DOE Designated Marksman Course – Feat. JAKL-10

The JAKL-10 .308 has arrived, arming shooters with a semi-automatic battle rifle platform featuring a novel design. The list of full-powered, long-stroke gas piston systems is short, encompassing icons like the M1 Garand, the Romanian PSL, and now, the JAKL-10. To celebrate the release of the JAKL-10, we’re taking it for a spin and shooting one of the designated marksman courses.

A Designated Marksman (DM) is assigned a semi-automatic, semi-precision rifle. This rifle is typically used within a military or police force to provide precision fire at moderate range and expand a squad’s effective reach. The JAKL-10 delivers full-powered rifle rounds and could certainly be an effective DMR.

The Department of Energy (DOE) maintains a serious, highly trained security force. They have stringent qualifications for rifles, handguns, and shotguns, as well as specialized weapons like grenade launchers, machine guns, and precision-oriented firearms. They offer nearly half a dozen different precision rifle qualifications. Today, we’ll be tackling one of their more basic designated marksman qualifications.

Due to the range demands of the other courses, we have to stick with the basic DMR course. Sadly, those advanced precision rifle courses require moving targets, which I cannot access. Today’s Designated Marksman course has us shooting at 100 yards and in, making it quite achievable for most shooters.

What You Need To Shoot The Designated Marksman Course

To shoot this course, you’ll need a rifle with an optic, preferably magnified. The qualification often mentions removing scope covers, which seems a bit silly to me. The course allows the use of a bipod, but I opted to run it “raw” and bipod-free. You’ll need at least one magazine, but two will make life easier. We only need 24 rounds, which is fantastic because .308 isn’t cheap.

I’m using the JAKL-10 with a Maven CRS.3 4-20×50 FFP scope. I’m shooting Remington 150-grain FMJs. It’s a bare-bones, basic setup, but it will shoot straight enough for this challenge. You only need one target, but don’t forget your eyes, ears, and a shot timer. Each Designated Marksman stage has a time limit, so a shot timer is essential.

No Bipod – No Problem

Part of the qualification involves undoing your bipod and getting it into action, which adds about half a second to each drill. Since I didn’t have a bipod, I simply started with my magnification set to the opposite position it needed to be. If I was far from the target, the magnification was at 4X; if I was close, it was at 18X.

That added the same half-second necessary to create a little more challenge during each of these drills. If I were to shoot it again, I’d definitely bring a bipod and probably a sling.

Shooting the Designated Marksman Course of Fire

Alright, let’s get to shooting. We’ll start at the 100-yard line and progressively work our way closer to the target. I’ll follow exactly what the DOE Designated Marksman qualification calls for, even if I’m not using a bipod.

Stage 1 – 100 Yards – 4 Rounds Fired

Start with the rifle in the low ready position, scope caps closed, bipod (if applicable) up, magazine inserted, but chamber empty. At the signal, load the chamber, open the scope caps, deploy the bipod (if applicable), and assume a prone position. Fire two rounds into the center mass of the target. You have a total of 20 seconds.

You’ll repeat this drill twice.

Stage 2 – 50 Yards – 8 Rounds Fired

Begin with the rifle with the bipod up (if applicable), four rounds in the magazine, and an empty chamber. At the signal, load the gun, assume a kneeling position, and fire two rounds center mass. Next, deploy the bipod (if applicable), assume a prone position, and fire two more rounds center mass. You have a total of 20 seconds to complete this.

Repeat this drill one more time.

Stage 3 – 25 Yards – 4 Rounds Fired

Start in the low ready. You have two rounds in your magazine, but the chamber is empty. At the command to fire, chamber a round and fire two rounds center mass. At this range, it sounds easy, but you have to compensate for height over bore while shooting through a magnified optic. While it’s close, this portion of the designated marksman course still requires precision.

Repeat this drill one more time.

Stage 4 – 15 Yards – 6 Rounds Fired

For the first time, we are starting with a round chambered and six rounds in the magazine. At the beep, you’ll aim and fire two rounds center mass and one well-aimed headshot. That’s right—this is a classic failure-to-stop drill. It’s a little tougher than you’d expect at 15 yards with a magnified optic and a heavy recoiling rifle. You have five seconds.

Repeat this drill one more time.

Stage 5 – 15 Yards – 2 Rounds Fired

We are sticking close and starting with the rifle loaded—one in the chamber and one in the magazine. Start in the low ready, and at the signal, aim and fire one well-aimed headshot. You’d better know your height over bore compensation, or that head will be much harder to hit. You have four seconds to complete this drill.

Repeat this drill one more time.

Palmetto State Armory JAKL-10 .308

Live Inventory Price Checker

	PSA JAKL 14.5" Rifle Length .308 1:10 Nitride KeyMo MOE EPT B&T Stock Rifle, FDE	Palmetto State Armory	$ 1499.99
	PSA JAKL 14.5" Rifle Length .308 1:10 Nitride KeyMo MOE EPT F5 Stock Rifle	Palmetto State Armory	$ 1499.99
	PSA JAKL 14.5" Rifle Length .308 1:10 Nitride ASR Flash Hider MOE EPT B&T Stock Rifle	Palmetto State Armory	$ 1499.99
	PSA JAKL 14.5" Rifle Length .308 1:10 Nitride ASR Flash Hider MOE EPT F5 Stock Rifle, FDE	Palmetto State Armory	$ 1499.99

Cold Range

This Designated Marksman course is short, simple, and sweet. It’s also fun and demands precision at a variety of ranges. I’d say this is a good beginner’s course, but not one that’s particularly difficult to understand. It’s enjoyable, and for a guy like me who loves shooting and trying his hand, it’s a blast. Give it a try, and let us know what you think below.

Palmetto State Armory JAKL-10 .308 | A Modern Battle Rifle

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About Travis Pike

Travis Pike is a former Marine Machine Gunner, a lifelong firearms enthusiast, and now a regular guy who likes to shoot, write, and find ways to combine the two. He holds an NRA certification as a Basic Pistol Instructor and is the world’s Okayest firearms instructor.