Barrett Celebrate MRAD Winning US SOCOM ASR Contract
On 12th March we reported that Barrett Firearms Manufacturing had been awarded a contract worth nearly $50 million to produce their MRAD rifle fulfilling the US Special Operations Command’s Advanced Sniper Rifle (ASR) requirement. Barrett have welcomed the contract and confirmed that the rifle purchased is the MRAD or Multi Role Adaptive Design.
Here’s what Barrett had to say about the adoption of the MRAD:
U.S. Department of Defense announced Monday, March 11th, 2019, that Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Inc. has been awarded the contract for ASR (Advanced Sniper Rifle) in support of the U.S. Sniper Operations Command (USSOCOM) with its MRAD (Multi-Role Adaptive Design) Rifle.
USSOCOM announced in 2016 they were in search of a modular, multi-caliber bolt action sniper rifle capable of converting between 7.62x51mm, .300 Norma Magnum (NM) and .338 Norma Magnum (NM) through a “full and open competition.” The Barrett MRAD is designed with precision and modularity in mind and will serve the U.S. special operations teams in their efforts.
“I remember Chris telling me that ‘this is what all precision rifles will look like one day!’ and he was right. However, aesthetics is not all that makes this rifle; as his development persisted, he was able to achieve more than I ever thought possible. I genuinely believe this is the most accurate rifle in the world.” Ronnie Barrett, Founder and CEO.
There has never been a time in US History that both a father and son have each fielded a military-designated rifle system until now: Ronnie with the M107 and Chris with the MRAD.
“This feels like the highest honor I could ever achieve professionally to have a rifle adopted by the US Military, and especially USSOCOM,” Chris Barrett, President.
The .338 Lapua Magnum chambered MRAD Military Deployment Kit in FDE with a 24″ Fluted FDE Barrel currently has a list price of $18,792. The MRAD is available in the calibres SOCOM requested (7.62x51mm, .300 Norma Magnum and .338 Norma Magnum), but it is not clear just how many calibre options SOCOM have selected and in what ratios.
Find out more about the MRAD here.
Managing Editor: TheFirearmBlog.com & Overt Defense.com. Matt is a British historian specialising in small arms development and military history. He has written several books and for a variety of publications in both the US and UK. Matt is also runs The Armourer's Bench, a video series on historically significant small arms. Here on TFB he covers product and current military small arms news. Reach Matt at: matt@thefirearmblog.com
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Awwww yeah. Can't wait to see these show up. Here's the bigger question. When's the ammo going to show up and in what quantities?
The Barrel MRAD is a better choice for a modular, multi cartridge design than the current Remington Precision Rifle for the reasons listed below:
1. trigger assembly can be easily removed & cleansed/replaced W/O chassis removal
2. one piece upper and forearm = more stable platform for night vision & thermal scopes
3. bolt telescoping into stock = more straight line recoil, less muzzle rise
4. polymer bolt cover means better protection for bolt from debris, snow, ice, etc.
5. smaller diameter forearm (than Remington PR) makes lower scope mounting possible
And with the optional lightweight carbon fiber wrapped Proof Research barrel it will be more suitable for operators who must carry it to high altitudes.
Congratulations Barrett, you have set another military firearms benchmark.