XM21

Factions	Weapon	Icon	Classes	Ammo
					US	XM21		Sniper	20 / 40

Damage Base	Headshot ×	Chest ×	Stomach ×	Leg ×	Arm ×	Bayonet	Rifle Grenades
								42	×2.4 = 100.8	×1.28 = 53.76	×1.23 = 51.66	×0.8 = 33.6	×0.7 = 29.4	YES	NO

Designation	Weapon Type	Fire Modes	Fire Rate	Bullet Spread °	Range Modifier	Muzzle Velocity	Projectile weight	Weight
				Rifle, 7.62 mm, Sniper, M21	Sniper Rifles	Semi	700 RPM	8.4° & 0.25° ADS	0.965	850 m/s	10 g (154.3 gr)	4.1 kg (9.04 lbs)

Full name	Caliber	Place of Origin	Date	Armory	Barrel Length	Total Length	Weapon Script Name
								M21 Sniper Weapon System	7.62x51	USA	1968	Rock Island Arsenal Springfield Armory Smith Enterprise, Inc.	22 in (560 mm)	44 in (1118 mm)	weapon_m21s

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The M21 Sniper Weapon System (SWS) in the US Army is a national match grade M14 rifle, selected for accuracy, and renamed the M21 rifle. The M21 uses a commercially procured 3–9× variable power telescopic sight, modified for use with the sniper rifle. It is chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO cartridge

HISTORY

The use of sharpshooters (or snipers) in U.S. military history dates back to the Revolutionary War (1775–1781). Every subsequent military action has relied on their specialized skills. In 1955-1956, the U.S. Army Marksmanship Training Unit attempted to reiterate lessons from past wars, but this program was short-lived due to the expectation of future nuclear conflicts.

When the M14 service rifle was adopted, no sniper version was created, and the sniper designation in squads was discontinued. The Vietnam War revived the need for snipers, leading to limited training and deployment. U.S. Marines were issued bolt-action hunting rifles, while U.S. Army snipers received XM21 rifles, converted from National Match M14s with 3-9x Redfield Adjustable Ranging Telescopes and special ammunition. The XM21, first fielded in 1969, had a walnut stock, and an improved version with a fiberglass stock was designated the M21 in 1972. The M21 was the primary sniper rifle until it was replaced by the M24 in 1988, though it was re-issued in the Iraq War.

The M21, weighing 11 pounds without the scope and using a 20-round box magazine, faced criticism for being difficult to maintain in the field. Despite this, it saw action during the Vietnam War, the Invasion of Grenada in 1983, and was used by some National Guard and specialized active units. It served as the main sniper rifle until 1988, with M14 and M21 variants reappearing in the Iraq and Afghan wars in the 2000s.
SOURCE

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  Vietnam War era sniper rifles, US Army XM21 (top) and USMC M40 (bottom)

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  Mounted to the side of the M21 was a unique 3-9x40mm ART scope.

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  The Silent Sniper System was evaluated in Vietnam but wasn't popular due to its size, weight, and unworked bugs in the design. Snipers lacked confidence in hitting targets beyond 250 meters, preferring the XM21 sniper rifle with a Sionics sound suppressor.

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  A 25th Infantry Division sniper is seen here in Vietnam wielding an XM21 sniper rifle outfitted with an AN/PVS-2 Starlight scope and Sionics sound suppressor. This was state of the art at the time.

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  Sergeant Adelbert Waldron was the top scoring US sniper in Vietnam with 109 kills. He is seen here with his XM-21 sniper rifle.

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