Barrett .50 cal sniper rifle ??

[Rising Sun*]

Was this issued to British infantry snipers or just SAS type units?

When did it come into British service?

[Cuts]

The Barrett is available to SF units and the RE (Royal Engineers) for demining purposes.
It was trialled by SF in about 92/93.


The .50 is not issued to snipers, who are issued the L96 (now the L118A1) in 7.62 and the L115A1 LRR (Long Range Rifle) in .338 Lapua Mag. They are all Accuracy International rifles, the LRR and the L118A1 being AW (Arctic Warfare) models with the former now called the AWM model.
The original rifle was designed by Malcom Cooper, an olympic shot, and while it is a very accurate weapon it is much more cumbersome than the L42 for the stalk.

Confusingly, (or perhaps typically of the forces,) while every other country that employs the .338 Lapua Magnum uses that designation for the cart, the SASC in their infinite wisdom, decided that the Brit designation would be 8.59 mm.

[1000ydstare]

Didn't the RLC EOD units get them aswell or just RE?

[Cuts]

Didn't the RLC EOD units get them aswell or just RE?

No, the RLC use .50 dearmers.

[cj_ady]

Well you guys she that today's best sniper rifle is non oder then the AS-50....It has a bullet of a 50 caliber....The gun is semi automanic .....not bolt-action ....and is easy to care.....It hawes only 27 pounds ....many of it's parts are made out of titanium for reduceing the wait....It has a spring mecanisam made special to reduce the recoil....its accurace is from 100 yards can heat a target with 1.5 inch accurace....the AS-50 is made to shoot diferent tipes of ammo ....it can shoot the normal 50 caliber ore the armor picing bullet....The armor pirceing bullet can penetrait a tank easylay ...The manufacturers are the brithis the company is cold "Accuraci international"....They even develop the AWP Sniper Rifle.....Thank you....

[kallinikosdrama1992]

Well i don't know about the armor pircing capabilities of this gun and i would like some one to comfirm it or you to put in here the article you wrote about it
.

[Panzerknacker]

The armor piercing capabilities must be similar since both rifles used the same ammunition.

[Rising Sun*]

In service, in Iraq.

The Barrett 50 cal Sniper Rifle may have been the most useful piece of equipment for the urban fight – especially for our light fighters. The XM107 was used to engage both vehicular and personnel targets out to 1400 meters. Soldiers not only appreciated the range and accuracy but also the target effect. Leaders and scouts viewed the effect of the 50 cal round as a combat multiplier due to the psychological impact on other combatants that viewed the destruction of the target.

“My spotter positively identified a target at 1400 meters carrying an RPG on a water tower. I engaged the target. The top half of the torso fell forward out of the tower and the lower portion remained in the tower.”
325th PIR Sniper

There were other personal anecdotes of one round destroying two targets and another of the target “disintegrating.” My bold
http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/library/report/2003/oif_lessons_peo.doc

[kallinikosdrama1992]

Yes PK i understand this . I guess i didn't put it right . Is a .50 cal bullet penetrate a tank's armor ?

[Panzerknacker]

No, the .50 does not have that performance , the maximum penetration is about 25 mm of rolled Homogeneous armor with the SLAP round (saboted ligh armor penetrator).

The armor of a tank like the t-62 is between 250-350 RHA and in a t-72 400-600 RHA.

http://www.fas.org/man/dod-101/sys/land/slap.htm

However it could destroy lighter vehicles like armored personal carriers.

http://www.militarypictures.info/d/80-3/Barret_M82.jpg

[Rising Sun*]

However it could destroy ligter vehicle like armored personal carriers.

Destroy, or penetrate?

[Panzerknacker]

Well...let me say penetrate, the destruction will depend on the bullet placement.

In this video you can see the effects of the norwegian Mk 211 API-HE bullet wich teorically could destroy light armored vehicle by incendiary and explosive means.

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=BSOUWtd-mec

[kallinikosdrama1992]

Thanks PK about the info

[Rising Sun*]

http://es.youtube.com/watch?v=BSOUWtd-mec

Probably demonstrates my age, but I'd find it very difficult to fire a rifle just with one hand on a pistol grip as in the video.

It'd feel wrong not to have the other hand under the forestock.

[Panzerknacker]

I suppose is all about get use to...the recoil reduction is quoted as very effective.

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=TWJp14tkBlU

[tankgeezer]

Well, you could fire it as you suggest, but I wouldnt want to pay your Chiropractor adjustments bill,,,,Really you could probably doit okay, a friend used to fire his Boys .55 A.T. rifle while standing, never hurt him any.(well, not much anyway,,,)

[Rising Sun*]

Well, you could fire it as you suggest, but I wouldnt want to pay your Chiropractor adjustments bill,,,,Really you could probably doit okay, a friend used to fire his Boys .55 A.T. rifle while standing, never hurt him any.(well, not much anyway,,,)

Looks like I couldn't reach the forestock anyway.

http://www.truveo.com/the-barrett-experience/id/760485745

[Rising Sun*]

This video is a bit on the hype side, but still interesting.

http://www.videosift.com/video/Future-Weapons-Barrett-50-Caliber-Sniper-Rifle

[Rising Sun*]

Shoulder fired, standing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d1trjyYZF60

[Man of Stoat]

The problem with the 50 calibre cartridge is that it is not terribly inherently accurate. Higher up the thread the figure of 1.5 inches at 100 yards was bandied about. This is distinctly unimpressive, my wife's rifle does under 0.5 inches at 100 yards (.223 Remington calibre).

But, they are the only things kicking around that can knock other things over at extreme range.

[Nickdfresh]

Here's a graphic video showing a .50's impact in Afghanistan...

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?feature=related&v=tyHMUVA3sDA

[pdf27]

But, they are the only things kicking around that can knock other things over at extreme range.
Not all that convinced myself - they don't have all that much range advantage over something like .338 Lapua (which is IIRC a lot more accurate anyway) and if you're trying to destroy vehicles etc. then you're probably better off with something like Javelin. It all smells rather like a solution in search of a problem to me...

[pdf27]

Here's a graphic video showing a .50's impact in Afghanistan...
1) That's the US (IIRC Colorado), not Afghanistan. The things being shot are small rabbit-sized mammals apparently called "rock chucks", not people.
2) Are you sure that's a .50 cal? Given the size of target there's an awful lot left for being hit by a round that powerful.

[Nickdfresh]

Well, I guess I was sucked into an Urban Myth then.

:D

Thanks for the info, I saw this months ago and thought the pieces flying up as odd...Though I have heard the .50 does some pretty horrific things to the human body...

[Nickdfresh]

Not all that convinced myself - they don't have all that much range advantage over something like .338 Lapua (which is IIRC a lot more accurate anyway) and if you're trying to destroy vehicles etc. then you're probably better off with something like Javelin. It all smells rather like a solution in search of a problem to me...


Well, I agree a Javelin is preferable to destroying a vehicle over the use of a large caliber rifle. I think your point is that there seems to be a bit of hype around the .50 cal, which is probably true. However, I don't know the maximum effective range of a Jav, I could be wrong but I think it is hardly a mile. And the .50 seems to be an effective "niche" weapon, but not a panacea that is seems some claim it to be in the above vids.

I can see the effectiveness of shooting out a radiator as opposed to blowing it up as a means to capture an important intelligence target....

[pdf27]

However, I don't know the maximum effective range of a Jav, I could be wrong but I think it is hardly a mile. And the .50 seems to be an effective "niche" weapon, but not a panacea that is seems some claim it to be in the above vids.
Maximum range is 2,500m - and it's homing as well so will be fully accurate out to that distance.

I can see the effectiveness of shooting out a radiator as opposed to blowing it up as a means to capture an important intelligence target....
But you can do that with .338 Lapua as well to similar ranges, with a massively lighter and more practical rifle.

From what I can work out it has two uses:
1) Poor-man's anti-tank weapon - a round of .50BMG is a tiny fraction of the price of a decent anti-tank weapon.
2) "Oh look what a big gun I've got"

[Nickdfresh]

Maximum range is 2,500m - and it's homing as well so will be fully accurate out to that distance.

Okay, but how many times can you fire it?

Reloading procedure? How much does the ammo weigh?


Remember, we're talking about special ops people infiltrating here....

But you can do that with .338 Lapua as well to similar ranges, with a massively lighter and more practical rifle.

Even with light armor plate?

From what I can work out it has two uses:
1) Poor-man's anti-tank weapon - a round of .50BMG is a tiny fraction of the price of a decent anti-tank weapon.
2) "Oh look what a big gun I've got"

You have a point. But the "antitank" round thing is just plain wrong since the .50 AP will pierce no competent contemporary tank I know of (unless you're firing from up top into the engine block) and that's not the intent here...

[pdf27]

Reloading procedure? How much does the ammo weigh?
It's a shoulder fired antitank rocket - guidance unit is 6kg, all up weight is 20kg. Reloading takes a few seconds.

Remember, we're talking about special ops people infiltrating here....
I doubt it - weight of the rifle alone is over 15kg, add in everything else they've got in their bergens and that's too much. Much more likely is carrying a few LAWs or Charlie Gs between the patrol - more firepower for less weight. From my limited experience of UKSF (a previous section commander and a TA mate) they don't go in for sitting around at long distances anyway.

Even with light armor plate?
To some extent - .338 Lapua can apparently penetrate some level of body armour (probably Kevlar only rather than ceramic) out to 1000m.

You have a point. But the "antitank" round thing is just plain wrong since the .50 AP will pierce no competent contemporary tank I know of (unless you're firing from up top into the engine block) and that's not the intent here...
Optics, tracks, etc. It might get a soft kill on a competent MBT, and would certainly give the sort of tanks such impecunious opponents would be facing a fit. I should really have said anti-armour, as it is certainly capable against lighter armoured vehicles.

[Nickdfresh]

It's a shoulder fired antitank rocket - guidance unit is 6kg, all up weight is 20kg. Reloading takes a few seconds.

I'm slightly familiar with the Javelin's intent. But I wasn't sure if it was a disposable system like the old LAW or the AT4. In any case, we're talking about a more expensive, less versatile weapon system than the Barrett. One can hardly fire a Jav at a single target and hope one doesn't obliterate a whole house whereas the .50 cal is more selective and more appropriate for subtle counterinsurgency "minimal force" requirements.

I doubt it - weight of the rifle alone is over 15kg, add in everything else they've got in their bergens and that's too much. Much more likely is carrying a few LAWs or Charlie Gs between the patrol - more firepower for less weight. From my limited experience of UKSF (a previous section commander and a TA mate) they don't go in for sitting around at long distances anyway.

Depends on the mission.


To some extent - .338 Lapua can apparently penetrate some level of body armour (probably Kevlar only rather than ceramic) out to 1000m.


Interesting, but the Barrett can do more than body armor...

Optics, tracks, etc. It might get a soft kill on a competent MBT, and would certainly give the sort of tanks such impecunious opponents would be facing a fit. I should really have said anti-armour, as it is certainly capable against lighter armoured vehicles.

Okay, it can disable an MBT, but right now that is least the worry of the people using the system...

[pdf27]

That's the thing about .50BMG, for any anti-personnell work the .338 Lapua is better (equally lethal but much more accurate) while for anti-material work an anti-tank weapon will always do a better job. There is a very, very small niche where a .50BMG rifle is appropriate and frankly I think there are only so many rifles using it because .338 Lapua hadn't been invented yet (it only took off a few years ago when Accuracy International decided to do a rifle in it).

One use .50BMG has that I hadn't thought of though - disposing of UXO by shooting at it. There you do need a very powerful cartridge on a relatively portable weapon, and .50BMG is ideal. It isn't a sniper rifle though.

[GermanSoldier]

Actually the U.S. is credited for the original 50. cal Barret. The most used 50.cal used in the british services is called Internation Accuracy AS50. Here is a picture of it.

http://i6.tinypic.com/6z6hq2a.jpg



Caliber: 12.7x99mm / .50BMG
Operation: gas operated, semiautomatic
Barrel: 692 mm
Weight: 14.1 kg empty
Length: 1369 mm
Feed Mechanism: 5 rounds detachable box magazine

The AS50 fifty caliber (12.7mm) sniper / antimateriel rifle is the latest development of the famous British company Accuracy International Ltd. First displayed in January 2005 in USA at the ShotShow-2005, this rifle reportedly has been developed especially for US SOCOM users, and is now being tested by the US NAVY Special Operations center. The AS50 is to provide combat operators with highly accurate and rapid aimed fire at extended ranges. To achieve such goal, the AS50 is built around gas operated, semiautomatic action, with "single rear locking" (most probably, this mean a tilting bolt). The two-part receiver is machined from high grade steel, the barrel is free-floated and fitted with effective muzzle brake. Easily detachable buttstock is fitted with recoil-reducing buttpad, as well as with folding rear grip, which also serves as a rear support leg. The folding quick-detachable bipod with adjustable legs is fitted as a standard. Top of the receiver is equipped with full length Picatinny type rail which can accept any compatible scope mount; two additional rails are mounted on either side of the short handguard / barrel jacket. Rifle is fitted with four sling mounts, and can be brought down to basic sub-assemblies within three minutes for maintenance or compact transportation or storage. Rifle is fed using single stack detachable box magazines, which holt five rounds of ammunition.