Barrett does not roll out new hardware quietly. When the company moves, it does so with the confidence of a house that knows its reputation is already written in steel and carbon fiber. The 2026 lineup is not a cosmetic refresh or a marketing exercise. It is a practical answer to how people actually carry rifles, feed them, and fight or compete with them when weight, space, and consistency matter.
This year’s releases hit three pressure points at once. Mobility. Precision. And the reality that rifles live in the real world, not on spec sheets.
MRAD Covert: The Rifle That Goes Where You Go
The MRAD Covert is what happens when a full-size precision rifle is built to travel without being treated like excess cargo. Built on the proven MRAD platform, the Covert folds and breaks down into a package that fits inside a backpack with no compromises.
This is not a chopped curiosity piece. From the factory, the MRAD Covert comes chambered in either .308 Winchester or 6.5 Creedmoor, running a 17-inch barrel that still delivers five-shot groups under 0.85 minute of angle. That kind of performance out of a compact, transportable rifle is no accident. It is the result of Barrett refusing to sacrifice barrel quality, action integrity, or mechanical precision in the name of convenience.
The rifle remains fully compatible with MRAD barrel conversion kits, which means the Covert does not lock you into a single role. It adapts. Each rifle ships with an Eberlestock Adapt backpack, reinforcing the point that this system was designed around movement, not the bench.
The MRAD Covert is built for the shooter who understands that precision does not stop mattering just because you have to travel light.
Feeding the Big Guns: Barrett .50 BMG Precision Ammunition
Precision rifles are only as honest as the ammunition behind them. Barrett’s expansion of its Precision Ammunition line into .50 BMG territory addresses a long-standing problem. Shooters running large-caliber platforms often have to choose between consistency and availability. This offering aims to eliminate that tradeoff.
The new .50 BMG load pushes a 660-grain MTAC projectile at approximately 2,800 feet per second from a 32-inch barrel. That velocity is paired with match-grade components, climate-stable powders, premium primers, and carefully controlled cases. The result is ammunition designed for repeatability across environmental conditions, not just ideal range days.
Optimized external ballistics, reduced wind drift, and extended supersonic range are not buzzwords at this level. They are survival traits for shots measured in distance, time, and consequence.
The REC10 Comes Back Online
Some rifles disappear not because they fail, but because something bigger demands attention. The REC10 was placed on hold while Barrett focused on fulfilling its MRAD MK22 contract obligations. Now it is back, and it returns without apologies.
The REC10 is a direct-impingement, semi-automatic rifle available in .308 Winchester or 6.5 Creedmoor, with 16-inch or 20-inch barrel options. It delivers five-shot sub-MOA accuracy and features fully ambidextrous controls and a tuned gas system that manages recoil without beating the shooter or the rifle into submission.
Scheduled to return to availability in mid-2026, the REC10 fills the space between precision and speed for those who need both without explanation.
Color With a Purpose
Barrett’s expanded Cerakote offerings are not fashion statements. For 2026, MRAD, M107A1, and Model 82A1 rifles can now be ordered in White, Blaze Red, Liberty Blue, Burnt Bronze, and Sniper Green, along with Woodland Camo and Grey Urban Camo options. Standard finishes remain available.
Sometimes color is about visibility. Sometimes it is about environment. Sometimes it is about owning exactly what you want without asking permission.
Built for Those Who Know
What ties this lineup together is not novelty. It is intent. Compact rifles that do not surrender precision. Ammunition that respects distance. A semi-automatic platform brought back because shooters demanded it. Finishes that recognize rifles are tools to be used, not museum pieces.
Barrett is not chasing trends. It is listening to people who use their equipment hard, carry it far, and expect it to work every time.
That mindset does not need fanfare. It shows up on target every time.
About Barrett
Barrett is the world leader in long-range, large-caliber, precision rifle design and manufacturing. Barrett products are used by civilians, sport shooters, law enforcement agencies, the United States military, and more than 80 US Department of State-approved countries around the world. The Barrett Quality Management System (QMS) has received the prestigious ISO 9001:2015 certification for the design and manufacture of firearms, ammunition, and accessories, and to provide training for those systems. Barrett is part of the NIOA Group. For more information, please visit www.barrett.net.
