Barrett MRAD

The Barrett MRAD or Multi-role Adaptive Design is a bolt-action sniper rifle that was designed by Barrett to meet the requirements of the SOCOM PSR.[5] The MRAD is based on the Barrett 98B with a number of modifications and improvements.[6] The Barrett MRAD was named the 2012 Rifle of the Year by the NRA.[7]

For the angular measurement used in firearm sights, see Milliradian.
Barrett MRAD
Barrett MRAD in various colors
TypeSniper rifle
Place of originUnited States
Service history
Used byIsrael: YAMAM and IDF
Norway
New Zealand
United States
Production history
DesignerChris Barrett
ManufacturerBarrett Firearms Company
Specifications
Mass13.9 lb (6.3 kg) (20" Barrel)
14.8 lb (6.7 kg) (24.5" Barrel)
15.3 lb (6.9 kg) (27" Barrel)[1]
Length42.4 in (108 cm) (20" Barrel)
46.9 in (119 cm) (24.5" Barrel)
49.4 in (125 cm) (27" Barrel)[1]
Barrel length20 in (51 cm)
24.5 in (62 cm)
27 in (69 cm)[1]
Cartridge [2][3][4]
ActionBolt-action
Maximum firing range1,500 metres (1,600 yd)
Feed system10 round detachable box magazine

Design
Shooting a Barrett MRAD chambered for .308 Winchester with suppressor.
Israel Defense Forces snipers shooting a Barrett MRAD chambered for 7.62x51 mm NATO, achieving accuracy of around 0.35 MOA.

After the United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) announced their desire for a new precision sniper rifle in December 2009, Barrett created the MRAD in accordance with the specifications laid out by SOCOM.[5] Building off of the successful Barrett 98B, the MRAD features multiple improvements such as a folding stock which allows the rifle to be transported more easily. When folded, the stock latches around the bolt handle which increases the security of transporting the rifle without increasing the width as unfolded.[1] A major MRAD feature (and requirement of the military PSR solicitation) is a user field changeable barrel/caliber capability. Loosening two Torx screws in the receiver allows removal of the barrel from the front of the receiver/handguard. With only a simple bolt face change, and in some cases a magazine change, caliber may be changed. The factory headspaced bolt face is provided with each barrel. Barrel/caliber change can occur in less than two minutes. In addition to the typical military requested calibers of .338 Lapua Magnum, .300 Winchester Magnum, and .308 Winchester calibers, Barrett also offers popular caliber conversion kits in .338 and .300 NORMA, 7mm Remington, .260 Remington, and 6.5mm Creedmoor. Barrel lengths are offered in 17" to 26", but not in all calibers. Barrels are available in fluted and heavy profiles. The trigger module can be removed without tools providing access to user adjustable trigger pull weight and over travel, and making cleaning easier. Additional features of the MRAD include a single-button length-of-pull adjustment, adjustable cheek rest height, a polymer bolt guide acts as a dust cover to reduce debris entering the action, a user reversible AR-15 style safety, an ambidextrous magazine release, and the ability to accept standard M16/AR15 style pistol grips.[1] Early MRADs had 30MOA slope full length 21.75" standard 1913 Picatinny rail on top of the receiver/handuard. Current MRADs feature 20 MOA slope rail. Shorter 2"-4" Picatinny rails sections may be user positioned at 3, 6, and 9 0'clock at several fore/aft positions along the handguard. MRADs are offered in several Cerakote colors; all barrels are black.[8]

Similar to the M16/AR15 rifle, the MRAD upper and lower receivers can be separated by pushing out rear and front two take-down pins. Pushing out only the rear take-down pin allows the upper receiver to tilt on its front take-down pin like an AR to allow for easy maintenance in the field.[9]

With match grade .338 Lapua Magnum ammunition the MRAD is capable of 0.5 MOA (minute of angle) accuracy at a distances of up to 1500 meters. With standard ammunition the accuracy drops to near 1 MOA but still sub-MOA.[10] Israel Defense Forces snipers, using 7.62x51 mm NATO IMI sniping ammunition, fire 1.1 centimetres (0.43 in) groups at 100 meters (110 yd), achieving accuracy of 0.378 MOA.[11]

For colors, there are Black, Flat Dark Earth and Tungsten Gray choices, there used to be OD Green and Burnt Bronze choices but were getting rid of since 2019.

Precision Sniper Rifle

The particular model of the MRAD that was submitted for the US SOCOM's Mk 21 PSR (Precision Sniper Rifle) trial was fitted with a 24.5 in (62 cm) barrel, and weighed 14.8 lb (6.7 kg) (without an optic)."[5] In 2013 the Remington Modular Sniper Rifle was selected as the winner of the PSR competition.[12] However, in 2018 that was decided that the Mk 21 did not conform to SOCOM requirements at the time, and the program was re-competed as Mk 22 ASR (Advanced Sniper Rifle).[13]

Advanced Sniper Rifle

In 2019 the U.S. Special Operations Command awarded Barrett Manufacturing a $50,000,000 contract, ordering the Barrett MRAD chambered in .338 Norma Magnum for the Advanced Sniper Rifle project as the Mk 22 ASR. The issued rifle kit includes swappable barrels and bolts chambered in .308 Winchester, .300 Norma Magnum and .338 Norma Magnum.[14] As part of their fiscal year 2021 budget requests, both the Army and Marine Corps included requests to adopt the MRAD themselves as their primary sniper systems of choice. The Army wants to purchase 536 MRAD sniper systems for roughly $10.13 million. The Marine Corps wants to purchase 250 MRAD sniper systems under SOCOM’s ASR program for roughly $4 million to “replace all current bolt-action sniper rifles” currently used by the service. The Mk22 ASR will replace the M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle, Barrett M107, and MK 13 rifle.[13][15]

Users
YAMAM (Israel's counter-terrorism unit) snipers shooting with suppressed Barrett MRAD
Israel Defense Forces' special forces' sniper with the Barrett MRAD

See also
  • M110A1

References
  1. "MRAD". Barrett. Archived from the original on 28 August 2012. Retrieved 17 December 2012.
  2. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 28 August 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  3. "Barrett 2019 Catalog" (pdf). p. 33.
  4. "MRAD® Operator's Manual" (PDF). p. 6.
  5. Langston, Jay. "Barrett MRAD .338 Lapua MAG". Tactical-Life.com. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  6. Dall'au, Andre M. "The Barrett Multi-Role Adaptive Design (MRAD) rifle". Tactical-Life.com. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  7. Barrett, Angela. "Barrett MRAD Receives Golden Bullseye Award for 2012 Rifle of the Year from the NRA Publication, Shooting Illustrated" (PDF). Barret. Archived from the original (PDF) on 26 January 2013. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  8. Barrett product sales literature; Barrett website; MRAD Owner's Manual and Barrett Armorer's Course
  9. Adelmann, Steve (24 October 2011). "Barrett MRAD". Shooting Illustrated. Archived from the original on 10 June 2012. Retrieved 18 December 2012.
  10. Barrett MRAD, Shooting Illustrated.
  11. Article in YNET (Hebrew), July 22nd 2019. Quote: "הרובה החדש מגיע לרמת דיוק פגיעה של עד 1.1 ס"מ מהמטרה לטווח של כ-100 מטרים, ובחלקו הקדמי ניתן להסתיר את סימן רשף הירי ולהתקין עליו משתיקול. כוונות היום והלילה שעל הנשק החדש יכולות להגדיל לטווח של פי 10 ואף יותר." An 1.1 cm group at 100 meters is equivalent to 0.378 MOA.
  12. Curtis, Rob (7 March 2013). "SOCOM PSR contract awarded to Remington Defense MSR". Gearscout blog. Retrieved 9 March 2013.
  13. https://taskandpurpose.com/military-tech/barrett-mrad-military-sniper-rifle
  14. https://dod.defense.gov/News/Contracts/Contract-View/Article/1782108/
  15. Army and Marines to Arm Snipers with Special Operations Multi-Caliber Sniper Rifle. Military.com. 3 March 2020.
  16. נחשף פירוט הנשק של הימ"מ, Ynet, 2015.3.1
  18. SHAPING THE FIGHT IN ISRAEL, Small Arms Defense Journal, 2019
  20. "Laserrifla". 21 December 2016.
  21. https://www.politiforum.no/artikler/beredskapstroppen-star-klare-til-a-skyte-mannen-med-kjottoks-men-sa-gjor-trond-noe-som-endrer-alt/411660
  22. US DoD Contracts For March 11, 2019 DEFENSE LOGISTICS AGENCY
  23. This is the US military’s next sniper rifle of choice, Jared Keller, Updated: Feb 28, 2020 10:43 AM EST, Original: Feb 24, 2020

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