Iconic, nostalgic and desirable, but new? The M24 has served our country for many years in the hands of U.S. Army snipers and marksmen. What makes the latest incarnation, the M24A2 Sniper Weapon System (SWS), new is that it is now available for consumption by the general public, which wasn’t the case before this year.
This rifle from Remington Defense is all business. It’s a heavy .308 Winchester workhorse that seems “no frills” at first but, upon closer inspection, is pure candy for the eyes. You’ve got to love the awesome MARS rail on top, the threaded barrel for suppressor use and the adjustable H-S Precision stock. The M24A2 SWS proves that the old-school approach never goes out of style. Heavy, accurate and just plain sexy, the Remington 700 action is at its best in this Army sniper classic.
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That said, due to its .308 Winchester chambering and lack of a muzzle brake, I didn’t expect the rifle to perform as well, especially with our female evaluators. Bri cited the “tough recoil,” but it’s not as bad as you might think thanks to the rifle’s weight. The M24A2 SWS got dinged a bit in the reloading category. Its unconventional mag release in front of the triggerguard takes some getting used to, and our Marine buddy said, “Reloading would be better with more common mags.” Regardless, the Remington earned a respectable finish, especially with an MSRP of $5,500.