The US Marines will soon have at their disposal the new M101A1 semi-automatic sniper rifles, created as part of the CSASS (Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System) program. These rifles were originally developed for the 7.62 mm caliber cartridge. Many American publications call the cartridge "Russian", although naturally we are talking about the standard NATO ammunition 7, 62x51 mm. The 7.62-mm cartridge is called Russian for its strong connection with the AK-47 assault rifle, which is widespread throughout the world and is well known to the Americans.
American analogue SVD
The United States Marine Corps has earned a reputation for marksmanship by right, and have proven their ability to shoot well since the corps was created in 1775. Experts note that it is the Marine Corps snipers who are best at their skill, in comparison with other representatives of the American armed forces. It is for this reason that the decision of the Marine Corps to switch to the new M101A1 compact semi-automatic sniper rifles attracted a lot of attention from military experts and journalists.
A new semi-automatic rifle with German roots, the world famous German company Heckler & Koch was responsible for its creation, will replace the classic M110 sniper rifle. In turn, another Mk 13 Mod 7 sniper rifle will replace the M40 single-shot bolt-action rifle in the Marine Corps. This rifle will receive the new.300 Winchester Magnum cartridge, presented in the same 7.62 mm caliber, but with a 67 mm long sleeve, which makes the ammunition much more powerful. The initial flight speed of such a bullet exceeds 1000 m / s, and the effective aiming range is increased to 1200 meters. At the same time, the use of old 7.62 mm cartridges in the new CSASS semi-automatic sniper rifle caused some concern about the effectiveness of using this rifle as a sniper platform.
The new American sniper rifle M101A1, which was created by the designers of the Heckler & Koch company, is distinguished by increased lethality precisely due to the use of cartridges of 7.62 mm caliber. Such cartridges have a greater stopping effect, in comparison with the 5, 56 mm cartridge, which is traditional for small arms of the American army. In addition to the greater stopping effect, cartridges of 7, 62-mm caliber also differ in better penetration, which becomes especially important in modern realities, when the United States is returning to the era of confrontation with large armies. A hypothetical military confrontation with China or Russia automatically assumes that on the battlefield the Americans will meet soldiers in bulletproof vests, with sufficiently developed personal protective equipment. Under these conditions, the old cartridge 7, 62x51 NATO, which was adopted by the alliance countries back in 1954, becomes relevant again.
M110A1 CSASS
Today, cartridges of 7.62 mm caliber, which have a high degree of kinetic effect on the enemy and sufficient destructive power, are often associated in the United States with rifles in the style of the famous Soviet Kalashnikov assault rifle, the creator of which would have turned 100 this year. Comparing the American AR-15 assault rifle and the Soviet AK-47 assault rifle, there are several of the most notable differences between the two rifle systems. So the American AR-15 rifle chambered for 5, 56 mm is a more accurate and light weapon (with the same number of cartridges), in turn AK is traditionally famous for its reliability and great destructive power and stopping effect of 7, 62 mm bullets, simultaneously with thereby losing in weight and effective firing range.
Why some experts oppose the cartridge 7, 62 mm
Unlike modern more powerful cartridges, for example 7, 62x67 mm, which is used in the new American high-precision sniper rifle Mk 13 Mod 7, the classic 7, 62 mm cartridges have good destructive power, but lose their effectiveness and accuracy at long distances, having less initial speed. Like the well-known and still widely used Dragunov army sniper rifle (the famous SVD), which fires similar ammunition - 7, 62x54R, the American CSASS semi-automatic sniper rifle is limited to an effective firing range of 800 meters, which presents a real problem for Marine Corps snipers, who accustomed to hitting targets at a distance of more than 1000 meters. At the same time, the CSASS rifles, which, most likely, are an adaptation of the H&K G28 model to the requirements of the American military, have their obvious advantages. These rifles are lighter, and in their dimensions practically do not differ from traditional assault rifles. This not only does not distinguish the sniper from other fighters, but also makes it possible to effectively use the weapon in the conditions of modern fleeting combat, especially in urban areas. In addition, the weapon is more convenient when transporting soldiers by armored vehicles or vehicles.
At the same time, cartridge 7, 62x51 NATO surpasses 5, 56 mm cartridges in terms of impact on the enemy, especially if firing is carried out at a target in a bulletproof vest. But the effective range of the CSASS system with such a cartridge is limited to 600 meters when shooting at a chest target and 800 meters when shooting at a growth target. In an interview with the American newspaper Washington Post, one of the Marine Corps scouts noted: True, the scout is clearly disingenuous, given that the new M110A1 semi-automatic rifle has its own quite obvious niche, the same as the Soviet / Russian SVD army rifle, while to ensure truly high-precision shooting, the Marines will receive a standard "bolt" Mk 13 rifle Mod 7, which allows you to reach targets at a distance of more than a kilometer.
M110A1 CSASS
At the same time, for now, ordinary marines will continue to be armed with weapons chambered for 5, 56 mm. This is a variant of the M27 automatic infantry rifle, which is also produced by Heckler & Koch. At the same time, it cannot be ruled out that in the near future the entire American army will switch to larger caliber ammunition. In particular, serious work is underway on the introduction of the 6, 8 mm cartridge and the development of new shooting systems in this caliber. In terms of their ballistic qualities, such ammunition will practically in no way be inferior to cartridges of 7, 62 mm caliber, while remaining lighter, which is also of great importance for each individual soldier who carries pouches with additional magazines.
In general, it can be noted that the US military is on the path of returning to old calibers and creating new ammunition with greater power, greater stopping power and greater penetration. The US Marine Corps, like all the country's armed forces, is reorganizing, preparing for possible military conflicts with an equal or similar enemy. The development of new cartridges and the introduction of rifles such as the M110A1 CSASS and the Mk 13 Mod 7 are integral parts of this effort.
