Research studies ranging from Pew Research to the National Shooting Sports Foundation estimate that there are approximately 434 million civilian-owned guns in America. Around 23 million of those privately owned guns are AR pattern Modern Sporting Rifles, or just over 5%. And yet, advertisements for ARs outnumber ads for all other types of centerfire rifles combined. It is also one of the most, if not the most, popular guns for customization. The only other gun that comes close is the 1911.

The customization that many feel is the ultimate tactical AR is the Recce Rifle. It embodies everything that makes the AR a great rifle. It is compact, light, accurate, and tough. It’s equally effective in a home or business defense role or a grueling outdoor environment. That’s why it’s the pattern preferred by U.S. SOCOM troops.

What is a Recce?

The term recce was first used by British Commonwealth troops during WWII and simply means going on a reconnaissance mission. American troops have always called it a recon but began using recce after serving with British troops in the Mideast. The name gives a hint as to the nature of a Recce Rifle.

Troops going on a recce know they will be going deep into enemy territory. They must move fast and quietly, so they take only the most critical equipment and leave everything else behind. But they also know that if anything goes wrong and they are discovered, they will be completely on their own. They will have to defend themselves and make their way back to friendly territory. Their equipment must be capable of doing the job, or they will never get out alive. To do that, they need a weapon that is both highly effective and highly efficient.

The Recce Rifle

There is no formal U.S. military model or designation for a Recce Rifle. It’s a configuration that evolved to fill a need determined by the guys in the Navy SEALS community. They wanted a rifle that had greater capabilities than the M4 carbine but was lighter, more versatile, and easier to manage in tight quarters than the 7.62X51 NATO Mk14 rifle they were being provided with at the time, but provided enough punch to serve as a mid-range designated marksman weapon. 

The Naval Surface Warfare Center’s Crane Division went to work on the issue and had the first rifles ready for testing in 1994. The goal was a lightweight rifle that would run any 5.56×45mm cartridges available and offered greater capabilities over an M4. SEALs wanted an accurized rifle that was capable of both CQB and light sniping. 

The First Recce Rifles

The first Recce Rifles used a 16″ stainless steel free-floating barrel with Knight’s Armament KAC tube handguards. These were eventually upgraded to KAC quad rail handguards. The SEALS run their rifles suppressed, so there were no compensators installed.

Red dots were not considered adequate as optics, so they used the Nightforce NXS 2.5-10×24 most of the time. This combination produced sub-MOA groups at 500 yards but was still versatile enough for CQB. 

The people at Crane recognized the effectiveness of the first Recce Rifles and endeavored to formalize the design. Working with SOCOM, they developed the Mk12 SPR (Special Purpose Rifle). It had a 20″ barrel and a fixed buttstock. SEALs quickly modified the rifles with a collapsable stock and a 16″ barrel as well as improved triggers and other upgrades. 

These days, even though there is a base model, SEALs work with their unit armorers to build their rifles to their own specifications. In his excellent book, No Easy Day, former SEAL Mark Owen (a pseudonym) says that when he got to SEAL Team 6 there was a sign over the door of the armory that read “You dream, we build.” That says it all. 

The Recce Rifle is a concept driven by need, not a formal design. If you keep that in mind, it will be easier to stay true to the configuration of the Recce Rifle. I worked with numerous former Rangers and several former Green Berets while in Iraq. I even knew one former Delta operator, but I never worked with any former SEALs so I never had an opportunity to discuss their preferences in rifles with them directly. But all the other former SOCOM types went out of their way to customize their M4s to suit their personal tastes, both when they were on active duty and once they were working as contractors.

Traits of a Recce Rifle

Unlike many jack-of-all-trades firearms, the Recce Rifle is very good at both ends of the spectrum, those being CQB and midrange sniping. In general, a Recce Rifle has the following characteristics:

• Chambered in 5.56×45 NATO
• Free-floating 16″ to 18″ Government Profile Barrel
• 1:7 or 1:8 twist
• Lightweight components
• 1x-4x to 1x-10x LPVO optic
• Steel BUIS
• Under 9 lbs unloaded

Not everyone will agree with these characteristics. For example, some folks might say they would prefer .300 AAC Blackout to 5.56 NATO, but that would be missing the point. There is a good reason for each of these traits.

Caliber 5.56X45 NATO

A Recce Rifle is a military weapon. Although SEALS sometimes field nonstandard ammunition, such as the MK 262 77-grain cartridge, they still need a rifle that uses a standard US military round and that caliber is 5.56X45. One of the reasons SEALS build Recce Rifles is because they want something light to carry for miles if need be. This may change as they get the new Sig M5 chambered for the 6.8 mm Common Cartridge, but for now, 5.56 NATO is the caliber of choice.

Free- Floating 16″ to 18″ Government Profile Barrel

A Recce Rifle is intended to provide a little more reach and lethality than an M4, so a 16″ barrel is preferable to a 14.5″ barrel. But you still need to keep the weight down, so either a thin or government profile barrel is better than a heavy barrel.

Making it free-floating improves accuracy. A 1:7 or 1:8 twist provides better terminal performance from the heavier 77gr bullet the SEALs prefer. A 16″ -18″ barrel means you will be running a mid-length gas system.

Lightweight Components

If you have served in the military and had to hump for miles in full gear, you know that every pound counts. And if you’ve ever been in combat, competed in tactical carbine competition, or even done a run in a shoot house, you know that lighter and more compact carbines handle the best in tight quarters. 

Optics and Sights

A lightweight variable power optic is a must. A Recce Rifle is intended to serve as a designated marksman’s rifle for light sniping out to 500 yards. The original NightForce 2.5-10×24 NXS the SEALS used on the first generation of Recce Rifles is still available, as is an upgraded version, the NightForce 2.5-10×42 NXS Compact Rifle Scope. But any good LPVO scope with a large objective lens for good low-light performance will suffice.

Back-up iron sights are also a wise precaution. Modern electronic sights seldom fail, but Murphy can show up at any time. BUIS will keep you in the fight if something happens to your electronics, but go with steel, not plastic. The weight-to-durability trade-off is well worth a few extra ounces.

Under 9 Pounds

When you’re setting up a Recce Rifle, resist the urge to add a lot of extra gear, no matter how cool it seems. Civilians don’t have easy access to night vision devices that cost in the five-figure range, so a good light might be useful as long as it’s lightweight. On the other hand, a bipod could give you a more stable shooting platform, but it’s not worth the extra weight. In the world of CQB, lighter equals faster. Keep it that way.

Acquiring a Recce Rifle

There are two ways to obtain a Recce Rifle for yourself: you can build one, or you can buy one off the shelf. 

Building a Recce Rifle

Building one can be a time-consuming project, but there are a lot of good components on the market to make the task easier and speed it up. For example, M4E1 Complete Lower Receiver w/ Magpul MOE Grip & PRS Lite Stock and an 18″ 5.56 CMV Barrel, both from Aero Precision provide a good foundation to work with. Add an upper receiver and an optic, and you’re in business.

Buying a Recce Rifle Off the Shelf

However, if you want an AR that’s more sophisticated than an M&P or a model from PSA and have neither the time nor inclination to build one yourself, there are some very nice Recce Rifles available right out of the box.

Bravo Company MFG 

Bravo Company Manufacturing (BCM) firearms have a stellar reputation for quality and value. BCM supplies guns to SOCOM as well as the Army, Navy, and Marines. Their RECCE-16 KMR-A 5.56 AR-15 Carbine is a great option if you’re looking for your own genuine Recce. If you want something with a longer barrel for a little more reach, they also offer their Bravo Company MFG RECCE-18 KMR-A with an 18″ barrel. BCM uses Hardcoat Anodized forged 7075-T6 aluminum for the upper and lower receivers, a chrome-lined bolt carrier, and an M4 feed ramp for reliable feeding.

SEE ALL BCM Recce DEALS

Daniel Defense DDM4 MK12

Daniel Defense also offers a nice off-the-shelf Recce. The Daniel Defense DDM4 MK12 has a cold hammer forged 18″ stainless steel barrel with a CNC machined 415 stainless steel Mk12 gas block built to Crane standards. The Geissele SSA1 2-Stage Trigger is smooth and crisp, and it features a free-floating DDM4 Rail 12.0 quad rail.

There are other options out there, but they will all set you back more than the cost of a mid-range AR. But they will also offer many of the features and the same configuration as those used by America’s elite warriors. 

SEE ALL Daniel Defense DDM4 MK12 DEALS

Conclusion

Does everyone need a Recce Rifle? Probably not. But with the world and our country seemingly slipping into a state of instability that motivated over 5.4 million people to become first-time gun owners in 2021, it might not be a bad idea to have something a little more potent than your micro-9 handy for a rainy day. With liberal government officials constantly on the attack to strip us of our 2nd Amendment rights, starting with anything they classify as an “assault rifle”, if you want one now might be the time to go for it.

Read the original story: The Recce Rifle: The Ultimate AR?