AR-50 BMG -- What is it?

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I'm sure everyone will think this is a silly question, but I'm very interested in some insight. I overheard my husband saying he wanted an AR-50 BMG a little while ago. I plan to get it for him for Christmas. I don't know a whole lot about guns, except for what I've learned from the ones I've bought him in the past. I've been looking around online and can't really find a whole lot of information on them. Is there only one brand? I've seen Armalite and them some others that are in the $10k range. Is there a selection I can choose from? Is one better than the other? Is there one that someone with experience would recommend over the other? Also, I can't spend $10k on a gun. The Armalite is doable at a little over $3k. Is a model that is considerably cheaper than the others even worth buying? Should I just find something else to get him?

Lots of questions...I know. Any help/insight would be helpful and extremely appreciated!
 
The Bushmaster BA 50 looks like a giant AR but is actually a bolt action with a 10 shot magazine, runs about $4600. If you want semi auto Serbu might be worth looking at. Keep in mind that a 50 is going to need a quality scope also, there goes another $1000 or more.
 
Friend of mine picked up an Armalite AR50A1 for about $2700 or so. Of course that was a couple three years back, so they might be a touch more now.

It is a single shot bolt action, obviously chambered in .50 BMG. It's very long (we shoot it prone off a bipod that I'm fairly sure is included), and he has stated that the rifle by itself weighs 38 pounds. The ones you are seeing in the 10K range are likely the semi-auto version.

It is a hoot to shoot. We usually use it to cap off the range portion of our camping/shooting trips in the fall and spring.

Big +1 on the scope. $19.99 Wal Mart blister pack scope isn't going to cut it.

Ammo is fairly expensive. Bought him some for $3.60/round, again that was a few years back. Not sure what it's going for now.

It is a load of fun.
 
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Not a silly question at all...

Armalite is a specific manufacturer, and the AR-50 is a specific rifle. The newest incarnation of it seems to be the AR-50A1, which as you indicated sells for a bit over $3000.

That's for the 'bare' rifle, a good scope sight, rings for the scope, and bipod will add more to the total cost. A scope that can survive on a .50 needs to be sturdy - the whiplash action of the recoil, which is almost instantly counteracted by the muzzle brake, will jerk the insides loose in many scopes in short order. Ammunition for the .50BMG tends to be relatively expensive as well.

There's a variety of other .50BMG rifles available, in either bolt action single shot, magazine fed bolt action or semiautomatic. My first .50 was a Serbu BFG-50 (http://www.serbu.com/), one of the first 200 made, and it's still going strong (thanks, Mark!). I also have a Safety Harbor upper receiver (http://www.safetyharborfirearms.com/), mounted on a single shot AR-15 lower that I built for it. I like it because it's a take-down and is easier to transport than a solid one-piece rifle. Not trying to offer distractions, Armalite wasn't building .50s when I bought the Serbu and the Armalite is a fine rifle, everyone I know who has one loves it.
 
It needs to be pointed out that it's one helluva wife who is looking for a 50 bmg for her husband. He's a lucky man
 
That's one lucky guy!!! Sounds like he want's the bolt action version (load each round to be fired) I personally have a semi auto (fires with each pull of the trigger) from Serbu, it's a BFG-50A and it runs under $7K. But if he is fine with the blot action take a look at the Serbu BFG-50, Mark makes some very nice rifles over there at Serbu and they are the most affordable from my research. Let him decide what scope to get, it will come down to a matter of personal preference on the reticle design he likes.
 
I own an AR-50, had it for about 12 years now and its one heck of a rifle. Armalite made sure to build it like a tank. The AR-50 is probably the most popular .50 on the market, its very user friendly and upgradable.

The cheapest scope I would put on it would be a SWFA (tasco) Super Sniper. Get a fixed power as there's less parts to fall apart. My friend had one on his Serbu and the reticle looked like this ( X ) after about 500 rounds and it should look like this ( + ). My AR-50 has a Nightforce NXS 5.5-22X56mm riding on it, been there since day one. For the money NF is hard to beat, great glass, great warranty and and great customer service. If the scope your looking at doesn't have those then skip it and move on. Another important issue is eye relief, your gonna want at least 3 inches minimum so that you don't get hit in the face from the recoil.

Look around and you can find good deals on AR-50's, you can still find them for under 3K. Check Gun Broker, Auction Arms and some of the gun boards like ar15.com or Snipers Hide. Two other great .50's on the market that won't break the bank are the Serbu BFG and the State Arms/Eastridge Gun Co. shorty.

If you need help just ask, always happy to help further someone's .50 Cal addiction!
 
A guy here has an Armalite AR50.
It is amazingly accurate.

As said it will need a sturdy scope and some other accessories.

.50 ammunition is expensive. GOOD .50 ammunition is VERY expensive.
Reloading is almost essential. You can load good ammo with the Lee equipment, which is not terribly high.
 
You can get .50 ammo for under $3 a round if you shop around, match ammo will run you $5+ depending on where you buy it. I get sub MOA groups from my AR-50 with hand loaded match bullets and prepped brass. Good ball and AP bullets will shoot just over 1 MOA when hand loaded.

If you buy it on line its hit and miss, I've seen HSM that was loaded WAY hot that was minute of barn accurate. Then hand loaded pull down components almost shoot MOA!

Shop around as you never know what you might find.
 
Yep, YOU are a keeper!

I have a LAR Big Boar (their spelling not mine) .50BMG....it's a single-shot, shell holder design and is short enough the fit comfortably in my safe. I understand what everyone is saying about expensive scopes but I have an ultra cheap scope on mine and I've passed 1k rounds through it with no issues to the scope. The recoil from a .50 just isn't there due to the efficiency of the brakes....I think a lot of comments about the recoil come from people that really haven't fired one...I much prefer the recoil to almost any 12 gauge load, skeet loads excepted.

The AR-50 is one of the best IMO and is accurate enough to keep most peoples interest. The best .50 is probably a Barrett but you'll likely pay in excess of $4k for the most inexpensive model.

Another option is an AR upper in .50BMG which is about the least expensive option provided he already has an AR.

Good luck on your purchase and good for you!
 
Thank you & one last question...

Thank you so much everyone for your replies. I very much appreciate it! I'm planning to just get the gun as a surprise. I'll let him handle the scope, rings, etc. on his own. I'll definitely look into the other guns you've mentioned. Just to clarify...the actual AR-50 is specifically the Armalite?
 
Do you think that getting the "National Match" version is worth the extra $$? I'm not quite sure the difference. Looks like it's slightly bigger than the standard one.
 
The barrel is 3" longer and fluted (has long ridges down the sides and top to act like radiator fins), and supposedly the rifle is built from hand-selected parts (for a better fit).

Is that worth an extra $900? I'd buy the base gun for him and put that unspent money towards the scope and mounts, but that's just my opinion.

FWIW, what you are doing is really great.
 
Save your money, I agree that the extra money can go towards a scope. 3" of barrel and fluting just ain't worth it in my book. I think they were supposed to have a tighter chamber but it got nixed at the last minute.
 
well, if money is not a concern, the Barrett M82 can be had for under $10k and I promise he wont be disappointed that its not an Armalite AR-50.
 
As others have said, the Armalite AR-50. It's about tied for the lowest price .50 BMG rifle I would want to own or shoot, but I would be very happy to have one. Keep in mind the cost of ammo. And hopefully you live in a gun-friendly area, because around here many ranges prohibit shooting that caliber of rifle.
 
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