April 26, 2007

The U.S. Army has begun issuing the M110 SASS (Semi-Automatic Sniper
System) to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. This weapon is a based on the
AR-10 rifle. The U.S. Navy has been buying a similar weapon, the SR25.
This is also known as the Mk11 Sniper Rifle System (SRS). These new
semi-automatic sniper rifles are 7.62mm weapons based on the designs of
M-16 creator, retired USAF Colonel Gene Stoner. The basis for the M-16
was the AR-15, and a 7.62mm version of that weapon was called the AR-10.
About half the parts in the SR25 are interchangeable with those in the
M-16.


The Stoner sniper rifles achieved its high accuracy partly by using a 20
inch heavy floating barrel. The "floating" means that the barrel is
attached only to the main body of the rifle to reduce resonance (which
throws off accuracy.)



The M110 weighs 17.3 pounds in combat, and about 70 pounds with all
components of the system. The M110 can use a ten or twenty round
magazine. The 40.5 inch long rifle can have a six inch tube attached to
the barrel, which reduces the noise and flash made when the rifle fires,
and largely eliminates nearby dust rising into the air, which often
gives away the snipers position.



Previously, many snipers have had success using tuned up M-14s (from the
1960s) as sniper rifles. While semi-automatic and rugged, the M14 wasn't
designed to be a sniper rifle. The AR-10 was a better model for a
semi-automatic sniper rifle, since it is inherently more reliable and
accurate. As far back as World War II, it was known that there were many
situations where a semi-automatic sniper rifle would come in handy. But
it's taken over half a century to solve the reliability and accuracy
problems.



The M110 will gradually replace the bolt-action M24 over the next few
years.

in ramadi we used the sr 25 with a can on it, worked well, dont know
about the other one, cant wait to see it.



doc

Ah but does it have the range, punching power and knock-down at range of
a barrett.

A 7.62 MM, which is the same cartridge as the Winchester 308, with a 20
inch barrel would have slightly better balistics than a 30/30. Most
balistical data is obtained in either 24 or 26 inch test barrels, for
every inch you take off the barrel length you loose about 60 fps of
velocity. 7.62 MM in a 26 inch test barrel with a 168 gr bullet will
have a muzzle velocity of around 2600 fps. 30/30 With a 26 inch test
barrel will have a muzzle velocity of around 2100 fps with a 170 gr
bullet. Subtract 360 fps off the velocity of the 7.62 MM for the 6
inches that were hacked off the barrel and you have a weapon with a
muzzle velocity of a bit more than 2200 fps. That is not exactly what I
would want in a long range sniper rifle. But then it does have a high
capacity magazine so that the current military philosophy of spray and
pray can be implemented. But when will the military learn that it is
not the number of shots you put down range that count, it's the ones
that hit the target. Added to that the weight of almost 18 lbs combined
with 70 lbs of add on components makes this a highly portable weapon as
long as it is jeep mounted. The bolt action M-24 that it is intended to
replace is actually a Remington Model 700 target rifle if I am not
mistaken with a 24 inch heavy bull barrel. It is highly accurate at
extreme ranges but it has a slow rate of fire because it is bolt action.
As for the hype about the barrel being free floating, every sporting
rifle made for the last 75 years or more has had a free floating barrel
or one that is solidly fiberglass bedded from one end to the other.
There is one other method that is used on some sporting rifles that is
free floating with the exception of the last few inches at the fore end
of the stock where the barrel is allowed to contact the stock material.
The M-14 was never designed to be a sniper rifle but on it's worst day I
bet it will still be better than this high tech P.O.S will ever be on
it's best day. I have used an M-14 and Iam alive because of it. You
couldn't give me an M-16. Stoner's forte is interchangable components on
inferior weapons. Having an Air Force Colonel design weapons for the
army makes about as much sense as asking General Patton to design jet
aircraft.

we used the barret too in ramadi, got some great shots of it in
action...

forge as far as your ballistical data, yes it is all relative and
meaningful in certian situations, however for the fight in iraq, and
other countries that are like iraq as for as how the urban terrain is,
it doesnt matter.

we used barrets to cover long distances and to stop vehicles, we used
the sr 25 and the m14 as designated marksmen rifles for the in town
sniper stuff, and truthfully the weak assed m4 did just as much damage
in the particular fight that we were/are in. ramadi baby, crazy freaking
place, 1-506th airborne infantry.




doc (oh i was attached to a scout/sniper platoon- fun times)