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United States Barrett Firearms Manufacturing
M82
A recoil-operated, semi-automatic anti-materiel rifle chambered in .50 BMG, adopted by the U.S. military as the M107 for long-range engagement of light vehicles, equipment and personnel. It pioneered the modern semi-automatic large-caliber sniper rifle category and is fielded by over 75 countries.
In service since 1982 · 75 operator countries
Compiled from public sources ·primary reference ↗ ·last verified 2026-07-02
1,800
m range
853
m/s
10
rds
💲 ≈ $12,000, Approximate military/export unit price
Procurement snapshot
Availability & export
US ITAR-controlled
Export needs U.S. State Dept (DDTC) approval; end-use & re-transfer restrictions apply.
Channel: Foreign Military Sales (FMS) or Direct Commercial Sale
Fielded & proven
Widely fielded · 75 operators
In service since 1982. Status: active · ~15,000 built.
Lifecycle cost (est.)
Unit cost known; one-shot / small-arms class has no meaningful O&S tail to model.
Interoperability
No standardised NATO calibre / datalink detected in public specs.
Derived guidance from public data, export regime by country of origin, lifecycle from the GAO ~30% acquisition rule. Verify eligibility, pricing and offsets with the manufacturer and your acquisition authority.
Full specifications
Performance
Speed, range, altitude and engagement capability.
| Effective range Distance at which the weapon reliably hits point targets. Higher extends engagement envelope. | 1,800 m |
|---|---|
| Muzzle velocity Projectile speed leaving the barrel. Higher means flatter trajectory and better armor penetration. | 853 m/s |
Firepower
Armament, payload and guidance.
| Main armament Primary weapon: main gun, cannon or missile type. | .50 BMG (12.7×99 mm NATO) |
|---|---|
| Caliber Bore diameter of the main gun or rifle. Larger throws heavier projectiles; not simply better, ammunition commonality matters. | 12.7 mm |
| Ammunition Rounds carried (main gun) or standard magazine capacity. | 10 |
Physical
Dimensions, weight and crew.
| Length Overall length including gun/probe where applicable. | 1.45 m |
|---|---|
| Empty weight Weight without fuel, ammunition or crew. | 14 kg |
| Crew Personnel required to operate. Fewer reduces exposure; autoloaders trade a loader for mechanical complexity. | 1 |
| Barrel length Barrel length, longer improves muzzle velocity and accuracy, shorter improves handling. | 736 mm |
Munition
Round type, penetration, velocity and projectile data.
| Caliber Bore diameter the round is fired from. | 13 mm |
|---|
Program
Cost, production scale and operators.
| Unit cost Approximate flyaway/unit cost where public. Defense pricing varies hugely by contract, offsets and configuration. Lower is cheaper. | $12,000 |
|---|---|
| Units built Total production run. Higher means proven manufacturing, mature logistics and spares availability. | 15,000 |
| Operator countries Number of countries operating the system. More operators means broader support ecosystem. | 75 |
Specifications compiled from public Barrett Firearms Manufacturing and reference sources ↗. Published defense figures are approximations, treat comparisons as directional. Last verified 2026-07-02.
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HK416 A5 Frequently asked questions
How many crew does the Barrett Firearms Manufacturing M82 require? +
The Barrett Firearms Manufacturing M82 requires a crew of 1.
What is the main armament of the Barrett Firearms Manufacturing M82? +
The Barrett Firearms Manufacturing M82's primary weapon is the .50 BMG (12.7×99 mm NATO).
What is the Barrett Firearms Manufacturing M82 used for? +
The Barrett Firearms Manufacturing M82 is a rifle & long arms typically used for infantry combat.
How many countries operate the Barrett Firearms Manufacturing M82? +
The Barrett Firearms Manufacturing M82 is operated by 75 countries.
How much does the Barrett Firearms Manufacturing M82 cost? +
The Barrett Firearms Manufacturing M82 has an approximate unit cost of 12,000 USD. Defense pricing varies by contract, offsets and configuration, treat this as directional.
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