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

Anyone know of a Smith that will make some barrels for the MRAD besides Proof? I know about the Makers Kit, but who spins these up?
Southern Precision in Tennessee. They know guys at Barrett and are a Bartlien dealer. They did one for me in 300PRC that is 1/4 MOA at 200 yards. The Maker's kit is a little challenging. It has to be torqued at 120 ft-lbs but is a round piece. Southern Precision machined flats in and refinished. Did a beautiful fluting job that matches factory barrels.
 
I'd like to maybe try that mpa grip if I cant find anything that seems better than what I have. I have a mkm grip on the way that I may file down and customize. I like my ergo quite a bit though so it's going to have to be much better. Yeah, the wait was horrible. I ordered mine in December 2020 and 11 months later it shows up.
 
As long as you have the right profile (Looks like a Bartelin no. 9 profile) I think there are lots of folks who can put one together. I was talking to Rthur about it just last night and he may be able to do it. I don't think it's a hard job for a gunsmith if you get the Makers kit.

Thinking my 'second' structured barrel project might be a .300 Norma from Tacom. We're already talking as they are making some now. And there is plenty of room for a structured barrel in the shroud.

Cheers,

Sirhr
You, can run really any contour barrel you want as long as the shank is 5 inches long at a minimum and 1.25 or 1.2dia. I have some palma contours waiting to be spun up.
 
You, can run really any contour barrel you want as long as the shank is 5 inches long at a minimum and 1.25 or 1.2dia. I have some palma contours waiting to be spun up.
Yes! The only barrel in the Bartelin ‘off the shelf’ profile is the No9 Varmint/ match. But you can get a solid uncontoured blank, too.

The Number 9 has a 5” shank perfect for the MRAD.

Sirhr
 
Just trying to help you discover nirvana faster bud 🤣.

Ps. Make sure you get powder in those 338 loads chief.... don't let the misses distract you a squib 338 would be no joke for your face
No doubt ... powder is important, I've learned. I'll still go to my death believing it was HER FAULT !!! I'm trying to convince her that her penance for screwing up my ladder test should be allowing me to buy the Henderson Powered Case Trimmer. It's only $800, but thus far, she continues to argue that it wasn't her fault that I loaded bullets into empty cases.
 
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By the way, Hinterland just called and the 300 PRC MRAD I originally ordered in August of 2020 to get here in time before Biden took office just shipped!
AWESOME ... I'm getting really close to a reference load on my 300-PRC barrel. Might even be there. Here are the results of my last test at 100 yards ... with all five rounds pretty much in the same hole. Now it's time to shoot out to 1000 or so and true up the BC. Might also load up some around 78.2 and see if I can coax it over 2900 fps . I just need a nice shooting day from Mother Nature ... who seems a little pissed off right now.

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I don't reload, but I just ordered a 30" finished length Bartlein Heavy Varmint 400ModBB in 33XC from Southern Precision which is about 4-5 months out. So I guess I will have to start. Been doing some research and the BC of the Warner Flatline 285gr .338 Solid is insane. Does anyone have experience with that bullet? Will probably spring for a Dillon 550 since they are here in Phoenix and provide excellent in-person support.

I thought about having my MRAD 338LM barrel reamed but the fact you have to single feed kind of defeats the purpose and I wanted a longer barrel. Will most likely just mount to a Deviant Tactical action and mount it on an MPA Matrix chassis. That means I'll have to buy another scope though... ugghh.
 
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I would probably stick with a 338lm improved. My buddy is shooting 300g Berger's at 3100fps and was hammering last week at 2050y. You would still have to single feed as the round is almost 4" long. I've thought about the 33xc but figured at that point I may as well jump to a 416 barrett and call it good. I won't dissuade you, it's still an interesting round. I personally would get a really nice single stage for precision though. I resize and load mostly with a redding ultramag press and have recently started seating with a k&m inline arbor press and wilson dies. I really like the inline seating. Super precise and my methods are actually faster than conventional seating. I still love my forster micrometer seating dies though.
 
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So I went out to shoot the MRAD today with some new ammo and out of the first box of 20 I had 10 misfires. Does this look like its failing to hit hard enough? If so is there anything on the MRAD I could check for? I shot one round out of the second box and it misfired as well. I have no other ammo to try right now but the last stuff I had there were no issues.
 

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So I went out to shoot the MRAD today with some new ammo and out of the first box of 20 I had 10 misfires. Does this look like its failing to hit hard enough? If so is there anything on the MRAD I could check for? I shot one round out of the second box and it misfired as well. I have no other ammo to try right now but the last stuff I had there were no issues.
Check that your barrel is seated and screws are tight. What brand, mfg, ammo etc can you provide?
 
I don't reload, but I just ordered a 30" finished length Bartlein Heavy Varmint 400ModBB in 33XC from Southern Precision which is about 4-5 months out. So I guess I will have to start. Been doing some research and the BC of the Warner Flatline 285gr .338 Solid is insane. Does anyone have experience with that bullet? Will probably spring for a Dillon 550 since they are here in Phoenix and provide excellent in-person support.

I thought about having my MRAD 338LM barrel reamed but the fact you have to single feed kind of defeats the purpose and I wanted a longer barrel. Will most likely just mount to a Deviant Tactical action and mount it on an MPA Matrix chassis. That means I'll have to buy another scope though... ugghh.
If you are going to handload for a .338... I'd suggest something other than a progressive press. Especially if you are 'new' to handloading. A quality single stage press is much better for precision rifle ammo anyway. And teaches you all the details and steps so when you 'do' go to a progressive, you will really understand what it is all doing.

Rock Chucker is an excellent press. Or a bigger one (.50 BMG size) will get you lots of leverage on a big case.

I have two SDB Dillon's and a 650. They are wonderful, but I use them for pistol ammo or 'plinking' ammo like .300 BLK or 5.56 or 7.62 x 39. Also .308 for beltfeds, etc.

But for precision ammo, the single stage presses are the way to go.

I'll have to take a look at Southern Precision's site! You are one of several who have mentioned it. Thanks!

Sirhr
 
So I went out to shoot the MRAD today with some new ammo and out of the first box of 20 I had 10 misfires. Does this look like its failing to hit hard enough? If so is there anything on the MRAD I could check for? I shot one round out of the second box and it misfired as well. I have no other ammo to try right now but the last stuff I had there were no issues.
That definitely looks like a light primer strike or that the case is too far forward from the bolt head.

Also check that the firing pin is not hanging up in grease, packing debris, whatever. I don't think anyone ships guns with 'grease' in them any more. But once upon a time...

The advice about barrel setback is probably good.

Cheers,

Sirhr
 
I would probably stick with a 338lm improved. My buddy is shooting 300g Berger's at 3100fps and was hammering last week at 2050y. You would still have to single feed as the round is almost 4" long. I've thought about the 33xc but figured at that point I may as well jump to a 416 barrett and call it good. I won't dissuade you, it's still an interesting round. I personally would get a really nice single stage for precision though. I resize and load mostly with a redding ultramag press and have recently started seating with a k&m inline arbor press and wilson dies. I really like the inline seating. Super precise and my methods are actually faster than conventional seating. I still love my forster micrometer seating dies though.
A little late since I already paid for the barrel. :LOL: David Tubb's 33XC was pushing the WFL 285gr at 3200 fps without any pressure signs(supersonic just past 2600 yards). Plus, with the die set you get, it will do 37XC and 41XC. The 37XC is pushing a 400gr Warner FL at 2900fps (33 inch barrel). The
Warner 400gr G7= .552 vs. Barrett's 416 452gr at 0.42. If you believe the Warner BC, which they claim is Doppler verified, the Warner 400 is supersonic just past 2600 yards (1000ft-lbs at 2840yd) and the Barrett 416 past 2300 (1000ft-lbs at 2800yds). Their energy is about equal at a mile. And you don't have the .50 cal cartridge to deal with reloading. I believe Tubb makes a pretty compelling argument for tons of options to get into ELR shooting.

I definitely would consider a single stage. I have tons of 556 ammo and really don't think I have the patience to load 1000's of rounds for something you can buy cheap, or used to could have anyway.
 
A little late since I already paid for the barrel. :LOL: David Tubb's 33XC was pushing the WFL 285gr at 3200 fps without any pressure signs(supersonic just past 2600 yards). Plus, with the die set you get, it will do 37XC and 41XC. The 37XC is pushing a 400gr Warner FL at 2900fps (33 inch barrel). The
Warner 400gr G7= .552 vs. Barrett's 416 452gr at 0.42. If you believe the Warner BC, which they claim is Doppler verified, the Warner 400 is supersonic just past 2600 yards (1000ft-lbs at 2840yd) and the Barrett 416 past 2300 (1000ft-lbs at 2800yds). Their energy is about equal at a mile. And you don't have the .50 cal cartridge to deal with reloading. I believe Tubb makes a pretty compelling argument for tons of options to get into ELR shooting.

I definitely would consider a single stage. I have tons of 556 ammo and really don't think I have the patience to load 1000's of rounds for something you can buy cheap, or used to could have anyway.
That does sound competitive. I will be interested in seeing how this project works out for you. Might have one of those in my future.
 
Check that your barrel is seated and screws are tight. What brand, mfg, ammo etc can you provide?
That was my thought. Loosen the two barrel set screws, pull out the barrel, orient it correctly (notch up) when it goes back in, and seat it against the closed bolt to set the headspace. If it's still not hitting the primers solidly, get some other factory ammo and try. If still has problems, definitely call Barrett. Their CS has been really good to me over the past three MRAD-years.
 
By the way, Hinterland just called and the 300 PRC MRAD I originally ordered in August of 2020 to get here in time before Biden took office just shipped!
Thanks for posting that as it's a piece of data I've been curious about. I'm considering placing a backorder for but didn't know how long it might take. IIRC correctly, Barrett is about 1 year into a roughly 5 year delivery stream for the US DoD contracts so I expect it to be a while before you find any sitting on dealers' display racks in any real quantity. I'm seeing lots of SMRs and rather wish Barrett wasn't dedicating manufacturing capacity to those when I suspect the MRAD is what folks really are saving their pennies for.
 
I don't reload, but I just ordered a 30" finished length Bartlein Heavy Varmint 400ModBB in 33XC from Southern Precision which is about 4-5 months out. So I guess I will have to start. Been doing some research and the BC of the Warner Flatline 285gr .338 Solid is insane. Does anyone have experience with that bullet? Will probably spring for a Dillon 550 since they are here in Phoenix and provide excellent in-person support.

I thought about having my MRAD 338LM barrel reamed but the fact you have to single feed kind of defeats the purpose and I wanted a longer barrel. Will most likely just mount to a Deviant Tactical action and mount it on an MPA Matrix chassis. That means I'll have to buy another scope though... ugghh.
Thinking more about finances, and the cost of buying a chassis, action and another scope. After seeing the maker's kit on sale, I decided to do a 33XC 30" MRAD Barrel instead. Waaaaay cheaper in the long run, considering either way you would have to single load and I would want another NF ATACR 7-35 for this cartridge. Right around $1750 total instead of $7,800.00, with the savings going to reloading supplies. I just bought 200 perterson cases and 200 of the Warner Flatlines which was a little spendy. Federal GM215M primers are no where to be found unless you want to pay $300 for a 1000 on GB, which I might wind up having to do.
 
Thanks for posting that as it's a piece of data I've been curious about. I'm considering placing a backorder for but didn't know how long it might take. IIRC correctly, Barrett is about 1 year into a roughly 5 year delivery stream for the US DoD contracts so I expect it to be a while before you find any sitting on dealers' display racks in any real quantity. I'm seeing lots of SMRs and rather wish Barrett wasn't dedicating manufacturing capacity to those when I suspect the MRAD is what folks really are saving their pennies for.
Keep in mind, quite of few people got their MRAD's as much as 6 months ahead of me because I ordered the 300PRC. I'm guessing they are doing big runs of barrels in the MK-22 calibers.
 
Which hardcase does the military MRAD deployment kit come in? I assume Pelican but I'm unsure which model.

Thanks
Pelican 1770 which was just too huge for my taste. I went with the 1750 which still holds 10 mags and an extra barrel. Has to be folded though. https://www.eurooptic.com/Barrett-MK22-Rifle-Kit-308-Win-300-Norma-Mag-338-Norma-Mag-18804.aspx

Bought a regular MRAD and added all the Armageddon gear and the fix-it sticks kit from Barrett with the 140 in-lb barrel torque head. Takes some grit to get it to to click with T-handle but I like how compact it is.
 
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Guys I apologize upfront, yes, I did use the search bar!
Do we have a list of possible sources to have barrels spun up using the maker kits?
A nice list of guys to contact would be great. Just transitioned over to an MRAD, haven't even fired it yet. Looking to get a .338 Norma AI since I have all the fire formed brass and reloading dies.
 
There isn't a list as far as I have seen. Just a few scattered throughout the thread. Southern precision rifles, Spartan precision? And I think someone mentioned LRI(Chad Dixon). I would think any competent gunsmith could do it but may want to call up Barrett or one of these above for details.
 
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Let us know how that grip works out for you. The one flaw the mrad has at the moment is that the trigger guard protrudes so far down that it leaves little to no room for your middle finger and causes a rather painful pinch if you are holding the rifle and it rotates beyond square with your hand. The oem grip has a slack angle and rotates your hand back away from the trigger guard. I currently have an older model tactical deluxe grip that is around 15degrees before Ergo Eff'd them up and replaced it with a 25 degree grip and the zero. It does cause discomfort over time so I have a couple in mind that I may try that offset back a bit before sweeping down. Ergo caused a lot of industry folly with that design change as some manufacturers (A.I.) literally machined more angle in their grip tang to accommodate the new and ruined tactical deluxe grip to bring it back to more vertical. I wish A.I.would have just made their own.
You were correct, trigger guard is in a bad spot for the vertical grip. Returning and going to go Ergo tactical deluxe, not sure on which model yet. Still pondering
 
I just ordered up the new MDT grip they releases prior to SHOT. I'm going tontey out the adjustable (10mm) vertical grip , see if that draws my little fingers away from the trigger guard, looks promising.
 
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Just picked up my first MRAD. Looking for any/ all advice from folks with experience. Will be firing first rounds tomorrow. Anyone have good DOPE cards for 175 FGMM or .300 NM 215 BERGER? What do you usually feed it? (I am unable to do my own reloads currently) Located in OR for anyone who’s down to send rounds. I’m always open to network/ meet new folks with the same passions.
 
View attachment 7778426Just picked up my first MRAD. Looking for any/ all advice from folks with experience. Will be firing first rounds tomorrow. Anyone have good DOPE cards for 175 FGMM or .300 NM 215 BERGER? What do you usually feed it? (I am unable to do my own reloads currently) Located in OR for anyone who’s down to send rounds. I’m always open to network/ meet new folks with the same passions.
Tanodized Atacr??? How!?

👍😍
 
What is this on the bottom of the Mk22's stock and where do I get one? The regular MRADs don't come with this - can you buy this separately somewhere?
 

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Dammit - only in back it looks like.

Was looking for an FDE one to match the rifle.

Good to know you can get them though. Maybe I'll just paint it.
I just got one. It wasn't necessary for me, I didn't mind not using it. But I bought it because it's cool jewelry for the MRAD 🤣

Rattle can or hide it using a squeeze bag
 
Proof Research does the full build still need to order a B magazine.

Yeah the brake is by Rearden and works with all my suppressors. I rarely shoot unsuppressed now and days. My 6.5CM has the same brake so it works for the dedicated can for the MRAD.

As fair as weight I havent been able to find what the steel Barrett version is in weight. Proof says the 26" is 5lbs 3oz. But my 6.5CM 24" barrel is 6lbs 10oz
 
Has anyone heard of a .223 conversion kit for the MRAD? I'd be interested in one, or I will have to get it for the DT.
While Proof Research has the barrel extension’s to make an MRAD barrel in any caliber you want, the problem is finding a bolt face for .223 because to my knowledge Barrett doesn’t make a bolt face for anything smaller than a .308 cartridge family.