Kalashnikov Concern AKM vs Barrett Firearms Manufacturing M82
Kalashnikov Concern AKM and Barrett Firearms Manufacturing M82 are both rifle & long arms, compared here on public specifications. The Barrett Firearms Manufacturing M82 leads on effective range (1,800 vs 350 m). Several Russia-origin figures here are manufacturer or state claims with limited independent verification, so treat this comparison as directional.
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Full data
Full spec sheet
 Kalashnikov Concern AKM
Wins 3/5 |  Barrett Firearms Manufacturing M82
Wins 2/5 | |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ||
| Effective range (m) | 350 m | 1,800 m ✓ |
| Rate of fire (rpm) | 600 rpm | N/A |
| Muzzle velocity (m/s) | 715 m/s | 853 m/s ✓ |
| Firepower | ||
| Caliber (mm) | 7.6 mm | 12.7 mm |
| Ammunition | 30 ✓ | 10 |
| Physical | ||
| Length (m) | 0.88 m | 1.45 m |
| Empty weight (kg) | 3 kg | 14 kg |
| Crew | 1 | 1 |
| Program | ||
| Unit cost (USD) | N/A | $12,000 |
| Units built | 50,000,000 ✓ | 15,000 |
| Operator countries | 80 ✓ | 75 |
Frequently asked questions
Which is cheaper? +
The Barrett Firearms Manufacturing M82 has the lower public unit-cost figure at 12,000 USD. Treat this as directional, defense pricing varies by contract and configuration.
Which has the higher effective range? +
The Barrett Firearms Manufacturing M82 has the higher effective range at 1,800 m.
Which has the higher muzzle velocity? +
The Barrett Firearms Manufacturing M82 has the higher muzzle velocity at 853 m/s.
Which has the higher ammunition? +
The Kalashnikov Concern AKM has the higher ammunition at 30.
Which has the higher units built? +
The Kalashnikov Concern AKM has the higher units built at 50,000,000.
Which has the higher operator countries? +
The Kalashnikov Concern AKM has the higher operator countries at 80.
Is the Kalashnikov Concern AKM better than the Barrett Firearms Manufacturing M82? +
On the public specs we track, the Kalashnikov Concern AKM leads on 3 of 5 headline metrics, see the full spec sheet for the metric-by-metric breakdown.
Where does this comparison data come from? +
Every figure in the table is sourced from public manufacturer pages, defense-ministry releases and reference publications, and is verifiable on each system's spec page. WeaponSpecs does not accept vendor placement.
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