The "New" Barrett MRAD Thread!!!!!!

Here is your answer @OrDad From their own website: no bolts for barrel conversion, The Single Mission Rifle name comes from the fact that the rifle is set from the factory in only one caliber, unlike the interchangeable barrel ability of the standard MRAD. The primary distinction of the SMR is the free float barrel which is held in the upper receiver with a standard barrel nut. Source: https://barrett.net/products/firearms/mrad-smr/
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Selling my .308-Win Barrel Conversion Kit (24" SS Fluted) on GunBroker ... starting at $995. Only 50-ish rounds through it. Need to generate funds for something else I want. Wife says "No new unfunded gun stuff" ... and given my history, she's righteous to say that. FYI ... in case anyone is interested. Don't weep for my loss ... I have four other barrels I'm all shooting regularly. It was either buy all the reloading crap at ridiculous prices and shoot it more often, or sell it and use the money for other stuff I need (aka: "want").
 
Finally shot my MRAD 300PRC today with the ammo I ripped from Rusty's local gun store. I really didn't know what to expect with the recoil. Would it be an exaggeration to say it recoiled about like an AR-15? My POF Revolution 308 recoils more than the MRAD. I was down at the end table and I can say the people 4 benches away were not liking that Barrett muzzle brake.

I'm really impressed with the Bartlein accuracy even though I don't yet have a Barrett barrel to compare it to. I had a three shot, 0.25 MOA group going at 200 yards before proceeding to jerk the $h&# out of the trigger on the next two shots. Also at 200 yards I had a few 5-shot horizontal groups that were less than 1.5" wide and .5" tall. It was pretty windy today in Phoenix so I'm blaming that. ;)

I dry-fired the new Barrett trigger quite a bit after installing it and thought it was close to perfect out of the box. However, there is no substitute for shooting it and I am definitely going to lighten that 2nd stage up.
 
Finally shot my MRAD 300PRC today with the ammo I ripped from Rusty's local gun store. I really didn't know what to expect with the recoil. Would it be an exaggeration to say it recoiled about like an AR-15? My POF Revolution 308 recoils more than the MRAD. I was down at the end table and I can say the people 4 benches away were not liking that Barrett muzzle brake.

I'm really impressed with the Bartlein accuracy even though I don't yet have a Barrett barrel to compare it to. I had a three shot, 0.25 MOA group going at 200 yards before proceeding to jerk the $h&# out of the trigger on the next two shots. Also at 200 yards I had a few 5-shot horizontal groups that were less than 1.5" wide and .5" tall. It was pretty windy today in Phoenix so I'm blaming that. ;)

I dry-fired the new Barrett trigger quite a bit after installing it and thought it was close to perfect out of the box. However, there is no substitute for shooting it and I am definitely going to lighten that 2nd stage up.
Cool breeze ... glad to hear it. I shoot mine suppressed, and the recoil is even easier to manage. Working on load development now ... in search of the perfect combination of bullet and charge.
 
@rustyinbend what have you tried so far?

I’m just about to start, and want the best 1k to 1-mile hunting load. Precision is a factor but not so much as damage will become a factor. If it holds within a reliable threshold.
I'm still working it, but I'm close. My first ladder tests were too lightly charged and didn't have the velocity I was looking for. I bumped that up and my next ladder tests showed early pressure signs (heavy bolt, ejector swipes, etc.). I've got two "tweener" tests loaded for the next nice weather day, and I expect them to be fairly revelatory. They are:
  • 300-PRC MRAD, Hornady 1x-fired, Berger 220-HT, Accurate MagPro, Charged 77.2 to 79.0 in 0.3 increments
  • 300-PRC MRAD, Hornady 1x-fired, Berger 200.20x-H, Accurate MagPro, Charged 79.2 to 81.0 in 0.3 increments
I'll be looking for velocity flat-spots to do some final group testing within these ranges.

Previously I saw the start of pressure signs above 80.0 on the Berger 220's, and pressure above 83.0 on the Berger 200's (tables below).

I really liked the look of the velocity curve on the 200.20x Bergers (bar chart below), but the pressure was just too high. Still working it, but that's where I am so far.

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I forgot to tell you something that has never happened to me. When I sighted in my MRAD, the windage zero wound up right at the Nightforce ATACR factory zero. Was that a fluke or a testament to the barrel rail tolerance, the Spuhr rings, and the Nightforce?
 
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I forgot to tell you something that has never happened to me. When I sighted in my MRAD, the windage zero wound up right at the Nightforce ATACR factory zero. Was that a fluke or a testament to the barrel rail tolerance, the Spuhr rings, and the Nightforce?
I agree with you that it implies the tolerances were all tight, but it was just pure luck that the tolerances did offset each other. So I would say a combination of top quality components and pure coincidence.
 
A little job I did yesterday. Adding M-Lok slots to an MRAD.


That looks cool as hell...

Can I trade you the rifle for the machine? I mean, I'll let you use it anytime you want...

Seriously, can't wait to get it in hand, it's pretty obvious your attention to detail I think and I appreciate that.

I'll be sure to show it off here in full regalia when I get it back too.
 
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Can anyone definitively confirm that an MRAD SMR cannot support either a barrel conversion to a different barrel or that a custom barrel cannot be installed to support a different caliber (i.e .308 to 300 Norma)? Thank you much!
You might want to call or email Barrett and ask about the barrel maker to see if it will work on the smr:
 
You might want to call or email Barrett and ask about the barrel maker to see if it will work on the smr:
The barrel makers kit will not work on the SMR. Post #1409 addresses that guys question.
Here is your answer @OrDad From their own website: no bolts for barrel conversion, The Single Mission Rifle name comes from the fact that the rifle is set from the factory in only one caliber, unlike the interchangeable barrel ability of the standard MRAD. The primary distinction of the SMR is the free float barrel which is held in the upper receiver with a standard barrel nut. Source: https://barrett.net/products/firearms/mrad-smr/
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The SMR is for guys that can make do with the fixed barrel and non-folding stock.

I'm sure it has it's benefits but the drawbacks are obvious. It really comes down to what you plan on doing with it.

I might need that done to mine if I don’t sell it, wggats that job run? Barrett said they would recoat the rifle for $350 I used to want it in ODG.
I don't have the price completed yet but the initial estimate was less than that and combined with the machine work it really made it a no-brainer. The estimate was very reasonable. And as you can see, the work to make those slots went lickety split, for sure took more time to upload the program than it did to cut it out.
 
Finally got out to the range today, been 2 months... Snow and Work... yuck!

Got a new bag rider from pfl338 to try out on the MRAD, this new design is way better then the first one I got from him. Fully fits the butt stock rail.

Got a new 308 barrel for it too. Only had about 30 mins @ the range before they closed, no time to test it :(

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Anyone know where I can get mag block or sled for the MRAD to facilitate shooting single-shot? I messaged the numerous AICS single shot sled sellers on fleabay but not one seems to have one for the MRAD.
 
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Nothing to do with a ban state. Just to conveniently and smoothly single feed 338s. And I'm not about to frickin modify a 90 dollar plastic mag. I'll make a single shot sled by hand from a block of plastic before I do that...
 
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Just heard a rumor that Barrett will be discontinuing civilian sales during the gov contract fulfillment?
Not sure they are discontinuing sales but lead times will be almost 2 years. My original 300PRC I ordered from Hinterland Outfitters last August is supposed to be here this August, and I know further towards the end of 2020 they were inundated with Biden fear MRAD orders. The SMR's have been way more plentiful on GB than the folders.
 
Not sure they are discontinuing sales but lead times will be almost 2 years. My original 300PRC I ordered from Hinterland Outfitters last August is supposed to be here this August, and I know further towards the end of 2020 they were inundated with Biden fear MRAD orders. The SMR's have been way more plentiful on GB than the folders.
Wow. Glad I got mine. Hinterland stopped taking orders shortly after I got mine. At that time, he was saying at least a year out. Hope I can still get a 6.5C barrel conversion.
 
Is Barrett’s brake installed with Loctite? Recently picked up a 300 NM conversion and want to install a Sidewinder.
If you have the one with the threaded factory muzzle brake, then yes, there is a blue lock tight applied. Other muzzle brakes from Barrett have a locking nut and you can just take two wrenches to easily remove.

I spoke with Barrett and was told I'd have to apply a propane torch to the brake with lock tight in order to loosen it. Wish they had stuck with the lock nut style brake.
 
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If you have the one with the threaded factory muzzle brake, then yes, there is a blue lock tight applied. Other muzzle brakes from Barrett have a locking nut and you can just take two wrenches to easily remove.

I spoke with Barrett and was told I'd have to apply a propane torch to the brake with lock tight in order to loosen it. Wish they had stuck with the lock nut style brake.
Thanks for that information!
 
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Nothing to do with a ban state. Just to conveniently and smoothly single feed 338s. And I'm not about to frickin modify a 90 dollar plastic mag. I'll make a single shot sled by hand from a block of plastic before I do that...
Whenever I single-feed, I just drop it on top of the follower and ram it home. It ramps up fine without the need to coax it into the chamber. The geometry allows for it. I also load my mag from the ejection port sometimes while in the prone, since it's a DSDF magazine it's easy to just push rounds into it unlike AICS mags.
 
Is Barrett’s brake installed with Loctite? Recently picked up a 300 NM conversion and want to install a Sidewinder.
Make sure to remove the barrel from the upper and clamp in a vise before trying to unscrew a brake. I made that mistake leaving the barrel in the extension and the torque on the brake was higher than the torque on the barrel extension, causing me to loosen the extension, which messed up my headspace. Had to send to Barrett to correct it.