M40A1

About the M40A1

The M40A1 is the second generation of the USMC's M40 sniper rifle series, adopted in 1977 as a comprehensive rebuild of the original M40. Based on the Remington Model 700 bolt-action receiver, the M40A1 replaced the original wooden stock with a McMillan A1 fiberglass stock finished in green and earthtone red camouflage, and swapped the Redfield variable-power scope for a fixed 10x Unertl target scope. The 24-inch Atkinson barrel was replaced with a heavier 24-inch stainless steel barrel by Atkinson or later Hart, providing improved accuracy and barrel life. Like all M40 variants, each M40A1 was individually hand-built by USMC armorers at the Precision Weapons Section, Marine Corps Base Quantico, rather than factory mass-produced. The M40A1 fed from a 5-round internal box magazine and was capable of sub-MOA accuracy, serving as the USMC's primary sniper rifle for over two decades across multiple conflicts.

The M40A1 served as the USMC's standard sniper rifle for over two decades and became synonymous with Marine Corps scouting and sniping. Carlos Hathcock, the legendary USMC sniper with 93 confirmed kills in Vietnam, used the original M40 and was instrumental in the development program that led to the M40A1. The rifle's iconic combination of the Remington 700 action, McMillan fiberglass stock, and Unertl 10x scope defined what a military sniper rifle looked like for a generation.

M40A1 specifications

The M40A1 conversion program began in the early-to-mid 1970s at Quantico, where armorers rebuilt existing M40 rifles with new components. The 10x Unertl scope became the iconic optic of USMC snipers for decades. The stainless steel barrel provided better corrosion resistance and accuracy over the original chrome-moly barrel. The M40A1 served from 1977 until it was replaced by the M40A3 beginning in 2001. In June 2006, one of the two initial M40A1 prototypes was recovered when an Iraqi sniper was killed by a USMC sniper, revealing that the rifle had been captured and was being used against Coalition forces. The total weight of 14.5 lbs (6.58 kg) includes the Unertl scope.