It was designed in two variants:
M82A1 (original) and M82A2 (used the bullpup).
Design:
This short recoil semi-automatic sniper rifle is using powerful 12.7×99mm NATO ammunition, also known as .50 cal. M82 was made to penetrate armors like a ballistic vest. Rounds are stored in a large detachable box which can hold up to 10 rounds. All the measures were taken to make this weapon as light as possible, even the barrel is fluted to save weight and also improve heat dissipation. M82 in U.S. army are often equipped with Leupold Mark 4 telescopic sight mounted on a rail.
Overview:
When the M82 it took some time to being used in actual combat. First success was in 1990 when the U.S. army used the M82A1 during the operations in Desert Storm, Desert Shield, Iraq and Kuwait. Soon after the U.S. Marine Corps bought it more orders followed from all over the world from more than 30 countries. In U.S. military it is known as SARS – Special Applications Scoped Rifle. High effective ammunition was effective in operations against radar cabins, trucks, light armored vehicles, etc. It is being used in U.S. coast guard against the drug smugglers and many law enforcement agencies.
The latest improvementsand changes are all stored in a “new” rifle so called M107
Specifications:
M82A1
Caliber: .50 BMG (12.7×99mm)
Operation: short recoil, semi-automatic
Overall length: 1150 (48") or 1220 mm (57")
Barrel length: 508 (20") or 737 mm (29")
Feed device: 10-round detachable box magazine
Sights: 10x telescopic
Weight: 14 kg (30.9 lb)
Muzzle velocity: 853 m/s [2850 f/s]
Maximum effective range: 1800 m
Maximum range: 6800 m
Unit replacement cost: $12,050.00 US
M82A2
Caliber: .50 BMG (12.7×99mm)
Length: 1409 mm
Barrel length: 737 mm
Weight: 14.75 kg (32.5 lb) (unloaded)
Maximum effective range on equipment-sized targets: 2100 m
Muzzle velocity: 900 m/s
Magazine capacity: 10 rounds
Unit replacement cost: $6,000
Status: no longer in production
