Can shooting a .50 BMG cause detached retinas?

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Can shooting a .50 BMG cause detached retinas?

Posted: 12/27/2004 11:35:30 AM EDT

I’ve heard this from several sources. Is it true? Specifically, I’m again looking hard at the Armalite AR-50. I want one VERY badly. Can shooting this type of a .50 BMG rifle cause any eye problems?

Posted: 12/27/2004 11:40:42 AM EDT

[#1]

The recoil to the shooter of the AR-50 is like that of a 147gr .308, or maybe lighter.

The concussion to people standing NEXT TO the AR-50 when it is shot is quite intense.

I believe that any shock induced that stresses the head can cause a detached retina, if you are prone to that sort of thing, or if they have become weakened.

My grandfather got one from bumping his head on the side of a table while picking up a book.

Posted: 12/27/2004 11:45:12 AM EDT

[#2]

I think Armalite includes ear plugs and a bottle of aspirin with the AR-50. I've never heard of retinas detaching themselves from using this gun. Sounds painful though.

Posted: 12/27/2004 11:54:10 AM EDT

[#3]

Thanks guys for the quick responses. For the record, I've heard the AR-50 was about the softest recoiling .50 because of the most awesome brake.

I really think it's only a matter of time before .50s are banned around here. I've eye-balled the AR-50 for awhile now, but think 2005 will be the year I finally get off my wallet.

Posted: 12/27/2004 12:23:12 PM EDT

[#4]

Quoted:
Thanks guys for the quick responses. For the record, I've heard the AR-50 was about the softest recoiling .50 because of the most awesome brake.

I really think it's only a matter of time before .50s are banned around here. I've eye-balled the AR-50 for awhile now, but think 2005 will be the year I finally get off my wallet.

If anything's gonna blow out a retina, it'll be that awesome brake!

I'm sure it's fine though!

I for one would love to own one!

Posted: 12/27/2004 12:53:28 PM EDT

[#5]

Like Shivan said the AR50s felt recoil ain't bad. The recoil feels like a slow long heavy push, it even seems like there's a little delay between hearing it and feeling it move rearward. The felt recoil on a 12 ga. pump with slugs is much more brutal to the shoulder.

Posted: 12/27/2004 12:54:13 PM EDT

[#6]

Quoted:
Like Shivan and Bookhound said the AR50s felt recoil ain't bad. The recoil feels like a slow long heavy push, it even seems like there's a little delay between hearing it and feeling it move rearward. Felt recoil on a 12 ga. pump with slugs is much more brutal to the shoulder.

hard to top that kick indeed

Posted: 12/27/2004 4:13:01 PM EDT

[#7]

Just shot my AR-50 for the first time yesterday. Really can't tell what it recoils like because once you set that baby off the whole world around you goes to sh*t! I'm hooked! I picked the AR-50 for the same reasons as you. It is alot of rifle for the money.

Posted: 12/27/2004 5:30:15 PM EDT

[#8]

Interent BS. In the 12 years I worked at Barrett I fired over 100,000 rds, all from the shoulder from bolt guns and semi's. I've had some issues, headaches and nosebleeds every now and again.

Shoot away. It won't bite you.

Posted: 12/28/2004 3:24:48 AM EDT

[#9]

Thanks a lot, guys. I really appreciate the great info.

Posted: 12/28/2004 4:10:54 AM EDT

[#10]

As a young man I worked for a gunsmith that did custom rifles for hunting trips in Africa. All of them were large caliber. After my tour of duty I returned to see him and he was almost blind. According to the DR. who was one of his customers his failing eyesite was due to retina detachment and tears caused by bench firing large bore rifles. His eyes had been surgicial repaired but were never the same. It must be said that he spent a lot of time at the range allmost daily.

Posted: 12/28/2004 10:40:32 AM EDT

[#11]

I'm thinking that shooting my 300WinMag from the low prone is gonna prove to be more punishing than shooting a 50BMG from the low prone in terms of actual "shove" from recoil.

Muzzle blast? That will be something entirely different, I imagine dripping synouses and a headache for sure with the 50BMG. But I'm beginning to push a 300WinMag into the 2900+fps range with 190grn and 200grn Sierra MatchKings, with a rifle that has no brake they get pretty punishing from the prone position shooting off a pack.

I'm shooting 40-60 rounds per outting with the 300WinMag as I work my way "out there" with it. Damn thing is brutal.

Posted: 12/28/2004 10:42:57 AM EDT

[#12]

I always had to go take a dump after shooting the M2

Posted: 12/28/2004 10:44:01 AM EDT

[#13]

I don't know the answer to your question but I suggest getting the 50 as soon as you can and schedule a shoot

Posted: 12/28/2004 10:58:14 AM EDT

[#14]

Can shooting a .50 BMG cause detached retinas?

Yes! If you are looking down the barrel from the muzzle when someone pulls the trigger it will most assuredly detach your retinas. In fact, it will detach your entire head.

Posted: 12/28/2004 11:00:23 AM EDT

[#15]

Quoted:
Can shooting a .50 BMG cause detached retinas?

Yes! If you are looking down the barrel from the muzzle when someone pulls the trigger it will most assuredly detach your retinas. In fact, it will detach your entire head.

Where is ".50-hole-in-the-head-man"'s pic when you need it????

Posted: 12/28/2004 11:11:51 AM EDT

[#16]

Sort of....

My ex-wife suffered from several things, among them was a tendency for her retinas to simply fall down. Retinas are attached in places around the rim. Sometimes with no external prompting, the top would literally start folding downward and she would need laser surgery to weld the upper edge back in place.

Careful if you suddenly get a lot of "floaters" (or shoot a .50 BMG and have a family history). Lay on your back so the retina falls flat into place and get to a doc - someone else driving of course.

Posted: 12/28/2004 4:16:26 PM EDT

[#17]

Quoted:
I'm thinking that shooting my 300WinMag from the low prone is gonna prove to be more punishing than shooting a 50BMG from the low prone in terms of actual "shove" from recoil.

Awhile back, 50 shoot at Metcalf. One of the shooters commented after firing my 50 that his 300 Mag that he was shooting kicks 10 times harder. Probably an exageration but he made a point.

Dan

Posted: 12/28/2004 4:37:15 PM EDT

[#18]

The subject of detached retinas came up over at Biggerhammer about four years ago. The final outcome was that everybody had "heard" of them but the guys that actually owned and fired the guns had no actual first hand knowlege of it happening. Sort of in the relm of an urban legend.

Now I suppose if you were to take of the muzzlebreak all bets are off.

Posted: 12/28/2004 5:37:27 PM EDT

[#19]

Quoted:
Interent BS. In the 12 years I worked at Barrett I fired over 100,000 rds, all from the shoulder from bolt guns and semi's. I've had some issues, headaches and nosebleeds every now and again.

Shoot away. It won't bite you.

I've got a Barret M82A1. Once a buddy of mine and I went out and shot up almost a hundred rounds in one session. No detached retinas, but later on we both had mild headaches and blurred vision, which is a sign of a low grade concussion.

We were wearing double ear protection.

Since then we limit our .50 BMG shooting to no more than 50 rounds per session. At the price of ammunition for the .50 BMG that comes out to over a hundred dollars of ammo per session, but it's well worth the price.

Posted: 12/31/2004 2:58:10 PM EDT

[#20]

I've got a Barrett M99 and have put about 400 rounds thru it. It probably weighs about 10 lbs less than the AR50. I've fired a friends AR50, and it seemed to have less recoil than my 50. I've fired a number of other makes, and none of the 50's were as violent as a friends 338-378 Weatherby Mag. Buy the AR50 and enjoy shooting the big boomer!!

Posted: 1/2/2005 8:40:56 AM EDT

[#21]

My AR50 is a pussy cat. I had a Remington VS in .308 that had more felt recoil than my .50. Felt recoil is a long, slow shove. Very comfortable even when prone. It tends to make a mess of things when fired from the prone position, though.

Blast is pretty intense. ArmaLite recommends double hearing protection and not firing the rifle within 30 yards of a window. Other shooters either hate me or love me at the range. It tends to send a good number of other guys at the range home. The guys who stay are usually crowded around the rifle just to see it fire. Nothing I own is more fun (or expensive) to shoot!

Posted: 1/2/2005 9:00:07 AM EDT

[#22]

From what I've learned, I think I'd want to use the following if shooting a .50:

Custom molded earplugs in the 30 dB class.
Gentex HGU-55/P military flight helmet with noise cancelling earmuffs and
a battery power source.

Two inches of medium weight Neoprene padding on my shoulder.

CJ

Posted: 1/2/2005 10:19:00 AM EDT

[#23]

If my 5' wife can handle her AR50 without pain & detached retinas you men should be fine. The rifle is 1" shorter than her and more than 1/3 her body weight. Her deer rifle, a stainless Ruger 77 compact .308 kicks much harder than her 50.

Posted: 1/2/2005 5:55:03 PM EDT

[#24]

The only thing the .50 will detach is your wallet.

Posted: 1/2/2005 5:58:27 PM EDT

[#25]

Just make sure you've got the proper eye relief on that scope. That's one black eye you certainly don't want.

Posted: 1/2/2005 6:39:51 PM EDT

[#26]

Bookie,

I am pretty sure that 7.62 short bolt gun of mine kicks harder than the AR50. Muzzle blast is another story, though.

Posted: 1/11/2005 11:44:48 AM EDT

[#27]

When i shoot mine a lot, I get a small headache and the my nose gets a funny feeling in it. The best i can explain the nose feeling is like when you get hit in the face with say a basketball but its not the sharp inital pain. The feeling you get like five minutes later after getting hit. If that makes sence to anyone.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - Can shooting a .50 BMG cause detached retinas?

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