In the hands of the United States and other military personnel, the powerful and long-ranged Barrett M82 rifle has transformed the art of ranged combat since its introduction in the early 1980s. Ideal for all those interested in modern small arms and military sniping, this fully illustrated history of the Barrett M82 joins a growing list of successful Osprey books dedicated to snipers, their weapons of choice and the techniques they use.

The Barrett M82A1 and its derivatives are among the most successful sniping rifles ever manufactured. Now entering its fourth decade of service, the short-recoil, semi-automatic system is capable of firing a devastating .50-caliber round with lethal accuracy over distances of more than 2km. Unconfirmed reports from Afghanistan in 2012 accredit the Barrett with one of history’s longest ever kills at 2,815m. This is the technical history of a rifle initially developed as a sporting firearm, but which evolved into a long-range sniping rifle and a formidable military anti-materiel tool, designed to neutralize everything from enemy vehicles to parked aircraft. Adopted by snipers across the world, the Barrett rifles have seen active service in Operation Desert Storm, Iraq, and Afghanistan and have become an important addition to police, armed services, and Special Forces units alike.