XM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle The XM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle ( ESR ) , formerly known as the M24 Reconfigured Sniper Weapon System , is a sniper rifle developed by PEO Soldier for the United States Army . It is derived from the M24 Sniper Weapon System and is intended to replace existing M24s . After winning a competitive bidding process , Remington was awarded the production contract . Up to 3 , 600 weapons will be procured . The Army had anticipated fielding upgraded weapons to deployed U . S . Army Snipers near the end of December 2010 . Later project manager for Soldier weapons Colonel Douglas Tamilio said the XM2010 expected fielding will happen in January 2011 . The XM2010 system differs from the prior M24 Sniper Rifle in that the XM2010 fires . 300 Winchester Magnum ammunition to provide approximately 50 % additional effective range relative to the M24 ' s 7 . 62x51mm NATO . This chambering to dimensionally larger cartridges is possible because the M24 was designed to use the " long - action " version of the Remington 700 receiver . The U . S . Army hopes that the additional effective range helps their snipers in engagements in mountainous and desert terrain in which the War in Afghanistan is fought . The general penalties for using bigger , more powerful magnum rifle ammunition compared to smaller , non - magnum standard rifle cartridges are increases in recoil , jump , flash , weight , and barrel wear . Design . The XM2010 differs from 7 . 62×51mm NATO chambered M24 Sniper Weapon System in that XM2010 sniper weapons are : According to Remington Arms each rifle is tested to meet ( and typically exceeds ) the requirement to fire ≤ 1 MOA ( less than a 2 - inch shot group at 200 yards ) before being released for fielding . Ammunition . In 2009 the U . S . government purchased MK 248 MOD 0 and MOD 1 . 300 Winchester Magnum match - grade ammunition for use in . 300 Winchester Magnum sniper rifles like the U . S . Navy Mk . 13 SWS or reconfigured M24 SWS ' s . This ammunition was developed as a . 300 Winchester Magnum Match Product Improvement ( PIP ) and uses the ( 190 gr ) and 14 . 26 g ( 220 gr ) Sierra MatchKing Hollow Point Boat Tail ( HPBT ) very - low - drag bullet fired at a nominal muzzle velocity of 869 m / s ( 2 , 850 ft / s ) ± 15 . 2 m / s ( 50 ft / s ) . According to the U . S . Navy this ammunition should increase the maximum effective range of . 300 Winchester Magnum sniper rifle systems to 1 , 370 m ( 1 , 500 yd ) , decrease wind deflection on bullets in flight and use a reduced muzzle flash propellant that remains temperature stable across an operational temperature range of - 32 °C to 74 °C ( - 25 °F to 165 °F ) . According to JBM Ballistics , using the G7 ballistic coefficient provided by Bryan Litz , the MK 248 MOD 1 . 300 Winchester Magnum cartridge , when fired at its nominal muzzle velocity of 869 m / s ( 2 , 850 ft / s ) , should have approximately 1 , 286 m ( 1 , 406 yd ) supersonic range under International Standard Atmosphere conditions at sea level ( air density ρ = 1 . 225 kg / m ) . History . The U . S . Army is likely to upgrade its 2 , 500 M24 SWS to XM2010 standard . Operational deployment . The U . S . Army issued three XM2010s to snipers at the United States Army Sniper School 18 January 2011 . Army snipers have been using the XM2010 in combat in Afghanistan since March 2011 .