M110 SASS (Semi-Automatic Sniper System)

History of the M110 SASS (Semi-Automatic Sniper System)

The M110 SASS (Semi-Automatic Sniper System) is an anti-personnel sniper system developed and marketed by Knight's Armament Company of Titusville, Florida, USA. The firearm is part of a complete semi-automatic weapons package, with the rifle as the main component and accessories, only adding to the tactical scope of the entire assembly. The weapon was introduced in 2007 as a result of the US Army's need to replace the venerable Remington M24 Sniper Weapon System (SWS), a tried and true bolt-action system that fires the widely accepted 7.62x51mm NATO ammunition cylinder. Since the U.S.-led invasion in 2003, the M24's main limitation has been when encountering target-rich environments, such as those in Iraqi cities.

The bolt-action system proved to have a limited overall attack capability, while forcing snipers to lean towards the left-wing secondary weapon in self-defense - becoming a tactical obligation in the field. The search is now for a semi-automatic form that has inherent repeat fire capability and is fed by a higher capacity magazine.

In many respects, this new weapon is similar to the modern "Designated Marksman Rifle" (DMR), rather than the traditional "sniper" element, a skill often awarded to class operators and known in the British and Israeli armies as a "sniper" "Sniper" and was called "designated shooter" by the US authorities.

In the 2005 competition, Knight's Armament's design was recognized as the winner and awarded the US Army M110 "Semi-Automatic Sniper System" (SASS) designation. The weapon retains the M24's 7.62x51mm NATO chamber, although it is now fed from a 10- or 20-round detachable magazine. Shooting is carried out by semi-automatic action using pneumatic pistons and rotating bolts. In many ways, the M110 is a heavily modified Armalite AR-10 derivative with enhanced tactical capabilities and enhanced logistical capabilities to better align with the AR-15 family and similar firearms.

The M110's improved rate of fire and penetration will work well in active theater as it was developed using five years of accumulated post-deployment combat reports.

Externally, the M110 mimics the long-accepted AR-10/AR-15/M16 family of automatic weapons. The fixed stock is plastic to save weight and is integrated with the receiver that contains the necessary internals.

The weapon features an ergonomically well-angled pistol grip and the magazine is in the usual position in front of the trigger group. A heavily perforated heat shield/handguard runs in front of the receiver and covers a long barrel, revealing some length in front of the gun. The muzzle is covered by a slotted flash suppressor, while noting support for an optional silencer. The receiver, hand guard, and heat shield all contain lengths of MIL-STD-1913 rails, allowing a variety of accessories to suit the operator's needs. In its usual configuration, the M110 has a standard XM151 3.5-10x variable sight on the receiver and an adjustable, foldable bipod below the gas cylinder.

The weapon is cocked in the usual AR-15/M16 fashion with a handle system located at the rear end of the upper receiver. The M110 operator can carry the rifle on a sling or shoulder as usual, while the rifle and all applicable cleaning supplies and maintenance tools come with a hard and soft case.

The original M110 example was delivered to U.S. Army units operating in Afghanistan in 2008, and the results proved gunshots. The M110 was used in combat by the famous Afghan 82nd Airborne Division. The 7.62x51mm NATO cartridge provides excellent penetration at ranges exceeding the US Army's standard 5.56mm assault rifle, and the semi-automatic repeat-fire capability allows for quick reaction/quick strike capability, a SWS unmatched by the M24.

Using precise optics only makes the M110 a feared weapon among insurgents. If the gunner himself is attacked or surrounded by advancing insurgent forces, he can quickly convert his M110 into a dedicated semi-automatic assault rifle and fight his way to safety - a feature not available in the bolt-action M24 SWS series.

Also, since there is no operable bolt handle, the shooter simply needs to focus on the target and keep his finger close to the trigger.

Despite this description, the US Army has never avoided the use of its large number of M24 SWS weapons. Instead, the M110 was adopted alongside the type it was intended to replace, meaning the tried and true bolt-action rifle would last longer on the modern battlefield.

Considering the rise of designated shooters at the squad level since then, this has proven to be a good adjustment. The USMC also liked the updated M110 and carried it along with the older M40 series bolt-action rifles from the 1960s, intended to replace the similar Stoner Mk 11 (SR-25) and M39 "Enhanced Marksman Rifles" ... (EMR) series is stocked with M110.

The prolonged use of the M110 prompted the US Army to request that a more compact, lighter version of the M110 be issued to their designated observers. The main shooter then receives development.

The 300 Winchester Magnum chambered "XM2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle (ESR)" was designed to officially replace the M24 SWS series, a task the M110 failed to accomplish. The XM2010 has been in limited use by the US military in Afghanistan since March 2011.

Update: On April 2, 2012, the U.S. Department of Defense announced a purchase contract for the M110 SASS from the Knights Armament Company for a total of $24,909,740 (contract W15QKN-12-D-0029). The contract is expected to be fully completed on March 21, 2017.

On April 1, 2016, it was announced that the M110 would be replaced by Heckler & Koch's competing "Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System" (CSSS) - the main reason given by the US Army was the need for a more compact, shorter and more reliable , a lighter sniper platform for designated shooters. The service is expected to procure more than 3,600 rifles.

The CSASS is based on the existing HK G28, armed with a 7.62mm NATO caliber - the HK 417 (Designated Marksman Rifle) in DMR form.

The M110 is currently in service with Argentina (Federal Police), Armenia (Special Forces), Colombia (Army), Greece (Special Forces), Iraq (Special Forces), Mexico (Special Forces), Poland (Special Forces), Senegal (Army), Turkey (Special Forces) and the United States.

October 2018 - The U.S. Marine Corps has allocated up to 116 M110A1 Compact Semi-Automatic System Systems (CSSS) in the 2019 budget to replace the original M110 model.

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