; a multi-purpose semi-auto universal system, is to be used across the length and breadth of the battle space; it works to protect a squad, person, or you. You could deny the enemy terrain and or the ability to freely maneuver. The goal is to achieve ballistic superiority over the adversary, armed with general issue small arms. The farther we can accurately engage an enemy, the more time to evacuate, and or maneuver our forces and people. Distance is time, more time means better decision making and greater opportunity to inflict greater causalities on the enemy. This means more options for better courses of action; to close with and destroy the enemy or tactical retrograde. Time and distance give us choices, which can mean the difference between life and death. In this role you don’t have the latitude of setting up a semi-permanent, or permanent sniper position, generally all else being equal. If you were setting up these types of positions, you are far better off using a conventional bolt action sniper rifle. DMR positions are hasty, the use of tripods and extensive support specialized equipment is precluded. Most of the applications are medium range then occasional long-range engagements, in this order. We seek high rates of fire on target, the ability to fire repeated rounds, and see impact with higher capacity than a bolt action rifle will give us. Often it is used to protect an infantry squad and is integrated with the same. This rifle fills the distance between a service rifle and a dedicated sniper rifle, at around 300–600 meters (about 1968.5 ft). The goal is faster repeated rounds on multiple targets and dependent on operational requirements.
What is the general make up of a DMR Rifle?
This is the modern scout mountain rifle if you will. Many misinterpret the need for extremely expensive and fancy equipment. You can buy a reasonable scope and back it up with 5.56 / 223 AR type platforms and do very well. The top gun of our last DMR course in Finland was an AR-15, topped with a low powered scope. This shooter and his weapon outperformed all the bolt action shooter precision sniper systems on the line. I prefer a semi-auto 308 / 7.62 or 6.5 rifles with short barrel (16 – 14-inch barrels) for this application, but it is not a requirement. Keep in mind, we want to be able to put exacting fire down range, on a point target at 500m (about 1640.42 ft), 600m (about 1968.5 ft) is the preferable limit on a man size silhouette. Shooting past 600m (about 1968.5 ft) typically would engage area targets using a cone of fire and even farther a beaten zone to suppress an enemy. The 6.5 can push this out to 800M+ without a problem on a point target. Everything is dependent on the equipment, caliber, and cartridge of the weapon you are using. A semi-auto is not as inherently accurate as a bolt action rifle in relative terms i the hands of an average shooter. You will need a scope, a low powered variable optic (LPVO), and a second focal plane. A scope will not make you a better shooter; it will however improve your ability to see farther, and more clearly see threats while engaging them; paraphrasing Mr. Jeff Cooper.
“Most designated marksman rifles are based on modified designs of an assault rifle currently issued by a nation’s military, or on a battle rifle that was formerly issued. The ammunition used is often of the same caliber as that of the squad automatic weapons within the same combat unit, typically a fully powered cartridge such as the 7.62mm NATO. For example, battle rifles such as the M14, FN FAL, AR-10 and Heckler & Koch G3 were replaced during the 1980s and 1990s by modern assault rifles firing the 5.56mm NATO intermediate cartridge, but many were accurized and kept as DMRs. Conversely, some nations have also built rifles that were designed for the designated marksman from the ground up. Examples include the Soviet SVD and Chinese QBU-88.” (Wikipedia, 2020)
To be continued in part 2 / Article 2 will focus on the specifics of the rifle, the Scope and support equipment. I will also share some courses of fire specific to DMR.
About the author: Monte is an honorably retired US Peace officer (27 ½ years of service) and SWAT (HRT) member (22 ½ years), former US Marine, and US Army service (24 years of service). He served as a “Sniper detachment team leader” for a US Army Infantry battalion. While serving on his department’s SWAT team he was a “Sniper team leader,” later becoming the state of Ca. Master Instructor. This sniper program handles training all SWAT Sniper personnel (over 200 snipers state-wide). He took part in multiple combat, foreign & domestic, counter-narcotic missions, and US border operations; combat operations with US, Dutch and French 1st SAS Special Forces including the elite French “Commandos Hubert” and supporting US Army Special Forces. Further working as a contractor on High-risk protection teams with heads of state and clients throughout the world.