Army using new sniper rifle

Strategy Page:

The U.S. Army has begun issuing the M110 SASS (Semi-Automatic Sniper System) to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan....

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.

...

For some reason no link was given to a photo of the new rifle. The six inch tube that attaches to the barrel is not shown. Snipers are important fighters in this war for many reasons and one of the most important is that the enemy uses non combatants as human shields. Snipers can pin point the bad guys and take them out. I want to thank David A. Lutz, Lt. Col. USMC (Ret'd), VP Military Operations, Knight's Armament Company for providing a correct photo of this weapon. Click on the image for a larger view.