M24A2 SWS

About the M24A2 SWS

The M24A2 SWS is an improved variant of the M24 Sniper Weapon System, incorporating several modernization features that addressed shortcomings identified during combat operations in Afghanistan and Iraq. Built on the same Remington Model 700 long-action receiver as the original M24, the M24A2 introduced a detachable 10-round box magazine replacing the original 5-round internal magazine, a Modular Accessory Rail System (MARS) with top-mounted and adjustable side-mounted Picatinny rails, barrel modifications designed to accommodate a sound suppressor, and an improved H-S Precision PST-026 stock with adjustable cheek height and length of pull. The 22-inch 416R stainless steel barrel features Remington's 5R rifling with a 1:11.25-inch twist rate. The M24A2 retained the 7.62x51mm NATO chambering, though the long-action receiver preserved the ability for future conversion to .300 Winchester Magnum, which was ultimately realized in the M2010 ESR program.

The M24A2 represented the penultimate evolution of the M24 Sniper Weapon System before the definitive M2010 ESR conversion to .300 Winchester Magnum. The detachable magazine was a hard-won improvement that Army snipers had requested since the M24's introduction in 1988. The M24A2 served as a bridge between the original M24 concept and the modern chassis-stocked M2010, demonstrating that even a 1980s bolt-action design could be incrementally modernized to remain relevant in 21st-century warfare.

M24A2 SWS specifications

The M24A2 was developed by Remington Defense as an interim improvement to the M24 platform while the M2010 ESR conversion program was being developed. The detachable 10-round magazine was one of the most requested improvements from Army snipers, who found the original 5-round internal magazine too slow to reload during combat. The MARS rail system provided flexibility for mounting night vision devices, laser designators, and other accessories without removing the primary optic. The H-S Precision stock uses a composite of Kevlar, graphite, and fiberglass bound with epoxy resins, with an aluminum bedding block. Remington Defense offered the M24A2 commercially with an MSRP of approximately $5,000. The rifle weighs approximately 11 lbs unloaded, rising to 15.2 lbs with scope and bipod attached.