L129A1#L129A1

In 2009, Lewis Machine & Tool Co was contracted to supply the British Ministry of Defence (MOD) with 440 LM308MWS 7.62×51mm rifles{{cite web|url=http://www.janes.com/news/defence/land/jdw/jdw091229_1_n.shtml|title=Global Defence News and Defence Headlines - IHS Jane's 360|access-date=25 December 2014|archive-date=14 January 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100114233004/http://www.janes.com/news/defence/land/jdw/jdw091229_1_n.shtml|url-status=live}} under the official service designation as the L129A1.{{cite web|url=http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23221.aspx|title=L129A1 sharpshooter rifle|access-date=25 December 2014|archive-date=20 June 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620202926/http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23221.aspx|url-status=live}} Its NATO Stock Number (NSN) is 1005-99-226-6708. As of December 2014, over 3,000 units have been supplied to UK forces.{{cite web|url=http://www.gunsandammo.com/reviews/lmt-308-ar-review/|title=LMT .308 AR Review|work=Guns & Ammo|access-date=25 December 2014|archive-date=25 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225181417/http://www.gunsandammo.com/reviews/lmt-308-ar-review/|url-status=live}}

During the war in Afghanistan British light infantry units sometimes found themselves outranged by small arms beyond the effective range of their assault rifles and light machine guns chambered for the intermediate 5.56 mm NATO cartridge. At ranges between {{convert|400|and|800|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}, the then available small arms capable of returning effective fire, were the general-purpose machine gun and the bolt-action sniper rifle. These weapons chambered for the fully-powered 7.62 mm NATO cartridge were not well suited to increase the effective engagement range of the British eight-man rifle sections.

The LM308MWS was submitted for the British Ministry of Defence's Urgent Operational Requirement (UOR) for immediate deployment of a semi-automatic 7.62 NATO caliber sharpshooter rifle in Afghanistan. Other rifles submitted included the FN Herstal SCAR-H, Heckler & Koch HK417 and Sabre Defence XR-10. LMT's rifle was chosen, earning it the L129A1 designation, and entering service in April 2010 in Afghanistan. One member (termed the "sharpshooter") of the British rifle sections, was issued an L129A1 instead of an assault rifle. The standard optic for the L129A1 is the TA648-308 6×48 Trijicon ACOG providing a 8 mm exit pupil for ample light gathering and a wide field of view. Two locking bolts accessible from the right side of the receiver with a basic tool lock a barrel extension and make the barrel unit user removable within minutes with a return to zero of the same barrel. It features an {{convert|11.25|in|mm|1|abbr=on}} twist rate to fire standard 144-grain 7.62 mm ball up to 168-grain BTHP ammunition used by NATO, but the official issue rounds are 155-grain L42A1-A3 sniper and L59A1 "High Performance" ball ammunition.[http://sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=907 Sharpshooter: The UK's New L129A1 7.62x51mm Rifle] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190420111242/http://www.sadefensejournal.com/wp/?p=907 |date=2019-04-20 }}. Small Arms Defense Journal. 11 January 2012.{{cite web|date=2016-08-23|title=New Ammo for British Troops: UK Develops More Effective 5.56mm and 7.62mm Ammunition -|url=https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/08/23/new-ammo-british-troops-uk-develops-effective-5-56mm-7-62mm-ammunition/|access-date=2021-08-11|website=The Firearm Blog|language=en-US|archive-date=2023-04-08|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230408010215/https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2016/08/23/new-ammo-british-troops-uk-develops-effective-5-56mm-7-62mm-ammunition/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|author=Anthony G. Williams|url=http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/Long%20Range%20Sniping.htm|title=Cartridges for Long-Range Sniping Rifles|work=quarryhs.co.uk|access-date=29 May 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160527062842/http://www.quarryhs.co.uk/Long%20Range%20Sniping.htm|archive-date=27 May 2016|url-status=live}} The ACOG is mounted to a Picatinny rail to which is fitted a Trijicon RM01 1 x Ruggedized Miniature Reflex (RMR) for Close Quarters Battle use.

File:2019 European Best Sniper Competition 190723-A-ZK934-111.jpg

A Sniper Support Weapon (SSW) version, also designated L129A1, was adopted for use by the second man in each sniper team and is fitted with a Schmidt & Bender 3-12×50 telescopic sight and a Surefire suppressor.{{cite web |url=http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23221.aspx |title=L129A1 sharpshooter rifle |website=Ministry of Defence |access-date=5 May 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140620202926/http://www.army.mod.uk/equipment/23221.aspx |archive-date=20 June 2014}}{{cite web |url=https://www.raf.mod.uk/equipment/l129a1-ssw-rifle.cfm |title=L129A1 (SSW) Rifle |website=RAF |publisher=Ministry of Defence |access-date=14 October 2017 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170815183044/https://www.raf.mod.uk/equipment/l129a1-ssw-rifle.cfm |archive-date=15 August 2017}}

Within the Royal Marines at least, an improved Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System (MARS-H) based L129A2 version chambered in 6.5 mm Creedmoor with an {{convert|18|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} barrel, a new Leupold scope, a HuxWrx suppressor, an Envision Technology ballistic calculator, and a Pixels-on-Target thermal sight was adopted in 2023.{{cite web |title=Britain's Commandos to get new assault rifles |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2023/september/07/230907-royal-marines-new-rifle |publisher=Royal Navy |access-date=7 September 2023 |date=7 September 2023 |archive-date=11 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011065905/https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2023/september/07/230907-royal-marines-new-rifle |url-status=live }}[https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2023/09/21/u-k-royal-marines-adopt-6-5cm-lmt-l129a2-ft-huxwrx-leupold/ U.K. Royal Marines adopt a 6.5CM LMT as the L129A2, ft. HUXWRX and Leupold] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026001056/https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2023/09/21/u-k-royal-marines-adopt-6-5cm-lmt-l129a2-ft-huxwrx-leupold/ |date=2023-10-26 }}. The Firearm Blog. 21 September 2023.

Initial variant, chambered in 7.62×51mm NATO with {{convert|16|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} barrel and 6×48 Trijicon ACOG. Adopted in 2009 and entered service in May 2010.{{cite web |title=“SHARPSHOOTER” REACHES FURTHER DOWNRANGE: THE L129A2 GETS ADOPTED |url=https://sadefensejournal.com/sharpshooter-reaches-further-downrange-the-l129a2-gets-adopted/ |website=Small Arms Defence Journal |access-date=22 December 2023 |archive-date=22 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231222211002/https://sadefensejournal.com/sharpshooter-reaches-further-downrange-the-l129a2-gets-adopted/ |url-status=live }}

Updated MARS-H based L129A2 designated marksman rifle chambered in 6.5 mm Creedmoor with an {{convert|18|in|mm|0|abbr=on}} barrel, a fully adjustable DMR stock and lengthened hand guard, a Leupold Mark 5HD 3.6-18×44 M5C3 Desert IR telescopic sight with TREMOR3 reticle, a HuxWrx suppressor, an Envision Technology ballistic calculator, and a Pixels-on-Target thermal sight was adopted in 2023. Adopted in 2023.{{cite web |title=Britain's Commandos to get new assault rifles |url=https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2023/september/07/230907-royal-marines-new-rifle |publisher=Royal Navy |access-date=7 September 2023 |date=7 September 2023 |archive-date=11 October 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231011065905/https://www.royalnavy.mod.uk/news-and-latest-activity/news/2023/september/07/230907-royal-marines-new-rifle |url-status=live }}[https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2023/09/21/u-k-royal-marines-adopt-6-5cm-lmt-l129a2-ft-huxwrx-leupold/ U.K. Royal Marines adopt a 6.5CM LMT as the L129A2, ft. HUXWRX and Leupold] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231026001056/https://www.thefirearmblog.com/blog/2023/09/21/u-k-royal-marines-adopt-6-5cm-lmt-l129a2-ft-huxwrx-leupold/ |date=2023-10-26 }}. The Firearm Blog. 21 September 2023.

The change from 7.62×51mm NATO ammunition to 6.5 Creedmoor was due to the 6.5 Creedmoor's better ability to successfully engage targets at distances around and over {{convert|800|m|yd|0|abbr=on}}.[http://soldiersystems.net/2018/03/23/ussocom-adopts-6-5-cm/ USSOCOM Adopts 6.5 Creedmoor] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180926142548/http://soldiersystems.net/2018/03/23/ussocom-adopts-6-5-cm/ |date=2018-09-26 }}. soldiersystems.net, 23 March 2018[https://www.strategypage.com/htmw/htweap/articles/20190107.aspx Weapons: The Hits Just Keep On Coming] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240809063157/https://strategypage.com/htmw/htweap/articles/20190107.aspx |date=2024-08-09 }}. strategypage.com, 7 January 2019 The main disadvantages of this change are introducing a new chambering in the logistics chain, and due to a higher O_ratio a shortened barrel life.{{Cite web |url=https://www.recoilweb.com/baby-barrel-creedmoor-study-of-a-shorter-6-5-creedmoor-rifle-154581.html |title=Baby Barrel Creedmoor – Study of a Short(er) 6.5 Creedmoor Riflee, Sean Murphy, December 4, 2019 |access-date=June 23, 2024 |archive-date=June 19, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240619173155/https://www.recoilweb.com/baby-barrel-creedmoor-study-of-a-shorter-6-5-creedmoor-rifle-154581.html |url-status=live }} The upper receiver still uses a gas-operated, rotating bolt (internal piston) system like the L129A1, but the hand guard attachment points on its sides were changed to be M-LOK compatible.[https://sadefensejournal.com/sharpshooter-reaches-further-downrange-the-l129a2-gets-adopted/Sharpshooter” Reaches Further Downrange: The L129A2 gets adopted 'Small Arms Defense Journal''. 3 October, 2023.]

A civilian variant of the rifle, termed the L129A1 Reference Rifle, supplied without any optic, is marketed by LMT for the U.S. market.{{cite web |title=L129A1 REFERENCE RIFLE |url=https://lmtdefense.com/product/lm308ssr/ |website=Lewis Machine & Tool Company |access-date=24 December 2023 |archive-date=5 December 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231205231405/https://lmtdefense.com/product/lm308ssr/ |url-status=live }} A straight-pull version was also produced for the UK market.{{cite web |title=LM308SP Rifle |url=https://www.gunmart.net/gun-reviews/firearms/rifles/lm308sp-rifle |website=Gunmart |access-date=24 December 2023}}

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Official website}}
• [https://lmtdefense.com/product/lm308ssr/ L129A1 Reference Rifle], a civilian version of the L129A1 for the commercial market, on the LMT website

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Category:7.62×51mm NATO semi-automatic rifles

Category:Designated marksman rifles

Category:Sniper rifles of the United Kingdom

Category:Sniper rifles of the United States