Barrett M82A1 .416 questions...

[BlackReef]

Ok, regarding the new .416 M82A1 rifle:

Are they available in CQB config? (shorter barrel)

Is the magazine box the same size physically as the .50BMG Mag? In the photos it looks the same.

What kind of rep does the .416 round have? I have been out-of-the-loop on this stuff.

Thanks

[brando]

Those are mostly questions for Barrett as very little info has been released at this point. However, I think it's a fair guess that it won't be available in the CQ length. The mags are probably the same as the .416B is based on the .50BMG case.

The .416B round has disappointed a lot of folks I know in the ELR community. On paper it looks impressive, but out in the field it has yet to perform to expectations - that's the general consensus I get.

This is also kind of a puzzling round for a semi-auto. It's designed specifically as an ELR cartridge, yet semi-autos are a poor choice for shooting at those kinds of distances. It makes sense in a .50BMG for the simple fact that it has payload capabilities. The .416B, like the .408 and .375/408 used lathed solids, so you lose any payload advantage. It's basically a CA legal boomstick.

[CSACANNONEER]

I don't get why anyone would want a CQ length rifle chambered for a LR round. Wouldn't that be like cutting the wings off and airplane? Sure, you'ld still be able to drive it around a bit but, it would never be able to do what it was designed to do.

While the .416 may be loosely based on the 50BMG cartridge, it is much closer to the shorter 50 Spotter cartridge. I would be surprised if Barrett uses the same mag dimensions and just blocks off part of the length of the mag.

Personally, I would steer clear of this round since it is a propriatary round and only Barrett supports it.

Brando,
As far as payload goes, I shoot up to 800 grain monolithics in my 50s. Surplus bullets are liter (spotter tracer being the exception) than most commercially made 50 projos so, I'm not sure what you mean by "payload". If you mean pyrotechnic and other specialty rounds than, I agree with you. If you are just talking about wieght than I'm confussed.

[brando]

Sorry if I wasn't clear. "Payload" refers to explosive bullets for HTI applications in the .mil world. Rounds like the Mk211 have a huge advantage over .408 and .375/408 against HTI targets - that's why neither has replaced the .50BMG for that particular niche mission. Larger 20mm and 25mm cartridges have relatively poor ballistics yet increased payload capability.

So my reasoning for calling a .416B semi-auto a poor choice is that it doesn't have payload capability - like the top ELR cartridges, it's designed for extreme distance accuracy but lacks a bullet for HTI applications. FWIW, the .408 now has an HTI round, but it's still not comparable to Mk211. ELR shooting, particularly when you go beyond 2000 yards, requires a lot of work between shots for accuracy - you just don't go walking rounds at those distances because the variables have such an exponential effect on trajectories. Because of that, a semi really makes no sense - in fact many .408 and .375/408 rifles are single shot.

[1919_4_ME]

You may want to ask this guy who just bought one.

http://www.barrettrifles.com/home/forum/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=1474

[X-NewYawker]

My buddy has the bolt. I've shot it. And I ask. Why?
300 WM, 338L. these rounds can do the job.

[tiger222]

It's too bad Barrett never made the shrunken M82 firing the 338LM - that would of been interesting, though a semi auto in that caliber would have a very short bbl life.

[brando]

It's too bad Barrett never made the shrunken M82 firing the 338LM

A DTA SRS in .338LM

[Hoop]

My buddy has the bolt. I've shot it. And I ask. Why?
300 WM, 338L. these rounds can do the job.

Yeah, I keep wondering why there isn't a semi in those calibers. They are both powerful and accurate. I guess semi 308, bolt 338 and semi 50 are what the military likes the best?

[brando]

http://www.rndedge.com/images/rifles01/RND_rifles.htm

[ar15barrels]

You may want to ask this guy who just bought one.
http://www.barrettrifles.com/home/fo...php?f=6&t=1474

WOW, he shot a sub 2 moa group at 300yds with it.

[brando]

Yup, Barrett M82/107s and M1A's have that in common

[ar15barrels]

Yup, Barrett M82/107s and M1A's have that in common

I was shooting a palma practice with my 243 yesterday and I was just walking the 5" spotter around inside the x.
It would move about 2-3 inches per shot on average at 800 and 900 yds.
I tore that spotter up.
It looked like a cheese grater when I was done with it.