Barrett XM109

The Barrett XM109 is a 25 mm sniper rifle still under development by the Barrett Firearms Company.

The Barrett M82A1 rifle was used in 2002 as a platform for the experimental OSW (Objective Sniper Weapon) prototype. The M82A1 rifle was fitted with a shorter barrel of 25 mm caliber, and fired low-velocity high explosive shells developed for 25 mm OCSW automatic grenade launcher. The experimental OSW showed an increased effectiveness against various targets but the recoil was beyond human limitations. This weapon, also known as the Barrett 'Payload Rifle', has now been designated the XM109.

Overview

The XM109, originally known as the Objective Sniper Weapon (OSW) or as Barrett's "Payload Rifle," is a semi-automatic anti-material rifle, designed primarily for engagement of light vehicles and similar material targets. The design is in many ways simply a scaled up upper receiver for the M82/M107 series of .50 BMG (12.7 mm) caliber rifles currently in service with the US Army and US Marine Corps. In fact, it has been designed with this in mind, and the upper receiver of those rifles can be replaced with an XM109 upper receiver to form a fully functional XM109 rifle.

The 25 x 59 mm cartridge is used in the XM109 and the XM307 (product of the Objective Crew Served Weapon/OCSW program). The XM109 is in development most likely to provide commonality of ammunition for better logistics should the XM307 systems be fielded, more or less phasing out Browning Machine Gun. As with the XM307, the XM109 can be reconfigured back to .50 BMG should the need, necessity, or export market require it to be done (The XM312 crew served weapon is more or less a .50 BMG version of the XM307 and has some 70%+ parts commonality with the parent system).

The XM109 offers greater range and a shorter overall length than the previous M82/M107 systems, as well as potentially greater power in the 25 x 59 mm cartridge over even the Mk 211 .50 BMG cartridge (aka "Raufoss round").

pecifications

*Caliber: 25 x 59 mm
*Operation: Short recoil operation, semi-automatic
*Overall length: 46 inches (1168 mm)
*Feed device: 5 round detachable box magazine
*Weight: 33.2 lb (15 kg)
*Muzzle velocity: 2600 ft/s (790 m/s)
*Max effective range: 3000 m
*Features: M1913 optical rail, BORS ballistic computer, monopod socket
*Accessories: Dual-chamber detachable muzzle brake or suppressor system; detachable bipod and carry handle

ee also

*M82 Barrett rifle
*List of weapons
*List of individual weapons of the U.S. Armed Forces
*List of crew served weapons of the US Armed Forces

External links

* [http://www.barrettrifles.com/ Barrett Rifles - Official Website]
* [http://www.military.com/soldiertech/0,14632,Soldiertech_XM109,,00.html Military.com - XM109]
* [http://media.popularmechanics.com/images/lg_xm109-lg.jpgAn image of the XM109]