MRAD vs Custom Build

[Bruce K]

I’m looking at purchasing a Barrett MRAD in 300 Norma Mag and 6.5 Creedmoor versus building a custom rifle selecting quick change action like a Terminus Zeus, Bartlein barrel, MPA chassis and trigger of choice.

Barrett, AI and others with multi-caliber rifles allow shooting calibers from short action (6.5 Creedmoor) to long action calibers (300 Norma Mag and others). I’m not sure if quick change actions from Terminus and others offer the ability to shoot both short and long actions. If not, this is a benefit to the Barrett and AI variants.

Precision. Is there a precision advantage to the custom builds (excluding custom cut chambers) over multi-caliber rifles from Barrett, AI and others? While I have several custom bolt guns, several with custom non-SAAMI spec chambers for specific bullets and optimized freebores, these rifles require the action to be removed from the stock, locked in a gun vise with barrel wrenches to remove the barrel. Also, they don’t come with adjustable bolt faces to accommodate short vs long action cartridges that I’m aware of.

I do handload and plan to work up loads for the calibers I purchase.

My question is how much precision if any should I anticipate losing with a multi-caliber rifle like an MRAD over a custom bolt gun using premium components and barrels from Bartlein. Most reviews of the MRAD and AI I’ve seen were done with factory cartridges and performance was said to be sub-moa. I’m really hoping to consistently be under .5 MOA with handloads which I’m able to achieve with my custom builds in 6mm variants using Impact Actions, Bartlein barrels, Foundation stocks, Spuhr mounts and Nightforce ATACR optics as a general description. Some with custom chambers for the Berger 105 grain Hybrid Target on a good day are in the .25 MOA range.

Has anyone been able to achieve consistent sub .5 MOA with any load, factor or handload with multi-caliber rifles from MRAD or AI? I’m buying the MRAD because I don’t own one and I just want one and hoping they can deliver better precision that sub-MOA which to me means just under one-inch groups. The ruggedness of the MRAD is a cool feature I’m likely not to need since I’m not an operator in a war zone, but cool, nonetheless.

If you were to build a custom multi-caliber rifle, what action would you use and why?

 

[TheOE800]

My question is how much precision if any should I anticipate losing with a multi-caliber rifle like an MRAD over a custom bolt gun using premium components and barrels from Bartlein.

My factory 300 PRC MRAD barrel regularly shoots half MOA. The custom 6.5 Creedmoor, a PVA Osprey, shot quarter inch groups during break in.

You are more than likely the limiting factor in any modern, high quality rifle system.

I wouldn’t build a multi-caliber rifle. Any “quick change” system out there simply doesn’t touch what AI or Barrett have done and they have the magazine ecosystem to support it. Otherwise if you’ve got a bench, a barrel vise, and an action wrench you’ve got a multi caliber rifle though you’re running crappy AICS mags.

 

[Maurygold]

I’ll never understand the appeal to these multi cal setups. MRAD and AI have dog shit triggers and changing calibers at home takes 4 minutes with the same repeatability.

The only advantage is some go from short action mags to long action better with feeding but no one is shooting these in PRS so I don’t really see why that’s so critical

 

[waveslayer]

You won't have an issue with accuracy, my MRAD and DT shoot better than I can. If you are going PRS, I think a custom build is the way to go.

 

[J McGriddle]

Barrett and AI rifles will shoot comparable to Custom builds. The 2nd tightest group of my life (.187 MOA) was shot with an MRAD in 6.5CM with hand loads.

To me, it comes down to convenience. If you want to swap barrels often and/or don't have access to a vise; the Barrett and AI make more sense.

 

[Bruce K]

I’ll never understand the appeal to these multi cal setups. MRAD and AI have dog shit triggers and changing calibers at home takes 4 minutes with the same repeatability.

The only advantage is some go from short action mags to long action better with feeding but no one is shooting these in PRS so I don’t really see why that’s so critical

I've never pulled the trigger on an AI or MRAD which comes with a two-stage trigger, but optional adjustable triggers are available from Timney and possibly others.

Barrett and AI quick change barrel kits allow the shooting of short and long action calibers, how is this possible with premium actions from Impact, Defiance and others? If this is exclusive to these multi-caliber rifles that's an advantage.

I would not use this rifle for PRS and have custom bolt guns suitable for those events. This is something I've been curious about adding to my collection of rifles.

 

[Bruce K]

Barrett and AI rifles will shoot comparable to Custom builds. The 2nd tightest group of my life (.187 MOA) was shot with an MRAD in 6.5CM with hand loads.

To me, it comes down to convenience. If you want to swap barrels often and/or don't have access to a vise; the Barrett and AI make more sense.

It seems sub .5 MOA is possible with handloads and the ability to shoot short and long action calibers with multi-caliber rifles from Barrett, AI and others is intriguing. At one of our clubs, we have a range with targets from 50 to 1,000 yards and being able to easily change barrels onsite is a worthwhile convenience since shooting a 300 Norma Mag is pricey.

I'm interested in the MRAD because it seems like a fun gun to have and I have a half dozen custom bolt guns in 6mm and 6.5mm with actions from Impact and barrels from Bartlein and Hawk Hill, some with custom spec chambers.

 

[Maurygold]

I've never pulled the trigger on an AI or MRAD which comes with a two-stage trigger, but optional adjustable triggers are available from Timney and possibly others.

Barrett and AI quick change barrel kits allow the shooting of short and long action calibers, how is this possible with premium actions from Impact, Defiance and others? If this is exclusive to these multi-caliber rifles that's an advantage.

I would not use this rifle for PRS and have custom bolt guns suitable for those events. This is something I've been curious about adding to my collection of rifles.

None of them are close to a Triggertech or bix. And for that kind of investment I’m adamant about the trigger being exceptional.

There are long action magazines that allow short action rounds to feed.

If you have other rifles and really want this then that’s one thing since you likely understand how easy it would be to change a barrel on an action.

 

[kthomas]

It seems sub .5 MOA is possible with handloads and the ability to shoot short and long action calibers with multi-caliber rifles from Barrett, AI and others is intriguing. At one of our clubs, we have a range with targets from 50 to 1,000 yards and being able to easily change barrels onsite is a worthwhile convenience since shooting a 300 Norma Mag is pricey.

I'm interested in the MRAD because it seems like a fun gun to have and I have a half dozen custom bolt guns in 6mm and 6.5mm with actions from Impact and barrels from Bartlein and Hawk Hill, some with custom spec chambers.

A .300NM is overkill for 1,000 yards.

Just get a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle.

 

[Bruce K]

A .300NM is overkill for 1,000 yards.

Just get a 6.5 Creedmoor rifle.

First, I'm getting a 300 Norma Mag and 6.5 Creedmoor for the fun of it. I have several 6mm and 6.5mm bolt guns now, one with a custom chamber specifically for the Berger 105 grain Hybrid Target bullet (6mm).

We or many of us have more guns than we need or can shoot.

 

[TheOE800]

Buy my 300 PRC/6.5 combo instead. Still get magnum bragging rights but not quite as dumb as 300NM.

 

[kthomas]

First, I'm getting a 300 Norma Mag and 6.5 Creedmoor for the fun of it. I have several 6mm and 6.5mm bolt guns now, one with a custom chamber specifically for the Berger 105 grain Hybrid Target bullet (6mm).

We or many of us have more guns than we need or can shoot.

I would just build two dedicated rifles

 

[Long Range 338]

I love how a question is asked and OP is instructed beyond the scope of original questions…

If you want a 300 NM just because, knock yourself out. It’s one hell of a cartridge. If you want an AI or Barrett, I say go for it because…America!

The multi caliber rifles are amazing for what they are. Just understand they are a platform with an ecosystem-whether it’s good or not is another topic. The AI is exceptional in every way. The Barrett is a great platform in its own right. The triggers are both top notch and completely useable. The limitations to those systems are the ability to customize, and they are all limited in that regard. It is the cost of entry.

In a custom rifle you can specify and build each component to your preference. As a platform, the custom action gives you a more open foundation to build your way. Triggers, barrels, chambering, chassis, etc it’s all your way. The only place the advantage goes to the multi caliber platforms is with magazines and the ability to go from long to short action chamberings. Not that it can’t be done but it’s already built into the system.

 

[USMC8551]

I have the Barrett MRAD, and I have an MR-19 from JPE that I just got in June, which is obviously custom and a dedicated 6.5 Creed rifle, but also obviously not hand-built by me, so I guess take this for what it's worth...or not worth.

As another person commented, in most rifles I've owned or shot, the single most significant limiting factor in the equation is me and my abilities (or lack of, as the case may be).

I like the idea of a QD barrel, but here's the thing: I will never be in a situation where I'm lugging a rifle and kit around and need to swap out barrels. At least not in a deployment situation, anyway. So while the two-bolt-remove-twist-and-go is really nice at the range if I want to shoot 300 WM for a while instead of Creed that day, it's definitely not a necessity. (Or if I want to just shoot some groups of one caliber for load development and then shoot a different caliber the remainder of the day, for example.) So, the dude who commented about a four-minute barrel change at home isn't really answering your question. The barrel change in and of itself isn't the issue, necessarily; it's the convenience of it, which is also sold as purpose-driven for the masses of civilians who buy this shit because it's aligned with anything to do with the military. Make anything and label it "tactical," mark it up 30%, and let the revenue stream in. (Still do really love my Barrett, though, regardless.)

All things considered, most of my rifles shoot about the same as each other when I'm behind them. Put my dad behind them, they shoot tighter. Put my daughter behind them, who's learning to shoot, and the groups are what you might expect. So, we're back to the common denominator: Me.

My six cents: Chances are, you won't shoot any better or worse just because you picked one rifle over another, or bought one preassembled instead of building yourself, but this is a common concern. When we spend a shitload of money, we want to make sure we're making the right decision. The right decision is whichever rifle you prefer, unless you're looking to shoot different calibers and don't want to invest in multiple setups. Then it's a no-brainer. If you really want a Barrett and the QD (and folding stock) isn't important to you, consider the SMR instead and save some money.

S/F