Canon

M392 DMR

From Halopedia, the Halo wiki

This article is about the model featured in Halo: Reach. For the model introduced in Halo 4, see M395 DMR.
M392 DMR
HR-Render-DMR angled.png
Production overview

Manufacturer:

Specifications

Length:

109 centimeters (42.9 in)[1][2][3][5]

Ammunition type:

7.62x51mm M118 Full Metal Jacket Armor-Piercing[1][2][3][5][6]

Feed system:

15-round box magazine[1][2][3][5]

Operation:

Gas-operated[5]

Service history

In service:

Insurrection
Human-Covenant War
Post-Covenant War conflicts

 

The M392 Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR), formally Designated Marksman Rifle, Caliber 7.62mm, M392,[6] is a gas-operated bullpup rifle used by the United Nations Space Command.[5] It is manufactured by Misriah Armory.[2][7]

Overview[edit]

A blueprint of the M392 DMR.

Design details[edit]

The M392 is an air-cooled, magazine-fed, gas-operated select-fire bullpup rifle that fires 7.62×51mm ammunition.[2][5] It accepts a fifteen-round detachable box magazine similar. The weapon has a mounted EVOS-D optic capable of 3× magnification. The weapon's fire selector switch (located above the grip) has three settings: SAFE, FIRE, and AUTO.[5] The magazine release button is located directly above the magazine well, behind the trigger. The weapon has an ejection port on either side so it may be used comfortably by a right- or left-handed shooter.[1][2][3][5][6]

The overall construction of the M392 is modular in nature, allowing it to serve as a versatile alternative to the predominant assault rifle and battle rifle lines used by the rest of the UNSC.

Usage[edit]

The M392 Designated Marksman Rifle was adopted into service in 2512, serving as the primary weapon of UNSC Army squad marksmen and reconnaissance units (presumably replacing the Insurrection-era M295 DMR). The weapon also found use with the Marine Corps and Air Force combat rescue teams during the Insurrection and much of the Human-Covenant War.[8] However, it was largely superseded by the BR55 battle rifle, especially following the introduction of the BR55's heavy-barreled variant in 2548.[2][5][6]

Nonetheless, due to its reliability and efficiency the M392 continued to see extensive use with the Army throughout the remainder of the conflict.[2][5] In the wake of the Covenant War the M392 is still in service with the Army as well as Marine Corps reserve units. However, use of the newer, sturdier M395 DMR (designed for use by Spartan operators) is more widespread.[8]

Variants[edit]

  • M392 Bandit: A variant of Misriah Armory's M392 manufactured by Sevine Arms, the Bandit is the standard-issue weapon for both the Gao and Venezian militias.[9] Two unique elements of this weapons design are the lack of the EVOS-D scope seen on the base M392 DMR and the Sangheili markings seen near the butt of the weapon.[4] These weapons have made their way into the ex-Covenant sphere as far as the colony world of Karava, wherein they are used by Sangheili mercenaries such as Zef 'Trahl.[10]
  • M392 Bandit Evo: A variant of Sevine Arms' M392 Bandit that features an Evo Holopoint sight with 1.6x magnification.[11]

In-game information[edit]

Halo: Reach[edit]

Main article: DMR

In order to deliver hits to a target at medium-to-long ranges, a pause after each shot with the DMR is required to allow the reticule to contract to its smallest possible size. Immediately firing upon reacquisition of target maintains the maximum rate of accurate fire. While at close-to-medium range, it is only necessary to allow the reticule to shrink enough that it is roughly equal to the size of the target before firing again. At extremely close ranges, it is unnecessary to allow the reticule to contract at all, and it is most effective to fire the rifle as fast as possible.

In multiplayer, the M392 can kill a fully shielded Spartan in five shots, provided the last shot is to the head. A skillful marksman can eliminate a shielded enemy with ease. This makes the DMR one of the most versatile weapons in-game; it is much more powerful than the BR55. Compared with the M6G magnum, the DMR has a slower firing rate in exchange for higher accuracy and larger magazine capacity, however it shares almost the same amount of damage.

Advantages[edit]

The DMR is a very precise weapon that fires hitscan projectiles, allowing it to engage targets well outside the range of other weapons. It also has considerable stopping power, making it effective against nearly all Covenant infantry, shielded or unshielded. The DMR is unparalleled in neutralizing unshielded enemies, as a single headshot is always fatal. This leads the M392 to be a weapon of choice against Covenant personnel that lack energy shielding such as Grunts, Jackals, Brutes, and Drones. It is deadly at very long range thanks to its hitscan properties, and can kill just as efficiently at close range. A melee followed by a headshot can dispose of an enemy in seconds.

Disadvantages[edit]

Despite its accuracy, precision, and power, the M392 has a few noteworthy drawbacks. To retain accuracy, the player must pace his/her fire to account for recoil, making the DMR have an effective fire rate only slightly faster than the sniper rifle. In addition, its magazine reserve (four, for a total of 60 rounds) is less than the sniper rifle's (five, for 20 rounds), meaning you have one less reload with the DMR. However, sniper ammo is much rarer than DMR ammo.

Halo Infinite[edit]

Semi-automatic firearm effective at medium range.[12]
Main article: Bandit
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Non-canon and dubious canon appearances[edit]

Silver Timeline[edit]

HTV-SilverTeam logo.png
This article contains information about the Silver Timeline, and is not a part of the established Halo canon.

M392 DMRs are used by John-117 and Vannak-134 in battles against the Covenant.[13]

Trivia[edit]

  • This weapon's semi-automatic functionality is similar to that of the battle rifle as seen in the 2003 Halo 2 E3 demo.
  • In earlier stages of the development of Halo: Reach, the M392 was stamped with the label "Armalite MG UNSC"; sharing a name with the real-world ArmaLite, Inc. The decal was removed in the final game and Halo: The Essential Visual Guide states that the weapon is manufactured by Misriah Armory.[2]
  • The DMR held only twelve rounds until quite late in the development of Halo: Reach, most notably in the game's multiplayer beta. The increased magazine capacity was likely intended to afford the possibility of attaining three kills with a single magazine. Also during the Beta, the background color and numbers of the M392's ammunition indicator were green instead of blue, and the numbers were more rounded. The scope's lens was a deeper shade of green than in the final game.
  • In the Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta the assault rifle was given to players' Spartan models in their service records, as in Halo 3. However, in the final game, this was replaced with the DMR. Similarly, Elites, who were formerly depicted carrying the plasma rifle, are now drawn carrying the Covenant equivalent of the DMR, the needle rifle.
  • The Halo: Reach manual has a printing error that reverses the "effective combat range" listings for the DMR and the sniper rifle, saying that the DMR is most effective at long range, while the sniper rifle is described as excelling at medium-range combat while being inadequate at long-range engagements.
  • In gameplay the DMR incorrectly ejects the casing of the 9.5×40mm round used by the BR55 battle rifle instead of the 7.62×51mm round which it actually fires.

Gallery[edit]

M392 Bandit[edit]

List of appearances[edit]

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 316
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 49
  3. ^ a b c d e Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 171
  4. ^ a b Twitter, Halo (@Halo): "A fine scalpel for mid-range combat, the M392 Bandit is greatly favored by militia groups on independent colonies and bears Sangheili markings that xenolinguistic experts have enjoyed decoding. #FictionFriday" (Retrieved on Mar 3, 2023) [archive]
  5. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Halo Waypoint, DMR (Retrieved on Feb 18, 2013) [local archive] [external archive]
  6. ^ a b c d Bungie.net, M392 Designated Marksman Rifle (Retrieved on Nov 14, 2014) [archive]
  7. ^ Halo: Reach manual, page 6
  8. ^ a b Halo Waypoint, DMR (Retrieved on Aug 30, 2021) [archive]
  9. ^ Halo Infinite, Weapons Bench description: "Sevine Arms manufactures its own variant of the M392 for Gao security forces and export markets. Made to the same high standards ars those from Misriah, the Bandit has found a home with both fractured UNSC forces and malcontents keen on ensuring Earth's power never again ascends."
  10. ^ Halo Waypoint, Canon Fodder - Echoes With-Dinh [archive]
  11. ^ Halo Waypoint, Ranked Update - Season 5 (Retrieved on Oct 14, 2023) [archive]
  12. ^ Halo Infinite, Academy - Weapon Drills - M392 Bandit description
  13. ^ YouTube - Paramount+, Halo The Series (2022) Official Trailer (Retrieved on Jan 30, 2022)