Army to Buy $12,215 Sniper Rifles from Heckler & Koch
What can you do with $12,215.00? Well, you could buy a new Polaris RZR ATV, a really nice bass boat, 234 shares of Verizon, or 643 bottles of Jack Daniels Old #7. Or, if you are the U.S. Army, you can buy one (1) semi-auto sniper rifle, plus some spare parts. The U.S. Army announced recently that it will replace its M110 Knights Armament-made sniper rifle with a new, lighter 7.62×51 semi-auto rifle from Heckler and Koch. H&K will supply a slimmed-down variant of its G28 Rifle called the Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System (CSASS). The potential max contract value is $44,500,000 for up to 3,643 rifles (and spare parts). That works out to $12,215.21 per rifle*. At that price, it better be good.
The military says the G28 system is lighter and more compact than the 15.3-lb M110 produced by Knights Armament Company (KAC). The G28 is certainly more compact, given its 16.6″ barrel. But somebody seems to have forgotten that velocity is lost with a shorter barrel. A longer barrel will deliver significantly higher MV for better long-range ballistics. Nevertheless the Army thinks portability trumps ballistics: “Compared to the M110, the CSASS will be easier to carry, handle and maneuver in close-quarters combat. It will lighten the load for carrying over rough terrain for the longer-range ridgeline to ridgeline fight. These improvements will not sacrifice existing performance, accuracy or reliability.”
Hmmm… “Not sacrifice existing performance”? We’re not sure how that can be the case. The current KAC M110 Sniper Rifle (shown below) has a 20″ barrel. The basic G28 has 16.6″ (421 mm) barrel). Perhaps the final CSASS production version of the G28 will be fitted with a longer barrel?
Here’s what various sources report: “On 1 April 2016, the Army announced it had awarded Heckler and Koch a contract with a maximum value of $44.5 million as winner of the competition to replace the KAC M110. H&K is to produce 3,643 rifles. A goal of the effort was to give snipers a weapon that didn’t “stick out” as a sniper rifle; with a suppressor, the current M110 is 46.5″, that’s 13″ longer than the M4 carbine. A minimum of 30 CSASS units will be used for production qualification testing and operational testing over 24 months. H&K later confirmed that a modified G28 had indeed been selected as the CSASS rifle. The G28 is nearly 2.5″ shorter and 3 pounds lighter than the M110 (unloaded and without a suppressor) and will cost about $12,000 per rifle.”
Comment: We’re not so sure about this deal. $12.2K is a lot of money for a souped up AR10. The KAC M110, by all accounts, has performed well in combat and has a good reputation with sniper teams. When introduced, the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System (SASS) won a U.S. Army award as one of the “Best 10 Inventions” of 2007. The M110 is highly acclaimed for its battlefield performance. If the military wanted a shorter rifle, it simply could have fitted a shorter barrel and a collapsible buttstock on existing M110s. That would have saved millions of dollars. But saving money is, apparently, not one of the Pentagon’s priorities these days.
* This HK firearm is sold as a CSASS system. Typically, the price per system unit will include optics, attachments, fitted hard case, and spares.
It’ll be very interesting to see how he 421mm barrel works out – assuming the final version sticks to that. The Bryan Litz designed 175gn Berger OTM Tactical that’s also loaded in his ‘Mission Ready’ammo and was designed with 20-inch / 508mm barrel semi-autos to retain precision and stability at trans and sub-sonic speeds will be in even greater demand. I’ve just donated a box of these rare as hen’s teeth bullets to Vince Bottomley for a Target Shooter magazine review of a 16.5-inch barrel Italian Victrix tactical rifle. VB says he wants to use it in one of our 900 or 1,000 yard F-Class matches on windy Diggle Ranges. He’ll be sorreee!
Got to say I feel really jealous though – 3,600 plus rifles being bought only six or seven years after the excellent M110 SASS was introduced in large numbers. Our (British) MoD eventually caught on to the ‘Designated Marksman’ concept after our guys suffered from lack thereof in Afghanistan for years and bought all of 400 odd Lewis Machine & Tool 7.62 semi-autos for the same role (designation ‘Rifle L129A1 ‘Sharpshooter’) to be shared between Army and Royal Marine units, the rifles handed over to new users as they were rotated into the middle east. £1.5 million expenditure – just over 2 million US Dollars at today’s exchange rate. If past experience is a guide, our poor troops will be using them in future wars in 30 or 40 years time!
The Army can live with the 16.6″ barrels. Their concept of employment for snipers is the 300-800 meter engagement window. If it’s farther than 800 meters, indirect fires are employed.
More than a dumb move, a mistake.
Here is an AR clone camouflaged in a sniper rifle. The barrel is waaay too short and the gun will require some custom-souped up ammo in order to perform at least above average and the AR style cocking device is a NO GO weak feature on a military rifle. You’re just playing Russian roulette when you go to war with an automatic rifle without a REAL cocking handle.
No mention of twist rate? If it is 1/8 then you can see the work done by DARPA on sending 308 projectiles out of a short fast barrel accurately.
And the extra length of a suppressor is not a hindrance.
But, as always, we design our war-fighting equipment for the last war and this seems to reflect a tactical battle based as much on urban scenarios as open country.
Will they go with the S&B contract?
The price is not per rifle, but per system, which usually includes optics, attachments, case and spares.
End-users have been begging for a shorter, lighter rifle for some time. It eliminates the need to carry an M4 in urban environments. The M110 was long and unwieldy for a kitted up sniper wearing body armor, especially the stock.
Urban engagements aren’t that long nor does the 16.6″ barrel give up much velocity to the 20″ barrel. It won’t be much of a detriment considering the ammunition the big army already utilizes.
On the price, that’s on par with the Knight’s rifle. This is a good move for end-users, arm-chair commandoing aside.
Always want the best for the buds downrange and yes I’ve been there but compatibility with SR25 mags would be a good idea vs H&K proprietary mags. I’ve fire a LOT less expensive AR-10 style rifles(minus the high dollar optics and night vision capability admittedly) 100 percent reliable and 1.5 MOA with irons. Just have a hard time wrapping my head around the cost of H&K and is it really THAT much better?
Archaic maybe, however, I think that Americas Best should be using American made. Yeah,yeah we’re all friends now, blah, blah, one world. (Puke.) If we are to waste 45 million dollars, couldn’t it be for, dang it I don’t know, …doing…..something…..? Just got a new Ruger mkiii, oops need to replace it, they’ve got a new one in green for seven times the price.
“The price is not per rifle but per system…”
nice, but I can get S&B scope for 3k, case for 0,3k, rifle for let’s say 3-4k and we’re total @ around 7k $$. And I am not talking about group buy of 12.000 units and discounts coming out of that, but for single system.
Somebody is going to put a nice piece of pie into his pocket…
Don’t forget contracts like this usually include a service and maintenance contract along with the rifle, optics, optics mounts, suppressor, accessories like bipod, sling, back up irons, transport cases, ect. We are not talking about just a $12,215 rifle there is a LOT more to it.
It appears German quality and craftsmanship trumps made in the USA.
And we wonder where all of the Jobs went’
It looks like a waste of money to me.
We have plenty of top quality sniper systems made right here in the USA
Seems like the Army only like firearms made oversees.
Its time for the politicians and the Army to think twice about what they are buying.
As a tax payer I am a bit angry.
They are complaining about the M9 From Baretta too.
We have plenty of useful platforms to use . Why not But AMERICAN.
Maybe it’s time to reopen an American Armory , Like we had before.
Everything seems disposable these days. Time to get with the program
Appears to be more of an SDM type rifle than a sniper rifle to me. I doubt they will be getting rid of their bolt guns any time soon.
“Useful” and reliable quality are quite a different story.
That’s quite a contraption.
IMO, this probably comes down to weight, fitted optics and cost. Someone correct me if I’m wrong but H&K uses inexpensive hammer forged barrels. Also, we all know the merits of German glass.
The AR platform is pretty dated now, so it doesn’t surprise me if H&K’s design drops pounds off the recover and furniture. Likely modern composites could be used as many foreign companies have greater manufacturing capabilities that U.S. Ran companies.
It wouldn’t surprise me that there was a quality control aspect here as well.
Re: “where did all the jobs go?”
Welcome to the new global economy where the US plays the role of professional services. Manufacturing and engineering jobs are moving over seas due to higher rates of collegiate STEM matriculation. My guess is this can be accredited directly to failures in the public school system and high cost and low job placement in the American collegiate system.
Not happy about the foreign supplier. Can’t believe there was not a supplier in the Unites States that could have don’t the exact same rifle and support for the same amount. But as they say, if you want something F’ed up, just give it to the government. In the end, if a sniper doesn’t want to use this rifle, they wont. Most employ multiple systems tailored to the job at hand and these autos are not as accurate as their bolt action rifles.
Some of people need a lesson on the Queen’s English.
“A goal of the effort was to give snipers a weapon that didn’t “stick out” as a sniper rifle; with a suppressor, the current M110 is 46.5″, that’s 13″ longer than the M4 carbine.”
Ever hear of the “Designated Marksman Rifle”?
Cost. I bet the Army could not find a supplier for the Piston operated 7.62. The local companies are too busy making rifles for civilians…
Those barrels are real expensive.
And the troops, just like cops love to shoot. I have heard more than one Marine say they have burned up a barrel.
Oh, yea. Go the wiki G28 site. 17 different countries have these rifles….must be a good platform.
http://www.heckler-koch.com/en/products/military/precision-rifles/g28/g28/overview.html
G28_DB_E_V003.02.12_01.pdf
http://www.qioptiq.com/merlin-lr.html
http://www.opticsplanet.com/insight-technology-cnvd-t3-clip-on-night-vision-thermal-device-ct3-001-a3.html
$26,000 USD
The all steel-uppered rifle is gauranteed 1.5 moa for 10 shots. This is not more accurate, lighter, or more robust than an M-1 super match in a similar chassis. Certainly not cheaper. Cost was the downfall of the intensively machined steel M-14. Now cost apparently doesn’t matter.
H&K bested seven other bids for the work. It is supplementing the M110, not replacing it. Improved reliability, improved accuracy and improved ergonomics; reduced weight and length; advanced coatings; improved optics; reduced felt recoil; enhanced suppressor performance; enhanced modular rail capabilities; improved bipod, trigger, pistol grip and stock. Much more to it than a shorter barrel.
The M110 cost the taxpayers a few dollars shy of $12.K per unit.
If the M110 is still in the inventory then the common magazine (and in my mind make accepting the H&K easier) for both would be an even bigger deal. Magpul SR25 style mags are in my experience VERY reliable as well as cheaper….and I can guarantee there will be times both rifles will end up in the hands of troops occupying the same slice of desert and commonality or lack thereof will rear it’s ugly head. There’s also the possibility of another allied nation with an SR-25 style mag compatible rifle showing up to the fight one day. It’s popularity makes it a near certainty. As for recoil…heck 7.62/308 DOES kick more than 5.56….but not unbearably so. I shoot it standing offhand all the time. I saw Wikipedia lists Delta and Seal Teams as a H&K G28 user but I can’t find any mention of their procurement. Did see a fair number of SCARs though in the hands of some troops downrange I’ll admit but no G28s that I could see
What about the Invictus DMR (16.5″) system Osprey Combat is developing in a 6.5mm variant? This round and system is suppose to deliver over 1000m capability. It is built on a AR15/M16 platform. Info on the round was presented at the last NDIA conference,
Mitch
First the “made in America” argument; you might wanna start looking at your homes and telling me if everything says “MADE IN USA” on it. Hell even that stuff probably isn’t, just assembled here. As for the price. It includes Rifle, Day Optic, night vision optic, night vision optic adapter, drag bag, hard case, and most importantly a warranty and service contract. All those combined we actually got a decent deal. Rifle say $3400, a Schmidt and Bender 3×20 is $3400, The system also includes a handheld Jenoptik HLR15 laser rangefinder and the Rheinmettal Soldier Electronics laser light module LLM01, an HK suppressor, that alone is pushing $12,000 I also found this “the precision rifle is delivered to the troops with an L3 Insight thermal imager viewfinder CNVD-T3 and a Qiotiq Merlin LR (long-range) image intensifier to ensure maximum night fighting capability” that plus the warranty and the service contract. You all better shut up before they realize they are getting fucked by the US military.