SOCOM shopping for Extreme Long Range Sniper Rifle

General General Discussion
1

Wonder how many bidders they’ll get?

"The ELR-SR shall be a modular, magazine-fed, multi-caliber capable system which will include barrel configurations with required bolts and barrels of each caliber, required magazines of each caliber, stock, receiver, sound suppressor, ballistic computer, operator manual, cleaning kit, tool kit, bipod, and Transportation Safety Administration (TSA) approved locking hard carrying case.

The primary caliber of the system shall be sub-sonic and supersonic capable. If the primary system caliber is not a current DOD-approved munition, system it shall be capable of transitioning to a current .300 Norma Magnum DOD-approved munition with a quick- change kit (T). The quick-change kit shall be able to switch calibers within 5 minutes.

The ELR-SR shall have an overall length of no more than 56 inches, no more than 50 inches, less suppressor and the length of pull set to 14.5 inches.

The ELR-SR shall weigh no more than 22 lbs. with barrel, empty magazine, no more than 18 lbs.

Shall have continuous timed and biased MIL-STD-1913 rails, with numbered slots, at the 12 o’clock position with a minimum length of 24 inches and a 10 (+/- 1) MIL forward-sloping cant from back to front.

Shall provide M-LOK® attachment points at the 3, 6 and 9 o’clock positions with ARCA lock rail with attachment at the 6 o’clock position.
The ELR-SR shall be manual (bolt action gun) in operation.

The ELR-SR, with muzzle device attached, will have a peak free recoil impulse of no more than 25 ft-lbs. The objective is to minimize the effects of recoil on a shooter as much as possible.

The ELR-SR barrel shall be capable of removal and replacement at the operator level Modular changes, including barrel changes, shall be accomplished within 5 minutes and with common tools, in such a way as to meet headspace requirements for each caliber.

The ELR-SR system shall have a single, precision fire, high decibel reduction sound suppressor that will reduce audible signatures for all calibers to no more than 140dB. The sound suppressor should add no more than 8.5 inches in length to the system and should have recoil reducing capabilities. Sound suppressor shall be removable without specialty tools.

The ELR-SR in either configuration shall have a barrel life of 1200 rounds (T), 1500 rounds (O). Barrel will be considered shot out when incapable of maintaining within 1% over system baseline of Ballistic Coefficient Standard Deviation.

b) The ELR-SR shall not require cleaning at an interval less than 100 rounds to maintain precision and Ballistic Coefficient Standard Deviation of the weapon system as described in Table I (T), less than 200 rounds (O)."

https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2024/01/02/ussocom-elr-sr-solicitation/

2

Seems like Barrett is ready to go:
https://barrett.net/2023/12/01/barrett-introduces-new-mradelr-rifle/

3

I thought they already had this with the Barrett MK22? Are those not working out?

https://barrett.net/products/firearms/mrad-mk22/

4

Maybe the Barrett doesn’t fit the “Extreme Long Range” requirement? This new rifle “will have a precision fire capability of 2500m”.

5

Hence, the new rifle I just linked from Barrett. Obviously, Barrett was well-aware this was in the pipes. https://barrett.net/2023/12/01/barrett-introduces-new-mradelr-rifle/

6

Sounds like another Sig contract is set! :sarcastic:

7

Yup! Cohen has his mouthwash packed and is ready to head to Washington.

My only hope is that they finish at least some part of it in Rainbow Titanium. Sig has been straying too far from their roots lately. Time to get back to what makes a Sig a Sig…

8

After selling over 140,000 SIG 716’s to India they probably feel confident.

9

Ah, I see they are upping the caliber to .416 Barrett, so this will be a .416/.300 Norma Magnum switch barrel.

The primary caliber of the system shall be sub-sonic and supersonic capable. If the primary system caliber is not a current DOD-approved munition, system it shall be capable of transitioning to a current .300 Norma Magnum DOD-approved munition with a quick- change kit (T). The quick-change kit shall be able to switch calibers within 5 minutes.

10

They should have just announced that Sig was being awarded the contract and figgered out the deets later!

11

I don’t think SIG has a chance, SOCOM will buy what they want like they did with the MK22 and I would wager they already know what that is. This is not a solicitation for bids, just a cya “hey we gave everyone a chance, just so happens what we wanted is the winner”.

“This Sources Sought Notice will be used for Market Research purposes. This is not a solicitation for quotes/proposals. This is not to be construed as a commitment by the Government. The Government only commits to efforts via a written contract or agreement. As the Contracting Officer, I am the main POC for this subject. If you have any questions, comments or concerns, please direct all inquiries to me Marvin Marcia at marvin.marcia@socom.mil . I will ensure responses are provided to all submissions and/or inquiries within a reasonable amount of time.”

12

“The ELR-SR shall be manual (bolt action gun) in operation.” Any semiautos on the market that could potentially check all the boxes?

13

The MK22 selection was a truly competitive acquisition process. The Barrett won because it was the best performer.

14

Thanks, I didn’t know that.

15

This is just a sources sought. It isn’t a solicitation. These are just an opportunity for people to submit info on what they already make or to say they would be willing to make the requested item. While I’m sure it will lead to another program, it could go no where. Market research is generally considered current for 12 months.

16

I will be really interested in what they look at regarding optics, range-finding and cartridge selection.

17

I was a beta tester for a couple of Sig USA’s carbines and I honestly couldn’t have been more disappointed.
They’ve either really upped their game in under a decade or theirs a hell of a bamboozle going on.
They were both carbines a total POS.

18

i believe this is the third or fourth iteration of what started out as the Precision Sniper Rifle program (multi-caliber switch-barrel).

19

I haven’t been around for quite some time but was there a thread/s about the army going with sig?

I remember from 10ish years ago sig was a total shit show with the P250 Air marshal guns, gambler edition 380s, wrong sized gas ports on the 556, etc…

20

I purchased one that came with a 3 shot group on a nice target that was placed in the box.
I started at 100 and was perplexed as hell why I couldn’t get it on paper finally moved it all the way down to 25 yds. Still couldn’t get it on paper.
Come to find out the barrel was drastically cross threaded in to the receiver, to the point where it was just dangerous.

So much for them throwing that target in the box when they shipped it, because that weapon couldn’t hit anything outside of the muzzle brake touching the paper.

They’re a group of shysters screwing up the Sig name.