A new sniper system by Barret Firearms has finally caught the attention of the U.S Military. The Tennessee-based weapons manufacturer is set to arm U.S snipers from different service branches. The specific rifle that won the hearts of military planners is the Multi Role Adaptive Design (MRAD) sniper system. The entire contract will last for five years and is worth $50 million.
The News on the $50M Contract
The announcement was made in a press release by Army Officials from Project Manager Soldier Lathery on March 30, 2021. Barret Firearms is expected to supply 2,800 of these MK22 MRAD sniper rifles. This sniper rifle will be added to the Army’s arsenal, including a sniper accessory kit and a Leupold and Steven Mark 5 HD scope.
The multi-caliber sniper rifles can be chambered with different ammunitions, including the .300 Norma Magnum, .338 Norma Magnum, and the 7.62 by 51. According to the Barret website, snipers can interchange between different calibers with a lot of ease. This is made possible by a smooth adjustable upper cheekpiece. The bolts of these rifles ride in a unique polymer guide. This provides smooth operation under the harshest conditions.
What Makes the New Sniper System Special?
In addition to versatility, the new system also comes with an improved range. It will allow snipers to hit their targets from as far as 1,500 meters when chambered with the .338 Norma Magnum. This is a significant improvement on the previous sniper system. The previous model, the M2010, by the same company, maxed out at 1,200 feet when chambered with .300 Winchester Magnum.
The new model is based on the 2013 Barret 98 sniper rifle. At the time, it was passed over in favor of the Remington Army’s Modular Sniper rifle. This news has also caught the attention of the Marines Corps. It will replace their current MK13 Mod 7 sniper rifle and all other rifles in their service. The Marine Corps is targeting 250 MRAD snipers estimated to be worth 4 million.
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Specific Features of the MRAD MK22
According to details on the Barret Firearm’s website, the rifle weighs between13.8 pounds (6.3 kg) and 15.4 pounds (7 Kgs). Other features of the MRAD MK22 include a twist rate of 200-240mm, a magazine capacity of 10, and a rail length of 553 mm. The rifle also features a folding stock and is available in Coyote colors.
Final Thoughts
Barret Firearms was established 30 years ago and has standing contracts with different military branches. Today, the company is the leading manufacturer of large caliber rifles.
Oue initial well designed 30 06 was more than adequate for most of the tasks necessary within tactical situations backed by the 50 BMG we’re unstoppable. Although I also feel our ranking decision makers need to get passed any passed hurt feelings and adopt the 7mm x 57mm mauser for common troop carry as this unique old original design is hard to beat for ballistics, low recoil and being constantly positive for never having jambs with it’s tapering that proves ongoing easy extraction of spent cartridges. Sometimes it’s way better to not try to reinvent the wheel.