M110K1 Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System

M110K1 Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System

In July 2012, the U.S. Army proposed the Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System (CSASS) plan to replace the current M110 sniper rifle . The basic requirements of CSASS are to shorten and reduce the weight of the M110, and to equip it with a telescopic stock and a detachable flash suppressor. The Army requires at least 125 M110s to be modified per month, and finally 325 per month. Although there are no clear requirements, KAC almost immediately launched a sample gun named M110K1. Then the U.S. Army formally proposed the clear requirements of CSASS in June 2014, with a total length of no more than 36 inches (about 910mm), an empty gun weight of no more than 9 pounds (about 4.1kg), and a barrel length of 16 inches (410mm) without a flash suppressor. These requirements are almost tailor-made for the M110K1 (in fact, the indicators are set according to the characteristics of the KAC M110 carbine, which can basically be regarded as the requirements after the internal decision) . So although CSASS has not been finalized, it is almost certain that KAC will win the bid. LaRue even announced that it would not participate in the CSASS project because it did not see the possibility of winning the bid. However, there are still other firearms manufacturers willing to participate in the bidding (or voluntarily accompany the bidding), such as FN, which launched the CSR-20 to participate in the CSASS bidding, and SIG, which also launched the .308 caliber MCX as a CSASS sample gun.

In fact, as early as the 2011 SHOT SHOW, KAC exhibited a weapon called M110 Carbine (soon renamed SR-25 EMC ), which was actually the SR-25K with a 16-inch barrel and URX handguard ordered by the Delta Force and renamed it for sale on the commercial market. This CSASS prototype is basically a large muzzle flash suppressor/recoil brake installed on the SR-25 EMC , and the upper rail of the handguard is extended forward. In the Army's plan, CSASS is still called M110E1, but in order to avoid confusion in the name of its own products and affect the accuracy of the order, KAC temporarily called the CSASS prototype M110K1.

Regarding the CSASS plan, some people think it is to replace the SR-25K equipped in special forces , while others think it is to replace the existing M14 EBR . In fact, the real reason is that the Army did not find it necessary to make the M110 so long until 2012, because the M110 could not replace the M24, and as a semi-automatic precision shooting support weapon, a shorter and lighter one would be more flexible. That's why the CSASS plan was proposed. Although the Army did not set the specific requirements for the CSASS until 2014, the Raiders, a special forces unit under the Marine Corps Special Operations Command (MARSOC), are already using the KAC M110K1.

Although the barrel of the M110K1 is only 16 inches, a lean camel is still bigger than a horse. The short-barreled 7.62 NATO caliber rifle is still stronger than the 5.56 NATO in terms of range, accuracy and damage effect. Moreover, the short-barreled 7.62 NATO rifle can also be used for CQB. According to Delta team member Shrek, he used a 16-inch .308 (referring to SR-25K) in Iraq. When he fired a shot indoors, the ears of the enemies who did not wear earmuffs could be shaken to bleed (see the article on electronic noise reduction headphones . The gunshot of 7.62 NATO is much louder than that of 5.56 NATO) , and even stun grenades were saved. However, most of the M110K1s currently announced are equipped with a short silencer. Although the silencer effect is not as good as the long one, it can greatly alleviate the huge noise emitted by the short-barreled rifle.

Although KAC's M110K1 conversion kit has a price advantage, the US Army refused to spend money to modify the existing M110 and preferred to re-tender. After bidding, in 2016, the US Army finally selected HK's G28E as the new M110A1 CSASS.

Delta Force commando Shrek took a photo next to the MH6 "Little Bird" helicopter. The rifle in his hand should be the SR25K with the URX handguard replaced.

The M110 used by Delta Force snipers on helicopters is equipped with a low-magnification, wide-field scope and a vertical front grip. It is obviously not intended for long-range sniping.

Instructors from the Special Forces Sniper Course, using the M110K1, participate in the 2012 U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) Sniper Competition.