The Galleries
- Robert E. Petersen Collection
- Ancient Firearms
- The Road to American Liberty
- Seeds of Greatness
- The Prospering New Republic
- A Nation Asunder
- The American West
- Innovation, Oddities and Competition
- Theodore Roosevelt, Elegant Arms
- World War I and Firearms Innovation
- WWII, Korea, Vietnam and Beyond
- For the Fun of It
- Firearms Traditions for Today
- William B. Ruger Special Exhibits
- Freedom's Doorway
Barrett M82A1 Semi-Automatic Sniper Rifle
The Barrett M82A1 is a semi-automatic, air cooled, box magazine fed rifle chambered for the .50 cal., M2 Browning Machine Gun cartridge (.50 cal. BMG or 12.7 x 99mm NATO). This rifle operates by means of the short recoil principle. For military applications, the Barrett system is comprised of the rifle (M82A1), two ten-round magazines, self-leveling bipod legs, carrying handle, and iron or telescoping sights. Though used as a sniper rifle, these arms were also procured during Operation Desert Shield/Storm for use by U.S. Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal (EOD) units for use as a rifle disrupter of unexploded ordnance. This deactivated example was issued to U.S. Marine Corps Scout/Sniper units during the Gulf War.