Specs

  • Manufacturer: USMC
  • Model: M40A1
  • Caliber: 7.62x51mm NATO (.308 Win.)
  • Barrel: Heavy match with 6 lands and grooves
  • Barrel Length: 24" (610mm)
  • Twist: 1:12" RH
  • Magazine: 5 round internal box magazine
  • Stock: McMillan fiberglass A1 (HTG) with epoxy filler
  • Weight: 14.45 lbs (6.57 kg) - including optic
  • Overall Length: 43.97" (1117mm)
  • Additional Notes: Unertl 10x with Mil-Dots and BDC. Specially designed for USMC

The M40A1 has to be the pioneer of the modern sniper rifle. The USMC has always had a leg up on the US Army when it comes to sniping (Remember, I am US Army, so it takes a lot to say this!) and the USMC realized that they needed a standard sniper rifle that could perform the job up to standard. After testing and reviews the USMC placed the initial order for 700 Remington 700/M40 sniper rifles in 1966. 550 of those had the Redfield 3-9x accurange scope mounted. As time progressed, the weaknesses of the factory M700/40x rifles began to show. The all wood stocks were very prone to shifting in changes in the weather and other weaknesses were noted. So a process began to upgrade the M40 rifles. There is no “official” date (at least that I can tell) when the M40 was replaced by the M40A1, but the process happened in the early 70’s. The wood stocks were replaced by McMillan fiberglass stocks, which are known for their ruggedness. The entire system is built by USMC armorers at Quantico, VA. The Redfield 3-9x scopes were eventually replaced by a specially designed scope built by Unertl to USMC specifications. This happened in the early 80’s and this is was the standard scope being used on the M40A1’s and the A3’s up until 2006 when the Schmidt & Bender PMII 3-12x scopes were adopted to replace the Unertls.

Thanks to a former OIC of the USMC sniper school for this picture

The M40A1 is an outstanding system, very capable of extreme levels of accuracy, though the older M118 ammo tended to hold the rifle back to about 1 MOA, but the new M118LR (designed by the USMC) really unleashed the potential of these rifles with accuracy improving to about .5 MOA. The Max Effective range of the M40A1 is listed at 800 meters by a lot of sources, but the USMC says 1000yards (915 meters) and I would have to go with the USMC on this one, as we routinely shoot past 900 meters with our M24 SWS, and the M40A1 is everybit as accurate.

The USMC has replaced the aging M40A1’s with the new M40A3’s. A rifle that has been in the developement stages for some time now. The M40A1’s have served extremely well for many years (over 30). She’ll be missed, but the A3 is a capable successor.

Bulk Ammo for Sale at Lucky Gunner

For those of you who would like to purchase a M40A1 for your own collection, several manufacturers make excellent reproductions of the M40A1, some even built to mil-specs. But you cannot purchase an ORIGINAL M40A1.

The Last M40A1 built

11 Comments

Allen Lee

Do you know anyone who sells these. Chuck Mawhinney doesn’t have any more. Thanks if you could find me one would deeply appreciate. Thank you I used one in Vietnam.

Reply
mele-02

The original ones were decommissioned and were never available. One or two made it into private hands, but that is it. You can find excellent recreations made by the folks at Iron Brigade, TBA, and some others. (I think GA Precision has been known to do them as well).

Reply
LEONARD BURTON

I have one I got about 30yrs. ago, came with a Pelican case topped with a straight 10pwr. Leuopld scope. Has the gun log with every rd. ever shot thru it. With Fed. Match 168 gr. Hp. had no problem getting .5 groups. Might be better with others but that’s all I used which were already logged that had been put thru it. Was built by Mike Lau owner of Texas Brigade Armory in Texas. He was a former armorer when in the military & had built them for the Marines & Army snipers. This one is special because he signed his autograph on the bottom of the forend

Reply
Jim Scott

I have a USMC M40 and an M40A1 for sale. Please call me at 434-941-7375. Thanks for your service Brother! Semper Fi, Jim Scott, Former Major USMC

Reply
david ryan

mr burton,

i would be very interested in your rifle if you are still interested in selling it–assuming you still have it.

thanks

Reply

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