The Barrett Model 98B (also known as the Barrett Model 98 Bravo) is a

bolt-action Bolt-action is a type of manual firearm action that is operated by ''directly'' manipulating the bolt via a bolt handle, which is most commonly placed on the right-hand side of the weapon (as most users are right-handed). Most bolt-action ...

sniper rifle A sniper rifle is a high-precision, long-range rifle. Requirements include accuracy, reliability, mobility, concealment and optics for anti-personnel, anti-materiel and surveillance uses of the military sniper. The modern sniper rifle is a por ...

chambered in

.338 Lapua Magnum The .338 Lapua Magnum (8.6×70 mm or 8.58×70 mm) is a rimless, bottlenecked, centerfire rifle cartridge. It was developed during the 1980s as a high-powered, long-range cartridge for military snipers. It was used in the War in Afghanistan and ...

(8.6×70mm or 8.58×70mm) and manufactured by

Barrett Firearms Manufacturing Barrett Firearms Manufacturing is an American manufacturer of firearms and ammunition located in Christiana, Tennessee. It was founded in 1982 by Ronnie G. Barrett for the purpose of building semi-automatic rifles chambered for the .50 BMG (12 ...

. The Model 98B was officially announced in October 2008, and became available for sale in early 2009, with an

MSRP The list price, also known as the manufacturer's suggested retail price (MSRP), or the recommended retail price (RRP), or the suggested retail price (SRP) of a product is the price at which its manufacturer notionally recommends that a retailer ...

of $4,495.00.Stanton L. Wormley, Jr.
''Innovation With A Purpose: Barrett's Model 98 Bravo''
,

American Rifleman ''American Rifleman'' is a United States-based monthly shooting and firearms interest publication, owned by the National Rifle Association (NRA). It is the 33rd-most-widely-distributed consumer magazine and the NRA's primary magazine. The magaz ...

, April 2009 Sub-MOA

shot grouping In shooting sports, a shot grouping, or simply group, is the collective pattern of projectile impacts on a target from multiple consecutive shots taken in one shooting session. The ''tightness'' of the grouping (the proximity of all the shots to ...

s of at , at , and at were obtained.

Overview

Barrett engineers began designing the Model 98B in 1997, with a goal of developing a precision tactical .338 Lapua rifle not based on any sporting rifles. The initial semi-auto design, the Model 98 was unveiled at the 1998

SHOT Show The SHOT Show , which is an acronym for "Shooting, Hunting and Outdoor Trade Show", is an American annual trade show for the shooting sports, hunting, outdoor recreations and firearm manufacturing industries. The show is owned and sponsored by ...

, but never went into full production. In past years, Ronnie Barrett's son, Chris, revived the company's interest in the .338 rifle. Many of the Model 98B's features are inspired by Stoner's AR-15/M16; the hinged aluminum upper and lower receivers, ergonomic pistol grip and thumb operated safety are all borrowed from Stoner's design. The upper receiver also features a full length () 1913 style

Picatinny rail The Picatinny rail ( or ), or Pic rail for short, also known as a MIL-STD-1913 rail, 1913 rail or STANAG 2324 rail (cancelled), is a military standard rail interface system that provides a mounting platform for firearm accessories. It was o ...

for mounting optics, lasers, etc., and two additional accessory rails are mounted forward of the main rail on each side of the upper. The Model 98B also features a fluted medium-heavy barrel made of 4150 MIL-B-11595 steel. The barrel is rifled in a six groove, 1:10" right hand twist pattern, and features a two-port

muzzle brake A muzzle brake or recoil compensator is a device connected to, or a feature integral to the construction of, the muzzle or barrel of a firearm or cannon that is intended to redirect a portion of propellant gases to counter recoil and unwanted ...

threaded on and indexed by a jam nut. The bolt rides in a new "bolt guide" design, consisting of two tubular

glass-filled polymer Glass-filled polymer (or glass-filled plastic), is a mouldable composite material. It comprises short glass fibers in a matrix of a polymer material. It is used to manufacture a wide range of structural components by injection or compression mouldin ...

guides which have been infused with

Teflon Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) is a synthetic fluoropolymer of tetrafluoroethylene that has numerous applications. It is one of the best-known and widely applied PFAS. The commonly known brand name of PTFE-based composition is Teflon by Chemou ...

. These guides allow the bolt to travel better, as well as reducing the need for lubrication, and helping to seal the ejection and bolt handle ports from dirt. The bolt head is made of case-hardened 8620 steel, features nine lugs (three sets of three), and is attached to the bolt body with a crosspin. This separate bolt head design allows for simple caliber changes, as well as future pre-headspaced barrel and bolt-head sets. The lower receiver is forged from 7075 aluminum, can mount any type of AR-15/M-16 pistol grip, and features an ambidextrous magazine latch just forward of the integral trigger guard. Also featured within the lower receiver is the rifle's trigger assembly. The trigger assembly can be removed from the receiver as a single unit, and features adjustment screws for weight (2 to 4 lbs.) and overtravel, as well as a reversible AR-15/M-16 style thumb safety. The skeletonized buttstock is also integral to the lower receiver, and features a thick

Sorbothane Sorbothane is the brand name of a synthetic viscoelastic urethane polymer used as a shock absorber and vibration damper. It is manufactured by Sorbothane, Inc., based in Kent, Ohio. History Sorbothane was invented and patented in 1982 by Dr. Ma ...

buttpad with spacers for pull adjustment, a polymer cheekpiece with of variable comb height, and an adjustable monopod. The rifle also comes from the factory with a Harris brand S-BR bipod attached to the fore-end. The Model 98B was featured both on the cover, and in an article, of the April 2009 issue of ''

'' magazine.

MRAD

Barrett's offering for

USSOCOM The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM or SOCOM) is the unified combatant command charged with overseeing the various special operations component commands of the Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Air Force of the United States Ar ...

Precision Sniper Rifle Contract, the MRAD is derived from the Model 98B; changes include cutting back the fixed stock and integrating a folding adjustable stock, a Desert Tan finish color, a front loading quick change barrel for caliber change although at this point the only offered barrel and caliber is a 24.5-inch fluted barrel with a 1 turn in 10 right hand twist chambered for .338 Lapua Magnum.

Safety recall

On September 9, 2009, Barrett released a recall notice regarding the Model 98B. They determined that if the rifle is dropped or subjected to a significant impact, it could accidentally discharge. A modification to the lower receiver is required to ensure user safety.Barrett Firearms
Model 98B Safety Recall Press Release
, September 9, 2009

References

External links

Barrett Model 98B operator's manual
* Poole, Eric
''Barrett Model 98B .338 Lapua mag''
Special Weapons for Military & Police
Video Statistics and Shooting of the Model 98B from AmericanRifleman.org
{{Barrett 2008 introductions Weapons and ammunition introduced in 2008 Barrett firearms Bolt-action rifles of the United States Sniper rifles of the United States Military equipment introduced in the 2000s .338 Lapua Magnum rifles

Overview

MRAD

Safety recall

See also

References

External links