Barrett M82 sniper rifle: specifications and description

The main purpose of the Barrett M82 rifle (the photo below, clearly demonstrates the power of this weapon) is the destruction of the enemy's manpower, material assets, combat equipment, including cars, helicopters and aircraft in parking lots, radar cabinets and communications. Another important goal is the detonation from the safe distance of unexploded ordnance.

History of creation

This large-caliber sniper weapon was created by a former US officer, 28-year-old Ronnie Barrett. He designed the first working instance of a rifle in the basement of his house in 1982. After an unsuccessful attempt to sell this design to world famous companies of the appropriate profile, the inventor begins to assemble rifles in small series and sell them in the domestic market of the United States. As a result, in 1986 he founded the firm Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Inc. In the same year, the company began to produce the first modernized rifles, which received the designation M82A1. In 1987, Barrett was able to obtain a patent for his invention.

What came of this?

The company was really successful in 1989, when a contract was signed with the Swedish Ministry of Defense for the supply of one hundred units of the Barrett M82A1 rifles. In 1990, the company rises to a new level and enters into an agreement with the US Armed Forces to supply its products to provide military operations in Kuwait and Iraq, the Shield of the Desert, and, accordingly, Desert Storm. Approximately 125 weapons were originally purchased by the US Marine Corps, and then orders were received from both the Air Force and the Army. According to press reports, the sniper rifle Barrett M82 A1 was used by special forces of the US Navy SEALS in a military company against the Iraqi army in the Persian Gulf zone. At these purchases, the US military did not stop, and in 1992 special operations forces and the US Marine Corps purchased three hundred units of this weapon. In the future, the volume of orders increased every year. The Barrett M82 A1 rifle received the SASR designation in the United States Army, which means "special purpose rifle with an optical sight".

Modifications

Since the production of the barrett rifle has undergone several modifications. The first of these is the M82 A1, also known as Light Fifty. It was released in 1986, undergone minor changes in the design. Starting with this model, mulch expansion joints were installed on all subsequent ones.

The second modification is the M82A2, developed in 1987 specifically for use against heavily mobile targets, and also as a cheap anti-helicopter weapon (after all, the previous models were designed to defeat static objects). This rifle underwent significant changes, it is made according to the "Bull-Daddy" scheme. Shooting from this weapon is carried out only from the shoulder, which significantly reduces the return (for this purpose, the receptacle of the store is used as an abutment, which is equipped with a special patch). The pistol grip, like an optical sight, the designers carried far ahead. In addition, for convenience, an additional handle is added, which has in front of the weapon. However, this option was quickly removed from production due to lack of demand.

The next modification was the Barrett M82A1M rifle, manufactured in accordance with the standards of the American Army. This weapon received open-type sighting devices (in case of a breakdown of the main, optical) and the Picatinni guide, which allows the installation of additional sighting devices of various classes. In addition, a removable carrying handle appeared, and an additional collapsible bipod attached to the butt, providing better stability when shooting from the Barrett rifle.

The weapons of the fourth modification received the marking M82A3, this model is specialized for the United States Marine Corps. The difference from the previous version is the absence of an additional bipod and a fixed handle for carrying. In addition, the trunk and mechanisms were slightly lightened, and the muzzle brake was recycled.

New generation

The next round of development of Barrett was the creation of a new series of sniper rifles M107. This modification differs from the M82 by small technological changes designed to improve the reliability of this weapon. The first upgrade of the new series was the M107CQ rifle. This option is designed for use on armored vehicles and helicopters. The main difference from the basic model is a shortened nine-inch trunk (508 mm vs. 737 mm for the full-size version).

In addition, based on the previous modification, a prototype of the new OSW rifle was created, which means "objective sniper weapons". This model is a sniper carbine for a 25-millimeter shell from the automatic grenade launcher OCSW. Experimental weapons showed increased effectiveness in the destruction of all types of targets, but the force of recoil when firing is intolerable for the conventional shooter.

Description

So, let's consider what the sniper rifle of the Barrett M82 series is. It is built on the basis of automation with a short stroke of the barrel. Locking the channel is carried out by turning on three bolt fences. After the shot, the rigidly locked trunk rolls back into the rear position. Then the pin, interacting with the notch on the shutter frame, causes the bolt to turn and unlock the channel. Further, the barrel presses on the accelerator lever, it transfers the energy of pullback to the shutter frame, thereby causing the opening of the shutter. Then the barrel is fixed, and the shooting sleeve flies out. Under the action of the return spring, all parts come to their original position, along the way the dispensing cartridge into the chamber. The drummer is cocked by delivery to the sear - the weapon is ready to fire the next shot. Thanks to this system, the impact on shooting was significantly reduced, which combined with the use of the original muzzle compensator made it possible to increase the accuracy of the fire and the durability of the rifle itself.

Mechanisms

Sniper rifle Barrett M82 has a USM shock type, and the fire mode is single. The ejected cartridges are ejected through the window on the right side of the receiver, which is made of two separate parts (bottom and top), stamped from the fired iron and connected by special transverse pins. On the upper part is a folding handle for carrying and fixing the optical sight. To the bottom of the receiver is attached the magazine neck, folding bipods and pistol grip. On the back there is a rubber backplate, the whole design is used as a butt. The barrel of the rifle is massive, it has longitudinal dips for improving and facilitating cooling, is equipped with a very effective muzzle brake of the original design to reduce the recoil (able to absorb up to thirty percent of the recoil). Negative unmasking factor is that when firing the compensator does not hide the flame.

Rifle Equipment

This weapon is equipped with a mount for night and optical sight, as well as folding sights. The rifle is supplied from a removable box magazine with a capacity of ten cartridges. In addition, the M82 is equipped with a two-legged bipod and special mounts for installing weapons on an infantry machine gun machine-tripod. The rifle has two attachments for securing the belt, however, because of the large weight, carrying it in this way is difficult.

Tactical and technical characteristics

The accuracy of the Barrett rifle is about 1.5-2 angular minutes when using match-class ammunition. The caliber of the trunk is 12,7x99, the total length is 1220 mm (including the trunk is 737 mm). The weight of the weapon without cartridges is 12.9 kg, the initial speed of the bullet is 855 m / s, the effective range of fire is 1800 m.

Finally

To date, the M82 series rifles are in service with both police and army units in more than forty countries around the world. The main users are the Marine Corps, the Army, the United States Coast Guard, the special forces of the police and the military forces of Mexico, Belgium, Chile, Finland, Denmark, France, Greece, Germany, Israel, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, the Philippines, Saudi Arabia, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, Great Britain, Turkey and other countries.

In addition, this weapon found itself in sports equipment. So, Barrett M82-airsoft is the only model that was licensed by Barrett, as evidenced by the official certificate, which is signed by Ronnie Barrett.