- The U.S. Army and Marines have placed an order for 768 Barrett MRAD rifles.
- The MRAD is a multi-caliber sniper weapon capable of serving in a wider variety of environments than previous weapons.
- One of the most useful features of the new rifle is the ability to change barrels with a single tool.
The U.S. Army, Marine Corps are placing orders for a new sniper rifle designed to operate in a variety of conditions against different types of targets and at different ranges. New orders for the Barrett MRAD follow orders placed the previous year by U.S. Special Operations Command. The new rifle will replace existing sniper rifles and heavier anti-material rifles in the inventories of select U.S. ground forces.
The rifle is the Barrett MRAD, or Multi-Role Adaptive Design rifle. MRAD is a bolt-action rifle built into a heavy duty metal chassis made of 7000-series aluminum. The rifle is fed by a ten round magazine and weighs between 13 and 14.5 pounds, not including optic, bipod, and other accessories. The shoulder stock folds to the side when not in use, shortening the weapon’s overall weight for vehicle carry and during parachute operations.
The big deal about the MRAD is the ability for the sniper to swap barrels, changing from one caliber to another. Typically a high accuracy rifle requires a trained gunsmith to conduct a barrel swap, and generally speaking it is not possible to change from one caliber to another. The MRAD on the other hand can change between barrel calibers with the use of a single tool.
The MRAD is chambered in the traditional sniper calibers of .308 Winchester and .300 Winchester Magnum. However, it can also easily swap into .338 Lapua Magnum, .338 Norma Magnum, 6.5 Creedmoor, .300 Norma, and .300 PRC. Many of these calibers offer significant performance increases at longer range, offering flatter shooting trajectories to greater distances or more energy delivered to the target. Some, like .308 Winchester, are good general purpose rounds and useful in urban environments where ranges are shorter and a reduced visual and acoustic signature are desired.
Others, like .338 Lapua Magnum, are powerful enough to shoot greater distances. U.S. Navy SEAL sniper Chris Kyle achieved his famous 2,100 yard shot in 2008 in Sadr City using a .338 Lapua Magnum chambered rifle, a shot impossible for a .308 Winchester rifle to make. The MRAD’s modularity will allow U.S. snipers to carry multiple barrels and types of ammunition on deployments, to ensure their weapons are optimized to do the job.
In addition to caliber changes, the rifle incorporates a fully adjustable stock, with adjustments in cheek rest height and length of pull. Comfortable distances for both may change as a sniper wears or doesn't wear bulky clothing or body armor, and almost all modern sniper rifles feature adjustable stocks. The weapon also has a full length Picatinny rail to mount optics, image intensifiers, and other aiming tools. A large trigger well is useful for cold environments, where the sniper might wear gloves to stay warm. An Atlas bipod allows the shooter to achieve a stable aiming position while prone.
According to Business Insider, the Army and Marine Corps have placed orders for a combined 768 MRAD rifles worth $14 million. The cost, approximately $16,000 per rifle, includes a sound suppressor and a variable power rifle scope. The weapon will replace the M2010 sniper rifles and M107 heavy sniper rifles.
Last year U.S Special Operations Command purchased $50 million dollars worth of MRAD rifles, which it designated the Mark 22 Advanced Sniper Rifle.
Source: Business Insider
Kyle Mizokami is a writer on defense and security issues and has been at Popular Mechanics since 2015. If it involves explosions or projectiles, he's generally in favor of it. Kyle’s articles have appeared at The Daily Beast, U.S. Naval Institute News, The Diplomat, Foreign Policy, Combat Aircraft Monthly, VICE News, and others. He lives in San Francisco.
