×
Aircraft / Aviation Vehicles & Artillery Small Arms Warships & Submarines Military Ranks Military Pay Scale (2024) Special Forces

Rock Island Arsenal M21 Sniper Weapon System (SWS)


Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle


United States | 1969



"The M21 rifle was developed from the base M14 rifle which itself was derived from the World War 2 M1 Garand."

Performance
Performance specifications presented assume optimal operating conditions for the Rock Island Arsenal M21 Sniper Weapon System (SWS). Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
2,263 ft
689.8 m | 754.3 yds
Max.Eff.Range
1,118
Rounds-Per-Minute
Rate-of-Fire
2,800 ft/sec
853 m/sec
Muzzle Velocity
Physical
The physical qualities of the Rock Island Arsenal M21 Sniper Weapon System (SWS). Information presented is strictly for general reference and should not be misconstrued as useful for hardware restoration or operation.
1,117 mm
43.98 in
O/A Length
560 mm
22.05 in
Barrel Length
8.55 lb
3.88 kg
Weight
Gas-Operated; Rotating Bolt
Action
7.62x51mm NATO
Caliber(s)
5-, 10, or 20-round detachable box magazine
Feed
Hooded Ajustable Aperature Rear; Front Blade; Telescopic Sights
Sights
Variants
Notable series variants as part of the Rock Island Arsenal M21 Sniper Weapon System (SWS) Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle family line.
M1A - Civilian version of the US military M14 rifle.
M14 - Base selective-fire operation rifle; 7.62x51mm NATO caliber; based upon World War 2-era M1 Garand rifle.
XM21 - Developmental Designation up until 1975; redesignated to M21.
M21 - Base Sniper Rifle Series Designation; based on M14 rifle; redesignated from XM21 in 1975.
M21 Tactical Rifle - Variant of the M1A rifle; fitted with Picatinny rail.
M25 - Upgraded M21; Special Forces use.
M25 White Feather - Variant of the M1A rifle; fitted with Picatinny rail.
Authored By: Staff Writer | Last Edited: 06/16/2018 | Content ©www.MilitaryFactory.com | The following text is exclusive to this site; No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

The M21 was developed from the standard M14 rifle, itself a further development of the highly successful World War 2-era M1 Garand. Where the Garand was a clip-loading, semi-automatic rifle, the M14 operated from a 20-round detachable box magazine and offered selective fire. The original M1 Garand proved to be a god-send for the Allies, becoming a rifle known for its accuracy and rugged handling. As such, it was only natural to improve upon the Garand design, this resulting in the M14 rifle. The m14 proved as accurate and reliable as its predecessor ultimately paving the way for its use as an equally effective sniper system.

With the Vietnam War in full swing, the United States Army found itself on the market for a quality sniper rifle. Such qualities were inherent in the M14 rifle and it soon lent itself well to special modification under the weaponsmiths of the Rock Island Arsenal. M14 rifles were converted to this new form, offering the same high-caliber hitting power of the M14 while delivering on accuracy through some subtle additions - namely in the form of a ranging telescopic sight. The new system was christened the XM21 and about 1,435 rifles were modified in this fashion for the United States Army. The weapon served with distinction mainly in the Vietnam War.

In 1975, the weapon system was redesignated the more familiar M21 Sniper Weapon System (SWS). The rifle served with US forces up until the late 1980's to which it was replaced by the favored M24 Sniper Weapon System (SWS), a rifle based on the renowned Remington Model 700 series (the US Marine Corps uses this Remington model in a similar guise designated as the M40). Selection of the M24 passed on the automatic qualities of the M21 and settled to a bolt-action operation. The M21 was later improved for use by US Special Forces elements as the M25, though these saw limited use and limited production.

At its core, the M21 retains many of the inherent qualities - and thus benefits - of the M14 rifle. It features an integrated McMillan M1A fiberglass stock with hand grip and trigger unit, mountings for variable telescopic sights and a straight-form detachable ammunition box (as found on the base M14 rifle). The weapon fires the standard 7.56x51mm NATO round from 5-, 10- or 20-round boxes though the 20-round quantity is most common. The weapon's action is of M14NM (National Match). Sights include both the aforementioned telescopic sight (Bausch & Lomb Tactical 10x40 or Leupold MK4 10x scope) and a standard front-mounted blade and rear-mounted adjustable hooded aperture. Muzzle velocity is listed at 2,800 feet per second with an effective range out to 750 yards.

The M21 served with US forces from 1969 through 1988. The weapon still serves with some US National Guard units on location in Iraq.

Content ©MilitaryFactory.com; No Reproduction Permitted.
Operators
Global customers who have evaluated and/or operated the Rock Island Arsenal M21 Sniper Weapon System (SWS). Nations are displayed by flag, each linked to their respective national small arms listing.

Contractor(s): Rock Island Arsenal - USA
National flag of the Philippines National flag of the United States

[ Philippines; United States ]
1 / 1
Image of the Rock Island Arsenal M21 Sniper Weapon System (SWS)
Image from the United States Department of Defense imagery database.

Going Further...
The Rock Island Arsenal M21 Sniper Weapon System (SWS) Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle appears in the following collections:
HOME
SMALL ARMS INDEX
SPECIAL FORCES
ARMS BY COUNTRY
ARMS MANUFACTURERS
COMPARE ARMS
ARMS BY CONFLICT
ARMS BY TYPE
ARMS BY DECADE
COLD WAR ARMS
MODERN SMALL ARMS
VIETNAM WAR ARMS
Disclaimer | Privacy Policy | Cookies

2024 Military Pay Scale Military Ranks of the World U.S. Department of Defense Dictionary Conversion Calculators Military Alphabet Code Military Map Symbols Breakdown U.S. 5-Star Generals List WWII Weapons by Country World War Next

The "Military Factory" name and MilitaryFactory.com logo are registered ® U.S. trademarks protected by all applicable domestic and international intellectual property laws. All written content, illustrations, and photography are unique to this website (unless where indicated) and not for reuse/reproduction in any form. Material presented throughout this website is for historical and entertainment value only and should not to be construed as usable for hardware restoration, maintenance, or general operation. We do not sell any of the items showcased on this site. Please direct all other inquiries to militaryfactory AT gmail.com. No A.I. was used in the generation of this content.

Part of a network of sites that includes GlobalFirepower, a data-driven property used in ranking the top military powers of the world, WDMMA.org (World Directory of Modern Military Aircraft), WDMMW.org (World Directory of Modern Military Warships), SR71blackbird.org, detailing the history of the world's most iconic spyplane, and MilitaryRibbons.info, cataloguing military medals and ribbons. Special Interest: RailRoad Junction, the locomotive encyclopedia.


©2024 www.MilitaryFactory.com • All Rights Reserved • Content ©2003-2024 (21yrs)