I have fired the Barrett, and it is awesome. SEmi Auto .50 bmg is just tooooo cool. It is also a bit pricey, and if you can justify spending THAT much money, you may not be a mere mortal anymore anyway....
I choose the LAR Grizzly Single shot Bolt, MUCH cheaper, and, for my money, just as accurate. It is shootable from the shoulder, but it is not meant to be pickup up by little guys like us, let alone shoulder fired!
From the bipod it is not bad at all.
On the tripod that comes with it is it rather like firing a VERY LOUD .223.. hardly any kick at all.
I have a Swarovski 6-24x50 on it now (the one you saw on my precision .22 at your house), but I originally had a 6-24x40 Tasco World Class target on it and it worked fine.
J. Ross has a very lightwieght one that he shoots from the shoulder with a big honkin' muzzle brake. I think it is a McMillan, deos that sound right? He'll be at the shoot in June and he has infitely more experience than anyone else I know.. you can talk big bore with him then, if you don't have three .50bmgs by then.
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-Essayons