KAC's website says that the default M110A2 configuration weighs in at 10.5 pounds, but this would appear to reflect a rifle without various accessories, such as a scope, or a loaded magazine. The Army's M110A1, based on the HK417, weighs around 10.8 pounds with no accessories and an empty magazine, but this grows to 13.7 pounds when it is in its fully-loaded operational configuration.
KAC's M110A2 sports a floating barrel and is between 39.75 inches and 43.5 inches long, depending on the configuration of its collapsible stock. Fitted with a 20-inch match barrel, the A2 version of the weapon is “purpose-built to provide precision fire on point targets past 1,000 meters,” according to the company. The A2 features an ambidextrous bolt release, selector, and magazine release, which offers left-handed shooters the same ergonomic advantages inherent to AR-15-based controls.
Knights
spent time last week at Fort Benning supporting the event, but it is unclear if Ranger regiments have any intention to field the A2 version of its rifle. KAC provided the Army's SASS rifles from 2007 to 2013. It then notably lost to H&K in a competition to field the M110A1 Squad Designated Marksman Rifle (SDMR), which
beat out both KAC and Fabrique Nationale to win the $44.5 million contract for at least 3,643 Compact Semi-Automatic Sniper System (CSASS) rifles. As we mentioned earlier, H&K won with a derivative of its HK417. The German-headquartered firm also makes the HK417's popular cousin, the HK416, which is used by the German Army, U.S. Joint Special Operations Command personnel, and
the United States Marine Corps. The HK416 fires the 5.56X54 mm cartridge while the HK417 fires the larger 7.62X51 mm round.
The Knight's A2 version retains the barrel length of its predecessor but has a more efficient gas system, upgraded integral suppressor, and a longer, 12-inch handguard to accommodate more accessories.
“With all the new gadgets and gizmos — thermals and night vision — they were running out of space on the old handguard,” Hess said.
