The Barrett MRAD (Multi-role Adaptive Design) is a

bolt-action Bolt action is a type of manual Action (firearms), firearm action that is operated by ''directly'' manipulating the bolt (firearms), turn-bolt via a cocking handle, bolt handle, most commonly placed on the right-hand side of the firearm (a ...

sniper rifle A sniper rifle is a high-precision, long range shooting, long-range rifle. Requirements include high accuracy, reliability, mobility, concealment, and optics, for anti-personnel weapon, anti-personnel, anti-materiel rifle, anti-materiel and sur ...

designed by Barrett to meet the requirements of the SOCOM PSR. The MRAD is based on the Barrett 98B and includes a number of modifications and improvements. The Barrett MRAD was named the 2012 Rifle of the Year by ''Shooting Illustrated'' magazine.

Design

After the

United States Special Operations Command The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM or SOCOM) is the unified combatant command charged with overseeing the various special operations component commands of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force of the United States A ...

(USSOCOM) announced their desire for a new

precision sniper rifle The Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR) was a program by United States Special Operations Command to replace all bolt-action sniper rifles in use by United States special operations snipers with a single bolt-action rifle chambered for a large caliber Mag ...

in December 2009, Barrett created the MRAD in accordance with the specifications laid out by SOCOM. Building off of the successful Barrett 98B, the MRAD features multiple improvements such as a folding

stock Stocks (also capital stock, or sometimes interchangeably, shares) consist of all the Share (finance), shares by which ownership of a corporation or company is divided. A single share of the stock means fractional ownership of the corporatio ...

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 when it is unfolded. A major MRAD feature (and requirement of the military PSR solicitation) is a field-changeable barrel/caliber capability. Loosening two Torx screws in the receiver allows the removal of the barrel from the front of the receiver/handguard. With only a 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 caliber conversion kits in .338 and .300 Norma Magnum, 7mm Remington Magnum, .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 which 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. Early MRADs had a 30 MOA slope full length 21.75" standard 1913

Picatinny rail The 1913 rail (MIL-STD-1913 rail) is an American rail integration system designed by Richard Swan that provides a mounting platform for firearm accessories. It forms part of the NATO standard STANAG 2324 rail. It was originally used for mount ...

on top of the receiver/handguard. Current MRADs feature a 10 milliradian (MIL/MRAD) slope rail. Shorter 2"-4" Picatinny rails sections may be user positioned at 3, 6, and 9 o'clock at several fore/aft positions along the handguard. MRADs are offered in several Cerakote colors. Similar to the M16/AR15, the MRAD upper and lower receivers can be separated by pressing a rear latch assembly under the stock while the front detent pin acts as a hinge AR-15 to allow for maintenance in the field. With quality .300 Winchester Magnum ammunition the Barrett achieved groups that averaged 0.45 MOA, with the best of them measuring 0.31 MOA.

Precision Sniper Rifle

The particular model of the MRAD that was submitted for USSOCOM's MK21 PSR trial was fitted with a barrel, and weighed (without an optic). In 2013, the Remington Modular Sniper Rifle was selected as the winner of the PSR competition. However, in 2018, it was decided that the MK21 did not conform to SOCOM requirements at the time, and the program was re-competed as the MK22 ASR (Advanced Sniper Rifle).

MK 22 ASR and MK 22 PSR

MK 22 MOD 0 ASR (Advanced Sniper Rifle) is the designation for the Barrett MRAD variant ordered by USSOCOM. In 2019, USSOCCOM awarded Barrett Manufacturing a US$50 million contract for the ASR (Advanced Sniper Rifle) contract, ordering the Barrett MRAD with the ability to convert chambering between 7.62×51mm NATO, .300 Norma Magnum, and .338 Norma Magnum. The MK 22 ASR is issued with Barrett's AML 338 suppressor and paired with the Precision Variable Power Scopes (P-VPS) SU-295/PVS Nightforce ATACR 5-25×56 and SU-295/PVS Nightforce ATACR 7-35×56. MK 22 PSR (Precision Sniper Rifle) is the designation for the Barrett MRAD variant ordered by the US Army. In 2021, the US Army awarded Barrett a US$49.9 million contract for delivery of 2,800 MK22 PSR rifles, while the Marine Corps planned to order 250. The MK 22 PSR will have conversion kits for .338 Norma Magnum, .300 Norma Magnum, and 7.62×51mm NATO. However, unlike the MK 22 ASR, it is issued with a Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25x56mm scope. The Army plans for the MK 22 to replace the currently in use M107 and M2010 sniper rifles. The Marine Corps intends to have the MK 22 to replace all M40A6 and MK 13 MOD 7 sniper rifles. The MK 22 reached full operational capability in November 2024 in the U.S. Marine Corps with all infantry and reconnaissance units completing new equipment training on the system and fielding it.

Users

* * : In use by the Indonesian Marine Corps,

Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion The United States Marine Corps's Amphibious Reconnaissance Battalion, formerly ''Company'', was a Marine Corps special operations capable forces of United States Marine and Hospital corpsman that performed clandestine operation preliminary pre� ...

. * : In 2013, the MRAD was adopted by the

Yamam Yamam (), also known as National Counter-Terrorism Unit, is Israel's national counter-terrorism unit, one of four special units of the Israel Border Police. The Yamam is capable of both hostage-rescue operations and offensive take-over raids ag ...

, Israel's

elite In political and sociological theory, the elite (, from , to select or to sort out) are a small group of powerful or wealthy people who hold a disproportionate amount of wealth, privilege, political power, or skill in a group. Defined by the ...

counter-terrorism Counterterrorism (alternatively spelled: counter-terrorism), also known as anti-terrorism, relates to the practices, military tactics, techniques, and strategies that governments, law enforcement, businesses, and intelligence agencies use to co ...

and

SWAT A SWAT (''Special Weapons and Tactics'') team is a generic term for a police tactical unit within the United States, though the term has also been used by other nations. SWAT units are generally trained, equipped, and deployed to res ...

unit, as their long range sniper rifle, to replace old

PGM 338 The PGM 338, also known as the PGM .338 LM (LM - Lapua Magnum) or PGM Mini-Hecate .338, is French sniper rifle A sniper rifle is a high-precision, long range shooting, long-range rifle. Requirements include high accuracy, reliability, mobilit ...

rifles. In 2018, the MRAD was adopted by the

Israel Defense Forces The Israel Defense Forces (IDF; , ), alternatively referred to by the Hebrew-language acronym (), is the national military of the State of Israel. It consists of three service branches: the Israeli Ground Forces, the Israeli Air Force, and ...

. * : Introduced in 2018 as a replacement for the 7.62mm Arctic Warfare sniper rifles * : Ordered by the

Norwegian Armed Forces The Norwegian Armed Forces () are the armed forces responsible for the defence of Norway. It consists of five branches, the Norwegian Army, the Royal Norwegian Navy, which includes the Norwegian Coast Guard, Coast Guard, the Royal Norwegian Air ...

in 2013. In use with Norwegian Special Operations Forces since 2015, as well as

Kystjegerkommandoen ''Kystjegerkommandoen'' (, or ''KJK'') is a unit in the Royal Norwegian Navy. KJK is a marine commando unit trained to operate in littoral combat theatres, filling the role of marines and coastal artillery. The unit consists of coastal rangers an ...

and several

Norwegian Army The Norwegian Army () is the land warfare service branch of the Norwegian Armed Forces. The Army is the oldest of the Norwegian service branches, established as a modern military organization under the command of the King of Norway in 1628. The ...

units. Snipers of Beredskapstroppen Delta of the Norwegian Police have also been seen with this rifle. * : Used by the 707th Special Mission Group. * : Snipers in the AFU have been reported to be using MRAD rifles. * : MK 22 MOD 0 Advanced Sniper Rifle (ASR) ordered by the U.S. Special Operations Command. MK 22 Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR) ordered by US Army. On November 21, 2024, the US Marine Corps announced that the MK 22 rifle had reached full operational capability a year ahead of schedule.

Non-state users

Arakan Army The Arakan Army (; Abbreviation, abbreviated AA), sometimes referred to as the Arakha Army is an Ethnic nationalism, ethnic-List of insurgent groups in Myanmar, armed organisation based in Rakhine State (Arakan). Founded in April 2009, the Ara ...

: Seen in 2018 during a 9th year anniversary parade.

Gallery

File:Barrett-MRAD-0017.jpg, Shooting a Barrett MRAD chambered for .308 Winchester with

suppressor A silencer, also known as a sound suppressor, suppressor, or sound moderator, is a gun barrel#Muzzle, muzzle device that suppresses the muzzle blast, blast created when a gun (firearm or airgun) is discharged, thereby reducing the sound inten ...

File:MK22 ASR and PSR comparison.jpg, SOCOM MK 22 MOD 0 ASR (above) compared to Army MK 22 PSR (below) File:2022 USASOC International Sniper Competition Image 1 of 16 7111406 220321-A-OP908-044.jpg, MK 22 ASR being fired at USASOC International Sniper Competition File:LOTAR academy. VIII.jpg,

snipers shooting a Barrett MRAD chambered for 7.62×51 mm NATO File:YAMAM-sniper-0020.jpg, Israeli

YAMAM Yamam (), also known as National Counter-Terrorism Unit, is Israel's national counter-terrorism unit, one of four special units of the Israel Border Police. The Yamam is capable of both hostage-rescue operations and offensive take-over raids ag ...

snipers shooting a suppressed Barrett MRAD

References

External links

MRAD Official Website

{{Use dmy dates, date=May 2019 .338 firearms .338 Lapua Magnum rifles Barrett firearms Bolt-action rifles of the United States Sniper rifles of the United States Military equipment introduced in the 2010s