Mid-Range Gas Gun
| Mid-Range Gas Gun | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Mk 1 Mod 0 MRGG-S being fired, 2024 | |
| Type | Designated marksman rifle and sniper support weapon (MRGG-S) Selective-fire rifle (MRGG-A) |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Service history | |
| In service | MRGG-S: 2023-present MRGG-A: in production; fielding planned fiscal year 2026 |
| Used by | United States Special Operations Command |
| Production history | |
| Designer | Geissele Automatics (MRGG-S) Lewis Machine & Tool Company (MRGG-A) |
| Manufacturer | Geissele Automatics (MRGG-S) Lewis Machine & Tool Company (MRGG-A) |
| Variants | MRGG-S (Mk 1 Mod 0) MRGG-A (Mk 24) |
| Specifications | |
| Cartridge | 6.5mm Creedmoor 7.62x51mm NATO (user-swappable barrel) |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
The Mid-Range Gas Gun (MRGG), also rendered Medium Range Gas Gun, is a United States Special Operations Command rifle procurement program for gas-operated rifles chambered in 6.5mm Creedmoor and 7.62x51mm NATO. The program includes two requirements: the MRGG-S, a sniper support weapon and designated marksman rifle awarded to Geissele Automatics in 2023 and type-classified as the Mk 1 Mod 0, and the MRGG-A, a shorter selective-fire rifle awarded to Lewis Machine & Tool Company (LMT) in 2025 and type-classified as the Mk 24.[1][2][3] The MRGG-S has been fielded since 2023. The Mk 24 MRGG-A is in production and is planned to replace the Mk 17 SCAR-H in SOCOM service, with fielding expected to begin in fiscal year 2026.[4][3]
Background
[edit]USSOCOM adopted the 6.5mm Creedmoor cartridge in 2018 after concluding that it extended the effective range of precision rifles and improved hit probability at long range compared with 7.62x51mm NATO.[1] A Military User Assessment for the MRGG was conducted in 2019 at Camp Atterbury-Muscatatuck, Indiana. According to Soldier Systems Daily, LMT and LaRue Tactical were among the companies down-selected for further evaluation.[5]
The MRGG effort was later divided into the MRGG-S and MRGG-A requirements. The rifles were sought to give special operations forces longer effective range than existing 5.56mm carbines and some 7.62mm rifles, including the M4A1 and M110.[1]
MRGG-S
[edit]Selection and contract
[edit]SOCOM's objective statement for the MRGG-S called for a sniper support rifle with a threshold accuracy requirement of 1.0 minute of angle at 100 yards and an objective requirement of 0.5 minute of angle at 100 yards. The command sought a semi-automatic rifle with a 20-inch barrel, a weight under 10.5 lb (4.8 kg), full-time suppressed fire, and a user-swappable barrel for 7.62x51mm NATO.[2][6]
LMT submitted a rifle derived from its Modular Ambidextrous Rifle System-Heavy (MARS-H). The company said it delivered rifles for SOCOM down-select trials in 2022 and reported average accuracy just under 0.85 minute of angle for its initial program delivery.[7]
On 31 August 2023, Geissele founder Bill Geissele announced that the company's submission had been selected for the MRGG-S. Geissele stated that the rifle had been known internally as "Project Joy" and that SOCOM's designation for the weapon was Mk 1 Mod 0.[2][8] USSOCOM awarded Geissele Automatics of North Wales, Pennsylvania, an indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract, H92403-23-D-0003, with a ten-year ordering period and a maximum ceiling of US$29,263,029. The contract was for a sniper support weapon and designated marksman rifle, including spare parts, vendor support, new equipment training, engineering, and travel. It was awarded as a follow-on production contract from a competitive prototype agreement under 10 U.S.C. § 4022(f), with USSOCOM at MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, as the contracting activity.[6]
Design
[edit]The Mk 1 Mod 0 is a gas-operated AR-10-pattern semi-automatic rifle. It uses billet aluminum upper and lower receivers, ambidextrous controls, a 20-inch cold-hammer-forged chrome-lined barrel, a free-floating M-LOK handguard, and a Geissele Super Semi-Automatic Enhanced two-stage trigger.[9][10] The rifle is chambered in 6.5mm Creedmoor and has a user-swappable barrel for 7.62x51mm NATO. Its factory configuration pairs the rifle with Geissele's "Super Night Owl" titanium suppressor. Geissele has stated that the MRGG-S grew out of its Very Long-Range Semi-Automatic Sniper System work.[9][10]
MRGG-A
[edit]Selection and contract
[edit]The MRGG-A is the shorter, assaulter-oriented requirement within the MRGG program. It uses a 14.5-inch barrel, has selective-fire capability, and uses a different stock than the MRGG-S. SOCOM continued the assaulter requirement after the MRGG-S award.[6][4]
The U.S. Department of Defense announced LMT's MRGG-A award in its daily contracting notice on 22 August 2025. The contract covered "medium range gas gun-assault kits, spare parts and accessories, new equipment training, and engineering change proposals." It had a maximum ceiling of US$92 million and an ordering period running through 14 August 2035.[11][1]
Design and fielding
[edit]LMT's MRGG-A is based on the MARS-H family, an AR-10-style rifle platform. The MRGG-A configuration has a 14.5-inch barrel, a monolithic Picatinny rail on the upper receiver, M-LOK accessory attachment points on the handguard, ambidextrous controls, and fully automatic fire capability.[1] The Mk 24 MRGG-A can be configured for 7.62x51mm NATO or 6.5mm Creedmoor through a quick-change barrel system. In May 2026, SOCOM's program manager for Special Operations Forces Lethality said that the command had begun procuring the assaulter variant but had not yet fielded it.[4] Later that month, a SOCOM spokesperson told Task & Purpose that the Mk 24 was in production, would replace the Mk 17 SCAR-H, and was expected to begin fielding during fiscal year 2026.[3]
Optics
[edit]In 2021, Nightforce Optics announced a SOCOM contract for ATACR 4-20x50 F1 telescopic sights to support multiple systems in SOCOM service, including the MRGG. In U.S. service, these optics are also referred to as Ranging-Variable Power Scopes. LMT has shown MRGG-A rifles fitted with Nightforce optics.[12][1]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- 1 2 3 4 5 6 Trevithick, Joseph (26 August 2025). "New Rifles Chambered In 6.5mm Creedmoor Heading To U.S. Special Operations Armories". The War Zone. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 Moss, Matthew (5 September 2023). "US SOCOM Selects Geissele Automatics for MRGG-S". The Firearm Blog. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 Schogol, Jeff; Slayton, Nicholas (26 May 2026). "The special ops replacement for the MK17 SCAR-H will fire 7.62 and 6.5mm ammo". Task & Purpose. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 Altman, Howard (21 May 2026). "Inside SOCOM's Search For New Machine Guns, Rifles And Ammo". The War Zone. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ↑ "USSOCOM Small Arms Update". Soldier Systems Daily. 20 May 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- 1 2 3 "USSOCOM Awards Geissele Automatics $29 Million for Mid Range Gas Gun - Sniper". Soldier Systems Daily. 30 September 2023. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ↑ "LMT Defense Ships Initial Delivery to USSOCOM MRGG-S Down-Select Trials". LMT Defense. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ↑ Geissele Automatics (31 August 2023). New Product Introduction!. Retrieved 1 June 2026 – via YouTube.
- 1 2 Popenker, Maxim. "Geissele MRGG-S sniper rifle (USA)". Modern Firearms. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- 1 2 "Geissele VSASS MRGG MK1 Rifle, 20 inch, 6.5 Creedmoor, DDC". Geissele Automatics. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ↑ "Contracts For Aug. 22, 2025". U.S. Department of Defense. 22 August 2025. Archived from the original on 25 August 2025. Retrieved 1 June 2026.
- ↑ "Nightforce Optics Awarded USSOCOM R-VPS Contract". Nightforce Optics. 2021. Retrieved 1 June 2026.