The main purpose of the Barrett M82 rifle (the photo below demonstrates the power of this weapon) is to destroy enemy manpower, materiel, military equipment, including cars, helicopters and aircraft in parking lots, radar cabins and communications. Another important goal is to detonate unexploded ordnance from a safe distance.
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 copy 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 assembling rifles in small series and selling them on the domestic market of the United States. As a result, in 1986 he founded the company Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Inc. In the same year, the company began to produce the first modernized rifles, designated M82A1. In 1987, Barrett was able to obtain a patent for his invention.
What came of this?
The company achieved real serious success in 1989, when a contract was signed with the Swedish Ministry of Defense for the supply of one hundred units of Barrett M82A1 rifles. In 1990, the company rises to a new level and enters into an agreement with the US Armed Forces for the supply of its products for military operations in Kuwait and Iraq, the Desert Shield, and, accordingly, the Desert Storm. Approximately 125 pieces of weapons were originally acquired by the United States Marine Corps, and then orders from both the Air Force and Army followed. According to press reports, the Barrett M82 A1 sniper rifle was used by special forces of the US Navy SEALS in a military company against the Iraqi army in the Persian Gulf. The US military did not stop at these purchases, 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 symbol in the United States Army, which means "special-purpose rifle with a telescopic sight."
Modifications
Since mass production, 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, has undergone minor changes in design. Starting with this model, muzzle compensators began to be installed on all subsequent ones.
The second modification is the M82A2, developed in 1987 specifically for use against very mobile targets, as well as a cheap anti-helicopter weapon (after all, the previous models were designed to defeat static objects). This rifle has undergone significant changes, it is made according to the Bull-Pap scheme. Shooting from these weapons is conducted only from the shoulder, which significantly reduces recoil (for this purpose, the store’s receiver, which is equipped with a special overlay, is used as an emphasis). Designers carried the pistol grip like an optical sight far ahead. In addition, for convenience, an additional handle has been added, located in front of the weapon. However, due to lack of demand, this option was quickly removed from production.
The next modification was the Barrett M82A1M rifle, manufactured in accordance with the requirements of the standards of the American army. This weapon received sights of the open type (in case of damage to the main, optical) and a Picatinny rail, which allows you to install additional sights of various classes. In addition, a removable carrying handle appeared, and under the butt adapted an additional folding bipod, providing better stability when shooting with a Barrett rifle.
The fourth modification weapon was marked M82A3, this model is specialized for the United States Marine Corps. The difference from the previous version is the lack of an additional bipod and a fixed carrying handle. In addition, the barrel and mechanisms were slightly lightened, and the muzzle brake was recycled.
New generation
Another development round of Barrett was the creation of a new series of sniper rifles M107. This modification differs from the M82 in small technological changes designed to increase the reliability of this weapon. The first modernization of the new series was the M107CQ rifle. This option is designed for use on armored vehicles and helicopters. The main difference from the base model is a shortened nine-inch barrel (508 mm versus 737 mm in the full-size version).
In addition, on the basis of the previous modification, a prototype of the new OSW rifle was created, which means "objective sniper weapon." This model is a sniper carbine for a 25 mm shell from an automatic grenade launcher OCSW. Experimental weapons have shown increased efficiency in the destruction of all types of targets, but the recoil force when shooting is unbearable for an ordinary shooter.
Description
So, let's look at what the Barrett M82 series sniper rifle 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 combat stops of the shutter. After the shot, the rigidly locked barrel is rolled back into position. Then the pin, interacting with the cutout on the shutter frame, makes the shutter turn and unlock the channel. Next, the barrel presses on the accelerator lever, it transfers the recoil energy to the bolt frame, thereby causing the shutter to open. Then the barrel is fixed, and the fired sleeve flies out. Under the action of the return spring, all parts return to their original position, along the way sending the cartridge into the chamber. The drummer is cocked by delivering to the sear - the weapon is ready to produce the next shot. Thanks to such a system, the recoil during shooting was significantly reduced, which together with the use of the original muzzle compensator made it possible to increase the accuracy of firing and the durability of the rifle itself.
The mechanisms
The Barrett M82 sniper rifle has a shock-type trigger, and it has a single fire mode. The ejection of spent cartridges is carried out through a window on the right side of the receiver, which is made of two separate parts (lower and upper), stamped from true iron and connected by special transverse pins. On the upper part there is a folding handle for carrying and mounting an optical sight. The neck of the store, folding bipod and pistol grip are attached to the bottom of the receiver. On the back side is a rubber butt pad, the whole structure is used as a butt. The barrel of the rifle is massive, it has longitudinal lobes to improve and facilitate cooling, it is equipped with a very effective muzzle brake of the original design to reduce recoil (it can absorb up to thirty percent of recoil). A negative unmasking factor is that when shooting, 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 power of the rifle is carried out from a removable box magazine with a capacity of ten rounds. In addition, the M82 is equipped with a bipod and special mounts for mounting weapons on an infantry machine-gun tripod. The rifle has two sling attachments for attaching the belt, however, due to the large weight, carrying it in this way is difficult.
The performance characteristics
The accuracy of the Barrett rifle is about 1.5-2 arc minutes when using match-class ammunition. The caliber of the barrel is 12.7x99, the total length is 1220 mm (including the barrel 737 mm). The weight of the weapon without cartridges is 12.9 kg, the initial speed of the bullet is 855 m / s, and 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, special forces and the military 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, the Barrett M82 airsoft is the only model licensed by Barrett, as evidenced by an official certificate bearing the signature of Ronnie Barrett.