Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • Guns
    • Rifles
      • Semi-Automatic Rifles
      • Bolt Action
      • Lever Action
    • Handguns
      • Semi-Automatic Handguns
      • Revolvers
    • Shotguns
    • Airguns
    • Specialty Guns
    • Custom Guns
  • Ammo
    • Handgun Ammo
    • Rifle Ammo
    • Reloading
  • Parts
    • Handgun Parts
    • Rifle Parts
  • Accessories
    • Optics & Sights
      • Night Vision
      • Thermal Vision
    • Lasers & Lights
    • Suppressors
    • Holsters
    • Slings
    • Shooting Rests
  • Gear
    • Ears & Eyes
    • Knives
      • Tactical Knives
    • Apparel
    • Tactical Gear
    • Storage
    • Flashlights
    • Electronics
    • Less Lethal
  • Lifestyle
    • Sport Shooting
      • Hunting
    • Competition Shooting
    • Precision Shooting/Long Range Shooting
    • Training
    • First Aid
    • Pop Culture
    • History
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Gun Facts & Laws
    • Police News
    • Military News
    • Politics
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
  • Guns
    • Rifles
      • Semi-Automatic Rifles
      • Bolt Action
      • Lever Action
    • Handguns
      • Semi-Automatic Handguns
      • Revolvers
    • Shotguns
    • Airguns
    • Specialty Guns
    • Custom Guns
  • Ammo
    • Handgun Ammo
    • Rifle Ammo
    • Reloading
  • Parts
    • Handgun Parts
    • Rifle Parts
  • Accessories
    • Optics & Sights
      • Night Vision
      • Thermal Vision
    • Lasers & Lights
    • Suppressors
    • Holsters
    • Slings
    • Shooting Rests
  • Gear
    • Ears & Eyes
    • Knives
      • Tactical Knives
    • Apparel
    • Tactical Gear
    • Storage
    • Flashlights
    • Electronics
    • Less Lethal
  • Lifestyle
    • Sport Shooting
      • Hunting
    • Competition Shooting
    • Precision Shooting/Long Range Shooting
    • Training
    • First Aid
    • Pop Culture
    • History
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Gun Facts & Laws
    • Police News
    • Military News
    • Politics
  • Videos
No Result
View All Result
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun News and Gun Reviews
No Result
View All Result
 
*FREE GUN FRIDAY* Enter to WIN >> IWI Zion-15 Rifle & Black Hills 5.56 Ammo

BATTLE-BRED M107A1

Jay Langston by Jay Langston
July 1, 2011
in Guns, Lifestyle, Rifles, Thermal Vision
0
3
SHARES
185
VIEWS
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Marine LCpl. Andrew Day puts the M107A1 through its paces. Day and fellow sniper, LCpl. Rory Carter, were fans of the reduced weight. The difference in gun weight would have meant an extra loaded mag or more water on missions in Iraq. Snipers can be rough on gear, so the M107A1’s new anti-corrosion coatings will extend service life in the harsh sandbox environment. And the color looks good, too.

Driven by the demands of combat Barrett engineers have redesigned every component of the M107A1 to be lighter yet stronger. The result is a high-performance rifle that weighs four pounds less than the original M107. But, far from being an abbreviated version of its bigger brothers, the M107 or Model 82A1, the Barrett M107A1 is every bit as tough.

Designed to be used with a suppressor, this one-of-a-kind rifle allows signature reduction capabilities with the flawless reliability of the original Barrett M107. An all-new bolt carrier group has been designed that is key to making the rifle suppressor-ready. Its titanium four-port muzzle brake is engineered to work seamlessly with a quick-attach Barrett .50 BMG Suppressor.

battle-bred-m107a1-b
Long, lean machine! An even lighter M107A1 will be available with a 20-inch CQB barrel, which will cut six pounds from the original M107’s total weight.

M107A1 At The Range
Itching to put this new rifle through its paces, the plan was to spend the day at my range with Barrett’s U.S. Military Sales Manager Kyle Lynch. To give it a thorough and experienced evaluation, TW invited LCpl. Andrew Day and LCpl. Rory Carter to join us. These two Marine snipers have fired thousands of rounds each from an M107 in training over the past six years, as well as during their combat tours in Iraq.

The weather that day was just above freezing. The wind was blowing south at 3 to 5 mph at the start of our shooting, then rising to 10 to 12 mph over a three-hour period. Our target was placed at 500 yards. The Marines’ extensive training and youth were evident when we compared targets, but, proudly, not by a large margin. A credit to the Barrett design, I was able to average 14.25 inches for five shots, or just under the 3-MOA rating for this weapon. These Marines averaged 11.75 inches for five shots, or 2.35 MOA. All shooting was conducted with Barrett M33 661-grain ammunition.

battle-bred-m107a1-c

Less Is More
“As far as being able to shed unnecessary weight, it’s awesome,” Rory Carter said. “In an all-out combat situation, you’re not only carrying the rifle itself, but you’re carrying the ammo and your primary weapon.”

Andrew Day concurred with his friend: “I carried the M107 all through my tour in Iraq. The shedding of weight is a key feature. They [Barrett] shaved four pounds off the weight, and while a lot of people might not think much about it, pounds are pounds.”

“That’s an extra mag, if you think about it,” Carter interjected.

“Yes, and when you think about what you could have done with that extra four pounds, that’s another CamelBak of water that you can strap to you,” Day concluded.

“As far as the recoil is concerned, it’s been drastically reduced,” Carter said. “It’s so much smoother of an action, and you don’t get that ‘punched in the nose’ feeling every time you shoot it.”

“The recoil seemed a lot more fluid than our M107s always have been,” Day said. “It was a lot easier to stay on target after the shot’s fired and it’s a lot easier to re­­­­­gain your sight picture.”

More Advantages
Our conversation turn­­­­­­­­­ed to the new protective coatings on the M107A1. “The things that we discussed today about the anti-corrosion coatings, being able to take care of it better with a lot less maintenance is a plus,” Day said. “We’re Marines, so we’re going to take care of it no matter what,” he said with a chuckle, “but anything that can be done to make it last longer is a key feature because we’re really hard on them when in-country.”

“The ability to put a suppressor on it is great, too,” Carter said of the M107A1.

Day shared more of his insights. “At first glance, the ability to put a suppressor on it didn’t really register with me, as to why. Even with a suppressor, it’s still a big stick; it’s still going to make some noise. Muzzle flash, keeping it down—that’s a huge advancement. With the operations that are conducted at night, that’s a real big advantage. Even during the day, we’re never sitting in the open sunshine. Ever. We’re always in a shadowed, very dark area, so anything we can do to give away less of our position is a huge tactical advantage.

“The suppressor provides an advantage for the shooter as far as where you choose to shoot the weapon, like back in a small room, out of the window, it’s going to be a very noticeable plus. It allows you to communicate with the people around you a lot easier.” Day continued, “I had an experience in Iraq where I blew my ears just completely out with an M107. I was spotting for my ATL, sitting next to a stone wall. In the heat of the moment, it didn’t register to put in an EarPro, and man, I wasn’t walking straight after he dropped off five rounds in rapid succession. It just blew our ears off.

“A lot of times it’s just the price you pay in that kind of situation where you just do what you have to do. That’s when a suppressor would have helped my day go a lot better, and it would have been easier to sleep at night without that ringing.”

Carter added, “I do like the new compensator without the suppressor, too. It’s nice to be off on the side instead of being directly behind or on top of the shooter. And, I like the color,” Carter noted with a laugh, “you don’t have to spray paint it.”

battle-bred-m107a1-d
The M107A1’s new integral muzzle brake, or the suppressor, reduces recoil and makes sight-picture recovery faster.

New And Improved
“We were able to shave weight off this weapon by incorporating new extruded aluminum and titanium parts,” Kyle Lynch said. “What we’ve wound up with is an all-aluminum upper receiver, and the Picatinny rail is part of the extrusion of the upper assembly. We’ve incorporated titanium in the internals, the rear monopod and the bipod.”

“The internals of the M107A1 have been designed for use with a suppressor,” Lynch said. “We’ve redesigned the bolt and bolt carrier mechanism. It got a mechanical extension instead of a spring extension. This ensures that, with the additional weight of the suppressor on the muzzle of the gun, everything is timed properly so that the pieces are in sync. We also have a new buffer inside the receiver that keeps all of the reciprocating mass from going too far back and damaging the receiver.”

The lightweight aluminum upper receiver features an integrated, rigid 27-MOA M1913 Picatinny rail. Inside the upper receiver, the bolt carrier rides on a hardened steel, anti-wear strip for added durability. A thermal-guard cheek piece protects the user’s face from extreme heat or cold.

Advanced design and manufacturing make the M107A1 more precise than ever. The rear barrel stop and front barrel bushing are bolted and bonded with a compound similar to that used on space shuttles. A titanium barrel key and fully chrome-lined bore and chamber add to the rifle’s durability.

Enhanced modularity is also a key feature. The rifle’s rail-mounted aluminum rear grip is easily reconfigured. The newly designed titanium and polymer monopod is easily adjustable from either side, as well.

The M107A1 rifle’s lower receiver in­­cludes a new aluminum recoil buffer system that’s optimized for use with a suppressor. The bolt carrier’s components are protected with a mix of ultra-hard PVD coatings and advanced nickel-Teflon plating that increases lubricity, is corrosion-resistant and greatly eases cleaning. Magazines also got a facelift for the M107A1. Numbered witness holes on the magazine help the shooter keep track of rounds in the rifle.

Later on in 2011, a 20-inch barreled M107A1 CQB version will become available to our soldiers. “The 20-inch version should really appeal to law enforcement agencies,” Lynch said. “The shorter length will be much easier to use in S.W.A.T. applications, and it will reduce the weight about six pounds from the M107.”

Didn't find what you were looking for?

CLICK HERE FOR COMMENTS

RELATED POSTS

The Meridian Defense PMC Rifle.

The Meridian Defense PMC Rifle Offers the AK-47 Your Way

Anthony Imperato and the most American of firearms. Today, Henry Repeating Arms is the leader in lever-action long guns.

Henry Repeating Arms: 25 Years of Excellence in Firearms

RISE Armaments small parts for AR builds.

5 RISE Armament Small Parts to Complete Your Next AR-15 Build

Safety Through Situational Awareness.

Eyes Wide Open: Using Situational Awareness to Avoid Trouble

Load More

WATCH NOW: TACTICAL-LIFE’s RELOADING ZONE

Discussion about this post

FEATURED POST

The Meridian Defense PMC Rifle.

The Meridian Defense PMC Rifle Offers the AK-47 Your Way

Known for its high-quality AK-47s, Meridian Defense Corp offers the PMC rifle with custom options. As a result, you can...

Read more

TRENDING

Police Sidearms, police duty pistols, Handguns, America's Largest Police Departments 2018

Police Sidearms: The Handguns of America’s 10 Largest Departments

...

Top 12 .50 BMG Rifles TW March 2015 lead

Top 12 .50 BMG Rifles [2023]

...

Back when the west was wild, coach guns were your best bet against unwanted threats.

Best Coach Guns: the Stow-N-Go Defenders You Want Riding Shotgun [2023]

...

Shooting the budget long-range rifle build proved the quality of components.

Build a Budget Sub-MOA Long-Range Rifle With Optic for Under $1K

...

PICK A CATEGORY

TACTICS & TRAINING SPOTLIGHT

Take a John Farnam CQB Carbine training class.

Fight Like Farnam: Take Your CQB Carbine Training Next Level

Semi-automatic rifles like AR-15s and AK-47s offer many advantages when it comes to personal defense in heavily-populated areas. But these...

TACTICS & TRAINING SHOWCASE

The Umarex Glock 17.

Paint Perfect: Force-On-Force Training with Umarex Glock 17

Tactical Reload Semi-Auto Pistol Step 8

5 Strategies For Effectively Completing a Tactical Reload

Active School Shooter Training: 14 Key Points to Consider

Active School Shooter Training: 14 Key Points to Consider

ar magazines maintenance

AR Mag Cleaning & Maintenance: Everything You Need to Know

Fact vs. Fiction 5 Myths Gunfight Survival lead

5 Common Myths on How to Survive a Gunfight

long distance shooting tips

Long-Distance Shooting: 5 Must-Know Tips For Spotters & Shooters

IMPACT Experience Events.

IMPACT Experience Events Redefine Your Long-Range Shooting Limits

Enhance your shooting precision skills in a course with Modern Day Sniper.

Sniper Skills: Taking Your Shooting Precision to the Next Level

The Smith & Wesson M&P 12.

Smith & Wesson M&P 12 Thrusts S&W Into Self-Defense Shotgun Market

AMMO SPOTLIGHT

Arsenal SAM7SF lead AK evergreen

Top 20 AK Rifles & Soviet Weapons

The Avtomat Kalashnikova (better known to the world as the AK-47), the brainchild of Mikhail Kalashnikov, has the distinction of...

site logo
Tactical Life Gun Magazine: Gun news, gun reviews and gun magazines for gun enthusiasts, military and law enforcement

Tactical

  • tactical-life.com

Magazines

  • Tactical Life
  • The Complete Book of Reloading
  • Guns of the Old West

Facebook

  • Tactical-Life Facebook
  • Guns of the Old West Facebook

Twitter

  • Tactical-Life Twitter

Self Defense

  • PersonalDefenseWorld.com

Magazines

  • Personal Defense World
  • Combat Handguns

Facebook

  • Personal Defense World Facebook
  • Combat Handguns

Twitter

  • Personal Defense World Twitter

Shooting Lifestyle

  • BallisticMag.com

Magazines

  • BallisticMag.com

Facebook

  • Ballistic Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Ballistic Magazine Twitter

Alpha Lifestyle

  • SkillsetMag.com

Magazines

  • Skillset

Facebook

  • Skillset Magazine Facebook

Twitter

  • Skillset Magazine Twitter

Instagram

  • Skillset Magazine Instagram
  • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Subscribe
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
© Athlon Outdoors, All Rights Reserved.
You use of this website constitutes and manifests your acceptance of our User Agreement, Privacy Policy, Cookie Policy, and awareness of the California Privacy Rights. Pursuant to U.S. Copyright law, as well as other applicable federal and state laws, the content on this website may not be reproduced, distributed, displayed, transmitted, cached, or otherwise used, without the prior, express, and written permission of Athlon Outdoors.

Manage your GDPR consents by clicking here. Manage your CCPA consents by clicking here.
No Result
View All Result
  • Guns
    • Rifles
    • Handguns
    • Shotguns
    • Airguns
    • Specialty Guns
    • Custom Guns
  • Ammo
    • Handgun Ammo
    • Rifle Ammo
    • Reloading
  • Parts
    • Handgun Parts
    • Rifle Parts
  • Accessories
    • Optics & Sights
      • Night Vision
      • Thermal Vision
    • Lasers & Lights
    • Suppressors
    • Holsters
    • Maintenance & Tools
  • Gear
    • Ears & Eyes
    • Knives
    • Apparel
    • Tactical Gear
    • Knives
    • Storage
    • Flashlights
    • Electronics
    • Less Lethal
  • Lifestyle
    • Sport Shooting
      • Hunting
    • competition-shooting
    • Precision Shooting/Long Range Shooting
    • Training
    • First Aid
    • Survival
    • Pop Culture
    • History
  • News
    • New Products & Industry News
    • Gun Facts & Laws
    • Police News
    • Military News
    • Politics
  • Videos
  • Contact Us

© 2023 JNews - Premium WordPress news & magazine theme by Jegtheme.