Barrett MRAD

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Barrett MRAD
Barrett-MRAD-sniper-rifle-01.png
Barrett MRAD in various colors
TypeSniper rifle
Place of originUnited States
Service history
In service2013—present
Used bySee Users
Production history
DesignerChris Barrett
ManufacturerBarrett Firearms Company
Specifications
Mass13.9 lb (6.3 kg) (20" Barrel)
14.8 lb (6.7 kg) (24.5" Barrel)
15.3 lb (6.9 kg) (27" Barrel)[1]
Length42.4 in (108 cm) (20" Barrel)
46.9 in (119 cm) (24.5" Barrel)
49.4 in (125 cm) (27" Barrel)[1]
Barrel length20 in (51 cm)
24.5 in (62 cm)
27 in (69 cm)[1]
Cartridge
ActionBolt-action
Effective firing range1,500 metres (1,600 yd)
Feed system10 round detachable box magazine

The Barrett MRAD (Multi-role Adaptive Design) is a bolt-action sniper rifle designed by Barrett to meet the requirements of the SOCOM PSR.[5] The MRAD is based on the Barrett 98B and includes a number of modifications and improvements.[6] The Barrett MRAD was named the 2012 Rifle of the Year by the NRA.[7]

Design[]

Shooting a Barrett MRAD chambered for .308 Winchester with suppressor.
Israel Defense Forces snipers shooting a Barrett MRAD chambered for 7.62×51 mm NATO, achieving accuracy of around 0.35 MOA.

After the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) announced their desire for a new precision sniper rifle in December 2009, Barrett created the MRAD in accordance with the specifications laid out by SOCOM.[5] Building off of the successful Barrett 98B, the MRAD features multiple improvements such as a folding stock which allows the rifle to be transported more easily. When folded, the stock latches around the bolt handle which increases the security of transporting the rifle without increasing the width when it is unfolded.[1] A major MRAD feature (and requirement of the military PSR solicitation) is a field-changeable barrel/caliber capability. Loosening two Torx screws in the receiver allows removal of the barrel from the front of the receiver/handguard. With only a bolt face change, and in some cases a magazine change, caliber may be changed. The factory headspaced bolt face is provided with each barrel. Barrel/caliber change can occur in less than two minutes. In addition to the typical military requested calibers of .338 Lapua Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, and .308 Winchester calibers, Barrett also offers caliber conversion kits in .338 and .300 NORMA Magnum, 7mm Remington Magnum, .260 Remington, and 6.5mm Creedmoor. Barrel lengths are offered in 17" to 26", but not in all calibers. Barrels are available in fluted and heavy profiles. The trigger module can be removed without tools, providing access to user-adjustable trigger pull weight and over travel, and making cleaning easier. Additional features of the MRAD include a single-button length-of-pull adjustment, adjustable cheek rest height, a polymer bolt guide which acts as a dust cover to reduce debris entering the action, a user reversible AR-15 style safety, an ambidextrous magazine release, and the ability to accept standard M16/AR15 style pistol grips.[1] Early MRADs had 30 MOA slope full length 21.75" standard 1913 Picatinny rail on top of the receiver/handguard. Current MRADs feature 20 MOA slope rail. Shorter 2"-4" Picatinny rails sections may be user positioned at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock at several fore/aft positions along the handguard. MRADs are offered in several Cerakote colors.[8]

Similar to the M16/AR15, the MRAD upper and lower receivers can be separated by pushing out rear and front two take-down pins. Pushing out only the rear take-down pin allows the upper receiver to tilt on its front take-down pin like an AR-15 to allow for maintenance in the field.[9]

With match grade .338 Lapua Magnum ammunition the MRAD is capable of 0.5 MOA (minute of angle) accuracy at distances of up to 1500 meters. With standard ammunition, the accuracy drops to near 1 MOA but still sub-MOA.[10] Israel Defense Forces snipers, using 7.62×51 mm NATO IMI sniping ammunition, fire 1.1 cm (0.43 in) groups at 100 m (110 yd), achieving accuracy of 0.378 MOA.[11]

Precision Sniper Rifle[]

The particular model of the MRAD that was submitted for the US SOCOM's MK21 PSR (Precision Sniper Rifle) trial was fitted with a 24.5 in (62 cm) barrel, and weighed 14.8 lb (6.7 kg) (without an optic).[5] In 2013 the Remington Modular Sniper Rifle was selected as the winner of the PSR competition.[12] However, in 2018 it was decided that the MK21 did not conform to SOCOM requirements at the time, and the program was re-competed as the MK22 ASR (Advanced Sniper Rifle).[13]

Advanced Sniper Rifle[]

In 2019, the U.S. Special Operations Command awarded Barrett Manufacturing a $50,000,000 contract, ordering the Barrett MRAD chambered in .338 Norma Magnum for the Advanced Sniper Rifle project as the MK22 ASR. The issued rifle kit includes swappable barrels and bolts chambered in .308 Winchester, .300 Norma Magnum and .338 Norma Magnum.[14] As part of their fiscal year 2021 budget requests, both the Army and Marine Corps included requests to adopt the MRAD themselves as their primary sniper systems of choice. In 2021, delivery of a total of 2,800 MK22 rifles for the Army was initiated,[15] while the Marine Corps ordered 250.[16]

Users[]

YAMAM (Israel's national counter-terrorism unit) snipers shooting with suppressed Barrett MRAD
Israel Defense Forces' special forces' sniper with the Barrett MRAD
  •  Israel: In 2013, the MRAD was adopted by the Yamam, Israel's elite counter-terrorism and SWAT unit, as their long range sniper rifle, to replace old PGM 338 rifles.[17] In 2018 the MRAD was adopted by the Israel Defense Forces.[18][19]
  •  New Zealand: Introduced in 2018 as a replacement for the 7.62mm Arctic Warfare sniper rifles[20][better source needed]
  •  Norway: Ordered by the Norwegian Armed Forces in 2013. In use with Norwegian Special Operations Forces since 2015, as well as Kystjegerkommandoen and several Norwegian Army units.[21] Snipers of Beredskapstroppen Delta of the Norwegian Police have also been seen with this rifle.[22]
  •  United States: Mk 22 Advanced Sniper Rifle ordered by the U.S. Special Operations Command.[14] Requested by US Army and Marines.[13] In 2021, 3,000 MRADs were purchased for $50 million as part of a 5-year contract.[23]

See also[]

  • M110A1

References[]

  1. ^ a b c d e "MRAD". Barrett. Archived from the original on 28 August 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  2. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 August 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. ^ "Barrett 2019 Catalog" (PDF). p. 33. Archived from the original (pdf) on 31 May 2019. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  4. ^ "MRAD® Operator's Manual" (PDF). p. 6. Archived from the original (PDF) on 6 November 2020. Retrieved 14 November 2019.
  5. ^ a b c Langston, Jay. "Barrett MRAD .338 Lapua MAG". Tactical-Life.com. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  6. ^ Dall'au, Andre M. "The Barrett Multi-Role Adaptive Design (MRAD) rifle". Tactical-Life.com. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  7. ^ Barrett, Angela. "Barrett MRAD Receives Golden Bullseye Award for 2012 Rifle of the Year from the NRA Publication, Shooting Illustrated" (PDF). Barret. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  8. ^ Barrett product sales literature; Barrett website; MRAD Owner's Manual and Barrett Armorer's Course
  9. ^ Adelmann, Steve (24 October 2011). "Barrett MRAD". Shooting Illustrated. Archived from the original on 10 June 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  10. ^ Barrett MRAD, Shooting Illustrated.
  11. ^ "הרובה החדש והאתגר בגבול עזה: "צלף שלא פוגע מספיק טוב - מודח מהמשימה"". ynet (in Hebrew). 22 July 2019. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  12. ^ Curtis, Rob (7 March 2013). "SOCOM PSR contract awarded to Remington Defense MSR". Gearscout blog. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  13. ^ a b "The US military is falling in love with the Barrett MRAD sniper rifle". Task & Purpose. 24 February 2020. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Contracts for March 11, 2019". U.S. DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  15. ^ "New Army sniper weapon system contract awarded to Barrett Firearms". www.army.mil. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  16. ^ Army and Marines to Arm Snipers with Special Operations Multi-Caliber Sniper Rifle. Military.com. 3 March 2020.
  17. ^ "נחשף פירוט הנשק של הימ"מ". ynet (in Hebrew). 1 March 2015. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  18. ^ "נמ"ר חשמלי, רחפנים משודרגים ושיירות רובוטיות - אלו רק חלק מאמצעי הלחימה העתידיים שהוצגו בתערוכת היבשה באופק, ומחזקים את התפיסה החדשה של זרוע היבשה. כל הפרטים". IDF (in Hebrew).
  19. ^ Issue; V11N1; Volume 11. "Shaping the Fight in Israel – Small Arms Defense Journal". Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  20. ^ "Defence Force buying two new weapons". Medium. 18 October 2017. Retrieved 1 April 2021.
  21. ^ "Laserrifla" (in Norwegian). 21 December 2016. Archived from the original on 8 April 2019.
  22. ^ "Beredskapstroppen står klare til å skyte mannen med kjøttøks. Men så gjør Trond noe som endrer alt". Politiforum (in Norwegian).
  23. ^ Moss, Matthew (1 April 2021). "Barrett Firearms Awarded $50 Million Contract for US Army's Precision Sniper Rifle". The Firearm Blog. Retrieved 1 April 2021.

External links[]

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