Looking to possibly buy a 50 cal bolt action. Anyone have any recommendations
- Thread starter Didodadday
- Start date
Never mind. After reading about the recoil and expense I will stick with my .308
Drunk posting?
The recoil is... brutal. I find 338LM shooting 300gr SMKs and E-tips very manageable, 750 Amaxes not so much!
I just recently got my 50, I didn’t find the recoil to be too bad. But I get the thoughts on it. I’d still tell you to get one.
I have a 338 Lapua and the costs on that round is what I’m having issues with right now!!
I have a 338 Lapua and the costs on that round is what I’m having issues with right now!!
When you are ready, the answer is Cadex Tremor
So what you’re telling me is that I made a mistake ordering a McMillan TAC-50 yesterday?
it has the Cadex chassis 
My .50 recoil isn't bad at all. There is ferocious muzzle blast and noise, but I don't notice the recoil any more than any other big bore. If you're on a budget, get a Noreen. They can be had for under 2K. If you want the most value for your money, get an Armalite AR50 for around 3.2K. If money is no object, get a Lynx.
My Armalite AR50 in a McMillan Army return stock.
My Armalite AR50 in a McMillan Army return stock.
No worse that a 12 ga shotgun. The 50 bmg pushes more than kicks.
Its like celebrating too soon.
I disagree, unless you are talking about a lightweight pump shooting 3.5 in turkey magnum loads... maybe. The AX50 ELR bolt gun I was shooting had a brake almost as big as a coke can and it still sucked to shoot. I wanted to like it because the size of the bolt, magazine, and round is super impressive. After 7 rounds I was past done, it just was not fun to shoot. My buddy that shoots a ton was done after 5 rounds.
Now I do shoot air rifles a lot as well as 300 Blk subsonic, so maybe I am getting soft. But like I said, I also shoot as much as 80 rounds of 338LM at a time out of my fairly lightweight TRG42 and don't have a problem.
Serbu here. Recoil is less than a lightweight 300 win mag. But the blast is fearsome. I prefer earplugs and muffs.
It feels more like launching a payload when you see an API or INC (blue tip) and it hammers steel. We shoot it at the farm on July 4.
It feels more like launching a payload when you see an API or INC (blue tip) and it hammers steel. We shoot it at the farm on July 4.
I bought a Noreen ULR. Weighs 35 # stock, I strapped another 10 pounds to the bipod rod. Last time I had it out it’s recoil was less then the 1903 with a steel butt plate I had been shooting. Shoots factory Hornady 750 A-Max ammo under 1 MOA.
Get a 50, it’ll put a smile on your face.
Get a 50, it’ll put a smile on your face.
I've not shot an AI50, but I can tell from pics that the AI50 muzzle brake is about half the size of the AR50. Also the ports of the AI50 are at 90 degrees while the ar50's are angled.
ai50
ar50 
ai50
Last edited:
My 50 brake on the EDM has a slight angle on it but the rifle weighs 40 pounds so that helps.
The brake on the Barrett 416 has a sharper angle on it and it feels about the same as my AI 338 in regards to felt recoil, at least to me.
The brake on the Barrett 416 has a sharper angle on it and it feels about the same as my AI 338 in regards to felt recoil, at least to me.
I had a Serbu BFG 50 (bolt gun). Recoil was more than the Armalite mostly due to the weight. However the quality of the Serbu was night and day different from the Armalite
The AR50 feels like a smooth/safe/well tuned 50. It feels like a quality piece with a decent trigger and very smooth action. The scope base has machined recoil lugs fitted tight to the action. Everything about the AR50 just feels and shoots like you got your moneys worth. Uses Wilson barrels. Also adjustable for LOP and cheek weld
The Serbu feels like it was welded from drain pipes. Shitty action. Mine hung up on the trigger hammer. Which had to be manually pushed down to get the bolt closed. Trigger was about 10 lbs from factory. 30 moa base came backwards. The base mounts with holes and standard bolt/nut setups. Which has a ton of play. Was an absolute pain in the ass to turn around as a standard wrench wouldn’t get inside the “scope rail” or whatever they refer to that god ugly raised chunk of steel the picatinny rail mounts to. We put mine on a cnc and pinned the base in after finding the actual center of the rail.
I know some who own the Serbu semi and say it’s decent. However there’s a lot who had extraction issues and what not with theirs as well.
But as far as a single shot 50 just for fun the AR50A1 is unbeatable at its price point. I paid $2700 new for mine a few years ago. Comes with a GGG bipod as well.
Paid a bit less for the Serbu and I wouldn’t recommend a Serbu even at a $1200 price point. Certainly wouldn’t use that breach plug design for any price
Stay away from Vulcan, Hesse, blackthorn or whatever they’re called. See those show up used from time to time
The AR50 uses a Remington 700 trigger which is good and be upgraded with any aftermarket Remington 700 trigger. I have a Timney match trigger on mine. I like the AR50, it's a great value.
SHTF rifle here and it's more a push than anything else. But your mileage may vary....
onlt .50 I've fired was an AI AW50. that was back in 2007, and thinking about it still gives me a chubby.
shooting it was quite comfortable, felt recoil was no worse than my 243 - but spotting for my shooting partner was absolutely brutal, every shot was like a punch in the face from a pro fighter.
if you get the opportunity to shoot one, do it.
if you get the chance to own one definitely do it.
a few weeks back a dudw at one of my clubs was letting people shoot his AI AX in 6.5 manbun, felt very similar, but nowhere near as much of a chubby generator
shooting it was quite comfortable, felt recoil was no worse than my 243 - but spotting for my shooting partner was absolutely brutal, every shot was like a punch in the face from a pro fighter.
if you get the opportunity to shoot one, do it.
if you get the chance to own one definitely do it.
a few weeks back a dudw at one of my clubs was letting people shoot his AI AX in 6.5 manbun, felt very similar, but nowhere near as much of a chubby generator
When you get it.........
Don't be the dude at 100 yards, under the shed roof, concussing everyone while missing consistently at 1 gallon milk jugs.
Don't be the dude at 100 yards, under the shed roof, concussing everyone while missing consistently at 1 gallon milk jugs.
I have had a Vulcan for more than 20 years. Single shot shell-holder bolt. Weighs a ton.
Shoots just fine. In fact more accurate than my M82 Barrett.
They got a bad rap when they came out because they were inexpensive. Lots of apocryphal stories about how they would blow up. None of which I could ever verify. But in the early days of BMG… anyone shooting an LAR Grizzly (had one of those, too) or a Vulcan or a remove-the-bolt gun Was looked on as a poor. (And we were!!)
Vulcan is so heavy that recoil is a shove.
Muzzle-blast is like being at a Who concert during a space shuttle launch at Hiroshima. And that is with a big brake.
.50’s are not hard recoiling.
Now a .458 win Mag guide gun built on a Springfield with a sporter stock and no scope…. They kick.
A .50…. Not so much.
Sirhr
You can be my company commander any time, sir.My .50 recoil isn't bad at all. There is ferocious muzzle blast and noise, but I don't notice the recoil any more than any other big bore. If you're on a budget, get a Noreen. They can be had for under 2K. If you want the most value for your money, get an Armalite AR50 for around 3.2K. If money is no object, get a Lynx.
My Armalite AR50 in a McMillan Army return stock.
- Nov 3, 2010
- 8,645
- 17,545
My Barrett 99 wasn’t brutal at all. I could shoot all day with it if I wanted to. Spent many days at Thunder Valley shooting before he stopped letting them
Maybe the O.P. saw this excellent documentary on the recoil and effects on target of the .50 and decided against it 
Whenever Buffalo posts pictures of his gun room I can't help but spend an hour with a few cups of coffee, zooming in on all of the beautiful guns and a life time worth of collecting interesting items.
Excellent collection my friend, truly appreciate all of your posts.
- Jon
Excellent collection my friend, truly appreciate all of your posts.
- Jon
The blast can be brutal if I’m shooting for a while. For those long sessions I built a portable blast shield.
This is one of the cases. There’s a few more since if you search for them. Bolt lugs sheared off
and def don't be the dude who rents a Barrett single shot at a 100y indoor range
i'm sure they make enough from dudes renting it but my god what a joke
That doesn’t sound fun……
Indoors? I assume you’re kidding.
i'm not
We have a 25/50 yard indoor range here in MI that rents an M82 absolutely bonkers. I asked why? He said for the experience!
absolutely bonkers. I asked why? He said for the experience!
Definitely this
Nope, totally serious. I’ve rented a .50 for one shot before. Don’t care that it was loud inside, it was awesome and I’d do it again
We also have a 25 yard indoor range that permits 50 bmg. Thankfully, they do not rent one.
Wonder how long they'd allow that after someone brings in a Raufoss for their 'one shot...'
Cheers,
Sirhr
Burt to the rescue! @BurtGMaybe the O.P. saw this excellent documentary on the recoil and effects on target of the .50 and decided against it
Was at the indoor range that I've posted before here in Utah that lots of people thought was fancy. Rented a few handguns to try to see what my wife liked. Still don't have something good for her. She was about to shoot the last few rounds on a zev when somebody 2 lanes over shot the rented Barrett m82. 25 yards with a red dot or holographic sight on it. No heads up or anything. Wife went into flight mode. Swept the loaded gun across me. I got it from her before she booked it. I have brought it up to them that they need to warn people on both sides before something like that.
Guess what, my rifle finally came in!!So what you’re telling me is that I made a mistake ordering a McMillan TAC-50 yesterday?
It should be a rule that all other shooters have to leave the range until after the 50 is fired.We have a 25/50 yard indoor range here in MI that rents an M82
Or at least warned and have confirmation that everyone understands what’s going to happen. When I got my .50 shot the RO went to every lane and warned people that something big was going to be shot. And, of course, after it went off there was still someone who freaked out. But fuck them, they were warnedIt should be a rule that all other shooters have to leave the range until after the 50 is fired.
Wonder how they rate a indoor range to handle 50 cal.
Over been in ranges where someone has fired one without notice and it is starting.
But it’s not that bad really.
I always inform the line if I’m getting ready to fire.
But that’s just me.
