50 BMG Rifles - Stats on Hunting?

[wayne in boca]

I don't think people should be able to use .416 Rigbys to hunt giant anteaters on odd-numbered days.There should be international pressure to ban anything except .375 H & H,except in leap years,or during periods of climate change,civil unrest,the best of times,the worst of times,the end of days,or molting season.My .50 BMG weighs 22 lbs.unloaded,and doesn't "blow things up".It makes 1/2" holes in things,predictably enough.Some people seem to like telling others how they should act.Guess what,they always seem to think you should act just like them.Gotta go,gonna cap a squirrel with a 760 grain FMJ at 2850 FPS.Should work.

 

[deerhunter12590]

I can't believe there are people out there who actually hunt with a .50 BMG. There is no way to justify using a caliber that big to hunt anything. This is how PETA and other animal rights/anti hunting organizations add fuel to their fire. They will use this as ammunition against us and its the people who use these weapons to blame. Thanks for ruining our family tradition of hunting. By the way whoever tried to compare a flintlock .50 caliber to a .50 BMG needs to get their head checked because in no way are these to guns remotely similar. From their velocities to their energy they are totally different, its like trying to say a frog is the same thing as a grizzly bear...

 

[hounddog]

4 what its worth

I have recently aquired a 50 bmg, Bohica MIII, and am looking forward to hunting with it. Is it overkill for whitetail, Yes, but in my opinion, so are 95% of the rifles fielded today for hunting. (You can argue caliber and mag capacity.) So long as they are used in a safe, legal manner, no matter what the cartridge, and a clean kill can be made, go for it. Lugging 30+lbs of rifle around will not be/is not fun. Shooting it is.

As a disclaimer....I prefer to bowhunt. Love the up close and personal nature of it, along with the challenge. Gun hunting has become somewhat boring, leading me to chase deer with different callibers. Most recently a 40 s+w g22. So far 2 shots, two deer. Damage to meet was nil.

However, using raufoss rounds would be uncalled for, and over the top.

 

[bang_bang]

hounddog,

In the event of success on your hunt this year with your new 50 BMG, I want pictures.

A dead deer is a dead deer, no matter what it's shot with. I imagine the 50 would be a BLAST to deer hunt with, besides the extra weight.

 

[Kind of Blued]

I ordered a ball cap from Barrett, and they sent me a few "Barrett" gun magazines (the kind made out of paper).

There was an article about guys hunting whitetail (amongst other things) with .50 BMG rifles.

They weren't blown in half, their heads hadn't popped off, they didn't have a gaping wound in their sides. They were simply white and tan-colored like normal, lying on the ground, with the hunters holding their heads toward the camera.

I'm really sorry to ruin the party, but even a whitetail doesn't instantly implode upon itself when shot with a .50 BMG rifle.

 

[punkndisorderly]

I was listening to a podcast recently that had the president of the 50 cal shooters association (can't remember the exact name).

He said that while people have hunted with them, by far the largest number are used in long range target competitions (1000m). He didn't give any real details on the hunting side.

Generally, to make the 50 cal even somewhat reasonable I'd think you'd have to be looking at shooting elk or moose at extreme long range. To do that responsibly, you'd have to be one heck of a good shot able to factor in drop, wind, range, etc and be a good shot in general.

Interestingly, the 50BMG has been used in crimes, which suprised me. Once by a kook in Georgia who started a fire then sat back and shot up the fire trucks that responded. The other in an armored car heist.

Not saying that I think they should be banned or that only a fool would own one, but they seem pretty much a novelty gun looking for a purpose for anyone other than 1000m+ target shooting or military use.

 

[rbernie]

My argument delt with the hunting end of things, not the possesion of big caliber rifles.

Ah, but the crux of the thread is that it's being posed to support a worldview that 'sporting use (aka hunting use) defines the sole legitimacy of a firearm. You'd have to go and search thru RPCVYemen's past posts to see that...

There are those who believe that limiting a firearm's raison d'etre to hunting flies in the face of the intent and reality of the RKA, and we get kinda cranky when folk start to inadvertently throw gasoline on that fire.

 

[deacon8]

If you look back at my posts on this thread, you will probably be able to figure out what I think of using a .50 BMG for hunting. And you will be able to see how they have been responded to. People nitpick, rationalize, and basically say, "well it's my right." One guy even told me it's harder work, whatever the hell that means. I should know better, but I need to figure this thing out, because I keep seeing this in the "new posts" section. Therefore, I must ask...

What is the appeal to those of you who hunt with .50 BMG? I'm not asking why you hunt, why you have guns, what guns you have, what caliber they are, where you were born, what state you live in, your race, or anything else you want to twist that question into. Am I just so old-school, country boy, that this just seems almost impossible to comprehend? Instead of getting all hasty and hostile, pretend I'm just a simpleton who doesn't know any better...

Here are some side thoughts and ideas that may be used in your explanation. I know they are not laser beams. I know deer are not completely torn in half. Why would you need a hunting bullet? Better expansion for a greater wound channel? I have experience with a .50 BMG. I don't believe in gun laws. I believe in minimal hunting laws (as in, very few). I am not anti-gun. I have hunted all my life and have always lived in very secluded areas where hunting is literally a way of life for me. How is it harder work to hunt with .50 BMG.

Just please tell me what the hell is going on? Why a .50 BMG, and please be completely honest...

 

[MTMilitiaman]

The better question would be "why not a .50 cal?"

The only legitimate argument against them is that they are too big and heavy to be practical in some types of terrain. But that shouldn't concern anyone that isn't packing one to the top of a mountain. If someone is willing to carry it and use it safely, then there is no reason not to use one for hunting.

 

[deacon8]

Is that it? "Why not?"

Nothing personal, but I was really looking forward to something with little more substance. I mean, it's not like I'm trying to talk anyone here into NOT doing it. I was looking for things like experiences, "feelings" of the hunt...specifics. Basically, anything that a hunter could relate to.

 

[lipadj46]

Why a .50 BMG, and please be completely honest...

While I agree with you in that a .50 BMG seems like a bad idea for hunting around where I live. I would not want to be in the woods with some ignorant/drunken fool (we get a lot of those) with one of those cannons. Having had a Serbu .50 though I doubt most would be willing or able to hump one of those beyond 1/2 mile. So in western NY where I live and where hunting with a rifle just became legal in some counties I would be in favor of it being banned for hunting.

But I could see out west where people would be into taking extreme distance shots at mule deer, elk, moose and bear. The .50 could help insure a fatal wound even if the shot is a bit off. And the wide open spaces would mitigate the rounds long range hard hitting dangers.

Just my opinion but I definitely understand other hunters concerns over such a powerful round being used in their vicinity especially with some of the yahoos you meet out hunting.

 

[taliv]

There is no way to justify using a caliber that big to hunt anything.

"because I want to" is all the justification you need.

 

[50 Shooter]

My question for all you hunters out there (seeing how you don't feel that .50 BMG is justifiable for hunting) is, what do you feel is a justifiable hunting cartridge? Where is your limit of what you consider to much to hunt with?

Before you answer, think about it and the slippery slope the anti's will use against you.

 

[CoRoMo]

John Yenason and Wendy Henry

 

[Wheeler44]

My question for all you hunters out there (seeing how you don't feel that .50 BMG is justifiable for hunting) is, what do you feel is a justifiable hunting cartridge? Where is your limit of what you consider to much to hunt with?

Before you answer, think about it and the slippery slope the anti's will use against you.

Well put, I'm not a hunter (much) and s I don't have a dog in this fight (sorta) But I do see the fallacy of justification when it comes to this discussion. Why????? Why not..... works for me......telling me that there is no legitimate sporting use for .50 bmg ... go away....

Accepting to argue on this point will soon lead to us only having muskets.....No, for me, run what ya brung...

So called hunters orgs. supporting a ban on any firearms... I spit on you....

 

[Harve Curry]

I will go on record saying the 50BMG cartridge is fine for hunting.period.

 

[Owen]

I'd like to point out that this very argument is exactly what AHSA and its Brady Campaign founders are trying to start.

I have no idea if RPCYemen is an agent provocateur or not, but his participation in this forum is panning out like one.

We need to hang together, or we will hang separately...

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

JWarren...nail....hit...head...squarely.

 

[deacon8]

wheeler44,

All the was exactly what I was trying to avoid, thanks. Actually, I don't hunt with muskets or any type of black powder. Whatever, though, people like you will never actually listen and take the time. Like I said before, I should've just avoided. I really wanted to get some theories behind it, but people always have to be on the defensive about things like this, whatever. I could sit here all day, trying to explain myself, which I thought I did in that post. Wheeler, maybe you should get checked out, because (a) I didn't say that stuff you accused me of, and (b) I literally spelled it out in my post that I was against the same stuff (i.e. I agree with you).

Just forget it, I'll go spew my retoric somewhere else. Thanks guys. Have fun with the post. BTW, nobody with a .50 here is even talking about the original post.

 

[gvnwst]

This is a most intresting conversation.....

Personally, i would only use the 50 at long ranges, and/or against BIG game, like the cape buffalo, elephant, ect. For whitetail....well, you would need a mounted machine gun for if you miss the first shot, to be able to get back on target fast enough.

 

[d2wing]

Isn't over gunning half the fun. Who doesn't want to shoot bigger faster and further. This is still America isn't it. It's like a muscle car. Fun. Don't get me started on Jap cars.

 

[CoRoMo]

You'll never hear me cast any restriction, regulation, or limitation onto any free man desirous to own and carry armaments.