Suppose you really like guns and just won the LOTTO or you have an extra $250,000.00 to spend, you could be the first on your block to own one of these babies.
That would be nice too and much cheaper. I've got a friend who has one that came out of an airplane (a little higher cyclic rate of fire). It is the shit. The only thing about the .50 BMG is the ammo is so expensive. Back when ammo was about $3-4 per round during Osama's reign, my friend put on a big shoot. I took my son and he climbed behind that thing and ran two fifty round belts through it that had been connected. I just cringed. I know my friend had tons of surplus ammo he'd bought through the years, but still that was a lot of money for a few seconds of fun!
I felt the same way after I fired a friend's .460 Weatherby. Yeah, I only lit off three rounds, but then I found out that they cost $8 each for reloads. Plus he gave me a loaded one as a souvenir since I was the only person who was brave (stupid) enough to fire it more than once.
Sportsman's Guide has .50 BMG in stock for a little less than $3.50/rd. https://www.sportsmansguide.com/productlist?k=50+bmg&istko=1
A very interesting rifle to own and shoot; EVERYONE comes and looks when you put it out on the firing line. But when you handle it you can tell it was a prototype and, as the type 2 mods showed, was still a work in progress… A real one is a hen’s tooth with a price to match. But there are reproductions that can give you everything but the history for a lesser price (No, I don't have a real one):
I missed a transferable MG42 back in the late nineties with a boatload of accessories and spare parts (spare barrels, belts, two complete spare parts kits, a loader/linker, ammo cans, and about 5k rounds of ammo). All for $4,500.00 That is my "the one that got away story". Shortly afterwards "Saving Private Ryan" and the "Band of Brothers" series came out just as WW2 reenacting was really taking off. Prices for the MG-42 eventually reached the $50k range for the bare gun. They have come down some, but are still very expensive. Besides being "uber kool", the ammo is still affordable, but nothing like the four cents a round prices from the mid-nineties. Speaking of the BAR, I always liked them (like the Thompson M1A1) for the nostalgia factor. In reality they were a cumbersome squad light machinegun that fired a twenty round magazine. The ones I have fired were very accurate, but monkey stomped my shoulder. Compared to the MG-42 and MG-34 they were really lacking. Still, I'd like to have one. They reek of Americana.
Saw on of them fired at Knob Creek years ago. As two of us stood beside the weapon as it was fired and making observations on what we saw, unknown to us the owner was Listening to our comments about certain features and observations we saw as the weapon war firing, at the end of the magazine the owner stated "You guys are really in to this aren't you"? We both said "Yes Sir, we are!" WE then got to do a couple minutes of touchie feelie with the weapon as he pointed out things.
Nah, I'd much rather have a Ma Deuce........
ReplyDeleteThat would be nice too and much cheaper. I've got a friend who has one that came out of an airplane (a little higher cyclic rate of fire). It is the shit. The only thing about the .50 BMG is the ammo is so expensive. Back when ammo was about $3-4 per round during Osama's reign, my friend put on a big shoot. I took my son and he climbed behind that thing and ran two fifty round belts through it that had been connected. I just cringed. I know my friend had tons of surplus ammo he'd bought through the years, but still that was a lot of money for a few seconds of fun!
DeleteI felt the same way after I fired a friend's .460 Weatherby. Yeah, I only lit off three rounds, but then I found out that they cost $8 each for reloads. Plus he gave me a loaded one as a souvenir since I was the only person who was brave (stupid) enough to fire it more than once.
DeleteSportsman's Guide has .50 BMG in stock for a little less than $3.50/rd.
https://www.sportsmansguide.com/productlist?k=50+bmg&istko=1
I hear you. Like I said, those prices were back in the Obama days. At that time some places were advertising .50 BMG for $5 per round!
DeleteBAR - 'nuff ssaid.
ReplyDeleteA very interesting rifle to own and shoot; EVERYONE comes and looks when you put it out on the firing line. But when you handle it you can tell it was a prototype and, as the type 2 mods showed, was still a work in progress… A real one is a hen’s tooth with a price to match. But there are reproductions that can give you everything but the history for a lesser price (No, I don't have a real one):
ReplyDeletehttp://www.ssd-weapon.com/bd-42ii.html
http://www.ssd-weapon.com/bd-42i.html
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4a0F1oudCAo
I missed a transferable MG42 back in the late nineties with a boatload of accessories and spare parts (spare barrels, belts, two complete spare parts kits, a loader/linker, ammo cans, and about 5k rounds of ammo). All for $4,500.00 That is my "the one that got away story". Shortly afterwards "Saving Private Ryan" and the "Band of Brothers" series came out just as WW2 reenacting was really taking off. Prices for the MG-42 eventually reached the $50k range for the bare gun. They have come down some, but are still very expensive. Besides being "uber kool", the ammo is still affordable, but nothing like the four cents a round prices from the mid-nineties.
DeleteSpeaking of the BAR, I always liked them (like the Thompson M1A1) for the nostalgia factor. In reality they were a cumbersome squad light machinegun that fired a twenty round magazine. The ones I have fired were very accurate, but monkey stomped my shoulder. Compared to the MG-42 and MG-34 they were really lacking. Still, I'd like to have one. They reek of Americana.
Way cool tool, but I think I would find ways to get a bit more mileage out of 250G!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I should sell my house and get the gun...
DeleteNah. The Wife Unit would use it on me. (She's shaking her head yes...)
Saw on of them fired at Knob Creek years ago. As two of us stood beside the weapon as it was fired and making observations on what we saw, unknown to us the owner was Listening to our comments about certain features and observations we saw as the weapon war firing, at the end of the magazine the owner stated "You guys are really in to this aren't you"? We both said "Yes Sir, we are!" WE then got to do a couple minutes of touchie feelie with the weapon as he pointed out things.
ReplyDeleteIf I had that kind of money I think i'd buy something in 20 or 40mm for the yard.
ReplyDeleteExile1981
Ma Deuce would be my choice but I would rather have some serious thermal or NV.
ReplyDelete