Who's shot a rifle chambered for the .50 BMG?

Rented a semi Barrett was softer shooting than a 12 gauge.
I shot prone and got covered with debris from the brake.
Sounds like no other gun I have fired lower tone boom.
The empties fell in a pile I could reach without moving.

I don't have one, but I have put some rounds through a Barrett M82A1 and an M2, at ranges out to 1,700 yds. I enjoyed it, especially shooting the more interesting ammo like spotter tracer, APIT, etc at tank hulks and conex containers placed out on the range as targets. While I enjoyed shooting .50, I don't have a real use for one and I can't see ever buying one as there are a ton of other ways I'd rather spend that kind of money.

I have shot Barretts (bolt action and M82A1 and M107) and a Serbu. The Serbu conversion was the only one I considered reasonbly sized, but I enjoyed shooting it the least. The semi-auto Barretts are actually not bad to shoot at all in terms of recoil. Recoil is handle by the brake, barrel springs, and recoil spring. This serves to actually spread out the duration of the recoil such that it is more of a large push than a snappy punch. I would rather put 200 rounds of 665 gr. ball ammo down range than shoot 200 rounds of slugs from my Rem 870...in terms of recoil.

50s are noisy noisy noisy. Muffs and plugs, always muffs and plugs unless you are shooting suppressed. With their muzzle brakes, if you are shooting prone on the ground, it can get quite dusty.

The quietest place around a Barrett is directly behind it. The shooter has the sweet spot when it comes to noise.

Only gau18.
My impression was I would like something that shoots that kind of 50 way to much.
Just say no. Unless money is no object.

Years ago I got to put some rounds through an Armalite AR-50 which is a big bolt gun in 50 BMG. Recoil wasn't bad, I forgot what he said it weighed but it was HEAVY; and I was sorry our range only goes out to 200 yards. I wanted to stretch it out a lot more than 200 yards. The owner and I were firing some GI surplus ammo that he was firing to get reloading brass. Only put about 5 or 6 rounds through it myself but it was quite an experience and one I'll always remember. Wish I had my camera that day but back then even my old flip phone didn't have one.

That is something virtually nobody says anymore, "I wish I had a camera..."

i shot a few it's been bout 15 years tho, maybe about 6 different 50s, 2. 20mms.dad had a tankgewehr that was very fun wish we still had it. there really all the same lots of noise, wind and the pressure hitting you. one 4th of july shooting a few my chest was sore, kinda like hen your to close to fireworks.

I’ve never got to shoot one but my brother in law want to get one really bad. I told him if he ever gets one I’ll buy the reloading tools and give him free ammo if I can shoot half of it.

someguy2800 said:

I’ve never got to shoot one but my brother in law want to get one really bad. I told him if he ever gets one I’ll buy the reloading tools and give him free ammo if I can shoot half of it.

Click to expand...

He MIGHT be getting the better part of that deal.

Tell him you’ll buy the rifle if he buys the ammo!

Had one for about 6 months, fired 3 shots and got asked to stop.....never fired it again. Traded it for a car, and I've got no remorse lol.
Absolutely worth making an effort to get to shoot, but a waste of money to own unless you really want it, and/or have a place to shoot it.

I have the Armalite AR-50, it is a blast to shoot for about 5 rnds, then your eyes and sinuses start flowing, it weighs about 47lbs, if the grass is dry it will start smoking. Recoil is not bad, it just pushes you back. I don't reload for the 50, prices for components is high, I found some at a salvage place for 50% off and bought all they had. Sometimes you can find a box of 10 for less than 20$, but normal price is around 35$. We got some engine blocks and shoot them at 1200yrds, it damages ar500 steel at that range. If someone starts annoying you have them stand to the side and behind the shooter as a spotter, no one wants to do that twice. It makes nice work of felling dangerous trees. You have to be very careful about where you shoot it needs a BIG backstop or a LONG distance, it has a verified kill over 2000yrds.
If you get one, they don't fit in safes, I had to take mine apart until I built a place to store it. Surplus army cleaning rods work great but they are steel so you have to make a plastic bushing for the muzzle.
And remember optics for them are pricey. I use ear plugs and electronic muffs when shooting it also.

A friend of mine was likely the guy doing the demo. He used to own a Barret M107 and I put several rounds through it. I’ve shot a Serbu and M82A1 as well. The Serbu just wasn’t fun to shoot. The two semiautos were a lot of fun for a little while, but after several rounds, the concussion from the muzzle brake started to wear on me. Probably would not be too bad with a suppressor.

Yes, the older Barrett M82 (early 90's before it was standard issue) and later the M107 Barrett. In fact, we had 2 of them on the team that lived in my gun cage (and took up a whole bunch of room in there), once they became a standard army SWS. Also the Mcmillan TAC-50 (MK 15), but minimal experience with it. I am also armorer qualified on the 107 and the TAC-50. The 50 BMG rifles were our least used weapons. Between the weight, noise, storage space, lack of a place to fire it to its full potential, cost of the gun, and cost of the ammo, I would never see myself desiring to own one. If I wanted to "really reach out there" I would sooner buy a 338 LM. But, different strokes for different folks.

I've shot a couple. One was a McMillan bolt and the other was an Amax (Amac?), the bolt action that you load by removing the bolt. The Amac was pleasant to shoot. The McMillan was down right vicious. I'm talking headache and blurred vision vicious!

I would love to have a 50BMG but I just don't have enough need to justify the cost. Bragging rights at deer camp are only worth so much..........

A few years back a friend of mine bought a Barrett autoloader .50.

After detaching a retina, he sold it. I don't blame him.

Conelrad

Shot a Barrett .50 bolt action at a range in Isle, MN (Boone's Guns if you're local). One round, $15, as I recall. The flash and roar was impressive, and recoil not bad at all, but the gun weighed as much as a small car, so there is that. As others have said, a piece of empty brass that's longer than your closed fist is pretty darn impressive.

My good friend has a 50 cal upper on a dedicated ar15 lower. I was not impressed with it. The mag would randomly fly out of the receiver while firing. accuracy was not noted as the scope was dialed in at a insane range and we were only at a 300 yard range and i could not tell where i was even hitting. They are cool and can not beat the power. But i have not use for one. At least living in maine i do not need one.

I shot on in Las Vegas while on vacation at "The Gun Store" on Tropicana Ave. My memory was it cost $25 for one shot, and it was a single shot, bolt action rifle (not 100% sure - this was 5+ years ago I believe). They let me keep the case (stamped L C 6 0 which I assume is Lake City 1960) and I was given an "I shot the .50" target (landscape 8.5" x 11" piece of paper). I guess it made a bit of an impression as the empty case & target are still in my office. My memory was the recoil was like shooting a 12 gauge slug - really not that bad.

Never have. I'd jump on an opportunity to shoot one, but have no interest in owning one.

Have a Serbu BFG single shot rifle. It's a tack driver out to 600 yards, which is the longest range I have access to. I enjoy the rifle but seldom take it out due to the cost of the ammo. Though when I do take it out I have a smile on for most of the day.