Barrett MRAD

History of the MRAD

After an announcement from the United States Special Operations Command in December 2009, that they were looking new precision sniper rifle to replace their old M107 and MK15 rifles, the techs over at Barrett got to work. Using their 98B rifle as the starting point, they redesigned it with a folding stock for easier transportation, and made it lock onto the bolt for increased security of transport. The bolt guide was designed with a built-in dust cover to keep dust and debris out. It was also designed with easy field maintenance in mind with the upper receiver pivoting on the forward take down pin like an AR, and a trigger module that can be removed without tools for easy cleaning.

The rifle was dubbed the MRAD for Multi-Role Adaptive Design. Ultimately the MRAD was not selected for SOCOM's PSR Competition, with the Remington Modular Service Rifle being selected as the winner. It was however adopted for use by the Israeli Special Police, New Zealand Army, and Norwegian Special Forces. The MRAD was also named Rifle of the Year by the National Rifle Association in 2012.

SOCOM went at it again in 2016 looking for a new modular sniper rifle that could swap between three calibers. Barrett was prepared, since the MRAD already had this feature by loosening two Torx screws in the upper receiver and changing out the bolt face. And the rifle was already available in two of the three required calibers, only needing to set it up for 7.62 x 51mm NATO rounds.

The MRAD MK22 won the Advanced Sniper Rifle competition and was selected for service in March 2019, the delivery of 2800 rifles were scheduled to start in January 2021. The Army plans for the MK22 to replace the M107 and M2010, and the Marine Corps plans for the MK22 to replace all their M40A6 and MK13 MOD 7 sniper rifles.