BR85HB battle rifle

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

History
While the BR85HB Service Rifle had entered service as early as 2525, manufacturing concerns and logistical issues involved with its ammunition meant the BR85HB was not widely adopted until after the Human-Covenant War ended. BR85HBs were used within the Damascus Materials Testing Facility in November 2525. The had some BR85HBs aboard before the Battle of the Etran Harborage. Some BR85HBs were aboard the during the Battle of Installation 00. By February 2556 a small number had been purchased by the Sedran Colonial Guard. The carried a large supply of BR85HBs during the Battle of Requiem and Requiem Campaign.

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 2× 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. The BR85HB battle rifle features multiple design improvements on the BR55 and BR55HB battle rifles. The BR85HB also features a new lightweight frame and rail mounts for weapon attachments and other accessories. The BR85HB, as well as most other UNSC weapons, requires power to feed ammunition due to its electromagnetic feed system.

Gameplay
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

 * Once again features hitscan properties
 * Larger reticle and higher magnetism at close range, lower magnetism at long range
 * Scope is now square instead of round
 * Misriah Armory's symbol is now on both sides of the stock on the weapon.
 * Rate of fire has been increased allowing for more fluid gunplay.

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

Gameplay

 * Weapon carries a maximum of 30 3-round bursts.
 * Weapon can destroy Wraith or Scorpion Tank in six to eight bursts while Ghosts can be destroyed in three full bursts.
 * Can kill any unshielded units in the line of fire.
 * Highest Damage for rifle-type weaponry.

Trivia

 * The earliest known in-game model of the BR85HB was erroneously labeled "BR55HB SR". This is fixed in the final build of the game.
 * Despite the lack of a flash suppressor or muzzle brake, the BR85HB produces a cross-shaped muzzle flash.
 * In Halo: Spartan Assault and Halo: Spartan Strike, the BR85HB makes the report of Halo 2 ' s BR55 when firing.

List of appearances

 * Halo 4
 * Spartan Ops
 * Infinity Briefing Packet
 * Halo: Spartan Assault
 * Halo: Escalation
 * Halo: Nightfall
 * Hunt the Truth
 * All Hail
 * Hunt the Signal
 * Halo: Spartan Strike
 * Halo: Hunters in the Dark
 * Halo: Last Light
 * Halo: The Fall of Reach - The Animated Series
 * Halo Mythos
 * Halo: Tales from Slipspace
 * Something Has Happened
 * Halo: Official Spartan Field Manual