Marine Corps Sgt. Jesse McManigle, a scout sniper aboard the amphibious docking ship USS Green Bay, participates in an exercise in the Philippine Sea, Feb. 7, 2024. The Marine Corps says its newest sniper rifle is ready ahead of schedule. (Elijah Murphy/U.S. Marine Corps)

The Marine Corps has deemed a new sniper rifle fully operational a year ahead of schedule, providing troops with a weapon that is expected to give reconnaissance and infantry units the ability to strike with greater range.

Marine Corps Systems Command said the MK 22 Mod 0 Advanced Sniper Rifle has been fielded to all relevant units, marking a step forward in the Corps’ broader modernization efforts.

The weapon amounts to a “game changer” and a “huge leap” in capability when compared to previous sniper systems, Brian Nelson, a project officer with Marine Corps Systems Command, said in a service statement Thursday.

The rifle, which is also used by U.S. Special Operations Command forces, includes caliber conversion options, allowing Marines to fine-tune their missions. Barrels can fire 7.62mm, .300 Norma Magnum and .338 Norma Magnum calibers, giving Marines the flexibility to adapt and fire with more precision and at varied ranges, the Marine Corps said.

“Marines like the ability to conduct caliber conversions at their level and the fact that they only have one rifle instead of the two it replaced,” said Kevin Marion, a logistics management specialist with Marine Corps Systems Command. “This shift improves operational efficiency, reduces the logistical burden on units, and lightens the individual Marine’s load.”