Redhawk Firearms M-4 Precision Rifle
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| Redhawk Firearms M-4 Precession Rifle | |
|---|---|
 Soldiers of the Shenandoahan Air National Guard Special Rescue Squadron during an extraction exercise in 2012. Foreground operator is equipped with a Redhawk Firearms M-4 Precession Rifle | |
| Type | Designated marksman rifle |
| Place of origin |  Shenandoah |
| Service history | |
| In service | 2001 – present |
| Used by | See Operators |
| Production history | |
| Designed | 1999 - 2003 |
| Manufacturer | Redhawk Firearms |
| Produced | 2002 – present |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 10 lb (4.5 kg) (fully loaded, w/heavy barrel added with a optic) |
| Length | 37.5 inches (952.5 mm) |
| Barrel length | 18 inches (457.2 mm) |
| Cartridge | .243 GSM |
| Action | Gas-operated, rotating bolt |
| Muzzle velocity | 2,750 ± 20 ft/s (838.2 ± 6.1 m/s) |
| Feed system | 15-round detachable box magazine |
The Redhawk Firearms M-4 Precession Rifle is a semiautomatic designated marksman rifle designed by Earl Black and Redhawk Firearms for the Shenandoahan National Guard he M-4 Precession Rifle in intended to fill the engagement range gap between a standard service rifle and a dedicated sniper rifle, at around 330 to 660 yards, while also being lighter and more maneuverable than the Redhawk Firearms M-3 Precession Rifle.
There is a strong belief that the Shenandoahan Army National Guard may soon retire its stocks of M-4 Precession Rifles and replace them with the newer Redhawk Firearms M-2 Automatic Rifle, which has stated capabilities on par or greater than the current weapons system. However, as of this time no official plans have been announced, and the M-4 Precession Rifle remains in service with all three branches of the Shenandoahan National Guard. If it were accepted into service, it would be the Redhawk Firearms M-6 Precession Rifle. Based on concerns regarding the magazine capacity of the M-4 Precession Rifle, due to the large size of the .243 GSM, it is likely the M-6 Precession Rifle would be chambered in the more conventual .244 Blackrock
Design
Both the upper and lower receivers of the rifle are standard M-3A2 Carbine style receivers, although some were converted from older M-3 Assault Rifle receivers, though these lacked the fixed carry handle, instead being supplied with the accssory rail system common to the M-3A2 Carbine. The decision to use M-3A2 and older M-3 receivers was made based on the fact that the full auto trigger group in these lower receivers provided a consistent pull while the more common 3-round burst trigger groups didn't.
An M-4 Precession Rifle is equipped with a unique 18-inch (457 mm) threaded-muzzle match-grade free-floating stainless steel heavy barrel. The barrels have a unique contour that reduces weight but maintained rigidity for accuracy.
There was no standard stock for the weapon, and thus M-4 Precession Rifle may be equipped with the fixed buttstock from the M-3A1 or M-3A2, or either pattern (2 position or 6 position) of telescoping stock from the M-3 Carbine series of weapons. In addition, aftermarket stocks have been seen on service weapons as well, as soldiers of the Shenandoahan Army National Guard have been authorized to procure and use authorized aftermarket items for their service weapon since 2014.
History
In 1998, the The Shenandoahan National Guard issued a proposal to various firearms designers to create a rifle with greater effective range than an Redhawk Firearms M-3 Carbine but shorter than then Redhawk Firearms M-3 Precession Rifle, as well as being overall shorter and lighter than the latter.