US Air Force personnel with M82A1 for used against IEDs in Iraq in 2005.
Source: US Army (Gul A. Alisan) -
© Public domain
The Barrett M82 is an anti-materiel rifle of US origin. It was developed by Ronnie Barrett in the early 1980's. It has the distinction of being the first modern anti-materiel rifle with widespread adoption. It is mostly used as a long range anti-material rifle and is also effective against personnel.
When introduced the M82 was a very futuristic looking firearm, as many sniper rifles still followed the classic bolt-action rifle look. The M82 is a short recoil operated semi-automatic weapon. The design follows a straight line principle with the barrel, receiver and shoulder stock in line. The fluted heavy barrel is free floating and recoils upon firing. A very effective multi-slotted muzzle brake is fitted. Over time the design was modernized with accessory rails and various other improvements.
The M82 is a semi-automatic weapon that fires the 12.7x99mm NATO round from a 10 round magazine. Accuracy is within 3 MOA and can be below 1 MOA with match ammunition. The maximum effective range is quoted to be 1.8 km. The effective range of the M107CQ is about 600 m.
The main user of the M82 is the US military. The M82 has also been widely exported, mainly to Western nations. It probably is the most produced and most widely used .50 caliber rifle in the world.
The M82A1 is a large and highly effective sniper rifle that fires the larger 12.7x99mm round. The earliest versions had a smaller round muzzle brake, production quickly changed to the large and highly effective square multi slotted muzzle brake. The M82A1 is the base version and has a dedicated scope mount. The M82A1M has a accessory rail over the full length of the receiver allowing various optics to be fitted at any desirable position. The M82A1A is modified for Raufoss Mk 211 incendiary ammunition.
The M82A2 is a bullpup derivative of the M82A1. It also featured a recoil reduction system allowing it to be fired from the shoulder at helicopters. M82A2 was produced in very small numbers and production has ceased .
The M107 is fairly similar to the M82A1M. It has a longer sight rail and a redesigned stock assembly with a hand grip and integrated monopod. The M107 is often produced in a tanned finish for desert use. The M107CQ is a shorter version of the M107. CQ stands for "Close Quarters". This means that the M107CQ is less cumbersome in close quarters, not that it is to be used in close quarters combat.
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