Barrett 98 Bravo

The Barrett Model 98B, or 98 Bravo, was developed as a bolt-action precision rifle rather than a scaled-down M82. Barrett's own announcement describes the 98B Tactical and Fieldcraft as purpose-built systems refined around user adaptability, while reference sources identify the original 98B as a .338 Lapua Magnum rifle introduced around 2008. The rifle helped Barrett compete in the long-range precision market below .50 BMG.

The 98B's design brought AR-style ergonomics and modular thinking into a bolt-action precision rifle. Barrett emphasized an adjustable match trigger, configurable barrel and receiver options, and modern accessory interfaces in later variants. The goal was a rifle that could provide magnum-cartridge reach while staying more manageable than .50-caliber anti-materiel systems.

The 98B's significance is partly developmental. Reference histories link the MRAD to the 98B, and Barrett's later product line leaned heavily into multi-caliber precision rifles. The 98B therefore belongs in the story of modern sniper rifles becoming modular systems, with user-changeable components and calibers replacing single-purpose fixed designs.