Barrett .50cal

The Barrett .50cal (sometimes referred to as M82) is a semi-automatic sniper rifle featured in Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3: Defiance, Call of Duty: Black Ops II and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare & Modern Warfare Remastered

Barrett .50calM82 .50 Caliber (mounted in singleplayer)
Damage	1000 (SP), 70 (MP)
Damage Multipliers	Head: 1.5, Neck: 1.5, Chest: 1.5, Stomach: 1.1, Limbs: 1.0 (MP)
Fire Mode	Semi-Automatic
Rate of Fire	1200 RPM (MP)
Magazine Size	10 rounds (MP, SP) 20 rounds (Old School)
Starting Ammunition	10+20 (MP) 20+10 (Old School)
Maximum Ammunition	10+60 (MP) 20+60 (Old School)
Reload Time	4.08 loaded, 4.625 unloaded
Range(explanation)
Recoil	Low (SP), High (MP)
Penetration	Large
Unlocked	Level 49
Used by	Alpha Team
HUD icon	CoD4 MWR
Consolecodename(s)	barrett_mp barrett_acog_mp

"Semi-automatic sniper rifle. Effective at long range."

— Weapon description

Campaign

The Barrett .50cal is first seen in "F.N.G" on the weapons rack, along with all the other weapons in-game and is unusable.

It is then seen again in "One Shot, One Kill", being used by Lieutenant Price who was accompanied by Captain MacMillan in an attempt to assassinate Imran Zakhaev. This Barrett .50cal is mounted on a bipod and cannot be picked up. It has a variable zoom feature, allowing the player to zero in on a target, using movement controls (on the Wii version the weapon is controlled with the control stick/nunchuck rather than the remote), since the player remains in prone position when wielding it. It also has unlimited ammo, very little recoil, and no scope sway. This is the only time that it is usable in the campaign.

Multiplayer

In multiplayer, the Barrett .50cal is unlocked at level 49 and is the last sniper rifle unlocked by normal means. Like all sniper rifles, it can use an ACOG Scope attachment. It is tied with the Dragunov, S-Tac Aggressor and R700 without Stopping Power, able to kill in one hit if shooting in the chest, neck, or head. With Stopping Power, its one hit kill range expands to include the stomach. It has the highest penetration of any weapon in multiplayer.

The Barrett .50cal has a generous 10 round magazine, more than sufficient for most engagements. The Barrett .50cal also has a generous amount of reserve ammunition, making Bandolier less necessary.

However, the Barrett .50cal also has a few disadvantages. It has very high recoil, but it always travels in the same direction, and the reticle quickly resets back on the initial point of aim. A good way to compensate for its high recoil is to treat it as a bolt-action rifle, and only fire when it has returned to its original position.

Another disadvantage is the fact that the rifle itself is so long it often protrudes out of cover, giving the player's position away. Its firing sound is loud and distinctive and can give away the user's position in Hardcore. Because of its very high damage, firing rapidly with this gun is not usually necessary, although it can be used as a last-resort in close quarters. The Barrett .50cal has an unusually high fire cap of 1200 RPM. Unlike pistols, which had their rate of fire nerfed in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered, the Barrett .50cal retains this rate of fire in the remastered version.

The Barrett .50cal is a relatively sluggish weapon for a sniper rifle, with poor raise/drop times and a slow reload speed with poor reload cancelling.

Equipping the ACOG decreases ADS time and also decreases ADS magnification, making it more suitable for close range sniping. However, it increases sway and breath cannot be steadied. Together with the reduced zoom, equipping the ACOG sight makes the Barrett less suitable for long-range combat.

Weapon Attachments

• ACOG Scope

Old School Mode

The Barrett .50cal appears in Old School Mode with 20 rounds in the magazine and 10 rounds of reserve ammunition.

• Creek - Found in front of the waterfall at the north-easternmost corner of the map.
• Crossfire - Found inside the small alley towards the south-eastern side of the map.
• District - Found with an ACOG Scope in the south-easternmost building, near Last Stand.
• Overgrown - Found in the paddock with the haystacks towards the north-eastern part of the map.
• Vacant - Found inside one of the shipping containers at the south end of the map.

Gallery

For camouflage images, see Barrett .50cal/Camouflage.

For attachment images, see Barrett .50cal/Attachments.

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

The Barrett .50cal in first-person

The scope reticle

The Barrett .50cal used in "One Shot, One Kill"

In the armory in "F.N.G."

Another one in the armory

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered

The Barrett .50cal in first person

Aiming down the scope

Reloading

Cocking the Barrett .50cal

Inspecting the Barrett

The Barrett .50cal's model

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

Barrett .50calM82 .50 Caliber (mounted in singleplayer)
Damage	70 (MP) 50 (MP silenced)
Damage Multipliers
Fire Mode	Semi-Automatic
Rate of Fire	150 RPM (SP), 1200 RPM (MP)
Magazine Size	10 rounds (15 with Extended Mags)
Starting Ammunition	10+90 (SP), 10+20 (MP)
Maximum Ammunition	10+100 (SP), 10+60 (MP)
Reload Time	3.92s loaded, 4.25s unloaded
Range(explanation)
Recoil	Low (SP), Very High (MP)
Penetration	High
Unlocked	Level 3 (Private II)
Used by	Task Force 141, Rangers, Navy SEALs (Spec Ops)
HUD icon
Consolecodename(s)	barrett50cal

The Barrett .50cal is relatively unchanged from Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare, with the exceptions of new attachments, a redesigned scope, widened muzzle brake, and lack of a front iron sight. The only notable change from Call of Duty 4M82 Barret FNG COD4.pngound in the missions, "Of Their Own Accord" (although it is mounted with a thermal scope and variable zoom) and "Loose Ends." The only major differences from campaign to multiplayer are that the Barrett .50cal has a lower, more realistic level of recoil and a fairly low firecap in the campaign.

Special Ops

In Special Ops, the Barrett .50cal is found in "Sniper Fi", "Estate Takedown", and "Armor Piercing". The Barrett .50cal is a good weapon to use against Juggernauts, as it takes three headshots, six chest shots or eight body shots to kill one.

Multiplayer

The Barrett .50cal is unlocked at Level 3 as part of the "Scout Sniper" default class.

The Barrett .50cal is most praised for its ability to deliver one hit kills with a high rate of fire, though it is capable of firing faster than its sight can settle. Firing too quickly makes the Barrett .50cal difficult to use, due to the high recoil. However, the Barrett .50cal does have a recoil limit. This problem is easily mitigated by simply not pressing the trigger as quickly and only firing when the recoil has settled, giving this weapon the same accuracy and rate of fire as the Intervention. This requires great concentration, as inexperienced players are tempted to take advantage of the Barrett's semi-automatic capability into firing too soon.   

Nonetheless, the ability to fire so fast can be an advantage in close quarters when there is no time to switch to a secondary and the player is forced to fire their sniper rifle from the hip. This gives the Barrett a big advantage over the Intervention, the latter being much more difficult to use in close quarters. The only disadvantage of the Barrett, aside from the recoil (which can be eliminated by patience), is the long reload time but it makes up for that with a larger magazine.

With Stopping Power, the weapon kills in one hit to the head, neck, chest and stomach. Without it, it loses the one-hit-kill to the stomach. Targets will require multiple hits when Painkiller, Last Stand or Final Stand is used. In Hardcore it is a one-hit-kill anywhere on the body, even when used with a silencer.

One flaw of the Barrett is that its recoil kicks the gun up and to the right so much that the shooter momentarily loses sight of their target. Since the ACOG Scope zooms in less when looking down the sight, it is easier to follow an enemy after firing with it than with a standard Sniper Scope, but in many situations the decreased zoom and inability to steady the scope makes it less than practical.

The Barrett .50cal is a relatively good sniper rifle to use with a silencer and Stopping Power, as the player can kill a target with a single shot to the chest, neck, or head. However, the Barrett's high recoil can make it difficult for the player to land a second shot if the first shot does not kill. Without Stopping Power, the Barrett .50cal is a less than ideal candidate for a silencer because all sniper rifles require two shots to kill when using a silencer without Stopping Power, except in Hardcore.

Weapon Attachments

• Suppressor
• Heartbeat Sensor
• ACOG Scope
• Thermal Scope
• FMJ
• Extended Mags

Gallery

For camouflage images, see Barrett .50cal/Camouflage.

The Barrett .50cal, as it appears in Modern Warfare 2

Scope reticle

The Mr. Yuk sticker, as seen on the Barrett .50cal

Reloading the Barrett .50cal; notice the fingerprints

The Barrett .50cal in third person

Video

MW2 - Recoil Abuse

Weapons demonstration of utilizing the predictable recoil pattern of the Barrett .50 Cal

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

Barrett .50cal
Weapon Class	Sniper Rifle
Damage	98 (70 Suppressed)
Damage Multipliers	Head: x1.5 Chest: x1.5 Stomach: x1.1 Limbs: x1
Fire Mode	Semi-Automatic
Rate of Fire	150 RPM (SO), 1200 RPM (MP)
Magazine Size	10 rounds (15 with Extended Mags)
Starting Ammunition	10+90 (SO), 10+20 (MP)
Maximum Ammunition	10+100 (SO), 10+60 (MP)
Reload Time	3.917s loaded, 4.25s unloaded
Recoil	Very High
Unlocked	Level 49 (Survival Mode)
Used by	Delta Force
HUD icon

"The Barrett .50cal provides the second fastest fire rate in its class. Along with a rapid re-center speed and a 10-round magazine, it's possible to tag multiple targets before reloading. Note that the recoil kicks hard outside of prone, so find a good perch and remain low for the best performance."

— Call of Duty: Elite description

The Barrett .50cal returns in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. It appears in one of the default classes. It has a very similar look to the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 version, but with a darker finish, new scope, and the bipod is now folded forward.

Campaign

The Barrett .50cal briefly appears in the mission "Blood Brothers" during the loading cutscene, when Yuri and Soap set up in their sniper nest. However, it is not used and is not seen again. It is replaced by the RSASS during the actual mission.

Multiplayer

The Barrett .50cal is available in level 2, through the Scout Sniper Default Class and is unlocked for Create-a-Class at level 4. It is very much like the variant in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, in which it is a one-hit-kill to the head, neck, chest and stomach. One change to the Barrett from previous titles is that it reduces the player's movement speed considerably; players carrying it will have the same movement speed of a Light Machine Gun. Because of this, the Speed Proficiency is recommended. Also, its recoil and sway are lower when prone or crouching.

It is a good idea to pair Sleight of Hand with this as it can greatly reduce the reloading time. However the 10 round magazine, semi-automatic firing mode, and large potential for a one-shot kill means the said perk is not mandatory.

It is also used in the Infected loadout "Knife vs Barrett", where it comes equipped with the Attachments with a Heartbeat Sensor and Extended Mags.

Special Ops

The Barrett .50cal is available for both Survival and Mission modes.

Mission Mode

The Barrett .50cal is used by the player providing overwatch in the Mission Mode challenge Invisible Threat. Several Barretts can also be found on the roof of the Stock Exchange in Flood the Market, to pick off enemies on the adjacent rooftops.

Survival Mode

The Barrett .50cal is unlocked at level 49 in Survival Mode, being the last sniper rifle to be unlocked. It costs $2000 from the Weapons Armory. It is one hit kill up until heavy troops armed with an AK-47 appear, so an automatic weapon should be switched out for the Barrett .50cal after the heavy troops appear. However, due to its high damage and firecap combined, if equipped with an ACOG Scope it is a very deadly battle rifle for a little longer than what's recommended of it.

Weapon Attachments

• ACOG Scope - Unlocked at weapon level 2.
• Silencer - Unlocked at weapon level 5.
• Heartbeat Sensor - Unlocked at weapon level 13.
• Extended Mags - Unlocked at weapon level 15.
• Thermal Scope - Unlocked at weapon level 19.
• Variable Zoom - Unlocked at weapon level 22.

Proficiency

• Kick - Unlocked at weapon level 4.
• Impact - Unlocked at weapon level 10.
• Attachments - Unlocked at weapon level 14.
• Focus - Unlocked at weapon level 18.
• Speed - Unlocked at weapon level 24.
• Stability - Unlocked at weapon level 28.

Gallery

For camouflage images, see Barrett .50cal/Camouflage.

For attachment images, see Barrett .50cal/Attachments.

First person view of the Barrett .50cal

The Barrett .50cal's scope

Singleplayer reticle of the Barrett's sniper scope

Multiplayer reticle of the Barrett's sniper scope

Reloading the Barrett .50cal

Demonstration

Call of Duty: Black Ops II

Barrett M82A1
Fire Mode	Semi-automatic
Rate of Fire	416 RPM max
Magazine Size	10 rounds (SP) (14 w/ Extended Clip) 5 rounds (Zombies)
Starting Ammunition	10+90 (SP)
Maximum Ammunition	10+200 (SP) 5+30 (Zombies)
Unlocked	Completing Old Wounds (SP)
Cost(Zombies)	950 (Mystery Box)
Used by	Frank Woods, Alex Mason, Mark McKnight, C.I.A., CDC, Green Run Group, Mobsters
HUD icon
Consolecodename(s)	barretm82

"Semi-automatic, high caliber sniper rifle. Effective at long range."

— Description

Campaign

The Barrett .50cal also appears in Call of Duty: Black Ops II, now called Barrett M82A1. It is part of the recommended loadout for the mission "Time and Fate", and scriptly used in the mission "Suffer With Me" where it is used by Frank Woods to shoot Mason. It can be unlocked for use in any mission once "Time and Fate" has been reached.

Attachments

• ACOG Sight
• Variable Zoom
• Suppressor
• Extended Clip
• Fast Mag

Zombies

"First manufactured towards the end of the 20th century, but a fine piece of weaponry by any measures."

— Marlton Johnson, when obtaining the M82A1 from the Mystery Box in Die Rise.

The M82A1 is available in the Mystery Box in all maps except Origins. The weapon is rather weak, as it boasts very low accuracy, mediocre damage, barely manageable magazine capacity, extremely high recoil, and a sniper scope by default (which can be a hindrance in close quarters, where most action will take place). With its poor traits, the Barrett M82A1 is a fairly inefficient weapon on later rounds, even though it is effective in early rounds.

When Pack-a-Punched, it becomes the Macro Annihilator, and gains increased damage and ammo capacities, as well as a Variable Zoom scope. The Macro Annihilator also gains improved hip-fire accuracy, as if it were to have a laser sight.

M82A1 vs Macro Annihilator

	Barrett M82A1	Macro Annihilator
Damage	600-500	1000
Fire mode	Semi-automatic	Semi-automatic
Rate of fire	416 RPM	416 RPM
Magazine size	5	7
Max ammo	30+5	42+7
Mobility	Medium	High
Extras		More ammo, larger magazine, Variable Zoom, higher damage, improved hipfire accuracy

Gallery

For attachment images, see Barrett .50cal/Attachments.

The Barrett M82A1 in first person

The Barrett M82A1 after being Pack-a-Punched in Zombies; note the variable zoom scope

Render of the M82A1's model, with the raised carrying handle gained when the variable zoom is attached

Render of the scope's model

Trivia

Call of Duty 4: Modern Warfare

• The Barrett .50cal has an unused front sight, but when the ACOG sight is equipped, the front sight is removed.
• The mounted version in "One Shot, One Kill" has two sets of bipod legs, one folded and one unfolded.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2

• The Barrett .50cal has a Mr. Yuk sticker on the lens cap although it can be difficult to see it at first (it is easiest to see when the player sprints). The player will not be able to see it if they have a different scope attached.
• This gun has the serial number A0750319. This is most easily seen with Arctic Camouflage.
• When zoomed in with the ACOG, the player can see that the rear iron sight is marked for yards.
• Strangely, the Barrett .50cal's scope in "Of Their Own Accord" looks the same as the regular scope, even though it uses a Thermal Scope.
• There is a finger-print on the left side of the weapon, between the serial number and the left knob on the Iron Sights. This is easily seen when the Blue or Red Tiger Camouflages are applied.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3

• The Barrett uses the scope_overlay_m40a3 reticle from Call of Duty 4 in all singleplayer modes, but uses the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 generic reticle in multiplayer modes.

Call of Duty: Black Ops ll

The model used by Woods in "Suffer With Me"

• In "Suffer With Me", the Barrett M82A1 used to snipe Alex Mason is called "M82A1 20x Variable Zoom". It has no idle sway, even though the "hold breath" prompt is still present.
  • Despite having a variable zoom, the weapon model is that of the standard scope version, as evidenced by the opened lens cap and the lack of a carrying handle.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Remastered

• The bipod is unfolded when being held by the player's character in the lobby screen as well as the HUD icon. Otherwise, the bipod is completely absent from the in-game model and the Create-a-Class inspection screen.
• "CAL. 50", "MODEL M82A1", "SER. 2738" and "PAT. 269015: can be seen engraved on the left side of the weapon above the magazine
• The fire selector is erroneously set to "SAFE".