Mk 12 SPR
Knight's Armament Company · Sniper Rifle · Discontinued · 2002
Also known as: Mark 12 Special Purpose Rifle, SPR, Mk 12 Mod 0, Mk 12 Mod 1
Overview
The Mk 12 Special Purpose Rifle (SPR) is a 5.56x45mm NATO designated marksman and sniper rifle built on the AR-15 platform. Developed by the Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division for U.S. special operations forces, it bridged the gap between the short-range M4 carbine and dedicated bolt-action sniper rifles. Built around an 18-inch match-grade free-floating stainless steel heavy barrel with a 1:7 twist, it was optimized for the Mk 262 open-tip match cartridge to deliver precision fire out to roughly 600 metres while retaining the semi-automatic rate and light weight of the M16 family.
Specifications
| Weight (empty) | 4500 g (158.7 oz) |
| Overall Length | 952 mm (37.48") |
| Barrel Length | 457 mm (17.99") |
| Action Type | Gas Operated |
| Firing Mechanism | Hammer Fired |
| Trigger Type | Single Action |
| Magazine Capacity | 20 rounds |
| Magazine Type | Detachable Box |
| Muzzle Velocity | 930 m/s (3051 fps) |
| Effective Range | 550 m (601 yd) |
| Barrel Rifling | Right Hand |
| Rifling Twist | 178 mm (7.01") |
| Frame Material | Aluminum |
| Barrel Material | Stainless Steel |
| Stock Material | Polymer |
| Finish | Matte Black |
Calibers
- 5.56x45mm NATO · primary · 5.56 NATO — also known as .223 Remington, 5.56mm NATO, Mk 262 Mod 1
Features
- Firing modes: Semi Automatic
- Feed systems: Detachable Box Magazine
- Safety mechanisms: Manual Safety
- Features: Free Floating Barrel, Match Grade Barrel, Heavy Barrel, Threaded Muzzle, Picatinny Rail, Optics Ready, Flip Up Iron Sights, Sound Suppressor Capable
Variants
- Mk 12 Mod 0 — Free Float Tube
- Mk 12 Mod 1 — Rail Handguard
Service history
Operators
- United States Army Special Forces · adopted 2002 · as Mk 12 Mod 0
- United States Navy SEALs · adopted 2002 · as Mk 12 Mod 1
- United States Army Rangers
Conflicts
- War in Afghanistan (2001-2021)
- Iraq War (2003-2011)
Production
Production years: 2000-2011
Fielded from 2002 and in service through approximately 2017; assembled in limited numbers by Crane contractors for special operations units.
Origin
Country of origin: United States
Designer: Naval Surface Warfare Center Crane Division
Discontinued: 2017
Notes
The SPR was an assembled system rather than a single-OEM product: barrels and free-float rail systems came primarily from Knight's Armament Company, with upper and lower receivers drawn from Colt M16/M4 components, and contributions from ArmaLite and Diemaco. Two principal configurations existed: the Mod 0 with a PRI/free-float tube and the Mod 1 with a Knight's Armament rail handguard. Typically paired with the Leupold Mark 4 optic and the Mk 262 Mod 1 77-grain cartridge.
Background
The SPR concept was originally proposed in 2000 by Mark Westrom, president of ArmaLite, while working at Rock Island Arsenal, and was refined by a design group that included gunsmiths John Noveske and Steve Holland before Crane fielded the first rifles in Afghanistan for combat testing.