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The first information about the
development of a new powerful sniper rifle in caliber .338 Lapua Magnum came in October
1997. At that time the Barrett Firearms had it in the computerized CAD system. Later, a
few days before Christmas, machining of parts and components had begun, and soon in
January 1998 at the Shot Show in Las Vegas, the newly made gun appeared at the company's
exhibit booth.
The rifle had a designation of Model 98.
Originally, the Barrett wanted to design the gun in both the bolt-action and
semi-automatic configurations. Later, it was decided that the basic construction would be
straight semi-auto, while bolt action would be custom and made on special orders.
The rifle is designed around the receiver of a traditional bolt action rifle with its
heavy receiver. However, unlike Barrett's .50 semi-automatics, the .338 rifle has a fixed,
free-floating barrel mounted on an aluminum base, and utilizes a tapped gas engine. All of
the gas mechanisms are in the butt stock of the gun to eliminate any disturbances to the
harmonics of the barrel. Gas is delivered to the rear mechanisms via a gas tube from the
barrel into a tapped system behind the firing mechanisms.
The bolt is a multi-lug design, which, as some experts consider, was inspired by the
Johnson rifle/LMG.
The entire stock is made of what appears to be glassfibre-reinforced black polyamide. The
detachable, box-type magazines are also plastic and can accommodate 10 rounds.
The muzzle brake looks efficient for this type of weapons.
The steel bipod attaches to the front end of a handguard and is of the usual folding
construction.
The butt stock is of the thumb-hole design.
On top the upper receiver, the gun has a Picatinny Rail to accommodate either a scope or a
night vision device, or a combination thereof.
98 FEATURES:
| - Caliber: |
.338 Lapua Magnum |
| - Operation: |
gas operated, semi-automatic |
| - Overall Length: |
1,175 mm |
| - Length of Barrel: |
610 mm |
| - Feed Device: |
10-rd Box Magazine |
| - Weight: |
7.0 kg |
| - Match Grade Barrel |
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| - Bipod |
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| - Scope Optional |
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| - High Efficiency Muzzle Brake |
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Manufacturer: Barrett Firearms Manufacturing, Inc.
P.O. Box 1077, Murfreeboro, Tennessee
37133, U.S.A.
tel. (615) - 896-2938
fax (615) - 896-7313
e-mail: barrettrifles@msn.com
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