Barrett Firearms Company
Encyclopedia
Barrett Firearms Manufacturing is an American manufacturer of firearm
s and ammunition
. It was founded in 1982 by Ronnie Barrett
for the single purpose of building semi-automatic rifles chambered for the powerful 12.7×99mm NATO (.50 BMG) ammunition, originally developed for and used in M2 Browning machine guns. Barrett began his work in the early 1980s and the first working rifles were available in 1982, hence the designation M82. Barrett designed every single part of the weapon personally and then went on to market the weapon and mass produce it out of his own pocket. He continued to develop his rifle through the 1980s, and developed the improved M82A1 rifle by 1986.
, and it was deployed in the Gulf War
. Today the company has contracts with dozens of countries to supply sniper rifles.
The success of the M82A1 has led the company to develop several other models of .50 BMG
rifles, including the M95, M99, and M99-1. These are lighter and lower cost bolt-action rifles.
In current US military use is the M82A3, as well as a new updated version, the M107. It is described as an anti-materiel rifle
. While the M107 is highly effective against soft target
s, and is used by explosive ordnance disposal teams with special military HEIAP ammunition
, its power is not required for anti-personnel use: the heavy recoil and weight are an unnecessary penalty.
In January 2011, Barrett announced the M107's successor, the M107A1 was available for commercial release. M107A1 enhancements include a reduction in overall weight of 4 pounds, increased accuracy, the ability to accept a Barrett suppressor via its modified cylindrical titanium muzzle brake, and additional modifications to improve overall durability and operator utility.
The M82A1 has been purchased by over 40 military organizations worldwide. It became popular during the first Gulf War
for its use in disabling Iraq
i armored personnel carriers from a mile away. Fighters in the Bosnian Army
used just one .50 caliber rifle to great effect in fending off Serb forces
in Srebrenica
during the Bosnian War
of the early 1990s. Florin Krasniqi
and his associates acquired dozens of the rifles in the late '90s for use in the Kosovo War
.
More recently, Barrett has developed the REC7 upper receiver
for the AR-15
platform, chambered in 6.8 mm Remington SPC
, which was one of the weapons the Army reviewed in 2008 while drafting requirements for a potential M4 carbine
replacement. Barrett is also developing the XM109, a variant of the M82A1 designed to fire a 25 mm
munition.
In response to California
's ban
of civilian ownership of .50 BMG rifles, Barrett suspended sales and service to all law enforcement agencies
in California.
Barrett has also developed the .416 Barrett
, a rifle round based on the .50 BMG. The purpose of this round is to allow first round hits out to 2500 metres (2,734 yd) from a cold bore and is not prohibited for sale to civilians in California.
In October 2008, Barrett introduced the new M98B
. The M98B is a bolt-action rifle chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum. It went on sale in 2009.
Firearm
A firearm is a weapon that launches one, or many, projectile at high velocity through confined burning of a propellant. This subsonic burning process is technically known as deflagration, as opposed to supersonic combustion known as a detonation. In older firearms, the propellant was typically...
s and ammunition
Ammunition
Ammunition is a generic term derived from the French language la munition which embraced all material used for war , but which in time came to refer specifically to gunpowder and artillery. The collective term for all types of ammunition is munitions...
. It was founded in 1982 by Ronnie Barrett
Ronnie Barrett
Ronnie Barrett is an American firearms manufacturer, the founder of Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, and the designer of the first .50 caliber rifle for civilian use.- Life & career :...
for the single purpose of building semi-automatic rifles chambered for the powerful 12.7×99mm NATO (.50 BMG) ammunition, originally developed for and used in M2 Browning machine guns. Barrett began his work in the early 1980s and the first working rifles were available in 1982, hence the designation M82. Barrett designed every single part of the weapon personally and then went on to market the weapon and mass produce it out of his own pocket. He continued to develop his rifle through the 1980s, and developed the improved M82A1 rifle by 1986.
History
Barrett introduced the M82 in 1982 but did not make any significant sales until 1989. These first large sales were to Sweden. Soon afterward, the M82 was purchased by the United States armed forcesUnited States armed forces
The United States Armed Forces are the military forces of the United States. They consist of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force, and Coast Guard.The United States has a strong tradition of civilian control of the military...
, and it was deployed in the Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
. Today the company has contracts with dozens of countries to supply sniper rifles.
The success of the M82A1 has led the company to develop several other models of .50 BMG
.50 BMG
The .50 Browning Machine Gun or 12.7×99mm NATO is a cartridge developed for the Browning .50 caliber machine gun in the late 1910s. Entering service officially in 1921, the round is based on a greatly scaled-up .30-06 cartridge...
rifles, including the M95, M99, and M99-1. These are lighter and lower cost bolt-action rifles.
Anti-materiel rifle
An anti-materiel rifle is a rifle that is designed for use against military equipment rather than against other combatants ....
. While the M107 is highly effective against soft target
Soft target
Soft target is a military term referring to unarmored/undefended targets needing to be destroyed. For example, a soft target would be an automobile, a house, or assembly of people while a hard target could be a main battle tank or a well defended installation...
s, and is used by explosive ordnance disposal teams with special military HEIAP ammunition
High Explosive Incendiary/Armor Piercing Ammunition
High Explosive Incendiary/Armor Piercing Ammunition is a form of shell which combines both an armor-piercing capability and a high-explosive effect. In this respect it is a modern version of armor piercing shell...
, its power is not required for anti-personnel use: the heavy recoil and weight are an unnecessary penalty.
In January 2011, Barrett announced the M107's successor, the M107A1 was available for commercial release. M107A1 enhancements include a reduction in overall weight of 4 pounds, increased accuracy, the ability to accept a Barrett suppressor via its modified cylindrical titanium muzzle brake, and additional modifications to improve overall durability and operator utility.
The M82A1 has been purchased by over 40 military organizations worldwide. It became popular during the first Gulf War
Gulf War
The Persian Gulf War , commonly referred to as simply the Gulf War, was a war waged by a U.N.-authorized coalition force from 34 nations led by the United States, against Iraq in response to Iraq's invasion and annexation of Kuwait.The war is also known under other names, such as the First Gulf...
for its use in disabling Iraq
Iraq
Iraq ; officially the Republic of Iraq is a country in Western Asia spanning most of the northwestern end of the Zagros mountain range, the eastern part of the Syrian Desert and the northern part of the Arabian Desert....
i armored personnel carriers from a mile away. Fighters in the Bosnian Army
Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina
The Army of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina was the military force of the Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina established by the government of Bosnia and Herzegovina in 1992 following the outbreak of the Bosnian War...
used just one .50 caliber rifle to great effect in fending off Serb forces
Army of Republika Srpska
The Army of Republika Srpska ; Serbian, Bosnian, Croatian Vojska Republike Srpske ) also referred to as the Bosnian Serb Army, was the military of today's Republika Srpska which was then the "Serbian Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina", a self-proclaimed state within the internationally recognized...
in Srebrenica
Srebrenica
Srebrenica is a town and municipality in the east of Bosnia and Herzegovina, in the Bosnian Serb entity of Republika Srpska. Srebrenica is a small mountain town, its main industry being salt mining and a nearby spa. During the Bosnian War, the town was the site of the July 1995 massacre,...
during the Bosnian War
Bosnian War
The Bosnian War or the War in Bosnia and Herzegovina was an international armed conflict that took place in Bosnia and Herzegovina between April 1992 and December 1995. The war involved several sides...
of the early 1990s. Florin Krasniqi
Florin Krasniqi
Florin Krasniqi is a Kosovar-American businessman, political activist and member of VETËVENDOSJE!-Background:...
and his associates acquired dozens of the rifles in the late '90s for use in the Kosovo War
Kosovo War
The term Kosovo War or Kosovo conflict was two sequential, and at times parallel, armed conflicts in Kosovo province, then part of FR Yugoslav Republic of Serbia; from early 1998 to 1999, there was an armed conflict initiated by the ethnic Albanian "Kosovo Liberation Army" , who sought independence...
.
More recently, Barrett has developed the REC7 upper receiver
Receiver (firearms)
In firearms terminology, the receiver is the part of a firearm that houses the operating parts. The receiver usually contains the bolt carrier group, trigger group, and magazine port. In most handguns, the receiver, or frame, holds the magazine well or rotary magazine as well as the trigger mechanism...
for the AR-15
AR-15
The AR-15 is a lightweight, 5.56 mm, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed semi-automatic rifle, with a rotating-lock bolt, actuated by direct impingement gas operation. It is manufactured with the extensive use of aluminum alloys and synthetic materials....
platform, chambered in 6.8 mm Remington SPC
6.8 mm Remington SPC
The 6.8 mm Remington SPC is a rifle cartridge that was developed with collaboration from individual members of United States Special Operations Command . Based upon the .30 Remington cartridge, it is midway between the 5.56×45mm NATO and 7.62×51mm NATO in bore diameter and velocity...
, which was one of the weapons the Army reviewed in 2008 while drafting requirements for a potential M4 carbine
M4 carbine
The M4 carbine is a family of firearms tracing its lineage back to earlier carbine versions of the M16, all based on the original AR-15 designed by Eugene Stoner and made by ArmaLite. It is a shorter and lighter variant of the M16A2 assault rifle, with 80% parts commonality.It is a gas-operated,...
replacement. Barrett is also developing the XM109, a variant of the M82A1 designed to fire a 25 mm
25 mm caliber
The 25x137 mm caliber/.98425 inch is one of the standard sizes of cannon and autocannon ammunition for NATO forces. The round itself has a length of approximately 223 mm .-Usage:...
munition.
In response to California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
's ban
.50 Caliber BMG Regulation Act of 2004
The .50 Caliber BMG Regulation Act of 2004 is a law in the state of California that effectively banned all .50 BMG-caliber rifles from being sold in the state...
of civilian ownership of .50 BMG rifles, Barrett suspended sales and service to all law enforcement agencies
Law enforcement agency
In North American English, a law enforcement agency is a government agency responsible for the enforcement of the laws.Outside North America, such organizations are called police services. In North America, some of these services are called police while others have other names In North American...
in California.
Barrett has also developed the .416 Barrett
.416 Barrett
The .416 Barrett or 10.6x83mm centerfire rifle cartridge is a proprietary bottlenecked centrefire rifle cartridge designed in 2005. It is an alternative to the .50 BMG in long-range high-caliber rifles. It was designed in response to a request for a medium/heavy rifle/cartridge combination that was...
, a rifle round based on the .50 BMG. The purpose of this round is to allow first round hits out to 2500 metres (2,734 yd) from a cold bore and is not prohibited for sale to civilians in California.
In October 2008, Barrett introduced the new M98B
Barrett M98B
The Barrett Model 98B is a bolt-action sniper rifle chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum manufactured by Barrett Firearms Manufacturing...
. The M98B is a bolt-action rifle chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum. It went on sale in 2009.
Sniper rifles
- Barrett M82/M107
- Barrett M90Barrett M90The Barrett M90 is a bolt-action, bullpup sniper rifle, chambered in .50 BMG , and designed by Barrett Firearms Company.-Overview:...
- Barrett M95Barrett M95The Barrett M95 is a bolt-action sniper rifle chambered in .50 BMG , and manufactured by Barrett Firearms Company.-Overview:The M95 is an improved version of the earlier Barrett M90. It is a bolt-action sniper rifle in a bullpup design...
- Barrett M98Barrett M98The Barrett M98 is a gas-operated, semi-automatic sniper rifle, chambered in .416 Barrett, and manufactured by Barrett Firearms Company. It was originally introduced at the 1998 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, but was never placed into production due to the introduction of the M99.- Overview :The...
- Barrett M98BBarrett M98BThe Barrett Model 98B is a bolt-action sniper rifle chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum manufactured by Barrett Firearms Manufacturing...
- Barrett M99Barrett M99The Barrett Model 99 "Big Shot" is a single-shot sniper rifle first introduced in 1999 by the Barrett Firearms Company . The company is better known worldwide for its earlier .50 caliber rifles, the semi-automatic M82A1 and bolt-action M95. Like the M95, the rifle uses a bullpup configuration...
- Barrett XM109Barrett XM109The Barrett XM109 is an anti-materiel rifle, chambered in 25 × 59 mm, under development by Barrett Firearms Manufacturing.-Overview:The XM109, originally known as the Objective Sniper Weapon or "Payload Rifle" , is a semi-automatic anti-materiel rifle, designed primarily for engagement of light...
- Barrett XM500Barrett XM500The Barrett XM500 is a gas-operated, semi-automatic sniper rifle/anti-materiel rifle currently in development by the Barrett Firearms Company. It is fed by a 10-round detachable box magazine situated behind the trigger in bullpup configuration....
Optics
- BORS (Barrett Optical Ranging System)
Ammunition
- .50 BMG M33 Ball.50 BMGThe .50 Browning Machine Gun or 12.7×99mm NATO is a cartridge developed for the Browning .50 caliber machine gun in the late 1910s. Entering service officially in 1921, the round is based on a greatly scaled-up .30-06 cartridge...
- .416 Barrett.416 BarrettThe .416 Barrett or 10.6x83mm centerfire rifle cartridge is a proprietary bottlenecked centrefire rifle cartridge designed in 2005. It is an alternative to the .50 BMG in long-range high-caliber rifles. It was designed in response to a request for a medium/heavy rifle/cartridge combination that was...
- 6.8 SPC
- .338 Lapua Magnum