The Nemo Arms Tango8 SASS semi-auto rifle chambered in .308 Win is a rifle with great potential as a law enforcement sniper rifle. The high quality materials, machined to precise specifications, along with accessories designed to complement and enhance serious shooters, all add up to a rifle ready to contend on a fairly exclusive list.
The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have both seen military semi-auto [easyazon_link identifier=”1849083983″ locale=”US” tag=”bluesheecom-20″]sniper rifles[/easyazon_link] used to great success, and there are some major police departments starting to outfit snipers with semi-auto rifles. The Nemo Tango8 SASS appears to be a great option, on a very short list.
Up until a few years ago it would be unheard of to consider a semi-auto rifle for the type of precision shots necessary for law enforcement missions. However, manufacturers of modern sporting rifles (MSR) have been steadily combining the highest quality materials with ever-increasingly accurate CNC machining to produce rifles with tolerance levels that rival bolt-action rifles. The Tango8 SASS definitely looks to be one of those rifles.
NEMO Tango8 SASS .308 Specifications
- Action – Semi-automatic, gas-impingement
- Caliber – .308 Winchester
- Receiver Material – Hard anodized 7075 billet aluminum, machined
- Barrel Material – Ionbond 416 Stainless Steel, NEMO muzzle brake
- Overall Length – 41.75″
- Barrel Length – 20.0″
- Weight – 10.8 lbs.
- Trigger – Geissele SSA-E 2-stage trigger
- Handguard – NEMO integrated rifle-length free floated customizable
- Butt Stock – Magpul PRS, black
- Pistol Grip – Hogue overmolded, black
- Magazine – Includes (1) Magpul PMAG (.308)
- Proudly made in Montana
- MSRP – $4,550 (as low as $4000).
Personally I feel that the Tango8 SASS is best fielded as a precision rifle topped with a quality scope, as seen in the first picture. Typically back-up sights are useless when a scope is mounted, but the QD scope mount allows for quick removal if the scope fails for some reason. In that scenario, having the Troy micro sights mounted, would provide a basic sighting method so the rifle isn’t completely downed.
However, as seen above, the Tango 8 Carbine full-length Picatinny top rail allows for a heavier patrol rifle option, with reflex optic and the Troy micro back-up sights. The price of the NEMO Tango8 really makes the patrol rifle option hard to justify in my opinion, but places it squarely in the high-end precision rifle market.
NEMO Rapid Follow-Up Shot Features
- The Tango8 SASS comes standard with the Magpul PRS butt stock, which is one of the best adjustable stocks on the market. Designed to adjust the length of pull, and cheek weld to the individual shooter, the PRS allows minute adjustments not available in most solid stock options.
- Giessele needs no introduction, as the company makes some of the finest trigger groups on the planet. The SSA-E 2-stage trigger is an outstanding trigger that produces a smooth-as-glass pull, with a crisp and definite break. In addition, this model allows a positive reset for quick follow-up shots often required of police snipers.
- A Nickel Boron bolt carrier group (BCG), which many experts believe provides a superior, smooth action and outstanding corrosion resistance, is standard on the Tango8 SASS. The Tango8 BCG also is designed with the patent-pending recoil reduction system (RRS), providing the shooter an even softer and smoother shooting experience that can help keep the shooter on target.
There are (2) detachable hand guard attachments that allow for quick-detach (QD) attachments. The free floated NEMO hand guard also has Picatinny rail attachments, a full rail on top, and a partial on the bottom. This provides simple attachments for optic add-ons like night vision or thermal sights, and the bottom rails will allow the shooter to attach a bi-pod of their choosing.
NEMO Arms stormed onto the precision rifle market in 2012 at the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in St. Louis, Missouri. I was able to report on and handle NEMO’s first offering, the Omen in .300 Win Mag. The rifle was amazingly tight with no felt between the upper and lower receivers, that were made in Titanium for that show model. The trigger was as smooth as glass. The price tag was extremely bold for a new rifle from an unknown company.
However, the foundation of Tier One operators, Law Enforcement, Weapons Designers, Mechanical Engineering, Lean Manufacturing and Marketing professionals had already solidified the NEMO brand and produced a rifle that would leave ripples in the MSR world. NEMO continues to produce outstanding rifles of the highest caliber, and the Tango8 SASS is just one of those rifles.