Talk to me about 50BMG options

clay_fv

clay_fv

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I think it's about time to put one of these in the stable and grab a few hundred rounds while that's still possible. What are the best options for one that isn't insanely expensive? I realize that's a pretty broad statement, but I'm considering something like a Barrett M82 too expensive. The Barrett Model 99 is probably a little more doable. Are there better options though? I don't know anything about how many options there are out there. I would appreciate everyone's opinions and if you have any good sources for them, post that too. Thanks!
 
I have known a lot of 50bmg owners, all enjoy the system but do not use it as much as they wish, ranges, cost etc.

I will just say, a few of my international friends love and I mean love the .50 BAT

Look it up, it might scratch your itch in reloading, shooting and exploring fun creative ways to enjoy the .50 world for less $$$$
 
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I’d get anything over a bmg, if you are wanting big and precise, I’d look at the 375 cheytac or any of the improved flavors, 416 stroker, 416 hellfire, 460 vestal, etc. There are much better extreme range options since you reload and even if you don’t with available factory cheytac ammunition. There is a reason the bmg isn’t in the winner circle of ELR matches.
 
BatteryOaksBilly said:
We are blessed to have 2 Barretts....a mag fed Bolt gun and a mag fed Semi....while fun to mess with, they are totally useless for anything we have to use for range. We have AP, Incendiary and Ball....we have set fires in the tires and shot through some 2 1/2 inch steel...we have also trapped some in that steel...here it is simply viewed as an expensive Toy.
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This was my thought about the Barrett, would like to buy one because it’s awesome but I think if I really wanted to scratch the 50bmg itch a bolt action at a fraction of the cost would suffice.
 
NCLivingBrit said:
The Feds have to assemble a domestic terrorist group out of whole cloth so they have an excuse to let Sniffer Joe declare martial law, cancel elections and start their endgame.
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JBoyette said:
I have known a lot of 50bmg owners, all enjoy the system but do not use it as much as they wish, ranges, cost etc.

I will just say, a few of my international friends love and I mean love the .50 BAT

Look it up, it might scratch your itch in reloading, shooting and exploring fun creative ways to enjoy the .50 world for less $$$$
Click to expand...

BatteryOaksBilly said:
We are blessed to have 2 Barretts....a mag fed Bolt gun and a mag fed Semi....while fun to mess with, they are totally useless for anything we have to use for range. We have AP, Incendiary and Ball....we have set fires in the tires and shot through some 2 1/2 inch steel...we have also trapped some in that steel...here it is simply viewed as an expensive Toy.
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OP, I second both of these. I see where you're coming from on being proactive on a very low hanging fruit for an anti2a President in the near(?) future, but bear in mind these two quotes are dumb accurate on owning anything .50 cal. The only thing that would negate this would be if a friend/family member was selling you one dumb cheap. I wouldn't suggest getting a new .50 cal
 
clay_fv said:
I think it's about time to put one of these in the stable and grab a few hundred rounds while that's still possible. What are the best options for one that isn't insanely expensive? I realize that's a pretty broad statement, but I'm considering something like a Barrett M82 too expensive. The Barrett Model 99 is probably a little more doable. Are there better options though? I don't know anything about how many options there are out there. I would appreciate everyone's opinions and if you have any good sources for them, post that too. Thanks!
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Safety Harbor Firearms.
They make a mag fed (3, or 5 round) bolt action that uses an AR15 lower receiver.
I had one back in the early 2000’s. Recoil is like a 12 gauge, but slower, a long steady push instead of a quick punch. My buddy Mosin Nagant was less pleasant to shoot.
 
Spartan said:
Safety Harbor Firearms.
They make a mag fed (3, or 5 round) bolt action that uses an AR15 lower receiver.
I had one back in the early 2000’s. Recoil is like a 12 gauge, but slower, a long steady push instead of a quick punch. My buddy Mosin Nagant was less pleasant to shoot.
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Cool concept, appears they don't have any available. :(
 
Find a Hesse and be done.









And by be done, I mean enjoy having a bolt blow back into your shoulder.
 
I’ve fired a barrett 99 and an 82. The 99 was pretty awful. This coming from one who enjoys 12g slugs and 45-70. It wasn’t even in the same neighborhood of recoil. it felt like the action on the 82 really soaked up some of the recoil. Weight may also have been a factor. The 99 had an enormous muzzle brake with rearward gas direction, so I don’t think the difference was due to the brakes. both are obviously high quality rifles.
 
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I have a Bushmaster 50 BMG. It was also relablled as a Remington. It wasn't made by them, and now the company is under a different name. Very cool mag-fed bolt action. LEFT hand bolt which is nice for follow up shots.

Edit: the new brand for it is HM Defense/ https://www.sportsmans.com/shooting...link&utm_medium=affiliate&utm_campaign=211021

Why do I have it? Because it's illegal in California. That was good enough for me. I fire it rarely as it weighs a ton(/52). But surplus 50BMG aren't that expensive ($3.50 or so). I don't reload it, but I keep the brass as I might someday. More than 5 shots and I'm worn out even with the tank brake. It's actually threaded for a suppressor- go figure!

Here's one for $5700

Consignment: Bushmaster BA50 .50 BMG with hard case, bipod and 2 mags

Bushmaster Consignment: Bushmaster BA50 .50 BMG with hard case, bipod and 2 mags for sale from HighLine Firearms LLC.
www.highlinefirearms.com
 
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BatteryOaksBilly said:
If you want to experience what it feels like to be in a car wreck with your head hitting the windshield, shoot the Barrett 99 with the brake Off and a suppressor on......I've not seen anybody ask for seconds.....instantaneous headache....when your brain sloshes forward and comes into contact with your skull IMMEDIATE Pain. Suppressor weighs just over 8 pounds....helps with the Blast but the rifle becomes unshootable...Now, put it on the Semi and all is well.
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That’s why I won’t get a suppressor for my cheytac, brake is too effective
 
State Arms would be a better alternative to Noreen.
 
There are some options around..the 82 is awesome, and reload for it. Was cheap a few years ago. 50 BMG is fun to shot, only issue is finding a place to shot it and use it for some long range stuff, short of having "some land" Where I came from MD most ranges didn't like anything 338 LM / 50 BMG or large calibers but 45/70 was okay.
Most people go with the under reciever thing for the AR lower..

"Cheap" and 50BMG don't really go together..
at one time Berger was gonna introduce a 50BMG bullet..but...

McMillan and the AI 50' are also some great options


-Snoopz
 
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I did end up getting the Armalite 50. Got some ammo. Would love to reload for it, but it appears that's prohibitively expensive. It's more of a want to have and hope I never need it type thing. I hope to get out in the next week or two and fire it as well as zero it in.
 
clay_fv said:
I did end up getting the Armalite 50. Got some ammo. Would love to reload for it, but it appears that's prohibitively expensive. It's more of a want to have and hope I never need it type thing. I hope to get out in the next week or two and fire it as well as zero it in.
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To reload it, your outlay on equipment is the killer, other than that just think on a larger scale, think super size me, you can still run across mil pull down stuff. Its really no different than any other cartridges. It is funny going from 5.56 to 50BMG or the other way around.

-Snoopz
 
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Snoopz said:
To reload it, your outlay on equipment is the killer, other than that just think on a larger scale, think super size me, you can still run across mil pull down stuff. Its really no different than any other cartridges. It is funny going from 5.56 to 50BMG or the other way around.

-Snoopz
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A press and dies JUST for the 50 stinks, though going Lee isn't insanely prohibitive. Next though, just primers at more than a dollar a friggin primer. DAMN!
 
Old School said:
I have a M82A1, never shot it. It was on my bucket list a few years ago and had an unexpected (one time) windfall at work. No regrets, though.
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I see it as, it's never going to get cheaper and it's on the .guv's hitlist. Get it while I can along with some ammo. Get it sighted in, then take out once every few years just for fun.
 
clay_fv said:
I see it as, it's never going to get cheaper and it's on the .guv's hitlist. Get it while I can along with some ammo. Get it sighted in, then take out once every few years just for fun.
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Exactly...lots of places in MD don't even like the 338LM, most ranges up there are 600 yards and under. Friend up there had some land, so no worries. Down here in SC. Been checking..

But anyway it's an investment, and with the state of *cough* gov. You never know.
MD has a ban list and most of what Mez got is banned, grandfathered in. Even copy cat firearms.

Reloading...yeah primers, 200+ grains of powder, projectiles, does add up, quickly. Its like anything else youz got to pay to play

-Snoopz
 
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