Posted on 09/23/2004 2:19:56 PM PDT by archy
CUT THEM DOWN: The Barrett XM-109 Sniper Rifle
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Sniping just got a whole lot more deadly with the Barrett XM-109 sniper rifle, which marries improved range with the firepower of an Apache helicopter.
Sniper Nirvana: The high-powered Barrett XM-109 rifle.
XM-109 Rifle: The Skinny
Name:
Barrett XM-109 Sniper RifleType of Equipment:
Sniper RifleKiller Features:
Fires 25mm low velocity HEDP ammunition
Accurate out to 2,500 meters
46 inches long, weighs 33 pounds.
Components interchangeable with M-107 .50 caliber rifle
Incorporates BORS ballistic computer
Hakkaa Päälle -- the term is Finnish for "Cut them down," and it's been passed down from the Finnish cavalry of Gustavus Adolphus in the 17th century to the Finnish infantry during the Russo-Finn Winter War in the 20th century.
With any luck, America's light infantry will soon be saying it as well. Already established as the world's authority and leader in the production of heavy caliber long range sniper rifles -- including the M107 .50 caliber rifle -- Barrett Arms hopes to raise the bar even higher with the introduction of its new XM-109 25mm payload rifle. Based on the existing M-107 design, the XM-109 will give infantry the ability to lethally engage light armored vehicles out to 2500 meters, with the firepower of an Apache helicopter. For Soldiers needing an edge in combat, that's a pretty good can of Hakkaa Päälle to open up on the enemy.
Deadly Combination
The XM-109 is essentially a reconfigured M-107 .50 Caliber semi-automatic rifle -- if you can imagine a .50 caliber rifle being mated with a 25 mm receiver. Thanks to the increased power, the XM-109 rifle is designated as a "payload" rifle, designed to destroy light armor, and light enough to be carried by a single sniper. Essentially, the 25mm upper receiver attaches directly to the lower receiver of the M-107 (in effect, swapping out the .50 caliber components for 25mm ones). In the process, the rifle's weight actually remains unchanged at 33 pounds, but its length has been shortened considerably, with the XM-109 (at 46 inches) being 11 inches shorter than the M-107.
Like the M-107, the XM-109 will come with a spiked bipod (to stabilize the weapon and help manage recoil), a large, multi-baffle muzzle brake, and a standard "flattop" optical sight rail, which will allow the rifle to use any existing electro-optical or thermal weapon sight currently in the US inventory. Ammunition is fed out of a detachable box magazine, though in the case of the XM-109, magazine capacity has been reduced from 10 to 5 rounds. Barrett is currently developing mounts to enable the XM-109 to be used in vehicles, helicopters, and soft-sided (rubber) watercraft.
The components of the XM-109; chief among them is the 25mm receiver.
The centerpiece of the XM-109 system is the 25mm HEDP ammunition it fires. A scaled down derivative of the low velocity 30mm HEDP M789 ammunition fired by the AH-64 Apache attack helicopter, the MX-109's 25mm ammunition has been judged to be 2.5 times more effective at destroying targets than a .50 caliber armor-piercing round. It is expected that this ammunition can penetrate nearly 40mm (an inch and a half) of armor plating at 500 meters, or blast open doors from around the corner. In other words, it gives the Soldier breaching capability on fortified positions, while minimizing exposure to enemy fire, thanks to its effectiveness at greater distances. Also in the works are a number of specialized rounds, ranging from solid core AP ammunition to non-lethal/ crowd control munitions utilizing inert rubber balls, and RC agents.
Zeroing In
To enable the shooter to engage targets out to 2,500 meters, Barrett has developed an integrated ballistic computer/ riflescope system known as BORS (Barrett Optical Ranging System). Historically, long range shooting has been a highly technical endeavor in which the shooter had to make a number of calculations before the trigger could be pulled. These calculations included range to the target, the effects of barometric pressure and air temperature, and the type of ammunition loaded. BORS automatically calculates all these variables, and adjusts the sight reticule accordingly. All the shooter needs to do is enter the ammunition type into the BORS (using touch pads on the BORS console) determine the range (either mechanically or through a LRF) and crank the elevation knob on the scope until the proper range appears in the BORS display. The BORS automatically determines the temperature and barometric pressure, as well as the cant or tilt in the rifle itself, and incorporates these enviro-physical factors into its calculations. Once the proper range has been entered, the shooter need only put the target under the crosshairs and pull the trigger.
The XM-109 undergoing testing.
The Block I version of BORS is available now, while Block II (which will include an integrated range finder) is expected to become available in '05 with Block III (new optics, Night Vision capable, wide angle, stabilized image) becoming available in '06. Lastly, Barrett believes that the BORS system will be completely compatible with the 200mm air-bursting grenade featured on the OICW and that similar ammunition could be developed for use in the XM-109, as well as adapting the BORS to the OICW, to provide ranging and environmental information to the 20mm grenade launcher.
The Barrett XM-109 in all its glory.
Right Weapon, Right Time
The XM-109 isn't the first rifle designed with armor-piercing capabilities in mind. One of the great anti-tank rifles (ATR) was the Finnish L39 Lahti. Firing 20mm AP ammunition, the Lahti was deadly against pre-World War II Soviet tanks. Unfortunately, it was also very rough on the shooter as well. Dubbed the "Elephant Gun" because of its savage recoil, the Lahti was rendered obsolete as an ATR by 1941, and by the conclusion of WWII, ATR itself had became a thing of the past. Too light to penetrate tank (or even modern APC) armor, too heavy to be easily transportable, and too hard on the operator to encourage active use, ATRs were simply outclassed by the emergent ATGMs and RPGs.
Well, ATRs may be making a comeback. While anti-tank guided missiles (ATGMs) still reign supreme, there is a niche in today's battlefield where a weapon such as the XM-109 would do very well. Too heavy to be truly considered offensive weapons, both the M-107 and the XM-109 excel in the defense. In the environments American soldiers now find themselves (urban built up areas where the primary human threat is either dismounted infantry or modified civilian vehicles such as the Somali "technicals") a cost effective anti-vehicular weapon is just what they need. In this role, the XM-109 has several advantages over both ATGMs and RPGs. Since it is a rifle, it has no back blast, so it can be fired from within an enclosed structure, vehicle, or aircraft, without danger to the vehicle, or passengers. Firing a small DPHE warhead, the XM-109 is perfectly capable of stopping a vehicle without obliterating it and causing additional collateral damage (as would be the case if the target were hit by a TOW missile).
Finally, the XM-109 is usable throughout its entire range, unlike missiles (and at a significantly longer range than an RPG), and is capable of being employed at far shorter ranges (such as those encountered in urban block fights) than would be possible with helicopter launched ATGMs or unguided aerial rockets. The XM-109 isn't going to turn the tide in the war on terrorism by itself, but it will make it a little safer.
Barrett XM-109 Specifications
Caliber:
25mm
Builder:
Barrett Rifles
Overall Length:
46 inches
Operation:
Short recoil operation, semi-automatic
Features:
M1913 optical rail, BORS ballistic computer, monopod socket
Weight:
33.2 lbs
Muzzle Velocity:
2600 feet per second
Magazine Capacity:
5-round detachable box magazine
Accessories:
Dual-chamber detachable muzzle brake or suppressor system; detachable bipod and carry handle
25mm -- 1 inch, basically. Wow, that would make a dent in your chest. But is it a good idea to push this in view of our soldiers' use of body armor?
high explosive dual purpose.
Our esteemed Governor here in Illinois was screaming about .50 bmg's back before he ran for governor. It seems he feels that these would be terrible in the hands of strret gangs and criminals (which they would). But what person in todays city, 1-needs a gun that can shoot 2500 yds. And 2- is going to spend $8000 for a rifle and scope. They can go out and get a .308 or 30-06 for a few hundred. Besides, .50 bmg rounds cost $4.00 each. Versus what? $.25 each?. Besides trying to shoot something 2500 yards away in the city is impractical. Things get in the way. Like BUILDINGS
This is the time to POUR IT ON, for America to take quantum leaps in military technology while the rest of the world sleeps. There's only one other country capable of generating innovations like this and it -- Israel -- is on our side.
Rifle rounds can get by some body armor. An AK can easily pierce a cop's standard BP vest. As far as plucking out soldiers, the arabs wouldn't have the cash.
Capable and motivated.
Will the long 7.62 Soviet (7.62x54) go through class 3 armor?
LOL! Like some skinny little thug is going to lug around a 33lb 4 foot long "not very inconspicuous" piece of hardware like that. It would be handy on my farm though. great for that "long shot" when a moose goes trotting through the back section.
Assuming one is on the giving end of this weapon, and not the receiving end, how much will this set me back?
In US dollars, I mean...
Close only counts with horseshoes, hand grenades, and 50 caliber bmg.
In case you missed it....I'd like to pass a comment on to you from a relative who served a tour as a shooter in Afghanistan, near the Pakistan border.
Even for the shorter shots -- they would often use their .50 cal rather than their 7.62mm, even when the range or target didn't justify the larger round..
When I asked, "Why"?
He responded that, "It left a hell of a mess for the mark's friends to face and clean up, it also had a chilling and calming effect on the assholes that witnessed the event"..
You just gotta love their rationale..
There was also a interesting scenario, where they were using the .50 cal to "kill" Toyota pickup trucks on narrow mountain roads -- and wacking the marks who were now "un-mounted"....one at a time.
Oh, to be young again!
Semper Fi
"But if ya kills 'em, they won't learn nothin'"
The have plenty of cash.
The kids out there looking through the scopes on these pieces, are NOT Jesuits.
They aren't there to "win the hearts and minds" of the lunatics -- they are there to kill the bastards that need killin...
The ONLY lesson they're teaching, is that you can get yourself killed going up against the coalition...
Semper Fi
I was semi-quoting Jim Carrey as the Riddler. It was a joke.
Already posted.........I thought you were dead ?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1212646/posts
And the Lahti is nice, but I've wanted a Solothurn S18-1000 every since I read John Ross' Unintended Consequences.
OH BOY, and Christmas is just around the corner.
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