Recce rifle

                                               Recce rifle

                                         Caliber:　5.56 × 45mm M k.262

" Recce Rifle" is said to be short for Reconnaissance Rifle , and the word is said to be pronounced similar to " Recky ". Wikipedia says that the Recce rifle is the abbreviation of "SEAL Recon Rifle" ( SEAL Recon Rifle ). It is said that this gun was originally made by the SEAL armorer himself, and later the Naval Ground Combat Center Crane Division (NSWC-Crane) ) also began to be modified. These "SEAL Scout Rifles" were designed to provide SEAL snipers with a lightweight M4- style sniper carbine. The SPR project was in progress at the time (probably around 2002), but the SEALs at the time were disappointed with the performance of the SPR , so they made their own more suitable weapons. In fact, before the informal name "reconnaissance rifle" was obtained, the SEALs called this type of weapon the Snipe M4 . However, these weapons for snipers are now collectively referred to as " Recce rifles".

Although called "reconnaissance", the " Recce rifle" is used in the same way as DMR rifles such as the Mk12 SPR or SAM-R/SDM-R , except that in special operations forces, these reconnaissance rifles are the standard weapons of snipers. . Because the job of a sniper is not always to lie one kilometer away ONE SHOT ONE KILL . It is also one of their jobs to provide lead, reconnaissance or flank cover for the main attack force. Some missions do require a kind of precision that can provide precision at medium and short range. A weapon that provides fire support, has the same firepower as an assault rifle at close range, and is flexible enough in size and weight to handle close combat. These carbines, which are not too long, can fire continuously, and are equipped with match-grade barrels, have become the first choice for snipers in such tasks.

It is unknown how many of these weapons Crane "produced". It is said that NSWC-Crane intended to produce more "scout rifles", but some SEALs thought it was a waste of effort and money, so the plan was later basically discontinued (perhaps It is a change from the Mk12 SPR ). Because these "Seal Scout Rifles" are all homemade, using a 16-inch (406mm) long stainless steel barrel, produced by Lilja Precision Company, and the cartridge chamber is processed by Compass Lake Company, with a twist rate of 1:8, they can shoot any specifications. 5.56×45mm NATO standard ammunition, including M855 or Mk262 . These barrels have the characteristics of an M4 -style heavy barrel, with the rear section measuring 0.980 in. (25mm) in diameter over a length of 2.60 in. (66mm), then narrowing to 0.850 in. (22mm), with a diameter of 0.850 in. (22mm) at the quasi-constellation. 0.750 inch (19mm) and then 0.725 inch (18mm) all the way to the muzzle. A KAC QD flash suppressor is installed on the front end of the barrel , and a KAC QD silencer can be installed. Features a carbine length gas system. These barrels are mounted on a flat-top upper receiver that retains the fixed front sight/gas band.

Since it is self-made, the Recce rifle does not have uniform specifications or models. It is completely modified according to personal preferences. The butts used are fixed ( A1 type and A2 type) and telescopic (the original 4 fixed points and improvements). Colt stock with 6 fixed points, or new stocks such as Crane, SOCOM, LMT , etc.). Later "scout rifles" manufactured by Crane are said to use floating handguards, the more commonly used ones are the KAC M4 Match R AS or the longer MRE floating handguard (which protects the barrel and provides more places to install tactical accessories) . It is said that different people choose different backup iron sights, and there are different commercial products such as KAC, ARMS and Troy Industries. Since the "scout rifle" is used by snipers for security or reconnaissance missions, optical sights are mainly used. Likewise, different people have different choices. Most people choose Trijicon ACOG TA01 or TA31F, Leupold TS-30 A1 or TS-30 A2, and NightForce , etc.

SEAL sniper Kyle DeFoor climbs a mountain with a RECCE rifle on his back

But in fact, many years before the start of the SPR program, the U.S. Army's special operations forces were already using M4s that were replaced with 16-inch match-grade barrels and matched with low-magnification sights , at least in Bosnia and Herzegovina in the 1990s. Delta Rangers are already using this type of weapon, and Delta Rangers say they were the first to use the Recce rifle. According to their own statement, this is a type of carbine based on the CAR-15 (referring to the various AR carbines equipped before the M4 . At that time, the Delta equipment was generally the Colt 723 ). It uses a 16-inch barrel and can be used in A precision rifle that achieves 0.5 MOA at a distance of 100 meters. The members of the Delta sniper team are not snipers in the traditional sense. In more cases, they are responsible for providing lead reconnaissance for the commando team, establishing observation points deep behind enemy lines, and providing flank cover and precision fire support for the commando team during team operations. The nature of the mission requires that the weapons they use can not only maintain high accuracy within a certain distance, but also provide a certain amount of suppressive firepower when passively engaging the enemy. They must also follow the commando team into the house to clean the room at certain times.

In the early 1990s, after the "Just Cause" operation in Panama, the Delta Sniper Team put forward the need for this type of reconnaissance rifle. The team's ordnance division carried out various tests based on the standard size CAR-15. Attempts include using match-grade stainless steel barrels and more. After a large number of comparative tests, the focus of improvement was finally locked into a smaller range: ammunition, triggers, sights and floating handguards. KAC played an important role in these improvement projects. KAC boss Reed Knight determined early on that improving ammunition performance was more important than high-precision barrels. Facts have proved that this conclusion is correct. Delta Force has The pursuit of performance ammunition has also promoted the development of the entire 5.56 ammunition market. At the same time, the reconnaissance rifle also creatively uses the carbon fiber floating handguard on the Armalite M15 rifle , and SOCOM really promoted the floating rail handguard ( SOPMOD II project ) in 2005. As for the matching The silencer is also from KAC . SEAL Team 6 was the second unit to start using the Recce rifle, also referring to Delta's modification method. Even after the Picatinny rail handguard became popular, Delta Force still used this handguard on the M4A1 with a flat top receiver in 2003 to modify the rifle.

Delta Rangers using RECCE rifles in Bosnia in the mid-1990s. These are the models with OD-colored barrel handguards installed. You can see the triangular quasi-constellation protruding from the middle of the handguard.

The sniper unit of the Delta Commandos was earlier than 2002. These RECCE rifles also used Armalite ’s cylindrical carbon fiber handguards.

Retired Deltaman Daryl Holland and his Recce rifle

In 1993, SEAL Team 6 Black Team snipers in Somalia used a shorter Armalite barrel floating handguard RECCE rifle.

According to Larry Vickers , Delta also played an important role in the later Mk12 SPR project due to its experience with the scout rifle.

Even after the Mk12 SPR was equipped with an 18-inch barrel , the use of " Recce rifles" in the Army Special Forces (Green Berets) was very common. It seems that there are many more " Recce rifles" in the Army than SEALs. , while seals using " Recce Rifles" are rarely found . It may be that they feel that 16 inches is shorter and more flexible when dealing with close combat, or it may be that they prefer to use self-assembled guns.

The " Recce Rifle" of the Army Special Forces, like the SEALs, has no fixed shape. Most of them are equipped with a 16-inch barrel, but some are equipped with a 14.5-inch barrel. They are usually equipped with a floating handguard and a low-power sight. Basically, they are equipped with a retractable stock, and some people will install a silencer depending on the mission needs. Additionally, there was an Army Special Forces soldier who used a semi-automatic civilian lower receiver while in Afghanistan. When some units began to use the HK416 , some people also used the 14.5-inch HK416 as a " Recce rifle."

Some Army special forces posted on the Internet the RECCE rifles used by themselves or their companions.

The RECCE rifle used by a Green Beret named Jeff Gurwitch in 2015 used a 14.5-inch barrel. He installed a small red dot scope at an angle of 45 degrees on the left side of the 6x VCOG scope. , just turn the gun sideways and you can use the red dot scope for close range shooting.

An ODA team member rarely used a civilian semi-automatic lower receiver on the battlefield.

Since RECCE rifles have no fixed model, among the people, some gun dealers or enthusiasts will       assemble some 16" barrel ARs also called RECCE Style or RECON clones.