Budget based .50 bmg rifles

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KC&97TA

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School me please. Who has a budget under $5k .50 and what would you do different or purchase?

I have a bunch of experiance behind M2's and a few days of M82/M107's... I've never been behind anything on the civilian market. I can't afford a Barret.

I'm looking at a Safety Harbor Firearms SHF R50 .50 bmg... $2950 with most options.

22"Barrel: 17.5 lbs, Mono-pod Stock, One(1) 5-Round Magazine, eXacto rail (full length rail).

http://safetyharborfirearms.com/index.php/products/shf-rifles/shf-r50-detail
 
This subject came up recently in our "circle." A machinest buddy is trying to work out a .50 BMG sleeve and lock reinforement for H&R 10 ga break-open shotguns. Although single shot he trying to keep it under $1000 if it goes into production.
 
I've got a couple friends with Safety Harbor uppers for their AR-15 lowers.

They're solid guns!

However, you DO need to modify the lower so the hammer strikes MUCH harder than usual, or you'll get failure to ignite issues. This means it's not a "drop in" upper, you do need to have a dedicated lower to it. (I wouldn't recommend a polymer lower, either, for these!)

While "not a Barrett", it'll get the job done well enough. My Barrett has shot beside a Safety Harbor on the firing line on more than one occasion, and it always comes down to the shooter and the ammo. :)

EDIT: I have no experience with the "complete rifle" version, only the upper receiver version. YMMV with the assembled version, but at least you won't have the issue of tweaking your lower.

EDIT2: It is, arguably, "worth it" to go the upper route and have it shipped straight to your front door, skipping the FFL entirely, if you already have the lower. That way there's no paper trail on a 4473 for future generations of gun grabbing confiscators to track down.
 
I really like my AR-50. I paid $2,750 in 2005. They're up a bit these days, but still a great value. Very accurate and very soft shooting, and they use standard AR grips.
 
As for uppers, stay away from BOHICA! The owner of the company is a d-bag and a number of other things that I can't say here. You've been warned, stay away and by the way they changed their name to valley ordinance works to hide from their old name.

Now, uppers I would go with are ALS, Ferret 50, Safety Harbor, Ligamec and the original called the Boss. Of these the ALS and Ferret have out shot competition rifles costing thousands more.

Rifles in your range that will shoot MOA or better are the AR-50, State Arms and the Barrett M99. Don't forget about the scope, for a quality scope that will last you can expect to pay 1K minimum. The new Nightforce ATACR is about $2,300 and its worth every penny. Sure you can stick a Super Sniper on a .50 but putting a $300 scope on a rifle capable of shooting over a mile... My friends SS scope had the reticle turned into an X from the recoil of his .50!

There's a lot more to think of like ammo, where to shoot, reloading... all this adds up quick. Walk into a gun store and mention owning a .50 and you'll see the dollar signs roll up in their eyes.
 
This subject came up recently in our "circle." A machinest buddy is trying to work out a .50 BMG sleeve and lock reinforement for H&R 10 ga break-open shotguns. Although single shot he trying to keep it under $1000 if it goes into production
Click to expand...

Sounds painful! :eek:
 
BOHICA... are you serious??? there is a company named BOHICA.... I would NEVER buy from a company called that... in case you didn't know... BOHICA stands for... bend over here it comes again LOL... that's funny... I thought about starting a company called Delta Bravo Armory... but BOHICA... THAT'S TOO FUNNY!
 
You might take a look at East Ridge Guns. They are supposed to be pretty accurate. As far as reloading goes, Lee makes a 50 caliber kit that includes the dies. The kit is cheaper than most die sets from other companies. I've been using mine to load for my semi M2 for years with great results.
 
Thanks for all the replies.

The Cobb/Bushmaster looks interesting, kind of topping what I want to spend and at $50-80 a magazine full of ammo they look like they'd become expensive faster.

I've been checking out the State Arms / East Ridge Guns, I like the option of a wood stock, they have some great reviews as well.

I have a couple of things for sale that I plan to fund the 50 with, funny thing is... the 50 will still be worth it's weight after the gun scare passes.
 
50 Shooter said:
As for uppers, stay away from BOHICA! The owner of the company is a d-bag and a number of other things that I can't say here. You've been warned, stay away and by the way they changed their name to valley ordinance works to hide from their old name.
Click to expand...
Is this the same Colorado company that built AR receivers just prior to the 94 AWB?
If so, I've had both a AR pistol & carbine for nearly 20 years that are both good guns and typical quality of the period.

The story goes that they named the company in reference to the 94 AWB.
 
Another vote for State Arms. That's what I've got. IMHO, in that price range i.e. sub $3k, State Arms aka East Ridge makes the best bang for your buck.
 
Anzio Ironworks is another good brand. They have a couple rifles that might fit your price range. I almost bought a 20/50 from them a couple of years ago at knob creek but they wouldn't sell me the reloading dies and I didn't want to be at the mercy of thier company for the ammo.
 
KC&97TA said:
School me please. Who has a budget under $5k .50 and what would you do different or purchase?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure how this might work out in the US, at the very least you're going to need a custom side plate for it to be a legal semiauto, but...

Vintage M2HB kit (in Europe, without bolt or barrel) $1500
Bolt $350
Barrel $500
Paperwork, shipping and gunsmith's labor costs $700-1000

Total $3050-3350

At one point I considered a build like this but unfortunately it has a too high wife disapproval factor, especially on a tripod in the living room.
 
AR-50

I have shot 50's for several years and have a couple of "top end" rifles, I also have a AR-50, topped off with a NightForce.....I load the AR with CNC turned bullets and it will shoot sub MOA as far as I can.....which has been out to 1,000yds.....I have shot the AR out to 1,500 yds but was shooting at 55 gal drums....instead of paper. The AR-50 with the scope I have involves less than 5K and it shoots as well as two other rifles that I have that cost considerably more.
 
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I have seen good reviews on the noreen. This rifle is going for I think $2800 right now. It is a single shot design with a shelholder bolt. I hear it gets 1 moa or better at 1,000 yards and each rifle you buy comes with a target that they shot a group with as well as the handloading specs that they used to produce the group. I have only seen one bad review was in reference to poor grouping and upon cross examination by that forum's members it was discovered that the individual had not tried any factory ammo but had only tried ammo that his friend gave him for free.
 
Join the FSCA, read their articles and attend their events.

http://www.fcsa.org/wwwroot/index.php

Given that they are a bunch of .50BMG enthusiasts, they should be able to guide you to a much better final choice than just about anyone here.

.50 BMG is big money territory, and, given my extremely limited experience in it, it's better to spend a bit more on a rifle that will actually shoot straight than to try to scrimp and end up with something sub-par.
 
Hey I got to thinking last night.

When I bought my Barrett M95 from Knesek, it was under $5k, new. That makes it a budget rifle.

:evil::evil::evil:
 
I would hold off on the AR-50, just because a "little mouse" told me they are changing it a little. Expect magazine fed and couple more upgrades from Armalite....

I agree with Justin, join the FCSA. Well worth it. There are a lot of people that can help. If you can afford to save a little the McMillian Tac50 is the best fifty I have ever shot, but the price reflects it. It took me over a year and a half to decide on my rifle. I shot almost everyone I could find.
 
While the owner of Bohica elicits a number of emotions, both good and bad from different folks. He has always treated me fair. That should not be you only criteria from not looking at them. I have a pair (one NIB never fired, the other has a few hundred rounds down the pipe) and a couple of buddies that have them, and like em'.

No issues with the uppers performance.
 
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