Moving up....to the .50

[eastwood44mag]

I think I may buy a .50 BMG just to get one before they're banned. Problem is I have no idea where to start. Semi-auto's are cost prohibitive, and I really don't know enough about the bolt makers to buy smart.

Anyone care to help me out on this one?

Thanks.

 

[Father Knows Best]

The first .50BMG to be banned would certainly be the semiauto ones. The only one I am currently familiar with, and the one that gets all the media attention, is the Barrett. If I could come up with $7500 right now, I'd be buying one.

The rest of the market is dominated by single shot and repeating (they have a magazine) bolt guns. The Armalite AR-50 is probably the most common. It is a high quality single shot, with a street price (in used but good condition) of $2,000 to $3,000 depending on accessories. The bare rifle will sell for the low end, and one with bipod, a good scope and mounts, case, etc., will sell for $3k or even higher.

You can find decent .50's for as little as $1,000 if you look hard, and they go WAY up depending on make and model, accessories, etc. I really like the Cobb FA-50T, which is a straight-pull bolt action repeater. They are rare, though, and cost in the range of $5-7,000. McMillan makes a highly regarded bolt repeater, also, but again, quality costs $$. A McMillan will set you pack $5k+.

 

[pdowg881]

Ban would just mean to stop manufacture and sale for cilvilian use right?

 

[fletcher]

Ban would just mean to stop manufacture and sale for cilvilian use right?

Most likely. They certainly wouldn't prohibit the government from owning such weapons - they're more trustworthy than us.

 

[50 Shooter]

I have always liked this site for it's info http://www.hevanet.com/50shooter/ and refer new .50 owners/buyers to it.

Read the site first (all of it) and then decide if the .50 is for you, alot of people buy a .50 fire a couple rounds then decide that the .50 isn't for them. If you know someone in your area with a .50 ask them if you can fire a couple rounds to see if it's for you.

With all the people buying .50's right now thinking that a ban might happen and with ammo in short supply, prices have gone through the roof! Not that shooting a .50 was ever cheap, you can expect to pay from $3 per round on the low end and twice that for match stuff.

Lastly, if you buy a .50 join the FCSA and get on the members forum for lots of great info. www.fcsa.org

 

[eastwood44mag]

I plan on making a safe queen out of it. I just bought a new reloading press a couple years back and didn't buy the one capable of handling the .50, and I refuse to buy a new press so soon.

 

[wdlsguy]

Ban would just mean to stop manufacture and sale for cilvilian use right?

The proposal I'm aware of (S. 1331) would declare .50 BMG rifles "destructive devices", meaning you would need an approved Form 1 ($200 tax) before making one, or an approved Form 4 ($200 tax) before taking possession of one.

 

[pdowg881]

I was just at a shooting get together last week where around ten people took turns doing some m2 shooting. You can guess how much that costed the guy.

 

[trbon8r]

What is the cost per round to reload .50 BMG, both for blasting type ammo and match grade stuff?

 

[goalie]

I am quite happy with the build quality, price, and accuracy of my State Arms .50 BMG.

The recoil is less than that of my .308 Savage.

 

[Strongbad]

State Arms builds good rifles.

 

[50 Shooter]

At "todays" prices, it will cost you around $1.50 per round to reload for the .50. That's if you start out with surplus components and the price drops off as you reload the brass.

Match ammo at "todays" prices will run you about $4 each depending on which type of bullet, primer and powder you use. Most match bullets right now are about $2 each, new brass varies from at least a dollar to just under $2 each, you can use pull down surplus powder (not the best for match stuff) all the way to new powder. The widest used primer is the CCI 35, RWS primers haven't been imported to the states in years, there was some Hirtenberger primers out but they've been sold out for awhile. K&P had some IMI primers in stock, you'd have to call them to see if they still have them. If you can find new Win. brass it comes primed from the factory.

 

[eastwood44mag]

So I'm still looking, and have basically settled on a single shot. The question is: Barrett M99, Armalite AR50, or Steyr HS50?

Leaning heavily towards the Armalite, in no small part because NIB they're less than $3K, would prefer a Barrett, and have always liked Steyr as a gunmaker, so I'm kind of on the fence here.

What sayeth you?

 

[PTK]

I "sayeth" you should think about buying a BOHICA Arms FAR-50. $1k and an AR-15 lower gets you a single shot .50BMG. The action is smoother than the AR-50, but I haven't seen an M99 or HS50 to compare them to that.


Best of all - being an upper, there's no 4473 or FFL transfer fee.

 

[trbon8r]

Back when I was considering getting into the .50 BMG game I was looking closely at the Bluegrass Armory Viper. From what I've been able to gather it gets very good reviews. It looks like a lot of gun for the money.

http://www.bluegrassarmory.com/

 

[Conqueror]

The cheapest way to get into the .50 game is with the various .50BMG uppers available for AR-15 lowers. Watson's Weapons sells one for around $1600. Spider sells the Ferret50 as an upper. There are many others too - google "50BMG upper".

 

[Taurus44]

I "sayeth" you should think about buying a BOHICA Arms FAR-50. $1k and an AR-15 lower gets you a single shot .50BMG. The action is smoother than the AR-50, but I haven't seen an M99 or HS50 to compare them to that.

Best of all - being an upper, there's no 4473 or FFL transfer fee.

That's what I did!

 

[garrett1955]

I Shoot a Left hand State Arms Rebel 36" Stainless heavy barrel, bi-pod, and a trigger that breaks like glass.

If I were to buy another .50 I would Have Larry at State Arms build me another. These things shoot amazing and have won many FCSA matches. Best of all prices are reasonable.

 

[Eric F]

Not trying to say anything in a negative fasion here but I know a guy that bought a .50 hey great good for him. The problem is its a 1000 yard gun and the best range around here is 200 yards. He owns no property to get the long randg shots he wants to do.

What I am saying here is make sure you have some place to shoot it before you buy it.

 

[Conqueror]

^^^nothing wrong with shooting a .50 at 200 yards. Hell, nothing wrong with buying them to shoot at 30 yards. I just hope to have one before some crazy dem gets in office and bans them altogether.

 

[kaizer]

I feel you OP, I had the bug and was just about to get an LAR, then decided on the Bohica. I am patiently awaiting my upper which should be here late Jan. I have already built the lower for it and have stocked up on about 100 rounds so far.

 

[Gunnerpalace]

To answer OP's question Go for Barrett or Armalite I have heard questionable things on the Steyr, Accuracy is a toss up but the Armalite is a bit better in that catagory,Barrett has good CS from what I have heard, and after reading the "Barrett Letter" I would buy one. I cant Recommend any of the .50 uppers for AR's as I have reservations about them and reliability issues.

 

[Conqueror]

^^^I'm curious as to why you have reservations on their reliability... I've read LOTS of user reports and problems seem to be quite rare regardless of brand.

 

[Gunnerpalace]

I've heard from a few manufacturers that would not suggest it. (A couple did say if you used a .308 lower you would be set)

 

[rc109a]

How much is the once fired brass going for? I have several cans full of this stuff...