| Barrett M98 | |
|---|---|
| Type | Prototype |
| Place of origin | United States |
| Production history | |
| Manufacturer | Barrett Firearms Company |
| Specifications | |
| Weight | 7 kg (empty, without scope) |
| Length | 117.5 cm |
| Barrel length | 61 cm |
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| Cartridge | .416 Barrett |
| Caliber | .416 Barrett |
| Action | Semi-automatic |
| Muzzle velocity | 975 m/s |
| Effective range | 1200 m |
| Feed system | 10 round detachable box magazine |
The Barrett M98 is a gas-operated, semi-automatic sniper rifle, chambered in .416 Barrett, and manufactured by Barrett Firearms Company. It was originally introduced at the 1998 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, Nevada, but was never placed into production due to the introduction of the M99.[1]
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The M98 is a lightweight, gas operated, semi-automatic sniper rifle designed for use by both the military, and police sniper teams. Chambered in .416 Barrett, it fills the gap between rifles chambered in the traditional 7.62 × 51 mm and .50 BMG (12.7 × 99 mm) calibers. The M98 is very similar to a traditional manually operated bolt-action rifle. The receiver is relatively heavy compared with the rest of the rifle, but is still lighter than that of a similarly sized rifle. The barrel and receiver are both mounted on a light weight aluminum base for maximum rigidity, and the stock is made of fiberglass reinforced polyamide plastic to reduce weight.
The gas system is mounted separately to the barrel in order to isolate the barrel's vibrating mass, and is instead located in the butt-stock. The gas is delivered to the operating mechanism via a lightweight tube that runs from the gas port in the barrel to a tappet in the butt-stock behind the firing mechanism. Rigidly mounting the receiver and isolating the barrel from the operating system enhances accuracy. Recoil is attenuated not only by the gas system itself, but by a high-efficiency proprietary muzzle brake. The rifle is also equipped with a military standard Picatinny rail mounted on the steel receiver.
Barrett made the .416 caliber round to suit the Barrett Model 98, because of the theory "The bigger the bullet, the faster/farther it goes", but the .416 is smaller, travels faster, and is more accurate at a longer range than a .50 BMG bullet.