.50 cal Beowulf AR Build

[blaisenguns]

Hey folks, I am starting on building an AR. It is going to be a .50 beowulf and I was wondering if those of you who have more experience with these guns could tell me what the best buffer would be for a rifle of this caliber. I would also apreciate any other parts sugestions you might have.

 

[browningguy]

I use a standard buffer in my A2 stock for the .50 Beowulf.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

i have a colapsable stock with a stock buffer and it works fine.

 

[MMcfpd]

Mine has an Ace ARFX stock with a standard rifle buffer. I tried an Enidine hydraulic buffer and there was negligible difference. Also, I do not have a muzzle brake (same as browningguy's) - I have been told that does make a difference in felt recoil.

 

[Girodin]

If you don't mind my asking what made you choose the beowulf over the .458 socom?

 

[Lloyd Smale]

.043 of an inch

 

[Girodin]

.043 of an inch

Really? I'm not trying to be a smart a**. I was eying a Beowulf for a while but have come to believe that the SOCOM is the better choice but since I haven't placed my order yet I'm still open to advantages the Beowulf might have. .043 of an inch doesn't outweigh the SOCOM's advantages in mind. Particularly, the vastly superior range of bullet choices for the .458.

 

[Gryffydd]

Particularly, the vastly superior range of bullet choices for the .458.

And the ability to use unmodified magazines.

 

[longdayjake]

I think its really for the extra diameter. If you are going to go big you might as well go really big. Or atleast that what he may be thinking. Either way, components are going to be hard to find.

 

[HardShell]

.043 of an inch

Same here, if I'm being honest.

I have neither a need nor a desire for a .50BMG nor a .500S&W and, as an AR enthusiast in the extreme, I figured if I was ever going to have a "fifty caliber" anything it would be the Beowulf in an AR platform.

I don't shoot it often enough for the limited ammo/components to be much of an issue, so YMMV.

I guess it was more psychological than anything...

 

[Girodin]

BTW I am not knocking anyone's reasoning for purchasing what they have. I'm just trying to make sure I haven't missed anything about the Beowulf before I make my purchase.

 

[MMcfpd]

Most people seem to be able to use standard 5.56 mags with the Beowulf. When I purchased mine I bought two dedicated Beowulf magazines, one a 7 round (5.56 20) and one a 10 round (5.56 30). I've never needed more as 17 rounds is about all of the Beowulf shooting I've felt like doing in one outing.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

heres a bufflalo my wife shot with my 50 beo. It allows for a heavier and larger metplat bullet. Would a socom have killed it probably but when push comes to shove on an animal over 1500lbs bigger is allways better. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=441431

 

[blaisenguns]

The .50 Beowulf was designed to shoot through cinder blocks, and to disable automobiles. I am not familiar with the .458 socom. As to why I choose the beowulf I just like big guns, I like the literary reference, and wild pigs are my mortal enemy.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

If you don't mind my asking what made you choose the beowulf over the .458 socom?

.043 of an inch

Sounds like a good reason to me!

 

[browningguy]

I was eying a Beowulf for a while but have come to believe that the SOCOM is the better choice

That's what is great about having choices, everyone can get what fits them. I reload for my .50 and find I have a good enough choice of bullets, not so many as for my .458 Winnie but enough to do anything I want. To be honest I have settled on using 325gr. HP's and 400 Gr. FP's and that seems to work for everything. Other than bullet selection I see no advantage to the SOCOM.

 

[blaisenguns]

Hey can you use standard 5.56 magazines with the beowulf? I have read that the factory mags are basically just standard mags.

 

[Gryffydd]

In my limited understanding you can use standard mags, but they require bending the feed lips slightly.

 

[Mags]

So what about the 450 bushmaster since you guys brought up the 458?

 

[blaisenguns]

In my limited understanding you can use standard mags, but they require bending the feed lips slightly.

So I guess polymer mags are out of the question?

 

[Gryffydd]

So I guess polymer mags are out of the question?

Maybe not...Google turned this up:
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=121&t=458352

 

[trigga]

i wanted beowulf too for deer hunting but i couldn't justify spending over $500 on an upper that will give me similar ballistics to my rilfled 12 gauge. i was surprised a local gun shop actually had this ammo in stock. standard mags will work with lip mods as stated.
all you need to know about beowulf.
http://www.alexanderarms.com/beowulf.htm
http://www.50beowulf.com/

 

[blaisenguns]

Thanks guys, I will post picks when it is all done.

 

[Girodin]

So what about the 450 bushmaster since you guys brought up the 458?

I would much rather have the bullet selection of the .458

 

[TIMC]

I went with the Beowulf, I looked at the .450 and .458 when I was looking for a thumper AR but I wanted the .50 so the Beowulf it was. I am very happy with the rifle and it's performance. I am loading it with 335 grain Raniers and 36 grains of Lil'Gun. This load runs a little over 1800fps and does ugly things to pigs. Get one, you won't regret it.