The M25/XM25 is a joint venture sniper rifle, was built for both the US Army Special Forces and the US Navy SEALs in the late 1980’s. It was originally developed by the 10th Special Forces Group (SFG) based at Ft. Devens in response to a requirement for a match grade M14 for Special Forces sniper teams. USSOCCOM was dubbing the rifle the “Light Sniper Rifle”, and its also known as the “Sniper Security System” and “Product Improved M21”.
The M25 is similar to the M21 in many regards, it is a National Match M14 glass bedded in a McMillan fiberglass stock, uses a special gas piston, a National Match spring guide and a Brookfield Precision Tool Advanced Scope Mounting System (ASMS). Most rifles used the Baush & Lomb 10x Tactical scope though some of the Army rifles used some of the Leupold Ultra MK4 series of scopes. (Both the M3 and M1), and the Navy rifles have been seen with Leupolds as well (MK4s and VariX-III LR M3s). Ops Inc suppressors have also been used on some of the rifles.
The rifle has been referenced as both the M25 and XM25 in US Navy and US Army docs, so I guess the rifle has two official nomenclatures. The M25 is NOT a replacement rifle for the M24, it was requested by the USSOCCOM to fill a specific need, and it served extremely well in the first Persian Gulf war in 1991. The rifle is not officially in use though may still be seen in use with some of the Groups and Teams.
the XM25s were still being used in Bagdad in 2006,some were heavyly modified with some of the first chassis systems that I’ve seen for this platform……the weapon is an outstanding tool for the urban environment but in my opinion and experience it was more difficult maintain a consistent zero due all the banging around in vehicles and buildings,the SR25 was alot better in this regard mainly due to its scope mounting system,that being said I never felt at a loss with either weapon
Thanks Robbie for your report! I can believe it. It seems scope mounting has always been a weak point on the M14/M1A rifles
Love the old M-14. It was my T.O. weapon when I was stationed at camp Pendleton back in the day.
USMC qualification was at 200, 300, and 500 yards. Easily qualified expert with the beat up old rifle. Myself and a couple others would “head shot” the 500 yard silhouette targets…at will. These were off the rack issue weapons. Not the custom built and tuned sniper models. And, we did it with iron sights, military peeps. Not the fancy optics. Back in the 70’s, the M-14 round had a higher velocity out past 300 yards than the M-16 round. That’s a verifiable fact.
This is the best semi automatic thirty caliber Sniper rifle I’ve ever seen and owned by NFA tax paid transfer. Truly amazing accuracy out too beyond 1200 Meters.
Is yours an original military M25?
MEL
The designation of XM25 and M25 is the same rifle. The Xm25 was the experimental time frame until it was fully adopted and became the M25 sniper rifle. The system was used in Iraq enduring freedom and Afganistan for designated Marksmen. These were Designated by commanders due to their high shooting skills but not sniper schooled trained.
You are correct, the preceding X on any system means its in the experimental phase. The M25 was never adopted in large numbers and our understanding, they were only used by Special Operations forces during the 90s. Of course, everything is foggy in the SOF world, so some probably were used in the Global War on Terror, but the EBRs pretty much replaced these M14 based rifles.
[…] on top of most of the XM25 rifles built for the SF groups and Navy SEALs. You can see a few on the XM25 page on this site. Because of the high selling price and the focused marketing, not many of them […]
The XM-25s had the Devens Liner which proved too expensive for use on production rifles. However, it was produced in limited numbers and was used by some SF, Secret Service, etc.
I own an M25 that has a NM stamped on the barrel. Does anyone know what this stamping is for?
NM likely indicates “National Match”, which is a higher quality match grade barrel
MEL