M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System

The M110 Semi Automatic Sniper System (M110 SASS) is an American semi-automatic sniper rifle/designated marksman rifle that is chambered for the 7.62×51mm NATO round, developed by U.S. firearm manufacturer Knight's Armament Company.

Overview

The M110 SASS with AN/PVS-10 Sniper Night Sight.

The M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System is intended to replace the M24 Sniper Weapon System used by snipers, spotters, designated marksman, or squad advanced marksmen in the United States Army. However, the U.S. Army still acquired M24s from Remington until February 2010.^[2] After witnessing the effects of USSOCOM snipers and extensive after-action reports from SOF snipers throughout the Iraqi theater of operations, the U.S. Army ran a competition involving several designs, including rifles from Knight's Armament Company, Remington, and DPMS Panther Arms. On September 28, 2005, the Knight's Armament Co. rifle won the competition and was selected to be the supplier of the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System. The XM110 underwent final operational testing in May and June of 2007 at Fort Drum, New York by a mix of Special Forces troops and Sniper trained soldiers from the 10th Mountain Division. In April 2008, U.S. Army soldiers from Task Force Fury in Afghanistan were the first in a combat zone to receive the M110. The troops rated the weapon very highly, noting the quality of the weapon and its semi-automatic capabilities compared to the bolt-action M24. The United States Marine Corps will also be adopting the M110 to replace some M39 and all Mk 11 as a complement to the M40A5.^[3] It is manufactured by Knight's Armament Company in Titusville, Florida, though the complete system incorporates a Leupold 3.5–10× variable power daytime optic, Harris swivel bipod, AN/PVS-26 or AN/PVS-10 night sight and PALs magazine pouches of yet unpublished origin. The rifle has ambidextrous features such as a double-sided magazine release, safety selector switch, and bolt catch.

Design

The rifle is similar to the SR-25/Mk 11 Mod 0, but differs significantly in buttstock and rail system design. The SR-25, Mk 11 Mod 0, and M110 are based loosely on the original AR-10 developed by Eugene Stoner but feature additional refinements instituted by KAC to maximize parts commonality with the AR-15 design, improve weapon reliability, and increase accuracy.

The main differences between the Mk 11 and M110 are improvements suggested by a user group meeting between NAVSPECWAR, USASOC and USA in 2007:

• The rail system used: the KAC Free Floated RAS on the Mk 11 is replaced by a URX modular rail system with integral folding front 600-meter back-up iron sight.
• The M110 buttstock: fixed, though the buttplate is adjustable for length of pull to match user preferences. Adjustment can be made without tools via a notched hand-tightened knob on the right-hand side of the stock. This feature was added during the change from XM110 to M110. The fixed buttstock also features integral quick-detachable sling swivel sockets located on each side of the stock near the rear of the lower receiver.
• The addition of a flash hider to the barrel of the M110, which also necessitates a modified QD Suppressor unit similar to that on the Mk 11.
• The M110's use of KAC's one-piece 30 mm scope mount instead of two separate scope rings.

On June 12, 2008, the M110 was ranked #2 on the U.S. Army's top ten inventions of 2007.^[4]

According to performance specification (MIL-PRF-32316 (AR) w/AMENDMENT 1, 5 October 2009):

3.4.1.1.1 Accuracy. The distance between the mean point of impact of each shot group, both unsuppressed and suppressed, shall be not greater than 1.1 inches at 300 feet.

3.4.1.1.2 Dispersion. The average mean radius (AMR) (see 6.11), of each shot group shall be not greater than to 0.68 inches at 300 feet. All targets shall be fired on using M118LR ammunition or equivalent, using five (5) round groups.

Replacement or reconfiguration of M110

In April 2011, the U.S. Army issued a request to the private sector to reconfigure or replace the current Knight Armament M110 sniper rifle as the current version of the M110 was not functioning well in the field requiring significant maintenance and replacement of parts.^[5] The U.S. Army responded to the referenced article clarifying that the rifle was functioning perfectly and they are just looking for a smaller, lighter version of M110 for the spotter in a sniper team, providing the sniper is equipped with the new XM2010. "The spotter will have an urban sniper support weapon which will be the M110. … Now you’ve increased the lethality of the team…"—Program Manager LTC Chris Lehner.^[6]

The specifications the U.S. Army has issued are as follows:^[7]

1. Operation: Semi-automatic
2. Caliber: Compatible with 7.62×51mm NATO cartridges
3. Accuracy: Capable of 1.3 minute of angle dispersion or better with match ammunition
4. Size: Overall length shall be reduced using a shorter barrel and/or collapsible buttstock. Maximum length not to exceed 39 without suppressor. Desired minimum length is less than 36 with stock collapsed.
5. Weight: Weight shall be under 9.0 lb for unloaded rifle without optics and accessories
6. Grip: A modular, adjustable pistol grip.
7. Trigger: A non-adjustable match style trigger.
8. Hand guard: A forend that includes a fixed 12 o’ clock rail with configurable 3, 6, and 9 o’ clock rails.
9. Sound suppressor: A muzzle mounted, detachable sound suppressor.
10. Muzzle device: A compensator/muzzle brake compatible with the sound suppressor.
11. Bipod: Tool-less detachment featuring cant and pan/track capability.
12. Day optic: An Army specified variable power day optic and compatible rings.
13. Back up sights: Iron sights offset 45 deg from the DOS.
14. Sling attachment: Flush cup, quick detach sling attachment points.
15. Other: The upgraded M110 must meet the operational and environmental requirements that were fulfilled by the original M110 SASS.

CSASS

In July 2012, the U.S. Army requested sources to remanufacture the current M110 rifle into the Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System (CSASS). The CSASS will be a shorter and lighter version of the M110. It will have a collapsable stock and removable flash suppressor, giving it an overall length of 36 inches and a weight of 9 pounds unloaded. The Army wants a capability to convert 125 rifles per month, with the ability to increase to 325 per month. This is seen by some as an attempt to replace the venerable Mk 14 EBR.^[8] The Army formally requested proposals for the CSASS in June 2014. The rifle must have a flat dark earth coloring, weigh 9 lb (4.1 kg) or lighter when unloaded with no accessories, have an adjustable stock, be 36 in (910 mm) or shorter with the stock fully collapsed and no suppressor, and have a 16 in (410 mm) barrel.^[9]

Sporting use

In 2009, the M110 rifle and commercial equivalents were added to the list of NRA-legal US service rifles under rule 3.1.6 of the NRA High Power Rifle Rules.^[10]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System.

• Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier
• M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (SASS) Fact sheet
• Knight's Armament Company product page on the SR-25 Series Rifles, includes the M110
• Video demonstration of the M110 from Military Times
• Gun-World.net gallery of the XM110 (Chinese)
• Global Security page on the M110

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