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The M1C, configured as above, was approximately 36 inches long, weighing almost 12 pounds. On the basis of Infantry Board tests of the M1E7 and M1E8 rifles, the M1E7 equipped with a two and one half power telescope was standardized in June 1944 as U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1C (Sniper's).
In order to assure meeting production requirements, the M1E8 was adopted in September 1944 as U.S. Rifle, Caliber .30, M1D (Sniper's), but except for a few prototype specimens the M1D was not produced during WWII, and would not properly be considered as a WWII infantry weapon. Relatively large numbers of standard M1 rifles were converted into M1D configuration during the early 1950's, but it was the M1C that was the principal sniping weapon for the American army
in Korea.
The Marines used the M1903A1/Unertl as its primary sniper rifle, partly because the
M1C was in short supply during early action.
.30 Caliber Bullet performance at 600 Yards for MV=2800fps
| Bullet, gr | Accuracy, Radius | Penetration |
| Ball M2, 152 | 7.5 inch | 11in, Oak |
| Tracer M1, 152 | 15 inch | Red trace 125-900 yds |
| AP M2, 165.7 | 10 inch | .3in, armor |
| Match M72, 175.5 | 3.5 inch | 11in, Oak |
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A Marine sergeant credited with nine kills poses for a combat photographer during a break in the action in July 1952.
Note the extremely worn finish on the M82 sight. The M82 had a magnifying power of 2 1/2 diameters, a field of view of 35 yards at 100 yards, and universal (fixed) focus. The tube diameter was .866 inch, and the overall length of the scope was 12.875 inches with the rubber eyepiece and objective shield extended.
In Korea, snipers achieved reasonably consistent results with the M1C between 400-600 yards,
with 600 being the maximum effective range. Partly this was due to the poor resolving power of
issue scopes, and partly the lack of match grade ammunition. USMC snipers used regular issue .30-caliber
ball ammunition. When obtainable, the heavier .30-caliber armor-piercing ammunition was used, for its increased stability at longer ranges, although both lighter and less accurate than match grade.
Like the M1, the M1C was a robust weapon, maintaining proper function and accuracy very well
under combat conditions.
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