XM3

The XM3 is a .308 Winchester (7.62x51mm NATO) calibre prototype bolt action rifle, an improvement project of the servicing M40A3 sniper rifle issued in mid-2005 to US Marine Corps, a project headed by Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) and carried out by Iron Brigade Armory (IBA). Designed and built up from the Remington 40X rifle frame, XM3 is said to be lighter, more compact than the M40A3 and had a better field of vision, it was meant to improve its user's lethality while increasing their survivability. Lighter weapon weight is achieved by custom made hollowed out gun stock and the use of new build materials, the rifle's action, recoil lug, Picatinny rail mount and scope rings are made of titanium to save weight. Compactness comes from the reduced length fluted 18.5 inch barrel with a 1:10 rifling twist, manufacturer states that XM3 is more accurate over a longer distance than the M40A3 even with the reduced barrel length. XM3's barrel is also match chambered and threaded to accept SureFire’s muzzle brake/sound suppressor adapter.