Barrett XM109
Summary
| Country | 🇺🇸 United States |
| Category | Anti materiel sniper rifle |
| Manufacturer | Barrett |
Technical specifications
| Barrett XM109 | |
|---|---|
| Fire Rate | Single shot rounds/min. |
| Caliber | 25 mm HEDP |
| Magazine | 5 rounds |
| Length | 1168 mm (46.0 in) |
| Weight | 15.0 kg (33.1 lb) |
| Range | 2500 m (8202 ft) |
Description
The Barrett XM109, initially named the Objective Sniper Weapon (OSW) and later known as the Anti-Materiel Payload Rifle (AMPR), was developed from a 1994 requirement. Prototypes were developed starting in the late 1990s, with effectiveness studies released in 2002. By 2004, ten prototypes existed. In 2006, the XM109 and Barrett XM500 were integrated into a Congressional program focusing on anti-material rifles. The XM109's status is unclear, with no public information about adoption or cancellation.
The XM109 is a prototype semi-automatic grenade launcher chambered for 25 × 59 mm grenade rounds. It uses the M82/M107 rifle's lower receiver combined with a newly developed upper receiver for the 25mm caliber. This allows swapping the upper receiver of an M82 or M107 with an XM109 upper receiver. The 25 × 59 mm cartridge is the same as that developed for the cancelled XM307 program. The system was designed to defeat light armor and equipment at up to 2 kilometers (1.2 miles), offering greater range and a shorter length than previous M82/M107 systems.
The 25 × 59 mm cartridge has greater potential power than the Mk 211 .50 BMG round, but its heavy projectile and small propellant charge resulted in significant recoil (over 60 foot-pounds), limiting the muzzle brake's effectiveness compared to the M107's 36 foot-pounds. Recoil reduction was a program objective as of 2004. Standard features include a Picatinny rail, BORS ballistic computer, monopod socket, and capability to use a dual-chamber detachable muzzle brake or suppressor system, as well as a detachable bipod and carry handle.
The XM109 is modular with the M82/M107 platform due to the shared lower receiver. The upper receiver can be swapped to reconfigure the system to fire .50 BMG rounds by installing a standard M82 or M107 upper receiver.