Tukka posted this on another thread:
[img]http://www.isayeret.com/weapons/matkal-wep-1.jpg[/img]

Israeli Sayeret Matkal Commandos weapons prior to a sortie in South Lebanon.  Note interesting combination of SR25 sniper rifles and SOCOM M249's as backup/observer weapons, team leader has CAR-15

Another picture from South Lebanon:
[img]http://www.isayeret.com/golany/golany-20.jpg[/img]

Observer here carries CAR or M4 with M203, sniper lying in foreground with SR-25.  I understand that this is a popular back up/observer weapon system with US operators.

Granted LEO's might have different ideas on this

Picture, finally, of the much rumored USN Mk11 Mod0 SWS based on the SR25 20" Match Rifle.
[img]http://www.isayeret.com/weapons/sr-25.jpg[/img]

For LEO's this would probably be the back up to a bolt action SWS, however. Liability demands 1/4moa accuracy, this only delivers 3/4 MOA- all that was asked of it by the Navy.

So, what is your choice for a observer weapon.

For the military:
A accurized service rifle, same as a designated marksman; carbine with grenade launcher; or SAW/LMG.

For LEO's:
Here the question is a little different, a semi-auto sniper weapon like the SR25 as backup, or .223 AR or carbine for your observer?
Or do LEO's really need their backup to carry a different weapon at all?  Perhaps they should all have SWS and just take turns shooting? Its not like they have to protect themsleves like military snipers.

Edited again because some people were having a hard time discerning that there were two questions here.

This is comparing apples and oranges. The military doesn't use the same combination for every situation they are flexible, and LEO's operate under a totally different set of rules. As well they should.

Total agreement!

That is why there are two questions in my post, one for military, the other for LEO.

Granted that my military duties mainly consist of managing aircraft maintenance; if I ever found myself in a sniper/observer situation, I'd want the observer to have a full-auto M4 with a Beta C-Mag.  The sniper would take care of the long range bad guys, while the observer would be equipped for dealing with the enemy's retribution and unanticipated close contact.[uzi]

How bout this:

[img]http://securityarms.com/20010315/pics/0800/848.jpg[/img]