Review of S&W Volunteer XV Pro Designated Marksman Rifle

In the not-too-distant past, a gap in battlefield weaponry was noticed between the infantry carbine and the sniper rifle. Aside from the firearms themselves, the soldier fielding them would have also undergone a completely different form of training. Therefore, a need grew for a rifle that could reach out further than the standard M4 yet still rock and roll when things got up close and personal. If it were geared toward intermediate distances, that would also mitigate the training involved to get hits on man-sized targets. With that, the Designated Marksman Rifle, or DMR, was born. By giving the best shooter in the squad this platform, they can continue to aid in dynamic maneuvers yet reach out and touch a distant threat with single-shot precision.

Shooting the S&W Volunteer XV Pro DMR in 6mm ARC

The concept was an immediate success and quickly found itself limited by its ammunition. What was needed was a cartridge that could carry more energy yet still fit the AR-15 platform. In 2020, Hornady introduced us to the 6mm ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge), and the package was complete, well, sort of. Realistically, a concept and a cartridge aren’t anything until there is a firearm to put it all together. Meet the S&W Volunteer XV Pro DMR, an extension of the faithful M&P 15 line built to push further and hit harder.

I first laid hands on this rifle at the 2023 Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous. A big proponent of the 6mm ARC, this brought my first chance to fire a commercially built AR in this chambering. Off nothing more than a sandbag, I put ten consecutive rounds on a 6-inch DOA steel target placed at 300 yards. Yearning for more distance and time on the gun, I requested one shipped home, where I had at least twice 600 yards without batting an eye.

When it arrived, I was able to see it in its naked form. Surprisingly, the Williams flip-up sights come standard, which I would have never expected. At the same time, I found out that the PRS Muzzle Brake was also a stock component. Also in the box was a 25-round magazine, which is an interesting inclusion for a rifle that is going to see more supported shooting than anything else. I’m all about standard-capacity mags, but when they interfere with positions like bench rest and prone, they become a nuisance.

Shooting the S&W Volunteer XV Pro DMR in 6mm ARC.

Bring the Metal

Luckily, 6mm ARC runs through the same mags as 6.5 Grendel, so I supplemented it with a 20-round Duramag that I had from a previous test. Although I embrace modern cartridges and firearms, I am an old man when it comes to AR magazines. I have experienced significant failures with nearly every brand of polymer mag out there, and as such, I stick with metal whenever I can. I have a mixed bag of Duramags, 75 in total, that remain filled, and have seen close to a decade of rough service in our AR course at Renaissance Firearms Instruction. Not a single one has failed or even jammed, for that matter.

Smith & Wesson optimizes the user experience with the DMR through a well-executed furniture set from Bravo Company. Its B5 grip offers a more vertical angle that is gaining favor with precision shooters across the globe, while the stock from the same lineup contains a molded cheekrest on either side. In compromised positions, sometimes the only shot you have is off the other side of your body, so I thought this was an excellent move. Lastly, it accommodates a wide variety of slings, ensuring that it is ready for patrol with a single-point sling.

For the most part, Smith & Wesson left the controls mil-spec to retain a familiar manual of arms. The exception to this is the oversized Radian Raptor charging handle, which lends expedited manipulation to a scoped rifle. The trigger comprises a further departure from Mil-Spec, thank god. Instead of dragging a curved brick rearward, Smith upgraded this rifle with its flat-face trigger bow that I measured to break at just 5 pounds, 6 ounces.

Smith & Wesson Volunteer XV Pro DMR rifle.

Rounds Downrange with the S&W Volunteer XV Pro DMR

Getting it ready for our range date didn’t take much effort. When you decide to glass up Stoner’s design, don’t forget that you are already at eye level with the receiver. This straight nature is responsible for the lack of muzzle rise and the platform’s collective controllability. With that in mind, mounts like the Burris PEPR position the ocular lens right where it needs to be for a comfortable cheek weld. In it, I placed their RT-6 low-power variable optic, which is built with considerations for both short- and long-range engagements. A 1x setting and an illuminated broken circle reticle deliver speed that rivals most red dots, while the 6x setting offers enough zoom for silhouette shooting and clearly marked bullet drop compensation hash marks for snap shooting out to 600 yards.

Opting for a Caldwell Tack Driver X bag or rest instead of a bipod, only picking ammunition remained. Hornady has had a lock on the 6mm ARC manufacturing for a few years, but I attribute that to raw material availability. I say this because now that they are catching up on their backorders, we are starting to see other ammo makers roll out their version of it. One such is Black Hills, adding a load to their Gold Line. Using Hornady’s 103-grain ELD-X bullet, it makes an excellent hunting round, allowing civilians to capitalize on the virtues of the DMR concept.

First-Round Impacts at Range!

The other two were part of Hornady’s initial 6mm ARC launch, and those are the 105-grain Black load and the 108-grain MATCH round. The relationship between the two is unique, as price isn’t a representation of accuracy. In most cases, I have seen the Black outperform the MATCH, particularly at closer ranges when there isn’t any wind involved. However, when you stretch things out or add a breeze, the MATCH will group tighter.

My opening shots reminded me exactly how soft shooting this rifle was, a product of the PWS muzzle brake combined with the rifle-length gas system. However, seeing it for the first time on paper exposed me to some incredible out-of-the-box consistency. Five-shot sub-MOA accuracy was achieved with the Hornady Black, while the MATCH trailed not too far behind. The Gold opened up a little more, but that’s the price of lethality. Besides, it was still minute of deer inside of 500 yards, so given their blazing velocity, I’d say they were built just right.

Benchrest paper punching is an unfortunate part of the job, especially with rifles like these. I look at it as an opportunity to gather accuracy and velocity data in preparation for the firearms true task. In this case, that’s field shooting from sub-optimal support. My home range is littered with PRS props, including the iconic tank trap. We also have two MOA steel plates all the way out to 600 yards. Using only the Caldwell bag and the 300-yard hashmark, I held and landed a first-round hit at that distance.

Final Shots

Cheerful that the subtension lined up with the target distance, I pressed out to 400, 500, and even 600 for immediate success. This was all confirmed through the use of Horandy’s HIT target indicators, as the moron dumping a mag on the other side of the range wanted to make sure I wouldn’t be able to hear even a hint of a ping. I will say that they were only half as useful as they can be when compared to harder-kicking rifles, as 6mm ARC recoil is light enough to stay on target throughout the bullet’s entire flight.

Next, I wrapped things up by confirming a similar, if not identical, point of impact with the other rounds of ammunition, revealing even more utility in this configuration. I love the idea of practicing with the less expensive Black line and then competing or hunting with the pricier Hornady MATCH or Black Hills Gold, respectively. Adding this factor into the equation allows for a one-word summary of the Smith & Wesson Volunteer XV Pro DMR: handy. Hornady and S&W have done a fine job of enhancing a time-tested platform and opening it up to use beyond its history. Overall, I found it to be a comfortable rifle to shoot that will equally serve the needs of the home defender, hunter, or long-range precision competitor.

For more info on the S&W Volunteer XV Pro DMR, visit smith-wesson.com.

Hornady HIT Target Impact Indicator

Spotting impacts by yourself can be a little tough, particularly on a busy range where neighboring gunshots might cover up any audible feedback. Many years ago, the idea of a lighted target hit indicator came to fruition, but they had a few issues. First, the price tag. These early devices cost nearly $200, which isn’t conducive if you want to set up an entire target array.

Second, they required direct mounting to the plate, which is prohibitive on targets that are not your own. Hornady’s HIT Target indicator solves this problem by attaching to the target’s support fixture via an elastic band. This allows them to be placed easily on virtually any setup. Furthermore, the connection is sturdier than glued-on hook & loop fasters, ensuring they don’t fall off in the middle of a match only to get destroyed by spall from the next shot. I know; what if they get hit? Well, with the right placement, that is less likely to happen, and in the off chance it does, each costs less than a box of centerfire ammo. (hornady.com)

Burris RT-6 + Mount

Because a DMR is only a part-time sniper rifle, one needs to expand on its long-range capabilities without sacrificing its CQB prowess. The Burris RT-6 does just that through its 1-6x power range, speed ring, and BDC hash marks out to 600 yards. Although it is calibrated for 5.56 ammo, the reticle is set in the second focal plane, allowing you to tweak impacts just by adjusting the magnification. I mounted it using the company’s PEPR (Proper Eye Position Ready) mount, which aligned the optic perfectly with my eye and pushed it far enough forward to safely fire the weapon with the stock fully collapsed. Additionally, its quick-detach hardware allows me to quickly rip it off if I need to resort to my iron sights. However, by picking the right glass, I doubt I’ll ever take advantage of this feature. (burrisoptics.com)