M392 DMR

This article is about the model featured in Halo: Reach. For the model introduced in Halo 4, see M395 DMR.

Template:Weapon Infobox The M392 Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR), formally Designated Marksman Rifle, Caliber 7.62 mm, M392,^[1] is a gas-operated bullpup rifle used by the United Nations Space Command. It is manufactured by Misriah Armory.^[2]^[3]

Overview

Service history

A blueprint of the M392 DMR

The M392 Designated Marksman Rifle was adopted into service in 2512, serving as the primary weapon of Army squad marksmen and reconnaissance units. 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Air Force combat rescue teams during the Insurrection and much of the Human-Covenant War.^[4] However, it was largely superseded by the BR55 battle rifle, especially following the introduction of the BR55's heavy-barreled variant in 2548.^[2]^[5]

Nonetheless, due to its reliability and efficiency the M392 continued to see extensive use with the the Army throughout the remainder of the conflict.^[5]^[2] 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.^[4]

Design and operation

The M392 is an air-cooled, magazine-fed, gas-operated select-fire bullpup rifle that fires 7.62x51mm ammunition.^[2]^[5] It accepts a fifteen-round detachable box magazine similar. The weapon has a mounted EVOS-D optic capable of 3x 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.

The M392 DMR's intended battlefield application is to provide accurate fire at medium to long range. 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.

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^[3]

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

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.

Disadvantages

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.

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.
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 gameplay 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.
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 early concept art the M392 was stamped "Armalite MG UNSC", leading to the assumption that the weapon was manufactured by the real-world ArmaLite, Inc. However, this stamp is not present in the final game and Halo: The Essential Visual Guide states that the weapon is manufactured by Misriah Armory.^[2]

Gallery

DMR Concept.png

Early concept art of the DMR, derived from the BR55, for Halo: Reach.
HaloReach - DMR Concepts.png

More BR55-influenced concepts for the DMR
A rear-angle view of the M392 DMR from Halo: Reach Beta. Note the digital ammo counter readout says 12 rounds instead of the usual 15 rounds.
An in-game profile view of the M392 DMR
A turnaround reference of the DMR
Angled right-side view of the rifle
A first-person view of the M392 DMR
A fresh M118 7.62mm magazine being inserted
The reticule of the EVOS-D scope
The 3x zoom of the M392
A Spartan-III wielding an M392 Designated Marksman Rifle
SPARTAN-B312 wielding an M392 DMR
A profile view of M392 DMR from Halo Waypoint, with Armalite labeling
Spartan Carlo Hoya using an M392 DMR during the Battle of Aktis IV in Halo: Escalation.