Barrett M82: The U.S. Military’s Most
Powerful Sniper Rifle
19FortyFive,
by
Caleb Larson
Original Article
Posted By: Onthebrink,
11/29/2020 10:59:04 AM
Fact: The most powerful sniper rifle in the U.S. Military was designed in a garage — and handmade. The Origins The story of the M82 begins with Ronnie Barrett. Barrett, a photographer with no formal gunsmith training or experience, is said to have been inspired to design and build the M82 .50 caliber rifle while photographing a river patrol boat similar to the type used by American forces during the Vietnam war. In one of the resulting photographs, a .50 caliber machine gun is prominently silhouetted. Correction*
*Wide headlines must be split or post may be deleted.
Reply 1 - Posted by:
ROLFNader 11/29/2020 11:42:03 AM (No. 619252)
Hey Santa,
I've been very good this year. You spose you could.......
14 people like this.
Reply 2 - Posted by:
coldoc 11/29/2020 11:52:32 AM (No. 619262)
Dont forget a box of ammo......
7 people like this.
Reply 3 - Posted by:
GO3 11/29/2020 12:07:02 PM (No. 619288)
I met Mr. Barrett shortly after the Gulf War. He is very articulate and has the look of a very learned man and his precision in his works is how you would expect a photographer would approach his business.
As stated, the M82A1 is still in service, though for highly accurate anti-personnel sniper ops, various militaries have opted for models using the .338 Lapua Magnum cartridge. Barrett also makes a rifle using this round.
5 people like this.
Reply 4 - Posted by:
DVC 11/29/2020 12:44:13 PM (No. 619319)
This weapon, while very powerful for a shoulder fired rifle, isn't particularly accurate with it's long recoil semi-auto operating system, because the barrel moves. It is actually not called a sniper rifle, but an "anti-material weapon", and is primarily intended for destroying unarmored or very lightly armored vehicles, aircraft, missiles, radars, electronics trucks and trailers. No doubt that it has been used in the sniper role against human targets, but that isn't really what it is intended for. There are much more accurate sniper rifles available for anti-personnel applications.
But, because it is huge and "the most powerful" it attracts a lot of interest.
4 people like this.
Reply 5 - Posted by:
texaspast 11/29/2020 3:08:06 PM (No. 619401)
The M95 bolt action version would be a more accurate sniper rifle. I saw one of the bolt action Barretts for sale in a Gander Mountain store in College Station, Texas back in the early 2000s. It was priced at $1500. I thought that was very high! Turns out it would have been a great investment. You can't get a Barrett .50 cal. in any configuration now for less than $9000. I have a friend who bought an M82 for 12 grand and he does use it for long-range target shooting. I can shoot it, but I have to bring my own ammo. That sucker costs about $5.00 a round to shoot.
4 people like this.
Reply 6 - Posted by:
Rumblehog 11/29/2020 6:04:31 PM (No. 619510)
According to the Geneva Conventions, .50 cal (.51 cal in former Soviet countries) rounds are meant to be anti-armor only, not to be used against personnel. (Sure)
For a real treat, buy the most expensive .50 cal round in the world, the Raufoss Mk211. It's an armor piercing explosive round that penetrates armor and explodes on the other side, producing deadly shrapnel. These cost between $65 and $100 each, while standard .50 cal ball ammunition is around $4 to $5 a round.
2 people like this.
Reply 7 - Posted by:
hershey 11/29/2020 9:37:45 PM (No. 619625)
Please, tell me it wasn't the same Swift Boat Pickle-boy took into Cambodia...
1 person likes this.
Reply 8 - Posted by:
GO3 11/30/2020 6:36:33 AM (No. 619759)
#6, beg to differ. There is no such prohibition in the Laws of Land Warfare. The only restriction is you cannot alter ammunition as it comes from the factory; eg, make field expedient dum-dum bullets. For example, if I’m in my tank and am attacked by hundreds of enemy ground troops. And am out of machine gun ammo, used up all my HE, then I can start shooting my AP at individual targets. BTW, this happened to an M48 crew in VN.
0 people like this.
Reply 9 - Posted by:
rbruce20 11/30/2020 9:16:29 PM (No. 620291)
There is no restrictions on using .50cal against people. I've fired thousands of rounds out of a M2 heavy machine gun at sea. Main benefit of the M2 is the range and down range mass. Sank a 90ft drug smuggling boat with the M2. Rounds went through stern, one internal steel bulkhead and stopped on a second steel bulkhead in the engine room at a range of about 300 yards. Don't want to fire too closely and risk a ricochet. Cross fire from two M2's will slaughter an advancing Army.
Agree, the 0.338 Lapau Magnum is a better sniper round. It's ballistics are more predictable than the heavier 50cal round. The rifle is lighter and smaller than the Barret. The 338 magnum has 300 grains. 50cal has 655 to 800 grains. Wind has less an affect on the 338 than the 50cal. The 338 has a flatter trajectory with less drop. The 50cal is "overkill" for one person. Due to its mass, the 50 will have unintended consequence for those or things behind the target.
0 people like this.
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