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50 BMG Mentor (SO YOU WANTED A FIFTY)

THE SENTINEL

THE SENTINEL

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Apr 7, 2005
859
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USA
#1
The day I decided I was going to reload 50 bmg form my
M82A1.I thought it was going to be no big deal.since I have
reloaded 308 for some years now.Man I was wrong.Six months
later I can say I can relaod 50BMG.It was a nightmare at
first I had half the tools and 20% knowlege of reloading for this beast.I almost blew the thing up reloading new IMR 5010
that is 10% hotter I was shooting 650gr bullet 3000 fps.
Crazy stuff.My Mentor is THE-MECHANIC from Sandiego CA.
We met on the hide when Dannys dog passed away last year
I just posted on his thread about his loss.Danny taught me how to reload 50BMG.He took time out of his life to help a fellow shooter that was havingproblem after problem.We worked
6 months together telephone and PM.Well finnally I am getting good safe reloads to function in my BARRETT M82A1.and I know
why they work.We have a great resource of shooters and reloaders here on the hide.I am thankfull for all the help
my friend danny has gave me.If you dont know what you are doing.its ok to ask.

SEMPER FI
P1090427-1.jpg
 
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#2
Re: 50 BMG Mentor (SO YOU WANTED A FIFTY)

Good for you. Hope to own a .50 someday...
We were bullshitting with one of the safety officers the day after the range had a MG shoot. We didn't attend the shoot (I heard there was some impressive weaponry there), but we got to the subject of the .50 cal and reloading.

He flat out said NO WAY would he do it...just far to dangerous for him. So kudos to you for approaching it properly, getting the knowledge and doing it safely. Quite an accomplishment IMO.

Of all the .50 shooters, I wonder how many reload. I also wonder how common "incidents" are for those who try to do so.

At what range were those targets shot?
 
#3
Re: 50 BMG Mentor (SO YOU WANTED A FIFTY)

Reloading the 50 BMG is no different from any other cartridge, but also is very different from every other cartridge. The principles are the same, but the tolerance is very narrow. You can't cut corner, or assume. When in doubt, double check and triple check. When you change powder, especially for those who use mil surplus powder to reload plinking ammo, you have to work up your load again, because the batches are not neccessarily the same. You can't try to be on the edge of the ceiling and shoot in extreme temperature. There are a lot more case preppings and attention to details when it comes to reloading the 50 BMG. What may work for someone's rifle can blow up in yours. So the bottom line is to exercise extreme caution when it comes to reloading the 50 BMG. Remember, 200+ grains of powder is a shit load of powder. Be safe.
 
#5
Re: 50 BMG Mentor (SO YOU WANTED A FIFTY)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: DesertHK</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Reloading the 50 BMG is no different from any other cartridge, but also is very different from every other cartridge. The principles are the same, but the tolerance is very narrow. You can't cut corner, or assume. When in doubt, double check and triple check. When you change powder, especially for those who use mil surplus powder to reload plinking ammo, you have to work up your load again, because the batches are not neccessarily the same. You can't try to be on the edge of the ceiling and shoot in extreme temperature. There are a lot more case preppings and attention to details when it comes to reloading the 50 BMG. What may work for someone's rifle can blow up in yours. So the bottom line is to exercise extreme caution when it comes to reloading the 50 BMG. Remember, 200+ grains of powder is a shit load of powder. Be safe. </div></div>

I use 220 grns of H50 forr amax, 170 for spotter tracer, I have to figure out my viht data for the lapua ammo.

Its not hard to load it just takes a little more work, a lot of attention to detail (like any reloading). I would read up and get to work.
 
#7
Re: 50 BMG Mentor (SO YOU WANTED A FIFTY)

I feel your pain on this one. The 5010 issue became apparent when 218g stuck a case in my McMillian at a match. I have since switched exclusivly to H50BMG. Yes, it is a proposition to switch from conventional reloading. I think the only crossover in tooling was my Imperial sizing die wax.
 
#8
Re: 50 BMG Mentor (SO YOU WANTED A FIFTY)

I reloaded for forty years before doing the fifty. I did a lot of research before I started loading. The FCSA was a great resource for info. Reloading the fifty is just like the .308, only more so.;-)(especially case prep) The penalty for a FUBAR is way more severe though.


Wayne
 
#9
Re: 50 BMG Mentor (SO YOU WANTED A FIFTY)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CK_32</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Video please
smile.gif
</div></div>

Spotter Tracer out of my AR50 at 650yds on steel plate! Fun Fun!

<object width="425" height="350"> <param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/YgBLl0y7rHU"></param> <param name="wmode" value="transparent"></param> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/YgBLl0y7rHU" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="425" height="350"> </embed></object>

Terry
 
#11
Re: 50 BMG Mentor (SO YOU WANTED A FIFTY)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 50calcruiser</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Few things in life are as satisfying as the white flash and pop of an API on steel. That is an outstanding video. </div></div>

Not API, Spotter Tracer. See below. They have a primer in the tip that sets off the bang when it impacts a hard surface.

API on the left and the Spotters on the right

DSCI0347.jpg


spotter.jpg


Terry
 
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#12
Re: 50 BMG Mentor (SO YOU WANTED A FIFTY)

right to left: 647gr Ball, Tracer, 750gr A-max, Spotter-Tracer.

spotter1.jpg


820gr Spotter

spotter4.jpg


Close up of primer in bullet tip. I dropped one once and just about shit myself thinking it was going to hit tip first. Got lucky and it hit on its side.

spotter2.jpg


bullet length

spotter3.jpg


They are a ton more fun than API. Real crowd pleasers! LOL.

However, they are not good for shooting out of semi's. The risk of slapping another into a unejected round is to dangerous.

Terry
 
#13
Re: 50 BMG Mentor (SO YOU WANTED A FIFTY)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: THE SENTINEL</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> The day I decided I was going to reload 50 bmg form my
M82A1.I thought it was going to be no big deal.since I have
reloaded 308 for some years now.Man I was wrong.Six months
later I can say I can reload 50BMG.It was a nightmare at
first I had half the tools and 20% knowledge of reloading for this beast.I almost blew the thing up reloading new IMR 5010
that is 10% hotter I was shooting 650gr bullet 3000 fps.
Crazy stuff.My Mentor is THE-MECHANIC from Sandiego CA.
We met on the hide when Danny's dog passed away last year
I just posted on his thread about his loss.Danny taught me how to reload 50BMG.He took time out of his life to help a fellow shooter that was having problem after problem.We worked
6 months together telephone and PM.Well finally I am getting good safe reloads to function in my BARRETT M82A1.and I know
why they work.We have a great resource of shooters and reloaders here on the hide.I am thankful for all the help
my friend Danny has gave me.If you don't know what you are doing.its OK to ask.

SEMPER FI
</div></div>
Wow thanks for the kind words. Reloading the .50 is just as DesertHK said. You definitely need more brass prep as it really does improve the round greatly. It amazed me that 5010 changed so much in just a couple of years. This was a first to have such pressure problems with loads that should have been fine.

Reloading for me is fun for me because it lets me focus my mind and clear out all the clutter of the day. Really relaxing. I only wish I could make it a career but I think many in the firearms industry are horribly underpaid for what you do. Very similar to the automotive (wrenching).
 
#14
Re: 50 BMG Mentor (SO YOU WANTED A FIFTY)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: suasponte</div><div class="ubbcode-body">right to left: 647gr Ball, Tracer, 750gr A-max, Spotter-Tracer.

spotter1.jpg


820gr Spotter

spotter4.jpg


Close up of primer in bullet tip. I dropped one once and just about shit myself thinking it was going to hit tip first. Got lucky and it hit on its side.

spotter2.jpg


bullet length

spotter3.jpg


They are a ton more fun than API. Real crowd pleasers! LOL.

However, they are not good for shooting out of semi's. The risk of slapping another into a unejected round is to dangerous.

Terry</div></div>
Would love to give some of those a try but kind of a big no-no here in Kalifornia.
 
#15
Re: 50 BMG Mentor (SO YOU WANTED A FIFTY)

All the talk of the FCSA laetly has made me think of Skip Talbot (RIP). I learned lots from him. Many phone calls with him! He is greatly missed in the 50bmg community!

Terry
 
#16
Re: 50 BMG Mentor (SO YOU WANTED A FIFTY)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: suasponte</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> All the talk of the FCSA laetly has made me think of Skip Talbot (RIP). I learned lots from him. Many phone calls with him! He is greatly missed in the 50bmg community!

Terry</div></div>
I wish I could have met him. I don't know of a single person who had anything but the greatest respect and admiration for him.
 
#17
Re: 50 BMG Mentor (SO YOU WANTED A FIFTY)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Quote:</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wish I could have met him. I don't know of a single person who had anything but the greatest respect and admiration for him.</div></div>

<span style="font-weight: bold">+2</span>
 
#20
Re: 50 BMG Mentor (SO YOU WANTED A FIFTY)

I reload for my M82CQ and love it. You gotta have the right tools. I have the Hornady 50 BMG press, and most importantly the Giraurd trimmer which is a life saver when it comes to trimming the 50BMG case. But most importantly i do not push the envelope. For example military calls 235gr of WC860 for the 647-690gr bullet. As long as you are not at the edge, there is not much to worry about. Most people use around 220-225gr which is very safe.
 
#21
#22
Re: 50 BMG Mentor (SO YOU WANTED A FIFTY)

Pats has always been good to me! I ordered some of their loaded API, some API sized projo's and sized spotter tracer projos.
 
#23
Re: 50 BMG Mentor (SO YOU WANTED A FIFTY)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Stefan73</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Pats has always been good to me! I ordered some of their loaded API, some API sized projo's and sized spotter tracer projos. </div></div>
1+ for Pat. Ordered from him several occasions. He takes his time and offered great customer service.
 
#24
Re: 50 BMG Mentor (SO YOU WANTED A FIFTY)

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 50calcruiser</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Where did you find the spotter/tracers? Those would be fun. </div></div>

I got mine many years back from Pats reloading. When I heard from my buddy that Talon mfg was shutting down I went out to the warehouse and picked up a bunch on 50 surplus tips including about 2000 spotters.

Terry
 
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