The One Mile Club (not to be confused with the Mile High Club)...
- Thread starter tobnpr
- Start date
waveslayer
New member
I shoot it a lot. No reason for a .50... not a precision round. Look into .338, .300 win, etc.. my go to is a 6.5 SAUM then comes my .338 Norma AI.
I have hit with my 6.5 Grendel and .308 but not consistent like these groups with my 6.5 SAUM
^^^ what he said, the 50 is not an ideal round unless the adversary is a tank, you can for just enough explosive in it for that. As far as a distance rifle, the round goes subsonic before 1 mile. As the pressure wave overtakes it, it becomes turbulant and thus, inaccurate. If you want a big cal. Distance rifle, a 416 is ideal. The round is supersonic over 2 miles, is much less affected by wind and has less than half the drop.
If you have the $ get a 14.5mm internal recoil rifle, best long distance round ever!
That being said. I regularly shoot over 1000y with a Remington .308 but prefer the 300winmag for really long shots at affordable prices.
Many calibers and rifles will do it, I would recommend swaravski for optics because no other will give you the clarity quality you need at those distances.
If you have the $ get a 14.5mm internal recoil rifle, best long distance round ever!
That being said. I regularly shoot over 1000y with a Remington .308 but prefer the 300winmag for really long shots at affordable prices.
Many calibers and rifles will do it, I would recommend swaravski for optics because no other will give you the clarity quality you need at those distances.
gbc123 said:
Sorry but a .50 BMG shooting a 750 grain A-max with a MV of 2600 fps doesn't go subsonic until 2300 yards at sea level. The speed of sound is 1116 fps ASL roughly, so the .50 BMG can easily reach 1 mile (1760 yards) with several different weight projectiles and remain supersonic all the way. Several cartridges can get you to 1 mile with less powder, but if you've wanted a reason to buy a .50 BMG a 1 mile range isn't a bad one.
If you reload the .50 BMG makes a lot more sense than the .338 Lapua as you can buy pull down military components you can usually shoot the .50 BMG for less money than you can reload the big .338's let alone the .416's. Lee sells a pretty affordable press kit for the .50 BMG to get you started.
ndking1126
New member
Taylor is right. 50 is a good option for noted reasons.
Not sure how important it is to you, but saying "I own a 50 cal rifle" is a lot scarier to most than saying "I own a 338". None-gun owners don't know what a 338 is typically, but a lot of people know the Army uses 50 cals to take out vehicles. Just a thought.
If I had a range to shoot at a mile and were picking a gun to shoot it, I'd probably go with the 50!
Not sure how important it is to you, but saying "I own a 50 cal rifle" is a lot scarier to most than saying "I own a 338". None-gun owners don't know what a 338 is typically, but a lot of people know the Army uses 50 cals to take out vehicles. Just a thought.
If I had a range to shoot at a mile and were picking a gun to shoot it, I'd probably go with the 50!
You are right, I'm sorry, I had my facts wrong. I do believe that you'll have more "luck" with a .416 though, the trajectory is just that much flatter. They can be had for under 1500usd.
As for ammo price... I roughly equate it like this: $100 of ammo through any gun is pretty good range time. It gets you roughly 11 rounds of 416 depending on the quantity you purchase. Now I don't know about you, but after 10 through any big rifle I don't really want to shoot more. 20 leaves me with a useless arm for a couple days(granted, my frame is not the largest).
Also 50s seem to be becoming harder and harder to own or even find places to shoot legally.
Last edited:
waveslayer said:
I wouldn't say it isn't a "precision round", I'd say that most people don't spend the money for a precision rifle. .50 BMG world records at 1000 yards.
gbc123 said:
As far as I know, CA is the only state to ban the .50 BMG rifle by classifying all of the rifles as assault weapons even the bolt actions though they didn't ban the ammunition. Idaho banned rifles over a certain weight for hunting and the .50 BMG rifle usually falls into this category. There are tons of places you can shoot a .50 BMG most are not convenient to people who live in Urban areas. .50 BMG and .338 Lapua are way more common rifles than any .416, .408, or .375 suited for 1 mile shooting.
Here is a good read on the 1 mile shot. While it can be done with lesser cartridges there are many valid points for the bigger capacity cartridges. I personally think the .338 RUM would be a serious contender in the 1 mile game and far cheaper than any other larger cartridge we've been talking about.
I suggest one makes sure there's a 5 mile safety zone down range from the firing line. That's about as far as a 50 BMG bullet will go fired at best angle for greatest distance. And make sure all the local ordinances will allow it to happen. Maybe get the local NRA rep to advise. Otherwise, bad things may happen.
Best advice I've seen in this thread, everyone has their own opinion on the matter. A Remington 700 will do a mile with a smaller lethal area.
Interesting article, my last thought on this thread... The 408 cheytech is just that, tech. Of the 10 rounds I have been privileged to put through it everyone was a hit, but let's face it 20 Gs on a rifle you need another20 for the scope, and roughly 70 bucks a round. It is out of the running just like the ntw20 in a 14.5mm configuration which I would say is the ultimate distance rifle.
Back to point, in my experience the 416 Barrett mod99 shoots the closest to these two weapons.
Thanks, gbc, but I doubt any Rem 700 will shoot under 3 MOA at a mile. The combined effects of a .300 UM's 200 grain bullet leaving at 3100 fps (recoil, accuracy, wind drift, fps & BC spreads) make that the best one will get. A braked, quality .50 BMG will easily trump a 700 in this card game; but only with a very thick billfold.
Last edited:
A quick Google Earth check shows 12,600 yards to the nearest road downrange.
.50's are already allowed (and commonplace) here. My guess is this would be an extension of the 1000 yard "ditch" already in place.
Anyone involved on long-range shooting and F-Class competition in central FL. knows the Manatee Gun and Archery Club. It's the only public, 1000 yard range in the State.
About 3 miles from the house is an abandoned gravel pit on BLM land. You can get will over a mile by backing up a bit from where my Blind is setting (I use the blind so I can shoot in the shade and keep my brass (when shooting semis in one pile).
You can get to just about anywhere in the gravel pit with an ATV to set up your targets.
Only problem is antelope show up every now and then and like to inspect the targets, they are curious critters.
I'm not into big guns, I normally use my 300 Win Mag Model 70, or more then likely vintage service rifles (don't shoot them at a mile except for 300 WM using 210 bergers.
If I can find a doner M1917 Action I'm probably build a 338 L just for kicks.
But mostly in my old age I'm into the vintage US Mil Surplus rifles. You'd be surprised what those old girls will do at distance.
You can get to just about anywhere in the gravel pit with an ATV to set up your targets.
Only problem is antelope show up every now and then and like to inspect the targets, they are curious critters.
I'm not into big guns, I normally use my 300 Win Mag Model 70, or more then likely vintage service rifles (don't shoot them at a mile except for 300 WM using 210 bergers.
If I can find a doner M1917 Action I'm probably build a 338 L just for kicks.
But mostly in my old age I'm into the vintage US Mil Surplus rifles. You'd be surprised what those old girls will do at distance.