Sniper Ammo

Do military snipers use "Factory" ammo?

I doubt that they load their own, but do they get "special" Mil-Spec sniper ammo, or do they use the same stuff that is produced by the gov. contract supplier for the model of rifle they use?

Do they use different bullets than regular issue, i.e. softpoints instead of FMJ?

Do they use the same "Factory" ammo as Police snipers use nationwide?

I've never seen this subject addressed on a Gun Forum.

Mr44Magnum wrote:http://www.policelink.com/products/products/1201-hornady-tap-

Well, that answers the LEO part of the question.

What about military? Do the snipers get to pick or do they get what the contract is filled for?

Sledge, The military use a 168 grain hollow point, similar to our match bullets. They had some surplus that they were selling on cheaper than dirt a while back the technical name is M-somthing?

Looks like federal gold metal match
http://www.snipercentral.com/308.htm

In Hathcock's era, I think military snipers were using military Match ammo like used at the Camp Perry National Championship. Ammo was only mentioned once in his bio and I only read the book once. I may well be wrong about it but I know he wasn't shooting reloads or anything real exotic. Who knows nowadays?

I can say with some experience that USMC shooter use what is given to them. No chance to load your own rounds and no chance to modify the ones provided. Never in the comercial box and no special markings on the shell casing to express where they come from. The rounds have specs but the manufacture isn't important. The rounds varry depending on the target and distance but that isn't something the shooter decides, something that is issued.

WDBradley wrote:I can say with some experience that USMC shooter use what is given to them.

That was my original question......What is given to them? Is it specially contracted ammo for snipers, or is it the same ammo as the military contracts from our US manufacturers? Are they shooting the same ammo as line troops using that caliber, whether .308 or .50 or some other caliber?

I saw on the military Channel some time back about Snipers ammo and they
were weighing each bullet and all the ones that came within a certin weight of
each other went into one box as they were trying to match them , same for
the cases. they than put the serial number of the rifle those shells went to
on the box.

308nato wrote:I saw on the military Channel some time back about Snipers ammo and they
were weighing each bullet and all the ones that came within a certin weight of
each other went into one box as they were trying to match them , same for
the cases. they than put the serial number of the rifle those shells went to
on the box.

308nato, I saw that also. They were loading the ammo for sniper use. It was not factory loaded ammo. It was loaded by Marines for Marine snipers. If I remember, it was a 168 gr. Sierra Matchking.

Joe B. wrote: In Hathcock's era, I think military snipers were using military Match ammo like used at the Camp Perry National Championship. Ammo was only mentioned once in his bio and I only read the book once. I may well be wrong about it but I know he wasn't shooting reloads or anything real exotic.

I remember that Hathcock was shooting military match ammo, also a Sierra Matchking, 168 gr. if memory serves me correctly.


A lot of what I have read about police type snipers use match grade factory ammo, like Black Hills match ammo and such.