50 caliber AR-15?!

[zminer]

In this article about Mexico's governmental weapons cache, it says:

Thirty percent of AK-47 assault rifles seized have been modified to become fully automatic. He said about three of every 1,000 AR-15 assault rifles have been modified to take .50-caliber bullets, the kind of high-powered ammunition designed for sniper rifles.

"In my experience, I had never seen a modified AR-15 rifle," Monsivais said. "It's something new, and it is to a certain extent worrisome that they can have and use this type of weapon."

Are they talking about modifying AR-15s to fire .50 BMG? Or might they be talking about some kind of round that has a nominal .50 caliber, but is not .50 BMG?

Am I missing something here, or does this sound a little weird?

 

[bratch]

Could be either way. You have the 50 Beowulf which is a 50 cal that fits in an AR mag and you have the single shot 50 BMG uppers.

 

[edelbrock]

Here is just one of the manufacturers of the single shot 50 uppers if you have never seen one. http://www.bohicaarms.com/

 

[Acera]

There are tons of threads on here about the 50 BMG uppers for AR rifles. BOHICA makes one of the best for the money uppers out there in that chambering, but there are many others.

 

[Ned Kelly]

The Ammunition cost has me turned off from buying one. Back in the 90s you could get it for a dollar a shell now its skyrocketed in price.

 

[Reid73]

The article is proof of how futile gun control is, especially for countries bordering the USA. Both Canada and Mexico have many restrictions and prohibitions, but they do nothing to stop drug cartels and other criminals from importing firepower with ease.

But then (silly me), I was falling into the trap of assuming that gun control is supposed to actually make a difference; whereas we all know that its real purpose is simply an empty gesture, to persuade voters that caring and compasionate politicians are "doing something". :banghead:

 

[Acera]

Ned Kelly don't be dissuaded. You can still find ammo below $3 each. That is cheaper than most Weatherby factory rounds and a lot of others.

 

[zminer]

Thanks for the info everyone. I haven't looked much into ARs, and my unsuccessful quick search for .50 uppers demonstrates my weak Google-fu.

Given what people have said, I would think that if a drug lord went to the trouble of converting an AR to .50 cal, they would want more than a single shot. (Maybe that is why only one-third of one percent of the rifles they recovered were modified in that manner.) But, I've never been a Mexican drug lord, so what do I know?

 

[Acera]

I just want to know about those 9mm grenade launchers they talk about. ( I assume that they are flare guns, as the "experts" in that article don't seem to have much of a clue.)

 

[Ned Kelly]

So just how much does a .50 on an AR lower really kick?

I know the advertisements say about like a 12 guage but I find that hard to beleive.

 

[zminer]

So just how much does a .50 on an AR lower really kick?

That's really why I brought this up in the first place - it seemed patently ridiculous to think of someone putting a .50 BMG weapon to their shoulder. I got the opportunity to shoot one a few weeks ago, and there is no way I would have shot it hand-held. The concussive blast from even a heavily-ported barrel was quite something. I imagine it would have been even less pleasant if I had been holding it.

 

[jim in Anchorage]

Could be either way. You have the 50 Beowulf which is a 50 cal that fits in an AR mag and you have the single shot 50 BMG uppers.

What is the .50 Beowulf? The NRA gave Sarah Palin one.

 

[vtail]

I didn't know the 50BMG was designed for sniper rifles.

I wonder what made them build a machine gun for a sniper round?

 

[bratch]

What is the .50 Beowulf? The NRA gave Sarah Palin one.

Its a .50 caliber cartridge designeed to fit in existing AR15 mags. It has been developed by Alexander Arms. Similar rounds include the .458 SOCOM and the .450 Bushmaster.

 

[Dirtpile]

The .50 Beowulf is basically a stretched .50AE (Action Express)
It's power level is on par with the .500 S&W magnum with a 16" barrel.

 

[SquirrelNuts]

I didn't know the 50BMG was designed for sniper rifles.

Me either. I would hardly call the Ma Deuce a sniper rifle.

 

[Ned Kelly]

Its a .50 caliber cartridge designeed to fit in existing AR15 mags. It has been developed by Alexander Arms. Similar rounds include the .458 SOCOM and the .450 Bushmaster.

Yes, These cartridges are the result of painstaking and perfectly logical research based on bullet momentum and Taylor KO formula.

 

[TIMC]

What is the .50 Beowulf? The NRA gave Sarah Palin one.

This is a Beowulf....


This is the .50 Beowulf ammo, far right is .223 for comparison

 

[IThunter]

safety harbor makes one

 

[NG VI]

"In my experience, I had never seen a modified AR-15 rifle,"

He must not see many AR-15s then.

 

[mgregg85]

Note that the article just said .50 caliber bullets, it doesn't necessarily mean .50 BMG.

 

[c5_nc]

That's really why I brought this up in the first place - it seemed patently ridiculous to think of someone putting a .50 BMG weapon to their shoulder. I got the opportunity to shoot one a few weeks ago, and there is no way I would have shot it hand-held. The concussive blast from even a heavily-ported barrel was quite something. I imagine it would have been even less pleasant if I had been holding it.

Recoil is not that bad on most 50bmg, they are heavy and have a huge muzzle brake. I have only shot the Semi-Auto Barrett, have not tried on shoulder, the rifle itself is so heavy it would be difficult for someone of my size(175 lbs), its the rifle in the newest Rambo movie that is sholder fired often. The ultralite50 is suited to shoulder firing. Just putting something on a AR-15 lower does not no indicate its intended for shoulder firing, there are like 6-7 brands of 50bmg AR uppers.

While the 50BMG is relatively a loose cartage, its still plenty accurate to engage larger targets at distance, less drop and not much push from wind help also. In addition you have match 50bmg setups now, that while are not recommended for surplus 50bmg ammo, can bet setup to take new production ammo, or some setup to take 50bmg with 750gn Amax with exact case lengths that you can only shoot your own reloads through.

 

[Acera]

Please don't tell me this is going to be another one of those 50BMG threads where "experts" that don't have a rifle in that caliber are going to try to tell us how bad they are based on their idea of physics

Do a search, that subject has been beat to death.

Yes, you can fire a 50 BMG from the shoulder. It is not that bad, here is a picture of a member here doing it (not me), first picture I came across on a search.

 

[psyopspec]

I would hardly call the Ma Deuce a sniper rifle.

Carlos Hathcock used it to set his record for longest confirmed kill (since broken by a Canadian). From the Hatchcock wiki article:

In 1967 Hathcock set the record for the 20th century's longest combat kill with a Browning M2 .50 BMG machine gun mounting a telescopic sight. The distance was 2,286 meters or 1.42 miles. Hathcock was one of several individuals to utilize the Browning M2 machine gun in the sniping role. This success led to the adoption of the .50 BMG cartridge as a viable anti-personnel and anti-equipment sniper round. Sniper rifles have since been designed around and chambered in this caliber.

I know the advertisements say about like a 12 guage but I find that hard to beleive.

It's true; about like a 3" magnum round, to be more precise.

I can't speak to the Beowolf, but none of the .50 BMG uppers being manufactured today were designed or intended to be shoulder fired from the standing position. They certainly can be for those that so choose, but this would greatly affect accuracy and further slow the single-shot reloading process (gotta have a hand free to work that bolt and set the new round).

 

[Reid73]

What is the .50 Beowulf?

See here for a full description.