The Army’s Newest Sniper Rifle Isn’t A Sniper Rifle

By Bob Owens

The iconic image of a military sniper is similar to the one above, where the muzzle of a highly-accurized bolt-action rifle pokes out between blades of long grass and the rough burlap of a ghillie suit.

So why is the U.S. Army purchasing something that’s less accurate and shorter-ranged?

The Army has chosen a new semi-automatic sniper rifle, replacing the M110 which entered service in 2008.

According to reports by the Army Times, the winning rifle was the Heckler & Koch G28. According to the the company’s website, the G28 is a version of the HK 417 battle rifle — itself a variation of the AR-10 rifle.

This came after a 2014 request for proposals for a more compact version of the M110. The M110 is being replaced despite the fact that it was named one of the Army’s “Best 10 Inventions” in 2007, according to M110 manufacturer Knight’s Armament website.

So, what is behind the replacement of a rifle that was widely loved by soldiers after it replaced the M24 bolt-action system? According to Military.com, it was to get something less conspicuous as a sniper rifle. The M110 …Read the Rest

Source:: Bearing Arms