U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) is set to begin deploying its new MK24 Medium Range Gas Gun Assault (MRGG-A) rifle before the close of the current fiscal year, marking another step in the organization’s transition away from traditional ammunition such as the 7.62mm NATO round.
Speaking to Task & Purpose, SOCOM spokesperson Navy Cmdr. Joe Vermette confirmed that the MRGG-A will eventually replace the MK17 SCAR across the force. He noted that SOCOM is accelerating deployment efforts and plans to introduce the weapon system across several Special Operations Force units.
In August last year, SOCOM awarded Iowa-based LMT Defense a contract valued at up to $92 million over a decade for production of the MRGG-A. Designed to meet evolving operational requirements, the rifle features a quick-change barrel system that enables operators to switch between 7.62mm and 6.5mm Creedmoor ammunition.
According to LMT Defense spokesperson Joe Hajny, the rifle is intended to serve as a versatile combat package rather than a single-purpose firearm. Speaking during this year’s Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show, Hajny emphasized that rapid barrel replacement was a key requirement from SOCOM. The capability allows operators working alongside partner forces lacking access to 6.5mm ammunition to quickly adapt by converting the rifle to a different caliber in the field.
The barrel exchange process reportedly takes approximately one minute. Hajny explained that the weapon’s 14.5-inch barrel gives it the handling characteristics of an M4 carbine while delivering performance closer to that of the M110 semi-automatic sniper rifle, which also utilizes the 7.62mm cartridge.
One of the most significant aspects of the program is SOCOM’s growing adoption of the 6.5mm Creedmoor round. After evaluating nearly two dozen ammunition types beginning in 2017, the command reportedly determined that the cartridge offered superior overall effectiveness at distances approaching 1,000 meters.
Hajny suggested that the MRGG-A could eventually influence broader military procurement beyond special operations forces, potentially finding its way into conventional units in the future.
SOCOM is not alone in modernizing its small-arms inventory. The U.S. Army has been introducing its Next Generation Squad Weapons platform chambered in 6.8x51mm, reflecting a wider shift toward cartridges optimized for greater range and lethality.
The command’s search for enhanced long-range firepower dates back to 2021, when SOCOM and Special Operations Forces Works (SOFWERX) conducted an evaluation to identify weapons capable of delivering improved accuracy beyond 1,200 meters. In addition to the MRGG-A, SOCOM pursued a new sniper rifle and a lightweight machine gun.
Following extensive testing, contracts were awarded to Geissele Automatics for the MRGG Sniper rifle chambered in 6.5mm Creedmoor and to Sig Sauer for the LMG-Medium chambered in .338 Norma Magnum.
In a recent interview with The War Zone, Lt. Col. Alan Wood, SOCOM’s program manager for lethality, highlighted the advantages of the .338 Norma Magnum system, stating that it offers improved effectiveness at extended ranges while significantly reducing overall weapon-and-ammunition weight compared with .50-caliber systems. However, the fielding of the LMG platform has currently been paused.
Regarding the MRGG-A, Wood praised the rifle’s performance, describing it as an exceptionally accurate weapon system that has generated strong enthusiasm among Special Operations personnel.
