.50 BMG Recoil

R

RazorbackMac

New member
I hope this doesn't make anyone think of me as a noob or perhaps not cool enough to hang around but it's killing me. Being that I will not likely have the funds at any point in my lifetime to purchase a .50 BMG and also being that I don't know anyone in person that owns anything larger than a .300 win mag, I find my self in a conundrum. I see them in videos and read about them online and in magazines all the time and therefore often find myself day dreaming about .338 Lapua and .50 BMG. I have to know, is there anyone out there that can describe to me the amount of recoil from shooting a .338 Lapua or a .50 BMG? Perhaps the .338 has only a tiny fraction and shouldn't even be said in the same sentence, I really have no earthly idea. I'm not scared of recoil and would gladly jump behind the stock of .50 BMG without delay if given the opportunity but not knowing anyone that has either caliber rifle, I need to live vicariously through someone... anyone with experience behind one of these behemoths, please allow me to die a happy man... tell me what it's like. I may only be 23 and I don't envision myself having a foot in the grave and the other on a banana peel, but I could get nailed by a semi tomorrow... rather than waiting and chancing never knowing, I decided to sound stupid and just ask
 
The only 50bmg i have experience with is the barrett m82a1 so other platforms may be diffrent but i would say the recoil was about on par with a 308 maybe a little less. You have to keep in mind the rifle weighs in excess of 30lb and has a massive muzzlebreak. The muzzleblast however is fierce and double hearing protection is a good idea. Oh and dont have anything directly to the right or left of the rifle when shooting as i have witnessed a gatorade bottle that got launched 30ft from the gas coming out the muzzlebreak.
 
I am SO glad I asked... your responses have COMPLETELY turned my thoughts upside down... I was picturing recoil so massive, you would be limited to a handful of shots a day to ensure your didn't sever your optical nerve ;) Less than 12 ga 3" and .308... Well i'll be.....
 
Well, I don't suppose I am necessarily LOOKING for recoil but I AM always looking for fun and informative reads so I will have to do some research on this .505 Gibbs and learn something new.
 
recoil

Don't own a .50 BMG but I have had the opportunity (and pleasure) of shooting a couple.
I concur with the "about like" 12 ga./.308 recoil.
Interestingly - I have a barrel for my T/C Encore that allows me to shoot 50 BMG bullets at subsonic velocity. The bullets are seated into 50-70 cases over about 34 grains of Reloader 7 or H322 (that is an "about"; it is not load data).
The recoil on that set up is way worse than the Barrett. It is the only scope that has ever caught me. I had to go to a long eye relief scope to keep it out of my eye.
Pete
 
I'm kind of in the same boat as the OP, not only will I probably never be able to justify the price of it but for me it would be totally impractical since there is no where near me to shoot the thing. Also there is no where locally where the rifle would reach it's full potential. I would still like to shoot one once just to say I did it, same goes for the 500 S&W Mag, impractical as hell (for me anyway) but looks like fun.

Stu
 
If you like a cheap recoil thrill, try a Ruger #1 in 458 Lott. 9 lbs rifle, and no muzzle brake to give you the full experience. Don't worry about ammo cost either, a 20 round box lasts a lifetime.
 
I've only tried one, a bolt action. Like a 45acp it's more of a shove from a night club bouncer than a sternum cracking hit from Neo.:p
 
It's not the recoil of a .50 bmg that gets you, it's the muzzle blast.

The most I have managed to shoot from my buddy's .50 was three rounds in rapid succession before I developed a nasty flinch. That muzzle blast is like getting hit in the head.
 
505 Gibbs

I've shot a 50MG and I agree with other posters that it was about like a 300 WinMag to me, but the comment about the 505 Gibbs brought back my memory of shooting one....on a Brevex action and weighing about 15 pounds it did give me a jolt but the amazing part to me was it twisted about 90 degrees due to the bullet in the rifling! Harder hitting rifles were the 378 W'by and the 450 Ackley Magnum....both remained as reminders of the experience for several days!
Dick C. :D
 
I own an AR-50 and the recoil in nil, the most rounds that I've shot in one day are about 100. Shoulder was fine and could've done another 100 w/o any problems.:D
 
I know 50's are cool and all......


....but there really is no use for them. They are too big for anti-personell and too small for anti vehicle use.



















don't jump me:D
 
The 50bmg was not designed for anti-personell it was designed for light armored vehicles. With incendiary ammo it will make quick work of most vehicles.
 
The 50bmg was not designed for anti-personell it was designed for light armored vehicles. With incendiary ammo it will make quick work of most vehicles.
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A $1,500 AT4 will do better against armor than an $8,000 50cal rifle.

Hell, an m203 costs around $1,000. A HEDP 40mm grenade costs around $50 each. An m203 with one grenade, for around $1,050~, can do better than the cheapest single shot 50cal you can name.
 
Who said it had to be a single shot. The origonal 50bmg was the ma deuce.
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i was making a point regarding the price of admission and efficiency.

But in any way, the ma deuce is a crew served weapon.

Funny... that's the same thing the anti gunners say...
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think about it this way, if I had the power to take away 50cal rifles from society but in return give you 40mm grenade launchers, would you object?:D
 
think about it this way, if I had the power to take away 50cal rifles from society but in return give you 40mm grenade launchers, would you object?
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I would object to you taking anything.

Jim
 
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