First Hand Experience with 50Beowulf and 50 BMG Reloading

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GoldieMI

GoldieMI

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Nov 29, 2013
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The Mitten- SE MI
Looking for advice from anyone with first hand experience in reloading the 50 Beowulf and 50 BMG.
Had an acquaintance call and got into a "no way to say no" deal on both rifles (Alexander Arms 16" 50 Beowulf and a AR50A1). Both of the cartridges are expensive to purchase quality ammo for. I already reload for a number of common pistol and rifle cartridges.

Already own the following:
Dillon 650/550/SDB and Forster Coax presses
Forster, Redding, Dillon, and Hornady Dies for my pistol and rifle cartridges
annealz machine
etc etc etc

Use for the 50 BMG would be long range (up to 1200 yards) paper punching and who doesn't want to own a 50 BMG.
Use for the 50 Beowulf would be 100 yard paper punching and deer hunting here in the Mighty Mitten of Michigan. Perhaps some Texas Hog Hunting as well down in Texas/Florida

I know the dies are limited for both types and the 50BMG will be a different press completely.

Any member here reload 50 Beowulf and can weigh in on the proper dies and a decent powder? Reviews for the dies are all over the place and I don't want to buy a set to find out they are a waste.
Any good bullets or are the Hornady Flex Tip the way to go?

Any member here reload 50BMG and recommend the correct setup as the dies are hideously expensive if you don't go lee and I see the press kits are all pricey as well. The Lee kit has a tremendous cost savings but bad reviews. Would rather buy once, cry once versus making an investment into a migraine. Good dies? Which Press Kit? Good bullets other than pull down from Top Brass?

Just trying to do my due diligence as I don't know much about these 2 offerings and no one at my club shoots either one who is a hand-loader/reloading enthusiast.
 
My Lee Classic press does a very decent job of loading 50 BMG. I'd get the kit. There are only a few things you must buy in order to make the job pleasant. Get a K&M primer pocket uniformer, Sizing die wax, and a Lee case trimmer for the 50.
Throwing powder charges of 200 grains plus is impossible with most powder measures, and mine.... so I weigh every charge individually on my scale. I enjoy time spent on super accurate charging.
Don't buy any incendiary type bullets or tracer bullets. One quickly becomes an arsonist with these rounds. That is why I bought cans of ball and AP bullets when they were readily available. My loads cost about $1.75, and are very accurate.
If you have deep pockets you can spend outrageous amounts on just the press or the dies.
 
total recoil said:
My Lee Classic press does a very decent job of loading 50 BMG. I'd get the kit. There are only a few things you must buy in order to make the job pleasant. Get a K&M primer pocket uniformer, Sizing die wax, and a Lee case trimmer for the 50.
Throwing powder charges of 200 grains plus is impossible with most powder measures, and mine.... so I weigh every charge individually on my scale. I enjoy time spent on super accurate charging.
Don't buy any incendiary type bullets or tracer bullets. One quickly becomes an arsonist with these rounds. That is why I bought cans of ball and AP bullets when they were readily available. My loads cost about $1.75, and are very accurate.
If you have deep pockets you can spend outrageous amounts on just the press or the dies.
Click to expand...

Correct me if I’m wrong
But as expensive as 50 BMG rounds cost you’re not firing many at a time anyway. So it seems taking your time and hand measuring each load would be the best course of action.

Now if anyone has a progressive press for 50 BMG I want to see it. And I want to be their new BFF
 
Anyone owning a progressive 50 BMG loading rig probably owns am M2 Browning machine gun and can afford to buy his ammo retail anyway.
We rarely shoot over 30 rounds per outing with my 50 single shot.(poor man) We always let everyone interested shoot it for free and make lots of friends at the range every time.
After spending more than $2000 on the gun, the $1.75 ammo is cheap. I look at it this way...... I don't have to buy links.
 
Last edited:
@total recoil - Where in MI are you? I'm in Oakland County
I see the Lee kit includes the dies at ~250.00. The RCBS with dies is ~700.00 and the Hornady with dies is ~750.00. No issues with depriming or the Handle breaking? that seems to be most of the complaints of the Lee Kit.
I have plenty of the imperial sizing wax from 308/300WM case sizing.

@Hokie_PhD - probably jmorris has one in the works lol...He can make anything it seems.

No, I would definitely love to get the price under 2.00 each to make it less expensive to shoot lol. I see the Barnes and Amax Bullets at 1.20-2.70 each before powder and primer.
Thanks!
 
I use the lee .50 beo dies in a lee classic turret.
For bullets the berry's plated and lee 440gn cast.
Powder RL7 with the cast, H110 4227 Lil Gun with plated.
If you load too hot the case gets shorter.
I had no normal pressure signs but discovered the pedestal shaped base compresses down.
 
Englishmn said:
I use the lee .50 beo dies in a lee classic turret.
For bullets the berry's plated and lee 440gn cast.
Powder RL7 with the cast, H110 4227 Lil Gun with plated.
If you load too hot the case gets shorter.
I had no normal pressure signs but discovered the pedestal shaped base compresses down.
Click to expand...

No issues with the dies? What I read was the lyman MSR dies are horrible, the Hornady were limited and $100.00, while the Lees were take it or leave it.
I have H110 and Lil Gun already which is great, I will look at the Berry's as well. I have some 350 grain XTP loaded factory stuff to unload first while I make up my mind.
 
Guess I got lucky with the lee.
Lee will fix their mistakes.
I bought a new set of 44 dies that had a 45 colt sizer die and they sent me the right one.
 
Englishmn said:
Guess I got lucky with the lee.
Lee will fix their mistakes.
I bought a new set of 44 dies that had a 45 colt sizer die and they sent me the right one.
Click to expand...

I'm not anti Lee - I loved my Classic Turret until I went to the CoAx for Single Stage and a 650 for pistol rounds. Sent it to a new reloader as a PIF.
I'm glad to hear you are not having any issues with them...The Lee dies seem to be the only ones readily available.
Thank you
 
Ohen Cepel said:
Sorry, I don't know this space but did notice that RMR has some .50 bullets which may work in the Beowulf; https://www.rmrbullets.com/shop/bul...50-275-gr-premium-bonded-plated-hollow-point/
Click to expand...
@longdayjake - what's your thoughts on those .500 pistol bullets being used in a 50Beowulf? It was originally designed around the 50AE cartridge, now it looks like mostly 500S&W pistol bullets are used. Curious to see what you think of these being driven out towards 2000fps in a 18" barrel? Obviously, it would need to be worked up safely if so. Alexander Arms lists 240gr and 300gr loads in their reloading data.
 
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