The Barrett Rifle

The Barrett M82A1 and its derivatives are among the most successful
sniping rifles ever manufactured. Now entering its fourth decade of
service, the short-recoil, semi-automatic system is capable of firing a
devastating .50-caliber round with lethal accuracy over distances of
more than 2km. Unconfirmed reports from Afghanistan in 2012 accredit the
Barrett with one of history's longest ever kills at 2,815m. This is the
technical history of a rifle initially developed as a sporting firearm,
but which evolved into a long-range sniping rifle and a formidable
military anti-materiel tool, designed to neutralize everything from
enemy vehicles to parked aircraft. Adopted by snipers across the world,
the Barrett rifles have seen active service in Operation Desert Storm,
Iraq, and Afghanistan and have become an important addition to police,
armed services, and Special Forces units alike.