SEAL Recon Rifle

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SEAL Recon Rifle, nicknamed the “Sniper M4” and “Recce,” is a U.S. Navy SEAL designated marksman rifle based on the M16/M4. It’s designed to be accurate, lightweight, and compact, chambered in 5.56×45mm NATO so it can share ammunition with M4 carbines. It has a 16-inch (406 mm) stainless-steel, heavy-profile barrel from Lilja with a 1:8 twist. The rifle is gas-operated with a rotating bolt and fires at 700–950 rounds per minute. It uses a 30-round detachable STANAG magazine and can fire common 5.56 ammo, including Mk262 Mod0 (77 grains).

The rifle features a flat-top upper with an M1913 rail for optics and accessories, and a variable-power optic (about 2.5–10x) with backup iron sights. Free-float handguards (often KAC M4 Match RAS or LaRue) provide ample rail space, and some rifles are fitted with Ops Inc. suppressors. It was developed in-house by SEAL armors, later refined by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division, with the Army contributing ideas for the Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle. The goal was to create an accurized, versatile rifle that could engage targets beyond the M4’s range while sharing ammunition, giving SEAL snipers and designated marksmen a capable, compact weapon.