New Barrett

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Tucker 1371

New member
After much debating, waiting, phone calling, and coordinating, it has arrived!!

New Barrett M82A1, 29" .50 BMG


The scope that the seller threw in for free is a Leupold Mk4 LR/T 4.5-14x50mm, unfortunately he did not include rings. A set of Badger Max-50 rings are on their way from Midway. Couldn't stop me from shooting it though. I took it out and "zeroed" the irons on some cinder blocks yesterday before work with some silver tip API ammo. It makes quite the satisfying "pow" and white cloud on impact.



After the wow factor subsided (a little, it still hasn't completely :D) I have only one major beef with the rifle, the trigger. It is LONG and spongey, actually very comparable to my Romanian AK (yes I just compared a Barrett to an AK). It is a great rifle so far and I am not dissatisfied in the least bit but for $8000 it could have a MUCH better trigger, especially considering it's intended application.

That said getting on target with it is a breeze. Using the monopod almost feels like cheating. Recoil is a little heavier than 12ga 2 3/4" target loads. Brass is not hard to retrieve even in tall grass, it's freakin HUGE! It is a little disheartening to be in the process of recovering from the last shot's recoil and see in your peripheral the spent casing you just fired bouncing around and think to yourself "well there goes $3.00". I consider it money very well spent though, and I'm making brass for my Lee classic 50 press.

Stay tuned! I will post more when I get the scope mounted and zeroed and when I get a chance to push it out to a respectable distance.
 
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FrosSsT

New member
Beast of a rifle. I plan on picking one up sometime down the road when the price wont bother me as much.
 
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HKFan9

New member
I have shot a few of them, always a good time, and I know what you mean about the trigger.

However I am still leaning on purchasing a .338 Lapua for longer range applications, however if I were to go bigger, I'd be looking for something in .408 Cheytac.

The Barret .50 cals are iconic however, and I have never seen anyone shoot one and not smile afterwards lol
 
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kilimanjaro

New member
You're going to have a lot of fun with that!

You'll reload for half the price. Visit a show and scarf up some surplus.

Do get a Swiss rangefinder, just the ticket for 800 meters.
 
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Tucker 1371

New member
Thanks for the replies y'all! I picked up some remanufactured API rounds from freedom munitions before the rifle came in. After shipping and everything it came out to about $2.70 per round.

I also purchased a Lee .50 BMG loader kit, MAN are the dies huge! Have yet to start loading any, I plan to once my current stock of APIs reaches about 50%. Having trouble finding powder and primers locally and I really would like to avoid paying the hazmat shipping fee.
 
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kilimanjaro

New member
At 200 grains of powder per shell, you're going to get 35 rounds to the pound, so you NEED to buy in bulk, which may make Hazmat fees easier to stomach.

Hodgon 50BMG powder is well-stocked up here.

Might think about a second Lee loader kit, one die for each, you really speed up the process batch loading in phases, rather than one at a time.

Cut about an inch off the case body, you'll have a Martini-Henry round from the 1870's. Same 1-1/4 inch dies, gigantic dudes.
 
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tobnpr

New member
Indeed lucky that you have a place (I assume) 1000 yards or better to stretch it's legs as is intended.

Saw one with the Bors on a Schmidt & Bender at the range last time out...sweet rig.

I'm curious as to how you find it's accuracy. That's the only "beef" I hear about the Barrett sometimes, as little as 2-3 moa accuracy. Always wonder whether it's the guy driving it, or the rifle.

Gotta say, though.. I'd sell the 14x (great optic though) and get something with some more power for those one mile shots...

Congrats!
 
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Tucker 1371

New member
I'm going to shoot it again tomorrow, hopefully the scope rings arrive but if not I'll use irons again, can't comment on the accuracy just yet but I will see what I can squeeze out of it and post it up in this thread.

One thing I will comment on is the trigger. I expected it to be a lot better. It's not horrible. There's little play in it and it's not gritty, but the pull is long and relatively heavy, as I said before it is very AK-ish.
 
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peggysue

Moderator
Sweet. I have two 50 BMG's however they are bullet carrier bolt singles. A real hoot to shoot. About $4000 in both. Never have had regrets. If there were only a 1000yd range near by.
 
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Tucker 1371

New member
So spraying some Mpro-7 on it should lighten it up a bit?

Unfortunately our range trip fell through today, we are planning one for Saturday now.
 
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SPEMack618

New member
Well, you are officially the coolest gun guy I know.

A buddy of mine works in the AMU and has mentioned in the past that all the triggers on any M-82A1 (which we of course call the M-107:D) that he worked with or on were spongy.
 
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Tucker 1371

New member
Haha, thanks, you or anyone else who lives within a 2-1/2 hour drive of Knoxville are welcome to come shoot some time... Or if you have a 1000 yard range I'll come to you! So far the furthest I can push it is 300, there is a nearby shooting association in Oak Ridge but they don't allow .50 BMGs
 
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