Barrett M82A1
Semi-automatic .50 BMG anti-materiel rifle: the first weapon of its class adopted on a large scale, capable of engagements beyond 1800 meters.
Barrett M82A1
Community
Data trust
- Reliability
- Unverified
- Sources
- Sources pending review
Identity
- Designation
- Barrett M82A1
- Alias
- M107 / Light Fifty
- Manufacturer
- Barrett Firearms
- Country
- United States
- Year
- 1989
- Category
- Sniper rifle
- Status
- In service
Ballistics
- Caliber
- .50 BMG (12.7×99 mm NATO)
- Muzzle velocity
- 853 m/s
- Effective range
- 1800 m
- Maximum range
- 6800 m
Dimensions
- Barrel length
- 737 mm
- Overall length
- 1448 mm
- Empty weight
- 12.9 kg
Mechanics
- Operating system
- Long recoil
- Bolt / action
- Three-lug rotating bolt
Feed
- System
- Detachable 10-round double-stack magazine
- Standard capacity
- 10 rounds
Fire modes
Historical profile
Development
The project began in 1982 as a private venture by photographer and gunsmith Ronnie Barrett, aiming to build a semi-automatic rifle in .50 BMG — a caliber until then used only on machine guns like the M2HB. The first prototype was ready in 1982 and Barrett Firearms Manufacturing was founded in 1983.
The first major customer was the Swedish Navy (1989); the US Marine Corps purchased it during the 1990 Gulf War as the SASR (Special Applications Scoped Rifle). The US Army officially adopted it as the M107 in 2002.
Design
The long-recoil (short-recoil) operating system is the key: the entire barrel–bolt group recoils about 25 mm, absorbing most of the energy and reducing felt recoil to a level comparable to a 12-gauge shotgun.
The three-chamber muzzle brake vents gas laterally (highly visible signature, ground blast). The 10-round box magazine and integrated bipod enable sustained semi-automatic engagement, unlike bolt-action competitors such as the AW50 or McMillan TAC-50.
Operational service
The primary doctrinal role is anti-materiel: destruction of radars, light vehicles, parked aircraft and standoff disposal of IEDs. It is also used as a long-range precision rifle: the confirmed M82 record stands at 2,815 m (Canadian sniper in Afghanistan, 2002, the world record for years).
It is in service with over 30 NATO and allied armed forces (US Army, USMC, IDF, Italian, Turkish, Ukrainian armed forces) and with many special-operations interdiction units. Variants include the M82A1M/M107A1 with integrated accessories and the M82A3 for the US Army.
Variants
Main users
United States (US Army) · USMC · United Kingdom · Israel · over 30 countries
Key components
- ●Stock — Fixed stock with cheek rest.
- ●Receiver — Steel and aluminum upper and lower.
- ●Grip — AR-type pistol grip.
- ●Magazine — Detachable 10-round .50 BMG magazine.
- ●Barrel — Fluted barrel with three-chamber muzzle brake.
Compatible optics (1)
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