Senior class project... in .50BMG

[ArMa]

I just thought you guys might be interested in seeing this bad boy... a friend of mine made it for his senior class project its 37lbs, Leupold VX-III (of course) 8.5-24x40mm, mcmillian stock, mcbros action, lilja barrell and the compensator is made by a local machinist name Phil that just so happens to own www.opsinc.us

I wish I could show you what was left of the bowling pin I hit... we had trouble finding a piece that was worth taking a picture of

 

[natedog]

What kind of project would you make a .50 for?

 

[WhiteKnight]

Who said school can't be fun?

 

[ArMa]

Im not sure... he goes to some spiffy private school and it didnt dawn on me untill I got home to ask what class/subject that was for.

 

[WhiteKnight]

Looks like he sank some serious money into that project.

 

[ArMa]

$6,000 to be exact.... his parents paid for most of it, this counts as a graduation present and they dont have to buy him a car lol

 

[MLC]

A Californian minor built a .50 cal in high school?
I think I just heard Feinsteins head explode.

 

[NightWolfe]

Someone please mail her these pictures and let her know the story

 

[stealthmode]

I would like to know what class that was for and why they didnt offer that class when i went to school.

 

[ocabj]

Senior Projects are all the rage right now in high schools. Back when I was a HS senior in 97, they implemented Senior Projects at my HS for the first time. They're designed to get students prepared for college and/or real world situations where they may have to perform goal oriented type projects based on prior research which lead to practical applications. Getting a 'satisfactory' grade on the Senior Project is pretty much required in order to graduate.

I've heard of some pretty interesting projects from schools all around the country. Students can get pretty creative in topic choices. I'm glad this young man was able to apply his passion for firearms in his academics.

 

[c_yeager]

they implemented Senior Projects at my HS for the first time. They're designed to get students prepared for college and/or real world situations where they may have to perform goal oriented type projects based on prior research which lead to practical applications.

So what did they spend the previous four years doing?

That project cost more $$$ than any car I ever owned prior to turning 24.

 

[Chris Rhines]

HELL YES! I love homebuilts, and homebuilt .50s are just that much better.
Nice work.

- Chris (You can have my milling machine when you pry it from my cold, dead fingers...)

 

[ocabj]

So what did they spend the previous four years doing?

I think the Senior Project idea is sound. You'd be amazed at the kind of people our nation's high schools are 'socially' graduating who aren't properly educated and aren't prepared for life after high school (whether it be the work force or secondary schooling).

Frankly, I think high school academics is a joke anyway. The only thing you learn in high school is how to get good grades. You don't retain info, just learn what the rubric is in your classes, and produce work that meets the criteria to get an A so you can keep a respectable GPA to get into college.

But I digress.

To original poster: What shooting range is in the pictures? Is that private land or an actual shooting facility?

 

[WhiteKnight]

You'd be amazed at the kind of people our nation's high schools are 'socially' graduating who aren't properly educated and aren't prepared for life after high school (whether it be the work force or secondary schooling).

Yep. Well said.

The only thing you learn in high school is how to get good grades.

Yep again.

You don't retain info, just learn what the rubric is in your classes, and produce work that meets the criteria to get an A so you can keep a respectable GPA to get into college.

Is there anything wrong with this? What's wrong with doing what you have to in order to get into a good college---good job---good salary?

What exactly do you suggest high school students do? Not pay attention to their grades and barely squeak into a no-name podunk college?

 

[ocabj]

Is there anything wrong with this? What's wrong with doing what you have to in order to get into a good college---good job---good salary?

What exactly do you suggest high school students do? Not pay attention to their grades and barely squeak into a no-name podunk college?

There isn't anything really wrong with it, but I think being too focused on just the grades and how to work the grading system is what causes high school students to fail in college.

I think my personal experiene with college makes me biased. I majored in Computer Science and after 4 arduous years got my Bachelor's in CompSci. HS did very little to prep me for the 9-12 hours of lab time a week on top of the standard lecture and discussion times. The style of 'learning' I applied in HS did not work for me in college. My University's CS program had an approximate attrition rate of 25% when I graduated. For every person that enters the CS program each year, only 25% actually complete it and graduate with a degree in CS. I think that experience in HS may have attributed to that, but of course, there are other issues at hand (too much gaming, too much drunken parties, etc), and this is a very extreme example. I'm sure non-engineering/science majors like PoliSci and History don't have this kind of problem.

In summary, there isn't anything wrong with working the system in HS to get into college. I guess that is the point of HS for aspiring students. I do feel that this leaves you open to being knocked down pretty hard in college, though.

 

[Murphster]

Hope he has a friend whose Senior Project deals with bail bonds. Schools have a very poor opinion of guns plus students plus school property.

 

[ArMa]

To original poster: What shooting range is in the pictures? Is that private land or an actual shooting facility?

Thats at 7-Lakes gun club, Redding, California.

Hope he has a friend whose Senior Project deals with bail bonds. Schools have a very poor opinion of guns plus students plus school property.

get this... they're letting him take it to school if he leaves the bolt at home and he can bring a dummy round.

 

[artherd]

ArMa, that's outstanding!

Looks like a really outstanding job, what kind of accuracy is he getting?

How long's that barrel?

PS: I have to look, but if he dosen't have the bolt, then isn't this device no longer considered a 'firearm' because it now lacks the 'capacity to discharge via burned or explosive<yaddayadda>...' It should be just considered a metal pipe with a handle.

 

[ArMa]

Im not to sure how long the barrel is i'll call and ask him later, It shoots a 2" 3 shot group at 100 yds and about 3" group at 300, we shot a Barrett to compare and its group cant hold a candle to the McMillian's... heres me with the barrett for the hell of it...

 

[wasrjoe]

Wow, I hope I'm able to do that for my kid(s) if I ever have any.

 

[Elarski]

Wow! I thought it was cool when they let a buddy & I build Crossbows in Woodshop, but building a .50 Cal. is too cool!

 

[gearbox]

Originally posted by MLC:
A Californian minor built a .50 cal in high school?
I think I just heard Feinstein's head explode.

I sure hope so!

 

[50 Shooter]

Your comparing an M82 to your friends bolt gun? There is no comparison, the M82 will only do 2-3 MOA out of the box. Why the military changed their minds on the XM107 project and bought the M82's over the M95 or the EDM Arms Windrunner is beyond me. For those of you that are thinking the M82 was part of the XM107 project, No, it never was. The XM107 project was for a bolt gun not a semi auto, EDM Arms M96 did better then the Barrett M95 but cost more.

Anyway, your friend has a nice rifle. How much of the work did he do himself?

 

[4v50 Gary]

If my high school had class projects like that, I would have stuck around for the final year. School wasn't fun in those days.

What if this Kid turns out to be another JMB, Pedersen, Kalashnikov, Stoner, Saive, Maxim, Colt, Henry, Spencer, Berdan, Boxer, etc?

 

[ArMa]

How much of the work did he do himself?

He was mentored by the owner of a local gun shop he was there for everything that was done to that gun, he said there were only a few things he had a gunsmith do that he didnt do himself.