Every year, there is a special event at the NRA Whittington Center in Raton, New Mexico known as the “King of Two Miles” competition, a highly watched and respected event in the long-range and extreme long-range shooting community. There are strict rules. The team is a shooter and his spotter. Anyone with shooting experience knows that teamwork is a critical aspect of long-range shooting. The rifle must weigh under 40 pounds and one man must be able to carry the rifle, spotting scope, and any needed gear to the line. It’s prone rifle shooting with a bipod that has one attachment point to the rifle and two points on the ground. Period.

The 416 Barrett cartridge has won King of Two Miles three times. The first year, 2015, and then in 2018 and 2019, matching the 375 Cheytac wins. 416 Barrett is an excellent extreme long-range cartridge, and this year, while Josh Silby and spotter Eric Owen took “King” with an Alamo Precision rifle in 375 Cheytac, the “Prince” (second place) was Justin Wolf and spotter James Archer using the new Barrett MRADELR (MRAD Extreme Long Range) rifle chambered in 416 Barrett.

The MRADELR is an easily man-deployable sniper rifle, not a benchrest-type rifle, and placing second is a huge accomplishment for a rifle in its first year of production. It means the team and equipment delivered solid hits at two miles, a capability the U.S. (and its allies) sniper community is searching for.

The 416 Barrett cartridge was designed by Chris Barrett with assistance from his father Ronnie and the Barrett Firearms engineering team. The end goal was to achieve solid 2,500m accuracy with a 470-grain projectile. There is a misconception that this cartridge was designed to get around California’s 50 BMG rifle ban, but that’s just a bonus side effect. The real meat of cartridge is its long-range performance, and, as noted, there have been serious two-mile contests won with this cartridge.

SOCOM has been looking for the extreme long range sniper rifle system to outperform the MK22 Mod 0 in 338 Norma Magnum. To the point, they want to reach out further. Barrett’s system of the MRADELR is a perfect fit, but there are parallel caliber developments in the government view. The Barrett MRADELR, with the 416 Barrett cartridge, is clearly in the running for the new program.

We had the opportunity to test the MRADELR over the last few months. It has turned out to be very accurate, reliable, easy to work with, and since there is no system of long-range shooting accessories dictated by the company or a government contract yet, we built our own suite of tools to exact the best performance from the rifle and cartridge. This is photo essay for you, the reader, to follow our journey with the MRADELR.

MRADELR SPECS

Caliber 416 Barrett
Operation Bolt Action Repeater
Barrel Length 36 in. (914mm) (There is a shorter suppressor barrel to be offered)
Barrel Twist Rate 1:9 in. (1:229mm)
Overall Length 62 in. (1575mm)
Weight 23.0 lb. (10.4 kg) w/empty mag, no accessories
Magazine Capacity 5 rounds
Rail Length 24.63 in. (626mm)
Rail Angle 10 MOA
Colors Cerakote Black, Flat Dark Earth, Titanium Grey

The Barrett MRADELR is in review with SOCOM and other government agencies. SOCOM has its own ESSO program based on the MRADELR in 375 EnABELR, more on that later. Thus, the rifle is still a commercial pack allowing the buyer to choose optics, bipod, etc. Once it becomes accepted, Barrett will offer a new package including accessories specified by the contract.

Front, Barrett’s MK22 Mod 0 (MRAD) with AML338 suppressor and Harris bipod. Rear, Barrett’s MRADELR with the QDL suppressor and heavy-duty bipod. Both the MRADELR and the MK22 Mod 0 upper receivers feature M-LOK compatible modular features and a continuous 10 MIL top rail. In this photo, Barrett has installed the excellent NightForce ATACR 7-35mm optic. The front MK22 has the issued custom mount. On the bottom of the upper receiver, visible just in the front of the magwell, are the barrel locking screws. The MK22 (MRAD) has two, while the MRADELR uses three screws to get a longer support area.

Both the MRADELR and the MK22 Mod 0 feature Barrett’s fixed stock with oversized recoil pad, push-button height adjustment, length of pull, and height adjustable, locking polymer cheek piece. A removable bag rider makes for a very solid back pressure with the offhand, keeping the stock solid to the shoulder.

Rear of the lower receiver, looking down on the takedown pin. The pin is captured and not intended for complete removal. The pin is also blocked from removal if the bolt handle isn’t fully rotated up and is free to slide. This way, the bolt can never be locked up on a live round while the upper receiver is rotated upward.

Upper and lower separated; a clear view of how the robust lugs are integrated to support the upper and lower together. The three barrel removal screws are clearly visible at this point. Remember, these are not standard Torx head bolts; they are Torx-Plus and are IP-30 size. Loosen them for barrel removal, but do not remove.

Both the MRADELR (left) and MRAD/MK22 Mod 0 (right) feature Barrett’s adjustable single-stage trigger module which is easily removed without tools. We found both triggers to be smooth and crisp.

MRADELR firing pin, top. MK22 Mod 0 firing pin, bottom.

MRADELR bolt in bolt guide, top. MRAD/MK22 bolt in the bolt guide, bottom. Note the different bolt handles. Parts between the MRADELR and MRAD/MK22 are not compatible.

MRADELR and its bolt guide. The bolt guide removes the metal-on-metal motion/friction and smooths the whole operation, increasing the life of the bolt and receiver channel.

BARREL

The barrel is a match-grade, single point cut, hand-lapped, stainless-steel barrel and has the famous Barrett 3-port muzzle brake. As shown in the suppressor section below, the barrel is made to accept the Barrett QDL muzzle brake for suppressor use.

The MRADELR with the shorter barrel and QDL muzzle break installed. On the table is the standard 36-inch barrel. We did not get the opportunity to test it with a suppressor, as it’s not offered as a package yet.

Barrett’s QDL muzzle brake for use with the suppressor, or without.

Barrett’s AML338 suppressor, top. Barrett’s QDL suppressor, for larger calibers, bottom.

The Barrett QDL for use with the MRADELR has added a third baffle to the exterior stack.

CARTRIDGE

The cartridge: 416 Barrett (10.4x83mm) features a 452-grain MTAC projectile from Cutting Edge Bullets with a BC of 0.83 G1 (0.42 G7) that reaches 3005 FPS from a 32-inch barrel. The ammo we used is part no. 17222 (10 cartridges) lot no. 090265.
For comparison, from left to right in front of the 10-round Barrett case: 5.56x45mm Black Hills 77-gr Tipped MatchKing, Black Hills .308 Match 175-gr BTHP, Black Hills 338 Norma Magnum 300-gr OTM; 416 Barrett 452-gr. MTAC, RUAG 50 BMG HC SX Sniper.

Always read the brass: We’re pleased to note that we found no issues at all. No excess gas bleed-by and no primer creep or swell. In fact, every firing pin hit was solid and consistent. Good signs.

Barrett’s engineers specified a set of go-nogo gauges early in the development of the 416 Barrett cartridge. Barrett sells these gauges, and if you are getting into the extreme long range firing community, we highly recommend getting a set.

MAGAZINE

The MRADELR 416 Barrett 5-round magazine, right side. Long-time readers of our magazines will know that we pay a lot of attention to feeding devices. Many times, this is the most difficult part of designing a firearm; feeding it reliably. Barrett’s engineers have a long history of dealing with this challenge.

Important note: the 416 Barrett magazine has EA marking, the 375 EnABELR has the EB marking. The bolt head, barrel, and firing pin all have similar markings to denote which is the caliber. These parts are not interchangeable, they’re caliber specific.

Similar to the identification of the MRAD/MK22 Mod 0 magazines, there is a tactile group of ridges on the front of the magazine for blind identification of the magazine you’re reaching for. The 416 Barrett cartridge MRADELR magazine has six ridges on the front, the 375 EnABELR magazine has five

View of the magazine feed lips. MRADELR 416 Barrett on the left, ESSO Program magazine, 375 EnABELR on the right.

At left, the MRADELR 416 Barrett round presentation. At right, the MRADELR (ESSO Program) 375 EnABELR presentation must be higher. Thus, the more complex feed control lips. Rear view of the magazines. MRADELR in 416 Barrett magazine, ESSO Program 375 EnABELR magazine. There are feed issues with the 375 EnABELR cartridge in an MRADELR that need to be addressed with a higher presentation and more control of the rounds.

Note the presentation of the cartridge. There is support at the neck of the cartridge. This is to avoid pressure on the front of the bullet which can cause accuracy issues. Holding the cartridge at the neck area is just one more attention to detail Barrett’s engineers plan, as well as a longer cartridge area for special loaders to use different projectiles.

BOLT

The MRADELR bolt, basic disassembled, showing firing pin assembly, and bolt head assembly. The MRADELR bolt head is removed by rotating the bolt lock to the open position, as shown, and the bolt will rotate forward and out. The bolt is electroless nickel plated for reduced wear, cleaning, and inspection, as well as the added corrosion resistance.

OPTIC

We’ve used the Vortex RAZOR HD series in other tests in the past. In this case, we chose the Vortex RAZOR HD Gen II in 4.5-27×56. It’s a superb scope. We chose the EBR-7C MRAD reticle, it’s a flagship reticle for Vortex, and it was crisp and clear out past 1100 meters (and beyond, we just didn’t have targets that far out.) The MRADELR has a 10-MIL rail, and there’s technically 120 MOA built into the scope. So, going for the longer ranges made the choice for us. This is a first focal plane (FFP) scope, our preference for this type of shooting.

Notes from an end user: During this test, out in the desert, there is a significant amount of mirage. One of the reasons we wanted to try the 27x optic (and not go much higher) was some recent experiences at longer ranges where the mirage interfered with placement at high magnification. This has always been an issue with scopes, but the RAZOR HD Gen II’s clarity was excellent. Second, seeing into shadow at range. When you get to 600 to 1000 meters, any tree line or shadow area on a mountainside becomes a problem. Many scopes I’ve used give a flat image of the darkness. The lens coatings used by Vortex, along with the quality of the glass, allow me to see into the shadows, giving a more three-dimensional view. There are many scope manufacturers, a few that I like, but for this type of shooting I tend to favor the Vortex RAZOR. It’s also FFP, which I prefer, as well. It’s got a great field of view, the hashmarks are fast for me to use at higher magnifications, and make my adjustments.

BIPOD

Bipod support on such a long-range caliber requires a much wider footprint than smaller calibers. This is verging on blending bench-rest technologies with a standard military support. Barrett suggested three different bipods and we chose the ATLAS BT72 Super Cal Bipod with a 1913 Pic rail mount. It was a very good choice. The footprint spreads from 14.75 to 19.37 inches, giving an elevation range to the rifle base of 5.8 to 11 inches. Perfect. It’s constructed of 6061 T6 aluminum with a Type III mil-spec hard anodizing. There is a 45° pre-tensioned cant that we found excellent for setting in with a nice, stiff lock position. The leg positioner is heat-treated stainless steel. The springs and fasteners are also stainless. The legs do not rotate (a huge plus for stability) and lock at 0, 45, 90, 135, and 180 degrees. www.accu-shot.com

Before we go to the Range, there are some specific items that are needed to assist in ELR shooting. Range-finding, spotting, and environmental data are critical. These were our choices:

ATMOSPHERICS

Kestrel 5700 Elite Ballistics Weather Meter from Kestrel Ballistics and the Kestrel Drop D3 Wireless Environmental Data Logger are two essential range and field accessories. The Kestrel 5700 Elite has a full ballistics calculator onboard, it’s a seriously accurate scientific instrument that fits in your pocket. The windmeter is protected from damage with a rotating cap. The fact that Kestrel knows the operator will need quick spot checks and makes that fast and easy is a big plus. We did our full prep then the spot checks. The 5700 Elite & The Drop are LiNK enabled for Bluetooth coms with your phone or tablet, have an “Easy Mode” for quick adjustments, & can store 30 custom rifle and ammunition profiles. The maximum range Elite can work at is 5500 yards, so it’s perfect for our purposes.

RANGEFINDER

Getting true ranges for accurate shooting is not as simple as using the basic $200 range finder. At 4000 meters, stability and accuracy of the laser are as critical as is the reading. We chose the Vortex RAZOR HD 4000 GB laser range finder for a variety of reasons. The first is the legendary accuracy of this range finder. Vortex has decades of experience, and their top-of-the-line HD 4000 performs to the level we needed. The HD 4000 GB pairs with the Kestrel meters. Combined with the Kestrel 5700 Elite, we had the most accurate environmental and range finding capabilities possible at our level of civilian ownership. We’re going to explore this more at other times. The possibilities are staggering.

SPOTTING SCOPE

Our spotting scope is the Vortex RAZOR HD Angled 22-48×65 on a Vortex tripod. The same optical characteristics that we like in the RAZOR scopes are in the spotter. There is excellent depth of field, penetration into shadows, and an almost infinite series of adjustments to get clarity on a target. We did not get a chance to use this on 2-mile targets, but at 1100m (our range limit) the spotter was able to call shots perfectly every time. They claim a linear field of view of 117 to 68 feet at 1000 yards, we found that was quite clear and adequate at our ranges. Ours came with both MOA and milrad eyepieces, which we could change out to match which optics we were using. This is very handy for the spotter calling in shots.

ON THE RANGE

Preparing to fire at the range. We’re at the long-range rifle range at the Boulder Rifle & Pistol Club, an excellent range. There are measured targets out to 1100m with special accommodation out to one mile on a newly measured range area that was not yet open, so we were working with targets at a maximum range of 1100m.

Our sighting in at 100m was fast and, honestly, a bit useless because the optic needed to stretch its legs a bit. We switched to 200m, then 500m. Groups were consistently dialed in under 0.5 MOA. At 900m about 0.38 MOA. Dennis Powell was our long-range shooter on these targets. It’s been difficult to get the MRADELR away from him. At 1100m on the full target, you can see where he walked to get to the center and was still a bit high at two o’clock. Two rounds went into less than 3 inches, the third is lower down at about 5 inches. That’s under 0.5 MOA at 1100m. This is enough to convince us of the solid accuracy of the MRADELR sniper system and the 416 Barrett cartridge.

Bryan Litz of Applied Ballistics, the 2019 winner of the NDIA Gunnery Sergeant Carlos Hathcock Award for contributions he’s made to our military snipers and their capabilities, has a contract on what is called the Extreme Sniper Strike Operations (ESSO) program. The ESSO candidate is an MRADELR in caliber 375 EnABELR (was ELR) for ranges over 2000m (Litz designed the cartridge) and has a carbon-fiber wrapped barrel, a SureFire suppressor, and a NightForce ATACR 7-35 as part of the program. Trials are still happening. This is a picture of the proposed sniper package. SADJ has made arrangements with the involved government agencies to do a test in the near future.

Up until quite recently, the 338 Lapua Magnum cartridge was the preeminent sniper caliber with 338 Norma Magnum looking ready to surpass its popularity. The war in Ukraine caused a resurgence in the Lapua caliber, gifting it a stay of execution, of sorts. There were numerous weapons systems available at the time sniper ammunition was needed, and 338 Lapua Mag fit the bill. It’s unclear how much this spike may add to its life span, though. Some say a decade or more. Regardless, the long-term implications for the round’s future use my today’s militaries are the same. 338 Norma Magnum is set to take the Lapua’s place on the throne of tactical long-range cartridges.

This article will dig a little deeper and provide more information about round’s ascension.

Let’s start with what’s included in the 338 NM kingdom and what is not. Its will eventually reign over the future of U.S. military and law enforcement sniper applications. It will not be the king of civilian long-range precision competitions like “The King of Two Miles.”  It does not have the necessary powder capacity to dominate that domain. That arena will be left to larger platform cartridges for the foreseeable future. It does have a chance at becoming the King of One Mile… however, its little brother, 300 Norma Magnum, seems to have a better shot in this dominion since there’s no need for projectile payload in a target shooting competition.

The jury is out on whether the 338 NM will be the king of international military and law enforcement, as these groups fully adopted the 338 Lapua Mag (however, the U.S. didn’t). Eventually, in 10 to 20 years, the 338 NM will replace the 338 Lapua Mag in any holdout groups or countries. This is because the 338 NM can do everything the 338 Lapua Mag can do, but in a slightly smaller package. This includes smaller rifle actions and chambers, slightly less brass, and slightly less propellants. This might be irrelevant to the individual shooter, but it’s significant to defense departments when they’re paying for millions of rounds.

SO WHY THE CHANGE IN THE U.S.?

The U.S. has held .50 caliber and 300 Winchester Magnum as the prior sniper caliber of choice.  There was a brief glimmer of hope for 338 Lapua Mag in 2014, when Remington Defense won the U.S. Department of Defense’s Precision Sniper Rifle (The Mk 21) competition that fired 338 Lapua Mag, 300 Winchester Magnum, and 308 Winchester. This program failed. However, military and law enforcement officers need a man-portable, robust system that can reach extreme distances in the range of 2500 to 3000 meters. The .50 caliber could meet that requirement; however, the weight of the weapon and the ammunition were and are always a challenge.

In addition, the .50 caliber faced some political stigma as being “overkill”, especially in LE and other applications. The .50 caliber Browning Machine Gun (50 BMG) started its life as a military machine gun round that was anti-material and anti-personnel. Ronnie Barrett turned the .50 caliber into a shoulder fired weapon in the 1980’s. His modern rifle design and muzzle break made shooting the .50 caliber manageable. However, the 660-grain payload is devastating on human targets and in any scenario besides combat the risk of extensive collateral damage to people and property is typically deemed too great for the round to be considered in any civilian roles, and even in some military roles, as well. 

WHAT ABOUT 300 WIN MAG?

Historically, 300 Win Mag has struggled with longer distances, and it’s a belted magnum. Belted magnums headspace off the belt at the base of the cartridge instead of the shoulder. Headspacing from the shoulder is universally considered to give consistently better accuracy. In addition, the 300 Win Mag is only a .30 caliber bullet, and it does not have the ability to go up to 300 grains, as the .338 bullets can and do. This reduces kinetic energy and limits the round’s use in the destruction of vehicles. It also has a major impact on armor piercing capabilities in 300 grains with a tungsten core.  Taking out an engine block is well within the scope of a 300 grain Armor Piercing projectile. 

Moreover, the new Barrett MK 22 MRAD (Kudos again to Ronnie) is the next generation sniper weapon system, and it comes chambered in 338 NM, 300 NM, and 308 Win. This is the first weapon that has been chambered in the 338 NM for the U.S. armed forces. In addition, the Army/SOCOM is ordering these rifle systems by the truckload. Barrett’s initial contract from the Army is nearly $50m for around 2,800 weapon systems. This contract (W15QKN21F0192) was awarded in March 2021. Around $8m was funded with the base award and the rest will be rolled out over the term of the 5-year indefinite delivery/indefinite quantity contract. The contract is forecasted to be completed in March 2026. This does not include all the weapons that will be ordered by other (three-letter) agencies. Under the contract, weapons will probably be delivered to the Army, Navy, Air Force, USMC, and SOCOM, as the Army is typically the central buying hub for the various services. In addition, the U.S. Army recently awarded a 5-year, $157m contract to Sig Sauer for ammunition in both the 300 NM and 338 NM calibers.

SOCOM’S LATEST MACHINE GUN

The Lightweight Medium Machine Gun (LWMMG) in 338 Norma Mag has been around since 2012. General Dynamics created this next generation weapon system to get .50 cal performance but at the weight of a standard machine gun. General Dynamics was ahead of their time with a great idea. Unfortunately, their effort was unsuccessful and was basically forgotten. Then, around 2020, SOCOM identified the need for a lightweight medium machine gun in 338 Norma Mag and has been ramping up for a full weapon competition ever since. This included an ammunition contract for the 338 Norma Mag Multi-Purpose round that was awarded to UDC USA, Inc. There have been a couple of evaluation contracts for weapons, including one that was won by SIG Sauer for its MG 338 machine guns in 338 NM. The main competition will close in early 2024 and maybe we’ll have a winner in late 2024.

SO WHY THE 338 NM NOW? 

The 338 Lapua Mag has been the king of the international sniper community for decades. This caliber and weight bullet range (250 to 300 grains, typical) is the right combination for this application. However, the latest modern propellants are fine-tuned for maximum performance and can get the .338 caliber bullet to the ideal velocities in the smaller chassis of the 338 Norma Magnum, which could not be accomplished 30 years ago in the 338 Lapua. In addition, the shorter length of the Norma cartridge opens up the number of rifle actions that can fire the round. 

The number of actions that can fit the 338 Lapua Mag length cartridge is limited. The 338 Lapua Mag is designed to be fired in a belt-fed machine gun. However, since the 1980’s there haven’t been any serious weapon development efforts to fire the 338 Lapua Mag in a machine gun. The 338 NM has been fired in machine guns since General Dynamics created the prototype Lightweight Medium Machine Gun in 2012. This powerhouse system was never adopted by any domestic or international military group, though.

NO BETTER ALTERNATIVE

Why doesn’t the sniper community use “king of two miles” calibers like 375 Cheytac or 375 Enabler? The KO2M distance is 3219 meters. According to the competition’s rules, weapons cannot exceed 40 pounds. Compare this to the Barrett MRAD (MK22) at an extremely light 15.2 pounds. The length of a typical KO2M rifle is 1500mm to 1600mm and is not collapsible. Again, compare this to the MRAD at 1255mm, fully extended, and much shorter when collapsed for transport. The KO2M weapons and calibers are not designed for combat, they are designed for maximum accuracy at maximum distance. Therefore, a larger and heavier cartridge is not an issue, as no one is carrying these rifle systems for days.

WHO DESIGNED THE 338 NM CALIBER?  

Jimmie Sloan is the inventor of the 338 NM caliber. It began as a wildcat caliber in 2008 and entered production with Norma in 2009. It was certified by CIP in 2010. So, clearly, this wildcat was on the fast track to success from the very beginning.

ADOPTION HEADWINDS  

The only competitor to the 338 NM is its brother the 300 NM. At worst, they could end up being co-kings. The 300 NM would dominate in precision long-range and the 338 NM would dominate in combat and anti-material requirements. I believe the 300 NM has an advantage in the number of great bullets available to deploy. I think the 338 NM will see more bullets developed for it in the near future. One popular commercial website has 286 products for .30 caliber bullets and only 72 in .338 caliber bullets. The numbers will never be equal, though, since there are so many .30 caliber cartridge offerings and so few in 338. The additional payload capabilities of the 338 NM allow it to carry more tungsten in a penetrator or other increased energetic materials for downrange impact.

THE FUTURE OF 338 NORMA MAGNUM

Expect to see the following in the coming years for the 338 NM:

• More companies will offer sniper and hunting rifles chambered in this caliber. First, because it’s a good caliber, and second to follow suit with what the U.S. government is using.  
• More weapon systems will be offered in 338 NM. In the past, the systems were created by the end user and there was no standardization. The 408 Cheytac was one of the first to be offered as a complete system based on a cartridge and now Barrett follows suit with its MK 22 MRAD (if you have a spare $22k). These packages included: a weapon, barrels, optics (day and night), a ballistic computer system, and more.
• A suite of military tactical ammunition will be developed, similar to the way the .50 caliber spawned a suite of purpose-built cartridges. This will include sniper rounds and machine gun rounds. Right now, the U.S. military only has two rounds for this caliber, the Army’s M1162 300-grain AP round and SOCOM’s 272-grain Multi-Purpose round. The .50 caliber currently has around a dozen fielded options, dozens of commercial variations, and a couple dozen inactive configurations. Obvious potential versions would include a tracer, M962 Saboted Light Armor Piercing (SLAP), and Mk211 (High Explosive Armor Piercing), or as near to these versions as requested by the government.

SIGNIFICANT GROWING PAINS

This is the first time in history a sniper caliber will become a machine gun caliber. This is nothing to be taken lightly, this may well be a major undertaking. There will be challenges now in the development of future rifles. There will be challenges down the road with sniper ammo not running in machine guns and machine gun ammo not being able to hit the broadside of a barn.

There are significant differences between ammunition optimized for long-range precision use and use in a machine gun. For instance, the brass thicknesses between sniper-grade and machine gun-grade cartridges are different. There are also major differences in the hardness, seating depth, and performance of primers that must be optimized for the two, very different, applications. Ammunition issues across sniper and machine gun platforms using the same caliber may come with a dearth of problems such as accuracy, reliability and other performance issues related to operating temperatures, barrel erosion, and even wear and breakage of weapon system components that may be novel to each system.

It’s clear that long-range precision ammo and machine gun ammo are not interchangeable. The two will have to be developed separately, end-users must learn to differentiate them through education, and they must be carefully segregated in the field in order to maintain safety and performance. Let’s not forget that the .50 caliber cartridge had significant growing pains when it went from a machine gun caliber to a sniper caliber. So, history tells us these issues can be overcome.

On the whole, however, this is an exciting transition in the ammunition and weapon worlds. We should all be looking forward to the enhanced capabilities afforded by the continuing adoption of 338 Norma Magnum. More to follow… 100% guaranteed.

Thirty-three, two-person teams of military snipers from around the world competed in the 53rd Winston P. Wilson (WPW) Sniper Championship (National Guard) and the 33rd Armed Forces Skill at Arms Meeting (Inter-Service) December 1-8 at Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center. These championships allow service members to test sniper skills and weapon systems in a battle-focused environment.

This year’s sniper championships included international competitors from Colombia, Denmark, and the Netherlands.

The guest of honor at the awards ceremony, marking the triumphant conclusion of the highly competitive event, was Maj. Gen. Jonathan Stubbs, Arkansas’ adjutant general. His presence added honor to the celebration, recognizing outstanding achievements in marksmanship.

“Marksmanship is not just about hitting a target. It’s about discipline, focus, and precision. These are the same qualities that make our National Guard Soldiers the best in the world,” said Maj. Gen. Stubbs.

“The Winston P. Wilson Championship and the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center are integral to the success of our Soldiers in maintaining their marksmanship proficiency,” Stubbs said. “Through these institutions, our Soldiers are equipped with the necessary skills to protect our communities and defend our nation. A strong marksmanship program is essential for the safety and security of our country, and the National Guard is proud to lead the way.”

The WPW sniper competition began in 1971 and has been held annually to determine the best shooters in the United States National Guard. This year’s 53rd WPW Sniper Champion is Utah National Guard. Shooters are awarded the prestigious Chiefs 50 Marksmanship Badge on behalf of the Chief, National Guard Bureau. The Chief’s 50 Marksmanship Badge was established to provide evidence and public recognition of outstanding marksmanship abilities demonstrated at the National Guard Championships.

In addition to earning the Chief’s 50 Badge and the Overall Championship Team Trophy, the Utah National Guard received the Chief David R. Logan Sniper Team Trophy. The 2nd place winner is the Iowa Sniper Team. Iowa shooters are also recipients of the Chief’s 50 Badge.

The Armed Forces Skills at Arms Meeting (AFSAM), established in 1991, is a multi-national competition created to promote marksmanship training and competition between United States military forces and allied nations. This year’s 33rd AFSAM Sniper Championship winner is the 2nd Special Warfare Training Group. The AFSAM championship ran concurrently with the WPW championship and incorporated the same fire courses.

This competition is designed as a training tool for US and Allied armed forces, immersing them into situations they could encounter in the real world. Attendees learn to maneuver and shoot in a carefully orchestrated chaos that mimics a battle-like environment. This allows participating teams to hone their current skills and develop new ones.

2023 National Guard Sniper Competition Results

WPW Sniper Team Champions:

• Utah National Guard, 1st Place   
• Iowa National Guard, 2nd Place
• Missouri National Guard, 3rd Place

WPW Specialist Christopher Horton Precision Engagement Memorial Trophy: 

• Utah National Guard

WPW Silent Hunter Team Champions: 

• Washington National Guard

WPW Carbine & Pistol Champions:

• Iowa National Guard

AFSAM Sniper Team Champions:

• 2nd Special Warfare Training Group, 1st Place
• Netherlands (Alpha), 2nd Place
• Naval Special Warfare, 3rd Place

AFSAM Precision Engagement Team Champions:

• All Guard Sniper Team

AFSAM Silent Hunter Team Champions:

• Operations Wolf Group

Carbine & Pistol Champions:

• 1st BN 75th Ranger Regiment

In the 1970s-80s, there was a movement in the U.S. to create rifles in .50 BMG (12.7x99mm.) .55 Boys rifles were converted, the magazine and barrel were close to the dimensions, 20mm Lahtis were as well, and a few extremely dangerous designs were showing up at civilian shoots with the incumbent accidents. Gunny Carlos Hathcock had famously made three kills at 2500 yards with “Ma Deuce” in Vietnam (only one confirmed), an M2HB with a craft-made mount from the SEABEE chop shop, for his 8-power Unertl optic. This author has seen cobbled together .50 cals all over the world from the revolutionary groups in South America to communist guerillas in Africa, mostly from the 1950s-60s. But it wasn’t until 1983 when a shooter/inventor named Ronnie Barrett showed up at the Knob Creek Machine Gun Shoot in Kentucky with his M82, that the idea of a semi-automatic .50 BMG sniper rifle could be taken seriously. At the time, this author was blown away by the functionality of Ronnie’s design, and I’ve had a long history with these rifles; shooting, training, armorering, supplying, use in the field OCONUS… and on this visit to the factory, I spent a few days with Ronnie and Barrett’s engineers with the intent to bring you this technical article on the M107A1- introduced in 2011- about what makes the M107A1 what it is today, an advancement beyond the M82A1 and M107.

By 1989, Ronnie Barrett’s M82A1 rifle was making serious waves in military circles; the Swedish Army ordered 100, and various “OGAs” (other government agencies) were taking notice and buying them. In 1990, the U.S. armed forces were making special buys, the Israeli Defense Force and others were lining up. The M82A1 was a hit with operators; it did a job they needed done, better than any other small arm. It had amazing range and impressive terminal ballistics. The U.S. Army adopted the M82A1 as the M107 in 2005 (with a longer rail and other mods), and Barrett immediately started on a quest to lighten the system, improve the recoil pressures, and make the new design suppressor friendly – the M107/M82A1 cannot reliably or safely use a muzzle sound suppressor. More on that below.

NIOA ACQUIRES BARRETT FIREARMS

M107A1 : THE GREAT LEAP FORWARD

Typically, in the firearms industry, we discuss aluminum using the 4-digit system- there is also a 5-digit system which is more precise but not prevalent. 7000 series aluminums use zinc as their main alloy element. The next three digits indicate an agreed-on mix of other alloy metals. The common example in firearms manufacture, especially AR-15 type firearms, is 7075, a WWII Japanese alloy mix adopted by the U.S. and others. It has a lot of advantages, one of which is its ability to 11% stretch without cracking. The second nomenclature for this would be “T6” which is a temper. 7075 T6 aluminum would have 5-6% zinc, 2-3% magnesium, and 1-2% copper, as well as some other small metal quantities. The zinc and magnesium making the alloy heat treatable. The “T” designations are temper processes for heat treatable aluminum alloys. In this case, T6 means that the 7075 was “Solution Heat Treated” then artificially aged. Solution Heat Treating means to heat the alloy just under its melting point, and some planned lower percentage alloys dissolve into the aluminum, creating a “solid solution.” The material is quickly quenched and preserves the new metal structure. 7075 age-hardens naturally, so if welded properly, the heat-treating recovers.

Why discuss this? Because Ronnie Barrett wanted to lighten the M107/M82A1 system and the first place to start is the upper receiver – a very large component. Barrett did not choose 7075 T6; it would be the wrong temper for the job. It’s difficult to extrude into the needed shape, it suffers a lot of internal stress which can cause deformation in processing, and it would not have the structural strength to match the cold-rolled 1045 steel in the M107/M82A1 upper. 1045 is a medium carbon steel that is very strong, with a high yield point (about 45,000 PSI). A lot of machinery parts, bolts, gears, shafts, etc. are made from this. It’s a good steel, especially for a long channel like the M107 upper.

Trying to match that strength with an aluminum alloy that can be extruded in long shapes to cut to length and machine is difficult and “7075 T6 isn’t it.”

Barrett’s engineers developed a scientific testing method with weights and distances to match the yield point of 1045 steel with a reasonable thickness, extrudable aluminum alloy, and they decided on 7075 but with a T6511 temper. The T6511 temper adds stress relief by stretching along with the solution treating and artificial aging. Perfect for the job; extruded, machinable lengths that won’t distort in machining.

The new 7075 T6511 upper receiver is finished with a type-3 hard-anodizing and then an oven-cured Cerakote finish, which matches durability with the M107/M82A1 1045 steel finished with a manganese phosphate parkerizing.

Front is the M107A1 showing the optic rail is milled into the aluminum extrusion, with allowance for a bolt-in-place rear back up sight. Rear is the M107 steel optic rail bolted in place, with the rear back up sight mounted on the rail. The optic rail on both the M107 and M107A1 is angled at 27 MOA. 

This new upper receiver was just the first of the techniques used to lighten the M107 system and create the lighter, suppressor-friendly M107A1.

As part of the lightening process, the bipod yoke, yoke mount, and the internal shaft of the bipod are made from titanium for the M107A1. The foot for the bipod legs is plastic for the M107A1. The M107A1 has plastic flat feet, the M107 has steel spiked feet, and the 82A1 has steel flat feet. Note the quick release pins must be put in from the rear, as recoil forces can dislodge them if they are inserted from the front.

M82A1/M107 top, M107A1 bottom: Some of the most important changes that were made were in the recoil system. Barrett’s M82A1/M107/M107A1 operate on the short recoil principle; i.e. the bolt and barrel are locked together and travel in recoil a specified, short distance/time until pressures have dropped, then unlock from each other and recoil and return separately. The first thing to notice in this picture is that the barrel springs in the M107A1 have a larger wire diameter but have a smaller overall outside diameter. Due to the smaller outside diameter of the barrel springs, the barrel spring relief cuts in the barrel were removed to aid in making the barrel stiffer. The M82A1/M107 barrel has the two deep grooves, the M107A1 barrel does not. Second, the impact bumper – the plastic cylinder behind the barrel key – is longer on the M107A1; this shortens the stroke for the barrel recoil. The (return to-) battery bumper is the same for all.

Top in each picture, is the M82A1/M107 bolt carrier assembly, bottom is the M107A1. Note there are several more cuts/wells in the M107A1; this is for the bolt extender, which is critical for suppressor use.

SOME BALLISTIC TALK ON .50 BMG & TRANSONIC SHIFT

Shooting at long ranges requires extensive understanding of exterior ballistics – from the projectile uncorking from the barrel, to striking the terminal end, as well as all the environmental factors that are constantly changing. There is a lot of information out there to digest, and we don’t have time or space to explain it all but there are a couple of things relevant to the subject of this article to start with. First, the Barrett rifles were designed to fire military ball ammunition back in the times when that was all there was. M33 Ball with a 660-grain (42.8 gram) FMJ boat tail bullet with a mild steel core. Fired in a 45-inch barrel from an M2HB machine gun, its muzzle velocity was 2,910 fps. In today’s world, there are many options – solid, turned, very accurate bullets, of 750 grains and other weights. These are designed for accuracy at long ranges, and are fired from 20-, 29-inch or other barrels but not the 45-inch barrel of “Ma Deuce.” Thus, velocity comparisons must be apples-to-apples – barrel length, rifling twist, etc. to understand at what distance the supersonic projectiles will drop into the zone approaching the speed of sound – the transonic region – and below, the subsonic region. Larger projectiles like .50 Browning Machine Gun (BMG) rounds are less affected by environmental pressures than smaller diameter/weight projectiles; but there is still an effect on accuracy.

When people are discussing calibers in comparison and make statements like “.50 BMG destabilizes as transonic at 1320 meters,” it’s inaccurate. There might be a combination of barrel length, bullet weight, etc. that does, but the U.S. M33 from a 45-inch barrel goes transonic in the 2200-meter range according to longtime military data, however today’s ballistic calculators show it at 1500 meters and a 750-grain AMAX bullet may go transonic much further from a 29-inch barrel. There is much more to it than simple calculations. A skilled shooter knows more than just the math, he reads the wind and everything else in the theatre he’s firing through and into. Hitting targets well beyond that theoretical transonic distance is both science and art, and is done frequently – look up “The King of 2 Miles” competitions.

WEIGHT:

• Weight M107A1 unloaded: 28.7 lbs (13 kg)
• Weight M107   unloaded:  32.7 lbs (14.8 kg)

BALLISTIC PERFORMANCE WITH M33 BALL AMMUNITION:

• 20-inch (508mm) 1:15 in. (381mm) 2,550 fps (778 m/s) Transonic at 1300m
• 29-inch (737mm) 1:15 in. (381mm) 2,799 fps (853 m/s) Transonic at 1,450m
• 45-inch M2HB:  1:15 in. (381mm)  2,910 fps (890 m/s) Transonic at 1,500m

FEEDING THE BEAST

One of the hardest parts of designing a firearm, is feeding the rounds into the chamber properly. It’s pretty basic on a straight-pull single-shot rifle, but when you go semi- or fully-automatic, there are many forces that come to bear. It’s not just a case of presenting the cartridge properly to the feed ramp, it must be done fast enough so that, as the bolt goes into recoil, the spring consistently presents the next round for feeding. Spring fatigue is also an issue. This can be a lot trickier than it seems, and it does explain why many firearms inventors adopt existing magazines, such as the M16 style for 5.56mm. In Barrett’s case, he had to deal with the length and weight of 10 rounds of .50 BMG cartridges, a much different animal than the 5.56mm.

MARKINGS

SUPPRESSING THE M107A1

Barrett and other knowledgeable people continually warn against firing the M107/M82A1 with a suppressor – it just isn’t safe. But some users have done this. There are a number of references in this article regarding upgrades to M107A1, and they all add up to: The M107/M82A1 system is not designed for suppressor use, which changes recoil forces, time of locking and unlocking, pressures, velocities, etc. While these rifles are robust, and some have successfully fired them, Barrett cannot guarantee their product with suppressor use. That is what the M107A1 is for – it has been purpose engineered to withstand these forces. I’ve had several people tell me about using a suppressor on the M82A1, each unaware of the real dangers involved and one manufacturer who explained his suppressor “worked” as is, and when pressed, he had made modifications to the rifle that would void his warranty and frankly, I did not see how they addressed the issues involved. It’s best to purchase the proper rifle for suppression, the M107A1, which is properly engineered for this. There have been charging handle impacts damaging the upper receiver, and broken bolt handles. One thing to remember – the recoil forces of putting a suppressor on an M82A1/M107, can easily warp the bolt latch into failure. That is a negative event…

The arrowhead muzzle brake designs used on the M107/M82A1 work very well for mitigating the recoil force with  rearward gas energy; approximately 70% reduction in recoil. In order to make the M107A1 suppressor-friendly, the design had to change so there could be a quick mount suppressor, which is the round one in the three photos here.

We at Small Arms Defense Journal hope that this focus on the Barrett M107A1 and its technical upgrades helps you in understanding the quality of this product. We have long experience with the Barrett systems, and there are quite a few misconceptions about why the M107A1 was needed- hopefully, this helps the readers and users understand the great leap forward the M107A1 is for the .50 BMG Sniper systems.

I’ve followed Skip Patel’s designs for about 20 years, since his BA50- mag fed .50 BMG rifle and the MCR Multi-Cal semi auto that got to phase II in the SCAR trials. He sold that company, built DRD Tactical with much success, sold DRD, and in 2022 started 21^st Tec, with lessons learned from 20 years in the industry. A personal favorite is the Paratus takedown 7.62×51 rifle. I made a backpack system with foam that floats, a Gemtech Sandstorm silencer, Magpul bipod, Trijicon optic, and in under 60 seconds could have a solid, suppressed, tactical 7.62 semi-auto DMR with 1 MOA accuracy, covertly carried in a civilian pack. Skip Patel’s designs have always been interesting. So, when discussing the release of the new Bellator rifle, we had to try it out.

21^st Tec was not making the Bellator in .338 Norma Magnum, just .338 Lapua Magnum and .300 Norma Magnum and some smaller calibers, but I badgered Skip until he had Satern barrels make a custom 24-inch .338 Norma Magnum for this test and we broke-in the new caliber. Thus, it took a bit of time to get it rolling properly, but once we got it together, the system was a very good one. The .338 Norma Magnum is where SOCOM and many others have moved, that’s to say away from the Lapua Magnum – which is also a very good round. I just wanted this test to be in the new sniper sweetheart caliber that Jimmy Sloan evolved. It’s an excellent cartridge. I’m saying this to be fair – there was a bit of beta testing until the new caliber conversion was 100% on. Skip Patel has always been an innovator and designer, as this article will show.

The Bellator Rifle System (Bellator is Latin for “warrior”) is a multi-caliber, bolt action, long-range rifle system designed with a lower overall budget in mind. When the rifle came to us, it was in a special case, deceptively small like many of Skip Patel’s other designs. There were two magazine wells, two barrels, and two bolts, along with good instructions for assembly and maintenance. 21^st Tec has chosen the KGM suppressor mounting system, more on that later. We decided to put a Vortex RAZOR Gen III optic on the system, and for our test, several types of .338 Norma Magnum from the SOCOM trials, as well as a preferred cartridge from Black Hills Ammunition. We went to the range several times as we learned the system and worked to get it sighted properly. The plan was to go to 1000 meters, and any real shooter knows that isn’t on the first day. It did not take too long to get there.

The testing team was long range shooter Dennis Powell, well-known firearms trainer Chuck Bolding, Phoenix Defence Armorer Damon Bolding, and myself. Dennis has done long range testing for Small Arms Defense Journal in the past, and he took control of getting the primary needs. After several trips to the range, we were ready for the two-day testing regimen.

SMALL ARMS DESIGNS BY SKIP PATEL

• BA50 Bolt action magazine-fed 50 BMG rifle.
• MCR Multi-caliber auto loading rifle (patented) that made it to phase II testing in SCAR trials.
• Paratus 7.62 NATO (two patents, one for internal recoil system and one for take down barrel system.)
• Aptus 5.56/300 uses above two patents.
• M762 LR308-pattern 7.62 NATO with barrel take-down like Paratus.
• CDR15 AR15-pattern 5.56/300 same barrel take-down as Aptus.
• Kivaari .338 Lapua semi-auto with same barrel take down.
• PMG Paratus machine gun using G3 fire control. (Sold to international military.)
• AMG Aptus machine gun using G3 fire control. (Sold to international military.)

We’ve been using the Magpul bipod on smaller caliber rifles because it gives a lockable or resisted cant (tilt) ability up to 50°, independent of the legs. This is very important for uneven ground and when adjusting body position. Second, it has a panning feature that gives a 40° pan of the field of view – which is desirable on machine guns but not on a sniper rifle. Magpul made this bipod so the panning can be locked out.

RECEIVER CONSTRUCTION

Patel chose 6061 T6 aluminum for the upper, lower, and the separate extruded rail. The 6000 series aluminum alloys feature magnesium & silicon as main alloys, as magnesium silicide. This makes the 6000 series aluminums heat treatable. Other alloy metals that make 6061 what it is, are chromium, copper, iron, manganese, titanium, and zinc in small quantities. The T6 tempering of 6061 aluminum (heat treating) is solution treatment at temp 985°F and then for forgings/extrusions such as the billet used for the receivers, and the extruded rail, an additional artificial aging for 8 hours at 350°F. This makes a very strong alloy with good return from flex properties for the split collet (no cracking), good machining qualities for intricate profiles, weldability, and corrosion resistance. The aluminum is then type III hard coat anodized with, in this case, a tan/flat dark earth finish.

It’s possible to fire a round in this position, but probably not advisable. When the rifle was ordered, we were asked if we wanted the KRG side-folder or the Magpul PRS fixed stock. We should have opted for the PRS; none of us found the KRG stock to be solid or comfortable enough under the .338 Norma Magnum recoil. It’s a good stock for lighter recoil setups. Skip informed me that neither company is continuing with these stocks, and 21^st Tec is in process of making a proprietary stock.

21^st Tech has kept some key components that will interchange with AR style parts; the fire control parts such as pistol grip, trigger, hammer, springs, pins, fire control selector and mag release, as well as the rear takedown pin. This allows for the customization of some of these components by end users. Note that this model has the bolt charging handle at the front left. This is desirable, as it means the shooter doesn’t have to take their eye off the sights or break their fire control grip to work the action. 21^st Tec also offers a right-hand charging option, but this is my preference.

Barrel installation and removal, as well as the front rail/forend, are reliant on the two bolts seen at center. This is a split collet-type system, with the barrel put into place and keyed in, the forend slid over it, and the two bolts tightened to 65 inch-lbs (with the Fix-it Sticks torque driver included.) The rear is done first. On disassembly, the two bolts are put back into position but must be removed for reassembly.

The charging slot ends where it does because if the slot went all the way it would weaken the rear support of the rail/optics. Behind the safety is the takedown pin. The chamber must be cleared, then the bolt run forward, and the pushpin is pushed to the right.

The rifle can now be disassembled. The lower and stock are secured with a stud going to the magazine well rear, and the takedown pin. The lower assembly is swung back and down, slightly. The magazine well is slid to the rear and downward and the barrel and forend are removed (not shown). Taking the bolt out requires removing the bold handle with a set screw, then the bolt comes to the rear (not shown).

Barrel markings; in this case “21^st -Tec .338 Norma Mag 1-9.4 5R”. Our barrel is a 5-groove right hand twist of 1:9.4 inches. All Bellator barrels are 416R stainless steel, custom made by Satern Barrels.

Disassembly of the bolt carrier assembly, is fast. The round-headed guide pin is removed, the bolt is then removed to the front, and the firing pin removes to the front. The set screw behind the guide pin holds a spring-loaded ball bearing detent that clicks into a matching round indentation when the bolt is closed. This keeps the bolt from rotating out of battery but allows a fast rotation of the handle for retracting.

AMMUNITION

Black Hills Ammunition was recently awarded part of an Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract (H92403-23-R-0002) to allow U.S. Special Operations Command the flexibility to procure numerous types of ammunition requirements for all USSOCOM components. Fiscal 2023 operations and maintenance funding in the amount of $27,500 is being obligated at the time of award. The contract has a maximum total ceiling of $750,000,000. Source selection procedures used full and open competition. 16 proposals were received, 11 met the criteria for award. USSOCOM, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida, is the contracting activity.

This is great news. Jeff Hoffman of BHA is a great friend and asset to the shooting, as well as the special operations community. His work was seminal to the development of SOCOM’s needs in the Norma Magnum calibers – and Black Hills Gold is about the best .338 Norma Magnum ammunition available. Hoffman supplied some ammunition for this article, and it lived up to its reputation. This was .338 Norma Magnum, 300gr, OTM projectiles. OTM is “open tip match” and it is thanks to the late Hays Parks that we have this accurate, effective projectile available to the sniper community. The ICRC wanted it banned by the UN as “hollow point” which it is not. Since that attempt failed, companies like BHA are able to supply extremely accurate, effective ammunition to the sniper community.

Jeff has been a sworn law enforcement officer for over 37 years and been in the ammunition community seemingly forever.

In this photo, next to the ammunition, are some headspace gauges for .338 Norma Magnum. It’s important to have in these changeable caliber firearms. These gauges are from Pacific Tool & Gauge, which now offers them on its website.

Ammunition, above (left to right):

• .50 BMG MK211 “Raufoss” Multi-Purpose Lake City
• .50 BMG AMAX 750-gr. Hornady
• .338 Lapua Magnum 300-gr. Lapua Scenar Black Hills
• .338 Norma Magnum 300-gr. OTM Black Hills Gold
• .300 Norma Magnum 215-gr. Hybrid OTM Berger
• .300 PRC 225-gr. ELD Match TAP Precision
• .300 Winchester Magnum 178-gr. Hornady A-Max Black Hills Gold
• .30-06 150-gr. FMJ Boat Tail American Eagle
• 7.62x52mm 175-gr. M118LR Lake City
• 6.5 Creedmoor 125-gr. Open Tip USA Ready Winchester
• .260 Remington 130-gr. Berger Match AR Hybrid OTM ABM
• .280 British (7mm) 140-gr. MK1Z Ball Radway Green

PERFORMANCE

The 300-grain projectiles should be traveling at about 2700 fps from our 24-inch barrel. As we dialed the scope in – the rounds walked up to center. The five rounds to center were one group, with scope adjustments, the last three, to right of the left-hand red square are the measured group; .75-inch center-to-center. This is at 100 meters. The sun was rising at our 12 o’clock, we were firing at our 10 o’clock. After Dennis achieved sub-minute of angle, we started working the farther targets. Steel at 400, 600, and finally 900 meters. After Dennis was done getting comfortable with ringing the gongs the rest of us tried long range firing. This is a very good rifle combination, and the suppressor brought our groups in tighter than unsuppressed.

SUPPRESSOR

Kyle Grob, founder of KGM Suppressors, has multiple manufacturing talents. KGM is a veteran owned business, and Grob’s experience as a very high-grade welder with solid experience in titanium welding has made their products lightweight and very strong. Combine that with the scientific study KGM has done on sound and pressures of high velocity gases, it adds up to a very safe suppressor.

A suppressor is a pressure vessel, experiencing high temperature, high pressure events.

KGM R338 SPECIFICATIONS

• Weight: 18.2 oz. (w/o muzzle device)
• Length: 9.1 in. long (w/o muzzle device)
• Diameter: 1.87 in.
• Expected Sound Reduction: On a 26 in. 338 LM. barrel the R338 has a net sound reduction of 26-30 decibels.
• The R338 is constructed entirely out of titanium, giving it a robust, yet lightweight form factor with a combination of grade 5 and grade 9 titanium.

For most of suppressor history, manufacturers and users concentrated on methods of sound reduction. For end users, that’s an important consideration, but not the most important one. In today’s environment, gases coming back onto the user; accuracy, and POI shift; overall size (the “nose” it adds to a firearm), back pressure, flash signature… all are more important than a couple of decibels of sound reduction or how sexy it looks.

The claimed dB reduction of 26-30 dB for this suppressor, from my experience, is well in the pocket. It’s very quiet on this 24-inch barrel .338 Norma Magnum bolt action. It also is short enough, controls the gas away from the shooter, lightens recoil, tightens groups, and as a bonus, looks good on the rifle.

Bellator KGM Silencer 5 For mounting, the R338 uses a proprietary taper-mounted muzzle device which has been adopted for the Bellator. With a large taper surface, POI shift is reduced, and repeatability is a key design factor. A coarse thread pitch allows the suppressor to be removed from the muzzle device quickly.

Bellator KGM Silencer 6 The R338 utilizes KGM’s patented “Integrated Gas Flow” baffle design that maintains consistent gas flow through the baffle stack, allowing shot-after-shot repeatability. In conjunction with the Integrated Gas Flow design, the front of the suppressor is outfitted with another patented design of KGM’s, the APEC (Adjustable Port End Cap). This technology utilizes pressure inside the suppressor and puts it to work by venting it radially around the periphery. This allows the suppressor to mimic the characteristics of a radial muzzle brake in terms of a linear recoil impulse, while providing excellent suppression and reduced flash signature. An even more unique feature of this endcap design is the ability to tune the gas flow characteristics and recoil kinematics by closing off or opening the ports by means of small threaded plugs. All of the side holes in the picture are internally threaded, and set screw plugs are provided with the suppressor. This gives the end user the ability to tune the suppressor to the host weapon as well as the shooting style of the operator.

OPTIC

We’ve used the Vortex RAZOR HD Gen III in other tests in the past. It is a superb scope. We chose the EBR-7D MRAD Reticle, it’s a flagship reticle for Vortex, and it was crisp and clear out to 900 meters and beyond. The Bellator has a 0 MOA rail, so for longer work the scope mount base should be figured with appropriate MOA built into it. Even though there’s technically 120 MOA built into the scope.

VORTEX RAZOR HD Gen III 6-36×56 RIFLESCOPE SPECIFICATIONS

• Aluminum Grade: Aircraft
• Scratch-Resistant Lens Coating: ArmorTec Ultra-hard, scratch-resistant coating protects exterior lenses from scratches, oil and dirt.
• External Rotation Indicator: Provides quick visual and tactile reference of elevation turret’s rotational position.
• Multi-Coated Lenses: XR Plus Fully Multi-Coated HD Lens Elements
• L-Tec+ Zero System: The L-Tec+ Zero System is easy to use with all captive parts and only one set screw, making zeroing quick and simple. Once set, it also allows for more travel.
• Micro Adjust Zero Setting: Infinite zero setting positions allow zero to be set between clicks for optimal accuracy.
• Optically Indexed Lenses: Optimize image sharpness and brightness from edge to edge.
• Plasma Tech: Cutting edge coating application process provides unparalleled coating durability and performance.
• Shockproof: Rugged construction withstands recoil and impact.

Those are the factory specs. A couple of things of note from an end user: during this testing, smoke from California forest fires was smogging its way across Las Vegas valley – we were on the other side of the mountains, towards California. We got it first. This has always been an issue with a scope, but our clarity was excellent. Second, seeing into shadow at range: when you get to 600 to 1000 meters, any tree line or shadow area on mountainside becomes a problem. Many scopes I’ve used give a flat image of the darkness. The lens coatings used by Vortex, along with the quality of the glass, open up the shadows, giving a more three-dimensional view. There are many scope manufacturers, a few that I like, but for this type of shooting I tend to favor the Vortex RAZOR. It’s also FFP, Fixed Focal Plane, which I prefer, as well. It’s got great field of view, the hashmarks are fast for me to use at higher magnifications, and make my adjustments.

CASE

The Bellator came in a custom case; 20x25x12 inches, with two layers. The tools, spare magazines and caliber conversions were in the case- for this rifle, it was .338 Norma Magnum and 7.62x51mm NATO barrels, bolts, and mag wells. The KGM suppressor can fit on all the Bellator barrels, from the factory.

CONTACT

21^st-Tec: 21st-tec.com
KGM Suppressors: kgm-tech.com/suppressors
Vortex Optics: vortexoptics.com
Black Hills Ammunition: www.black-hills.com
Kestrel: www.kestrelmeters.com

COMING SOON FROM 21^st Tec: VASA – multi-caliber magazine fed bolt action extreme long-range rifle in 50bmg/.416 Barrett with conversion kit to 408x77mm and 375x77mm.