BR85HB battle rifle

The BR85 Heavy Barrel Service Rifle (BR85HB SR) is a select-fire battle rifle used by the United Nations Space Command. Like its predecessors, the BR55 and BR55HB service rifles, the BR85 is manufactured by Misriah Armory.

Design
The BR85HB Service Rifle is a gas-operated, magazine-fed battle rifle. A select-fire weapon, the BR85HB is optimized for firing three-round bursts, though it is capable of semi-automatic and fully automatic fire. The BR85HB is effective against most Covenant battle armor and the energy shielding of Sangheili combat harnesses; it also proves effective against the shields and plating of GEN2 MJOLNIR armor during War Games exercises. Like its predecessors, the BR85HB features a 2x magnification scope and receives a 36-round detachable box magazine. In the hands of a skilled marksman the weapon's precision and accuracy make it versatile at a variety of ranges.

Halo 4
The weapon features hitscan and lacks reticule bloom. When fired the barrel rises vertically, but in a suppressible way. The rifle's three-round burst is particularly effective for mid-range combat. It performs adequately in close- and long-range engagements as well, though the MA5D assault rifle and M395 DMR outperform it at these ranges, respectively. The player can carry a maximum of 216 rounds of reserve ammunition for the BR85 from a normal load of 108 rounds. If all the bullets in a three-round burst (one shot) hit a player in matchmaking, it will take four shots to down a player provided the last shot hits the player as a headshot. Only one round from a burst to the head is required to kill an unshielded enemy.

Advantages
While the effective range and accuracy is less than those of the DMR or a scoped-in Lightrifle, it has a faster kill time than the DMR and unscoped Lightrifle and allows for better situational awareness with its lower zoom magnification. Its effectiveness at closer range is also higher than these weapons, roughly on par with the Covenant Carbine. This makes the BR85 one of the most well-rounded weapon choices as it excels in mid-range combat and is capable of going toe-to-toe with other weapons in close- and long-range combat.
 * The battle rifle can kill a standard-shielded enemy in four bursts, via three bursts breaching the shields and the fourth with a headshot.
 * Headshots with the battle rifle in general are easier to obtain, as there are three chances to get one per shot. As such it is recommended for use in SWAT for players who are not fully comfortable using the DMR, or on maps with smaller sight lines, such as Adrift.
 * Two bursts to the body from a battle rifle followed by a melee will kill an opponent; this common technique is called a two-shot melee or a "bang-bang-whack".
 * 36-round magazine capacity allows 12 bursts, or a maximum of 3 kills (fully-shielded SPARTANs) per magazine in the hands of a skilled user. This is one more potential kill than the DMR, Covenant Carbine, and unscoped Lightrifle.

Disadvantages
As previously stated, the battle rifle lacks the accuracy, damage, and range of the other, more specialized primary precision weapons. The recoil is detrimental, but it can be controlled into a predictable vertical flow with practice to gain headshots. Mid-magazine reload time is also rather slow (especially without the Dexterity support upgrade); if the magazine is empty the full reload time takes even longer. Additionally, as the magazine empties the report increases in pitch, allowing aware opponents to time their attacks so that the wielder is helpless.

Changes from the BR55HB SR in Halo 3

 * Hitscan feature returns from Halo 2, making the BR55HB slightly more accurate
 * Scope is square instead of round
 * Picatinny rail on the top carry handle of the rifle (which the scope is mounted on)
 * Larger reticle
 * Misriah Armory's symbol is sported on both sides of the stock of the weapon
 * No longer features a muzzle brake unlike Halo 2 and Halo 3

Halo: Spartan Assault
The battle rifle is not available in Halo: Spartan Assault ' s campaign mode, appearing only in the Flood Missions cooperative mode, and as the primary weapon of Spartan Davis in the cutscenes.

Changes from Halo 4 to Halo 5: Guardians

 * Features a red dot sight instead of a telescopic sight
 * Muzzle brakes are added back on the barrel unlike Halo 4
 * Ammo counter is now red instead of cyan unlike the previous games
 * Now has a black finish instead of greyish silver

Trivia

 * The earliest known in-game model of the BR85 was erroneously labeled "BR55HB SR". This is fixed in the final build of the game.
 * The BR85 is found on the in Halo 4. However, since the BR85 presumably entered service after the war, it can be assumed that canonically John-117 used the BR55 before rendezvousing with the . This is likely because the developers forwent creating a separate model that would only be used during perhaps a single level, which can also be said for the 2554-model Warthogs stored aboard the Dawn.
 * Despite the lack of a flash suppressor or muzzle brake, the BR85 produces a cross-shaped muzzle flash.
 * In Halo: Spartan Assault, the BR85 makes the report of Halo 2 ' s BR55 when firing.

Videos
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List of appearances

 * Halo 4
 * Spartan Ops
 * Halo: Spartan Assault
 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo: Nightfall
 * Halo 5: Guardians