Well, It comes down to This
- Thread starter Kermit911
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Tamara
Senior Member
Depends.
Do you live someplace where you could shoot it on a semi-regular basis?
Where I live, the nearest range over 100 yards is some fifteen or twenty miles away, plus, there's really noplace in my little roadster to transport a four-foot-long, 35 pound rifle, so a .50 BMG rifle would be about as useful to me as a kickstand on a tank.
Do you live someplace where you could shoot it on a semi-regular basis?
Where I live, the nearest range over 100 yards is some fifteen or twenty miles away, plus, there's really noplace in my little roadster to transport a four-foot-long, 35 pound rifle, so a .50 BMG rifle would be about as useful to me as a kickstand on a tank.
Henry Bowman
Senior Member
Kermit, would the .50 be you first or only rifle? If so, start with something smaller. You need to realize that, aside from big and heavy, they are expensive to shoot. Maybe 10 times as much as shooting a .30-'06 or a .308, for example. The "where to shoot" question is not trivial. You not only need a long range, but a good enough backstop and, ideally, a lot of uninhabited space beyond the backstop, unless you can shoot in a quarry or such. You can develop good shooting skills out to 500 or 600 yards with a much lighter and less costly round. Then go for the big guns! Since you are in IN, there is no eminant threat of a .50 ban (as in CA) that would change my advice.
I live in NJ. This is not my first rifle. I have an M1A, HiPoint 9mm, HK SL8, and shotguns. The problem is, NJ SUCKS!!! 
It's a rotting cesspool of laws. :banghead: So before they ban it in NJ I would like to get one. Second I have the money wich is something hard to come by for the price of the rifle. Thats for the Rifle. Now against the Rifle, It's A LOT of money. I could get some nice guns with that kind of money. I guess the pros out weight the cons in this case, but that what I need help with.
Thanx
Kermit911
It's a rotting cesspool of laws. :banghead: So before they ban it in NJ I would like to get one. Second I have the money wich is something hard to come by for the price of the rifle. Thats for the Rifle. Now against the Rifle, It's A LOT of money. I could get some nice guns with that kind of money. I guess the pros out weight the cons in this case, but that what I need help with.Thanx
Kermit911
Kamicosmos
Member
Heh....the closet rifle range to me, period, is around 50 miles. And I already live on the edge of town! The pistol range/gun store is about 30 miles away.
If I want to shoot at 200 yards, I have about 125 miles one way to go.
I routinely drive 75 miles one way to the range I frequent.
The Midwest is Too Damn Big sometimes.
But, at least I have several ranges to choose from...I just gotta drive a bit to get to them.
Red Tornado
Member
If I could afford a .50 and then afford ammo, I'd love to shoot one. However, I don't think I could get the enjoyment out of it that I could out of everything else I could get instead. I don't know the exact price you're looking at but the cheapest one I found was $2195. That's a Garand, a 1911, and loads of ammo...at LEAST. Or a Lever-action .44 or .357 etc. Plus a revolver in the same caliber, Plus .22 rifle and pistol collection, and loads of ammo.
However, I'm not you, and you've got a tough call. I like rimfires, you may not. YMMV
Whatever you decide, I'm jealous.
Good luck,
RT
However, I'm not you, and you've got a tough call. I like rimfires, you may not. YMMV
Whatever you decide, I'm jealous.
Good luck,
RT
shooting a .50 bmg in tennessee and ohio, i've found that quite a few outdoor ranges get complaints from neighbors when you bring out the artillery.
most still allow 50s, but if you see the range owner cringing when your car pulls into the lot, you'll know why.
point being, 50bmg may be the most fun caliber ever, but be considerate. you don't want to cause problems for local ranges, especially in NJ.
most still allow 50s, but if you see the range owner cringing when your car pulls into the lot, you'll know why.
point being, 50bmg may be the most fun caliber ever, but be considerate. you don't want to cause problems for local ranges, especially in NJ.
JamisJockey
member
Disregard
Henry Bowman
Senior Member
Then by all means, you've got the reasons to go for it. If you by OK quality, it will hold its value and you can always sell it later and get those other things, but if banned (and grandfathered) you'll be glad you bought it now.
mainmech48
Member
Here in Indiana where we have an average population density a good deal less than NJ, you'd have a helluva time finding anyplace to shoot it. They might allow it over at Camp Atterbury, but I wouldn't count on it. Aside from the noise, they've just got too much range and penetration potential for most places to handle.
We can't shoot them at our club. Too many complaints from neighbors about the noise rattling their windows (and composure), which annoyed the local SD. Ditto "Tannerite" targets and the like.
Our insurance carrier wasn't real keen on the idea of covering the potential risk to their bottom line involved should a 600-odd gr. slug get off the property when there are homes less than a quarter-mile away, either.
If I lived out where I had a couple of thousand yards of empty space to play in (and I was rich enough to buy and feed one) then...maybe. Personally, I think that something like the .50 Browning doesn't really start coming into its own until the target gets out past 500 yds anyway.
We can't shoot them at our club. Too many complaints from neighbors about the noise rattling their windows (and composure), which annoyed the local SD. Ditto "Tannerite" targets and the like.
Our insurance carrier wasn't real keen on the idea of covering the potential risk to their bottom line involved should a 600-odd gr. slug get off the property when there are homes less than a quarter-mile away, either.
If I lived out where I had a couple of thousand yards of empty space to play in (and I was rich enough to buy and feed one) then...maybe. Personally, I think that something like the .50 Browning doesn't really start coming into its own until the target gets out past 500 yds anyway.
Thanx a lot everyone. You all have helped out a lot. I'm about 94% sure that I will get one. I even talked to the wife and she agress with me. My God I think hell is going to freeze over. LOL But anyway, thanx again. The VALLEY FORGE GUN SHOW is on December 18 & 19. I think I will head out there to see what they have.
Thanx a lot
Kermit911
My God I think hell is going to freeze over. LOL But anyway, thanx again. The VALLEY FORGE GUN SHOW is on December 18 & 19. I think I will head out there to see what they have.Thanx a lot
Kermit911
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