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[Phoenix]

For all those times when .50 caliber rounds just weren't enough - the people who made one of the best sniper rifles in the world come out with one that could penetrate just about all armored vehicles short of a main battle tank.

WEAPONS OF THE WORLD: The 25mm Sniper Rifle

August 12, 2004: For some long-range sniper missions, a .50 caliber (12.7mm) round just isn’t big enough. The Barrett company, which pioneered the development of the modern .50 caliber sniper rifle, has now built a 25mm sniper rifle (although shoulder cannon may be a more precise term), the XM109. Ten prototype weapons are being made available for testing this month. Designed to destroy light armor, the XM109 is a semi-automatic 25mm rifle that has a 17.6 inch long barrel and an overall length of 46 inches. It weighs in at 46 pounds and has a 5 round magazine. In comparison, the Barrett M107 .50 caliber sniper rifle in general use today has a 29 inch barrel, overall length of 57 inches, and weighs in at a mere 32 pounds, with a magazine capacity of 10 rounds.

A spiked bipod is included to steady the XM109 for firing and it has a standard M1319 accessory rail for scopes and other accessories. Barrett will either sell a complete rifle or supply upgrade kits to convert the M107 .50 sniper rifle over to the 25mm configuration, replacing the bolt, upper receiver, and magazine.

To complement this “rifle” is a computerized sight called the BORS (Barrett Optical Ranging Sighting System). BORS is specifically designed for long-range shooting at 1,000 meters and longer distances, measuring and compensating for air pressure, temperature, and the angle of the weapon in relation to the target. Precisely compensating for all these factors and successfully hitting the target on the first shot is possible, but difficult. BORS is designed to take all the sweat-math work out of first-round shots, leaving the operator with simply dialing in the distance to target, selecting the ammunition type, and putting the cross-hairs on the target. Future versions of BORS will incorporate a rangefinder, and night vision capability.

Effective distance armor piercing “lethality” for the rifle is listed at 2000 meters. The 25mm round is derivative design from the AH-64 Apache helicopter’s M789 high-explosive dual purpose (good against armor and personnel) 30mm ammunition and will penetrate at least 50 millimeters of armor plating, making it capable of destroying light armored vehicles, SCUD launchers, and other equipment. According to the ammunition manufacturer, the 25mm round is 2.5 times more effective at destroying targets than a .50 caliber armor-piercing round. At some point the system will also be integrated to use 25mm airburst ammunition designed for the OCWS.

One drawback to the weapon is the heavy recoil of the round. Barrett is working on reducing the recoil. Finally, a company slide describes the weapon as a “payload rifle” and also alludes to the ability to remove the muzzle break and replace it with a sound suppressor. – Doug Mohney

 

[Greekboy]

50 Cent and G-Unit have just placed their orders.

 

[Screaming_Gremlin]

Are there any movies of this thing being used?

 

[Phoenix]

Are there any movies of this thing being used?

None that I could find. Once it gets a production run, I'm sure there will be plenty. Now you can't even stay in your vehicle to be safe from camping snipers. With a range of 2000 meters, a guy could kill you or make your vehicle combat ineffective and you wouldn't have any idea where he was.... especially at night.

 

[mattx5]

When you absolutely, positively got to kill every motherfucker in the room, accept no substitutes.

 

[Doth Togo]

I still think guns are for shows and knives are for pros.

Long live the machete.

 

[Error Macro]

Who brings a knife to a gun fight?







(I'd post the actual quote from "The Untouchables", but I think that would get me banneded.)

 

[Archaix]

To complement this “rifle” is a computerized sight called the BORS (Barrett Optical Ranging Sighting System). BORS is specifically designed for long-range shooting at 1,000 meters and longer distances, measuring and compensating for air pressure, temperature, and the angle of the weapon in relation to the target. Precisely compensating for all these factors and successfully hitting the target on the first shot is possible, but difficult. BORS is designed to take all the sweat-math work out of first-round shots, leaving the operator with simply dialing in the distance to target, selecting the ammunition type, and putting the cross-hairs on the target. Future versions of BORS will incorporate a rangefinder, and night vision capability.

To steal a phrase, that's not a weapon, it's a cheat code.

Taking all the skill out of long range shooting. For shame.

 

[Cauliflower of Love]

To steal a phrase, that's not a weapon, it's a cheat code.

Taking all the skill out of long range shooting. For shame.

I wonder when the day will come that an ammendment to the rules of war will be this:

-No Autoaim

 

[Zaptruder]

That's a gun you use to avoid fighting...

 

[AlphaSnake]

That thing would probably leave an exit wound the size of an audio CD/DVD. Holy shit... O_O

 

[cvkpaladin]

Shit, if you were shot with one of those rounds, there won't be a hole in your body. In fact, you won't have a body and your limbs will be splattered all over the place.

 

[yoshifumi]

That thing would probably leave an exit wound the size of an audio CD/DVD. Holy shit... O_O

i think it would be more the size of a record

 

[open_mouth_]

I need a gun that has a sniper-mode, a rapid-fire machinegun mode, a spread-shotgun mode for close range, and a rocket launcher all built-in. Is there such a thing out yet?

If not, there should be.

 

[kevm3]

This and that new grenade launcher, and the world is going to be a lot less prettier place... heh.

 

[ZombieSupaStar]

I need a gun that has a sniper-mode, a rapid-fire machinegun mode, a spread-shotgun mode for close range, and a rocket launcher all built-in. Is there such a thing out yet?

If not, there should be.

youve played too much contra

 

[AeroGod]

50 Cent and G-Unit have just placed their orders.

lol

 

[Kon Tiki]

wow, a gun that shoots dildos.

 

[evil solrac v3.0]

and somehow this is to keep te peace or some other bullshit like that? world war III cant be far behind......

 

[impirius]

Does this mean it'll be legal to use an aimbot in America's Army now?

 

[B'z-chan]

I'm still waiting on my flamethrower/shotgun. Keep em back way back with that bitch.

but i'll take this for the time being. Now anti terrorist only need more acurate thermal tech and night vision and we'll just be shooting through the walls. I cant wait.

 

[AlphaSnake]

i think it would be more the size of a record

Hahaha, yeah. I was being humble and all.

 

[TheQueen'sOwn]

I demand the "Farsight" from Perfect Dark...

...

...

...


and the Laptop Gun .

 

[Phoenix]

and somehow this is to keep te peace or some other bullshit like that? world war III cant be far behind......

Keep the peace? Nah. This is to 'enforce' the peace and win the war.

Now you can immobilize those pesky missle launchers and weapons transports making it easier for our soon to be deployed missle carrying drones to blow them up later. Being able to put a 25MM round through the engine block of a light tank or less has its advantages since it can take considerable time for an airstike to get to a target... that might have fired its load and now be on the move.

Shit, if you were shot with one of those rounds, there won't be a hole in your body. In fact, you won't have a body and your limbs will be splattered all over the place.

Pretty much. What happens to the human body when its hit by high explosive large caliber rounds is not a pretty sight. There were quite a few casualties of this type during the Iraq invasion and the Pentagon censored all that material. Some of the body part scatters from Doom3 don't even properly represent what happens in reality..... thankfully.

 

[norinrad21]

They'd probably sell those to some African country no doubt

 

[Neo_ZX]

Say hello to AWP whoring in the army.