Ohio Ordnance Works just sent out a press release inviting interested parties to look at its new REAPR Recoil Enhanced Automatic Precision Rifle at SHOT Show 2024. This is happening against the backdrop of SOCOM’s search for its Lightweight Machinegun Medium (LMG-M). With all of the attention focused on SIG Sauer’s delivery of MG 338 machine guns to SOCOM in 2020, it seemed like the force had made its choice.
But, we’re getting backchannels reports that SOCOM’s purchase of an unreported number of SIG MG 338s was for a small number of evaluation guns and that its LMG-M competition continues.
We are aware that the SOCOM competition was down to three systems offered by SIG Sauer, Lone Star Future Weapons, and Ohio Ordnance Works and we’d seen press about two of the entrants, but OOW had yet to reveal any information publicly about its weapon system until today.
Along with an public invitation to see the REAPR at the company’s exhibition booth 70405 at SHOT Show 2024, it also said photos and a specification sheet will be made available next week.
While OOW refers to the REAPR as, “a revolution in modern military general purpose machine guns (GPMG)” and not a “lightweight medium machinegun” per se, it goes on to say the weapon is, “Designed to exceed SOCOM military specifications,” a clear indication of the company’s positioning REAPR for use by Special Operations Command.
While few details were offered, OOW shared the following features:
- Lightweight Design
- Chambered in 338 Norma Magnum
- Compatible with a 7.62 NATO conversion kit
- Simple and robust receiver
- Tool-less field stripping
- One-handed barrel changes
- Modular, transportable design that breaks downs into three components in under ten seconds
OOW says REAPR is available now in small quantities with full volume production beginning April 2024.
