I know there is a wide variety of bolt action and single shot 50 BMG type rifles, uppers for AR lowers, etc. out there, none of which I have any experience with, so I need some recommendations. The details are as follows:
An older ex-army friend of mine (who I’ve help build an AR15 and an AR10 for) wants me to look into helping him build some kind of a 50 BMG. Initially he wanted a magazine fed semi-auto, but when I mentioned the price on one of those (i.e. Barrett 82-A1), he decided that a bolt action or single shot would be fine - somewhere in the price range of $2500-$5000 or so. I want to make sure it is a quality rifle and I know that the Barrett offers the model 95 and the model 99 in or close to that price range, but what I don’t know is if the Barrett offerings are quality pieces and what else is out there that is of good quality.
I would actually prefer to build it myself (for the experience) and I have built a few AR’s (10-15) over the last few years so I can definately handle it and I don’t mind buying special tools to do the build, as I think I may want to build one for myself eventually and I like having the tools on hand to work on my own stuff.
So what ideas and recommendations do you all have?
There are a bunch of 50 BMG bolt guns and bolt action AR-15 uppers that shoot the 50 BMG that are in your price range.
Single shots, mag fed and even a semi is rumored to be close to being released. Supposed to be about half the cost of the Barrett.
The State Arms is probably the best combination of quality, price and accuracy potential. The Armalite is the lowest recoiling of any of the 50 BMGs out there other than a tripod mounted gun.
Serbu
Barrett
State Arms (shell holder design, great reputation)
ALS
Viper
Bluegrass Armory
Armalite
Bohica (fits AR-15 lowers)
Ultramag (mag fed from the left side)
Tactilite ( was Ultralite ?) (shoulder fire-able, lightweight)
Ferrett (fits AR-15 lowers)
I lived in richmond ky home of the bluegrass armory and chem. depot and have seen bluegrass armory’s weapons. I am actually in richmond right now visiting my brother and dad for the summer. But the .50’s that roll out of BG armory are very neat and done up right. They look like they have the tooling of a place that cares. I haven’t been fortunate enough to test one out or even had the experience to push its limits but just from handling them they seem like a very good gun indeed.
You know its funny, hardly anybody here in richmond knows that bluegrass armory makes .50’s. My old shop teacher had to tell me about them 2 years ago. Any way, just my .34 cents (inflation)
I’ve shot these. Really nice. As accurate as the shooter can be. I helped a diminuative 70 year old lady (NH House of Representatives lady when our range and GONH had their politicians open house day) shoot one of these prone. After the shot she looked up and asked if she could shoot another shot!
I had good luck with my BOHICA MK3. I was one of BOHICAs first customers several years ago. It took almost two years to get my upper and almost three to get it 100% done. Once done it just out right would shoot! Good shootin rifle for sure, the only reason I sold it was to buy a SCAR. I think Im gonna fet a M99 next…
My old shop teacher had to tell me about them 2 years ago. Any way, just my .34 cents (inflation)