Welcome to Down Range with GunSlinger! For those of you who have read the Informer in the past, this is the new face of my previous “Shooting Gallery”. This will be a monthly article spotlighting weapons, gadgets, and attachments in all your favorite gaming franchises. We will go over the pros and cons of each of them, when and where you can/should use them, and if they are the right equipment for you as a soldier.
On the range this month is the M40A5 bolt action rifle. The M40A5 is the current standard issue sniper rifle of the United States Marine Corps and has been in service in one form or another since 1966. This weapon is based on the civilian Remington 700. Fans of the Battlefield franchise may remember the M24 used by the U.S. Army which is also based on this platform. Chambered for the 7.62x51mm NATO round, it has some serious stopping power.
The Good: This gun has one of the fastest bolt cycles of the bolt action rifles available to you in Battlefield 3. This is a strong advantage for the aggressive minded recon or the occasional unplanned fire fight. Accuracy is not a problem when it comes to the M40. Scope sway is manageable when a bi-pod just isn’t an option and even the iron sights provide very good visibility.
The Bad: It is a bolt action rifle, after all. So, though it has the fastest bolt cycle of its weapon type, it is still a tad on the slow side compared to semi-auto weapons. The range for this gun is an impressive 2400m, BUT it has a lower muzzle velocity than the L96 or the SV89, so bullet drop off comes quickly and significantly. So though the weapon does have long range capabilities, I personally recommend it for medium range engagements of 300m or less.
The M40A5 has stayed in active military service for nearly 50 years now and there is a good reason for that, it works. It is fast, accurate, and deadly. This weapon was not developed for the run and gun mentality, but it can be used for that in a pinch. One in the chamber puts you at 11 rounds, so every shot has to count, but hits will deal significant damage and suppression.
So is the M40A5 the right gun for you? If you can quickly adjust for bullet drop, and you’re not afraid to get up close and personal if you have to, then this gun may be perfect for you. If you’re trying to set records for distance shots and don’t have the psychic ability to know where your target will be in ¾ of a second… Then I would recommend you try the L96 or the M98B.
It’s great to be back, Console Army! So please let me know what weapons, loadouts, or gadgets you want to see me test out on the range. So until next time, keep them in the crosshairs!