Military Power

I was watching Future Weapons on the Discovery Channel;
Has anyone heard about Barret Rifle's new .416 sniper round? It is supposed to have an even longer range than the .50 BMG. On the show they were shooting targets at 2500 yards.

The .416 caliber has been used for hunting big game animals for a long time. I can understand why Barret would focus their production on this caliber for a sniper rifle. The main reason would be cost, it is not going to cost near as much to manufacture the ammunition for the rifle. The .50 BMG is very capable of hitting a target of 2500 yards and more, but at the distance on ANY caliber...you have got to know what you are doing and be accurate and precise. The .416 will have an easier ability to hit a target at that range because there is not as much weight traveling downrange. You will be able to keep it more flat through the air, and have the power to take out a target with the .416.

so.... why would you use a .50 if a .416 is better (and probably cheaper)?

Spazz Maticus wrote:so.... why would you use a .50 if a .416 is better (and probably cheaper)?

The main reason is because the .50 caliber can take out light-armored vehicles, where a .416 will have some trouble doing so unless you are the best shot the world has ever known. The .50 BMG round was really designed for penetration at a distance. Not only can you take out a human target, but you can also disable a motor-vehicle because the .50 will easily penetrate an engine block. Plus, the .50 is big enough that you can install "smart-weapon technology" into the bullet, which makes it even more dangerous.

General Forestry wrote:Plus, the .50 is big enough that you can install "smart-weapon technology" into the bullet, which makes it even more dangerous.

What kind of "smart-weapons technology" are you talking about GF?