"Barrett" (sniper rifle): characteristics, price

It is said that all grandiose inventions and discoveries of mankind have been gained thanks to amateurs. Wherever a professional says: "Impossible," the amateur will try to translate the idea into reality. Once a simple photographer Ronnie Barrett walked along the quay and looked at the bay ... It so happened that not only the sun rolling over the horizon hit the camera's lens, but also the Browning machine gun mounted on the moored patrol boat. We can say that at that moment the Barrett era began to emerge - the era of a high-precision large-caliber rifle.

The beginning of the way

Ronnie returned home and began to show the film. It was then that the idea came into his head. Barrett immediately grabbed a pencil and began to draw. Soon before him lay a schematic image of a cross-sectional sniper rifle. According to his idea, she had to use a non-alternative at that time army large-caliber ammunition .50BMG caliber.

In the 82nd year this sketch was actually sensational. First, competition in this area in the US and around the world was completely absent. However, the realization of the idea was not simple. Ronnie worked hard on drawings for a few days. After the completion of the work, he went to the local factory shops in the hope of agreeing to make a prototype of a new rifle. However, everywhere he was waited with distrust and refusal.

But Ronnie did not give up. And in the city of Smyrna, fate brought him with the train driver, and in combination a skillful fan, Bob Mitchell. He listened to the young inventor, reviewed his drawings and agreed to help realize the idea.

The birth of the first rifle took place in the garage of Barrett. In the hands of enthusiasts there was only a lathe and a set of tools. Later a young team was joined by Ronnie's friend, also a photographer, Harry Watson.

As a result of hard work, a prototype rifle was ready in four months. The first tests helped to detect a number of shortcomings. First of all, it concerned recoil - it was so powerful that it reduced the accuracy of the shot to naught. The developers returned to the garage and continued to work. The second prototype turned out to be more successful. Photographer Ronnie shot a promo video about him, packed his rifle and drove to a gun show in Texas. Could he have imagined that this rifle, which had undergone only a small improvement, would become truly legendary?

At the GunShow exhibition, Barrett's invention interested several collectors. They became the first customers. Barrett received a license and started work. But the real triumph happened in 1985, when the development interested the CIA.

Mass production

Soon the whole world heard a new word in the arms business - "Barrett". The rifle received this name. The first samples went to Afghanistan and came into the service of American intelligence groups. Having proved themselves in the best part of the battle, the rifles almost instantly won the confidence of the US Department of Defense, after which their serial production began. Sniper rifle "Barrett" became the standard of reliable large-caliber weapons not only at home, but in the world.

Barrett Firearms Manufacturing quickly turned into one of the most successful and respected private arms companies in the world. Its headquarters are located in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Today, Barrett is a rifle that is in service with the armies of 45 countries around the world, including the United States, Belgium, Ukraine, Australia, India, Austria, Bahrain, France, Brazil, Georgia, Denmark, Salvador, Kuwait, Sweden , Turkey, Mexico, Egypt, United Arab Emirates, Norway, Portugal, Lebanon, Singapore, Holland, Spain.

The company did not stop exclusively with rifles. Today, from its conveyors, both small arms and optical systems, and a weapons kit are coming off.

Barrett M82 and M82A1

Sniper rifle "Barrett M82" became a prototype for the new model - M82A1. Today, it is this modification that makes the manufacturer's main rate.

The purpose of this weapon is to defeat and damage the lightly armored and armored vehicles of the enemy, radar equipment, helicopters and aircraft on the ground.

The weapon is self-loading, the principle of operation is based on automation with a short stroke of the barrel. Sniper rifle "Barret M82A1" is available in three versions: standard M82A1; With a truncated barrel - M82A1 CQ; Under the cartridge .416 - M82A1 .416.

Barrett M82A1: device and TTX

The upper part of the trunk box is made of sheet steel. To it the handle for carrying and a rail for fastening of optics fastens. The aiming bar is foldable, marked from 100 to 1500 meters. The system is designed in such a way as to give the shooter an opportunity both for open aiming with the help of a front sight and for installing any modern optical sights, including night and collimating sights. The muzzle brake-compensator, consisting of three chambers, is designed in such a way as to absorb about 70% of the recoil. On the massive trunk there are longitudinal lobes, which contribute to cooling and allow to significantly reduce the weight of the weapon. The mechanism for fastening bipods allows you to fold and shoot them very quickly with the help of a minimum number of manipulations. Bipods are attached to the bottom of the receiver. Special attention deserves the butt. It is equipped with an amotrytic pillow and a so-called "third leg" - a sliding additional support.

Optics

At the request of the buyer, the rifle is equipped with a standard sight with variable multiplicity Leupold Mark 4M1. The manufacturer has developed and produces a ballistic computer Barrett Optical Ranging System (BORS). The software allows you to integrate your computer with an optical sight. A special ballistic program calculates and displays the most optimal targeting settings, taking into account the corrections. The program analyzes many factors, including distance to the target, air temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction. Using a USB cable a large-caliber rifle "Barrett" Can be connected to any mobile device on which Windows XP or Mac OS is installed.

Barrett M107 and M107A1

It would seem that the level of perfection is achieved. But the manufacturer did not stop at the upgraded version of the "eighty-second." On the basis of it appeared first sniper rifle "Barrett M107", and after and even more advanced version - "Barrett M107A1".

At creation of this model the manufacturer reacted with special attention to the reviews of those who happened to visit this rifle in battles. Virtually every detail has been redesigned, refined, improved and implemented in the best traditions of the company "Barrett". The rifle has surpassed the expectations of developers, confidently taking worthy places in the top.

Firstly, improvements have touched on the materials from which the trunk, butt, fore and other details are made. In the new rifle you can find spare parts made of titanium, polymers, aluminum alloy or other innovative materials.

The new sniper rifle "Barrett" weighs less than the prototype. For obvious reasons, this had a positive effect on TTX.

In addition, it became possible to conduct fire with the help of a tactical silencer integrated on the barrel, significantly reducing the sound of the shot. The designers did not disregard the details, such as the handle for transferring weapons.

One hundred and seventh "Barrett" - a rifle, released in two versions: the standard - M107A1 and a truncated barrel - M107A1 CQ.

The device and TTX rifles "Barrett M107"

To the top of the receiver, made of aluminum, a rail guide for optics, a target, a fly, a trunk is attached. With the bottom part is connected by cross pins, as in the previous model. The aiming bar is folding, as before. Marked for shooting from 100 to 1500 meters. The fly can also be folded along the axis of the rails. Special attention should be paid to the muzzle brake-compensator. It consists of four cameras, and its design allows the use of an additional tactical silencer QDL Suppressor. Both these details are the own development of the company "Barrett". The lower part of the receiver is made of a single piece of sheet metal. On the butt is a special lining for the cheek of a sniper. As in the previous model, there is a "third leg".

The trunk has longitudinal lobes. The closure is covered with a special patented nickel-Teflon coating, providing better slip, protects against corrosion and external influences, speeds up the process of assembly and disassembly and cleaning of the bolt group.

The cartridge, which shoots this "Barrett" rifle - .50 BMG.

Bipods are foldable, they can be adjusted according to needs, easy to remove.

Ammunition

It is noteworthy that the case of Ronnie Barrett interested and his son. Chris Barrett works for his father's company. His own development is the .416 Barrett cartridge, created on the basis of .50BMG. This ammunition is intended for use in rifles of smaller caliber. In addition, it is used in those states of the United States and foreign countries, where civilians are forbidden to own weapons of large caliber.

Price list

It can not be said that Barrett is an accessible rifle. The cost of the initially expensive weapon is influenced by many factors, including equipment, year of manufacture and even color execution. Today, the Barrett rifle, whose price can reach $ 12,000, confidently holds positions in the top ten of the world's best sniper rifles.