• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
The Loadout Room

The Loadout Room

Professional Gear Reviews

Hardcore Gear and Adventure

Menu
  • Shooting
        • Pistol
        • Pistol Accessories
        • Rifle
        • Rifle Accessories
        • Shotgun
        • Machine Guns
        • Air Guns
        • Ammunition
        • Optics and Sights
        • Weapon Lights
        • Tips & How-To
        • Concealed Carry
        • Holsters
        • Suppressors
        • Precision Rifle Shooting
        • Firearms Training
        • TISAS_10100520_1__98179Tisas 1911A1 U.S. Army Review: Best Budget .45 ACP WW2 1911 Clone?
        • Photoroom_20250531_143432Pyramyd AIR’s Springfield Hellcat Pro CO2 BB Pistol Is the Ultimate Dry-Fire Trainer
        • image-112d3d00Helwan Brigadier 9mm Range Report
        • Photoroom_20250525_074933Juggernaut Tactical Frame Review: The Best Upgrade for Your 365
    • Close
  • Gear Reviews
      • Mission Gear
      • Camping Gear
      • Survival Gear
      • Medical Gear
      • Adventure & Travel
      • Knives & Tools
      • Overland
      • Disaster Preparedness
      • Footwear
      • Womens Gear & Clothing
        • ac65a540-2ef3-4598-8d11-afdf53f46e94.__CR0,0,970,600_PT0_SX970_V1___Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount HL-X: A Thoroughly Bright Review
        • Bluetti 2 handsfree power backpackBluetti Handsfree 2 Review: The Ultimate Power Backpack for Off-Grid Adventurers
        • The Gallagator 10 day pack on the shoreline next to a hiking trail.Day Pack – Mystery Ranch Gallagator 10 – The Best Yet?
        • PXL_20240209_171721326Pic of the Day, It’s Graduation Time
    • Close
  • Men’s Lifestyle
      • Fitness
      • EDC
      • Eyewear
      • Watches
      • Electronics & Technology
      • Downtime
      • Mens Clothing & Accessories
      • Manly Skills
      • Style & Grooming
      • Gentleman Drinks
      • Crate Club
        • redcat-blackwidow-articleheaderWar of Words: In the Ultra-Competitive Defense Tech Industry, Storytelling is a Secret Weapon
        • Photoroom_20250525_074933Juggernaut Tactical Frame Review: The Best Upgrade for Your 365
        • craft holstersCraft Holsters Makarov Tuckable IWB Holster Report
        • rs3CIVIVI RS71 Review : Big Blade Energy
    • Close
  • News
  • Video Demo
  • Buying Guides
  • Shop
  • Advertise
Rifle

The United States Secret Service is looking for a new 5.56 Rifle

April 14, 2017 by Scott Witner 3 Comments

The United States Secret Service is looking for a new 5.56 Rifle

The United States Secret Service is on the hunt for a new 5.56x45mm rifle. According to their request The United States Secret Service has a requirement for a 5.56 x 45mm rifle, equipped with full- and semi- automatic firing capability, for use in all environmental conditions, including when discreet carry and/or maximum concealment is required. The weapon shall be commercially available and exhibit a ‘manual of operation’ consistent with the existing/legacy M-16 family of weapons.

The Secret Service has also indicated that they will be utilizing the Mechanix Wear Vent gloves during testing. The magazines approved for the reliability and endurance testing are the Magpul PMAG 30 AR/M4, 5.56×45 magazines.

Below are the physical requirements listed out in their solicitation notice.

  • The weapon shall be operable, without modification or alteration, by a right or left-handed user, firing with the right or left hand, depending on handedness
  • All external metal parts of the weapon shall have a dark subdued, rust/corrosion resistant finish. The finish shall be unaffected by commercially available gun cleaning solvents, such as Simple Green, used in heated ultrasonic cleaning tanks. Flaking, peeling, blotching, etc. of the finish is unacceptable.
  • The weapon shall be chambered in accordance with current U.S. Military specifications for 5.56 x 45mm, and function with assorted ammunition ranging in weight from 55 to 77 grains (to include all common SAAMI-spec and Mil-Spec ammunition) as well as frangible ammunition.

Dimensional Requirements:

  • Height (no taller than, sights folded, w/o accessories or magazine) ……..…8.5 inches
  • Weight (no heavier than, w/o accessories) ……..………………………………..7.5 pounds
  • O/A Length (no longer than, w/stock fully extended)……………..………34 inches
  • Barrel length (min – max)…………………..….…………………….…10-12 inches
  • Rifling (5.56) ……………………………….……….……………….1 turn 7” inch twist RH

Operating System:

  • The weapon shall utilize a direct-impingement gas-operated system or a shortstroke gas piston system.

Barrel:

  • The barrel shall have a minimum service life of 15,000 rounds. Barrel service life is defined as a not exceeding 5 Minutes-of-Angle (MOA) and exhibiting no more than 125 ft/sec decrease in velocity (in accordance with USSS velocity testing procedures), with observance of offeror’s submitted maintenance protocols.
  • The barrel shall be free of cracks, seams, and other injurious defects and the bore and chamber shall be free of pockets, rings, bulges, and other deformations. The bore and chamber shall be chromium plated, or of equivalent corrosion resistance. Any coating in the chamber and bore shall be free of nodules, flaking, pits, stripping, anode burrs and evidence of etched base steel. Burrs and sharp edges shall be removed from the chamber edges, and bolt locking lugs.
  • The muzzle of the barrel should bear a thread size of ½” x 28 tpi, with shoulder geometry of 90.
  • The muzzle should be equipped with a flash hider device, installed with shims as necessary. Crush washers are not acceptable.

Mode of Fire:

  • The weapon shall be selective fire, i.e. semi-automatic and full automatic. A “burst limiter” in the full-automatic mode is not acceptable.

To read the notice it it’s entirety go HERE.

Photo courtesy of US Secret Service

Share This

About the Author

Scott Witner is the Editor of The Loadout Room and handles product sourcing for both Crate Club and Cuna Dog. He is a former Marine Corps Infantryman with 2ndBn/8th Marines and was attached to the 24th MEU(SOC) for a 6 month deployment to the Mediterranean. He has completed training in desert warfare at the Marine Air Ground Combat Center, mountain warfare and survival at the Mountain Warfare Training Center and attended the South Korean Mountain Warfare school in Pohang.

See All Scott Witner Articles

More From The Loadout Room

Comments

Primary Sidebar

Most Read

  • War of Words: In the Ultra-Competitive Defense Tech Industry, Storytelling is a Secret Weapon
    War of Words: In the Ultra-Competitive Defense Tech Industry, Storytelling is a Secret Weapon
  • M4A1 Block I: The Special Operations Origins of an American Icon
    M4A1 Block I: The Special Operations Origins of an American Icon
  • Bluetti Handsfree 2 Review: The Ultimate Power Backpack for Off-Grid Adventurers
    Bluetti Handsfree 2 Review: The Ultimate Power Backpack for Off-Grid Adventurers
  • Black Widow and the Brain: Palladyne and Red Cat Prove the Future Is Autonomous
    Black Widow and the Brain: Palladyne and Red Cat Prove the Future Is Autonomous
  • Mossberg 930: the affordable 12 gauge auto-loader
    Mossberg 930: the affordable 12 gauge auto-loader

Find Us on Facebook

Recent Comments

  • Ajita Sherer on The BAR: Browning’s Battlefield Sledgehammer
  • Jared Mize on MAC-10: The Wild History of America’s Most Iconic (and Overrated) Submachine Gun
  • Jared Mize on The BAR: Browning’s Battlefield Sledgehammer

Latest From SOFREP

News

Evening Brief: Nuclear-Armed States Spent Over $100 Billion in 2024, North Korea Refloats Warship After Failed Launch

Navy

Remembering Mike Day, Navy SEAL Silver Star Recipient

World

Rising Lion: Aftershocks, Fallout, and the Road to Round Two

Op-Ed

The Bolduc Brief: Refocusing Military Leadership – The Imperative of Warfighting Readiness Over Political Distractions

Military Content Group

© Copyright 2025 Military Content Group · All Rights Reserved.

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • Advertisers