Source of .50 BMG Plinking Ammo?

[DougB]

I'm running low on .50 BMG ammo and planned to order another 150 round can of remanufactured ammo for $200 or so. I just checked, and most places I normally order from are out, and some I found now want $600 or so for 150 rounds of remanufactured ammo. I knew prices on most ammo have gone up, but I had no IDEA .50 BMG ammo had tripled in cost (that might have made me rethink letting each member of the boy scout troop I took to the range awhile back take a shot with the .50 - though the reactions of the boys were pretty much priceless).

Anyway, where can I find the most reasonably priced .50 BMG ammo? I want safe ammo that is at least reasonably accurate, but I certainly don't want to pay for "match grade" ammo. Thanks.

Doug

 

[cdrt]

You might check with these guys and see when they'll have some available.
http://www.thehuntingshack.com/index.html

They produce .50 BMG for the military, but right now their price list shows it as unavailable.

 

[Bottom Gun]

The Sportsman's Guide had some in their catalog a while back. It might pay to check with them.

 

[shortydog]

I get mine here...
http://www.watsonsweapons.com/895.html

 

[50 Shooter]

All I can say is good luck finding cheap .50 BMG ammo any where. Since Talon was closed down the prices have doubled and in some cases tripled (price gouging whores). You're better off getting into reloading and rolling your own.

Shop around at places like The Ammunition Store, Aim Surplus, Poly Gun Bag, TTI Armory, Wideners, Graf n Sons, Pat's Reloading...

 

[Tin Gizel]

Source of .50 BMG Plinking Ammo?

I hate to be that guy, but isn't this an oxymoron?

In all seriousness, check The Hunting Shack.....I just ordered 10k of .223 from them....best price I could find anywhere. We'll see how the quality turns out. But I was desperate, needed the ammo and needed it soon, they quoted me 6 weeks which was half of what everyone else what saying.

 

[Wes Janson]

Best possible prices I've seen are in the vicinity of $3/round for ball, and even then I believe they're sold out. Best possible price "If I need this ammo tomorrow" that I know of is $3.50-$4/round for ball. Anything else is likely going to be higher.

 

[BADUNAME13]

Get in on the Group buy:
http://www.warrifles.com/forums/showthread.php?t=42085

 

[meef]

Just an opinion here, but as I see it - .50-freaking BMGs do not...

"plink"

Seriously.

 

[BADUNAME13]

Your opinion... even though it's wrong...

 

[Kindrox]

I have 200 rounds of tracer/ap (a mix of one or the the other, not both) and have not yet sold it at $2.75/round. So demand is not that high I guess.

 

[meef]

Your opinion... even though it's wrong...

v. plinked, plink·ing, plinks
v.tr.
1. To cause to make a soft, sharp, metallic sound; clink.
2. To shoot at casually.
v.intr.
1. To make a soft, sharp, metallic sound.
2. To shoot casually at random targets.

Dunno about you, pal. But I've never experienced anything about .50 cal that leads me to believe it's casual.

 

[BADUNAME13]

When I got my Barrett, Chris loaned us a experimental Barrett and 500 rounds...

I PLINKED...

And Plinked

and plinked.


Gonna do the same with mine shortly, a buddy 's GF wants to shoot one out at his farm... (Not 500 rounds worth though!)

Kindrox: If you can give me details on the type of ammo (brand/specs...) and shipping costs to La... we MIGHT be able to take care of that...

 

[Kindrox]

About 50% is black tip, and the rest is a mix of red/yellow (15% red/35% yellow I would say).

The headstamps are mixed. In the handfull I grabbed, there are:

2x LC43
2x SL4
3x TW52

The brass is not all that shiny, but there is no green of any kind and the rounds are in very good condition.

I don't know about shipping. I am in North Texas.

 

[BADUNAME13]

What I mean is, who loaded them. Military ammo is not sold to the public intact. it is disasembled, and companies reasemble it and sell it.

Where'd ya get it?

 

[Kindrox]

I got them as part of a trade. I don't know the original source. They look original, the primers have the military crimp marks so these are not reloads either.

 

[ceetee]

If .50 BMG is now considered plinking, what does it take to be a serious rifle? 30mm?

 

[50 Shooter]

Did you say that some of it has a yellow tip? If so I would dump that stuff, it's Dominican Rep. and considered the worst .50 stuff out there.

Or is it red & yellow tipped? If it is then it's spotter tracer and would be remanufactured as it was never loaded on .50 BMG brass. The M48 stuff was loaded on it own brass that was shorter then .50 BMG brass.

Be safe!

 

[Kindrox]

They are either orange or yellow.

The head stamps lead me to believe these were made in the 40's or 50's, and from my net research the only differance I saw was orange tips had a brighter tracer than the yellow.

Are you sure all yellow tip ammo out there is Dominican Republic stuff?

 

[kellyj00]

why not reload? A lee press ain't all that expensive.

Also, be sure to keep your brass...even if you don't reload. That stuff is valueable as well right now!

 

[kcmarine]

Well, you can call the activity "plinking", but in all honesty, .50 BMG rounds don't plink.


They go, "KA- BAM!!!"

 

[50 Shooter]

What's the headstamp on the yellow tipped stuff? That will be the fastest way to tell what it is and where it's from.

 

[DougB]

Thanks for the replies and suggestions - I'm following up on a couple of them.

Regarding "plinking" with a .50 BMG - I can see how that probably sounds a little odd (especially if you take that to refer to the sound - like a .22 LR hitting a can). The .50 BMG certainly isn't quiet - or the gun I want to put 100 rounds through in a session. By "plinking" I just meant to communicate that I'm not looking for precision target ammo. In all honesty, my .50 BMG rifle winds up being mostly a novelty/noisemaker - something fun to take a few shots with (and to let others do the same). When I let others try this rifle, the target/accuracy are of relatively minor interest - everyone is focused on the shooter, the noise, the concussion, the cloud of dust raised for 30' around, etc. Its much more fun to watch the reaction of the shooter and spectators than to see a hole put in a milk jug (or whatever we are shooting at).

Doug

 

[meef]

Regarding "plinking" with a .50 BMG - I can see how that probably sounds a little odd (especially if you take that to refer to the sound - like a .22 LR hitting a can).

Yup.


.22 LR:

"Plink"

"Plink"

"Plink"



.50 BMG:
"ker-freakin'-BOOOOM!"


No "Plink".

 

[Wes Janson]

I have to concur with 50 Shooter...don't mess around with Dominican yellow tips. I've heard lots of horror stories, and I'm not sure I'd risk shooting them even if the zombies DID arrive and I ran out of everything else.