My New Bushmaster BA-50 .50 BMG!

[Bill T]

This is my new Bushmaster .50 BMG Rifle. I just picked it up today after months of struggling with inner demons trying to justify such an expensive purchase. I can't wait to get it out and light it up! I still need to scope it out, and acquire an extensive enough amount of ammo to keep it supplied. So far she is all what they say!  Bill T.

[Cornhusker]

Bill,

Have you had a chance to take your BA-50 out to the range yet?  I am looking at one of these at my local gun shop and would like to hear how you like the one you have.  Any chance for a range report?  What scope are you going with?

Thanks,

Husker

[jro45]

Thats Quite a rifle, they are banned from the range that i shot at.  What is the range a
mile or so. I know that they use it to take down airplanes.

[Bill T]

Bill,

Have you had a chance to take your BA-50 out to the range yet?  I am looking at one of these at my local gun shop and would like to hear how you like the one you have.  Any chance for a range report?  What scope are you going with?  Thanks, Husker

I just picked it up a week ago Friday, so I haven't shot it yet. The gun is beautifully made, and the bolt assembly rides on roller bearings. It comes in a beautiful 6 latch Pelican Case with die cut foam. I'm still trying to decide scope choices.   This is the problem with scoping these rifles with big buck scopes. It isn't money, it is the fact .50 BMG's tear up scopes. The reason isn't what you might think. It isn't recoil, but rather the lack of it from the way the excellent muzzle brakes work. On most every heavy recoiling hunting rifle, say a .458 Win. Mag., the recoil goes one way. Straight back into your shoulder until all of it is absorbed by the shooter.

On a .50 BMG it becomes a two stage process. That is what ruins scopes. This phenomenon is much like what air rifles do to scopes. You can put a $1,200.00 Leupold on a $50.00 Crossman from Wal-Mart and achieve much the same result. Upon firing the scope and rifle starts back. When the bullet uncovers the muzzle brake ports it begins to pull the rifle forward, much like the clamshell thrust reverser on a jet engine does after the plane touches down. Then the rifle pulls forward. You as the shooter don't feel this. You simply feel the much softer "push" it all makes happen. But the scope "feels" everything. First rear thrust, then forward. A bit like hitting a brick wall in your truck....... then getting rear ended. Your neck is like a wet noodle. Your scope reacts much the same way.

Check out this high speed, slo-mo video. Watch the scope base, scope and rifle. It is unbelievable how much the whole thing flexes! This is a $15,000.00 Accuracy International semi auto. No matter, Sir Issac Newton doesn't care how much you paid for your scope and mounts!    Bill T.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5pVya7eask&feature=channel_page

[Bill T]

Thats Quite a rifle, they are banned from the range that i shot at.  What is the range a
mile or so. I know that they use it to take down airplanes.

The main reason .50 BMG rifles are "banned" from many ranges is because of muzzle blast and noise, not their extreme range potential. There are a lot of falsehoods surrounding the .50, and unfortunately it is this lack of understanding that causes the rifle to not be allowed at many ranges. One is the idea that it tears up berms and backstops. Most .50 shooters don't fire all that many rounds because of the high cost of the ammunition compared to say a .300 Win. Mag., or 7 MM Rem. Mag. In a direct comparison these rounds do far more to deplete a berm or backstop because of the sheer number of them that are fired on most ranges.

As far as a .50 BMG "shooting down airplanes", this is another falsehood that has been largely spread by the anti gun media, and anti gun politicians. Going back to World War II, most planes that were fitted with .50 caliber machine guns, were fitted with at least 6, or 8 of them that would all fire simultaneously. The cyclic rate of each of these guns were between 450 and 600 rounds per minute. Even when a pilot fired a short 2 second burst, it would result in well over 100 rounds being fired. Compare that to one man trying to wield a 35+ pound, single shot .50 BMG rifle, and it would be an impossible task. The .50 BMG rifles sold and used today are nothing more than very heavy, long range, bench rest target guns, and very high priced plinkers.  Bill T.

[Bill T]

This is what I plan to go with  on my .50 BMG Gentleman. It's been ordered, and is on the way from Brownell's and Midway.

Smith Enterprises Rings. (Wire EDM Cut 4130 steel.)






Smith Enterprises Delrin Reducer Rings, (30 MM To 1")



Smith Enteprises Base, (Also wire cut 4130 steel).



Bushnell 3200 Elite Tactical 5-15X 40MM