I'm curious how many here actually shot a 50 BMG rifle before buying one. If you didn't, were you nervous?

ETA: I was going to add a poll. I don't see the option to though. Derp

I shot one, a barrett M82.  10 times was enough to convince me I'd never shoot much 50, so I never bought one.
Way too much muzzle blast, but the recoil was not bad.

I hadn't shot a .50 BMG Rifle, I had shot the M2.

everyone should control their own airspace.

Shot the 50 cal a few times in the army. When I had the chance to assemble one to a lower, without donating a kidney to pay for it, I bought a used safety harbors. Just love having the fire power on tap!

I'm surprised how many bought one before shooting one so far. Considering the prices and not knowing if you'll like shooting it much, that's a big risk.

Once or a thousand.

I bought my first Barrett without ever shooting a 50bmg rifle.

Still glad I went ahead with it.

How ever much it took for you to decide.

I shot a Boys a few times back in the 90's and was hooked instantly.  It took many years for me to accept the idea of paying several thousand dollars for just one rifle.  Once I got my collection to an acceptable level, it was time.  That was right around the Newtown scare.  I cashed in and sacrificed a few to finally land the 50.  It's the best money I ever spent.  

Same here.

About sums it up for me too.

Many rounds down range with an Ar50.

It was owned by...

duh duh duuuuuuuhhhhhh.

Before he fucked Trg over.


Arock.

Txl

2 friends had home made 50 BMG single shot rifles. Both State Arms actions with machined military barrels and home made brakes similar to other factory brakes. I made one of their brakes from parts and materials supplied. I had thought I "needed" a 50 BMG before they were possibly banned during the Klinton years but after shooting their two rifles I also wanted one. I've had a Barrett M99 since early in the production by Barrett. Don't know how you could shoot one without wanting one. Not a cheap rifle to own and shoot though.

Fired a friends bolt action Barret.

The first round turned off my lights for a few seconds.

Was enough. No more.

Then fired my friends semi, and changed my mind that the big one could be fun.

Tried another brand and with the nice cushion I bought for the stock, was fun to shoot.

ETA,

Noticed the comments on the AR50. That is a very nice set-up.

Heavy and accurate.

I liked the rifle. Would have absolutely no problems with owning one, if I could afford it.

Shot them a bunch before buying mine. Lucky to know many gun-nuts with lots of disposable income. There where 5 or 6 50's in our group and I got to shoot 3 different types before buying. Any new trick gun that comes out, at least one of these guys will have it and I'll get to shoot it sooner or later. My kind of friends.

What to do with disposable income:
Got married = big hit.
had kids = bigger hit.
got divorced = biggest hit

Time with children = well worth it
Buying offroad dirtbikes = fun
Camping with kids = fun
Camping and riding dirtbikes with kids = FUN
Racing dirtbikes = fun
Buying latest & best dirtbikes = expensive
Supporting an Offroad Racing Team = expensive
Traveling USA racing offroad events = expensive
Two kids in college & racing at same time = expensive
Two kids graduating and finally on their own = surplus money


Bought a AR-50 in 2005, didn't shoot til 2006 = big 50 grin


Re-married = made a good choice this time
extensively got back into gun hobby that stopped after first wife = fun
taught wife to shoot = fun
bought more guns & reloading equipment = more fun
Wife bought her own guns = most fun
Other hobbies faded away = more disposable income
More 50 stuff purchased = more fun
Joined FCSA = best decision ever (gun related)
Started 1000 yard competitions = more fun
Bought another State Arms = more fun
Bought more reloading supplies = more fun
Shoot 1500 match rounds per year = most fun
Shoot 1000 rock busters per year = group fun
Bought a house in country 2012 = work & fun
Retired due to disability = not fun
No disposable income = not fun
Thinking of selling a highly modified State Arms with 34" Feddersen barrel, match chamber, AR50 muzzle brake, Tactical stock with bipod & monopod, Manners Carbon Fiber stock glass bedded to action, Leupold scope Mark 4 8.5X25X50 mil-dot, machine rests, 300 rounds match prepped brass fitted to rifle, etc. = definitely NOT FUN
User Info

The first time I shot a 50 was when I was invited to spend some time with the 7th Group Special Forces Unit at Ft. Bragg.  I worked part time at Cumberland Knife and Gun in Fayetteville and their commander also spent a bunch of time there so I got to know him pretty well.  He invited me to spend a couple of days at the range with his unit shotting all their weapons.  It was an amazing opportunity and out of the many guns ranging from suppressed .22 LR up to a 106 Recoiless rifle I was able to shoot the M2.  Between that and the 50 Caliber  spotter on the 106  and the M2 I was impressed as it was a chance that Air Force people normally didn't get.  Several years later one of my wife's coworkers had a bolt action Barrett along with a couple thousand rounds he collected during the 1980s before Ronny Barrett built his rifles.  I guess he was working around AC 130s or something like that and it was a hassle to turn in unused ammo. So when the Barrett rifle was available to him he jumped at it.  I own 400 acres and my wife invited him and some coworker to come and shoot on our place.  We had a great time and I discovered the 50 caliber grin.  Also as the ammo moved with the guy quite a few of the colored tips wore off.  One of the guys was shooting at a bowling pin on top of a wood post.  It was either a tracer or incendiary and surprise it caught my place on fire.  A quick trip with the Rhino and we were able to get it out before it got away from us.  I was however hooked and with in a couple of years I owned a 50 upper with a dedicated single shot steel lower.

Saw an AR-50 hanging on the wall at a gun shop on the way home from the beach.  The next year while at the same beach, found an ad in the paper where a guy was selling all his reloading stuff for 50BMG for $300.  Press, dies, trimmer, 200 projos, 300 cases, 10lbs of powder, 500 primers.  Bought all that and still no rifle.  Got home and found a guy in the EE selling a like new AR-50.  Snapped it up and been GRINNING ever since.

I had shot a mounted 50 off the top of a tank when I was 7 years old (blanks I guess) at Fort Bragg during family day back in the mid 70's.  Other than that, never pulled the trigger on one.

WOW  That was a killer deal on the reloading equipment and components.

No, impulse buy. It was calling my name from the wall

LOL Arock

You don`t get to post with a photo like that.

Nope. Nope. Nope.

Dawg!

Someone has been eating a lot of rounds lately.

LoL. I wish i knew who that was. Surely hes a ARFcomer