Why .50 Spotter?

[WestKentucky]

I was reading an article about affordable .50bmg rifles (laughable that a $2000 gun and $1000 scope along with expensive ammo is considered affordable but I digress) and I saw where a good number of folks have rechambered rifles to 50 spotter. I don’t see the reason, and I’m curious as to why? Is it just the aspect of not getting pounded with recoil? Brass is just as expensive, more labor intensive, and all to lose a lot of case capacity and power while shooting the same bullet. Can someone explain please?

 

[lysanderxiii]

For a 30 pound rifle (no brake):

Caliber .50 BMG -
Recoil Impulse: 13 lb-sec
Recoil Energy: 95 ft-lbs

Caliber .50 Spotter -
Recoil Impulse: 7.3 lb-sec
Recoil Energy: 28.76 ft-lbs

EDIT: for reference typical .300 Winchester Magnum in a 9 pound rifle gives you about 28 ft-lbs recoil energy.

 

[indy1919a4]

Its maddness, I paid for a 50 BMG, I want the full 50 BMG experience, sore shoulder and ringing head,,, Do not take that from me...

But the spotter rounds do work nicely with your recoilless rifle

 

[Bfh_auto]

For a 30 pound rifle (no brake):

Caliber .50 BMG -
Recoil Impulse: 13 lb-sec
Recoil Energy: 95 ft-lbs

Caliber .50 Spotter -
Recoil Impulse: 7.3 lb-sec
Recoil Energy: 28.76 ft-lbs

EDIT: for reference typical .300 Winchester Magnum in a 9 pound rifle gives you about 28 ft-lbs recoil energy.

That is easily within shootable levels. When I get into mid 30 for pounds, my tolerance is about 5 good shots. Preferably less.
I would just load 50 bmg with black powder and a cast bullet. It would really make people ask questions.

 

[Bfh_auto]

I was reading an article about affordable .50bmg rifles (laughable that a $2000 gun and $1000 scope along with expensive ammo is considered affordable but I digress) and I saw where a good number of folks have rechambered rifles to 50 spotter. I don’t see the reason, and I’m curious as to why? Is it just the aspect of not getting pounded with recoil? Brass is just as expensive, more labor intensive, and all to lose a lot of case capacity and power while shooting the same bullet. Can someone explain please?

Everyone knows what a 50 BMG is. Almost no one knows what a 50 spotter is.
Different, burns less powder, doesn't beat your head in, and is still over kill for everything.
What isn't good about it?

 

[Skylerbone]

Long and short of it: not everyone who gets what they want, wants what they get. Met a young guy once who bought a Desert Eagle and broke his wrist on the first shot. Looking him over, it was clear why.

 

[Mk-211]

Where people are missing the point is that the 50 BMG is on the radar for anti gunners, they've never heard of the 50 S/T.

Here in CA it's still legal to own one, of course you have to find someone that will make you one. The other option is to go to the 50 DTC, everything is the same other than sizing the cartridge down.

Just another caliber to have if you like big calibers and it doesn't beat you up like a 50 BMG does.

 

[H&R Glock]

I load it for about $1.75/round now as I bought sufficient projectiles way back when, (.45 per bullet ball or AP) I can shoot about 20 rounds before it tires me out. It does not hurt me.
M8 spotter tarcer rounds are not cheap. I thought you were referencing a 50 Whisper round.

These use the ST bullet at about 1100 FPS. Trajectory like a brick, but fun, as you can blow pieces out of logs at 100 yards.
Brass is made from 50 BMG brass.
Firing the 50 ST bullet from a full power 50BMG case is dangerous as the bullet was not meant to be subjected to the pressures and can go off in the bore.

 

[Mk-211]

You can shoot S/T projos out of a 50 BMG case, you just have to remember to down load them.

If you plan on using them, you should start at 175grs and work up to 190grs of powder as MAX. I will say that I've seen them loaded way hotter than that. So hot that the barrel on the rifle rang everytime the owner shot one!

They do offer a good show as they trace out and then a little light and puff of smoke. These and the blue tips have been known to detonate after leaving the barrel.

The consensus as to why it's happening is due to the projo being resized. When they run through the sizing die, cracks form inside the jacket between the inner core. When fired, all that hot gas has to go somewhere. Just be thankful it doesn't happen very often.