Navy Seal Sharpshooter Pirate Blaster Gun, Mark 11 Model 0, Wins over Army
Mark 11 Mod 0
The recent recent rescue of an American ship captain from Somali pirates has drawn a bit of attention on the weapons skills of the Navy sharpshooters and the weapons they utilized.
The captain was rescued after the Navy sharpshooters were able to kill three of the pirates under the cover of darkness and using only three shots. The rifle, the Mark 11 Model 0, has something of a back story to it.
The Mark 11 Model 0 is a highly sophisticated mid range sniper rifle which shoots a .308 caliber, also called the 7,62x51mm NATO round. It is a 20 round semi-automatic. Originally conceived as a military research and development project, funding was dropped prior to the completion of the project and prior to any purchases. Nevertheless, Reed Knight and Eugene Stoner continued on with development on their own, using Knight’s firm, Knight’s Armament Co. as the manufacturer. The concept behind the gun was simple, to build upon the AR15/M16 so as to minimize parts replacement, but with the accuracy of a high end, bolt action sniper rifle.
Without military money, the Knight’s Armament Co. entered its costly rifle (at about $8,000) in target matches and swept the deck. Civilian purchases kept the product alive and its reputation was such that in May of 2000, the Seals, which have far more discretionary weapons purchasing ability than other units, ordered 300 of the rifles. Later elite Marine sniper units were issued the Mark 11.
They were quickly the envy of the Army, Army Rangers, and Army Special Forces who were using the venerable bolt action, 10 round, Mark24.
Military.com has reported that, after a couple years of field testing by elite units, the Army is about to get its gun.
Army version, the XM110 SASS
From Military.com:
“It’s not just elite Navy SEALs who get to plink their sniper targets with a new high-speed semi-auto rifle designed to replace their Vietnam-era, bolt-action predecessors. Soon even Joes scanning mountain redoubts in craggy Afghanistan will have the same tools to take out insurgents that elite Frogmen do.
Making a sharp break from the traditions of American sharpshooters in combat, the Army is fielding a new sniper rifle that blends the mid-range accuracy of the current M24 bolt-action rifle with the increased capacity and rapid firing rate of an M-16.”
…
On September 28, 2005, the U.S. Army awarded KAC a production contract for the XM110 SASS and by April of 2007 soldiers in Afghanistan became the first in a combat zone to receive the M110.
The M110 is based on KAC’s combat-proven SR-25 (and similar to the SEAL’s Mk-11 Mod 0) which, in turn, is loosely based on Eugene Stoner’s AR-10. The M110 features many refinements over its kin aimed at maximizing parts commonality with the standard-issue M16 and M4 service rifles, improved reliability and increased accuracy.
The M110 uses a URX modular rails system with folding front back-up iron sights. Like the Mk 11, the buttstock is fixed but an adjustable buttplate gives the user the ability to set the length of pull. On both sides of the stock are integral quick-detachable sling swivel sockets positioned near the lower receiver. The changes made to the stock, the addition of a two-sided bolt catch and a locking button on the folding front sight were the only improvements made to the XM110 in its transition to become the M110.”
A 7.62 NATO bullet leaves the muzzle faster than the speed of sound, creating a small sonic boom that dissipates over distance as the bullet slows to a sub-sonic speed. It’s estimated that beyond 600 meters, a sniper can shoot and appear silent to the target. In urban areas where sound bounces off walls, the KAC suppressor assists with a sniper’s concealment by confusing the source of the shots. If a sniper takes his shot at 800 meters or beyond, he could make multiple anti-personnel shots without the enemy even being aware.
The first soldiers to receive the M110 were snipers from the 4th Brigade, 10th Mountain Division who obtained their rifles in time to train before deploying with them.
“Our focus is to try to get this weapon to units prior to their deployment,” Meeker said. “We don’t want to field it to them in theater. We would rather train them here on the ground in a peacetime environment, and then have them outfitted with the best and newest equipment as they go forward on the battlefield.”
Knight’s Armament Co. Has a pretty good web presence with lots of fun stuff for gun types. You can also purchase one online.
by pat
Image – Quarterbore – SR-25 FF RAS on MK 11 Mod 0 Sniper Rifle System
Image – -XM110 SASS
While the Mk 11 is an awesome mid-rage weapon, at least one eyewitness reports that the SEALs aboard Bainbridge were using the much bigger Barrett .50 cal. Although in the event they were shooting at (for them) point-blank range, they likely expected to be much further off, and they also needed a round which could penetrate windows without deflecting.
Reply
Pat Reply:
April 19th, 2009 at 20:21
Bill, the accounts I read says that they went with the more appropriate MK11. I do not doubt that they brought a few Barrett’s with them, the the 94 SEALs, all of which did an ocean jump and swim to get to the USS Bainbridge, were reported by witnesses to have had with them the standard issue MK4 and Mk11. But time will tell.
Reply
I seriously doubt they considered using the Barrett. The Seals would have wanted the ability of a quick follow-up shot in that situation, and the Barrett’s recoil would have made that difficult. I’ve shot the SR25 in competition and training, and it’s excellent out to about 5-600 yards, especially if you need multiple accurate shots, but after that its weakness in accuracy and muzzle velocity relative to the bolt action rifles begins to be noticed. I’ve also broken its extractor in the middle of a final shooting test, so I’d worry a bit about its reliability in an extended mission.
Reply
pat Reply:
April 22nd, 2009 at 02:53
Your target analysis is the same as mine. . And thank you for the comments on the MK11s weaknesses. Very helpful.
Reply
On the second picture that says THE ARMY VERSION M110 SASS the weapon shown is actually a Heckler&Koch HK417 with 20” barrel. The HK417 is a 7.62x51mm gas piston operated rifle and has better reliability in dusty and maritime environments than a gas impingment system used on the M110. This is why some supadupa US special forces switched to the smaller brother of the HK417 the HK416. As long as Colt keeps participating in army testing with DI weapons companies like H&K, FN and perhaps others are increasing there chances of becoming the supplier of small arms for US soldiers in the future.
For more info on the little brother of the HK417 the HK416 see: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vjMH94PuT_I
Reply
[...] Report: Libertarians, Ron Paul Supporters as Potential Domestic Terrorists – March 15 09 * Navy Seal Sharpshooter Pirate Blaster Gun, Mark 11 Model 0, Wins over Army – April 19 09 * Diane Downs, Small Sacrifices Murder Mom, up For Parole – Dec 9 09 * [...]
You fucking guys are gay. where the fuck do you get your information. My sources tell me they used and 88magnum “it shoots through schools and assholes. Shove it right up your asses
Reply
Admin Reply:
March 11th, 2010 at 02:00
We rarely respond to drunks and Muslims. But because you are both, say goodbye.
Reply