US special operations snipers are getting a new rifle that fires 3 different calibers

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The video isn't new but apparently the US Army is now buying the Barrett MRAD system for use by some of its SOF snipers. The rifle can fire 7.62×51 mm NATO, .300 Norma Magnum, and .338 Norma Magnum with the help of a separate conversion kit. This is one of a whole series of videos about sometimes wackadoodle proposed weapons systems that came out after 9-11, but it seems Barrett at least has succeeded as usual.




The story I'm relying on is at this link, the text won't copy well for me so go there:


https://taskandpurpose.com/socom-ad...Ph6tGdxuoxPA84MkbGUni6pRD4-66SHPK0bFbTRqYNcMU
 
I don’t get all these user changeable barrels/quick change systems.
No military unit would ever carry extra barrels, bolt parts, magazines and ammo to change during a mission/deployment.. This is all done at the base/armourer level. Seems like a waste of time, weight and money.
 
polskadude said:
I don’t get all these user changeable barrels/quick change systems.
No military unit would ever carry extra barrels, bolt parts, magazines and ammo to change during a mission/deployment.. This is all done at the base/armourer level. Seems like a waste of time, weight and money.
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I kinda agree, my take is that 90% of the rifles will be set up for a majority of what's needed for deployment, and instead of having rifles dedicated to other calibres, they can be modified if necessary, or at the request of a certain mission/need?
 
That is the ASR and the RFB is scheduled to be released sometime this year IIRC. Mrad is just a a contender.

The ASR itself is not ground breaking, but the optic that is going on it will be an interesting piece if they get the capabilities they ask for.
 
the 50 million dollar purchase of mrads is what it is, it's not clear if it is the winner of the ASR competition of something else all together. Last I heard it was down to the MRAD and AI and one of the AI's went down with trigger issues, but that information may not be accurate.

The point isn't to deploy/go in to the field with 3 barrels, it's to be able to configure the gun to the task before you leave. For example it's cheaper to practice with the 308 barrel then toss on a 338 LM when going outside the wire (if the mission necessitates a 338LM). I don't know how long a 300PRC barrel lasts, but I suspect it is shorter then a 338LM. the side effect is that it is exceptionally easy to replace a barrel once it's been shot out. any knuckle dragger could do it.
FWIW, I have an MRAD, and I love it. I have multiple calibers. It is expensive to get in to system, but once you have 2-3 barrels, it is cheaper to int he long run since I am not having to buy a new optic for every caliber/barrel.
 
I agree modular is good. I’m talking about Quick change/User serviceable barrel changes. No need for that. The change would not be happening during a mission, ever. ACR has the same issue, why carry that wrench attached to the barrel everywhere you go, when it won’t be changed until you get back to base and give it to the armourer. Army won’t trust a basic grunt to swap his own barrel no matter how easy it is. They definitely don’t want spare barrels laying around everywhere either.
Modular is great, but it doesn’t need to be tool-less or quick. Those systems usually sacrifice something like weight or price.
 
it's easier to work on the fundamentals at 600 yards with a 308, then it is to do it at 1.5K with a 300PRC (it's also a lot cheaper). Then you just switch over the barrel to the caliber needed for the mission, maybe fire 2 shots, adjust 2-3 clicks if needed for the new POI and you are GTG. I get the negatives of the system, but I am not sure you are seeing the benefits. When I go shooting at ranges closer then 600M I use my 308 barrel, when I stretch it out to ~1K I use my 300WM barrel, when I am planning on going farther, I put on my 338 Barrel. The chassis is surprisingly lite (it doesn't look it, it looks heavy, but it's not). I get your concerns, but trust me, the weight is all in the barrel of the mrad, and making it easily replaceable isn't at the expense of it's weight.

Worst case scenario, you've added MAYBE 1-2 pounds, and added functionality, more modularity, more consistency (same trigger, same cheek weld, same LOP etc), removed the need for a weapon to go to a gunsmith/armorer when the barrel gets shot out, etc. No operator in their right mind will waste time taking different barrels in to the field or different ammo. and yes, Seals, rangers, delta force etc will be allowed to change the barrels on these things, they aren't going to grunts, it is USSOCOM that is buying them.
 
The MRAD (in 300PRC I believe) was awarded a DoD contract in January. It wasn’t specified what branch(es) would be using it.

The MRAD was awarded the ASR program this month, which is separate from the DoD contract awarded in January.

The MRAD design will allow for field caliber changes, however it is more likely that the barrel and caliber are mission specific and determined prior to deployment. Training vs actual mission requirements is the obvious example of the value of the system.
 
Just from a training and costs point of view, one rifle in many configuration/cartridges make a huge amount of sense.
I have a Tikka action in 223 Rem, one in 308 Win and am looking to get a 22lr on the same basic modular stock with the same scope.
Previously, I had a Remington 700 action in 223 Rem, one 308 Win and one 300 WSM in AICS Stage 2.0 stock and it was a real winner.

I'm probably going to stick with my current system for purely economic reasons!
Alex
 
enefgee said:
What's the betting that those get put together in the biggest calibre available and stay that way. Kind of pointless on a SOCCOM budget.
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I'd take that bet. Different calibres have different virtues in the field and there must have been at least a perceived need for this spread.
 
Canada is doing the same thing soon with .308 and .338LM. It has nothing to do with being able to swap on the fly on a mission it’s for training. .308 is a lot cheaper then 338 and it allows you to use the same rifle setup and feel while training so there’s no change when you use .338. Also it allows quicker barrel changes when they are shot out. Unless it’s a AR-10, a bolt .308 would not be carried overseas.
 
The article mentions 3 calibers, 7.62 is obvious but why 300 and 338 norma magnums ?

I thought 300 win mag and 338 lapua mag were standardized calibers, are the norma ones interchangeable or something ?
 
Shouldn't this be in black and green precision rifles?

On a sidenote was the sako trg m10 entered in this competition?
 
hutchster said:
The article mentions 3 calibers, 7.62 is obvious but why 300 and 338 norma magnums ?

I thought 300 win mag and 338 lapua mag were standardized calibers, are the norma ones interchangeable or something ?
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So, my understanding is the US marines use 300WM while soccom and US army use 338LM, in addition the US military is looking at a new machine gun that is 300Norma Mag, and I seem to remember the MRAD is being ordered with 300PRC and 338 norma mag (It's had more then one order go through int he past 4 months). I don't understand the fracturing. If the 338LM is adequate/performing, go with it for logistics alone, adding all these new calibers is going to complicate matters more then it needs to.
 
hutchster said:
The article mentions 3 calibers, 7.62 is obvious but why 300 and 338 norma magnums ?

I thought 300 win mag and 338 lapua mag were standardized calibers, are the norma ones interchangeable or something ?
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300 and 338 norma mag use the same case. The 300 is more necked down for a 30 cal round. So both can use the same mags.
 
hutchster said:
The article mentions 3 calibers, 7.62 is obvious but why 300 and 338 norma magnums ?

I thought 300 win mag and 338 lapua mag were standardized calibers, are the norma ones interchangeable or something ?
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Because the .300NM and .338NM are much better ELR cartridges. Designed to push the big heavy high BC .30 and .33 at good speeds, all while being optimized for mag length.
 
The US did try a .338LM belt fed gun but it was too expensive to shoot, and if you’re going to spend the money might as well shoot the .50 which the ammo is more common. I’ve heard rumors that the US was thinking of implementing a .300 Win Mag to replace the .338LM to save on re barreling their rifles but as of now they do not. The Sako TRG M10 is one of 4 multi caliber chassis style rifles Canada is currently testing for the new .308/.338LM rifle
 
aberle1 said:
The Sako TRG M10 is one of 4 multi caliber chassis style rifles Canada is currently testing for the new .308/.338LM rifle
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Why don't they just buy some Coyotes for training to compliment the Timberwolf rifles? Are they ditching the C14's?
 
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