Barrett REC7
Automatic rifle Model REC7 latest development Barrett Firearms Company. This small American company has gained worldwide fame thanks to its large-caliber sniper rifles, the most famous of which is the M82A1, the "legendary" Light Fifty. The accumulated experience and knowledge are fully applied in the new sector of the company armory assault rifle industry. So in 2004, the first assault rifle appeared, which received the designation Barrett M468.
Caliber, mm: 6.8
Patron: 6.8 mm Remington SPC (6.8x43mm)
Length, mm: 823
Barrel length, mm: 406
Mass without cartridges, g: 3500
Rate of fire, in / m: 750
Aim range of shooting, m: 800
Initial bullet speed, m / c: 810
Magazine capacity, cartridges: 30
Based on the latest trends, Ronnie Barrett chose the 6.8 mm Remington SPC as the main ammunition for the new weapon. Developed by Remington, in conjunction with the US military, this cartridge is considered as a replacement for the standard army 5.56x45 mm. The use of the cartridge approved by the army, as well as the immediately recognizable M16 design, is no coincidence - the rifle was positioned as "a potential replacement for the M16 / M4 series and the weapon of the future for the US Armed Forces." Later, a modified version of this weapon, the M468 A1, appeared, and after another series of changes, the third generation of this weapon, called Barrett REC7, appeared. Which is currently being produced, while the release of previous options is discontinued.
The Barrett REC7 assault rifle (M468) is a lightweight and reliable weapon of the 6.8 mm Remington SPC caliber, made on the basis of a familiar design even by non-professionals - AR-15, developed by Eugene Stoner. However, a number of innovations allowed, according to manufacturers, to significantly increase the reliability of the weapon. First of all, REC7 received a new vapor system with a short stroke gas piston and a regulator. The piston is made of stainless steel, the exhaust duct is chrome-plated. The gas block is equipped with a regulator that allows you to adjust the pressure in the vapor system, depending on the shooting conditions. In addition, there is a thread on the gas block to install a silencer, also developed by Barrett. Barrel length 16 inches (40,6 cm) steel, grooves in increments of 10 inches. To increase the "vitality" of the barrel chrome. The receiver Barrett REC7 consists of two parts, top and bottom. Both parts are made of anodized aluminum. The lower part, the so-called "lower receiver", besides the receiver itself, includes a magazine receiver, trigger, a fire control knob, a four-position adjustable butt. In fact, all parts of the lower receiver are identical to those of rifles of the M4 / M16 series, moreover, if necessary, the lower receiver can be replaced with a receiver from a standard army rifle. The upper part of the receiver includes a barrel, bolt carrier with a bolt and a vapor mechanism. In addition, the 50 M-CV universal rail system manufactured by ARMS Inc is installed on the upper receiver, which allows installation of various accessories (optical sights of various multiplicity, bipods, flashlights, etc.). Sights (sight and front sight) are made folding and actually perform the function of auxiliary. The T-shaped bolt handle, two-way translator fuse, the button for disarming the shutter is completely identical to the corresponding parts of rifles and carbines of the M16 / M4 series.
For supplying weapons with ammunition, standard NATO shops of various capacities are used. Despite the difference in caliber, 5.56 mm NATO and 6.8 mm Remington SPC ammunition are almost the same size, which allows the use of identical shops. As already mentioned, 6.8 mm Remington SPC was developed by Remington engineers in conjunction with the US military. It was necessary to develop ammunition that would not exceed the size of a standard NATO cartridge, would provide a greater range and better penetrating ability. The new cartridge, at a lower bullet speed, has greater kinetic energy. It is stated that the stopping effect of the 6.8 mm bullet is 50% higher than that of the 5.56.
Currently, Barrett releases two REC7 variants that differ only in barrel length: 16 and 12 inches. The sixteen-inch model is also available in a self-loading version and is sold in the civilian market. Given the compatibility of the REC7 top receiver with standard army rifles, it is possible that variants of this weapon may appear with various USM, butts, etc. In 2008, the Barrett REC7 was announced to participate in the competition for a new Defense Weapon (PDW) for the American army.
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