M86 sniper rifle

The M86 sniper rifle is a bolt action sniper rifle manufactured by Harris Gunworks (formerly Harris-McMillan Gunworks, formerly G. McMillan & Co.). It was used by the U.S. armed forces, primarily Navy SEALs and Delta Force. It was most commonly built in 7.62×51mm NATO chambering with an internal 5-round magazine, or optionally configured to use either 5- or 10-round M14 detachable box magazines. It was also built with a magnum action, accommodating calibers such as .300 Winchester Magnum and .338 Lapua Magnum. The magnum action version was available only with an internal 5-round magazine. Harris also produced the M89, with essentially the same build standard as the M86, but which utilized a rifle stock with an enhanced grip mold.

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Sniper rifle

In military and law enforcement terminology, a special application sniper rifle is a crew service, man-portable, high precision, shoulder-fired rifle used to ensure more accurate placement of bullets at longer ranges than other small arms. It is a common misconception that any scoped rifle is a sniper rifle, and while certain long guns are more suited for the application than others, it is the act of using a firearm weapon strategically as a sniper qualified-specialist that designates it as such.

A typical sniper rifle is built for optimal levels of accuracy, fitted with a telescopic sight and chambered for a military centerfire cartridge. The term is often used in the media to describe any type of accurized firearm fitted with a telescopic sight that is employed against human targets, although "sniping rifle" or "sniper's rifle" is the technically correct grammatical term for such a rifle.

The military role of a sniper (a term derived from the snipe, a bird which was difficult to hunt and shoot) dates back to the turn of the 18th century, but the true sniper rifle is a much more recent development. Advances in technology, specifically that of telescopic sights and more accurate manufacturing, allowed armies to equip specially trained soldiers with rifles that enable them to deliver precise shots over greater distances than regular infantry weapons. The sniper rifle itself could be based on a standard rifle: it's hard to define a sniper rifle by the fire modes as some latest designed sniper rifles are semi-automatic fire, for example the M110; however, when fitted with a telescopic sight, it becomes a sniper rifle.