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BR55 battle rifle: Difference between revisions

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{{Era|H2|HW|FS|GOO|UP|HGN}}
{{Status|Canon}}
{{HaloWikiLink|Battle_Rifle}}
{{Weapon infobox
{{Weapon
|image=[[File:H5G Render BR55 Service Rifle.png|300px]]
| image=[[Image:BattleRifleAngles.JPG|300px]]
|manufacturer=[[Misriah Armory]]{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22|Enc22|Page=168}}
| name=BR55 Battle Rifle
|series=BR55
| manufacturer=
|type=Bullpup [[battle rifle]]
| model=BR55
|cost=
| type=Bullpup Rifle
|variant=
| cost=
|service=[[Human-Covenant War]]
| size=Handheld, Two-Handed
<br>[[Post-Covenant War conflicts]]
*length: 89.9 centimeters
|affiliation=[[United Nations Space Command]]
| damage per hit=
|weight={{Convert|3.8|kg|lb}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}
*Against shielded enemies: Medium
|length={{Convert|89.9|cm|in}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}
*Flesh damage: High
|ammotype=9.5×40mm [[M634 Experimental High-Powered Semi-Armor-Piercing]]{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
*Overall damage: Medium
|capacity=
| magazine=36 rounds
|feed=36-round magazine{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}
| maxammo=144 rounds or 4 magazines
|operation=[[wikipedia:Gas-operated#Short-stroke piston|Short-stroke piston]], [[wikipedia:Rotating bolt|rotating bolt]], [[wikipedia:Blowback (firearms)|locked breech]]
| fire=Three-Round Burst
|velocity=
| ammotype=M634 9.5x40mm X-HP-SAP (eXperimental-High Penetration-Semi Armor Piercing)
|optics=
| operation=Gas System with cam mechanism for burst fire
|range=900 meters{{Ref/Novel|Id=BR55DMR|HCH|Chapter=13}}{{Ref/Note|The ''Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe'' claims that the BR55 battle rifle has a maximum effective range of 200 meters. However, this figure is unlikely given that most 21st century rifles have an effective range far greater than 200 meters. As such, this article assumes that the BR55 has the same range as its prototype, the XBR55.}}
| rate of fire=2.4 bursts per second
| accuracy=High
| range=Medium range
| era=Introduced by 2525
| counterpart=[[Covenant Carbine]]
| counterwep=*@ Close Range: [[Shotgun]], [[Energy Sword]]
*@ Long Range: [[Sniper Rifle]]s
| affiliation=[[United Nations Space Command]]
}}
}}
The '''BR55 Battle Rifle''' is a [[United Nations Space Command]] infantry service rifle, which uses a bullpup configuration. A newer variant, the [[BR55HB SR|BR55HB SR Battle Rifle]] was introduced in the [[Halo 3 Beta]].
{{Quote|When nothing else gets the job done, the BR55 Battle Rifle will do.|''[[Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition)|Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe]]''{{Ref/Reuse|Enc09}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}}}
The '''BR55 Service Rifle''' is an infantry [[battle rifle]] in service within the armed forces of the [[United Nations Space Command]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}{{Ref/Book|Id=EVG|EVG|Page=21}} Among UNSC service personnel, the BR55 has accumulated a number of nicknames including the "'''Monkey Wrench'''", "'''BR'''", and the "'''Big Boy'''".{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc09|Enc09|Page=305}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc11|Enc11|Page=318-319}} It is notable for its powerful three-round burst fire and accurate 2× scope, making it more efficient at farther ranges than the [[MA5 series|MA5 series assault rifles]].  


==Summary==
==Overview==
The BR55 Battle Rifle is a bullpup [[United Nations Space Command|UNSC]] rifle. It was already in service by 2525. It replaced the [[M6D Pistol]] as the primary mid-range UNSC firearm, although the power of the Battle Rifle is less than that of the M6D. Furthermore, the Battle Rifle is a burst-fire weapon, whereas the M6D was semi-automatic.
===Design details===
The BR55 Service Rifle is a gas-operated, magazine-fed, mid-to-long range weapon capable of three fire modes;{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} semi-automatic,{{Ref/Reuse|Enc09}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}} fully automatic,{{Ref/Novel|Oblv|Chapter=9}} and a three-round burst-fire.{{Ref/Game|Id=H2|H2|[[Battle Rifle]] in-game weapon}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc09}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}} The weapon is most commonly fired in the latter of these modes.{{Ref/Book|Id=H2M|Halo 2 manual|Page=10}}{{Ref/Book|Id=H2LEM|Halo 2 Limited Collector's Edition manual|Page=13}} The rifle has a bullpup layout, with a detachable 36-round box magazine loaded behind the grip and trigger, with a safety switch located above the handle. While serving to reduce the weapon's length, the rifled barrel of the weapon extends its total length to {{Convert|89.9|cm|in}}. It is typically equipped with a three-pronged [[Wikipedia:Flash suppressor|flash suppressor]], though this attachment can be swapped out for others such as a [[suppressor]].{{Ref/Level|HW2|Gatecrashers|Detail=Mission select artwork ([[:File:HW2-Odsts-1.jpg|File link]])}} As with the other weapons in [[Misriah Armory]]'s battle rifle line, the BR55 fires [[9.5x40mm]] [[M634 Experimental High-Powered Semi-Armor-Piercing|M634 HP-SAP]],{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} and 9.5x40mm SAP-HE.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}


==Advantages==
The BR55 is fitted with an optics rail above the barrel, complete with a mounting point for a [[telescopic sight]]. By default, the weapon is equipped with a so-called (and retroactively-named) "[[classic sight]]",{{Ref/Game|H5G|List of REQ cards|REQ card|Detail=Halo 2 Battle Rifle description|Quote=BR with Classic Sight. Reliable firepower never goes out of style. Battle Rifle with full-screen zoom.}} capable of x2 magnification.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}{{Ref/Reuse|H2M}}{{Ref/Reuse|H2LEM}} It features no iron sights.
Designated the BR55 Battle Rifle, it has reasonably high power, a decent rate of fire, and high accuracy with a 2x magnification scope; it can be used to deliver three-shot-bursts at medium ranges. In [[multiplayer]], four full bursts to the head will kill a fully-shielded opponent, assuming standard [[shields]]. This weapon will kill an unshielded enemy in a single headshot. This requires that only one of the three rounds from a burst hit an enemy. Therefore, it is possible to kill up to three unshielded opponents in a single burst if they are grouped close enough to each other, though this is an uncommon occurrence. Right after you shoot however, it is possible to only shoot one shot rather than 3 bullets with a melee attack to disrupt the burst.


==Disadvantages==
Overall, the weapon is considered to have high accuracy and high rate-of-fire, leading it to be popular among UNSC service personnel.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc09}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}
At longer ranges, it is necessary to minimize strafing movements when firing to avoid "splintering" the shot grouping too much. Since each "shot" is really a three-round-burst, certain movements can break up your shot's grouping and greatly reduce accuracy. This also affects accuracy when firing from a moving vehicle such as a Warthog (especially when firing at a 90-degree angle from the vehicle's heading).


The Battle Rifle is not as effective at close ranges, nor is it particularly effective against [[Elites]] on higher difficulties due to the slow rate of fire. Each bullet also acts as a tracer which gives away the shooter's position. Also, the range is limited compared to the Sniper Rifle. The Battle Rifle is also not particularly effective against [[Flood]] [[Combat Forms]] due to its slow rate of fire. It is also not effective against Sentinels, and does negligible damage against vehicles.
[[File:Whitebkgrdrifle.jpg|thumb|The BR55 was one of the standard infantry rifles of the UNSC during the Covenant war.]]


== Tactics for Covenant ==
===Usage===
[[Image:Whitebkgrdrifle.jpg|200px|right]]
While newly introduced into UNSC service at the onset of the [[Human-Covenant War]], the BR55 quickly came to dominate all aspects of the military - becoming an extremely popular rifle throughout most of the military's branches.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} While formally designated a battle rifle, in practice the weapon fulfils the battlefield role of a [[Designated Marksman Rifle]],{{Ref/Reuse|BR55DMR}} and by [[2548]] had entirely eclipsed the pre-existing [[M392 DMR]] in all UNSC service except for the [[UNSC Army]]{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}} - with the [[BR55HB battle rifle|BR55HB]] upgrade fully-replacing it.{{Ref/Book|Id=EncDMR|Enc11|Page=316}}{{Ref/Site|Id=WPDMR|URL=http://halo.xbox.com/en-us/intel/featured/gallery/dmr/c0dfea7c-87fa-4224-82ff-c44d93b73f03|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=DMR|LocalArchive=Archive:Halo_Waypoint/2009 to 2014/Universe/Weapons|D=21|M=08|Y=2011}}{{Ref/Book|Id=Enc22DMR|Enc22|Page=171}} Although the heavy barrel variant was an upgrade of the BR55, in practice the two operate almost identically.{{Ref/Reuse|EVG}}
*Grunts:  
Grunts are slow and clumsy, and lack any form of shielding. A single headshot or a couple shots to the body will kill them. Due to the nature of the Battle Rifle's burst fire, it is possible to kill up to three Grunts in one burst (though very unlikely).


*Jackals:
As such, by [[2552]] almost all soldiers in the UNSC had trained in use of the BR55 - ensuring that what defects the weapon has are somewhat mitigated. By this time, the weapon was considered one of the standard firearms in use by UNSC forces.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc09}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc11}}
Not as effective as against Grunts, as the bullets bounce straight off a Jackal's Energy Shield. When confronted by a Jackal with its shield in defense position, fire a well-placed shot through the small notch, and, as the Jackal recoils from the wound, finish it off with a headshot. Also, in close-quarters combat, it is recommended to first melee the Jackal, and then finish it off with a headshot when it recoils from the blow.


*Jackal Snipers:
==Operational history==
At medium range, the rifle is an effective anti-sniper weapon, giving suppressive or covering fire. Since sniper Jackals do not use shields, they can be easily dispatched with a well-placed headshot or a couple shots to the body. As always, it is important to always use proper cover when engaging a Jackal sniper. Be careful you don't get sniped if you are forced to stand in the open, though, and be sure the Jackal doesn't recover and fire off a shot. This is extremely important for Legendary battles.  
While battle rifles began to see popularity throughout the UNSC beginning in the mid-2400s prior to the [[Insurrection]],{{Ref/Book|H4EVG|Page=61}} the BR55 did not enter service until the onset of the [[Human-Covenant War]] in [[2525]].{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}} The weapon was prototyped as the [[XBR55 battle rifle]] around the time of the [[First Battle of Harvest]], and was in the hands of [[SPARTAN-II program|Spartan-II]] supersoldiers by December of that year.{{Ref/Comic|Id=HCD1|HCD|Issue=1}} During these early encounters with the [[Covenant]], BR55s also fell into the hands of [[Insurrectionist]]s of the [[United Rebel Front]].{{Ref/Reuse|HCD1}} As the war progressed, the battle rifle proved itself an extremely popular weapon particularly in the service of the [[UNSC Navy]] and [[UNSC Marine Corps|Marine Corps]], in which it all-but replaced the older M392 marksman rifles. By [[2548]], the introduction of the BR55's upgraded model the BR55HB fully-replaced the M392 DMR in all services except for the UNSC Army.{{Ref/Reuse|EncDMR}}{{Ref/Reuse|WPDMR}}{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22DMR}}


*Elites:
The BR55's popularity ultimately contributed to the design of its successor models, the [[BR75 battle rifle|BR75]] and [[BR85 battle rifle]]s.{{Ref/Reuse|Enc22}}{{Ref/Site|URL=https://www.halowaypoint.com/en-us/universe/weapons/battle-rifle|Site=Halo Waypoint|Page=Battle Rifle|D=14|M=06|Y=2021}}
The Elite's energy shield is a great defence to the Battle Rifle. On Normal difficulty, a basic Minor Elite takes four full bursts to the head to kill, while Major Elites take six and Ultras take 12. However, unshielded Elites of any rank will die from a single headshot. Try to keep the rifle levelled at its head, and keep firing till it falls dead. It is advisable to soften an Elite up with grenades, [[melee]] attacks, or a [[Plasma Pistol]]'s charged shot before engaging them with a BR, especially on higher difficulties.


*Brutes:
==Gameplay==
You can kill a Brute with 3 headshots, as the first 2 bursts will knock off the helmet, then the following headshot will kill the Brute. However, shooting a Brute in the torso is not particularly effective due to their extreme resilience. (Note: The only stage in which Brutes can be fought with a Battle Rifle is [[High Charity (Level)|High Charity]]. The weapon can be acquired from the Flood Combat Forms in that level.)
{{Linkbox|gameplay=yes}}
===Advantages===
The BR55 has reasonably high power, a decent rate of fire, and high accuracy with an electronic 2× telescopic sights attachment; it can be used to deliver three-round bursts at medium ranges. In [[multiplayer]], three body shots and one head shot will kill a fully shielded opponent, assuming the player does not have an overshield. This weapon will kill an unshielded enemy in a single head shot. Target the head and if you're within range a red dot will appear in your reticule. This requires that only one of the three rounds from a burst actually hit and kill an enemy. Therefore, it is possible to kill up to three unshielded opponents in a single burst if they are grouped close enough to each other, though this is an uncommon occurrence. However, right after you shoot, it is possible to only shoot one round rather than three bullets, with a melee attack to disrupt the burst. Against vehicles like the {{Pattern|Wuzum|Spectre}} or {{Pattern|Karo'etba|Ghost}}, an experienced player can easily take out the driver, rendering the vehicle immobile, however, this is harder with the Warthog.


*Hunters:
In ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]'', the BR55 provides a slightly faster weapon switch and reload time compared to the [[BR85 battle rifle#BR85N Service Rifle|BR85N]]. Most notably, however, the BR55 has higher bullet magnetism, which allows targets to be hit with less-than-perfect aim.
Dodge behind them, and fire as many bursts as possible into their back before they turn around. Be careful when fighting an enraged Hunter, as they can backhand you and kill you with a single strike. It can take quite a few bursts to kill a Hunter, however, especially on higher difficulty levels. It is not recommended for purposes of killing Hunters.


*Drones:
===Disadvantages===
The Battle Rifle is not as effective against Drones, as they are extremely agile fliers, which makes them hard to hit. Furthermore, they are not vulnerable to headshots, and they often attack in swarms. Wait for them to land on a surface, then fire at them. They can take several bursts to kill, the exact number depending on the difficulty level (e.g. it requires two bursts on Easy and Normal).
At longer ranges, it is necessary to minimize strafing movements when firing to avoid "splintering" the shot grouping too much. Since each "shot" is actually a three-round burst, certain movements can break up your shot's grouping, and could greatly reduce accuracy. To avoid this, either swap it in for the Covenant Carbine, or get up to medium range. The Carbine has the same degree of firepower, and it lacks the splitting effect although it is slightly less accurate. This also affects accuracy when firing from a moving vehicle such as a [[M12 Force Application Vehicle|Warthog]] (especially when firing at a 90-degree angle from the vehicle's heading).  


==Tactics for Flood==
The BR55 is not as effective at long ranges. Each bullet also acts as a tracer which gives away the shooter's position. Also, the range is limited compared to the [[Sniper Rifle System 99C-S2 Anti-Matériel|Sniper Rifle]]. It is also not effective against [[Sentinel]]s, and does negligible damage against vehicles. Neither is it an effective weapon at close range, as the low fire rate and average stopping power of the weapon makes any fully-automatic weapon far superior in close-quarters combat.
When fighting Combat Forms, aim for the Infection Form in their chest to kill it in a single shot. This will leave the body intact and ready to be taken over again, so it is advisable to shoot off the arms when you have the opportunity. If a Combat Form you are shooting at has shields, it will take much more to kill it. The Battle Rifle is also effective for killing Infection Forms and Carrier Forms.


==Influence==
Compared to most other UNSC firearms, those using the BR55 have access to limited amount of ammo as they can only three spare magazines, not including the loaded magazine in the rifle.
The BR55 is largely based on the French standard issue [[Wikipedia:FAMAS (rifle)|FAMAS]] assault rifle, and also has features resembling the H&K G36 and by association the U.S. Army's prototype [[Wikipedia:XM8 (rifle)|XM8]] rifles. Other weapons that may have influenced its design are the SA80, the SAR-21, and Steyr AUG because of their bull pup and scope layouts.
==Non-canon and dubious canon appearances==
===Silver Timeline===
{{Notice/Silver|category=no}}
BR55 battle rifles are used by [[Silver Team/Silver|Silver Team]] and other UNSC personnel in battles against the Covenant.{{Ref/YouTube|Id=HTVOT|5KZ3MKraNKY|Paramount+|Halo The Series (2022) Official Trailer|Y=2022|M=1|D=30}}


[[Image:XM8_Assault_Rifle.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The XM8 Assault Rifle was one of the weapons that influenced the BR55 Battle Rifle.]][[Image:Famas_Assault_Rifle.jpg|right|thumb|200px|The FAMAS Assault Rifle was one of the weapons to influence the BR55 Battle Rifle.]]
==Trivia==
*On the side of the BR55 opposite the charging handle there are two Chinese symbols, "猴王", which translate to ''"Monkey King"''.
*On the level ''[[Quarantine Zone]]'' in ''Halo 2'', the player can acquire a BR55 from a dead Marine that, when reloaded, can have a total of 236 spare rounds instead of the normal 108 spare rounds.
*In the ''Halo 2'' E3 Demo, the BR55 was the only weapon shown used in making a melee combo, a feature that was originally meant to be in the final version of the game but was scrapped. It was also shown firing semi-automatically in both the demo and in the E3 2004 multiplayer alpha demo, in which the semi-auto mode was engaged when zoomed.
*Like the [[SRS99C-S2 AM sniper rifle#SRS99C-S2 AMB|sniper rifle]], the BR55 is modeled without a trigger in ''Halo 2''.
*The BR55 was featured in Bungie's 30th anniversary event as the solar pulse rifle BxR-55 Battler in ''Destiny 2''.


==Appearances==
==Gallery==
It is used since the [[Battle of Harvest]].
{{Linkbox|gallery=yes}}
 
The Battle Rifle was not featured in [[Halo: Combat Evolved]], but was created for Halo 2, though it makes its first in-universe chronological appearance in [[Halo: First Strike]]. It was designed to replace the Pistol from the original game; this was because the developers felt that the pistol was overbalanced as compared to the other weapons in the game, and perhaps also because a rifle made more sense as a mid-range weapon than a pistol when comparing its abilities to the other weapons.
 
The "BR" was originally designed by [[Bungie]] to be a semi-automatic weapon, but the idea was apparently used for the [[Covenant Carbine]] instead.
 
Another idea the developers were working on was a three bullet minimum per burst and full auto that resulted from holding the trigger. Zoomed in, the rifle only shot a single round. However, these features were ultimately scrapped in favor of the more simplistic design that was used in the final version of Halo 2.
 
The Battle Rifle will be returning in Halo 3. The screenshot below shows that the "new" Battle Rifle, or BR55HB SR Battle Rifle has a longer barrel, a modified carrying handle, the scope resembles the modern-day [[Wikipedia: Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight| Trijicon ACOG]], and there is now a trigger guard over the trigger, a feature lacking in the Halo 2 Battle Rifle. [[Image:BR55HB SR Battle Rifle.jpg|thumb|left|The new variant of the UNSC Battle Rifle, the [[BR55HB SR Battle Rifle|BR55HB SR]], for Halo 3.]]
In the Halo 3 Beta, it functioned identically to its Halo 2 iteration. However, Bungie has stated that certain weapons will be tweaked slightly between then and the time the game is released, so the BR may function somewhat differently in the final game.
 
==Ammo==
It is interesting to note the ammo used for the Battle Rifle. It uses a new [[9.5mm x 40]] Experimental Round. The [[Wikipedia:7.62×51 NATO|7.62 x 51 mm NATO]] round is a rather high-powered round used on the MA5B and on modern-day marksman rifles and machine guns. The 7.62 mm already has a history of having [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/7.62x51_NATO#Development too much recoil] because of the rounds high power, which made it hard to fire fully-automatically in assault rifles. While the BR55's larger 9.5 mm round would be heavier and would thus presumably generate even more recoil than the 7.62 mm NATO, this is not necessarily the case. Since the Battle Rifle's rounds have a noticeably shorter case length than the 7.62 mm NATO (40 mm vs. 51 mm), they most like contain much less powder that the 7.62 mm NATO, which would yield less muzzle energy and thus less recoil, making the weapon more manageable.
 
However, the size of the ammo would have a problem fitting in the 36-round magazine of the current Battle Rifle. If a [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Heckler_%26_Koch_G3 Heckler Koch G3] (which is chambered in 7.62mm x 51) has a standard magazine count of 20 and be the size that it is, it would be hard to see a cartridge much wider than the 7.62mm fit inside of a magazine of the Battle Rifle's size and with a capacity of 36 rounds. The Battle Rifle's magazine would have to be about twice as long as it actually is to hold that many rounds. This is a continuous pattern with UNSC assault rifles as a similar instance occurred with the MA5B. The MA5B has a magazine of 60 rounds chambered in the 7.62mm x 51 with a rather "small" magazine size, which looks to be smaller than the Battle Rifle's magazine.
 
'''Note:''' Please see discussion about the further speculation about this ammunition at http://halo.wikia.com/wiki/Talk:BR55_Battle_Rifle
 
== Fully Loaded Battle Rifle? ==
On the Level [[Quarantine Zone (Level)]] in Halo 2, the player can find a Battle Rifle from a dead UNSC soldier that, when reloaded, can have a total of 236 rounds of ammo total. A few players have speculated that this is the "full" combat load for the Battle Rifle, as the player can normally carry only 108 spare rounds.
 
== Glitches / Cheating ==
The Battle Rifle may be used in several [[glitches]]. Although they can be used with all weapons, the BXR weapons glitch allows a user to melee, cancel the animation, and then fire, by tapping B (melee), X right afterwards, and then R (the right trigger/gun). This causes an instant kill to a shielded opponent (Elite in campaign or opponent in matchmaking).
 
Another glitch is the RRX, also known as the double-shot. When you press R (the right trigger) twice without pausing followed by pressing the X button right after the pressing of the second R, instead of firing a three-round burst followed by a pause, it fires six bullets without pausing, simulating automatic fire. After successfully pulling off the glitch, your weapon reloads but without any reloading animation. The drawback with the glitch originally was that once you did the double shot, you were reloading the weapon and therefore could not interrupt it and start firing the weapon again to perform another double shot. However this was solved by tapping the Y button twice to switch your weapon and to quickly switch back to your battle rifle, which interrupted the reloading procedure and you, could thus start double-shooting again. It takes four bursts from the battle rifle to the head to kill a target, so successfully tapping RRXYYRRX while accurately firing gave you the ability to kill an opponent quickly, but it is very difficult to master.
 
There is also the RRYB, an instant kill glitch where you press the right trigger twice, immediately followed by pressing Y (which switched to your other weapon) followed by pressing B (melee) all while running towards your target. It is essentially a BXR but in reverse and you fire two shots instead of one.
 
Constant fire - This glitch is not easy to perform, but not hard either. The player must not have host connection of the party else it doesn't work. First, fire one bullet of the BR, next throw a grenade straight away, and then tap reload twice or three times quickly before resuming firing, constantly. If it works you should be able to fire all your ammo without reloading. (RLXX(X)RRRR)
 
Glitching with the BR55 is, again, a glitch, and therefore is considered cheating.  Battle Rifle glitching was unintentional in game development, and was not a predesignated form of gameplay according to the developers.  Game tournament holders such as MLG also consider this an improper way to play, and will disqualify a player upon use of any gameplay glitches.<ref>http://www.mlgpro.com/?q=node/43925</ref>
 
== Trivia ==
* On the side of the Battle Rifle, (opposite side to the bolt) there are three Chinese symbols. Some people have stated that it may mean "The Monkey King".
*This weapon was first introduced in Eric Nylund's Halo: First Strike novel. It was noted that this rifle had "a longer barrel and stock, with a cut down muzzle shroud." "A scope was mounted on an optics railing along the top of the rifle." Spartan-043 (Will) once commented on the rifle, "Auto zoom, nice."
* The Battle Rifle variant in ''Halo 3'' is called the BR55HB SR Battle Rifle. The "HB" most likely stands for "Heavy Barrel".
* The Battle Rifle was originally supposed to shoot single rounds in its zoomed mode in Halo 2 based on the [[Zanzibar]] play video before its released, it was later changed to contain the normal three shot fire mode.
* Bungie was not happy on how the M6D Pistol and the [[MA5B]] behaved in [[Halo: Combat Evolved]]. They complained that the M6D behaved more like a rifle and the MA5B behaved like an SMG. Thus, in [[Halo 2]], the [[M6C]], BR55, and the [[SMG]] were born. [[Robt McLees]], a weapons designer in Bungie, commented, "Now we have a rifle that behaves like a rifle, an SMG that acts like an SMG, and a pistol that acts like a pistol."
 
==Character Compatibility==
*[[Elites]]
*[[Spartans]]
*[[Marines]]
*[[Brutes]] (High Charity level, only on Legendary, though this is very rare.)
*[[Drones]] (have animation but not used)
*[[Jackals]]
*[[Flood]] [[Combat Form|Combat Form (Human)]]
*[[Flood]] [[Combat Form|Combat Form (Elite)]]
 
==Related Articles==
*[[BR55HB SR Battle Rifle]] (Replaces the BR55 for Halo 3)
*[[SMG]] (The weapon partnered with the BR55 to replace the Assault Rifle)
*[[MA5B Individual Combat Weapon System|MA5B Assault Rifle]] (The weapon in Halo: CE, which was replaced by the BR55 and SMG)
 
==Images==
<gallery>
<gallery>
Image:Flood_human_form.jpg
File:Spartan with Battle Rifle2.jpg|John-117 wielding a BR55 aboard ''[[Cairo Station (station)|Cairo Station]]'' in ''[[Halo 2 announcement trailer]]''.
Image:Battle rifle -1.jpg
File:Battle_rifle -1.jpg|The BR55 in an early ''[[Halo 2]]'' build.
File:H2-BR55BattleRifleSide.png|A render of the BR55 from ''Halo 2''.
File:BR55BattleRifleAngles.png|An overview of the BR55 Service Rifle in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2-MasterChiefMkVI-BattleRifle.png|John-117 carrying a BR55 Service Rifle in ''Halo 2''.
File:Flood human form.jpg|A [[Flood combat form]] wielding a BR55 in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2-BR55BattleRifle-FirstPerson.png|First-person view of the BR55 Service Rifle in ''Halo 2''.
File:H2-BR55BattleRifle-Scope.jpg|Detail view through the BR55's scope in ''Halo 2''.
File:CP armor.png|A Spartan-II in [[Gray Team]] using a BR55 during the [[Battle of the Rubble]] in ''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''.
File:HW_FloodMarine_Concept.jpg|Concept art of a Flood combat form with a BR55 for ''[[Halo Wars]]''.
File:Legends-Homecoming-John117.jpg|John-117 wielding a BR55 during the [[Human-Covenant War]] in ''[[Halo: Legends]]'': ''[[Homecoming]]''.
File:H2A_BR55_Concept.jpg|Concept art for ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:H2A - Battle rifle.png|Render of the BR55 in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:H2A - John117 with BR.png|John-117 wielding a BR55 in ''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''.
File:TanODST.jpg|An ODST wields the BR55 on [[Installation 05]] in an early build of ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:H2A-AnotherDay1.jpg|The BR55 being used by [[Marcus Stacker]] in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:H2AMP-BR55.png|A Spartan firing a BR55 on [[Stonetown]].
File:H2ACP-BR55HUD.png|First-person view of the BR55 in ''Halo 2: Anniversary''.
File:H2ACP-BR55zoom.png|The 2× zoom on the BR55.
File:H2AMP-BR55HUD.png|First-person view of the BR55 in ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' multiplayer.
File:H2A BR55 Mag.jpg|thumb|A magazine used with the BR55 in ''Halo 2: Anniversary'' multiplayer.
File:H2AMP-BR55zoom.png|The 2× zoom on the BR55 on [[Bloodline]].
File:H5G-BR55HUD.png|First-person view of the BR55 in ''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''.
File:H5G-BR55zoom.png|[[Smart scope]] with the BR55 on [[Riptide]].
File:H2br.png|REQ Card of the BR55.
File:H5G-BR85NvsBR55.png|A BR85N in comparison to a BR55 in ''Halo 5: Guardians''.
File:HO_BR55.jpeg|BR55 Pioneer from the Premium and Elite Beta test passes for ''[[Halo Online]]''.
File:HO BR55 PIONEER.png|BR55 Pioneer in ''Halo Online''.
File:HM-DeltaHalo.jpg|John-117 using a BR55 on Installation 05 in ''[[Halo Mythos]]''
File:HW2-Shadows.png|A Spartan-II in [[Red Team]] using a BR55 in ''[[Halo Wars 2]]''.
File:HW2-BR55silencer.jpg|An ODST using a BR55 with a sound suppressor during [[Operation: SPEARBREAKER]].
File:HTV BattleRifles.jpg|BR55 props for ''[[Halo: The Television Series]]''.
</gallery>
</gallery>


<br clear="all">
==List of appearances==
{{WepList}}
{{Col-begin}}
 
{{Col-2}}
 
*''[[Halo 2]]'' {{1st}}
[[Category:Held Weapons]]
*''[[Halo: The Cole Protocol]]''
*''[[Halo Wars]]''
*''[[Halo Legends]]''
**''[[Homecoming]]''
*''[[Halo: Evolutions - Essential Tales of the Halo Universe]]''
**''[[Dirt]]''
*''[[Halo: Blood Line]]''
*''[[Halo: Mortal Dictata]]''
*''[[Halo 2: Anniversary]]''
*''[[Halo: Last Light]]''
*''[[Halo 5: Guardians]]''
*''[[Know Your Enemy]]''
*''[[Halo Mythos]]''
*''[[Halo Wars 2]]''
{{Col-2}}
*''[[Halo: Envoy]]''
*''[[Halo: Retribution]]''
*''[[Halo: Collateral Damage]]''
*''[[Halo: Silent Storm]]''
*''[[Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual]]''
*''[[Halo: Outpost Discovery]]''
*''[[Halo: Oblivion]]''
*''[[Halo: Divine Wind]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series Season One]]''
**''[[Contact]]''
**''[[Unbound]]''
**''[[Emergence]]''
**''[[Homecoming (TV Series)|Homecoming]]''
**''[[Reckoning]]''
**''[[Allegiance]]''
**''[[Transcendence]]''
*''[[Halo: Outcasts]]''
*''[[Halo: The Television Series Season Two]]''
**''[[Sanctuary (TV Series)|Sanctuary]]''
**''[[Sword (TV Series)|Sword]]''
**''[[Visegrád (TV Series)|Visegrád]]''
**''[[Reach (TV Series)|Reach]]''
**''[[Aleria (TV Series)|Aleria]]''
**''[[Thermopylae (TV Series)|Thermopylae]]''
{{Col-end}}


[[Category:Human Weapons]]
==Notes==
{{Ref/Notes}}


[[Category:UNSC]]
==Sources==
{{Ref/Sources}}


[[Category:Weapons]]
{{UNSC rifles}}
[[Category:Rifles]]

Latest revision as of 05:11, March 14, 2024

BR55 battle rifle
H5G Render BR55 Service Rifle.png
Production overview

Manufacturer:

Misriah Armory[1]

Model series:

BR55

Type:

Bullpup battle rifle

Specifications

Length:

89.9 centimetres (35.4 in)[2][1][3]

Weight:

3.8 kilograms (8.4 lb)[2]

Ammunition type:

9.5×40mm M634 Experimental High-Powered Semi-Armor-Piercing[1]

Feed system:

36-round magazine[1]

Operation:

Short-stroke piston, rotating bolt, locked breech

Effective range:

900 meters[4][Note 1]

Service history

In service:

Human-Covenant War
Post-Covenant War conflicts

 

"When nothing else gets the job done, the BR55 Battle Rifle will do."
— Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe[5][2]

The BR55 Service Rifle is an infantry battle rifle in service within the armed forces of the United Nations Space Command.[1][3] Among UNSC service personnel, the BR55 has accumulated a number of nicknames including the "Monkey Wrench", "BR", and the "Big Boy".[5][2] It is notable for its powerful three-round burst fire and accurate 2× scope, making it more efficient at farther ranges than the MA5 series assault rifles.

Overview[edit]

Design details[edit]

The BR55 Service Rifle is a gas-operated, magazine-fed, mid-to-long range weapon capable of three fire modes;[3] semi-automatic,[5][2] fully automatic,[6] and a three-round burst-fire.[7][5][2] The weapon is most commonly fired in the latter of these modes.[8][9] The rifle has a bullpup layout, with a detachable 36-round box magazine loaded behind the grip and trigger, with a safety switch located above the handle. While serving to reduce the weapon's length, the rifled barrel of the weapon extends its total length to 89.9 centimetres (35.4 in). It is typically equipped with a three-pronged flash suppressor, though this attachment can be swapped out for others such as a suppressor.[10] As with the other weapons in Misriah Armory's battle rifle line, the BR55 fires 9.5x40mm M634 HP-SAP,[1] and 9.5x40mm SAP-HE.[3]

The BR55 is fitted with an optics rail above the barrel, complete with a mounting point for a telescopic sight. By default, the weapon is equipped with a so-called (and retroactively-named) "classic sight",[11] capable of x2 magnification.[1][8][9] It features no iron sights.

Overall, the weapon is considered to have high accuracy and high rate-of-fire, leading it to be popular among UNSC service personnel.[5][2]

The BR55 was one of the standard infantry rifles of the UNSC during the Covenant war.

Usage[edit]

While newly introduced into UNSC service at the onset of the Human-Covenant War, the BR55 quickly came to dominate all aspects of the military - becoming an extremely popular rifle throughout most of the military's branches.[1] While formally designated a battle rifle, in practice the weapon fulfils the battlefield role of a Designated Marksman Rifle,[4] and by 2548 had entirely eclipsed the pre-existing M392 DMR in all UNSC service except for the UNSC Army[3] - with the BR55HB upgrade fully-replacing it.[12][13][14] Although the heavy barrel variant was an upgrade of the BR55, in practice the two operate almost identically.[3]

As such, by 2552 almost all soldiers in the UNSC had trained in use of the BR55 - ensuring that what defects the weapon has are somewhat mitigated. By this time, the weapon was considered one of the standard firearms in use by UNSC forces.[5][2]

Operational history[edit]

While battle rifles began to see popularity throughout the UNSC beginning in the mid-2400s prior to the Insurrection,[15] the BR55 did not enter service until the onset of the Human-Covenant War in 2525.[1] The weapon was prototyped as the XBR55 battle rifle around the time of the First Battle of Harvest, and was in the hands of Spartan-II supersoldiers by December of that year.[16] During these early encounters with the Covenant, BR55s also fell into the hands of Insurrectionists of the United Rebel Front.[16] As the war progressed, the battle rifle proved itself an extremely popular weapon particularly in the service of the UNSC Navy and Marine Corps, in which it all-but replaced the older M392 marksman rifles. By 2548, the introduction of the BR55's upgraded model the BR55HB fully-replaced the M392 DMR in all services except for the UNSC Army.[12][13][14]

The BR55's popularity ultimately contributed to the design of its successor models, the BR75 and BR85 battle rifles.[1][17]

Gameplay[edit]

Main-Legendary.png See our gameplay information related to BR55 battle rifle on its gameplay page.

Advantages[edit]

The BR55 has reasonably high power, a decent rate of fire, and high accuracy with an electronic 2× telescopic sights attachment; it can be used to deliver three-round bursts at medium ranges. In multiplayer, three body shots and one head shot will kill a fully shielded opponent, assuming the player does not have an overshield. This weapon will kill an unshielded enemy in a single head shot. Target the head and if you're within range a red dot will appear in your reticule. This requires that only one of the three rounds from a burst actually hit and kill an enemy. Therefore, it is possible to kill up to three unshielded opponents in a single burst if they are grouped close enough to each other, though this is an uncommon occurrence. However, right after you shoot, it is possible to only shoot one round rather than three bullets, with a melee attack to disrupt the burst. Against vehicles like the Wuzum-pattern Spectre or Karo'etba-pattern Ghost, an experienced player can easily take out the driver, rendering the vehicle immobile, however, this is harder with the Warthog.

In Halo 5: Guardians, the BR55 provides a slightly faster weapon switch and reload time compared to the BR85N. Most notably, however, the BR55 has higher bullet magnetism, which allows targets to be hit with less-than-perfect aim.

Disadvantages[edit]

At longer ranges, it is necessary to minimize strafing movements when firing to avoid "splintering" the shot grouping too much. Since each "shot" is actually a three-round burst, certain movements can break up your shot's grouping, and could greatly reduce accuracy. To avoid this, either swap it in for the Covenant Carbine, or get up to medium range. The Carbine has the same degree of firepower, and it lacks the splitting effect although it is slightly less accurate. This also affects accuracy when firing from a moving vehicle such as a Warthog (especially when firing at a 90-degree angle from the vehicle's heading).

The BR55 is not as effective at long ranges. Each bullet also acts as a tracer which gives away the shooter's position. Also, the range is limited compared to the Sniper Rifle. It is also not effective against Sentinels, and does negligible damage against vehicles. Neither is it an effective weapon at close range, as the low fire rate and average stopping power of the weapon makes any fully-automatic weapon far superior in close-quarters combat.

Compared to most other UNSC firearms, those using the BR55 have access to limited amount of ammo as they can only three spare magazines, not including the loaded magazine in the rifle.

Non-canon and dubious canon appearances[edit]

Silver Timeline[edit]

HTV-SilverTeam logo.png
 This article contains information about the Silver Timeline, and is not a part of the established Halo canon.

BR55 battle rifles are used by Silver Team and other UNSC personnel in battles against the Covenant.[18]

Trivia[edit]

  • On the side of the BR55 opposite the charging handle there are two Chinese symbols, "猴王", which translate to "Monkey King".
  • On the level Quarantine Zone in Halo 2, the player can acquire a BR55 from a dead Marine that, when reloaded, can have a total of 236 spare rounds instead of the normal 108 spare rounds.
  • In the Halo 2 E3 Demo, the BR55 was the only weapon shown used in making a melee combo, a feature that was originally meant to be in the final version of the game but was scrapped. It was also shown firing semi-automatically in both the demo and in the E3 2004 multiplayer alpha demo, in which the semi-auto mode was engaged when zoomed.
  • Like the sniper rifle, the BR55 is modeled without a trigger in Halo 2.
  • The BR55 was featured in Bungie's 30th anniversary event as the solar pulse rifle BxR-55 Battler in Destiny 2.

Gallery[edit]

Main-Superintendent.png Browse more images in this article's gallery page.

List of appearances[edit]

Notes[edit]

  1. ^ The Halo Encyclopedia: The Definitive Guide to the Halo Universe claims that the BR55 battle rifle has a maximum effective range of 200 meters. However, this figure is unlikely given that most 21st century rifles have an effective range far greater than 200 meters. As such, this article assumes that the BR55 has the same range as its prototype, the XBR55.

Sources[edit]

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 168
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 318-319
  3. ^ a b c d e f Halo: The Essential Visual Guide, page 21
  4. ^ a b Halo: Contact Harvest, chapter 13
  5. ^ a b c d e f Halo Encyclopedia (2009 edition), page 305
  6. ^ Halo: Oblivion, chapter 9
  7. ^ Halo 2, Battle Rifle in-game weapon
  8. ^ a b Halo 2 manual, page 10
  9. ^ a b Halo 2 Limited Collector's Edition manual, page 13
  10. ^ Halo Wars 2, campaign level Gatecrashers: Mission select artwork (File link)
  11. ^ Halo 5: Guardians, REQ card: Halo 2 Battle Rifle description "BR with Classic Sight. Reliable firepower never goes out of style. Battle Rifle with full-screen zoom."
  12. ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2011 edition), page 316
  13. ^ a b Halo Waypoint, DMR (Retrieved on Aug 21, 2011) [local archive] [external archive]
  14. ^ a b Halo Encyclopedia (2022 edition), page 171
  15. ^ Halo 4: The Essential Visual Guide, page 61
  16. ^ a b Halo: Collateral Damage, issue 1
  17. ^ Halo Waypoint, Battle Rifle (Retrieved on Jun 14, 2021) [archive]
  18. ^ YouTube - Paramount+, Halo The Series (2022) Official Trailer (Retrieved on Jan 30, 2022)

v • d • e
 
List of rifles and carbines used by humanity
MA series MA1 • MA2B • MA3A • MA40 (Longshot)
MA5 series variants MA37 • MA5B • MA5C • MA5D
Other assault rifles HMG-38 Monitor Rifle • VK78 Commando (Impact)
CM 300 • M6J/C • MA5K
BR55 series XBR55 • BR55 • BR55HB
BR75 series BR75 • BR75 Breacher
BR85 series BR85 • BR85HB • BR85N
Other BR series rifles BRXX Lightfire
Other battle rifles "Maestro"
M295 • M392 • M395 (M395B)
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