XM110 SRSS Sniper Rifle Fielded
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In this war, snipers matter. Soldiers from Task Force Fury in Afghanistan became the first unit in a combat zone to receive the USA’s new XM110 sniper rifle. Unlike previous sniper rifles like the M24, which have mostly been bolt-action weapons, the 7.62mm XM110 is a semi-automatic weapon with a higher rate of fire thanks to its 10 or 15-round magazines. A metal tube that fits over the barrel of the rifle significantly reduces the weapon’s observable signature when fired, dissipating the blast and eliminating the tell-tale cloud of dust that would otherwise rise off the ground in locations like Iraq and Afghanistan.
Army Magazine notes that the XM110 arose as a result of field requirements from units looking to engage light-skinned vehicles and obstacles as well as personnel with a 7.62 mm weapon that would be good in a close urban fight as well. The requirement for a new semi-automatic sniper system was released at the end of 2004, and drew formal responses from 5 candidate systems. In the end, the SASS contract was awarded in late September 2005 to Knight’s Armament Company of Titusville, FL, who submitted a modified version of the Mk11 MOD0 weapon that was descended from their SR-25 and used by Navy SEAL teams. Changes include the above-mentioned suppressor that changes the dynamics but not point of aim/point of impact; different mounting rails; different trigger components; an ambidextrous safety selector; different weapon color; “drag bags”; carrying cases, and shipping containers. The rifle also has a new sniper-spotting scope (Mark 4/ XM151) manufactured by Leupold
The program office is also using SASS with a new sniper-spotting scope. “We’re also qualifying the XM151 spotting scope that has the same reticle in it that the sniper sees in the Mark 4 scope on the XM110,” said Army product manager Lt. Col. Kevin P. Stoddard back in July 2006. Both scopes are manufactured by Leupold, and the new spotting scope will also facilitate the spotter mission when the team is operating with other sniper weapons.
