The U.S. Army’s New M110A1 Marksman Rifle Is A True Killer

19FortyFive ^ | 7/9/2021 | Eli Furham

[Onthebrink]

Last year, the U.S. Army began equipping its first units with the service’s new squad designated marksman rifle (SDMR) the M110A1. The use of the new SDMR will provide Army infantry squads with a very potent means of engaging targets up to 600 meters away, and is part of an effort to improve the performance of infantry weapons against effective modern body armors.

U.S. Army SDMRs, a Brief History

The use of SDMRs within U.S. Army infantry squads emerged as a result of fighting in both Iraq and Afghanistan, where it became clear that the Army’s M4 and M16 rifles struggled to cope with long-range engagements that were becoming increasingly commonplace. To compensate, the Army turned to a modified version of the M-14 rifle, a move already undertaken by U.S. Navy SEAL teams.

[Bulwyf]

Anyone that shoots like that is not my fire team partner heh.

[Bulwyf]

308 and 7.62 by 51 are the same thing.

[Bulwyf]

You should try an AR-10 in 6.5. Thank me later, it’s like cheating heh.

[Bulwyf]

You know I love the M14 as much as you do, but there’s more tweaking involved in mounting rails and optics on an M14 than an AR-10. There’s some skill sets that are probably eroding in some guys and it’s just easier to use the AR.

That said, there is no comparison to the trust M14 for reliability, nothing can stand up to it, not even an AK.

[Bruce Campbells Chin]

What's the big deal with firing close groups at 600 yards with a scoped rifle? Gyrenes qualification in the 60's was accomplished with rifle range qualifications requirement firing prone at 500 yard silhouette targets using the iron peeps with an M14.

The silhouette target we fired at 500 yards prone measures 20 inches by 40 inches. And while I know everybody commenting here nailed 10/10 every time, the MOA of this new rifle essentially means it would put rounds within an 8 inch bull at that same distance.

[OldGoatCPO]

$7K not including accessories, WTH?! You can pickup a .308 AR-10, from $1,500 to $3K (depending on model and manufacturer). They come with aluminum free floating rail system identical to the one pictured, with adjustable stock and detachable sling. Other items like suppressor and scope added separately. This is nothing new, except maybe the gas operating system if that reduces recoil. .308 in a light weight rifle carries some kick to it. Not sure Miley’s new generation combat soldiers could handle it otherwise. They are a more sensitive lot or so he tells us.

Owned one for years, paid less then $2k with red dot, sling added and bipod. I realized other than fun to shot I had no need for it. Already owned hunting rifles of similar or more powerful caliber and already had another MSR platform. Sold it, took a portion of the money and bought a 300BLK upper. Sadly, all my weapons, ammo and accessories were lost in a boating accident during the last hurricane.

[Bulwyf]

You’re not wrong, that was a political cluster.

Stoner’s design was the best hand’s down.

[SirFishalot]

LOL, 1.5 MOA would be about 9.5" @ 600M.

When I was was competing at Camp Perry, you had to be shooting well under 1 to even get in the rankings, and that's with iron sights. High Master classified shooters are hitting below .5 MOA.

[Fido969]

Hey, where’s the magazine?

Here ya go:'

[Myrddin]

308 and 7.62 by 51 are the same thing.

I have to disagree. My first 308 rifle was a Remington 700PSS. It has a SAAMI 308 Remington chamber with a pretty tight throat. I made the mistake of purchasing a box of 7.62x51 NATO spec ammo because I was told what you asserted. My reward was having the first round ignite as I closed the bolt. There are dimensional differences. You can chamber 308 Remington in a rifle chambered for 7.62x51 NATO safely, but not the other way around. I still have 19 of the 20 rounds from that box on my shelf in the safe. Today, I own both bolt and semi-auto rifles with 7.62x51 NATO spec chambers. The 700PSS gets a 308 Remington only diet.

[Myrddin]

You should try an AR-10 in 6.5. Thank me later, it’s like cheating heh.

Agree! I opted for the 24" bolt action for 6.5CM as most of the commercial ammo is spec'ed for that length and it is ideal for both a hunting and long distance target rifle.

The AR-15 with a 6.5 Grendel is pretty decent too. The Wolf 6.5 Grendel 100 gr ammo cycles well and Burris publishes scope calibration for that load. Sub-MOA all day long.

[OldGoatCPO]

Difference being iron sights in 60’s and 70’s versus modern optics. Hitting inside the ten ring at 500 meters with iron sights is no easy feat. Compound that with the difference in calibers. At 500 meters and beyond, the .308 has less drop then the .223 from the 60’s and 70’s. Modern .308 ammo can come with nearly the same velocity depending on the weight. Even heavier rounds have somewhere around 2600 FPS, lighter rounds at 3000 FPS. You cannot compare hitting consistently inside an 8in #10 ring with iron sights at 500 yards to being capable of hitting inside a 2 in ring with modern optics. I am not knocking modern optics, use whatever gives you the advantage. But a rifleman that can hit inside the 10 ring with iron sights at 500 meters would be even deadlier with modern optics properly dialed. Also, just an FYI, in the mid seventies at Edison range we fired at a standard target vice a dog target at 500 meters for qualification. We only fired on the dog target for the rapid fire portion.

[jeffersondem]

“308 and 7.62 by 51 are the same thing.”

I didn’t see the new rifle referenced as either a 308 or 7.62 in the article.

Maybe I missed it.

[Bulwyf]

It was in reference to another poster. I’m not sure what they chambered that in, but they’d probably want to stay in line with already established procurement, but then again, this is the government heh.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

I had to go to another article to find that. The new one also uses 7.62.

[Poser]

My sporterized 1903 A3 can do better than 1.5 MOA with surplus Korean ammo. It is a bit heavier than the new model and does indeed use a clip.

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Specs are here;

https://www.armyrecognition.com/weapons_defence_industry_military_technology_uk/m110a1_analysis_and_review_new_heckler_and_koch_squad_designated_marksman_rifle_for_us_army.html

[Hillarys Gate Cult]

Never was able to fire either but in JROTC I started with the M-14. They switched us to the 1903s. We liked the M-14 better as a drill weapon.

[taxcontrol]

While the article focuses greatly on the rifle, it should be mention that this is a re-adoption of the 7.62 x 51mm (.308 ish) round that was used by the AR-10, M-14, etc.

[familyop]

Not bad for a modified M-14. There are complaints in comments about that not being good enough. But if the Army coulda, woulda, shoulda, it would issue new 6.5 Creedmoor rifles to designated platoon marksmen.