New Barrett MRAD ELR?

In the limited experience I have working around the gun industry there were plenty of times that actual factory guns were used by factory teams and shooters. It doesn't seem like there's a good reason to lie about it when you are talking about a tiny subset (ELR) of a smaller market (PRS).

With precision oriented guns like this it's not unbelievable to me that factory guns would be used. I don't know anything about ELR but it seems like the ammo and shooter are probably more of a factor than the gun as long as it has a base level of accuracy. Even with factory guns that system can be gamed by cherry picking guns that do well during test firing like weatherby used to do with their MOA guns.
There wasn't any cherry picking with the rifles we all used, they were the only ones built, lol, and at least 2 of the Barretts had never been shot until they got to Raton the week prior to King of 2 Miles.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigBC and 232593
OK, so it is priced right up there with a McMillan tack 50 in a CADEX, or an accuracy international. Slightly less, but in the ballpark.

It is 50% more than a Desert Tech

Who makes the barrel? Bartline? Lilja? Proprietary? Button rifle or cut rifle?

Chamber specs?

Trigger pull adjustable between what and what?

If I weren’t already into my Desert Tech, I suppose I would consider this one amongst the others as a higher end 50 caliber/416 rifle

I still like that my Desert Tech with a 41 inch barrel, and an Armite brake is going to be significantly shorter than this
 
  • Like
Reactions: 232593
I will say that the MradELR is being built one at a time and every rifle coming out of Barrett is being accuracy tested before it leaves . Those of us that got the rifles in July to test and use prior to KO2M all got exactly what the finished product to consumers will be. The engineers behind the project are extremely proud of what they have produced and very well should be . The biggest concern they have is making sure every MradELR is competitive and reliable out of the box. There were 8 of us outside of Barrett that got the privilege of being part of testing and shooting the new Mrads in competition and they have all proven to be just as accurate and consistent as anticipated.
As far as comments about Australian owned now , the customer service is still straight out of Tennessee, and if you actually check into the new ownership they are one of the biggest defense contractors for 20mm, 30mm and 105 & 155mm ammo for the US DOD along with joint ventures with L3 for laser guided munitions for our armed forces.

No one is raising hell with Hodgdon about most of their powder being imported from Australia and redistributed or the 416hellfire, 416 and 458 Vestal brass from Bertram all being Australian. The Barretts are still being designed built in Tennessee.

Back to the MradELR, the barrels are extremely fast to change out and the return to zero and poi shift is non-existent. Part of my testing of the platform was shooting one mile groups, removing the barrel, reinstalling in the field and shooting another group at a mile , after doing it multiple times the poi stayed within inches at 1761 yards, and it's exactly what they are trying to accomplish for the ELR commumunity. A rifle that will shoot at a competitive level straight out of the box .

And no disrespect taken, anytime anyone sees me at a match I would be more than happy to show you around the rifle.
What calibers are they going to offer?

When you used it how did it handle? Recoil manageable?
 
Desert Tech have any mil contracts? Bullpups really struggle with acceptance. As for Barret have any personnel been relocated?
If I remember correctly they do have contracts with several different countries. How those countries acquisition process, DTs & OTs, and paths to POR status work I don’t know.
 
OK, so it is priced right up there with a McMillan tack 50 in a CADEX, or an accuracy international. Slightly less, but in the ballpark.

It is 50% more than a Desert Tech

Who makes the barrel? Bartline? Lilja? Proprietary? Button rifle or cut rifle?

Chamber specs?

Trigger pull adjustable between what and what?

If I weren’t already into my Desert Tech, I suppose I would consider this one amongst the others as a higher end 50 caliber/416 rifle

I still like that my Desert Tech with a 41 inch barrel, and an Armite brake is going to be significantly shorter than this
Until I talk more with Barrett I'm really not sure what I can disclose more than I already have due to NDA about barrel, chamber specs etc. I will say I loaded and sized all of my Warner brass with standard RCBS 416 Barrett dies. The trigger isn't a super light bench rest trigger like all of my other rifles, but it breaks extremely clean , mine was set at 2.5# which took a little getting used to after shooting 2-4 oz jewels for so long . I know DTI makes some great rifles too, but being a lefty I've never been able to get comfortable behind anyone's to shoot since y'all seem to be backwards and shoot right handed.
 

Attachments

  • KIMG2265.JPG
    KIMG2265.JPG
    352.3 KB · Views: 183
What calibers are they going to offer?

When you used it how did it handle? Recoil manageable?
The recoil with the Barrett brake is minimal even as light as the rifle is, I weighed in at 33# ready to fire at KO2M with the bipod XT, adjustable bag rider, hd50 bipod, Defense Solutions scope mount , and a 7-35 ATACR W/Charlie . It's extremely manageable and absolutely pleasant to shoot . My 10 yr old has no problems with it.
 
Until I talk more with Barrett I'm really not sure what I can disclose more than I already have due to NDA about barrel, chamber specs etc. I will say I loaded and sized all of my Warner brass with standard RCBS 416 Barrett dies. The trigger isn't a super light bench rest trigger like all of my other rifles, but it breaks extremely clean , mine was set at 2.5# which took a little getting used to after shooting 2-4 oz jewels for so long . I know DTI makes some great rifles too, but being a lefty I've never been able to get comfortable behind anyone's to shoot since y'all seem to be backwards and shoot right handed.
When they switch calibers is it the entire what looks to be an upper in your photo or is it just the barrels?
 
Wonder what the street price on the 2.5-10 sfp will be. Sounds like a great hunting scope. My favorite currently is the NXS 2.5-10x42 and if this is comparable while 30% cheaper I might try one for my kids deer rifle.

I'm completely fine and would rather sacrifice a higher powered erector for the usability in the field.

BTW I've also had vx5hd to back because of tracking issues. But was a great scope otherwise. I have a Mk5 3.6-18x44 that I think is going on the wife's hunting rifle next year, unless hawkins comes out with some 35mm ultralight rings.
 
  • Like
Reactions: ma smith
  • Like
Reactions: Ehtacs and DocMcCoy
View attachment 8539992


Showed up today. Any good sources for .416 Barrett reloading?
The Ruag brass isn't great, and as of right now good brass isn't available. My match brass has been RWS from Warner tool and die, but Dan is out of stock unless the new shipments have arrived in the last week or so. It's rws 50 cal brass that Warner forms and inside and outside neck turns before sending it out. Kinda pricey but exceptional quality, most of mine has 6-10 firings and is still holding up very well.
In a few months (8-10) after the testing is finished Peterson 416 Barrett brass will be available, I've got 100 pieces of the prototype brass and it's gorgeous.
As far as powder RL50, H50BMG, 20n29 all work great with RWS or CCI 35 primers, the CCI are hotter so the loads will be 1-1.5gr lighter than RWS for the same velocity.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigBC and KillerK
The Ruag brass isn't great, and as of right now good brass isn't available. My match brass has been RWS from Warner tool and die, but Dan is out of stock unless the new shipments have arrived in the last week or so. It's rws 50 cal brass that Warner forms and inside and outside neck turns before sending it out. Kinda pricey but exceptional quality, most of mine has 6-10 firings and is still holding up very well.
In a few months (8-10) after the testing is finished Peterson 416 Barrett brass will be available, I've got 100 pieces of the prototype brass and it's gorgeous.
As far as powder RL50, H50BMG, 20n29 all work great with RWS or CCI 35 primers, the CCI are hotter so the loads will be 1-1.5gr lighter than RWS for the same velocity.
Very nice. Thanks!

If I can ask, what bullets are you having success with and how fast do you have them going?
 
RUAG and RWS are difficult to separate often made on same machines, etc, I don't know where you're getting the information that they're different.
 
RUAG and RWS are difficult to separate often made on same machines, etc, I don't know where you're getting the information that they're different.
Might be made on the same machines but definitely from different cups , the RUAG head stamp brass is not the same quality as RWS . 2-3 firings on RUAG before it's trash as compared to 12+ firings running the same pressure on RWS from Warner . Case heads swelling and primer pockets getting loose on the RUAG. There's a reason we were all supplied with RWS from Warner to compete with from Barrett last season, but at $15 each it has to be quality to warrant the cost .
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigBC
Curious but from the pics will it actually be able to be converted to a 50 bmg. The mag well looks short for that.

Hellwolf can you confirm?
The MradELR could be shot in a 50bmg configuration but a loaded round cannot be ejected without breaking the rifle down to remove the bolt. The rumor mill from in house also confirmed it's a little punishing as a 50bmg at 26#.
 
Very nice. Thanks!

If I can ask, what bullets are you having success with and how fast do you have them going?
I'm running the OEM Barrett 500gr Lazers from Cutting Edge, the seal tight band is moved forward approximately .100" to accommodate magazine feeding compared to the standard 500gr Lazer. The barrels I'm running right now are 1/9 twist and the production rifles being shipped are 1/12 twist . The production guns are shooting 500gr Atips very well . The loaded factory Barrett precision ammo is loaded with the 500gr Atips at around 2850fps , they went from the 9 twist to 12 twist and to the Atips to be able to load CIP spec for export, and the 500 Atips could loose the jacket run too fast from the 9 twist barrels .
My match loads with the 500 Lazers and RL50 In the rws brass are running 3080 fps with no pressure issues. All 6 of us outside of Barrett that shot the prototypes in 2023 were running almost the exact same loads and velocities , same bullet, same powder, same brass, the only variance was some ran cci35 primers and some ran rws primers. The cci35 took 1-1.5 for less powder for the same velocity as the rws primers but weren't as consistent without sorting.
 
  • Like
Reactions: BigBC and DocMcCoy
The RWS "50 Browning" stamped brass I have from Dale Arenson and his importing partner is marked "RWS" on the boxes (all 16 of them); The "T" brass I have that is RWS is made in Thun Switzerland. I have never seen a brass headstamped "RUAG" or boxed and labelled RUAG. I do know that the 50 BMG primers I got from Dale with the brass are all in these boxes which are marked both RUAG and RWS.

I'd like to learn more about this RUAG brass.

IMG_6946.jpeg
 
I'm running the OEM Barrett 500gr Lazers from Cutting Edge, the seal tight band is moved forward approximately .100" to accommodate magazine feeding compared to the standard 500gr Lazer. The barrels I'm running right now are 1/9 twist and the production rifles being shipped are 1/12 twist . The production guns are shooting 500gr Atips very well . The loaded factory Barrett precision ammo is loaded with the 500gr Atips at around 2850fps , they went from the 9 twist to 12 twist and to the Atips to be able to load CIP spec for export, and the 500 Atips could loose the jacket run too fast from the 9 twist barrels .
My match loads with the 500 Lazers and RL50 In the rws brass are running 3080 fps with no pressure issues. All 6 of us outside of Barrett that shot the prototypes in 2023 were running almost the exact same loads and velocities , same bullet, same powder, same brass, the only variance was some ran cci35 primers and some ran rws primers. The cci35 took 1-1.5 for less powder for the same velocity as the rws primers but weren't as consistent without sorting.
Awesome thank you. I was worried about the lazers because the recommend a 9 twist. They look fine through a stability calculator, good to know they can run in the factory 12.
 
  • Like
Reactions: secondofangle2
The RWS "50 Browning" stamped brass I have from Dale Arenson and his importing partner is marked "RWS" on the boxes (all 16 of them); The "T" brass I have that is RWS is made in Thun Switzerland. I have never seen a brass headstamped "RUAG" or boxed and labelled RUAG. I do know that the 50 BMG primers I got from Dale with the brass are all in these boxes which are marked both RUAG and RWS.

I'd like to learn more about this RUAG brass.

View attachment 8545990
After a conversation with Dan Warner earlier today the RUAG brass is the factory 416 Barrett head stamp and the brass that's offered from Barrett . It's the brass that has consistently had extraction problems and issues resizing. The RWS 50 brass you get from Dale is the same rws brass that Dan works over and makes our match 416 Barrett brass from.
I'm working with the Peterson prototype 416 brass right now and it's looking awesome, minor tweaks and it will hopefully be in full production . They're hoping to have it publicly available sometime in 2025.
 
Time to start hand loading after I shoot these. I’ve seen it covered elsewhere but curious what would be y’alls suggestion for best tool/method to remove the factory crimp for reloading? Goal to get pockets as uniform as possible for long range accuracy and not have one of these giant primers go off in my face.
 

Attachments

  • image.jpg
    image.jpg
    327.1 KB · Views: 35
Last edited:
IMG_0931.jpeg


Got the first 20 rounds down range today. Initial thoughts are that it is super heavy, but accurate, with surprisingly mild recoil.

It’s comparable to somewhere like the 300 win mag and 338 Norma in the standard MRAD.

Fired the 500 gr ATIP match ammo available through Barrett. This thing hits the pocket book hard. Even reloading it’s going to hard to get the cost under $6 per round.

With a small sample size, it’s more accurate than I was expecting. 3 round group after zero measured 0.62in. Shot a coupele three round groups at steel at 500 yards that all measured about four inches. Still have a lot to figure out how it does with hand loads and at distance.

Downsides. Definitely see how it would be difficult to handle in alcalinwr with a longer case like the 50bmg since the ejection port is only about five inches. Also, the magazines don’t leave a lot of room to load much longer than the “factory” 500gr atips, maybe 1/4 of an inch.

I think for the volume and type of shooting I do the 375 enabler or similar will be the better way to go. I hope they make it in a slightly shorter and lighter barrel.

But the trigger pull will put a smile on your face and it definitely gets the attention of onlookers.
 
View attachment 8564335

Got the first 20 rounds down range today. Initial thoughts are that it is super heavy, but accurate, with surprisingly mild recoil.

It’s comparable to somewhere like the 300 win mag and 338 Norma in the standard MRAD.

Fired the 500 gr ATIP match ammo available through Barrett. This thing hits the pocket book hard. Even reloading it’s going to hard to get the cost under $6 per round.

With a small sample size, it’s more accurate than I was expecting. 3 round group after zero measured 0.62in. Shot a coupele three round groups at steel at 500 yards that all measured about four inches. Still have a lot to figure out how it does with hand loads and at distance.

Downsides. Definitely see how it would be difficult to handle in alcalinwr with a longer case like the 50bmg since the ejection port is only about five inches. Also, the magazines don’t leave a lot of room to load much longer than the “factory” 500gr atips, maybe 1/4 of an inch.

I think for the volume and type of shooting I do the 375 enabler or similar will be the better way to go. I hope they make it in a slightly shorter and lighter barrel.

But the trigger pull will put a smile on your face and it definitely gets the attention of onlookers.
What did those factory 500 grain ATIPs chronograph at?
 
  • Like
Reactions: secondofangle2
Magnetospeed used to make a large brake adapter.

When you going out to shoot it again.
Just got a garmin so took it out today.

Factory has the 500 atips listed at 2850 I came in about 30fps under. Don’t know if these barrels are expected to speed up or not my round count is at 50. I think and ES of 20 would be awesome from a factory offering, the sample size is still low though.

Cloverleafs at 100 meters every time though.
 

Attachments

  • IMG_1169.jpeg
    IMG_1169.jpeg
    373.2 KB · Views: 27
  • IMG_1170.jpeg
    IMG_1170.jpeg
    428.4 KB · Views: 25
You are less than 1% away from the advertised velocity so I would definitely say it is completely consistent with what is on the box. And yes, it might speed up 50 ft./s with more rounds down the tube.

+2850 ft./s for a 500 g projectile with that ballistic coefficient is certainly no slouch

I very much want you to tear one of them apart and show us what powder and how many grains are inside

If you have a grip-n-pull bullet puller, you can just reassemble it assuming you have the reloading equipment like press and it dies

Or you can just use pliers to tear it apart, but you will probably destroy the round and I understand why you might be reluctant to do that at $10 a pop
 
  • Like
Reactions: DocMcCoy and 232593
You are less than 1% away from the advertised velocity so I would definitely say it is completely consistent with what is on the box. And yes, it might speed up 50 ft./s with more rounds down the tube.

+2850 ft./s for a 500 g projectile with that ballistic coefficient is certainly no slouch

I very much want you to tear one of them apart and show us what powder and how many grains are inside

If you have a grip-n-pull bullet puller, you can just reassemble it assuming you have the reloading equipment like press and it dies

Or you can just use pliers to tear it apart, but you will probably destroy the round and I understand why you might be reluctant to do that at $10 a pop
It’s advertised as RL50 I got some charge weights from another poster here I’m going to load some to match 2850. Can post data if helpful after.
 
I pulled a bullet as suggested. It definitely appears to be RL50. It weighed out at 173.3. This is precisely within the charge weight range that was suggested to me by another member to match the factory speed of 2850fps. So that is good data.

IMG_1192.jpeg



I got some of the primed RUAG brass available through Barrett. Unfortunately it is shipped pretty loose and almost 1:3 necks were visibly not concentric or flat out dented.

IMG_1200.jpeg



Buy once cry once might be obvious to most, but I wanted to get something compatible with what I had laying around and got the Lee dies to work on my old Lee classic. Let’s say it’s doable, but not ideal. On the fresh brass I cut the decapping pin off the expanding unit to attempt to make everything more concentric without punching the primers. I bought a spare pin for decapping and sizing in one step in the future.

The Lee die resizes closely to the factory dimensions measured with a comparator. Though my fired brass visibly has a sharper shoulder angle taking on essentially a fire formed appearance. I’m thinking custom dies will be the way to go in the future.

IMG_1205.jpeg



Loaded up a couple of charge weights to try. The goal is ultimately to meet or slightly exceed the factory 500gr offerings, while maintaining accuracy, which has been really good in the factory loads (only tested to 500 meters so far).

The Lee seating die is also hard on the Hornady bullet, leaving an ogive ring mark, so that needs to be addressed too.


IMG_1206.jpeg


I’m going to get these shot, hopefully work up a load, then start stretching it’s legs a little bit further.
 
Last edited: