Heavy .50 bmg build ?s

[dkhunt14]

I hope your planning on spending a big pile of cash, nothing about these big guns comes cheap. - Ben there & done that a few times already.
JGS does have a 40 degree shoulder version that is basically an Ackey Improved where "standard" 50 bmg brass can be fire-formed in the improved chamber. - I have a 30 degree shoulder version where "standard" 50 bmg brass can be fire-formed. - If your looking at buying both a chambering reamer & a re-size reamer & bushing set& possibly a throating reamer & a GO gauge you'll be looking at close to 800 bucks in the tooling. - Then you'll need die blanks for reloading. - I'd think long & hard (do your home-work) before you choose the gunsmith. - There are some out there that claim they can build these guns & they end up spending over a year to get the job done. - I'd be 100% sure that if your going to have someone chamber 2" dia. barrels that they have a lathe that the headstock will accommodate barrels that big. - Most gunsmiths max-out at 1.500 for chambering through the head-stock.

Good Luck !!View attachment 1028864 View attachment 1028865 View attachment 1028866

Nice guns, and your post Is pretty much spot on. My buddy has been shooting one in competition for years. When he told me how much the stuff costed, I knew it wasn't for me. I couldn't believe what primers and bullet's cost. Then through in brass and powder.

I went to one of the shoots and couldn't believe the groups they were shooting. Our 1000 yard heavy guns would outshot them hands down. Matt

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

Nice guns, and your post Is pretty much spot on. My buddy has been shooting one in competition for years. When he told me how much the stuff costed, I knew it wasn't for me. I couldn't believe what primers and bullet's cost. Then through in brass and powder.

I went to one of the shoots and couldn't believe the groups they were shooting. Our 1000 yard heavy guns would outshot them hands down. Matt

Yes, the 1000 yard heavy & light guns shot at Williamsport & at IBS 1000 yd. are still more accurate & outshoot the 50's and we are only shooting 5 shots in all 4 classes of FCSA competition. - There have been some good groups shot (I think 1.98" is the current Hvy Gun record).
Until just the recent 5-7 years good quality brass has not been easy to find, and I believe that lathe turned solid bullets present a bunch of challenges as well. I still believe that very concentric jacketed bullets with good lead cores are way better as are used in the 6mm & 30 cal. 1000 yd. rifles. Right now for the 50 cal. the 750 gr. Hornady A-max is about as good as it gets. - A few custom bullet makers have marketed their bullets but they haven't proven to shoot as accurate (No records) as one would like. And I believe it comes right back to having good concentric jackets. - I believe that if Berger or a company of the like could / would market a precision made bullet that it would help. - I know I'd be willing to pay for it but maybe not some of the others. - As we know, where there's no perceived reasonable market then usually products don't materialize. And even when there is the demand (Say if Lapua would make 300 WSM brass) we don't always see what we want to materialize.
Best I've done is 1.25" at 800 yds (5 shots) (at Louisiana Long Range Alley) and I wasn't able to reliably replicate it. It was with some 750 gr. Lehigh Hollow-Point hunting bullets (UNC-3600 bronze lathe turned). - I believe that if the 750 gr. A-max is sorted by bearing surface & weight and the barrel likes them, with a good load some better repeatability could be had on targets @ 1000. - But I don't believe that they can be made shoot as reliably accurate as a good 6mm or WSM can with the bullets that are available for those calibers.
I have 500 rounds of the Lapua brass & I still need to try it. - I'd just finished neck-turning it & then caught the bug for the 30 cal. & 6mm (And a few others) guns to shoot at long range. And that's kind of where I'm out right now as far as my shooting endeavors go.

- Ron -

 

[people]

Nice guns, and your post Is pretty much spot on. My buddy has been shooting one in competition for years. When he told me how much the stuff costed, I knew it wasn't for me. I couldn't believe what primers and bullet's cost. Then through in brass and powder.

I went to one of the shoots and couldn't believe the groups they were shooting. Our 1000 yard heavy guns would outshot them hands down. Matt

The main benefit to these big rifles is they do have retained energy at distance. Well that they are fun also. I had one back in the days of cheap mill surplus stuff. There was a time when you could get API for $0.03 each. I look every now and again and just think to my self how expensive it was. When I got out of it the A-MAX was $1.25 each.

 

[dkhunt14]

The main benefit to these big rifles is they do have retained energy at distance. Well that they are fun also. I had one back in the days of cheap mill surplus stuff. There was a time when you could get API for $0.03 each. I look every now and again and just think to my self how expensive it was. When I got out of it the A-MAX was $1.25 each.

Now the A-max is over 2.00 a piece and primers are .50 each. Till you buy good brass and powder, it is not cheap. Then figure the expense of a big barrel, not sure how much but a big .338 (1.450 at 36 inches) is over 500.00. A BIG custom action and dies and spexial stock amd the price went beyond what i can afford to shoot. I know some that bought dies at 500.00 plus. Matt

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

Now the A-max is over 2.00 a piece and primers are .50 each. Till you buy good brass and powder, it is not cheap. Then figure the expense of a big barrel, not sure how much but a big .338 (1.450 at 36 inches) is over 500.00. A BIG custom action and dies and spexial stock amd the price went beyond what i can afford to shoot. I know some that bought dies at 500.00 plus. Matt

- A shooter can have a Very Nice Heavy Class AND Light Class rifles Both built for the cost of what a full blown 50 project is going to run.
And the price of "feeding" them (both) is going to cost a lot less than a "50". And there are a bunch of outstanding gunsmiths across the country to choose from who can produce very high quality rifles for Williamsport / IBS / NBRSA competition shooting. And high quality reloading components are more readily available.

- Not trying to "steer" anyone away from the 50 caliber, I will say though, Think about it & the costs verses other available options. - When ever I'm approached about "what to buy" by a potential new 50 cal. shooter, I recommend they get an AR-50 or an East-Ridge/State Arms rifle because of the cost involved. - The AR-50 is about the least expensive "decent" factory rifle in 50 cal. - And if they like it they can either upgrade to a new custom barrel (on the AR-50) or move up to a full on custom rifle. - To me this is the most sensible way to approach the 50 caliber. And if the owner doesn't like it, there's less lost in turning it over if they go to sell it & move on.

 

[Matt P]

What about a Barnard GP action ???
http://www.barnard.co.nz/model-gp-action.htm

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

What about a Barnard GP action ???
http://www.barnard.co.nz/model-gp-action.htm

The Barnard GP is an Excellent action indeed. 3 locking lugs and excellent machine work. - I have serial number 007 on a FCSA Heavy Class Gun. - I had Mac Tilton (Old MT guns) do some work on the trigger for it. he took it from 8 oz. down to about 4 oz. - And I'm hearing that B n A is going to be building BR triggers for Barnard Actions in early 2018. - Rifle in the photo is on a GP action in a Manners HG carbon fiber stock (before it was painted green)

 

[4xforfun]

I hope your planning on spending a big pile of cash, nothing about these big guns comes cheap. - Ben there & done that a few times already.
JGS does have a 40 degree shoulder version that is basically an Ackey Improved where "standard" 50 bmg brass can be fire-formed in the improved chamber. - I have a 30 degree shoulder version where "standard" 50 bmg brass can be fire-formed. - If your looking at buying both a chambering reamer & a re-size reamer & bushing set& possibly a throating reamer & a GO gauge you'll be looking at close to 800 bucks in the tooling. - Then you'll need die blanks for reloading. - I'd think long & hard (do your home-work) before you choose the gunsmith. - There are some out there that claim they can build these guns & they end up spending over a year to get the job done. - I'd be 100% sure that if your going to have someone chamber 2" dia. barrels that they have a lathe that the headstock will accommodate barrels that big. - Most gunsmiths max-out at 1.500 for chambering through the head-stock.

Good Luck !!View attachment 1028864 View attachment 1028865 View attachment 1028866

I have less than ZERO need for a big 50..... (NEED.....Now I am talking like a gun grabber!!) But man o man...would I ever like to have one!!!

Envious....
Tod

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

I have less than ZERO need for a big 50..... (NEED.....Now I am talking like a gun grabber!!) But man o man...would I ever like to have one!!!

Envious....
Tod

??????????????????????????

 

[mr45man]

Take out a personal loan,low % for 10 grand.
Make payments,enjoy.
I wouldn't start out cheap, go full blown custom gun, dies,prep tools, press. Brass and
Turned brass bullets.
I came in 2nd first match.
Allways in top 10 at the Worlds.
Never broke into 5th though? but a lot of fun.

 

[4xforfun]

??????????????????????????

What is the question.....are you asking if I Really need a big 50, that I would LOVE to have one, or that I am envious of your collection?

Confused confused

Tod

 

[hoz53]

The Barnard GP is an Excellent action indeed. 3 locking lugs and excellent machine work. - I have serial number 007 on a FCSA Heavy Class Gun. - I had Mac Tilton (Old MT guns) do some work on the trigger for it. he took it from 8 oz. down to about 4 oz. - And I'm hearing that B n A is going to be building BR triggers for Barnard Actions in early 2018. - Rifle in the photo is on a GP action in a Manners HG carbon fiber stock (before it was painted green)

View attachment 1028949

That barrel doesnt look that long. What are the barrel lengths generally used? I thought around 36"
Thanks

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

That barrel doesnt look that long. What are the barrel lengths generally used? I thought around 36"
Thanks

The barrel is 36" long. - It is 1.950 for 6" at the chamber & tapers to 1.700 at the muzzle. - For the sake of perspective the Barnard action is 12 + inches in length & approx. 2.00 in diameter.
Barrel lengths vary depending on the competition class in FCSA matches. - Most of the Light class guns are running 29-32" barrels as they have to make the 32.5 Lb. weight restriction. - Hvy. class guns can weigh up to 50 Lbs. (Same with Hunter class). - Unlimited class has no weight restrictions.

 

[hoz53]

The barrel is 36" long. - It is 1.950 for 6" at the chamber & tapers to 1.700 at the muzzle. - For the sake of perspective the Barnard action is 12 + inches in length & approx. 2.00 in diameter.
Barrel lengths vary depending on the competition class in FCSA matches. - Most of the Light class guns are running 29-32" barrels as they have to make the 32.5 Lb. weight restriction. - Hvy. class guns can weigh up to 50 Lbs. (Same with Hunter class). - Unlimited class has no weight restrictions.

thanks for that info

 

[MN50Shooter]

The barrel is 36" long. - It is 1.950 for 6" at the chamber & tapers to 1.700 at the muzzle. - For the sake of perspective the Barnard action is 12 + inches in length & approx. 2.00 in diameter.
Barrel lengths vary depending on the competition class in FCSA matches. - Most of the Light class guns are running 29-32" barrels as they have to make the 32.5 Lb. weight restriction. - Hvy. class guns can weigh up to 50 Lbs. (Same with Hunter class). - Unlimited class has no weight restrictions.

LA50, what regionals do you shoot at? Currently I'm shooting Alliance, and Raton (WC). I'm planning to add Raton Regionals this year. Loved our first shoot in the UP/Michigan, but lost that venue after the 1st match. The range owner died and it appears the land was lost to the state, because of taxes.

I wish we could get our 1000 yd range here in MN to allow 50 Matches. It has Pits with 20 Targets, and I'm confident, we could draw in at least 20 shooters. But, that is only a pipe dream (for now)

 

[LA50SHOOTER]

LA50, what regionals do you shoot at? Currently I'm shooting Alliance, and Raton (WC). I'm planning to add Raton Regionals this year. Loved our first shoot in the UP/Michigan, but lost that venue after the 1st match. The range owner died and it appears the land was lost to the state, because of taxes.

I wish we could get our 1000 yd range here in MN to allow 50 Matches. It has Pits with 20 Targets, and I'm confident, we could draw in at least 20 shooters. But, that is only a pipe dream (for now)

It's been several years since I've shot a match, but I've shot at Raton, NM & Shreveport, LA in the past. With my work (I work offshore in Oil & Gas) I'm gone 60+ % of the time so timing and making time is a challenge. - And I've gotten involved in some other disciplines of shooting as well.

I hope your able to possibly realize a facility in your home state.

Merry Christmas & All The Best !!