The Barrett MRAD is a folding stock, multi caliber bolt action with a monolithic upper and a quick change barrel. My Tungsten Grey MRAD in .308 shot a 0.818 MOA 5 shot group at 100 yards with Federal Premium 168 grain BTHP, three of five loads went under 1 MOA, and suppressed it was soft enough to spot my own hits on steel at 500 yards.
Still in production? Yes. As of October 2026, Barrett lists the .308 MRAD in 17 and 24 inch versions, the fixed stock MRAD SMR, and a new 17 inch MRAD Covert.
Results, specs and the verdict come first, then the full review.
Table of contents
Barrett MRAD .308 Test Results
| Load | 5 shot group at 100 yd |
|---|---|
| Federal Premium 168 gr BTHP | 0.818 MOA |
| Hornady Whitetail 150 gr InterLock | 0.955 MOA |
| Hornady Precision Hunter 178 gr ELD-X | 0.981 MOA |
| Hornady Superformance 168 gr ELD Match | 1.599 MOA |
| Magtech 147 gr FMJ | 2.363 MOA |
Barrett MRAD .308 Specs
| MRAD .308 Win | |
|---|---|
| Action | Bolt action repeater |
| Barrel | 17 or 24 in, 1:8 twist, fluted stainless |
| Overall length | 40.4 / 47.4 in |
| Weight | 11.9 / 13.3 lb |
| Magazine | 10 round |
| Rail | 21.75 in, 10 MIL taper |
| Stock | Folding, adjustable LOP and cheek |
| Trigger | Two stage, 3 lb ± 0.5, tool free removal |
| MSRP when tested | $6,650 |
Verdict
- Good: sub MOA with three factory loads, very soft shooting suppressed, rugged folding stock, monolithic upper for clip on night vision and thermal, caliber changes.
- Know this: heavy and expensive, proprietary magazines, and my time with the rifle was a two day range trip.
Compare it with other long range rifles in our long range rifle rankings.
More MRAD coverage: MRAD Covert and MRAD ELR.
🛒 Check Current Price for Barrett MRAD on GunsAmerica
Designed to be adaptable to various mission requirements, the Barrett MRAD (Multi-Role Adaptive Design) can be easily reconfigured for different calibers, barrel lengths, and stock configurations. The MRAD features a folding stock, a free-floating barrel, an adjustable trigger, and a quick-change barrel system.
It features an integrated 10 MIL Picatinny rail system for attaching optics and other accessories. Recently winning the USSOCOM for the MK22 variant of the MRAD, the MRAD is widely used by military and law enforcement.
The MRAD is available in three finishes, Black, Tungsten Grey, or Flat Dark Earth. It is chambered in 338 Lapua Mag, 338 Norma Mag, 300 Norma Mag, 300 PRC, 300 Win Mag, 308 Winchester, and 6.5 Creedmoor.
Additionally, the MRAD is offered in the SMR configuration with a fixed stock, and the MK22 variant with a coyote finish and chambered in 338 Norma Mag, 300 Norma Mag, and 7.62 x 51 NATO. For this review, I tested out the Tungsten Grey MRAD chambered in 308.
Out of the Box
Recently I was given the opportunity to test out the Barrett MRAD during a two-day range trip out to my parent’s farm. From the factory, the Barrett MRAD comes with two 10-round magazines, two sling swivels, three accessory rails, and a hard carrying case.
While I did not purchase this rifle, or get to spend as much time with it as I would like when giving a firearm review, we still put it through its paces.
Receiver/Handguard
One of the coolest features of this rifle in my opinion is the monolithic upper receiver. Machined down from a single piece of 7000-series aluminum, the upper and handguard provide a very rigid interface for the attachment of electro-optics and other accessories.
Knowing end users need their equipment to maintain zero, a monolithic upper receiver is a real advantage. As a guy who was concerned about IR laser shift on AR15 rails, I worked on a whole test to show how well different rails performed, and a monolithic upper did best against the two piece designs I tested.
The receiver and handguard are equipped with a full-length Picatinny top rail featuring a 10 Mils taper (previously 30 MOA). This design enables scopes to use a greater portion of their built-in adjustment range, specifically beneficial for long-range shooting.
Furthermore, the handguard is equipped with convenient mounting slots positioned at 3, 6, and 9 o’clock. This provides the flexibility to mount accessories in any desired position.
Moreover, the full-length rail provides ample space for mounting clip-on NV (Night Vision) and thermal systems. This enables users to enhance their shooting capabilities by incorporating additional night vision or thermal imaging technologies into their existing day setup.
Stock
Another unique feature of the MRAD lineup (excluding SMR) is the incorporation of a folding stock. The ability to fold rifles for easier transport has become a big selling point in recent years and for good reason. Hiking and traveling are both much easier when the overall length of a rifle is shortened by about a foot.
The folding stock incorporates a robust hinge that can be easily activated with a simple push of a button. Barrett says it has passed military drop tests. After getting hands-on, the folding mechanism feels more rugged than other folding systems I have seen.
The lightweight folding stock has a tooless push button to adjust the length of pull and recoil pad height. It also features a reversible polymer cheekpiece that is easily adjusted. The cheekpiece felt good, and the rubber recoil pad helped absorb what little recoil this rifle produced when shooting suppressed.
Trigger
The MRAD is equipped with a two-stage trigger set from the factory to a weight of 3 ± 0.5 lbs. It can be easily removed from the lower receiver of the rifle without the need for any tools. This feature enhances the rifle’s modularity and facilitates field serviceability, allowing for quick and convenient maintenance. The trigger is also user adjustable for overtravel and pull weight. The lower also features an oversized trigger guard which allows easy access even with gloves.
In addition to its easy removal, the trigger is also user adjustable. Shooters have the ability to customize the trigger’s overtravel and pull weight according to their preferences and shooting style. Moreover, the lower receiver of the MRAD rifle includes an oversized trigger guard. This enables easy access to the trigger, even when wearing gloves.
Magazines
The MRAD rifle uses its own proprietary 10-round magazines. However, due to Barrett’s complete design control, they have achieved compatibility with multiple calibers. This means that magazines designed for 338 Lapua Mag, 338 Norma Mag, 300 Norma Mag, 300 PRC, 300 Win Mag, 308 Winchester, and 6.5 Creedmoor can all fit in the same lower receiver.
During testing, the 308 magazines reliably fed without any problems, in my testing. The lower receiver also features a relief cut to aid in quick reloads.
Controls
Barrett includes a reversible 45° safety that is large enough to work as a thumb rest. I found this to be comfortable and it helped with getting the steady hand position needed for precise shots.
Barrel
Barrett’s MRAD lineup showcases a match-grade, fluted stainless steel barrel, which enables 5-shot, sub-MOA performance when using premium ammunition. In my testing, it met that claim with three of five loads.
Also, the MRAD features a quick-change barrel system that allows for easy and rapid barrel configuration changes using just one tool. Additionally, for the MK22 kit, Barrett specifies less than a 6 MOA shift between the three different barrels (338 Norma Magnum, .300 Norma Magnum, and .308).
This assurance means that when swapping between these barrels, users can expect their rifles to remain “on paper” with no need for boresighting.
Suppressor
For the entirety of this review, I was using the Barrett AM 30 suppressor. While shooting suppressed is always the polite thing to do, this also slightly increases the velocity of the rounds and decreases the muzzle flash.
The AM 30 has a signature reduction of between -25-30 dB, mounts with the Barrett® Muzzle Brake Adaptor, and is 8.3″ long. The suppressor never worked itself loose during my shooting and helped reduce recoil.
Accuracy
As previously stated, Barrett offers a 5-shot, sub-MOA guarantee with premium ammunition and I am happy to report I was able to achieve this. I shot groups from 100 yards using Hornady, Federal, and Magtech ammunition and was able to get sub-MOA 5-shot groups with three of the different types of ammo. The table and picture below show how tight my 5-round groups were:
Performance
Although the folding stock and monolithic upper receiver caught my attention with their appealing aesthetics and functionality, the standout for me was how soft it shoots. The combination of the suppressor, rubber butt pad, and the rifle’s weight exceeding 13 lbs (including the mounted scope) made for very light recoil.
Shooting from a tripod, I consistently hit a C-zone-sized steel silhouette at 500 yards, and even achieved successful hits on a 5″ hostage steel swinger at the same distance while shooting prone, despite challenging gusty winds. The bolt operated smoothly, and I encountered no issues with rounds binding up while working the action.
Summary
After my review, I can understand how the MRAD from Barrett has earned its position as the winner of the USSOCOM contract. It is ruggedly built, and the monolithic upper receiver is a strong platform for attaching NV (Night Vision) and thermal clip-on devices.
The inclusion of a folding stock adds to its versatility, and the option for easy barrel and caliber swaps enhances its adaptability. With three factory loads under 1 MOA for five shots, the MRAD showed real precision. Considering all its features and capabilities, the MRAD carried an MSRP of $6,650 when I tested it.
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FAQ
How accurate is the Barrett MRAD in .308?
My best 5 shot group at 100 yards was 0.818 MOA with Federal Premium 168 grain BTHP; three of five loads went under 1 MOA.
What barrel lengths does the MRAD come in for .308?
Barrett lists 17 and 24 inch .308 barrels.
What is the difference between the MRAD and MRAD SMR?
The SMR is a single caliber version with a fixed stock and a barrel held by a barrel nut; the standard MRAD folds and changes calibers.
Mitchell Graf is a dedicated hunter, competitive shooter, and firearms enthusiast. As a former instructor and president of Oklahoma State’s Practical Shooting Team, he has a strong foundation in marksmanship and competition shooting. These days, he spends as much time as possible chasing pigs and coyotes with night vision and thermal optics.
When he’s not in the field or on the range, Mitchell works as a full-time Mechanical Engineer in the Aerospace and Defense industry and manages a part-time farming operation. Whether he’s behind a rifle, designing parts, or working the land, his drive for precision and performance remains the same.
Experience:– Mechanical Engineer – Full-time professional in the Aerospace/Defense industry.– Competitive Shooter & Instructor – Former President and Instructor of Oklahoma State’s Practical Shooting Team.– Night Vision & Thermal Hunter – Passionate about night time predator and hog hunting.– Part-Time Farmer – Working to provide for my family, and raise food for this great nation.
I also shot one of these at the range with my buddy. He owns it. I watched him swap out barrels, dial the scope for the zero of the new barrel, and shoot dead nuts accurate on target. The process took maybe a minute, and if I hadn’t seen it myself I would not have believed it. Super impressive system.