Yeah, if you want to get into the game on the cheap, the RN-50 is one way.

One of the board members here, MrBen has one, we also shoot together, reload... I would definitely buy one if I was looking to try out a .50 to see if I wanted one.

They're heavy enough that the recoil isn't punishing and they can be reloaded quick enough for a single shot. Accuracy is also good enough for anything that you want to do with it. You might not win a match with it but you'll have a hell of a time plinking with it at the range or wherever you shoot.

Later you can sell it off if you decide to get a semi or that you find that you don't like .50's.

If you buy a .50 upper, ask the manufacturer if it's been upgraded with the hammer/sear interrupt. Same if you buy a used one, ask the owner or get the serial number and ask the manufacturer if it has the upgrade.

The reason for this is due to it being proven that it was possible for the uppers to be fired out of battery. The only upper that didn't was the Ferret50 made by Spider Firearms. Newer uppers should have this added, just check if you buy an older one.

The other issue is ammo, you don't want to shoot some foreign stuff like Dominican Republic "yellow tip". Old Israeli ammo with the Hebrew lettering headstamp. There's a couple others, just can't think of them right now.

American made .50 before '52 is to be considered corrosive. Foreign stuff that you don't have any info on is to be considered corrosive. Stuff foreign made into the late '90's has been found to be corrosive! Some people doubt but the test proved otherwise, buyer beware!

Just because someones reloads are safe in their rifle, doesn't mean it's safe in yours. Don't shoot any ammo you don't know where it came from or how it was loaded.

That's just personal preference, if you have the space for it, get the 36". Just be sure to get a bipod, that way you don't have to find something to support it while shooting.