As I have posted on previous threads, I have been shooting and hunting for several year but reccently have gotten addicted to military or tactical style firearms.  I have always had great interest in long range flat shooting smaller (varmint) calibers, and was wondering what is considered to be the "modern day" sniper caliber of choice? What is the biggest and flattest cartrige for anti personel?  I hear all the ranting and raving in the media about the .50BMG being a "deadly sniper rifle".    I currently own a Barrett M99 and consider it anything BUT flat shooting.  Also what rifles/ configurations are being used for theese calibers?  Ive seen mention of anything from a 700 Remington chambered in .300 win mag, to Armalite single shot .338 Lapua.

So lets hear it.......

Well, I may be corrected, but I think the Army uses the M24 (?) which is a modified Rem 700 in .308 and the Barrett M82 in .50.  Marines also use a .50, but I think it may be a McMillan?  Seems like the Brits use some sort of .338.  History Channel had a show on Brit snipers once I think.

Combloc sniper rifles were the Dragunov style 7.62x54R.  Don't know about now.

the british use the ai arctic warfare in .338 lapua but it is also made in .308win, .300win mag, and a couple other calibers of similar size and power.  if you want to take a look at all sorts of stuff they are using around the planet check here.

For antipersonnel use, the .338 is a top performer. For antimaterial use, the .50. The former is known to be a lot more accurate than the latter, especially since it is common for .50 caliber rifles to be fed de-linked ball ammo meant for the M2, some of it made for War 2....

Quoted: For antipersonnel use, the .338 is a top performer. For antimaterial use, the .50. The former is known to be a lot more accurate than the latter, especially since it is common for .50 caliber rifles to be fed de-linked ball ammo meant for the M2, some of it made for War 2....

When you say the .338, you need to add "Lapua" on the end of it.   There are several other .338s that are more widely known like the .338 Win mag and  .338 Rem Ultra mag.   The Lapua is not widely known in most gun circles.  

Sorry for the nitpicking, but someone not in the know, could get confused pretty quick.   Both of the "other" .338s are also fairly flat shooting rounds.

Very true. The Lapua is NATOs .338 and the first round expressly designed for military snipers.

Some nations use .300 WinMag, FWIW. I can't remember which...European ones though.

.416 Cheyenne

Quoted: .416 Cheyenne

Did you mean .408 Cheyenne Tactical or .416 barret?

For cost, speed, and availability it's hard to beat the the 300 Winny.  I believe you will find the most common to be .308 though.

Canada is now replacing the old Parker Hale C3s with

The PGW Timberwolf in .338 Lapua for anti-personnel:


and the McMillan Tac-50 for materiel:

Quoted: Canada is now replacing the old Parker Hale C3s with The PGW Timberwolf in .338 Lapua for anti-personnel: www.pgwdti.com/231f44c0.jpg and the McMillan Tac-50 for materiel: www.sfu.ca/casr/ctac-1a.jpg

Owwww! That shit has GOT to hurt!

Quoted: Quoted: .416 Cheyenne Did you mean .408 Cheyenne Tactical or .416 barret?

Yeah, my bad. I meant .408 CheyTac.
I haven't looked at the new Barrett.

Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: .416 Cheyenne Did you mean .408 Cheyenne Tactical or .416 barret? Yeah, my bad. I meant .408 CheyTac. I haven't looked at the new Barrett.

my friend dave is in love with the .408cheytac.  he finds it facinating.  he has no life.  it retains more energy at 1000m than the .50bmg.  and it has a rediculously high ballistic coefficient.