Ukrainian Sniper Talks Swapping His Hunting Rifle for Barrett MRAD

• A Ukrainian sniper described how he made the jump from a hunting rifle to a US-made Barrett MRAD sniper rifle.
• He told BI that the US-made Barrett had a positive effect on operations.
• He said that the Barrett was more accurate than the hunting rifle with which he started the war.

A Ukrainian Special Operations Forces sniper told Business Insider that it made a huge difference in battle when he traded out his civilian hunting rifle for a US-made Barrett MRAD, a weapon the US military embraced years ago for its versatility.

The sniper said that he only used his hunting rifle for a short period in the fall of 2023 before upgrading to the Barrett sniper rifle.

Harley is a Ranger in Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces 4th Regiment. He told BI through a translator that when Russia launched its full-scale invasion, he went to war with his hunting rifle from US gunmaker Savage Arms. Then he got his hands on the MRAD, or Multi-role Adaptaptive Design, rifle from Barrett Firearms.

Both guns are bolt-action rifles, but Harley described the Savage as a civilian rifle, not a military one. By contrast, the Barrett rifle was created specifically to meet the requirements of a US Special Operations Command, or SOCOM, sniper rifle program. Different US service branches have picked up the rifle over the years. The weapon is also used by other militaries, including Ukraine.

Harley said that he received the MRAD chambered in .338 Lapua Magnum. The interesting thing about the MRAD, though, is that it can be chambered in different calibers. The sniper said he could change out the barrel in training, using cheaper, more readily available .308 ammunition. He said it gives him greater flexibility.

Different calibers support different mission sets, so the ability to change the barrel and caliber of the rifle out in the field is exceptionally advantageous. The US Army has described this rifle as “a multi-caliber, bolt-action sniper rifle, which is effective against personnel and material targets at extreme ranges.”

Harley also praised the Barrett for having a more accurate barrel than the Savage.

“I can say that the rifle is very good,” Harley said of the Barrett. He could not disclose whether he’s had any confirmed kills as a sniper.

Harley stressed that it’s not just the weapon that matters in combat. The attachments can make a difference in effectiveness. He can outfit his MRAD rifle with add-ons like thermal imaging attachments, night vision sights, and laser guidance to give him an edge in battle.

“The rifle itself will do nothing without a sight, without a night vision device, without a night observation device,” he said. The Barrett attachments allow him to work during the day and night.

A sniper has a unique ability to send precision fire down range for a kill, typically from concealed positions, but they often support operations in other ways, such as targeting and overwatch. The rifle is a valuable tool in those missions, even if a shot is never fired.

Harley described how he could find a Russian target and highlight it for a fellow soldier operating a Mk 19 grenade launcher, who could then drop a high-explosive round on the Russian target. In other words, the Barrett shouldn’t be viewed as just an individual weapon but rather part of a bigger system of capabilities.

Harley used the Barrett for a year until last fall, when he became an instructor. During his years in active combat operations, he was sent to different sectors of the front line.