M395 DMR

This article is about the model introduced in Halo 4. For the Halo: Reach variant, see M392 DMR.

The M395 Designated Marksman Rifle (M395 DMR) is a gas-operated marksman rifle designed by Misriah Armory and used by the United Nations Space Command.^[1]^[2]

Overview

The M395 DMR is the successor to the M392 model, which was used throughout the Insurrection and the Human-Covenant War. The newer model was designed to accommodate Spartan operators and is consequently heavier.^[3] Though the M392 was discontinued from Marine Corps and Navy service in favor of the BR55 series, the M395 is fielded by all branches of the UNSC. It is used primarily by light infantry scouts requiring powerful, long-range precision fire.^[1] M395's are intended for use by personnel who can take advantage of smart-linked telescopic sights.^[4]

Design specifications

The M395 is an air-cooled, magazine-fed, gas-operated semi-automatic bullpup rifle that fires 7.62x51mm ammunition, with a maximum effective range of 950 meters.^{[note 1]} It accepts a fourteen-round detachable box magazine in contrast to its predecessor's fifteen-round magazine. Unlike its predecessor (capable of semi-automatic and fully automatic fire) the M395 is restricted to semi-automatic fire.^{[note 2]} The weapon's mounted optic is capable of 3x magnification. The ambidextrous magazine release buttons are located directly above the magazine well, behind the trigger. The safety, also ambidextrous, is mounted slightly behind the trigger.

Variants

The M395B Designated Marksman Rifle

M395B Designated Marksman Rifle

The M395B's scope lacks the external ammo counter of the M395 and has an increased magazine size of 15. Very minor cosmetic differences can be seen, such as the shorter cheek rest. Often fielded with a Longshot Sight^[4]^[5].

Recon M395B: DMR with Recon sight. Marine Force Recon configuration that emphasizes ease of handling and mid-range accuracy.
Sentinel M395B: DMR with Sentinel sight. Precision configuration with variable-zoom 4x/6x optics, used by unaugmented UNSC snipers.
Hybrid M395B: DMR with Hybrid sight. This variant is an improvised configuration used by Swords of Sanghelios warriors on joint patrols.
COG M395B: Increasingly popular configuration offered for sale in civilian markets on the frontier.

M395B Attachments

Long Barrel: Increases range of bullet magnetism and aim assist.
Laser Targeter: Increases weapon accuracy by reducing bullet spread.
Silencer: Firing the weapon does not make the user show up on enemy radar. However, walking still gives away the user's position.
Stabilization Jets: Helps control vertical recoil.
Kinetic Bolts: Augments knockback and damage against vehicles.
Energy Bayonet: Increases melee damage and range, allowing for a one-hit kill against normal opponents.
Knight blade: Increases melee effectiveness, with extra damage and knockback against vehicles.
Extended Magazine: Increases both ready and reserve ammunition capacity by 50%.
Threat Marker: Tracks targeted enemy personnel for a short time.
Sound Dampener: Increases effective range and reduces firing signature.

Gameplay

The DMR takes one more trigger pull to kill than the battle rifle, thus having a slightly slower kill time. However, due to its semi-auto fire mode, 3x scope magnification, and lack of muzzle climb, the DMR is more effective at longer ranges. This makes it much more desirable on larger maps with open sightlines. The DMR falls short of the Lightrifle's long range effectiveness, but is still somewhat flexible at medium and close ranges and has a larger magazine. Arguably, this makes the DMR one of the most utilitarian weapons in Halo 4.

Changes from M392 DMR in Halo: Reach to M395 DMR in Halo 4

One less round per magazine
Default extra magazine limit decreased from 4 (60 rounds) to 3 (42)
Heavily decreased bloom, with maximum bloom not exceeding the outer reticle

Changes from M395 DMR in Halo 4 to M395B DMR in Halo 5: Guardians

New scope lacks an external ammo indicator
Bloom is toned down to the point of near non-existence.
Once again has a 15 round magazine, with total reserve rounds of 45.

Trivia

In the final release version of Halo 4, the HUD icon for the M395 is actually that of the M392 DMR from Halo: Reach. Ironically, some pre-release screenshots of the game show a different HUD icon depicting the correct version of the weapon, albeit lacking the front sight.
As with the M392 DMR in Halo: Reach, the M395 erroneously ejects spent M634 X-HP-SAP shell casings rather than the M118 7.62x51mm round it actually uses. In addition, the weapon's in-game model lacks an ejection port. In Halo 5: Guardians, this continues to be the case with the M395B, though the model has been given an ejection port. On a related note, the BR85N now ironically ejects the M118 shell casings that should belong to the DMR.
The UNSC Infinity Briefing Packet erroneously states that the M395 uses a fifteen-round magazine.^[6] While this is true of the M392, the M395 carries fourteen rounds. However, a variant of the M395, the M395B, does use a fifteen-round magazine.

Gallery

Normal Gallery

Concept art of the M395 DMR for Halo 4
Concept art of the M395 DMR, final build
Old HUD icon of the M395 DMR
An old render of the M395 DMR. Note the missing front sight and blurred UNSC insignia.
An old schematic of the M395 DMR. Note the missing front sight.
A first-person view of the M395 on Haven from an earlier build of Halo 4
Updated HUD icon incorrectly showing the Halo: Reach M392 DMR
A profile of the M395 Designated Marksman Rifle
The view through the DMR's scope
A view through the M395 DMR's scope on Shutout
Halo 4 Infobox
Another view through the M395 DMR's scope on Haven
John-117 wielding an M395 in Halo 4
Commander Sarah Palmer holding an M395
Holly Tanaka using an M395 during the Mission to Cleyell in Halo: Escalation
Agent Jameson Locke holding an M395 in Halo: Nightfall
A render of the M395B from the pre-Beta development stage of Halo 5: Guardians
The DMR on Truth in the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta.
Smart Scope with the DMR in the Halo 5: Guardians Multiplayer Beta.
First-person view of the M395B on Riptide in Halo 5: Guardians.
Smart scope with the M395B in Halo 5: Guardians.
A Promethean Soldier with a M395B on Raid on Apex 7.
The M395 DMR on Riverworld in Halo Online.

Halo 4 skins

NBL(Noble) skin
BNS(Bones) skin
MCL(Monocle) skin
Dmr STP.png

STP(Striped) skin

Halo 5: Guardians variants

First-person view of the Recon M395B.
Smart scope with the Recon M395B.
First-person view of the Sentinel M395B.
4x zoom of the Sentinel M395B.
6x zoom of the Sentinel M395B.
First-person view of the Hybrid M395B
Smart scope with the Hybrid M395B

Halo 5: Guardians Skins

Recon DMR with Silencer - Clash skin
DMR greenmachine.png

Green Machine
Prestige
Gold Standard
Last Dawn
Blue Steel
Aurum
Master Control

Videos

List of appearances

Halo 4 (First appearance)
- Spartan Ops
- Infinity Briefing Packet
Halo: Spartan Assault
Halo: Escalation
Halo: Nightfall
Hunt the Truth
- All Hail
Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series
Halo 5: Guardians
Halo Mythos: A Guide to the Story of Halo
Halo: Tales from Slipspace

Note

^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named range
^ Unlike the M392, what appears to be the M395's fire-selector switch has only two settings; the first is represented by a horizontal line and the second is represented by two parallel, diagonal lines. This is presumably the rifle's safety switch given the lack of any apparent safety elsewhere on the weapon. The first and second positions settings would thus correspond to Safe and Fire, respectively.

Sources

^ ^a ^b Halo 4 Official Site: Ordnance + Armor
^ Game Informer: The Arsenal of Halo 4
^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named universe
^ ^a ^b Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - Locke and Load
^ Halo 5: Guardians
^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named brief

[range-5] Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named range

[select-fire-6] Unlike the M392, what appears to be the M395's fire-selector switch has only two settings; the first is represented by a horizontal line and the second is represented by two parallel, diagonal lines. This is presumably the rifle's safety switch given the lack of any apparent safety elsewhere on the weapon. The first and second positions settings would thus correspond to Safe and Fire, respectively.

[O.2BA-1] Halo 4 Official Site: Ordnance + Armor

[GI_522012-2] Game Informer: The Arsenal of Halo 4

[universe-3] Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named universe

[LAL-4] Halo Waypoint: Canon Fodder - Locke and Load

[H5G-7] Halo 5: Guardians

[brief-8] Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named brief

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