M392 DMR

The M392 Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR), formally known as the Designated Marksman Rifle, Caliber 7.62 mm, M392, is a select-fire rifle used by the United Nations Space Command. The M392 DMR once saw more widespread use throughout all branches of the UNSC Defense Force, though it has been superseded by the BR55 Battle Rifle, especially since the latter weapon's heavy-barreled variant was introduced in 2548. Nonetheless, it is still fielded extensively by the Army.

Design details
The M392 Designated Marksman Rifle is an air-cooled, magazine-fed, gas-operated select-fire bullpup rifle that fires 7.62x51mm ammunition. It takes a fifteen round detachable box magazine, similar aesthetically to the BR55. The weapon has a mounted EVOS-D optic capable of 3x magnification, and it possesses a fire selector switch located above the grip of the weapon. This switch has three settings: SAFE, FIRE, and AUTO. The M392 also has a magazine release button which is located directly above the magazine well, behind the trigger. The weapon has two ejection ports, one on the left and right hand sides of the weapon, respectively, so that a left or right-handed shooter can fire the weapon.

Operation
The M392 DMR's intended battlefield application is similar to that of the BR55 Battle Rifle, fulfilling a role as the most effective medium-to-long range weapon in the UNSC arsenal. It is intended for experienced operators with proficient skill in shot placement and "controlled firing" since the recoil from multiple shots must be controlled to effectively deliver maximum damage to the target and to ensure that the target is neutralized at the fastest possible rate. Due to the introduction of an expanding reticle, the DMR requires a considerably higher proficiency in controlled firing and precision than the BR55 to attain successive hits.

Gameplay
"The single-shot DMR fits somewhere between the sniper rifle and the battle rifle. It's deadly at range, but a quick trigger finger and careful aim assure that even at medium to short distances it packs a punch."

- Game Informer

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 reticle 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 reticle 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 reticle 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 to 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
The M392 is a very precise weapon with very fast projectile speed, 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 M392 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 Unggoy, Kig-yar, Yanme'e, and Jiralhanae.

Disadvantages
Though being a precise, powerful weapon which in the right hands has the capability of engaging targets at long range, the M392 has its drawbacks. To retain shooter accuracy, the shooter must pace their fire to account for recoil, making the DMR have an effective fire rate only slightly faster than the SRS99-AM Sniper Rifle.

Trivia

 * This weapon's semi-automatic functionality is similar to that of the Battle Rifle as seen in the 2003 Halo 2 E3 demo.
 * 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.
 * A design similar to that of the DMR is featured in The Art of Halo 3 as a concept design for the Halo 3 battle rifle.
 * The name of this weapon as a "designated marksman rifle" indicates that it was designed for use in squad-based combat, and not as a dedicated sniping tool. In the U.S. military, designated marksmen provide long-range support to their platoon. This contrasts with snipers, who operate in small teams and receive more specialized marksmanship training.
 * Originally, the DMR had only 12 rounds per magazine. However, some time after the Halo: Reach Multiplayer Beta, this was increased to 15 rounds per magazine, likely so that it is possible to get three kills without the need to reload.
 * Subscribing to Bungie Pro will give the subscriber a DMR nameplate. These are icons displayed next to the user's gamertag in Halo: Reach, similar to the septagon in Halo 3.
 * In the game, the DMR incorrectly ejects the casing of the 9.5x40mm round used by the BR55 Battle Rifle instead of the 7.62x51mm round which it actually fires. This is made more confusing by the fact that the MA37 Assault Rifle is also chambered for the 7.62x51mm round, yet it and the M392 do different amounts of damage per shot (though this could be due to the M392 possibly using a different type of ammunition; FMJ and AP are not very effective against flesh).
 * 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.
 * In the Halo Reach Multiplayer Beta, the background color and numbers of the M392's ammunition indicator were green instead of blue.
 * When the player activates the DMR's scope, a small pointer rotates toward the top of the screen that indicates the zoom factor. The pointer stops at 3x, but there are also marks for 2x and 1x; the player cannot use the lower zoom settings in-game.

List of appearances

 * Halo: Reach