What is a safe distance for 50 BMG shooting?

[tacxted]

A friend of mine is comming into a barret 50 cal!

I want to know the kind of range we should be from the backstop. Also what is the best/safest backstop to be shooting into.

I just want to have a fun and safe time. He is a gun collector and the gun will be more of a safe queen/display peice but he wants to shoot it a little too.

Around our area is sand/gravel pits. Most people around here shoot in there where ranges can be 40 to 200 yards.

Ted

 

[HarcyPervin]

this isn't helpful...but gives you reason to be careful...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0ABGIJwiGBc

 

[coloradokevin]

Honestly, the quality of the backstop is probably more important than the distance. I've shot .50's everywhere from 25 yards on a test fire, to outwards of 1,000 at better ranges.

Don't shoot steel close, and read up on how to shoot steel safely if that's in the cards for you guys. But, having a suitable backstop to catch your lead is more important than how far that backstop is from your shooting position. With that said, it's probably a waste of ammo to spend much time shooting a .50 caliber inside of 500 yards. These guns were made to reach out and touch something! Nevertheless, they're always fun to shoot, regardless of the distance.

 

[Edarnold]

The range I belong to has a 'tunnel' point in the 200yd berm for the .50 shooters. It's dug about 10ft into the berm and braced with timbers, looks kind of like an Old West mineshaft entrance. No problem with the big bullets going anywhere.

 

[tacxted]

good info, thanks guys!

the sand pits near me have high walls and catch bullets well so i think ill be ok using them!

thanks for the help

ted